Seeking and Handling Feedback

“You want the truth? You can’t handle the truth!” – A Few Good Men

A couple of weeks ago, one of my colleagues and I resumed our collaborative reviews on several documents on our operations. Unlike before when I was the one who sought their comments on my drafts, it was the other way around this time, with me reviewing theirs.

Coming from a multicultural work environment where feedback – whether positive or negative – were reviewed and resolved in a professional manner, I was surprised with the animosity and defensive stance that was now laid out in black and white in response to my remarks to the drafts. It was obvious that the comments, suggestions, and questions that I posted on the content, consistency, grammar, and aesthetics of the drafts were not at all welcome.

The remarks were taken as though they were personal attacks that were meant to question their authority or knowledge on the subject, when in fact the remarks were about the documents themselves.

So here’s a couple of questions for you. When you seek feedback, are you sure that you’re ready for the answers and some further probing? How do you handle feedback?

(P.S. Most of the drafts were later shown to be copied mostly verbatim from old references that had since been superseded, but that’s a subject for a separate article.)

Fence-sitting

For someone who does things passionately or not at all, it annoys me to no end whenever I come across fence-sitters. To a certain extent, indecisiveness is warranted. After all, there are factors to be considered before making a smart choice. However, when you've been spoonfed with options and criteria for months, fence-sitting is not acceptable. Not only does it show disinterest, it also shows lack of respect. Time lost can never be recovered, unless you've found your own elusive wormhole.

DIY Earrings Organizer

I love collecting earrings especially the dangling ones. I would usually bring home a new pair whenever I go back from trips as a souvenir or whenever something catches my fancy. However, rummaging through a jewelry case looking for THAT lone pair isn't my idea of fun especially when you need to rush.

This is where a DIY earrings organizer comes in handy. Your pairs are on display and it'll be easy to choose and place back the earrings.

I made this using only two materials.
1. a silkscreen frame - bought from the bookstore's art supplies, and
2. an old picture frame fold-up stand.

Instead of the silkscreen frame, you could also make your own mesh frames by upcycling old picture frames. Just remove the glass from the frame and replace it with a mesh-like material such as the mesh screen used for screen doors and windows or an old see-through scarf. Secure the mesh with hot glue. Once the glue cools, put the mesh frame on to the frame stand and you're done!

posted from Bloggeroid

Tofu salsa wrap

Weekend brunch called for something that is easy and hassle-free. Except for the tofu that requires frying, this was basically a no-cook recipe. I actually used fried tofu burger patties for this, but you can use fried tofu in lieu of it or other filleted meat like roasted chicken or tuna flakes.

Tofu Salsa Wrap
(makes 6 servings, preparation time: less than 10 minutes excluding frying)

3 fried tofu burger patties, diced (or 3 half inch slices of fried tofu)
lettuce

salsa:
1 cup minced tomatoes
1/2 cup minced cucumber
1 tbsp minced green onion
3 tbsp Caesar salad dressing
1/4 cup grated cheddar cheese
salt and pepper, to taste
garlic powder or minced garlic, to taste (optional)

3 8-inch wheat tortilla wraps
lettuce leaves

Procedure:
1. Fry the tofu or tofu patties until golden brown. Let it cool and then dice into half-inch cubes. Set aside.

2. In a medium bowl, mix tomatoes, cucumber, green onions, cheese, Caesar salad dressing, garlic powder and diced tofu. Season with salt and pepper.

3. Lay out a few lettuce leaves on a tortilla wrap and top with a layer of the tofu salsa mix. Roll the tortilla and slice in half. Secure with a toothpick or wrap in wax paper. Serve immediately. You may store this in the fridge for a couple of days.

posted from Bloggeroid

Death by Ennui

It's been a while since I last posted here. The test post doesn't really count.

I've been meaning to write more, if only I haven't been drowning in a bottomless pit that is ennui.

Yes, ennui... as in boredom.

Lately, it's been Groundhog day one after the other. Frankly, I'm getting sick of it.

I'm sure there is more to life than breathing in and out, or playing with puppies - cute as they may, or reading.

The optimist in me says things can only get better, but at the moment, Polyanna is on life support (figuratively)  .

Don't worry, I'm sure Little Miss Bubbly or Sarcastic is still in there somewhere, but in the mean time, I'll be around the corner on the lookout for my rightful place under the sun and hopefully back to my perky self.

Au revoir!

Test post

Let's see if it works. :-)

Mt. Samat at last!

I keep a mental note of places that I should visit and tick off my bucket list. A few years back, I promised myself that my feet should touch the three main group of islands in the Philippines (Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao) before I continue exploring other countries. I did just that when I went on a trip with my office mates to Bohol, Camiguin and Cagayan de Oro and left the then-stormy Manila for about a week in July of 2005. I went to a few more places after that (Palawan, Boracay, Vigan, Cebu - excluding my trips abroad), yet somehow there's this one place that remained elusive.

It's ironic that for someone who hailed from Bataan and whose own grandfather was among those who survived the Bataan Death March of World War II, I have never been to Mt. Samat - Dambana ng Kagitingan (Shrine of Valor)... that is until last month.

As kids, we grew up listening to Tatay (Filipino term for father, but in this case, Tatay is my grandfather) and his war stories, including the Death March. I could almost see his eyes sparkling and hear his booming voice as he relived the events. Listening to Tatay's WWII stories sure beat reading about it in history books. (I miss Tatay...)

We would always pass several Death March markers along the highway whenever we go and visit my grandparents, but it was the big white cross on Mt. Samat that never failed to catch my eye. It's just there, standing proud, asking me when I would finally visit the hallowed grounds.

When my uncle told us that he would be going with a group to Mt. Samat, I knew I couldn't pass up the opportunity. I tagged along with them.

The paved road leading to Mt. Samat slowly inclined upwards until we reached the enclosure. We paid Php20.00 (about half a US dollar) per head, paid the parking fee at the gate and continued going upwards until we reached the foot of the cross.

The grounds were covered with greenery and visitors could choose between driving until you reach the foot of the cross or trekking the winded path from the museum that led to it.

Battle of the Pockets wall art at the base of the Shrine of Valor museum  

Detail of wall art at the base of the cross at Mt. Samat.  The sculpture at the bottom center shows Dr. Jose Rizal being shot by a firing squad. 

Detail of marker from the wall art at the base of the cross. My rough translation of the text: On this historical place at Mt. Samat, within Pilar, province of Bataan (lay) buried the stone foundation for building the Shrine of Valor, during the incumbency of President Ferdinand E. Marcos. 14th of April 1966. 

One of the two markers within the foot of the cross that lists some details on its rehabilitation. 

Marker within the foot of the cross that lists the main movers who originally built the cross.  

The Mt. Samat Memorial Cross was as high as a 35-storey building. We rode a small elevator up to the viewing decks. From the two white washed viewing decks, you could see the Philippine Sea as well as the surrounding hills. After getting our fill of the view, we went down the cross, took a few more pictures panning the cross, and then traced the winding path to the museum below.

Inside one of the two viewing decks in the cross. I'm not sure which wing this was as the wings were identical. 

Jing takes a photo of the view from the rose window on one of the viewing decks in the cross. 

Mt. Samat Memorial Cross. 

Me and my green thongs on Mt. Samat.

The winding path at the foot of the cross led to the museum below.

The museum as viewed from above. The frame on the wall to your right enclosed a map sculpture that traced the Death March.  

We didn't get to go inside the museum (downstairs) as it was closed for lunch, but we did go to the top floor where there was a map sculpture that traced the Death March as well as an account of what happened.

I would have shown you pictures of the WWII cannons and other big guns installed at the grounds of the museum, but my phone's battery went dead. So after buying a few souvenir shirts we went on our way back home.

The Mt. Samat Memorial Cross and Shrine of Valor can mean many things to different people, but mainly they serve as a reminder of our country's rich history, the horrors of war, the many unsung heroes and the lessons that we should all learn from them. For me, seeing the Mt. Samat cross, even at a distance would mean this: I am home and I've got my grandparents and your grandparents to thank for it.

i heart you... and other cheesiness

It's February! Well, we're halfway done through February, but it is the month of love and what better way to promote single awareness than through Valentine's Day? ;)

In the days leading to February 14, there were several contests amongst our friends on coming up with the sweetest, if not, cheesiest original lines or love quotes reserved for the occasion. Below are some of the lines, I came up with, in no particular order.

Enjoy, swoon, barf or laugh... I know I did. :D

1. "Ibibigay ko sana sa 'yo ang puso ko, kaya lang nakuha mo na pala." (I was going to give you my heart, but then you already have it.)

2. "Sana bra na lang ako, para lagi akong malapit sa puso mo." (I wish I were a bra, so that I'll always be close to your heart.)

3. "Pag mahal ko, guapo. lahat ng iba pangit na." (If I love him, he is handsome. All else are ugly.)

4. "Wag ka nang maglaro ng 'she likes me, she likes me not.' Hindi kita like. Love kita." ( (Don't bother playing 'she likes me, she likes me not.' I don't like you. I love you.)

5. "I trust you."

6. "Alam ko na ngayon kung bakit di kami nagkatuluyan ng ex ko. Kasi tayo pala dapat." (Now I know why my ex and I didn't end up together... It's because it should be us.)

7. "You're not Mr. Perfect, but you are the perfect one for me."

8. "Love is a choice and I chose to love YOU."

9. "The three sweetest words that a partner can say to another is not 'I love you.' It's 'YOU WERE RIGHT.'"

10. "Hindi ka ba nilalanggam? Ang sweet mo kasi!" (Aren't you being swarmed by ants? You're so so sweet, that's why!)

11. "You're like a defibrillator, you made my heart beat again."

12. "I don't care if I weren't your first, but I wanna be your last."

13. "Sana T-shirt na lang ako, para laging nakayakap sa yo." (I wish I were a t-shirt, so that I'm always embracing you.)

14. "Simple lang naman ang gusto ko sa buhay. Ok na sa akin yung guapo, matalino, may sense of humor, matangkad at mayaman. Madali naman akong pasayahin. Parang ikaw, pwede ka na." (What I want in life are just simple. I'm ok with someone handsome, intelligent, with a great sense of humor, tall and wealthy. I'm quite easy to please. Just like you, you made the mark.)

15. Out of sight, out of mind? or Absence makes the heart grow fonder?

16. "You're like a cigarette, you're a hard habit to break."

17. "Di ko na kailangan ng February 14. Kapag kasama kita, Valentine's Day na kaagad yun." (I don't need February 14. When you're with me, it's automatically Valentine's Day.)

and my favorite...


18. "Bakit ka pa makikipagsugal sa iba, eh panalo ka na sa puso ko?" (Why gamble with others, when you've already won my heart?"

<3 <3 <3

What is your favorite love quote?

Ryan

What do you do if your past stared at you in the face?

Some people would welcome the opportunity to go back in time and take a different turn. I’m not one of them. However, unlike most people, I have been given the chance to resolve my past, uninvited, and through a different person.

It has been a few months ago but the scene is etched in my mind as though it happened moments ago.

It was in Brisbane. My friends and I were on our way to our friend’s house for a fortnightly meeting. It was an unusual night as we had to take public transport that day, so we met at the city before heading to the Denise’s place.

I was about to go home to Manila and was discussing what my plans were while we were standing in the bus. Jo and I were being our merry selves, excited and anxious at the same time, of what lay ahead. Jo was about to get married, and I was to go on a fresh start as well, after doing post-graduate studies in a foreign land.

The bus stopped and freed up some seats. I got to sit next to a blond Aussie guy who, at that time, was busy with his phone.

Jo and I continued our chat, when suddenly, the guy next to me asked for a favor. He wanted to get my opinion on a text message that he was about to send to his ex-girlfriend.

He said his ex dumped him today (Friday), through text, without as much as an explanation. He also said that tomorrow, Saturday, was his birthday.

The SMS draft showed all you would expect from a guy who was faced with such a predicament. It was filled with rage, surprise and a hint of self-pity.

At that moment, only one thing came to my mind. I couldn’t tell him this exactly, but it was a moment of serendipity. Figuratively, I was his ex-girlfriend.

I was taken aback and had to collect myself. Who the heck is this guy? What do I tell him? Should I just hug him and tell him it’s going to be alright?

What I did next surprised even myself.

I said to him, “Look at it this way. Tomorrow, on your birthday, she wouldn’t have to lie to you and say that she loves you. You are now both free to find that someone who will accept you and will love you better. So go and call your mates, get together and have a party. Tomorrow is the first day of the rest of your life.”

I also shared my lollies with him. :)

We never got to formally introduce ourselves to each other. Two stops later, we all got off the bus and went our separate ways. Someone called his phone and he mentioned his name was Ryan.

That night, I shared this story to my sisters and included prayers of peace for Ryan, his ex-girlfriend, my ex-boyfriend and me.

I guess there really was a time machine, just not how I had imagined it would be.

a year of waking up on the wrong(?) side of the planet

it's that time of the year to reminisce, recount and re-examine the year that was. a new year has dawned on me and i found myself in the other side of the equator, in a land not my own but where i chose to tread my own path.

last year, i was in one of the most alive cities i've ever known, where only tuesday nights are delegated to the twilight zone. the place was vibrating with energy. each day was a reason to celebrate, to commiserate, or to simply enjoy the company of friends and family who were just one holler, IM or SMS away.

the malls and the the tiangges* welcome the shopaholics, fashionistas and bargain-hunters alike with open arms, embracing them until exhaustion pulled them away or until the stores close at 9pm, whichever came first. the aroma of fresh coffee then beckoned you, and you find yourself sharing a cup or two of latest java mix while swapping stories and great finds with your posses. you step out outside of the coffee hub only to find yourself being drawn to the music being played by a local band in the pub next door. the doorman greets you and shows you to your usual couch where you sit and order a bucket of your favorite home-brewed amber drink, in this case, San Mig light or Red horse beer, with a plate or two of sizzling sisig, buttered garlic mushrooms, or a tray of pizza. the music gets louder and faster as the night progress. eventually, you get back to your senses and find your way home happy and revitalized for the day ahead.

tired of the usual movies and club scene, you head to the local rock climbing gym and literally climb your way to the top. tuesdays and thursdays are badminton nights, while weekends are spent at the pool or if you had booked early enough, at the white sand beaches along one of the thousands of kilometers of coastline that surrounds the land i call home (the top banner was shot in Boracay. also check out busuanga and panglao).

my favorite lola (grandma) whom i fondly call 'ima' was just a short road trip away, along with my cousins, nephews, and people who saw you 'evolve' from a lanky kid to a much taller but still lanky kid who looked like an adult.

as i'm writing this, i am seated lotus-style in one of the university lounges in the environment building alongside other students, who are busy tapping the latest assignment on their laptops or most checking out their facebook pages. not one of us look the same, as always - not the color of our skin or hair, not even the slight slant of our eyes. we can very well be poster kids for one of those benetton ads that used to fascinate me when i was growing up. neither of these grown kids are my classmates, as my own class starts in three and a half hours and in a different building.

i am a student again and have been one for almost a year now. i've traded my office bags for a backpack or tote. my feet had a hiatus from walking in stilettos for fear of being injured. i have worn my high heeled boots once and my feet did not forgive me for it.

the edgy corporate look was shelved for something more relaxed. no more leather pencil skirts and dress trousers. it's either t-shirts, singlets/ tank tops paired with jeans, shorts, or short skirts with comfortable, flat shoes or thongs.

i don't catch the fx, g-liner or the flamboyant jeep to work, but instead wait for the brisbane translink bus, or train, or sometimes citycat to take me from one place to another, mostly from home to uni, the mall, south bank, the city and everything in between, and back again.

my lungs have grown accustomed to the crisp, clean air that envelops brisbane, especially after this morning's brief rain shower.

there aren't as many familiar brown faces now, except when i go to attend church and fellowship meetings on sundays, or when my friends go to the movies or the city. instead, i'm surrounded by friends, classmates, and team-mates from every nook and cranny of the earth. my closest mates have hailed from bhutan, japan, taiwan, philippines (of course) and thailand, with new friends from italy, brazil, china, zimbabwe, mongolia, austria, sweden, iraq, australia, new zealand, egypt and canada.

i haven't picked up a badminton racket for almost a year now. i do run for my life with a rugby ball every wednesday night since the start of the semester playing touch football. before taking up touch football, i used to go to the local gym where i swam every once in a while or took a long leisurely walk to the nearby park to burn off some energy. (this partly explains where the kilos went since i got here.)

i still miss filipino food and i'm always eager to try the next best thing. so far, the closest i found was the roasted pork (in lieu of pork liempo) at the quaint Vietnamese BBQ restaurant at Sunnybank, or any of the chinese stir fried noodles for pansit in Little Hongkong at Market Square, as well as the taho dessert that they sell across the street, all at Sunnybank. There are a few Fiipino grocery stores but I never go there for fear of buying everything in sight. Their pan de sal bread is good though, my auntie buys some from there once in a blue moon.

i probably have sent out hundreds of resumes now and have revised my CV for an awful lot more times than that. i've seen career counselors, attended career talks and fairs and have amassed a fair number of giveaway pens and toys from all those events. i still continue to scour the job market, network and send CVs out in hopes of finding my match, and never losing hope. somehow, it seems that the J-man is preparing me for something really big, that's why i'm not getting any of the small-time gigs i was willing to settle for.

so now, i'm going back to perusing course readers, doing assignments, preparing for my seminar, and sending an application or two.

i'm facing challenges head on, as always, welcoming each day as an adventure waiting to be conquered.

there must be a reason why i'm still here, so why not make the most of it and have fun in the process? i will go back to manila someday, but for now i'll spend my days as an environment grad school student in oz, until the next adventure beckons.

homesick

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arrrrgggh!!! it's friday. i'm in front of the computer and terribly homesick. :(

i miss my family.
i miss my friends.
i miss work.
i miss uni.
i miss my classmates.
i miss badminton and then going for a few rounds at the pub.
i miss wall-climbing.
i miss food trips with my bff's.
i miss chilling out on the beach.
i miss manila.
i miss independence.

i think i'm getting depressed...

Waiting for Noah

Ondoy… The name sounds harmless doesn’t it? It’s just like any other boy’s nickname, but this particular name sent chills down my spine, gave me sleepless nights and possibly a few zits and high blood pressure.

If you haven’t heard about it yet, the whole Metro Manila and the surrounding towns and cities in Rizal (i.e. Cainta, Pasig City, Marikina City) got hit by one of the worst storms ever last weekend, 26-27 September 2009. According to news reports, the typhoon brought down an equivalent of 1-month’s supply of rain water within 12hours of hitting land. ‘Mega’-Manila was soon covered in murky flood, which reached up to the 3rd floor of buildings in some areas. That typhoon was named ‘Ondoy.’

Saturday, 26th September

Saturday was laundry day for me. After the horrendous dust storm last Wednesday that enveloped a good part of Oz with dust and left me and my classmates stranded at uni for the whole day, I figured it would be wise to wash off all the dirt and do some major vacuuming in my room. I spent a good half day or so washing the curtains and sheets, doing a fair bit of vacuuming any surface I laid my eyes on and replacing the flowers on the vase.

I got wind (pardon the pun) of the typhoon in Manila from my former office’s mass updates to its staff at about midday. At first, it said Metro Manila is now under typhoon signal one, wait for updates blah blah blah – the usual stuff. When it got to the part where it said that the many parts are now flooded and affected staff may skip work, I got worried.

You see, our family lives in a flood-prone area in Rizal – exactly where the storm hit the hardest.

There was once a TV ad which said “Umihi lang ng sabay-sabay ang tatlong aso, baha na agad dito! (If three dogs were to pee simultaneously, our street will get flooded!)” Well that TV ad was shot about two street corners from our place. Yup, we might as well invest in 4x4s, jet skis and speed boats or at least rubber boats and life preservers.

Kidding aside, when it did rain continuously, we would just watch the café au lait water rise on our street and busy ourselves with other stuff until the floods subside. Afterwards you’d see our neighbors go out of their houses to start the clean up process yet again.

Being on the other side of the Equator for a good 10 weeks now and with the next dust storm coming our way that evening, I sent text messages to my family back home to check up on them. No reply.

I tried calling all four mobile phones and our home phone number. No answer except for the recording which said that the number cannot be reached.

I called up my friends from nearby towns and I still got no answer. This was not good.

I called up my aunt/godmother – my Ninang - who lives a good hundred kilometers or so away from my family to check whether they heard anything from my mom or my siblings. Ninang said the last thing she heard from my sister on Saturday midday was that knee-deep flood water had entered our home and that there was something wrong with our garage, like it was about to break away or something.

Hmmm… knee deep, eh? With our family being taller than average and with our garage a good few feet higher that street level, I estimated that the flood on our street was no less than five feet deep. The flood rarely went up that high. It rarely entered our house, if at all.

Ondoy was not your average typhoon. It was worse than typhoon ‘Milenio’ which hit the Philippines or typhoon ‘Katrina’ which hit New Orleans a few years back.

I spent the next couple of hours trying to watch the game and vacuuming my room to take my mind off things. Earlier that afternoon, I forgot about the dust storm for a bit and left the windows open AFTER I vacuumed the room. *head-desk*

After the Broncos got pounded by the Storm (how ironic could it get?), I called Ninang again for updates. She said the last thing she heard was that the water in the house had subsided and they’ve got no place to sleep (probably from the wet beds), but that was about an hour ago. Ninang had not heard from them since then and it still continued to rain. I then called up one of my old neighbors, whose parents still live near our place, to ask if she got word from her folks. We talked for a bit but she had no update as well.

That was about the time I went online. I looked up what’s happening through Facebook and Twitter and also sent a few shout outs to friends and family. I jot down all emergency hotlines and reposted them for further dissemination. I didn’t receive any reply from my sister who was almost always online.

I went to sleep tired, stressed and with no credits left on my mobile.

Sunday, 27th September

I spent the morning milling about, reading a few passages or so and writing down a few words for one of four 3000+ word essays due in a couple of weeks. (I believe I put in a lame 300 words.) Before lunchtime, I hauled myself out of the house to buy credits for my mobile. I had one of those ‘budget’ Hokkien noodles at the mall and went on to buy some phone load. After that, I went milling about at the mall, at first with some interest in actually buying something I needed, but after a good half hour or so, I was just trying to find my way out of that place. Read: I got lost in the friggin’ mall.

When I finally did get out of the mall and was on the bus stop waiting for the ride home, a bus going to the other mall arrived. Lo and behold! I got on that bus and went to the other mall.

I went home that afternoon with a new hat and a cute pair of pants. Retail therapy – no surprise there…

I checked Facebook again, this time on my mobile phone for updates. Still no news on my family, I contacted a handful of old friends and old classmates who could or would know someone who could extend help to my family. I got a glimmer of hope when my classmate said that her brother-in-law was part of the volunteer rescuers and would try to get them to go check up on Mom.

I went to sleep a bit itchy from the dust, disappointed for the Broncos but with some hope that my family would be well soon.

Monday, 28th September

I checked Facebook on my mobile as soon as I got up. I found no reply from my classmate. It was then that I sent out a message again to more friends to ask for help. I even got a call from my cousin in Canada asking whether I’ve heard anything from Mom. By midday, my old classmate said that roads to our subdivision are passable and clear BUT her brother-in-law could not go to our place because the roads leading to our subdivision was neck-deep in flood water. Not good.

I tried calling up the emergency numbers I collected over the weekend and got through one particular number, which led me to another number that I thought was the National Disaster Coordinating Council. It turned out to be some kind of radio station and I soon found myself broadcasting my plea on air. They got my phone numbers and my Ninang’s off air afterwards but I haven’t received any updates from them. I also sent out their names on a missing person hotline for our area just to be sure.

I did receive a reply from one of my former office mates asking for the phone numbers of my family members. Of course, I gave it to them – each of my family’s mobile phones, my mobile numbers and that of my Ninang’s. At that time, my mobile credit was again tipping the wrong side of the scale and I knew I could not keep up this mobile Facebook updates much longer.

Tonight, I sent text messages again to friends and family back home. This time, one of my old neighbors replied. She had mostly good news. She said they went to our subdivision early that morning to have a look. According to her, the flood was almost one meter high on their street (their street was a bit higher than ours.). She also said that my family was ok and that there was no casualty in our area… except for our gate which was totaled. As always, there was mud all over the streets, this time it was at least one foot deep.

I reckon there was still no electricity otherwise my family would’ve contacted us by now. At least they’re safe. I hope I could say the same for some my friends. I can sleep a bit better now… until the next storm hits Metro Manila within the next three days.

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stalker?

last night, i took the bus as usual after my classes. as i was walking home, some guy in a black car pulled over the side of the road. he asked for my name and invited me to have coffee. when i said no, i'm going home, he offered me a ride. i said no thanks. he then did a u-turn and sped away.

creepy!!!!

the guy is white, with brown crew cut hair, about 6 feet tall and probably weighs around 200 lbs. he is in a black car, probably audi, new model. he's quite cute but still creepy!

when i got home, i told my relatives about it. they said i should file a police report on it... i haven't.

here's the best part.

later that night, while we watching tv, i told my cousin that the guy looks familiar. he looked like the guy who boarded the bus one stop before mine a month ago. my cousin said it must be fatal attraction. aaaarrrghh!!!

now my aunt says that i should call them minutes before my stop so they could meet me at the stop when i go home late at night.

i guess i have to change my travel patterns. i wonder if they still hold those self defense classes at school...

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meet me at the crossroads

okay, so it's been at least six months since i've last posted anything here other than mundane facebook status blasts. here's some of what transpired since then, in no particular order.

1. i finally met the wizard, of enchanted kingdom that is. we went there to celebrate my birthday, with my favorite cake at that, which led to number two.


devil food cake by the chocolate kiss cafe (image by the chocolate kiss cafe)

2. i rode the roller coaster 'til i puked. gross, i know, but yup it's the first time that's happened. we were so psyched to ride the space shuttle roller coaster that we practically made a dash for it when the gates opened. i rode it twice, as in two times in a row, to accompany my sister since she wasn't there for the first ride. good thing we have yet to eat pizza then. moving on...


space shuttle roller coaster (image by enchanted kingdom)

3. i bought my first laptop. it's a compaq presario with altec lansing speakers. hello DVD marathons and wifi! i had loads of extra money then and convinced myself that it's another of those "it's a gift for myself or something," one of several of course. well i thought i was going to use it for more nobler pursuits, like number four, for instance.


compaq presario cq40 (image from hp / compaq)

4. i had a quasi job that never happened. the contracts were written on water, which led to number five.

5. i got accepted to grad school!!! right now i'm procrastinating with the paperwork/ checking my lists / planning my trip to boracay with the girls / thinking of sneaking to Singapore to watch the Liverpool FC game with one of my bff's. mainly it's the grad school things i've busied myself with for the past few months aside from gym and i'm running out of time.

somewhere along the way, i also got to watch the david (cook) vs. david (archuleta) concert in manila with anne and lisa.

right now, i'm at the crossroads again. i'm quite sure of which road to take and i'm anxious, excited, and scared all at the same time.

que sera sera. note to self: you can do this. aja!

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25 Random Things About Me

Rules: Once you've been tagged, you are supposed to write a note with 25 random things, facts, habits, or goals about you. At the end, choose 25 people to be tagged. You have to tag the person who tagged you. If I tagged you, it's because I want to know more about you.

(if you're on my bloglist, consider yourself tagged.)

1. i love all things chocolate. i was allergic to it before, but that's why antihistamines were invented.

2. i don't mince my words. i hate it when other people do.

3. i fail at lying. see #2.

4. i love footwear. shoes, sandals, sneakers, heels, flats - if i like it and it fits, i'll buy it.

5. i love bags.

6. i'm impatient, ESPECIALLY WHEN I'M HUNGRY.

7. i make time for what matters most - love, work, or otherwise.

8. i don't sweat the small stuff.

9. i reserve strong feelings for people i care about. if i don't care for you, i won't even bat an eyelash, let alone get angry at you.

10. i hate it when people plan my life for me.

11. i like adventure, but i'm not suicidal. mountain hiking during typhoon season is not my idea of "fun."

12. if i want something, i'll do it. i once ventured on my own to a friend's home at the province, got lost, and eventually found my way armed with trivial info, pride and a lot of persistence. (hello rina!)

13. if i want something, i'll say it. see #2 and #3.

14. i have things in my closet that i bought AND haven't worn even once.

15. mornings are not for me.

16. sleep is sacred to me.

17. i have a weird talent of talking people into doing things they never thought they would do.

18. i'm super flexible.

19. my tummy has a mind of its own. it's also the major cause of my absences, if any.

20. i'm quite athletic (wallclimbing, volleyball, badminton, swimming, running, football) but i suck at basketball. yes, even if i'm tall.

21. i find it funny when guys grunt at the gym.

22. i have put my first aid and basic life support training to good use several times and i was scared as hell every single time.

23. i hate it when people who try to make me feel guilty. the world doesn't revolve around you nor myself. deal with it.

24. i hate red tape, asskissing, and inefficiency in general.

25. i never get drunk. i just get allergies.

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the best language

...is the one you both understand.

happy new year everyone!

mwah! mwah! mwah!!!

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Wolfgang 'Villains' album launch

Here's a snapshot of the band's performance a few hours ago. There's Manuel on lead guitar, Basti on vocals, and Mon on bass. Francis took over Wolf on drums.

\m/ (~,~) back from wolfgang vi: black christmas project

just got back from black christmas project, wolfgang's reunion concert and album launch for their new LP "villains" at eastwood city.

hmm... still giddy as a schoolgirl :D

the place was packed! razorback played a handful of songs before the wolfgang came in for the main act. the gig ended a bit too early (hello? 10 pm!) to make way for the autograph signing but we had fun. it was like high school and college days all over again.

the crowd sang along with basti artadi (vocals) most of the time, except for a few new songs. manuel legarda (guitars) and mon legaspi (bass) let it rip like there's no tomorrow.

it's like 6 years never happened and they never left! in this reunion concert, francis aquino (monkeyspank/loquy) did a fine job filling in for drummer, wolf gemora, at the concert and for their new album.

i got an autographed cd with the kind help of guitarist, manuel legarda, and a picture with him too! not bad at all!

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not so uneventful at all

i was on my way home tonight after the usual office grind. the green bus arrived and i worked my way in, being careful not to spill the mango-banana fruit shake on my hand. it seemed like an uneventful ride, until somewhere near pasig a handful passengers drew our attention to the smoke seeping into the bus. the bus was literally fuming!

it smelt of burning rubber and you could see the gray mist looming over the back end of the bus. suddenly, panic gripped the group. most us were scrambling to get our asses out of the bus, which could potentially become a death chamber.

the kids began to cry and scream. it didn't help that the smart asses seated in front fueled the fears of most of the passengers by dropping snide remarks like "bilis! sasabog na yan! (hurry! it's about to blow!)."

actually, it won't blow. the bus ran on diesel. it's just that the fumes are bad for your health.

so we continued to ram our way out the bus and i walked away as quickly as possible, while wearing high heels. when i turned around, i saw a lady stumble and was quickly helped by the others.

lucky us!

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as of today

it's been almost 5 weeks since i've seriously gone back to the gym. when i said seriously, i meant at least thrice a week. i've also taken on a more healthful diet to complement my new regimen. since then, i'm a bit more toned and stronger. i've also been told that i was hypermobile on some of my joints. the "ab" still needs work though, a lot of it, but it's better than before. i tried body jam last week. it was fun, even for someone with two left feet. :)

i still have not found the cure for my insomnia. not that it's anything new. i hit the sack today at 5am and woke up at 7am. :(

i've got tickets to yet another album launch for a rock band. the rocker chick is back. ;p

i've yet to attend another wedding. this time it'll be my college block mates who'll tie the knot. if i get a buck whenever someone asks when i'll get hitched, i would have gotten a jollibee franchise already. kidding. i wonder if i needed to buy a new dress... or new shoes for that matter.

i've yet to charge x months worth of services... and the last day of filing is tomorrow. arrgh! :o

oh, and manny pacquiao won against oscar dela hoya. the poor guy had enough after 8 rounds. i had a feeling oscar was gonna get pummeled when he went down to manny's division. pacman ftw! :D

i've also developed a mild addiction to reruns of the janice dickinson modeling agency reality show. it's eye candy with drama. speaking of eye candy, i'm having my share of it in the real world and at some social networking sites. the question is whether the eye candy(ies) in question is/are eying the ladies or the lads. it's getting harder to tell these days. it's also getting difficult to find people with a lot more to offer than just face value, but that's another story.

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