Calaidescope World

25 Random Things

2009-01-28T08:31:00.000+08:00

My swim teammate Cheng tagged me on Facebook. Now racking my brain for 25 things that might be interesting enough to share (or that I'm willing to share? Hahaha!). Can't beat what Cheng wrote and what Dindin and Lilit could possible write, but...hmmm...here goes...

Rules: Once you've been tagged, you are supposed to write a note with 25 random things, facts, habits, or goals about you. At the end, choose 25 people to be tagged. You have to tag the person who tagged you. If I tagged you, it's because I expect you to answer (mwahahaha!). --> I won't tag anyone on Multiply, but I'll leave it to you to do share 25 random things about you, if you wish.

1) I had a perfect childhood (thank you, Mari Vargas and Mad da Silva!).
2) I'm friends with my parents and sisters. If we weren't related, I'd still befriend them. They're all just too funny to ignore. Surprisingly, I'm friends with my stepmother, ex-stepmother, stepfather, ex-future-stepfather, and ex-future-stepbrother, too.
3) My first friend is still my friend today.
4) My grade school and high school friends are among my closest, dearest, most important friends today (can't live without them).
5) My sisters and I can recite Disney's "Peter Pan" from beginning to end (including songs and sound effects).
6) I enjoy singing "Hopelessly Devoted to You" to my Dad with my sisters. Julia and I made him cry once.
7) I love hearing my niece Layla sing "Immigrant Song", "It's a Long Way to the Top" and "Do Do Do Da Da Da".
8) I spoil all 11 of my godchildren, hence the title Fairy Godmother.
9) I'm from a family of "Star Wars" geeks and movie freaks. Speaking of "Star Wars", I know Greedo shot first.
10) Oh, I'm a bit of a Disney animated classics, "Dragon Lance" and "Lord of The Rings" geek, too.
11) I canNOT live without music (music = life), but sadly, I'm allergic to hip hop and don't like reggae (ask Gabby).
12) Yes, I like ABBA. My and Raetz's song is "Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight)".
13) When I met Marc Nelson, I had to stop myself from singing, "I know you, I walked with you once upon a dream."
14) I have the biggest crush on Simon Atkins kahit inconsistent laro siya last UAAP season. Chester!
15) I've seen Sting perform twice, and I think that he's hotter than his son, Joe.
16) I got my dream job and I love it :D Oh, and I know my friends love it, too (the boys are the ones who are really reaping the rewards, so to speak).
17) I want to retire by 40 and just travel, take pictures, write about my (mis)adventures and get published.
18) I still swim, but can no longer swim half as much as I used to (before = 1,000m warm up; now = 1,000m then give up).
19) I'm a bit of foodie, hence the Tuesday Dinner Group. Sino bang nangimbento ng pagkain, ha? Bakit ang sarap kumain? Lalo na kung steak, lamb, duck, Thai cuisine,...!!!
20) Apparently, I nod my head and smile a lot when I'm enjoying a meal (4 people noticed).
21) Cristina Andaya may live vicariously through my Facebook, but she is not my girlfriend.
22) Eduardo Enriquez (aka Dindin) is not THAT kind of playmate. And please lang, patayin na ang Carla Vargas-Michael Garcia fans club. Not going to happen.
23) I'm waiting for summer to roll in so I can hit the beach (among other things).
24) I love science experiments ;)
25) I'm the luckiest girl in the world. "And when she shines, she really shows you all she can..."

2008

2009-01-01T10:10:00.000+08:00

For the past two years, I’ve been starting my year-end posts with a beautiful Neil Gaiman quote, and will do so again (I continue to wish it upon us all): "May your coming year be filled with magic and dreams and good madness. I hope you read some fine books and kiss someone who thinks you're wonderful, and don't forget to make some art - write or draw or build or sing or live as only you can. And I hope, somewhere in the next year, you surprise yourself."

2008 - difficult as it was during the first half with everything that happened at work - was a good year for me; and I usher in 2009 with a strong feeling that things will only get better. And here goes another year-end round up, and I again wish that you all look back on this last year with fond memories and look forward to the next with grace and hope. Happy New Year!

What is/are the best thing/s you did in 2008?
Got my dream job! Woohoo! Spent more time with family and friends – among the highlights was time spent with Papa, Julia, The Nielsens, Neil and John in June and again in December (yup, I’m typing this in another country in another time zone. Surprise!). Finally brought one family member to what has become my second home: Singapore. Saw The Police in concert with Cherry and the first Formula One race live with Bianca. Got a surprise visit from The Thirds today, sans Weezl (sayang, that would have been more fun). Finished a bottle of Bordeaux from Tito Joseph with Mom, Tito Masa and Tita Girlie during the holidays. Cooked a killer rack of lamb with Papa and wolfed it down. Wrote some pretty decent poetry (haven’t done that in a while). Helped write a song that turned out so much better than I thought possible. Found/was found by old and almost forgotten friends on Facebook.

What did you do in 2008 that you'd never done before?
Had dinners out in different restaurants every week with complete strangers. Gave a eulogy (RIP, Caye). Took pictures at a wake (I’m sorry, but Tito Nene’s and Father Pat’s wakes were just so beautiful). Visited the Brothers’ community in Napa. Signed an employment contract without reading it (no regrets so far). Drove to the CCP *alone*. Twinkled at will. Actually had an opinion on the US Presidential Elections. Stayed in a room with a view of the bathroom shower. Did my Christmas shopping on the weekend before the 25^th *and* I wasn’t able to plan the Bangkok Gang’s Christmas reunion dinner or my barkada’s traditional Christmas get-together properly (I was so very delinquent this year)! Told everyone that I have the biggest crush on Simon Atkins (the wonders of Facebook). Spent the last hours of 2008 watching “The Shining” (punyemas! How can I sleep now?).

What was/were the best place/s you visited in 2008?
I didn’t go anywhere that was particularly exciting and new, but I enjoyed my “return trip” to Bangkok in May as well as my trips to Northern California. And there’s Nike Singapore in Wisma Atria and Nike Park on Fort Bonifacio High Street ;)

What was/were the best meal/s you had in 2008?
All the food I had in Bangkok. Chili crab and black pepper crab somewhere in the East Coast of Singapore (not at Jumbo, but at another restaurant across it). Cheese steak pizza and chocolate cake at Chi’s Brick Oven Kitchen. Lamb adobo at Tita Nieves' house and at Abe. Everything I’ve eaten since I arrived in Pittsburg, CA last Thursday, especially taco buche (Mexican sisig taco).

What was/were the best drink/s you had in 2008?
All the alcohol we had at The Cuis’ place all year (what was the wine with chocolate? McMannis?).

What would you like to have in 2009 that you lacked in 2008?
No change: more time to write, a better eye and faster trigger finger for photography, plus more money and leave days to travel. I want to explore and share my adventures ;)

What date from 2008 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
Yesterday (30 December 2008), simply because I really felt like my father’s daughter. And that’s a good thing!

What was/were the best thing/s you bought?
A laptop, a car (goodbye, dear Luke. Hello, Zeigfried!), a classic 160GB iPod (finally!) and all manner of iPod accessories, a waterproof headset for the iPod Shuffle that Julia gave me for my birthday (I love it! Swimming has never been the same since), a waterproof/shockproof camera for my Mom, a particular pair of wonderfully comfortable loafers, tickets to The Police reunion concert, and tickets to the Formula One night race.

Where did most of your money go?
To Singapore, the failing US economy, Philippine Airlines, and Globe Telecom (I really should start using Skype).

What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Bianca's first trip to Singapore. Watching The Police and the Singapore Grand Prix. Going back to Bangkok. My new job =D

What song/s will always remind you of 2008?
Warning Sign by Coldplay, The Story by Brandi Carlile, all the glam rock tunes we “sang” on Facebook.

Compared to this time last year, are you:
i. happier or more sad? – Happier
ii. thinner or fatter? – No difference (just plain fat!).
iii. richer or poorer? – Same answer as last year, “Definitely poorer. But richer in spirit (naks!).”

What do you wish you'd done more of?
My list hasn’t changed since 2005: attended more Search-In Alabang retreats, some work-related stuff that I can't explain, worked on my photography skills, studied Spanish seriously, completed my World@Work exams and gotten my CCP designation. However, as of Monday, I’m confirmed to facilitate one Search-In activity in a couple of weeks. That’s a start. I hope to achieve more in 2009.

What was the best book you read?
The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman. I re-read Alan Moore’s Watchmen and appreciate it more now than when I first read it years ago. Does that count?

What was your greatest musical discovery?
Rodrigo y Gabriela. And...

What was/were the best movie/s you saw in 2008?
The Dark Knight, Iron Man, Wall-E and Bolt.

What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Sorry, work-related (would you believe?). Although I really would have wanted to hang out with Caye one more time…

How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2008?
January to October: lots of white tops and (surprisingly) red shoes. The usual smart casual to corporate, but with a little more flair this time. November and December: Nike all the way, baby! Yeah! Head to toe to hand bag.

What kept you sane?
My dog. My niece. The Triumvirate. Cable. Employee discount.

Who was/were the best new person/people you met?
Everyone from the Tuesday Dinner Group. All the old friends I found/who found me through Facebook. Danielle Dizon. Pepi XB. The super nice guys from Smart who bought Bianca and I soda in Singapore and let us take their taxi. Chad Thompson (one of the best HR practioners I've ever come across). Rovilson Fernandez (he's sooooo funny!). Marc Nelson (oh my gas, so damn cute in person!). Robert Alejandro (fantastic artist). Jetro Rafael (amazing photographer). My new officemates, especially my smoking buddies.

Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2008:
There are many things that I learned, but I find difficult to articulate and share with the world at large. I can share these, though: I can’t play the drums on RockBand (it’s counter-intuitive), but I’m pretty good with the guitar (my solos rock!). Nike dreams do come true!!! My family really, really loves me and I really, really love them, too. My cousins are the best! And I have the world’s best barkada.

What was the nicest thing someone told you about yourself:
“You are a Jedi mindf***.”

What did you like most about yourself in 2008?
I feel more human, more alive. It’s like everything I’ve gone through has led me to “this” (whatever this happy, content, “I am who I am” state of mind is). I really did surprise myself this year.

What did you hate most about yourself in 2008?
I didn’t swim as often as I should have, and didn’t do as well at work as I know I could. There's more, but I'll keep those to myself. Ha!

Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:
Ooh! You touch my tra-la-la! (Thanks a lot, Julia. Buwiset ka talaga. Hahaha!).

Was 2008 a good year for you?
Yes, even more than 2007 even if I didn’t go on an Iberian or Indian adventure. It really was “filled with magic and dreams and good madness”!

What was your favorite moment of the year?
Holy cow, where do I begin? And what can I share? All the time I spent with Max and Layla. Hanging out with the Nielsens and Menendez Brothers. The day Coco offered me a job at Nike. The day I resigned from Chevron. The look on Tristan’s face when he opened my Christmas gift to him (paperback edition of Dream Hunters): classic! All day yesterday. And so many more….

What was your least favorite moment of the year?
Next question, please.

Do you have a new years resolution for 2009?
I will stop smoking by 10 January 2009. I hope. Eep!

What was your favorite record from 2008?
Rodrigo y Gabriela.

How many concerts did you see in 2008?
Four: The Police Reunion Concert, Da Pulis Resurrection Show, Chris Daughtry, Gene Loves Jezebel. I had no intention of catching Rick Astley, but I would have loved to see Roderick Paulate sing and dance for him live. Is U23D a movie or a concert?

If you could go back in time to any moment of 2008 and change something, what would it be?
Now that I look back…nothing. This is the first time I’ve said that.

What are your plans for 2009?
I want to travel, write more substantial pieces, and go back to Search-In in the hopes of making a difference in someone’s life. There are so many things I want to do, but so little time. I need to make it all fit in the next 365 days and make each breathing moment count. Everything suddenly feels so much more "immediate" and important than before.

How are you different now that 2008 has ended?
I get happier every year now, you know? It’s strange. I’m still not used to being really happy and confident.

What are your wishes for the new year?
World peace. Seriously. [insert ship-launching capped-tooth smile here]. Scroll back up to the beginning of this post ;) Thank you. I love you all! Have a rocking 2009!

Today we start the change...

2008-12-29T07:47:00.000+08:00

Please read this and spread the word. Seriously. This shit has to stop. Now.

Link

Kinky Shower Hotel

2008-12-17T14:51:00.000+08:00

I admit it: I'm used to a particular lifestyle that involves a certain level of comfort. It's no secret that it was not easy for me to share a room (worse, a bathroom) with complete strangers in Spanish and Portuguese hostels last year. At least Gars was around so I knew at least one person who I didn't mind knowing how messy I was. Or whose mess I'd gladly see simply because it was familiar. We were lucky in that we got to share rooms together or rooms with nice, neat people. That helped a lot. But today, I've crossed a new line.

When in Singapore on business, I'm used to staying in my own room with a king sized bed and 6 pillows at the Intercontinental Hotel on Bugis. It may sound luxurious, but really, it's not the best hotel in town. I'm really mababaw and can make anything sound fantastic. The Intercon is in a good location, is connected to the Bugis MRT Station, has a decent pool and gym, is very neat and clean, smells good, and has a great in-room dining menu.

Having said that, I was obviously not at all prepared for the Changi Village Hotel in the middle of effing nowhere near the border of Indonesia where I'm booked in a TWIN sharing room (hindi man lang double-double) with a seemingly nice Thai lady who I've never met (I've only spoken to her at teleconferences. She's not here yet. She's arriving in an hour or so). This is an Executive Room, they tell me, with free internet service, a continental breakfast, access to the swimming pool, smoking section and a so-so club lounge (Vince, if you're reading this, the club lounge at the Intercontinental Hotel in Delhi was MUCH nicer). I can take it...except for the fact that I'm on a business trip and sharing this teeny-tiny room with a stranger. And I can't get over the window between the shower and the bedroom!

How am I expected to bathe? Should I get up extra early and hope my roomie doesn't see me? Worse, how am I going to sit on the throne?! I wonder if they can install a curtain or something. Just looking at it makes me extremely uncomfortable.

I'm so looking forward to going home on Sunday...

Vampires to the left of me, vampires to the right of me!

2008-11-24T21:52:00.003+08:00

Yes, I read "Twilight". And yes, I'm waiting for the movie. It won't come out here until next Wednesday, but considering that I've been trying to read "Breaking Dawn" for over two months (I've finished many other books since I kind of gave up on that one. Neil Gaiman's "The Graveyard Book" is very highly recommended!), I'm sure I can wait until next Saturday to see the supposed movie event of the year. I only need to know if my favorite line from the 3 books of the series that I've read is there: "You are exactly my brand of heroin." If you've seen it, please let me know! I'll watch it just to hear that. Or maybe even if it's not there. But I so love that line.

I've been going over the online reviews (I'm not afraid of spoilers since I already know what's going to happen), and they're mixed. Of course, I'll still see it even if it gets tons of bad reviews. But in trying to find a review for someone who hasn't read the books, I came across Massawyrm's negative one on aintitcool.com (he's one of my favorite critics. I just trust him. Lord knows why). I laughed out loud when I read, "His [Edward's, the vampire] undying, inexplicable love keeps him from killing her [Bella, the stupid human]. You get it now? You see why the ladies are all about this? He’s the ultimate unattainable bad boy. An immortal killer who is sexy, strong and very protective. Oh, yeah. And he’s incapable of having sex and doesn’t sleep, so he just wants to stay up all night and talk." Mismo!

What really surprised me, though, was a comment from Harry's review (also from aintitcool.com. Yeah, feeling close na kami). Director Catherine Hardwicke was at a screening he attended and someone from the audience asked her about how she chose what to keep from the book and what to edit out. Note that one of the coolest things about "Twilight" is all the mind games, so conversation plays a big part. As Harry described the Q&A, "Well, in Catherine’s answer she revealed a shallowness about the film... She talked about how she didn’t want to make the film just 'talking heads'. As she said this, there was this smirk on Richard Linklater’s face. And the thought hit me, 'My god, I can’t believe that Catherine Hardwicke is saying that Talking Heads and Romance is patently uncinematic while standing next to the director of BEFORE SUNRISE and BEFORE SUNSET!'” Boo! I love those movies! And the conversations are exactly why they worked! I'm still watching "Twilight", though. Haha!

Another vampire movie that I doubt will ever show here is an award-winning independent Swedish film called "Let The Right One In". Yesterday, I ordered the book it was based on, and I'm picking it up this weekend. Basically, it's a coming of age story about a bullied 12 year old boy who falls for...well...a 200 year old vampire trapped in a 12 year old girl's body. I'm pretty sure there's a dibidi of that somewhere in The Ruins (excuse me, High School/College friends attending this year's Christmas Tradition! You can get that for me as part of our exchange gift. Plus "Once" and the first season of "True Blood". All of that should cost around Php500. Thank you!)

So vampires are back, it seems. I like vampire lore, but could only take so much of Lestat before I gave up on the genre (I thought Louie was the more interesting character). "Twilight" was a good re-introduction. I'm keen to see what "Let The Right One In" has in store.

"Fueling the Dream" by The Impossible Dream Team

2008-08-10T18:57:00.003+08:00

In celebration of the 29th Olympiad and in support of Team Philippines (who our Company is sponsoring), we were challenged to showcase "the Filipino Olympic Spirit as a CPI employee" via group photo contest. Go figure ;) So while some of us simply came to work in our favorite sports attire, others took the photo contest seriously (like us!).

Click on the link below to see some my team's take on "several pictures of you and your team in a pose that will best describe your support for Team Philippines and for the flag!". The things we do for an official Beijing Olympics jacket (first prize) or a Php2,000 gift certificate at Tang's Restaurant (second prize) or official Caltex Drive the Dream t-shirts. I hope we win!

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=35830&l=81f10&id=593202816

Most of the pictures were taken in the middle of the freaking day at the Caltex Station on Malugay Street in Makati. I cannot show my face there again.

To Shoot or Not To Shoot

2008-07-31T09:09:00.002+08:00

Animal lover that I am, this article made me sad.

http://edition.cnn.com/2008/US/07/30/stuck.bear.shot.ap/index.html?iref=mpstoryview

Car Wars

2008-07-22T19:33:00.007+08:00

I got this via email and thought it was funny (things we won't be seeing in local magazines). Before looking at these print ads from South Africa, you should know that (1) BMW started by putting out their advertisement, (2) Audi answered, (3) Subaru caught on and felt they needed to say something, and (4) Bentley's Chairman wanted the last word. Enjoy!

Heath Owned It

2008-07-21T14:00:00.008+08:00

So let's cut to the chase. Yes, I saw The Dark Knight twice. And knowing me, I'm going to see it one or two more times. The film is nothing short of brilliant. And I'm not saying that because I'm a bat-fan. I walked in with VERY high expectations. I had read early reviews that pointed to director Christopher Nolan's version of an Arkham Asylum - The Killing Joke - The Dark Knight Returns crossover (all of which are my favorite Batman graphic novels). And it certainly did not disappoint. In fact, The Dark Knight was so much better than I expected. It's dark (duh). It's heavy. It gave my nephew Tristan nightmares.

And all the hype surrounding Heath Ledger's stellar performance as The Joker is not hype. No one is saying he was good because he's dead. He really was good! I found it truly Oscar-worthy (if anything, Ledger will at least win "Best Villain" at the MTV Movie Awards). I can still hear his maniacal laughter in my head. It was like he got the best of Mark Hamill's animated Joker and combined it with Hannibal Lecter. Wicked! He owned that movie. As fantastic as Christian Bale, Michael Caine, Gary Oldman, Morgan Freeman and Aaran Eckhart were, The Dark Knight was Ledger's. Now I've been a fan of Bale's since Empire of the Sun, but if I had to determine who would get top billing, I'd have listed Heath Ledger first, Christian Bale second. Bale did well. He's perfectly cast and his acting was flawless (but can someone please tell me why he kept talking like Kiko Matsing?). In fact, everyone was perfect. But Ledger? Creepy. Haunting. Enduring.

I like how we got to see more screentime for Bale as Bruce Wayne. And when he's brooding...Christian Bale broods so well ;) I like how Alfred has a "history". Maggie Gyllenhaal wasn't bad. In fact, I'm glad she took over Katie Holmes' role (not as a cute, but definitely a more convincing actress). I thought that the character of Harvey Dent was better established and played out here (much better origin story), and that Eckhart played it slightly better than Tommy Lee Jones. Despite the limited screen time, I felt that Freeman's and Oldman's characters had grown and really opened up. The action scenes were a bit lacking, but I like how Nolan played out Batman's humanity. Hans Zimmer's score was great, especially the relatively quiet scenes where The Joker does his monologues. Gars, Miggy, Lilit and I like that shot with The Joker riding the police car with his head out the window - it says so much about his "philosophy" with the so little. I could go on and on and on about how much I *LOVE* this movie. It's not perfect, but it knocked Iron Man out of the park. The Joker is the villain to beat. The Dark Knight is definitely a must-see. Just think twice about taking the kids.

Bale, Caine, Oldman and Freeman signed up for a trilogy. Nolan is once again set to write and direct. I'm interested to see how much closer to Frank Miller's Batman the third installment is going to get...without Ledger. Then again, why so serious? (cue manic laughter)

Spoilers ahoy! Stop reading if you want to see The Dark Knight spoiler-free.

It's been a while since I've read my Batman graphic novels (I'm probably the only geek who needs to "review" to get my bat-facts straight), but was that Kingpin on the ferry? Definitely an agent of Ra's Al Guhl, but which one? Can anyone guess who the upcoming villians may be? I'm guessing The Joker will be running things from Arkham in Part Three (unseen. Unheard. Or maybe they'll get a stand-in to hide in the shadows and Mark Hamill to do the voice). I still want to know exactly how The Scarecrow got out. Or did I simply forget what happened in Batman Begins? And was it me, or were the deaths truly shocking and the love story utterly tragic?

The Birthday Blog

2008-06-27T10:12:00.006+08:00

When, oh, when will someone get me this Godfather horsehead pillow? I've been blogging about it since I saw it on Neil Gaiman's online journal in 2005. Seriously. We wants it preciousssss...

Salcedo Weekend Market

2008-06-26T21:50:00.010+08:00

Andaya and I were supposed to help build a school in San Pascual, Batangas as part of Chevron's many outreach and corporate responsibility programs. However, a flood on the South Luzon Expressway plus storm signal number 2 (c/o Typhoon Frank) deemed it unsafe to travel. The activity pushed through for my colleagues in Batangas, but those of us coming from the Makati office couldn't make it.

Since we were already in Makati and we both had never been to the Salcedo Weekend Market in Jaime Velasquez Park, Salcedo Village, we decided to check it out. Good thing Andaya joined me, too - she helped point out things to photograph (thanks, man!).

It was a gloomy morning, but the colors of the market were nice and bright! Definitely worth the trip, if only for the experience (Php120 for one NZ persimmon? Are they kidding me?) and to enjoy a slice of Vargas Kitchen buttercake or brazo de mercedes (yum-yum!).

Follow the link to view my Salcedo Weekend Market photo album on Facebook. I had a hard time uploading these on Multiply over the weekend, which is how the pictures ended up on another network. In any case, enjoy!

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=30179&l=4229d&id=593202816

Oh, and order some buttercake from my cousin Ines ;)

http://www.marketmanila.com/archives/vargas-butter-cake

Somewhat Interesting News For Swimmers

2008-06-25T11:24:00.005+08:00

Check out these articles from Fox Sports on MSN, Reuters and Popular Science about the new Speedo Fastsuit/Sharksuit, the LZR Racer. Makes you wonder what ever happened to shaving everything off to reduce drag, etc. This just takes all the fun out of watching a swim meet. I say, bring back the teeny-tiny trunks and give me more reasons to watch ;)

http://msn.foxsports.com/olympics/story/8275174?MSNHPHCP&GT1=39002

http://uk.reuters.com/article/governmentFilingsNews/idUKN1946603220080623

http://www.popsci.com/entertainment-gaming/article/2008-03/can-swimsuit-be-too-good

One of the members (KRtri84) on Fox Sports posted this comment, which I agree with:

i think everyone brings up valid points, but as a competitive swimmer for 15 years and a triathlete for 10, it is really plain to see that technology is a part of athletics. running shoes are lighter, there are compression shorts, cycling wheel systems that cost multiple thousands of dollars, wetsuits that are $600+, and yes, the LZR. just like there are "fast" swim suits that cost $150, there are better ones like the LZR that are more expensive. i ride a $2,500 bike in my races. there are bikes that cost 5x that. i can't afford them and i don't complain. it is probably 95-99% the person in almost every case - not the machinery, suit, shoe, etc.

the records are being broken by the best swimmers in the world. kitajima, lochte, phelps, coughlin, etc... these are the top of the top already, so of course they are going to be breaking records.

weir is right - too much hype about the suits and not the athletes.

and lastly, look at the records being broken. many of them are previously held records by the same swimmers. what about events like the 1500 m freestyle for both women (janet evans) and men (hackett). why have the amazing LZRs not lead to records here??? or the women's 100 m fly? men's 100 fly? they will most likely be broken in beijing but still the point is clear. it is the swimmers that are amazing - the suit is just a fancy piece of technology along for the ride.

What do you think?

For more information on the LZR Racer, head over to www.speedo.com.

Photo of Olympic swimmer Michael Phelps taken from The Calgary Sun's Six in the City column by Kelly Doody (posted on 12 February 2008).

Random Shots

2008-06-09T11:50:00.002+08:00

I've been having the same problem as Kat uploading pictures on Multiply, so I did what she did: I posted a couple of albums on my Facebook.

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=28631&l=36394&id=593202816
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=29007&l=da01d&id=593202816

I've yet to take photos of our little CNN Centre in Papa and Tita Vicky's house. Their little dining table has been invaded by laptops. Before and after each meal, Papa, Julia and I work (or study. Or chat. Or blog). We think it looks really funny.

So while I'm working (yes, working while semi-vacationing and having some father-daughter bonding sessions),...enjoy!

Wild...

2008-04-30T12:07:00.002+08:00

And I thought the "Why so serious?" poster was creepy. This made my hair stand.

More Dark Knight posters here on Ain't it Cool News:

http://www.aintitcool.com/node/36563

You've Got To Be Kidding

2008-04-26T18:00:00.002+08:00

Danica Patrick in Formula One? Are these people out of their minds?! Of course, Piquet Sr. is not convinced. She's good, but she's not ready. Her presence will be turned into one big publicity stunt, and people will just keep talking about her instead of the race. And she's likely to make a mess of things on the track. Just look at what happened to Juan Pablo Montoya and Scott Speed. Hellooo? I'm just not into spectacular crashes and cars going around and around in the same boring track without challenging turns and elevation. And if Patrick does make the move, will Honda bring her over to replace Rubens Barrichelo?

http://en.f1-live.com/f1/en/headlines/news/detail/080423090440.shtml
http://en.f1-live.com/f1/en/headlines/news/detail/080426102723.shtml

I Can't Watch...!

2008-04-11T10:34:00.003+08:00

American Idol reveals this season's top 7 and I'm not happy. Results on www.curlio.com. I need a drink....

Almost There

2008-04-09T15:30:00.003+08:00

I signed up for a trip to Batanes during Holy Week. I wasn't able to go (insert heartbreak worse that seeing a not well-liked ex-boyfriend happy without me here). There was some mix-up with the plane tickets and mine was one of the seats cancelled (my Mom was NOT the travel agent). Given my ridiculous work schedule (the fun never stops in this company, I tell you), I couldn't find any other time to join the tour except next Holy Week. So that dream trip will just have to wait until 2009. I was packed. My cameras were clean and I even had the motor-drive repaired. I bought black and white film. I was almost there. In the meantime, check out my classmate Hochi's beautiful photographs. I'm so jealous...of both his having been there and his skill with a camera.

A lot's been happening at work, but I don't seem to have proven myself worthy of having been hired with all the hype that surrounded my having been chosen from a limited and highly competitive field (you'll be surprised by how difficult it really is to be a real compensation and benefits person. Consulting is one thing. Line HR is another: no mere headache; it's a migraine! Never underestimate the people who determine your salaries!). But I like to think that I'm almost there. My bossess have been extremely helpful in improving my SAP skills and building my confidence in handling certain situations. But thank you Watson Wyatt for blessing me with the power of Excel. What would my life be without functions like IF, VLOOKUP, INDIRECT and CONCATENATE?

In the last 2 or 3 weeks, 2 of my closest friends have confirmed that they are indeed pregnant (ultra-sounds confirming healthy heartbeats and all). They've been trying to have children for the longest time (one having waited so much longer than the other). Both of them are due sometime in November...which is better than December because the poor kids will only get one set of gifts each year instead of one set of gifts for their birthdays and another for Christmas. I'm truly happy that their prayers have finally been answered, and despite how I feel about children, I'm very excited for the arrival of these 2. Just a few more months and my friends will officially be mothers. They're almost there.

Over the weekend, Bianca and I saw the IMAX spectacle that was U2 3D in SM Mall of Asia's San Miguel Coca-Cola IMAX Theatre. I had never been to MOA (bring me back to the Town Centre!) and have only seen one IMAX movie in my life (there's an IMAX theatre in the visitors' centre of the Grand Canyon where you learn about how the Grand Canyon came to be, what it's like at the bottom and on the other side, etc.). But this U2 3D: Oh. My. God! I really thought that Bono was singing TO ME. "Touch me/Take me to that other place/Reach me...". I was finally able to study a bit of Larry Mullen, Jr's technique because the camera was right above him. And I never realised how BAD my man Larry's skin was (he should see Ayees or Windie or Chittina. I still love him, though). U2 3D was just so...bitin.

First of all, we couldn't decide if we were watching a movie or attending a concert. Do we buy popcorn? Can we stand up and sing along? Then, despite the "film" being an hour and a half long (or short), the set list was made up of only 15 songs (what did I expect? Apparently, I was really watching a movie!). I love how it opened with Vertigo, and how U2 got all political (as usual) with Sunday Bloody Sunday, Bullet the Blue Sky, Miss Sarajevo, Pride (In The Name of Love), and Where the Streets Have No Name complete with the UN Declaration of Human Rights. I was very happy to hear the original version of One (everyone who likewise hates/detests/abhors the Mary J. Blige version, raise your hands. It's sacrilege!). And what is a U2 concert without With or Without You. And I really like how the "film" ended with Yahweh (Bro. Arian, why don't we use that in Search-In?).

In any case, U2 3D is as close as many of us will ever get to being at a U2 concert (I've given up on the entire "U2 is coming to the Philippines" rumor that refuses to die. Until the tickets go on sale, I won't believe it). U2 3D was absolutely amazing, a near religious experience worth my 500 pesos (as I've written before, attending an actual u2 concert would be a religious experience). We were almost there. Check out this review as it pretty much sums up the experience (yes, it's an experience!).

Right now, Bianca and I saving up for the first Formula One Singapore Grand Prix, a night time street race at that (Go, Kimi! Go!). And even if Singapore's a corny place to visit, I'm excited about Bianca's first trip there. I really want to to take her around. The food alone is worth it (chili crabs, here we come!), and my mentor Cherry is a fantastic host. Free accomodations c/o Cherry: check. Savings plan on schedule: check. Now, let's just hope that the travel agent (not my Mom) gets the track seats AND PLANE TICKETS that Bianca and I want. All our fingers and toes are crossed. We're almost there.

I have Bangkok trip lined up for May. It's for work, but Raetz - a good friend of mine from work - will be joining me and we're visiting another friend from work, Ruthie (yes, I actually have friends at work aside from my schoolmates). An HR person, a Finance person, and an Auditor together in a party town: should be fun! Ruthie, we're almost there! I so miss Bangkok, it's unbelievable.

The last time I saw my Dad and sister Julia was in 2005. The last time I saw my cousins in Hawai'i was in 2002. I'm planning (drawing?) to visit them plus my other cousins in CA this December. So it's pre-Christmas with the da Silva-Formans, Christmas with the Vargases, and New Year's with the Rodriguez-da Silvas and Nielsens. Hopefully, I'll get to see The Thirds, Lorraine, and Celso and family, too. And yes, my Mom is my travel agent for this one, so there's a high probability that this trip will push through. Pera nalang (huwag galawin ang mga bonus!). I'm almost there!

I've been writing this travel guide/collection of tragic love stories thing for almost a year. I've got the first part done, but the rest is taking forever to finish. I'm not looking to be a Palanca Award Winner like Lilit, but it would be nice if my work comes out good. I hope to finish it within the year. I'm almost there.

Like all our wants and needs, all our dreams and every little capricco: we're almost there. And as Gars would often tell me when I would get into one of my many rants, "Do something about it." I am! Not all of it, but I'm doing a little something very slowly about everything I can. Soon, I hope to entitle one of my blog entries as "I Made It!". As KC would say, "May all your dreams come true."

"What you don't have you don't need it now/What you don't know you can feel it somehow" - U2

Euro-English

2008-03-12T14:53:00.002+08:00

This post is dedicated to Marian Santos-Hernandez, JM Castillo and Hans Montenegro.

It's an oldie, but a goodie that I got on email. The original was written by Jeremy Clarkson back in the 90's as part of an article on the closure of an automotive manufacturing facility in the UK (was it Rover?) after the company was bought by Germans (BMW? Joby, if you're reading this, HELP ME). My memory fails me. I have the original on hard copy, but am obviously too lazy to type it up in its full glory. In any case, enjoy! And if you can imagine Jay Ignacio reading this to you, it will sound so much better!

With the implementation of the Euro underway these last few years, the European Union is trying to find new ways to standardise practices in Europe.

The European Commission has just announced an agreement whereby English will be the official language of the EU rather than German, which was the other possibility.

As part of the negotiations, Her Majesty’s Government conceded that English spelling had some room for improvement and has accepted a five year phase-in plan that would be known as “Euro-English”.

In the first year, "s" will replace the soft "c". Sertainly, this will make the sivil servants jump with joy. The hard "c" will be dropped in favour of "k". This should klear up konfusion, and keyboards kan have one less letter.

There will be growing publik enthusiasm in the sekond year when the troublesome "ph" will be replaced with "f". This will make words like fotograf 20% shorter.

In the 3rd year, publik akseptanse of the new spelling kan be expekted to reach the stage where more komplikated changes are possible.

Governments will enkourage the removal of double letters which have always ben a deterent to akurate speling.

Also, al wil agre that the horibl mes of the silent "e" in the languag is disgrasful and it should go away.

By the 4th yer people wil be reseptiv to steps such as replasing "th" with "z" and "w" with "v".

After zis fifz yer, ve vil hav a reli sensibl riten styl. Zer vil be no mor trubl or difikultis and evrivun vil find it ezi to understand ech ozer. Ze drem vil finali kum tru! And zen ve vil rul ze vorld!

Catching Up

2008-02-19T10:41:00.002+08:00

Yeah, I'm way behind with my blogging and picture-posting, but I just popped in to share these:

Happy 8th birthday, Max! (that's 56 dog years. Who would've thought?)
Happy birthday (belated, advanced) to Khun Jemen, Monsy, Geetrie, Khun Mike, Celso, Benjor (let's drink!), Toersche, my pseudo ex-office fling Kit, Vic Icasas, CK Abitria, The One and Only Ate Kat, Khun Jingo, Ang-guapo-niya-sa-personal Hans, and Jeric.
Welcome home and bon voyage to JM (labo ba?)
Kung Hei Fat Choy!
Sting, I love you ;)
Happy VD to all!
Congratulations and best wishes to Hans and Marilen, and to Raymond and Anna!
Zero Coke is now available in SM (woohoo!).
Singapore Grand Prix tickets are now available online (and are too expensive).
Go see DLSZ's production of Once Upon A Mattress this weekend (Benjor is performing on Saturday night).
No work on Monday, 25 February 2008. Yippee!!!!!

I shall close with whis article from the Philippine Daily Inquirer - http://services.inquirer.net/express/08/02/18/html_output/xmlhtml/20080217-119521-xml.html (hey, I didn't know those flags either, so I can't blame the guy).

Man Tan, looks like I need to revive the old World Update format ;)

INQUIRER ENTERTAINMENT - ENTERTAINMENT
Now, that’s winning
February 17, 2008 Updated 23:43:18 (Mla time)
Ruth L. Navarra
Philippine Daily Inquirer

CLARKE QUAY, Singapore— Marc Nelson and Rovilson Fernandez proudly carried the Philippine flag all the way to the end. With that, they accomplished what they set out to do when they joined the “Amazing Race Asia” Season 2.

The Best Buddies dominated the entire season by coming in first in a span of eight legs, seven of which they won consecutively. It was a feat no other team came close to topping, not even in the US version of the show.

Toughest rivals
But it was their toughest rivals, Gym Buddies Collin Low and Adrian Yap from Singapore, who first crossed the finish line at Chinese Garden in Jurong and won the grand prize in a race that took 10 teams across and around Asia.

“It couldn’t have been better—the underdogs defeated the big bad team from the Philippines,” says Marc jokingly during the AXN-Caltex Chevron Finale party at IndoChine Bar and Restaurant. “Adrian and Collin’s victory is a victory for all of us.”

Adrian’s hearing disability made another first in TAR franchise history. He can read lips but Collin often used sign language to communicate with him during the race.

“This only goes to show that physical disability is not a hindrance and anything is possible,” says Collin to the show’s cheering friends and fans.

It was neck-and-neck all the way to the end. The last roadblock ultimately made the difference: Adrian easily finished the chore of arranging the flags of countries in the order they visited. Sisters Pamela and Vanessa Chong from Malaysia came in second.

Rovilson recounts: “We were fans of the show and we were watching all the episodes (US version) with the season that had the hippies (TAR9). When we got to the hotel, there was only one episode left, a flag episode. We were about to watch that when the AXN people came into our room and took everything, our phone, our iPod.”

At this point the duo playfully blame the person who confiscated their iPod.

“We had all the challenges memorized, except that one. I could—I would—have studied it. One episode, swear to God, true story,” Rovilson says. He wouldn’t change anything in the way they ran the race, he adds. His only regret is that he “let Marc down.”

Signature jump
Besides their winning streak, the duo made a mark in the TARA series with their side-splitting antics. Rovilson says their signature jump whenever they reached the mat has become a household cheer in the Philippines.

The duo would soon be auctioning off the T-shirts they used that had funny one-liners like “Looking for a teammate with a sense of direction.” They haven’t decided on which charitable institution the benefits will go to; but they’re sure it will be one that relates to children.

Choice partner
Asked whom he will pick as partner if AXN decides to separate them—in case they make it to the all-stars version—Rovilson says he’ll pick either Ernie or Gina Lopez and one more.

“Maybe Vanessa, maybe the Malaysian teams because Malaysia teams are very tough as the show’s history has shown,” he explains. A romance brewing? With all the cheek he could muster, Rovilson gave the safe, show biz answer, “We’re just hanging out.”

The Singapore team took the $100,000 cash prize but Marc and Rovilson will not go home empty-handed. Their prizes adds up to about P2 million, including a trip to South Africa and free gas for a year, from Caltex. Not to mention several offers to do other TV shows.

Now, that’s winning.

©2008 www.inquirer.net all rights reserved

Bro. Felix Mason, FSC

2008-02-07T16:12:00.002+08:00

No student likes being called to the Disciplinary Office or the Principal's Office (unless you're Jennifer Bautista whose mother was the Principal's secretary). Growing up in La Salle Zobel, none of us liked being anywhere near Battling Bengal Bro. Raymond Bronowichz. But no one had a problem being called to Bro. Felix's office. A friend of mine, Bro. Arian (the first La Salle Brother from Zobel), wrote that Bro. Felix's last post in the Philippines was as La Salle Bacolod's "Campus Animator". Yup, that's what he was even if his official title in Zobel was "Brother Director". He was the the sweet old man who never called me by my real name (I never knew why he always called me "Charlie"), the one who knew each student by name or nickname and greeted all of us in the hallway, the educator who helped us cut class but threatened to lock us up with the lost-and-found items in the bodega if we went too far.

I've always worried about Bro. Felix's health since I heard about his cancer, and I'm obviously very affected by his passing (a little more than Bro. Benedict's probably because I really grew up with Bro. Felix). I can't even come up with a decent tribute (notice how long it took to me to post this!). I've been planning a trip to California this December and was so looking forward to visiting Bro. Felix with my Dad. The last time I said goodbye to Bro. Felix was years ago while I was heading towards the North Gate of La Salle Taft and he was walking to the Brothers' Quarters in the La Salle Building. I cried when I received the text message from Andaya saying he had passed away. I cried when I read the blog posts from his former students and my fellow schoolmates. I cried when I saw the video tribute that the alumni played at his wake and posted on YouTube. My only regret is that I lost most of the stampitas he gave me on my birthday (I know people who still have theirs!).

St. John Baptist de la Salle, pray for Bro. Felix. Live Jesus in his heart, forever.

Links:
From the De La Salle - Santiago Zobel School website, written by Bro. Arian Lopez, FSC.
http://www.zobel.dlsu.edu.ph/archives/00000240.asp

From the De La Salle Alumni Association of Northern California
http://www.dlsaanc.org/events/20080209013347.asp
(if you look at the last picture on the right, there's a guy in a La Salle jacket. That's my Dad. Bro. Felix paddled him in grade school). Don't forget to check out the video.

My 2007

2007-12-27T14:18:00.000+08:00

I began 2007 with a beautiful Neil Gaiman quote sent to me by Bianca: "May your coming year be filled with magic and dreams and good madness. I hope you read some fine books and kiss someone who thinks you're wonderful, and don't forget to make some art - write or draw or build or sing or live as only you can. And I hope, somewhere in the next year, you surprise yourself." And Ma-an said: "...I'd like to wish you the same thing I wished for myself...To surround yourself with people who will NEVER let you lose your sense of awe and wonder, and who will refresh your childlike spirit."

I had a feeling that 2007 was going to be a very sociable year. And it was! Likewise, my year unfolded as dear Mr. Gaiman said it would with art and love and many strange things in between (Gaiman and son were part of my magical, whimsical 2007, too!). So here’s my personal review of the year that was, and I wish you will all look back on 2007 with fond memories and will look forward to 2008 with grace and hope.

What is/are the best thing/s you did in 2007?
I traveled a lot. And sang like a closet-karaoke princess unleashed. And I started writing (not sure if it’s going to be a short story or a novella). Somewhere in that travelogue/series of tragic love stories is Miggy’s favorite (something that actually happened to a friend of ours at work) which begins with the line “They met on the bus from Kalibo to Caticlan”.

What did you do in 2007 that you'd never done before?
Singsnapped without shame, engaged in intimate conversations with complete strangers speaking in 5 different languages (thank the Lord for the international language of charades), started my Christmas shopping at the end of November (I usually start in September), facilitated a particular Search-in activity alone for the first time without any notes, and took Layla and Max out with Bianca but without a yaya.

What was/were the best place/s you visited in 2007?
Everywhere I went was great! Yes, even Singapore, Intramuros and Pasig! I was surprised that India (at least Delhi and Agra) was not bad at all. In fact, I seriously want to go back! Portugal wasn’t part of my and Gars’ original itinerary, but Lisboa in particular turned out to be the highlight of my first trip to Europe. Santiago de Compostella was more emotional than I thought it would be, and to think I didn’t actually walk there like all the other pilgrims.

What was/were the best meal/s you had in 2007?
Davao lechon on my birthday. Filet de beuf (?) at Cuillere in Serendra. All the food in India, Singapore (soft shell chili crab noodles!), Spain and Portugal. The herb rice I made for Christmas dinner (if I may say so myself, hehehe).

What was/were the best drink/s you had in 2007?
India’s Kingfisher Beer (it saved me from Delhi Belly), Estrella Damm and Damm Limon in Barcelona, and all the wine in Portugal.

What would you like to have in 2008 that you lacked in 2007?
More time to write, a better eye and faster trigger finger for photography, and more money and leave days to travel.

What date from 2007 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
27 September 2007. “You really know all the U2 albums!”

What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Exploring new places and sharing a bathroom with people I don’t know (you have no idea how out-of-the-box that is for a creature of comfort like me). Not selling Leslie/Anna and Kit/Cay out while hosting their weddings (well, not completely selling them out, hahaha).

What was your biggest failure?
I started smoking again. And something that made one of the senior managers want to tear off my hair.

Did you suffer illness or injury?
Something with my knees and more back pain. Ask Katkat's Kuya Bunny. I’m falling apart!

What was/were the best thing/s you bought?
A cheap little MP3 player/FM radio, Panasonic Lumix TZ-3, and new travel gear. Red espadrilles for Layla (they’re so cute!), digital photoframe for my Mom, a book with the lyrics of almost all of Bruce Springsteen’s songs for Bianca, Disney Trivial Pursuit for my family.

Whose behavior merited celebration?
Gars’ (map reader extraordinaire) and Vince’s (the man with the plan): because they put up with me while traveling. And Bianca’s: someone had to mind my dog while I was away.

Whose behavior appalled and/or depressed you?
Out of the 5 on my list in 2005, one remains. Will people ever change?

Where did most of your money go?
To Europe.

What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Going to the Taj Mahal…for free! Having Davao lechon on my birthday. Visiting La Sagrada Familia. Attending mass at the Catedral de Santiago de Compostella. Anna I. cooking her kalderetang callos. Meeting Neil Gaiman again and my niece Alyssa Nielsen for the first time. My cousin John coming home after 20+ years.

What song/s will always remind you of 2007?
Mr. Brightside by The Killers, Everlong by The Foo Fighters, ‘Til Tuesday’s Voices Carry, With or Without You and I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For by U2, Umbrella by Rihanna (that stupid song haunted me for months), Mariza’s Chuva (I think it means “rain” in Portuguese), everything on Chris Daughtry’s album, the songs from High School Musical (1 *and* 2!), and all the ‘80’s music on my MP3 player/FM radio that seemed to know to what song to play for every situation (eerie).

Compared to this time last year, are you:
i. happier or more sad? – Happier
ii. thinner or fatter? – So much fatter, it’s ridiculous.
iii. richer or poorer? – Definitely poorer. But richer in spirit (naks!).

What do you wish you'd done more of?
Same list since 2005: attended more Search-In Alabang retreats, some work-related stuff that I can't explain, worked on my photography skills, studied Spanish seriously,...

What was the best book you read?
It’s a tie between The Stone Gods by Jeanette Winterson and The Sparrow by Mary Doria Russell.

What was your greatest musical discovery?
Fado (traditional Portuguese music).

What did you want and get?
Last year, I wrote “I am determined to swim at least 1,000 meters every weekend and to train for an 8-day 120 km. trek from Leon to Santiago de Compostella in September (it will happen! I know it will! I'll make it happen!).” And I did swim that much almost every weekend and I worked out 2 to 3 times a week until September. I didn’t walk to Santiago, but I made it there!

What was/were the best movie/s you saw in 2007?
Definitely, 300. Enchanted was a welcome surprise. 30 Days of Night was pretty good, production-wise, as was The Golden Compass. I also liked Stranger Than Fiction.

What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
Had a little get-together at home. Age? I love Europe – hardly anyone thought I was a day over 25.

What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Ah, well, there’s a ridiculously long answer to that one which includes visiting Jaipur and Goa, wiping out a particular store in Delhi, having more shopping money in Spain for Desigual and Stradivarius, having my family spend a week with me in Singapore (thank God for Geia, Justin, Cecile, and Cherry), and some work-related things. Should you decide to engage Andaya and Gars on a drunken (or even sober) conversation on my non-existent lovelife, they will gladly tell you EVERYTHING that could have made my 2007 immensely more satisfying.

How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2007?
I would like to thank the powers that be at Chevron for allowing me to finally afford one blouse at Zara.

What kept you sane?
My dog. My niece. My workmates Lynnette and Ruthie. My travel buddies. My fellow Singsnappers.

Who was/were the best new person/people you met?
Everyone I met at the Lisbon Lounge Hostel and the Tuesday Club.

Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2007:
I can share many! Walang amoy sa Delhi. I can actually carry a tune to save my life. It doesn’t matter how long you’ve known each other; you just never really know anyone half as much as you think you do…which makes sharing a drink or a bathroom such an interesting experience. The Iberian Peninsula has the largest concentration of good looking men. The best way to go “sightseeing” is with a camera that has 10x optical zoom (right, Ate Kat?). Expat guys always get the girls, but not all expat girls get guys. Had you met under different circumstances, some of the people you’re friends with wouldn’t be your friends; yet you band together not because you’re used to each other or been through a lot together, but because you wouldn’t have it any other way. The bread and butter served in Portuguese restaurants don’t come for free. The absolute best chocolate cake, chocolate and butter cupcakes, and food for the gods comes from the kitchen of the Dels. Your family (even your extended family) will always be there no matter what. My Mom and my dog really love me.

What was the nicest thing someone told you about yourself:
Mabait ka pala (said by someone at work).

The most touching experience you've had this year?
The pilgrims’ mass in Santiago de Compostella.

What did you like most about yourself in 2007?
I think I grew as person, know what I mean?

What did you hate most about yourself in 2007?
I grew sideways, too.

Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:
I am everything you want. I am everything you need. I am everything inside of you that you wish you could be. I say all the right things at exactly the right time, but I mean nothing to you and I don’t know why (Vertical Horizon).

Was 2007 a good year for you?
YES! VERY! It was absolutely fantastic!

What was your favorite moment of the year?
Ayan ang “too many to mention”! Meeting Neil Gaiman for the second time. Seeing Neil Gaiman’s son! Stalking said son with Bianca. Bianca and I spending an entire morning shopping with Layla. Layla running around Bonifacio High Street. Everything about Lisboa. Everything about my dog, Max. Andaya’s reaction to 300. Andaya calling from someone’s beautiful bathroom. This one night at Capone’s. The Big Fish party with Gabby, Gars and Mike Mendoza. Vince not wanting to swim in Delhi. Vince’s kwento about his trip to the Delhi Zoo. Shopping with Khun Lek. Gars finding me in the middle of the street in Valdaura (how bizarre). The look on Gars’ face when I said I almost fell out a window at La Sagrada Familia. Gars crossing the bridge in Porto. Gars and I getting kilig over an email I got from… Barcelona’s Feste dela Merce. Everyone’s reaction to Kit and Cay’s engagement. Kit pacing before his wedding ceremony began. Leslie singing to Anna. Miggy singing with Rit-rit. Benjor singing Bad and The Killing Moon. The day I spent with Gabby like we were still in High School. The Vargas Reunion. Hanging out with my first cousins. Jay Ignacio’s Shakespearean encounter. The look on Tristan’s face when he realised the copy we gave him of Beowolf was autographed by Neil Gaiman. And the list goes on and on and on….

What was your least favorite moment of the year?
Ahhh…let’s not shoot ourselves in the foot here, shall we?

Do you have a new years resolution for 2008?
Again, I am determined to swim at least 1,000 meters every weekend and to train for our 300 themed Christmas party.

What was your favorite month of 2007?
Mid-September to early October.

What was your favorite record from 2007?
Mariza’s Fado Em Mim.

How many concerts did you see in 2007?
I think I saw 3 (Titani, Femme Fatale, Taylor Hicks). Wait, how many times did we sing in Gabby’s house? Is Jay’s Evenstar Project gig in mag:net counted?

If you could go back in time to any moment of 2007 and change something, what would it be?
There are so many moments of 2007 that I wish I could change….

What are your plans for 2008?
The only things I’m sure of are work-related and some travel plans with family and friends (Singapore F1 in September – if we can find race tickets, Bangkok United reunion in Lumpini Park and Chiang Mai in December, Christmas with my Dad in California).

How are you different now that 2007 has ended?
I'm a lot happier now that I was before.

What are your wishes for the new year?
An end to global warming [insert award-winning capped-tooth smile here]. Thank you. I love you all! Good night!

Why I Live in the Philippines

2007-12-21T13:36:00.000+08:00

Check this out. Got it via email. The ones in red are the ones that really piss me off about this country and the people who do not help make things better. Why do *I* live in the Philippines? Man, despite all the crap, it's just so much more fun here!

*****

WHY I LIVE IN THE PHILIPPINES

When I travel people often ask me why I live in the Philippines.

Well, here it is, the only place on earth...

...Where every street has a basketball court.

...Where even lawyers and engineers are unemployed.

...Where doctors study to become nurses for employment abroad.

...Where students pay more money than they will earn aftewards.

...Where school is considered the second home and the mall the third.

...Where call-center employees earn more than teachers and nurses. (C: !!!!!)

...Where mutineers get elected senators.

...Where luxury cars are being destroyed.

...Where the press people are the most powerful. (C: Check out Sid's blog post about the ones who were arrested at the Pen last month. So true!)

...Where the priest knows everything about politics.

...Where everyone has his personal ghost story and superstition.

...Where mountains like Makiling and Banahaw are considered holy places.

...Where you can buy a school diploma on the street.

...Where everything can be forged.

...Where Starbucks coffee is more expensive than gas. (C: And mind you, no one complains about price increases at Starbucks!)

...Where flyovers bring you from the freeway to the side streets.

...Where people cross the street under the overpass and not using the overpass.

...Where crossing the street involves running for your dear life.

...Where the personal computer is mainly used for games and Friendster.

...Where protesters with anti-American sentiments are wearing a pair of Hanes and Levis.

...Where street protest is 12/7 activities and considered a living.

...Where colonial mentality is dishonesty denied!

...Where 4 a.m. is not even considered bedtime yet.

...Where people can pay to defy the law.

...Where everything and everyone is spoofed.

...Where even the poverth-stricken get to wear Ralph Lauren and Tommy Hilfiger.

...Where the honking of car horns is a way of life.

...Where floodwaters take up more than 90 percent of the streets during rainy season.

...Where everyone has a relative abroad who keeps them alive.

...Where wearing made in the Philippines clothes makes you baduy.

...Where even the poverty-stricken have the latest cell phones.

...Where insurance and educational plan don't work.

...Where the government makes the people pray for miracles.

...Where fast food is a diet meal.

...Where traffic signs are merely suggestions, not regulations.

...Where the definition of traffic is 'non-movement' of vehicles.

...Where the WWII fighter planes are used for military engagements, and the new fighter planes are displayed in museums.

...Where cigarettes and alcohol are necessity, and where the lottery is a commodity.

...Where soap operas tell the realities of life and where the news provides the drama.

...Where actors make the rules and where politicians provide entertainment.

...Where people can get away with stealing billions of pesos, but not a thousand.

...Where being an hour late is still considered punctual.

...Where late departure (ferry or plane) is considered normal.

...Where the squatters have more to complain (even if they do not pay their tax) than those employed and have their tax automatically deducted from their salaries.

...and where everyone wants to leave the country!

According to Manila businessman, there is so much wit in the Philippines because '...we are a country where a good sense of humor is needed to survive. This is the reason why amazingly Filipinos are one of the happiest people in the world.

We have a 24-hour comedy show here called the government and a huge reserve of comedians made up mostly of politicians and bad actors.

Now I ask you where else in the world would one want to live?

Why So Serious?

2007-12-17T09:46:00.000+08:00

Found this on Quint's post over at Ain't It Cool News. Creepy...!

Holy $#!%, Batman!

2007-12-14T17:01:00.000+08:00

What a poster! I love it! Can't wait to see the movie!

Depreciating Assets

2007-12-12T12:08:00.001+08:00

One of my old classmates sent this via email. Hilarious!

She deserves the answer. Happy reading.

===========================

Subject: Fw: Craigslist Posting. This is Hilarious You'll love it!

Worth taking a few min off to read it:)

POSTING: What am I doing wrong?

Okay, I'm tired of beating around the bush. I'm a beautiful (spectacularly beautiful) 25 year old girl. I'm articulate and classy. I'm not from New York. I'm looking to get married to a guy who makes atleast half a million a year. I know how that sounds, but keep in mind that a million a year is middle class in New York City, so I don't think I'm overreaching at all.

Are there any guys who make 500K or more on this board? Any wives? Could you send me some tips? I dated a business man who makes average around 200 - 250. But that's where I seem to hit a roadblock. 250,000 won't get me to central park west. I know a woman in my yoga class who was married to an investment banker and lives in Tribeca, and she's not as pretty as I am, nor is she a great genius. So what is she doing right? How do I get to her level?

Here are my questions specifically:

- Where do you single rich men hang out? Give me specifics - bars,restaurants, gyms

- What are you looking for in a mate? Be honest guys, you won't hurt my feelings

- Is there an age range I should be targeting (I'm 25)?

- Why are some of the women living lavish lifestyles on the upper eastside so plain? I've seen really 'plain jane' boring types who have nothing to offer married to incredibly wealthy guys. I've seen drop dead gorgeous girls in singles bars in the east village. What's the story there?

- Jobs I should look out for? Everyone knows - lawyer, investment banker, doctor. How much do those guys really make? And where do they hang out? Where do the hedge fund guys hang out?

- How you decide marriage vs. just a girlfriend? I am looking for MARRIAGE ONLY

Please hold your insults - I'm putting myself out there in an honestway. Most beautiful women are superficial; at least I'm being up front about it. I wouldn't be searching for these kind of guys if I wasn't able to match them - in looks, culture, sophistication, and keeping a nice home and hearth.

* it's NOT ok to contact this poster with services orother commercial interests

PostingID: 432279810

THE ANSWER

Dear Pers-431649184:

I read your posting with great interest and have thought meaningfully about your dilemma. I offer the following analysis of your predicament. Firstly, I'm not wasting your time, I qualify as a guy who fits your bill; that is I make more than $500K per year. That said here's how I see it.

Your offer, from the prospective of a guy like me, is plain and simple a cr@ppy business deal. Here's why. Cutting through all the B.S., what you suggest is a simple trade: you bring your looks to the party and I bring my money. Fine, simple. But here's the rub, your looks will fade and my money will likely continue into perpetuity...in fact, it is very likely that my income increases but it is an absolute certainty that you won't be getting any more beautiful!

So, in economic terms you are a depreciating asset and I am an earning asset. Not only are you a depreciating asset, your depreciation accelerates! Let me explain, you're 25 now and will likely stay pretty hot for the next 5 years, but less so each year. Then the fade begins in earnest. By 35 stick a fork in you!

So in Wall Street terms, we would call you a trading position, not a buy and hold...hence the rub...marriage. It doesn't make good business sense to "buy you" (which is what you're asking) so I'd rather lease. In case you think I'm being cruel, I would say the following. If my money were to go away, so would you, so when your beauty fades I need an out. It's as simple as that. So a deal that makes sense is dating, not marriage.

Separately, I was taught early in my career about efficient markets. So, I wonder why a girl as "articulate, classy and spectacularly beautiful"as you has been unable to find your sugar daddy. I find it hard to believe that if you are as gorgeous as you say you are that the $500K hasn't found you, if not only for a tryout.

By the way, you could always find a way to make your own money and then we wouldn't need to have this difficult conversation.

With all that said, I must say you're going about it the right way. Classic "pump and dump."

I hope this is helpful, and if you want to enter into some sort of lease, let me know.

'The Golden Compass' is No 'Lord of the Rings'...or 'Da Vinci Code'

2007-12-10T12:33:00.000+08:00

I missed the first 15 or 20 minutes of The Golden Compass. Me? Late for a movie? And not just me. Bianca?! Late? She's almost never late for anything, especially movies. Yes, what is the world coming to. In any case, I think Chris Weis' version of The Golden Compass, which we saw last Saturday, deserved 3 and a half stars if only for being such a fantastic production and having a near perfect cast (I still think Jason Isaacs should have played Lord Asriel). Again, it's a book I've read and a series that I love, which means there were endless comparisons to the original text. I wasn't sorely disappointed (I liked it), but I was actually worried about members of the audience who had not read the book, and took a while to understand what all those animals were doing onscreen and why Lyra's kept changing (how do you explain what a demon is without ruining the whole movie experience, right?).

I was surprised by how true the set (just the set) was to the book. It was much better than I imagined! And some (only some) of the changes from the book were handled quite well. But that "What man on this ship was once my lover?" crap...what the hell was that? That entire scene could have been handled so much better. Serafina Pekkala is such a great character, but the film kind of kept her in the background. I hope they do more with her in the second and third parts of the series.

And all the hullaballoo about this movie being anti-Christian? Please! As Bianca said, everybody saw The Da Vinci Code anyway and it was crap. Absolute rubbish Such a horrible film translation of an exciting book. There was nothing anti-Christian about the film version of The Golden Compass. In fact, a lot of the "free-thinking" and anti-establishment sentiments of the book were watered down. I can't remember who said it, but perhaps parents who decide to take their kids to see The Golden Compass should spend some time to discuss the movie with their children and use that as a springboard for exploring and strengthening their Faith, etc., etc. Seeing the film or reading the book will not destroy a weak person's Faith. If anything, such a person may need guidance, but that's it. It's nowhere as direct an attack on the Church as The Da Vinci Code and is a far superior film.

So because I missed the beginning and want to enjoy a worry-free movie experience, I want to see it again. I so want to like this movie the way I care about 300, Star Wars and The Lord of the Rings, but I can't. My cousins hated it. I thought a lot could have been done better. Well, it's better than The Chronicles of Narnia and Stardust, that much I can say. I didn't have to suffer through two hours of Claire Danes.

Over at Ain't It Cool News, someone commented that Peter Jackson would have done a phenomenal job with The Golden Compass. I think Peter Jackson would have done an outstanding job with Stardust, too (as Jay I. pointed out, I'm sure he would have been smart enough to consult Charles Vess). Alas, there can only be one The Lord of the Rings and it's still the ultimate fantasy book-to-film translation to beat.

US Travel Advisory

2007-12-10T11:09:00.000+08:00

This email has been making the rounds. Better to be safe than sorry.

U.S. Immigration , U.S. Department of Homeland Security Travel Advisory

This information is very alarming and I think it's worth sharing to save you from trouble and embarrassment.

A Filipino friend shared this email. His friend who works for Homeland Security as Immigration Inspector at LAX (Los Angeles International Airport) called him yesterday to share the information that happened last weekend.

A FIL-AM citizen who was flying to the Philippines for vacation was apprehended by an Airport Immigration agent while she was checking in her baggage and going through the X-ray machine. For some reason, she was randomly checked and was told to open all the envelopes inside her carry-on Coach bag.

They found 10 envelops addressed to different people in the Philippines. When all the envelops were opened, a total of $11,000 cash was discovered. They asked the traveller if she knew the contents of the envelope. She said no, because all the envelopes are just "padala" and the senders didn't tell her whether or not there was money inside.

Immigration agents showed her a Policy and guidance stating that it is illegal to import and export over $10,000 in any Asian countries to prevent the possibility of supporting terrorism.

She was fined $500, her name was "red labeled" by Immigration (means every time she enters and exits the airport, she will be searched 100%), and she also missed her scheduled flight to the Philippines for being held almost 5 hours. Hard to believe that departing passengers from the U.S. are also subject to the policy, but looks like it is being strictly enforced now.

The lessons learned is before you accept any "padala", make sure the envelopes are open and you physically see the contents of it or just plainly say "sorry but I can't accept any padala" for your own safety.

Wed Nov 14, 2007 9:38 pm (PST) This email came from a former U.S. Embassy employee and this could be useful to all balikbayans

Subject: TRAVEL ADVISORY FROM AMERICAN EMBASSY MANILA

Please share this with your friends and relatives.

Please be informed of the recent travel advisory to the United States.

However, not only pirated VCDs/DVDs are on the hot list. Customs officials are also looking into fake bags like Louis Vuitton, Coach, etc. Please be informed that the American Association of Publishers (AAP) has also alerted the American customs officers to check out for pirated books. This information was given to me by Patricia Judd of the AAP.

Please warn all nursing graduates who plan to take the NCLEX and CGF exams in the States not to bring in these pirated books because there will be a penalty of automatic deportation as violation of intellectual property rights. If you know anyone going from the Philippines and coming back to the USA , with "pasalubongs" and "padalas," please read this important enclosed advisory from the American Embassy in Manila.

Please share with your friends.

Just a friendly reminder: if you have plans of going to the U.S., please take precautionary measures on all "padalas," especially those containing fake/pirated compact discs/DVDs. US Embassy employees have been given an advisory that as US Gov't employees, we should abide by the U.S.laws, including Intellectual Property Rights (anti-piracy) laws.

As an additional incentive, the Consular Section recently received a report that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) searched the bag of a Filipino entering the U.S. on NW 72 in Detroit.

During the search, 70-80 compact discs, 30-40 empty DVD jackets and 10-20 DVDs were found. Since the travellers were not American citizens, their visas were cancelled and they returned to the Philippines .

If they had been Americans, they could have been subject to arrest and criminal prosecution in addition to civil fines and penalties.

Please remember even ONE pirated item can jeopardize your trip. Also, the fingerprinting system has successfully been instituted in all port of entries. I suggest you bring extra identification cards in addition to your passport to facilitate your entry in the US Immigration. I hope this is helpful to you.

Exciting Makati

2007-11-29T18:02:00.000+08:00

How can you not enjoy being in Makati, financial hub of the Philippines and centre of excitement? Walk where the earth literally moves under your feet. Shop at the explosive Glorietta Mall in the Ayala Centre. Stay at The Manila Peninsula where locals go to see and be seen through a haze of teargas. Join us in this wonderful city and experience the Philippines like no other!

Deal or No Deal

2007-11-28T11:19:00.000+08:00

Got this from my officemate. I just had to share it. I need things like this on particularly stressful days.

*****

Subject: banat inday!

nang sumali si inday sa deal or no deal...

Kris: Magandang gabi mga kapamilya, sa gameshow na ito importante ang sagot sa nag-iisang katanungang Deal or no Deal. Ang ating player ngayong gabi ay walang iba kundi ang fastest-rising household services manager na si Inday!

[umentra si Inday at nagpalakpakan ang mga tao]

Kris: Ok Inday, choose a briefcase.

Inday: Kris, I would opt for case #4 please.

Kris: Briefcase # 4... si Sharmel. Inday, matanong ko lang, how did you come up with the number 4?

Inday: Oh, do you really want to know Kris?

Kris: Oo naman. I'm sure kaya ko naman maintindihan yung sasabihin mo eh.

Inday: The number 4 was acquired based on a probability distribution function that involves integrating up to an area greater than or equal to that random number which should be generated between 0 and 1 for proper distributions.

Kris: Syet. tanong tanong pa kasi eh. Ok Inday, choose 6 briefcases to open.

Inday: I would opt for 7, 24, 12, 2, 15 and 20.

Kris: Wait lang Inday, usually isa isa lang ang pagbubukas natin ng case...

Inday: Why is that? As if I can change the outcome if we're to open a case each time I blurt out a number as opposed to opening each case immediately one after the other right?

Kris: Hayyy...babaguhin pa talaga mechanics (bulong sa sarili). Anwyay, di bale na lang nga... tuloy tayo. Number 7. Natalie buksan na!!

[Yung audience sumisigaw ng LOWER!! LOWER!!!]

Kris: Teka lang, bago natin buksan... Inday, usually ang mga contestants naten ay sumisigaw ng "LOWER" every time magbubukas ng case.

Inday: Kris, I guess that's not the way I was taught in grade school. You see, I was taught that we should only use the comparative form of the word or add "ER" to the adjective if we are comparing two things. And since it is only the first briefcase that we are going to open, we have nothing to compare it to. Am I right?

[natahimik ang audience at napaisip]

Kris: Oo nga no! Sige Natalie, Buksan mo na.

[Ang laman ng briefcase 7 ay Piso... Palakpakan ang mga tao]

Kris: Good start! Ano yung next case mo ulit?

Inday: Case number 24 please.

Kris: Chloe... buksan na...[Audience sumisigaw ulit ng LOWER!! LOWER!!]

Kris: Wait lang guys, Inday may nabuksan ng case baket di ka pa rin sumisigaw ng "Lower"?

Inday: Oh my goodness Kris, how long have you been doing this? Have you ever encountered a value that is lower than a peso in this game? Tell me, is there any value left lower than the one we just opened? Sheesh.

[Napaisip ulit ang audience at natahimik]

Kris: Aarrgghh!!!! Chloe buksan na lang nga, pati na rin yung 12, 2, 15 and 20 buksan na rin para matapos na.

[naiirita na]

[At sunod sunod na ngang nabukas ang mga case ni Inday]

[nag-ring ang phone]

Inday: Ahh Kris, to save more time can you tell Banker that I'm not interested in his first offer. In the history of this game of chance, I have yet to see someone accept a first offer from the banker. It's quite pathetic and pretentious for contestants to pause and look around the audience as if asking for advice before ultimately rejecting the first offer. I mean come on, isn't that a waste of airtime?

Banker: Potahhh!!! [narinig sa set kahit sarado ang kwarto ni banker]

Ito ang unang pagkakataon na marinig ng mga audience ang boses ni banker sa Deal or no Deal.

Better The Second Time Around?

2007-11-25T21:28:00.000+08:00

But before I begin, I must say: nevermind the father, check out the son! This is Michael Gaiman. Oh. My. God. What a hottie.

So, we knew Neil Gaiman was in town. But it wasn't until Bianca read his blog that we realised he brought his son Michael along and that there were was a Fully Booked event separate from the Ad Congress. Alia was trying to get an interview, bagged it, and took us along, too. We were all hoping that the Fully Booked staff would let us in. And they did! (Thanks, Tals!). There we were - Bianca, Alia, Paige, Tristan, Jan, Riannon and Kris - and Tals announced that Neil was on his way to the presscon. Bianca looked out and said, "Bring out your camera! Here comes Mike!" And when he walked in, I think half the women in the audience forgot why we there.

Neil (uyyy, feeling close haha!) talked about the history of the Philippine Graphic/Fiction Awards, the launch of Expeditions (books featuring the finalists and winners of the 1st Philippine Graphic/Fiction Awards including the work of Benjor and Joonee), what he thought of the second round of the Awards (the short stories in the second round were better than the first, and the comics in the second round were worse than the first - nice one, Benj and Joon! We're proud of you!), and the launch of the third round.

He then opened the floor to questions where I shot my arm up, he looked to me and said "Yes?" and I asked what, in his opinion, made Philippine literature so distinct. He said it was the self-deprecating humor, among other things (he had a really long answer). What got me was that the whole time he was answering the question, he was looking directly at me. As in, looking straight into my eyes. I turned red, smiled like an idiot, and died. I never dreamed that seeing him in person a second time would be better than the first. *swoon* What a beautiful, intelligent man. Bianca got to ask a question, too. Unfortunately, Paige and Tristan froze up.

After the presscon, some people were allowed to conduct one-on-one inteviews. Stupid me, I forgot to give Alia my copy of Fragile Things to have signed (I don't like it as much as Smoke and Mirrors, but I really like his short story, Other People. In 2005, he signed the first page of my favorite story, The Price, from Smoke and Mirrors. Why I didn't think of bringing Stardust is beyond me). So while Alia was working, our little group decided to do a little shopping and have mirienda. Bianca, Tristan and I were eating in Brothers Burger when we saw Michael walking around (with his girlfriend? Friend? Guide?). Bianca gave me the signal and I unashamedly whipped out my camera and forced it to zoom in like it never zoomed before. Yes, I need to get a life!

Then Alia came over after her show's one-on-one interview where she was able to have Paige's and Riannon's books and Jan's poster signed. And Neil signed her jacket and hugged her...twice! (and I thought I was the big winner in 2005 when I kissed him on the cheek and Sid was so shocked, he forgot to take a picture).

We missed the program in the courtyard, but caught Neil with Michael on stage talking about The Day I Swapped My Dad For Two Goldfish and Wolves in the Walls before heading off to dinner at Italianni's where Jay I. and Gabe joined us.

At this point, I must thank my Dad for recommending the Panasonic Lumix TZ3 with it's 10x optical zoom, and thank my boss Mark for buying it for me in Singapore. Without my beautiful little point-and-shoot, my media sister, and my eagle-eyed sister, I would never have become the stalker paparazzo I was today. Neil, I love you. Michael, I'm single.

For more pictures of today's event, head over to my Multiply photo page. Tune in to QTV's Livin' It Up on 8 December 2007 at 5.30PM featuring Neil Gaiman's return to the Philippines.

Begun Jedi Training Has

2007-11-24T15:49:00.000+08:00

We were supposed to wait until she turned 5 (and we agreed that she would see it in the same order we did), but while channel surfing this afternoon, we found Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope on Star Movies. And yes, my 2 year old niece sat through most of it. Hey, at least she started with the right movie and not The Phantom Menace. I brought out my red plastic lightsabre which she seemed to enjoy playing with it. She copied the sounds and movements when Luke Skywalker was practicing with the training droid (she's really one of us!). She only put it down during Darth Vader and Ben Kenobi's duel. Then held it up again and ran around making blaster noises (wrong sound effects!).

We're watching The Empire Strikes Back now, but Layla lost interest in both the lightsabre and the film sometime before Han Solo, Princess Leia, Chewbacca and C3-PO realised they were not hiding in a cave. I guess we really do have to wait until she turns 5 so she can sit down and concentrate on what's happening onscreen. I'm actually excited by the thought of ushering my goddaughter into this geeky new world. I want to see her reaction when Luke battles Vader in the cave in Dagobah and the mask burns off to reveal his own face. I want to know how she feels after Vader says, "I *am* your father". After watching Peter Pan so many times, she asked us to get her Nana for Christmas. I wonder if she will ever ask for her own C3-PO, R2-D2, Chewbacca or bantha like my sisters and I did. She probably will. The Force is strong with this one....

Some Enchanted Evening

2007-11-24T14:55:00.000+08:00

After a fantastic caldereta dinner with the XB's last night, we caught the last full show of Walt Disney's Enchanted at the Alabang Town Centre. And it was a surprisingly good movie (3 1/2 out of 5 stars)! It's not the best movie I've seen this year, but yes, I enjoyed it more than Stardust (sorry, Mr. Gaiman. I love you, but...Claire Danes?!). Only Disney can make fun of Disney with that much flair! And it was great that Alan Menken (Little Mermaid, Aladdin, Pocahontas, Beauty and the Beast) and Stephen Schwartz (The Hunchback of Notre Dame) did the music. Watch out for normal people breaking out into song during or after the movie ("How does she knowwwww...?"). One guy actually did in the middle of the movie on his way to the restroom.

Amy Adams may not be the prettiest girl around, but seems to have been cast perfectly as Giselle. She did a great job! James Marsden as Prince Edward was absolutely hilarious! He was a lot like Beauty and the Beast's Gaston and was over the top. I just can't remember if he was wearing Prince Philip's costume from Sleeping Beauty or Prince Eric's from The Little Mermaid. Susan Sarandon as the Evil Stepmother/Queen Nerissa was simply amazing! Oh, and Patrick Dempsey has definitely improved with age ;) I wonder, though, why Idina Menzel (Rent, Wicked) wasn't given a song to sing.

Enchanted is a must-see for Disney fanatics. I was able to catch references to Snow White, Cinderella, Lady and the Tramp, Sleeping Beauty, The Little Mermaid, and Beauty and the Beast. I know I'm missing something that my sisters are sure to catch. The opening sequence was so Sleeping Beauty (I was half expecting someone to sing "I know you, I walked with you once upon a dream..."). I could have sworn I caught a glimpse of Bambi, and I think Todd from The Fox and the Hound was there. Ratatouille prepared me for the clean-up scene. I really liked that shot of the dragon over the city. It wasn't Malefacent (my all-time favorite Disney villain), but it was beautiful. From afar. I mean, up close, Queen Nerissa as a dragon was too Dragonheart for me (not a very well rendered dragon face, in my opinion. The best dragons were in Reign of Fire - bad movie, great dragons).

I want to see Enchanted again just to look for the Hidden Mickey and all the other Disney movie references. A lot of the nods are subtle like the clothes that the characters wear, and the names of places that they pass by. The kids won't get all of it, but they're likely to enjoy. Us big kids really had a blast! And that number in Central Park is a Disney parade in the making! I can't wait to see the real thing.

If you're off to the movies this weekend, check out Enchanted. It's not everyday that we're treated to well-produced mindless entertainment.

I Just Had To Do It

2007-10-28T21:54:00.000+08:00

After more than a handful of business trips to Singapore, I finally saw the Merlion (well, one of the four Merlions). And I know I'm not the only one who has ever posed like this here. Thanks to Justin and Cecille for letting me act like a complete idiot. I really enjoyed it! We should revive our old "photosessions at the new roads" days.

The Iceman Winneth

2007-10-22T20:46:00.000+08:00

I can write a ridiculously long post about the 2007 Brazilian Grand Prix, but I'll reserve most of my comments for a long drink and a smoke with anyone willing to discuss (and you know Joby and I have a lot to say about the cheaters). However, I must say...THAT WAS ONE OF THE MOST DRAMATIC RACES I HAVE EVER SEEN! Do you know how stupid it feels to yell, "What?! How?! Did you see that?!" when you're sitting alone in a hotel room past mdnight wondering how Lewis could make a mistake like that on the first turn? Oh, he but drove hard and well all the way from 18th place up to 7th. Beautiful!

I didn't think Kimi would win the championship (let alone the race). I mean, I was all for Kimi from the start of the season, really excited about his move to Ferrari and all that, and was just completely blown away by Lewis after Canada, but oh my gas! I thought Ferrari's strategy was to keep Massa in the lead, but with Alonso trailing Kimi in third, of course Kimi had to move up front. I nervously expected Alonso to catch up, but somehow he stayed far behind. And those pit accidents, wild! And the Hondas. And....

Man, it was so worth the wait. And worth waking up late for my meeting this morning. I love you, Kimi! I love you! I love you! I love you!

Shopping Nation

2007-10-21T19:55:00.000+08:00

There is something about Singapore that just compels me to shop. I don't get this feeling anywhere else. When I visit another country, whether for work or for pleasure, shopping is not on the top of my to-do list. Not even in Bangkok (my shopping mecca). I mean, it's on the list, but it's not a priority. I always look forward to exploring, taking pictures, learning about the locals, and having local cuisine (when in the US, that does not mean McDonald's. It's lomi-lomi in Hawaii, In-n-Out Burger in California. Hahaha). But in Singapore, it's like I have nothing else to do but shop. It's as if I have no choice but to purchase something. Anything! The moment I step out of that walkway that connects the plane to the airport, I'm assaulted by duty free shops in Changi (is it a mall or an airport?).

I arrived at lunch time today, settled into my room at the Intercontinental in Bugis, then headed straight for Funan Digital Mall to buy laptop peripherals. And these things were really on my list of "must buy in Singapore because it's cheaper there". In the words of my best friend The Puskal, "Nyar!"

I then decided to stay close to the hotel by walking around the newly refurbished mall around the Bugis Junction. For some strange reason, Books Kinukoniya was a mess. Parang siya lang ang hindi inayos. But I was able to find the books I wanted except one. I was told to head over to the main store in Takashimaya Mall on Orchard Road for Jeanette Winterson's latest, Stone Gods. Next weekend nalang siguro. Our company's insurance broker recommended Eat Pray Love by Elizabeth Gilbert which is about a woman who travels to Rome to enjoy food, to India to find enlightenment, and to Bali to find peace. I couldn't find it back home, but found it here on sale. I guess we all know what I'm reading tonight.

I checked out the mid season sale at G2000, Topshop and U2. Sulit sila, ha. Blazers for SGD39 (down from SGD80). I purposely stayed away from Charles & Kieth. A woman CAN have too many shoes and bags. I'm still thinking about HMV if only to check if they already have Bruce Springsteen's Magic (I knew I should have bought it for Bianca in Madrid. Sheesh).

Apparently, the entire Singapore is on sale. Everyone was out shopping today. All the shops were full, and merchandise was scattered everywhere inside the shops. Shopping seems to be a national hobby. Or sport. I think some of the locals have even elevated it to an art. No wonder they have such a strong economy.

At some point, I thought I was back in Manila because all the Pinoys seemed to be out in full force on the metro and in the malls. Tuloy, tinagalog ko yung mga sales assistant sa DC Comics shop, mga Singaporean pala. I'm starting to feel like Singapore is an extension of Makati (like, do the Ayalas or does Henry Sy own this place?). I wonder if Singaporeans bother to visit their own tourist attractions. Or is shopping the attraction?

Right now, I'm waiting for the Brazilian Grand Prix. I'm hoping against all hope that Kimi wins, although I think Lewis will claim the championship. Cheater. Hehehe. I'm supposed to check out an F1 store for Joby in a mall near the Mandarin Hotel. I wonder which cars will be featured in the store after the race. Thank God, I don't collect model cars and that I'm "operating" on a very strict budget this week (I haven't strayed from the list despite the many temptations), otherwise that trip to the Mandarin is going to hurt my wallet! This is becoming an exercise in restraint! And I'll be here until next Tuesday. Waaaah! Wala akong pang-shopping! Torture. Of all countries for this to happen to me, it had to be Singapore: Shoppers' Paradise.

Harry Potter 8: The Drama Continues...

2007-10-20T15:12:00.000+08:00

Saw this on Bro. Arian's blog (click on the link). I know I shouldn't use the Lord's name in vain, but...Oh. My. God!

Link

We're OK!

2007-10-19T22:11:00.000+08:00

And I hope you are, too. Wherever you are.

It was the beginning of a Midnight Madness shopping weekend. Most of the students at the mall had been on sem break and many were hanging out in TimeZone. Half a business unit from our company was having lunch in Kaya (Glorietta 4) when the bomb went off in Glorietta 2. Two of our managers almost had lunch at Luk Yuen (close to "ground zero" of the blast) and decided against it not too long before the explosion. Many of my officemates went to the mall, but were on their way back to 6750 when it happened. My seatmate's Mom was in her little shop near Quad. Thankfully, most of them are ok. Lucky me, I was on my way back to the office from RCBC and was advised to turn around.

Did it have to come to this for security guards to suddenly become more vigilant and more strict about carefully checking bags of people entering malls and office buildings? They finally realised that their magic wands didn't work! And that they really should look INSIDE the bag and at all the bag's contents. How can you not find bomb materials with all that bag-checking and trained dogs, etcetera, etcetera, etcetera. Inside job or not, public safety should be their main concern. It's not that difficult.

Whoever made that press release about the explosion being caused by an LPG tank is insane. We've seen the pictures on MMS and email. Apart from the fact that an LPG tank cannot cause that kind of damage (and one doesn't need to be a CSI fan or to work for an oil company to figure that out), restaurants in Glorietta are hooked to a central LPG system. They do not have individual LPG tanks on the premises. No mall allows individual LPG tanks on site.

The latest press release of the Philippine Bomb Data Centre, care of The Philippine Daily Inquirer, is that the bombing was "most likely a deliberate attack" (you think?!). They said that a C4 bomb caused the explosion, and an investigation is underway to determine if it was military grade and if it was timed or set off remotely. Eight (8) people have died and over a hundred were injured. One woman was speaking with her husband over the phone when the bomb went off, the line went dead, and she could no longer contact her husband who was in Glorietta. Her husband has not been heard from or found. This poor woman has been going all over Ayala Centre and from hospital to hospital searching for her husband.

Some people are blaming terrorists. Others are blaming the government (they say this is a cover up to divert people's attention from the bribery charge against Malacanang). At this point, I don't care who did it or how it happened (I will later!). I just want to know if everyone I know who was in the Ayala Centre area is alright. Stay safe!

A Bit of Stardust

2007-10-16T09:46:00.000+08:00

Of course, I saw Stardust soon after I arrived. In fact, I saw it with my family. And yes, we all enjoyed it very much. It was very entertaining. And I want to see it again! I must (yes, must)get the DVD when it's released. Although for almost the same reasons as Roman, I'm giving it 3 out of 5 stars. It's not astig like The Lord of the Rings, but it's cute and funny like The Princess Bride. Forget Harry Potter. Go get a little Stardust in your eyes.

The Good
I really like what they did with Robert de Niro's character (which was actually a very small role in the book. I don't even remember The Captain having a name) and Michelle Pfeiffer's. It didn't bother me at all that the witches were not referred to as the Lilim, and I like how Lamia (I forget her name in the book. Starts with letter M) would age everytime she worked her magic.

Charlie Cox as Tristan was quite good and I like how they developed his character.

The ghosts of the lords (ok, princes) of Stormhold were spot on and absolutely hilarious! Perfect casting and timing!

The ending was different from the book, but more effective, I think, for a movie. No qualms about that one.

The Bad
Ok, while not necessarily bad, a couple of things could have been done better. First off, I prefer the book version of Tristan and Yvaine's meeting (including Yvaine's fall to earth with the "Ow" and "F---"). Actually, the first 15 minutes or so of the film felt rushed, and I don't think that The Star should have landed like a real one would (big explosion, crater and all that). It had that over-the-top Armageddon feel to it that was rather inappropriate for this kind of story.

Second, I didn't like the music so much mostly because some scenes were not scored properly - they should have had lighter or more quiet music. Alia agrees with me on that one.

The Ugly
I thought that Claire Danes was an absolutely horrible choice for Yvaine (how good is this woman's agent?). She just didn't convey the spirit of Yvaine. All she was was a whiner. Plus she's ugly. In my not-so-humble opinion, Sienna Miller should have played The Star.

The Verdict
Go see it! Read the book, too. And if it's still available at Fully Booked, get the original hard bound graphic novel with lovely artwork by Charles Vess. Stardust is magic! And I hope you feel that magic, too.

I'm Baaaaack!

2007-10-11T20:15:00.000+08:00

I'm still going through close to 6GB of pictures and obviously haven't decided which to post. Just ask Andaya, Gabby, Rosabel and Benjor. There are just too many to choose from! Some are posted here. The rest will make it to my Multiply photo page at some point. Not everything I took turned out good, though. You'd think the discipline of using film would have helped, but noooo, I just kept clicking away!

*****

Trip Highlights

Barcelona - all things Gaudi (the man was a genius!), the small unmarked private museum with the Dali collection, day trip to the Teatro Museo Dali in Figueres, daytrip to Montserrat, and the Feste de la Merce with it's all-night outdoor concerts and parties.

This is Casa Milla, an apartment building designed by Gaudi that people still work and live in.

There's a stupid story that goes with this particular shot taken from one of the towers of the La Sagrada Familia, but it's best acted out than told. Let's just say that I almost fell out a window and I cracked my Lumix's screen (better the screen than the lens!). And can I just tell you, there is nothing that can prepare you for the La Sagrada Familia. NOTHING!

This is a team of human castle builders. They can go up to 8 "layers" and it's only the little kid on top who wears a helmet. Watching them was just so cool!

Lisboa (pronounced "lish-bow-ah". Apparently, "Lisbon" is the city's English name) - EVERYTHING!!! Visiting Portugal was not part of the original plan, but it turned out to be the most interesting part of the trip. I've become a big fan of fado (Amalia Rodriguez, Mariza) and have a new appreciation for gazpacho and bacalao.

I used to think that the coolest thing about my family heritage was being Brazilian. Now it's being Portuguese! Incidentally, some of the locals thought I was from Brasil. Even the Brazilians thought I was Brazilian. Must be the hair and complexion. Anywho, as that MasterCard ad in the Lisbon airport said, "Exploring the country that discovered half of the world: priceless."

Lisboa was also the hardest city for me to leave....

Oporto (second largest city in Portugal) - the bridges! The view! The wine! Oh, that delicious wine! These are the boats on the River Duormo (?) bringing port to the wineries.

Santiago de Compostela - that cathartic experience at the catherdal during the Pilgrims' Mass. Ay yay yay. Such a Search-in Moment, I swear.

Segovia - the acqueduct, the cathedral, the Alcazar (Vince has a really cool shot of the armory. Ask him about it), and of course: the cuchinillo! Sobrang sarap!

Madrid - exploring the city; finding a Fernando Zobel painting at the Reina Sofia Museum; the Hard Rain Project exhibit at the Botanical Garden; the percussionists and dancers at the Retiro Park;

that colorful cathedral next to the Palacio Real (I forget the name. It's in my guidebook).

Another highlight of the entire Iberian peninsula was the fact that I actually fit in because almost everyone had curly hair! Practically all print ads featured women with curly hair; most hair products were for curly hair; straight hair is considered boring. Thank God!

The nicest, warmest people were definitely the Portuguese. Parang silang Pinoy, but much more helpful. They're very sweet. The Catalunyans were cool, but the Madrilenos were kinda masungit. Met a lot of Germans (as my roommates Vereena and Johann said, "We're everywhere!") and Swiss. I was amazed that almost everyone I met spoke at least 3 languages. Then there was Marie, Antonio and Sven who spoke something like 5 each.

Shopping Highlights

Desigual - my new favorite store; found in selected cities in Spain. Visit http://www.desigual.es/

Stradivarius - cool shop found only in Madrid (so they say)

Illegal Music Store in Lisboa, Portugal - I got to chat with one of the owners who happened to be a DJ. We had a great time talking about music and he helped me pick a couple of shirts which happened to have his favorite designs. He said, "DJ's rule the world".

FNAC - music/technology store all over Spain and Portugal

That espadrilles shop that Tita Shanta took me to in Madrid (somewhere on Calle Mayor) where we stayed in all morning. The shopkeeper was so sweet - she wrapped Layla's little red espadrilles in colorful paper and added a lollipop.

Acknowledgements

I would like to thank the world's best travel agent for helping me get my visa and air ticket: my Mom!

Many thanks to Mike Gars (official map reader) for meeting and putting up with me for 3 weeks (if I'm not mistaken, he's in Paris now);

everyone I met at the Lisbon Lounge Hostel for the grand time I had in that beautiful city (tou vais para Lux);

Vince "Starving Student" Liwanag for letting me crash in his "box" and acting like a tourist in Madrid; and his classmates Fernando, Julianna and Fabrizio for letting me tag along in Segovia;

and Tito Chema and Tita Shanta Estrada for being so very fond of my parents that they let a complete stranger stay over for a couple of days (they're absolutely fantastic hosts. It was almost like having both my parents in the same room during their happier days).

Thank you to everyone at work who covered for me and actually didn't call or text while I was away! Mark, thank you for letting me disappear for so long.

Thanks to my family for taking care of Max (how I missed my dog!).

And thank you to everyone who gave me tips, lent me stuff, and helped me prepare.

*****

Man, that was such a great trip. I can't wait to go back. I now know why some members of my family and some of my friends love Europe.

I stepped on Kilometer Zero in Madrid's Plaza de Puente del Sol. Legend has it that if you step on the Km 0 marker, you'll return to Spain (bakit walang ganyan sa Portugal?). Time to start saving up again...

Can I Just Tell You?

2007-09-26T08:28:00.000+08:00

Ang daming guapo dito!!! Yun lang =) Good night....

Where in the World is Mike Garcia?

2007-09-24T20:37:00.000+08:00

Seriously. I woke up this morning because JM called from Bangkok (ack! Roaming!). After doing my thing, I headed off to Las Ramblas to catch the last day of the Feste de la Merce. I have no idea where Gars is. It´s been that way for most of week - I´d be out and about and he´d either be working or just somewhere else. Anywho, all I know is that we´re meeting up back at the hostel at 3 this afternoon and heading off for Lisboa, Portugal. Woohoo!

So ends my week in Cataluña (hey, did the enye come out?). I didn´t see everything I should or wanted to, but how many people can say they were in Barcelona for the Feste de la Merce? Naks! In the words of Paolo Defensor, "Wild, pare, dude, sobrang astig, pucha pare, hanep!" Free concerts and dance parties all around. I have never seen sooo many people in one place at 4 in the morning. As in. Kalokohan. Pati yung metro punong-puno. Basta kung nasaan yung mga locals, doon din kami pumunta kahit wala kaming maintindihan. Saya!

The music scene here is great. I really enjoyed Titani (Cataluña-Valencia folk rock band), Ojos de Bruho (world music. Have you ever heard something like a salsa version of Bob Marley tunes? Coolness!) and Femme Fatale (Madrid-based band that´s like a cross between Morningwood and Siouxsie and the Banshees). I went looking for CD´s today, but most of the shops are closed. Apparently, almost everything here is closed on Sundays and holidays. Nakiki-fiesta din kasi sila.

In any case, hasta luego, amigos. Sorry, no pictures online yet. Gars has some great shots of last Saturday´s Fire Run and yesterday´s human castle building thingy. If I find him, I hope to finally convince him to post some pictures.

No Pictures, But We´re Alive

2007-09-18T17:41:00.000+08:00

First 24 hours in Barcelona. Played charades with the taxi driver from the airport to the hostel (poor Spanish + poor English = laughtrip). Found Gars in the neighborhood restaurant within an hour or so of checking in. Cute ng hostel. Sobrang liit ng kwarto pero aliw (as in it´s half the size of my bedroom at home).

Walked La Rambla, Barri Gotic, and Lord knows where we were. Umulan habang umiikot kami, pero nasaan ang mga light jacket at umbrella? Nasa bag. Sa hostel!

Did my 3 Our Fathers, 3 Hail Marys, and 3 Glory Bes at the Barcelona Cathedral and Basilica de Maria del Mar. 6 wishes na yan.

Took loads of photos (expect them on Multiply sometime in October). I miss my F2 and my dog.

In any case, so far, so good. Daming kamukha ni Fernando Zobel de Ayala kaya fiesta. Pero changena, ang init!

Adios amoebas!

They Got Erap

2007-09-12T10:17:00.001+08:00

Erap found guilty of plunder, but not guilty of perjury; to suffer reclusion perpetua. Jinggoy and Serapio: not guilty. Read all about it here:

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/nation/view_article.php?article_id=88113

New Youngling

2007-09-10T15:32:00.000+08:00

Meet my latest paduwan, Bobby, born to JR and Marian last Tuesday. He was around 4 hours old when I took this. Bobby is another young mind for me to warp; another child for me to be a bad influence on. Hijo, you, Daddy and I are watching Star Wars in the original order it was shown (4, 5, 6, 1, 2, 3) while Mommy checks her neverending email.

Bobby is godchild number 9. Who needs children when you're already committed to 9 of them in different parts of the world? I have so many kids to spoil!

Wedding Gear

2007-09-10T15:25:00.001+08:00

I attended a fashion show with some friends last month and was disturbed by the possible number of chickens that were plucked just to create this piece. Anyone planning an evening beach wedding?

Them Dead Frogs

2007-09-10T15:16:00.000+08:00

I just want to know what this obsession is with dead frog souvenirs at Filipiniana shops. Balikbayan Handicrafts has them. Kultura (second floor of SM Makati) has them. Landmark has them. Tesoro's has them. Only Rustan's doesn't have this in their Filipiniana section. What ever happened to the man-in-the-barrel?

Hero Worship

2007-08-28T10:01:00.000+08:00

Here is a link to behind-the-scenes info on Heroes season 1 plus a little insight on season 2 (3 pages). The Heroes season 1 DVD is due out in the US today. It includes deleted scenes and the original 2 hour pilot episode. Season 2 premieres on 24 September. It includes new cast member Veronica Mars' Kristine Belle whose character is linked to Noah Bennet and has something to do with Peter Petrelli's explosion. Ali Larter (Niki), Masi Oka (Hiro, my favorite character), and Sendil Ramamurthy (Mohinder) are currently in Tokyo, and will visit Hong Kong and Singapore later this week. Jemenicricket will be waiting in line to meet them in Hong Kong. I'm so jealous!

When I Grow Up

2007-08-19T23:05:00.000+08:00

...I want to be a National Geographic photographer and take pictures like these.

Steve McCurry's Afghan Girl (1984) is a long-time favorite of mine. He used a 105mm Nikkor with this. The 105mm is my favorite lens and McCurry's photograph is proof that it's not the equipment, it's the photographer. Poor me.

All these pictures were, to my knowledge, last posted on a compilation of the world's best photos by MSN back in June.

There's a thing in my pocket

2007-08-15T15:45:00.000+08:00

(Yeah, I'm turning into a camwhore. Anyway...)

I finally received my office-issued plum Nokia N95 last Friday and am enjoying it! It's really "what computers have become"! It's got some glitches, though, but I can't complain. I got it for free! I just need to return it to the Company after 18 months. Sigh.

Pros:
- it's very pretty
- surprisingly user-friendly
- huge, bright screen (perfect for MMS)
- 5 megapixel camera with Carl Zeiss optics, shutter speed up to 1/1000, macro focus, 4 flash modes (including red eye reduction), exposure compensation, white balance, scene modes, and still image editor. Hmmm...so now I have 3 cameras!
- GPS - which I haven't tried, but know will be very useful if I get lost (the trauma of our family trip to Hong Kong when I was 4 continues to haunt me)
- I can finally use the Nokia Chill ringtone that Hans sent me last year on a real Nokia phone!

Cons (and the first 3 are major bummers for me):
- teeny-tiny keypad. As in. Very difficult to type text messages. Nakakangalay. Potential RSI? And for some stupid reason, it's so much harder to text left-handed with this phone than others.
- big screen = more space for long text messages shown with this very small font that's difficult to read
- short battery life (the longest it's been on is about 20 hours)
- time in between shots is ridiculously slow (camera on the Sony Ericsson K750i, Moto RAZR MAXX V6, and Bianca's little first generation Sony Cybershot are much faster)
- confusing additional keys that weren't in my old Nokia 6610 (which I *love*. Sadly, the software crashed and was beyond repair). Due to my infamous stupidity with all things that are supposedly simple (like a Mac), I somehow deleted this really nice photo that my busmate sent me of Angkor Wat on MMS.
- camera supposedly goes up to 20x digital zoom, but the noise is horrible. Then again, I never really cared for digital zoom anyway.

Anywho, I haven't read the entire manual (5x the size of the manual Lucas came with) and I haven't tried the video, music and internet functions, among others. I'll post some sample shots in a bit. Meanwhile, the floor is now open for name suggestions.

There's a thing in my pocket. And I forgot that it was a phone!

Stephen King on "Harry Potter"

2007-08-14T11:56:00.000+08:00

DO NOT BOTHER WITH THIS POST IF YOU HAVE NOT FINISHED THE LAST HARRY POTTER BOOK (which begs the question..."Where have you been?!")

For everyone else, just follow this link to Stephen King's take on Pottermania. Like him, I, too, was surprised by the use of the word "bitch" in what started off as a children's series. Loved it, though ;)

The clearest sign of how adult the books had become by the conclusion arrives — and splendidly — in Deathly Hallows, when Mrs. Weasley sees the odious Bellatrix Lestrange trying to finish off Ginny with a Killing Curse. ''NOT MY DAUGHTER, YOU BITCH!'' she cries. It's the most shocking bitch in recent fiction; since there's virtually no cursing (of the linguistic kind, anyway) in the Potter books, this one hits home with almost fatal force. It is totally correct in its context — perfect, really — but it is also a quintessentially adult response to a child's peril.

In any case, enjoy the article!

Melanisms

2007-08-09T14:57:00.000+08:00

Quoting the one and only Ms. Melanie Marquez.

*****

My brother is not a girl; he’s a gentleman.

That’s why I’m a success, it’s because I don’t middle in other people’s lives.

Don’t judge my brother; he’s not a book.

I won’t stoop down to my level.

Hello? Bulag ka ba? Bingi ka ba? Are you dep?

‘Yung STD, baka sa maruming toilet lang niya nakuha yan.

We are lovers, not fighters.

Kapatid ko pa rin siya. We are one and the same.

I don’t eat meat. I’m not a carnival.

Eto na po ang pinakamaligayang pasko at manigong taon sa inyong lahat. (During her acceptance speech at a Metro Filmfest awards night where her bioflick, directed by her late father Temyong Marquez, won an award.)

Sumasakit ang migraine ko.

Ang tatay ko ang only living legend na buhay!

Period na talaga; wala nang exclamation point. (When asked on S-Files if her present husband, Adam Lawyer, is her Mr. Right.).

At a talk show after her break-up with Derek Dee, Melanie was asked if she had some words for Derek’s mother (whom she partly blamed for the separation). “Oo nga,” said Melanie, “pero i-English-in ko para maintindihan niya.” She looked into the camera and, with the peremptoriness of royalty, said, “And to you, Mrs. Dee, I have two words for you. Ang labo mo!”

I cudn't care a damn!...

What's ur next class bef0re this?..

You can fool me once, you can even fool me twice, you can even fool me thrice. But you can never fool me four!

1-800-PSYCH

2007-08-09T14:50:00.000+08:00

Here's an oldie but a goodie. So many of these types of email messages going around. We're all either bored or stressed out.

*****

Hello. Welcome to the Psychiatric Hotline.

If you are obsessive-compulsive, please press 1 repeatedly.

If you are co-dependent, please ask someone to press 2.

If you have multiple personalities, please press 3, 4, 5 and 6.

If you are paranoid-delusional, we know who you are and what you want. Just stay on the line so we can trace the call.

If you are schizophrenic, listen carefully and a little voice will tell you which number to press.

If you are delusional, press 7 and your call will be transferred to the mother ship.

If you have a nervous disorder, please fidget with the # key until a representative comes on the line.

If you are dyslexic, press 696969696969.

If you have amnesia, press 8 and state your name, address, phone, date of birth, social security
number and your mother's maiden name.

If you have post-traumatic stress disorder, slowly and carefully press 000.

If you have short-term memory loss, press 9. If you have short-term memory loss, press 9. If you have short-term memory loss, press 9. If you have short-term memory loss, press 9.

If you are menopausal, hang up, turn on the fan, lie down & cry. You won't be crazy forever.

If you have a masochistic complex, please press "0" for the operator. There are 200 calls ahead of you.

If you are depressed, it doesn't matter which number you press. No one will answer.

I Second Emotion

2007-08-08T14:10:00.001+08:00

Got this from Jemen on email today. Laugh trip!

We've been friends for a long time ago. We come from the same alma mother. Actually, our paths crossed one time on another. But it's only now that I gave him a second look. I realized that beauty is in the eyes. The pulpbits of my heart went fast, really fast. Cute pala siya. And then, he came over with me.
He said, "I hope you don't mine. Can I get your number?"
Nag-worry ako. What if he doesn't give it back? He explained naman na it's so we could keep intact daw. Sabi ko, "Connect me if i'm wrong but are you asking me ouch?"
"The!?!!??". .. ang sarcastic na sagot nya.
Aba! The verb! Parang siya pa ang galit! Persona ingrata!!! Ang kapal niya! I cried buckles of tears.

Na-guilty yata siya. Sabi niya, isipin mo na lang na this is a blessing in the sky. Irregardless daw of his feelings, we should go ouch na rin.
Now, we're so in love. Mute and epidemic na ang past. Thanks God we swallowed our fried. Kasi, I'm 33 na and I'm running our time. After 2 weeks, he plopped the question. "Will you marriage me?" I'm in a state of shocked. Kasi mantakin mo, when it rains, it's four! This is true good to be true. So siyempre, I said yes. Love is a many splendor.

Pero nung inaayos ko na ang aming kasal, everything swell to pieces. Nag-di-dinner kami noon nang biglang sa harap ng aming table, may babaeng humirit ng, "Well, well, well. Look do we have here." What the fuss! The nerd ng babaeng yon! She said they were still on. So I told her, whatever is that, cut me some slacks! I didn't want this to get our hand kaya I had to sip it in the bud. She accused me of steeling her boyfriend. As is!!! I don't want to portrait the role of the other woman. Gosh, tell me to the marines! I told her, "please, mine you own business!" Who would believe her anyway?

Dahil it's not my problem anymore but her problem anymore, tumigil na rin siya ng panggugulo. Everything is coming up daisies. I'm so happy. Even my boyfriend said liketwice. He's so supportive. Sabi niya, "Look at is this way. She's our of our lives."

Kaya advise ko sa inyo - take the risk. You can never can tell. Just burn the bridge when you get there. Life is shorts. If you make a mistake, we'll just pray for the internal and external repose of your soul. I second emotion.

Glamorous Night

2007-08-07T22:27:00.000+08:00

So Jemen - sporting her new short 'do and dressed in her "I'm single again" best - was here over the weekend visiting from Harry Honkers. She was looking to hang out at Capone's after dinner at her friend Ed's place. Patrick said a really cool band was going to play there at around 1AM. An evening with Jemen, Patrick, April, Hans, Marilen, Emil, Pia, Monchu, the other Patrick, lots of red wine, Jagermeister, San Mig Light, and a band that played lots of glam rock. What could go wrong? Thank God I decided to bring my Mom's driver! I haven't had that much fun outside Gabby's house in a while. Hahaha!

I can't remember the name of the band (something "and The Force". Someone refresh my memory). I only remember that the fantastic Daniel Crisologo was on guitar and that I was mildly disappointed that the band couldn't play Joe Satriani's Always With Me, Always With You or Forever by Kiss. However, I was *very* happy to hear The Outfield's Your Love and Mr. Big's Green Tinted Sixties Mind (not a lot of cover bands play those), and drunkenly enjoyed singing along to To Be With You (who didn't?), Until You Suffer Some (Fire and Ice) by Poison, Nelson's Love and Affection (wish Bianx was there to sing it with me), and of course, Heaven by Warrant. I think I surprised Emil (people at work tend to view me as serious). I don't understand why the band played I'll Be There For You *twice*, but it was fun! Guess who cursed his way through The Killers' Mr. Brightside? Hilarious! (yeah, man, when we're both cats).

Oh, how I miss live bands and glam rock until the wee hours of the morning. Next time, I'm requesting Signs by Tesla! Although I wonder...do you think they'd ever do the Marty Casey version of Baby One More Time? ;)

Hello Kitty Cops

2007-08-07T10:33:00.000+08:00

I thought this was hilarious! Gotta love Thai creativity! Maybe we should do the same thing here, except that erring cops ought to wear the pink armbands in public [insert evil laugh here].

We Wants It Preciousssss

2007-08-06T17:25:00.000+08:00

It's the MotoRAZR MAXX V6 Ferrari Challenge, and is so far not available in Asia (well, maybe they have it Singapore. I'm not sure). It has the Ferrari logo, comes pre-loaded with Ferrari wallpaper and action shots, and with a red leather case. When you open it, you hear a Ferrari engine roar. Coolness!

Wala lang, it just looks nice =) As it is, the regular MotoRAZR MAXX V6 is a great phone. 3G, Bluetooth, 2MP 2 sided-camera, VGA video camera,... I have no reason to complain. But the Ferrari phone is just so pretty!

Yun lang. It's a slow day....

Happiness is A Holiday Weekend

2007-08-06T16:10:00.001+08:00

Due to insistent popular demand, the following are the remaining Philippine holidays for the year:

20 August 2007, Monday - Ninoy Aquino Day
27 August 2007, Monday - National Heroes Day
1 November 2007, Thursday - All Saints' Day
2 November 2007, Friday - All Souls' Day
30 November 2007, Friday - Bonifacio Day
24 December 2007, Monday - Christmas Eve
25 December 2007, Tuesday - Christmas Day
31 December 2007, Monday - Last Day of the Year

No word yet if 12 October 2007, Friday will be declared a holiday (Eid Al-Fitr is on Saturday, 13 October 2007). I'll keep all my HR fans posted ;)

Gabby, Benjor - jamming? Guess who else is on Singshot: Miggy!

Poetry For A Rainy Day

2007-08-06T12:59:00.000+08:00

When Tori Amos released her Strange Little Girls album in 2001, the CD came with prose by Neil Gaiman (click on the link to go straight to the Strange Days page of Tori Amos's webpage). New Age, Strange Little Girl, I'm Not In Love and Real Men are my favorites. It's good reading, rain or shine (rain is better. Listen to the album while you're at it).

A few other rainy day poems - one by Anne Sexton, a couple by me (from 2005), and another by Margaret Atwood. No Sylvia Plath today or Anne Sexton's Wanting To Die, although methinks it's time to bring out the Magnetic Poetry kit. As Shirley Manson once sang, some of us are only happy when it rains.

"Words" - Anne Sexton

Be careful of words,
even the miraculous ones.
For the miraculous ones we do our best,
sometimes they swarm like insects
and leave not a sting but a kiss.
They can be good as fingers.
They can be trusty as the rock
you stick your bottom on.
But they can be both daisies and bruises.

Yet I am in love with words.
They are doves falling out of the ceiling.
They are six holy oranges sitting in my lap.
They are the trees, the legs of summer,
and the sun, its passionate face.

Yet often they fail me.
I have so much I want to say,
so many stories, images, proverbs, etc.
But the words aren't good enough,
the wrong ones kiss me.
Sometimes I fly like an eagle
but with the wings of a wren.

But I try to take care
and be gentle to them.
Words and eggs must be handled with care.
Once broken they are impossible
things to repair.

"That Boy"

He came, he went.
He helped me pass the time.
And when we lost the hours of night,
Well...
I guess even not-so-happy endings
turn out right.

"Let Her Go"

And he said, "When the stars have fallen
from the sky, our hearts will collide. I'll
pick up the pieces with my bloody hands.
How far would you have walked away from
me by then?"

"This Is A Photograph Of Me" - Margaret Atwood

It was taken some time ago.
At first it seems to be
a smeared
print: blurred lines and grey flecks
blended with the paper;

then, as you scan
it, you see in the left-hand corner
a thing that is like a branch: part of a tree
(balsam or spruce) emerging
and, to the right, halfway up
what ought to be a gentle
slope, a small frame house.

In the background there is a lake,
and beyond that, some low hills.

(The photograph was taken
the day after I drowned.

I am in the lake, in the center
of the picture, just under the surface.

It is difficult to say
where precisely, or to say
how large or small I am:
the effect of water
on light is a distortion.

but if you look long enough,
eventually
you will see me.)

*Photo of Woman in Grief - one of my favorite exhibit pieces from the National Museum in New Delhi, India. It's actually much smaller than how you see it on this post. If you blink as you walk along the exhibit wall, you'll miss it.

My Life as a Jeanette Winterson Novel

2007-08-02T13:31:00.000+08:00

I'm just so Julie Delpy's Celine. Each line you will read in this post was originally written by British novelist Jeanette Winterson. If you were to read only one of her books, let it be The Passion. Nins, Bianx, my obsession with her work is all your fault. I thank you.

*****

"A fire and a tale," said Patrick...This was her story.

I wanted to be a drummer.

To avoid discovery I stay on the run. To discover things for myself, I stay on the run.

The Buddhists say there are 149 ways to God. I'm not looking for God, only for myself, and that is far more complicated. God has had a great deal written about Him; nothing has been written about me. God is bigger, like my mother, easier to find, even in the dark. I could be anywhere, and since I can't describe myself I can't ask for help.

ONE DOG. BROWN AND WHITE ROUGH COATED TERRIER. FRONT LEGS 8 INCHES LONG. BACK LEGS 6 INCHES LONG. CANNOT BE SEPARATED.
Then I worried in case a person might mistake it was the dog's legs that could not be separated, instead of him and me.
'You can't force that dog on anybody' said Miss Pinch, standing behind me, her long body folded like an umbrella.
'He's my dog.'
'Yes, but whose are you? That we don't know, and not everybody likes dogs.'

Book collecting is an obsession, an occupation, a disease, an addiction, a fascination, an absurdity, a fate. It is not a hobby. Those who do it must do it. Those who do not do it, think of it as a cousin of stamp collecting, a sister of the trophy cabinet, bastard of a sound bank account and a weak mind.

What you risk reveals what you value.

We are friends and I do like to pass the day with you in serious and inconsequential chatter. I wouldn't mind washing up beside you, dusting beside you, reading the back half of the paper while you read the front. We are friends and I would miss you, do miss you and think of you very often.

I did not believe in fate, but it can be a useful excuse.

I like passion, I like to be among the desperate.

I’m not looking, I've found what it is I want and I can’t have it.

Hopeless heart that thrives on paradox; that longs for the beloved and is secretly relieved when the beloved is not there. That gnaws away at the night-time hours desperate for a sign and appears at breakfast so self-composed. That longs for certainty, fidelity, compassion, and plays roulette with anything precious.

There is no sense in loving someone you can never wake up to except by chance.

Fetch. My heart returns to me what I turn away. I am my own master but not always master of myself. This woman wants to be… "Your lover."

Lovers are not at their best when it matters.

I say I’m in love with [him]. What does that mean? It means I review my future and my past in the light of this feeling. It is as though I wrote in a foreign language that I am suddenly able to read. Wordlessly, [he] explains me to myself. Like genius, [he] is ignorant of what [he] does.

When I say "I will be true to you" I must mean it in spite of the formalities, instead of the formalities. If I commit adultery in my heart then I have lost you a little.

If I cheat another, I cheat myself out of the person that I could be. If I wound another, I will eventually find the cut recalled to my own heart. There is no appropriate confession, only the will not to fail again so readily, perhaps because while failure can be forgiven it cannot be excused.

Like God, she was forgotten.

Why is the measure of love loss?

I didn't know what hate felt like, not the hate that comes after love. It's huge and desperate and it longs to be proved wrong. And every day it's proved right it grows a little more monstrous. If the love was passion, the hate will be obsession. A need to see the once loved weak and cowed and beneath pity. Disgust is close and dignity is far away. The hate is not only for the once loved, it's for yourself too; how could you ever have loved this?

What is more humiliating than finding the object of your love unworthy?

"You talk as though I've had an amputation." "I think you have. I think someone has cut out your heart."

I felt as if I had blundered into someone else’s life by chance, discovered I wanted to stay, then blundered back into my own, without a clue, a hint, or a way of finishing the story.

You play. You win. You play. You lose. You play.

Does it matter whom you lose to, if you lose?

"But I tell you, Henri, that every moment you steal from the present is a moment you have lost for ever. There's only now."

This is all I have, all I can be sure of. The rest is gone. The rest may not follow.

The secret of the world is this: the world is entirely circular and you will go round and round endlessly, never finding what you want, unless you have found what you really want inside yourself. When you follow a star you know you will never reach that star; rather it will guide you to where you want to go. It's a reference point, not an end in itself, even though you seem to be following it. So it is with the world. It will only ever lead you back to yourself. The end of all your exploring will be to cease from exploration and know the place for the first time.

And the heaviest lie? That we could go home and pick up where we had left off. That our hearts would be waiting behind the door with the dog.

I miss God. I miss the company of someone utterly loyal. I still don't think of God as my betrayer. The servants of God, yes, but servants by their very nature betray. I miss God who was my friend. I don't even know if God exists, but I do know that if God is your emotional role model, very few human relationships will match up to it. I have an idea that one day it might be possible, I thought once it had become possible, and that glimpse has set me wandering, trying to find the balance between earth and sky. If the servants hadn't rushed in and parted us, I might have been disappointed, might have snatched off the white samite to find a bowl of soup. As it is, I can't settle, I want someone who is fierce and will love me until death and knows that love is as strong as death, and be on my side for ever and ever. I want someone who will destroy me and be destroyed by me.

Time is a great deadener. People forget, grow old, get bored.

It's hard to remember that this day will never come again. That the time is now and the place is here and that there are no second chances at a single moment.

The traveller always wants home to be just as it was.

Empty space and points of light.

A stranger is a safe place. You can tell a stranger anything.

I’m telling you stories. Trust me.

I can change the story. I am the story.

"I'm running away," she said.
"Who are you running away from?"
"Myself."

Who was I last night?

There’s no such thing as autobiography, there’s only art and lies.

Mercedes-Benz Ad

2007-08-01T22:13:00.000+08:00

Bwahahahahahaha! Cynthia, Drew, have you seen this? I LOVE IT!!! And yeah, anything Alonso can do, Hamilton can do better. Plus, the boy is HOT! (shhh...don't tell Kimi...).

My Outer Daemon

2007-08-01T22:02:00.000+08:00

Meet my daemon, Aesop. I expected my daemon to be a black cat or a panther or jaguar (when I imagine myself as a mage, I always have a jaguar as my familiar). As it turned out to be a spider, I thought he would be called Anansi. Now since when was a I "humble" and "modest"?

The Golden Compass opens 7 December 2007. The time to re-read the book is near.

Dog Day Afternoon

2007-07-30T08:11:00.000+08:00

It's not subtitled "The Adventures of Superkulot and Max" for nothing, right? So the overweight, slow walking tandem did 30 minutes around Alabang Hills Village yesterday afternoon. We also took Lucas on an outdoor test run. It doesn't take a genius to figure out that it's easier to take pictures using a mobile phone when you're out with a 90 pound dog intent on exploring. The Lumix's "Pet" mode (automatically set to ISO800) is pretty cool, though.

It was actually a nice and breezy Sunday afternoon; not a lot of sun; hardly anyone on the road. We lazed a bit in the park and did a short jog on La Carlotta St. We had not gone walking in a while, and Max's arthritis and my scoliosis got the best of us, so home we went for a cold bottle of grape Gatorade (yes, Max drinks Gatorade). Max conked out soon after.

I wish all my afternoons were like that.

Ratatouille

2007-07-29T00:42:00.000+08:00

I just saw Pixar's Ratatouille. It's cute, but it's gross. I mean, there are rats in the kitchen! Hello?!

Happy Girl, New Boy Toy

2007-07-28T13:19:00.000+08:00

Meet Lucas, my Panasonic Lumix TZ3. Yes, I'm a traitor. I've gone digital. Somewhat. I haven't completely given up on Lucius, my Papa's old Nikon F2. I haven't replaced him with a digital SLR...yet. I just gave him a little brother (i.e., finally gotten a decent second camera that's not disposable!). Lucius is much faster and more "responsive" than Lucas; and he's a lot easier to control in an artistic sense (less buttons and all that). Fatherhood was right when he said the slowness of digital cameras would frustrate me, but he was spot on in recommending a Lumix over a Coolpix. What I really like about Lucas are the 28mm-280mm Leica lens in a very small package, the instant gratification of seeing what I took, and that I can delete my bad shots. What worries me, though, is his Intelligent ISO technology. Baka mabobo ako! And yeah, I never thought I'd make myself my own test subject either. I think compact cameras make complete narcissists of their owners.

I haven't fully explored what Lucas can do yet even if I spent all night reading through the instruction manual (and to think I thought I would finally get some sleep after finishing Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows). However, I've posted some family pictures that I took with Lucas this morning on my private family album on Multiply. I like this paparazzi shot of the Teapot who kept posing for me during our family reunion meeting. Yup, that's her heavily lined hand. Apo nga ni Mad.

And yes, I name my favorite inanimate objects after men. Cars (Fred, Tank, George, Gamby, Luke), cameras,.... Thank God my toys come with instructions and that they can't break my heart!

Coming soon: new office-issued "There's a thing in my pocket...". Yippee! Boyfriend nalang! Hahaha!

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

2007-07-26T22:58:00.000+08:00

It is finished. I can finally sleep. When I awake, we may all discuss. Goodnight, my fellow potheads! ;)

I Won't Friend You Anymore

2007-07-23T08:45:00.000+08:00

...if you reveal what happens in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. Seriously.

I'm waiting for Bianca to finish reading her copy. My seatmate Marife is on the last 4 chapters. Gabby and Rosabel are done (they haven't slept!). My officemate Rosette is done. I'm sure Tanya and Miggy are finished reading it, too. Roman, have you gotten your copy yet?

I must stay offline. I'm dying here....

Chasing Vincent

2007-07-18T09:01:00.000+08:00

Don't you just hate getting hooked on a series? You just NEED to see it. You can't wait. You have to know what happens next, how it ends. Six Feet Under. Carnivale. Heroes. House, MD. Rome (shouldn't we all know how this turned out?). Sorpanos (I read about the ending online by accident).

If you know me well enough, you will understand why I prefer HBO's Entourage many times over Sex and The City. It's almost like how my sisters and I enjoy Seinfeld so much more than Friends. I still haven't figured out which of my best buds fit the main characters Vince, E, Drama or Turtle, but they're all there. Sometimes they're Ari, Lloyd and Shauna. Or I'm Ari, Lloyd and Shauna...combined! And yes, Adrian Grenier (who plays rising star Vincent Chase) is a very pretty boy; although Ari's assistant Lloyd is my favorite character.

Basically, Entourage is about the Hollywood misadventures of an actor, his brother (a bit of a has been), and his friends from Queens. And that's putting it mildly. One often wonders if the other guys could ever score without Vince and his adoring fans (watching Johnny Drama and Turtle chasing skirts chasing Vince is always funny). Then you have Vince's agent Ari (he gets all the good lines and Jeremy Piven plays the role perfectly), you have Lloyd (he's so not the token gay Asian administrative assistant), and all the cameos. Fun, mindless stuff, but surprisingly witty at times.

I didn't get to finish the third season, and the fourth season's on it's fifth episode. I've been patiently watching what I missed over the internet because I couldn't find the third season at The Ruins. I NEED to know what happens to Vince with his pet project Medellin! Meanwhile, while waiting for the downloads to complete, here are - what I think - some of the funniest scenes from Entourage (and yes, they do sound like conversations I've had or could have with my closest friends):

[The guys are looking out at the Pacific Ocean]
Turtle: What direction is that?
Drama: That's east, you idiot.
Eric: It's west, idiot.
(long pause)
Drama: Well, I mean, in New York, it's east.

Ari: You know what they feed people on an indie set, Vinnie? Nothing! They don't give you a trailer. They tell you to go sit on an apple box. Ever try to bang an extra on an apple box?

Eric: Well, if anybody could do it, Vince could.

Vince: I do have great balance.

Ari: Where am I going?

Emily: Ari, you're 20 minutes late already. Ari, I need to talk to you about something.

Ari: Walk with me.

Emily: Vince and the guys are going to a party at Josh Weinstein's.

Ari: Who's Josh Weinstein?

Emily: Are you joking? He's your old assistant.

Ari: I have many old assistants.

Emily: Alright, two before me. Before Jackie, after Jerod.

Ari: A-ha! My "J" phase. I think I fired him for stealing pens. Why do I care about Josh?

Emily: Well, now he's an agent at Triad. And he's the one who gave the boys Queens Boulevard.

Ari: That's why no more guys! You fire a guy ,you create a rival. You fire a woman, you create a housewife.

Emily: That's sweet. You're still late.

Ari: Hold all my calls. And get Mini-Vince on the phone.

Lloyd: Did you just prank Vince?

Ari: I never heard the guy answer the phone before. It spooked me.

Lloyd: He's going to know it's you. Our company name comes up.

Ari: Why does it come up? Whose idea was that? What's the fucking point?

Adam: I know you're excited about this movie, and it's a good little part, but here's the thing, I got you an audition for a guest starring role in a pilot. A pilot that's all but on the air.

Drama: Yeah, what's it called?

Adam: "CSI: Minneapolis." Don Johnson playing the William Peterson playing the David Caruso playing the Gary Sinise role.

Eric: Tom Cruise is going to play Pablo Escobar? He’s not even Hispanic.

Ari: Yeah and Hillary Swank has a vagina and she won an Oscar for pretending she had a dick. That’s what actors do. They pretend.

Drama: I had an Italian sports car in '94; they’re a delight.

Turtle: You had a Fiat, Drama.

Drama: Italian nonetheless.

Ari to Eric: Hug it out, bitch!

Turtle: This is where you should be living, Vince. In a kingdom, like a prince.
Eric: Don't you mean in a kingdom like a king, you idiot?
Vince: Nah, E. Everyone wants to kill the king. But the prince, he just sails along telling all the ladies, "One day I'm gonna be king."

Germany Sued For Holocaust

2007-07-17T08:03:00.000+08:00

According to this article on CNN, children of Holocaust survivors are asking the German government to shoulder expenses for their psychiatric care because "many still live with an irrational fear of starvation and incapacitating bouts of depression". I don't mean to sound insensitive (I truly empathize with victims of war), but if that is the case, shouldn't the Japanese be allowed to go after the United States (maybe even the United Kingdom and Canada for their involvement) for bombing Hiroshima and Nagasaki? Perhaps survivors of the Rape of Nanking should sue the Japanese? Et cetera, et cetera.

That's all.

My So-Called Life

2007-07-12T19:30:00.000+08:00

My So-Called Life (1994) will be re-released on DVD this October with new features and bonuses. Good Lord, I have all 19 episodes on VHS (which my stepmom and I taped when re-runs were aired on MTV) plus the soundtrack album on CD. [In my best Valley Girl accent] It was like you know the predecessor to Before Sunrise or something and a lot of us could like totally relate and like re-live High School and everything just watching. It's the only role that Claire Danes played where I thought she was perfect for the part.

I wonder...if I watch My So-Called Life now, will I be Angela Chase all over again? I found some of the more memorable lines from the series. I just can't find that one conversation from the Self-Esteem episode where Angela asked her mom if she was embarrassed to be her mother. That really got me back then. Remember when we felt like this? Or do some of us still feel like this? (Oh no!)

*****

Teacher: So how would you describe Anne Frank?
Angela: Lucky.
Teacher: Is that supposed to be funny, Angela? How on earth could you make a statement like that? Hmm? Anne Frank perished in a concentration camp. Anne Frank is a tragic figure. How could Anne Frank be lucky?
Angela: I don't know. Because she was trapped in an attic for three years with this guy she really liked?

It had become the focus of everything. It was all I could feel, all I could think about. It blotted out the rest of my face, the rest of my life. Like the zit had become the truth about me.

Rickie: Kyle was probably her Popular Jock phase. Now she's probably moving into her Awkward But Sensitive Guy phase.
Brian: So, you're saying I'm like someone's phase?
Rickie: Hey. I wish I was.

I'm just really, like, low. I'll just find any excuse to touch him.

The worst feeling is suddenly realizing that you don't measure up. And that in the past, when you thought you did, you were a fool.

Brian: Here, do you want to... borrow my sweater?
Angela: Thanks.
Brian: Just don't sweat into it or anything.

What I like dread is when people who know you in completely different ways end up in the same area. You have to develop this like combination you on the spot.

Sometimes it seems like we're all living in some kind of prison, and the crime is how much we all hate ourselves. It's good to get really dressed up once in a while and admit the truth -that when you really look closely, people are so strange and so complicated that they're actually beautiful. Possibly even me.

People are always saying you should be yourself, like yourself is this definite thing, like a toaster. Like you know what it is even. But every so often I'll have like a moment where just being myself in my life right where I am is like enough.

If only there were a button somewhere that I could push. To force me to stop talking.

Before Blogger, There Was Email: Amazing Thailand Part 2

2007-07-12T12:28:00.000+08:00

This was my last World Update from Bangkok (4 months worth of kwento). As I was re-reading this, I realised that most of the friends I made back then and the people I met through them are among my closest friends now. It really does take me a while to completely open up to people, huh? (hindi pa halata). But it's so cool how we're all still in touch despite the time and distance....

-----Original Message-----
From: Carla S. Vargas
Sent: Wednesday, August 15, 2001 12:49 PM
To: Anna Liza Flores; Harry Velasco; Cynthia Ortiz; Joey Mapa; Jolyn Suarez; Alexandra Olivares; Sheila Marie Fleta; Sidney Catipon; Misha Canas; John Eric Ramos; Jerome Arcebal; Eduardo Miguel Juliano; Rey Laguda; Malou Abada; Grace Nava; Tanya Reyes; Sobee Duenas; Ricky Pagdanganan; Nanette Dumol; Krissie Millan; Fred Tan; Ariel Dominguez; Dondi Grande; Yeyette Raymundo; Marge Hukom; Mon Espago; Cha Estomata; Joy Silva; Liza Alba; M Moncada; Joy Del Rosario
Subject: World Update - May to August 2001 (4WW)

AGAIN, READ ONLY WHEN YOU HAVE LOTS OF NON-BILLABLE TIME ON YOUR HANDS. AND THIS ONE'S REALLY LONG.

Allow me to get a little sentimental as I write this final Thailand update during my last week in Bangkok. [dramatic pause] Ok, enough. Here are the last of my amazing adventures in the Land of Smiles.

SURVIVOR - THAILAND (THE CONCLUSION)
EPISODE 4: AYUTTHAYA
This city was the second capital of Thailand & is only an hour or so away from Bangkok by land. Angela & I took one of the many van tours with a group of tourists (oh, yes, we distinguish ourselves from tourists, although we don't quite fancy ourselves Bangkokians either). Our tour guide was a Thai version of Jar-Jar Binks & we wanted him to die! Give me Ewoks anytime!

First stop was Bang-Pa In & a visit to King Chulalongkorn (Rama V)'s Summer Palace. It's more Chinese & European than Thai (very few furnishings & exterior designs were uniquely Thai). Apparently, Rama V was fascinated by all things European (read as "modern"). We then got on a river boat that took us to the center of Ayutthaya via the Chao Phraya River (Thai version of the Nile). Ayutthaya is basically a city of ruins (with some "newer" temples & Buddha statues) where structures of old temples remain scattered throughout. You can tour the city on foot or take an elephant ride. I opted to walk (no more elephant rides for me after Chiang Mai, right Jerome?).

If any of you decide to spend some time in Bangkok on holiday, a visit to Ayutthaya is worth the trip (oh, uh, well, next to the Chatuchak weekend market. Hahaha). It's a chance to see old Thailand & learn more about its history & culture. Scores of photo ops, too! (remember the pictures I scanned?) I used up 3 rolls of film! Angela highly suggests you take the more expensive route, though. 1,800 Baht gets you on the Mandarin Oriental Hotel tour that takes you to Ayutthaya by boat (with a supposedly fantastic buffet lunch) in the morning & back by bus mid-afternoon.

EPISODE 5: KOH SAMET
.starring Charlie's Angels (all of whom are Lucy Liu), otherwise known as the Power Puff Girls (all of whom are Buttercup). Definitely the best beach I've been to in this country. It's a mini-Boracay: fine white sand, a bar strip, lots of space. Cheena, Angela & I got on a 3-hour bus ride from Bangkok to the pier & took a 30-minute ferry to the small island (someone failed to mention that there was a shorter, faster "express" bus trip). I really liked the area we stayed in (it was nameless. All we knew was that it was behind the Samet Villas) -- it wasn't too far from the clubs & bars, yet it was nice & quiet. Our room had only 5 things in it: a king sized mattress, 2 pillows & thin blanket. All of them were on the floor. The bathroom was even more sparse (I need to demonstrate how to "use" its "facitilites." Can't put it down in writing). All that for 300 Baht a night. Pretty decent, actually, & hey, we were PRETENDING to be backpackers, so we couldn't really complain.

If any of you are planning a short, cheap beach trip near Bangkok, Koh Samet is definitely the place to go. Highly recommended. Not too many tourists, lots of locals.

EPISODE 6: SUKHOTHAI
This amazing city was the first capital of Thailand & is 5 hours away from Bangkok by car. At the last minute, Angela, Cheena & I decided to take a chance & travel overnight (we didn't drive ourselves. We had Angela's company car & driver with us) & we chose to stay at the River View Hotel thinking how charming it would be to look out & see the water. I don't know what Thais think rivers should look like, but it wasn't a river. It was a canal! (Oh yes, the Canal View Hotel!) But it was only 20 minutes away from the Sukhothai National Park where the temple ruins are just spectacular! (another 3 rolls of film) We were lucky to have a car & driver as the park was rather large with many scattered temples & statues (some on top of hills that took 20 minutes to climb!). Most tourists rent bicycles & just bike under the hot sun from temple to temple. Obviously, we stopped pretending to be backpackers at this point. & apparently, it was our Thai driver's first time there as well & he seemed to enjoy the tour. We didn't do a packaged tour, but relied heavily on our travel guide books (the Eyewitness Guide to Thailand & the Moon Guide are very highly recommended. Much more interesting & informative than the Lonely Planet publication).

On the evening of our park tour, we discovered it was the Sukhothai Food Festival, so we enjoyed sampling different types of Thai food from the central plains region.

We also went to 2 temples & a small museum in the city of Phitsanulok which is an hour outside Sukhothai on the way back to Bangkok. Very charming & the temples were full of activity.

For those who have never been, I highly suggest you take the time to visit Sukhothai. It is wonderful & it just gives you a sense of that Thai pride. If you plan to visit Thailand & stay for quite some time, do try to book 2 days in Sukhothai (perhaps en route to Chiang Mai in the north). You won't regret it. Definitely one of my favorites.

EPISODE 7: FAMILY ADVENTURE
My birthday was not as happy as I had wanted it to be bec. although my Mom & Bianca were here, Alia didn't make it. So it was.bitin. We did the usual touristy things like visit the Grand Palace & Wat Po (unfortunately, Cherry wasn't able to join us). But we also went to places that are normally not on every tourist's agenda - the Vimanmek Teakwood Mansion & the Jim Thompson House (museum). Both are amazing works of achitecture & interior design. Vimanmek was one of the homes of Rama V & is still used by the present King for state visits & other diplomatic events. Our tour guide was so good (we learned much about the history & culture of Thailand) & we were joined by 3 Brits, one of whom had visited Thailand many times in the past & had gone on several tours. She added to the information shared by our guide & definitely helped enhance the tour & our understanding of Thai culture. Vimanmek was built in European style (Victorian, if I'm not mistaken), is made entirely of golden teakwood & is held together by wooden pegs (no nails).

In my opinion, the Jim Thompson House is a must-see in Bangkok. It was built in traditional Thai style also out of teakwood (dark). Jim Thompson was an American peace corps officer who arrived in Thailand after WWII. He was an architect & an artist who collected various Thai antiques & furnishings & eventually set up a Thai silk shop that put Thailand on the world shopping map. If I remember right, he disappeared in Cambodia in the 60s. We also had a very good tour guide, although some of her actions are best demonstrated than put in writing (you may opt to ask my Mom & Bianca about it. Quite funny).

& of course, what is a weekend in Bangkok without passing by Pat Pong & a trip to my mecca, Chatuchak (no point in stopping Cherry there!)?

Total weekend: another 3 rolls of film.

Survivor update: Voted out: Jemen - 3 month assignment with ActMedia's Bangkok office ended mid-July. Cheena - finally took her vacation leave in Manila.

EPISODE 7: PATTAYA BEACH
Here we go again, convoying to a popular local & tourist destination (the last such trip was to Cha-Am & Hua Hin in April?). Car #1 - Michelle, Mike, Pinar (she's Turkish) & moi. Car #2 - Coco, Philips (not Philip. He's plural. Probably to match his multiple personalities), Tuan (Vietnamese who grew up in Australia) & Darry (can I just tell you, it was the first time I heard he was from Tawi-Tawi. Siyempre, kinulit ko siyang magsalita ng Tausug). Car #3 - Joey (he hates convoys). The mission: my despedida.

Pattaya is Pat Pong by the sea. Daming pok-pok! Everywhere we went, there were massage parlors that offered "physical massage" (is there any other kind of massage?). There was a bar & restaurant called "All Cock & Pussy" & a go-go bar named "Spicy Girls." I also couldn't get over a big, bright yellow sign that read "Body Fiercing." Wala yata akong ginawa kundi manlait (just ask Rey about Philips & Darry). But Beach Road was ok; it was like a combination of Venice Beach & Newport Beach in Southern California, but more run down & messy (imagine a pristine residential beach area with cool, trendy clubs & restaurants suddenly overrun by dirty old men & spring chickens). The beach is nothing great (I was quite disappointed). We went to a really cool bar called Hopf which has its own microbrewery. Great beer. Ok band.

What we couldn't get over was our trip to nearby Coral Island where we were charged an arm & a leg for a seafood lunch. 800 Baht per kilo of fish (I can't even remember what kind of fish it was) & the woman who ran the place insisted that it was a 3 kilo fish. Our entire budget was suddenly thrown into the sea! Total rip-off.

Mike, Michelle & I spent Sunday morning on a par 27 9-hole golf course (the green fee was so cheap - 180 Baht). Don't ask about our scores. All we can say is that it was a funny (not just "fun") game. We were quite hilarious, actually, & being beginners, Michelle & I had our fair share of embarrassing moments. We thought Mike was encouraging us with his "Nice shot!" remarks until we noticed he said it every other shot. Faker.

Survivor update: Voted out: Angela - 5 month assignment with Unilever's Bangkok operations ended late July. Suddenly, Cape House was quiet & lonely. Off to Rene & Eliene's apartment for free food!

EPISODE 8: SISTER ACT
Alia finally came over & spent a couple of days wherein we did a sort of backpackers' tour of Bangkok. On her first day, we took a packaged tour with Mannito & Julius (friends from Manila who were here on business) that included a boat ride on the Chao Phraya river with a stop over at the Temple of Dawn. Bec. Alia had a handycam & Mannito is the spitting image of a Japanese tourist, we did our own version of "O, Tokyo!" I did the Thai part. We'll show you when I go home.

We also went out for shopping & drinks on Khao San Road - it's a backpackers' Malate with small clubs, bars, guest houses, & artists on the street. Very Bohemian. Alia had her hair corn-braided (2 hours of waiting!) while Mannito & I got henna tattoos (of course, I got another dragon!).

Saturday morning was spent in Chatuchak (where else?) where Alia just went wild. I don't remember her ever shopping that way (I don't think Alia's ever really gone shopping). In the afternoon, we made complete fools of ourselves by taking several photos along my street, Soi Lang Suan. We only spent an hour in Pat Pong (one hour bec. of the traffic!). It was pretty cool, though, bec. Alia held her handicam at her side & just kept it on. She didn't look into the viewfinder or the screen & didn't aim the lens in any particular direction. So the result was a kind of expose video about the Pat Pong night life.

It was a very well-documented trip. Basically, I took care of all the stills & Alia did all the moving shots.

EPIOSODE 9: THE END OF THE STAR WARS SAGA

Monday, the 13th was a holiday in Thailand since Sunday was the Queen's birthday & is also their Mothers' Day celebration. Here I am, still in a bit of pain from my Monday afternoon badminton game with Mike, Malou & Rene (just throw me in the water next time) & suffering from the flu. We're gearing up for another one of our sports days this Saturday - another round of doubles badminton & a couple of buckets at the driving range infront of Rene & Eliene's apartment building. Xandra, I can join you na for badminton at Rizal Memorial! Monday's game was funny, though, bec. I really got into the game (never thought I'd be serious about badminton) & it was when I realized how different I've been around my friends here compared to Manila. Mike & Rene have been helping me improve my badminton & golf; & at one point in the badminton game, I became very frustrated when I missed a shot. Rene called it "a rare display of emotion." I must say, that was a surprising remark. Am I not an emotional being whose mood swings go by the moon? & Rey, remember when you were here & joined us for dinner & said I was anti-social in Manila? Mike & Darry believed you! & when Mike said I was mabait, it was bec. only Angela & Cheena have seen me mataray. Alangan mo namang I've changed?! Could it be that it really takes a while before I'm truly comfortable with new people?

Survivor update: Will be voted out in the next few months: Carla - 9 month assignment ends today. Mike - will be transferred to Daimler-Benz's head office in Berlin this October. Coco - assignment with ActMedia ends in December. Michelle - 4 year assignment with Unilever Thai has finally come to a close & will move to NY in April. Rene, Eliene & AG - Rene (the geologist who knows more than just rocks) will be assigned to Shell's operations in Aberdeen early next year. The others will still be here for the next year or so. The ultimates urvivor: Malou (facilitator for the Franklin Covey Group -- as in the 7 Habits of HIghly Effective People). She's a resident alient (not an expat) & has been living here for 4 years. That's how much she loves Thailand.

Looking back, it all seems so transient.. Sad. I will definitely miss Bangkok, the life I had outside work & the friends I made. I've become so at home here. Many say that travelling & being away from home enriches a person in ways not easily imagined. I have no regrets about the time I spent here (thank you Watson Wyatt). I have memories the essence of which cannot be fully captured in writing even if my words are accompanied by pictures. Although I am just DYING to go home, I truly had an amazing time here & I hope that if any of you ever visit or work in Thailand, you will have as much fun (or more!) as I did.

Goodbye Chatuchak. Goodbye Skytrain. Goodbye spicy catfish salad. Goodbye Thai iced tea. Hello free text messaging!!!

Hasta luego, amigos!

Carly

Before Blogger, There Was Email: Amazing Thailand Part 1

2007-07-12T12:04:00.001+08:00

Before Cynthia and Gabby turned me on to blogging, I would keep in touch with my friends and family around the world through a monthly mass email with the heading "World Update". I was cleaning up my email and found this from when I was based in Thailand in 2001 (posted in all its unedited glory. This is the WW and friends of WW version). I don't know, someone out there might want to know what Thailand is like....

-----Original Message-----
From: Carla S. Vargas
Sent: Wednesday, April 18, 2001 7:11 PM
To: Anna Liza Flores; Harry Velasco; Cynthia Ortiz; Joey Mapa; Jolyn Suarez; Alexandra Olivares; Sheila Marie Fleta; Sidney Catipon; Misha Canas; Eduardo Miguel Juliano; Rey Laguda; Malou Abada; Grace Nava; Tanya Reyes; Sobee Duenas; Ricky Pagdanganan; Nanette Dumol; Krissie Millan; Fred Tan; Ariel Dominguez; Dondi Grande; Yeyette Raymundo; Marge Hukom; Mon Espago; Cha Estomata; Joy Silva; Liza Alba; M Moncada
Cc: John Eric Ramos; Jerome Arcebal
Subject: World Update - March/April 2001 (4WW)

READ ONLY WHEN YOU HAVE *LOTS* OF NON-BILLABLE TIME ON YOUR HANDS!!!

DISCOVERY CHANNEL PRESENTS LONELY PLANET - THAILAND
Actually, we ought to change that title to "Travellers." & this week, we will take you on a journey through Amazing Thailand.

WEATHER REPORT
My officemate Joe (my non-English speaking version of Harry) told me there are only 3 seasons in Thailand: hot, hotter & hottest. When I first arrived last November, it was just HOT (30 degrees Celsius. Hot lang pala yan. & they call it "winter"). It got HOTTER sometime in late February. It is now HOTTEST (today's high is 37 degrees & I've been told it can reach 40). It will be HOTTEST until August. Then the rain comes in & temperature is HOTTER, then it will be HOT again in October. Baka pag-uwi ko sa Pinas, giginawin ako.

SURVIVOR SERIES
EPISODE 1:
Car #1: Rene & Eliene Villafuerte with their 11 month old daughter Angelica & yaya Barba. Rene is a geologist for Shell. Eliene is a happy housewife. Car#2: Mike Marquez (Financial Controller for Daimler-Benz), Cheena dela Cruz (Regional Brand Manager of Walls Ice Cream), myself & an inflated plastic turtle. We drove 3 hours south of Bangkok (like going to Batangas without traffic & with much better roads) to a beach town popular among the Thais called Cha-Am. We also visited the next beach town, Hua Hin (more popular among tourists).

There was hardly anyone at Cha-Am (off-season?). Pangit ng beach, dumi ng tubig (kaya pala walang tao), tapos may konting nangangabayo (think White Castle whisky) . Tingin ko, parang siyang maduming Matuod (mas maganda ang beach sa Matuod). Napaka-unromantic ng experience ko -- I decided to lie down on the sand & soak in the morning sun & I was starting to fall asleep when a horse decided to stop behind me & take a crap. But Cha-Am is a good place to hide out in when you want to escape the city, & seriously, it was such a relief to get away! It's very quiet, isolated, & the condo we stayed in (beach house ng Shell) had a nice pool & good facilities. Tapos nag-ihaw pa si Rene ng liempo (super sarap!). Joey, that's where I was when you called me about your regularization (part one of my "Congratulations!" to you. Yeehee!).

Hua Hin is very touristy & it reeks of horse shit bec. of the horse rentals on the beach - like Wright Park by the Sea. Daming tao (medyo nakaka-clausterphobic). We visited the Hotel Sofitel & it's absolutely gorgeous- grand Victorian style, manicured gardens, nice set-up (one of Thailand's first hotels). An expensive, yet highly recommended resort. Will show you pictures when I go home in May (papasok ako sa 7 para guluhin kayo. I actually miss the office).

SWIMMING LESSONS
Armed with a professional mahjong set & a copy of Lonely Planet - China (to distinguish the Chinese numbers on the cards), our Cha-Am travellers swam the hours away on a coffee table. All of us were beginners except Cheena (if we catch the gambling bug, we all know who to blame) & if you give us a few more weeks, singko-singko na ang laro. Harry, Joey, Cynthia, by the time my Bangkok assignment ends, I'll probably be able to join you at Cherry's.

EPISODE 2:
6 April 2001, past midnight: Jeric & Jerome arrive. I have friends! YAHOO!!!!

Sometime around 7 AM: Cheena, meet my boys. Boys, meet Cheena. You have no idea how happy I was to be able to spend time with REAL FRIENDS (ask Tanya nalang about the peer pressure I'm under here. Ibang klase, nakakatawa. Me? Prayer meeting? Stop laughing!). Together we discovered why it was going to take 11 hours to get from Bangkok to the northern city of Chiang Mai: ang bagal ng train! Kailangan pa yatang itulak. Tumigil pa ang driver, bumamba at may kinausap. Hindi kami naka-pigil sa train station 'nun. Nawawala yata. Siyempre, reading material ko sa train job descriptions. Haha! At least naka-tulog ako :-)

Base camp was the Rama Guesthouse in Chiang Mai. It's not a first class hotel, but highly recommended for budget travellers & everyone there was very nice, very helpful. We met a guy from McKinsey (cute sana pero mukhang hindi naliligo) who was wearing a Human Capital Group shirt (not Watson Wyatt's). Pagkatapos mag-check-in, siyempre, shopping agad sa night market. Tried a northern Thai beer called Chang (I think Singha is better). The next day, Jame, the Managing Director of the Rama Guesthouse & owner of Jame & John (?) Tours (most popular tour operator in Chiang Mai), took us further north to Chiang Rai & we made it as far as the Burmese border (we've got pictures under a sign that says "The Northernmost Point of Thailand" to prove it). I can't remember the names of the other cities we visited, but we went to an Opium Museum & we stopped at the Golden Triangle where we looked over the borders of Thailand, Myanmar & Laos. We also went to a jewelry factory, the type kung saan magwawala si Cherry. Then we visited the long neck village (or what Jerome calls the Land of Audrey Hepburn) where women of this particular Burmese tribe start wearing heavy gold chokers at age 6 & they can wear up to 32 chokers! They can only take them off for 2 hours in a year to clean them (their necks are so stretched, they need the chokers to support their heads). If I'm not mistaken, Jeric & Jerome have copies of these pictures.

The last day of our very short trip to Chiang Mai (parang the train rides were longer) was spent in a national park where we took an elephant ride (the elephant that Jerome & I were on wanted to go his own way, si "Master of Me". Kung saan-saan siya dumadaan), sat around a beautiful waterfall, then got on a bamboo raft. We also visited some sort of factory outlet where hand-painted umbrellas & fans are made. We were victimized by early Songkran revelers (Songkran being the Thai New Year & is celebrated like the Fiesta ni San Juan) who eagerly threw water into the back of the pick up where we sat. 3 monks threw buckets full or water at us & we were drenched! Pati nung nag-rafting kami, tinatapunan kami ng tubig.

14 hours on an overnight train to Bangkok. A visit to the Bangkok office. Mirienda with Corinne (Chuck had pneumonia!). & instead of spending the day exploring Bangkok's temples, we visited the gods of shopping. It is so rare to see men shop the way Jeric & Jerome did. & Nike must be very happy with their earnings on our purchases. Well, Jeric's purchases :-) Joey, Jolyn, Migs, Tans, Sobs -- laugh trip yung shirt ko, it says "Goddess."

EPISODE 3:
Holy Week. Krabi, Southern Thailand. Jump station to limestone cliffs & islands scattered on the sea. Ok siya. Instead of Visita Iglesia, we went on Visita Isla.

Railay Beach. Forget the east coast, the west coast of the island is cleaner & has more action. Especially for boys on the lookout for topless women: it's the place to be. The water? Warm & full of jellyfish. Stings & allergies galore. Plus a couple shagging not too far away from us (our entertainment for the day).

Second day: the Phi Phi Islands tour. We were on a boat filled mostly with white people (are we in Europe?). Stopped over at Koh Phi Phi Don for lunch, walked around a bit, then off to beautiful Koh Phi Phi Ley. & a few minutes later, there it was: Maya Bay. Also known as Leonardo di Caprio's "The Beach." We saw it. We took a picture. Our boat docked off the coast. We snorkeled in its waters with a hundred other people (a bottle green sea filled with orange life jackets & rented neon green snorkel sets). I attempted to swim 700 meters to the shore. Never got close enough to even set foot on it. Allergy Central. Apart from the algae, we were stung by something we couldn't see, like hundreds of baby jellyfish. It would've been the best Thai beach we went to if only we were actually on it. Bitin. In the evening, we had dinner near the pier & had the best fried oysters.

Third day: the most touristy experience in our lives. WARNING: If you ever visit Southern Thailand, do NOT, under any circumstance, even think about taking the James Bond Island Tour. Napaka-walang kwenta. I never even saw Roger Moore in "The Man with the Golden Gun." It's a small smelly island filled with tourists. We were also taken to see various limestone formations & caves with "vewy byoooteefool istalactahyt & istalagmhayt." Unfortunately, we could only see so much limestone islands & caves. If you want to see breath-taking stalactite & stalagmite formations & gorgeous limestone mountains, visit St. Andrew's National Park in Palawan & go to the Underground River (lahat nasa Pilipinas, mas maganda pa!). We also visited some national park with waterfalls, but the water was muddy. Sabi nga ni Jerome, sana man lang may scientific explanation kung bakit ganoon ang itsura ng tubig pero wala. The trees & some of the pools were nice, though. Pero parang wala kaming ginawa nung araw na yun kundi manlait :-) The highlight of the tour was a stopover for lunch at a Muslim fishing village & Jerome being blessed by a Buddhist monk at a cave temple.

13 April 2001. To Catholics, it's Good Friday. For the superstitious, Friday the 13th. But for the Thais, it's the official start of the Songkran Festival. It's a water-fight on a national scale & celebrated with unparalleled enthusiasm. It's supposed to symbolize the cleansing of the soul. Siguro madudumi talaga ang mga budhi ng tao dito dahil walang awa sila magtapon o magbuhos ng tubig- pati mga naka-motor binabasa (600+ accidents were reported in Bangkok alone at the end of the festival last Monday). & there were pick-up trucks with buckets of water & people throwing it everywhere. Our 30 minute walk around the city center turned into a futile attempt to keep dry. We hung out at the Eighty-nine Cafe (don't know why it's called that. Like why is that club Orange called seventy-eight orange?) & joined locals & foreigners chasing every dry person with buckets of ice water. As one writer said, afficionados of the wet t-shirt contest will have a field day.

When we got back to Bangkok & the guys left for Manila (nung biglang lumaki ang apartment ko at tumahimik. Sniff, drama), I had to carefully walk around Bangkok to avoid getting wet. People strategically stationed themselves at the steps leading to the Skytrain throwing water at passengers. Even at the mall, people would throw water as one would walk through the entrance. Wild.

ANIMAL PLANET
Ikamamatay ko ang mga unggoy ng Asya! We went to some golden temple by a mountain & it was filled with monkeys! & the jellyfish here are the biggest I've ever seen. The little ones (medyo clear kaya hindi kita agad) sting as well, but are not poisonous. Gave us a hell of an allergy, though.

WHAT HAVE YOU DISCOVERED TODAY?
When translated to English, "Bangkok" means "City of Angels." WP-1800 has greater mobile phone coverage than AIS-GSM at a cheaper rate (20% less). Banana Boat Sunblock is better than Coppertone (Tanya, what's Avon Sun-So-Soft?). & it is a NOT SO LONELY PLANET after all. My Mom was right when she said the beaches we had in the Philippines were the best. Thailand's beaches are over-rated, but the shopping is great :-) They are worth visiting for the fun, for the experience, but not for the beach itself. Wala pa ring tatalo sa Bohol (there's no turning back after Balicasag). Meanwhile, Songkran is loads of fun & if I could afford it, I'd like to spend every Holy Week in Thailand :-) If any of you have the chance, go for it! Hanggang Agosto nalang ako dito, so take advantage of free accomodations in Bangkok :-) Para sa mga single guys, yung isang kabarkada ko dito 23 years old na Atenistang taga-Unilever ay "open for dating" at kahawig ni Zhang Ziyi (girl from "Crouching Tiger"). Set up ko kayo (sabay kami uuwi). Sorry girls, no boys for us -- puede ba, dalawang klase lang ang Thai na lalake: ang pangit at ang sinusuwerte. Kaya gimmick nalang.

And that is all this month from sunny Thailand, the Land of Smiles. Alam niyo naman, basta huwag lang natin pag-usapan ang trabaho kong character-building, ANG SARAP DITO! :-)

Ciao! (or as our associates in Jakarta spell it, CHAO!)

Carly/CW

Oops! Kimi did it again!

2007-07-10T10:36:00.000+08:00

Oh man, what cruel joke is the Universe playing on me? Kimi, how could I have doubted you? HOW?!!! See you in Nurburgring (cue music: baby come back....).

Photo from www.f1-live.com.

Bring The Police to Manila!

2007-07-10T08:55:00.000+08:00

I have just read and signed the online petition "Bring The Police to Manila!" hosted on the web by PetitionOnline.com, the free online petitionservice, at: http://www.PetitionOnline.com/police08/

Check it out and sign up! Sending out an S.O.S....

An aside: has anyone started a formal petition to bring U2 to Manila? ;)

Happy Birthday to Me

2007-07-08T15:21:00.001+08:00

It's a shameless post, I know. But I don't care. It's my day. I'm celebrating the nth anniversary of my 25th year, so I decided to make a wish list. Wish lang naman, eh. Hindi na kasi bright sunny day. It's been a nice, lazy, sleep in/re-read the Harry Potter series/watch sports television and CSI re-runs/go online day. I live by Ate Vi's famous words, "You can never can tell."

For my future adventures:
Eagle Creek Switchback MAX ES 25 (sienna) or Explorer LT (sienna)

Moleskine notebook (oops! Scratch that. Thanks Jay I., Toersche and Dingbat! I love them!)

Panasonic TZ2 (black) or DMC-FX30 (black) and Alia gets to play with it first.

An 80GB iPod (but please give it to Gabby first. He'll pass it to me. Long story).

Nikon D70 or D80 plus Nikkor 18mm to 200mm lens and a Domke J-1 bag (Ballistic nylon) or DF-2 Original Bag (olive). If God sends these my way before August, Vince gets to test the lens first, otherwise, Andaya gets to fool around with the whole kit first.

The Stone Gods by Jeanette Winterson

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

Just because:
To win the lotto, explore the world for a year, write about it and get published. I haven't given on up on my dream to become a travel photographer/writer or the next Thirsty Traveler host.

I'm serious about the Horse Head pillow, I kid you not! I really want it!

A full scholarship to the Philippine School of Interior Design. I'm being realistic here. I don't have the Math skills to be an Architect, so becoming an Interior Designer is the next best thing.

All 300 soldiers from "300" in uniform ;)

Liposuction or mesotherapy for me AND for Max!

A Wii party (paging Benjor! Benjor!).

Tickets to Stardust.

That's all. I'm waiting for 5:00 mass and the British Grand Prix. Oh man, who to cheer for... Kimi? Lewis? If the office rumors were true, sana naman it was with one of these two, not the ones I'm linked to. Kalokohan. Or sana it was Mr. B. Puede ring idagdag sa wish list 'yun. Hahaha!

Thank you to everyone for being part of my x years of existence. Sabi ni Jay I., mas masayang tao ako ngayon. Totoo 'yun. Somekindofa far from Depression and Self Destruction. "Are you drugs?" Happiness. Ask Gabby! Jamming? :)

Princess Leia and Optimus Prime Go on a Date

2007-07-05T14:51:00.000+08:00

Not! But we did check out progressive rock band Evenstar Project's gig at Mag:net Cafe on the Fort Bonifacio High Street last night (pictures and videos to follow) and it was soooo cool! We missed the first band, but got there in time for Eternal Now (they played this fantastic overture, and they were "tight"; very technical) and Lucille (they're like a young Wolfgang/Juan dela Cruz from Las Pinas. They don't have their own sound yet, but they fit a genre and they were just awesome!). Man Tan, Patricio, you should have joined us! Galing! Jay, congratulations! Wild, pare! Rakenrol!!!

Hear and read more about Evenstar Project here and here. See you at their next Mag:net gig in August. Enjoy!'

P.S. Ang ganda talaga ng Serendra! But riddle me this, Batman: what idiot designed the Shops at Serendra? I mean, you've got Block 1 and 2 next to each other, right, and then it's Block 5. Block 3 is across Block 5. After Block 5 is Block 8. What the hell? I need to go back to Maxi Toy Lab (I want that Darth Vader standee!), Speedo and Nike Park, though. Coolness!
P.S.2. Gab..."play that funky music, white boy!" We're so mean. That's why we're friends. O, Sa Guijo next week, ha.

Stormtrooper Groove

2007-07-03T03:08:00.000+08:00

Pam, this is something Dexter might do. Laugh trip!

Link

Wow

2007-07-02T16:06:00.000+08:00

"This is for every life story" - Brian Cajulis

Link

Back in Red

2007-07-02T10:31:00.001+08:00

Dear Kimi,

You did it!

Go on. I dare you to prove me wrong about Hamilton. I don't know how long this will last, but I do know this: I miss you. See you at Silverstone.

XXOO

Photo c/o http://www.f1-pics.com

Happiness is more than what meets the eye

2007-07-02T09:09:00.000+08:00

I waited for this movie for over a year! I was in a cast, surfing the internet, following almost every trivial post and blogged about it then. And you have no idea how much I love my company now - free movie tickets! Woohoo!

I finally saw Transformers last Friday and OH MY GOD it was so damn cool, I almost peed in my pants! An-an even texted me close to midnight just to say how much she and Jay enjoyed it. You don't need me to convince you to go see it. And to see it again and again and again (I won't be watching it a second time anytime soon, though). If you have nothing better to do, you can check out my review on Multiply (others have much better ones, though, like this guy) or head over to Ain't It Cool News for these fan boy rants. I'm waiting for Cyn and Gabby to post their reviews. Roman, we must discuss!

Up next, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix!

Secret Ingredient

2007-06-28T08:30:00.000+08:00

Now I know why everyone enjoys the food in Indonesia. This is their secret ingredient. I wonder what it would do to my herb pasta....

Baby Walker

2007-06-25T11:25:00.001+08:00

Thanks, Roman! Now that's IF I have a kid. Hahaha! I wish Layla or Anakin had one (yes, I have a godson nicknamed Anakin. His older brothers are fans).

http://daddychoy.blogspot.com/2007/06/walker.html

Calling all photo enthusiasts! Come, let's join us!

2007-06-25T11:03:00.001+08:00

Log on to www.mtvphil.com for more details on the Caltex Full Tank promo.

Must send a group photo of 3 to 4 friends at a Star Mart store
3 photos per sender
Winner gets a 3 day trip to Palawan
Deadline for submission is 15 July 2007

THIS IS SPARTA!!!!

2007-06-25T05:19:00.000+08:00

I should put this next to my cubicle at work (originally posted by Camille on Multiply).

The Work of the Devil

2007-06-23T23:12:00.000+08:00

I finally finished Heroes on DVD! I couldn't work, I didn't go out, I just kept thinking about what was going to happen next. Good television (or rather, good tv series on DVD) does that. CSI. CSI: New York. Entourage. Rome. House, MD. 24 (my family finished the entire first season in 24 hours! Seriously). Once you start, you can't stop. It's the work of the devil, I tell you. It's keeping us from having lives!

I Hate Macs

2007-06-23T23:02:00.000+08:00

I need to vent (yes, Benjor. Again!). I need the right click on the mouse. I've been pressing the wrong keys (they'd be correct if I was using an IBM ThinkPad). It doesn't recognise CTRL-ALT-DEL or ALT-TAB (I need ALT-TAB!). The keyboard is configured differently. If I want to view photos, they're always too big for the screen. I can't sign on to Yahoo! Messenger, but I can chat on Meebo. My Friendster profile was erased (Lord knows what I pressed again). My cross-posts to Multiply got screwed. Apart from the free periodic software updates and the whole "Macs don't get viruses" thing, what's so great about a Mac?

Ayala Alabang

2007-06-21T19:57:00.000+08:00

If you're not on Multiply, you just have to check it out if only to read this post about living in Ayala Alabang. It's the best! Even the talkback is hilarious! Sorry, couldn't play water polo with you pare, my seahorse died....

Around the World in a Few Clicks

2007-06-21T08:44:00.000+08:00

create your own visited countries map
or vertaling Duits Nederlands

Can you just imagine how cool this would look if Andaya and Gars filled it up? Brazil, Russia, most of Europe,...(yes, I live vicariously through my friends. They're the embodiment of Discovery Travel & Living).

I love you, Lewis...

2007-06-19T14:11:00.001+08:00

Dear Kimi,

I'm so sorry. After all these years, it's just not working. I had such high hopes for you this season. I wish I could I say that this new boy wonder had been incredibly lucky, but that would be Jenson Button's first F1 season. I wish I could say that he just happened to be behind the wheel of a fantastic car. But so were you. You always have been. I mean, he's made 7 podium finishes with 2 firsts back-to-back. How? Why? Kimi, I never thought I'd say this: It's not the car. It's you. Goodbye.

XO

Take the Power Back

2007-06-19T09:00:00.000+08:00

Few things are worse that hearing , "Bato katawan niyan dati" and "Ang laki ng tinaba mo". Do you know how hard it is to go down from 6 cups of rice a day to 4 cups to 2 with less exercise and a slower metabolism? I love to eat! To have quit smoking after 12 years was no easy task either. And I don't exactly enjoy going to the gym, but being structurally unsound demands it. It's either that or all kinds of bone and muscle surgery (hindi ba puedeng dagdagan ng liposuction?). I still prefer to swim, and thank goodness it's on the list of sports I'm allowed to continue. Good exercise: check. Perfect tan: check. No sweat: love it.

I barely swim a kilometer every weekend now; Bianca (she's always been the stronger swimmer) does about 1.5 to 2km; both are nothing compared to what we used to do in High School. A 1km swim was a mere warm-up back then. As Gators, we used to swim 3 to 5km for 2 hours 6 times a week. In college, I was down to about 2km every other day. Then I stopped for about a decade. I got back in the water last year, and at the start, it would take almost an hour just to complete a corny 400m. I've slowly built that up (more laps, less time - yippee!), and recently I did 1,200m in 50 minutes (the goal that day was to knock me out on a long plane ride). I hope to add 100m each weekend until I recover some semblance of athleticism (I want to be like Def!). It would be nice to hear, "Bato ka pa rin?" one day - it's like what most women want to hear: "You haven't aged a day since [specify when you were at your prime]!".

I was a taking a micro-break from the hellish workout my trainer put me through last night (she's torturing me!), and I found this on CNN: http://edition.cnn.com/2007/TRAVEL/05/04/swim.trek/index.html

Swim the Greek islands and look like Spartan queen after? Sounds like a plan. Get me in a pool and make me a goddess!

Rock, Baby, Rock!

2007-06-19T08:01:00.000+08:00

Good Lord, there's more! They've got Metallica, Tool, NINE INCH NAILS!!! Wild!

http://www.babyrockrecords.com/web/page.asp?pgs=products

Thanks, Roman, for the link. Hearing Clocks played that way was so cool!

For My Godchildren

2007-06-16T06:16:00.000+08:00

This entire playlist goes out to Migo, Ina, CK, Anakin, Rapster, Cai-cai, Cara, Teapot, and Bobby (coming in September!).

Rockabye Baby! Lullaby Renditions of U2

Link

No Sean Connery in Indy 4

2007-06-13T17:04:00.000+08:00

Sadness. I'm still looking forward to it, though.

http://edition.cnn.com/2007/SHOWBIZ/Movies/06/07/people.seanconnery.ap/index.html

I love this part of the article:

Connery -- who played the bookish Henry Jones Sr. in "The Last Crusade" and affectionately called his son "Junior" -- did have some words for the 64-year-old Ford.

"I do, however, have one bit of advice for Junior: Demand that the critters be digital, the cliffs be low, and for goodness sake keep that whip by your side at all times in case you need to escape from the stunt coordinator!"

On A Roll

2007-06-13T11:30:00.000+08:00

They say that all you need is 3 to 4 good shots on a roll of film. That's a lot of wasted film! But I am happy to report that I have at least 4 decent pictures on each of the 12 36-shot rolls I brought to India. I said "decent", not "good" because for the first time in my photographic life (?), I have horribly overexposed shots. Me? Overexposed? My problem has always been underexposure, and because I miscalculated the combination of Indian summer and rose-colored sunglasses, my usual F/16 and 250 took in too much light! Unfortunately, my camera's light meter is beyond repair, so forgive my guesswork.

Having said that, here are some highlights of my trip told via my favorite pictures because I'm too lazy to pull off a Cui post even if I promised a blow-by-blow account of India. To view all photos (including the ones I couldn't decide on keeping or discarding or even disowning), head on over to my Multiply site.

Day 1 - Baha'i House of Worship, a.k.a. Lotus Temple. Baha'i is a religion on Persian origin with three core principles: unity of God, unity of religion, and unity of mankind. It is little wonder that its teachings are a combination of Christianity, Islam, Hinduism and Buddhism.

The Lotus Temple is not on the itinerary of most city tours in Delhi. If you ever visit it, you should know that you need to take off your shoes and socks, someone will hose water on your feet, and you will walk on VERY HOT stone to the Temple. Shoes are not allowed inside the Temple. You get your shoes back on the way out of the temple complex. In 45 degree Celsius heat, walking was more like dancing the jig. I don't know how the locals can handle it.

Photography is not allowed inside. We saw a sign that read "Breathe not the sins of others so long as thou art thyself a sinner. Shouldst though transgress this command, accursed wouldst thou be, and to this I bear witness. - Baha'u'llah". We didn't attend mass that day, but that was enough to put me in a reflective mood. There's just something about the spirituality of that place. I found it overwhelming.

Day 1 - riding Neetu's autorickshaw. This is the kind of shot I've been trying to pull off since 2001. I could never clearly capture someone's reflection in the mirror of a moving trike or tuk-tuk. Finally, I got it! I think it's because I now have a 105mm (I didn't have it when I was based in Thailand). However, I do realize that I should have used F/2 and 500 instead of F/2.8. Or maybe F/2 and 800? Grrr.

Day 1 - Across the Gandhi Smriti in New Delhi. Don't ask my why I like this picture. I just do. The place is of historic significance, but it didn't "call me", if you know what I mean.

Day 1 - Jami Masjid. This is a huge mosque in Old Delhi that was built by the Mughals. It is considered one of the most important religious sites in India.

Day 2 - Dilli Haat, Delhi. Not my favorite market (that would be the Khan Market and the Central Market),but these are just so colorful. I think they'd make nice Thank You cards or something (paging Fred! Fred! Discount, please!)

Day 7 - Taj Mahal, Agra. Of all the pictures I took that morning, and of all the stupid angles to photograph the Taj, this one is - rather oddly - my favorite.

Day 7 -Agra Fort, Agra. Kasi, ang titigas ng ulo!

Day 8 - Purana Qila, Delhi. I like the details at the bottom.

Day 8 - Humayun's Tomb, Delhi. Yes, I know the lighting is horrible and the film is grainy. I should have used F/4 and 125, but....

Day 8 - Isa Khan's Tomb, Delhi. This is a retired teacher who asked me to sit down and listen to him tell the story of Humayun. He mumbled at times and spoke with a very heavy accent. He seemed to have a hard time breathing. I don't remember what he said except that I should honor the men who made history by fighting for India's independence.

Day 8 - Crafts Museum, Delhi. I have this renewed obsession with doors. It started in Thailand, and was revived after a trip to an art shop in the Khan Market. I was thisclose to buying a framed miniature door, but didn't know how I was going to bring it home. I think this obsession was likely influenced by Jerome (he collects paintings of doors).

Calai Was Here

2007-06-12T09:17:00.001+08:00

What's worse than two photographers travelling together? One photographer exploring alone! And proving beyond a shadow of doubt that all the pictures that she said she took are really her own work - no Photoshop, no nothing - and yes, she was really there.

When there are two or more of you, you have people taking pictures of each other taking pictures (gets niyo yan?).

Vince outside the Lotus Temple, 3 June 2007

Ricky, Khun Lek, Rizka, Eunice and Sin Hwei at the Taj Mahal, 9 June 2007

Or your travel buddy happens to get in the way and is too far to hear you shout "Get out of my shot!"

Photo by Magtangol Magsaysay Liwanag, alias "Bantay". Agra Fort, 9 June 2007

When you're alone, that's it. No pictures of you smiling on an Indian summer day (although one of my favorite candid shots was one that Cheena took of me talking with Jeric in Chiang Mai in 2001 and I looked really masungit. Of course, nothing beats the picture of Cheena with an eagle on her head!). On Sunday morning, I went to the Nizamuddin Complex where Humayun's Tomb is and came upon the octagonal tomb of Isa Khan. I wanted a picture of myself standing infront of Isa Khan's tomb, but no one was there for me to trust my camera with. That is why you have my guidebook and camera bag in the photo below (something I learned from my dad).

My fellow Bangkokian, KC, has the amazing ability to take pictures of herself with her little digital point-and-shoot. I don't know how she does it. I can't even take pictures of myself with my mobile phone. So I consider myself lucky when someone ever so kindly takes a picture of me and sends it over. Thank goodness, I have proof!

Photo by Eunice Chin, Singapore. Changing lenses at the Taj Mahal, 9 June 2007.

Back to India

2007-06-12T07:34:00.000+08:00

All photos on this post by Eunice Chin, Singapore

There are places that I wanted to see and things that I wanted to do in Delhi that I never got around to doing. Prior to arriving, I knew that I wanted to drink chai tea, to have an ayurvedic massage, to try a yoga session, to visit an ashram, to get henna tattoos on my hands and feet, to get a bindi, to buy glass bangles, to buy a pure pashmina scarf or shawl, to get one of those elegantly embroidered jackets, to go to Jaipur, to visit Qutb Minar. As the saying goes, you can't always get what you want.

I don't recall ever having tea for breakfast. But I almost always have a cup of coffee in the morning. Sitting down at breakfast on Day 1, we were given cappuccinos and Vince had this weird reaction where I couldn't tell if he liked the coffee or not. He just said that it tasted different. When I tried it, I was like, yeah, there's some spice in it. Not quite chai, but it made for an interesting start. When we were taken to this Kashmiri arts and crafts store, we were given this really good tea. Maybe that was chai. It tasted different from what I've had at The Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf and Seattle's Best Coffee. Well, duh, of course it's different. It's the real thing! So, ok, I think I had chai.

I don't know why I never got around to having an ayurvedic massage. I think it's because Yin Leng said the spa services at the Intercontinental were pricey (which started an entire discussion on spa treatments - the cheapest being in Indonesia). As a long-staying guest at the Intercontinental, I had a list of complimentary services to avail of - but I could only choose one. I was torn between a free one hour aromatherapy or Swedish massage and free use of the a hotel car with driver for four hours covering 40km. Since the spa option wasn't ayurvedic, and I really wanted to explore Delhi on my last day, I made the practical choice: I took the car.

Yoga session? The hotel had one every morning at the gym at 6.45am. No can do. All my meetings started at 8.30am. And we all know how slow I am in the morning.

Why didn't I visit an ashram? I didn't know where it was. I remember seeing signs on the highway that said ASHRAM, but never really bothered looking for it. Although I should have because Gars wants to go to one when he finally makes it to India towards the end of the year. Sorry, Gars.

Henna tattoos? No time. They would take an hour to do and another hour to dry. Plus, I always carried a daypack and wore closed shoes with socks. That would ruin the design right there.

I forgot about the bindi. I couldn't find bangles bing ehough for my man hands to fit through. The all-pashmina shawls that I really liked were expensive - INR3,000 and up - mostly because of the embroidery. I don't like plain shawls. I did end up buying one made of silk and one made of Kashmir wook mixed with something (I forget what). Cheaper options were available in the Central Market, but most of them were cotton blend.

At a shop in the Central Market with Rizka, Rajeshwar and Chad

Now if the shawls were expensive, the embroidered jackest were something else! The ones made of pashmina at Dilli Haat and Khan Market were absolutely gorgeous, although somewhat impractical. I have too many jackets! Seriously, what idiot that many coats and hoodies in a tropical country? Walking away from all those lovely pashmina coats is called "discipline" (we're working on a budget here).

We all know why I never made it Jaipur. Damn it!

As for the other "places of interest" like Qutb Minar, I simply ran out of time. What I couldn't understand, though, was why no one could bring me inside the Red Fort during the day. On the half day city tour, our guide, Mito (?) said we couldn't go in and that we could only take pictures from outside the gate. On Thursday, I gave Vince an "assignment": I asked him to get the schedule for the light and sound show at Purana Qila (which I inadvertently wrote down as "Purana Killa"). He texted to say say that the show had been discontinued, but that there was one at 9pm at the Red Fort. The taxi driver we met, Sunil, said that we were the first people he ever took to the Red Fort at night. He took us to the parking lot and walked us up to the gate (more proof that Indian men only pay attention to other men. I could have been a hundred meters behind Vince and Sunil, hit by a car, dead, and no one would know). It was a good 10 minute walk across the main road; lots of peddlers who thankfully didn't bother me; there was - to me - an overwhelming stench of piss and "that smell" (you know, the one I expected at the airport). Impressed as we were by what we saw at the Red Fort, we said we'd go back during the day. Vince never made it back, but I asked the hotel driver to take me there on Sunday after I had visited Purana Qila. He brought me to the same spot Mito did and I couldn't understand his lengthy explanation in broken English of why I couldn't go inside. I was very disappointed.

At the Red Fort with my fellow CATs

One day, I'm going back to India...when I can afford it. I mean, it's relatively cheap there, but the airfare and hotel rates are high (I like to travel comfortably). When I return to Delhi, I will do all the things I wanted to on this first trip. I also want to spend more time in Agra (we only saw 25% of the Agra Fort), maybe check out Rishikesh or Goa (right now, I'm living vicariously through Vince except that there's no way I'd be looking out at the Arabian Sea without a Kingfisher beer and The Slave Drum playing in the background), go back to the Khan Market and shop at Good Earth and Fabindia (they have wonderful stuff for the house), and spend more time at the Central Market. Hopefully, by that time, I'd have a tripod, a longer cable release, and a little point-and-shoot digital camera. Hell, I need a caddy for my camera gear!

Like they say at the end of the Chevron "Human Energy" ads on the Discovery Channel, "Will you join (me)?"

Post script: one of these days, I will blog about my trip in chronological order and post more pictures, although I doubt I will do as a good a job as Gabby (which reminds me, I need his help in posting a video clip of the Red Fort light and sound show stored in my phone). For more notes on India, come over to the house and I'll show you the source of my India blog entries - my unedited handwritten journal in La Salle (palmer) style no less!

And this song goes out to...*

2007-06-12T07:27:00.001+08:00

It was one of the strangest questions I've ever been asked: if someone were to dedicate a song to you, what would it be? It's enough to get an entire floor to stop working and start going over playlists in their heads. Or thumbing through their iPods; pulling up a list of MP3's in their PC's; logging on to Google looking for lyrics. Someone actually asked if anybody had a copy of "Songhits".

Well, there's U2's "All I Want is You", "Forever" by Kiss, "Love Song" by The Cure, and the acoustic version of Peter Gabriel's "In Your Eyes" which DRT does pretty well. Who wouldn't want those dedicated to them? Micheal Buble's version of "Fever" is not all that bad either. Sarah McLachlan's "Possession" would be creepy, although it's somewhat better than "The More You Ignore Me, The Closer I Get" by Morrissey. Someone actually sang "Light My Fire" by The Doors to me once. When I was much younger, Depeche Mode's "Strange Love" was dedicated to me on air. Only a handful or so of my closest friends actually know what my all-time favorite song is - and which version (no, I won't disclose it here) - but this is the next best thing. I can jump up and down to it and scream out the lyrics.

She Sells Sanctuary by The Cult (1985)
Oh the heads that turn make my back burn
Oh the heads that turn make my back make my back burn
The sparkle in your eyes keeps me alive
The sparkle in your eyes keeps me alive keeps me alive
The world and the world turns around
The world and the world yeah the world drags me down
Oh the heads that turn make my back burn
And those heads that turn make my back make my back burn
Yeah the fire in your eyes keeps me alive
The fire in your eyes keeps me alive
I'm sure in her you'll find the sanctuary
I'm sure in her you'll find the sanctuary

What? Were you expecting "Walking on Sunshine"?! I may have sold out, but I'm not THAT sappy.

*also appears on my Multiply site (24 May 2007)

Travel Advisory*

2007-06-12T07:22:00.000+08:00

Originally posted by Carlos Celdran on http://celdrantours.blogspot.com/

Great. the United States issues yet another travel warning on the Philippines. Whatever. Thanks for making my job of highlighting the country's charms a hell of a lot more difficult.

And as expected, the U.S. State Department once again shows their penchant for rash generalizations through phrases like: "U.S. citizens contemplating travel to the Philippines should carefully consider the risks to their safety and security" (the ENTIRE country? ALL 7,107 islands? Including Greenbelt?) and "While travelers may encounter such threats anywhere in the Philippines..." (ANYWHERE? C'mon, give me a break!).

Moreover, they also fail to illustrate to the average geography-challenged American the archipelagic nature of the country and also which areas ARE safe to visit in the Philippines (or in any of the countries posted on their travel warnings page for that matter). And this I find completely unfair.

So in light of this, I too shall post my own travel warning for the United States. So there. Bite me, Uncle Sam. You ain't exactly Disneyland either.

April 27, 2007

This Travel Warning updates information on the security situation and reminds Filipinos of the risks of travel in the United States. This Travel Warning supersedes any previous Travel Warning issued for the United States.

Philippine citizens contemplating travel to the United States should carefully consider the risks to their safety and security while there, including those due to terrorism, racism, religious intolerance, and random acts of violence. While travelers may encounter such threats anywhere in the United States, cities within the states of New Jersey, Michigan, Georgia, and Missouri are of particular concern. Travelers should also exercise extreme caution in both northern New York City and eastern Los Angeles and avoid travel to these areas unless absolutely necessary.

Relaxed gun control laws and the easy acquisition of arms in practically every populated area within the United States add to the risks in traveling through the country. Schoolgrounds, universities, and malls are to be particulary avoided. Within days last April 2007, a shootout at a college campus in the state of Virginia resulted in the deaths of over 32 people, while another shootout inside a shopping center in the state of Kansas resulted in the deaths of another 3. While these attacks have not targeted Filipinos or Filipinos in recent years, such incidents could threaten Filipino citizens engaged in such activities as going to class or buying groceries. Travelers should therefore remain vigilant and avoid congregating in public areas.

Organized armed terrorist groups called "steet gangs" operate in many urbanized areas in the United States. Two of the most popular gangs, the Crips and the Bloods, have large memberships in the cities of Chicago, New York City, and Los Angeles. Aside from the Crips and the Bloods, other armed gangs like the Surenos XII, Bulldogs F14, Hip Sin, and On Leong have also been known to hold entire neighborhoods under their armed control. In total, the memberships of these groups number over half a million nationwide, with over 300,000 in the state of California alone. In the state of Arizona, there were 17 gang related deaths last year. In some areas of the United States, especially in urbanized areas where the aforementioned terrorist groups have been known to operate, visitors should avoid travel at night. Philippine government employees must also seek special permission for travelling to these areas. When traveling through these areas, Philippine official travelers should attempt to lower their profile, limit their length of stay, and exercise extreme caution.

Racially motivated violent incidents have also been known to occur in several parts of the United States, with particular concentration on the southern areas of the country where armed "rednecks" have been known to operate for generations. Many Filipinos who reside in or visit these aforementioned areas face serious threats. The Philippine government recommends that citizens visiting the south should travel with their own security force, avoid an obvious presence, or both. Once again, while Filipinos have not been targeted in several years, these elements could threaten Philippine citizens engaged in business or property management activities, and it is reported that they often demand “to see your purty little lips.”

The Department of Foreign Affairs strongly encourages Filipinos in the United States to register with the Consular Section of the Philippine Embassy in Washington DC. or through the Philippine government's foreign affairs website (http://www.dfa.gov.ph/). The Philippine Embassy is located at 1600 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington DC 20036

For information on general crime and security issues in the United States, Philippine citizens should consult Google.

*also appears on my Multiply site (22 May 2007)

Global Goths

2007-06-11T21:11:00.000+08:00

I spoke with Gars last Wednesday. He was somewhere in Brazil checking out the cute receptionist at an internet cafe and planning a trip to Buenos Aires for his birthday. I'm not sure if he actually made it to Buenos Aires or if he ended up in Sao Paolo instead. What I am sure of is that he's enjoying his global sojourn. Gars' intercontinental trip is both enviable and exciting!

The Cuis just got back from a few days in Hong Kong which included a trip to Disneyland and Ocean Park (check it out on http://dacuis.blogspot.com. Gabby's such a pro blogger, I swear! Videos, fun links and everything!). Hang on...weren't they in Singapore last year? Such a travelling family! I hope that when Zachy and Cara grow up, they catch the travel bug.

A while back, Gabby said he and wifey were planning a trip to Europe (Italy, if I remember correctly) at around the time I plan to visit Spain. Gars will be there, too (he'd better be! He knows what Andaya's going to say if he doesn't show up in Barcelona, Madrid or Santiago de Compostella). The last time that Gabby, Gars and I kind of travelled together was with Celso in 1995. We almost killed each other towards the end of that weekend. Well, Gabby, Celso and I almost did. I'd like to think we're much more mature now! We have Rosabel to keep us in line. Hahaha!

As Peter Petrelli said, "Everyone runs into each other sooner or later." Wouldn't it be so cool if we could converge in Singapore to celebrate the music of The Cure? Partying in Barcelona with my boys would be fantastic! Think Big Fish. Woohoo!

2007 is turning out to be a good year for adventure!

Photo by Eunice Chin, Singapore. On the way to Agra, 9 June 2007.

I Need The Cure

2007-06-11T20:53:00.000+08:00

This was posted on Friendster earlier today by one of my virtual friends (yes, I have Friendsters who I have never actually met). The Cure is playing in Hong Kong and Singapore! Can't someone bring them here?!! Waaaaaaaaaaah!!!!!

HONG KONG
July 30 Mon, 8pm
Asia World Arena
Tickets:
HK$ 780* = P 4623.46 = US$ 98.82
HK$ 580 = P 3437.96 = US$ 74.22
HK$ 380 = P 2252.46 = US$ 48.63

* Floor / Standing Only (8 sections in the upper level with seats)
http://www.hkticketing,com/eng

A Night With The Cure - The Cure Live in Singapore
Wednesday 1st August
Singapore Indoor Stadium
Tickets SD $178, $148, $188, $78
On sale 9 am June 13th.
Time : 20:00

TICKETS: On sale 9am June 13th
Sistic - Hotline + 65 6488 5555
www.sistic.com.sg

What Happens When Two Photographers Go On The Same Tour?

2007-06-10T10:54:00.000+08:00

They don't have pictures together. And they don't realize that until the last minute. They spend so much time taking pictures of everything around them, making sure they get that perfect shot with other people in it, try to tell a story with their photographs so they can share the experience with family and friends when they get back home. They go on a four hour drive to the Taj Mahal and take pictures of each other like this (with varying angles and all that).

And if those photographers (amateurs, hobbyists and professionals alike) are anything like me, they get pissed off about a digital camera being so slow (although the instant gratification of seeing what you took is a plus, especially for a blogger) and they look for fully manual settings ("How do I change the apperture?" "What do we need the flash for?" "Where's the zoom?"). They may worry about someone else holding their heirloom of a completely manual SLR with their favorite 105mm lenses on it and wonder if their fellow photographer (who has a better eye and has had a lot more practice) knows what he's doing ("I'll set it for you" "There's no autofocus" "Oh, just email me the pictures").

Then they move on to the Agra Fort at half past noon in 45 degree heat and one of them says something like hey we don't even have proof that we travelled together. The rest of the group is somewhere ahead of them and they can't ask anyone to take their picture with their precious cameras. So one photographer sticks his arm out and hopes that both of them are in the frame.

And the amateur purist who's been thinking of going digital for the longest time but doesn't want to be a turncoat and can't afford it anyway thanks God for autofocus!

On a somewhat related note, I like this picture (my new favorite headshot):

It's so...Friendster! (I've been having a hard time uploading it there, though).

Unfortunately, because I still use film, I won't see any of the pictures I took and won't be able to post them online until next week. Everything on this post is from Vince's D70. Oh well...