Bonding with MCP Cris and MCP Halmen =) 

Havaianas Hunt!

I'm so frustrated! aaargh! Went with eds all psyched up to get moi a pair of havaianas... but when we got there, it was all sold out! Bad trip! I mean, there were still some pairs there, but i didnt like 'em much, so I ended up drowning my sorrows over loads of SPAM... hmmm..interesting yng waffle dog-ish look alike, but I still crave for my slippers! It's just sad they don't take reservations anywhere.. will try to visit rockwell and shang soon... I vow to get my own before march is over... will bring it to Davao! Samal island here we come! :-)

Congrats GIONNA!

Gionna Cabrera (center)

It was BB. Pilipinas Coronation Night last saturday at Araneta Colisuem (yup, same time Eda and I were there!)... and surprisingly, my batchmate from HS was crowned as BB. Pilipinas Universe!

I was happy for her, though I only have a vague memory of what she really looked like in HS. We were not close, nor were we classmates even in any sectiona lll throughout my St.Paul life. Interestingly enough, she was not the first among our batch to vie for the crown--Angela Silverio was also a finalist and was awarded Ms. Congeniality years back.

With Gionna now a titlist, I sometimes wonder about our different lives... all of us started the same way but I feel like we're separated by different planets, let alone different universes. I can't even believe that I went to the same school with her... I'm the ugly duckling compared to what she has achieved now!

I wish her all the best though... I'll be watching the pageant from cable in Bangkok this summer. Good Luck Gionna! =)

Cubao Cubao!

Eda and Me on our Cubao Adventure =)

Super adventure last Saturday! Eds and I went to National main store, the four-storey one. Amazingly enough, it was first time to really browse all the books there... I only go to that branch to pick up a textbook I reserved... When I got to the top floor, I was really in a daze! It was Disneyland for BOOKS!!! The books were really cheap, around PhP100 to 200 for the paperback, and PhP300++ for the hardbound, because they were already second-hand. The quality is still good though, almost brand new, so it was a really good buy. After a basketfull of books and difficult decision-making, I settled for the Tao of Pooh (a book Ive always wanted to read), and Eda bought her own copy of Memoirs of a Geisha.

Food trip afterwards at KFC, MCDO, and Go Nuts! Fast food galore, perfect for dieters no? Hehe =P Dinner was worth four hours! Kikay shopping after at SM.. lip gloss galore... Hmm, will have to find my own loyal brand for lipstains and lip gloss; I only have clinique to rely on for now...

Laugh trip all the way! I really enjoyed Cubao with Eds because I think we were game to anything, and I felt like we were able to accomplish a lot even with tight budgets, and only train commutes to and from the mall area...

Next time, adventure ulit.. Divi nman! hehe =D

MRT Panic!

Rode the MRT from Ayala to GMA last night, was supposed to go home when suddenly the train stopped midway from Boni and Shaw. Something smelled funny... literally. Apparently, the coach car I was riding had burnt some cable wires on the way from Makati... it was awful! The woman beside me was already praying the rosary, while I was busy memorizing the emergency instructions by the door.... After an hour, they finally fixed it. It was the longest train ride I've ever had!

There are some things we really take for granted, like riding safely in trains that might go off any second because of malfunction... sometimes, we can't do anything about it, but we might as well be cautious and careful always. Which also reminds me, I should really bring my rosary next time I ride....

DAYS staff meeting at uap =) 

DAYS High

Went to DAYS last weekend, my 4th weekend staffing after being a participant. It was my first time to staff as a head, fiscal to be more exact, and the challenge both scared and excited me at the same time. Though I'm used to being the front person for finance in aiesec all my life, it was my first time for DAYS, and i was quite a bit unsure on how to approach strangers, asking, well more like begging for donations of any amount, for the community fund. It was weird, when at the end of the day, everyone kind of knew who I was already (in a not so good way), because now they knew who to avoid and keep their wallets from for the rest of the weekend! hehe =P In the end, I think it was a worthy cause.. we were able to raise around 6,500 pesos from the visitors, staffers and sponsors who came to Bambi's batch...an increase from the previous collections. Thanks Kuya Jess! I hope it would be more than enough for the next batch, I'm staffing again, but I'll be a sponsor this time for Coni Ü

This is one of those DAYS weekends that still gets me high... "Basta Ikaw Lord"... but for some reason, there as something special and magical about those 3 days I spent at Pollock. It was the first weekend that I spent a lot of time in Disco, really pouring my heart into that room... between my sisters and mommy rach, and with my aiesec family... and a lot of vigil time also alone with just Kuya Jess. There were lots of personal issues I lifted to Him in that room (lots of tissues spent as well), and now I feel somewhat light and relieved. Hmm... I can't say that I'm not troubled anymore, but somehow miraculously, I found comfort in just praying and talking to Him, knowing that somehow He can hear me and lift all those troubles away, even for just mere moments....

I guess I've always been more of a spiritual person than a religious one. I don't believe much in ceremonies that I've been accustomed to all my life, thanks to both sides of the family being strictly parishioners and supporters of the Church and its practices. I do thank DAYS for strengthening my faith, but I guess there would always be that continuous skepticism on some practices of the Church that up to now I only receive with accept with mute resignation. My enlightenment always comes during those silent moments that I pray to Him, and that is one of the reasons I miss DAYS also, when I can just go to the Disco where I can find solace to be myself and reflect. It's hard to come back to reality after DAYS high, when I know I'll be facing all my issues again.... but I know that because of Mommy Rach's talk about loving hearts, Jess was giving me a sign. I know now what to do because I can feel his presence still. I'll just have to keep that personal "disco" with me, until the next batch again... Ü

UPD Alumni Dinner

Went to an alumni party last night for UPD.. was fun because I was able to meet Agnes and Ana again, whom I haven't met for the longest time! I know in speeches I always say that "I'm already old.. I have "anaks" and "apos" already in AIESEC", but attending that party as an alumni made that feeling more real than ever. Talangang matanda na ko sa AIESEC. There were lots of newies that I didn't know anymore, and the more common question was: "How are you guys doing these days", and it felt weird and relieving to be asking that question as a concerned alumni (read: outsider)

It's true what they say: the longer you stay, the harder it is to let go. Yup, I have the symptoms. Even attending the induction party and turning over the torches still feels surreal for me. Until March 31st is over, I guess, I'm still holding on to this post and to all the free food and all the exchange problems as well. Hmm... enjoy till the party lasts right? I still have APXLDS anyway. But I'll enjoy myself in Devcon for sure, one discharge report and I'm all set for the beach... BORA here I come! Haha =)

Passport Day!

Finally got my PASSPORT!!! After ten million years, I finally got the urge to actually compile my requirements, submit it to DFA and claim it.. all in a week! Bilis no? (I hope I can help Eda as well, haba tlga ng pila sa DFA... miles and miles and miles of waiting applicants.. tsk tsk.. major bonding adventure ito!)

Feels good to actually accomplish something I've been wanting to do for a looooooong time. That's one more item to cross on my to-do list for this year (see archives under January's New Years Resoulations for 2005).. next stop: driver's license! Coolness! =P

Courtesy Lanes at DFA

Courtesy Lanes at DFA

After 10 thousand years... finally found the time to apply for my passport at DFA! After putting it off for months and months now, I'm happy I was able to file it already. Getting and compiling the requirements was quite easy given the "network" Batas has, and submitting it to DFA (at "courtesy lanes" no less) was also a piece of cake.

Tito Erning was an expert at dealing with DFA officials already.. he can maneouver the ins and outs of all the windows and offices with his eyes closed! All we did was give him the papers, sit and wait to be called... sobrang walang hassle!

I couldn't say the same for the rest who were applying though. Even at courtesy lane, it was still chaotic--there were no queues, and each applicant was trying to plead with the OIC to accept their documents (somehow, a lot of them had delinquencies still, esp at the Diplomat window). Much more with those lined up downstairs, waiting from 6am to have their papers authenticated. There were miles and miles of people wanting to go abroad... I haven't seen that the last time I went with my mom to get her passport (I was grade 5 then, but still...)

It's always sad to blame the system for inefficiencies like this. Now that more Filipinos want to go abroad, there is much demand for their papers to be processed immediately, and with less hassle and costs as possible. Even if there are so many fixers lined up, it would take you around a week or two just to get your paper to the window and have it filed. Add that to how many more weeks to claim your passport.. it's a wonder this government still can accomplish so much. We would have said that the DFA should put in more people to make the processing faster and the lines shorter, but with budget deficit issues and oil price hikes and the VAT increase still to be resolved... For the meantime, I think this is one request that would be left for another pile, and not even courtesy lanes can do its magic this time...

Artificial Leg

While I was meditating aimlessly on the back of the FX on my way to Rustans Makati to meet with Eda, a man struggled to get on the vehicle also, pleading with another passenger to exchange seats with him because of his artificial leg. I tried not to look but I felt pity for the guy. Somehow, I felt guilty (because I felt luckier than him that my leg was not amputated in any way, despite my recurring knee mishaps), but also blessed at the same time.

When he got off, I said a silenet prayer. May God bless that man, because despite his physical incapabilities, he still was quite a jolly fellow... he was smiling and whistling all the way down Buendia...

Pasta & Salad at Italianni's

Carbonara... Last Call!

Had dinner at Italianni's Tomas Morato yesterday... yummy! Was so hungry coz I wasnt able to grab breakfast nor lunch the whole day.. this was my first meal! Devoured Sicilian Chicken Salad and Carbonara... Sobrang Saraaaaap! Of course, can't hurt that the waiter was really warm and accommodating as well... (ok ok, so he was cute! Guilty! Sheesh.. I really have a thing for this no? haha =P)

Was really full by the end of the meal, everyone at the table was, that we can't finish anymore the last bite of carbonara... I wonder, is it really a Filipino trait? We leave just that measly piece on our plates (in this case, this small forkful of pasta)... others find it an annoying habit, thinking of other kids who actually haven't eaten for more than a day or worse, a week...

I wanted to eat, I really did.. but my stomach and spirit was weak. Hmm.. next time, I vow to be more "sensitive" and always leave my plate clean (except when buffets! hehe)