July 31, 2005

Dear Me

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Magandang Umaga!

I just woke up with the sudden realization. Out of the blue, something popped up in my head. Hmm. It made me ponder. Nice way to start the day - I mean, having your brain working so early in the morning. I call it brain exercise. *what an excuse* Hehehe.

Here's the thought: I am renaming this online sanctuary of mine. Goodbye, Sentiments; Hullo, DEAR ME.

Yes, Dear Me it is. *me sings*
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July 28, 2005

Things In My Mind

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I had been busy lately and I really did not much have time to blog. It is not that I want to update my blog because somebody is reading it. I really feel at home, at peace with myself the moment I log on and the blogger dashboard appears. It is therapeutic for me to click that one word to home. Yeah, home it is. This place has been a sanctuary for me even during the trying times, depressing stages and confusing moments of my life; much as it has been a window of the good, happy and exhilarating episodes of my so-called existence. I really love to write but not good enough to be a writer. I really want to be one but there are other things that I have to focus on. I am not saying that they are more important than writing but because I have to prioritize the ones that I have now. Oh, crap. It does sound like the same thing but I just do not agree at all.

Anyway, I had been busy. I got a small-time industry-related project and it was kind of a headache at first. Some people just did not do the job that they promised to deliver and dumped the job right in front of me. Funny thing was he was hired by the other party to coordinate with me on that matter and he even had the face to tell us all that everything was settled. So we thought that the project would sail on smoothly. The project week started and it was only a day or two that I discovered that a lot had to be done. Oh, just imagine how damn irritated I was. If he was just a colleague of my age, he would hear a lot of things from me. The nerve. I did not say anything because first, he is senior than I am and the fact that he is one of the bosses from the other party. I am the type of person who will rather work alone (even complain that much if you dump the job on me) than have tentacles of lazy asses around me. I can also work with anyone so long as you do the job you are told and I will do mine as well.

In my exasperation, I went over the project one by one, from the start - just to make sure that I would not miss a thing. To show him that he did not do his job, I bypassed him and worked on the things that he neglected. Everybody knew he was busy but claiming that he had accomplished the job which in truth he did not was really misleading. Sometimes, I really do not give a damn about credit or something but this time I did. I really made sure that I was the one working and not him. He did this before and this time he needed to see that his style would not work with me. To cut this long story short, everything went well.

Last Tuesday was the final day of implementation and there was a meeting. I really felt bad about everything. I was not able to join the meeting because some inconsiderate people prevented me from doing so. After all the things that I have done for that project and for everything at work, I felt demoralized. It was very unfair and I really felt degraded. I cried softly and the moment that I brushed the tears away, I clicked on the net and searched for new jobs. After more than 5 years, that was how I was treated. Morons. I emailed my selected PEx pals to let go off the bad feeling. I felt lonely.

September, October, November, December...I just do not what month but I am sure to leave this year. Things are not the way they used to be and I know that change is for the better but here, things are heading to the worse basket. The first 3 years were good enough and the last two were so and so. For the last 2 years, I have been trying hard to pass by each day but I cannot imagine another year. Everything is too much and too much is never good.

To be continued...
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July 24, 2005

Obscure Books Shops

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Since I am an outright sucker for books, I go out of my way to hunt for new book sanctuaries aside that of NBS and Powerbooks. It is a good thing that Ms. Vanessa of PW listed them down. I have visited some of the book havens in the list and it just felt great to check them out. Anyway, visit the areas for yourself.


Popular Bookstore: Timog, Morato
Bound: somewhere in QC (small shop with lots of books on poetry & erotica)
UP Press Bookstore: Balay Kalinaw, UP Diliman
La Solidaridad: Padre Faura, Manila
Libris: Paranaque
Books For Less: Pearl Drive (near UA&P)
Books For Less: Roces Avenue
Booktopia: Eastwood, Libis
Aeon Books: Katipunan, QC

In case any of you are aware of unknown and not-so-popular bookshops, kindly let me know. Thanks.
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July 23, 2005

I Won Freebies Again

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Sometimes it really feels good winning freebies, don't you think? =) After all, acquiring freebies is becoming a rarity these days. Well, well. I am just one of the few, lucky ones who got some. Thanks to PEx. Hehehe.

It was a yuhoo for me for 3 times when I accessed my inbox to know that I got premium prizes as well as movie tickets for two!

From the movie , I got this very cute, pinkish, velvety notebook with Miss Congeniality on the cover. It look so perfectly pretty that I cannot bring myself to write on it. Hehehe.

The next one was from the movie, . Here I got a House of Wax shirt and this black wristband. The shirt is not meant to be worn when going out because the fabric is too thin. On the contrary, the fabric is so soft to the touch and I think then that it will be such a comfortable fit when I don it for my slumber. About the black band, I handed it to my brother.

Last but not the least and in fact, the greatest freebie amongst the three is from the latest action adventure film, . I got a pair of invites in the advance screening of 'The Island' last July 18 at the SM MegaMall Cinema 10. I prodded Dex to come with me though I was not sure if it was me or the movie that made him decide. He was (and still is) on the graveyard shift at work. Bummer. Anyway, the movie was great and worth the time.

By the way, thanks to Jenn/gasoline for being nice in meeting with me and Dex everytime we claimed those prizes. It was pleasant to meet you for three times at the coffee shops of Starbucks and Seattle's Best. I have met you before this but there was never a chance to say hullo to you then. I hope that we can meet again, have a cup of something (mine is mocha frappe or the one with the oreo, what's yours?) and have a nice chit-chat even though there are no prizes to claim. Thanks to you - for braving the dust and soot, the rain, the vehicular and human traffic. To PEx and the generous sponsors, thank you *muah* and please keep it up. Hehehe.
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July 22, 2005

July 25 - Monday: Special Non-Working Holiday in MM

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Monday a non-working day in Metro Manila

First posted 02:14pm (Mla time) July 22, 2005
By Christine O. Avendano
Inquirer News Service

Malacanan has declared Monday, July 25, a special non-working day in Metro Manila.

Monday is the opening of the second regular session of Congress.

In Proclamation No. 880, Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita said the day was declared a non-working day "to encourage and give opportunity to Filipinos to listen to the [State of the Nation] address of the President and be involved in the affairs of the country."


Premise A: I work in Makati. This is a fact.
Premise B: Makati is in Metro Manila. This is absolute fact.
Conclusion: Correlating the premises to the news above, I can therefore say that I do not have work on Monday. No work, no office.

I have an ongoing project schedule till Tuesday. All activities were pre-coordinated and confirmed.

Premise A: I have a confirmed schedule to visit 2 industrial plants in Cavite on Monday.
Premise B: Cavite is not in Metro Manila.
Conclusion: Therefore, I have to go to work on Monday.

Either way, 2 things are certain:
Fact 1: My superior will be the one to decide.
Fact 2: I get a holiday pay if I am forced to work on Monday.
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July 22, 2005

Men From Mars vs Women From Venus

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Husband read an article to his wife about how many words women use a day... 30,000 to a man's 15,000.

The wife replied, "The reason has to be because we have to repeat everything to men."

The husband turned to his wife and said, "What?"


Ever since I got involved in my current relationship, my curiosity to learn more about the inner minds of the male species has been aroused to a certain degree. The above-mentioned quote, "...we have to repeat everything to men" is just one of the million things that I really want to understand about the Adams of this world.

Are men really that complex? Are they hard to understand? Do women really have to literally spell and spill out everything for men? How do they think and what goes on inside those heads? Are they dumb, insensitive to a woman's need and feelings?

Or is it the other way around? Maybe something is wrong with us ladies? Maybe we just complicate things for them? We tend to elaborate too much on simple details? Can anybody offer their own opinions regarding this?
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July 01, 2005

Fellow Trekkers, BEWARE!

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If I was not mistaken, I learned about the existence of this group last year or probably 2 years ago. Some of the members of the group had committed acts not worth applauding. Just recently, the group had hugged the limelight again in the well-known mountaineering circles such as the MFPI and MMS.

It is not fair at all to accuse anyone or any group of any misdeed if not yet proven guilty. Just to settle the matter, I think it will be advisable if a representative from La Cobra will be brave enough to answer the allegations charged at them.

Since nobody has surfaced yet, for precautions and awareness of any trekking group, kindly read the article below (which is written in Filipino).


Mga Sir & Mam,

itong pong experience namin ay fresh na fresh pa samin...it happened
just last weekend June 18-19, at Mt. Romelo(famy). we were a group of
18 persons, 11 males & 7 females, 7 first timer sa rapelly, 4 first
time mountaneer, 4 rapelly professionals, our plan is to leave home
as early as we can so we can have plenty of time to explore sampaloc
falls and to setup repelly system at buruisan falls. but due to time
delays, we decided not to follow to the plan which is sampaloc falls
first then trek to buruisan falls to setup camp.

at the jumpoff we were properly advised that there were no BSDO
or "Brgy. Tanod" around to keep our safety. we finally reach the
campsite around 10:00 am, and we found out that there are very few
mountaineers at the campsite, only 10 tents, 6 sa taas, 4-5 sa baba
ng falls. After pitching our tents, we then rush at the fall's cliff
to set an anchor for our repelly ropes. there we met 2 other
mountaneers "Erni & Angkol" who have already setup their own rapelly
ropes and system.

This two mountaineers have gone rapelling already and are already
drunk. ung isa tulog na sa bato malapit sa bangin! after the usual
mountaineers' greeting, we set our ropes anchoring 3 ropes to 2 big
trees near the falls. then we decided to cook our lunch and eat.

afterwards, 5 girls and 2 guys from our group decided to bathe down
to buruisan, on their way down Erni greeted them saying "Mam, sir wag
na kayo dyan bumaba magrapel nalang kayo ti-nesting ko na yung tali
nyo". Because most of them are beginners & first time rapeler, hindi
nalang nila pinansin. The rest of our group is either sleeping or
kasama naming nagkukwentuhan. Suddenly one of our companion rush to
us saying "Boss, ung tali natin ubos na!" We then grabbed our knifes
and hurry to see our ropes. Nung una mukhang ok naman pero ung isang
tali ung anchor nya sa puno ay ginilitan para pag may nagrapel
mapuputol yung tali. Yung panglawang rope, sa bandang gitna ung gilit
para pag naka-kalahati ka na ng rapel ay dun palang mapuputol ung
rope. Then my friend who is the owner of the ropes decided to be cool
not ruin our expedition. In short, pinabayaan nalang namin at
niligpit nalang namin yung mga ropes.

Night comes, and the drinking session started. As we greet other
mountaineers nalaman namin na halos lahat ng mountaineers ay binastos
nila "Erni at Angkol". One group said, "Niyayaya nga kami magrapel,
sabi ni Angkol "Sir, mag-rapel kayo para masira na buhay nyo!"". Yung
isa pang grupo sabi, "Ayaw nila magpadaan sa harap ng tent nila nang
hindi tumatagay sa kanila, hindi kami tumagay kaya ang sama ng tingin
sa amin".

As a defensive move, yung ibang mountaineers na badtrip na din ay
naki-join sa aming inuman para manahimik na itong si Erni at Angkol
na ngayoy nambabastos na ng mga babaeng dadaan sa tent nila, at
masaya din naman yung pack namin dahil may gitara, flute at
percussion kaming bitbit. Now we found ourselves as a pack of 3
mountaineering groups of more than 30 persons.

Suddenly, tumahimik ang kantahan nagkatinginan ang lahat. Amoy
marijuana! Lahat ay nakatingin sa lugar nila Erni at Angkol na
nagiinuman din. Since lahat ng katabi naming tents ay grumupo na sa
amin alam na agad namin na sa kanila galing iyon. Kinausap ko yung
tangero namin na babaan na yung tagay at yung maiinit na guys ay kung
maari ay wag muna patagayin. afterwards, nangmakita naming naka-light
off na cla Erni at Angkol isa-isa nang natulog at nagbalikan sa tent,
pero sa a security may mga maiiwang gising na magbabatay.

The next thing i know ay ginigising nila ako na parang emergency na,
pagtingin ko sa relo ay isang oras palang akong nakakatulog almost
2:00 am. Nakita ng isang kasamahan namin na pa-gapang na lumalapit si
Angkol sa isang tent at may hawak na patalim, kaya dali-dali silang
kumuha ng flashlight at naggising ng mga mountaineers. Nang makita
nilang tumatakbo ay hinabol nila at kinuyog. Nang magising si tatay
(ung nagtitinda malapit sa falls) ay inawat nya at pinapasok sa
tindahan si Angkol. Ngayon ay si Erni naman ang aming kinukumpronta
pero sa nahinahon na paraan na ngunit siya'y nagsasa-walang alam.
Nang hanapin namin muli si Angkol ay nalaman naming nakatakas na ito.

Si Erni naman ay binantayan na namin at isinabay namin pababa. Sa
jumpoff dun namin venerify ang kanilang registration name ngunit
ito'y alyas lang din at hindi full name. Nang may iba pang
mountaineer sa bumaba (galing sa sampaloc falls) at nakita si Erni ay
sinabi niya si Erni pala ay miyembro ng "LA COBRA MOUNTAINEERS" at
sila'y ban na o black listed sa Halcon at sa iba pang bundok dahil sa
mga katarantaduhan, pambabastos, vandalism, at kung anu-ano pang
ugali na hindi nararapat sa isang mountaineer. As our final move,
dinala namin si Erni sa Siniloan Police Station kung saan kami ay
magsampa ng "Attempted Murder" na kaso kasama si Angkol. Doon ngayo'y
nalaman namin na Richard ang pangalan ni Erni at ang nakatakas na si
Angkol na "Jun Pereno" pala.

Ngunit nakawala pa din si Angkol at si Erni naman ay pinalaya din
dahil kailangan pa ng hearing sa kaso upang makulong at ito'y aming
hindi pababayaan.

Mga Sir & Mam anu tingin nyo? Dapat siguro may I.D. na hinahanap sa
jumpoff? BSDO sa campsite? O talagang kailangang may dala tayong pang
self defense sa backpack?

MFPI
PROMOTING RESPONSIBLE MOUNTAINEERING
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