Wednesday, September 07, 2005
to Jumbo...just read on and watch out for the pic series on this one...
Yey! Am finally back to blogging business. Krystel's already wondering where all the blogging people have gone for the past few days. Well, I've been quite busy in a quite different way.I've been thinking of doing some major blog makeover (again!). If you've noticed, I've done some editing and adding into my blog (thanks to Candymag). Actually, it's not only my blog which I'd like to update but my other accounts as well (from friendster to yahoo!). Somehow, I just found enough self-control not to do it right now. I still have tons of school work to do. Talk about the lazy side of me. Oh...do you know that another term for cramming is "massed practice"? Anyway, I'm one big epitome of cramming and I don't think am improving on that. Oh well...as for my blog makeover, I just have to put that on hold 'til the sembreak. By then, I'd have all my freetime for myself (hopefully). Probably, I won't do just any blog overhaul but some major reflection on life and meditation as well. I really need that right now. I've been to the World Trade Center last Sunday and there was this booth that calculates your stress level or something. I thought about trying it that day, but I don't think they could measure how stressed I am. I bet it will exceed the scale at that moment. ;)
Again, due to Candymag, I've been doing some major internet surfing today. Basically, I've been to Ala Paredes' site and from there, I've been visiting other sites as well. She really has a cool site. There's even more. Even her dad has a blog as well. He's cool. Hmm...just the other day, Papa was asking what blogs are. Maybe I could ask him to do some blogging as well...and mark that as the end of the world. Hehe! ;PSince I've been talking about Papa already, let me update you on his life as well. His campaign to be the next Governor of Kiwanis is finally over. There were actually 5 candidates and he lost. Anyway, he's doing fine, accepting his defeat with a 360 degree smile (copyright: Cathe). Among other people, I, his own daughter, am one of his greatest detractors. I've been doing a lot of ranting why I don't want him to be the Governor of Kiwanis. I guess everyone knows it...even his campaign team siguro. I just hate the fact that when he's the Governor, he'd be totally busy. He isn't even the Governor and yet I can barely catch him hanging around. Would you believe this? I tried to book a Sunday appointment with him once and that really worked. Ha! That's the reason why I have a cellphone now. We went shopping. I'll spare you all the details, but you know the story if you've been reading my blog.
Honestly though, I felt bad when Papa lost. He was the first one off among four other opponents. I felt bad because a lot of other people wanted him to win. They keep telling him that he should have won *blah! blah!*. Nyark! Then, they should have voted him. They're really weak people (well, most of them). They are easily bribed by money. Really! A lot of them cheated, tricked, and left my father for good during the actual voting period. I feel bad because a lot of people has done that to Papa already (not only in this situation). Nakakainis lang. Wait til I get my hands on them. Sa mundong ito talaga, mahirap makahanap ng mga tunay na taong mapagkakatiwalaan mo.
Anyway, on a lighter note, I've been busy enjoying my weekend. Because of the Kiwanis activities, our family has been staying in hotels for the past few days. Papa has been staying in the hotel since last Thursday, a day ahead of us. Papa booked two rooms - one was in Bellevue Hotel and the other was in Parque we've spent last week going to and fro our home and the hotel. Luckily, Uncle Jaime was here to drive for us. Also, there wasn't much traffic. Seems like the hotel is as near as UP.
The head organizers for the event were sort of promoting Muntinlupa so that's why it was held there. Hmm...I'll try to promote it to you as well. Let's call this the "Muntinlupa Review". Basically, we've been going around the Filinvest Area. You know, Filinvest does great landscaping. I loved it. It kinda grew on me that I even want to live there already. It's like living in another country (sans the airfare and foreign currency). Rural meets urban in a quaint sort of way. There's this certain air of sophistication and elegance that you'd instantly know that they cater to the upper class. It seems as if it's totally safe to walk along the roads even late at night and jog during the early morning. I totally love the ambiance. The place is clean (my nose didn't even pick up a trace of heavy polluted air) and there's not a slight trace of heavy traffic (not yet). The area reminded me of The Fort and Subic. Rare are the traffic lights. There are lots of big roads and empty lots (thus greens took the place). If given the chance, I'd really live there (I already told that to Papa). Right now, I'm even thinking of a job wherein I could earn around 10 thou in a day. Hehe! I know the places there don't come cheap. Hotels are even priced in dollars. An executive room in Bellevue costs a whopping 8 thousand pesos (that's dollar converted to peso). *Uhm...to rich kid slash kulet: we are not rich...it just so happens that Papa gets donations from his campaigning. Erm...I won't let my parents adopt you. We have enough "kulet" in the family. Hehe! :)*
Back to my "Muntinlupa Review". I got to stay at the Bellevue Hotel last Friday and a bit last Saturday. We stayed in Room 801 (that's in the 8th floor), an executive suite, so it was really comfy. They've got a kitchen area, a living room area, a bedroom, and a BIG T&B. It was almost complete that I could live there already. Aircon was centralized and everything was carpeted even the hallway outside (with the exception of the CR pala). The kitchen area has it's own sink, oven, gas range, cabinets (with utensils, rice cooker, pots, and pans), ref, microwave, and even food. Food was kinda expensive in the hotel though. The small Absolute mineral water costs 65 pesos and the Evian water was priced at 190. Yung isang orgmate nga ni Papa, kumuha pala nung water last Thursday (probably thinking it was for free) tapos Evian pa ang kinuha...so musta naman?!
On the other hand, the living room has two sets of chairs and tables (one was the sofa with it's centerpiece) and a big TV. The biggest part of the suite was the bedroom with another TV, 2 sets of table again (one was for doing work complete with it's internet connection except for the PC), a big bed with side tables, cabinets (which kept the ironing board and flat iron, safe, laundry baskets, slippers, etc.), and lots of lamps. The best part of the suite was the bathroom. It was clean and dry...very ideal. There was a bath tub (complete with the bath salts, bubble bath, and the bath gel), a glass-encased bathroom, a dressing table, a sink, toilet, a weighing scale, and a lot more. There was even a telephone beside the toilet aside from the one near the bed.
There really were a lot of extras pa...complimentary items that you can bring home with you if you feel like it. You know Filipinos...if they can take home souvenirs, they'd take everything. *I chose the sewing kit. :)*
Bellevue Hotel has great amenities. I got to tour the place last Saturday night with 2 kids who got me dizzy riding the elevators up and down. The security was tight with all the security guards and the *sleeping* sniffing dog. You can't even ride the elevator without the room pass (otherwise, you'd get stuck until someone rides along with you *am speaking from personal experience*). Also, I suggest that you learn how to use the card first before anything else *personal humiliating experience lang at some kinda superior pa ni Papa ang nakasaksi*. There was an expensive resto on the 2nd floor and a minibar on the topmost 20th floor. The third floor contains the gym, spa, bar, and the swimming pool (open siya ha). I especially love their comfort rooms especially the one at the first floor. I could stay there all day. No unpleasant smell and unusually wet floors. The over-all design of the hotel was somewhat Asian. I love to go back there sometime although Papa didn't like the reception. Still needs training daw. He got into an argument about his room, that's why to make up for their mistake, the hotel granted him an additional half day stay.
The second hotel was Parque España. We stayed at the 17th floor, Room 1707. It was a residence hotel so the atmosphere was kinda homey. It's isolated from all the tall buildings so the view was great. There was the bay area (I think it's the Manila Bay) and there were lots of trees and greens. I love the fact that they preserved the trees within the area.
Like the other places there, the facade and landscaping were awesome. Cathe, being the landscape architect that she was, enjoyed taking pictures of the landscape designs (not only in Parque but in Bellevue as well). One thing that I really like at Parque España was there elevators. It was decorated with synthetic tiles (Spanish theme kasi). There were lots of mirrors (probably for claustrophobics). There was also a pool area and single resto on the topmost, 19th floor. It's the roofdeck by the way. Food was cheaper but the pool was smaller compared to Bellevue's. *I love the breakfast buffet.*
My first impression of Parque wasn't exactly nice. Doon kasi nagstay yung karamihan sa campaign team ni Papa. Puro inuman kaya mabaho. The place smell of cigarette. But there were lots of food there because that's where the food supply for the group was. The room was big (need more interior decorating though) although it was cluttered when we came there. There was a terrace (na sobrang nakakalula if you look down) and a living room area. There was only one TV so I can barely argue with changing the channel since there were lots of other people in the room as well. The kitchen area was bigger complete with the ref, sink, gas range, and cabinets. There were lots of stuff din. The whole room wasn't carpeted unlike Bellevue's so medyo marumi tingnan. There was also one telephone where calls are cheaper (12 pesos lang compared sa 15 pesos ng Bellevue). Medyo malaki nga lang ang nagastos ni Papa with the telephone calls. Nag-enjoy atang gumamit yung mga tao doon. Akala nila libre.
There were four rooms (the biggest having one bathroom). There were two other bathrooms . Yung isa, malapit doon sa room na mukhang para sa mga maids (as in...parang sadya...malapit pa sa kitchen). All the rooms (except for the maid's room) had tables, cabinets and beds. Simple ambiance but the people I was with last Saturday night when I was there were great people to be with. We enjoyed the stay. Unlike last Friday afternoon, last Saturday night, a lot of people left already so there was less unpleasant smell. Lingering faint smells na lang. I so love my Uncle for skipping his cigarette for our sake (unlike the other people there before). The whole place was airconditioned...might as well not smoke diba? Oh...airconditioning wasn't centralized pa so you have the option to turn on or off the the aircon (which they should have done). Eh kasi, papasok pa nga lang ng room, sa hallway pa lang, amoy sigarilyo na talaga. *Shux! Hindi pa rin ako over with the cigarette issue.* And oh...cheaper sa Parque at medyo less ang security...pero mausisa yung security guard ha. Pag lalabas ka, titingnan pa kung saan ka pupunta. Kulang na lang ihatid ka sa car mo. Ay...one thing pala...Parque has no big parking space. Buti na lang at malaki at hindi masyadong dinadaanan yung kalye so pwede gawing parking lot.
May shuttle din for both hotels just in case you want to go to the nearby Filinvest Supermall. Free of charge naman siya since wala talagang masyadong taxis sa area. Hatid sundo as you wish from 6am to 10pm. Bellevue has newspaper delivered every morning at your door. Parque has functional and usable stairs din unlike that of Bellevue's. In Bellevue, you get to use the stairs for emergency purposes or else, the alarm will sound. Muntik na ngang mag-alarm...binuksan kasi ni Tita yung door. And the other people with her (me included) shrieked at her and waited for the worst to come. Hehe! ;) Good thing the alarm didn't sound otherwise, we'd wreak havoc. There were lots of parties that night pa naman. =P
Last Sunday, after checking out, we went directly to the World Trade Center for the book fair. But before that, we went to eat at Gerry's Grill. Bumabawi ata si Papa for all the times he was too busy with his campaign. Buti nga naiba eh...kasi we've been eating chicken from KFC since last Friday. Nag-order kasi kami ng 5 barrels since naubos yung food sa fellowship ng mga Kiwanians. Since Papa bought it naman, he took 2 barrels with him to the hotel. Grabe! Tutubuan na ata kami ng pakpak. So nung Sunday, puro seafood, veggies and pork. We ate with the Padrid family, who we lost during the book fair. Nagkawalaan na after.
So there, that's my story. Umuwi lang talaga kami nung Saturday para sa Bio exam ko at para sunduin si Cathe sa isang debut party late that night (that was 2 separate trips - hmm...220 pesos worth of toll fee if I'm not mistaken). MIA ako sa Cainta. Luckily, we went home just in time last Sunday because it really flooded here at home. We didn't get stranded and the flood didn't enter the house as prepared for.
Yesterday naman, I asked Papa to pick me up at school just so I can take Jumbo (my Bio cat) for burial. I waited from 6 hours...haha! Wala kasing Bio lab (for like the first time exempting holidays) so I had nothing else to do but waste time at the PHAn lobby. Anyway, this post's dedicated to dear Jumbo who served me (and Ivy) well. We still have his brain with us though. Hehe!;)
| nadZ went splisha-splashing at 2:00 am
