The Taste of Summer

Wow its been forever since I have updated this blog. My avid readers are throwing grouchy complaints against me LOL. I’ve been really busy at work and been engrossing my ass off the diversion I have luckily found. What’s new with me? Nothing is new I guess, I am still me, the same old me but I am happier now because I am living my life the way I should live it and boy, it feels great. I spend most of my time in front of the computer but I can hardly update my blog, every time I have something in mind to write about, work would come crashing and steal the scintillating moment away from me and I can do nothing but be consumed with work.

My work load is hefty lately, Im running against time and people…sigh, anyway life is great nonetheless. I am looking forward for the summer, although I am hating the scorching UV rays that mr. sun brings every day. I am blissful with the thought of immersing myself in reverie while lying on the white sandy beach and listening to the music of my heart – my solace. WONDERFUL.

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Happy Birthday To Me

Please be warned that some of the words/statement in this entry is peculiar to itself grammatically or cannot be understood from the individual meanings of its elements. In short, I am using a style of expression characteristic of the scenario I have today. If you don’t get it, just let me know.

Today is my day, unfortunately I’m not feeling good in a “motivated way” so I refused to enter in the four corners of my pit as I am seeing a grandeur of plague that will soon ingest me, leaving me helpless and galloping in a maze of one pit to another. This day is to my self and to whoever I choose to spend it with. I am sensing a deep-seated ideological divergence and skepticism, I have no room for that kind of heat today so I’m getting out of the kitchen. I will leave it to the rest of the skeptic scholars, they are gifted with the highest abilities of the human mind which therefore brought me to conclude that the floor is theirs to swarm with collective vengeance and scrutiny finding their own allies in wonderland. Meanwhile, I am keeping my arrogant mouth shut.

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I wish for nothing but great Health for all of us especially Tj and for God to keep our families together at all times. I will not ask for any extravagant gift as I have received the most wonderful gift one can ever have. A sound mind and body will be more than enough and an undying wisdom to live through for eternity.

A WONDERFUL BIRTHDAY TO ME!

Cheers!

Love me Again – Land Down Under

Teejay’s undying admiration for Angel Locsin drove us to watch her latest movie with the beautiful Piolo Pascual. Despite time constraint as I am having the inability to manage my time lately and the mentally strenuous day I’ve had last Sunday, we decided to hit ATC mall to witness their first movie together. Piolo’s versatility in acting is very exceptional, we all know that but I must commend Angel for a job well done.

I’ve seen a few scenes of her acting career when she was with her previous TV network and kudos to Angel for making a remarkable improvement in her acting prowess. The movie has evidently showcased her acting skills and potential. The movie is very endearing and it made me shed some tears LOL. I had spicy shrimp spaghetti and deluxe pizza from Brooklyn Pizza while watching the movie.

After watching the movie, we stopped by at the activity center hoping to catch Regine Velasquez performing for her Latest Album promotion – Low Key. Unfortunately, the show has ended when we got there and people were in a long queue just so they could take pictures with Regine. It was my first time to see her in person, I’m not a fan but I dont dislike her. I think that she’s one of the most talented people here in the Philippines and I admire her for that. I think that she is pretty in person compared to when she is on TV and she is also undoubtedly nice to her fans.

…….Continuation

We woke up early on Day 7. We went to Mambucal Mountain Resort located at Murcia Negros Occidental for an overnight stay. We had so much fun watching the fruit bats hanging on the tree branches that if you look from afar, they look like unrecognizable fruits. It was gruesomely beautiful. We visited the butterfly farm and saw the different species of butterfly, it was amazing. We also had boat riding in the boating lagoon and hiked the mountain to visit the 7 falls. It was strenous but the breathtaking views were all worth it. The clan never dared to take a plunge at the freezing cold swimming pool but I did for a little while. It was mind blowing so I decided to take a rinse of hot shower after 10 minutes, then we played domino after dinner.

We woke up the next morning with the obscure sunshine trying to fight the overcast so he can shine unrestrainedly. We drove to Don Salvador Benedicto to visit Pandanon Resort but we decided to head back the opposite direction as it was too stiff to drive there. The mountainous way prevented us from going there. We opted to take a drive to the lands of Northern Negros instead. We drove all the way to Cadiz City to buy some dried fish, etc. as they are well renowned as the dried fish (tuyo) capital of Negros but due to the bad weather and excessive rains, prices were staggering high and not a lot of products to choose from. We stopped by at Merci Breadshop for a round of siopao for lunch, it was funny. As we were heading back home, a very unfortunate event has happened. Our car broke down along the highway and we were merely 2 hours away from the city. If you look to your left, you can see nothing but a plantation of sugarcane and to your right is the same. My mom immediately called her mechanic, so we opted to ride the bus and they stayed there to wait for the mechanic to rescue them.

Day 9 was pretty sluggish, we took a plunge at Sta. fe in the morning. We then went to the office of my house developer to finish all the papers and requirements that they need from me. Evening came and we met Cel for a fabulous and sumptuous dinner at Bar 21 along Lacson St. We had a succulent steak and a delightful mango shake. After dinner, we went to Starbucks to meet my college friend Mayen and my cousin. After a brief moment of talking and catching up with our busy lives we then went to Mushu for some wine and good music.

We spent day 10 on packing and buying stuff for pasalubong. Evening came and it was time to take our flight back to Manila. It was a scary flight. We had turbulence every minute, it was as if the plane would crash down anytime and it made me pray. It really scared the hell out of me, I was holding Tj”s hand the entire time. By the time the pilot announced our arrival, my spirit perked up like hell. I think I’m not going to fly anywhere, anytime soon LOL.

To sum up everything, it wasn’t a grand vacation nor an extravagant one, it was fun nevertheless. I was able to see my family and some of my old buddies. It was just sad because I wasn’t able to attend our Highschool reunion party as they held it on an earlier date and I havent seen some of my friends due to some conflict with time and place. And we were not able to visit a lot of places because the weather was bad. But I am definitely going back there in the summer or maybe October for the Mascarra Festival.

Starting the Year Right in Bacolod City

They say that as you face the new year, you have to start it right so I started mine with a nice vacation to my beloved hometown the city of SUGARLANDIA – Bacolod City which is renowned as the city of smiles because of the colorful and spectacle parade of smiling masks every second week of October commemorating the festivity of the city. We had a peaceful flight on the way to Bacolod but my heart was a little sad leaving my Cheeba behind for merely 10 days. Upon arrival, I was amazed with the new Bacolod airport protruding amid the mountain range of Northern Negros and the vast land of sugarcane haciendas. It was great seeing my family picking us up at the new airport. Newly built structures are evidently rising in Bacolod including the costly starbucks. We went straight home to unload our things. My mom cooked an Ilonggo style nilaga (beef with young jackfruit, batwan and tanglad) for lunch, Teejay loved it.

Day 1 was spent at Uma Cafe beside L’Fisher Hotel, we had a fabulous dinner with Cell – Teejay’s former officemate who happened to be an Ilonggo also. Uma Cafe’s pizza and pasta are to die for. Their espresso based drinks are also great combined with a tiny piyaya that is great with a big cup of cappuccino best served with muscovado sugar. All in All it was a delectable treat. We then went to Majj at Mayfair Plaza where we expressed our whiny demons through a delicious red wine and a delightful platter of buffalo wings. Had a few great laughs while our spirits are surreptitiously dancing in the sound of house music. My place is located in the suburbs so it’s not advisable to travel late at night so we checked in at Business Inn located at the heart of the city. It’s an inexpensive hotel that offers a good comfortable sleep and a lounge that shows a live band at night while you are sipping a highly delectable Kansi (bulalo).

We had lunch at Lions Park restaurant on day 2 with my cousin and sister. Relax though, as it is not a literal Lions Park. For me, they have the best Inasal in town. We feasted on Chicken Inasal (pecho – breast, paa – legs, baticulon – gizzard) and a bowl of fresh oysters best served with tangy and spicy sinamak (vinegar with chili). We have enjoyed every second of it. We then went to SM City for a little shopping and came back to the hotel for a power nap. Evening came and we went to Pendys for coffee and chocolate cake. We then went to Pala Pala, it’s a local seafood market where you can haggle for fresh catch of the ocean and have it cooked by the restaurant. It’s just an array of nipa huts that doesn’t resemble any ostentatious design nor an elaborate facade but the way they cook the Tinola nga Isda (Sinigang na isda – boiled fish) is to die for, with unique ingredients only famous in the islands of Visayas. We had Sinigang na manumbok, half a kilo of buttered prawns and half a kilo of grilled native squid. We only paid Php 750 for everything. We then went back to the hotel lounge with a full stomach. We watched the live acoustic band, had some tea and relaxed with the gentle pour of the rain.

We checked out from the hotel on Day 3, we spent the rest of the day at our store in the market as it was the concluding day of the year which means, it’s the busiest day for our store. We helped my mom at the store, Teejay enjoyed selling fruits and toys and taking random pictures at the same time. We had lechon (roasted pig) for lunch. We went home late afternoon watched some dvd and waited for the new year to come. As the first hour of the first day of the new year came, we went out to watch the festive lights of the fireworks. We then feasted on lechon manok and fruits as our media noche. we didn’t prepare any special food as all of us were dead tired, it was fun nevertheless.

Day 4 was filled with adventure, want to know why? We had breakfast at Pala Pala once again. We then went to a place called The Ruins in Talisay.“The structure of The Ruins is of Italianate architecture with neo-Romanesque columns, having a very close semblance to the facade of Carnegie Hall in New York City.

The mansion was built in the early 1900’s by the sugar baron, Don Mariano Ledesma Lacson (1865-1948) and was home to his unmarried children with his first wife, Maria Braga Lacson (+1911), a Portuguese from Macau. The mansion was the largest residential structure ever built at that time and had in it one of the finest furnitures, chinawares, and decorative items, as the father of the Maria Braga was a captain of a ship that sailed across Europe and Asia and would cart with him these items. One of their daughters maintained a beautiful garden of lilies in and around the 4-tiered fountain fronting the mansion, all brought in from abroad.

One of the sons supervised the construction of the mansion making certain that the A-grade mixture of concrete and its pouring was precisely followed.

The mansion met its sad fate in the early part of World War II (1942) when the USAFFE (United States Armed Forces in the Far East), then the guerilla fighters in the Philippines, burnt the mansion to prevent the Japanese forces from utilizing it as their headquarters. It took days of inferno to bring down the roof and the two-inch wooden floors.

To this day, the 903 square meter structure still stands tall amidst sugar plantation and continues to awe both local and foreign tourists. Truly, a picture-perfect backdrop and a magnificent sight to see.” We made a little joke while we were on our way to see The Ruins, Tj said that it is only right to call it The Ruins because you’ll get ruined as you enter the road that leads you to the place. It’s a long, narrow, unpaved and undeveloped road that made our ride downright bumpy. But once you get there, you will be amazed and say to yourself that its all worth it. After taking numerous pictures, we then went to Silay to see the heritage houses and had lunch at Manokan Country and went striaght to SM City. As we were strolling down the mall, we decided to watch Ang Tanging Ina Niyong Lahat.

Day 5, we had coffee at Cafe Uma and took advantage of the free wifi brought by the nearby L’Fisher Hotel. We headed to Goldenfileds Commercial Complex to have some Kansi for Dinner – our very own version of bulalo. After a brief greasy dinner, we then went to MO2 to see my friend Cynthia. We had a few drinks, watched the live acoustic band and had a run-of-the-mill talk with Cynthia. It was nice seeing college friends like her still kicking it in the city. We ended the night at McCafe for a cup of coffee and a chocolate cake.

Day 6, we had lunch at Chicken House in Singkang for a different taste of Inasal. We then crossed the street and bought some fresh piyaya for dessert and drove around town for sight seeing. Evening came and we stopped by at Robinsons place and had a nice hot chocolate and some muffins. We then went to the supermarket, grabbed some pringles, breads and doritos and headed back home for a fun evening. We had chicken tinola for dinner and it was very satisfying.

To be continued…….

Making Peace with the Past, Aha at Last

Its 12:44 AM, on the concluding day of 2008, I’m sitting here idly in our hotel room. Before the year ends I must take time to write an excerpt of the bitter sweet hodgepodge that took place this year. It is rather a year of retribution, and transcendental reflection that made me experience life in the brink of uncertainty, decrepitude, felicity and even hell itself. It was a journey from utter misery to nirvana – the ambuscade of life uncovered with a vengeance which resulted to a series of unforeseen epiphanies that made a significant change and a palpable impact in my life.

The year started with remarkable blessings, we are now certified homeowners – a goal we never deemed to achieve that early. Our clientele seemed to have grown progressively this year. A lot has been accomplished, dollars kept on coming, and we bought things to satisfy our arbitrary indulgence. I met some people who have somehow vexed me, to the point that I had to run away and cease on  getting involved on whatever with them but gained a few great ones seeming worthy to keep for long through good times and bad.

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………continuation, I started writing this entry on the 31st of December due to limited internet connection from my stormy vacation but I am finishing it today january 8th 2009.

2008 was definitely the most tremulous year of my life. I was stomped to hell, shaken vigorouosly from head to toe, I was dazed, bewildered, helpless, wandering, sobbing, seeking for refuge, filled with utter misery. I was in a deadly maze and a labyrinth of distress perforated every inch of me, it came in bolt, it was fierce and extremely painful. I couldn’t see anything but utter darkness. Seeing him lying on the hospital bed was like standing on the precipice and any minute can turn into a deadly dysphoria, when I look down I can see nothing but pitch-black abyss waiting to swallow me and erase my brief existence leaving no clue but when I look up, I can see a very little light, there I see him standing, the silhoutte of his face ignited a spark of hope. I reached out my hand to touch him, screaming at him to stay with me for eternity and to never lose his grip to that little light that makes him visible from the precipice where I’m standing.

I prayed with all the saints and Virgin Mary, I prayed with my loudest voice hoping that God would render his marvelous mercy on him, that he will make him stay with me for eternity. I woke up one morning anxious to see the light, I walked and peeped through the glass door of the room and there I saw his beautiful face. God concluded my dysphoria. I was brought to heaven and my sun recrudesced and shone to light all the darkness I saw. Life comes with infinite enigma and could be a real bitch sometimes but God is the greatest and he is the owner of this so called life. Miracles happen, indeed.

I ended the year with a new job, a curly hair, a set of new friends and happiness with him. I’m starting 2009 with a fabulous vacation, new set of significant goals to plan and an invincible hope to face everything come hell or high water. I am living my life full to the brim, welcome 2009. Make more room for travel, leisure and anything suggesting fun and extravagance. And a firm conviction that I represent no one but me, myself and I and I am not answerable to anyone but to myself and my God which means haters keep on hating. My grief is mine, my misfortune is mine, my money is mine, my happiness is mine, my wisdom is mine which is tantamount to whatever I have is mine so zip your filthy arrogant mouth, whatever grudges or opinions that you may have, keep them to your lousy depreciating self. I am laughing my ass off to the ground. WOOHOO!

Have a Glorious New year!

My Very Own Version of Drastic Change

New Look

Last night, after work I endured the sickening and pungent scent of the perming chemical just to get a permanent curl. I’m loving my new look, it’s about time to forget the ordinary for my offbeat self. I just have to get used to applying mousse to my curls everyday just so I could maintain it. I wanted to get big curls but it didn’t result to that, I’m loving what I have nevertheless. It is an expensive change but “beauty has a price” as they say.

New Job

As you all know I have embarked on new beginnings particularly on my career. This is my fourth week in my new job and all I could tell you is that I’m happy. I think that I did not make a wrong decision of grabbing the opportunity. Yes, the challenges are bigger but I’ll fight tooth and nail to overcome everything.

New Friends

It must be a surprise to all of you but heck it’s true. I have found new friends and I’m exulted. I guess I’m ready for the new year. SMILES!

The Wedding

I’m euphoric and ecstatic as I had a really awesome weekend I guess because it’s quite different from my typical weekend. I don’t get to attend weddings every weekend. I have attended Ateng’s wedding last Saturday. Kudos to all the unparalleled efforts made by everyone who contributed to make the wedding possible. I was supposed to sing but I got carried away with the camera flashing from everywhere. It was a very nice wedding.  I have enjoyed and cried a little bit. Where else could you find a wedding with a Mickey Mouse theme? Yeah you read it right, they had a Mickey Mouse theme they’ve rented a fotoloco booth and guests can get their pictures taken on a Mickey Mouse background, isn’t it cute? Ateng was stunning with the beautiful gown created by her friend and Mickey was there, inconspicuously embroidered at the back of it.

 

I would like to congratulate Ateng and King, you deserve each other. I wish you the best of everything. Be blessed with wonderful kids, good fortune and happiness for eternity.

One Fine Day

I can’t say much about my new job because I’m not allowed to blog about it. So far, everything is good though, we got a basket of Christmas goodies last Friday. I’ve met some people and I can’t say diddly-squat about them because it’s too early to tell. I’ve never been this busy and dedicated to my job since I have started working. There are a lot of things to fix at work but I’m going to bite the bullet if I have to just to make things better. The only thing that sucks is that blogging is not allowed at work that’s why this is my first blog entry for the month of December. The sparks of brilliance  I’ve had while I was at work are all gone by the time I reach home, not to mention my erratic body is tiresomely useless the moment I enter my room, so as much as I would want to impart them with you through this blog, I couldn’t because I spend my time in the luxury of sleep instead .

Two days ago, Friday, Dec. 5th was Aldolito’s birthday, we didn’t do much since we planned to celebrate it the day after, he attended his company Christmas party after work, while I spent the entire time drooling at Greenbelt with all the spectacular and fabulous shoes  grinning at me and so I grinned back in a form of two super large paper bags and a debit of worth dadadada to my savings account. I’m blissful and exultant nevertheless. After his party, we then went to my former company’s Christmas party, watched a few performance of some of the employees while Aldolito was busy taking pictures. We decided to go home after an hour and a half.

Today the weather seems fierce, the gust of winds are blowing in frenzy. It’s as if we are reminded that after all the scorching moments of intense heat brought by Mr. Sun, Mr. Wind is still just around the corner and it seems that today is the auspicious time for him to come out and cast his unrestrained power over us. I’m loving it nonetheless as I have missed the cold weather and the cool breeze that touches my face. There is this enigmatic and inexplicable feeling brought by Mr. Wind that puts me into a different horizon with bliss and indulgence. This is just a perfect and incomparable time to sit by the patio and sip some tea while listening to the harmonious sound of the leaves, it’s as if they are dancing exuberantly in a groovy melody.