My Wow Ph - Additional

Davao, Jul08


Matina Hills



Jack's Ridge



Show@Crododile Park



Pearl Farm



Pearl Farm 2



Philippine Eagle Center - Mulawin



Eden Nature Park - Skyrider



Eden Nature Park - Secret Garden

Davao, Jul08


Eden Nature Park - Matinlo Falls



Eden Nature Park - Flowers on a Well

What A Wonderful World

This is the first weekend in SG wherein I did not have any lakads. I just feel like relaxing, resting, enjoying in my room.

Sharing another song that I've been looking for quite some time. This was played in my Chao Phraya Cruise, then again I heard it in a concert. Something similar to Moon River. I matched it with a picture I took in Davao. :)

What a Wonderful World --- Louis Armstrong
I see trees of green........ red roses too
I see em bloom..... for me and for you
And I think to myself.... what a wonderful world.

I see skies of blue..... clouds of white
Bright blessed days....dark sacred nights
And I think to myself .....what a wonderful world.

The colors of a rainbow.....so pretty ..in the sky
Are also on the faces.....of people ..going by
I see friends shaking hands.....sayin.. how do you do
Theyre really sayin......i love you.

I hear babies cry...... I watch them grow
Theyll learn much more.....than Ill never know
And I think to myself .....what a wonderful world

(instrumental break)

The colors of a rainbow.....so pretty ..in the sky
Are there on the faces.....of people ..going by
I see friends shaking hands.....sayin.. how do you do
Theyre really sayin...*spoken*(I ....love....you).

I hear babies cry...... I watch them grow
*spoken*(you know their gonna learn
A whole lot more than Ill never know)
And I think to myself .....what a wonderful world
Yes I think to myself .......what a wonderful world.

He's Just Not That Into You

Few weeks ago I passed by Cathay moviehouse and saw this huge ad, with the title 'HE'S JUST NOT THAT INTO YOU'. Haha what a title. There are so many big names in it: Drew Barrymore, Jennifer Connelly, Scarlett Johansson, Jennifer Aniston, Ben Affleck, Justin Long, and Ginnifer Goodwin. Hmm quite interesting. I started researching in the net and this is what I found.

Synopsis:
Screenwriters Abby Kohn and Marc Silverstein team to adapt writing duo Greg Behrendt and Liz Tuccillo's best-selling book concerning the ever-widening gap between genders and the misunderstandings that often arise between couples. In the film, a woman who can't seem to get a grip on the men in her life pursues an advice columnist who never quite knew what he wanted in a relationship.

About the Book:
He's Just Not That Into You is a self-improvement book written by Greg Behrendt and Liz Tuccillo and published in 2004. It was a New York Times bestseller and was featured on The Oprah Winfrey Show.

The book was inspired by an episode of Sex and the City titled "Pick-A-Little, Talk-A-Little," in which Miranda asks Carrie's boyfriend, Berger, to analyze the post-date behavior of a potential love interest. Because the man declined Miranda's invitation to come up to her apartment after the date, stating that he has an early meeting, Berger concludes that "he's just not that into you," adding that "when a guy's really into you, he's coming upstairs, meeting or no meeting."

Some funny lines:
http://www.usatoday.com/life/books/excerpts/2004-09-08-hes-just_x.htm

Hmm I'm not the type who'd read such books :p But oh chick flick is fine with me. A starstudded movie can go either ways, either spectacular or crap. For the catchy title, and slightly for Daredevil, okay I'll be watching this one. :p

Someday

I have been looking for the mp3 of this song for quite some time. (ain't doing much illegal download here :p). One of the few english songs where I can feel some emotions. Carried away..

Someday by Nina

Someday, you'll gonna realize
One day, you'll see this through my eyes
But then I won't even be there
I'll be happy somewhere
Even if I cared

I know you don't really see my worth
You think you're the last guy on earth
Well, I've got news for you
I know I'm not that strong
But it won't take long, won't take long

CHORUS
'Cause someday, someone's gonna love me
The way I wanted you to need me
Someday, someone's gonna take your place
One day, I'll forget about you
You'll see, I won't even miss you
Someday, someday

But now, I know you can tell
I'm down and I'm not doin' well
But one day, these tears
They will all run dry
I won't have to cry sweet goodbye

CHORUS
'Cause someday, someone's gonna love me
The way I wanted you to need me
Someday, someone's gonna take your place, Ooh
One day, I'll forget about you
You'll see, I won't even miss you
Someday, I know someone's gonna be there

Someday, someone's gonna love me
The way I wanted you to need me
Someday, someone's gonna take your place
One day, I'll forget about you
You'll see, I won't even miss you
Someday, someday

Ahh yeah yeah

Fated

I saw this in another blog, good read. Senti mood.

Sometimes people come into your life and you know right away that they were meant to be there...to serve some sort of purpose, teach you a lesson or help figure out who you are or who you want to become. You never know who these people may be but you lock eyes with them, you know that very moment that they will affect your life in some profound way.

And sometimes things happen to you at the time that may seem horrible, painful and unfair, but in reflection you realize that without overcoming those obstacles you would never realize your potential, strength, will power or heart.

Everything happens for a reason. Nothing happens by chance or by means of luck.

Illness, love, lost moments of true greatness and sheer stupidity all occur to test limits of your soul.

Without these small tests, life would be like a smoothly paved, straight, flat road to nowhere safe and comfortable but dull and utterly pointless.

The people you meet affect your life. The successes and downfalls that you experience can create whom you are, and the bad experiences can be learned from. In fact they are probably the most poignant and important ones. If someone hurts you, betrays you or breaks your heart, forgive them because they have helped you learn about trust and the importance of being cautious to whom you open your heart.

If someone loves you, love them back unconditionally, not only because they love you, but also because they are teaching you to love and open your heart and eyes to little things. Make every day count. Appreciate everything that you possibly can, for you may never experience it again.

Talk to people whom you have never talked to before, and actually listen. Let yourself fall in love, break free and set your sights high. Hold your head up because you have every right to.

Tell yourself you are a great individual and believe in yourself, for if you don't believe in yourself, no one else will believe in you. Create you own life and then go out and live it.

Never take someone for granted. Hold on every person close to your heart because you might wake up one day and realize that you've lost a diamond while you were too busy collecting stones

Hair Craze - Ultimate

Early this year, I had my hair dyed. But my real target isnt really just the color thing, I want big waves and curls hehe. I've always wanted an ala-princess or doll hairdo that's not messy and frizzy. :p. In SG, perm and color go together or else it would be too 'auntie' look if you have black curly hair, that's whay they say.

I got my hair highlights before July's vacation. Actually the salon didnt do a good job. The first application was totally 'invisible', I didnt really see any difference before and after I step into the salon. Then I said I wasnt satisfied, and they applied a second application for free (SG never lets an unhappy customer step away from their store). The second was finally 'visible' and the color was actually stronger that I intended. I did catch quite a lot of attention in Manila, it just probably didnt fit the image that people remember me to be, I look like a party animal. :p

When I went back to SG, I scouted for the best deal and finally had my hair permed. Digital perm is quite popular in SG. It gives you big soft curls that are not too difficult to maintain. Sometimes it doesnt look like real curls, but rather a 'set' hair from parlor. I'm loving it. :p It's a bit heavy on the pocket though, probably 4X of the price I paid when I had my first regular curl in Manila last 2004. :p

During my Sept vacation in Manila, people seem to think of me as a 'foreigner'. Service crew in restaurant talks to me in English. Family friends cant recognize me during the christening party. On my way back to SG, I took a cab in SG from airport and the cab driver was surprised to know I came from Manila. 'I thought you're from HK or China, you dont look like Filipino, not at all'.

Here's a comparison using some famous TW stars with curly hair, it's too ambititious I know :p hey everyone has a free pass to dreamland.


I dont know what change I'm capable of. :p Yeah I'm done with my hair experiments, looking for the next best thing :)

Housekeeping: Portable Vacuum Cleaner

I bought this powerful tool last month. If you live alone, this is really a must-have item for your bedroom, especially if you are too lazy to sweep your floor everyday. The sucking power is actually not that strong, but good enough to pick up falling hair and dirt in the floor, like your typical car vacuum. This one can actually suck liquid too though I never tried. The hood is light enough to be 'portable'.

Now, every night when I'm not tired, I would turn this thing on and do a quick round in my bedroom, takes just about 2 minutes max I guess. I like my floor tidy and hair-free. Mine is from Moulinex and it costs 60sgd.

The down side is, this runs in rechargeable batteries (NiMH), therefore I would expect its life to be diminishing over time. I hope every rechargeable item will come in Lithium batts in the future.

Herbs and Spices

In SG whenever I have something that's troubling me, I know I can always count on him. He is my friend in college. He just left SG last month for US to take his Masteral, that's why I felt like scribbling something in memory of him. (hehehe lol he is still alive and kicking)

In my first month, I did not ask for money but he offered to lend his credit card. I always remember a good deed.

When I was yelled by the maid of the ex-hausmate (well everyone of us used to be a victim of that once in a while), I was so upset that I didnt wanna go home, I went to his place to have dinner to flush away all the angsts.

For career talks, he is the man. He sort of, i think, at least doubled his salary by jumping into 3 jobs in 1 year.

He is one of the two people from college who always believe that I can surely do well if only I opted to pursue masteral studies. Nobody now would believe I used to be intelligent. Haha.

When I was worried that we will be sent off the house, the people I talked to just gave me kinda-retarded answers, by throwing back the question to me. He's the only one who gave valid arguments that if we were sent off, there is some net loss and opportunity cost between the owner and agent. Only after that was I relieved.

For chismisan, bashing, bastusan jokes, anything under the sun talks, our wavelengths meet most of the time.

And even up to the last week before he left, I again asked for a favor. That was the time when I was rushing to sell my stocks. The HR folks wouldnt accept my 'Authority to Sell' form because she wanted a scanned image affixed with my signature. I dont have access to scanner as I was in client site. I called my sisters to 'forge' my signature and send back a scanned copy to me, unfortunately their email system was down. I realized a lot of my close friends in SG have left and I dont have much people to entrust this big responsibility. Then I remember him again. Luckily he wasn't busy since those were his last few days in office. I told him clearly, 'I need you to forge my signature, scan it and send it back to me, dont worry it's with my consent'. Hahaha what an odd request. He kept on laughing and asking me, 'are you sure, i dont wanna be jailed' haha. And that's it, done deal, sold.

Now I started to feel that I am not a newbie here anymore. All those I'm closed with who came before me has gone somewhere else: to Au, to Mla, to Samar, and now this one to US. I'm now one of the oldest (in terms of tenure, not age I have to specify hehe). I dont have a 'master' to guide me if needed.

I'm gonna miss having someone who is always reliable.

And oh. I have to add. He is GAY by the way, the most effeminate, smartest, conservative, one hell of a hot gay. hahaha. He has more boys kwento to share than me. And oh my skin has improved after he shared with me his beauty tips (no kidding!). Else I wont be blogging about him. I'm not planning yet to feature any straight guy in my blog, no topics that might sort of blackmail or jeopardize my name. haha :)

Not all gays are flirts, trash. They probably are guys with an additional pinch of herbs and spices. Some do have substance and are driven go-getters. And for that, I applaud them.

Gift Shopper

Probably it was only in SG that I realized the 'joy' of giving. In my previous vacations, I just always have the urge to buy something for everyone in the family. And take note, it's only my immediate family (so less than 10pax) and I still always end up in excess baggage mode (or, if not, in ultra heavy handcarries mode) hehe I need an efficient packer. :)

The July08 was my one-time big-time gift-giving mode. Staying for one year+, I feel obliged to give them something pretty much substantial hehe. (well I've been receiving so much gifts from them all these years). An overflow of bags and of course clothes. My mom loves the clothes I buy for her (it takes skill and practice to buy for others!). :) Ey I suddenly feel like applying for a professional shopper :p







Though this might have added some credit card swipes, I dont mind at all, so much for people I care! And it's once in a long while.

Actually I didnt receive much birthday gifts from friends this year. I suddenly felt my circle of friends are getting smaller (since a lot of them have left or some have drifted apart). I sometimes wonder (or maybe envy) those people who will blog about who sent an sms to greet them, gave them gifts, with a list adding to about a hundred hehe. Anyway it's the quality and not the quantity :p. I'm glad to have something I really wanted and needed. My good friend seems to know me so well that she gave me a yoga mat (I'm planning to enroll in yoga) and a bag in my favorite color! Back home my achis and I always have this un-surprised surprise. We went for a vacation and they noticed my bag was not so 'porma' so they bought me one that is fit for beach/travel. I also told them I like one specific walking shoe and they find me one. One gave me a pair of earrings. And my mom even replenished my Globe cards haha. Just everything I have in my shopping list. Thank you!

I have a friend (guy) who is so much into signature/designer items. A funny thing is that he was so proud he bought his ex-gf (who is fond of tiangge shopping) a limited edition of Dior shirt costing around probably 10K php. And he bashes that probably the shirt can buy his ex all the items in her favorite tiangge. Hmm I doubt it was appreciated, cause they broke up :p

For me, gift giving lies in the thought, the effort to find something that fits or something that could probably be of some use. It's gotta have some heart, just that. :)

Mid-Autumn Festival: Mooncake Galore

September 14 is the exact day for Mid-Autumn Festival. One month before this, all malls have been teeming with so much mooncake bazaars. A typical normal plain mooncake costs around twice of Ph's price. The more famous brands are those from SG hotels or imports from HK/TW and my, these are really exaggerately priced. One pc can buy you one box (of 4) in Ph!

The new craze these recent years in Oriental countries is the Snow Skin mooncake. It took TW/HK/SG by storm as everyone seems to be going gaga over this refrigerated, flavored, colored, not-your-typical-traditional-ovenbaked mooncake. The more popular flavors are green tea, taro/yam, strawberry, pandan, durian, coffee, chocolate, banana. I have attended a mooncake workshop, sharing some pix of green tea snow skin mooncake.



During my last September trip back home, I had so many of these mooncakes. I got 4 boxes (1box=4pcs) for my family and a friend asked me a favor to take home 2 more boxes. My goodness, it was really one heck of a big &^%!. 6 boxes weigh around 5kg and i have another handcarry bag of 6kg. I felt like my fingers were disconnecting from my hand, my arms were disconnecting from my shoulder.

The Biggest Drama (Part 2)

Just when I thought I had enough...

Last Jan when I went back to SG and vomited all over the lavatory of the the plane, I thought that was already the worst thing that could ever happen to me, or to any OFW for that matter.

I was wrong then.

Sept08, I purposedly went home to attend my nephew's first bday and Christening. After the party, I got another invite for a bday party of my friend's bf. From New Manila (kiddie party venue), it took like 1hrs+ drive to reach Megamall that Sunday. The weather's hot and I dont know why it seems like I got dizzy from the heavy traffic jam and bumpy roads (which I am supposed to be used to as I spent 25years of my life in such!). Food intake wise, probably it was not a good move to have two buffet meals on a hot day (which I am supposed to be used to again before!). After the 2nd party, again some more 2hrs+ traffic jam on the way home, aggravated by banggaan somewhere in recto. I dont know, it's just that all the elements were not working well.

I reached home so tired and decided to take a nap. I did feel better after the nap and even watched some TV series that night before going to sleep.

1am I was awakened by chills. I was starting to shiver. I had fever at 39deg. The druggie in me went to the kitchen and gulped Biogesic and again continued my sleep. Monday morning I woke up and started having LBM. Fever was still there. I was literally almost sleeping the whole day, if not for my mom waking me up to take medicine. She accompanied me to see a doctor. I got one shot to speed up fever recovery. I told the doctor I have a flight the next day. He said he would suggest 'idextrose' na lng because that it is the fastest. I chickened out, I haven't been confined in a hospital, not even had dextrose drip. The closest that I got was to donate blood, and it was a morbid experience. I am not really used to these needle thingie. Then the doctor said okay I still have a one day, worse comes to worst, I should just rush there Tues Morning for dextrose before my supposed Tues evening flight.

I went home hoping the medicine would be enough to keep me going. My mom was asking me to book another flight and said it's on her. (Deep inside ayoko na... how many times do I have to miss a flight whether intentional or unintentional.. it's just so lousy if I keep on missing flights!) And it's also so hassle to file for leaves again. And my sister and bro-in-law were taking the same week's Wed flight to go to SG. I prefer to go ahead of them to clean my room. Whooah I dont like messing all the plans, but my health was not cooperating. :(

Come Tuesday, I still got non-stop LBM whenever I attempted food intake, my fever did disappear though with the shot. Okay that's it I cant drag it any longer. My mom took me back to the doctor to take whatever dextrose+liquid medicine that I need to be infused. It was quite scary to see the doctor pinching the needlehead into my hand (the back of my palm). It wasnt painful though and I did not see any blood dripping out (I initially thought it will be slightly bloodly). I remembered there were two bottles and it took 2hours to finish the whole thing.

Everything was smooth afterwards. I managed to survive. LBM subsided the next day.

The only good that this has brought me - I probably shed off some weight. Back in Mla, a lot of ppl were saying I became fat. Blame it on the pigging out in Davao. And now the 'detoxification' has eased up the burning process to some extent hehe. Other than that, this was really a grrrh experience. Someone asked me a question whether gusto ko pa ba umuwi... the answer is still YES! haha.



P.S. Somehow the whole thing got me thinking. Have I been away for too long that my body started resisting the negative forces/inconveniences (exag ha, I beg to disagree!!!!). I'm afraid of being sick and far away, alone. Baka matuluyan ako nito.. Does anyone really care if something bad happens to me.. whether I go back for good or not.. hehe see how twisted and dramatic pag may sakit. Anyway, health is wealth. Without health, everything is useless.

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Nice to be home... again! :)