Baguio Part 2 - Quick Answers

The group had a blast at Mines View Park Market this afternoon. I was burning a hole on my wallet and the naturally scrimper moi, did not give a freakin care in the world. I got all my sisters, friends and my teammates somethin and tomorrow, I'm buying some more. Hala!!! When is enough really enough? Quick answer: Once I'm back in Manila, ahehehe!

Tonight, we bought some drinks and took it back to the hotel. Chitchat. Gulp. Talks. Gulp. Serious talks. Gulp. More serious talks. Gulp. Someone almost (just almost) cried. Gulp. Dance like crazy. Gulp. Dance crazier. Gulp.

As the night drew to morning, people were lauging louder. Talking more lively. Danicing more animatedly. I, for some reason, stayed in my little own corner, becoming quieter and quieter as the minutes passed.

Why?

Quick answer: Beats me. But I will try to answer again...

So why?

Not-so-quick-answer: Probably because I just gradually started thinking about the last time I came here and the kind of fun I had then. The people I came here with at that time have gone and moved ahead and beyond. And yes, I basically started remiscing about the times I spent with them. Its a good thing that Shelly and "Junjun" fell asleep right then. Because suddenly, I jus wanted to be alone then.

I stood up and opened the windows and looked out. I had a glass of cold beer in my left hand. I looked across the corner and there was Gimbal's. Yes the same bar where I've gone wild-crazy-does not care about the world-party girl before. Ala lang, I just suddenly realized that so many things have changed. Some have gone for the worse. And most have gone for the better (thank gawd). But I stood for a minute wishing it was year 2000 again.

And a car honked 4 floors below me. And someone turned on the lights in one of the rooms of the building across the street. Yeah, Im in Baguio now. And its 2006. I had the best time of my life then. But right now, I could say I'm not too bad either. I feel good about myself. I feel good about the people around me. I feel good about Baguio these days.

No regrets.

Fond memories, yes. But no regrets. - That's another quick answer.

PS

Pics are being uploaded later.

Baguio Part 1

Taena! I'm on vacation en grande, in a beautiful city, with gorgeous friends and...I'm blogging..! (so what's wrong with that? - tama ba abaniko, ahihihi!)

The hassles were all worth it. Whatever that previously hindered this trip from pushing through is way under the bridge now. Ahihihi..

Im in the hotel lobby right now and Paopee, Michelle and I are waiting for Christy and "Junjun".. (sino si Junjun??). Details (and pics) to come the soonest dah-ling. Tagal nila maligo eh..Kaya nag-blog muna akech. We're about to have lunch somewhere, and after that we're going horseback riding around the corner. Then afetr that, gagala muna, then who knows, bahala na si Batman!

Ay, andito na sila..nagaantay pala kame suweldo..haha, malapit na ang bankruptcy...char! Pero taena, ulitin natin to...Next summer sa Bicol naman! Diba friends? Etong si Christy, tapos na maligo..at gusto niya agawin ang access ko. Babay, ahihihih!

Mwah people! Awabyu!

PS
I miss you na.
You know who you are.

Misery

I was supposed to go somewhere today. I was actually looking forward of going just a couple of days ago. But for some fucking reason, I don't feel like it anymore. I wish there was some way to rationalize what I'm feeling but I guess I don't want to go into much details right now. Suffice to say that I don't feel as excited as I've anticipated. Suffice to say that I just feel so damn crappy inside and I just wanna wallow in it.

This is misery, I tell you. If this ain't it, I dunno what is.

Take me out. Take me to Baguio. Now. Without the hassles.
Please.

Jing: Un-layered

I lifted this from someone else's blog. Hainaco, its one of those boring nights...

LAYER 0NE:
-- Name:Jennifer, but call me Jing or Siyoks please.
-- Birth date: January 2
-- Birthplace: Ilocos Norte, possibly in tito Ruben's room
-- Current Location: 50th floor, west wing, PBCOM Tower, Makati
-- Eye Color: dark brown
-- Hair Color: its normally a tad lighter than dark brown, but these days, it has yellowish and amber streaks
-- Height: i'd like to think its at least 5 feet
-- Righty or Lefty: righty, although I think lefties are really cool
-- Zodiac Sign: Capricorn

LAYER TWO:
-- The shoes you wore today: Connie's black pointy shoes. I was planning to wear my pointy black boots but I was in a hurry this morning and Connie's shoes were off the rack.
-- Your weakness: Saying "no" to people.I find it hard to say no even if it kills me. Help!
-- Your fears: death, naturally.
-- Your perfect pizza: cheese, no meat
-- Goal you'd like to achieve: for immediates, Id like a job promotion. For long-term, I'm planning to save enough to get my OWN house in the Metro.

LAYER THREE:
-- Your most overused phrase(s): None. I tend to guard my words. I get bored easily so I never overuse stuffs.
-- Your first thoughts upon waking up: "Awgad, tinatamad ako, ugh"
-- Your best physical feature: I'd like to think its my eyes - cute, chinky, just the way I like it.
-- Your bedtime: Nothing specific. I just make sure I get at least 7 hours worth of shuteye.
-- Your most missed memory: Elementary days with Daffo and Diamond. If I could go back for just a day, I would. I miss them.

LAYER FOUR:
-- In love?: Sure, why not.

LAYER FIVE:
-- Cuss: Fuck it.
-- Sing: Ye, I usually do it either with a guitar or in the shower.
-- Take a shower everyday: sure, why not, hehehe.
-- Have a crush: Yes.Someone I've never met ( I think), a fellow blogger.Ahihihi.
-- Do you think you've been in love: Oo naman.
-- Want to go to college: I have. Twice.
-- Like(d) high school: Pisay hayskul? One of the loveliest times of my life..
-- Want to get married: No, I don't think so.
-- Believe in yourself: Too much
-- Get motion sickness: It depends on what I'm riding on. Anything alive, I'm fine. If it's a car or a bus and I don't like the air-freshener, I get hilo. I'm okay on planes and ships.
-- Think you're attractive: I bet I am, ahihihi.
-- Think youre a health freak?: I am. Guilty as charged, OC-OC me... (Hey, I don't smoke anymore!!! Yipee, yipee)I've also gone back to playing badminton.
-- Get along with your parent(s): Uhm, sometimes.
-- Like thunderstorms:No my dear. I get scared.
-- Play an instrument: Guitar, a little bit of recorder, and piano.

Lottery Musings

Tonight's winnings in the lottery has reached up to 140M Php! Now, I'm not the betting kinda' person but I must admit, this is pretty exciting. Not to mention that people at the office this morning were talking about it. We had a pretty curious round of conversation and it was just so funny, I had to blog about it. I don't know if the lines are still accurate, but this was how it pretty much turned out.

Jing: Oist guys, if I win, I'm gonna give you all 5,000 each. So dapat ako manalo ha.
Drew: Naman Jing! 140M yun!
Jing: Dude, nde napupulot yung payb tawsan sa kalye noh...
Eugene: Eh, manlibre ka kaya ng Yellow Cab?
Kookie: Yellow Cab na naman? Monster's para malaki-laki naman!
ALL: NYAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!
Jing: Ay, no guys, I'm gonna buy a franchise of *bleep* (states Company's name) at gagawin ko lahat kayo managers!!
Eugene: Hahahaha!
Drew: Eh di nalugi ka! Kita mong tinatamad ako ngayon eh.
Jing: Kung malugi ako, eh di na-jobless ka, bleh!
Eugene: Hahahaha!
Kookie: Ako dude, pag pinapili ako ng 140M or asawa ko..maiintindihan naman niya yun siguro..Kaw jing, iwanan mo boyfriend mo pag pinapili ikaw between him and 140M bucks?
Jing: Oo naman!
Drew: Bilis naman nun Jing!
Jing: Bibigyan ko naman siyang 5M eh!
Eugene: Hahaha!
Jing: Hoy Eugene, tawa ka ng tawa, mabilaukan ka...
Eugene: Hahaha! Naisip ko lang, tumaya din kase ako eh!

Jing: (thinks to herself) Hmm, itinaya kaya ako ni Connie? Wag ka na dude, ako na lang, promise bibigyan kita ng payb tawsan!
Eugene: Hahaha!
Jing: Hmp, tawa ulit! Hahaha ka din!
Drew: Jing, seryoso, bakit 5 thousand lang? Ako pag mananalo ibibigay ko gusto niyo..
Jing: Like..?
Drew: Ano gusto niyo?
Jing: Trip to Amanpulo...
Drew: Game!
Unknown passerby: Gusto ko yung 140M..
(DEADMA)
Kookie: Ako ipapaliwanag ko na lang sa asawa ko kung bakit ko siya iiwan pag pinapili ako kung siya or 140M..
Eugene: Haha, yun pa din ang iniisip!
Kookie: Kase pag sa kanya nangyari yun, iiwan din niya ako eh! Omaygad! yung ticket ko, diko pinirmahan, baka itakbo ng asawa ko pag nanalo yun!
ALL: Nyahahahahaaha!!!
Jing: Ako magtatabi ako 1M for charity...
Drew: Jing, 140M yun!
Jing: Alam ko, alam ko.. 5thou nga sayo eh, be happy for me no!
Kookie: Ako, 40M, wawaldasin ko..mga 10 years siguro yun...sheeet, sarap!
Jing: Ako, mga 10M, wawaldasin ko din....owgad, sharaap!
Drew: Ako, bibigay ko gusto ng mga kaibigan ko...!
Eugene: Hahahaha!

"Okay everyone, stop dreaming! Let's get back to work!"-- Now, where did this come from? Doesn't matter. We stopped dreaming. And went to work.

Kookie mutters, "Pag absent ako bukas, nanalo talaga ako..."
And Jing adds, "Ako, pupunta pa din dito, magblo-blowout ako..
And Drew says, "Di ako magreresign..."
And Eugene goes, "Hahaha..."

"Ssshh...work na daw..work na daw...ahihihihi!"

An Email Exchange

shax!
ngayon ko lang na-sight ung mga old bogas pics... haay, how swiftly time flies... kalain mong napaghiwahiwalay din tayo ng panahon.. dati feeling ko magkakasama tayo under one roof hanggang sa pagtanda natin!! hehe! bangenge... nyways, thanks jing for scanning those pics, tyaga mo pards! you always tell sa blog mo 'bout moving on yet 'kaw tong nagpaparemind sa 'tin kung anong meron tayo sa yupielbi dati... hmmph!


Bogas,
Moving on is being able to look back, feel back, and liveback...without the pain of ever wanting to go back...Yan ang eksplanasyon ko ahihihi! Hmmph!

Bud Mint: On

a swoosh, then a whoop.
feel the wind hiss.
legs sliding,
suddenly brake.
stomps.
and you serve. you receive.
you smash. it hurtles right back.
perspiration. pant.
still you want more.
beads on my forehead. coursing down to my breasts.
and rest on my tummy.
water.
drink.
another cycle. swoosh, then a whoop.
towel.
dry.
gatorade.
shower. warm then cold.
cold then warm again.
towel.
dry.
drive.
home.
I love badminton.

The Simpsons; Life, Miseries, and Pitstops PS: Enjoy the Ride

I'm a big fan of The Simpsons. On this day in 1990, The Simpsons premiered on television for the first time.

The Simpsons is a depiction of how today's family cope up with modernity. It's kinda 'like a soap opera in a twisted way which deals with a typical family's pains, problems and joys.

I have been collecting episodes of The Simpsons for years now. I find simple cathartic enjoyment in watching it. I purge my life's toxicity and angsts while laughing my heart out with Homer's miseries. I feel just a tad nostalgic while I try to understand Lisa's own insecurities with Bart. Of course, Marge's frustrations with her husband is actually a comic relief in a wicked way. Makes me actually feel that I am not the only one who has the world on my shoulders - err, sometimes. Maggie's indifference is my life story.

Watching The Simpsons, especially on rainy, Sunday mornings is one of my life's most favorite little pleasures.



On a different note, I am actually starting to count the days til our long-awaited Baguio trip with friends from the office. I know, Baguio na naman (?!), right? But hey, I love the city, man. For a couple of years now, I've been going back to Baguio with different sets of people - all of them almost equally special.

My family frequents the place, not only because it's just a couple of hours worth of detour when we go home from Manila to Ilocos, but primarily because we love the cold weather, not to metion Meng's infatuation with strawberries and Mama's first love with ukay-ukay. Of course, I need not mention that most of papa's conventions and seminars are held there.

Back in '98, Estong and I went there out of whim. We didn't bring any money, much less had anything planned for a grand tour cum vacation, but we went there anyway. We only stayed long enough for a day's tour of the city and we separated ways come sunset. It was a short trip, really, but it was fun while it lasted. The fleeting quality of it is what makes it special, come to think of it.

My pseudo siblings Lei and Kid went back with me to Baguio around the year of '99. We had a little bit of planning for this trip. We had a rented car which we used to take us around the city and the outskirts, plus a rented house in case we got too tired of roaming around.

In 2000, my beloved IKOT friends: Mei, Guise, Val and Rob went back with me to Baguio for one of the most memorable trips of my life. Suffice to say that the "ride with them was worth the fall". There is nothing more I'd like to do right now other than to ride with them again, but I guess it's not the right time yet. We'll get there, believe me. I'll probably let you in on this story in another log.

Baguio has been a venue for some of my life's adventures and a witness to my grateful existence. It has been a culminating ground for great friendships and deep family relationships. Baguio has been my heaven on Earth for a couple of years now. It has been a home to my tired and weary soul, an end-stop for a life going in circles.

And now my friends in the office which include Rico, Shelly, Mayu and Pao are planning yet another trip to this city that feels like home to wanderers and travellers. We are going to be there for a couple of nights and days, starting January 29. What can I say, I'm just so looking forward to it.
Care to come with us?
If you've ever been to Baguio and back with me, I know we're in for a long ride.
Ride with me.

say HI to my new love...

This is it. I am through with my old pains, old disappointments and my old life! I am so over all the ex's in my life - - that I have decided, finally, to introduce Bibi, my new love:

Bibi and I met last December and I fell onsight. Today, I am formally saying goodbye to my old guitar, Baby-G... which, despite of having seen me through the best days of my life, is now exclusively history.

With Ver and EG and Baby-G (circa '99)

27 years ago

On January 2, 1979:

-->Pope John Paul II returned home to Poland as the first Roman Catholic pontiff to visit a Commuist-ruled country

--> Northern Illinois was in the grips of a severe winter snowstorm. By the end of the day, 7 inches of snow covered the entire city.

On that same day, somewhere in the northernmost point of a certain tropical country, a certain baby was born to a first-time mom and a tipsy father. The father was such in a panic that he dosed himself with a little too much alcohol. The mother was scared-shit of giving birth in the hospital so she chose to give birth at home.

The baby took her time coming out. It wasn't without pain, especially for the mom. The father almost dropped from the 2nd storey window thinking that it was a door. But inevitably, the baby came out. Her mother took a breather and went to sleep right away. The father tried to stay awake, but he, too, needed a rest.

The baby was awake. And she was passed from relative to relative trying to get a glimpse of the clan's 1st baby, both from the father's and mother's side. She could not wait to grow up.

It has been 27 years since...

Happy Birthday to me.