New Year Get-Together

SPSM Batch '89 had a get-together dinner at Gerry's Grill, Glorietta...Jules, a former batchmate was here for a two-week vacation...

Of course, the night was filled with so much reminiscing, fun, and yes, pictures!


In front of Gerry's Grill


With Julina at Greebelt 3

Happy Birthday, Elay!

Happy birthday, Elay!

May true love and happiness find you and may it fill you with all of life's vibrant colors!

Cheers!

2005...the year that was

2005...a year filled with so many things:


Realizations...
"Nothing in life is more important than God and your family and friends."

"Anyone that means something to you-you should spend time with them and let them know how much they mean to you as often as you can."


Lessons Learned...
"Trust your hunches. They're usually based on facts filed away just below the conscious level."

"Life is short and we have a very limited time. Always make the most of each day and never forget to tell those you love that you love them."

"Don't expect anything if you don't want to get hurt in the end."


Metamorphosis...
"Reach higher, and you'll attain more. Expect more of yourself, and those expectations will soon become your reality. Each day provides ample opportunity for improvement. So expect to improve. And you will."


Letting go...
"If you’re holding on to something that doesn’t belong to you and was never intended for your life, then you need to LET IT GO!
If you are holding on to past hurts and pains...LET IT GO!
If someone can’t treat you right, love you back and see your worth...LET IT GO!"

Indeed, 2005 has been a good year.




Thank you, Lord for giving me the chance to welcome 2006 and to look forward to what lies ahead of me...

Year-End Stint

For the second time, we were invited to sing at Rockwell's Thanksgiving Mass last December 31, 10pm. Everybody was in their element that night...maganda ang kanta...ikaw ba naman ang ilagay sa elevated platform, pag di ka nagperform ng maayos!

...yun nga lang nagmistulang replay ang misa ng gabing iyon...lalu na ang homily...ang kwento ng anniversary thanksgiving mass sa Bureau of Customs...ang blessing ng isang ektaryang factory...ang offertory parade sa isang misa sa MegaMall kung saan nakakuha si Father ng 35 baskets na pinamigay nya sa mga madre sa isang kumbento sa Quezon City...at ang mga madre na lubhang nasiyahan sa itlog, este, balot!...at ang free advertisement ng 2006 planner na may daily Gospel reflection na ang proceeds ay mapupunta sa mga seminarista ng Society of St. Paul...

...kahit parang kami'y nasa deja vu ng mga sandaling iyon, maganda pa ring pakinggan ang gist ng homily ni Father...

"This New Year, don't thank God for giving you more blessings while others have less, instead, thank Him for the countless ways you've been a blessing to other people during the past year."

"It's nice when your prayers are answered, but wouldn't it be nicer if you'll be the answer to someone else's prayer?"

That night, i'm pretty sure, the Rockwell Management felt a whole lot better since what they gave us is indeed an answer to our prayers...thank you so much!

Nightmare Before Christmas

Too many unfortunate events happened the night before Christmas:

- last minute problem at Poweplant
- emotional burden
- last minute rush (na talagang kinawindang ng mundo ko!)
- stress brought about by the recent church activities which resulted to: slight fever, colds, and severe headache

Hindi ito pelikula...totoong buhay ito...sa tagal ng career ko sa choir, ngayon lang nagkaganito...ayoko mag-elaborate...basta, it was indeed a NIGHTMARE...

Buti na lang masaya kami sa picture...

At The Coro

Last night was the start of Simbang Gabi...at sa coro kami kumanta!



Actually, di na bago sa akin ang pagkanta sa coro. I've sang and have conducted the choir at the coro for a couple of times, mostly during special liturgucal celebrations. What really makes it quite exciting this time is the fact that it'll be the first time that we will be singing in our new home, our permanent location, in the church. Yes, wala na ang mga araw na di kami magkanda-ugaga para lang pagkasyahin ang aming mga katawan sa gawing kanan ng altar ng simbahan...ewan ko ba naman kasi sa naka-isip nito...eh, ang pagkakatanda ko, tinanggal na sa Vatican II ang pag-awit ng mga manganganta at choir sa coro...kung bakit ba naman kasi...tsk,tsk,tsk...

Mixed emotions ang feeling the Youth choir kagabi: may excited, may nahilo dahil sa paikut-ikot na hagdan, at may natakot (I see dead people!)...generally, maganda ang kanta namin...binagayan ang aming bagong uniform...pero, later on that night, we had a small talk with Derps, sabi nya, ayaw nya sa coro kami kumanta...feeling daw nya, nawalan sya ng pamilya...

How sad :(

Kami rin po, para rin kaming nawalan ng pamilya...gone are the days na magi-greet at makaka-kwentuhan mo yung mga lectors, commentators, mother butlers, and eucharistic ministers dun sa sacristy...suddenly we've become isolated...we're one with them in worship but physically and strategically far from them...

Ngayon, naintindihan ko na kung bakit pilit na inalis sa Vatican II ang pagkanta sa coro...



(A shot of the altar taken from the coro)

Kuwentong Sari-Sari

Nakakatuwa kaninang umaga. Nagbidahan kaming mag-anak tungkol sa mga nakakatuwa at nakainis na mga tagpo na nagaganap sa aming munting sari-sari store.

Masaya sa tindahan namin at eto ang mga patunay kung bakit:

- Saan ka nakakita ng taong naghahanap ng asukal, kape, paminta, asin, suka, toyo at patis, gayong ilang hakbang na lamang ay palengke na.


- Meron ding mga taong naghahanap ng tempra, dolfenal, decolgen, aspilet, biogesic, neozep, gardan, salonpas, colantro, mertayoleyt at agua oxenada gayong ang tindahan namin ay di naman botika...yung katapat ng bahay namin, yun ang botika!


- May mga taong naghahanap ng "cocomban", "bagulgang", "head ang shoulders", "juicy fruwit", "dabolment", at envelope na ang tatak ay "via air mail"


- May mga coñotic at pasosyal effect na mamimili:

(a) Meron kayong mosquito killer? (lay man's term: katol)
(b) Miss, have kayo ng Marlboro Lights, the one in Gold? (yeah, right!)
(c) Meron kayong crape paper? (crepe paper, yung ginagamit sa art project)


- Meron ding mga medyo "tanga" na mamimili:

Ale : Manang, pabili po ng dyaryo...bago ho ba ito?

Syempre, saan ka naman nakakita ng lumang dyaryo na tinitinda, di ba?
Dahil dito, medyo nainis ang aking ina kaya sinagot nya ng...

Nanay Ko: Ay, luma... (tonong sarkastiko)
Ale : Ah... cge po, salamat. Saan ho ba merong nagtitinda ng dyaryo na bago?

...ay, patulan ba ang joke time ni mother?


- At mga pilosopong mamimili:

Mama : Manong, pabili po ng Pop Cola, maliit.
Tatay Ko: Ilan?
Mama : Isa lang po. Magkano isa?
Tatay Ko: 7.00
Mama : Bakit ho sabi sa TV, sais lang?
Tatay Ko: Eh, di sa TV ka bumili!

...oo nga naman!


- Meron ding question and answer portion:

Mamimili : Pabili ng sigarilyo?
Jhie : Anong sigarilyo?
Mamimili : Winston
Jhie : Red o Lights
Mamimili : Red
Jhie : Ilan?
Mamimili : Magkano isa?
Jhie : 1.50
Mamimili : Magkano 1 kaha
Jhie : 28.00
Mamimili : Cge, 4 na piraso lang

...ang ganda, di ba? Daig pa ang interrogation sa NBI!


- At dahil nagtitinda kami ng dyaryo at yung kodigo na para sa karera sa Sta. Ana, kailangang alam namin ang mga sumusunod dahil baka may magtanong ng:

- dyaryo na may ingles o kaya tagalog na editorial
- dyaryo na may horoscope
- dyaryo na may kwento tungkol sa sexual experiences
- dyaryo na may mga numerong lumabas sa lotto
- ang halaga ng mapapanalunan sa lotto
- masuwerteng kabayo na dapat tayaan sa karera
- araw at oras ng karera

Masaya magkaroon ng tindahan...kaya lang nitong mga nakaraang araw, ayokong magtinda...
sa sobrang bilis kasi tumaas ng mga presyo ng mga bilihin, di ko na alam kung ano ang
presyo ng mga paninda namin...hay!

Happy Birthday, John

Para sa aking...



...ka-tagay ng Coke
...ka-partner sa aking debut
...kakosa sa kakulitan at kalokohan
...taga-puno ng inbox
...tagapagtanggol sa mga stalkers at krung-krung na tao
...katulad sa pagiging smart at intelligent (syempre, di ako papayag na ikaw lang!)
...karamay sa dusa at saya

at kaibigan for life...

MALIGAYANG KAARAWAN!


SI JOHN AY...
isa sa mga pinaka-paborito kong tao...a genuine friend...a loving son...a good husband material (o, wag na magreact, wala naman akong sinabi na civil status mo ah!) ;p

PERO...
di halata!...hehehe...pero, lapitin ng bading (hahaha!)...at mabagal kumilos kaya palaging nale-late...


SALAMAT SA...
lifelong friendship and for being the brother I never had...

DI KO EXCPECT NA...
he has remained the same John that I've known all these years kahit na dami nang dumaan na trials sa life nya...

AT SANA MALAMAN NYA NA...
na panalo na ako sa pustahan, hehehe...and that i'll always and forever be a friend that he can count on for better or for worse, in good times and in bad, in sickness and in health, in proverty and in plenty, in joke time and in seriousness...until...matapos ang forever! So help me, God.

An Affirmation

I don't take personal text surveys seriously. Actually, I am scared to find out how others would think of me as a person...However, it dawned upon me that you can really get something from it, an affirmation...something unexpected...but sincere.

I sent this survey to my Txtnonstop Tribe (thanks to Globe!) and it's nice to know how others valued my personhood, my uniqueness, my character...

I personally like what my good friend, John, said...mind you, it took him about four text messages to finally get the entire message across!



Here is it:

"SI JHIE AY...kaibigan ko na matagal na, as in matagal, alam mo yun, nung fetus pa lang kami nagtatawanan na kami...mabait yan

PERO...mataray, sasabihin ang gustong sabihin basta totoo lang queber kung masaktan ka, pero maayos pa rin naman approach niya

SALAMAT SA...halos magdadalawang dekada ng pakikipagkaibigan sa akin, biruin mo natiis mo yun. At salamat dun sa pang libre mo sa akin at sa pag sunod sa mga kantiyaw ko...ang coke, syempre...barbeque, chocolate sa ref nyo, balot, among others...

DI KO EXCPECT NA...until now friends pa rin kami, i mean yung tatagal talaga...sabagay, pareho naman kami mabait...Isa pa, di ko expect na magiging diretso buhok nya...salamat sa siyensya...

AT SANA MALAMAN NYA NA...sobrng thankful ako to have her as one of my good and closest friends"

Thanks for the affirmation, John!

ABS-CBN...here we come!

Last October 9, 2005, we sang at the Sunday TV Mass aired over at ABS-CBN Channel 2. After rigorous rehearsals and sparing ourselves from our usual saturday night bonding, our efforts have paid off. Everyone managed to be up and about as early as 3AM and we headed to the studio at quarter to 6.

The stint was generally OK except for some minor flaws: 1. Ang offertory song na di namin malaman kung kailangan nang tapusin o hindi at; 2. Ang keyboard na humina...kaya tuloy di namin nakanta ang Sanctus (it's ok Roehl...it's not your fault)

Tita Enciang sang a Marian song for the communion. She really wanted the song "Awit Ng Ina Sa Santo Rosario" to be sung during the recessional part but ate Jhie managed to convince her that the song she sang during the communion was enough to make Mama Mary proud (yay! payang MYMP :p )

After the show, syempre di mawawala ang picture-picture...



...at ang pinaka-importante sa lahat...ang fellowship! Saan pa kundi sa Jollibee!!!

Kaya't sa aming mga fans na walang sawang tumatangkilik sa aming musika, maraming salamat po!

Hanggang sa muli...

The Friendship Factor

I consider myself an expert when it comes to drawing the line between friendship and professionalism. I am serious at work but I also "laugh till my lungs drop" when I'm in the company of friends. My choir friends knew this for a fact...the two sides in me: the friend and the mentor.

Having my closest friends in the choir was really something I am really thankful for. Their jolly personality added just the right amount of casualness into our somewhat formal rehearsals. Being friends with them for so many years did not require any adjustment on my part now that they have become a part of the choir. Little did I know that it was the other way around for them...

A freaky little incident triggered my 360-degree shift from being cool to furious. That was the very first instance that I have been humiliated in front of the choir by no less than my closest friends! No amount of explanation can compensate for the disappointment that I got from that experience. In front of the group, I tried to pretend that I'm still the same strong mentor that I was...but deep inside, I was falling into pieces. I was about to explode and I did just that...cried buckets of tears and uttered a thousand curses...after they all have left.

Later on my close friends texted me and have expressed how sorry they were for what they did. I promised myself not to reply to their text messages but the TRUE FRIEND in me prevailed...

"I was deeply hurt about what happened earlier. What disappoints me the most is the fact that it was done by the very least people I expected -- my closest friends. I just hope that we all learned something from what had happened. To forgive and understand are the two things that I can easily do simply because you are my friends."

happy birthday, Danna!

aherrrm......





Happy Birthday to you,
Happy Birthday to you,
Happy Birthday dear Danna
Happy Birthday to you!

Happy Birthday, Ryan!

...isang kampay (at pose sa camera) para sa paborito naming Poblacion Star...



Salamat sa Yellow Cab Pizza, ChiSig, at San Mig Light...

Maligayang Kaarawan, Ryan!

Happy Birthday, Carol!

Today is the birthday of my inaanak, Carol!




'Nak, next year, ganap ka nang dalaga...

Sunday Blues

Waaah! Nandito ako sa office...

...pero bago ko simulan ang trabaho ko, minabuti ko munang sagutan ang BIG 5 PERSONALITY TEST...

and here's the link to the results of my test:

I'm a O70-C52-E64-A44-N43 Big Five!!

Bridges

I have crossed a thousand bridges
in my search for something real
There were great suspension bridges,
made like spiderwebs of steel

There were tiny wooden trestles,
and there were bridges made of stone.
I have always been a stranger
and I've always been alone

There's a bridge to tomorrow,
there's a bridge from the past.
There's a bridge made of sorrow
that I pray will not last

There's a bridge made of colors
in the sky high above
and I think that there must be
bridges made out of love

I can see him in the distance
on the river's other shore,
and his hands reach out in longing
as my own have done before

And I call across to tell him
where I believe the bridge must lie,
and I'll find it,yes, I'll find it,
if I search until I die

When the bridge is between us,
we'll have nothing to fear
We will run through the sunlight
and I'll meet you halfway

There's a bridge made of colors
in the sky high above
and I'm certain that somewhere
there's a bridge made of love

New Phone...Yipee!!!

I got myself a new phone...its a Sony Ericsson K750i



I really wanted to have a digital camera but since my Nokia 7250i was becoming a bore (no bluetooth, no video...talk about human contentment! ;p ), well, i thought of finding myself a phone that would surely fit my needs into a T.

After reading the reviews about this SE K750i unit two days ago and after receiving our bonus, i bought my dream phone...

...well, at least, for now ;p

A Movie Sequel

He did it again...

Strike two na ito...same people involved...kumbaga sa pelikula, pareho ng mga tauhan...at sya pa rin ang bida (o kontrabida?)...pareho ng tema...nag-umpisa sa text message...ang saya, di ba?

The movie sucks! Nakakainis panoorin. Pagkatapos ng pelikula, nagpalitan ng mga kuro-kuro ang mga movie critics...syempre pa, iba-iba ang naging "reviews"... merong very vocal at meron din namang "less talks, less mistakes" ang drama.

On my part, I've learned a few words, at eto sila:

New Tagalog Word : Plastikan (verb)
English Translation : Hypocrisy
Meaning : The act of putting on a mask and feigning himself to be what he is not.
Use in a sentence : "Hindi ako sasama, hindi ko kayang makipag-plastikan!"

New Tagalog Word : Palamunin (verb)
English Translation : To feed
Meaning : To provide food in an exploitatory manner
Use in a sentence : "Matapos kayong palamunin, gaganyanin n'yo yung tao!"

I wonder kung kumita ito sa box-office na nataon pang ipalabas sa kaarawan ni Marvin...

Happy birthday din pala to my dear friend, Dwayne...(uy, may kinikilig!) ;p

Accidents do happen...

I woke up earlier than usual that fateful Monday morning of July 18. Gusto kong pumasok ng maaga kasi hindi ako nakapasok last Sunday para mag-OT. I left the house at 7:10am. On my way to the jeepney terminal in J.P. Rizal, I was thinking whether I has kissed my mom goodbye. Usually, bumabalik ako ulit sa bahay to kiss my mom, deadma na kung nakapag-kiss na ako sa kanya earlier. But that day, I did not go back and immediately dismissed the thought. Sumakay na ako ng Ayala route na jeep at bumaba sa may tapat ng Petron gasoline station sa corner ng Buendia at Makati Avenue.



Habang naglalakad ako sa loob ng Petron, papunta sa sakayan ng Buendia-Washington, may dumaan sa harap ko (coming from my right side) na white taxi...syempre pa, at the back on my mind I was thinking na, "aba! Ba't di kaya nagbusina itong mamang ito...muntik na kaya ako masagasaan!"

Next scene: Bigla akong bumangon sa loob ng isang personal car...then I was with two strangers, a lady driving and panicking all at the same time, and a man, looking at me...WHAT HAPPENED? Bakit ako nasa sasakyan na ito? If I remember right, sasakay ako ng jeep papuntang office pero bakit nandito ako? Wala akong maalala na may sinakyan akong car! Tumingin ako sa rear view mirror, gosh! May malaki akong bukol sa noo!!! As in para syang maliit na mukha ng baby!!! Pagtingin ko sa left side ko, dun sa hinigaan ko, maraming dugo...sa seat cover (na kulay cream), sa make-up kit, sa documents dun sa loob ng car...pati sa gray pants ko...Naaksidente ba ako??? I asked the man in front and he answered me: "Miss, nabangga kita sa may Petron kanina, nawalan ng preno yung jeep na minamaneho ko...kumanan ako sa Petron, di kita napansin, nabangga kita, tumilapon ka ng ilang metro, nawalan ng malay kaya dadalhin ka namin sa ospital." I couldn't believe what I heard...immediately, nag-panic ako...paano nangyari na nabangga ako, eh wala naman akong maalala na tumama sa akin? Marami silang tanong, di ko matandaan kung nasagot ko lahat because my mind, too, was racing on some thoughts: Paano ako nabangga? Ano yung unang tumama sa akin nung bumagsak ako? Bakit maraming dugo? Alam na ba ng parents ko? Will I be okay?

A few more minutes at nasa Ospital ng Makati (Malugay street) na ako...The good lady, who introduced herself as Tita Evelyn, asked me kung anong number sa bahay so she can inform my parents...I immediately gave our residential phone number and further instructed her to calmly inform my mom so she won't have a nervous breakdown. After informing my mother, sinamahan nya ako sa xray room para ma-xray yung head ko...tapos, balik na naman kami dun sa Trauma Unit (hospital room for accident victims)...I informed my boss, my immediate superior, Cheng, John, Eryc, Elay and ate Minda through text message and informed them of what happened and where I was. A few more minutes, dumating na si Mama kasama yung neighbor namin na si Mang Alex na may kotse...wala kasi si Papa dahil may pinuntahan na client na magpapagawa ng laboratory gowns…eh si Mama, di marunong sa pasikut-sikot sa Makati...sa takot na maligaw, pinakiusapan si Mang Alex para ihatid sya sa...Makati Med! Eh wala ako dun, kaya pumunta sila sa Ospital ng Makati at dun nga ako nakita. Sa sobrang panic yata ni ina, di na nya na-grasp kung nasaang ospital ako. My mom cried upon seeing me but she wasn't hysterical since nakita naman nya na I'm conscious...syempre pa, alam kong takot sa dugo ang mama ko...I did not allow her to touch the back of my head and I kept on telling her to relax and that I'll be okay.

Pagkatapos, sinaksakan na ako ng anti-tenatus injection...then my dad arrived. My dad was calm, he called for the jeepney driver and asked what happened. Surprisingly, di nagawang magalit ng dad ko sa jeepney driver...ewan ko kung anong nangyari...must be the fact na di naman ako tinakbuhan nung jeepney driver at sya pa ang nagdala sa akin sa hospital. Then, dumating yung operator ng jeep...he promised to shoulder all the expenses in the hospital…mabuti naman. Mga 6,000 din inabout yung expenses...4,000 dun sa hospitalization and 2,000 dun sa anti-tetanus. Sometime later, the results of my head xray and pelvic xray came and both were negative. We requested for a CT scan kaya lang we have to wait for the ambulance to take me to the Ospital Ng Makati (Main) in Pembo, Makati

Around noon, my boss at RCBC came with his wife...siguro, he saw how pathetic my condition was and how poor the services were, he immediately requested my transfer to Makati Medical Center so I can be thoroughly checked. We immediately cancelled the scheduled CT scan and ordered for an ambulance for the transfer...Syempre, natagalan pa bago ako malipat kasi...wala pa daw yung ambulance! So we waited. My officemate Cheng came with the papers from RCBC, the Hospitalization Request and PhilHealth Form. Around 2pm, a nurse approached me and told me "Miss, pwedeng mamaya ko na tahiin yung sugat mo sa likod ng head kasi hindi pa ako nagbe-breakfast eh!" So syempre, kesa naman iba ang matahi nya, pinakain ko muna...wala na akong powers magtaray kaya pinalagpas ko na lang! Around 2:30 natahi yung sugat ko (4 stitches lang naman) and around past 3 o'clock, sakay na ako ng ambulance papuntang Makati Medical Center.

Pagdating sa Makati Med, dun ko lang naramdaman na pasyente pala ako...my bruises on my left leg and pelvic, and my swollen forehead were examined and measured, and my reflexes and eyes were checked. After all the examinations were conducted, I was brought to the Radiology Room to have my CT Scan...all in the span of 30 minutes!!! Around past 4pm, I was already in my private room (Room 436).



The following day, we were informed that my CT Scan result was negative.

I stayed in Makati Medical Center for 2 days and a half. My company, RCBC, shouldered all the expenses.

Thanked God, nothing serious has happened to me. I really consider it a miracle.

Before I forget I would like to thank the following:

...to following people who visited me at Makati Medical Center:

Sir Jun, Ma’am Jenny, Tita Norma, Cheng, Gima, Sir Alex, Elay, Ate Minda, Mike, Marvin, Jan, Ryan, Jing, Dida, Eryc, Angel, Mark, Christopher, Zeus, Vanessa, Sallie, Grace, Trisha, Mhyke, Alaine, Marian, Sir Al, Ma’am Tessa, Ma’am Cris, Tita Lourdes, Ate Minnie, Carol, Mamu, Beth, Gio, Nonoy, Sam, Darline, Joie, John, Cecil, and Sir Jelo.

...to those people who visited me at home:

Erick, Tita Marina, Ynah, Annie, Moimoi, Kim, Kuya Dodie, Mike, Tita Fe, Lani, Juliene, Tita Yoly, Tita Ynez, my choirmates, Lola Tutay, Auntie Malou

...for the mass intentions for my speedy recovery offered by:

Tito Boboy Yap and Tita Josie Quiambao

...for the heart-warming text messages and prayers by:

Derps, Fr. Amper, Junnie, Lorrie Ann, Sheila, Lilibeth, Bogart, Jumbo, Ching, Oweng, Rona, Maribel, Dennis

I really consider myself lucky, I have a great GOD who helped me survived this tragedy, an angel who took the form of a good samaritan (Tita Evelyn), a family who's ever supportive, friends who are there to give their love, prayers, and moral support...

What more can I ask for?

Turmoil

Just when I thought everything's ok...here comes the devil...trying to create turmoil amidst peaceful waters...





So many questions have been popping inside my head as caused by the series of unfortunate events that transpired over the weekend:

- Is there really a "nice way" of saying something bad without "hurting" the person concerned?
- Can a pure intention compensate for a foul approach?
- What does back-bitting really mean?
- Is there a truth behind the cliche: "when it rains, it pours"?
- How long can hatred last?
- Is there such a thing as "selective hatred"?
- Is overacting a crime?
- How does guilt affect a person?
- Can you really forgive without forgetting?
- Is maturity a case to case basis?

These and many more...

I pray that this will be over soon...I know this is just the devil's way of disrupting the peace and harmony within the choir...and the silver lining will definitely appear after the dark clouds...

I trust in the Lord...and I know He will never fail me...