SAY CHEESE!!!

*from Edeh and Nia. Natawa ako after writing the first part... tsk, pwedeng i-feature sa "Gulong ng Palad"... bwahaha...


10 years ago: Grade 6 ako. Smooth sailing ang buhay. Editor ako ng school paper, active din sa academics, at may lablayp! Huwaaw!!! Themesong namin "Forevermore"... hehehe Kaya lang lagi ko sya inaaway... 'wawa nga yun eh... haay. Di bale, happy na yun ngayon with his girl. Good

5 years ago: Just graduated from high school. Confused between Journalism and Commerce. Chose the latter. Asar dahil walang naging college classmate mula sa high school crowd. Broken-hearted pagkat sa iba nakatingin ang lablayp... at balak pa akong isama sa mga lakad nila?! Shiyet! Oh well... *super friend* kasi ito... bata pa lang ako, *teacher* na ako (attn: Nia and Edi ). Uha, uha, uha...

1 year ago: Just graduated from college pero ayaw umalis ng USTe dahil merong hindi maiwanan... Kinasabwat ang mga tao para merong surprise birthday party ang lolo nyo. It turns out, bon voyage party ko na rin pala yun, dahil a week later ay merong isa - oops, dalawang malaking bomba na nagwasak sa puso ng reyna ng Morayta Republic.

yesterday: Magdamagang chismisan - este "strategic planning" - with Zar kaya naman 5am na kami natulog. 8am na yata kami nagising kaya 1030 na namin napuntahan yung school sa San Juan. This is my first time to market for Travel Earth. Nakatulong ang pagiging accommodating ng principal kaya hindi ako masyadong kinabahan. Nagliwaliw konti sa Shangri-La Plaza at SM Megamall, final stop ang office sa QC. Nakatulog ako sa sofa habang nanonood sila ng pelikula ni Dina Bonnevie sa Pinoy Box Office.

tomorrow: Exam ko sa Allied Bank.

---

5 snacks I enjoy:
- fishball / squidball / kikiam / tukneneng / isaw
- hot pan de sal na may palamang butter o cheese
- 1-piece chicken meal sa KFC - breast or thigh part please
- cheeseburger meal ng McDo - Go Big Time please
- french fries sa Wendy's

5 bands/artists that I know the lyrics to most of their songs:
- Eraserheads
- The Corrs
- Savage Garden
- Bread
- No Doubt

5 things I would do with $100,000,000:
- mag-reserve ng pang-tuition sa law school
- malamang may matira pa, mag-MA kaya ako sa Economics?
- bumili ng lupa for the parental units - magpatayo ng bahay dun at farm na rin
- kukunin ko yung lola ko at pamangkin sa province para sa amin na sila tumira
- I'm gonna get my sis a Mac, a digicam, and an MP3 player

5 locations I would like to run away to:
- Caleruega
- Vigan
- Korea
- A. Rodriguez, Pasig City...! (to see Kaith)
- Banawe, QC or Sta. Cruz, Manila (to see Mei)

5 bad habits I have:
- manghampas (ika nga ni Tupe, pag kausap mo 'ko, layo ka ng isang metro... hehehe )
- magmura (in fairness, nababawasan na sya )
- lumalabo ang mata kaya hindi makita ang sign na "Keep Off the Grass Somewhere Down the Road"
- unnecessary worrying
- madaling mag-init ang ulo sa ilang bagay-bagay

5 things I like doing:
- dabbling with the computer, whether for blogging or designing
- reading
- "strategic planning" with Zar, o simpleng pakikipagchismisan lang with friends
- gumala (well, it's my job di ba... )
- sleeping (this is becoming one of my favorite things these past few days)

5 things I will never wear (or wear again):
- Yung bitin kong blue shirt... kahit gano pa sya ka-cute. Napapahamak ako pag suot ko yun eh. Dami kasing gago sa paligid eh.
- Yung pants ko na ka-pair nung shirt na yun that *hateful* day. Well... I guess I could still wear it basta mahaba-haba yung pantaas ko.
- Yung doll shoes ko. Masusuot ko pa ba ang butas na? Need to buy another one.
- Yung sleeveless kong chinese collar. Sikip na eh. Sayang, blue pa naman yun.
- Yung college uniform ko... duh (hehe, la na ako maisip eh).

5 TV shows I like(d):
- Attic Cat (my other name is Noreen... haha... meow! )
- Save the Last Dance For Me (and the OST is excellent, too! )
- Oh Feel Young (disappointing lang yung last episode, walang kwenta! )
- Great Teacher Onizuka (aaw, I miss this guy! )
- Woman in Love (this was aired in Arirang TV two years ago. Miss ko na rin si Dong-Hi saka si Kyung-ju! )

5 movies I like:
- My Sassy Girl (duh... kelangan pa bang i-memorize yan?!)
- Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon
- Bridget Jones' Diary
- Titanic (kahit anong version)
- Mulan

5 people I'd like to meet (alive or dead):
- Jose Rizal. Tingnan nga natin kung gwapo ba... daming girls nito eh.
- Yung mga kababaihan ni Rizal esp Leonor Rivera. Marami akong chismis na lilinawin
- Ferdinand and Imelda Marcos
- my great grandfather, Leoncio Ibarra
- my Tabulas friends na hindi ko pa nami-meet in person... uy, marami-rami yun ah!

5 biggest joys at the moment:
- nakapag-net ulit ako
- nakatulog ako ng matagal
- nakapasa ako sa screening sa Allied Bank kahit mukhang choosy yung HR
- may moment ako with *dadi* - not today, may hangover lang ako
- nakapag-usap uli kami ng long-lost sis kong si Kaith

5 favorite toys:
- si Zar... bwahaha...
- yung tropa sa Travel Earth... lalo na pagkatapos ng tour at sharing na ng mga kagaguhang nangyari for the day
- yung sibs ko... hehehe...
- my blog
- my camera

5 people that I pick to do this thing:
Meron pa bang natitira? Parang ako na lang yung hindi pa nakakasagot nito eh...

Everything
Edward Chun
OST - Save the Last Dance for Me


I am thinking of you today and everything that you are
I am caring for you today
Though tomorrow we'll have to part
And all these memories I hold
Someday might grow cold
But today you're everything, oh, to me
Oh, you are everything to me...

All the times that we've had
Through the good and the bad
Though I don't want to care
I remember every moment we shared
Though we said we'd be together
Tomorrow, tonight and forever
In the back of my mind, in the back of my mind
Oh, I fear I will lose you to time
But today you're everything, oh, to me
Oh, you are everything to me
You are everything

Now someday I'll be telling you lies
To hide these feelings inside
And I know I'll confuse you
When the truth is that I just don't want to lose you
Oh time - you left me on my own
My time - with no place to turn
Your time - as the coils unwind
Our time - you are always on my mind

So remember these days
'Cause the here and now, oh time will never change
And oh God, wish this moment could last
But at sunrise it'll all be in the past
And as the moon shines down its light
I'm so scared to let go of you tonight
Though I'll try to forget
Oh, I will never ever regret
That tonight you're everything, oh, to me
Oh, you are everything to me
Tonight you're everything to me
Oh, you are everything to me
You are everything, oh girl
Oh, you are everything, my love...

Kumbaga sa sulat eh postscript ang naging pagkakakilala namin ni Tupe - isa sya sa mga bagong recruit na student assistant noon sa OFAD pag-graduate ko. Natawa nga ako dyan kasi akalain nyo ba naman, nung nagkakilala kami, tinapos namin ang araw na ekonomiya ng Pilipinas ang pinagdidiskusyunan! Hindi ko na matandaan ang iba pang detalye nung nasa getting-to-know stage pa lang kami nyan, basta ang alam ko ay punung-puno yon ng tawanan at chismisan. Nung una nga eh nagkomento syang meron raw akong kamukha na classmate nya noon - at ang nakakatawa nito, meron din syang kamukhang ex-classmate ko. Bilang resulta, ang naging tawagan namin ay Kathleen (kaklase nya) at Martin (kaklase ko).

Mabait na bata yan kahit puro lang kami gaguhan - ika nga nya, wala kasing nagkakapikunan kahit puro kasamaan at panlalait ang lumalabas sa aming mga bibig. Paborito ko ngang gawan yan ng testimonial sa Friendster eh, puro pang-aalaska lang. Bentang-benta naman sa kanya...

Tats din ako dyan kasi minsang nakatambay kami dun sa P10 (a stall located at I. delos Reyes Street, just off P. Noval) eh nagulat na lang ako nung bigla syang may ibinigay sa akin na parang pouch na kulay black (oo na, Calvin Klein na yun... sige ipagmalaki mo pa! ). Malapit na kasi yung birthday ko nun, yun daw ang gift nya. Tats talaga ako lalo na't ilang weeks pa lang kaming magkakilala nun... medyo teary-eyed pa nga ako nun eh (OA! Haha! ). Yung pouch na yun ay isa sa mga pinakaiingat-ingatan kong gamit sa ngayon.

Nakakatawa rin nung gabing pauwi na kami't nilalakad ang kahabaan (at kadiliman) ng España. Kinukwento kasi nya yung "panaginip" nya kung saan biglang may dumukwang sa kanyang lalaking nakakurbata... sa sobrang takot namin ni Zar ay nagsipagtakbuhan kami, sabay nakakita pa kami ng isang sako na may lamang kung ano sa loob... nang biglang gumalaw ang sako at umungol ang mga nasa loob ay napatili ako (pusa pala yung nasa loob... kawawa nga eh). Sumakit yung tyan namin sa katatawa, pero grabe, hiningal ako dun ah.

Sandali lang kaming nagsama sa OFAD, nagka-work na kasi ako noon, pero kahit may kanya-kanyang sked ay bukas pa rin naman ang aming line of communication. Hindi na kami madalas magkita magmula ng taong ito dahil nagka-work na rin sya sa isang call center; graveyard shift sya kaya mahirap tawagan kahit may araw at baka maistorbo sa pamamahinga. Bouncing baby boy pa naman yan kaya dapat laging healthy. Uminom ka na ba ng vitamins mo, baby?

Puro text na lang kami pero ipagnonobena mo pa bago sya makasagot... hehehe!

Sa wakas, nung isang buwan ay nagkaroon kami ng pagkakataong lumabas muli... nanood kami ng D'Anothers sa bagong bukas na SM San Lazaro.

Nagulat kami ni Zar nang katagpuin namin sya sa UST.

Grabe, sobrang puti ni Lolo! Parang galing wax museum... wahahaha...!

Apparently, naka-vacation leave ang kanyang melanin. Nasa Boracay yata't nag-eenjoy. Samantalang kami, working overtime. Tsk.

Puro man kami tawanan, maaasahan pa rin naman yan sa panahon ng krisis. Dati nga nag-usap kami nyan sa telepono - yung asaran namin ay nahaluan ko ng komentong medyo emote. Meron kasi akong sama ng loob sa mundo na hindi pa nailalabas, at malas nya, sya yung nataong kausap ko. Napaiyak nga ako nun eh, nahihiya tuloy ako, pero nakinig lang sya. Sabi ko nga masyado nyang kinakarir ang pagiging customer service representative... hehehe...

(Naasar nga sa akin yan kanina eh. Pano bigla na naman akong napa-emote. Sinabayan pa ng ulan. Ang sama ng tingin sa 'kin... hehehe )

Handa rin naman akong tulungan sya. Naman, eh ikaw ang dahilan kung bakit hindi ko lubusang pinagsisisihan ang pagbabalik ko sa lugar na yon. Minsan nga naiisip ko, sana nandun ka na maski nung estudyante pa lang ako. Para mas marami tayong adbentyur.

Sana nga'y maabot mo na ang rurok ng tagumpay, para naman matupad ang iyong mga binabalak sa buhay. Kaya natin 'to.

*Alam mo, sa sobrang katakawan natin kanina, natae ako pag-uwi ko ng bahay*

Happy birthday nga pala...

---
*RETARDED ang tawag ko kay Tupe. Yan din ang pangalan nya sa phonebook ko.

Kahapon ay nasa SM Manila kami ng ate ko, sinamahan ko syang bumili ng bagong SIM card. Habang nagliliwaliw kami sa loob ng mall ay nagulat na lamang ako nang biglang parang may dumapo sa aking paa. Pagtingin ko... yuck, may bubble gum sa paa ko - as in sa paa, hindi sa sapatos! Fresh na fresh pa ang pagkakanguya sa nasabing bubble gum... may laway pa! Nahirapan ako pagkat hindi ko malaman kung paano yun tatanggalin sa aking paa. Kadiri talaga.

Ang isa sa mga pinakaayaw ko ay yung mga taong dumudura, umiihi o dumudumi sa kalsada. Napakabarbaro naman kasi di ba, parang hindi sibilisado. Pero ito... mas grabe! Sa de-aircon pa talaga idinura ang laman ng kanyang bibig! At sa kalagitnaan ng mga taong naglilisaw sa mall?!

Hindi ako makapaniwalang umabot sa puntong ganito ang kawalang-disiplina ng ilan sa atin. Sukdulan na.

Ngayong araw napagdesisyunan ang kapalaran ng impeachment complaint laban sa pangulo, kung tuloy ba o hindi ang kaso. At dahil napakalaking isyu nga nito, may kanya-kanyang ispekulasyon ang bawat Pinoy.

Dinaan ng mga empleyado sa Malacañang sa "ending" ang kanilang antisipasyon. Kung sino ang pinakamalapit ang pusta sa aktuwal na resulta ng pagtatalo sa Kongreso ay magkakaroon ng premyo. Ito ay dinner-for-two sa isang kilalang hotel sa Maynila. Sagot ni Press Secretary Bunye ang bill.

Tatlong empleyado ang swerteng nakakuha ng nasabing premyo.

Ani Secretary Bunye, "for fun" lang ito, para maibsan na rin ang tensyon sa opisina habang hinihintay ang resulta.

Totoo naman. Dahil kung tayong ordinaryong mga mamamayan ay sawa na sa pakikinig sa ganitong klaseng balita, paano pa silang obligadong suriin ang mga kaganapang ito? Paano pa silang maghapon-magdamag dapat tumutok sa isang set ng monitors para gawan ng report ang bawat kilos-protestang ibinabato ng mga tao, pro man o anti? Bigyan naman natin sila ng konting credit.

Isa na lang rin siguro itong pagtakas mula sa mas malaking sugal na kinakaharap ng ating bansa dahil na rin sa mga isyung politikal.

Ano kaya ang magiging ending?
Ano ang pusta mo?
At magkano naman ang taya mo?

READ THE STORY FIRST, THEN LOOK AT THE PHOTO.

A picture began circulating in November. It should be "The Picture of the Year," or perhaps, "Picture of the Decade." It won't be. In fact, unless you obtained a copy of the US paper which published it, you probably will never see it.

The photograph is that of a 21-week-old unborn baby named Samuel Alexander Armas, who was being operated on by a surgeon named Joseph Bruner. The baby was diagnosed with spina bifida and would not survive if removed from his mother's womb. Little Samuel's mother, Julie Armas, was an obstetrics nurse in Atlanta. She knew of Dr. Bruner's remarkable surgical procedure.

Practicing at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, he performs these special operations while the baby is still in the womb. During the procedure, the doctor removes the uterus via C-section and makes a small incision to operate on the baby, then returns the uterus to the mother's womb after he completes the procedure.

As Dr. Bruner was completing the surgery on little Samuel, the little guy reached his tiny, but fully developed, hand through the incision and firmly grasped the surgeon's finger. In a Time Europe article highlighting new pregnancy imagery that show the formation of major organs and other significant evidence of the formation of human life but a few days after conception, Dr. Bruner was reported as saying that when his finger was grasped, it was the most emotional moment of his life, and that for an instant during the procedure, he was just frozen, totally immobile. The photograph captures this amazing event with perfect clarity. The editors titled the photograph, "Hand of Hope." The text explaining the picture begins, "The tiny hand of 21-week-old fetus Samuel Alexander Armas emerges from the mother's uterus to grasp the finger of Dr. Joseph Bruner as if thanking the doctor for the gift of life."

Little Samuel's mother said they "wept for days" when they saw the photograph. She said, "The photo reminds us that my pregnancy isn't about disability or an illness, it's about a little person." Samuel was born in perfect health, the operation 100% successful. Now see the actual photo; it is awesome... incredible. The world needs to see this one!



*from an email

Ahmed hired a limousine driver to take Nura, Sara, and me shopping. Ahmed went to meet a businessman. The caretaker, who doubled as a driver, took the two Filipinos and the three children to the pool at the Mena House Hotel. When we left the apartment, Ali and Hadi were lounging about, exhausted from the previous late night.

The sweltering heat of the city soon tired Sara, and I offered to go back to the apartment and keep her company until Nura finished her shopping. Nura agreed, and sent the driver to drop us off. He would return to collect Nura afterward.

When we entered the apartment, we heard muffled screams. Sara and I followed the noise to Hadi and Ali's room. The door was unlocked and we suddenly realized what was happening before our eyes. Hadi was raping a young girl, no more than eight years old, and Ali was holding her. Blood was everywhere. Our brother and Hadi were laughing.

At the sight of this traumatic scene, Sara became hysterical and began to scream and run. Ali's face became a mask of fury as he shoved me from the room, knocking me to the floor. I ran after Sara. We huddled in our room.

When I could no longer endure the sounds of terror that continued to filter up to our floor, I crept back down the stairwell. I was desperately trying to think of a course of action when the doorbell rang. I saw Ali answer the door to an Egyptian woman, about forty years of age. He handed the woman fifteen Egyptian pounds and asked her if she had more daughters. She said she did and that she would return tomorrow. Hadi ushered out the weeping child. The mother, showing no emotion, took the child, who was limping, tears streaming down her face, by the hand and closed the door behind her.

Ahmed did not seem surprised when Nura, angry, told him the story. He pursed his lips and said he would find out the details. Later, he told Nura that the mother herself had sold her child, and that there was nothing he could do.

Even though caught in this shameful act, Hadi and Ali acted as though nothing had happened. When I sneered at Hadi and asked him how he could be a religious man, he laughed full in my face. I turned to Ali and told him that I was going to tell Father he was attacking young girls, and he laughed even harder than Hadi. He leaned toward me and said, "Tell him. I do not mind!" He said that Father had given him the name of a man to contact for the same type of service. He smiled and said young girls were more fun, and besides, Father always did the same sort of thing when he came to Cairo.

I felt as though I had been electrocuted; my brain felt burned, my mouth hung open, and I stared blankly at my brother. I had my first thoughts that all - all - men are wicked. I wanted to destroy my memory of that day and lapse once again into the innocence of the mists of my childhood. I walked softly away. I came to dread what I might discover next in the cruel world of men.

I still cherished Cairo as a city of enlightenment, but the decay brought by poverty caused me to rethink my earlier notions. Later in the week, I saw the Egyptian mother knocking on doors in the building, with another young girl in tow. I wanted to question her, to discover how a mother could sell her young. She saw my determined look of inquiry and hurried away.

Sara and I talked with Nura for long hours about the phenomenon, and Nura sighed and said that Ahmed told her it was a way of life in much of the world. When I shouted indignantly that I would rather starve than sell my young, Nura agreed, but said it was easy to say such things when the pangs of hunger were not in your stomach.


*excerpt from Princess: A True Story of Life Behind the Veil in Saudi Arabia by Jean P. Sasson

You're viewing my newest layout, based on one of my favorite series, Attic Cat. For this month only...!

Made with Notepad, tested in IE v6. Images were edited using Adobe Photoshop 7.0 and hosted in Yahoo! Geocities. The series' Miao Theme is uploaded there as well. Best seen in full-screen resolution.

Pagpasensyahan nyo na... hehe. La lang

---

Location: McDo España
Habang abala sa "strategic planning"

tupe - Tanga ka ba?
chat - Baka ikaw.
tupe - Ang tanga mo.
chat - Tanga ka rin. (tawa)
tupe - Mas tanga ka. (tawa)
chat - Pinakatanga ka. (tawa)
tupe - Lalo ka na. (tawa)
chat - Nuknukan ka ng tanga. (tawa)
tupe - Gago!
chat - Gago ka rin.
tupe - Mas gago ka.
chat - Pinakagago ka.
tupe - Mas gago ka sa pinakagago.
chat - Talaga! (sabay belat)
chat - (ipinormang letter W ang mga daliri sa kamay) Whatever. (tawa)
tupe - (ginaya ang gesture, ngunit magkalayo ang mga kamay para mukhang dalawang letter L) Double loser. (tawa)
chat - Duh.
tupe - (ginaya ang pagbigkas ni chat) Duh.
chat - Punyeta ka talaga.
tupe - Punyeta ka rin.
chat - Mas punyeta ka.
tupe - Pinakapunyeta ka. (tawa)
chat - Leche, manahimik ka. (tawa)
tupe - Leche ka rin. (tawa)
chat - (tiningnan ang notebook kung saan nag-doodle sila habang kumakain) Ang pangit ng pirma ko.
tupe - (tiningnan rin ang notebook) Oo, ang pangit nga.
chat - Gago ka. (ngiti)
tupe - (ngiti)
chat - Kala mo naman ang ganda ng pirma mo, pangit din.
tupe - (kinuha ang notebook at sinubukang agawin ang ballpen na hawak ni chat) Akina nga.
chat - (iniiwas ang kamay na may hawak ng ballpen) Ayoko nga. Maghanap ka ng ballpen mo.
tupe - Ang yabang mo.
chat - Talaga.
tupe - (binuksan ang dalang bag) Kala mo ha, maganda ang ballpen ko.
chat - Mas maganda yung sulat ng ballpen ko... Reynolds.
tupe - Yung akin gel pen.
chat - Weh...
tupe - (nagsimulang mag-doodle muli sa notebook, gamit ang gel pen)
chat - Kala mo ikaw lang ha!
chat - (binuksan rin ang bag, aktong may kukunin)
chat - (ipinakita kay tupe ang bagay na kinuha sa bag) Ha! Violet yung gel pen ko!
tupe - Aba, aba, aba...
tupe - (naglabas ng calculator, pinindot-pindot) Meron ka ba nito, ha?! (tawa)
chat - (naglabas ng stapler) Eto, meron ka, ha?! (tawa)


Location: Morayta overpass
Papuntang University Belt

tupe - (may itinuro) Dyan ba?
chat - Hindi dyan... tanga!
chat - Ang tanga mo talaga.
tupe - Mas tanga ka.
chat - (kinurot si tupe)
tupe - (kinurot si chat) ka rin! (tawa)
chat - Mas (kinurot si tupe) ka! (tawa)
tupe - (naitulak si chat) Oops!
chat - Ano ba... basa dito, gago!
tupe - Eh nadulas ako eh.
chat - Tanga ka kasi.
tupe - Tanga ka rin.
chat - Sino kaya yung nadulas? Tanga! (tawa)
tupe - (tawa)


Location: Kanya-kanyang bahay
Magkausap sa phone

tupe - Ano ba'ng landmarks meron dun?
chat - (pause, nag-iisip) Eh kasi naman natatakot ako sa 'yo eh, baka mawala ka.
tupe - Ano ka ba, I'm a big boy now.
chat - You'll always be a bouncing baby boy to me. (tawa)
tupe - (tawa)

Napulot ko po ito sa Love Radio habang nasa "bus na blue" papuntang Makati.

Kanina pa nakatitig sa 'yo ang lalaking nasa harapan mo. Ano ang gagawin mo para tumigil sya?
- Mangulangot ka. Bilugin ito sa iyong mga daliri, tapos ay pitikin mo papunta sa kanya.

Pag di sya tinablan...
- Magsuot ka ng shades at hingan sya ng limos, pati yung mga katabi nya.

Pag di pa rin tinablan...
- Tanungin mo sya kung bakit nya kinuha sa 'yo si Basilio at si Crispin.

Pag di pa rin tinablan...
- Pag-alis mo, sa halip na maglakad ay kumandirit ka.

Pero bago mo gawin lahat yun...
- Maghunos-dili ka! Baka hindi naman pala ikaw ang tinitingnan nya kundi ang katabi mo; sya pala'y some kinda banlag...!

Ohdiba na-memorize ko Tawa nga ako ng tawa sa bus, dinagdagan pa kasi ng matunog na halakhak ni Nicole (yung DJ), kaya talaga namang nakakahawa. Nahihiya tuloy ako dun sa katabi ko. Hindi kasi sya maka-relate. Pasalamat sya't hindi ko hinanap sa kanya sina Basilio at Crispin

---

Text ko sa mga tao:
How gaga can you get?! I have an appointment @ 9am in Makati, and here I am, stuck in traffic... sa MORAYTA. Ten minutes to 9! Pero yoko na magpa-resked noh. Aja!

Matapos ang isang oras ay saka ko pa lang natagpuan ang aking sarili sa Ayala Avenue. Tsk. At tinawagan ko ang kumpanyang dapat na pupuntahan ko... gamit ang payphone na nakatirik sa gilid ng gusali nila. Isa na namang kagagahan, since nandun na ako. Ngunit nung mga panahong yun, naisip ko, parang mas may dignidad ang magpa-resked kaysa sumugod dun na tumatagaktak ang pawis.

Naayos din naman ang dilemma kong yun. At dahil ayoko namang umuwi nang wala man lang napapala, minabuti kong magpasa na rin ng resumé sa ilang kumpanya.


Company #1
Ito ang inuna ko dahil bukod sa pinakamalapit sa kasalukuyan kong lokasyon ay segregated rin ito doon sa dalawa pang kumpanyang target kong puntahan. Besides, hindi naman nag-iinterview ng walk-in applicants rito; iiwan mo lang talaga yung resumé mo at tatawagan ka na lang nila. So drop it now di ba. Get it over with.

Malaki ang building. Dalawa ang entrance nito na may kanya-kanyang front desk. Dun pala sa ikalawa ang nararapat kong puntahan, yung nasa bandang likod. Pagdating ko roon ay aking nadatnan ang dalawang babaeng naka-uniporme, 22-24 taong gulang, presentable ang hitsura. Abala sila sa pagkukwentuhan.

"Excuse me po, good morning," pasintabi ko. "Saan po ba magpa-pass ng resumé para sa (name ng company)?"

Syempre'y natigil ang kanilang kwentuhan. Tiningnan nila ako mula ulo hanggang paa, at hindi pa nakuntento, tiningnan ulit ako mula paa hanggang ulo. Taas-kilay, nakaismid, pabalang na sumagot yung isa, "Twelve o'clock na... mamaya ka nang one umakyat sa 23rd floor." Tapos ay nagbalik sila sa pagkukwentuhan.

Syempre ay naasar ako. Madali pa namang mag-init ang ulo ko sa ganitong klaseng pakikitungo ng isa sa kapwa nya. Akala mo kung sino; mas matino pang kausap yung security guard sa labas ng building. Teng ene neteng beteng te eh!

Ang masama pa noon, ilang sandali matapos ang aming pag-uusap ay merong banyagang lalaking nagtanong sa kanila kung saan ang reception area ng (same company I am applying into). Halatang na-conscious ang mga kadalagahang ito, inipit ang buhok sa tenga at buong lambing na sumagot, "Twenty-third floor, sir..."

Hmpft... kulang na lang ay mag-"beautiful eyes" sya ah.

Hindi ko alam kung ano ang dahilan, bakit iba ang approach nila sa akin at doon sa foreigner, gayong pareho naman kaming naka-corporate attire at parehong magalang ang pagkakatanong sa kanila ng gusto naming malaman. Dahil ba dayuhan sya at ang perception nila rito'y "big time" ang nasabing tao, at ako'y isa lamang hamak na job-seeker, o dahil estrogen ang meron ako at hindi testosterone?

Inakyat ko pa rin ang palapag na kanyang binanggit. Salungat sa sinabi nya, may dalawampung minuto pa bago mag-alas dose.

Pagdating ko roon, at least tunay na tao na ang aking nakaharap.

Naku, pag naging boss nyo ako... PAK! Get out of my building!


Company #2
Nawala muna ako bago ko napuntahan yung tamang floor. May mezzanine chuva pa kasi sa building na ito eh... hehe... buti na lang Food Court yun, lunch hour pa, kaya hindi kwestyonable kung meron mang tatanga-tangang pakalat-kalat dun... hehe!

Kaya ako naligaw kasi magkaiba yung entrance at exit, tapos yung exit eh mahirap hanapin. Hindi mo naman pwedeng gamitin yung entrance para lumabas sapagkat ito ay escalator! Maraming pasikot-sikot sa nasabing Food Court, at wala talaga akong makitang labasan. Sa fire exit tuloy ako dumaan... hahaha...

Finally, I saw the light! Bwehehe. At ayun, mapayapa ko namang naibigay ang resumé ko dun.


Company #3
Inihuli ko talaga ang isang ito dahil malaki ang posibilidad na matagal ang ipaghihintay ko.

Oo, matagal nga. Grabe.

Habang nakaupo ako sa waiting room nila'y may pumasok na babae. Nagtama ang aming mga paningin. Hindi ko alam kung bakit sa sobrang gulat ko'y napaurong ako. Labis na pamilyar sa akin ang mukha ng nasabing babae.

Matapos kausapin ang gwardiya ng palapag na yon, umupo sya sa aking tabi. Mukhang tapos na sya sa screening sapagkat mayroon syang checklist ng mga requirements na kailangang isumite sa HRD, at ang mga dokumentong yun nga ang kasalukuyan nyang inaayos. Matagal ang sandaling lumipas bago sya muling tumingin sa akin at nagtanong, "Miss, ngayon ka pa lang ba nag-pass ng resumé?"

"Oo," sagot ko. "Medyo kanina pa nga yun eh." Pause. "Alam mo, pamilyar ka, ewan ko kung bakit."
"Nag-apply ka sa (name ng isang company)."
"Ahaha! Oo nga, ikaw yung nasa front desk!"
"Oo. Tapos na kasi yung contract ko dun eh. Kelan ka ba nag-apply?"
"Tagal na, July pa yata yun."
"Ah oo, July, nandun pa ako."
"Hehe."
"Alam mo nung kaka-pass ko pa lang ng application, meron ding isang babaeng hindi nakatiis, tingin ng tingin sa akin."
"Hehe."

Sya si Judith. Nagkwentuhan kami. Wala lang, nakakatuwa. Sya yung tipong makakagaanan mo talaga ng loob. Pleasing personality?! Hehehe

Buti na lang nandun sya dahil dalawang oras akong naghintay bago mapag-alaman ang schedule ng exam ko. Kahit na mas matagal pa rin ang ipinaghintay ko (tinawag na kasi sya nung HR Officer kaya naiwan na naman akong mag-isa) kaysa dun sa panahong nagkwentuhan kami, at least naaliw naman kaming pareho.

So I should be there on Monday at 9am.

Hindi na ako male-late, pramis...

---

Last episode ng Attic Cat kagabi... hay! Ka-text ko nga nun si Teacher Nheenia, pano'y nag-uumapaw ang aking excitement. Pigil-hininga kong sinubaybayan ang bawat tagpo... napangiti ako nang sinabi ni Dominic, "May alaga ka nga palang pusa." (hmm... can relate?! ). At grabe, nakakaiyak talaga nang dumating si Kevin sa dati nilang bahay at nadatnan dun si Noreen... ang galing kasi nung facial expression ni Kevin nun, damang-dama ko yung mixed emotions... hehe

Medyo bitin lang nung bandang huli dahil nauwi na naman sa komedya ang katapusan ng kwento. Pero ika nga ni Teacher Nheenia, OK lang yun, happy ending naman eh.

"I love you na nga...!"

Below are the contents of posters that grace our small office in Quezon City:

• Time is your most valuable personal resource. Use it wisely because it can't be replaced.

• Champions are not men who never fail; but men who never quit.

• Success in life can never be an accident. It is the result of right decisions at the right time.

• Winners think positive about positive results. Losers think negative results. We are who we think we are.

• God's plan for us begins with the positive and will end with the positive.

I need to constantly remind myself of these things. This list also goes to all of you hopefuls in the university called Life.

---

Congratulations to Garet for making it in the Chemistry board exams, and to Erika for bagging a seat in the literary workshop sponsored by the Varsitarian, the official publication of the University of Santo Tomas. Keep it up, sisters! Viva Santo Tomas!

God bless us all...

Visit thegoodbody.org now!

Dylan Wilk, a young English billionaire, was featured in last Sunday's episode of Rated K. He was of an average family, the kind that can fend for itself three times a day, but that's about it. This led to an ambition of being rich, so that he could get anything he wanted. At the age of twenty he secured a loan from the English government to put up his own business, focusing on the computer industry. He says he's not much into computer gaming, but realized the potential profits it may bring to someone who learns to exploit the opportunities it presented. Thus when he turned twenty-five he was the ninth richest person in the whole of England. But despite his wealth, he did not feel happy. He thought his life was devoid of meaning. In his travels he chanced upon the Philippines and here he found something worthwhile to do.

He volunteered in the Gawad Kalinga Foundation, later selling his properties in the UK, so that he could donate the proceeds to finance the said project. From his generous act rose the BMW Village in Bulacan, which benefited many Filipinos. This gesture gave him the fulfillment he long looked for. Even if he didn't have anymore the material wealth he amassed during his enterprising years, he still boasts of being a billionaire because of the goodwill many people bestowed upon him through the years. He now lives happily in our country, with his Filipino wife - a fellow volunteer - expecting their first baby.

Dylan says he wants his kids to grow up as Filipinos, and he'll make it sure that his children would be proud of their Filipino heritage. He said that the Philippines is a good country, the Filipinos are good people; the problem is that we can't see the good in ourselves and in one another. He even cited a metaphor - if you bury a bar of gold for a hundred years, and you dig it up again, it won't look like gold anymore; it'll only appear like a piece of mud. But the muddy cover doesn't change the gold inside; you'll just have to look deeper. Dylan said we're like that - we just have to look deeper within ourselves to realize all the good things we can do.

It touched me that someone like him, someone not of the same blood and heritage, should have much faith in Filipinos despite the ugly things happening in our country nowadays. Yet here he is, trying to make us see positively. He went as far as investing his life's treasures for the benefit of our fellowmen.

This faith he has, to be frank, made me quite ashamed of the thoughts that crossed my mind. I thought, "Wish ko lang hindi masayang yung mga binigay nya." Because, let's admit it: resettlement areas have been a part of almost all our leaders' projects. These could be considered successful if we see the housing projects that have already risen in different sites. The problem is, some of our fellowmen who are beneficiaries of these projects do not fully realize the effort exerted by other people so that they could live comfortably. Some, because of unemployment - and lack of will power not to remain as such! - end up selling their slot and with the money, they return to their previous shelter under bridges and/or in slum areas. When another leader offers them another house, the cycle just goes all over again - they become a part of it, they live there for quite a while, and finally, they detach themselves from it. At this rate, we're really going nowhere.

But maybe I am just being paranoid. Maybe I should have a little faith in my own people. Maybe someday we could all rise from this muddy state.

Maybe.

This afternoon at ASAP '05 - sung to the tune of Kitchie Nadal's "Wag Na Wag Mong Sasabihin":

Do you wanna tell me something
You're di mapakali, can't even look at me...

If I were Nikki Valdez I would've felt stupid singing those lines...

Sabagay, parang ampangit naman kasi kung gagamitin yung English translation nun, "ill at ease" or "restless"...

Let's just say that there're things that cannot be expressed more beautifully than in the Filiipino language... hehehe...

Yes, reread... cos I don't have the bucks to buy new ones! That's why I hate going to bookstores!

Princess: A True Story of Life Behind the Veil in Saudi Arabia
© 1992, Jean P. Sasson

The title says it all, but reading the book offers much more. This is a chilling story based on the diaries of a true Saudi princess cloaked in the name Sultana. It tackles different issues that made impact on her life. She was taken for granted by her father, along with her nine other sisters, because the absence of a male organ automatically branded them as worthless individuals. She has watched sisters, cousins, and friends sold into marriage as young girls to men five times their age... and brutally murdered for the slightest transgression, in accordance with cruel and ancient religious law. Written in the Introduction are the following: "My passion for the truth is simple, for I am one of those women who were ignored by their fathers, scorned by their brothers, and abused by their husbands. I am not alone in this. There are many more, just like me, who have no opportunity to tell their stories."

Aside from personal issues experienced through family life, she also had accounts of shocking events that happened to other females, even those not carrying the same nationality. I copied one for this blog, and here is another one that broke my heart:

Nadia's father was gripped with a fearsome rage. He refused to speak with his daughter and ordered her confined to her room until a decision was made as to her punishment.

A few days later, my father came home early from the office and called Randa and me into his sitting room. We sat disbelieving when he told us that Nadia was going to be drowned in her family's swimming pool, by her father, on the following morning, Friday, at ten o'clock. Father said that Nadia's entire family would witness her execution...

At ten o'clock the next morning, I sat alone, staring yet unseeing out my bedroom balcony. I thought of Nadia and imagined her bound in heavy chains, dark hood gathered around her head, hands lifting her from the ground and lowering her into the blue-green waters of her family swimming pool. I closed my eyes and felt her body thrashing, her mouth gasping for air, lungs screaming for relief from the rushing water. I remembered her flashing brown eyes and her special way of lifting her chin while filling the room with laughter. I recalled the soft feel of her fair skin, and considered with a grimace the quick work of the cruel earth on such softness. I looked at my watch and saw that it was 10:10, and I felt my chest tighten with the knowledge that Nadia would laugh no more.

It was the most dramatic hour in my young history, yet I knew that my friends' schemes for fun, as bad or sad as they were, should not have caused Nadia's death, or Wafa's premature marriage. Such cruel actions were the worst of all commentaries on the wisdom of the men who consume and destroy the lives and dreams of their women with emotionless indifference.


The Untold Story of Imelda Marcos
© 1969, Carmen Navarro Pedrosa

The Marcoses have always interested me - they're such a controversial clan. Even if I wasn't even born when Mr. Ferdinand ruled the Philippines, I am sure that up to now any Filipino could feel the different emotions stirred by the mere mention of this name.

Considered as the Martial Law bestseller, with over 250,000 copies sold, the book does not confine itself to Mrs. Marcos' experiences as the country's First Lady, but also goes back to as far as the 1870s, spanning three generations, for us to understand her "much vaunted charisma which in President Marcos' own words garnered one million votes in the last presidential elections."

What first caught my attention, though, is the presence of photographs in the book. I love old photographs: even if the portraits then consisted of people who rarely smiled, I still find them interesting. Aside from family portraits and childhood photographs, pictured there also is a "slumbook" Imelda signed for her friend Polly in 1940, news articles published about her (she was a cover girl for a weekly magazine at 23; there were also articles on the Miss Manila controversy, and finally, the coverage of her marriage to then Congressman Ferdinand Marcos), and complimentary shots with local and foreign personalities.

After reading the book, I was overcome with emotion. Among others, what I find compelling is the history of one of the main characters in her life story, a person rarely discussed: her mother, Doña Remedios Trinidad.

Meding's (her mother's nickname) story is a bitter one with a sad ending. She originally intended to wait for her lover, an heir of the rich Tinio clan, who was separated from her because of her poverty and mediocrity in society. The man was sent to the United States by his family, and though letters were exchanged, later their communication dissolved. Meanwhile, she was matched by the Mother Superior of the boarding school she's staying in to Vicente Orestes Romualdez, a 40-year old widower with five children. Convinced by the head nun (of the boarding school) that this path is noble, allowing her to serve God in an unselfish fashion by taking care of five motherless children, she finally consented to marry him. Thus an unfortunate series of events was given a start, giving life to the country's future First Lady and her five siblings, but ending in a tragic death. Meding died of double pneumonia in the family's garage, but those who knew about her sufferings could only say that the cause of her death was beyond science to cure, that she died of a broken heart.

Just before giving birth to her last child, a few months before she died, the Tinio lover came back from the United States and was able to trace her. He came to see Vicente Orestes and asked if he could see Remedios' children. The husband consented, and Remedios presented to him her five children. "In spite of the years of separation, both seemed to have retained some affection for each other, but there was nothing they could do to alter what fate had brought about."

Well at least they found each other again, even for the last time.


Anne of Green Gables
© 1908, L. M. Montgomery

Compared to the first two, this one is certainly a very light-hearted book. This is the first of the series written by Ms. Montgomery, outlining the adventures of Anne Shirley, a gray-eyed, red-headed, talkative orphan who found her way to the Cuthberts' Green Gables.

Marilla Cuthbert and her brother Matthew decided to adopt a boy to help out on the tasks required by their farm. They heard that a neighbor would be on her way to pick up her very own adopted child, so they voiced a request that a boy may be sent to them also. When the shy Matthew arrived at the train station, he was surprised to find this daydreamer - a girl - waiting for him. Not knowing what to do, he brought the child home and during the drive, he was deeply amused by her big words and wide imagination. Marilla, upon realizing the mistake that must have happened along the way, was firm in sending her back to the orphanage and get a boy instead, despite Matthew's silent reproach. However, Marilla changed her mind when a neighbor known for treating her servants with scorn tried to get Anne for herself. Marilla just couldn't risk putting this pitiful child under this hard-hearted woman's care, so she ended up taking the girl back home again and letting her stay in Green Gables. There began the adventures and scrapes Anne experienced as she started a new life with the Cuthberts.

Following this are seven more volumes that cover Anne's growing up into a young lady, a mature woman, and finally her marriage and family life. Sadly, I haven't had the chance to read these books. Which brings us to another list...


Books I want to have:
• the rest of the Anne series by L. M. Montgomery
• Anne Frank: Diary of a Young Girl
• Memoirs of a Geisha
• When My Name Was Keiko (I'm not sure about the title of the book - it's the story of a young child and her sibling when their country, Korea, was attacked by Japanese forces. They were given Japanese names, but they have not entirely forgotten their Korean heritage.)
• The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
• Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom
• The Five People We Meet in Heaven by Mitch Albom
• A Walk to Remember by Nicholas Sparks (I heard the movie is much different from the book, so why not give it a try?)

... and the list goes on. Have I told you I hate going to bookstores?

Sa slumbook ko lang yan nababasa nung elementary pupil pa lang ako.

*PAK!*

Totoo pala sya. Totoong-totoo.

Gawin mo na ang dapat mong gawin... ngayon na.

I was out yesterday having my resumé printed in one of the computer shops scattered along University Belt. While waiting, this song surrounded the small shop, and I thought I'd love to devote this to my future child(ren). But, before that, I'd like to dedicate the same to my mom, who's celebrating her 58th birthday today


Can this be true
Tell me can this be real
How can I put into words
What I feel
My life was complete
I thought I was whole
Why do I feel like
I'm losing control

I never thought that love
Could feel like this
Then you changed my world
With just one kiss
How can it be
Oh, that right here with me
There's an angel
It's a miracle

Your love is like a river
Peaceful and deep
Your soul is like a secret
That I never could keep
When I look into your eyes
I know that it's true
God must have spent
A little more time on you
Oh, He sure did

In all of creation
All things great and small
You are the one
That surpasses them all
More precious than
Any diamond or pearl
They broke the mold
When you came in this world

And I'm trying hard to figure out
Just how I ever did without
For the warmth of your smile
The heart of a child
It's deep inside
And leaves me purified

Your love is like a river
Peaceful and deep
Your soul is like a secret
that I never could keep
When I look into your eyes
I know that it's true
God must have spent
A little more time on you

God must have spent
A little more time on you
On you...



My mom @ 18 years. Cool huh..?!

"It's Not Enough"
By Bob Perks
Bob@BobPerks.com


It's not enough to want better things for yourself. You must find ways to make things better.

It's not enough to say the world is in turmoil. You must find ways to bring peace into it.

It's not enough to point at someone else and blame them for what is wrong. You must welcome them in and ask how you can help them make it right.

It's not enough to say "Someone ought to do something about it!" You are someone, do it!

It's not enough to pray and ask for God's help. You must thank him for the challenge and the opportunity to learn from it.

It's not enough to tell a child what is right. You must be what is right so they learn from your example.

It's not enough to blame your government for what is wrong. You must participate in the process to make it right.

It's not enough to wish. You must work to make it so.

It's not enough to ask. You must give to earn the right.

It's not enough to say "I tried!" You must try and try again.

It's not enough to want to be loved. You must learn how to love first.

It's not enough say "I care." You must show how much and why.

It's not enough to wake up. You must thank God you did.

It's not enough to just earn a living. You must create a life.

It's not enough to begin. You must always follow through.

It's not enough to have a friend. You must learn to be one, too.

It's not enough to believe in someone. You must tell them so. "I believe in you!" and "I wish you enough!"

I am disgusted to hear that an executive clemency is recommended for ex-Congressman Romeo Jalosjos, who is now serving two life terms for raping an 11-year old girl. I'd love to face the people pursuing this matter, and give them a piece of my mind.

The Bureau of Corrections Hospital has reports showing that the former lawmaker is suffering from a heart condition which could strike anytime and cause his death; hence, the recommendation. But this will not be acted upon until the Department of Health and a doctor from Malacañang confirms the said findings. Representatives are yet to be sent to perform an executive check-up on Jalosjos.

Please do not think that I am being merciless to an old, and possibly dying, man by questioning the hope that he may be set free. I just find it rather unfair especially to the victim, whose memories of youth were blemished - no, contaminated - by such an evil doing. Plus, I don't believe Jalosjos is the only one inside that jail who endures a serious illness. There may be some inmates who are older than he is, or whose condition is more critical than his - why should Jalosjos, of all people sentenced by our justice system, be the first in the list of those recommended for clemency? Why is he a special case all of a sudden?

"It was reported that his life is in danger. It must be coordinated immediately because if anything bad will happen to him we will be blamed as usual," Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez said.

Is that the reason why they're pushing for an immediate verdict? To avoid blame if Jalosjos' condition turned worse? And who on earth will blame them, anyway - Jalosjos' friends and relatives? And why, for goodness' sake? For not setting him free despite his shortcomings...? Should he be set free, in the first place?

I wonder if the same people Secretary Gonzalez refer to did blame the Justice Department a few years back, when the sentence was actually given to the former congressman. Oh, I'd love to imagine that - people blaming the republic for punishing a man who destroyed an innocent child's future. Haha.

Bear in mind that his crime is rape. That's the worst thing that could happen to a woman - heck, a girl.

Forgiveness? Compassion?

I think he gave up his right to live when he selfishly satisfied his urges at the expense of a young child. He was lucky to get two life terms instead of death.

---
Parang hindi ako bagay maging lawyer ah, masyado akong nagiging emosyonal sa mga ganitong usapin... PAK!

Sparked by the results of the global study, Dove is launching a major initiative designed to provoke discussion and encourage debate about the nature of beauty. The Campaign for Real Beauty asks women to give serious thought to a host of issues surrounding beauty, such as society's definition of it, the quest for "perfection", the difference between beauty and physical attractiveness, and the way the media shapes our perceptions of beauty.

Supporting the Campaign for Real Beauty is a pan-Asian communications campaign, which launches in June 2005 and rolls out across eleven countries. The campaign questions whether "stereotype model" attributes such as large eyes, youth, slimness, long hair and flawless skin are required to be beautiful - or is there more to it than this.

Each ad presents an image of a woman whose appearance differs from the stereotypical physical ideal and asks the reader to judge the woman's looks by voting or ticking a box.

"Aging? Ageless?" features Atsuko Honda, 57, of Tokyo, Japan and Suchada Waiwatana, 60, of Thailand, women with mature faces and asks: "Will society ever accept that old can be beautiful too?"

"Extra-large? Extra-sexy?" features Kristina Vrkic, 23, of Sydney, Australia, a plus-size woman and asks: "Can more curves actually make you attractive?"

"Ugly spots? Beauty spots?" features Dominique Low, 33, of Singapore, a woman with freckles and asks: "Does skin really have to be flawless to be beautiful?"

"Single eyelids? Twice as nice?" features Christine Cheong, 25, of Singapore, a woman with single eyelids and asks: "When surgery adds an extra eyelid, does it remove your identity?"

"Flat? Flattering?" features Naruechol Phanichjaroen, 32, of Bangkok, Thailand, a woman with small breasts and asks: "Can you be sexy without being busty?"

"Boy? Babe?" features Mutita Chittiman, 30, of Bangkok, Thailand, a woman with short hair and asks: "Is hair length a true measure of beauty?"

"Grey? Gorgeous?" features Fumi Tsujimoto, 54, of Tokyo, Japan, a woman with natural grey hair and asks: "Why can't more women feel glad to be grey?"

Each advertisement will direct women to cast their vote to join the beauty debate as will the Web site: campaignforrealbeauty.ph

Ang sarap talagang mabuhay sa mundong ibabaw

Kay sarap ng may minamahal
Ang daigdig ay may kulay at buhay
At kahit na may pagkukulang ka
Isang halik mo lang limot ko na

Kay sarap ng may minamahal
Asahan mong pag-ibig ko'y tunay
Ang nais ko'y laging kapiling ka
Alam mo bang tanging ligaya ka?

Sa tuwina'y naaalala ka
Sa pangarap laging kasama ka
Ikaw ang alaala sa 'king pag-iisa
Wala nang iibigin pang iba

O, naaalala ka
Sa pangarap laging kasama ka
Ikaw ang alaala sa 'king pag-iisa
Wala nang iibigin pang iba...


LSS ko... Sassy Girl Chun Hyang ikaw ba yan...?

Impluwensya ni Jali; ito ang kinalabasan:

charito, your ideal job is a President.

... PAK!!!





Ipakita sa mundo... PENOY ito... PENOY tayo... ibang-iba ang PENOOOYYY...