Friday Gimmick

Dinner with friends @ Joe's cafe. I met very interesting person .... Karyn's professor from Ateneo :). Everyone enjoyed pizza and pasta. Thanks to Joe for giving us free taste of his very good selection of tea.

We moved to Clark Quay after the Italian dinner but I need not to stay longer as I rushed to the airport to welcome my Mom, Papa and JC.

Boyce Avenue

I have been singing Rihanna's Disturbia since day one, and until now, my tongue still speaks this music. More often that not, I just hum the song or sometimes I put melody onto it. Ever wonder how do I sound when singing Disturbia? Wait no more, I found Boyce Avenue. I produce sound like him ..... tanungin nyo man ang nanay ko.

It goes like this:

Want more videos? OK. I heard this version when I was in the Philippines just 3 weeks ago. I was in the searching mode since then, but I do not have the tool in the Phillipines to surf the web that's why it took me very long to find this version of ..... Bleeding Love. I am bring back, Boyce Avenue.

Changeling - The real person

Here is the real Christine Collins portrayed by my "now-favorite" actress Angelina Jolie.

Theresa's

I just reached home not so long ago, it is 12:36AM. I came from Theresa's house. We finished two bottles of red wine. We had spaghetti for dinner and she toured me all over her place.

It was indeed a fun conversation in front of her notebook while playing the best hits of her ipod's playlist and scouting for promotional airfare for our next trip na trip, until Franco got an emotional share due to the current break up with his partner. Naging punong tagapayo tuloy ang labas ko sa isa sanang masaya at maalak na gabi.

Clubbing

I celebrated new year with a big bang at the St. James Power Station. One of the clubs is moving to Ministry of Sound and so I went there with Desmond, Matt and Joe. Thanks to Desmond as we were treated as VIP, we cut the queue which by looking at it, I can estimate at least 2 hours is needed in order to get in to this club. We arrived at 11:30PM and dance all night long until 3AM.

The place is so cool. I have never been to a place in Singapore where literally everyone looks good (that is according to my eye, at least). Wherever I turned my head, there I will see beautiful people. I got to meet few persons whose names has been lingering in many conversations I had with friends.

I absolutely enjoyed this night.

Changeling

January 26, 2009 - Monday. I booked this movie two days in advance cos it was almost the last week in Singapore. I don't know what took me so long to catch this movie knowing that it has a relatively good review. I cannot describe this movie into one word only, really it leaves me speechless. I will never look at Angelina Jolie the same way again after her performance in this heartfelt-full-of-emotion movie about a mother searching for her missing son. The movie is so genius, it will capture all the emotions hidden in someone's heart. If I will be seating as a panel in Hollywood, I will give A.J. a slam award for best actress. Dang! This movie is just ... just ... just brilliant in all the ways.

Movie poster

One of the many heartfelt scenes of my "now-favorite" actress

Chinese New Year's Eve

January 25, 2009 - Sunday. I went to Seaw Hoon's house in the late noon and spent 3 hours on her couch as I watched Mona Lisa Smile and waiting for her and Joe to finish cooking our foods for the CNY eve.

These the foods we shared.

These are the so-called significant foods for the new year. We had pineapple which signifies wealth. Tofu that signifies job promotion, and many other things that I already lost count of their significant.

At 2:AM, we headed to Chinatown to catched some good itmes on their cheapest price. Foods that is.

First day of the long weekend break

January 24, 2009 - Saturday. Inumpisahan ko ang araw na to na kumakain. May bago akong place na na-discover malapit lang sa bahay. They are selling my favorite Indonesian food oxtail soup na parang version ng bulalo ng pinas na availabe lang sa Orchard.

Oxtail Soup

After ng lunch, bumili na naman ako ng movie ticket. Konting lakwartsa sa Orchard. Madami akong napuntahan this day, nakarating ako ng Tanjung Pagar kaya napagupit na naman tuloy ako ng buhok dahil nandon na lang din naman ako sa Amara. Limang oranges ang nilantakan ko before my haircut kasi nagkalat ang oranges these days dito sa Singapore kasi nga Chinese New Year na in 2 days.

Naisipan namin na mag Thai food naman para sa dinner. Isang gabing puno na naman ng pagkain ang lamesa dam.

Thai red curry chicken

Green curry chicken

Calamari

veggy na paborito ko

At masarap na kamoteng kahoy na may coconut para sa dessert (very thailand)

Matapos ang kainan, hinamon ko si Joe na magpagalingan kami sa pag alis ng laman ng buko. Dapat buo yung laman at mahaba dapat para manalo. Ito ang kanya.

At ito ang akin.

Sa madaling salita, natalo ako sa pahabaan ng buko. Makauwi na nga lang at madami pa akong labada na naghihintay.

Friday Gimmick

January 23, 2009 - Friday. I booked tickets for 9 people due to the request of my female friends. Before the movie at 9:50PM, I went for a japanese dinner with three other friends. We had it Sakae Sushi at Wheelock Place. Isa na namang busog sarap na hapunan. I had grilled salmon and teriyaki chicken.

Chicken teriyaki

Grilled Salmon

And so after the good dinner, we walked to the cinema place and catched this very funny movie of Kate and Anne (I have seen 3 movies of Anne Hathaway for this month of January only).

After the movie, few friends joined me home. Len, Theresa and Joe. We had a drinking session until 3 AM. I became very appreciative of the very trustworthy conversation I had with Theresa.

And one more thing .... I was very fortunate this night cos I got two gorgeous shirts from USA from my two gorgeous US-based friends. I got Hilfiger and A&F. Ang gaganda, promise.

Astig na Horoscope

Ito ang isang taong horoscope. Guide lang ito ha!

ARIES (Marso 20-Abril 19) Hindi magtatagumpay ang itatayo mong bagong negosyo. Hindi magkiklik sa masa ang itatayo mong toll gate sa eskinita.

TAURUS (Abril 20-Mayo 20) Iwasang magsuot ng damit na kulay pula dahil hindi mo naman birthday. Baka may magpalibre sa ‘yo. Green na lang ang isuot mo.

GEMINI (Mayo 21-Hunyo 20) Huwag magdamot. I-share ang Abante TONITE sa iyong mga kaibigan. I-share din ang gamit tulad ng toothbrush at underwear.

CANCER (Hunyo 21-Hulyo 20) Sa mga babaeng matataba, huwag tatabi o uupo sa tabi ng driver dahil gusto ng mga driver ang mga sexy at ayaw nila sa tabatsina.

LEO (Hulyo 21-Agosto 20) Huwag kumain ng karne, isda, gulay at prutas. Huwag ding uminom ng softdrinks, kape, juice at tubig. Higit sa lahat, huwag magpapagutom.

VIRGO (Agosto 21-Setyembre 22) Para sa mga may asawa, bawas-bawasan ang paggamit ng lipstick dahil nagmumukha ka nang mga labi na tinubuan ng mukha at kamay.

LIBRA(Setyembre 23-Oktubre 22) Huwag maglaba, baka umulan bukas. Kung hindi bukas, next month. Kung hindi next month, baka next year. Kung sigurado ka na next year pa uulan, maglaba ka na.

SCORPIO(Oktubre 23-Nobyembre 22) Marami kang gagastusin ngayong taon. Matutong magtipid. Kung hindi marunong, huwag na lang magtipid. Gumastos ka na lang.

SAGITTARIUS (Nobyembre 23-Disyembre 22) Para sa mga sanggol… dahan-dahan ang pagdede sa gatas ng ina at magtira kay tatay para sa kanyang kape.

CAPRICORN (Dis­yembre 23-Enero 19) May magandang prediksyon. Makakapagtrabaho ka sa UK laundry shop sa may Quiapo. Huwag kalimutang magpadala sa mga kamag-anak.

AQUARIUS (Enero 20-Pebrero 19) Para sa mga bading… maganda ang prediksyon para sa iyo. Babae ka na sa susunod mong buhay. Babaeng pusa.

At ang favorite ko:

PISCES(Pebrero 20-Marso 19) Hindi mo na makikita ang hinahanap mo. Huwag mo nang pagurin ang sarili sa paghahanap. Lucky day… kahapon.

Ink Heart and Botak Jones

Catched the 7:10PM show of Inkheart at Cineleisure. Pwede nang substitute sa Harry Potter series since walang Harry Potter last 2008.

After the dinner, we tried this famous western place called Botak Jones which is just few steps away from my workplace. It was my first time eating at B. Jones.

I had Cajun Chicken. Maanghang sya pero na-balance ng cheese sa ibabaw ng grilled chicken breast yung spicy taste.

Touch My Body and Ken Lee

Isa na namang pampaalis antok sa maalong hapon. Pakiramdam ko, isa akong dahon na dahan-dahang nahuhulog mula sa ituktok ng puno ng kawayan. Pag narinig mo ang bagong singing sensation na to, daig mo pa ang lumulon ng kapeng barako!

Ang version ng lintek na lalaking ito ng "Tuts My Barreh" (islang na islang di ba) ni Auntie Mariah Carey.

Pampagising na lang din naman ang hanap ko. Eh di isama ko na ang classic na Ken Lee. Minsan nang binago ng kantang to ang tahimik kong buhay. Mapakinggan nga uli :

Balik Tanaw

Simpleng picture pero memorable.

It was year 1998 when I had this shot. Napagtripan ko lang magbukas ng baul bago matulog and I saw this one. My finger got my attention and made me think why it was covered with cloth, then I realized na yan ang sugat na napala ko sa katakawan ng tubo. Nagbabalat ako ng tubo (sugar cane) pero kamay ko ang nabalatan ko. Ouch!

And what about the ring on my thumb? There where I used to put my ring, sa hinlalaki. Nag-iisang ring ko lang yan dati. May mga curvings na Egyptian. Pero hiniram ni Kuya Dado noong year 2000 and hindi na nya binalik kasi nag-work na sya abroad. Surprisingly, suot pa din nya until now at hindi man lang nya inalis nung kinasal sya last 2007 sa Baguio.

Minsan nang hiniram sakin ang sing-sing na yan ng isang matalik na kaibigan, Miss M na lang ang itatawag ko sa kanya. Pero binalik nya din naman after one day. Umalis sya ng Pilipinas nung nalaman nya na papasok ako ng seminaryo last 1999. Love hurts! Love moves!

Yun namang sunglass, nahulog sa ulo ko habang nasa likod kami ng pick-up at kitang-kita ko na sinagasaan ng lintek na philippine rabbit on our way to Baguio.

Ang damit ko, considered as my coolest shirt during that time na pasalubong ni Mama from Hong Kong. Buhay pa sya until now at nasa bahay sa pinas.

My bag? It was my younger brother's (Ace) Adidas bag na nung nasira na nya, saka ko naman ginamit. I started using it in 1997, during our Baguio days pa. Naisama ko sya sa Rome and Israel. And sya pa din ang gamit ko dito sa Singapore for almost a year nung kadadating ko pa lang dito, year 2001. Yes, sya ang gamit kong bag papasok sa work. Until now, nandito pa din sya sa tabi ng bed ko.

Overall, this photo was taken in Talavera, Nueva Ecija during the Provincial Youth Day. Ako ang youth leader that time and dito ko din nakilala si Nanay Letty, ang foster parent ko na umampon sa akin ng dalawang araw na itinuring nya ako na bunso nyang anak since then.

Salawikain

Mga Bagong Salawikaing Pinoy

* Ang buhay ay parang bato, it's hard.
* Behind the clouds are the other clouds.
* Kapag puno na ang salop, kumuha na ng ibang salop.
* Magbiro ka na sa lasing, magbiro ka na sa bagong gising, huwag langsa lasing na bagong gising.
* Ang hindi marunong magmahal sa sariling wika, lumaki sa ibang bansa.
* Mabuti na walang tulog, kaysa sa walang gising..
* Ang taong naglalakad nang matulin ... may utang.
* No guts, no glory... no ID, no entry.
* Birds of the same feather that prays together ... stays together.
* Kapag may sinuksok at walang madukot, may nandukot.
* Walang matigas na tinapay sa gutom na tao.
* Ang taong di marunong lumingon sa kanyang pinanggalingan .... ay maystiff neck.
* Birds of the same feather make a good feather duster.
* Kapag may tiyaga, may nilaga. Kapag may taga, may tahi.
* Ang naglalakad ng matulin, late na sa appointment
* Matalino man ang matsing, matsing pa rin.
* Better late than later.
* Kapag maikli ang kumot, tumangkad ka na!
* No man is an island because time is gold.
* Hindi lahat ng kumikinang ay ginto ... muta lang yan.
* Kapag ang puno mabunga ... mataba ang lupa!
* When it rains ... it floods.
* Pagkahaba haba man ng prusisyon ... mauubusan din ng kandila.
* Ang buhay ay parang gulong, minsan nasa ibabaw, minsan nasa vulcanizing shop.
* Batu-bato sa langit, ang tamaan ... sapul.
* Kapag maiksi na ang kumot, bumili ka na ng bago.
* An apple a day is too expensive.
* An apple a day makes seven apples a week. (really expensive)--

At ang favorite ko:

* Aanhin ang palasyo kung ang nakatira ay kuwago, mabuti pa ang bahaykubo, sa paligid puno ng linga.

It has been CHANGED

Confrontation

Ako yung klase ng tao na nagsasabi ng totoo. Sinasabi ko kung ano yung maganda at panget sa paningin ko. Sinasabi ko kung ano yung nararamdaman ko. At pag masama ang loob ko sa isang tao, malalaman at malalaman nya yon. And because of this, gusto ko din ng mga kaibigan na honest at sa harap ng muka ko sasabihin kung ano ang issue sakin.

Lately, may nasasabi ang isang "kaibigan" ko na issue tungkol sakin (I just got to know this thru another concerned friend). For one day, pinilit kong i-zip ang bibig ko at wag pairalin ang galit, itali muna ang kamay ko dahil mahirap makulong sa Singapore.

Just few minutes ago, hindi ko na kaya. I sms this person and confronted if there are issues on me. I received a reply saying .... "no. y you asked?". And so I explained that I just don't like what I have been hearing and this person clearly pointed out that everything is ok.

Whether this person is lying or not ... wala na akong pakialam kasi nasabi ko na ang gusto kong sabihin. At least I can have a more peaceful sleep.

Kumain ka ng maayos

Joe asked me to drop by at his cafe to watch the photo shooting of their new set of foods. I went there after meeting my cousin na may mga pasalubong from Pinas na dala ko dito sa Singapore. Kasama nya si Evelyn na matagal na "daw" akong gustong makita in person :) Isa lang ang masasabi ko ...... na-shock sya nung nagkita kami. Napaka-gwapo ko daw! (Blog ko to kaya sasabihin ko lahat ng gusto ko. Sa mga magre-react, eh di kunin nyo ang side of story nya. Basta ako, yan ang akin).

So I arrived at Fox's and isa lang ang ginawa ko.......... Ang kainin ang mga foods na na-picturan na. Haaay, ang sarap ng buhay. Ang sarap kumain ng mahal na pagkain pero libre naman. Literally, ito ang tinibag ko sa cafe, isa lang ako na kumakain, I have a female friend with me pero tumitikim lang sya. In short, ako ang hari ng table at sumimot ng lahat ng to:

Vegetable pizza

Nag-breakfast ako sa katanghalian

Carbonara

Seafood spaghetti

Veggy salad
Imagine, pumasok lahat yan sa tyan ko!

Wemoved to Vivo City for dinner (may lakas pa ko ng loob na mag-dinner!) Pero nakisaup naman ako sa mga friends ko na ilakad muna nila ko ng konti bago kami kumain uli para naman matunaw ang konting cholesterol sa katawan ko. So along the walkathon, nakabili ako ng new air freshener para sa room ko. This time, kahel ang flavor nya.

Isang reunion ang malling namin kasi ang dami ko nakitang friends. I saw Jaco, Bernard, Don and another unknown creature na hindi masaya sa pagkakakita sakin. Since "ON DIET" ako, light dinner na lang ang tinibag ko, indian food lang.

Si mamang indian habang ginagawa ang order ko

Egg roti prata that comes with chicken curry sauce

We decided to leave the place at 9:30PM. Tapos may magandang chinese new year decor sa labas ng mall kaya hindi nakaligtas si Bibo. Hindi naman obvious na limang kilo ang kinain ko maghapon.

Lea Salonga in Rodgers & Hammerstein's CINDERELLA

January 17, 2009 - The long awaited stage play of the talented Lea Salonga's Cinderella has finally landed in Singapore. We booked our ticket since late last year and since then, I was just always looking forward to see her in person. Lea didn't disappoint me on our first meeting, there is something about Lea that people kind of like her in all the way she does. The voice is crystal clear and it just lingers all over the theater.

The costume of the cast was also remarkable, it didn't stop me from smiling and admiring the cast and the stage everytime they will switch from one stage to another. The songs are really not very easy to remember, but definitely good to hear. There was a touch of comedy everytime the step-sisters will appear on the stage, they just nailed their part on giving fun to this fairy tale story.

Lea's face is also remarkable, it shines literally. Maganda sya in person (halos nasa harap kasi ang seat namin kaya kitang-kita ko sya), simple pero very smart and dating. She is the only Filipino in the main cast, but undoubtedly the star among them, of course sya si Cinderella. As asian, maliit ang height compared to all the western cast,but then again, she outshined everyone of them. The talent. The talent!

Right after the show, we had a quicky photo shooting right outside the theater.

Hindi pa ako kuntento sa kainan, actually gusto ko sana mag-bar with other friends, pero naisip ko bigla ang global crisis at ang negative economy review ng Singapore for 2009, and so I packed everything on our dining table and decided to go home na lang.

Christmas Vacation

Sa wakas, na-upload ko na din ang ilang highlight images ng bakasyon ko sa pinas. Just click here to view.

Setting aside the lungkot during my recent vacation .... I would probably say na masaya ang bakasyon ko. Walang katapusang kain at kwentuhan ang ginawa ko with my family. Most of the time laman ako ng karsada kasi I have to travel from Pampanga to Nueva Ecija kasi dito na lang kami nag-mall instead of Manila.

Christmas eve was filled with laughter and excitement especially after we finished the Noche Buena kasi we started to open the gifts na. Sobrang effort ang ginawa ko para lang maitago lahat ng regalo ko for them. Tapos nag-aaway pa sa apat na havaianas na hindi ko muna nilagyan ng name kung kanino mapupunta. The highlight of the gift giving was when JC opened his gift. Days before the Christmas, he has been bugging me for PSP, walang araw na hindi sya nagpabili sakin ng PSP, and I have to tell him na sobrang mahal yung pinapabili nya. Kaya naman nung nabuksan nya ang gift nya na PSP ang laman, para syang tumama sa Lotto.

We had a family outing din when we visited Ocean Park and Star City on December 26. Ito talaga ang maghapong kainan especially sa loob ng Star City na parang pakiramdam ko mura lahat ng tinda. From sago to french fries to sweet corn to local pizza to kakanin to noodles to etc etc etc ...... Namangha ang mga kapatid ko sa lakas ng power ko sa pagkain. We left Star City at 10PM, tapos kainan pa din sa North Express way.

We got to visit Manaoag church too. Pero this time, it was only my parents and cousin. Again, walang katapusang kain na naman ng kutchinta, putong puti, patupat, tupeg etc etc etc. My dad brought me to this very good restaurant in Urdaneta where we had lunch after our visit to church.

New Year was fun, JC bought few firecrackers (the safest ones) accompanied by the modified horn of my dad's truck. This is how we welcome new year and of course with abundant food on the dining table and wallet filled with money, as in pumutok ang wallet ko kasi pinuno ko talaga ng pera para isang taon akong may pang-gastos.

Rachel Getting Married

I never knew this movie until I checked the movie showing in the cinema's website. I am somehow a fan of Anne cos I really like her "Princess Diaries" movie. Her face is almost perfect to me and she has this very likeable aura. Then she appeared again in the all-loved movie "The Devil Wears Prada" as a geek employee-turn-hottie.

Just few days ago, I watched her movie Passengers which is about dead people. But this time round, she plays as Kim in a very real-life-drama situation. She is damn good. She gave justice to her role as a drug addict.

Transporter 3

I knocked off very early today from work, 5:00PM that is. And so I went to my neighboring movie theater and catched this action packed movie. It was like an adoptation of James Bond film, equally good and exciting. Ganda!

Tapos Carl's Jr na naman ang dinner. Pampataba na naman :(

Sunday lakwartsa

January 11, 2009

Went to Ikea with Joe and Seaw Hoon. We bought some home stuff and kumain na din ng masaganang hapunan.

In front of Hong Kong Restaurant
Pizza na malinamnam

Ang masarap na pasta
At eto naman ang kinain ko, beef teriyaki

After the dinner, we went to Chinatown para bumili ng mochi and makiusyoso na din sa nalalapit na Chinese New Year.

Ang green tea mochi

Booked an air ticket to Thailand

My mom and dad has undergone a painful moments during these past weeks and I want to do all the best I can in order to distress them from the lost of their brother.

Their forth-coming visit to Singapore (on January 30 - February 15) is considered to be a perfect time for them to unwind and relax, not to mention that they will also be celebrating their birthdays on Feb 5 and 7 here in my land.

I have been thinking of going out from Singapore during their 2-week stay and I propsed Phuket or Indonesia or Bangkok to them. God has been so good to me again and gave me a discounted air ticket to Bangkok, and so I grabbed the opportunity to book a flight there with my parents and JC right after their birthdays.

Went Oversea for a dinner and movie

January 10, 2009 - It was 5PM when my friends asked me to join for a dinner in Malaysia. And as i was just lazing in my room for the whole day, I gave a shot and joined them. We reached Malaysia at about 7:30PM and went straight to this restaurant made famous for their bee hoon. Seven of us came all the way down to this Malaysian town and shared bountiful dinner. We had 13 dishes (as I can recall).

The famous beehoon

Sambal veggy

Sizzling tofu with egg

Laksa prawn

deep fried tofu

After the dinner was over, we moved to a newly built shopping mall called Jusco. I told my friends that the shopping mall's name if translated in Tagalog will be "Oh my God". We shop for nearly 1.5 hours and I managed to get a pair of polo shirts (this was after I shopped non-stop in Philippines).

It was 11:50PM when the movie started to play. We decided to watch Bedtime Stories cos the movie ticket price in Malaysia is half the price compared to Singapore and the cinema quality is equally good.

A shot in front of the cinema's entrance.

We finally left the shopping mall at 1:30 AM. Had a supper nearby the Malaysian immigration and reached home at 3:00 AM.