The Poetics of an Odd (wo) Man out

Every time this TV ad shows up, I feel a mixed sensation of envy and hope.

As some of you already know, I always wanted to go to Spain and study Literature there. I always imagined myself studying there,traveling, writing and very happy that I concretize my dream, which some people including my parents thought as crazy and impossible.

You see I didn't study Spanish just so I can take revenge on my Spanish prof in college who makes us sing tierra adorada and recite three different prayers in Spanish and who probably says mean things to me in Spanish when she caught me spacing out during class. (At that time, I couldn't go to the CR because I don't know how to say "ma, may I go out?" )This is usually my press release to my college friends who hated our Spanish subject because of our professor. I told them that one day I'll go back to our school and talk to professor x in perfect Spanish and she'll be very surprise by my awesome and fantabulous Spanish. :)

(But first, I must go back to studying Spanish..)

I know that if there's something I wanted sooo badly in this world that would be to reach that dream. I just hope that the whole universe will conspire to make this happen.
Tonight, everything seems so magical that I feel a strong urge to blog this dream away. Usually when I write things down, they just happened. I know this won't land in my hands easily because I need to work hard to make it happen, but I guess there's no harm in writing it down.

So this me channeling THE SECRET and dreaming out loud of studying in Spain, dancing flamenco with hotties (choz), eating churros, watching soccer, and living the would-be biggest adventure of my life!

God, help me.

The unplanned family trip to Zambales last Monday was fun, fun, and fun. Tatay cooked our baon, we all got lost trying to find the right exit to SCTEX, I made a boy cry (which makes me officially a BULLY), we went boating to Capones island,we collect seashells, we swam, we sang our hearts out in the videoke machine, we ate lots of msgs and cookies and chuckies and liempo (thanks to ate sol, moi and moymoy), we took some pictures, we swam again, we ate again and we got lost in Meycauayan on the way home.

The day is action-packed and full of misadventures but I really had a great time with my family. Made me realized that even though, we have our own lives now, we still are family and that they're always be a source of happiness and solace.

Thank God for family :)

Kahapon nagkaroon ako ng pagkakataon makilala at makasama kahit sa sandaling panahon ang mga bata sa Asilo de San Vicente de Paul. Kasama ang ilang officemates at sa panguguna ni Chris ay bumisita, nakihalobilo, nakilaro ng hephep hurray, tao-bahay-bagyo at picture frame, nakipag-usap, nakicheer, nakisayaw, at nakipagtawanan kami sa mga bata.

Sa hapon na yun, naging ate at kuya rin kami sa mahigit 37 na bata. Bakas sa mga mukha nila ang kagalakan na makita kami. Isa si Mylene at Matet sa mga batang nakilala ko dun. Si matet (11 years old) ay binomba ako ng mga slambook questions like ilan taon na ako, anong grade ko na (sinabi ko kasi 13 years old lang ako... di ko sinabi ito ay noon taon 1998 pa.. hehe). Masayahin na bata si matet at madaldal din siya kasi kahit kakakilala pa lang namin nagkwekwento siya at nakikipagkulitan. Ganun din si Ashley na nagkwento ng tungkol sa kanyang field trip at school. Si Mylene naman, 16 years old ay dating tumira sa may Maligaya (isang lugar malapit sa'min) kaya medyo can relate kami sa fairview stories.

Nag-umpisa ang hapon sa 'cheering competition' kung saan pinakita ni JM at ng group three ang kanilang natatagong talento sa pag-move it move it.. Matapos ang cheering naglaro naman kami ng mga games. Mayroon din hephep hurray game kung saan una akong nasibak. Tapos tsibugan at marami pang kwentuhan...

bago natapos ang hapon, dalawang sayaw ang inihandog ng mga bata sa'min. Umawit din sila ng thank you and nagpasalamat samin. Natouch ako dun sa sinabi nung isang bata, na kung gaano namin sila napasaya at nagpapasalamat siya na kahit gaano kami ka-busy ay nakapunta kami sa Asilo. Sinabi pa niya na kahit isang beses lang namin sila makakasama ay habang buhay na kami magiging parte ng buhay nila.


Sa totoo lang, ako pa yung napasaya at na-touch ng mga bata sa Asilo. although siyempre sana din sa maliit na paraan ko ay natouch ko kahit papano sila. And kahit ilan oras ko lang sila nakasama, masasabi ko na magiging parte na sila ng buhay ko.

Isang learning experience ang Asilo lalo na sa tulad ko na may qualms sa world at sa buhay buhay. Na-realized ko na dapat kahit anong mga pagsubok or estado ko sa buhay, dapat lagi akong maging positibo at may pag-asa. Ayan ang tinuro sa kin ng mga bata. Kung tutuusin sila pa ang may karapatan maging abs bitter herbs sa buhay pero pag nakita mo sila, mararamdaman mo na sobrang positive at masaya sila.

Nakakatuwa sila kasi sobrang grateful sila sa aming pagbisita at talagang winelcome nila kami at tinuring na parang ate at kuya.

Sana makabalik pa ako sa Asilo :)

PS Salamat kay Chris na nag-imbita samin.. next time ulit :)

Noong Sunday, sinamahan ako ng ate ko na tumingin ng koreanovela bike sa may SM. Sa kagandahan palad nakakita ako na kulay blue na sinakyan ko pa para ma-feel if dizzizit na nga.. pero nag-disclaimer ako dun sa may kuya at ate tindera dun na hindi pa ako bibili kasi wala pang pera.. grabe natuwa ako kasi nakakita ako ng gusto kong bike kaso lang nga medyo mahal.. ang budget ko lang kasi atlis 2.5K. Naisip ko na tumingin na lang sa ibang bicycle shops sa may amin or di kaya sa raon kung san mura yung bike. Yung tatay ko nag-suggest na motor na lang daw bilihin ko.. (kamusta naman!) hehehe..

Today naman natapos ko na ang spam beat.... woot tapos dumating na din si jerz (from the land of durian) na nagbigay sakin ng 3 Bob Ong books. Super natuwa ako kasi sa totoo lang, wala akong buk nun at hindi pa ako nakakabasa ng any Bob Ong buks ( o kamusta naman)... hehehe ..

Thank you Jerz :)

after x number of years, nakita ko rin ang ilan sa mga HS friends ko. Dati rati kasi di ako nakakapunta sa mga reunions namin dahil busy at walang pera. Pero now, thanks to myra and frich ayan nagkaroon ng chance para magmeet kami kahit pa gaano ka-busy. Kahit anim lang kami (Myra, Frich, julius, cecil, Kim at ako) sobrang saya-saya, parang walang nagbago at parang hindi taon ang binilang ng aming di pagkikita-kita.

Venue: Gerry's grill, lunch time. siyempre unang dumating ang cecil na tinambangan ako sa CR nung nakita niya na umalis ako dun sa venue. Sabi niya hinanap niya pa talaga ang kanyang salamin para lang makisigurado na ako nga yun. Tapos late-late ang drama ng ibang lola (as usual late si kimberly) hehehe.. si julius ay galing pa sa kanyang dentist gig sa SM fairview din. At dahil dentista na siya (at may bangs), binigyan niya kami ng tig-isang set ng toothbrush, toothpaste, pang-dila (di ko lam kung ano tawag dun) si kimberly naman mega-promote ng Dayo with matching pamigay ng Dayo calendars dahil yung sister niya na si katrina aka hopia ang nagboses kay mananangurl. Choz

nakakatuwa kasi naloloka kami dahil feeling namin ang tanda na namin dahil ang pinag-uusapan na namin ay trabaho, pera at kung ano ano pa samantalang dati yung crush, HWs at nakakainis na teacher lang ang topics namin. May mga revelations din tungkol sa mga kabatch namin kung ano na nangyari sa kanila. Yung iba nga sa kwinekwento nila hindi na namin kilala ni Kim..

Masaya ang tangahalian except sa ma-asukal na sago't gulaman. Grabe sobrang tamis. Then after Gerry's and some paktyur taking, nag-starbucks kami kung san nakita namin si edison (isang batchmate)..

Kahit pala gaano kayo katagal magkahiwalay ng iyong mga kaibigan, pag tunay ang pagkakaibigan at samahan na mayron kayo, walang nagbabago. Ganun pa rin. Itsura niyo lang ang nagbabago pero hindi ang iyong samahan. labyu HS friends :)

there's nothing more relaxing than climbing a rooftop building with a good friend and some chips and ice cream...

ang mg sumusunod ay ang mga pangyayari nung Disyembre 24 mula 10 ng gabi hanggang 3:30 ng madaling araw...

1. kainan at salo-salo with my family, Ate sol, ate kathy, ate shawi, jurgen, James liit, michelle, moymoy and family..
2. mga paputok at nabutas na bubong courtesy of my tatay...
3. exchange gifts (bunutan ng number) gusto lahat makakuha ng number 8... natanggap ko dalawang wallet...number 10
4.si joy pagkatapos manalo ng P500 (number 8) pumasok na sa bahay at di na nagpakita
5. videoke time
6. inuman tequila, red wine at san mig... ang mga participantes... ako, moy, jojo, ate sol, ate kathy, ate shawi at michelle, si tatay at nanay (saling kitkit)...
7. nauna sa tequila...second round... sumuka na...
8. sabi ni nanay, "bakit ka sumuka?" sagot ni tatay, "hindi kasi sanay uminom yan." natatawang sambit ni ate sol, "akala ko sanay ka uminom, ikaw kasi naunang tumagay"
9. after sumuka, hinawakan yung microphone at kumanta na lang ng kumanta habang sila umiinom pa din..
10. Ate kathy: "may pasok pa ako bukas ng 5 am" ate sol: "kami rin may pasok! inom ka pa!"
11. mga bandang 2:30 napagod na ako sa pag-videoke... nagsuggest manood ng movie
12. nanood ng quantum of solace.. opening credits pa lang nakatulog na.. hehehe
13. Si ate sol biglang nagsampay ng mga damit niya
14.ligpitan time
15. 3:30 natulog na kami

The company Xmas party was really fun fun fun despite the no-so delicious food servings and the cocktail drinks which, I can't even describe the taste. The venue was held in Silver city (same as last year) and the theme was Las Vegas. I didn't join any games before the party. Jerz and I arrived late (nagpaparlor kasi sabi nga ni Xtian). Good thing we didn't miss anything.

Even though I didn't won in the raffle draw (except for that FA when the host said bernadette but it wasn't really me. it was another 'bernadette') I'm happy that our department won in all the contests that night. The performances of Paulee, Rica, Inggo and the rest of AM were beyond asteeg. Armed with complete costumes, Mariah (inggo), celine (paul) and Madonna (Rica) won the hearts not only of the judges but also the audience. Pero siyempre, nakakaloka din ang performance ng small group courtesy of Ate Winnen. Grabe asteeg niya. Ikaw ba naman buhat-buhatin at ihagis ng ilan beses. Kaya nga tie sa first place ang AM at small group.

Happy din because Blue and Benj won the Ms and Mr Trend titles. Siyempre ano bang masasabi mo kay Benj, who said he wants to be a malware writer but that would be difficult because of Trend Micro... and Blue who said she wants to be Batgirl and tied it up with bad guys and Trend Micro..

Pero ang nagpaganda talaga ng gabi ko ay ang Parokya ni Edgar. Well, fan ako ng mga songs nila pero hindi nila before. But now, after their gig, fan na nila ako for life. Crush ko si Buwi. Woot~

All in all, mas masaya tong xmas party na ito kesa last year and i'm glad I decided to go.

Yesterday, tatay arrived after almost a year of being away from us.Masaya.At the office, there were free food i.e. pancit and ice cream courtesy of the halloween prize.. Woot~ busog.


Impending doom or just me hyperventilating (again). The oral exam on Saturday, which I haven't reviewed yet. Hopefully I'll pass but whatever happens whether I fail or pass, I'm still going to try and try. After the team building we had last weekend, after experiencing it, i really feel strong that anything and everything is possible. I'm starting to believe in myself again. Thank God :)

for x number of weeks or even months, i didn't play futsal. The regular tuesday and friday rendezvous was put on hold for some reason. Then one email changed all that.. (parang suspense naman ang dating...) It was Jay and JC who volunteered Jerz, Blue and I to organize the game. Of course we were surprised by this and also excited. It was then, we realized how much we miss playing this game and the futsal people. Then after recruitments here and there, sir leo's blasted futsal ad email, and some pangugulit, we were on our way to our first game again since time memorial. While we were playing, running and sweating, I'd realized how much i miss doing this. It was nice to kick some balls, to feel the adrenaline rush, to be out of breath, and to see old friends again.. There's some comfort and a feeling of belongingness in that court While we were playing, it's so natural and comfortable despite the fact that we haven't seen each other for some time. It's as though we didn't really have a long break from futsal... jc was his usual pang-aasar mode... then there's Jay who scares us.. just to steal the ball, road runner, the ever fast and good player, pao who plays like a pro, Jerz whose kicking skills and good defense earns her the title,"great wall" Blue who shot the first goal and earned the title as per JC, praktisado, Jong who wishes for cigarette while playing the game, Ryan “manok” who now uses long socks but still plays great.. lance and that other guy, whom I called shorts for some reason, whose tagged team prowess made them unstoppable..

Of course, there are new faces… harry and his friends, who plays well despite his warning that he is a newbie…. Mandy who carries the ball well, Sir Maenard “leo martinez” who plays futsal barefoot but still manages to steal the ball and shoots goals..

It’s a good thing that futsal is back for good. It gives me an outlet to release the stress especially after a long and tiring day at the office.. It also gave me a chance to be reunited with my friends.. ..

Thank God for futsal. Bow.

Sana bumalik na sina Dex and Jannin para mas masaya.

Some pix from the upcoming Twilight movie... sana Nov 21 na... :)

edward...


edward and bella...

Thanks to Mayee... I'm officially addicted to the Twilight series.. here's a sneak preview to the movie...



Thanks to Justine, karlstone and Jessa :D

Dahil ngarag at bangege ako, hindi ko muna ikwekwento ang istorya sa likod ng mga larawang ito. Ang masasabi ko lang masaya ako ng araw na ito kahit pa man ang dahilan ng aming pagkikita kita ay malungkot.




Updated Oct 4

Dahil hindi na ako bangenge at ngarag, magkwekwento na ako:)
Hmmm pano ba sisimulan...
The reunion Si ruth ang nakaisip ng magkita kita kaming mga "kulto" para magbonding at manood na rin ng Cine Europa. Kahit pa man lima lang kaming nagkita-kita, masaya pa din yung kamustahan, yung mga misadventures sa buhay atbp..
pekeng ticket Dahil isang ticket kada tao sa cine europa , late sina pia at kate at 4:30 pa labasan ni ruth sa office, ginamit ni shella ang kanyang creative powers para kulayan ang isang ticket para kay ruth...
ako si basya ayan lang naman ang dineklara ni ruth. babala din niya wag daw kakain sa may Dencios in Ayala Heights. Baka daw ma-Maja.
matibay na samahan Siguro kahit na hindi kami parehong group of friends nung college, masasabi ko na magkakaibigan kami at andito kami para sa isa't isa. Gaya nga ng sabi ni kate, "ang galing noh, kahit graduate na tayo andito pa din tayo para sa isa't isa.."

Over lunch yesterday, Jerz asked us to list our “imaginary lives.” Here are some of lives I want to try:

• Archaeologist


• Baker


• Barista


• Book Author


• Chef


• Choir member sa UST singers


• Cooking show host


• Diver


• DJ


• Dulos worker


• Exchange student in Spain or Italy


• Feminist na mala-Spivak


• Florist


• Gymnast


• Interior designer


• Interpreter/translator sa Ms. Universe


• Linguist


• Marine biologist


• Mathematician (bobo kasi ako sa Math)


• Museum worker


• Painter


• Photographer ng nature


• Pilot


• Potter


• Pre-school teacher


• Professor


• Roti mum or any coffee and bookshop owner


• Singer na may kasamang sikat na banda


• Swimmer


• Theater actress


• Tindera sa palengke


• Tourist guide


• Travel show host


• Travel/food writer


• Volunteer sa isang malayong place


• WWE Wrestler


• Yung nagwork sa may submarine


• Zoo keeper

According to her, all these imaginary lives are attainable and it’s not too late to give it a shot. She also said that it’s important to listen to these even though it may sound silly, because these will tell us what we really want to achieve and do in our life.

Feel-ing:

Tatay visited auntie elvie and family in NZ last Aug 3. Napadpad kasi dun yung barko nila. Rey told me that they eat in an Italian resto with tatay and they went inside the ship. I wonder when can I also go to middle earth or even see the workplace of tatay. (yung barko). Here's some pictures:

Tatay,Auntie Elvie and Tito Allan Asan na yung fud?


tito allan, Tatay and rey

Feel-ing: