lost in the wilderness of the real world

dad left

2011-08-10T10:09:00.000-07:00

dad spent three weeks with me and my brother. it was his first time to visit us; now that i have my own place. we really had a great time. we went to boston, where he saw my school and actually believed that i went to school; new york city, where we had tons of pictures and did a lot of shopping; then washington, dc, where we went around like tourists.

the best part of having my dad around is that we really had the chance to eat real food. he was cooking for us. my dad loves cooking; not to mention, he also loves the food that he cooked. so every time we eat, its like a feast. he cooked sinigang, adobo, calderata, chopsuey and brought embutido. sarap!

It was great to have him around. i don't know, whenever i have one of my parents around i feel like a kid again. more so, i feel so secured. it's like nothing can go wrong if my parents are with me. i didnt have to worry about anything because i knew they'd be there.

it's funny, i think my brother feels the same thing. we act like we were kids again. we fought with each other in front of my dad, like the old days.. and after a few minutes, we' were exchanging laughs again. that's how we roll in the family.

he left for texas today. i couldn't bring my dad to the airport because i had to work. but before i left the apartment this morning, i gave him a huge kiss and a hug. yes a 30 old 5'10 180lbs guy still kisses and hugs his dad. and this will never change. he, in return, also gave me his never ending reminders: not to fight with my brother, save up, go out on a date, etc.

by now, he will be on his way back to texas. i will miss you dad! im sure l will as well. we'll see you in december, hopefully, when things stays the same. ;)

is it really christmas, eh bakit ganon?

2009-12-25T19:48:00.000-08:00

sabi nila hindi lahat ng bagay ipinagkakaloob ng diyos sa isang tao. hindi natin nakukuha ang lahat ng ating ginugusto. masakit mang tanggapin subalit ganon talaga.

after 8 years of being apart from each other, my family is finally spending the holidays together. my parents together with my sister have always been based in texas, k just joined my parents a few months ago, and me and my brother l came for a visit. ang saya. magkakasama na naman kami. nagkukulitan, nag uukitan, nag-uutusan. parang noong bata kami. i guess we will always be like this even in the next years.

hindi ko maitatanggi na masaya ako ngayon kasama ng aking pamilya. ngunit mabigat ang aking loob. buong akala ko mabubuo ko na ang buhay ko. akala ko, handa na ako tumalon. subalit huli na ang lahat. huli na ang kung ano mang aking nararamdaman. huli na pagibig na aking iniaalay.

kung bakit ba namang naisipan ko pang umalis ng pilipinas. ano kaya ang buhay ko ngayon? ano kaya ang naggireaction nya kung "naipaliwanag ko ng mas maaga ang aking situasyon" maging iba kaya ang kalalabasan ng situation.

ang sakit. sa araw ng pasko na dapat kakaibang saya ang nararamdaman ko ay may bigat at sakit na tunay namang nararamdaman at kinatatakutan ko!

sensitive

2009-11-06T16:07:00.000-08:00

"wag mo akong ginaganyan... sensitive ako ngayon!"

minsan sinabi ito ng kaibigan ko sa gitna ng kulitan naming magkakaibigan. tinawanan ko lang at mas nangulit pa. umabot pa sa situation na umiiyak na sya. di ko sya naintindihan. kala ko may pms lang. hindi pala. may mga ganon sitwasyon pala talagang dinadaanan ang tao.

siguro masasabi ko na nasa ganong situation ako ngayon. kanya kanyang triping lang siguro yun. kung ano mang nagtulak para maramdaman ang ganito ay tunay na kakaiba.

kaya ang masasabi ko lang...

"wag kayong ganyan ... sensitive ako!"

the uncertainty

2009-08-06T18:41:00.000-07:00

i never thought it would be that fast. i remember, same time, last year i was reviewing for my gmat and nervously working on my application. everything was uncertain then. now, i am just a presentation away from finishing my program. but then again, the uncertainty is back. after the program, i don't know where i will be.

a classmate of mine commented on my facebook status, "reality bites, can't hide under the student umbrella no more." that's true. for the whole year, i felt secured knowing that my only worries in life were how to read all my cases; do my assignments; schedule my team meetings; when i will do my laundry; what to eat for my next meal. then it hits me. reality bites hard. i can no longer use my student status as my excuse and security blanket. i need to face the truth that i am moving on with my life. moving to the "real world;" to the next chapter in my life.

i suddenly felt afraid. i am afraid because i don't know where i will be. i have never been very adventurous with my life. as much as possible, i try to plan everything. i always have my plan a and plan b, sometimes with plan c and d. but now, i have nothing. the us economy is making it even worse. companies do not hire foreigners. what I will do after graduation is one big question that i have yet to answer.

this is the first time that i have thrown myself in the river of life. i will just let the current bring me to wherever i should be. i'll just let the supreme being bring me to where i should be. he knows it more than i do. i know things may not be easy but i will just surrender.

its spring time

2009-05-30T07:10:00.000-07:00

it's the first time i experience spring. i never thought it's such a beauty to see things literally sprang around me. a few months ago as i walk on the side streets, i only see white because of the snow. now, i see colors.

nuninuninuninu

2009-05-26T08:16:00.000-07:00

a friend of mine just told me that she stumbled upon my this blog while searching on google... hmmm interesting. anyway, i realized that i haven't udpated this blog for the longest time. i guess i have been really busy with all the school work that i've been doing.

i am currently on my third module and surprisingly it's so light. i only have classes on mondays, thursdays and some fridays and saturdays. i guess i better start looking for work...

anyway, i will soon add new entries. oh watch out for the spring pics that i took.

school life...

2009-02-06T06:24:00.000-08:00

i haven't talked about my schooling in a lighter light. well, i am studying at hult international business school in cambridge massachusetts. an american institution where there is only one full-blooded american and the rest of the student body are from other countries. talking about diversity, right?

it has been a very interesting and insightful first term for me; not only i gained more knowledge about business but also i have been exposed to different way of thinking. my classmates have been very open to share all their thoughts about certain topics.

we've had our ups and downs, sleepless nights, countless readings, panic modes, exhausting team meetings but here we are still fighting a good fight!

porthos class 2009

wala lang

2009-01-18T13:13:00.000-08:00

naranasan nyo na bang huminto sa gitna ng daan at, wala lang, tingnan lang ang paligid at pagmasdan. manghain ang sarili sa kung anong nakikita at kilitiin ang isip sa kung anon mga nangyari sa sarili na hindi inaasahan. alam mo yung mga pagkakataon na naglalakad ka sa gilid ng ayala avenue at may nakita kang magtitinda ng sigarilyo pero ang ganda ng ngiti nya. Wala lang. parang ang ganda lang tignan. yung mga bagay na walang kahulugan pero pagnakita mo ang daming pumapasok na kaisipan.

siguro kaya ko ito isinusulat dahil ganyan ang aking nararamdaman. ito yung mga panahon na pwede akong tumitig sa pader at wala lang, tumitig lang ng walang iniisip kundi ang titigan ang malapad na pader na nasa aking harapan. ito siguro yung pagkakataon na pwede akong tumingin ng malayo, at pagmasdan ang nag-iibang kulay ng mga ilaw sa kalagitnaan ng siyudad at wala lang.

ang hirap ipaliwag kung anong aking nararamdaman ngayon. para akong nakawala sa haula ng pagkaka kulong sa pag-iisip kung pano makakalabas dito ng buhay. Isang napaka gaang pkiramdam na sana ay hindi agad maglaho. alam kong lahat ay may hangganan. alam kong ang aking nararamdaman ay panandalian lamang. Ngunit habang nandidito ako sa wala lang na sitwasyon ay susulitin ko ang aking nararamdaman.

Try nyo. Ang sarap ng feeling. ;-)

My Grandmothers!

2008-09-25T17:13:00.000-07:00

on the day i learned that i was leaving for the US within the next four days, the first thing that popped in my mind was to go back home in batangas. not because i have to get my luggages but because i have to say goodbye and ask for my lolas' blessings. they didn't know that i was working on my school application. it was only my immediate family that knew about it. that was the reason why it was kinda hard for me to see them.

my inay pitang

as soon as i reached batangas, i went straight to inay pitang's, my mom's mom, house. she was the only one in the house. i told her i am leaving the coming weekend but she wasn't really surprised since she knew that my parents have been wanting me to move back to the states. she just smiled at me and said, "buti naman makakapunta ka na dun at makakasama mo na ang mga mommy at daddy mo." i didn't know what to say. i was just smiling at her.

we had our usual talk. kwentuhan, telling her what's going to happen to me in the states. i know she was happy for me but i knew that at the back of her mind she was thinking that another member of her family is leaving. until the time came that i had to leave and say goodbye. then she left and went to her room. i didn't know why. then she came out pulling me to her side. she then got my hand and was giving me something. she said, "pagpasensyahan mo na ito wala naman ako mabibigay sayo." when i looked at my hand, i saw money. i was like, "wag na inay may bigay namang pera sina mommy." but she insisted and i got the money. i hugged her tight and went to the car. i knew that i have no definite time to see her again.

my inay anda

coming from my inay pitang's house i visited my inay anda, my dad's mom. she was all smile to see me, as usual. she was the one who always looks for me whenever i don't go home in batangas. i told her i was leaving. same as my inay pitang, she just smiled at me. i stayed for a couple of hours in her house and then i went home.

the next day, i went back to inay anda's place to officially say goodbye to her. i learned that my dad called her to check on me and if i've visited her. i was just joking the whole time; trying to make the discussion very light. the time came for me to leave. she then said, "sabi ng daddy mo yumakap na daw ako sayo kasi matagal tagal kong hindi ka makikita." then she cried. i almost cried. i held my tears back because i knew if i did cry it would be harder for me to leave. i just hugged her and said that i will be back and that i'd see her when i get back. after that, i saw my three aunties crying as well.

i miss my grandmother dearly! i just hope that they are doing ok in the philippines. i'll see you both when i get back! take good care of yourself and always pray for me.

my new journey

2008-09-16T13:40:00.000-07:00

for the past few months, i have been in a really crazy situation. i never thought that whatever i had planned for years would actually happen in less than two months.

when i came back from the states, i told myself that i would want to study there. given the chance, i’d definitely grab the opportunity. i wanted to take my masters in a different country just to get a different perspective in the learning process. after exactly five years and 57 days i am now back in the US and taking, no less than, my mba in boston, massachusetts. now, i am living my dream with all the added craziness, as its icing.

i left the philippines on saturday at 6:35am; arrived in new york at 6:05pm of the same day (eastern time) where i met up with my brother, l. it was surreal considering that i never thought that i’d be back in this country. at the same time, i was very happy to see my little brother, waving at me behind a closed clear door, after three years of not seeing him. we got my luggage and left the airport.

new york welcomed me with a hurricane. i really felt the love, right? on our way to our next destination, we can barely see the road. but in any case, i’m already in the US and there’s nothing that they can do about it.

my brother told me that we will be on our way to his apartment so i can rest early but only to find out that i will have a “welcome” dinner hosted by my kuya r, and new found friends, tita e, ate d and kuya t, ate d’s polish husband. they prepared filipino food for me! how sweet, right? we had roast beef, ginataang alimango, rilyenong bangus and a lot more. It was, definitely, a great dinner. after some chitchat, my brother and I head off to his place to fix our lives for the next day.

when we reached my brother’s place, it was still raining hard so we ran off to his apartment, which was located at the basement of this nice white house. the apartment was big for my brother. of course, knowing my brother, it wasn’t organized at all but still livable. We prepared for our trip: checked out what he had bought for me and got some of his jackets, for winter time, then head off to bed.

at 4:00am the following day, we woke up and got ourselves ready for the drive. by 5:00am we were on our way to boston. it was quite a fun ride. of course, it was a hi-way so we only saw trees around us. we had a stopover somewhere in connecticut, I know right? I had my second meal in the US. and guess what, it was mcdonalds! another, i know right? i got a big breakfast; and when they say it’s big, it was really big!

as my brother and i were eating , we met a filipino family seated beside us. i believe they over heard us talking in tagalog so they got our attention. a few minutes after, we were back on the road. i felt a mix of excitement and fear at the same time. i guess, mainly because i am starting a new chapter in my life.

we arrived in boston at around 10:30 am. we literally got lost due to boston’s confusing road layout! my brother’s “navigator” gadget got confused as to where we were supposed to turn. It was just amazing. after almost 30 minutes of driving around, we finally arrived at my school. again, it was just amazing to see the actual infrastructure before me. it was just then that i realized that i am actually going back to school.

i scheduled sunday as my apartment-hunting-day. i made some calls to locate places where i can check out. i came prepared here. i looked over at craigslist.com for possible places that i can visit. luckily, i came across a cheap room, a 20 minute- walk to my school. we were scheduled to see the place at 1:30pm so my brother and i grabbed some food from a taiwanese restaurant. we found out that it was one of the best food places in cambridge; therefore having a great lunch!

exactly, 1:30pmmr. m, our realtor, met me. i must say he was very accommodating. he was very patient to answer all my stupid and relevant questions! he told me everything that i need to know about the area and how things are being done. he showed me the apartment. lo-and-behold, the apartment is really nice: four-bedroom, fully-carpeted, clean, and most of all has a back porch. i will talk about this in a different entry. it was quite amazing.

mr. m also asked me to meet with my roommates to see if we get along with each other. i figured, it was quite a great idea to meet with them first before i say yes to the apartment. i was then introduced to an american, j, and indian, s. we had a little chitchat. i told myself, these guys seem nice and i wouldn’t mind sharing the apartment with them; and so i signed the contract and the following day i moved in to my very first apartment.

i know it’s been really crazy. but i guess that’s how life is. you really have to face life and do some crazy stuff in order to move on and keep yourself alive. never in this life time that i regret going back to the philippines after my short stint in the US. that’s where i realized where i really want to be. what i am doing now is just the means to attain my goal.

the wedding of the year...

2008-05-02T00:48:00.000-07:00

i know my family has been waiting for this entry for the longest time. i apologize for the delay. i've been loaded with work for the past two weeks and sitting in front of my computer just to upload pictures has been impossible.

anyways, it's been a different experience all over again! since the groom came from our family we had to be the one to go the boondocks of roxas, oriental, mindoro to prepare for the wedding. we call this "pamamamaysan". basically, the concept is the groom's family is the lead in all wedding preparations.

my brother, kris, cousins, istin and tita elvie, and and i left manila at around 4am to meet with our relatives in batangas city. it took us around two hours to reach tita nida's place where we all met up and pack everything.

my crazy cousins and our loving inay...

with our crazier titos and tita...

come 8:30am we are on our way to the pier to catch the 10am ship. take note it's a ship. the RORO, which will take us to calapan mindoro for another two and a half hours travel time. i never realized that my whole family is a camera whore... every time my counsin brings out the camera... we'll all be running in front of it and have our own poses.

it's pretty obvious... we just want to be on cam...

we were on the boat by 9am with our own section in the air-conditioned area. if i can remember it right, this is our first trip together. of course, when we were on board, we couldn't stay in just one place. we played and joked around like a bunch of kids. it's actually a great moment to catch up with my cousins and be kids again...

near the cabins... ate marlene taking our pic from below

ninong choy joining us...

since the trip took some time, we brought our lunch and eat on the ship. we had adobo, humba, salted egg, rice and sweet potato cakes. it was like the old times that we usually bring "baon" to save money. and it really makes sense. imagine, we saved more or less P2000 pesos just on food.
more to come in the next few days...

it's my birthday!

2008-04-05T21:42:00.000-07:00

i need to update this blog with something new!

it's my birthday!!! i'm just waiting for time and then i will be on my way out to hide in a secured place... hahaha...

but do give me this chance to rest and unwind! hahaha...

see yah guys next time... i will definitely work on this blog starting today! :D

one great song

2008-03-06T21:52:00.000-08:00

i know this song has been more than a year old. but still its a good one to listen to.

Your Guardian Angel
The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus

When I see your smile
Tears run down my face I can't replace
And now that I'm strong I have figured out
How this world turns cold and it breaks through my soul
And I know I'll find deep inside me I can be the one

I will never let you fall
I'll stand up with you forever
I'll be there for you through it all
Even if saving you sends me to heaven

It's okay. It's okay. It's okay.
Seasons are changing and waves are crashing
And stars are falling all for us
Days grow longer and nights grow shorter
I can show you I'll be the one

I will never let you fall (let you fall)
I'll stand up with you forever
I'll be there for you through it all (through it all)
Even if saving you sends me to heaven

Cuz you're my, you're my, my, my true love, my whole heart
Please don't throw that away
Cuz I'm here for you
Please don't walk away and
Please tell me you'll stay

Use me as you will
Pull my strings just for a thrill
And I know I'll be okay
Though my skies are turning gray

I will never let you fall
I'll stand up with you forever
I'll be there for you through it all
Even if saving you sends me to heaven

inday's everyday adventures

2007-09-23T20:45:00.000-07:00

wouldn't it be nice if our "kasambahay" is like inday? it would have been really great! hey... not to laugh at them but to be proud of them because they learn and try to improve themselves.

*Drunken shrimp and blue lobster meat with caviar serve with milagrosa rice (red avriety) and apricot sauce
*Vegetables in balsamic vinegar splashed with extra virgin olive olive
*Lychee and peach salad with sour cream cheese topped with lemon zests

- baon ni Junior sa daycare na inihanda ni Inday

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"Bloody hell!!! What the f*ck did just landed on my cutie top? I mean I've spent all day just to make myself look fabulous. I think I'll have this eewy thing removed in a whip wham of time!"

- reaction ni Inday nung natalsikan sya ng mantika habang nagluluto ng tilapia

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"Ipomea aquatica has become the constant ingredient to this Filipino delicacy which is very helpful in the digestion during the peristaltic process of the food we intake. Due to the continuous rains and floods, the harvest of the said vegetable has lessen the production in the market."

- banat ni Inday kung bakit walang "kangkong" sa nilutong sinigang

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"Heavy fire that exerted by the stimulus affect the best conductor of heat which is the steel, causing the "oriza sativa" which is the scientific name of rice to change its state of color, smell as well as the taste."
- sagot ni Inday nang tanungin siya ng amo kung bakit nasunog ang sinaing

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"Off you go! Under no circumstance this house would relent to such unabashed display of vagrant destitution!"
- si Inday, pinapaalis ang makulit na pulubi sa gate… (Taray talaga ni Inday!)

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"Allergens triggered the immune response. Eosinophilic migration occurs to the reaction site and release of chemotactic and anaphylotoxin including histamine and prostaglandins. These substance results to increase circulation to the site promoting redness."
- sagot ni inday nun tanungin ni sir kung bakit may rashes si Junior

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Amo: Day! Bakit may bukol si Junior?!
Inday: Compromising safety with useless aesthetics, the not-so-well engineered architectural design of our kitchen lavatory affected the boy's cranium with a slight boil at the left temple near the auditory organ.
Amo: (Di nakareact)

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"Dear Mom,
Had it not been for the smelling salt, I must have collapsed moments ago. Junior has become a little monster to me. Remember the head accident he had? As if it wasn't enough, he was summoned by the principal of his shabily run academe. Oh such an erudite bunch of baboons! I never thought being a governess can be such a strenuous employ.
Your daughter,
Inday"
"Dear Inday,
Walanghiya ka! Magpadala ka ng pera! Nasa ospital nanay mo, dumugo ang ilong kababasa ng pesteng sulat mo!
Tatay"

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Mister: Bakit tuwing pag-uwi ko, nadadatnan kitang nanunuod ng TV??!!!
Inday: Because I don't want you to see me doing absolutely nothing!

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Amo: Inday di ba nanood ka ng The Buzz kahapon? Bkit daw umalis si Angel Locsin sa GMA7?
Inday: Sometimes people choose to leave not because of selfish reasons but because they just know that things will get worse if they'll stay. Leaving can be a tough act and it's harder when people can't understand you for doing so.

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"Physical stress and excessive work may result to serious damage to one's body. It is therefore essential that once in a while we take a break from our usual routine to replenish the lost energy we once had."
- sabi ni Inday sa amo noong humingi siya ng dayoff

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"I stay awake in the coldness of the darkened sky contemplating why, for some reasons, has my emptiness made itself manifests, extending to that niche where I was given life and growth, that because of austerity I was made separated from…"

- Inday… hindi makatulog dahil nahohomesick

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"I am solitary. I find it hard to succumb into slumber, though the downpour of rain should've made it easy. This exuberant emotional glue I have for you, cannot be simply washed away. The multiplicity of what I feel for you is inevitable. This isn't platonic. It's real, true romance."

- Inday, nageemote sa may bintana, habang iniisip si Dodong, ang boyfriend niya

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"The statute restricts me to love you but you have the provocation. The way you smile is the proximate cause why I love you. We have some rules to think of. We have no vested rights to love each other because the upper household dismissed my petition!"

- ganito nakipagbreak si Inday kay Dodong (driver ng kapitbahay)

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Amo: Inday bumili ka nga ng mga isda.. o nga pla inglesira ka… would you please purchase many fishes for our this week's meals?

Inday: Judging from your statement I believe you meant a variety of fish. The term "fishes", although rarely and even erroneously used, connotes a plethora or an array of different kinds of the aforementioned gilled creatures. But the more pressing questions before I traveresed the road to the wet market would be: What certain type of fish? Fillet or not? Frozen or just right smack the day's catch? (Pauses) Aaah… by manner of careful extrapolation, given the meager budget in this household's quasi-peasant middle class taste, I assume then I will source the staple "galewng-gowng". Am I correct?

Amo: Leche!

Inday: You meant the freshwater milkfish? Then the "ba-ngooz" is it!

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"La vida no es una broma actualmente. El dinero es tan duro de pasar. Puede usted bajar el precio parci mi? Soy ya su compradora avido diario por favor?

- si Inday tumatawad sa merkado ng isinama siya ng amo sa España

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Sad animal facts:
1.) Ants never sleep
2.) Pigs raise their heads to look at the sky
3.) Butterflies only live for seven days
See you have 3 more reasons to be thankful for today. Being something always has its ups and downs. Just remember, while you're complaining about your situation, someone could be wishing he/she were in your place.

- si inday chinika ang mga istambay sa kanto habang napadaan para bumili ng suka at toyo.

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500 = globe plan subscription
1800 = glutathione tablet
1000 = croc flip flops
1,700 = padala mama

- binudget ni inday ang sweldo nya. =p

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"Love"
-a wildly misunderstood although highly desirable malfunction of the heart that weakens the brain, causes the eye to sparkle, cheeks to glow, blood pressures to rise and the lips to pucker!

- Inday gumagawa ng blog sa Multiply account nya..

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There are tulips in the street; there are tulips in the park, but nothing compares to our two lips meeting in the dark.

- pamatay na linya ni dodong kay inday

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"Its not that I don't like you, its just that I feel we are still too young to entertain thoughts of fornication in the domicile of our employers. In fact its very immature to insuate that I didn't reciprocate your emotions just because I decline to perform an act of coitus with you"

- inday ni rereject si dodong na makipag sex. Sosyal na tlaga si inday. Grabe!!

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"I pity you for you have degraded your very own pride and dignity by resorting to this despicable behavior just for wealth and I hope that one day you will realize that you should not use humans as means of your ends. As what the great philosopher Khan uttered " treat a man as an end in himself"!

- sagot ni inday sa holdaper na nangholdap sa kanya

"Shut up, if you don't want a hole in your cranium!"

-sagot ng holdaper.

Ang sosyal na tlaga nila!!!

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Proving that in this violence-oriented culture, there is no such thing as an acquiescence to giving admonitions, I was shot by a 9mm bullet in the head penetrating my cranium and causing irreparable damages to m y thinking facility and for what you might ask. For my seemingly presumptions yet convoluted obsessions likewise adroitness in verbosity. D physician did not only find that my verbal aptitude has been utterly impaired (henceforth ending my notorious knack for giving the unwary readers nosebleeds) but the pseudo medical practitioners who consider themselves gods also declared me….

DEAD.

-in loving memory of Inday-
(ayan patay na cya! Sa wakes tapos na ang mga ka hibangan!)

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Even souls wander. And even if their bodies are no longer existing, they still have the capacity to communicate with the living. You may be happy for shooting me, but this I tell you.. I shall return!

- kaluluwa ni Inday. Hinde mapakali dahil sa kanyang kagimbal gimbal na pagkamatay.

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Misis: Inday, bakit mo binenta yung sirang silya?
Inday: I have computed the chair's fair value less cost to sell, and the value in use using projections for 5 years and a pre-tax discount rate. Accordingly, the value in use is lower, so I decided to sell the chair. This in accordance with PAS18 on Revenue, PAS16 on Property, Plant, and Equipment, and PAS36 on Impairment of Assets!
Misis: ADIK ka talaga Inday!

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it's been a while

2007-09-23T20:18:00.000-07:00

wow... it's been a long time since last posted something here... :D i've been to a lot lately... may it be on my career or personal life... wow... blogging... anyway... i'll be posting something new... later.

see yah!

ang kahalagahan ng pagiging seryo

2007-02-21T00:22:00.000-08:00

Kultura stages Oscar Wilde’s

The Importance of Being Earnest
&
Ang Kahalagahan ng Pagiging Seryo

View the cast pics here:

The Importance of Being Earnest

Asian Cast

Caucasian Cast

Ang Kahalagahan ng Pagiging Seryo

X / JR Cast

Sam / David Cast

On the heels of its successful staging of Yazmina Reza’s Tony Award-winning play Art, Kultura presents another ground-breaking theatrical experience: a double production of Oscar Wilde’s The Importance of Being Earnest. The original play in English will be presented alongside a new Filipino “transplantation” of the same play, entitled Ang Kahalagahan ng Pagiging Seryo. “Earnest” will have a 10-show run from Feb. 10 to 17, while “Seryo” will have a 10-show run from Feb. 21 to 28. Both plays are co-presented by JVC Everio Hard Disk Camcorder G Series.

Subtitled “A Trivial Comedy for Serious People,” The Importance of Being Earnest is Wilde’s most popular and successful work. It became an instant hit when it opened in London in 1895, and went to be generally acknowledged as one of the greatest comedies of all time. The play tells the story of two wealthy young gentlemen who escape responsibility whenever possible. Both masquerading under the name of “Ernest” (or “Sergio” in the Filipino version), they manage to win the love of their respective sweethearts, who both claim they could only love a man with that particular name. As expected, chaos breaks out when the truth is revealed, and the characters become entangled in a series of uproarious mistaken identities.

The Importance of Being Earnest marks the return of alumnus Niccolo Manahan to the UA&P stage after several years of appearing in professional plays with Repertory Philippines (“Taming of the Shrew”, “I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change”, “The Man of La Mancha”) and Atlantis Productions (“Doubt”). He and Joel Parcon alternate in the role of Jack Worthing, while Javi Coromina and Timito de los Reyes alternate in the role of Algernon Moncrieff. Gabrielle Reyes plays Gwendolen, Jack’s would-be fiancee, and Athena Tibi and Anna Bernal alternate as Cecily, Jack’s young and excessively pretty ward. Lady Bracknell will be played alternately by Marie Puyat and Kit Palabyab, and Miss Prism will be played by Jam Mancenido. Rounding out the cast are Mikey Dosdos as Dr. Chasuble, Ralph Buiser as Lane, David Bendal as Merriman, and John Montoya as the footman. *** RUNS FROM FEB. 10-17

Ang Kahalagahan ng Pagiging Seryo transplants Wilde’s masterpiece from Victorian-era England to 1930s Manila and Baguio, and gives it a distinctly Filipino flavor that is equally hilarious. The cast includes Ronie Balberian as Johnny Legazpi, Matt Belen as Felix Fortun, Lyka Alarilla as Luz Rubio, Bea Abalajon as Cecilia Fortaleza, Yammie Tolentino as Doña Augusta Piel and Jox Petiza as Leticia Alegre. Christian Vallez and Sam Macagba alternate as Pastor Frederick, JR Magboo* and David Bendal alternate as Pedro, and Lorenz Visco and John Montoya take on the roles of the remaining servants. ***RUNS FROM FEB. 21-28

The Importance of Being Earnest and Ang Kahalagahan ng Pagiging Seryo are the 14th and 15th major theatrical productions of Kultura, an arts center based in the University of Asia and the Pacific (UA&P) Office of Student Affairs. Tinette Villanueva, whose varied directorial credits include Yasmina Reza’s “Art”, Moliere’s “Tartuffe”, “Ang Inspektor” ni Nikolai Gogol, Agatha Christie’s “Ten Little Indians”, “Clytemnestra” ni Juan Ekis, Eugene Ionesco’s “How to Get Rid of It” and “The Lesson”, and William Shakespeare’s “The Comedy of Errors”, directs this exciting production.

"EARNEST" PLAYDATES
Feb. 10, 2007 (Sat) 4:00 p.m. (opening)
Feb. 10, 2007 (Sat) 8:00 p.m.
Feb. 14, 2007 (Wed) 4:00 p.m.
Feb. 14, 2007 (Wed) 8:00 p.m.
Feb. 15, 2007 (Thu) 4:00 p.m.
Feb. 15, 2007 (Thu) 8:00 p.m.
Feb. 16, 2007 (Fri) 4:00 p.m.
Feb. 16, 2007 (Fri) 8:00 p.m.
Feb. 17, 2007 (Sat) 4:00 p.m.
Feb. 17, 2007 (Sat) 8:00 p.m. (last show)

"SERYO" PLAYDATES
Feb. 21, 2007 (Wed) 4:00 p.m. (opening)
Feb. 21, 2007 (Wed) 8:00 p.m.*
Feb. 22, 2007 (Thu) 4:00 p.m.*
Feb. 22, 2007 (Thu) 8:00 p.m.
Feb. 23, 2007 (Fri) 4:00 p.m.
Feb. 23, 2007 (Fri) 8:00 p.m.*
Feb. 24, 2007 (Sat) 4:00 p.m.
Feb. 24, 2007 (Sat) 8:00 p.m.
Feb. 28, 2007 (Wed) 4:00 p.m.*
Feb. 28, 2007 (Wed) 8:00 p.m. (last show)*

VENUE:
Telengtan Hall
5th Floor, APEC Communications Bldg.
University of Asia and the Pacific
Pearl Drive, Ortigas Center, Pasig City

(Free parking along Pearl Drive; pay parking entrance along Escriva Drive)

TICKET INFORMATION:
* Free admission for UA&P students, faculty and staff (w/ UA&P I.D.)
* Regular tickets at P250
* Discounted tickets for non-UA&P students and teachers at P200 (w/
valid school I.D.)
* UA&P alumni discount - P200 w/ alumni I.D. (to apply, contact alumni@uap.edu. ph)

SEAT RESERVATIONS:
Contact Ms. Marie Puyat at 637-0912 loc. 380, 0917-8334564 or mpuyat@uap.edu. ph.

christmas at iba pa

2006-12-18T20:35:00.000-08:00

hay... ilang araw nalang at pasko na naman. kung tutuusin medyo kakaiba ang simoy ng pasko ngyon. una, hindi masyadong malamig ang klima. parang mainit pa ang pakiramdam ko tuwing umaga. ni hindi ko nga kinailangan na magpatay ng electric fan. pangalawa, kung titingnan natin ang ating kapaligiran, hindi na kasing garbo ng dati ang makikita na palamuti sa daan. siguro naisip na rin ng gobyerno na maging matipid at ilaan nalang ang pera sa mas makabuluhan na proyekto. at higit sa lahat, wala akong pera ngayong pasko! hehehe.. i know it's not something new but then again, it would have been great if i have something to spend. i've gotten used to it though. it just part of being a kuya in a middle class family.

pero kahit ganito ang aking nararamdaman, hindi parin maikakaila na pasko na rin naman. dadating at dadating talaga ang panahon na ito. kaya kung nasa ano mang kalagayan meron tayo, ang ating pamilya, ang ating bansa o ang mundo, sulitin pa rin natin ang panahon na ito para ipahayag sa isa't isa ang ang kahalagahan ng pasko. let's share our time, love and care to others. at least for that matter, we don't have to worry about our expenses.

merry christmas everyone! :D

i call her mom

2006-12-10T18:18:00.000-08:00

i have been with my company for more than two years. i can say that i'm very happy with what i'm doing and the environment that i have now. i earn lower than i should to but i learn more than if i'm working in a traditional advertising agency.

anyway, going back to my topic.

in this small interactive agency, i have met the best people i have ever worked with. they not only nurtured my being but they have guided me to the new world of interactive advertising. one person that really made an impact in me is cybs. i call her mom.

mom is a very nice person. she's the type of person that one can always run to and have answers to whatever production problems one might have. as for me, she's more than that! she is my mom literally and figuratively.

she has been my confidant in the office. whenever we will have our scheduled smoking session during break time, we will share with each other everything and anything under the sun. she practically know everything about me. i think i have told her everything. though, there are times that we just stood at the smoking area and stared at the people passing by, it still gives us the relaxing feeling that we look for everytime we have our break.

She has finally left the company. she has moved to a new company. i'd surely miss her. i lost not only a smoking partner but a mom and good friend in the office. but, as i have told her, it's time for her to move on. she has exhausted everything in the company and joining a different company is a part of growing "up". :D

i'd definitely miss you, mom! don't worry, you're son will be fine. i still have my big sister with me! :D

goodluck mom....cybs! :D

hikbi... hikbi... hikbi...

last trip to bora!

2006-12-04T00:44:00.000-08:00

the tree of life

the nun

the shadow

the sun sets

literally fridays

yoga by the sea

walking

rock

the boat

i found a new hobby

2006-09-12T03:17:00.000-07:00

i have been pre-occupied for the past few days. i don't know something seems to keep my time occupied by anything. ok, i do have my set activities for the whole day: 6am - 830am gym, then 9am - 6pm, travel to my house from 615pm - 730pm, have dinner then watch some tv, review my math and then sleep. however, sometime in between this schedules, i, somehow, sneek in my new hobby, day dreaming.

i know its kinda wierd but i find it very amusing. well, of course, since it's a dream, i make it to a point that its something that i like. i come up with my own plot suited to what i want to happen.

i'd think about it if i want to share the plot! i'll see if i change my mind!

you are the one

2006-09-07T00:07:00.000-07:00

ok, fine, i watched the movie but only because its time to treat my tita for a movie and, well, i like toni gonzaga, especially her legs and her cute antics.

first here's a synopsis from clickthecity.com
Sally Malasmas is happy staying in the Philippines but is forced to apply for a visa to go to the States where her sick mother is. When she goes to the US Embassy, she meets the dashing consular Will Derby who doesn't see enough of a reason for her to stay in the Philippines and takes her for another future TNT. Denied a visa, Sally is miffed but she gets her revenge when it's Will's turn to apply for his original birth certificate at the NSO where she works. He needs to find his biological Filipino parents, a promise he made to his adoptive American parents. But her plan to make it hard for him backfires when her boss sees what she's doing. Now, she has no choice but to help him search high and low for his parents and there the attraction between the two grows. As he nears the end of his post in Manila, will he get a new reason to stay?

its a feel good movie. its a typical fil-am-pinay love story. guy meets girl put in a situation and fell in love with each other. However, what has made the story interesting is how the tandem of sam milby and toni gonzaga created a very light mood in the movie. first and foremost, they look good together. i mean, fine, sam is good-looking, the typical fil-am face, and toni is really cute and natural. secondly, the situation is very relevant to most aspiring filipinos, who always see the US as a greener pasture - in sally's case, to take care of her sick mother. most movie goers would have the same feeling when one gets denied for a US visa.

there are two things that i didn't like in the movie. first is the song and dance scene of sam and tony. i know its romantic to have a song for a special date but a song and dance is too much. it's very typical for a filipino movie, or should i say it's so 1960's. Nestor and Nida has been doing that since my lola's time might as well come up with something new. it could have been better if there has been a play ofromantic lines instead. second scene is the fiesta atmosphere when will went to pampanga to meet his pseudo family. i know it's very nationalistic and all but may be a different atmosphere could have been better.

i even read a review saying that the movie is even better than some foreign chick-flick movies, which i guess in have to agree. the movie serves its purpose for me since wanted to just relax and have a good laugh.

rural

2006-09-06T01:46:00.000-07:00

the partner and the bestfriend

2006-09-06T01:44:00.000-07:00

the bestfriend

the business partner

to a greener pasture

2006-09-06T01:41:00.000-07:00

the shore

2006-09-06T01:39:00.000-07:00

proud to be filipino

2006-09-05T20:08:00.000-07:00

marami sa atin ay gustong mangibang bansa. bakit kamo? kasi iniisip natin na laging wala nang patutunguhan ang buhay natin dito sa pilipinas. minsan na akong nangarap na lisanin ang bansang aking sinilangan. subalit kapalaran na rin ang naghudyat na manatili ako sa bansang pilipinas. dito ko rin na pagtanto na mas maganda nalang na dito ako sa pilipinas. napakarami pang mga bagay na dapat tuklasin sa ating bansa.

hindi kailangang mabulag sa kung ano ang nakikita sa telebisyon dahil mas madami pa ang maibibigay ng bansa para sa atin.

nakita ko ito sa isang blog entry ng aking kaibigan. pagkatapos kong makita at marinig ang video na ito masasabi ko na i'm proud to be filipino. halika panoorin natin ito.

fist activity: to be holy and dialect struggle

2006-08-31T20:44:00.000-07:00

after an over flowing crab festival. we took our time to rest. the whole travel was really tiring. at the same time, we took our shower for our fist activity in the province.

attend an anticipated mass... com'on, we're still good guys, or should i say, my friends are, except me. i think i 'm the black sheep in the group. so we went to a really nice church. a tourist will really be surprised to see a very elegant church in the middle of a rural place. the altar was exquisitely done with gold plated designs.

the first challenge... hear mass in masbateno. a mix of visayan and bicol dialect.

understanding the whole mass was really a struggle. but i must commend the priest for making the homily very interesting. he used annecdotes and words that were easy to comprehend! at the end of the mass, i feel holy... or it was just me.

A great adventure over the weekend

2006-08-30T02:19:00.000-07:00

I really love to travel. If I have the means, I'd do it as often as possible. One great possibility happened last weekend. I visited the province of masbate.

my very close friends, a newly found friend and I met up at a bus terminal in cubao. our first task: take a bus 11hr bus ride to bicol! we left cubao at 9pm and reached legazpi city at 8 saturday morning. yes, it was a pretty long ride... but we used it for catching up with each other and quite a bit of resting.the active mayon volcano at the background

when we reached legazpi... we had a good view of mayon volcano. the top was covered with, I think, ash-clouds. but the shape of the volcano was really defined. we took picutres of it... knowing that we can't miss the opportunity. after the photo shoot session we had breakfast at mcdonalds in metro gaisano legaspi... an irony.. we went out of our way to bicol just to eat at a fastfood located in almost every corner in metro manila and a mall which is just a 15min drive from my office.
after our breakfast we took a shuttle to another town, pilar, to catch a boat ride. and the this ride was something... at the start of the travel the waves was bearable. I can still feel my head attached to my neck... but when we reached the middle of the sea... my head started to have a mind of its own.. then the steward gave out plastic bags if in any case anyone vomited. I had to get a plastic bag myself. I don't want to make a mess in an airconditioned boat. I decided to just sleep my way through the wavy travel rather than vomit.

then I woke up just 15mins away from the port.

when we arrived at the port, I wasn't wrong to expect a very rural place. when I say rural, its really rural. the city proper had small roads with sari-sari stores on the side streets. If it wasn't for the jolibee and landbank signages it would really be a "bukid" already. finally, we reached my friend's house! a simple house but with a very welcoming mom and sister. Mommy and sister, welcomed us to their humble house. and the minute we arrived, a very distinct smell flew around the house... a smell i've been longing for the longest time... CRABS! my comfort food! true enough we had a very hefty shrimp and beef tapa late lunch..

hello... it's raining.... use an umbrella

2006-08-14T19:43:00.000-07:00

i didn't go straight to my office today. i had to pass by makati, first, to pick up a clearance for airing form from adboard, the project that i'm doing now. i had to take the shuttle in order to get to makati. at the same time, it was raining again. it wasn't a heavy rainy but it can get anyone wet in like five minutes under it.

on my way to the shuttle, i pass by a number of students on their way to the university. however, i noticed that there were guys who were walking on the side walk without umbrellas... i'm not really surprised since i grew up in a country where machismo was so important to every male species. but man, would you really think of machismo when its already raining? for crying out loud, use an umbrella... hindi yan nakakabakla!

for practical reasons, why would you want to get wet considering that you're going to class? it's such a hassle just to go through your day's load wet. imagine, attending your classes and your hair's dripping with water and your shirt is drenched. to make the situation worst, you'd probably be stationed in an airconditioned classroom. sige... magpakamatay ka sa lamig. using an umbrella won't kill you... it can even save you from all the hassles.

secondly, in this hard times, would you want to get sick? the rainy season is the easiest time to get a flu. due to constant changes in the weather everyone is prone to getting sick. more than that, medicines is getting more expensive everyday. not everyone has the luxury of money that can easily be disposed so take the extra step and carry an umbrella with you to prevent any sickness to happen.

lastly, don't give me that bull shit that umbrellas are so unfashionable! it's unfashionable to get wet, get sick and miss out so many things! man, there are a variety of colors, shapes and sizes of umbrellas for you to choose from. sm department store offers almost everything that you want; even 7/11 has their own line. but come to think of it, guys don't really need a "flamboyant" umbrella. a plain colored umbrella such as blue, black or white, would be just fine!

so man, in this time or rainy season, just grab an umbrella. forget that machismo thing... be practical! use an umbrella.... at ilang ulit ko bang dapat sabihin; hindi nakakabakla ang payong!

sugar coated

2006-08-09T22:49:00.000-07:00

i have been working for the past four years. i've gone through so many struggles in my career and personal life. there have been office over work load and personal plans that didn't come through. there are so many ups and downs as well, but thinking about it, i just have to deal with everything.

last night, i met up with my very close friends from college. they were the ones that i've been with ever since i entered college. i remember, back then, most of our activities are very superficial. this is mainly because most of our concerns were just school related. we did our responsibilities as students, go to classes, do assignments, have cheap lunch out and a lot more. but that was practically, what we've shared with each other... mostly good times.

however, seeing them last night was something different. i realized that we're no longer living a college life. we are sharing with each other ourlives, all that is happening, may it be good or bad. we are now in the real world, where everything around us is no longer specially sugar coated for us. everything is presented as it is.

our daily activities goes deeper and deeper and sharing it with very close friends is very important or else we'll break down anytime soon. we experience all the challenges that life has to offer. we take on responsibilities that are, yet, far beyond our capabilities, but since no one wants to take it, we are forced to do so. we now make decisions that can affect not only our immediate future but also the long term ones.

my friends and i are just ordinary guys. we're just a bunch of dreamers who wants to attain something. i guess, as we dream, there are struggles that we have to face... it may be hard for us to over come but we have to go through about it to make us stronger! but sometimes, it's very tempting to say na sana... college nalang ako para everything is sugar coated!

technology and my mom

2006-08-07T20:25:00.000-07:00

i love the wonders of technology. having my parents and two siblings based in the states, we don't have any means of communication but the telephone and of course YM.

just a few days ago, i was having a video conference with them. they had so many stories to tell since they just visited the niagara falls and manhattan. as my sister would always tell me, she finally saw the united states of america... just by seeing downtown new york.

anyway, as we were having our usual conversations, my mom suddenly shouted at my siblings asking them to stop playing around. hearing that specific sound, only my mom could do, made me realized how i missed my mom around. you know the feeling that when you get up in the morning, you'll suddenly hear a voice ordering you to do this and to do that... i missed that specific instance... my mom always does that whenever i stay in our house in the province or whenever she comes and visits us in manila.

but then again, i'm glad i don't get to hear that everyday, now! hehehe... don't get me wrong, i love my mom so much; and i can proudly say that i am a mama's boy... i think most boys are, even if we, more often than not, deny the fact! i miss her so much, yes, but hehehe.. i guess i am in that age where living outside my mom's house is very ideal. well technically, its more of away from my mom because i still live in their condo. i think i just have to move on.. and live my life on my own...

but surely, a mom's loving messages and cuddles won't be bad once in awhile .. but for the meantime let's settle with what we have... video conferencing over YM. i miss you mom... hope i can visit you sometime soon!

best decision

2006-08-07T02:47:00.000-07:00

chi, sem. mark, and me!

yesterday's event is something new to me. it isn't the same sunday masses that i've attended in the past. aside from hearing mass, i witnessed an important event in my friend's life, a celebration of his "admission to candidacy."admission to candidacy is the first step to priesthood. in this celebration, a guy is being recognized by the catholic community as a seminarian who will eventually become a priest. now, my friend is officially a seminarian; but just to add more prestige to his studies, he is taking his classes in spain.

to be honest, i never thought that one of my friends would actualy go into priesthood. don't get me wrong, my friends and i are not bad people. although, i must admit that we are more on the goodie good side. but then again, priesthood would really be far from what anyone would expect. however, seeing him at the alter and how the event has turned out, i can say that he is obviously happy. i believe, he really made the best decision.

looking at this event, it made me realized the importance of making a decision. going to the seminary is no easy decision. it's practically preparing one's self to be offered to god and live a life of celibacy. but my friend made that decision... to be god's army and live a celibate life.

i wonder how i will make my own best decision?

i've been a planner of my life. i tried to think about things; ponder about the pros and cons of all the decisions that i have to make. i have this notion that i should make good decisions so as not to waste time, money and effort. unfortunately, most of the major plans and decisions that i made did not happen and went to waste, respectively. for the past few months, i've been sick and tired of planning my life, deciding whether i want to do something good or great for my self. it made me feel tired to think about all these things. as a result, i didn't have the drive to do anything even my work.

parang... wala namang pupuntahan eh. nakakapagod lang. 'wag nalang mag-isip. i told myself that i will just accept things as they come. siguro ganon na nga lang.. but seeing my friend yesterday has opened my eyes, a bit, i guess. i suddenly felt scared of what i saw. i am afraid to waste more time, money and effort on something that i planned and decided on. i am afraid of what this new decision will bring me.

bahala nalang siguro si batman... at least now, i am sure that i have someone who'd pray for me...mas malakas naman sila sakin eh.

i'm happy for my friend! congratulations mark! I'll see you on your next celebrations!

siguro bakasyon nga

2006-07-19T23:39:00.000-07:00

may mga araw na talagang kahit anong gawin ko na pagtulak sa aking sarili upang gumawa ng aking trabaho ay patuloy pa rin akong nabibigo. ewan ko ba, maganda naman ang trabaho ko at higit sa lahat gusto ko ang ginagawa ko. pero may mga araw na umaatake kung saan tinatawag ang buo kong katawan ng katamaran.

magdadalawang taon na ako sa trabaho kong ito. masaya kung ituturing ang kultura ng kompnya na aking pinagtatrabauhan. nasa kabataan pa ang eded ng aking mga kasamahan kaya pwedeng sabin na magaan ang pakiramdam ng aming opesina. marami rin akong natututunan. dahil nga lumipat na ako ng kompanya, mula sa isang traditional advertising agency, nandito na ako ngayon sa isang interactive advertising agency. maraming bago akong natututunan, mula sa mga proseso ng paggawa ng kung anu-ano hanggang sa pakikitungo sa iba't-ibang tao.

iniisip ko na ang aking katamaran ay dahil na rin sa panahon ngayon. umuulan araw-araw. pagdating ng gabi masarap matulog pagkatapos magshower. at pagdating ng umaga, napakahirap namang gumising dahil nga malamig-lamig na ang klima. dahil dito nadadala ko na ata ang katamaran maging sa aking trabaho.

pero parang hindi... parang may pagdududa sa aking kaisipan.

parang iba ang tinatawag ng aking kaisipan. parang gusto ng ibang gawain. pang break the ice kung baga. pakiramdam ko, gusto lang magbakasyon ng aking katawan. siguro yun lang. isang magandang bakasyon na malayo sa lahat ng aking ginagawa araw-araw para naman magbago ang takbo ng aking dugo.

tamad

2006-06-26T19:52:00.000-07:00

grabe... today is a very tamad day. i woke up 5:30am, my usual wake up time. but when my alarmed clock rang... i was so lazy to stand and prepare my self to the gym. i ended up sleeping untill almost 7am.

i arrived at my office 8:30am and still feel lazy to do anything. its already 10:52am and still so lazy to do any work! man, i need a break! hahaha kapal ng mukha! wala pa nga na gagawa break na agad ang hinahanap!

oh well bahala nalang si batman!

buti na lang

2006-06-12T18:28:00.000-07:00

last week i had my balikbayan friends over at our house. they stayed there the whole week to check out places here in manila. unfortunately, i was not able to join them in most gimiks due to my untimely work load. good thing, my brother was there to accompany them.

anyways, i had a good discussion with them in one of the few gimiks that i joined. it was a good a discovery for me. why? becuase it has been an eye opener-a realization on why god has chosen me to be in the philppines.

a few years ago, like any filipinos, i have dreamed of working in the US. this is mainly because my parents and siblings are already based there. definitely, the logical thing to do was to join them. then, i got my working permit from the US immigration. but when i went to the US embassy in manila, my working permit got denied for reasons that i don't understand. i felt devastated. i had planned my life and it never happened.

then i joined an interactive advertising agency here in the philippines that had changed my perspective in advertising. i learned that there were more things to do than tv, radio and print. everyday had been a learning experience for me. what made me appreciate staying in the philippines more were the situation of the other filipinos in my parent's place in the US. everyone got very comfortable with their situations that they didn't look for any room to improve themselves. even the usual discussions revolved only in cars and the party someone attended. i felt bad to know how shallow their lives have been. looking far from it, i could have been one of them.

i thought it was good to find your own comfort zone. it could give you space to do whatever you wanted. but somewhere along the way it gets boring and stagnant. you tend to look for other things. it was a good thing that i never had to experience to work in the US. i appreciate whatever i have right now. i learn more things. not to menion, i have all the indepence most people my age are longing for! buti nalang!

weird

2006-05-24T20:25:00.000-07:00

it just feels weird to have a discussion with someone whom i used to date...

i just realized that. as i am writing this entry, i am having a chit-chat with her. hehehe... its just weird 'coz it seems that nothing happened... technically, nothing really happened but flashes of the things we've shared keep on coming back.

i am not sure if we are just being civil with each other or it's just the right thing to do since we don't have grudges for each other. .. well i really don't know... again its weird!

can i just die now?

2006-02-22T00:47:00.000-08:00

there are times that i don't really feel like thinking about anything. in my case now, thinking of my life. i just realized that i don't want to plan my life anymore. it just makes me feel sad if things doesn't go as planned. so i guess, starting to day, i will not plan anything. i will just welcome whatever crosses my path.

but for now, can i just die now?! just a result of my long term plan that just fell in the ditch.

i don't need to explain but i have to

2006-02-09T02:40:00.000-08:00

i grew up in a middle income family. my dad worked as an engineer at a chemical company and my mom was a teacher at a state university. my family lived a very simple lifestyle. we got to try everything but thats about it. i guess my parents knew that we have the right to experience anything that life can offer but only to the extent that they can afford.

i remember my family used to travel to laguna, mindoro, cavite, and manila. there, we traveled. i knew there were other provinces in the country but those were the only places that we can afford; still we weren't deprived to travel. my siblings and i had toys but not the remote control ones; still we enjoyed our younger years. another thing, whenever we had shrimps for dinner, we had to count them first and distribute it equally so that everyone would be able to eat it. and still, we had the chance to try an expensive food. lastly, my siblings and i had the best education we could ever had. we all studied in exclusive schools. when i say exclusive, it means the most expensive ones. but this was only made possible because my parents prepared for it, we had college educational plans.

then again, looking at all these, people still perceived us as wealthy. i don't kn0w why.

now i am experiencing all the fruits of this wrong perception. the fact that its just me and my brother here in the country, people think that my parents are showering us with US dollars. how i wish! but its not. i am, actually, having a hard time to budget the money that i have to make ends meet. i just wish people will accept it; that when i say i don't have money, i really don't have money.

i don't think i should be explaining about this but i guess i just have. wala talaga eh...

quarter

2006-01-31T22:52:00.000-08:00

this is why i hate doing nothing in the office. it makes me think of things that i shouldn't be thinking of!

while having my breathing session with my officemate, i started to think of what i should be doing in my life. to put things in the proper context, i am turning 25 this year. and yes, i believe i am undergoing my "quarter life crisis."

all of a sudden, i have realized that i should be doing something that could help me sustain my future... like a simple business that can give me, more or less, a stable income. man... this is making me feel old already...

how i wish i'm still in college and just worry about my exams, papers and professors...

hay... bahala na lang si batman!

new look

2006-01-26T23:23:00.000-08:00

i have changed my blog's look. well, i only used the tempate available since i don't have any idea how to create any html.

my blog's new look is to celebrate the chinese new year... the year of the fire dog! nope. i am not chinese but i do celebrate this event with our chinese friends. i have circles for money to come this year!

well, i am just hoping for good fortune this year....

yapi new year!

pandora

2006-01-24T18:37:00.000-08:00

good finds!

hmmm.... let me start something new with this blog... i have been writing blogs for more than a year now and i haven't done anything good yet. oh well, from this time on, i will have a column on things that i find anywhere: a store where i bought something really nice, a restaurant that has great food, a club or bar that i went to, a website i recently visited and etc.

for my first entry, i am featuring a new site that a friend of mine recommended.

WWW.PANDORA.COM

pandora.com is a music portal where you can manage your favorite artist or genre the way you want it. the best thing about it is that it recommends other artists and songs that have have the same characteristic as the one you've initially entered. because of this you learn more about that specific genre.

go ahead... try it.

don't feel like

2006-01-24T18:20:00.000-08:00

there are days that i don't feel like working; and this is one of them.

first of all, the weather is very gloomy; it's raining. i don't bring a car to the office so i really have to bare the wet surroundings as i go to my office. secondly, the fact that it's raining it makes me feel lazier. my body doesn't want to move at all. my brain is telling my body to move but my muscles are ignoring all the messages. lastly, my load in the office is not yet heavy. in fact, i have nothing to do yet. my clients haven't called so things are really slow as of the moment.

man, i'd love to just stay in my room, sleep more and read a good book.

oh well, i have no choice but stay in the office and wait for my clients to call me.

let's jump

2005-11-24T17:42:00.000-08:00

a few weeks ago, i had an interesting discussion with my officemates. we were talking about relationships. quiet interesting, i say, because it wasn't the usual "kilig" stories that i've heard before.

it all started with a question, "would you stay in a 5-year relationship if you feel bored in it?"

of course my officemates, had their own opinions about the the topic. but then, what struck me most was what my boss said; "it really doesn't matter on how long the couple has been in the relationship. it can be 1, 3, 5 years and so on and people can still be together, get married and have their own family or break the relationship in any given time and be enimies for the rest of their lives. it still boils down to when the couple are ready to jump."

ready to jump

ready to jump

ready to jump

then it hit me!

that's the sign. that's the word. that's the action that one has to do.

one has to jump if he or she is ready to take the extra step, go up the ladder, take risk and ready to face all the consiquences that might come along the way.

here i go again... thinking... am i really redy to jump and face new consequences?

jumping does not only constitute the concept of relationship but all facets that needs to move on to the next level.

it's just a matter of knowing when to jump. but then again, it is also taking the risk. therefore, no matter how ready or not one is... just jump. baka masakit or pwede rin namang hindi.

like i always say " bahala na lang si batman."

kaya tara na and let's jump!

sakit ng ulo

2005-06-15T18:54:00.000-07:00

sabi nila, ang tao daw walang pagod sa pag-asam ng higit pa sa kung anong meron sya. patuloy na nangangarap sa kung anong wala siya. ang mga amerikano ang gusto beach, mainit na weather at pagiging tan. ang mga pilipino naman ang gusto snow, malamig na weather at pagpapaputi. people look for their anti-thesis and thereby making their lives more complicated.

pag-uwi ko galing amerika, pinayagan ako ng aking mga magulang na magpaka-bum nalang. ang sarap kung iisipin di ba? kaya yun ang ginawa ko. buong buwan ng july hindi ako nagtrabaho. wala akong ginawa kung hindi mag-gym, kumain, manood ng TV, at magbasa ng libro. naging patabain akong baboy sa aming bahay. pero hindi ko ito kinaya. hindi ko na matagalan na hindi umaandar ang utak ko. gusto kong magulo ang takbo ng utak ko. makalipas ang isang buwan, naghanap ako ng trabaho. in short, naghanap ako ng sakit ng ulo.

nagkita ako ng trabaho kaagad sa isang medium size na advertising agency. Agensya na na naman, oo, pero iba ito. hindi ko pinagsisisihan ang paghahanap ko ng sakit ng ulo. in fact, i learned so many new things when i joined this new agency. i don't think i'll be able to learn these things in a traditional agency. ang galing, naghanap ako ng sakit ng ulo pero may natutunan akong bago.

ngayon, kontento na ako sa nangyayari sa buhay ko.
masaya.
masaya nga ba?
oo naman!
pero bakit parang may kulang?
ano?
ewan!

lumabas ako kasama ng aking kaibigan... kasama ko dati sa org. wala lang. nagkayayaan lang... isang dare. pero nag-enjoy ako. kakaibang enjoy... wholesome na enjoy. dinner tapos tiramisu cake. mahilig kami sa cake nung kasama ko. nasundan pa ng iba pang pagkikita. halos linggo-linggo, halos three times a week. bukod pa dito may mga text messages araw-araw at gabi-gabi. kakaibang kasiyahan pagkasama ko sya. sya lang kasi ang natutuwa sa mga corny kong jokes.

bakit ko ba sinasabi ito?
wala lang.
hindi.

kasi ok na ako ngayon at eto na naman ako. pumapasok sa isang bagay na alam kong gusto ko at masisiyahan ako pero maaring maging sakit din ng ulo. another step to make my life a little more complicated.

gusto ko ba talaga?
oo.
sigurado na ba ako?
hindi.

kaibigan kasi. ayan, nagsisimula na ang komplikasyon. hindi malinaw kung p'wede na lumampas sa pagiging magkaibigan. it's hard to see if the feeling will be reciprocated favorably or it will be the end of a really good friendship. ok na magkaibigan... pero bakit humihingi pa ng mas sobra pa dun.

we can't really say how far we can go to look for something that we don't have. because once we attained something, we keep on wanting for more or our anti-thesis. therefore, making ourlives more complicated, by choice. however, going after of what we don't have makes us stronger and wiser no matter the consiquences are.

siguro nga dapat ipagpatuloy nalang. bahala nalang si batman...sumakit na ang ulo kung sumakit.

safety from the head of the state

2005-04-24T22:38:00.000-07:00

i was on my way home yesterday when i passed by this rushing police motorcylces followed by three vans then a long black (i think mercedez) car. then i realized that it was the president's official car and her entourage. it didn't bother me to see so these vehicles escorting the president to wherever she was going. what bothered me last night was the fact that they did't think of the safety of the people and other drivers on the road with them.

here's the situation. it was around 7:30pm near jose rizal university. it was a sunday, but surprisingly there was more people and jepneeys than the usual. at the same time, the lighting in this area is not really good, it was dark. if you're a driver you'll be blinded by the lights of other cars passing your way and in short you'll not have a good view of the road. then, here comes the president and her entourage rushing like hell as if three hours late on her next appointment, worst, occupying the counter lane.

what am i trying to say here? all i want to point out was that as the president of the country she should be the one to set a good example for filipinos to follow rules and regulation, say, for as simple as traffic regulations. they should be courtious enough to slow down on a very busy area where there is a high possibility of having an accident. she can rush to anywhere she wants to go if its for national security . but it was just an ordinary day, why not just follow simple rules and experience whatever ordinary filipinos experience everyday, traffic.

following the rules and thinking of the safety of the people around should be prioritized. good for the president she has her entourage to make sure that nothing happens to her. but how about the people that put her in that position? did her entourage ever thought of protecting the safety of these people as well? i guess not because they were rushing like hell.

i don't want to sound like i hate the president because i don't. i know she's doing her job as best as she could. but following traffic rules and regulations is very simple than following the constitutions of the country. if the president herself can not exert an effort to follow these regulations how do we expect ordinary filipinos following it?

safety should always be on top of our task/responsibility list. this is how i see it, we can pay and buy everything around us. but we can never pay or buy the life of any person.

state of amazement

2005-03-09T15:16:00.000-08:00

i dont know if you've ever had an experience wherein you feel amazed on what you see, your present situation or as simple as how you feel things. as for me i had.

i first experienced this when i arrived at houston international airport. i just can't believe that i am acutally out of the country and all types of races around me. take note they all speak eanglish and i see green money being used! i never thought that i would ever experience that. in the first place i never thought that i would even go there.

when i got back in the philippines. my amazement to all sort of things became so frequent. i don't know. i guess this time i just see the wonder of things around me even in the simplest way.

when i drive around in manila, i am amazed with how, horrible, great, and skilled filipino drivers are. don't ask me why. i just do.

i am also amazed in simple situations as walking along emerald ave. and see different people, call center crowd, yuppy wannabees, head of companies, rich wannabees, and most of all the likes of myself - the i don't care what's happening around me crowd. wala lang, its just something new that i see everyday.

i guess, the changes that had happened to me in the past few months had opened my eyes to the reality that my life is actually moving, may it be forward or backward. that no matter how i tried to control things around me things just happen. i may be able to control some but more often than not things are uncontrolable. i guess thats the only time when i'm in the state of amzement.

I miss them

2005-01-06T18:59:00.000-08:00

when i first learned that my parents were planning to move to the States. i said to myself, "wow, this is so great!" imagine, no parents to bug me whenever i'm out for a gimmik; i don't have to give money to the house as my share of expenses; and most of all, i can live on my own. i'll have my own independence.

then my parents left. june 11, 2002, two days after my graduation. since then, i lived with my two brothers. since i'm the eldest i'm always in power... i must admit that i'm really having fun right now - i have my indepence.

last december 24, 2004 5:30 in the morning (philippine time), i got a call from my parents. they sounded very happy. for the first time in three years, i heard my parents, especially my mom, saying, "Anak ang saya saya namin dito". they told us it was snowing in mcallen, texas, a place where winter doesn't have snow. they were very happy seeing the snow fall from the sky. it was my mom's greatest dream.... to see snow falling down on her. she tought she would never see one since living in the States has never been an option for us. i did not pay attention on what they were saying, i just woke up.

just this afternoon, i recieved an email from my sister. she sent me pictures during their "white christmas". they were having fun playing on and with the snow. then i saw one picture. my world stopped. i felt my eyes was about to pour gallons of water.

i saw my parents standing beside our car.... while snow falls down on them. it is only now that i realized how important this experience for them. they were very happy. i could see an unexplanable happiness.

Now, i wish i was with them. i wish i was there to experience one of the happiest moment in their lives. i wish i had not experienced the independence that i had if i only knew that this was what i had to miss.

i miss my momsie and popsie dearly.

a rainy morning

2004-09-16T18:30:00.000-07:00

ahhhhhhh...... waking up in the morning is sometimes so hard specially now that the BER months has already started and, somehow, in my imagination, its getting a bit colder. Moreover, waking up in a rainy morning is even harder; cold breeze, gloomy atmosphere and above all... tamad mood. But no, instead of just staying in my room and spend the whole day sleeping, watching TV and reading books.... i have to get up and prepare for office. do my other responsibilities just to make some bucks. oh well, that's how life goes. no matter how hard we want to be just a simple couch potato person we have to move on with our lives and make ourselves more productive.

hard to say

2004-08-29T21:35:00.000-07:00

looking back at what i have done and how i lasted in the past, i can say i am enjoying my status as single! wala lang. i just feel free and lesser responsibility. but the question is, what if someone is there....knocking? will i entertain?

it's so hard to say... it feels good when we're with each other. wala lang... exchanging stories, visiting new places, eating out, watching movies... the mere fact of spending time with each other's company.

lost in the wilderness again or simply ignoring the possibility of something greater? taking a risk or losing something i have been accustomed? hard to say...........

Continuous Change

2004-08-26T18:45:00.000-07:00

i have enjoyed my younger years. this is somthing that i can be proud of. i have been able to play in an open field and be under the sun for the whole day; Go to school but don't attend my classes due to theater practices; be independent in the chaotic world of Metro Manila while my parents were in the province. i've completely have enjoyed it.

However, time has passed by. I am now in, what they call, the "real world"; facing real problems; playing with my client's money; and most of all completely "responsible" of all the actions that i make. i'm 23 and a mistake can put me to jail in no time. thank God i haven't been in that situation yet. i love not having responsibilities and things to think about. this is really a change for me. i'm afraid of change.

“my girlfriend”

2004-07-23T01:41:00.000-07:00

when people ask me if ihave a girlfriend, i always answer “wala” (none) or “wala pa” (none yet). ironically, i also ask the same question to myself. weird… but what is so weird about me that I still couldn’t find someone who will reciprocate the love that I can possibly give?

i had my share of heartaches. i’ve cried twice. one, from a girl whom i thought can give me the love that i wanted and two, from a girl whom i loved so much but lost the patience waiting for me. i’ve also wasted an opportunity to experience how to love and be loved by a girl.

but looking at my past, i’ve suddenly realized that I have a problem when it comes to relationships. first, i value friendship more than anything else. I was afraid that my relationship with a girl friend would be stained by a “selfish” motive that i have. i was afraid to ask for something more than being friends. second, i have so many insecurities that bothered me. there were so many “what ifs…” in my mind that kept on troubling me every time i like someone, mainly because i like older and, sometimes, attached girls. third, i don’t want to be in a complicated situation and get tied up just because I am in a relationship. I always have a plan for myself. I got used to just thinking of myself - not having to think about someone else. last, i am afraid of regections and getting hurt, no need for explanations. But then again… it only boils down to… I am afraid of being in a relationship.

Another lost moment in the wilderness of the real world. however, come to think of it, it is true that no man is an island. why have i asked my self that question if i want to be alone. It is only now that it struck me that I don’t want to be alone; I cannot be alone. I want someone to be with me to recieve my love, love me back and experience everything that goes along with it. So I hope the next time that I’ll be asked if I have a girlfriend I’ll answer, “this is ____________, my girlfriend.”

everything that i look for...but

2004-06-24T01:14:00.000-07:00

i never thought that in the very secluded place of the rio grande valley i will find someone so special. she is everything.

on our first encounter, i never thought that we will have that instant connection. it felt like we already knew each other for the longest time and that encounter was one of our usual conversation. but it was not; it was just our first.

the second time, it was more than a usual conversation. it felt like, i just want to be with her even if we don't talk. just being around her is something that i can't describe - something special but i can't.

we had other encounters and even went out with our group of friends and i can say that was one of my best moments in US. but i can't.... why i can't? she has a boyfriend!

leaving the rio grande valley

2004-06-21T00:45:00.000-07:00

i was very excited spend my holidays in a different land. this is my first trip outside the country and the first time that i will have a stamp on my pasport. i was expecting to see something that were shown in most american movies. so i left the philippines on december 2004 with my hopes so high.

i arrived at mcallen international airport at 10:30am the following day (it's due to change of timezones). my family was there to pick me up. i was surprised to see something that had never crossed my mind.... flat bare pieces of lands welcoming me! i can't believe my eyes were seeing this. i hardly saw nice structure of buildings... acutally, there were only three buildings which are located in the heart of the city so i didn't see those on my way home from the airport. i told my self, "am i really in the united states of america?" the only thing that made me realize that i'm really in the states was a big american flag in one of the automobile stores or else i would have thought that i was in mexico. its literally a valey.

but having stayed here for almost six months, it gave me the opportunity to discover the beauty of this place. i can now say that i enjoy eating mexican food. i love barbaccua and fajita (not sure if it's the right spelling). i have also discovered enjoyment in clubbing... dancing with pretty mexicans and getting wild the whole night. another activity that was so new to me was driving for almost an hour and a half without traffic just to go to a club or a house and hangout.

the filipino community here was also great with never ending parties and made up gatherings. they always came up with different types of occassions just to have an excuse to see each other. almost every week there were parties held on whoever's house. most of all, the never ending supply of pancit bihon and lumpiang shanghai.

i'm not sure if i'll be back at the rio grande valley but i will definitely miss this place. just a few days more and goodbye rio grande!

new hobby.... so as not to be stupid

2004-06-17T09:22:00.000-07:00

if there's one thing that i have learned in my vacation here in texas, it would be cooking! for the past six months of being in "spring break," i have nothing to do but cook. now, i know how to bake cakes, i have perfected my oreo cheesecake, and most of all making ube halaya or what they call here the "purple yum"

this new hobby started out of boredom from just watching HBO, Cinemax, Disney Channel, VH1, MTV, TBS, ABC, FOX, OH, Bravo, We, Discovery channel, HGTV, and most of all the Mexican tv shows for the whole day. how exciting, imagine, just watching the TV for the whole day and doing nothing! NOT! i thought bumming around would really be fun because i'll be doing what ever i want and not thinking of any responsibilities that i have. but i was completely wrong. it's nerve wracking, mainly because i no longer use my brain.

coming from the crazy world of philippine advertising a change of environment would be really great but only to an extent. i can't help my self but do some other things. and this is why i am into cooking... so as not to be stupid.

i realized..... i like her

2004-06-16T01:44:00.000-07:00

i went out again... i thought last saturday would be my last gimmik but i was lucky enough to go out again even if i have work later. yes, i went home early in the morning again.

what's so special with tonight's clubbing that i just couldn't say no. aside from the fact that i'm a few days away from my departure and i just wana make the most of what's left for me but also because someone asked me to go out with her... well yah, not just with her but also with our friends.

This is the girl that i once told my friend, the very right apple for me. unfortunately, a guy has already picked her from the tree of great apples. so there, i'm left with hope and dreams of having her and making her a part of my life. i'm also left with the chance of just being with her at least for a night. more over, a chance to be her friend.

Friend again? i'm sick and tired of being a friend! why can't i be more than just a friend?"

but she is different. she saw me in a different light. she looked deep inside of me and not just what is upfront.

and we had a chat, a long chat. i accompanied her through a phone as she drove her way back to her place.

How ungentleman?!

we talked about her boyfriend. but it's ok. at least i had the chance to just talk to her and that's a big deal for me.

i don't love her!..... yet! i just like her. i like her because she's sweet, very family oriented, very responsible, very down to earth, and most all cute, everything that i want in a girl. i just like her.

not so excited

2004-06-14T22:27:00.000-07:00

i will be going back to the philippines after six months of staying in the US. but why do i feel this strange feeling? i am not too excited in going back to the country where i spent my whole life. on the other hand, i don't feel bad that i am leaving the country which i initially thought will only be just a dream.

it's weird. another lost moment in my life.

i left the philippines last december 26 under the impression that i will only spend my holidays in the US but i had more. i was asked to stay and try my luck in a foriegn land. so i resigned from my advertising job and checked my opportunity in the land of opportunities. i did get my chance but i will not tell you about it here. it's a different story.

anyways, things has been really great and very memorable. i've met different kinds of people and i've learned so many new things. at the same time, i have heard of the things that are happening in the philippines: the horrible national election as well as the never ending povery issues. both countries overwhelms me with different things. but i guess, i have reached that point of saturation where i just want to be in limbo and float.

this is what i feel right now, at the lost, therefore i'm not so excited.

trapped in love

2004-06-13T02:59:00.000-07:00

there's this one question that has always been at the back of my mind for quite a long time, "why do we always get trapped in love?"

it's already 4:48am, June 13, 2004, and i just got back from clubbing. it's my last time to be wild in the US so i took the chance and danced all night long. but in the midst of this great gimik is a scene from a couple who used to be in a relationship. it seems that the girl doesn't want to be with the guy anymore. unfortunately, it's too late for the guy to realize the importance of the girl in his life. a petty discussion occured but it was settled.

the irony in this situation is that why does a person has to stay in a relationship if the other party doesn't want to stay? when do you let go and when do you fight for what you believe is love? you get trapped. trapped because you got used to scenarios that you're always with each other and things will fall the way you planned it. but it doesn't happen.

i've had a big mistake in my life when i chose to let go of the person i loved the most because i prioritized my selfish dreams. and now i am trapped. trapped with the mistake that i have done. i should have fought for the love that i believed i had and still have on her.

i can't blame the guy if he's still trapped with his love for the girl. he has to fight for it because that's what he beleives in. i'm taking the side of the guy not because he is a guy and all guys should be on the same team but because i don't want him to end up with what i feel right now. a total failure for not doing any thing... it doesn't matter what the outcome will be at least the guy tried to do something.

you may be trapped in love because you are deeply in loved with another person but i think one should do something to turn the trapped idea into something that can make the relationship work better.