Police Department

Tumakas ako sa office ng 11:30AM para magpunta sa police department, kailangan kasi sa isang pending application ko ang Police Clearance Certificate. So nasa police na ko ng 12PM, I got my queue number and I waited for roughly 30 minutes (may kasamang tulog sa upuan ko yan). Nung turn ko na at nasa counter na ko, sinabi sakin ng officer na kailangan ko pala ng picture, photo copy of my travel documents, and an endorsement letter. Nagdilim ang paningin ko sa sinabi sakin. "Tinumba ko ang table at binasag ko ang monitor ng pc ng officer" ... ito ang gusto kong gawin pero naisip ko na nasa police house pala ko, kaya tahimik na lang ako na parang tutang maamo na nag-agree sa lahat ng sinabi ng officer.

In short, kailangan ko bumalik sa police department. Kaya bukas, may plano na ko, magsasakit-sakitan ako para hindi na ko pumasok sa trabaho. Kasi ang panget naman kung tatakas na naman ako, hindi yata ako ganon klaseng empleyado. Kahit na mane-mane na lang sakin ang natitirang dalawang linggo ko sa singtel, eh bigay todo pa din naman ako sa dedication ko sa kanila.

You're the only one

This song has been residing in my mp3 player for years and I do listen from time to time. Sometimes it just shuffled to this song and I am loving it. Maybe because someone from the past had dedicated this song to me (where are you now?). The song also reminds me of Elaine.

Thailand Embassy

I went to Thailand Embassy after work cos my friend saw the advertisement posted in the newspaper about the Thai exhibit which showcases handicraft products and thai foods. I gave a try and visit the Embassy hoping that my favorite sticky rice with mango will be available, and it didn't disappoint me cos I got a very pleasant foods with my favorite thai dessert. Not only that, i ate so so so much again, I had pineapplerice with green curry, beef soup, coconut juice and fried chicken wing.

While we were exploring the place, I saw few interesting merchandise locally made in Thailand. One of which is the alternative regimen for banidoso people who takes extra care of their skin, now they come up with this: mga luya, sili at kung anu-ano pang damo na makikita mo sa bakuran mo, ngayon pwede na silang pampakinis ng pisngi, hahaha!

Pero eto yata ang panalo sa lahat.

America's Next Top Model

Welcome to the Cycle 11. I have to rush home every Monday and make sure that I am ready in front of my telly at 10pM because of ANTM. This is one thing that I like to watch aside from my reality show faves like Survivor, Amazing Race, American Idol and few others.

This cycle 11 of ANTM brought two ladies that I like so much, namely Marjorie and Elina. The first 4 episodes had been played in Singapore already and I have liked them since the beginning of the competition. Unfortunately, they didn't make it till the end as someone got the title but not anyone of them.

But whatever it is, I still like them.

Shopaholic

More often than not, I always like to laugh out a busy loooooong day. Wala na yatang sasarap pa sa isang malutong na tawa kahit pa gaano ako kapagod sa maghapon. Ito lang lagi ang hinahanap ko, yung tumawa. Nanood ako ng movie after work, Confessions of a Shopaholic, at napasaya ako kahit papano kasi tatlong beses akong halos maiyak sa kakatawa. Ito yung mga small things na na-aapreciate ko sa buhay, isang simpleng movie lang pala na pwede nang gamutin kung ano man yung lungkot, stress, takot at kung anu-ano pa.

Kasama na sa mga bagay na pinagpapasalamat ko yung may mga tao lagi sa tabi ko na ready sumama sakin sa kahit na ano man ang gusto kong gawin. Be it movie, or kainan lang, or inuman, or isang simpleng kwentuhan .... napakaliit ng Singapore, pero nandito na yata lahat ng kailangan ko, ang daling abutin. Isang text lang sa kaibigan, nagmamadali nang puntahan ako. Bigla tuloy akong napaisip .... kailangan ko ba talagang umalis?

Powerful or Peraful

Nakagawa ako before ng essay about teachers na mababa ang sweldo despite sa hirap ng work nila while may mga artista naman tayo na pangiti-ngiti lang and yet humahakot ng pera. Medyo naka-realate ako sa article below kasi another evidence na naman ito kung paano nagkakaron ng expensive lifestyle ang mga artista. (Malamang, kung kumikita man ako na ganyan kalaki, ang gwapo ko na din siguro ngayon dahil araw-araw akong pupunta kay Belo at clinique lang ang gagamitin kong pamahid sa balat ko)

The article below is based from the recent local magazine sa pinas na critically reviewed ng isang journalist sa isang tabloid na availble sa internet. They are talking about 50 most powerful personality in showbizness.

Here is the article:

#1 si Willie (48 y/o) sa talaan ng YES!, na kumikita raw ng P1M kada araw sa kanyang lucrative contract sa ABS-CBN at endorsement deals. Nag-deny ang comedian-TV host na ganu’n kalaki ang kinikita niya araw-araw.

#2 si Kris Aquino (38 y/o) na ang kontrata raw sa ABS ay guaranteed siya ng P3.3M salary a month. Sa loob ng 5 taon ay P200M daw ang gua­ranteed na kita ng actress-TV host.

#3 si John Lloyd Cruz (25 y/o), ang 2007 & 2008 Box Office King at tinaguriang ‘Billion-Peso Man’ dahil nu’ng 2008 ay naabot daw ng ineendorso niyang Biogesic ang P1B target sales. P500K ang bayad kay John Lloyd bawat sa pelikula (pero sa bonus ay aabot daw ito sa P2M). Nasa P80K to P100K lang daw si Lloydie per ta­ping day.

#4 si Robin Padilla (39 y/o) na balitang nasa P200K to P250K ang TF per taping day sa mga show niya sa GMA.

#5 si Marian Rivera (24 y/o) na P600K ang bayad per film at P50K o higit pa per taping. Sa endorsements ay balitang mas mataas ng P1M ang TF ni Marian kumpara sa dating reyna ng GMA na si Angel Locsin.

#6 si Richard Gutierrez (25 y/o) na tumatagin­ting na P200K to P250 per ta­ping sa mga programa niya sa Kapuso network. P2M per film si Chard, pero sa dalawang pelikula niya with KC Concepcion ay balitang P4M ang tinanggap niya per movie.

#7 si Dingdong Dantes (28 y/o) na more or less P100K per taping. Nasa P500K to P1.5M per mo­vie ang Kapuso hunk.

#8 si Ai Ai delas Alas (44 y/o) na P150K to P200K per taping sa mga show niya sa Kapamilya network. P2M-P3M per movie ang tinatanggap ng Comedy Queen.

#9 si Piolo Pascual (32 y/o) na P150K pataas ang TF per taping. P3M o hi­git pa ang ba­yad sa kanya per mo­vie at mabenta rin siya sa endorsements. Balitang below expectations (P75M) ang kinita ng pelikula nila ni Angel Locsin na Love Me Again na ipinalabas nu’ng Enero.

#10 si Joey de Leon (62 y/o), ang tinaguriang ‘King of All Media’ na may anim na show ngayon sa telebisyon kaya walang makapagsabi kung magkano ang eksaktong kinikita niya. Bukod doon ay nagre-record pa ng album si Tito Joey, nagsusulat ng kolum sa isang broadsheet at nu’ng nakaraang filmfest ay muling gumawa ng pelikula kasama ang mga kakosang sina Tito at Vic Sotto.

Nasa
#11 si Vic Sotto (54 y/o),
#12 si Sharon Cuneta (43 y/o),
#13 si Judy Ann Santos (30 y/o),
#14 si Toni Gonzaga (25 y/o),
#15 si Sarah Geronimo (20 y/o),
#16 si Michael V. (39 y/o),
#17 si Ogie Alcasid (41 y/o),
#18 si Regine Velasquez (39 y/o),
#19 si Bea Alonzo (21 y/o),
#20 si KC Concepcion (24 y/o);
#21 si Manny Pacquiao (30 y/o),
#22 si Sen. Bong Revilla (42 y/o),
#23 si Ruffa Gutierrez (34 y/o),
#24 sina Direk Joyce Bernal (40 y­/o) at Direk Cathy Garcia-Molina (37 y/o),
#25 sina Direk Carlo J. Caparas (64 y/o) at Mars Ravelo (SLN), at
#26 si Sam Milby (25 y/o).
Ang kalahati ng listahan ay binubuo ng mga TV at film executives sa pangunguna ng Chairman/CEO ng ABS-CBN na si Mr. Gabby Lopez (56 y/o) at Chairman/President/CEO ng GMA Network na si Atty. Felipe Gozon (69 y/o) na tabla sa #1 position.Posibleng kuwestyunin ng mga tagahanga ni Sarah Geronimo kung bakit nasa #15 lang ang Popstar Princess at 2008 Box Office Queen, at naungusan pa siya ni Toni Gonzaga na nasa #14 position.Nakalagay sa nasabing artikulo na si Toni ay P500K ang talent fee per film samantalang si Sarah ay P200K lang.

Mga lintek na artista! Halos makuba ako minsan kakatrabaho pero sila pacute lang ng pacute and yet ganito kalaki ang kinikita?? Holycow!

Busy Week

Last week (March 16-21, 2009) was a mixture of many emotions and I considered as one of my busiest week ever. Aside from the usual things in office, may interview din ako relating sa new job na gusto kong makuha. For two weeks, dalawang projects na ang nag-interview sakin, the first one was pinoy pa ang manager. Then yung pangalawa was just last March 18, 2009. It is a good and big project.

Friday, March 20, 2009 when my friends gathered at Joe's restaurant to give him a surprise birthday party. These night was dominated by our female friends.

Busy din ako sa pagre-review for my IELTS exam. Kaya ko naman palang idisiplina ang sarili ko kapag talaga kailangan. Like natutulog ako ng maaga at kumakain ng gulay at isda. Honestly, very stressful ang pag-rereview, may time na kinakausap ko ang sarili ko just to evaluate myself how well or how bad I speak. Isip ako lagi ng topic na pwede kong gawan ng essay. At kung anu-ano pang etceteras. Well, finally, natapos na ang exam ko last Saturday (Mar. 21, 2009) pero wala pang result as it will take couple of weeks to generate. Right now, I am so hoping that the outcome will be very favorable to me.

After my exam, itinulog ko muna sa bahay ang maghapon. Somehow, consolation ko naman for myself for doing my best during the exam. One female friend invited me for dinner on the same day kaya nilantakan ko na lang ang japanese buffet dinner.

After the dinner, dumating naman ang Uncle ko from New Zealand and sa bahay sya mag-stay ng 4 nights. It is so good to see him again after such a long of time obsoletion. Pero napadaan na naman ako sa Nike sale bago umuwi ng bahay, kaya naman nadagdagan na naman ang Nike shirt collection ko. Haay, gastos na naman.

March 22, Sunday - I attended church service with my Uncle. Late afternoon nang manood ako ng movie.

And after the dinner, nakareceive ako ng napaka gandang news kay Joe na accepted ako sa isang project na inaplayan ko. Yahooo! May bago na akong work. I am moving on......

Weekend delight

March 14, 2009 was a Dragonball Evolution day. It brings me back to memory lane where I was in Baguio with my little brother and we always had a fight on weekends cos he always watched DragonBall Z while I like to watch something else. We tend to missed good scenes cos we ended up switching channels in between commercials. I realized now how durable our telly remote control during those days cos it eventually lasted for years.

Anyway, this movie is really very dragonball. You know that thing, where Goku will fly up in the air fighting with his enemies until they even both reach the highest clouds and will be dropped on the ground and yet still alive and still fighting? That's exactly how Goku performs. I like it tho, especially now that they added real effects and not to mention a very good looking Goku which will surely tantalize every girls eye. Ok, 3 out of 5 popcorn for this movie.

March 15, 2009 is a very significant day for Joe cos it is his birthday! In as much as I would like to join him on his whole day celebration which initially planned to be a cycling session in East Coast, my body was just not cooperating yesterday. I had a terrible headache attack from Saturday evening (to the point that I cried of pain and my whole room turned into spiral thing that just keeps on revolving around me) until Sunday.

I managed to joined Joe and Xy during lunch time already. We had dim sum at the Red Star restaurant (with my headache still lingers). Hindi kaya ng powers ko ang sakit ng ulo kaya I requested Xy to drive me off my house to get another set of medicines. Thanks to my little wonder tablets and capsules that help ease my very uncomfortable dilemma and made me lasts the whole day.

The many flavored cakes of Joe, these are brwonies topped with his favorite fancy flavors

Dim Sum menu with an extra 10-scoop ice cream from Swensen (Change Airport branch)

We moved to Changi Airport after our lunch to please the request of the birthday boy to lick his favorite ice cream in town which is only available at Swensen.

Dinner was held at the very cozy medietrranean restaurant at Orchard road called Giraffe where I had the beef burger which I eventually called "mother of all burger". Ok, it was the plate and the etceteras that made it huge, but having said that, the burger is still big fat.

Presenting ....

My 3rd iPod.

I know that it has been long overdue but I still keep on eyeing at this little wonder. Thanks to the IT show that gives a bundle of freebies which somehow eliminates ounce of guilt that I have from buying this player aside having a global crisis. Well, it took me one whole day to decide, so it wasn't bad after all, I guess.

After IT show, I decided to eat sinful food again, which is bacon cheeseburger at Carl's Jr. My twister fries isn't ready yet and they asked me to wait for few minutes, and with that, they gave me a number to identify my order ..... And the number is:

Kinikilig pa ang star!

While I was in the midst of eating ... something happened. Yes, something happened. I saw, (of all people) a long lost friend na nakasakitan ko (way back 2004, last time we saw each other too). Modesty aside, somehow, I admired myself and I got to know another piece of my behaviour. Apparently, nginitan ko sya. And hindi naman ako napahiya kasi ngumit din sya at kumaway pa sakin. And then I just continued my eating business. Time heals all wounds pala talaga. I remember, it was year 2004 nung nag-away kami na ang daming taong nadamay. Ang daming pangalang nasabit sa gulo, acutally, kung artista lang kami, malamang isang bwan kami sa newspaper dahil sa gulo na napasukan namin.

Ito yung year na umiyak ako. Ito yung nasaktan ako. Ito yung nakasakit ako. Ito yung nagpunta ako ng simbahan at kinausap ko si Father Angel (Filipino priest base in Singapore) na para akong bata na umiiyak. Ito yung year na may napaka laki akong nagawang kasalanan kay Lord kasi gusto ko nang magpakamatay (ready na akong tumalon from the roof of my office to the point na I brought my bag with me with all my identification cards and home address) Ito yung year na tanga ako. Pero ito din yung year na naging matalino ako. Ito din ang year na sinabi ni Fr. Angel na iwan ko na ang Singapore para makalimutan ko yung nangyari. Ito yata yung year na nakita ko yung napaka clear visibility na nag-mature ako as a person.

Sa lahat ng sinabi ko na yan, may isang taong involved. And sya yung nakita ko kagabi.

When I reached home last night, madami akong naisip. Madami akong natutunan. From now on, I will always look at any problems from far. I will see it like a bird's eye view. Kasi hindi ko pala alam na after lumipas ang mga araw, yun palang problema ko mawawala din. Kahit pala gano pa kasakit, gumagaling din.

Haaay buhay, nawala na tuloy ang focus ko sa iPod :)

Wow Philippines

How I wish I have an SLR on my forth coming trip to Visayan region so I could produce a photo as beautiful as this one.

About Magalona

By now, almost each and every Filipinos should have known the fate of Francis M. It was on the same day when I heard the news, and from there, different clips from internet had been played non-stop as tribute to him. Honestly, I didn't feel a thing at all, ok it was a sad news, sad as in someone passed away. I think no one will be happy to hear someone's death, whether it is a famous or ordinary personality in the first place.

I have seen thoughts from friends expressing the emotions of losing Kiko, a friend of mine from US had cried so much upon hearing the news. And these are just few of the many emotional circus brought by Kiko's death.

Am I cold hearted to start with because I didn't have this "crying" time or sobrang lungkot moment? I could say yes, but not until this morning ............ I saw Kiko's last night via the TFC where his friends, relatives, family and everyone closed to him gathered altogether to spend last moments with him. I must admit that I was touched by Regine's song, Pangako. I honestly don't know why, but it just catched me while I was rushing preparing myself to work. Suddenly nalungkot ako. And with that, I played that song for many many times today. Approximately 10 times.

Bakit ba may lungkot sa'yong mga mata?
Ako kaya'y di nais makapiling sinta.
.......
Pangako, hindi kita iiwan.
Pangako, di ko pababayaan.
Pangako hindi ka na mag-iisa.
Pangakong magmula ngayo'y tayong dal'wa ang magkasama.

Malungkot di ba?

Weekend delight

Friday, March 6, 2009 - I catched the movie Watchmen after work. Honestly, I didn't like it :(

I have been waiting for so long to see this movie because of the great preview, death defying trailers, super heroes on the run and many other things that add up to my excitement since middle of 2008. Ok, the first 15 minutes of the movie was great. It was an action packed stunts of a super heroes fight with a bad guy. There were also a lot of action stuff re-appearing in the movie, but it just didn't come up with a nice story line at all. I thought the movie was so trying hard to become a noble that it became corny already.

Stunts are great but the story and how they reconnect each characters to a whole unit .... tasteless.

Saturday, March 7, 2009 - I had haircut, malinis na malinis na naman. At night, I visited Mathel who just gave birth to a very beautiful baby girl. Afterwards, I went to Suntec for dinner with two Joe and X.Y.

Sunday, March 8, 2009 - Stayed home the whole day and managed to went out only at night where I had dinner at City Hall, catched my favorite carbonara in town. After a whole meal, I visited J. Co, my favorite line of donuts.

Halo

The latest cut from her latest album "I Am Sasha Fierce" is now becoming phenomenal. First, it is hitting iTunes' top songs for this week and second, it is hitting my blog page :)

Mahal na talaga kita Beyonce, wala nang duda. I can see and feel your halo.

Tutal napapag-usapan na din lang si Beyonce, eh di isagad-sagad ko na ang Beyonce Day. Isa ako sa mga humanga sa video ng Single Ladies, at mas madalas na talagang sinasayaw ko din lalo na sa harap ng maraming kaibigan (lasing man or hindi), the more na tinatawanan ako, the more na sinasadya kong habaan ang sayaw. Tutal, ginawa na din lang ni Justin Timberlake, eh bakit hindi ko din subukan :))

Pero, itong video na to na yata ang ultimate na talaga namang hindi ko alam kung maiinis ba ko or matutuwa sa mga bata sa baclaran. Kababata pa lang pero mga napariwara na ang kasarian at nagpumilit maging Beyonce or should I say Bebe (Gandanghari) Yonce.

Kids, don't try this at home!!!!!

New found behaviour

May napansin ako na behaviour ko kapag kinakabahan ako .... hikab ako ng hikab. Nag-start kong napansin nung nasa flight ako to Bangkok with my parents and brother, halos every 10 minutes hikab ako ng hikab, hindi naman ako inaantok. Tapos kahapon, naulit na naman ang hindi kagandang habbit ko. I was on my way to ncs hub for a meeting with a manager and HR, for whatever reason, pakiramdam ko lilitsunin ako sa meeting kaya bigla ko na lang napansin na wala na namang katapusang paghihikab ang inabot ko. Ang panget naman ng style ko na to!

And as everyone else's prediction, lalambot ang puso ng sinumang makakaharap ko ..... and so it goes that way. After this talk, I went back to Orchard at 6pm para ibigay ang hilig sa Push.

By the way, nahihilig ako sa tuna sandwich ng Subway. Kaya naman ito na naman ang dinner ko just right before we start the movie. I read an article that tuna is good for ---i- kaya naman pinilit ko talagang kumain nito kahit na hindi ko kagustuhan. And as the saying goes "desperate times call for desperate measures", at ito na nga ginagawa ko ngayon.

RELC bldg

Pagkatapos ko kumain ng lunch, nagpunta na ko sa RELC Bldg para magpa-register para sa March 21. May kahalong kaba at excitement kasi eto na talaga! "This is really is it" sabi nga ni Toni! Hindi naman ako nagkaron ng interior fright kasi para lang palang school yung place.

Sana, sana, sana. Bahala na.

Weekend delight

Friday, 27 Feb 2009 - I watched "He's just not that into you " with few friends. It is a comedy and romantic movie that talks about girls and how they should accept the fact if a guy doesn't like them. It tracked down the history why ladies are having wrong impression from the guys action and how they give a positive definition even if the guy doesn't want them at all. This movie is very realistic and is something that can happen basically to everyone.

After the movie, I slept over at my friend's place cos I have an early appointment at the area nearby her house.

Saturday, 28 Feb 2009 - With roughly 4 hours of sleep, I managed to get myself ready by 6:30AM. I have a very early schedule in office and I cannot be late due to some jobs that has to be executed on time.

After work, I catched Role Models with another two friends. It is a no-brainer movie. I don't need to think to understand but instead, I just sit down and laugh.

Sunday - study day!