Autograph, please!

I prepared an activity for the choir last night...an autograph signing session. I gave each member a list of characteristics and opposite each item, kailangang papirmahin nila yung member ng choir na feel nila ay swak sa nasabing characteristic. Kaya lang, ang catch dun...kailangan pipirma lang yung person concerned...bawal magtanong, bawal umapela.

Eto nga pala yung autograph na naipon ko kagabi:



Responsible -> Dida...sobra ito, proven and time-tested
Mababaw ang kaligayahan -> Badet...ngitian mo lang, buo na araw nya
Maingay -> Badet...kahit on-going ang misa, hay!
Emotional -> Jingjing...di ba't umiyak pa nga sya kagabi?
Laging inaalaska -> Badet...medyo kakaiba kasi talaga sya...
Maganda ang mata -> Marvin...mala-Angel Locsin ba...
Mahiyain -> Carlito...ay sus! minsan gusto ko na nga sya i-mental telepathy
Madalas late sa Mass -> Jingjing...ikaw ba naman magkaroon ng maraming sideline!
Smiling face -> Jingjing...chinita kasi...uy, marami rin nagka-crush sa kanya!
Palaging "hyper" -> Dida...di na kailangan ng ecstasy!
Patient -> Elay...hats off ako sa kanya, over!
Mabagal kumilos -> Tina...matagal kasi sya tumawid mula McDonald's hanggang Petron
Sensitive -> Marvin...very motherly and caring
Hanep kumanta -> Tina...pwede nya kabugin si lola Regine!
Punctual -> Mike...mula noon, hanggang ngayon...mapa-practice, gig, o gimik
Prangka -> Tina...out-spoken
Madalas absent sa practice -> Dennis...pwede ko na rin sya gawan ng libro ng alibi...
Observant -> Elay...silent water runs deep
Sexy -> Marvin...pati bading nabibighani sa kanya...
Pasaway -> Jhrqx...the one, and the only!
Di mo malapitan (intimidating) -> Mike...katakot pag nakasimangot!
Matalino -> Leo...sensible at may logic na tao...
Mainitin ang ulo -> Jan...pag naiinitan o naiinip
Thoughtful -> Elay...di nakakalimot tuwing pasko...lagi syang may pasalubong...
Magaling pumorma -> Jan...napaka-banidosong tao!
Laging aburido -> Mike...kasi...kasi...no comment...basta, June 1!
Masarap kausap -> Carol...meron kaming intellectual intercourse...
Walang pakialam -> Jhrqx...wala rin akong pakialam!
Maraming nagkaka-crush -> Leo...ilan pa bang tao ang magiging maaburido ng dahil sa kanya? haba ng hair mo, ate!

Sa tingin ko, mukhang nag-enjoy naman sila dun sa activity. They were able to validate kung tama nga yung impressions nila sa isa't-isa. They were able to acknowledge the affirmation, if not express themselves openly regarding some issues concerning preconceived notions about themselves. Somehow, na-meet ko yung objective ko (sigh!). Though I have to admit na medyo kulang pa yung processing kasi medyo late na rin kasi kami nagstart.

Some other time, perhaps.

Thanks for the affirmation, guys! Ganun pala ang feeling ng artista...hehehe!

I Love Fridays

For me, Friday means:

... Joe D' Mango's Lovenotes
... Food shop/restaurant hunting
... Carl's Day
..."laugh & trip-till-you-drop"


Had lunch with four of my bossom office buddies: Rachel, Gima, and Alaine, and had another discovery today: Amici. It's a cafeteria beside Don Bosco church which specializes in Italian cuisine. The food is superb! Their pasta is at par with that of Spaghetti Factory and Old Spaghetti House but a little less cheaper. What I like most is the gellato (ice cream) which comes in very exciting and intriguing flavors! Yummy!


Ladies-in-waiting...picture muna!


Amici's thin-crust Hawaiian Pizza


Seafood Pasta


Where did the Pasta Montenara go?

Can't wait for another food trip, this time with my choirmates...

Later that night was the usual Carl's Day (or night?). We had fun at Coco Cobanna with our guest, my good friend Rachel.


Legal ito!!! Hehehe...

Afterwards, we proceeded at the Providence Videoke Bar along Leon Guinto St., Manila. Too bad I had to go home a bit earlier than everyone else. Arrgh! My lower back is killing me! Thanks to Tina for covering the rest of the fun and laughter in video. Ahh...wonders of technology!


I LOVE FRIDAYS...

...AND THE FRIDAY PEOPLE, of course!

Penpals' Polka

Isang malamig at maulan na sabado ng hapon, kami'y nagka-ayaan.

Ang trip: kumain ng ice cream sa Manila Peninsula
(oo, tama ang pagkakabasa mo!)

Merong ice cream na pang-tropa dun...ang tawag sa kanya ay PenPals Polka. Meron syang iba't-ibang flavors ng ice cream at sherbet, marshmallows, fruits, at wafer sticks na nakalagay sa isang malaki at malalim na kopita...



Sa halagang Php 700.00, kasama na ang mga kung anik-anik na tax, solve kaming lahat...may bonus pang kodakan at chika (how's the business?) at muy guwapitong hombre (how's my booger?...ang panget...hehehe)

At maya-maya pa, eto na ang kinalabasan ng ice cream:




Hmmm...mas masarap pala ang ice cream kapag pinag-aagawan sa isang sosyal na lugar.

Sana sa susunod na ice cream trip, isang long table na tayo...woohooo!

Constructive Criticism

I'm open to criticisms

I believe that it's part and parcel of anything you do. Sure, you can't please everybody but you simply cannot stop them from criticizing you either.

As humans, we tend to react by impulse. However, reactions may vary depending on one's nature. Others simply ignore the criticism by flaunting their "for-all-I-care" attitude. Others accept the criticisms and take it on a positive note. They either make the necessary steps to correct it or they come up with solutions to prove that their critics are wrong. Worst case scenario would be engaging one's self to a fiery debate, blatantly defending himself from the verbal assaults of his critic/s.

Last Thursday evening, July 20, just before my choir rehearsals, I was confronted by one of our parish's highly respected laity leader. Here's an excerpt from our discussion:

Her : Ayan, nandito ka! Uy, sabihan mo naman na gandahan yung pagkanta ng mga umaawit sa misa.
Me : Sino pong kumakanta?
Her : Yung kumakanta sa misa.
Me : Saang mass po specifically?
Her : Yung alas sais ng gabi pag linggo.
Me : Teka po, kami yun ah!
Her : Oo nga, gandahan nyo naman yung pagkanta nyo.
(starts to walk away)
Me : Kailan po yung pangit naming kanta? Kailan pong specific na linggo? (beginning to sound defensive)
Her : Basta linggo, alas sais ng gabi.
(walking towards the brown gate of the parish)
Me : Ganun?! Ok ah! Parang wala kaming kinantang tama. Ang sama naman nun!
(in a sarcastic tone)
Her : Basta linggo yun. Yun na yun. Uy, constructive criticism yun ha?
(now outside the gate)

Yeah, right. Constructive criticism.

In as much as I don't want get affected, I just found her words reverberating in my ears. What I couldn't understand was the fact that how could somebody regarded as an excellent leader and a good motivator be so careless in expressing her opinion. It could have been done in a proper venue. We could have discussed it privately, leader to leader. But definitely not in the presence of some of the members of the youth choir who were with me during that time.

I just thought of what they felt at that particular moment.

Sigh.

A Year After

Today is July 18.

Exactly a year after the vehicular accident I had gotten into.

In as much as I don't want to remember all the details of that traumatic experience, they just kept flashing into my mind:

..the thought that I have forgotten to kiss mom but totally ignored it...the keen intuition I was feeling back then...the jeepney ride to Ayala...the Petron gasoline station at Makati Avenue...my leisure walking...the white taxi cab...the spot where I had lain after I was bumped by a passenger jeepney...waking up inside a car...the blood stains on the seat cover and printed documents...my swelling forehead...tita Evelyn, my earth-bound angel...the jeepney driver...the questions that raced through my mind...the series of tests I went through at the trauma unit of Ospital Ng Makati...my bruises and contusions... mom's look when she finally saw me lying at the hospital bed...dad's surprisingly calm nature...the insensitive nurse...Rachel's assistance...the ambulance ride from Ospital Ng Makati to Makati Medical Center...the hospital room...the anti-tetanus allergy...the negative CT Scan results...the people who visited me...the prayers and mass intentions for my speedy recovery...

Today could've been my first death anniversary.

Thanked God, it's not.

Rather, it's a day of thanksgiving:

...for the not-so-pleasant experience that made me who I am now

...for my parents who were always there for me

...for Tita Evelyn, my earth-bound angel

...for my friends, choir mates and relatives who have given me their love and encouragement

...for the realizations I had after the accident

...FOR MY SECOND CHANCE AT LIFE.

The Tissue Trick

The SPP Youth Choir had a fellowship-cum-team building at Gerry's Grill Jupiter.

After we had dinner and surprised Jing with a chocolate birthday cake, we proceeded with the night's agenda: Getting To Know You (background music, please...)

I passed a roll of bathroom tissue around and asked each one of them to get as many tissues as they can. Later on, I revealed that they are to say something about themselves based on the number of tissues they got from the roll.

Some got 3, others got 7 or 8. Others got 12 or 14.

We had a night filled with laughter, sensible talks, and wonderful discoveries. It's pretty amazing how a new comer can easily open up with the group. But it's equally interesting to find out how one can know another person for quite sometime yet still has a lot to discover from that person.

Later on that night, after everyone had gone home, someone went to a self-discovery journey...and he has two weeks to prove me that he's no loser.

guilt feelings

I hate myself.

Sometimes, I just can seem to balance myself in certain situations. Whenever I
get to focus on something, chances are, I fail to see the other side of things
which also require my immediate attention. In the process, there are things,
and most of the time, people that I hurt.

Had an extremely busy weekend. Then, a particular scenario came. It's something
that i don't want to happen. I was too immersed with the situation. Primarily
because of the possible implications that it might bring. Charge it to the fact
that that I've been in this kind of situation before...and i just don't want it
to happen again...ever!

Then it happened. As I was busy resolving the issue, I failed to see that someone
needed my attention and understanding. I know I've caused her pain...and it took
me a small fraction of time to realize it...and when i finally did, it was already
too late...

Later on that evening, my group and I decided to unwind near the Breakwaters.
It was a breather for me.

We had dinner at Teriyaki Boy...

had picture taking...



had ice cream and fondue at Iceberg's...



The desserts were delectable...

...but it failed to help me soothe that one unpleasant feeling...GUILT.

just because...

Here I go again...a lot of thoughts are racing through my mind...i don't like it when i think too much...i usually end up emotionally sabotaged...i hate this feeling...wait...i don't just hate it...i totally abhor it.

Damn.



Just because my eyes don't shed tears doesn't mean my heart doesn't cry.

Just because I come out strong doesn't mean there's nothing wrong.

Often I choose to pretend I'm happy so I don't have to explain to other people.

Smiling has always been easier than explaining why I'm sad.

Damn, i need a hug.

The Gathering

Ryan's despidida...SM Manila...Videoke King Karaoke...Eryc's jampacked Revo...shining shimmering splendid...non-stop kodakan...Providence...Farewell To You My Friend...Leaving On A Jet Plane...Luha



17 songs + 17 talented individuals = 1 fantabulous album

We missed you, Elay.