Long weekend gala

I felt like a sheepdog while I was guiding our senior students around the Ateneo campus during their entrance examination this morning. We left Cavite at quarter before 6am and was caught in traffic at Katipunan at around 7am. This is actually where the queue to the ACET venues started. Haba! I saw some kids with their parents braving the avenue just to get on their testing venue in time. No way! We can't allow our kids to do that.

Too bad. I never had the chance to meet my long lost sister. She just told me that she was with her daughter in Ateneo too because the latter also took the exam. She even saw the two Seton buses. During those times I was having a heated discussion about Mikey and his stupidity with my colleagues...

I dropped by this chapel inside the campus. What a solemn place...

Yesterday, I had the chance to go gaga over books, freebies and free chows courtesy of book distributors who happens to be kabataks of our school librarian - Ms Malen. My long lost sister was also there and again - we did not meet!

Grabbed a subscription of TIME Magazine. I have always wanted to have this. It was nice to have a complimentary copy of Barack Obama's Inauguration Special. I gave up a free coffee maker in exchange of this ha...

It was a best buy for me when I got hold of Anne Rice's Christ the Lord: Out of Egypt (HB) from NBS for only P200. The best.. First few pages palang, you'll be enthralled with the life of our young Jesus. Gosh... from supernatural knock out Lestat to our Savior Lord Jesus Christ. Whatever happened to the Mistress of Night? Nonetheless, I am happy with the new path being journeyed by Madame Anne Rice.

I felt like a total stalker when I took a picture of Mondo - the most gwapo DJ NU Rock ever had. Not sure if he's still connected with the station. I haven't been tuned in for years now. I doubt if there's still a Pin Up Girls. But he's still gwapo.


Met familiar faces and bumped with friends and colleagues. Enjoyed free chows, free books, and other freebies too. That was one heck of an experience!

Spent some time with my friends too... Dropped by YAMAHA to see Charm. Grabbed a few cups of coffee with Calai.

So these are the things that completed my weekend. Got no work tomorrow and we are off to Makati to attend Dr. Villar's Neurolinguistic Programming workshop. Let's see how we can utilize our subconscious mind.

AKO MISMO Dog Tag Day

I like the way the organizers of this activity reached out to the Filipinos. It was surprising to find a lolo, a lola, complete families with their toddlers and bagets, college students, yuppies, and staple attendees of rock gigs (the rakistas and occasionally, those feeling "emos") in Ako Mismo's Dog Tag Day held at the Fort Open Field last Saturday (June 12, 2009).

I was still drooling in my sleep when I got a text from my tropa, Calai. She said it was an emergency. I called her up and the gig was set. We were supposed to meet at the Market but I got lost. Haha! It was my first time in Boni High St. We lined up for almost three hours under the scorching sun for dog tags. That was our passport to the gig. Bili kami madami... A Dog Tag is at P40 and it's worth it. Not bad for a good cause.... Proceeds will be donated to the various foundations and NGOs that participated in the event.

The first act was Roots of Rock, an up and coming band. Followed by Juan Pablo Dream and Skabeche. What I like best about Pablo's performance is their rendition of Tears for Fear's "Shout!" Their back up dancers seemed to be stoned too. Felt like twisting in the 60s. Skabeche's got me grooving with their homegrown brand of ska music! Apart from these bands is the entertainment brought by funny guy, Ramon Bautista who happened to be more popular than Chris Tiu. He co-hosted along with Mark Abaya who liked to call himself KC Montero and whose pledge was "HINDI NA KO MANLOLOKO NG BABAE." (No Mark! Lokohin mo ako... Basta ikaw! Hehe). Hours later, the crowd witnessed him kissing a fan and dancing in front of her bare chested while singing "One Look". Damned! Why didn't I stayed in that area!!! After that performance, I told myself I got to have their new album!

One of the most awaited performances of the night was that of Kamikazee. His antics was simply out of this world. I salute Jay for being so discreet and prudent with his choice of words since a great number of minors/ kids were present. In a regular gig, he would casually blurt out his staple set of profanities which the crowd find amusing! When I was in UP Fair many many years ago, I dozed off but was awaken by loud and shocking curses. Then I realized it was Kamikazee, Jay just wearing green boxer shorts... So going back, instead of saying gagalisin sa b@y$g... "balls na lang." He was actually pleading to the audience not to patronize piracy but instead buy the original. Yung album nila may bulong... may sumpa. Those who will buy pirated ones ay gagalisin..sa.. you know where. So, let's all buy original "Long Time Noisy!" Hindi na sila bata, may mga pamilya na sila.. They need our money! Haha...

Here's some highlights..

The long queue..

The hosts...

Wonder Wall...

Freedom Wall? It's the Pledge Wall.. It was just too frustrating to find out that some stupid people have nothing on their minds but baloneys and nonsensical stuff... Makabuluhan lang ang dapat sinusulat. If you have nothing but rubbish running in your mind, just get lost! I actually told the organizer that they should have a ready bottle of alcohol and cotton that they could use in erasing those "graffiti."

Of course, the AKO MISMO photo wall... Night will not be complete without this.

One thing that we missed though was the face painting... Too many people queuing up...

My favorite performance so far was from Pupil... The legend, Ely Buendia, and his band was the last to perform. Their song Alapaap proves to be a classic... I actually find Ely so suplado. He could not even give us a glance whenever he passed by us before. But I must admit, the guy's a genius.

I decided to stay and chill out behind the crowd because I'm so d***** tired of standing. Thanks God, there was no mosh pit. I told you, the crowd was heterogenous in nature. Separating myself from the crowd made me miss Bamboo's close encounter with the audience... Kahit kailan talaga cool sha with his fans... I once told him... "Crush ka ng bf ko, picture naman kayo!" Hehe.. Close... (Whatever happen to that pic. Never got the chance to print it).

That's all! Ciao!

Talisay Team Building Activity

We were lucky enough to be welcomed by Dr. Suarez in their Talisay rest house last Saturday (May 23). Our guidance team’s building activity aimed to improve the group member's relationships and to acquire synergy needed in achieving unit goals. ESS South team was the first to arrive at the place.

We were supposed to do trekking but food prep took so much time that we decided to do that the following day (more on that later).

Our facilitators, Ms Tei and Ms Mia are guidance counselors from Assumption College. I would like to commend these two ladies for preparing exciting and heart warming activities that mirrored our experiences as a team. I wish we had more time to synthesize “each" activity and came up with corresponding applications. Nonetheless, being group process facilitators, ourselves, I believe that each and everyone had his or her own related insights. Ms. Tei was actually a former part of the ESS guidance unit while Ms. Mia is a classmate of mine in graduate school.

The most challenging part of the team building for me is when we were asked to talk to each group mate. It gave me a chance to express feelings and thoughts that I have kept to myself due to my tendency to avoid confrontation. I thought that this will lead to a conflict-free interaction thereby decreasing the chance of experiencing stress but I was wrong! Definitely wrong. Bottling up one’s emotions is never an ideal coping style. The safe and assuring environment and the nonjudgmental response by my colleagues made it possible to do this without the fear of getting into conflict with one another. Moreover, affirmation from my colleagues gave me a chance to view myself in another perspective. To cut the long story short, naiyak na ang mg dapat umiyak. May ganun!

The puzzle game also tested our ability to lead a group. It actually made me realize that I am better off as a follower in those tasks that goes beyond my ability (giving directions... remember I have poor spatial ability. As in zero. I couldn't easily identify what's left and what is right). Look... Ms. Sheila was confuse na.

The next activity focused on group coordination and planning skills. One's weakness was compensated by another's strength. I therefore conclude that strategic planning coupled by the right amount of manpower is a good recipe for team success...

We also had a birthday to celebrate. It’s Ms. Kit’s __th birthday. Hehe.. As a birthday surprise, I sang my own version of “Careless Whisper” (one of the latest LSS of the nation) followed by a video presentation prepared by the unit. Because we were so tired, we weren’t able to party in Embalisay.

2nd day (Trekking)
Notice anything? Those who fear UV rays... Mega payong sa kakahuyan…

Ms. Pat was also determined to reward those men who help her during those times she felt like she can't go on.

The water from the falls was freezing cold but once you are totally submerged, it offered a refreshing reward after the arduous task of trekking.

Why didn’t we bring bottles of water? It should have lessened the electrolytes imbalance in our bodies. We weren't totally prepared for the climb as evidently seen in our get ups.

And of course, the trip will not be complete without dropping by Talisay market for tawilis and the nearest pastry shop – Amira’s. Their cassava cake is amazing but I must say – their items are quite expensive…

Ciao!

Teresa Rizal Trip with Fathers and Sisters

Last Saturday was an adventure for me. I didn't know that Fr. Reji would be bringing me to Teresa Rizal together with Sister Jessie, Ama and Father ..... (I'm sorry, I have this bad habit of forgetting people's names). All I know is this priest was the one who gave the last sacrament to Francism. He happens to be the chaplain of Medical City.

Father Reji (second to the left) and Sister Jessie (first from right) were my classmates in DLSU.

I was recruited by Father Reji as a translator/ interviewer to help him with his thesis (Oh gosh! I should be starting with my own concept paper!). Due to his difficulty with the Filipino language, he asked me to interview two participants in his study. These were adolescents whose parent is suffering from mental illness. I was totally surprised with the turn out of the interview. The twelve year old kid was so straightforward in telling me how this kind of situation or relationship with his mom has affected his childhood (academic, personal, and social aspects). My belief was validated that children, indeed, tend to express candid emotions and are specially vulnerable to the quality of parenting being extended to them. I just wish that this study will be successful and it will pioneer efforts in helping children cope with this kind of family set up. Whew!



We left the Sisters in Teresa afterwards while the Fathers and I had our dinner back in Manila.

I still remember my first trip in Teresa back in 1998. I was a newcommer then in Antipolo. I hanged out with my friends for a day in Sampaguita Resort (the cake-like swimming resort on a mountain). It has a majestic view of Laguna lake... I hope to be back soon....

Getaway to Hadsan, Portofino, Shang and Cebu City

I am quite disappointed with Hadsan Cove resort because I did not enjoy their beach. It was full of seaweeds and their rooms lacked facilities. Just imagine using just a pale to get water from the sink's faucet for your morning bath... Nevertheless, I commend the staff for being polite and accomodating. The place was also recommended for diving...





My friends and I were supposed to content ourselves with Hadsan's pool but seeing two kids having a row about the shit on the pool, we immediately lost our interest. Hence, we decided to proceed to Portofino. Swimming + Chill Out + Reggea Music = perfect summer getaway.



While Cebu was suffering from a large scale black out, me and my friends were having a breakfast feast in Shangrila Mactan. Yes, it was expensive but the breakfast was worth the price because we stayed full until the evening. Haha!


Day time stroll to Puerza de San Pedro, Magellan's Cross, Basilica de Santo Niño.













Evening at the TOPS! They say that the best time to visit this place is between 6 pm to 7pm. Not too dark that the whole of Metropolitan Cebu will still be visible... dark enough to see the city illuminating. However, we arrived at around 9pm after a very good persuasion from Manong taxi driver. We weren't able to drop by the Taoist temple due to the curfew, so we settled for an evening at the TOPS. No regrets...


This bell is supposed to give strength to relationships.. One strike for love life... Syempre, I rang the bell only once. :P

I was just amazed with Mactan Cebu because it was packed with Koreans. Wherever you look you'll see a Korean resto, Korean Grocer, Korean bar, Korean diving shop, and etc. Gosh.. dumadami sila...

I think, the proliferation of pension hosues and inns in Cebu is a strategy to boost the tourism industry in the queen city. Wherever you go, there is always a homey pension house that will not leave you bankrupt after your trip. The place where we stayed (Axis Pension House- 09279640991) offered a comfy room for two for P850. It was compete with amenities which include hot and cold water, shower room, tv, phone and even transpo service. Kudos guys for making feel at home!

Antipolo Trip during Good Friday

The Antipolo Cathedral

9 years after I graduated from high school, I was back in Antipolo last Good Friday to reunite with my old buddies and relive our pilgrimage during the Lenten season of 2000.
A quick drop to Antipolo Cathedral jumpstarted my pilgrimage. After all these years, the place was still jam packed with devotees.
After several minutes of waiting, my tropas arrived.

Meet Pam and Tin.We used to have waistlines ranging from 25 to 28. Ngayon! Trenta na!

A visit to Antipolo will not be complete without dropping by the range of stores beside the cathedral. Antipolo's suman is still one of a kind.

We were actually supposed to go to Boso boso church ruins. We quickly boarded a jeepney bound to whatever part of Antipolo that is. A quick tricycle ride brought us to Mystical Cave. The last time we were there was in 2000, after we graduated from high school. Mahabahabang akyatan. Before, kayang kaya. Ngaun, sakit ng katawan.

Mystical cave’s still the same. Mystical stalagmite formations resembling saints and holy figures, airconditioned-like temperature, and creepy ambiance. Ang nagbago lang, P40 na ang entrance.

Before and After! I actually asked them to pose like this so that we could spot the difference. Hehe...

We toured the cave for about 30 minutes and proceeded with the real sacrifice - around 3o minutes of trekking and climbing until we reached the three crosses.

I was expecting a solemn atmosphere but the peak was

packed with people. There was even an ice cream peddler...

The way down was a harder trek. But all those hardships were devoted, of course, to Bro.

Dahil nagkapaguran na rin, tinuloy tuloy na rin. Dala ng katipiran, we decided to walk from Mystical Mountain situated in Cogeo Antipolo to Antipolo Hills! We never actually expected that our effort will bring us to Antipolo Hills. We just decided to hang out with some locals and jaran… sakit ng katawan ang inabot! Imagine.. P8 lng ang tricycle ride! I therefore conclude that being frugal does not work all the time.

La Salle Antipolo over there. The valley below- yan and nilakad namin. It took us an hour and a half to reach Antipolo Hills. I remember one of my classmates in graduate school telling me that she does not want to proceed with her application in LSCA dahil daw ito’y nasa liblib na pook. Di naman masyado.. Bundok lang.

Snack time after reaching Antipolo down town. Dahil sa hirap and init na inabot, napaspasyahan ng grupong magswimming. But before that, we need to pay a visit to Via Dolorosa to complete the Stations of the Cross. Life size statues of Jesus and company and the depiction of the events following the Last supper were the main attractions.

The night was a time for relaxation. We had few bottles while waiting for Tin. I also met my high school friend, KC, who happens to be a big Boyzone fan that time. Haha! She’s now carrying her first child. Gosh.. ako na nga lng yata talaga ang single. Tapos, swimming time.

Loreland Farm resort was such a nice place for relaxation. Amenities were complete (resto, bar, rooms and cottages, spa.. etc). Entrance is at 140 bucks during day time and 160 for overnight stay. You'll have to prepare P600 to P1500 for accomodation. The staff were commendable too. I would just like to thank the cute bartender for giving me a free shot of tequila. The best Tequila I ever had!

Ciao!

I won’t forget the 3 days and 2 nights that we spent in Camiguin last February (21 to 24). I hanged out with Calai, Pareng Chirico, Angel,and Sherwin. These folks are couples actually (ako lang ang single). But that did not stop me from having fun.

So let’s chronicle our travel no.. We actually arrived in Cagayan De Oro at around 3.45 pm. Stop over muna for one night in CDO since late na kmi sa ferry sched. The last ferry left at 5pm… It would have taken us around 2 hours to get to Misamis Oriental should we decided to proceed (I forgot the name of the port). Buti na lng Rosh was there to help us out.

Sarap sa Dear Manok! You should try it… After dinner, we roamed around the town… Saya. Would you believe it? May Divisoria sila dun! We went back to our place na when two of my buddies decided to buy stuff. Damned! They have seen Urbandub’s gig sa plaza… I missed it!

2nd day (Feb. 22), we boarded a ferry bound to Fort Benoni in Camiguin. Cost of fare is about P150 and it took us 1 hour and 30 minute to get there. We went straight to GV Pension house located in down town Mambajao.. It was a decent and simple accommodation that charged us P300 per night (and that’s good for 2 person). The staff were courteous and attentive to our needs and the facilities were somehow complete. Lonely nights kasi mag-isa lang ako sa room unlike my katotos. Hehe…



That night, we decided to chill out in Ardent Hot Spring. For some reason, I could not understand why I got head ache after soaking myself in spring. Parang Shutter ba.. Was it because of my skimpy outfit? Nah… I don’t think so. It was a serendipitous event when I met my high school classmate there! Haha. Small world. And ah.. Entrance fee? 30 bucks!

Any visit to Camiguin island will not be complete without experiencing the pristine sands of the White Island. It’s a few minutes boat ride from the “Rocky Village." We were forced to ride Habal – Habal since no tricycle nor van drivers would bring us to the place at 5 am in the morning. The boat rental was 400 bucks.. 3 lang kmi (Calai, Ryan and I). I just found out that my friend, Pre, is hydrophobic! Hehe. Ayaw nya talagang sumakay ng banka…

The sunrise was simply magnificent.






















At around 7 am....




Pwede rin ang feeling dun… Walang pakialamanan! Eventually, we had to leave at around 9 am. Otherwise, we would get ourselves burned!

Business as usual… This dude was selling bling – blings.

The afternoon was devoted to Katibawasan and Sunken Cemetery trip. A kilometre walk from a certain barrio was needed to reach the falls. Lakad.. lakad…

I collected a number of rocks like this for vain purposes. Too bad they were confiscated in the airport. Hehe… Oo nga naman, deadly weapon eh.

That very same afternoon, we left our place again to visit the popular Sunken Garden… este.. Cemetery. The atmosphere was kinda’ creepy yet I felt the solemnity of place. Too bad.. we lacked the time to visit the old volcano!

Ang ending, Roof Top Hotel for a filling dinner. Yum...