Gyaaahhh!!!

IT's been so long that I almost forgot how to blog... I miss my PC (too bad I still haven't had the time to fix it, I've got lots of ideas for blog entries and it just isn't the same blogging on a different PC)... Maybe a longer blog entry is in order, but perhaps after my PC's fixed...

Puerto Galera pix soon!

Procrastinating and Whatnot

I hate procrastination, yet I am guilty of procrastinating on a lot of things. I tend to make up a lot of excuses in order to convince myself that procrastination is not what I am doing. Like for example - blogging. I promised myself an update weeks ago. But I tend to find the most ridiculous excuses not to do it. I'm tired; I can't publish; nothing comes to mind - most common excuses. Sounds familiar?

I hate procrastination, yet I procrastinate even on the most trivial of things just to suit my circumstances better. I'll take out the trash later, or maybe I'll finish cleaning later, or I'll fix my stuff tomorrow, next week, in a month's time, or never. Usually never - that is, until I become reminded about it and then procrastinate yet again. The cycle goes on and on.

Enough about procrastination. I think I'll procrastinate about it later. Procrastinating yet again!

~~~~~~~~~~

Sometimes I tend to forget my age. No kidding. Well, not really forgetting that I'm over the age of 20 (that's kinda hard to forget), but forgetting the responsibilities attached to adulthood might be more like it. At times I think like a mature individual, yet the kid in me tends to materialize more often than not. I still enjoy watching cartoons - the type of cartoons designed for kids under the age of 12. I even enjoy watching Hi5 on Nick Jr (though this might be because I'm amorously infatuated with Kathleen de Leon - yep, that might be it). Animé is a different story altogether. A lot of adults (not just me) enjoy watching animé, so that might not fall in the category of childish behavior. Or whatever - there might just be a part of me that's never grown up with the rest of me. Oh well. Boys will be boys.

Mick Foley is in Manila!

Pictures by yours truly, using my then-phone Nokia 7650, at the Raw Live Tour on February 25, 2006.

...Whatever.

It's been almost a month since my last entry. I've really been very busy catching up on much-needed sleep (especially after all the downtimes our system has been experiencing - it's not our fault, but we have to suffer for it by making up on Saturdays, leaving us with little or no time for Sunday recreation. Boo-hoo).

I really am starting to (insert word for a word stronger than hate here) my job. Or maybe it's because of the effin' (bleep)ers (I don't want to mention the place) with whom I get to talk to. Them effin' (bleep)ers are so rude.

It's less than six hours before my birthday, and I still don't have any idea how to celebrate it - or if I'll be celebrating it at all. I dunno - it's just not the same.

The Champ is Here! WWE Raw Live Tour comes to Manila on February 24-25! Can't wait for the 25th, I'll be watching the tour on that day with my brother and his officemates. John Cena said it best - "You want some, come get some!"

...Whatever.

Finally, an Update!

Finally, my first entry for the brand new year of 2006! Not that I didn't have a lot to write about, but it's just that I haven't had the time and the energy to write about my wheelings and dealings for the past few weeks.

First of all... Happy New Year guys and gals! Though it may be quite a bit belated, but still... hehe.

***

My sis gave me the Christmas gift I'd requested ages ago - a seven-book collection of C.S. Lewis's The Chronicles of Narnia. Suffice to say that I finished reading Narnia (as in the whole seven books) in about a week or so. And as expected, a lot of my officemates were borrowing the said book (isa-isa lang! andami niyo eh).

***

Isha's rendition of Torpedo still makes my, er, sensitive parts tingle. Wala lang, maybe it's the way she sings the song (sort of reminds you of the way a woman you're coupling with breathes your name while doing it, hehe). To each his own. Yebah!

***

I feel I'm walking a very fine line between enjoying my work and getting tired of it. Some days I enjoy my work, other days I despise it. I guess everyone goes through the same period, that this is just a normal phase for all working people. I guess the only thing that reminds me to keep at my work, however tiring and demoralizing some things about it are, is the thought "What if God said He was getting tired of His work? Where would we all be if that happened?" Just a short thought to consider, but well worth considering anyway.

***

Have you ever said I love you to someone who thinks that you're not even half-serious about what you said?

***

Haay, tama na nga ang drama. I need some breakfast.

Ghosts of Christmas Past and Other Stories

I didn't enjoy this year's Christmas.

These six words sum up everything I've felt during this past Christmas season. It's not because I didn't have money (on the contrary, I was financially richer this year than I was last year, even with all the aguinaldos coming from ninongs and ninangs). It's not because the family wasn't together even with Kuya getting married (actually they're temporarily living in the apartment next to ours). I don't exactly know how to explain what I'm feeling. It's like my 20 previous Christmases were much more special than this year's is.

Then again, it might be because I'm still having a hard time accepting that I now reside in the real world outside the confines of the university. Or maybe because last year's Christmas was just more meaningful than this year's is.

***

My December wasn't also as enjoyable as last year's was. For the first time, I wasn't able to join the Paskuhan in UST because I had to work (sob). I'm not particularly happy with my work environment because of one particular person (who is so dense that he can't even begin to realize that I'm really pissed off, but then again, he might really be just very dense and stupid --- ooopps, sorry, I promised myself I wouldn't speak out again about his shortcomings, but damn! It feels good to let it all out).

***

Yesterday I bought the Eheads tribute album UltraElectroMagneticJam. Wala lang, ang kulit pakingan lalo "Ang Huling El Bimbo" (Rico J. Puno) at "Alcohol" (Radioactive Sago Project). I can actually imagine Corics singing "El Bimbo" while dancing the El Bimbo wearing the white Elvis jumpsuit. Heh heh. As for RSP, what more can I say? Astig.

Lit

I will never settle for a few
when most are within reach.
I have no interest in ‘okay.’

I will never confuse a fad
for commitment.
I will frustrate the cynics.

I have been stubborn when necessary.
I have been easy when offered collaboration.

I have lit fires.

I am a Rock Ed volunteer.

Lit: a Rock Ed Volunteer Manifesto by Gang Badoy.
Picture taken by Mike Campillanes, December 2005.

Wear the white band. No More Excuses, Philippines. End Poverty Now.

Long Weekend

With the Thanksgiving season just these past few days, we had a long weekend to, err, relax. How? We went to Batangas for an overnight teambuilding (translated: magdamagang inuman sessions). It's really funny how it all came to be. Right after our shift ended on Thursday morning, our TL called a post-shift meeting to decide on how we were going to spend the long weekend (and the prize money that both our teams collected last Tuesday). It was then decided to have a beach outing, as Sir Matti's team were going to spend their weekend in Galera (of course, they've been preparing for this for weeks now). So, the venue was decided, and the final destination: Matabungkay in Batangas.

I don't think I'll relate the finer points of our stay in Batangas. Suffice to say that some had a good time, others more so than the rest. Moral lessons learned during our overnight stay:

(1) Never drink more alcohol than you can handle.
(2) Be careful with your stuff.
(3) When going swimming near coral reefs or the like, make sure you have aqua socks or slippers at the very least.
(4) Never fart in a vehicle, especially after a long night with Granma (translated as Gran Matador Brandy).
(5) Above all, after all has been said and done, mas masarap pa rin jumebs sa sariling palikuran sa sariling bahay.

Well Wishing

Someday when I'm awfully low / And the world is cold / I will feel a glow just thinking of you / And the way you look tonight / You're lovely, with your smile so warm / And your cheeks so soft, there is nothing for me but to love you / And the way you look tonight / With each word, your tenderness grows / Tearing my fears apart / And that laugh that wrinkles your nose / Touches my foolish heart / Lovely, don't you ever change / Keep that breathless charm / Won't you please arrange it / 'Cause I love you / Just the way you look tonight / With each word, your tenderness grows / Tearing my fears apart / And that laugh that wrinkles your nose / Touches my foolish heart / Lovely, don't you ever change / Keep that breathless charm / Won't you please arrange it / 'Cause I love you / Just the way you look tonight. Michael Buble, The Way You Look Tonight.

Words will never be enough to describe how happy I am for you both, my brother and my soon-to-be-sister. May you prosper in your love for each other.

picture by Fitz Javate, October 2005

Light Life Love

There used to be a greying tower alone on the sea. You became the light on the dark side of me. Love remained a drug that's the high and not the pill. But did you know, that when it snows, my eyes become large and, the light that you shine can be seen. Baby, I might compare you to a kiss from a rose on the grey. Ooh, the more I get of you, stranger it feels, yeah. And now that your rose is in bloom, a light hits the gloom on the grey. There is so much a man can tell you, so much he can say. You remain, my power, my pleasure, my pain. baby, to me you're like a growing addiction that I can't deny, won't you tell me is that healthy, baby? But did you know, that when it snows, my eyes become large and the light that you shine can be seen. Baby, I might compare you to a kiss from a rose on the grey. Ooh, the more I get of you, stranger it feels, yeah. Now that your rose is in bloom, a light hits the gloom on the grey. I've been kissed by a rose on the grey, I've been kissed by a rose ( on the grey)... And if I should fall, at all, I've been kissed by a rose (on the grey). There is so much a man can tell you, so much he can say. You remain my power, my pleasure, my pain. To me you're like a growing addiction that I can't deny, won't you tell me is that healthy, baby? But did you know, that when it snows, my eyes become large and the light that you shine can be seen. Baby, I might compare you to a kiss from a rose on the grey. Ooh, the more I get of you, stranger it feels, yeah. Now that your rose is in bloom, a light hits the gloom on the grey. Yes I compare you to a kiss from a rose on the grey. Ooh, the more I get of you, stranger it feels, yeah. Now that your rose is in bloom, a light hits the gloom on the grey. Now that your rose is in bloom, a light hits the gloom on the grey. Seal, Kiss from a Rose

Picture by Tim Dono, August 2003.

Epiphany

I just had an epiphany.

I was just sitting in our office pantry just a few hours back, thinking about my work options, when suddenly it hit me. Ang trabaho, parang relasyon 'yan. Kapag masaya ka sa relationship, magtatagal kayo. Ganyan din sa trabaho. Kung masaya ka sa ginagawa mo, kahit ano pa ang trabaho mo, matatagalan mo yan.

Now what made me realize this? I guess, hindi na ako ganoon kasaya sa trabaho.

Chocoholic

I love chocolates.

Milk chocolate (which I am told is really not chocolate at all), dark chocolate (which is my second favorite kind of chocolate), mint chocolate, truffles, Belgian chocolate, choco balls, black forest, fruity chocolates, nutty chocolates, chocolates with rice crispies, peanut butter, or almost every other ingredient you can think of (I am told that there is a certain brand of chocolate that is sweet and spicy at the same time, with cayenne pepper in the mixture, but I have yet to taste this).

Which is why my determination to trim down on my weight was put to the ultimate test last Sunday. We went to Robinsons Ermita for lunch and a bit of shopping, and when we got to the circle near Chef d'Angelo, we saw that Red Ribbon was celebrating its Chocolate Festival, where people were invited to come and taste the chocolate. What made it impressive was a sixteen-foot-high fountain of melted chocolate, where people went in droves to dip pieces of marshmallows in the chocolate, sort of like a giant fondue. I was torn between lining up amongst the multitudes of fellow chocoholics and sticking to dieting. I was like, tang'na naman, pa'no ka papayat kung ganito ang mga makikita mo? Damn.

End of story? I went to Ice Monster and bought myself a Mudslide. Not quite as yummy, but delicious nevertheless.

101005

October 10rs of UST-BSCS-CS2K5 (with a few missing persons who, unfortunately, had to work) at Friday's Glorietta, Oct. 10, 2005.

Standing (L to R): Rouie, Edwin, Dya
Sitting (L to R): Poli, Anna, Michael, moi, Gheof, Jonathan

Insomnia Zombie

Staying awake for more than 24 hours has quite an interesting effect on me. How should I know? I've been awake from Monday morning at 7am til Tuesday at around 11am or 12nn. I know, it's my fault, that I should have slept before going to work, but what the hell. It made for an interesting day.

What happened? I woke up on onday at 7am, and it was a pretty normal Monday morning for me. Staying at home, Internet, etc. I was supposed to be sleeping from 3pm til 11pm for before going to work. But fate conspired not to let me sleep. First of all, it was the 10th of October, and I promised to meet with my college friends for dinner in Makati (it's a tradition that they started in college) at 8pm. So, sleeping til 11 was no longer an option. Second, I had a hard time sleeping. I was still wide awake at 5pm. I set my alarm for 6:30 so that I'd have enough time to prepare, but no go. I was still trying to sleep when the alarm went off. So there.

I met with my classmates (some of whom I haven't seen since March) at 8pm in Friday's Glorietta. Dinner til 10:30, and then a lot of goofing off and picture taking (no, I don't have the pictures, and I'll post in greater detail when I get copies of the pictures). No chance to ride the MRT, as it was already closed when we got out of the mall, so we opted for a northbound bus instead. On the way, it started raining, so I had to ride a tricycle from EDSA to Sct. Borromeo, as I had accompanied Jonathan to his apartment (and I had limited options as my money had just about run out). So, from Borromeo, I walked in the rain to Timog Ave. Not only was I sleepy, I got wet on the way to work.

When I got to the office, it was downtime. "Yes, I can finally get some sleep," I thought to myself. But no go. Our team leader insisted on doing a lot of stuff during the downtime. End result? I ended up trying to annoy everybody, but in a funny and naughty way. My besugo (translated as best friend) Happy even said that she'd never seen me so naughty. I was slapping her butt, mentioning a lot of sexual innuendoes, and generally just being naughty. And all this continued up until our shift ended. Imagine, me being as naughty as I was, and all because of lack of sleep. Maybe I should try this again (hehehe) but not anytime soon. :P

~~~~~~~



Here's my picture taken on October 1 for Da Crew's planned support activity for RockEd. Just felt like sharing. :P

Questioning

Is my current job the right one for me? Lately I've been having a hard time going to sleep in the afternoon and waking up in the evening. What usually happens is me trying to sleep at noontime, but eventually drifting off to sleep four or five hours later. And the hardest part is trying to sleep from 7-10pm, while telenovelas blare from the TV in our room while my mom and sis watch.

Yesterday there's been a flurry of movement in the center, because of the current reassignment of positions (and not to mention the downtime we had during the first few hours). I asked my supervisor about the possibility of a reassignment, but no go. I'll just have to try to stay alive in operations.

Can't wait for March next year... Maybe then I'll be able to find my true career calling.

No More Excuses, Philippines!

Our country is in a dire situation right now. Oil prices have gone nowhere but up, the cost of living is becoming too expensive to be afforded by our fellow countrymen. Salaries stay almost the same, we have so much problems with traffic, garbage, crime, graft - you name it, we've got it.

What can we do? Do we need new projects?

I say (and a lot of other people say this too), we don't need new projects. What we need are new ways to implement existing projects. It's there already - from traffic rerouting to garbage segregation - the works. Basically our main problem is discipline (or, shall I say, the lack of it). If all people were disciplined enough to keep their candy wrappers in their pockets and wait till they get to a proper trash bin to throw it out, then our streets would be a lot cleaner. If our drivers were disciplined enough to follow the traffic rules and regulations, then our roads would be a lot less congested, and fewer accidents would occur.

The thing is, we always tend to put the blame on a lot of factors - the MMDA is not doing its job properly, we don't have good roads, garbage collection is almost nonexistent, we're not getting support from the government, much-needed funds for country-wide development projects are being used for country clubs and mansions of the corrupt officials, etc., etc. The question that arises now here is, SO WHAT? Should we worry about who to blame for everything, or should we worry about what we can do to help lessen these problems?

We should not be so hasty as to assigning a scapegoat for our problems. All of us - myself included - are guilty as to why we are all suffering. We are all guilty for our lack of self-discipline. No more excuses, Philippines! It's time to stop quacking, get off our asses, and start actually doing something to lessen these problems, one small step at a time. Believe me, big accomplishments start with small steps.

Join Rock Ed Philippines and start making those small steps.

Friends?

"I can't carry it for you, Mr. Frodo, but I can carry you..."
- Samwise Gamgee in LOTR: The Return of the King

What is the mark of a true friend? Is it the one who says that he will stand by your side, no matter what? Or is it the one who will not say anything more, but just stay with you throughout your darkest hour?

I Ain't Changin'

It's funny how people will always talk behind your back. Even those whom you counted on as friends. It's quite sad, really, especially when these people are saying nasty things, like how cowardly you are, how bad, how nasty, etc., etc. I had a sudden moment of insight - no matter what they say, these people are the real cowards, when they can't even work up the guts to face you and say these things to your face. Pathetic, really.

To my detractors and would-be detractors: say anything you want about me, my lifestyle, my personality, but you ain't changin' me. Say you know me, but I know myself better. I ain't changin', especially just to suit your needs or just to please you. If I do change myself, it will be because I wanted to, not because you told me to.

Updates

Blogger's Note: At last I've been able to update my blog (that should be all right with you, Gaget)...

It's 3:45 am right now, and we're not doing anything as of the moment. We're supposed to make calls (in short, work), but systems are currently down as of the moment. So as I sit here doing nothing, I can hear my officemates either snoring away or crowding around our team leader's desk as they try to guess every word in Text Twist. Just goes to show what people would do out of boredom. And speaking of boredom, I'm bored... Sigh.

I'll be planning to update this blog weekly, or (if I can manage it) a few times a week. Or whatever, whenever I can manage it.

Humdrum

Monday morning: wake up, have breakfast, watch a little TV
a little later: grab lunch, then watch more TV, then sleep for 8 hours
Monday evening: wake up, eat dinner, take a shower, get dressed
Monday midnight - Tuesday morning: "I need to speak to the person that's in charge..." ad infinitum
*Repeat until Saturday morning
Saturday noon: grab a bite to eat, then sleep for 8 hours
Saturday evening: wake up, eat dinner, shower, get dressed, go to (insert gimmick place here)
Sunday, 2 or 3am: go home and sleep for 5 or 6 hours
Sunday morning: wake up, eat breakfast, shower, get dressed, leave for mass
Sunday noon: go to (insert restaurant name here), eat lunch
Sunday afternoon: wander around
Sunday early evening: watch a little TV, sleep for 8 hours
**start all over again

I guess this is why most of my friends have been telling me (when I was still a student) that nothing beats going to school. I used to be disbelieving, until I experienced it firsthand.

I guess this is what it means to grow older. Even if you try to deny it, a sense of routine will always overcome you. But it doesn't mean that you have to live with routine all your life.

Thought of the day: Be spontaneous.

Yatta yatta yatta.