Bike vlogger Ian How was right: pride and joy -- exactly the feelings you get when you own a bicycle.
Showing posts with label Places. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Places. Show all posts
October 10, 2020
Pride and joy
Last Sunday, I rode my bike for the first time at the CCP Complex-MOA-Okada-Rizal Park loop. While lining up for a souvenir shot at the Okada signage, one biker said, "Ang ganda ng bike mo".
September 12, 2020
Morning pasyal at iba pang eksena
Namasyal, naligaw, umawat sa away-pusa, at iba pang eksena (ang short kwentuhan with Kuya Residente na bike-to-work, at ang paghatid ko sa isang motorbiker na hinahanap ang "nakahubad na estatwa" para magpa-selfie) na hindi na naabutan ng battery ng action cam.
Please note that UP Campus is still off-limit to motorists, bikers, and joggers. This was a really quick pass-by.
Stay safe, everyone!
September 10, 2020
Slow morning bike ride
I missed the sights, sounds, and banana cue of UP Campus so I thought of taking a quick visit. However, please note that bikers and joggers are still not allowed inside the campus -- this is a really quick early-morning pass by.
Stay safe, everyone.
September 03, 2020
August 30, 2020
Birthday ride
It's my birthday and I was in the mood to take Meri for a ride, enter places I shouldn't, change a flat, buy my supply of disposable face masks from Manong Vendor, and reminisce the past.
Shot entirely with a handlebar-mounted phone so my apologies for the jello. No playback speedup editing this time so you'd see how slow I ride, but lots of "teleportation" in-between intersections.
(Typo at 21:52: "Parish of the Holy Sacrifice")
This pandemic has been making life tough for everyone. But it also reminded me how much I have to be thankful for. I don't know where or how to begin with expressing my gratitude, but let me start with a heartfelt "Maraming salamat Po sa lahat."
Stay safe, everyone!
January 15, 2013
Most unusual
April 06, 2012
Re-visiting a nice place
I once asked Joan where would she prefer to have resided, and one of the places she mentioned was Davao City.
To that I wholeheartedly agree -- Davao City is one of the few places I wouldn't mind living in. It has all the amenities of Metro Manila, but none of the heart-attack pace.
My first visit to this city was over ten years ago, during a project that required me to recruit, train, and supervise the pool of field staff for that region.
It wasn't pure work at all. In between trainings, traveling, and interviewing, I was treated to great foods, sights, unlimited rice, and that strange feeling that the world is moving fifty percent slower than you are.
And it hasn't changed at all when I went there last March 12 for a two-week fieldwork.
The roads may have gotten better, the commercial establishments more pronounced, and the traffic more dense, but the people never lost that relaxed demeanor.
In those two weeks, I never saw anyone get remotely annoyed with slow-moving cashiers, jeepney drivers who stop in mid-traffic to ask for loose change from fellow drivers, and the never-ending pitstops during a trip.
No one there is in a hurry, and it seems nobody there is at risk of suffering hypertension or stress.
Except, of course, some visitors like me.
Anyway, two weeks was more than enough to learn, adjust, and love that kind of hyper-relaxed lifestyle. ^^
My first taste of real durian was at the Seaside, Mati, Davao Oriental on the 16th of March.
I had the arancillo variety, and the first scoop that touched my lips was a shock to the senses -- it was ten times more potent than any durian products I've tasted before.
When we transferred to Davao City on the second week, we were treated to another feast of durian. This time we tried out two other varieties -- the kobe and the native, my favorite.
With all the bountiful supply, I thought the locals would already be tired of durian.
But I was so wrong.
Eating durian is still very special in Davao. There are durian stands almost everywhere, people sit and eat there just like how others would have beer in their suking tindahan. Couples date there, and at the end of the day people order durians for take-home.
And when we gave our take-home durians to the hotel frontdesk staffs, their delight was unmistakeable -- they really do love them.
And yes, I fell in love with it, too.
When my officemate, Mear, told me about this place called Ponce Suites in Davao City, I never thought she was referring to Kublai Cafe.
So when we walked into the hotel, I was delighted to see the familiar works of one of Davao's most popular residents, and a former dorm-mate, Kublai.
It's already a wonder seeing just a few of his works back in undergrad days. Seeing a entire hotel with every inch of it covered with his masterpieces is certainly a treat to the senses.
Heck, even the rats at the rooftop seem to blend as part of his artistic installations.
Simply amazing. This man is an artistic genius.
We spent our last night in Davao at a KTV bar, and there, in my last song, I said:
Thank you very much, Davao!
It was nice to be there again. I will surely come back one of these days.
Speaking of nice places, since Perfect World's latest patch last month, I've been again wandering the cities of Pangu.
This time as a Hun Ling (Earthen Druid).
A very interesting class this is: it has the supportive healing abilities like that of a Yu Ling (Wingkin Cleric) and the pet-like companion like that of a Yao Jing (Beastkin Fairy), called Avatars.
This class is fitting me well so far, since I hate asking anyone to heal me. And with the Avatar as a sidekick, I've been able to solo major boss monsters -- something I haven't done with my other characters.
Of the four Avatars available to the Hun Ling, the Storm Mother is my favorite (shown in photo). Not only is she pleasing to the eyes, she provides major magical artillery support.
Hmmm I wonder if this new character of mine will catch the attention of my favorite clan, Sanctius?
We'll see. ^^
To that I wholeheartedly agree -- Davao City is one of the few places I wouldn't mind living in. It has all the amenities of Metro Manila, but none of the heart-attack pace.
My first visit to this city was over ten years ago, during a project that required me to recruit, train, and supervise the pool of field staff for that region.
It wasn't pure work at all. In between trainings, traveling, and interviewing, I was treated to great foods, sights, unlimited rice, and that strange feeling that the world is moving fifty percent slower than you are.
And it hasn't changed at all when I went there last March 12 for a two-week fieldwork.
The roads may have gotten better, the commercial establishments more pronounced, and the traffic more dense, but the people never lost that relaxed demeanor.
In those two weeks, I never saw anyone get remotely annoyed with slow-moving cashiers, jeepney drivers who stop in mid-traffic to ask for loose change from fellow drivers, and the never-ending pitstops during a trip.
No one there is in a hurry, and it seems nobody there is at risk of suffering hypertension or stress.
Except, of course, some visitors like me.
Anyway, two weeks was more than enough to learn, adjust, and love that kind of hyper-relaxed lifestyle. ^^
***
My first taste of real durian was at the Seaside, Mati, Davao Oriental on the 16th of March.I had the arancillo variety, and the first scoop that touched my lips was a shock to the senses -- it was ten times more potent than any durian products I've tasted before.
When we transferred to Davao City on the second week, we were treated to another feast of durian. This time we tried out two other varieties -- the kobe and the native, my favorite.
With all the bountiful supply, I thought the locals would already be tired of durian.
But I was so wrong.
Eating durian is still very special in Davao. There are durian stands almost everywhere, people sit and eat there just like how others would have beer in their suking tindahan. Couples date there, and at the end of the day people order durians for take-home.
And when we gave our take-home durians to the hotel frontdesk staffs, their delight was unmistakeable -- they really do love them.
And yes, I fell in love with it, too.
***
When my officemate, Mear, told me about this place called Ponce Suites in Davao City, I never thought she was referring to Kublai Cafe.So when we walked into the hotel, I was delighted to see the familiar works of one of Davao's most popular residents, and a former dorm-mate, Kublai.
It's already a wonder seeing just a few of his works back in undergrad days. Seeing a entire hotel with every inch of it covered with his masterpieces is certainly a treat to the senses.
Heck, even the rats at the rooftop seem to blend as part of his artistic installations.
Simply amazing. This man is an artistic genius.
***
We spent our last night in Davao at a KTV bar, and there, in my last song, I said:
Thank you very much, Davao!
It was nice to be there again. I will surely come back one of these days.
***
Speaking of nice places, since Perfect World's latest patch last month, I've been again wandering the cities of Pangu.
This time as a Hun Ling (Earthen Druid).
A very interesting class this is: it has the supportive healing abilities like that of a Yu Ling (Wingkin Cleric) and the pet-like companion like that of a Yao Jing (Beastkin Fairy), called Avatars.
This class is fitting me well so far, since I hate asking anyone to heal me. And with the Avatar as a sidekick, I've been able to solo major boss monsters -- something I haven't done with my other characters.
Of the four Avatars available to the Hun Ling, the Storm Mother is my favorite (shown in photo). Not only is she pleasing to the eyes, she provides major magical artillery support.
Hmmm I wonder if this new character of mine will catch the attention of my favorite clan, Sanctius?
We'll see. ^^
November 01, 2011
Aswang
The eight-year old boy was oblivious of the time, and continued playing jolens at the empty lot behind the school. The rest of his playmates have left in a hurry.
As if they knew the trouble that comes with the dwindling light of dusk.
The boy kept playing, unmindful of the darkness -- and where he was.
Until he felt his tummy aching. Only then that he got up and walked home.
He was already burning with fever when he entered their house. His parents gave him lugaw, biogesic, and sent him to bed.
He woke up screaming in the middle of the night, and his vomit shot across the room. Every little movement felt as if red-hot knives were being twisted in his insides.
Three days went by, and the doctors of Capiz Emmanuel Hospital in Roxas City came up with blank -- the boy is slowly slipping away, and they have no idea why.
The boy's family decided to take him home. As they carried him inside the house, two elderly ladies were already waiting by his bed.
The ueahab (wailing) sisters, they are called. They are the town's traditional healers.
They rolled a fresh egg on the boy's body, and broke it on a plate.
Dark-red blood oozed out from two holes in the yolk.
The sisters placed violet-colored herbs on burning charcoal, and rubbed the warm leaves on the boy's body. They then squeezed the leaves on the egg.
The dark sap swirled for a moment on the slimy egg white, and settled into a puddle that took the form a dog's head -- long snout with fangs, pointy ears, and long neck.
Aswang, one of the elderly sisters whispered as the other burned more leaves. The word aswang began going around the rest of the household and the curious neighbors who were waiting for news just outside the house.
The sisters were moving much faster now. Another squeeze with the herbs, and the puddle took on another shape -- a tree.
They made the boy sit in the middle of a banig (woven mat), and thoroughly covered his body with the herb's sap.
Barks of wood started appearing on the boy's skin, breaking out like huge pimples. It came out of the boy's scalp, eyebrows, chest, back, arms, and legs. When the barks stopped falling off, the boy's father gathered more than two handfuls.
"Igto imaw gin-angkit sa may mangga sa likod it eskwelahan" (He was at the mango tree behind the school when he got bitten), the sisters concluded. "Gin-buoe ro daywa nana nga gusok!" (His two ribs were taken!)
The boy was laid on his bed, and as the sisters rub their hands with a foul-smelling oil, they requested the father to hold the boy's feet down. "I-uli namon ro guinbu-oe kana. Medyo masakit ra." (We're going to get back what was taken from him. This will be painful.")
And the wailing began -- guttural and escalating -- drowning the boy's screams as the sisters systematically probed his back and abdomen with their bony fingers.
The boy passed out.
I woke up the next day feeling sore, but the fever and stabbing pain were gone.
This happened 28 years ago. As a Tagalog-speaking kid who knew so little of the dangers that lurk in the darkness in my hometown in Aklan, I was indeed an easy target.
I remember the dog -- which I paid little attention to back then. It was much later when I realized that that particular dog had a rather unusual shape.
Its hind legs were much longer.
Happy halloween.
As if they knew the trouble that comes with the dwindling light of dusk.
The boy kept playing, unmindful of the darkness -- and where he was.
Until he felt his tummy aching. Only then that he got up and walked home.
He was already burning with fever when he entered their house. His parents gave him lugaw, biogesic, and sent him to bed.
He woke up screaming in the middle of the night, and his vomit shot across the room. Every little movement felt as if red-hot knives were being twisted in his insides.
Three days went by, and the doctors of Capiz Emmanuel Hospital in Roxas City came up with blank -- the boy is slowly slipping away, and they have no idea why.
The boy's family decided to take him home. As they carried him inside the house, two elderly ladies were already waiting by his bed.
The ueahab (wailing) sisters, they are called. They are the town's traditional healers.
They rolled a fresh egg on the boy's body, and broke it on a plate.
Dark-red blood oozed out from two holes in the yolk.
The sisters placed violet-colored herbs on burning charcoal, and rubbed the warm leaves on the boy's body. They then squeezed the leaves on the egg.
The dark sap swirled for a moment on the slimy egg white, and settled into a puddle that took the form a dog's head -- long snout with fangs, pointy ears, and long neck.
Aswang, one of the elderly sisters whispered as the other burned more leaves. The word aswang began going around the rest of the household and the curious neighbors who were waiting for news just outside the house.
The sisters were moving much faster now. Another squeeze with the herbs, and the puddle took on another shape -- a tree.
They made the boy sit in the middle of a banig (woven mat), and thoroughly covered his body with the herb's sap.
Barks of wood started appearing on the boy's skin, breaking out like huge pimples. It came out of the boy's scalp, eyebrows, chest, back, arms, and legs. When the barks stopped falling off, the boy's father gathered more than two handfuls.
"Igto imaw gin-angkit sa may mangga sa likod it eskwelahan" (He was at the mango tree behind the school when he got bitten), the sisters concluded. "Gin-buoe ro daywa nana nga gusok!" (His two ribs were taken!)
The boy was laid on his bed, and as the sisters rub their hands with a foul-smelling oil, they requested the father to hold the boy's feet down. "I-uli namon ro guinbu-oe kana. Medyo masakit ra." (We're going to get back what was taken from him. This will be painful.")
And the wailing began -- guttural and escalating -- drowning the boy's screams as the sisters systematically probed his back and abdomen with their bony fingers.
The boy passed out.
***
I woke up the next day feeling sore, but the fever and stabbing pain were gone.
This happened 28 years ago. As a Tagalog-speaking kid who knew so little of the dangers that lurk in the darkness in my hometown in Aklan, I was indeed an easy target.
I remember the dog -- which I paid little attention to back then. It was much later when I realized that that particular dog had a rather unusual shape.
Its hind legs were much longer.
Happy halloween.
May 01, 2011
Blessed
July 2009: At St. Peter's Square, Vatican.
|
But it moved me in ways none of the artworks and places I've seen in Florence, Pisa, and Rome can compare to.
Paying respects to the man who has done so much for Christianity and people around the world was an indescribable feeling.
His charisma lives on, and it brought me close to tears as we knelt shoulder-to-shoulder with others offering prayers before his tomb.
May 1, 2011: He's one step closer to sainthood now. Blessed be John Paul II.
September 15, 2010
Salads and mushrooms
A good weather on a long weekend with no pressing errands would usually mean a little road and food trip, so off to Tagaytay we went last Sunday.Our objective was to have a healthy and relaxing day, and Sonya's Garden was just the place for it. A hearty lunch of healthy salad, pasta, and salmon, -- followed by an hour-long body massage -- took care of the stress I accumulated for the month of August.
Of course, the trip home wouldn't be complete without Sonya's freshly-baked delights, and a pitstop at Mushroom Burger. Yum!
March 20, 2010
New light
The coming May 2010 elections will be my fifth national election since I joined mother station. And just as in the past four, I will not be casting my vote this year.
It’s not that I’ve lost faith in democracy. On the contrary, with all its flaws, I marvel at the whole process that I rather step back and watch it unfold from an emotionally sanitized distance.
The elections of 1998, 2001, and 2004 will always be my best experiences of national elections. From getting down and dirty setting up regional command centers (I love you, Region VI!), training field staff, doing the interviews, to spending long, sleepless, nerve-wracking hours getting the data ready for broadcast.
In 2007, I was not given any field assignment, and it seems I won’t be getting any outdoor adventure this coming election either. Being the station’s “communication guy” requires me to stay put in the office.
Oh well… I just miss going on field at the crossroads of Philippine history – personally asking the questions and listening to the answers.
Anyway, the excitement generated there at the frontlines is not so different compared to the indescribable moment as you watch the numbers reveal how the sample has spoken, and telling the latest story to everyone else.
This year’s automated election – a first in Philippine history – amid the colorful political show the major players are putting up, is putting a whole new light to an old exercise.
It’s scary, but exciting.
I’ve been swimming the beaches of Napti since my family moved to Batan, Aklan in 1983. Last January we paid a visit to one where, once upon a time, I nearly drowned.
It’s not the same beach I used to know. There are fewer coconut trees now, and there is nothing but a long stretch of sand in places where houses used to be.
This beach, like the others lining the coast of Batan, is slowly disappearing. The coastline is eroding at an alarming rate of at least 10 centimeters a year.
But in the face of its slow destruction, the beach has become more beautiful.
I hope the locals find a way to preserve the beaches, soon.
Oh no… here comes yet another fezbook moment.
I’ve already expressed my initial reaction when my brother and sister connected with me in FB.
It felt creepy. The idea of any family member getting to know my virtual lifestyle was something I did not approve of at first.
But with FB, I guess it’s just a matter of time.
True enough, I now have nephews, nieces, cousins, and my cousin’s children in my friends list. Uh-oh haha!
But that’s just a minor moment of resistance. For the most part, fezbook did good in keeping me in touch with old friends, finding new ones, and reconnecting me with those that were lost from my sights for some time.
Hey Jov! Our fezbook kwentuhan is giving me a new way of looking at ancient highschool history. Thanks haha! Keep in touch.
To Ria and Sanctius folks, I see you now under a whole new light. Cheers!
It’s not that I’ve lost faith in democracy. On the contrary, with all its flaws, I marvel at the whole process that I rather step back and watch it unfold from an emotionally sanitized distance.
The elections of 1998, 2001, and 2004 will always be my best experiences of national elections. From getting down and dirty setting up regional command centers (I love you, Region VI!), training field staff, doing the interviews, to spending long, sleepless, nerve-wracking hours getting the data ready for broadcast.
In 2007, I was not given any field assignment, and it seems I won’t be getting any outdoor adventure this coming election either. Being the station’s “communication guy” requires me to stay put in the office.
Oh well… I just miss going on field at the crossroads of Philippine history – personally asking the questions and listening to the answers.
Anyway, the excitement generated there at the frontlines is not so different compared to the indescribable moment as you watch the numbers reveal how the sample has spoken, and telling the latest story to everyone else.
This year’s automated election – a first in Philippine history – amid the colorful political show the major players are putting up, is putting a whole new light to an old exercise.
It’s scary, but exciting.
******
I’ve been swimming the beaches of Napti since my family moved to Batan, Aklan in 1983. Last January we paid a visit to one where, once upon a time, I nearly drowned.It’s not the same beach I used to know. There are fewer coconut trees now, and there is nothing but a long stretch of sand in places where houses used to be.
This beach, like the others lining the coast of Batan, is slowly disappearing. The coastline is eroding at an alarming rate of at least 10 centimeters a year.
But in the face of its slow destruction, the beach has become more beautiful.
I hope the locals find a way to preserve the beaches, soon.
******
Oh no… here comes yet another fezbook moment.
I’ve already expressed my initial reaction when my brother and sister connected with me in FB.
It felt creepy. The idea of any family member getting to know my virtual lifestyle was something I did not approve of at first.
But with FB, I guess it’s just a matter of time.
True enough, I now have nephews, nieces, cousins, and my cousin’s children in my friends list. Uh-oh haha!
But that’s just a minor moment of resistance. For the most part, fezbook did good in keeping me in touch with old friends, finding new ones, and reconnecting me with those that were lost from my sights for some time.
Hey Jov! Our fezbook kwentuhan is giving me a new way of looking at ancient highschool history. Thanks haha! Keep in touch.
To Ria and Sanctius folks, I see you now under a whole new light. Cheers!
December 31, 2009
Good times
It’s almost closing time for year 2009. I’d love to review my year that was, but I don’t think I have the mental and emotional fortitude for that.
Offhand, let me say that is it’s been an extremely tough year for most of us.
Life, however, has ways of balancing things to tolerable levels, especially during the past two months.
Joan and I celebrated her birthday at Enchanted Kingdom. It was her first time to visit EK, and it was something we’ve been trying to do since our friends Cez and Euge gave us EK tickets as wedding gifts.
That visit was far from ideal, though. At the entrance, we were advised by staffs that there were already an estimated three thousand guests inside the park.
Weeew! (Note to self: when planning an EK outing, check ahead if there are scheduled, massive group tours like the one by the DepEd that day.)
Anyway, good thing Joan’s more of a Grand Carousel, Rialto, Log Jam, Science Fair, and Magic Show type – she’s more than happy to forego the mind-blowing rides like Anchors Away and Flying Fiesta (the Space Shuttle was still out of commission at that time).
Such a fun place. It deserves another visit.
It's been almost a decade since we last saw couple Cez and Euge. These are old friends that go waaaay back.
Their visit was unplanned, and their time to meet up with friends so limited. Thanks to the impeccable planning and gimmick ideas from our former sempai James, we went boating and shot at each other in a paintball showdown at La Mesa Ecopark, played badminton somewhere in Kalayaan Ave., danced to Jill’s 80’s music at The Fort, got together with more old friends over scrumptious seafood feast at Dampa Metrowalk, and bumped cars at Fun Ranch, Libis.
It’s amazing how the fun never changed with old friends, even after all these years.
Scratch that. It did change.
I believe it got better.
I wish I can say the same to my driving and navigation skills. Har har!
Avatar wasn’t in my list of to-watch movies. It had minimal fanfare with promotions and shared only the barest of details in its trailers.
This is going to be just like Surrogates, I thought.
It was, but the idea was taken to a level that captured one of my deepest fascinations – role-playing in a different world.
I was not expecting it, but I enjoyed the entire 166 minutes of it.
Speaking of avatars, it was over a year ago when I first mentioned in this blog the clan in Perfect World where my most active and longest-surviving avatar belongs to -- Sanctius.
Since then, like any other, Sanctius went through changes typical of a group: new officers get drafted, relationships change, and members come and go.
Life goes on.
There were times, however, when the changes were a tad too big – big enough to make a perennial in-game lurker like myself wonder, “What the heck is happening?”
Lots of goodbyes and letters of resignation were posted in the forum. Members that I’ve come to know as the clan’s brain, heart, muscle, and teeth (oh the last one I love and fear at the same time. *shudder* You know who you are haha!) became more scarce from the clan chat, if not entirely gone from the list of members.
But change is good. It’s what gives us butterflies, sabi nga nila.
And what splendid butterflies the next-gen Sanctius officers turned out to be. While it crushed my heart to see Master Raz, Mama Gem, Maharet, Alamar, and others before them relinquish their posts, the clan is, without a doubt, in good hands.
By October 2009, demands of work prompted me to formally inform the clan of my intention to take my in-game lurker status to the next level – hibernation.
Sometime end of November, however, something wonderful happened.
More than the Territorial Wars and the new Elemental Faeries, something in PW slowly pulled me out of hibernation.
It started when an all-star cast of Sanctius officers and high-level members dragged my sorry ass through the Mahayana and Treasure Grotto quests, and eventually pushing me to level 80 (finally).
That moment reminded me of my old aspiration for playing the game in the first place: I want to be just like them *starry-eyed*. So strong, so cool, and so helpful.
Then suddenly the clan chat had that familiar "sound" again. People who've either left the clan or were inactive for so long are coming back! And along this slew of homecomings, our Marshall and his beloved decided to stay.
Things are looking good -- the familiar voices are back, with new ones that are making the Sanctius clan chat livelier than ever.
Like what Maharet said, "It's just like the old times."
Yup. Good times.
Happy New Year to all!
Offhand, let me say that is it’s been an extremely tough year for most of us.
Life, however, has ways of balancing things to tolerable levels, especially during the past two months.
***
I’ve always associated November with birthdays. There seem to be a lot of cool people celebrating their birthdays this month – including my wife haha.Joan and I celebrated her birthday at Enchanted Kingdom. It was her first time to visit EK, and it was something we’ve been trying to do since our friends Cez and Euge gave us EK tickets as wedding gifts.
That visit was far from ideal, though. At the entrance, we were advised by staffs that there were already an estimated three thousand guests inside the park.
Weeew! (Note to self: when planning an EK outing, check ahead if there are scheduled, massive group tours like the one by the DepEd that day.)
Anyway, good thing Joan’s more of a Grand Carousel, Rialto, Log Jam, Science Fair, and Magic Show type – she’s more than happy to forego the mind-blowing rides like Anchors Away and Flying Fiesta (the Space Shuttle was still out of commission at that time).
Such a fun place. It deserves another visit.
***
It's been almost a decade since we last saw couple Cez and Euge. These are old friends that go waaaay back.Their visit was unplanned, and their time to meet up with friends so limited. Thanks to the impeccable planning and gimmick ideas from our former sempai James, we went boating and shot at each other in a paintball showdown at La Mesa Ecopark, played badminton somewhere in Kalayaan Ave., danced to Jill’s 80’s music at The Fort, got together with more old friends over scrumptious seafood feast at Dampa Metrowalk, and bumped cars at Fun Ranch, Libis.
It’s amazing how the fun never changed with old friends, even after all these years.
Scratch that. It did change.
I believe it got better.
I wish I can say the same to my driving and navigation skills. Har har!
***
Avatar wasn’t in my list of to-watch movies. It had minimal fanfare with promotions and shared only the barest of details in its trailers.This is going to be just like Surrogates, I thought.
It was, but the idea was taken to a level that captured one of my deepest fascinations – role-playing in a different world.
I was not expecting it, but I enjoyed the entire 166 minutes of it.
***
Speaking of avatars, it was over a year ago when I first mentioned in this blog the clan in Perfect World where my most active and longest-surviving avatar belongs to -- Sanctius.Since then, like any other, Sanctius went through changes typical of a group: new officers get drafted, relationships change, and members come and go.
Life goes on.
There were times, however, when the changes were a tad too big – big enough to make a perennial in-game lurker like myself wonder, “What the heck is happening?”
Lots of goodbyes and letters of resignation were posted in the forum. Members that I’ve come to know as the clan’s brain, heart, muscle, and teeth (oh the last one I love and fear at the same time. *shudder* You know who you are haha!) became more scarce from the clan chat, if not entirely gone from the list of members.
But change is good. It’s what gives us butterflies, sabi nga nila.
And what splendid butterflies the next-gen Sanctius officers turned out to be. While it crushed my heart to see Master Raz, Mama Gem, Maharet, Alamar, and others before them relinquish their posts, the clan is, without a doubt, in good hands.
By October 2009, demands of work prompted me to formally inform the clan of my intention to take my in-game lurker status to the next level – hibernation.
Sometime end of November, however, something wonderful happened.
More than the Territorial Wars and the new Elemental Faeries, something in PW slowly pulled me out of hibernation.
It started when an all-star cast of Sanctius officers and high-level members dragged my sorry ass through the Mahayana and Treasure Grotto quests, and eventually pushing me to level 80 (finally).
That moment reminded me of my old aspiration for playing the game in the first place: I want to be just like them *starry-eyed*. So strong, so cool, and so helpful.
Then suddenly the clan chat had that familiar "sound" again. People who've either left the clan or were inactive for so long are coming back! And along this slew of homecomings, our Marshall and his beloved decided to stay.
Things are looking good -- the familiar voices are back, with new ones that are making the Sanctius clan chat livelier than ever.
Like what Maharet said, "It's just like the old times."
Yup. Good times.
Happy New Year to all!
August 02, 2009
Happiness and well-being
Salamat, President Cory Aquino.
July 16-23, Florence, Italy. My presentation at the 9th Conference of the International Society of Quality of Life Studies was about satisfaction with democracy and quality of life in the Philippines.
It was scheduled at 8:30 am, and apparently it’s a time that most of the conference participants find difficult to attend. It was hard for me to wake up early too. The Italian summer nights are so short – it’s there where I first wore sunglasses at 8pm, and the sun still rises at 6am.
Few participants made it to my talk. Thanks to four of my colleagues in SWS (the five of us were the only Filipinos out of over 300 participants) and those of my co-presenters’ from mainland China, Singapore, and London, the beautiful, ancient dungeon that was converted into a classroom didn’t look so empty and lonely.
It was a 20-minute talk, which I find too short if one is to discuss over 50 years of Philippine history as a nation. So I breezed through the highlights of the country’s experience with democracy.
I placed special emphasis on 1986 – President Cory, People Power, and restoration of democracy. The regular study of democracy, subjective well-being, and public opinion in the Philippines became possible as certain liberties such as elections and freedom of speech were re-established after 13 years of dictatorship.
So how’s democracy doing so far? Unfortunately, the democracy that President Cory re-established eventually gave birth to a new breed of corruption. But while we are sick of it, the idea of democracy is something we, as a people, are not ready to abandon.
There’s always hope. We’ll see how democracy plays come Elections 2010.
July 16-27, Florence, Pisa, Rome, and the Vatican, Italy. There’s extra happiness everywhere.
It’s in every local beer I occasionally had during lunch and dinner. Nothing compared to my all-time favorite San Mig Pale Pilsen, but their delightfully potent 4.5% to 5% alcohol buzz took away all my pre-presentation jitters.
It’s in the lovely scooters that dominate the narrow, cobbled streets of Florence. Here, these pocket rockets look so pristine and classy, far from the ones we see in the treacherous streets of Manila.
It’s in all those delish pasta, pizza, Mediterranean foods, and gelato! Yum!
It’s in all the beautiful sights, artwork, pieces of history, and symbols of faith that used to be just pictures. To see them, touch them, walk through them, breathe them, climb them, do all sorts of poses next to them, and pray before them was a wonderful experience.
It’s in that very rare chance to run into someone whom you haven’t seen for more than ten years, in a place that you least expect it. In case you’re reading this, Van, it’s good to see you again. Mukhang pinakyaw n’yo yung nasa souvenir shop ng St. Peter’s basilica haha!
It’s in every little chance to see something good. The ice-cold water that comes from every fountain scattered around Rome, the amazed looks from locals and tourists alike every time I deploy my handy-dandy extendable camera monopod, and that nice feeling of not hearing a single car horn during the entire visit.
I had some share of unpleasantries, but not enough to deserve mention in this blog.
Well-being. Happiness. All subjective concepts that can be gauged by equally subjective measures.
July 16-23, Florence, Italy. My presentation at the 9th Conference of the International Society of Quality of Life Studies was about satisfaction with democracy and quality of life in the Philippines.It was scheduled at 8:30 am, and apparently it’s a time that most of the conference participants find difficult to attend. It was hard for me to wake up early too. The Italian summer nights are so short – it’s there where I first wore sunglasses at 8pm, and the sun still rises at 6am.
Few participants made it to my talk. Thanks to four of my colleagues in SWS (the five of us were the only Filipinos out of over 300 participants) and those of my co-presenters’ from mainland China, Singapore, and London, the beautiful, ancient dungeon that was converted into a classroom didn’t look so empty and lonely.
It was a 20-minute talk, which I find too short if one is to discuss over 50 years of Philippine history as a nation. So I breezed through the highlights of the country’s experience with democracy.
I placed special emphasis on 1986 – President Cory, People Power, and restoration of democracy. The regular study of democracy, subjective well-being, and public opinion in the Philippines became possible as certain liberties such as elections and freedom of speech were re-established after 13 years of dictatorship.
So how’s democracy doing so far? Unfortunately, the democracy that President Cory re-established eventually gave birth to a new breed of corruption. But while we are sick of it, the idea of democracy is something we, as a people, are not ready to abandon.
There’s always hope. We’ll see how democracy plays come Elections 2010.
****
July 16-27, Florence, Pisa, Rome, and the Vatican, Italy. There’s extra happiness everywhere.
It’s in every local beer I occasionally had during lunch and dinner. Nothing compared to my all-time favorite San Mig Pale Pilsen, but their delightfully potent 4.5% to 5% alcohol buzz took away all my pre-presentation jitters. It’s in the lovely scooters that dominate the narrow, cobbled streets of Florence. Here, these pocket rockets look so pristine and classy, far from the ones we see in the treacherous streets of Manila.
It’s in all those delish pasta, pizza, Mediterranean foods, and gelato! Yum!
It’s in all the beautiful sights, artwork, pieces of history, and symbols of faith that used to be just pictures. To see them, touch them, walk through them, breathe them, climb them, do all sorts of poses next to them, and pray before them was a wonderful experience.It’s in that very rare chance to run into someone whom you haven’t seen for more than ten years, in a place that you least expect it. In case you’re reading this, Van, it’s good to see you again. Mukhang pinakyaw n’yo yung nasa souvenir shop ng St. Peter’s basilica haha!
It’s in every little chance to see something good. The ice-cold water that comes from every fountain scattered around Rome, the amazed looks from locals and tourists alike every time I deploy my handy-dandy extendable camera monopod, and that nice feeling of not hearing a single car horn during the entire visit.
I had some share of unpleasantries, but not enough to deserve mention in this blog.
****
President Cory ushered in a way of life that has been giving legitimacy to the kind of democracy we know now. This democracy has evolved – it’s crazy, and we’re not afraid to let the democratic institutions know how much we’re dissatisfied with them. But like an old car that has served us through the years, we don't see this particular democracy as something that needs to be replaced.
It just needs fixing.
When I went to Italy, I refused to be a tourist, but instead be a guest. With Joan’s help, I tried to learn some of the basic etiquette in this locality: I kept my voice down when speaking in Filipino or English, I greet shop and restaurant owners and staffs in Italian, never starting a conversation directly in English, and I try to be mindful where I point and shoot my camera.
The returns are subtle but measurable, and worth every bit of the effort --
A lovely smile, or an extra scoop of my favorite nocciola gelato.
You'll find more photos of my visit to Italy here. Ciao!
July 27, 2009
Space and time
… two unforgiving elements that seemed to have overwhelmingly ruled my life over the past two months.
As of blog time, it’s my eleventh and last day in Italy -- the longest and farthest I’ve spent away from home since I got married. Had my heart been a tad weaker, the separation anxiety pains I had before I left would have killed me.
But the good thing is that my travel home will begin two hours from now. Very soon those eleven days won’t mean much except for their wonderful memories.
I’ll be home soon.
Goodness. What have I been doing this July?
So many things to tell, but so little time. Will get back to that later. Right now it’s time to pack up for the long trip home.
Ciao!
Another piece of my generation's history became yet another memory.
Rest in peace, MJ.
The recent days have been so full of him – news, tributes, documentary specials – that it seems he is more alive now than he has ever been before he made his announcement of a comeback concert.
He is defying boundaries, again: neither black nor white, neither man nor woman, neither dead nor alive.
Some weeks ago, Joan and I went out with her Dubai-based relatives to inspect some model condominium units and houses in Makati and in Carmona, Cavite.
These "show units" were supposed to feature the best that the company has to offer when it comes to themes and space usage. If they were meant to dazzle, it worked -- on me, at least.
Looking back, however, there was something different about those model units. Most of them have glass walls.
Thus the illusion of space.
I wonder if these model units would still be as appealing once the glass walls were replaced by “real” walls.
Finding a little piece of nature in Metro Manila is always a treat.
The La Mesa Ecopark has picnic grounds, swimming pools, fitness trails, butterfly farm, boating and biking areas, a mini-jungle, and even facilities for wall-climbing, rappelling, and zip-lining. We tried the last one for a few seconds of thrill.
The place is huge. It’s hard to imagine something like that could be in Quezon City. With the right eye, the La Mesa Ecopark provides endless possibilities for nature photo shoots.
What a nice way to use space.
As of blog time, it’s my eleventh and last day in Italy -- the longest and farthest I’ve spent away from home since I got married. Had my heart been a tad weaker, the separation anxiety pains I had before I left would have killed me.
But the good thing is that my travel home will begin two hours from now. Very soon those eleven days won’t mean much except for their wonderful memories.
I’ll be home soon.
Goodness. What have I been doing this July?
So many things to tell, but so little time. Will get back to that later. Right now it’s time to pack up for the long trip home.
Ciao!
***
Another piece of my generation's history became yet another memory.
Rest in peace, MJ.
The recent days have been so full of him – news, tributes, documentary specials – that it seems he is more alive now than he has ever been before he made his announcement of a comeback concert.
He is defying boundaries, again: neither black nor white, neither man nor woman, neither dead nor alive.
***
Some weeks ago, Joan and I went out with her Dubai-based relatives to inspect some model condominium units and houses in Makati and in Carmona, Cavite.
These "show units" were supposed to feature the best that the company has to offer when it comes to themes and space usage. If they were meant to dazzle, it worked -- on me, at least.
Looking back, however, there was something different about those model units. Most of them have glass walls.
Thus the illusion of space.
I wonder if these model units would still be as appealing once the glass walls were replaced by “real” walls.
***
Finding a little piece of nature in Metro Manila is always a treat.The La Mesa Ecopark has picnic grounds, swimming pools, fitness trails, butterfly farm, boating and biking areas, a mini-jungle, and even facilities for wall-climbing, rappelling, and zip-lining. We tried the last one for a few seconds of thrill.
The place is huge. It’s hard to imagine something like that could be in Quezon City. With the right eye, the La Mesa Ecopark provides endless possibilities for nature photo shoots.
What a nice way to use space.
June 03, 2009
Unfamiliar
What a month May was!
Just when I was giving up on my hopes of getting some summer sun and sand, along came two invitations – one from Joan’s office and one from my mother – that gave me my quota of sunburn for this year.
Last month also felt to me like Life just handed out a generous serving of lessons about myself and others.
Some lessons were old, most were unfamiliar.
All were welcome.
I joined Joan’s office outing to Adventure Beach at Subic last May 16. Having met her officemates only a few times in the past, my initial impression was that this was going to be a small-group affair.
The day before, however, the attendance was confirmed at an impressive forty plus persons, including kids.
With a group this big and without any reservation, the plan had to be simple: get to Subic as early as humanely possible (meaning, without waking up at 4am), and secure a spot.
Driving through Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEX) with the speedometer stuck at 40 kph wasn’t a very relaxing experience, but it did help a bit with our schedule: by sticking with whichever vehicle was going faster, we arrived at Subic early enough to secure two front-beach cottages at Adventure Beach.
The CA people was a crowd so different from any I’ve been with – maybe because the CA people themselves comprise only half of the group, while the rest consist of family, relatives, children, spouses, and friends.
Anyway, it was a fun day. I never realized Joan is such a strong rower at kayak. We could have gotten far off shore had it not been for the rumors among resort staffs earlier that a shark was sighted nearby. *shudder*
We unwittingly made a scene when I dropped off the kayak to dive. From the cottages where Joan’s officemates were watching, they thought we were having a fight, and that Joan threw me off the kayak and left me behind. Haha!
At least they know now that I have an addiction to swimming and skin diving.
We have a few more photos shared here.
When my brother and I arrived at Kalibo airport last May 23, we noticed another plane with an unfamiliar logo. We were told later that it was an international airline.
Wow! Kalibo has international flights na nga pala. I hope they’re screening passengers for Influenza A (H1N1).
Anyway, we went home to Batan to give support to our mother as she turns over leadership of the Batan Youth Circle (BYC) to the next set of officers during its 50th Anniversary.
It was an evening event, so my brother and I had time to visit a nearby beach resort for a swim.
On our way to the beach, I was reminded of how popular my brother is despite his long absence from our hometown. Among us siblings, he had the most years spent in this town, and has earned quite a reputation for himself. Like our mother, he is unmistakably a true-bloodied Batangnon.
The 50th Anniversary of the BYC celebration was a night of many firsts.
For the organization, it saw a fruitful year under the leadership of its first lady President. From what the locals are saying, it was also the first time a BYC anniversary had that much attendance.
The rest are the many things I am learning about my mother and my brother for the first time – the changes in my brother, and still the many stories about my mother that I’m hearing for the first time.
All good stuffs.
Some photos from that weekend are shared here.
I always seek out and embrace the unfamiliar, learning as much as I can about others and myself.
But at times I get reckless, ignoring the warnings in my head as well as from those who know better. At times I end up revealing too much of my self, exposing things that I myself am unfamiliar with.
Emotionally unguarded.
This is what I am.
But hey, you learn something everyday. Cheers!
Just when I was giving up on my hopes of getting some summer sun and sand, along came two invitations – one from Joan’s office and one from my mother – that gave me my quota of sunburn for this year.
Last month also felt to me like Life just handed out a generous serving of lessons about myself and others.
Some lessons were old, most were unfamiliar.
All were welcome.
***
I joined Joan’s office outing to Adventure Beach at Subic last May 16. Having met her officemates only a few times in the past, my initial impression was that this was going to be a small-group affair.The day before, however, the attendance was confirmed at an impressive forty plus persons, including kids.
With a group this big and without any reservation, the plan had to be simple: get to Subic as early as humanely possible (meaning, without waking up at 4am), and secure a spot.
Driving through Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEX) with the speedometer stuck at 40 kph wasn’t a very relaxing experience, but it did help a bit with our schedule: by sticking with whichever vehicle was going faster, we arrived at Subic early enough to secure two front-beach cottages at Adventure Beach.
The CA people was a crowd so different from any I’ve been with – maybe because the CA people themselves comprise only half of the group, while the rest consist of family, relatives, children, spouses, and friends.
Anyway, it was a fun day. I never realized Joan is such a strong rower at kayak. We could have gotten far off shore had it not been for the rumors among resort staffs earlier that a shark was sighted nearby. *shudder*
We unwittingly made a scene when I dropped off the kayak to dive. From the cottages where Joan’s officemates were watching, they thought we were having a fight, and that Joan threw me off the kayak and left me behind. Haha!
At least they know now that I have an addiction to swimming and skin diving.
We have a few more photos shared here.
***
When my brother and I arrived at Kalibo airport last May 23, we noticed another plane with an unfamiliar logo. We were told later that it was an international airline.Wow! Kalibo has international flights na nga pala. I hope they’re screening passengers for Influenza A (H1N1).
Anyway, we went home to Batan to give support to our mother as she turns over leadership of the Batan Youth Circle (BYC) to the next set of officers during its 50th Anniversary.
It was an evening event, so my brother and I had time to visit a nearby beach resort for a swim.
On our way to the beach, I was reminded of how popular my brother is despite his long absence from our hometown. Among us siblings, he had the most years spent in this town, and has earned quite a reputation for himself. Like our mother, he is unmistakably a true-bloodied Batangnon.
The 50th Anniversary of the BYC celebration was a night of many firsts.
For the organization, it saw a fruitful year under the leadership of its first lady President. From what the locals are saying, it was also the first time a BYC anniversary had that much attendance.
The rest are the many things I am learning about my mother and my brother for the first time – the changes in my brother, and still the many stories about my mother that I’m hearing for the first time.
All good stuffs.
Some photos from that weekend are shared here.
***
I always seek out and embrace the unfamiliar, learning as much as I can about others and myself.
But at times I get reckless, ignoring the warnings in my head as well as from those who know better. At times I end up revealing too much of my self, exposing things that I myself am unfamiliar with.
Emotionally unguarded.
This is what I am.
But hey, you learn something everyday. Cheers!
February 26, 2009
Old and new
The kids at our street looked like they were about to play tumbang-preso – they were holding thick, adult-size rubber slippers. But when they started throwing them wildly at their target – a plastic water bottle – and hitting the parked cars instead, I was convinced that their game was nothing like tumbang preso.
Another group was gathered at the other side of the street, holding what looked like trumpo. But just like the other group, there was no rule, much more precision, with the way these kids were playing. In their hands, the traditional trumpo soon became dangerous projectiles that wreaked havoc to properties and even posed threats of injury to passers-by.
So, this is how our native games have evolved.
How sad. And scary.
At least now I know where the small scratches and dents at our gate are coming from.
Speaking of evolution, I have recently earned two new titles at the office by virtue of the changes I went through.
I owe the first title to my age, which is naturally beyond any debate, while the second nickname I earned by the change in my office lifestyle.
Oh well. Good or bad, change is how you make of it.
Here I go again.
Three things I think I'm starting to get addicted to:
ZX Online. Though not as compelling as Perfect World when it comes to storyline and overall gameplay (plus the characters are not as customizable), ZX Online totally spoils the player with its auto-pathing feature. It’s Man-Nature Combo is also a blessing for AFK (away from keyboard) players like myself.
Facebook. Need I explain? Okay... Dungeons and Dragons Tiny Adventures! Haha! ^^
Crispy bacon liempo, and all the good feelings that go with it at Tomato Kick along Maginhawa Street, Teacher’s Village, Diliman.
Cheers!
Another group was gathered at the other side of the street, holding what looked like trumpo. But just like the other group, there was no rule, much more precision, with the way these kids were playing. In their hands, the traditional trumpo soon became dangerous projectiles that wreaked havoc to properties and even posed threats of injury to passers-by.
So, this is how our native games have evolved.
How sad. And scary.
At least now I know where the small scratches and dents at our gate are coming from.
***
Speaking of evolution, I have recently earned two new titles at the office by virtue of the changes I went through.
I owe the first title to my age, which is naturally beyond any debate, while the second nickname I earned by the change in my office lifestyle.
Oh well. Good or bad, change is how you make of it.
***
Here I go again.
Three things I think I'm starting to get addicted to:
ZX Online. Though not as compelling as Perfect World when it comes to storyline and overall gameplay (plus the characters are not as customizable), ZX Online totally spoils the player with its auto-pathing feature. It’s Man-Nature Combo is also a blessing for AFK (away from keyboard) players like myself.Facebook. Need I explain? Okay... Dungeons and Dragons Tiny Adventures! Haha! ^^
Crispy bacon liempo, and all the good feelings that go with it at Tomato Kick along Maginhawa Street, Teacher’s Village, Diliman.
Cheers!
February 16, 2009
Transparency
If there's one game I totally suck at, it would be poker.
My face has been wired to show too much emotion -- all the time, more than what's intended and appropriate.
It follows that for a face to be such a dead give-away, the brain behind it has to be as equally inept in keeping information to itself.
I've been thankful for the tall blue dividers surrounding my work area -- just staying behind them has saved me and others a lot of trouble.
The words I utter and write, however, are a different matter. Haha!
I feel blessed for having just enough facility to express myself, but I feel cursed for my skills in gatekeeping.
Over three decades, and still a work in progress at something so basic. Pur pur pur.
***
(an entry from Samahang Walang Sabado...)
I'd love to think that there's always a reason when things don't go as planned. It may not always be better than what's intended, but a good reason nonetheless.
When the much-awaited Puerto Gallera Techies trip failed to launch a few weeks ago despite careful planning, I was ready to believe there's a good reason why we're missing the chance to enjoy a relaxing weekend at the beach before the heart-attack pace of the year begins.
Thanks to the fun-loving souls who refused to let that Friday night pass by without something to make up for the lost Galera getaway, we ended up in Pork Barrel along Kalayaan Avenue.
The place may not have the sun, sand, and sea we long for, but it has good-looking service crew, nice drinking ambiance, and, as far as I know, the cheapest beer in that part of Sikatuna Village.
And for that few moments of transparency, I say the sun, sand, and sea can wait.
I'm sure we'll get that dream getaway, soon. Cheers!
My face has been wired to show too much emotion -- all the time, more than what's intended and appropriate.
It follows that for a face to be such a dead give-away, the brain behind it has to be as equally inept in keeping information to itself.
I've been thankful for the tall blue dividers surrounding my work area -- just staying behind them has saved me and others a lot of trouble.
The words I utter and write, however, are a different matter. Haha!
I feel blessed for having just enough facility to express myself, but I feel cursed for my skills in gatekeeping.
Over three decades, and still a work in progress at something so basic. Pur pur pur.
***
(an entry from Samahang Walang Sabado...)
I'd love to think that there's always a reason when things don't go as planned. It may not always be better than what's intended, but a good reason nonetheless.
When the much-awaited Puerto Gallera Techies trip failed to launch a few weeks ago despite careful planning, I was ready to believe there's a good reason why we're missing the chance to enjoy a relaxing weekend at the beach before the heart-attack pace of the year begins.
Thanks to the fun-loving souls who refused to let that Friday night pass by without something to make up for the lost Galera getaway, we ended up in Pork Barrel along Kalayaan Avenue.
The place may not have the sun, sand, and sea we long for, but it has good-looking service crew, nice drinking ambiance, and, as far as I know, the cheapest beer in that part of Sikatuna Village.
And for that few moments of transparency, I say the sun, sand, and sea can wait.
I'm sure we'll get that dream getaway, soon. Cheers!
October 27, 2008
YM call, clan EB, hot springs, and trees
Two Saturdays ago, thanks to an unusually fast internet connection and a good headset, I was able to call two friends abroad via YM.
It’s been years since we last talked so I couldn’t help but be fascinated with the sound of their voices during the first few minutes of our conversation.
For a while, they sounded different -- perhaps as different as we have changed through the years. I'm sure I must have sounded differently to them, too, at first.
But as the hours passed by and the laughter came wave after wave (my tummy still ache from the cramp), everything sounded the way it was years ago -- back when we were still having this sort of conversation on a daily basis.
It was great talking you again, C and E! Sure beats chatting. ^^
Two Sundays ago, I met with my Perfect World clanmates at the LU! Live at World Trade Center.
It was my first time to personally meet the people I get to know in-game, and it was... strangely fun! I wished I didn't have to leave the meeting so soon, but family duties come first.
Last Thursday, the office held its teambuilding session at the Sentosa Elenita Resort in Laguna. This nice private resort has everything tired pollsters like us need: hot fountains, hot pools, videoke machine, nice rooms, and great food.
After the little teambuilding and RnR, we took a quick tour at UP Los Baños, and I finally get to hug the famous Fertility Tree. Weee!
More about this soon at the unofficial Techie blog.
The Fertility Tree!
It’s been years since we last talked so I couldn’t help but be fascinated with the sound of their voices during the first few minutes of our conversation.
For a while, they sounded different -- perhaps as different as we have changed through the years. I'm sure I must have sounded differently to them, too, at first.
But as the hours passed by and the laughter came wave after wave (my tummy still ache from the cramp), everything sounded the way it was years ago -- back when we were still having this sort of conversation on a daily basis.
It was great talking you again, C and E! Sure beats chatting. ^^
Two Sundays ago, I met with my Perfect World clanmates at the LU! Live at World Trade Center.It was my first time to personally meet the people I get to know in-game, and it was... strangely fun! I wished I didn't have to leave the meeting so soon, but family duties come first.
Last Thursday, the office held its teambuilding session at the Sentosa Elenita Resort in Laguna. This nice private resort has everything tired pollsters like us need: hot fountains, hot pools, videoke machine, nice rooms, and great food.
After the little teambuilding and RnR, we took a quick tour at UP Los Baños, and I finally get to hug the famous Fertility Tree. Weee!
More about this soon at the unofficial Techie blog.
The Fertility Tree!June 27, 2008
Some Typhoon Frank updates from Aklan
*edit (re-posting)...
Re-posting from http://kidsahoy.multiply.com/journal/item/89/:
Here's AN ONGOING RELIEF OPERATIONS ORGANIZED BY A GROUP OF CONCERNED AKLANONS & PRIVATE CITIZENS headed by Michelle Martelino Yu.
KEEP YOUR DONATIONS COMING EVERYONE!
You may send bulk contributions in kind directly to
Villamor Airbase Base Operation
c/o Maj. Pascua tel. 8546701
The parcels properly packed and addressed as follows:
c/o Cong. Allen S. Quimpo , Kalibo, Aklan
and labeled according to classification (Food, Medicines, Clothing etc.) with their declared weight and intended recipient (ex. Kalibo, Aklan).
If necessary we can also arrange for pick up at designated collection points for delivery to Villamor Air Base; in this case please advise the team beforehand.
Michelle Yu
Attorney-at- Law
Project Head, Relief Operations in Aklan
231 Langka Drive, Ayala Alabang Village ,
Muntinlupa City, Metro Manila 1700
Tel./Fax 8429225; Cellphone: 09177962310
email: michellemartelinoyu@yahoo.com
multiply: http://michellemartelinoyu.multiply.com/journal/item/27
I only had one small experience, way back in the late part of 1990, of how the geography of Kalibo react to rain and flood: a few hours of heavy rain is enough to soak Kalibo with flood from nearby municipalities. Sometimes, the rain need not even be in Kalibo for it to get flooded.
Kalibo is a perfect catch-basin, and that small rain made me spend two days in my friend's house in Banga to wait for the flood to subside.
But with a typhoon like Typhoon Frank...
Yesterday I called my mother (thank goodness for car mobile charger!). It was disturbing to hear the same details as what Cheryl Joy has shared.
Right now, my mother has to travel to Roxas City in search of a photo processing shop so she could have the pictures developed, as well as coordinate with DepEd Capiz. She's been working closely with concerned agencies and they're putting together a situational report for an upcoming meeting with the President.
My in-laws, however, said the electricity in Roxas City is still too feeble and could only power lights -- not enough output yet to power an establishment. I hope the more-established shops there have their own generators. Otherwise my mother would have to go for Iloilo.
I dare not quote the figures yet, but whatever is in that report has, more or less, been slowly coming out in the news. There is little doubt, however, that this is one of the worst disasters that struck the province of Aklan.
If you wish to help, in addition to the details above, you can also contact Atty. Selwyn Ibarreta, Sangguniang Panlalawigan Board Member, Aklan, at 0919-8094588 (this is from Donna in one of her comments in Cheryl Joy's blog).
I'll add whatever info I could get. Take care everyone!
Re-posting from http://kidsahoy.multiply.com/journal/item/89/:
Here's AN ONGOING RELIEF OPERATIONS ORGANIZED BY A GROUP OF CONCERNED AKLANONS & PRIVATE CITIZENS headed by Michelle Martelino Yu.
KEEP YOUR DONATIONS COMING EVERYONE!
You may send bulk contributions in kind directly to
Villamor Airbase Base Operation
c/o Maj. Pascua tel. 8546701
The parcels properly packed and addressed as follows:
c/o Cong. Allen S. Quimpo , Kalibo, Aklan
and labeled according to classification (Food, Medicines, Clothing etc.) with their declared weight and intended recipient (ex. Kalibo, Aklan).
If necessary we can also arrange for pick up at designated collection points for delivery to Villamor Air Base; in this case please advise the team beforehand.
Michelle Yu
Attorney-at- Law
Project Head, Relief Operations in Aklan
231 Langka Drive, Ayala Alabang Village ,
Muntinlupa City, Metro Manila 1700
Tel./Fax 8429225; Cellphone: 09177962310
email: michellemartelinoyu@yahoo.com
multiply: http://michellemartelinoyu.multiply.com/journal/item/27
***
It was a bit frustrating to not see much news coverage about Aklan at the height of Typhoon Frank. But after reading some detailed accounts from a fellow Aklanon, Cheryl Joy, in her blog, and from people who posted their comments there, I guess it was then logistically impossible for media to carry out sustained news about what's happening there. The local media themselves were rendered almost helpless as most facilities were severely damaged.I only had one small experience, way back in the late part of 1990, of how the geography of Kalibo react to rain and flood: a few hours of heavy rain is enough to soak Kalibo with flood from nearby municipalities. Sometimes, the rain need not even be in Kalibo for it to get flooded.
Kalibo is a perfect catch-basin, and that small rain made me spend two days in my friend's house in Banga to wait for the flood to subside.
But with a typhoon like Typhoon Frank...
Yesterday I called my mother (thank goodness for car mobile charger!). It was disturbing to hear the same details as what Cheryl Joy has shared.
Right now, my mother has to travel to Roxas City in search of a photo processing shop so she could have the pictures developed, as well as coordinate with DepEd Capiz. She's been working closely with concerned agencies and they're putting together a situational report for an upcoming meeting with the President.
My in-laws, however, said the electricity in Roxas City is still too feeble and could only power lights -- not enough output yet to power an establishment. I hope the more-established shops there have their own generators. Otherwise my mother would have to go for Iloilo.
I dare not quote the figures yet, but whatever is in that report has, more or less, been slowly coming out in the news. There is little doubt, however, that this is one of the worst disasters that struck the province of Aklan.
If you wish to help, in addition to the details above, you can also contact Atty. Selwyn Ibarreta, Sangguniang Panlalawigan Board Member, Aklan, at 0919-8094588 (this is from Donna in one of her comments in Cheryl Joy's blog).
I'll add whatever info I could get. Take care everyone!
May 23, 2008
My Lakbayan grade is C+!
I got this from Cath. ^ ^
My Lakbayan grade is C+! (Note: Mostly work-related trips)
How much of the Philippines have you visited? Find out at Lakbayan!
Created by Eugene Villar.
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50!
August 28, 8PM. "Knock, knock. "Who's there? "Leo. "Leo who? "I wanna Leeeeeeooooo down in a bed of roses......
