Saturday, January 20, 2007
on the 21st day of January...
Gawd...I've done lots of drafts for blogging (every Sunday nga eh) yet haven't published even a single one. So here goes (around) 21 days worth of kwento...and I have so much to tell. Brace yourselves. :)***
New Year meant a lot of changes for our family. That's what new year's about anyway. Big technological changes in our case. After our car and van broke down last month (and thankfully, they’re back to their old working self again), we had PC worries naman. When Papa finally got the nonworking CD writer replaced by a DVD writer, the PC monitor broke down. And Papa, being the big ego that he is (at aminado naman siya don), bought a LCD monitor. Stuck in a computer shop, he suddenly had the urge to buy a laptop. He’s been wanting to buy one for months. Actually, eversince he started his "training" job. Techie Papa bought the newer one from Toshiba that came with a printer and MP3 player. Mama can only sigh at the huge credit bill Papa will be receiving next month. Therefore, having all of those stuff, Papa had to fix the computer area at home to accommodate all his new gadgets. Lagot na naman pag binaha.
And oh...he’s also bought Mama a new phone. Papa’s on a strange techie shopping streak. Hope it ends this month or else…ay...Nintendo DS ko muna. ;)
***
Oh…haven’t really told much about our New Year celebrations eh? Well, since we didn’t prepare much for our noche buena last time, we made bawi and did big time for our media noche. Early morning last December 31, my sis and I went shopping at SM Mega while Ma and Pa went palengke shopping at EDSA Central. I bought new pants, some candies at M&S, few gifts for friends, and a dozen of Krispy Kreme doughnuts. Man! We’re totally addicted to those original glazed ones. I even bought two dozens a week after (some to give for my classmates). I think I actually gained 5 lbs all from the doughnuts. Have to go on major fasting.
Anyway, for media noche, we had a hefty dinner. Seafoods galore! We had ginataang alimango, shrimps, steamed lapu-lapu, rellenong bangus, menudo, hamonado, spaghetti, some Filipino delicacies, leche flan, etc. A family friend, the Padrids, came over late that afternoon. They left just after sun down after some good chat and Tita Menchie getting tipsy over Bailey’s. Hehe! :) Just before they left, some of Mama’s relatives came as well but they left at around 8pm ata (I slept kasi for some time). We attended mass at 8:30 and came home for more food and preparations (New Year rituals). We had a quieter New Year’s Eve this time but more of those very colorful fireworks. Siyempre, care of our more well-off neighbors. Since one of our neighbors don’t usually spend New Year’s Eve at their home, we did the usual duty of lighting their fountains for them. They had a really beautiful one this time. I bet it was imported. We also had our own fireworks but I didn’t really like holding those stuff eversince the Roman candle incident years ago. Papa tried buying a quite expensive firework this time thinking it was one of those beautiful aerial ones. What was really funny was that it didn’t even go beyond our roof. Hehe! :) Money wasted, but that was a really hilarious sight.
Anyway, for media noche, we had a hefty dinner. Seafoods galore! We had ginataang alimango, shrimps, steamed lapu-lapu, rellenong bangus, menudo, hamonado, spaghetti, some Filipino delicacies, leche flan, etc. A family friend, the Padrids, came over late that afternoon. They left just after sun down after some good chat and Tita Menchie getting tipsy over Bailey’s. Hehe! :) Just before they left, some of Mama’s relatives came as well but they left at around 8pm ata (I slept kasi for some time). We attended mass at 8:30 and came home for more food and preparations (New Year rituals). We had a quieter New Year’s Eve this time but more of those very colorful fireworks. Siyempre, care of our more well-off neighbors. Since one of our neighbors don’t usually spend New Year’s Eve at their home, we did the usual duty of lighting their fountains for them. They had a really beautiful one this time. I bet it was imported. We also had our own fireworks but I didn’t really like holding those stuff eversince the Roman candle incident years ago. Papa tried buying a quite expensive firework this time thinking it was one of those beautiful aerial ones. What was really funny was that it didn’t even go beyond our roof. Hehe! :) Money wasted, but that was a really hilarious sight.
***
Been back at school since January 2. Like usual, nothing much happened on the first day. It seems as if the first day after sembreak/Christmas break only is a way to break our holiday hangover. Actually, I believe I’m still on this break hangover thing. I’m still not into studying. Especially now…we have the longest lectures ever. Boring ones pa. And I thought I’m going to enjoy the GIT Module. Oh well…there’s still Repro coming up. Hehe! Just joking. =p
Had a new food discovery at school – calamares. It’s a streetfood, but it’s still great. Very cheap. Even Mama seemed to like it. Inaabangan niya lagi kung may baon akong pauwi for them eh. ;p
Had a new food discovery at school – calamares. It’s a streetfood, but it’s still great. Very cheap. Even Mama seemed to like it. Inaabangan niya lagi kung may baon akong pauwi for them eh. ;p
Been also busy fixing my scholarship. Apparently, hindi pa naasikaso ni Dean. Haay...nabagalan ako.
***
Also finally got to see the (2nd) World Pyro Olympics this time. It run from Jan. 5-7 and 12-13. The first time, I was with Hanni and Roselle. Si Danci, nang-indyan. Hindi na nakaabot with his family. We commuted all the way to SM MOA. Got there quite early at 5pm to ask for entrance requirements (100 peso receipt per person from SM that day). We were quite happy that we didn’t have to pay 100 pesos just for watching. But actually, on the 2nd day of the WPO, payment was really required for entrance in the Esplanade.
We ate dinner at Bacolod’s Chicken Inasal and tried Bibingkinitan (which Danci’s raving about). Secured 400+ worth of receipts and went back to the entrance only to find out there were several people already in line. Still, we secured a good spot at the Esplanade. UP style: sit-on-the-ground-or-else-you-get-tired thing. Saw Australia's and Poland's that day. Instead of the 8pm and 9pm sched, blasts were at 8:30pm and 10:30pm. Almost lost patience there. We saw the fireworks up close that night. So beautiful. Australia, the defending winner, was less unpredictable and colorful although there were strange pauses in between fireworks. Found out later their barge got some trouble. Poland, a new entry, was bigger and dramatic. I’d rather not dwell on the pollution and global warming issue for now (Cathe's been bugging me with that eversince she saw "Inconvenient Truth"). Basta I saw one of the most beautiful fireworks that night.
Met up with Andre, Sweet, Shan, and some Section A people after. They were located farther away eh. Roselle and I went to meet up my parents near Dampa because it was very traffic. We had to walk all the way there. The worst talaga.
Instead of going back to see the WPO on its second day, Papa decided to postpone it for later since he got T.O. with the traffic. He wanted to see the Philippines' exhibition (which I found really funny at first…will explain why later) on the last day so we made plans to watch it again. As if lady luck was on our side, our neighbor who got complimentary tickets to the WPO gave us theirs on Saturday morning. They watched it last Friday night but failed to enter the Esplanade because of the traffic. Mama, Cathe, and I went to SM MOA earlier because Papa was stuck in the office til 5pm. Again, did the same routine – checked the entrance (we got weirded out because we got a different colored ticket with 2005 at the back) and ate dinner before entering the Esplanade. We secured a good spot again (thanks to experience). There were more people this time and lots of food booths. Naging stampede conscious tuloy kami. Tapos, buti na lang Cathe brought some hopia paper for us to sit on to (I don’t know how she’d be able to draw at such a place noh). China came first at 8:30pm while the Philippines’ exhibition came at 10:30pm. Here’s the funny part. We were totally making fun of the Philippines because we were thinking they’d not come at par with the foreign contenders. But hey! They were much better. Kaya ata hindi kasali eh. =p Actually, they won two years ago at Hong Kong ata. Sobrang mausok nga lang, pero sobrang taas at laki (we were really close so it couldn’t fit into our camera’s lenses). Masakit sa leeg. Hehe! =p China naman, quite boring at first because paulit-ulit lang…then bongga na after. They usually put the climax for the finale eh. That’s what was different with the Philippines. It was climax all throughout. :)
Anyway, after straining our neck, had to endure people traffic na naman. Had to walk all the way to McDo near S&R where Papa’s parked. Hindi na siya pumasok sa SM MOA. Sobrang daming tao and he was parked on the main road pa. Dala pa man din ang laptop. Had to endure heavy traffic again. Passed by EDSA Pasay just a little while ago and there are still several people waiting for PUVs. Parang EDSA revolution all over again…several people on the streets. Hehe! =p
We ate dinner at Bacolod’s Chicken Inasal and tried Bibingkinitan (which Danci’s raving about). Secured 400+ worth of receipts and went back to the entrance only to find out there were several people already in line. Still, we secured a good spot at the Esplanade. UP style: sit-on-the-ground-or-else-you-get-tired thing. Saw Australia's and Poland's that day. Instead of the 8pm and 9pm sched, blasts were at 8:30pm and 10:30pm. Almost lost patience there. We saw the fireworks up close that night. So beautiful. Australia, the defending winner, was less unpredictable and colorful although there were strange pauses in between fireworks. Found out later their barge got some trouble. Poland, a new entry, was bigger and dramatic. I’d rather not dwell on the pollution and global warming issue for now (Cathe's been bugging me with that eversince she saw "Inconvenient Truth"). Basta I saw one of the most beautiful fireworks that night.
Met up with Andre, Sweet, Shan, and some Section A people after. They were located farther away eh. Roselle and I went to meet up my parents near Dampa because it was very traffic. We had to walk all the way there. The worst talaga.
Instead of going back to see the WPO on its second day, Papa decided to postpone it for later since he got T.O. with the traffic. He wanted to see the Philippines' exhibition (which I found really funny at first…will explain why later) on the last day so we made plans to watch it again. As if lady luck was on our side, our neighbor who got complimentary tickets to the WPO gave us theirs on Saturday morning. They watched it last Friday night but failed to enter the Esplanade because of the traffic. Mama, Cathe, and I went to SM MOA earlier because Papa was stuck in the office til 5pm. Again, did the same routine – checked the entrance (we got weirded out because we got a different colored ticket with 2005 at the back) and ate dinner before entering the Esplanade. We secured a good spot again (thanks to experience). There were more people this time and lots of food booths. Naging stampede conscious tuloy kami. Tapos, buti na lang Cathe brought some hopia paper for us to sit on to (I don’t know how she’d be able to draw at such a place noh). China came first at 8:30pm while the Philippines’ exhibition came at 10:30pm. Here’s the funny part. We were totally making fun of the Philippines because we were thinking they’d not come at par with the foreign contenders. But hey! They were much better. Kaya ata hindi kasali eh. =p Actually, they won two years ago at Hong Kong ata. Sobrang mausok nga lang, pero sobrang taas at laki (we were really close so it couldn’t fit into our camera’s lenses). Masakit sa leeg. Hehe! =p China naman, quite boring at first because paulit-ulit lang…then bongga na after. They usually put the climax for the finale eh. That’s what was different with the Philippines. It was climax all throughout. :)
Anyway, after straining our neck, had to endure people traffic na naman. Had to walk all the way to McDo near S&R where Papa’s parked. Hindi na siya pumasok sa SM MOA. Sobrang daming tao and he was parked on the main road pa. Dala pa man din ang laptop. Had to endure heavy traffic again. Passed by EDSA Pasay just a little while ago and there are still several people waiting for PUVs. Parang EDSA revolution all over again…several people on the streets. Hehe! =p
One person commented: If only all the people who came to watch the WPO rallied to have GMA thrown out of Malacañang, GMA would probably be out of office already. Fireworks lang pala katapat eh. ;p
Andre texted after stating that UK won and heard from the news that China got the People's Choice Award. Congrats! :)
***
Another addiction of mine are primetime shows. New year, new shows. Actually, finished Princess Hours during the Christmas break para bawas sa panonoorin pero no...nanonood pa rin ako. Pangit kasi yung English translation sa DVD. Danci said translation wasn't good if I got a DVD9 copy. I guess I have to agree with him.
***
Some recent stories...
Had a great time last Wednesday. After our ICS, nagyaya si Cla kumain. Eventually, the whole group - me, Cla, Trish, Julz, Rose, April, Tin, & Kurt - decided to eat at Pizza Hut (pasta cravings eh). Finally, our first ICS group bonding. Nagkotse pa kami papuntang SM (si Julz eh ;p).
Since it was Julz' birthday on Jan. 19, we surprised him with a birthday cake (which turned out to be really small pala...pero enough na rin for us). We decided to not bring the box na lang tapos we had the candle lighted sa Red Ribbon (at natagalan pa kaming maghanap ng lighter). In turn, Julz bought two big pizzas for all of us. We made lots of chika that night plus lots of pictures. Only when the bill came did we realize that Tin also celebrated her birthday last Jan. 6 (ata) so we also greeted her and asked her to blow the imaginary lit candle on the remaining slices of cake. Funny. :D
Accompanied Cla later on as she went shopping for pants for our badminton game the next day.
***
Some of us in class decided to make our free afternoon every Friday for badminton (we needed the exercise din kasi...plus it was fun). Last time, we played on Thursday since we had a free afternoon. My first time to join kasi last times, I because I watched WPO and studied.
But before our Thursday game, we had a pizza-all-you-can lunch at Greenwich. Hay naku! I only ate 3 slices so super lugi. Also bought a new top from F&H that day...sale eh. Ang galing kasi Ivy and I had the top reserved (kasi we left our wallets in Greenwich) tapos when we came back, 50% off na yung top instead of 30%.
Took a cab after to the badminton place at Gilmore. Had all 4 courts for ourselves. Saya diba? Galing din nung place eh. The floor had a gym and a swimming pool (4th floor yun ha). Ganda rin nung CR/bathroom/locker area. Played for around 3 hours til I was exhausted so sumakit katawan ko...until now actually pero hindi na masyado.
Sinabayan pa ng ngipin ko. Badtrip! My wisdom tooth's growing again eh.
***
Went ukay-ukay shopping again last Friday. Saya! Na-miss ko rin yon eh. Got some new stuff. Thanks to sis for being there with me. I'm not really good at finding good finds. Pero in fairness, nagmamahal na talaga ngayon ang ukay-ukay. Ewan ko ba. Old stuff naman. Pero at least ngayon, the stuff are on hangers. You can find stuff easily na.
***
Am on a three-week theater streak. Last night (Saturday), watched ZsaZsa Zaturnnah at CCP. Ice fetched us at around 3pm tapos we stayed at Starbucks Katips while waiting for Kim (she has class til 6pm at Miriam). Ice and I studied while Cathe did some cutting for her handouts. We were not into coffee that day eh...had a mango frap, Ice had a fruit drink (a reddish one), tapos Cathe had danish bread (stealing sips from my mango frap). Got tired making tambay at Starbucks so lipat kami sa parking lot ng Miriam. Kim got off class earlier so we were at CCP at around 6:30ish. Ate at Teriyaki Boy (loved Oyako Don...will be back talaga). At 7pm, we were at CCP already. Buti na lang kasi first come first served yung seating sa bleachers. It was a really small theater. Parang THY sa UP FC. We were seated in front sa daanan ng cast. Prime seats I must say kasi later one, when the curtain call came, lumapit si Agot sa amin then held onto my lap for support when she tried kneeling down so as not to obscure our view daw. Hehe! Fine! Na-starstruck ako. ;) She's actually pretty in person.
It was a great play. Almost 3 hours of pure fun. Kim's theater prof was Ada in that play. The one who played Didi was the parlorista at Maging Sino Ka Man. Super galing niya. Fave ko siya. Parang tuod yung model (ata) na si Dodong...pero heck! Eh bagay naman sa kanya yung role. Eula played Zaturnah while Agot was Queen Femina. I didn't expect Eula to sing that well. She's not that good in TV eh. I don't know why. Ganda ng katawan nila. =p They're not that tall and not that thin. Weird kasi they look thinner on TV. Diba you're supposed to look fatter in TV?
The cast was really accommodating after. Paglabas ng theater, nandon silang lahat. We can actually have autographs and pictures pero it was late na. We were tired. We didn't have a pen with us tapos daming tao taking pictures. Ayaw na naming makisiksik. Sabi ni Cathe, it's the experience that matters. We bought a CD na lang. First sound I heard kaninang umaga.
I was really pooped last night. Came home 15 minutes before 12 midnight. Was able to watch the episode of "Sana Maulit Muli" which I wasn't able to watch last Wednesday.
Will be watching another play, "Unang Aswang", at Miriam next Saturday (still with Kim and Ice) and "LiveAids" in UP the week after (on a Sunday naman) with Kim, Ice, Danci, Joyie, and CJ. Saya diba? Hectic studying nga lang pero bahala na. =p Dr. Quijano won't be pleased...tinatakot na kami non eh. Failed another Biochem exam pala. Six points na lang sana. Pero bakit ganon? Parang wala na sa akin ang bumagsak. Therefore, nakakamanhid ang med school.
***
Bes texted me last Friday. I'm just happy she finally has a job. Mapili yon eh. First decent job after graduation. Congrats bes! :)
***
I've been having "gaya-gaya" issues lately. As in! I don't really like it when people imitate me...say...I have something tapos they want to buy that na rin. Yung ganon. Spare me the "they idolize you lang" reason. Ayoko pa rin.
Conditional naman. Okay lang sa akin if kunwari, kami ni Ivy, bumili ng same top last time...pero gusto naman namin pareho bumili so okay lang yon. Basta. Hirap i-explain.
***
Sabi ni Cathe, ang sama ko raw when it comes to the guys that try to court me. This recent one, tinaboy ko agad. I don't really know if I did right. Basta, I felt it was something I should do. Besides, he liked me when we weren't even friends to begin with. How did he like me? I found his possible reasons superficial...dahil ba sa itsura ko or sa naririnig niya about me? Therefore, I didn't agree to him courting me for the same reasons...dahil sa naririnig ko about him. Was I really that bad?
The royal blood one (yun tawag ko sa kanya eh...pwede ring ice plant magnate =p), nagbabalik din. Haay...si Kuya Ted talaga. Oh...binigay na pala namin si Raisin kay Kuya Ted...so the dog's already in Bayawan.
Twenty-one years of single blessedness. Haay...not that I'm complaining. Just not ready for a commitment. Daming iniisip eh. Besides, I don't want to be unfair to the guy. Nah...hindi ako bad. ;p
***
So there...21 days worth of kwento. Hope I didn't miss anything. Pictures at my Multiply account (thank God the site's okay na). Ganda yung WPO pictures. :)
| nadZ went splisha-splashing at 1:08 pm
