Back to Reality
One of the coolest things about my job is the number of Christmas gifts I receive from clients. Hehehe. So despite Mayor Binay's decision NOT to lift the color-coding scheme in Makati (my first day back in the office from the holidays, and my car is banned!), it felt like Christmas morning with all the gifts in my work station. As Bianca would say, "It was a good haul!" I don't know if any of my clients have chanced upon this blog, but thanks for everything you sent =)
Now apart from a pile of gifts, I have in my email inbox LOTS of messages, and on my desk tons of work! And I have a meeting this afternoon, another tomorrow morning, plus immovable deadlines to meet on several reports. What else is new? Thank God it's just a 3-day workweek. Good luck to meeeeeee!
Happiest Girl in the World
The Art of Star Wars Exhibit is now on display at the Singapore Science Centre Annex. Of course, I went there! It's the main reason I decided to add a little vacation time to this business trip (no brainer decision, really). Am I a geek or am I a GEEK? Is that photo up there the spitting image of the most excited fan in the world or what?!
Needless to say, the exhibit was simply AMAZING! It features models, matte paintings, costumes, a "life size model" of Anakin's Speeder from
Episode II, storyboards, artwork, a foley studio where visitors learn to make and add sounds to the film (I got to be the "sound" of the leaves in the forest of "the far moon of Endor" in one of the scenes from
Return of the Jedi where the Ewoks were beating up the Stormtroopers), a Jedi Gym to teach young padawans the way of the Force, and a movie theatre where they show
The Making of Star Wars and other special features. I took a picture of Chewbacca's feet as it was the first time I had ever seen his feet! And Boba Fett's and the Stormtroopers' boots. I'll post more pictures soon as the Ramoses and I are on our way to the Singapore Zoo in a few minutes.
What a year it has been. I got to see my Dad again, I hing out with old friends and my cousins, I met Neil Gaiman, and I saw a part of movie history (the very fortunate series of events that contributed to my surprisingly happy childhood). I'm so happy!
Note to future STAR WARS fans visiting Singapore: The Singapore Science Centre is accessible via either the Red Line or the Green Line of the LRT (exit Jurong East), then by bus (#66 or #335). Entrance fee is S$18, inclusive of the entrance fee to the Science Centre itself which is really cool.
The Art of Star Wars Exhibit runs until April 2006. May the Force be with you!
Making the Headlines
Mga Pinay Nahuli sa Singapore; Hinahawakan ang mga High Voltage Christmas DecorDalawang Pinay - isang manunulat at isang HR Consultant
- ay nahuli ng mga autoridad ng Singapore
na nag-pa-pa-picture habang hinahawakan ang mga Christmas decor
na minarkahang High Voltage! Do not touch!
Pinagbabawalan sa Singapore
ang paghawak ng mga Christmas decor
sa mga mall
at mga main road
sa Central Business District
, lalo na sa Orchard Road
. Ang dalawang Pinay (na itatago natin sa pangalang Melisse at Carly) ay kasalukuyang nakakulong at i-ke-cane
bukas sa harap ng mga Christmas shopper
sa Takashimaya Mall
(kung saan naganap ang kanilang first offense
) para matuto lahat ng mga makukulit na bisiting Pilipino na sundin ang mga batas ng island nation
ng Singapore
. 
Nahuli rin ang dalawang Pinay na ginagalaw ang mga Christmas decor
na naka-display
sa Esplanade Mall, Great World City
at Raffles City
.
Ok, I just made that up =) But I do want to know why almost every single Christmas tree here in Singapore is marked HIGH VOLTAGE and/or DO NOT TOUCH. Seriously. Have you ever seen a high voltage Christmas tree?
UPDATE: In the lobby of the hotel I stayed in on Thursday night, there was a cute little gingerbread house. No, it didn't have a HIGH VOLTAGE sign on it. But it did say LIVE WIRES! DO NOT TOUCH! I want to know if Singaporeans are inclined to stealing Christmas decorations, and if threatening to jail or cane them is suddenly not enough. Better to just electrocute them for misbehaving, I guess. Amazing!
Survival Guide to Driving in the Philippines
I got this from Cat (no idea who originally wrote this piece). Enjoy!SURVIVAL GUIDE TO DRIVING IN THE PHILIPPINES
If you are ever in the need to drive on the streets of Manila the following rules may help you get to your destination in one piece.
THE FILIPINO DRIVER GREETING: When greeting a Filipino driver, slowly lower your window and be prepared to greet the driver with, "Tang namo, bobo." However, if you have been already addressed by a fellow driver, reply with a joyful, "Tang namo rin, gago."
ON TURN SIGNALS: If a driver in another lane turns on the turn signal, do not let him go into your lane. In fact, press the accelerator and start driving right next to him/her. The fellow driver will probably greet you and you already know what to do.
ON TRAFFIC LIGHTS: These amusing artifacts hang from intersections for no apparent reason. Sometimes you will see drivers stop to see the colors change on these lights (a fascinating experience). Government officials (specificially police) believe that each color stands for an instruction for drivers to follow.
From pure observation I have determined the following instructions for each color:
Yellow light - accelerate your car as much as possible.
Red light - this light gives permission to the next five to six cars to go through.
Green light - reduce speed and wait for the five to six cars passing through their respective red lights.
Little-known-fact: Time to start honking your horn, as soon as the light turns green = 1.5 seconds.
ON CHANGING LANES: Changing lanes has been elevated to an art form in the Philippines. First of all, no matter what you do, never ever turn on your turn signal, otherwise you'll stimulate the reaction described above. Second, swerve your car uncontrollably to the lane you want to change, preferably if you end up within inches of a car in that lane. At this point a greeting from the other driver may be in order. To perfect your change of lanes, reduce the speed of your car dramatically in a matter of seconds and you will see an action-packed reaction from the car behind you.
ON TRAFFIC JAMS: Traffic Jams are teaming with fun filled activities such as:
1. Honking your horn rhythmically.
2. Putting on make-up (usually female drivers only).
3. Nose-pickers sightseeing (not to be confused with people who scratch their brains through their nose).
4. Reducing speed to watch whatever is causing the traffic jam. Add excitement by trying to see if you know the parties involved. (Note: Every Filipino driver is obliged to do this.)
5. Losing weight by sweating like a pig as a result of a lack of air-conditioning.
6. Greeting other drivers.
7. Practicing lane changing.
8. Playing the game: Let's see how close I can get to you before rear-ending you.
ON PEDESTRIANS: These individuals are an annoyance to the Filipino driver. If you see pedestrians in your way, accelerate your car to let them know who's the boss. If you are at an intersection, let the pedestrians know you want to proceed by accelerating your car and honking at the last possible moment.
ON SOCIAL SITUATIONS: Bumping into a friend while driving (not to be taken literally) is a joyful occasion. Drivers should reduce speed and stop their cars in the middle of the street and chit chat. What about other drivers? Well, they can wait.
ON HIGHWAY DRIVING:
Bottleneck Formation - To accomplish this type of driving, cars must block all lanes by driving at the same speed and side by side (to avoid other cars to pass). It is important to drive at a speed at least 20 mph below the speed limit.
The Three-Lane-Change - This movement requires a lot of precision and creativity. It should be done around the highest number of cars possible and in a matter of seconds to create what others may refer to as widespread panic.
HERE'S ANOTHER RULE FOR DRIVING IN THE PHILIPPINES. When the lanes going in your direction are jammed with cars, try using the lanes from the oncoming traffic. They are probably not occupied anyway because the oncoming cars are stuck as well. How many of the other direction's lanes should you occupy? As long as there are lanes from the other direction to occupy, go ahead and take more lanes.
This move is sure to elicit previously mentioned greetings from drivers of the oncoming cars (and some have been known to get down from their cars to personally deliver the greeting to the out of lane driver).
9 out of 10 times it's sure to make the traffic worse but then, hey, there's that 1 in 10 chance that you might actually get through sooner than all those law-abiding losers. Filipino drivers think that that 1 in 10 chance is reason enough to risk their life and limb and being profusely greeted (besides, you can always turn up the windows and pretend that you don't hear the greeting from the other drivers).
GOT IT?! GOOD! Welcome to Manila.
What Do You Want For Christmas?
They say that Christmas is the most magical time of the year. Yes, because my money magically disappears!
I'm almost done with my Christmas shopping. Getting gifts for my sisters is easy - they usually tell me what they want and I just go get them if I can find them. Bianca, she of highly evolved administrative skills but surprisingly low Holiday EQ, already opened her gifts (I don't know, I just enjoy opening gifts on Christmas Eve, so I wait. She doesn't). I never got to wrap Alia's. She just picked it out and used it right away. I don't always get to send Julia anything, but I hope she likes what I picked out for her this year (Note to Julia: Tito Dennis is bringing it to Papa's place this weekend).
I'm really excited about the lightsabers I got for my godsons (I should've gotten one for myself). And this morbidly funny toy I bought for Layla. I'm also going back to St. Rita's Orphanage with books, clothes, toiletries and toys for the kids on the 23rd (my "in lieu of individual gifts, I'm making a donation in your name" gift). That's going to be so cool! Then I'm going to Singapore for work next week and hope to find something for my Mom while I'm there (she's the only one I haven't gotten anything for! It's hard to shop for her, you know).
But what about my office Kris Kringle? Every Christmas, my company has holds a Kris Kringle, and to make things more "exciting", someone from the IT Team made a program that randomly assigns you a "sexy starlet" name and then selects your "baby" (also using a "sexy startlet" name). It's one big guessing game. I know who "I" am. I have no idea which bold actress my "baby" is. I'm so out of it (or above it. Hahaha!). Of course, I will find out which officemate is my "baby" at this Friday's Christmas party, but will someone please tell me whose name that is (sorry, can't post it here. Not supposed to say, you know. I will blog again this weekend when the whole thing has been "revealed"). There's also a prize for whoever can guess who his/her "parent" is. Yeah, right. That would be easy if we came up with our own bold star names or if our other officemates made them up for us. We didn't do it for a Kris Kringle, but we did come up with a list of "Beverage Beauties" back in my Comp and Ben Assistant days - "Mirinda Abada", "Sun-glo Raymundo", "Cali Calilung" and "Mountain Dewmol". Although I've always been of the opinion that "Ica Arcangel", "Xandra Barretto", "Rhea Reyes", "Bianco Adriatico", "Carlo Magno" and "Bonnie Bryan" are naturally legitimate starlet/boylet names. So is "Carla Zobel de Ayala". Hahaha!
In any case, to help "facilitate" the gift selection process, the Christmas Committee posted a huge poster on the wall - a Christmas Wish List - with 3 very important things:
(1) The names of the actors/actresses in the Kris Kringle program;
(2) A picture of each actor/actress (I saw the picture of my "baby". I still have no idea who that woman is); and
(3) A space for you to write what you (the actor/actress) want for Christmas that's worth at least Php300.
First of all, I don't know how I'm going to sneak into the office pantry (where the Christmas Wish List is posted) to write down what I want. Second, although I can very easily change my penmanship, it's kinda hard to write on a wall and in that small space assigned to me. And more importantly, what do I want that's at least Php300? My "baby" hasn't written her wish on the poster either.
Bahala na what I'm going to get her. If you, dear reader, work in my office and think you know MY bold star name, I want a copy of Carlo Vergara's hilarious ZSA ZSA ZATURNA graphic novel from either Power Books in the Greenbelt Walkway or Fully Booked in Rockwell. It's actually less than Php300, and I don't mind that it's relatively cheap because it looks darn expensive (fantastic artwork, nice paper). It is my attempt to learn "swardspeak". If anyone out there want to know what else I want for Christmas, there's Neil Gaiman's ANANSI BOYS, WEIGHT by Jeanette Winterson, THE SCREWTAPE LETTERS by C. S. Lewis, and/or an
original DVD of STAR WARS: THE CLONE WARS VOLUME 2. Thank you very much =) Max just wants new toys and treats =D
Now, my company also has a "Decorate Your Quadrant" contest. Obviously, the goal is to have the best looking work area using whatever "junk" you can find. So this is part of what my quadrant did (picture taken by Ice).
It's supposed to be a Winter Wonderland and we were all asked to come to work in white for the judging. I haven't gotten pictures of the snowflakes that my other officemates made. All I did was supply the plastic for the snowman, the glow-in-the-dark paint (which doesn't really work), and some of the scratch paper.
One of the quadrants in our other office downstairs has supposed children's letters to Santa Claus posted on the walls. Having believed in Santa Claus as a child (and yes, I really used to write to "him"), I was curious to see what the twist was. This one is my favorite (picture taken by Jerome).
There are some things that Santa can't give. For everything else, there's MasterCard! Happy Holidays!
How did we survive?
(Got this email from a client. It's nice to get non-work email =) And I DID have a happy childhood!)
How did we survive? How did we survive our childhood? If you were a kid in the 50's, 60's, 70's or even early 80's...how did you survive your childhood?
1. When we were growing up we never wore seatbelts in the car, and cars didn't have airbags.
2. Riding on the back of a pick up truck was an adventure that we still remember!
3. Our cribs were painted with bright colors (paint which was full of lead)
4. We didn't have childproof medicine bottles, nor did our parents ever childproof our house
5. When we rode our bikes we never wore a helmet.
6. We would drink water from the faucet or from a hose in the backyard (not bottled water).
7. We didn't have cell phones , so our parents were never able to reachus (awesome).
10. We would get scrapes, bruises, brake bones , lose teeth, but we would never sue for these accidents.
11. We would eat cake, bread and butter, drink sugary drinks, and we weren't overweight because we were always outside playing.
12. Four of us would share a drink, we would all drink from the same bottle and that wasn't gross nor would anyone get sick.
13. We didn't have Playstations, Nintendo 64, X boxes, video games ,cable TV with over 100 channels, VCR's, surround sound, cellular phones, computers, online chatrooms. Instead we would have tons of FRIENDS.
16. Some of us weren't as bright as others, but when one would get left back, that was no big deal. They would not get taken to a psychologist, nor did they ever suffer from dyslexia, hyperactivity, ADHD, ADD, etc. They would simply repeat the grade until they passed.
17. We had freedom , mishaps, successes, responsibilities, and we would learn to deal with them.
The question is...How did we survive? And above all, to become the GREAT people that we are today? Are you from one of these generations? If you are, then send this message to others from your generation or to others who are younger so that they can see how we survived. They will probably say that we were very boring, but I believe that we were VERY HAPPY CHILDREN.
(Amen!)
Neil Gaiman Wants YOU!
This is just...so cool! Log on to
www.fullybookedonline.com for details. Here are some parts from the contest webpage:
“There is a strong tradition of Filipino realism in literature. I want to encourage Filipino unrealism.” - Neil Gaiman
Award-winning author NEIL GAIMAN and FULLY BOOKED in cooperation with Philippine Daily Inquirer's Super! 2BU and MEG magazine present: The 1st Philippine Graphic/Fiction Awards
Calling all Filipino writers, artists, and just about anyone with a wild imagination! Neil Gaiman wants YOU to join this nationwide writing competition to seek out excellent work in two categories: the comics/graphic novel genre (the Alex Niño Award) and the sci-fi/ fantasy (short story) genre (the Gregorio Brillantes Award). In line with our efforts to further literacy, all winning entries will be compiled and published by Fully Booked, with a foreword by Mr. Gaiman himself.
The competition willl be open from November 30, 2005 to January 15, 2006.
There will be over P300,000 worth of prizes, including P100,000 grand prize for the first place winners!
COMIC BOOK WRITING CONTEST
- 1st prize = 100,000 pesos
- 2nd prize = 30,000 pesos
- 3rd prize = 15,000 pesos
- youth award (16 and under winner) - complete set of Sandman comic books nos.1-75
SCIENCE FICTION/FANTASY/HORROR WRITING CONTEST
- 1st prize = 100,000 pesos
- 2nd prize = 30,000 pesos
- 3rd prize = 15,000 pesos
A SPECIAL YOUTH AWARD will be given to an outstanding contestant from 16 years old and below. The winner will get a complete set of Neil Gaiman’s novels: Anansi Boys, Making of Mirrormask, Stardust, Neverwhere, American Gods, Smoke & Mirrors
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As Jay I. said, there are so many stories that have yet to be written.... I just hope that one of the good ones will be mine ;-)
