Wednesday LOVE

Finally, my long-overdue Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans has arrived. Harry Potter fans would know what I'm talking about here. Excited! What to taste first? Booger? Dirt? Earthworm? Vomit? Rotten Egg? or Earwax? Can't wait!

Iloilo Traveling Notes

Last week, I embarked on my first solo adventure out of Luzon. Due to some unfortunate circumstances, the Cheese cannot join me in this trip nevermind how long we've waited for it. Alas, still nursing a slight fever from the past week's illness, I almost did not wake up in time for me to leave. Thank goodness for unlimited calls.

And so I flew in Iloilo without the slightest idea of where I will be staying nor where I will go. Okay. So I do have a little but those notes are not sufficient enough in my opinion. So I spent the whole morning walking around Iloilo City, figuring my way around while looking for a place to stay. My feet and back killed me from too much walking, I was slowly becoming irritated. The down side of traveling alone is this: hotel rooms are always expensive because you have to shoulder it alone. But of course, I did not let all that dampen my mood. I took a jeep to Jaro to take a look then went to a museum before going to city proper. After finally scoring a decent enough inn, I took a nap. Yes a NAP. I was so darned tired forgive me.

So far, my favorite Iloilo Church - St. Anne of Molo

They have a really cool campus ha, with provincial effects and all!

But I have to say. My trip to Miag-ao the day after made me appreciate this whole thing of traveling alone. There is a certain kind of freedom and sense of achievement one can get when traveling alone. You know, fending for yourself and relying to strangers' kindness to get you through it all. It's all liberating for me. Yes I admit it gets really sad knowing that you cannot share it with your friends or special people but hey, I believe that this is one thing that everyone should do at least once in their life.

Next on my list: a trip alone outside Philippines yeah!

An Updated Lakbayan Map

Imma fill you up white spots til there's no land unconquered by maryelogs!

My Lakbayan grade is C+!

How much of the Philippines have you visited? Find out at Lakbayan!

Created by Eugene Villar.

Guy Fawkes Night

"Remember, remember the fifth of November.
Gunpowder, Treason and Plot.
I see no reason why Gunpowder Treason
Should ever be forgot."

Hullo work

Malcapuya Island giving Boracay a run for their money.

And just like that I'm back. Five days went like a breeze. But I loved every single day of it. :) Who wouldn't want to be in a place like that?!?!

Wednesday LOVE

What I LOVE the most. Screw the bank account, screw work, let me have my backpack and I'm on my way to the airport. This time I'm doing Coron. Yeaa. Photos and stories when I come back. Toodles!

Diary of a Wimpy Kid

This one's for you Sars. :) Bibili na nga ko nung DIY book ASAP!

500 Days of Summer

Downloaded the OST after watching the movie. The Smiths is LOVE!

Movie excerpt from IMDb :

This is a story of boy meets girl. The boy, Tom Hansen of Margate, New Jersey, grew up believing that he'd never truly be happy until the day he met the one. This belief stemmed from early exposure to sad British pop music and a total mis-reading of the movie 'The Graduate'. The girl, Summer Finn of Shinnecock, Michigan, did not share this belief. Since the disintegration of her parent's marriage she'd only love two things. The first was her long dark hair. The second was how easily she could cut it off and not feel a thing. Tom meets Summer on January 8th. He knows almost immediately she is who he has been searching for. This is a story of boy meets girl, but you should know upfront, this is not a love story.

Indeed. The reverberating moral of the story (at least for me): You can get over someone, no matter how painful, how hard and how long it could be. You will, eventually. Someday, the pain will just be a faint memory from the past and it will not hurt anymore everytime you think about it.

"Who doesn’t like Ringo Starr?"

Adidas King of the Road Run '09

My second year of running in Adidas KoTR. Looking at a sea of yellow-clad people is good but not on me. Nevertheless, I still love it.

Banana + Gatorade + Yellow Singlet = WIN! And I'm not even a banana fan haha.

Fresh-faced pa kami dito.

Our second year of joining. Walang nagbago haha.

Nostalgia Polaroid

Has officially caught the polaroid bug. <3

B-I-N-G-O!

An officemate friend and I played Bingo last, last night out of curiosity. It was not the normal Bingo I knew, the ones we played during summer along with far older people. So fast-paced and involves quite money sum. Eek. But nevertheless it was still fun.

Oh yeah. Course we didn't win. Ha! No first-timer luck.

French Film Fest

June 5-14. Watched 2 films cos I was too lazy to catch 'em all. Long overdue post, I know!

Can't blame her for two-timing her husband. Pero wag ka winner rin si Jo. Decided to drown and die along with her husband.

Cute kids. Story pretty much revolved around Zim acquiring a car with the help of his friends.

Wednesday LOVE

For the second time, I will be participating in Adidas King of the Road Run again. I've long ago made a decision that I will make this my annual run. Aiyaaa. See ya on the Fort on the 25th!

No more 10k for me. 5k is sooo right.

Reunion

After almost 10 years, here I am still on shirt. What has changed Mariela? haha.

Let the Right One In

Surprisingly, one of the best films I've watch this year. I've waited for this one a long time, finally I got my chance. Though I wish I have read the book first..

Swedish poster

Oskar and Eli are in. Edward and Bella are out.

Halloween Caught in the Middle

Haha. Thought it was just a Pinoy thing. Who knew?

Our Dear Old Manila

I love looking at old Manila photos. Gives me an idea of what Manila used to look like before it became this big sprawling megalopolis slowly decaying before our very eyes. Yes, that's what historians tells us, that's what foreigners tells us, that's what old people tells us. Them who've seen the old city and can provide comprehensive details about how it once used to be.

Looking at old photos of different parts of Manila somehow made me yearn of an old city that I never knew of. Indeed, what we've read in our elementary books, what our teachers, lolos and lolas have told us are quite right: Manila used to be one of the most magnificent cities in Southeast Asia. It was grander than Singapore, even more appealing than the rest of Southeast Asian countries' capitals.

I won't go on enumerating all the pitfalls, unlawful, wicked and erroneous things we have done to our historical buildings, waterways, roads, etc. that made our once beautiful Manila the way it is now: a dead Pasig river, disappearing and decaying national heritage sites, deadly metro traffic and most recently, the cities being engulfed by waters that overflowed from rivers currently being blamed from a city plan gone awry.

But let me leave all the accusing and criticising to the institutions trying hard to clean their hands from all the faults being pointed at them and focus more on the good memories of a city that was. I'm really glad these photos survived wars and natural catastrophes.

Jones Bridge. Connecting Intramuros to Quiapo. First built in 1632 but was damaged by several earthquakes, was rebuilt by Juan Arellano in 1922.

Old Quiapo Church.

Calle Rosarion in Binondo

photos from brownpau.

PGH main entrance circa 1945

photo from BrownMan blog.

Escolta bridge from Manilablog.

Cubao circa 1973. It's surprisingly maluwag and maaliwalas.

Sidewalk vendors

Old Luneta.

Rizal Park. Again still so much space kahit hindi na circa 1900ish.

Araneta circa 1960 sans Gateway, SM and other malls.

Photos from ikaunangpahina.wordpress.

Another New Station

Whoa. Nawindang lang lahat ng tao. Kaloka ang araw na ito. Where are my files?!?

BooHoo

This is the first time, in my entire traveling life (that involves aeroplane), that a trip has been cancelled. Major Flop. Major Fail.

Next time I don't want a half-hearted person on board with me. And a typhoon demmit!

Oh well. I'll see you next year. Perhaps.

Cutie Baby Chewie!

I nicked this cutie art from imaginism.

One

Akalain mo yun? Ang bilis lang ng panahon, next year 26 na ko tapos sa susunod 27..pero sa ngayon, Maligayang Unang Kaarawan muna. :)

Astig!


*Photo by Marvin Hernandez.

The Days that Were

The past week has been a rough hell for most of my fellow Filipinos, with the uber-destructive Ondoy wrecking havoc in most of NCR and leaving behind thousands of homeless people, families who've lost their loved ones and a terror more than anything. It was heartbreaking and eye-opening at the same time. Everybody was cursing the government's slug-like response, pointing fingers at who should be blamed. But despite the destructive typhoon that left everyone dismayed and stunned, one true thing that stood out was the Filipinos' capability to rise above any kind of disaster. This event also gave way for the extraordinariness in every Filipino to come out, to help their kababayans in a time where hopes seemed almost impossible, to give where it is needed, to lend a helping hand, to support and most of all to pray.

I wish this would not be the only time our best trait as a Filipino will come out. I really believe that it is there in each of us, in every one of us, a true hero waiting to come out. I'm sure wherever, Jose rizal is right now, he is beaming with pride.

Them kids at work. Mando and Ida joined by two other kids in packing pasta noodles.

Day 3 of volunteering in RFM. The usual, but good,chaos.

We did not ask for free lollies but it definitely made our day.

Boys just being boys. Pizza party on a stormy Friday. D, Jed and JC

Mini reunion of bebes. Vianne, Reynan and Marye

I'm no big fan of white chocolate but I am a big fan of Ice Cream and Macadamia nuts.

My nerds are back. Hawt!

“In the world of emoticons, I was colon capital D”

That scene really made laugh out loud! From my daily dose of Sheldon Cooper. :)

Wednesday LOVE

As I have mentioned in my previous blog entries, my friend and I was quite frustrated when we did not get to volunteer at all last Monday. It was, I believe, a glitch on the organizer's part that time plus the fact that way too many people poured in to help. We had no bad feelings to the station whatsoever, just the general feeling of failing. Flop di ba?

Ida

And so when another chance came again for me to volunteer, I grabbed the chance and well, held on tightly to it. Megatent volunteering was a second Flop but in my third try, I finally hit a success. What an awesome, awesome word. Together with Mando and Ida, and hundreds of other volunteers too at RFM Gym in Pioneer, Mandaluyong, we can proudly and strongly say now that we at least made our part in this whole Bayanihan system, we Filipinos, are known for. We have contributed, whether big or small, in giving aid to our fellow kababayans who were unfortunate enough to be hit and affected by the typhoon Ondoy (international name Ketsana).

Mando

God bless everyone who lend their time to help in every way possible, either by donating or being part of the workforce. It sure made a difference.

Relief goods packed waiting to be delivered.

Kaya natin 'to!

Scenes from all Over

Caught on TV - Man rescued in a rubberboat asked, "28 na ba ngayon?" Cameraman: "Opo, 28." Man somberly replied, "Bday ko na pala." Rescuers who were paddling hard turned to him in surprise before slowly singing, "ha...ppy.. birth..day... to you..." Even in the midst of devastation the Filipino spirit never ceases to acknowledge and celebrate the gift of life.

reposted from latenightepisodes. Seriously, my eyes welled upon reading this.

The turtle survived!

# photo from itsantonia. I believe he was considered as a school pet. :)

Cute. Poor kid though. I sure hope he was fine!

# photo from teejae05.

Philippine Scene after Ondoy

According to Inquirer, death toll has now reached 240, up 100 from the previous day's tally. And there are still news of another typhoon to hit the country in 24 hours. Jeez. Hoping and praying there won't be another like it. Not yet, not ever..

Marikina River scene

Road scene.

Overview

The Aftermath of Ondoy (intl name Ketsana)

Death.


Hope.

##
photos from yahoo.ph.

~~
Yesterday, I, together with my friend Sarsi, had every bit of good intention volunteering in helping the victims of typhoon Ondoy. But it got so complicated in station centers where there were more than people willing to help than things to be done. I'm sure that's not how it was supposed to turn out but we left the place with sodden but light hearts. We don't want to be nuisance anyway. Volunteers were sent home, acknowledging their good intentions, because well, there were really too many people that day. Too many people is not good for the task to keep going.

But alas, there are still centers looking for volunteers. You just have to find the right place. Here are some of it:

Balay Expo, Cubao, Quezon City.
Megatent, Meralco Avenue, Pasig City
Ateneo de Manila University
University of the Philippines Church of the Risen Lord

If you are outside the Philippines and want to help here is a blog where you can go that will help you: http://moongirl.wordpress.com/2009/09/28/donating-to-manila-from-abroad/

As for emergency hotlines (thanks to MiriamQ for the link):

Rescue Operations

1. National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) (+632-9125668, +632-9111406, +632-9115061, +632-9122665) Help hotlines: (+65 734-2118, 734-2120)
2. Philippine Coast Guard (+632-5276136)
3. Air Force (+63908-1126976, +632-8535023)
4. Metro Manila Development Authority (136)
5. Marikina City Rescue (+632-6462436, +632-6462423, +632920-9072902)
6. Pasig Rescue Emergency Number (+632-6310099)
7. Quezon City Rescue (161)
8. San Juan City Hall Command Post (+632-4681697)
9. Bureau of Fire Protection Region III (Central Luzon) Hotline: (+63245-9634376)
10. Senator Dick Gordon (+639178997898, +63938-444BOYS, +632-9342118, +632-4338528)
11. Senator Manny Villar (+639174226800. +639172414864, +639276751981)

Civil Society/ Media

1. Philippine National Red Cross (143, +632-5270000)
2. Philippine National Red Cross Rizal Chapter operations center hotline: (+632-6350922, +632-6347824)
3. Go to GMA Facebook page & post complete addresses and names of people in need of immediate help.
4. ABS-CBN Typhoon Ondoy Hotline: (+632-4163641)
5. Jam 88.3: (+632- 6318803) or SMS at JAM (space) 883 (space) your message to 2968

The Day After Ondoy

Slept and woke up with the images of typhoon Ondoy left my home country. They are real images, so NOT good. Pretty much heartbreaking. I pray for Filipinos everywhere, I pray that we rise from this disaster stronger and with more wisdom than any experience could ever give us. We will rise against this!

This is not the time for any other agendas, the only agenda would have to be: Help our kababayans who are in badly need of help.

Laugh, Cry, Smile

Things that amazed me:

This event happened yesterday but I was too busy to write anything about it so it happened a day later here in my blog (boohoo). Still.. Anyway, this was definitely an event worth camwhoring for, every photographer's dream,. I bet they were drooling with the idea and jumping with too much excitement of capturing the awesome but a bit eerie event.

Red dust over Sydney

The before and after scene.

Photos from SMH. 

These (and a lot more) are the wonderful creation of photographers Akiko Ida and Pierre Javelle. Pretty stoked! Indeed, an art you can eat. 

Golfers on a donut.

Workers on a sugar mine.

Come take a look at more photos of these two remarkable photographers.
~~
Kailan Ka Ba made me cry. Kahit kelan ko pakinggan kakaiyak talaga. Same goes for Huwag Ka Nang Umiyak.
~~
Conversation with an old friend made me smile. Wala lang. It's funny how things becomes so good after a "wala lang naman talaga" talk with them. So, don't ever think that little conversations are useless, because those little conversations really make up for good memories.

Wednesday LOVE

Because I just came from Baguio, it is only natural to write about Baguio. LOVE.

I saw Gold!

So this is Balatoc Mines tour in a nutshell. Despite the rough road and a high-possibility-of-concussion-to-happen ride, the trip was great. These are my friends and we take the road less traveled. Bow.

That's gold you punk! At least specks of it.

Enjoying the tram ride. Weeee! But not in total darkness, no. TYVM.

These boots were certainly made for walking! At least in muddy mines they were.

Proud graduates! Heehee.

I love Baguio. Amazing how I never run out of things to do there. :)

Northbound!

In the land of pine trees, chilly mornings, foggy afternoons, sweet, sweet corn, strawberries, camote bread and hot cocoa, artsy fartsy stuff, the land where the traditional meets the modern times.

I will see you again!

*Pagoygoy wants to say hello and say that he's excited too!

Open Happiness and the Maroons

Because I love my alma mater whether they win or they lose. Sometimes, it's not just about winning nor about losing.

2010, can you come soon?

A Brilliant Find

Finding a good book that doesn't cost an arm, a leg not even a pinkie, certainly ranks there in my top three winning/best moments in life. I found 1000 Places To See Before You Die in a place where not too many people take second glances, where the musty smell of books equates to one's most cherished memory, an idea that does not even cross many poeple's mind nowadays.

After paying (see where my point finger goes), I almost danced my way out of the store. Good thing I don't know how so I was also saved the embarrassment (hey fair deal!).

You and me, my little square friend, are gonna be one helluva friends. :)

It's that time of the year again!

No, it's not Christmas season yet beloved humans, it's the Cine Europa once again. Wow. Time is really flying so fast. I', just as excited as everyone else (especially the loyal followers). This will be my fourth year of watching Cine Europa would you believe it??? Too bad my original Cine Europa pardner isn't here to watch with me this time cos she's frolicking in chilly Baguio. No, make that bumming around haha.

See y'all!

What Our Daughters Should Know About Men

1. If you’re paranoid he’s cheating, then you don’t trust him and the relationship should be over.
2. Going down isn’t shameful.
3. Learn how to satisfy yourself sexually.
4. Men are powerless in the face of female sexuality.
5. Be honest and upfront about your feelings, and demand the same from men.
6. Don’t try to change a man.
7. If he’s annoying when you’re dating, then he’ll be annoying when you’re married.
8. The first time he hits you is the last time he hits you, because you leave.
9. “Perfect couples” have troubles too, so don’t compare your relationship to othe relationships too much.
10. If he’s not willing to work on the relationship, then he’s not invested in it.
11. Flirting with other women in your presence is disrespectful and shouldn’t be tolerated.
12. It’s OK to sleep with multiple men at the same time, as long as you’re honest with them and safe about it.
13. The STD talk really isn’t that difficult to have.
14. Keeping your man sexually satisfied will do wonders for your relationship.
15. You both should be able to say “I’m sorry.”
16. If he can’t laugh at himself, he’s too uptight.
17. A man who cooks you breakfast in bed, gives you foot rubs, goes shopping with you or accompanies you to a rom-com is worth his weight in gold.
18. Mama’s boys are unlikely to prioritize your wants and needs above their mom’s wants and needs.
19. Always trust your gut.
20. Expressing strong emotions doesn’t make you crazy.
21. Don’t bother overanalyzing him. His reasoning is likely very simple.
22. Be able to take it as much as you dish it.
23. Find a man that truly “cares” for you. When love and passion fade, “caring” takes over until they return again.
24. Never waste your time with a man that makes you feel bad about yourself.
25. You don’t owe him a thing, even if he buys you the most expensive dinner in town.
26. Tease him. And just went he thinks he’s going to get it, tease him again.
27. There are seven excuses for getting out of anal sex.
28. You can’t own anyone and they can’t own you.
29. It’s OK to just listen to him breathe sometimes.
30. Men need to be cuddled and hugged, too.
31. Find someone to share your life with, not fill in the gaping hole (not a vagina reference) in your life.
32. Only you can make yourself happy.
33. Love doesn’t hurt.
34. Shoe shopping is great breakup therapy.
35. Never settle.
36. Date potential, instead of vainly searching for Mr. Perfect.
37. Be a lesbian.

After being pressured for 9 hours, it is nice to read something like this at the end of your day. Something to soothe the nerves, something to make you chuckle. And chuckle I did. No. Make that LAUGH. :)

Got it from blairwaldorfs. Nice one young lady!

~
As for my long, definitely tiring and brain-numbing day, well it was that. Haha. At least I can still laugh.

I hate the fact that I have no more time socializing with other people (i.e., office friends, seatmates, YM friends, love ones and not-so-love ones). I have no more time browsing gossip sites and the usual sites I go through every morning. I have no more time to even read the freaking news headline (not that I often do but the point is..).

But the worst part of it all, I have no more time to just lounge around a bit on my lunch break. No more funny coversation with friends, no more relaxing, no more ONE HOUR lunch break.

If that is not sad, I don't know what it is anymore.

Wednesday LOVE

A 5-minute break from the everyday humdrum we call work. Finally, I got one! Though yellow is definitely not my color, I love it anyway. Thanks a lot! You know who you are. *wink*