Christmas 2011

A year ago, a big part of what made my Christmas special was... well, the feast. There were ham, quezo de bola(did i spell it correctly?), lechon, cake, wine, and other food that lasted for days. It was perfect. Hours ago, we had Adobo and Ham. One look at the dining table and I said, "recession?" That got us laughing... why? We had a lot on our fridge and those were all that was served on our table. Funny. A year ago, I would have freaked out at the sight of an almost bare Christmas dining table. Now, it didn't matter. What mattered most was being in the presence of the people I love. It was more than what any kind of feast can ever do for me. I must really be a grown up now.

Being the insomniac that I am, I was the last one to surrender to my dreams. I was able to watch sex in the city 2 on cable 'coz there was nothing good at that time of the night(defensive?). I was amazed at how Carry Bradshaw was able to write at a record pace. Then, I realized that the reason for that was because she stuck to what she knew best... dating. If I were to follow that idea, I should just rename this blog to foodnetwork.com as food is my absolute obsession. Bad idea.

I should be sleeping now. I have a reunion and a date to attend tomorrow and a lot more shenanigans on the coming days. We should really consider starting Christmas parties and reunions in October.

Merry Christmas to all of you. Enjoy the rest of the holiday season. :)

Concert

And I....eyai... Will Always Love you... hohohohoahhh... I will always love you.... ohhhhhh

Utang na luob. Ilang araw ng nagkoconcert ang kapitbahay. Perwisyo sa trabaho at pahinga. Gusto ko nang ipabarangay kaso sabi dito sa bahay, pakisamahan ko na lang. Grabe, sobrang pakikisama na nga. Sila ata ang walang konsepto nun eh. Haayy.

Anyway, speaking of concert, I watched Vice Ganda's concert here in the province. Everyone was excited, puno ang venue. Siyempre, front row kami... dahil sa complimentary ticket! haha. May kasamang free dinner kaya dumating kami ng mas maaga. Pagdating ng venue, wow. Ang tabang ng pagkain. Hindi na nga masarap, parang takot na takot pa silang maubusan ng supply sa sobrang tipid ng portions. I would have been dismayed pero pinaalala ko sa sarili ko... "complimentary lang ang ticket mo. wag magreklamo!" Ok fine. Diretso na sa concert. Hiyawan pagkalabas ni Vice. Konting patawa lang, benta na. Kaso habang pagitna na ang performance nila sa panglalait portion, it struck me. Napanuod ko na to dati. Same old routine from Showtime promo. As in binalikan ko pa talaga yung video sa youtube to confirm. Ayun na nga, halos walang binago. Haayyy. Hindi ko naman sinasabing hindi sila nakakatawa pero sana nag-effort man lang na mag-isip ng bagong material. Pagkatapos ng concert, hati ang mga tao. nabwisit ang mga taong nag-ipon at nagbayad ng ticket, at sobrang tuwa naman ng mga may complimentary tickets! Sabagay, sino ba naman ang matutuwang magbayad ng P2500 para lang panuorin ang palabas na pwede mo naman palang panuorin sa youtube ng libre?

Through the fire, through whatever come what maaaaaaaaaaayyyyy... For a chance of loving you I'd take it AAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLLLLL the way! Naku... ayaw talagang paawat ng kapitbahay!

The Horror

Katatapos lang ng ilang oras ng trabaho. Pagod at hindi makatulog. Sa totoo lang, walang kinalaman ang trabaho sa pagod. In fact, I enjoy doing my job(well... most of the time). Nakakapagod kasi instant reunion nanaman kanina at bilang isa sa mga nakatatandang pinsan ay kinailangan kong maging tagabantay ng mga bulilit kong pinsan. Hindi naman ako nagkocomplain. In fact, I enjoy being around little kids which is why I came up with the conclusion that when time comes, I'll enjoy fatherhood. Anyway, as I was saying, I enjoy being around them pero ayaw ko yung pagod after. haha. I know it doesn't make much sense so just humor me, ok? Madaling araw na kaya.

Nung bata ako, parati akong natatakot manuod ng palabas sa telebisyon tuwing sasapit ang mga araw ng patay. Paano ba namang hindi ka matatakot kung ang mga palabas sa tv ay mga Shake,Rattle&Role movies nung time na nakakatakot pa talaga ang franchise na yan (lalo na yung episode ni manilyn reynes na ihahain siyang putahe ng mga aswang para sa fiesta nila). Siyempre tuwing Sabado, hindi magpapatalo ang Magandang Gabi Bayan na kung first time mong panuorin yun ay para ka lang nanunuod ng Verum Est o Nginiig(Solid Kapamilya?). Anyway, fast forward ngayon, hindi naman na ako natatakot sa mga ganyan. In fact, nakahiligan ko nang magmovie marathon kasama ng mga pinsan o friends ng mga horror movies. Ang nakakalungkot lang ay pagbukas mo ng tv, puro patayan ang ibabalita sayo. Parang balik ang paranoia ko nung bata pa ako. Hindi na nga lang mga kwento sa pelikula ang kinatatakutan ko kundi mga kwento sa balita. Mas nakakatakot ang horror ng tunay na buhay.

PS. kumusta naman ang paggamit ko ng "in fact" sa post na to? I need new phrases.

samu't saring kwento 8: Masaya

Masaya lang ako. Problems are nothing when you have friends who are with you through the good, the bad, and the worst. If I'm being narcissistic, I'd say that they're lucky to have me. If I were to be honest, I think I'm the lucky one.
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Noon, kain kahit saan.
Ngayon, kung saan-saan na lang kumakain.
Noon, nagtitipid para may pang-gimik.
Ngayon, nagtitipid para may panggastos.

Totoo nga pala talaga ang sinasabi nila... matututo kang magtipid kapag ikaw na mismo ang kumakayod para sa sarili mong pera. At totoo rin na mas masarap gastusin ang perang pinagpaguran kesa perang inabot lang sayo. Isa na lang siguro ang mas sasarap pa dun... kapag nasabi mo na sa nanay mo na, "ma, ako naman ang bahala sayo."
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Sino ba ang hindi nakararanas ng problema? Wala. Kaya kung nagtataka ka kung bakit may taong malungkot at may taong masaya, isa lang ang sagot diyan... may mga taong dinadaanan lang ang problema at may mga taong tumatambay sa problema. Are you willing to admit defeat? or... Are you willing to say, "Bring it on!" The choice is yours...

questions...

I was recently asked to write about pain. Why is there such an obsession about this subject matter? Why are we so intrigued about it that we equate writing about great deal of emotion to a literary goldmine? If that is so... why not happiness? joy? why does it always have to be about pain? Sometimes I wonder, do we read about pain to recover from our own? or for the sheer pleasure of knowing that somebody out there have had it worst than us and that our pains may not be as painful as we thought it were?
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We are we so quick to judge people who are "plastik!" Sometimes, what we get is a reflection of what we give off. If you give authenticity, then you get truth. If you give anything other than that, then what do you expect?

to someone I really miss [REPOST]

I would have wished a different path for you but I have learned to let go of all the bitterness. I miss you...
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[REPOST]

It has been two years since you left. I didn't know how I would go on. I know I've been selfish, praying over and over again that you'd stay a little while longer but you didn't... which made me a little frustrated since you rarely disapprove of my wishes. I should be angry with you, especially since you left without saying goodbye, but I'm not. I love you way too much that it makes it impossible for me to hate you then. I still don't hate you now... In fact, I think I love you even more if it's possible considering you're so far away. And even though you fail to communicate with me, I would like you to know that I've been trying my best to keep my promises. I still look after your brother, who is starting college this semester. And i know you'd find it amusing that he wants to become an Architect... it's what you have always wanted to become right? I still remember your sketch of your dream house, simple yet elegant. You could have been a great architect you know? And your mom... she doesn't show it but I know she gets lonely. Sometimes, i would catch her tearing up when we talk about you... and she would catch me tearing up as well. It has been two years since you passed away, and nothing has changed... I'm still hoping that you're still with us or that i'm up there with you. I'm sorry that I almost forgot about today. I'm sorry that I don't get to spend time with your brother as much as I would like to. I'm sorry I got so busy... I'm just sorry. I miss you, I miss the brother I had in you. It's funny, I know you're dead but somehow i know you're alive. In my memory, you will always be... I miss you brother.
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Three years and not a single memory is forgotten. I moved on. We all did. Not from you, but with you...

the summer that was- PART1 [Health Concious?]

I've been doing too many activities this summer that it made it almost impossible for me to write 'em all down. In tagalog... tinamad akong magblog! haha. But seriously, i have too many stories to tell that I have decided to write them in series. And since summer is almost over, I would like to look back on those memories that made this summer experience one of my best yet.

HEALTH CONSCIOUS?
One of the things on my to do list... you know, "the list," is to fit into my 32-in waist pants again. I know it's a long shot considering my March 2011 waistline(which will remain a secret forever by the way) but still... I needed to start somewhere, right? So... as much as I wanted to stay away from the enemy, i had to succumb to it's powers. Behold...The ENEMY:



It was hard! I was so pumped the first day that I got carried away and lifted the heaviest dumb bells, crunched most times, and basically outdid every single person in the gym. The next day, I couldn't even move my arms. The next week, after seven days of physical healing, I went back. This time around, I was less intense and more keen on achieving a realistic goal. With everything in line, I went back as religiously as I can. I lifted weights, I jogged, I played, and I even finished running a marathon. Something amazing happened... I started feeling good. Little did I know that my journey through weight loss would lead me to the path of redemption, acceptance, friendship, and self-discovery(More of all these on next posts).

Anyway, as my "summer weight-loss program" comes to an end, I believe that results are quite favorable. I lost 17 lbs and gained a lifetime's worth of memories.

Haay... It's funny how we know that things do end and still, we wish they wouldn't. And in time, you'll realize that even as time do really pass and some memories fade, that feeling of momentary bliss will remain with you forever.
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PS. If you are wondering why I only lost 17 lbs during this summer considering the activities I've done... well, I would like to believe that I would have lost more if not for the muscles that I have packed on during the process. Promise. yun talaga ang dahilan. Maniwala ka :)

samu't saring kwento 7: kwentong SABUG

Maga-alas tres na ng madaling araw. gising nanaman ako, tulog nanaman ang lahat. Isa yan sa mga dahilan kung bakit malungkot ang mga oras na ganito para sa mga tulad kong insoniac. walang kausap, walang kakwentuhan. madalas nasa harapan lang ng monitor. Nag-iisip. Nag-aabang. Naghihintay. Zombie.
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Napatingin ako bigla sa dalawang maliit na aparador dito. punong-puno ng mga figurine, souvenir, stuffed toys. Parang itong baboy lang na may pink na ribbon sa ulo. naalala ko, bigay ko to kay mama para sa birthday niya. elementary pa ako noon... ilang araw kong pinag-ipunan para maibigay ko sa kanya sa kaarawan niya... ang ending, hindi nagustuhan. hayun, inaamag sa cabinet. malamang na pag nakita niya ulit ito, hindi niya maaalalang binigay ko sa kanya to. hindi pala uso ang "it's the thought that counts."
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andito rin lang sa may lamesa sa sala ang mga photo albums at yearbooks na wala namang nagbubuklat. Diyan ako nagtatago ng mga bold cd's ko nung bata pa ako kaso minsan nahanap ng pinsan ko. siyempre di ako umamin... sabi ko sa tito ko. tapos ang usapan. haha.
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andito rin lang nakakalat ang mga dancepads. isa sa amin, isa iniwan ng pinsan ko dito. malay ko ba dun. parang nagpapahiwatig ata. pinabibilis yata ang pagpapapayat ko. matagal na kasi ang usapan naming magpapayat ako. haaay. nagsawa na ata ang mokong sa pangako ko. hindi na niya mahanap yung damit na gusto ko isuot kapag payat na ako. ganun na katagal. haha.
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wala naman talagang konek ang mga istoryang yan. parang ako lang yan tuwing madaling araw... SABUG! gusto ko lang magsulat... yun bang wala lang. masabi lang na gising ako. mission accomplished.

OTH effect

i'm watching season 5 of One Tree Hill right now and i'm surprised at how much i like it now than i did the first time my sister tried to push it down my throat. it is this show that is filled with poetry, drama, and apparently only good-looking people are allowed in this "reality." oh wait, that sounds a lot like my life. HA! I wish! Anyway, there is this one line spoken in the show that really struck me. it goes something like, "Wanting to do something is not enough. You have to do something about it so that you won't look back ten years from now and imagine what could have been."

I am 21 years old and as I right this, I am realizing how much I've missed on just because I always think that there's tomorrow for me to do all these things but the truth is that tomorrow doesn't always come. We should learn how to live each day as if it were last. God knows... maybe it is. Would you have forgiven yourself knowing you could have done something amazing now but instead, you wait for tomorrow that may or may not come? 10 years from now, i wouldn't want to look back and say, "damn, I bet it was easier to have abs when I was 21." So it's decided...

LISTAHAN

remember the list that i made months back? the one i should finish before my next birthday? it's a lot harder to accomplish than i thought. 6 months gone and i am nowhere near half of finishing the list. getting a little worried... but then i always come through in the last second so i'm having my fingers crossed.

They say that one of the best ways to accomplish things is to broadcast them to a lot of people... Apparently, you'll work harder to avoid public scrutiny from failing. So, here it is...

21 Things to do while I'm 21
1) Read all Sidney Sheldon books
2) Be friends with somebody I don't like
3) re-connect with somebody from my past
4) Learn and play atleast 7 songs using a guitar
5) Fit into 32-in waist pants
6) Take a picture with a random stranger
7) Have a tattoo
8) Watch 7 films in 1 day
9) Meet atleast 2 bloggers in person
10) Perform in a crowd of atleast 100 people
11) Try bunjee jumping(or something similar)
12) Stay awake for 25 hours straight
13) Be a vegetarian for a week
14) not lie for 1 whole week
15) Have my hair colored
16) Jog for 30 days straight
17) Lie in the middle of session road
18) Ride a bus to unknown destination
19) Climb a mountain/go camping
20) start my own business/get a part-time job
21) sleep before 12AM for 1 month

haay... lifting weights?... think positive, walang AAYAW!

"Big PACKAGE"

one of the things i like most in blogging is that i get to meet very interesting people.
some are nice.
some are nasty.
some are funny.
some are just plane weird.

but if you are lucky enough... you may just meet someone like ate Ilocana...

she is one of the first bloggers who have commented on my blog and she always have lots of nice things to say about my posts. i don't know if she's just being nice or she really find my writing "inspiring" but nonetheless it boosts my ego and makes me want to write as best i could. eventually, we shared stories like only friends would and it really feels nice to be able to have that kind of relationship with someone who lives in another continent. don't get me wrong, when i said "relationship," i meant a brother-sister kind of relationship. and what's great about her is that when she makes a promise, she'll do it.

mga ka-eyebags, behold...


i was excited... it was the first time someone has sent me a package. "ME," addressed in my name. haha. para akong batang nakakita ng regalo. and child i was when i opened the box...




haaay.. parang Christmas lang. hehe. Thank you for these gifts ate Ilocana. You could have sent me the letter alone and it would have made me just as happy... masaya lang ako na nag-effort kayo to make this little boy smile. hehe.

I would have modeled the shirts kaso medyo masikip pa... medyo lumobo kasi dala ng aking injury. OO. sinisi ko pa rin ang aking injury. hehe. you were asking if i liked the clothes... well...

it's my style

it's nice

it's interesting

are you sure? wahaha.

just kidding. I loved them all. Thanks ate... you are just wonderful :)



by the way... my sister says thank you :)

WHAT NOW?

LIFE BEGINS NOW...

oh, and yeah... i'll be blogging more :)


walang mahanap na matinong picture sa baul. hehe

samu't saring kuwento 6: expectations, IMAGINATIONS, & The Holiday That Is Really Not.

I've been watching some movies that i thought were really bad the first time i saw them. You know what's weird? I think they got better during the second viewing. I don't know how that's possible. Same material, same thing, same BANANA! I think the reason why I didn't enjoy them the first time is the fact that I read the reviews first and it escalated my expectations of those films... so whatever i saw was either worst than the reviews or didn't live up to them. So now, no reading of reviews for me... or maybe i'll just read them after :)

on second viewing:
HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON - better than most reviews(i thought it was good but the second viewing made me realize it was amazing)


GLITTER - not as bad as everyone claims it to be



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week 1 and week 2

week 3 and week 4

it's funny how an image that is so unappetizing would remind me so much of food.
week 1: burnt holiday family ham
week 2: tortang talong
week 3: breaded porkchop
week 4: tapa

nice. sa lahat ng nasuka, wag kayong mag-alala... hindi kayo nag-iisa. *pukes*
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i think my mom is in a hurry to get rid of us. kahapon, tinanong ako,"Valentine's day bukas, bakit wala kang date?"
Ma, i'm only 21. don't you want your baby(damulag?) in the house anymore?
anyway... ang panalong sagot ko: "Ma, marami akong pwedeng i-date. Ang issue, wala akong pang-date! Pahinging pera at hindi niyo ako makikita bukas."
mama: "tama yan anak. mag-concentrate ka sa pagaaral."

haha... ang bilis magbago ng isip?

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valentine's day... 4th consecutive year... no date... happy... ready :)

ang TOTOO

Bakit ganun? Ang hirap maging mabuting kaibigan.
Siguro mahirap dahil iba't iba ang interpretasyo natin sa salitang "MABUTI."

-Mabuti ka kapag sumang-ayon ka sa lahat ng nais gawin ng kaibigan, ngunit masama ka kapag sumalungat ka... kahit pa ito ay para sa ikabubuti niya.
-Mabuti kang kaibigan kapag kaya mo siyang pagtakpan sa kanyang mga pagkakamali ngunit masama naman kapag gusto mo siyang ituwid sa tama.
-Mabuti kang kaibigan kapag ginawa mo ang lahat para mapasaya siya, pero ang masakit nun, masama ka pa rin kung ang lahat mo ay kulang pa rin sa kanya.

Minsan, nakakapagod ang maging mabuting kaibigan... siguro dahil gusto nating ituro ang kung ano ang TAMA at hindi ang TAMA para lang sa kanya. sabihan na ako ng masama... pero hindi mo pwedeng itangging ako ay naging TOTOO.
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UTANG NA LUOB! pwede bang paki-explain sa akin kung papaanong ang pagpinta ko ng napakagandang painting na ito...


parang si fernando amorsolo lang ang nagpinta no?

... ay related sa Critical Research? haaay... andami talagang misteryo sa buhay... Kung mahulaan mo ng tama kung ano ang ipinapahiwatig ng ubod ng gandang painting ko, may prize ka sa akin :)

I'm Fine.

"how on earth do you stay positive?"

Tanong sa akin ng kaibigan nang maka-usap ko kamakailan sa facebook. Recently lang kasi niya nalaman ang trahedyang bumalot sa katauhan ng mabuting bata. Why stay positive? Bakit nga ba? Considering all of the things I've been through, hindi kataka-taka kung hindi sila maniwalang ayos lang ako. AYOS ako. Kahit naputukan ako sa braso, kahit asar sa mga taong mapansamantala, kahit lalo akong lumulobo, kahit wala akong lablayp(by choice naman), at kahit halos ubos na ang savings ko, AYOS pa rin ako. I'm okay because I choose to be okay. Wala rin namang magagawa ang pagmumokmok para maresolba ang mga problema ko. Sabi nga sa pelikula ni John Lloyd, "Hindi umiikot sa'yo ang mundo at hindi titigiil ito kahit mawala ka pa!" Kung magaling man mangumbinsi si John Lloyd o idol ko lang siyang talaga, hindi yun ang punto. Ang importante dun ay tama siya. Tuloy lang ang buhay. Kung ano man ang ginagawa ko nuon ay siya pa ring ipagpapatuloy ko.

Pumapasok pa rin ako...

Lecture with one of my favorite documentarists, Raffy Tima.

Nagkakawang-gawa...

children of Ama ng Kalinga foundation

Lumalamon?!?

my famous pasta alfredo. yummy :)

Sabi nga nila sa Ingles eh Business as usual. Tandaan na lang natin na ang problema ay hindi ang totoong problema dahil ang totoong problema ay kung papaano mo maipagsasabay ang BUHAY at PROBLEMA. Kung hindi mo naintindihan ang sinabi ko, problema mo na yun. hehe

Blogger mode: ACTIVATED!

another close call

ang ganda ng salubong sa akin ng bagong taon. nagsindi ng defective na fountain.. ayun, sumabog! na-happy new year ang kawawang nightcrawler. too bad. i have to postpone all my plans for the start of the year, my business, my 21 things to do list.. everything. arghh... this sucks.

I've been counting, if i were a cat, i would only have 4 lives left. i'm starting to think that i am a jinx... but then again, i'm still alive. that probably means something right? i'm just happy i still have all of my fingers and nothing happened to my angelic(?) face. i'll be as good as new in no time... and by that i mean in a few months. tragic...