ramblings, random musings, fascinations, rants, raves and revelations

My Manager Gay is throwing a birthday party. Here’s what I did for her invitation. Happy Birthday Gagay!!!

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Conversations over lunch time never failed to have interesting topics to write about. Yesterday, as we were having lunch at KFC, Gay, Zelot and Abhi mentioned about an old lady who approached them at Banchetto asking for help. According to them, she was looking for some people to donate blood for a very sick relative. If my memory serves me right, her relative is suffering from Leukemia. I immediately felt bad by the thought of it. How can life be so cruel and unfair? I know I don’t have the right to say these things but I just can’t really help it. If there’s any feeling that has been crushing me lately, it’s being surrounded by poverty. Can you imagine someone saying “palimos po ng dugo”?

11:10am - After scribling some thoughts about what I’m gonna write here and after finishing the layout Mami Abhi asked for, I decided to go home immediately before I start having pangs of conscience again. I think I’m growing morbidly obese over feelings of guilt lately, to the point that some of my friends think that I am developing an unhealthy propensity towards sociological emo.

Being so tired and sleepy, I gave in to my bed’s calling soon as I got home. It was a good nice sleep. I tried to erase all that has been bothering me. The clock struck 7pm and it was time for me to prepare for work again.

As I alighted from the bus to work, I decided to stop by Megamall for breakfast [don't be confused by terms I'm using because I work the graveyard shift]. After so, I bought waffles for my lunch as luck would have it, here comes a kid tugging at my pants. “Kuya, pahingi,” he said. While children can deceive you out of Christmas aguinaldo, they can’t dupe you out of food. Soft-hearted loser that I am who would not at once doubt the innocence of a child asking for food, I decided to buy him three pieces, which he then proceeded to share with two of his friends.

I couldn’t take it anymore. I imagined my younger brother and sister being in those kids shoes. I wont be able to accept that. I walked fast to some corner of the mall, lit a cigarette, and calmed myself. Not being a good crier, I stopped crying after I was done with half.

I’ve always been telling whoever I’m talking to that the real problem here is being surrounded and exposed to poverty like I’ve never seen before. You think poverty is just an invention of cinema or of documentary journalists, until you see people actually scrounging trash cans near fast-food chains not for recyclables, but for food. You actually see people cooking leftovers bound for the trash in tin cans bound for the dump. What makes it extremely heartbreaking is that as you look around, you see wealth. You are privy to affluence so much so that you live it. You see, for the first time in your life, gaps between the rich, the poor, the really really rich, and the really really poor.

You realize you’re sick of it and want to change things, then you realize that there’s really only so much you can do.

So you do what you can, then you realize that you really aren’t doing enough. I’ve always been hearing people “pag nanalo ako sa lotto, kalahati ipamimigay ko sa mahirap”… Seriously? I don’t think so. I will admit myself that I can’t do that. What else can I do? What else can we all do? I feel helpless.

Empathy’s a bastard. GMA’s a bastard!

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The First Noel, the Angels did say
Was to certain poor shepherds in fields as they lay
In fields where they lay keeping their sheep
On a cold winter's night that was so deep.
Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel
Born is the King of Israel!

They looked up and saw a star
Shining in the East beyond them far
And to the earth it gave great light
And so it continued both day and night.
Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel
Born is the King of Israel!

And by the light of that same star
Three Wise men came from country far
To seek for a King was their intent
And to follow the star wherever it went.
Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel
Born is the King of Israel!

This star drew nigh to the northwest
O'er Bethlehem it took its rest
And there it did both Pause and stay
Right o'er the place where Jesus lay.
Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel
Born is the King of Israel!

Then entered in those Wise men three
Full reverently upon their knee
And offered there in His presence
Their gold and myrrh and frankincense.
Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel
Born is the King of Israel!

Then let us all with one accord
Sing praises to our heavenly Lord
That hath made Heaven and earth of nought
And with his blood mankind has bought.
Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel
Born is the King of Israel!

Don't you just love to sing all the christams caroles you knew since you were a child when the BER months are here? We already have started to decorate our home with lots of garlands, shining balls, angels, nativity and the ever famous christmas tree.

I noticed last week that a lot of malls are on sale. Most of them are having new stocks for the Yuletide Season. Wishlists, presents, parties and smiles will fill the air on the holiday. That's why Christmas is my favorite holiday of all holidays!

Time for me to start listing down my "inaanaks" and their gifts for December. I will opt to do it early to avoid the Christmas rush and traffic. Not to mention the price increase on the coming months.

And I can't believe the month of August is already over. It's like the year is almost gone once you get to the "-ber" months: September, October, November and December. Before you know it, 2008 will be over and we will be ushering in the year 2009. Scary!

Since Christmas is my fave holidays and event, there are a lot of things I love when it's the month of December:

• 
  Amihan sa probinsiya namin [Nort Easterly wind]
• 
  Kapeng Barako [Batangas Roasted Coffe Beans]
• 
  Puto bumbong [sweet taro steamed in small bamboo tubes]
• 
  Simbang gabi at Misa de Gallo [Dawn and Midnight Masses]
• 
  Christmas decorations everywhere
• 
  Gifts! [my wishlist]
• 
  Christmas caroles
• 
  Bonding time with the family
• 
  The aura is different. It's more serene, peaceful and cheery [minus the traffic jam]
• 
  Christmas parties

Baste 98's annual get-together

I really heart christmas! Hmm.. I wonder where are we going to celebrate it this year?

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We celebrated Jay’s birthday last Saturday. We’ve been thinking for days how to really celebrate it but I guess because of work pressure we [Jay, Kiko, JC and I] opted to just be together and have a simple celebration. We made our way to MOA for a simple dinner, coffee, watch movie and to stroll around. It was a very nice and happy day.

I can’t find the right words to describe how it went. So, when all else fails I resort to old faithful… pictures! You know what they say… a picture speaks a thousand words, right? I can always depend on a photograph to get me charged up. So here’s our pictures from Saturday’s celebration.

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Graveyard shift, neverending-ending calls to be attended too, gossips, eyesores etc.. No rest for the weary. That saying seems to be what every workaholic is resigned to. Sometimes it is just unavoidable to have your joints and even your mind get all banged up because of the work load. For those who can identify with this scenario, a full body massage may just be your ticket back to sanity.

It has been such a long time that I had a massage. So before Jc and I separated last Saturady, we agreed on visiting a massage place for relaxation and to free ourselves from stress. One of the most well known techniques that we tried was Swedish massage. The benefits of Swedish massage include improved blood circulation, mental relaxation, an overall decrease in muscle tension which leads to physical relaxation and reduction in stress. Reducing stress in any shape, form or size is always good news for the overworked individual!

And since we wanted a serious massage, we looked for a place wherein strictly massage is implemented. It has been common for people like us to be subject to some mal-treatments [unless requested] so we really opted for legit massage services. We were brought to Asian Massage at Malate.

Swedish massage specifically focuses on your back, legs, arms, and neck. It also tackles your stiff shoulders, stomach, not to mention your aching feet. Light to medium pressure is exerted and one of the aims is to return the flow of blood from the extremities back to the heart.

Specific to this type of massage is muscle relaxation and this is done by applying pressure on them against the deeper muscles and bones. Rubbing is done in the same direction as the flow, which in a way guides it back to the heart valves. So the system basically involves a system of long gliding strokes, kneading and friction, which is applied on the uppermost muscle tissues. Tapping movements are also applied on the soft tissues of the body.

As you can imagine, the body will slowly regain its vigor when circulation is stimulated. The tapping on the soft tissues manipulates the flow of blood which also reduces pressure on the veins and arteries. The benefit here is that the work load on your heart is lessened, thereby decreasing the chance of contracting any diseases associated with it.

A full body massage also aids in the removal of metabolic waste through a process known as lymphatic drainage. What happens is that the massage follows the lymph flow and therefore stimulates its movement in the body. Since circulation is stimulated, the removal of harmful bacteria and fluid waste from the cells is accelerated.

Aside from rejuvenating your body and improving blood flow, here are a few other conditions which workaholics can be relieved of:

• arthritis and carpal tunnel syndrome;
• headaches and chronic pain syndromes;
• cramps and muscle spams;
• stiff muscles and joints;

Imagine having your pains especially at the back and neck areas being slowly soothed away by simple visit to a spa for this procedure. Instead of limited motion, your ligaments become pliant and flexible. Your days of feeling and moving like a robot are over because of the improved muscle tone. And neither will you end up looking a robot because you will also begin to notice smooth, soft skin all over the body.

These are but a few of the benefits of a full body massage. Remember that not only are the benefits physical, but also mental. The slow, relaxing rhythm of each massage stroke easily lulls the client into a more serene state. Whatever heavy thoughts that weigh on the mind can easily be sorted out, and the result is you feel less tension altogether. A clear mind certainly allows for better decision making which is essential as far as the workaholic is concerned.

We loved the oil and the scents that they used for us. The masseurs were professional and courteous. Before we left the place, we told each other - “We should do this more often”.

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Another blog entry here has been causing a stir... I know I have been tactless and I'm sorry but I just hate it when people fools you in front of people as if "they" don't know the truth. Uh well, how about I post the true picture and the claimed pic?

At times you need to be bitchy to stop people from fooling you. Again, I'm sorry.

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Have you ever noticed how much energy it takes to be angry? Just this morning, we had yet another issue with my neighbor and I found myself fuming again. After getting into a spat, I was fuming. I couldn´t even type.

That's when it hit me... being angry just isn't worth it. You waste all that energy that would be better channeled into something like doing your chores, finishing your TV series. Or in my case, getting a good sleep.

What can I do? I can't just yell at them. I can't just be like them. I can't let myself be. For the past weeks, Kiko and Jc's place has been my refuge when things go wrong. So either we end up just chatting, malling or going somewhere else. Here's where we've been...

Good thing there's always my trusted camera phone to save the day.

And yeah, these were from the time we went to watch movies, attend the debut of JC's sister [with Kiko dancing the debutant], and food galore!

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Yesterday, in the parenting section of a local magazine, I read this short article simply entitled “Spoiling” with a teaser, “Do you find yourself giving in to your child’s demands for toys or treats? Could your kids be spoiled?”

I was immediately drawn to it as I was “naughtily” teaching my nephew the Ogie Alcasid’s “you’re such a loser Yaya… however, however..” line. I don’t intend to really make him an annoying brat. I’m just making fun of him since he responds greatly to whatever he’s hearing now.

I remember when people said my parents spoiled me when I was young. I always associated this comment with meaning that they gave me too much, and sometimes when my life’s in the deep end of the ocean, I wonder whether that’s true. Is it possible that I believed I should have everything and everything should come easily to me? No, I didn’t think that, and if I did, the world quickly schooled me otherwise.

However, this subject of spoiling children by giving them too many material possessions and letting them “have their way” seems to come up increasingly in conversation and in media. We probably all know children who have the latest video game consoles, more toys than the nearest daycare center, more clothes than they can possibly wear, and who clearly understand that throwing a royal tantrum wins whatever they wish. Sometimes these children may belong to us.

How do we determine what spoiling means? I think what we’re really saying when we say a child is spoiled is the child lacks discipline that we believe should have been instilled by the parent. However, I also think some parents are so fearful that they will raised a spoiled brat that they go overboard with denying their children enriching experiences and other pleasures.

Further research gave me Karen at Pinoy Mom Network called “Ways to Make A Spoiled Brat.” At Karen’s personal blog she has a list of ways to produce at rotten child, one of which is “Be Inconsistent” about discipline.
Bribe them, buy their love. In our society where both parents are often working, we are constantly beset with guilt: guilt that we often leave our children to caregivers or grandparents, guilt that we are not there to witness their milestones in life, guilt that there are times when we are not there for them. So how do we compensate? We shower them with expensive gifts, treat them to any toy of their choice, we give in to just about anything they ask for, after all we owe them. Here’s a newsflash, kids are extremely intelligent creatures, believe me they will catch up on what you’re doing. They will try to stir every situation to their advantage, they know that mommy and daddy will eventually give in.

Ignore the work that they’ve done. Not letting the kids know that you appreciate the extra effort they made to make their beds or bring the dishes to the sink will surely nurture the little brat in them. After all, whether they do good today or just slack off, it will all be the same with mommy and daddy. Slacking is much easier.

Be a bad example. How do we act in front of our kids? Do we also act hard to please and demanding? Do we give more importance to the monetary value of the gifts we receive, rather than the thoughtfulness of the giver? Do we constantly berate our household help for the littlest things? Perfect!

Be inconsistent. When trying to discipline our children, we often unleash a torrent of threats: don’t watch tv on a school night or you’ll be grounded for a week; if you hit your sister one more time I will not give you any cookies; if you don’t pass all your subjects this quarter you won’t be allowed to leave the house forever! And when the set rules are not met, we don’t follow through on our threats. Again, kids are really intelligent, after a while they realize that by saying that they are really, really, really, really, really sorry [plus a sad puppy look to boot], you eventually let them off the hook.

By the way, pictures here are of my pamangkin. Do you see him being that bratty? You’re such a loser yaya. Whatever, however, eeewwww…

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Sunday came once again. It was some how rainy and gloomy. To better enjoy it, Kiko and JC’s presence should be there. So after watching TV, pancit canton, tapsilog and seeing the new batch of ABS-CBN’s Star Circle, we went into our usual banters. It was a lovely and funny afternoon as everyone shared their comic sides and shared each others stories.

I have not seen them since I got back from Baguio so we thought that it’s a must to go out. Many suggestions had been considered but all agreed to just watch WALL E.

We made our way to Gateway, goofed around, took our snacks at Burger King and reserved ourselves theater seats.

Wall-E brought a desolate vision of the future that is softened by sophisticated storytelling, memorable characters and a good sense of humor — impressive, considering the film is largely lacking in dialogue. Humans have abandoned Earth for luxury liners in space following a catastrophic buying blitz that has left the surface of the planet covered in waste.

After hundreds of lonely years of doing what he was built for, WALL•E [short for Waste Allocation Load Lifter Earth-Class] discovers a new purpose in life [besides collecting knick-knacks] when he meets a sleek search robot named EVE. EVE comes to realize that WALL•E has inadvertently stumbled upon the key to the planet’s future, and races back to space to report her findings to the humans [who have been eagerly awaiting word that it is safe to return home]. Meanwhile, WALL•E chases EVE across the galaxy and sets into motion one of the most exciting and imaginative comedy adventures ever brought to the big screen.

Joining WALL•E on his fantastic journey across a universe of never-before-imagined visions of the future, is a hilarious cast of characters including a pet cockroach, and a heroic team of malfunctioning misfit robots.

Younger audiences may squirm as the first half hour or so goes boldly without much dialogue, but Wall-E’s personality-infused whistles and squeals are executed seamlessly. I was not sure of my feelings at the earlier part of the movie. I was just there listening to people. Jc was laughing and so as the people behind me. I then thought maybe it’s the effect of too much Vodka I had the other night. So I tried to focus on understanding and feeling the movie. After few minutes, I found myself being drawn to it at last.

It is supposedly a story of robots. But Wall-E’s got the hearts [and maybe even the tear ducts] of audiences in the bag. Even though he has the company of a pet cockroach, his loneliness is heartbreakingly palpable — especially when viewers catch sight of the bot’s broken-down robobrethen, and it hits home that the tender droid has been by himself for a long, long time.

The film’s pace picks up when an egg-shaped probe called Eve arrives on Earth. She’s a sleek, white, laser-equipped fembot sent by the megacorporation that fueled the current disaster. Although Eve has an infectious digigiggle, her itchy trigger finger and cool exterior don’t radiate charisma quite as deeply as lovable Wall-E does.

Still, it’s love at first pixel for Wall-E, who does his best to woo Eve with his treasure trove of salvaged goods before a simple sprout wins her heart and simultaneously shuts her down, summoning her mothership.

From then on, the film is a wild ride through space that lands Wall-E and Eve on Axiom, the spaceship that contains what’s left of the human population. The first glimpse of humans nearly 1,000 years into the future — they’re “giant babies, completely devolved” — is not a pretty sight.

After hundreds of years aboard Axiom, humanity has turned into a sea of lazy, machine-dependent consumers content to float on plus-size hovering recliners and slurp supersize sodas. People are immobile blobs of overindulgence, but the ugly reality is deftly delivered as comedy.

The CEO of Buy ‘n Large reveals that humans are never meant to return to Earth. His revelation results in a 2001: A Space Odyssey-inspired fight scene between the ship’s captain and Axiom’s autopilot that raises lingering questions about humanity’s future and our relationship with technology.

A truly romantic film at heart, the film ends on a cheerful note — for Eve and Wall-E. The fate of humankind is left rather vague, probably wisely, since their enlarged physiques, jellied bone structure and total lack of agricultural knowledge doesn’t exactly spell promise for rebuilding Earth.

It’s a message kids might miss, but a potent, topical theme that will surely ring with adults.
At least the robots will love, and live on.

Behind Wall-E’s puppy-dog binocular eyes lies a deep-rooted message: If we don’t clean up our act, our Roombas are going to inherit the Earth.

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It’s monsoon season and its drizzling outside. I have not been able to sleep as our stupid land lady bugged me for advance payment [but that's a different story], I sat next to the window and gazed out at the far huzzle buzzle road that never gets tired of the traffic even in such wet weather. Its kind of very good time pass to watch the vehicles pass by tearing the watery roads.

It’s been long since I have gone out for a late night walk, I thought to myself. A sudden thought that struck like a bolt of lightning in me. Yeah, my occasional night walks listening to good, soothing, melodious music all alone in the peaceful empty night roads.

A voice from the other room, “Kuya, kain na at lalamig na to”, thats our Yaya. She is very specific in having our dinner on time, the voice continued “Am not going to warm it once again if it gets cold, come and have it”. With an affirmative sign I went to the table before I could hear the second call.

I took the mushroom soup only. After the good warm “soup dinner” I headed back to my window, there is nothing in this world that can match the pleasure and satisfaction of soup meals on a cold rainy night.

When the clock struck 7:30, I hurried and prepared myself to work. I decided to just walk my way to EDSA instead of taking a cab that will take me directly to Ortigas. Yeah that solitary walk on the empty roads near my place. The rain was hesitantly falling from the sky dancing to the tune of the wind; I stepped out of my house and started to walk on the silent night road alone. My journey started, it has no particular destiny just a casual night walk. It is very cold outside, in spite of wearing a jerkin and a jean trousers I could feel the chill spill all over my body. With my jerkin top covering my head my headphone of my mobile phone was saved in my ear.

I even hummed the song I used to hear from little kids in our province.

Kung ang ulan ay parang tsokolate,

O anong sarap ng ulan.

Ako’y lalabas at ako’y nganganga

Hahahaha hahaha hahaha

O anong sarap ng ulan

O anong sarap ng ulan

My favorite house music [ahh], what a heavenly feeling! As my hands gripped into my jeans trousers I walked further down the road. The busy roads had a break at last, no one is on the roads except me and few of the vehicles that pass by once in a while. I felt myself totally free, no stress, no strain just me alone walking in the cold rainy weather.

How beautiful is this place in night!!! with the drizzling and the cold wind, walking alone with my favorite tune playing in the headphone that I plugged into my ear. A cold wind slept past me, I could feel my nose getting pinched by the cold, its time for something to have hot. I don’t night walk the same road, I remember the last time about few months back I walked down the east road that leads to a totally different direction but this time I walked south where you have some tea shop opened till 12 or 1 at night. I saw a tea shop that I used to go sometime to have a tea and buy myself a “pang-banyong tsinelas”.

As I got into the tea shop lifting my jerkin head cover a voice asked, ‘Sir coffee or tea?’…

Gimme a strong tea with high sugar’ I said, that’s how i like to have tea.. Strong but in a sweet way.

Got a cigarette from the shop boy and went to the corner table of the shop. As i lighted the cigarette my tea arrived with a voice ‘Sir tea’… With a head shake due to cold and as a gesture to say yes I held the glass with my palms covering the cup, it is nice and hot it made my cold shivering palms warm.

I took a sip of the strong brew, its perfect… thats the way it should be, I could feel the hot liquid flow all the way down within me. Rain outside never gave up, its still showering while I was enjoying my cup of tea, nice and hot that added a warm to my cold body. And yes, I tried smoking again.

After finishing my tea, I again started to walk briskly… Its a pleasing and soothing experience to walk all alone in the rain! No disturbance, no noise… So calm and cold… Dont know how many will like this kind of solitary late night walk, but for me its gives me the greatest pleasure. A pleasure while I lead my way to work.

Before I could reach the place to hail a bus to Megamall, I got a call from Z,’Where are you? I didn’t mind…

I turned off the phone and walked in the same pace as I started with my hands clutching in my jeans… Oh i just had my time today, a small enjoyment which many refuse to go out in such a rainy weather. I was almost reached home, I thanked myself for the splendid rain walk.

Releasing my hands from my trousers raised it up to my shoulder, looked above the showering dark sky… Thats the way you welcome a good monsoon rain. Stood there in that position for few second thanked the almighty for the soothing slow rain.

After a long time its a nice cold, melodious, poetic, rainy, night walk… There is nothing that can match my solitary night walk, that too in slow drizzling rain to add more romance for my lovable walk. Nevermind the problem on how I’m gonna dry myself.

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Im a self confessed whore. A cam whore to be exact. So are my friends.

Aside from the usual hearty laughs, banters, food binge-ing and photoshoots, we have added “Ang Spoiled” and photo editing to our growing list of stress busters.

While Zelot and Gay discover the secrets of great photography, I’m doing the easier part by cheating [hahahaha]. I manipulate our pictures using Adobe Photoshop.

For this week, I’m into lomography.

I love lomo shots, I like the vignette feel and how the colors contrast. Of course, I don’t own a lomo camera so the next best thing is post processing by Photoshop. Here is an example of a lomo-ized shot:

For those unfamiliar with lomo photography, this effect is achieved by lomo cameras by cross-processing photos, meaning the use of chemicals not intended for that specific type of film. Typically, Lomo users will take a color-slide film and then have it processed as a standard 35mm film [which uses different chemicals for photo processing], resulting in unique [oftentimes strange] exposures. Lomography inspires a passion and devotion to photography that is both heart warming and accesable, it has an organic feel that runs totally in the face of the sterile digitally enhanced age we live in.

Here’s what the photo above looked like before I edited it out using Photoshop:

Notice the difference between the two shots? If you want to know how cool your picrtures can be, try playing your Adobe. Abi is starting her own projects now. One good thing about exploring like this is you get to know your way around Photoshop bit by bit. Try it out, it’s like making new photos out of old ones.

FYI

Lomography… is a style of photography that was inspired by one particular camera the LOMO LC-A . A camera made by russians for russians, very simple in design a ‘trabant’ for photographers if you like.

Delightfully inconsistant Lomo cameras all have there own personality with ocasional light leaks and shutter lines, which all helps Lomography emphasize casual, snapshot photography. Characteristics such as over-saturated colors, off-kilter exposure, blurring, “happy accidents,” and alternative film processing are often considered part of the “Lomographic Technique.” Users are encouraged to take a lighthearted approach to their photography, and use these techniques to document everyday life, as the Lomo LC-A’s small size, simple controls, and ability to shoot in low light encourages candid photography, photo reportage, and photo vérité.

So there!

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I was starting to feel a little blue because of little things adding up for the last months. Yes, I just came from a vacation and have tried to set aside the issues but I believe everyone gets those days when things don’t seem to go your way no matter what you do and no matter what you tell yourself you just get frustrated. Maybe it's also the weather that's making me feel this way again. It's funny how bad paranoia can affect you and how evil people can get. Uh well, I'll just go by Gay's YM stat before - "Paranoia knows no reason nor logic. Stop that nonsense!"

The internet not working [fixed now]. Cable TV not working [fixed now]. Me losing a small photo album I always carry with me ever since I could remember with photos dating back from my grade school days for which I don’t have any more copies [will never find it].
Sigh on the last one.

I think I feel the way I do mostly in part because I miss home. It’s not going back to where I used to live and living the life again but the thought of what I previously had, how it felt like to have someone take care of you and to always have friends you grew up with at hand.

I miss being young again and having my parents make the decisions for me. I miss the summers in between school when the only major dilemma I had was what to do for the day, when will I have enough pocket money to go out, and where and when my friends and I would meet up.

I miss not worrying about what to eat for my next meal because someone always prepared it for me and fixed up after. I miss someone doing my laundry, fixing my bed, driving me around. I miss the lazy weekends curled up in bed next to my parents and sisters and watching just any stupid show on TV. I miss the shared meals on the table.

But mostly, I think, after all these months, I actually miss my family being together, as in really miss it. I miss my Mama doing polvorons and pancakes [hotkeyk as we call it], I miss thinking of what to give Papa for his birthday. I miss us talking and laughing together. I realize that one can never have enough time with the people they love.

With that being said, I feel so much better. Writing and knowing that people will read what you write is good therapy. I mean I’m not the type who writes about family issues, this being one of the really rare times, but I guess it’s good to do so once in a while. Yes, I’m human after all.

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When do you tell yourself that the pain you’re experiencing is not normal anymore? When do you suggest being taken to the hospital? This was the struggle I experienced the last time I was rushed to the Medical City. It first occured on my last day in Baguio. Thinking that it’s just a normal abdominal pain, I tried to ignore it. The next day, soon as we arrived here in Manila, the pain struck again. I was really in severe pain. I decided to ask my sister to bring me to the hospital after I vomitted twice. The same continued on our way there.

On arrival, I was checked over by a nurse. She gave me something to help with my symptoms. I honestly can’t remember if it was a spray or a tablet she gave me. Whatever she put under my tongue definitely helped with the pain and my breathing. She left the room to go get some advice. She returned and said that I needed to be endorsed to the surgery department. I was asked a series of questions, he was making sure I felt ok, asking about my abdominal pains etc. I think he was trying to get a bit of background to pass on to those at who were going to be taking over my care.

Follow up:

On arrival I was taken into a room and put on a machine that checks all your vitals like heartbeat, blood pressure, etc. My blood wasn’t right. My heartbeat was also very fast. I think it was around 120bmp. I then had a CT Stono taken. They couldn’t see anything of concern. They decided I needed further tests to do with my pains because the doctor wasn’t happy with what I was saying with regards to my symptoms. Apart from the abdominal pains, what other symptoms do you have? he asked. I told him that I really feel strange like being numb all over, peing was painful, my throat too and that I felt like puking again. He didn’t look happy. He asked if there was anything else. I said yes, I have a pain going down my urethra. My neck seemed stiff too.

I was moved to another room few hours later. Some tests were again executed. That was scary knowing they were talking medical terms. I also find it funny because the door sign of the room I was in said OB Gynecology”. WTF!!!

The consultant came to see me that evening and had a chat with me concerning the tests. He seemed happy with the results but still perplexed as to what was causing the symptoms, especially my pains. He advised that we may have another scan of the abdominal area. [I think this was because of my continued gastro symptoms].

Anyway, the waiting felt like forever. I was anxious and worried also about my sister waiting for me. She skipped school becuase of my emergency and has not eaten anything yet. It wasn’t until the doctor came back to see me later on that he mentioned my kidneys. Kidney stones in fact. He asked if I’ve undergone medications or anything that could have caused this. I said no. He wanted to do a couple of blood tests I think, to see if they could find the cause. Nothing appeared to show up as a probable cause.

After completing all the tests, clearance from my “OB GYNE” [hahahaha] I was allowed to go home. Bilateral nephrolithiasis [??] - the main reason I was told. I was given some medications to take home with me. I was given a form and told to go back and see my own urologist. I visited my doctor the following day. I told him what had happened and he told I did the right thing, such pains MUST be checked out. He asked if I had been given anything to take when I was discharged. I said no. [I told him when I was in hospital they gave me anti spasm and pain killers] I told him I was not experiencing heartburn. He prescribed omeprazole to help with the gastro symptoms which I’ll for a period of one month. Unfortunately it doesn’t appear to be doing anything for my symptoms. When I read the leaflet on omeprazole, I couldn’t believe it. It mentioned heartburn. I can tell you, HEARTBURN IS NOT what I was experiencing.

Going back to what the hospital did find, I did a bit of research about the kidney stones. I was asked to strain my wee wee to check for sediments. Since I chose the option of not going under the knife, I was prescribed tons of pain killers until the stone settles down my urethra. It’s still painful everytime I forget to take my meds and I hate the drowsy and dumb feeling after taking them. But I guess, I’m left with no choice. Sad.

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After a couple of days of turning down good time offers on Thursday and Friday, a strong impulse shoved me out of my Fortress of Solitude last Saturday night. On hitting the centre Z and I popped by San Miguel by the Bay bar strip. A certain group with so hard to understand name was playing to a lovely lively crowd. It seems like every time I go to the place, someone will be playing house music which of course immediately catches my attention hence the existence of any live group. Elektro was played, as well as the rest of my BED playlist, well, it’s always good for a drink or two.

Next, Z suggested that we went to check out the end of the strip which projects movie scenes on their screen. I missed all the films and videos, but caught up with a few people I hadn’t seen in a while. A couple of beers later and I was off to another, where a dude named Chris was having a going-away party.

The bar seems to have it going on: it looks good, the drinks are a bit on the pricey side, but not unreasonably so, the music [at least last night] was pretty danceable house, and there were a fair number of familiar faces there.

A bit of chatting, a couple of beers, too many cigarettes and a cab ride later I was in the far more genuine atmosphere of Malate. The contrast in vibe was kind of stunning in a pleasant way.

I pulled a bit of a whitey after a beer and a few hauls off a spliff and took off. It was around half past three in the morning at this point and I was in no mood to take a night tram back home. So I hung out in O-bar for few beers and a bit of people watching.

Before all these nga pala, we were looking for a new resto to try and so we’ve seen Pupung and Friends accidentally, since I am not so familiar with MOA all I can remember is that this resto is beside an escalator and another new restaurant KKK. Nates and I wanted to try this before but too bad, they were already closed when we both got there. Good thing Z asked me earlier this time.

The Food

We ordered Rib Eye Pork Steak which costs 125.00 including java rice and a glass of ice tea. We also ordered halo-halo.

They also offer, tapa, liempo, longanisa, bangus belly, bbq tuna in sticks, breaded porkchop.

For drinks, they have guinumis [cold drink with coconut milk], halo-halo and buko pandan. They also have green mango ensalada, tinuktuk[?] and laing.

The Cost

An order of a meal would cost around 70-88 pesos, their highest price of food is the pork steak. Drinks costs aroubd 16-25 pesos for soda and ice tea.
Other sidings you could order for 10.00 or 15.00 or 25.00 like laing or pinakbet.
Extra rice cost 12.00 and java rice costs 16.00.

The Ambience

It looks a little crowded and they cannot accommodate all the people coming in so the tendency is to look for another restaurant nearby. Their design is a big tarpaulin on the wall of Pupung and Friends comics, plus they wrap another comics tarpaulin in one of the big posts. They even use it to decorate their lampshape with Pupung and Friends cartoons.

Service

It takes a while for your order to arrive, around 15-20 minutes, but if you ordered breaded porkchop it is readily available, if it needs to be barbequed you have to wait. Though we did not order porkchop, you can see it in their counter that it is already prepared. Maybe it is just their soft opening so they are a little slow.

The concept

Their menu is not new but their concept it, they named their food after the character in the comics, the decoration I think is original. They do not need a lot of advertisement because there is a lot of walk-in clients. They may be familiar with Pupung and Friends and the food is cheap.

Rating

I would give them a rating of 6 out 10, because I like what we ordered, but it is not a candidate for my favorite reataurant. You might just try it but nothing will make you come back, maybe the price or maybe if there is a long line in other resto.
The food is similar with Binalot and other street resto offering tapsi and breakfast meal. Maybe in one year they need to add, french fries, spaghetti, carbonara, and other food and maybe name it Pupung and Friends in Italy or France or America so you can order a burger. Hehehehe.

Oh! and yeah, Nates treated me out last time we were there. After hearing the mass at EDSA Shrine, we went to MOA and had couple of drinks. It was a night worth remembering kse unang libre niya to since he got back. More to come Nates!

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I have been known to be the guy who can usually quip “mahirap” with flair. It’s not because I claim to be rich or trying to act as one. The term has been used to encourage laughter or to suggest good time. I may have offended some [sorry] but I will appreciate a good brain equipped to understand.

The name “AL” equates to the term “jokingly mean” so if you’re not up to having a good time, let me know. Just don’t use it against me. Oh please, we have our own shares of “kalokohan at kakulitan”.

In his essay “The Soul of Man under Socialism”, Oscar Wilde wrote the following:

“Ordinary riches can be stolen; real riches cannot. In your soul are infinitely precious things that cannot be taken from you.”

Televisions, laptops, jewelry, mobile phones, iPods, in fact anything a consumer can acquire for money, can all be stolen. Some things – the most precious things – cannot.

I have my own riches that nobody can steal…

• Snuggling up under a warm blanket on the sofa with a good book on a cold night
  Sitting quietly with the TV’s remote control in my hand swhitching through channels
  Watching the waves hit the shore as the sun sets over the sea
  Feeling the change in the air when -BER months finally arrive
• Seeing my parents together
  Knowing that I have my mother’s love and respect
  Playing with my nephew
  A good banter with my siblings
• The peace and quiet of a forest
  Star gazing
  The smell of grass after a rainfall
  Watching a log fire burn
• Laughing so much that it hurts
  Picture takings
  Knowing who I am
  My MP3s
• Spending hours at the library just browsing the books
  Enjoying comments on my blog
  Playing cards and board games [but NOT Monopoly]
  Designing or doing some layouts with Adobe
• Watching the wildlife back home in Mindoro
  The smell [and taste] of fresh baked buns
  Walking barefoot on grass on a sunny day
  Watching a heavy rain storm
  Egg and mayonnaise sandwiches
  Sitting in the sun, knowing that the vitamin D is making me stronger
• Scouring “wagwag” in Baguio
  Meeting new friends there
  Eating fresh strawberries
  Wearing a scarf
• Hopping on the scales and seeing that I’ve lost weight
  Baste ‘98
  Baby talk with my managers
  Binging on pancakes or waffles with a friend
• Receiving a hand written letter
  Snuggling up in a bed with fresh, line dried linen
  Sprawling on the sofa, listening to music
• Home made pizza
  Seeing my family achieve their goals, however small
  The smell of cinnamon
  Barbeques on the beach
  Learning something new
  Watching clean washing blowing in a breeze
  My memories… many, many of them

The list isn’t limited to the above; there are endless things that make me feel happy and contented with life. Sometimes we all need to remind ourselves of the riches that really matter - those that money just can’t buy. What would you put on your list?

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