Sa’yo.Galit na galit ka talaga sa akin, ano? Sana inintindi mo rin yung buong post bago ka nagmura-mura dyan sa tabi-tabi. Sinulat ko bang lahat ng tao, ganun? Sinulat ko bang yun nga ang ugat ng lahat? Isa pa, porque ba wala ako sa hanay niyo ay di na ako pwedeng maki-simpatya sa ibang tao?
Ang kapal ng mukha mo.
Kung ayaw mo ng mga sinusulat ko, bakit di ka maghanap ng ibang blog na pwede mong basahin na di puputok ang ugat sa utak mo sa sobrang galit? Bakit kailangan mong bumalik-balik dito para inisin ang sarili mo? Bakit nga ba naman sa akin ka pa nakatutok, eh sigurado naman akong may iba pang blogs dyan na pwede mong bisitahin na hindi mo kamumuhian ang nagsulat at ang mga isinusulat? Na pwede mong insultuhin ang nagsulat at ang mga isinusulat? Ganun naman ang siste dati, diba?
Hindi ko alam kung bakit nagpapaapekto pa ako. Marahil dahil na rin inakala kong nagkaroon tayo ng isang espesyal na koneksyon. Eh ano naman kung masaktan ako sa mga sinasabi mo, diba? Pakialam mo? Nasa akin na yun. Pagkakamaling siguro’y habambuhay kong pagsisisihan ang makisama sa inyo, dahil sa buktot na ugaling ipinakikita mo.
 Hairspray The Musical Live on Stage at ManilaI have to admit something.
I’m absolute in loathe with Zac Efron. I mean, come on! He’s so not a good actor. He can sing, I’ll give him that, but act? Eh? With one expression on his face? Meh.
It’s probably the reason why I hate High School Musical to death. And it’s possibly the reason why I didn’t bother seeing the Hairspray release last year when I liked the 1988 movie version just fine (I only watched it because Divine was there, seriously). As soon as Efron appears on my TV, I get the chills (in a completely bad way) and have to stop the video. At first, I could’t get past his first scene. And the 2007 movie is a musical. Who can bloody resist a musical?
I can! If Zac Efron’s there. 
(But then, I don’t like Vanessa whatchamacallit of HSM as well, so there. Efron doesn’t take the whole blame. I don’t know why the antagonistic feeling, so don’t ask. ;))
 I went to see Hairspray The Musical staged by Atlantis Productions at Star Theater Sunday afternoon. It was with pure hot luck that I won a ticket from Gibbs Cadiz for the show a couple of days ago. Apparently, an Ateneo alumni, Jepoy, in support of his college theater organization Ateneo Blue Repertory, bought two tickets all the way from the US and gave those tickets to Gibbs, who gave the tickets away to two lucky “good Googlers” who could enumerate three BlueRep productions in which Madel Ching, who plays Tracy Turnblad in Hairspray, appeared in. (I have to thank Anton Diaz’ blog post for that, by the way. Hah! The wonders of technology.)
So I brought my muse with me to the theater, excited to see a live stage performance again after so many months (the Eraserheads Reunion Concert doesn’t count, obviously). I met Dale, the one who won the other ticket, who bravely introduced himself to me after an usher, uh, ushered me to my seat. We were both pretty early so we talked our mouth off until the show began.
It was colorful. And retro. And fun. And vibrant. And simply outstanding. There were very minor technical issues, and the fact that the sound of the orchestra was being heard in only one direction was a little bit distracting, as pointed out by Dale. But overall, it was a fantastic stage play, put into life by excellent actors.
…with the exception of the one who plays Link Larkin, who stuck out like a sore thumb. It’s not that he’s bad, it’s just that he’s…bad. Uhm. I mean, not that good. He pales in comparison to his colleagues. Which should probably explain why I mentioned (well, ranted, really) about Efron in the beginning. Both dudes’ acting is less than impressive. Geez. Good thing Efron can sing, because this certain actor certainly sounded like he was croaking all throughout his songs. Well, not really. But you get the picture. He’s like a male version of Vanessa watchamacallit with the cockroach voice. Only the actor is way better than Vanessa watchamacallit. I find him better than Efron in the acting department as well. Or maybe I really hate Efron. Whatever.
Come to think of it, the role requires for the actor to do just two things: smile and look pretty. So yeah. I guess they were good actors after all.
(Before Link sings “Without Love,” he has this, “I can’t sleep, I can’t sing, I can’t eat” line that I found hilarious. I couldn’t help myself. I leaned over to Dale and whispered, “See? Even he knows he can’t sing.” I knoooow, I’m such a meanie. :D)
But that fact didn’t take away the fun in the play. My favorite in the cast is probably Menchu Lauchengco-Yulo, the talented actress who plays Velma Von Tussle. Great acting, great singing voice — hell, great voice, great body, great butt clad in those black panties… Really. Just great. 
Female lecher. Haha.
And — my gosh!!! — DULCE! Betchabygolly WOW Motormouth Maybelle! She was bloody fantastic! Her voice was just so…undescribable. She sounded way beyond great. You could practically hear and feel the hush that fell over the crowd as she sang. “I Know Where I’ve Been” almost brought tears to my eyes. The song, lyrics and all, was as soulful as Dulce’s performance, and it was by far the best and my most favorite scene in the show. Edna and Wilbur Turnblad’s “You’re Timeless to Me” runs a close second. “Mama I’m a Big Girl Now” is third.
Michael de Mesa — on drag — is an effective Edna Turnblad. Funny, too. Meanwhile, who’d have thunk Nyoy Volante is a decent dancer? Certainly not I.
With a powerful cast and an award-winning play, Hairspray is definitely a must-see for everybody. If you have a few hundred pesos to spare, spare them.  The groping and sexual innuendos are too funny to pass up on.
Oh, yeah. This post is not a “hardcore” review nor a critique, but merely an observation of a freeloader who appreciates good art but not pretty boys, haha.
(I really hate Zac Efron.)
 Vince’s Life: The Next Chapter - Getting Over AndreaTechnology, you just have to love it. Halfway around the world, and we could still find ways to hurt each other.
 Vince O. Teves is back with another disarmingly candid, subtly romantic book about his life after Andrea, his ex-girlfriend, left for the US. Vince’s Life: The Next Chapter - Getting Over Andrea is the sequel to the highly successful title Vince’s Life that was published four years ago.
Vince is finally taking the first step toward the two dreaded words after months without Andrea — moving on. They still communicate frequently through emails, and he has been demoted from boyfriend to buddy, but that’s okay with him. The important thing is that he’s got himself a job at an award-winning ad agency, something that he has never really expected. Soon after, he is introduced to the agency’s “Charlie’s Angels,” one of whom becomes his love interest as the story progresses.
A lot of elevator pranks (which consisted of things from catty to just plain crass), beers at Yakuza (a bar the agency dudes hang out at frequently), heart-breaking email exchanges (between Vince and Andrea), a successful account (a product of overtime works and a sleepless night), and an old high school crush later (with whom Vince has a textbook-perfect date…sans the magic and fireworks), Vince hooks up with Cat, the hazel-eyed, “kinky librarian type” of the three angels. They have stimulating conversations, and they find a common ground with their love for books.
They become close, but an awkward moment befalls upon them as Vince’s mouth gets the better of him, and Cat ends the call with, “You make me believe in magic again. And just when everything is so beautiful, you go and break the spell.” Even after that, they become even closer still and the magic remains, albeit not one of them acts on it. All is well and dandy, until Andrea tells Vince that she’s coming home.
Confused, he is left to choose between an old flame and a new one. The beach, or the Ad Congress? Should he win Andrea back, or continue what he’s started with Cat?
“I have to see where this is going,” I said, trying to explain. “Andrea and I were serious for a long time, and it just doesn’t go away so quickly. I’ve known her for six years–”
“Four,” Cat interrupted.
“It’s six,” I explained. “I’ve known her since first year college–”
“Four!” Cat insisted, her anger flaring again. “She’s been gone for two years. And for those two years, you and her have been nothing. And you know what, Vince? You can’t love someone who’s never there.”
I’ll be a heartless bitch and spoil everything for you. He chooses the latter.
On a sidenote, that “magic” and “fireworks” stuff will stay with me forever. And I’m not going to write pages 90-92 here, but trust me, it’s a must-read. It’s probably the part of the book where I first got teary-eyed. Granted, I’m such a crybaby, but the letter that was never sent just gave my heart a little pinch, and I felt the hurt, if you know what I mean. Pages 139-140 are a gem.
“[...] I won’t be stuck in the past, holding on to our yesterday, waiting for something that won’t ever come back.
“And I’m happy. You don’t know how happy I am now that I’ve straightened all of this out.” I laughed, I don’t know why. It wasn’t particularly funny. “We gave it our best shot, and we loved hard. It was beautiful. And now we’re both free–and whole–and we can do whatever we want to do.
“You’re leaving again. But I won’t ever lose you. Some people think loving someone is a waste when it doesn’t work out because you can’t take back the love you gave. But I don’t think it’s like that. You’re a part of me.”
I remember back then, right after reading Vince’s Life, I told my friends, “I think I’m in love.” With Vince, I thought. I’m a sucker for guys who can write beautifully. Besides, every girl deserves a Vince in their lives. And in this second installment, we see a growth in Vince here, and, even if it doesn’t exactly precede the first book, I like it better.
What I love best about Vince Teves is that he writes in a simple yet beautifully lyrical manner that makes you feel as if you’ve witnessed firsthand the things he went through. Unlike most of the Filipino-written chick lit books I’ve read, his words are simple and honest. There’s no need to use a dictionary or thesaurus to look up big words, and the way his sentences flow is easy to follow. Vince is expressive just as he is sensitive, and it shows.
Both Vince’s books are perfect for an afternoon break at the park. They’re short and sweet. They are for people who are in touch with their romantic side. They’re for girls who take guys for granted, and for guys who take life for granted in the name of love. They’re about falling in love, moving forward, moving on, falling out of love, and falling in love all over again. In short, they’re incredibly cheesy, but I like them all the same. Vince’s life may very well be a glimpse, or a mirror, of our own lives.
Give the books a try, if you haven’t done so already. Who knows? You might like them just as much as I did…and that’s a lot.
 Laughs and GaspsI toyed with the idea of attending this show since I learned about it from Marcelle (the one in white in the poster below). Heck, I think I will. But first, I have to call my momma and ask for moolah. Elation was a blast, but it set me back P500 for the two tickets I purchased (one was for my brother… Good thing it was so worth it).
This is just to bump up this upcoming fun event. Do tell if you plan on going. 
This is it! The night we’ve been building up to: Laughs And Gasps: an amazing night featuring the magic and mentalism of Kel and Jay, and the music and comedic wit of our very special guest, Ms. Giselle Sanchez!
Join us this November 22, 7PM, at the Wikipilipinas Headquarters Rooftop, for a night of magic, mentalism, music, and comedy. This is Laughs And Gasps: a special night for the benefit of the Giselle Sanchez foundation, a charitable institution established to give educational aid to brilliant but underprivileged girls, because everyone deserves a chance at quality education. For P250, you will be treated to an amazing show, and you even help out the foundation in this noble endeavor.
Who Are Kel And Jay?
Kel Fabie is a professional host, magician, and mentalist. He is known for his versatility in his craft, enabling him to be a fit in any event, from kid’s parties to weddings to product launches to rock concerts. He is also a former radio personality from WAVE 891 and the station formerly known as Campus 99.5.
Jay Mata is one of the underground stars of magic and mentalism. His knowledge base in the art of mentalism, particularly hypnosis, is second to none. Even in his day job, Jay has managed to wow the most challenging of audiences for any performer: company trainees, and now, high school students.
Collectively, they have done shows for the likes of Mike Defensor, BPI, Alaska, SM Mall of Asia, Mangaholix, the Philippine ToyCon, the Philippine Music and Arts Festival, and countless other parties and events, including opening for bands like Bamboo, Spongecola, Callalily, Dice and K9, and South Border.
Their biggest show to date is tentatively happening this coming November, a benefit show of magic, mentalism, and comedy, with special guest Ms. Giselle Sanchez which is the main attraction for a fund-raiser for the benefit of the Giselle Sanchez Foundation, in coordination with the Philippine blogging community.
As a tandem, Kel and Jay specialize in what can only be called an amalgam of edgy, exciting, and funny magic and mentalism. From escapology to sleight of hand to bizarre, even apparently paranormal demonstrations and everything else in between, Kel and Jay will pull out all the stops to entertain you!
The Giselle Sanchez Foundation
The Giselle Sanchez Foundation is an educational foundation set up by comedienne/singer Giselle Sanchez last December 8, 2005 to support students possessing superior intelligence or talent but have no means to support their education. Giselle, being a scholar in Poveda and U.P. herself, was able to achieve her dreams by getting proper education. She realizes the value of education and at the same time recognizes the severe poverty around her . She has met many students with the thrive and dream to study but have no means. This is the reason why she set up the foundation. Presently , the foundation has two students in college and two in elementary – Blessie Trivino in STI Calamba and Henry Bernasol in STI Davao both taking Nursing and elementary students VJ and Morelia Son in Mactan City. The foundation hopes to increase its number of students next year with more funding from generous benefactors and proceeds from free concerts set up by Miss Sanchez and her friends from the industry.
Plagiarized from The New Worlds Alliance.
 Dinner at California Pizza Kitchen, TriNomaEDIT: CPK did redeem itself. Read about the 2nd visit on my Multiply.
I’m a rather stingy person. I think I got it from my dad, who’s makunat to the bones except when it comes to TVs and his much-loved vehicle. The only places you’d see me spend my money freely are bookstores and fast food chains (or food courts), and even then, I’d probably choose the cheapest I could find. Restaurant bills go straight to my dad’s face, especially when the total amount printed is 300 times my pocket money.
After a gruesome fight with stubborn corner dirt and trash at home, my family found its way to Trash to Cash Recycling Market at SM North EDSA parking area. While our garbage pile was impressive, the amount we got for it was not. We got about two to three times more selling our trash to the nearby junk shop than to SM, so boo that! But then, anything for the environment, right? The money’s really just a plus (yeah, right!).
My dad dropped us off at the mall and hurried over to his weekly Svenson seminar at Timog (someone has to manage his hair, after all). The rest of us lounged around our usual table at Burger King while waiting for him, and I stole a couple of hours to dig through piles and piles of books at Booksale.
After the dad arrived, we trudged to TriNoma via the not-so-complete connecting bridge and had dinner at California Pizza Kitchen.
Before the TriNoma branch of CPK, I’ve only visited the one in Glorietta 3 two months ago for the Make Your Own Pizza Adventure they invited me to. It was an okay experience. Food and drinks were great, but the service was, to put it mildly, not so good (I did say mildly, right?).
The family’s dinner last Saturday wasn’t that much different from the first.
As soon as we reached the front of the door to the restaurant, a woman greeted us nicely and escorted us to our table. I loved our place, except that for a family as big as mine, the insufficient space between the table’s edge and the couches proved breathing to be difficult. The inside of the restaurant was dim, lit by yellow, prettily-decorated overhead lamps. Reading inside the restaurant — even the menu — was like watching TV with eyes closed.
I was pleased with the speedy and prompt service…until a certain family of three occupied the table in front of the one across ours. The waiter made chismis with them for, like, forever. Apparently, the old couple and their son were regulars and familiar faces to even the manager. In my mind, it wasn’t an excuse to ignore our calls. My dad had to wait for an iced tea refill for about 15 minutes just because the man who was waiting our table was hanging around the other family’s table. Because I was annoyed, I noticed everything wrong right away. Like, in the span of those 15 minutes we [im]patiently waited for the refill, dear waiter had refilled the glasses of the ones from the other table twice — glasses that weren’t even near half-empty! We went so far as to say our request to the woman waiting the table at the back row, but in turned out that the requests were delivered straight to the one who was in charge of our table — who was, evidently, unavailable as he was too busy getting all sipsip to the other family. She even nudged him twice just to remind him that we were practically tapping our feet in annoyance before he budged. UGH! So frustrating! The dinner that started out fun went downhill from then on. I’d understand if there were lots of diners, but as I had observed, he was waiting only two or three tables, all in the same area. Would it be so hard to notice us? >=O
*sighs* Good thing a Slam Dunk marathon was on, else I’d throw a fit. But anyway, let’s move on to the food, shall we?
I loved the Broccoli Sun-Dried Tomato Fusilli. Every baby broccoli was soft to bite, and the entire dish was just plain awesome. It was the cheapest in our menu, but it was the most delicious. Even the Fettucine with Garlic Cream Sauce was perfectly done, but it could get old in one’s tongue when consumed in big servings (cream’s fault, perhaps?). The pizzas weren’t bad either. Why The Original BBQ Chicken pizza was popular in CPK became a trivial matter at the first bite. It was as delectable as Richard Gere and Harrison Ford (not kidding!). The strong flavor (barbecue sauce?) of the pizza assaulted my senses as soon as a morsel of the BBQ chicken entered my mouth. I’d say it’s definitely a must-try. You could wash everything down with an order of bottomless Raspberry Iced Tea, which was refreshingly great.
The food was great…but I’m sure you’d be able to find cheaper restaurants with an even more impressive (and heavenly unhealthy) menu. However, since we’re talking Italian, and since pasta and pizza make a naturally heavy meal, you wouldn’t be robbed at all. You be the judge of that though; MunchPunch has an online menu of CPK, with a price list that badly needs to be has been updated.
All in all, my second visit to CPK was impressive food-wise, and irritating service-wise. I’d be sure to sit far away from that cursed table on my next visit tomorrow.
 ELATION: A Chocolate and Shooters BuffetEvery mention of chocolate is worthy of my undivided attention, so when Benj sent a mass email about the forthcoming night-to-remember, I immediately rescheduled my prior appointment with an old friend to accommodate the after dinner launch/open party of Elation: The Finest Chocolate and Shooters Buffet.
I’m going! Everyone who loves chocolates, booze, and fun should do too!
I’ve just purchased two tickets yesterday (thanks, Vero!), and I’m bubbling over with anticipation and excitement at the chocolate-coated haven that awaits me on Friday. Details of the launch/open party are as follows:
When: Friday, November 14, 2008, at 8:30PM
Where: The Grand Terrace, #5 Villanueva Drive, Commonwealth Avenue, Quezon City (map)
Attire: Party glam
Contact Vero at 9178516637 to buy or reserve a ticket now! It’s on a first come, first served basis and, as the organizers said, guests are piling up. The event is making more buzz as it draws near so I’m sure the list is growing longer every minute. For P250, you get overflowing chocolate fondues (semi-sweet, dark and white) with various dipping treats and shooters that will be served all night long!
Got this list from the party website:
23 Signature Shooters
- Spongebob Bath - Who lives in a pineapple under the sea? This pays tribute to the underwater cartoon character everyone knows! Fresh pineapple with a simple alcohol beverage will surely quench your fruity cravings!
- Original Sin - This is a refreshing apple concoction, which creates a surprising sting.
- Cuba Libre - This contains the great match of the spirit of soda with aged dark rum. Simply irresistible!
- Confucius - This is a mixture of different tastes, which may be puzzling, but will be an ultimate favorite!
- Ocean Joy - Just the sight of an ocean put into a drink will give you a relaxing, euphoric experience!
- Goddess - Everyone fantasizes to be a mythical god or goddess while reclining and being fed with grapes. This has grapes, which are fresh and juicy, with the perfect mix of tartness.
- Backstabber - You may think that this is a light and sugary shooter, but little do you know that this has a sharp taste of alcohol backstabbing you.
- Bittersweet Sunset - This is a perfect combination of fruity juices and liquors with a smooth taste, which you will definitely cherish!
- Scorching Discovery - Instead of the traditional and plain tequila, why not combine it with a light fruity flavor, which makes this ultimately refreshing!
- Landslide - This black forest drink will give your tongue the benefit of a crusty, fudgy landing, which will flow smoothly from the tip of your tongue to your throat.
- Melon Madness - This mild melon mixture with yummy melon syrup will make you crave for more!
- Midsummer Night - This has the best of both worlds, swishing your tongue with a sour and sweet blend.
- Flamingo Pomelo - This will give you a sour kick you will enjoy!
- Tine’s Lunchbox - Remember the good old days when all you had was a peanut butter sandwich and a banana inside your lunchbox? Well, this will bring back those fun snack times with your playmates!
- Pseudo Margarita - This is our special version of the lemon lime margarita!
- Daredevil - This is a mixture of various kinds of alcohol with your favorite carbonated drinks, which make this drink more thrilling!
- Aphrodite - Who will not love a rich chocolate shooter coupled with another layer of thick, pure chocolate at the bottom?!
- Sarsaparilla - Everyone misses the old fashioned root beer! But put together with your favorite liquor and sweet jelly will give you a taste of its modern bubbly sweetness.
- Playground - Who does not know the famous Philippine chocolate, Chocnut?! The amazing chocolate and peanut taste we once loved is now made even more captivating! This will certainly bring kindergarten memories!
- Earth Fusion - Just seeing the colors of this drink will remind you of our mother earth. The green surprise at the end added to earthy, fruity flavors will surely become a hit!
- Buco Pandan Surprise - What is a better idea than transforming our favorite dessert into a shot with a native surprise at the bottom?! For sure, this will be a crowd pleaser!
- Cappuccino Getaway - This is the perfect coffee cappuccino shooter, a definite stress reliever.
- Sweet Temptation - You may be hesitant to drink this at first because of its black color, but if you try it, you will appreciate its sweet, strong and unforgettable taste!
2 Signature Set Shooters
-
Four Seasons
- Winter - This is a cool and smooth drink with the right amount of unique sweet frosting, which makes it even more exciting!
- Spring - This light fruity drink will remind you of budding sweet cherry blossoms during spring time.
- Summer - Thinking of a perfect Hawaiian summer vacation? Well, this tropical drink will give you a taste of the getaway you will never forget.
- Fall - How about a modern taste of tea, which will remind you of memories during autumn?
-
Stages of Love
- Attraction - Everything starts when you see that attractive person. This shot is milky and fruity with red, sweet syrup, which will surely be a sight to sigh upon.
- Infatuation - Next comes what we call “in like.” After Attraction, this shooter begins to thicken and become stronger, but still pampers your mouth with its dairy and smooth taste.
- Love - Of course, next is love. This has the perfect taste everyone is looking for.
- Obsession - You think everything ends with love? You are probably wrong. Sometimes, it leads to Obsession. This shot has a very strong taste, which you can never let go.
 BurnoutIt’s quite amusing how burnt-out I feel when I’ve been my usual bum self for the past couple of weeks. Even my mom’s untimely confinement to the hospital hasn’t fazed me to exhaustion like it did four years ago. My brother has been less of an ass lately, possibly the effect of having to spend less time with me as I don’t have to sleep beside him until my mom’s stitches heal. My dad and I have been pretending the other doesn’t exist — more than usual, in fact — which should be a relief on my part.
I toyed with the idea that it’s an effect of joining NaNoWriMo, but I’ve been immensely enjoying myself so it’s out of the question (I’m behind, but who cares? Admittedly, my main purpose in joining is not to reach 50,000 words, but to come up with, erm, something). I’ve been thinking “happy thoughts,” continuously reading and re-reading Kurama/Botan fan fictions so [I think] it’s not my usual frequent bouts of depression (the kilig factor of the unusual pairing still hasn’t failed me yet). I’ve even read feel-good love stories in hopes that happy endings will perk me up.
Nothing was effective enough to
But then, I’ve stopped taking in antidepressants since I haven’t gone to my shrink for a long time now. No prescription drugs for the past couple of months.
Reason enough?
Perhaps.
I’m actually convinced it’s really my PDA phone-addicted self talking? I’m currently using the Treo 600 I bought for my mom, but I terribly miss my Treo 680. The feeling is reminiscent of when I lost my Treo 650.
Contraptions and depressions. Who knew they’re actually related?
 Phone Problem. Help?Okay, during my first night at the hospital caring for my mom, I accidentally swiped my Treo 680 from the visitor’s couch (where I was sleeping) to the cold hard floor. I had all the lights turned off in the room so I didn’t notice it until after I found it in [three] pieces beside my mom’s sick bed — the unit itself, the battery, and the battery cover. When I put the battery back on, the unit lit up, but it seemed like the LCD screen was busted when all I saw were ugly lines with different colored spaces in the screen.
There are so many things to grieve about that I can’t even start. My last hotsync with the laptop is 17 days ago, so contacts added since then have been lost. I can’t read Reading Lolita in Tehran because I’m too lazy to do it on the computer. On the positive side, all important files are stored on my lovely 2GB SD card, and everything else is a matter of synchronizing.
I just NEED to have my phone fixed. I know it’s my fault, and I should’ve put on the silicone case I bought (which was really too expensive to be ignored, but I did anyway) to protect it, but I was stupid, okay? Now, I need to have my Treo back. I should be writing for NaNoWriMo, but I can’t concentrate with thoughts of my poor PDA phone under the TV stand, rotting on the inside *sniff sniff* I don’t even know if I can actually pay for its repair, but I’ll grovel and beg on my knees if I have to.
Donate for the cause!!! Refer to my introduction on the homepage for my Paypal email address!!!
Heh, kidding. (Well, not really, now that I think about it, haha.)
I just need to know of a (hopefully cheap) repair shop around my area — Quezon City. Just direct me to the cheapest Palm Hospital you know. Or any shop that you know that has trustworthy people that can handle Palm problems. Boohoo! I’m really sad that this has happened, but I guess I’d just have to deal with it, no?
 My Mom is Back from the HospitalThanks very much to everyone who wished her well.
It was actually sort of unexpected. We rushed my mother to the emergency room at Capitol Medical Center late in the afternoon Monday because she was experiencing excruciating pain. It was sort of a running joke in the family, how my mom would definitely be admitted for something. More than 4 years had passed since she underwent total hysterectomy after finding out she had cervical cancer (my grandmother also had it). We spent about a month in St. Luke’s Medical Center, missing Holy Week and a lot of other things. So there was this feeling that my mother would be confined again, and I was right.
The finding was appendicitis. It was still “raw,” so the residents scheduled her for appendectomy the day after. I was by her side since Monday, went home to rest on Thursday, and went back on Friday to stand guard again. Everything went well, and she was discharged from the hospital just yesterday (Saturday). I’m relieved that she’s okay now; my mom’s midsection is full of stitches already, heh. She’s on sick leave till the 15th.
Again, thanks to everyone for the concern, also to the Plurkers.
 The Davao Experience (Hopefully Soon)More than a year ago, I felt very “unFilipino” when my Lakbayan grade turned out to be a grimace-worthy D. For the purpose of entering the blogging challenge sponsored by Cebu Pacific, I thought about taking it again but decided against it in the end because honestly, the list of places I’ve been to is (a) pitifully short, and (b) has not been added to for the past couple of years anyway. 
I haven’t been to anywhere outside Luzon. In fact, the farthest points I’ve ever visited are Benguet up north (after all, I did study in Baguio) and Batangas down south (where I spent my 19th birthday with my Geography 1 classmates). I’m very vocal about these facts even if they’re not exactly things one should be proud of, and I find them to be sorry excuses for not knowing a lot about the Philippine geography. My mother, who’s a well-traveled person, always hears about my woes regarding my lack of “The Philippine Experience” — erhm — experience. It’s such a shame that I’ve been to a neighboring country when I haven’t even seen my own backyard, so to speak. All that’s going to change pretty soon, I hope.
One of the places I’m dying to visit is Davao City. Pa’no ba naman, people have been actively promoting Mindanao destinations left and right, and Davao City seems to be one of the most well-loved places in the bunch. My mother — who’s in the hospital right now, by the way, and still recovering from the appendectomy she underwent 3 days ago — has already been there, and she tells me stories about the Royal City and how she fell in love with it. DepEd and the school she works at always hold seminars in beautiful cities all around the Philippines, and I always get pretty pictures and nice stories as pasalubongs. I’d like to be the one traveling once in a while, and bring home the pictures and the stories for once.
It’s always a pleasure being exposed to other Philippine cultures. That, and the different specialties in foods that different places have to offer. I want to taste the ever famous exotic durian fruit (I’ve had durian candies, but nothing beats the real thing…I think) and know for myself if it indeed “smells like hell but tastes like heaven.” I’ve always been a city girl, and I want to know how the city life in Davao goes. If Davao is anywhere near as awesome as Mindanao Bloggers have been saying, then I’d probably feel like I’m in heaven.
In all actuality, what I know about Davao are only what I’ve studied and read about it. I’m eager to find out more about it by feeling the place myself, visiting the tourist spots not just as any other tourists, but as a Filipino who loves the diversity and beauty of the country. (Of course, there’s a very illogical fear that I wouldn’t wish to go back to Manila once I’ve experienced life in Davao.  )
Hmm…I wonder if there are a lot of gorgeous Dabawenyo guys to ogle at.  Cebu Pacific just has to let me find out.
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