- Just Another Day -

Itinerary in Singapore

2009-09-15T21:01:00.008+08:00

For those planning to visit Singapore, these are my recommendations if you have 3 - 5 days in Singapore

Day 1: ----------------------------------
Bugis

Get off at Bugis MRT Station along Green Line.

You can check out
1. Bugis Parco Junction (it's just a mall, though I like the shops, looks like a "street" area converted into a mall.
2. Pasar Malam. It means night market though it is open early in the morning till only around 9.30 PM.
3. SimLim Building - ask around, it's after the Pasar Malam. This is where you can get electronics stuff, but BE CAREFUL!!!

Orchard

Get off at Orchard Station along RED Line.

Of course, what else should we do in Singapore but to SHOP! There are so many malls and shops along orchard street. Check out the three major shops: ION Mall, Takashimaya (Ngee Ann City) and Paragon.

I suggest GRAbbing Lunch in Din Tai Fung in the basement of Paragon. Yummy Taiwanese Dumplings. I love the Xiao Long Pao there.

Lau Pah Sat, Walk along boat quay and Clark Quay

Get off at RAFFLES PLACE INTERCHANGE and follow the signs going to Lau Pah Sat. (IT's the largest hawker center in Singapore.
Grab some Satay, Sting Ray, and Teh Ping (Iced Tea) for a taste of local Singapore Cuisine.

After that, Walk along Boat Quay and Clark Quay and you can grab some drinks or stay late :)

Day 2: ----------------------------------

City Hall Area

Get off at City Hall MRT along the Green Line.

You might wanna grab Brunch or Lunch in the Flutes:
http://www.flutesatthefort.com.sg/

There's a couple of the things around that area as well. You can check the Singapore Philatelic Museum, MITA Building, and National Archives of Singapore.

Continue your walk to the area near City hall MRT.

You can check out the following:
1. Raffles Hotel - You might wanna grab SINGAPORE SLING in the long bar
2. National Library
3. Armenian Church
4. Chijmes (though it's better to do this at night)
5. Check OUT City Hall

Take the City Link and go SUNTEC. Make sure you see the largest Man-made fountain in the world!!! and Make your wish there. www.suntec.com.sg

Esplanade and One Fullerton Area

From Suntec we can walk to ESPLANADE and see What Singapore has that rivals Sydney Opera House. They have Esplanade by the Bay :). You can have Local Food in Makan-Sutra in Esplanade. Afterwards, you can walk to the One-Fullerton area and see the original Merlion and then walk to Fullerton Hotel

Day 3: ----------------------------------

National Museum

Get off at Dhoby Ghaut Station along purple OR Red Line.

Visit http://www.nationalmuseum.sg for more information.

Afterwards, grab Lunch in Fish & Co in the Glass House near Park Mall (right opposite Plaza Singapura. Or you can find a lot of restaurants and shops in Plaza Singapur.

Zoo and Night Safari

Alight at Ang Mo Kio station (NS16) along the RED Line and take bus service 138.

Make sure you grab these special

Park Hoppers Special (admission only)

3-in-1: Singapore Zoo, Night Safari & Jurong Bird Park
Adult S$45.00 (saves $13)
Child (3 to 12 years old) S$22.50

2-in-1: Singapore Zoo, Night Safari & Jurong Bird Park (any 2 parks)
Adult S$32.00 (saves $4)
Child (3 to 12 years old) S$16.00

You'll probably spend the entire afternoon in the zoo and the evening in Night Safari. Check out http://www.zoo.com.sg/.

Day 4: ----------------------------------
Little India (optional)

Get off at Little India MRT Station along the purple line and just walk around. There's nothing really particular that you need to see but just walk around and see the shops.

According to "Uniquely Singapore Site", Today, Little India is the focal point of Singapore's Indian community. Its spice-scented streets beckon you to a cornucopia of ethnic jewellery, jasmine garlands and silk saris. From the large Tekka Centre and Little India Arcade to the small provision shops, Little India is packed with interesting things to discover. During Deepavali (usually between Oct/Nov), the Indian Festival of Lights, Little India is transformed into a fairyland of gaily decorated, brightly lit streets bustling with shoppers. Witness also the faith of devotees during the colourful and ritualistic Thaipusam in Jan/Feb each year

China Town

Get off at Chinatown MRT Station along the purple line.

What you need to see are the shops along the Trengganu Street. You can buy souvenirs here as I think it's the cheapest in Singapore. Try to bargain (not so much) if you are going to buy a lot.

Make sure you check out the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple and Sri Mariamman Temple along South Bridge Road and Grab something if you wanna eat along Smith Street.

Vivo City (optional)

Get off at Harbourfront MRT Station along the purple line. This is basically a new mall and you can just go around and see some shops and grab lunch or snacks here :)

Sentosa

Get off at Harbourfront MRT Station along the purple line.

There are three options to go to sentosa.
1. Take the Monorail from Vivo City (3rd Floor)
2. Take the Bus from Harbourfront Interchange
3. Take the Cable Car

I would recommend #3 Cable Car. But do ask if you can go to Faber Park first, which is to the other end of the cable car (Normally you pay the same thing), so that you can have a good view of the entire Sentosa and Singapore. Get good pictures and take the cable car back to Sentosa.

Check the site www.sentosa.com.sg to check out for PROMOTIONS as they usually have packages.

Among these, I would recommend you try out: songs of the sea, Underwater world, and Merlion.

You can grab dinner here or just take the bus or monorail back to Vivo and grab dinner there. There's a restaurant which is similar to Nando's (for Peri Peri Chicken YUMMMY!)

Bday Bash

2009-06-18T10:29:00.002+08:00

Wow Philippines Video

2009-01-09T23:08:00.004+08:00

Luvvv this videos promoting Philippines.. Mabuhay and Pinoy :)

Merry Christmas ...

2008-12-17T22:56:00.001+08:00

10 Conyo-mandments

2008-09-12T13:38:00.001+08:00

http://ishneak.multiply.com/journal/item/139/THE_10_CONYO-MANDMENTS?replies_read=1

1.Thou shall make gamit "make+pandiwa" .
ex.
"Let's make pasok na to our class!"
"Wait lang! I'm making kain pa!"
"Come on na, we can't make hintay anymore! It's in Andrew pa, you know?"
`
2. Thou shall make kalat "noh", "diba" and "eh" in your pangungusap.
ex.
"I don't like to make lakad in the baha nga, no? Eh diba it's like, so eew, diba?"
"What ba: stop nga being maarte noh?"
"Eh as if you want naman also, diba?"
`
3. When making describe a whatever, always say "It's SO pang-uri!"
ex.
"It's so malaki, you know, and so mainit!"
"I know right? So sarap nga, eh!"
"You're making me inggit naman.. I'll make bili nga my own burger."
`
4. When you are lalaki, make parang punctuation "dude", 'tsong" or "pare"
ex.
"Dude, ENGANAL is so hirap, pare."
"I know, tsong, I got bagsak nga in quiz one, eh"
`
5. Thou shall know you know? I know right!
ex:
"My bag is so bigat today, you know"
"I know, right! We have to make dala pa kasi the jumbo Physics book eh!"
`
6. Make gawa the plural of pangngalans like in English or Spanish.
ex.
"I have so many tigyawats, oh!"
`
7. Like, when you can make kaya, always use like. Like, I know right?
ex.
"Like, it's so init naman!"
"Yah! The aircon, it's, like sira!"
`
8. Make yourself feel so galing by translating the last word of your sentence, you know, your pangungusap?
ex.
"Kakainis naman in the LRT! How plenty tao, you know, people?"
"It's so tight nga there, eh, you know, masikip?"
`
9. Make gamit of plenty abbreviations, you know, daglat?"
ex.
"Like, OMG! It's like traffic sa LRT"
"I know right? It's so kaka!"
"Kaka?"
"Kakaasar!"
`
10. Make gamit the pinakamaarte voice and pronunciation you have para full effect!
ex.
"I'm, like, making aral at the Arrhneo!"
"Me naman, I'm from Lazzahl!"

Pick-up Lines

2008-08-02T00:17:00.003+08:00

Recently, we've been teasing one of our flatmates 'bout this girl... and thus these pick-up lines hahahaha

Mag empake ka…sama ka sakin….punta tayo home for the aged……
Kasi i wanna grow old with you……

Alam mo bang parang 7-11 ang puso ko?……
Kasi 24 oras bukas para sayo…..

Nakalunok ka ba ng kwitis?
Pag ngumiti ka kc…may spark….

Pag ako gumawa ng planeta, gusto ko ikaw ang axis ko..
Para sayo lang iikot ang mundo ko..

You look like someone I know
My next Girlfriend

Ako na magbabayad ng tuition fee mo!
Basta pag-aralan mo lang na mahalin ako.

Feeling ko mouse tayong dalawa…
You know, we just click.

Excuse me, tatanong ko lang kung didiretsuhin ko bang daan
na 'to,
O may ibang shortcut sa puso mo?

May free time ka ba? Samahan mo naman ako sa
psychiatrist. ..
Magdala daw kasi ako ng kinababaliwan ko.

Bukas sisingilin ko na yung bayad mo sa renta…
Tagal mo na kasing naninirahan sa puso ko eh

What GRE can do to a person

2008-07-28T16:19:00.001+08:00

-- this is prolly one of my fave emails .. well at least next to Inday, the nosebleed emails hahaha ---

A GRE STUDENT : All articles that coruscate with resplendence are not

truly auriferous. A NORMAL PERSON : All that glitters is not gold.

A GRE STUDENT : Sorting on the part of mendicants must be
interdicted. A
NORMAL PERSON : Beggars are not choosers

A GRE STUDENT : Male cadavers are incapable of rendering any
testimony. A
NORMAL PERSON : Dead men tell no tales.

A GRE STUDENT : Neophite's serendipity. A NORMAL PERSON : Beginner's
luck

A GRE STUDENT : A revolving lithic conglomerate accumulates no
congeries
of small, green, biophytic plant. A NORMAL PERSON : A rolling stone
gathers no moss

A GRE STUDENT: Members of an avian species of identical plumage tend
to
congregate. A NORMAL PERSON : birds of the same feather flock
together

A GRE STUDENT : Pulchritude possesses solely cutaneous profundity. A
NORMAL PERSON : beauty is only skin deep

A GRE STUDENT : Freedom from incrustations of grime is contiguous to
rectitude. A NORMAL PERSON : cleanliness is godliness

A GRE STUDENT : It is fruitless to become lachrymose of precipitately

departed lactile fluid. A NORMAL PERSON : there's no use crying over
spilt milk

A GRE STUDENT : Eschew the implement of correction and vitiate the
scion.
A NORMAL PERSON : spare the rod and spoil the child

A GRE STUDENT : The stylus is more potent than the rapier. A NORMAL
PERSON : the pen is mightier than the sword

A GRE STUDENT : It is fruitless to attempt to indoctrinate a
superannuated canine with innovative maneuvers. A NORMAL PERSON : u
can't
try to teach an old dog new tricks

A GRE STUDENT : Surveillance should precede saltation. A NORMAL
PERSON :
look before you leap

A GRE STUDENT : Scintillate, scintillate, asteroid minim. A NORMAL
PERSON
: twinkle, twinkle, little star

A GRE STUDENT : The person presenting the ultimate cachinnation
possesses
thereby the optimal cachinnation. A NORMAL PERSON : he who laughs
last,
laughs the best

A GRE STUDENT : Exclusive dedication to necessitous chores without
interludes of hedonistic diversion renders John a hebetudinous
fellow. A
NORMAL PERSON : all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy

A GRE STUDENT : Individuals who make their abodes in vitreous
edifices
would be advised to refrain from catapulting petrious projectiles. A
NORMAL PERSON : people who live in glass houses should not throw
stones

A GRE STUDENT : Where there are visible vapors having their
provenance in
ignited carbonaceous materials, there is conflagration. A NORMAL
PERSON :
where there's smoke, there's fire

I GOT IT!!!

2008-07-11T18:35:00.002+08:00

0919 GMT+8 July 11, 2008

Got a call from Ling.
Twice --> but didn't hear the voice from the other side.
Third Time --> I finally heard her, it was her new phone. But anyway, She said "I would just like to congratulate you. Yay!" etc etc etc

I'm extremly happy and ecstatic... Totally on cloud nine!!!
I will be officially a "G" pretty soon..

Anyway, back to reality...
How to spill to my ultimately super nice boss? Think Think Think!

Ducks Quack , Eagles Fly

2008-07-11T18:22:00.002+08:00

Years ago, my friend, Harvey Mackay, told me a wonderful story about a cab
driver that proved this point. He was waiting in line for a ride at the
airport. When a cab pulled up, the first thing Harvey noticed was that the
taxi was polished to a bright shine. Smartly dressed in a white shirt,
black tie, and freshly pressed black slacks, the cab driver jumped out and
rounded the car to open the back passenger door for Harvey .

He handed my friend a laminated card and said: "I'm Wally, your driver.
While I'm loading your bags in the trunk I'd like you to read my mission
statement."

Taken aback, Harvey read the card. It said: Wally's Mission Statement: “To
get my customers to their destination in the quickest, safest and cheapest
way possible in a friendly environment.” This blew Harvey away, especially
when he noticed that the inside of the cab matched the outside. Spotlessly
clean! As he slid behind the wheel, Wally said, "Would you like a cup of
coffee? I have a thermos of regular and one of decaf."

My friend said jokingly, "No, I'd prefer a soft drink." Wally smiled and
said, "No problem. I have a cooler up front with regular and Diet Coke,
water and orange juice." Almost stuttering, Harvey said, "I'll take a
Diet Coke." Handing him his drink, Wally said, "If you'd like something to
read, I have The Wall Street Journal, Time, Sports Illustrated and USA
Today."

As they were pulling away, Wally handed my friend another laminated card.
"These are the stations I get and the music they play, if you'd like to
listen to the radio."

And as if that weren't enough, Wally told Harvey that he had the air
conditioning on and asked if the temperature was comfortable for him. Then
he advised Harvey of the best route to his destination for that time of
day. He also let him know that he'd be happy to chat and tell him about
some of the sights or, if Harvey preferred, to leave him with his own
thoughts.

"Tell me, Wally," my amazed friend asked the driver, "have you always
served customers like this?"

Wally smiled into the rearview mirror. "No, not always. In fact, it's only
been in the last two years. My first five years driving, I spent most of my
time complaining like all the rest of the cabbies do. Then I heard the
personal growth guru, Wayne Dyer, on the radio one day. He had just written
a book called You'll See It When You Believe It. Dyer said that if you get
up in the morning expecting to have a bad day, you'll rarely disappoint
yourself. He said, 'Stop complaining! Differentiate yourself from your
competition. Don't be a duck. Be an eagle. Ducks quack and complain. Eagles
soar above the crowd.'"

"That hit me right between the eyes," said Wally. "Dyer was really talking
about me. I was always quacking and complaining, so I decided to change my
attitude and become an eagle. I looked around at the other cabs and their
drivers. The cabs were dirty, the drivers were unfriendly, and the
customers were unhappy. So I decided to make some changes. I put in a few
at a time. When my customers responded well, I did more."

"I take it that has paid off for you," Harvey said. "It sure has," Wally
replied. "My first year as an eagle, I doubled my income from the previous
year. This year I'll probably quadruple it. You were lucky to get me today.
I don't sit at cabstands anymore. My customers call me for appointments on
my cell phone or leave a message on my answering machine. If I can't pick
them up myself, I get a reliable cabbie friend to do it and I take a piece
of the action."

Wally was phenomenal. He was running a limo service out of a Yellow Cab.
I've probably told that story to more than fifty cab drivers over the
years, and only two took the idea and ran with it. Whenever I go to their
cities, I give them a call. The rest of the drivers quacked like ducks and
told me all the reasons they couldn't do any of what I was suggesting.

Wally the Cab Driver made a different choice. He decided to stop quacking
like ducks and start soaring like eagles.
So, what are you?

Waiting for something spectacular ....

2008-07-09T22:50:00.002+08:00

Just received an email from Ling.....
"going smooth.. just need for one more approval"
I'm sooooooo excited...
can't really say much about details now..
but let's keep our fingers cross and wish me luck......

The Person I Love Most

2008-05-25T16:17:00.003+08:00

One of the best stories I've read... I'm deeply moved..

I was born in a secluded village on a mountain Day by day, my parents
plowedthe yellow dry soil with their backs towards the sky.

I have a brother who is 3 years younger than I. I wanted to buy a
handkerchief, which all girls around me seemed to have. So, one day I
stole 50 cents from my father's drawer.

Father had discovered about the stolen money right away. He made me and
my younger brother kneel against the wall as he held a bamboo stick in
his hand.

"Who stole the money?" he asked.

I was stunned, too afraid to talk. Neither of us admitted to the fault.

So he said, "Fine, if nobody wa!nts to admit, you two should be beaten!"

He lifted up the bamboo stick.

Suddenly, my younger brother gripped father's hand and said," Dad, I
was the one who did it!"

The long stick smacked my brother's back repeatedly. Father was so
angry that he kept on whipping my brother until he lost his breath.

After that, he sat down on our stone bed and scolded my brother, "You
have learned to steal from your own house now. What other embarrassing
things will you be possibly doing in the future? You should be beaten to
death, you shameless thief!"

That night, my mother and I hugged my brother. His body was full of
wounds from the beating but he never shed a single tear. In the middle
of the night, all of sudden, I cried out loudly.

My brother covered my mouth with his little hand and said, " Sis, now
don't cry anymore. Everything has happened."

I still hate myself for not having enough courage to admit what I did!

Years have gone by, but the incident still seemed like it just happened
yesterday. I will never forget my brother's expression when he protected
me.

That year, my brother was 8 years old and I was 11 years old.

When my brother was in his last year of secondary school, he was
accepted in an upper secondary school in the central. At the same time,I
was accepted into a university in the province. That night, father
squatted in the yard, smoking, packet by packet.

I could hear him ask my mother, "Both of our children, they have good
results?"

Mother wiped off her tears and sighed," What is the use? How can we
possibly finance both of them?"

At that time, my brother walked out.

He stood in front of father and said, "Dad, I don't want to continue my
study anymore. I have read enough books."

Father swung his hand and slapped my brother on his face. "Why do you
have a spirit so damn weak? Even if it means I have to beg for money on
the streets, I will send you two to school until you have both
finishedyour study!"

And then, he started to knock on every house in the village to borrow
money.

I stuck out my hand as gently as I can to my brother's swollen face,
and told him, "A boy has to continue his study. If not, he will not be
able
to overcome this poverty we are experiencing."

I, on the other hand, had decided not to further my study at the
university.

Nobody knew that on the next day, before dawn, my brother left the
house with a few pieces of worn-out clothes and a few dry beans.

He sneaked to my side of the bed and left a note on my pillow; "Sis,
getting into a university is not easy. I will go find a job and I will
send
money to you."

I held the note while sitting on my bed, and cried until I lost my
voice.

That year, my brother was 17 years old; I was 20 years old.With the
m!oney father borrowed from the whole village, and the money my brother
earned from carrying cement on his back at a construction site, finally,
I managed to get to the third year of my study in the university.

One day, while I was studying in my room, my roommate came in and told
me,"There's a villager waiting for you outside!"

Why would there be a villager looking for me? I walked out, and I saw
my brother from afar. His whole body was covered with dirt, dust, cement

and sand.

I asked him, "Why did you not tell my roommate that you are my
brother?"

He replied with a smile," Look at my appearance. What will they think
if they would know that I am your brother? Won't they laugh at you?"

I felt so touched, and tears filled my eyes.

I swept away dirt and dust from my brother's body and told him with a
lump in my throat, " I don't care what people would say! You are my
brother no matter what your appearan!ce is?"

From his pocket, he took out a butterfly hair clip.He put it on my hair
and said, "I saw all the girls in town are wearing it. So, I think you
should also have one."

I could not hold back myself anymore. I pulled my brother into my arms
and cried.

That year, my brother was 20 years old; I was 23 years old.

I noticed that the broken window was repaired the first time I brought
my boyfriend home. The house was scrubbed cleaned.

After my boyfriend left, I danced like a little girl in front of my
mother.

"Mom, you didn't have to spend so much time cleaning the house!"

But she told me with a smile," It was your brother who went home early
to clean the house. Didn't you see the wound on his hand? He hurt his
hand while he was replacing the window."

I went into my brother's bedroom. Looking at his thin face, I felt like
there are hundreds of needle pricked in my heart. I applied some
ointmen!t on his wound and put a bandage on it.

"Does it hurt?" I asked him.

"No, it doesn't hurt. You know, when at the construction site, stones
keep falling on my feet. Even that could not stop me from working."

In the middle of the sentence, he stopped. I turned my back on him and
tears rolled down my face.

That year, my brother was 23 years old; I was 26 years old.

After I got married, I lived in the city. Many times my husband invited
my parents to come and live with us, but they didn't want.They said,
once
they left the village,they wouldn't know what to do. My brother agreed
with them.

He said, "Sis, you just take care of your parents-in-law. I will take
care of mom and dad here."

My husband became the director of his factory. We asked my brother to
accept the offer of being the manager in the maintenance department. But
my brother rejected the offer. He insisted on working as a repairman
instead for !a start.

One day, my brother was on the top of a ladder repairing a cable, when
he got electrocuted, and was sent to the hospital.My husband and I
visited
him at the hospital.

Looking at the white gypsum on his leg, I grumbled, "Why did you reject
the offer of being a manager? Managers won't do something dangerous like
that. Now look at you, You are suffering a serious injury. Why didn't
you just listen to us?"

With a serious expression on his face, he defended his decision, "Think
of brother-in-law. He just became the director, and I being uneducated,
and would become a manager, what kind of rumors would fly around?"

My husband's eyes filled up with tears, and then I said, "But you lack
in education only because of me!"

"Why do you talk about the past?" he said and then he held my hand.

That year, he was 26 years old and I was 29 years old.

My brother was 30 years old when he married a farmer !
Girl from the village.

During the wedding reception, the master of ceremonies asked him, "Who
is the one person you respect and love the most?"

Without even taking a time to think, he answered," My sister."

He continued by telling a story I could not even remember.

"When I was in primary school, the school was in a different village.
Everyday, my sister and I would walk for 2 hours to school and back
home. One day, I lost the other pair of my gloves. My sister gave me one
of hers. She wore only one glove and she had to walk far. When we got
home, her hands were trembling because of the cold weather that she
could not even hold her chopsticks. From that day on, I swore that as
long as I live, I would take care of my sister and will always be good
to her."

Applause filled up the room. All guests turned their attention to me.

I found it hard to speak, "In my whole life, the one I would like to
thank most is!my brother,"

And in this happy occasion, in front of the crowd, tears were rolling
down my face again.

**Love and care for the one you love every single day of your life. You
may think what you did is just a small deed, but to that someone, it
means a lot.

More Bloopers ...

2008-03-13T12:44:00.002+08:00

If US has Ms. South Carolina, then Philippines definitely has Janina, but more shockingly, she won the Binibining Pilipinas - World Title. I dunno who has more "mental" issues, she or the judges heheehehe

This one is a funny audition for the Bulgarian Idol... (Without You by Mariah Carey)
Oh my! Oh my!!!!!!!!

Funny Videos (Bisaya Man Gud!!!)

2008-01-11T23:22:00.000+08:00

These are two of the most hilarious videos I found in YouTube. I wonder who she is though!

Bisayan Version of Kiss Me (KEYS ME RAW ahhaha)

Taboo... Binisaya Version

Before and After Marriage ....

2008-01-09T15:32:00.001+08:00

I almost fell off my seat reading this forwarded email... A good one ...hehehe

Before Marriage - - -

He: Yes! At last. Waiting was so hard.
She: Do you want me to leave?
He: NO! Don't even think about it.
She: Do you love me?
He: Of course! Over and over!
She: Have you ever cheated on me?
He: NO! Why are you even asking?
She: Will you kiss me?
He: Every chance I get!
She: Will you hit me?
He: Are you crazy! I'm not that kind of person!
She: Can I trust you?
He: Yes.
She: Darling!

After marriage - - - simply read from bottom to top

A Happy New Year to All

2008-01-02T14:49:00.000+08:00

Another year has passed! Another 365 days have swiftly gone by without me even relishing or enjoying every minute of it. While I was retrospecting on what had transpired or what had happened for the past 12 months, I seem to realize that my life has just stagnated at a certain level ... a level of despair. I would have to aptly call my recent journey as misadventures, rather than an exciting odyssey, as it was mostly "downs" and wrong decisions that have led me to such a dire situation. I guess the best way to deal with this is to learn from it and move on ... listing what has gone wrong and plan on how to rectify those situations.

Let's start...
Firstly, my career has not really took off as much as I expected. I took this EDB attachment thinking that it was a "special program" and would allow me to take the "fast track," however, it ended up being bonded and after which I was unable to negotiate neither my salary or position. But looking at the bright side, it had provided me a good opportunity to work on more global roles. Not forgetting the fact that my 7-month stint in Germany paved the way for me to travel around Europe and learn so much. This I believe is something which I would consider priceless :)
So what have I actually learned from this experience
- Before committing to anything, make sure that you know what are the consequences. There was no indication of any salary after the attachment and there was only a verbal commitment from the EDB that they will mediate when issues regarding salary arises, but in the end, they said they didn't say anything about it and I just have to abide whatever was written in the contract. I guess you need to have things black & white.
- Don't undervalue yourself. I have always been pessimistic on almost everything that I tend to seldom take risk and undervalue myself. I guess I should learn to trust myself. It's no joke to graduate with the highest honors and receiving leadership award at the same time. If I can manage that feat, then I should be able to overcome everything.
- Be Visible. I guess for most things especially at work, remain visible. You have to let people know that you are really good and you are doing a lot of things. I am usually the type of person who just work and work and not really talk so much of my work as I believe in DOING the job than just TALK about it. But I realize that there is a need to TALK (a LOT!!!) on the job as well.
Secondly, I have always believed in close-family ties. I've trusted my siblings as much as I've trusted my best friends, but in the end, I guess it is not really the ties but the "person" himself that makes the difference. This issue is a bit personal so I would not elaborate more about it.
But from what I've learned
- Always be cautious of things or people in life. It is right to appreciative of what people are doing and being friendly, but you have to be a bit "meticulous" when we are mixing relationships with money as it will normally end up in a mess.
Lastly, I just wanna complain that I'm still SINGLE. hahahahahahahahaha But anyway, love comes at the most unexpected time.. and will that be 2008.. let's see hahahahahaha

And now for my new year's resolution:

1. Take more time to socialize with people. 12 hours of sleep on weekends is too much (YES!! I am such a pig that I can sleep from 12 midnight till 12noon). I would have taken more of those time to meet up with old friends and make new ones.

2. Be more productive. (Same as #1). I've already started with this by going for guitar class. Maybe it's time to do less TV watching and sleeping and engage in more productive activities: playing tennis again, taking guitar and mandarin classes, and joining the toastmaster society at Braddell CC.

3. Don't Undervalue yourself. I am not just good, but REALLY GOOD. I should say that to myself again and again! (I don't need proof for this one)

4. Slowly familiarize oneself with office politics. The real world is very different from the idealistic world that we've imagined in school. There are a lot of A**Kissing to be done. You don't have to be one but learn how to use it to your advantage. I already have the skills and the personality, what I need to learn next is the "real ways of the world."

5. This is due to my "bloating belly". I DO NOT DRINK but I dunno why I'm starting to have this beer belly. Signs of old age? I dunno. I thought doing stomach crunches was enough ... but I just saw this "losing your beer belly" tip in the net (see excerpt below)... I guess I need go back to my normal swimming, jogging, and tennis routine. I need HELP!!! hehehehe

The best weight loss exercises are cardiovascular and aerobic programs. These types of exercise are great at getting the heart pumping faster and also help you break into a sweat. Good fat burning exercises include running, swimming, cycling and tennis or squash. If you stick to 30 minutes a day, three times a week, you should notice results in around ten weeks

I guess that's about it. Make it SMART - Specific (or Simple for my case), Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, Timely.

Again, just wishing everybody a HAPPPPPPY NEW YEAR... GONG XI FA CAI! Hope that the new year will bring us new opportunites, be it in life, career, or love...

A Bangkok Wedding

2007-12-26T11:56:00.000+08:00

This post is prolly a bit late but better be late than never. I wish to (again) extend my congratulations to the newly weds, Mike and Noina, who took their vows of matrimony in a church in Bangkok, Thailand on December 7, 2007.

And as usual, the "gang" were there to support Mike and spend a few extra days for shopping ang pigging out hehehehe. Check out the pictures below.

Mike and Noina finally ... after 9 long but fruitful years ...

Somerset Park (Aston)

Baan Khanita

FOOOOOOD! FOOOOOD! AND FOOOOOOOOOOD

Charice Pempengco ... the better choice for Philippine Idol

2007-12-26T11:31:00.000+08:00

I was just watching Asian Idol a few weeks back and I was tad disappointed with the Philippine Idol's performances. I guess my expectations were quite high considering that there are sooooo many great performers back home but the one representing the country of great voices was someone that didn't really represent the best that Philippines have to offer. There's Sarah Geronimo, Rachelle Ann Go, Erik Santos, and myriads of singers who could best represent what was truly Filipino... But Mau just fell short of my expectations....

I have not really watched the Philippine Idol (as it was shown in ABC5) so I'm not sure if she can do better than that or it was prolly just her range of voice. But at any rate, she could have done better. Or prolly, some other singers could have represented us instead... singers like Charice Pempengco.

I was just having noche buena with Friends when my friend, Juday, mentioned that there was this girl who guested at Ellen's Show in the USA and it started out when Ellen saw her performance in the youtube, started searching for her, and finally she guested at her show. From What I can Tell, it blew her and the audience away... and when I did check her out in youtube and saw her singing the song "I will always love you," I was so proud of a country that has been gifted with so many things (errrrr.. I'm not blessed to have that voice though so I guess I'm an exception hahaha).

Here's the youtube of Charice @ Ellen's Show... This gal definitiley has a loooooong way to gooooooo.. All the best Charice. Do us all proud!!!!

Check out her site at http://www.chariceonline.com/videocollections.php

If the Americans have Ms. South Carolina then the French have this ...

2007-12-16T23:38:00.000+08:00

A reaaaallllyy goooooddd Flash Animation

2007-11-29T10:05:00.000+08:00

Animator vs. Animation by *alanbecker on deviant ART

Miss Teen USA - South Carolina

2007-10-08T00:40:00.001+08:00

Ok.. didn't know that US of A stands for US "Americans" hahahah

pero smart naman daw siya ... heheeh

anyway, here's a funny spoof

Politically-Correct Cinderella

2007-09-13T15:48:00.001+08:00

The "LUFET NI INDAY" email reminded me of those politically correct fairy tale stories... This one, I got off the net... Enjoy

Once upon a time, in a land far, far away, lived a noble gentleman and his (without denoting any real possession) dear daughter. She was very beautiful – her breasts were centrally located and she was cosmetically gifted.

He loved her very much, and he was worried that she was lonely, as her mother was metabolically challenged, and dwelled 6 feet underground. So the gentleman conjoined in a purely egalitarian partnership with a lady who had (without denoting any real possession) two daughters of her own, figuring that they’d be kind and sweet to his own lovely offspring.

Instead, they made her do all the domestic labour, and made her wear the clothes a financially disadvantaged person (or perdaughter) would. Both girls were aesthetically different and had a more challenging odour than would be normal, as well as having their own unique, rather liberal, moral codes, allowing them to bully and taunt the poor girl and make her do all the chores. The poor child would spend her days in the cellar, peeling potatoes, sat in a hunch in the corner by the chimney, and for this reason the sisters nicknamed her ‘Cinderella’.

One day, it was announced that one of the most financially advantaged people in the town, the King’s son, was going to throw a big ball. The sisters were asked to go, and they were so excited they ran around for days, laughing hersterically. They bought themselves fancy dresses that were so stuffed with jewels they stood up by themselves, and spent days and days talking about all the people of important social status that they planned to meet.

The great day arrived, and Cinderella found herself in the cellar by herself. “I wish I could go to the ball,” she said to herself. “I bet I could pull that prince – I’m far prettier than those two unconventional-looking, loved-by-spots, 300-pound dinosaurs. I’m far more preferable to men.” The two sisters departed, and Cinderella stayed at home and moaned to the silence.

It was not long until there was a big puff of blue smoke and a rather festively-formed, full-figured, gravitationally-powerful woman appeared. It was her fairy godmother. Cinderella recognised her at once.

“I really want…”Cinderella started.

“To go to the ball,” finished the godmother. Cinderella nodded. “Despite how much I support your freedom to be emotional, since I’m considering your own success here I would ask you politely to cease crying, lest it hinder you. Now go to the garden and get me a pumpkin.”

Cinderella could not imagine how a pumpkin could help her to get to the ball – unfortunately she was rather intellectually impaired and did not yet appreciate that the fat woman who had appeared out of thin air was magic. Nonetheless, she took herself to the garden and took the biggest pumpkin she could carry back to the fairy godmother, who tapped it with her wand, turning it into a golden coach lined with white satin.

The godmother tapped Cinderella on the head and turned her shabby clothes into a stunning white silk dress. Cinderella was concerned for the fate of the silkworms, but considered how the dress was made – using magic – and decided to forget about it. She looked at herself in the full length mirror, and remarked on her slippers, which were made of glass.

“Now go and get me 6 mice from the luxury mouse-trap with fitted mouse-furniture and a mouse television with specific mouse programming in the kitchen, and a big juicy rat.”

With a touch of the wand, each mouse turned into a horse, and the rat turned into a coach driver. Cinderella grew more concerned.

“Fairy godmother,” Cinderella said, “I am concerned for the wellbeing of these horses and this coach driver. One day they were vermin – not that vermin are lesser life forms, of course, and the next thing you know they’re horses and people, and I don’t plan to pay or feed any of them. Considering they’re working for nothing, exactly where should my morals lie in using them?”

“Shut up and get in the carriage, you selfish brat,” the godmother replied. “Oh, and, if you stay in the palace for one second after midnight, all my magic will vanish and you’ll be cosmetically challenged and in your monetarily inexpensive clothes.”

A few moments later, the coach was rolling down towards the ball with the excited Cinderella inside. She arrived and strode up to the prince, slamming her lips into his and they embraced. For the rest of the night, Cinderella and the prince were constantly in each other’s arms, and the two sisters, who did not recognise their own stepsister, were rather flattered when she spoke some words to them.

The hours flew by so happily that Cinderella did not even notice the time until it the clock began to strike midnight. With a cry of alarm she fled from the room. One of the glass slippers flew from her foot and landed on a crate of beer as she struggled to leave the ball before one second past midnight. The prince hurried after her, but, when he reached the entrance hall, she couldn’t find the beautiful girl – just a cinder-maid in a ragged grey dress.

Cinderella hurried home through the dark streets, overwhelmed with shame.

The next day, there was a great procession of trumpets and drums as a regal possession went through the town, going from place to place, at the head of which sat the king’s son. He held a glass slipper on a red pillow, as a herald announced that any lady in the land who could fit the slipper on her foot and could produce the pair would be to marry the prince, if both parties agreed and if the housework was shared equally. Both sisters tried, but their feet were too spacious to squeeze in. Cinderella begged to try, and, to the scorn of her sisters, the prince agreed.

The slipper slipped easily on, and Cinderella pulled the second glass slipper from her pocket. The prince was overjoyed, and wrapped his arms warmly around the pretty cinder maid.

Cinderella spoke up. “Despite the romantic ending of this story, emotionally I feel a little flat. You have fallen in love with me because the fairy godmother made me look pretty, and I’m not convinced that that is a satisfactory basis for a marriage – you don’t even know me. We have only met on one occasion, and, like in this story, I haven’t even established my true character or personality to you – you have no real idea of how well we’d get along. I know you think you have noble and chivalrous intentions but in the context of this story they just reinforce negative notions about male dominance – you’re a prince, I’m a cinder maid, and I have no real interest in you to be honest – at least, no interest further than a purely financial one. It might be a happy ending because I’ll be royalty, but I want so much more!”

“I know,” the prince replied. “I’m completely loaded. I’ve got big palaces and we wouldn’t even have to see each other really, except when we’re having sex or ‘Deal or No Deal’ is on. I don’t need a woman with personality – just human contact.”

“So there’d be no love in our marriage? You’re really only interested in me because I’m an attractive female? Just a sex object? You Neanderthal!”

“Alas, yes, but trust me, you’ll enjoy it. It’s a massive social step up and you’ll have loads of money. You bloody feminists – Jesus – you’re just as human as I am when it comes down to it. Your life will be fantastic if we get married, and I don’t even care if you go off hunting for other men – so long as we still have sex and watch ‘Deal or No Deal’. I’m really easy to live with. If you marry me right now, you will definitely live happily ever after. It’s your choice though, of course.”

Cinderella told the prince she didn’t want to be objectified by a man, and refused point-blank. She carried on being treated like a source of free labour by her morally challenged step-sisters and died in a home for the mentally impaired.

LUFET ni INDAY .. a funny email

2007-09-13T09:12:00.001+08:00

" LOVE- a wildly misunderstood although highly desirable malfunction of the heart that weakens the brain, causes the eyes to sparkle, cheeks to glow, blood pressure to rise & lips to pucker "

- inday, gumagawa ng blog nya sa friendster

---------------------

P500 - Globe plan subscription
P1800 - Glutathione tablet
P600 - olay total effects
P1500 - crocs flip flops
P2000 - for mama "

- binabudget ni inday ang sweldo nya!

--------------------

Amo: Inday anong gamit mo sa katawan, ang kinis mo kc e? cguro gumagamit ka ng papaya...
O baka nman kalamansi?

Inday: NO! ONLY BELO TOUCHES MY SKIN..... WHO TOUCHES YOURS?

Lufeeeet ni Inday!

---------------------

Amo: "Inday, ba't nagkalat ang basura sa likod ng bahay?"

Inday: "a change in the weather pattern might have occurred wrecking havoc to the surroundings.the way the debris are scattered indicates that the gust of wind was going northeast causing damage to the path it was heading for."

Amo: -- nag nose bleed! --

----------------------

" higher stock index and the low flow of investment triggered the inflation of prices, thus, the purchasing power of peso is weak.."

- explanation ni inday nung tinanong ng amo kung bakit yun lang ang sukli niya sa pinamili

----------------------

" Mush as i want to indulge in the proliferation of such indecent & malicious information, i want to lift the stigma & alleviate society's perception of our profession.."

- inday, tumangging makipagtsismisan sa katulong sa kabilang bahay

----------------------

" it's absurd! it was never a fact that he will inflict a fight. I can only imagine how you handle schizophrenic kids on this educational institution. Revise your policies because it sucks!

- inday kasama c junior sa principal's office............tulala ang principal!

----------------------

"Stop your raucous behavior. It is bound to result in property damages and if that happens there will be coresponding punishment to be inflicted upon you!"

- si inday pinagbawalan c junior na wag malikot......TUTYAL!

----------------------

"I stay awake in the coldness of the darkened sky contemplating why, for some reasons, has my emptiness made itself manifests, extending to that niche where I was given life and growth, that because of austerity I was made separated from..."

- Inday... hindi makatulog dahil nahohomesick

----------------------

"I am solitary. I find it hard to succumb into slumber, though the downpour of rain should've made it easy. This exuberant emotional glue I have for you, cannot be simply washed way. The multiplicity of what I feel for you is inevitable. This isn't platonic. It's real, true romance."

- Inday, nageemote sa may bintana, habang iniisip si Dodong, ang boyfriend niya

---------------------

"The statute restricts me to love you but you have the provocation. The way you smile is the proximate cause why I love you. We have some rules to think of. We have no vested rights to love each other because the upper household dismissed my petition!"

- ganito nakipagbreak si Inday kay Dodong (driver ng kapitbahay)

---------------------

Amo: Inday bumili ka nga ng mga isda.. o nga pla inglesira ka... would you please purchase many fishes for our this week's meals?

Inday: Judging from your statement I believe you meant a variety of fish. The term "fishes", although rarely and even erroneously used, connotes a plethora or an array of different kinds of the aforementioned gilled creatures. But the more pressing questions before I traveresed the road to the wet market would be: What certain type of fish? Fillet or not? Frozen or just right smack the day's catch? (Pauses) Aaah... by manner of careful extrapolation, given the meager budget in this houshold's quasi-peasant middle class taste, I assume then I will source the staple "galewng-gowng". Am I correct?

Amo: Leche!

Inday: You meant the freshwater milkfish? Then the "ba-ngooz" is it!

---------------------

"La vida no es una broma actualmente. El dinero es tan duro de pasar. Puede usted bajar el precio parci mi? Soy ya su compradora avido diario por favor?

- si Inday tumatawad sa merkado ng isinama siya ng amo sa España

---------------------

*Drunken shrimp and blue lobster meat with caviar serve with milagrosa rice (red variety) and apricot sauce
*Vegetables in balsamic vinegar splashed with extra virgin olive olive

*Lychee and peach salad with sour cream cheese topped with lemon zests

- baon ni Junior sa daycare na inihanda ni Inday

---------------------

"Bloody hell!!! What the f*ck did just landed on my cutie top? I mean I've spent all day just to make myself look fabulous. I think I'll have this eewy thing removed in a whip wham of time!"

- reaction ni Inday nung natalsikan sya ng mantika habang nagluluto ng tilapia

---------------------

"Ipomea aquatica has become the constant ingredient to this Filipino delicacy which is very helpful in the digestion during the peristaltic process of the food we intake. Due to the continuous rains and floods, the harvest of the said vegetable has lessen the production in the market."

- banat ni Inday kung bakit walang "kangkong" sa nilutong sinigang

----------------------

"Heavy fire that exerted by the stimulus affect the best conductor of heat which is the steel, causing the "oriza sativa" which is the scientific name of rice to change its state of color, smell as well as the taste."

- sagot ni Inday nang tanungin siya ng amo kung bakit nasunog ang sinaing

----------------------

"Off you go! Under no circumstance this house would relent to such unabashed display of vagrant destitution!"

- si Inday, pinapaalis ang makulit na pulubi sa gate... (Taray talaga ni Inday!)

----------------------

"Allergens triggered the immune response. Eosinophilic migration occurs to the reaction site and release of chemotactic and anaphylotoxin including histamine and ostaglandins. These substance results to increase circulation to the site promoting redness."

- sagot ni inday nun tanungin ni sir kung bakit may rashes si Junior

----------------------

Amo: Day! Bakit may bukol si Junior?!

Inday: Compromising safety with useless aesthetics, the not-so-well engineered architectural design of our kitchen lavatory affected the boy's cranium with a slight boil at the left temple near the auditory organ.

Amo: (Di nakareact)

----------------------

"Dear Mom,

Had it not been for the smelling salt, I must have collapsed moment ago. Junior has become a little monster to me. Remember the head accident he had? As if it wasn't enough, he was summoned by the principal of his shabily run academe. Oh such an erudite bunch of baboons! I never lot being a governess can be such a strenuous employ.

Your daughter,

Inday"

-----------------------

"Dear Inday,

Walanghiya ka! Magpadala ka ng pera! Nasa ospital nanay mo, dumugo ang ilong kababasa ng pesteng sulat mo!

Tatay"

-----------------------

Amo: Bakit tuwing pag-uwi ko, nadadatnan kitang nanunuod ng TV??!!!

Inday: Because I don't want you to see me doing absolutely nothing!

-----------------------

Amo: Inday di ba nanood ka ng The Buzz kahapon? Bkit daw umalis si Angel Locsin sa GMA7?

Inday: Sometimes people choose to leave not because of selfish reasons but because they just know that things will get worse if they'll stay. Leaving can be a tough act and it's harder when people can't understand you for doing so.

-----------------------

"Physical stress and excessive work may result to serious damage to one's body. It is therefore essential that once in a while we take a break from our usual routine to replenish the lost energy we once had."

- sabi ni Inday sa amo noong humingi siya ng dayoff

-----------------------

Misis: Inday, bakit mo binenta yung sirang silya?

Inday: I have computed the chair's fair value less cost to sell, and the value in use using projections for 5 years and a pre-tax discount rate. Accordingly, the value in use is lower, so I decided to sell the chair. This in accordance with PAS18 on Revenue, PAS16 on Property, Plant, and Equipment, and PAS36 on Impairment of Assets!

Misis: ADIK ka talaga Inday!

_____________

" BAKIT LAHAT N LANG NG CINASABI KO E PINAGKAKALAT NYO?... ANO PALAGAY NYO SA AKIN.... ARTESTA?!?!

- INDAY

- - lagot kayo... Nagreklamo na c Inday...Kulit nyo kc eh! hehehe

_______________

" Im not ######ly good looking but have a sense of humor. Im not breathtakingly intelligent but im relatively witty. Im not insanely rich but im fairly kind. Im just a simple guy with a crazy elusive ambition of meeting your acquaintance....so.....HI!"

- DODONG, nakikipag textmate kay inday

Too Smart for Your Own Good?

2007-08-27T09:53:00.000+08:00

A "must-not" read article ... Malu Fernandez

2007-08-16T15:06:00.000+08:00

This article simply oozes with the proverbial attitude of social climbers in the virgin achipelago of the Philippines... (kung baga, yung mga pa-conyo conyo na feeling na nakatapak na sa ulap and that they're a completely a new breed of Filipinos.)

and one of the best feedbacks I've got for this article ...

Updates from T.V. patrol

Rachelle's Buko Pandan

2007-07-26T13:56:00.000+08:00

Here's the recipe for Rachelle's Buko Pandan Dessert

Ingredients
2 boxes Alsa Gulaman (green)
Green Kaong
Green Nata De Coco,
6 pcs buko
Cream
Condensed milk
Pandan leaves

1. Boil the pandan leaves in 3 1/2 cups water till water turns a greenish
2. Remove leaves and also gulaman
3. When the gulaman has dissolved, place in a tray or mold
4. Slice and dice the jelly after when it's "hard" enough
5. Drain the Kaong and Nata de Coco
6. Mix all the ingredients
7. Place the condensed milk last, put as much as you want depending on how sweet you want it.

Beautiful in my eyes

2007-07-16T11:10:00.000+08:00

One of my all-time favorite songs :) :) :)

Beautiful In My Eyes
Artist(Band):Joshua Kadison

You're my peace of mind in this crazy world.
You're everything I've tried to find, your love is a pearl.
You're my Mona Lisa, you're my rainbow skies,
and my only prayer is that you realize
you'll always be beautiful in my eyes.

The world will turn and the seasons will change,
and all the lessons we will learn will be beautiful and strange.
We'll have our fill of tears, our share of sighs.
My only prayer is that you realize
you'll always be beautiful in my eyes.

You will always be beautiful in my eyes.
And the passing years will show
that you will always grow ever more beautiful in my eyes.

When there are lines upon my face from a lifetime of smiles,
and when the time comes to embrace for one long last while,
we can laugh about how time really flies.
We won't say goodbye 'cause true love never dies.
You'll always be beautiful in my eyes.

You will always be beautiful in my eyes.
And the passing years will show
that you will always grow ever more beautiful in my eyes.
The passing years will show that you will always grow
ever more beautiful in my eyes.

Tennis Addicts Anonymous

2007-07-13T13:53:00.000+08:00

I was laughing at these emails when I read it again

TENNIS ADDICTS ANONYMOUS

Session on Sunday as usual

Members of Tennis Addict Anonymous can breath an enormous sigh of relief: the Pinoy Party has been rescheduled for the evening of Friday, 08 August, instead of Sunday, 10 August. TAA members therefore no longer have to make the agonizing decision on whether or not to forego their weekly dose of tennis in order to attend the party.

In connection with this, Court 6 at the NUS Sports Recreation Centre has been reserved for Sunday, 10 August from 5pm to 7pm for the exclusive use of TAA members.

TAA members who plan to come to this Sunday's session are requested to confirm their attendance and time of arrival preferably by 12 nn on Friday, 08 August, so that additional courts can be booked if necessary.

Highlights of last week's session

For an account of last week's session, TAA members can just to refer to "We Play Tennis" in the last issue of the TAA newsletter beginning with the paragraph that reads:
"Look, Joanne! Look, Margie!" said Ed. "It's Enteng!"

TENNIS ADDICTS ANONYMOUS

Sessions for this coming Sunday

The following tennis courts have been booked for the exclusive use of TAA members for this coming Sunday, 27 July:

-------------------------
TIME COURT #
-------------------------
5pm - 6pm 8 and 10
6pm - 7pm 10 and 11

We Play Tennis
Highlights of last Sunday's session.

Joanne and Margie are going to play tennis.

See Joanne and Margie get their tennis racquets.
See Joanne and Margie get their tennis balls.
They get their tennis racquets and balls to play tennis.

See Joanne and Margie ride the bus.
They ride the bus to the tennis courts.
They go to the tennis courts to play tennis.

"Oh!" said Joanne.
"My cellphone is ringing.
Oh, it's Ed!
Ed is back from Bintan.
Ed came back early to play tennis!"

"Hello, Ed," said Joanne,
We are at the wall.
We are practicing our tennis at the wall."

See Ed come walking.

"Hello, Joanne. Hello, Margie," said Ed.
"Let us go to court 8.
Court 8 is empty.
There are no people playing at court 8."

"Yes!" said Joanne and Margie.
"Let us go to court 8.
Let us play tennis at court 8."

Joanne and Margie get their rackets.
They get their tennis balls.
Ed helps them carry their rackets.
Ed helps them carry the tennis balls.

"We can play doubles," said Ed.
"You can both play together.
You can both play against me."

Joanne, Margie and Ed play tennis.
See them play tennis at court 8.

"Oh! Oh! Oh!" said Ed.
"I don’t like this.
I don't like to run."

"Oh oh, Ed!" said Joanne and Margie.
"We can't help it.
We like to make you run."

See poor Ed. See poor Ed run.
Run, Ed, run!

See Joanne, Margie and Ed play tennis.
See them play tennis for a long time.
See them play tennis for a long long time.

"Look, Joanne! Look, Margie!" said Ed.
"It's Enteng!"

"Hello, Enteng!" said Ed.
"Come and play.
Come and play tennis with us."

"We can play doubles," said Ed,
"Joanne and I stay on one side.
You and Margie stay on the other side."

See Joanne, Margie, Ed and Enteng.
See Joanne, Margie, Ed and Enteng play tennis.

See Enteng. See Enteng run.
Run, Enteng, run!

> Date: Mon, 14 Jul 2003 09:28:49 -0700 (PDT)
> From: "ma.cristina morales"
> Subject: TAA Updates

Veteran sportwriter MCSP had been under the weather last Sunday, prompting neophyte MCFM to give an account of that fateful day.

JCY brandishes his new Prince racket

JCY, it seems had been caught by the TAA purchasing bug too. Not to be outdone, he displayed his new acquisition last Sunday. He now joins MCSP, ERST and JNU as Prince endorsers (TAA can now claim stockholder status at Prince Inc. ). Kindly await the specifications of his racket in next week's news bulletin by MCSP, as this writer is still highly ignorant in tennis jargon. From what could gather though, his racket was heavier compared to the other Prince rackets on court.

Highlight of the day: ERST aka "Coach" gives a stunning performance

If JNU was the star player of the previous session, this time around it was ERST's day of glory. He astounded the rest of the crowd (JNU, JCY, MCFM and saling-pusa EK) with his backhand slice, giving the ball a spin that caused JNU to do a "tango" and thus lose the point. ERST was in tiptop shape, and was nary even threatened by EK's aggressive tennis style. Indeed, ERST's winning form was his best asset. We all can learn from ERST's passion for tennis, as he confessed to have been practicing on court as early as 3:30 pm.

Volleyball-style

Former volleyball ace player JCY proved that he can serve from the baseline - volleyball style. In true volleyball spike fashion, he managed to smash the ball in midair causing it to plummet acutely, almost an inch over the net - a shot which even the great ERST could not even save. However, according to Coach ERST, this style of service is in violation of the laws of tennis since JCY jumped. According to tennis dogma, one foot should remain on the ground during a service.

JNU and MCFM's progress report

Coach ERST was overheard to have said that JNU's game has dramatically improved. This is because she now is able to run after the ball, even doing an MCPA ( i.e. running after the ball intended for JCY during a doubles match). Coach reiterated that JNU caused EK to be pressured during a 2 - 1 game: ERST and JNU vs EK. It seems like JNU will give ERST a run for his money with her unrelenting progress.

MCFM, on the other hand was so elated that her serves were finally able to get over the net - after 3 tennis sessions. She had finally caught the tennis bug. As of presstime, she is still resisting the temptation to join the purchasing spree, awaiting more consistent playing results in the matches to come.

The absence of the indefatiguable MCPA, the ever-graceful HBI and the knowlegeable and skillful MCSP and the brothers' Kasparov ( Geoffrey and Humpfrey) were sorely missed.

For more information regarding time and place of the next TAA session, kindly refer to future e-mail messages.

TENNIS ADDICTS ANONYMOUS

New Racquet Unveiled

A newly purchased tennis racquet was unveiled during the opening minutes of last Sunday's tennis session by JNU, one of the first few to be admitted to the Tennis Addicts Association (TAA).

The latest result of the recent spate of tennis-related sports gear and footwear purchases by TAA members, the new racquet is a Prince Triple Threat Attitude, claimed by testers to be the best tennis racquet produced by Prince in 2001. Full stop. An update of the Triple Threat Stealth, the Triple Threat Attitude features a special weighting system that makes it amazingly stable at off-center hits.

The resulting perfect blend of power and control was readily apparent when its proud owner promptly demonstrated the new racquet's capabilities by demolishing her opponents with her powerful forehand and accurate backhand.

That extraordinary performance has been widely recognized as an indication that the racquet will henceforth be a triple threat to anyone else's tennis game--and, in certain cases, to someone's forehead--and is expected to inspire other envious TAA members to keep the buying spree spirit alive.

> Subject: TAA/KC updates
> Date: Thu, 17 Jul 2003 12:49:10 +0800
> From: "Paterno Margarita Carmen Seminiano"

TENNIS ADDICTS ANONYMOUS

Sessions for this coming Sunday

The publishing staff regrets that it has been unable to come up with a worthy follow-up to the entertaining and skillfully written series of articles penned by so-called "neophyte" writer MCFM (rumor has it that she used to write for the New York Times using a pseudonym!) other than the following itty-bitty announcement.

The following tennis courts have been booked for the exclusive use of TAA members for this coming Sunday, 20 July:

----------------------
TIME COURT #
----------------------
5pm to 6pm 7 and 14
6pm to 7pm 6 and 7

KONYO CLUB

Konyo Slump?

It has been nearly a month since the Konyo Club's primary and, so far, sole suppliers of konyo quotes, MCPA and ERST, have produced full-fledged konyo quotes--resulting in among other things a scarcity in writing material for this writer. According to ever-reliable konyo quote detective JNU and her trusty assistants, MCFM and MCSP, they have sadly failed to identify any utterance that they can declare to be a worthy successor to the highly-acclaimed konyo quote "make hubad upstairs". Nor have they come up an explanation for this sudden dry spell.

Could this plummeting production of konyo quotes drive the KC to bankruptcy and to eventually close shop? One shudders at the thought and hopes that either MCPA or ERST will take pity on the KC and begin churning out konyo quotes once more.

Just in case both decide to turn a deaf ear to the pleadings of konyo quote fans, KC members can still take heart for there is a light at the end of the tunnel. ERST has once mentioned that he may be sent sometime this year by his company to the United States to attend to business matters. After all, many have speculated that his constant exposure to the King's language during his six-month stint at the Golden State last year has led him to author at least four konyo quotes during a relatively short span of time in the past. Perhaps during this year's sojourn ERST may find the time to undergo a refresher course on konyo quote production and return afterwards ready to breath life into the presently lamentable state of the KC.

More interesting still is the fact that both MCPA and ERST were overheard brainstorming about taking Spanish lessons. If things proceed according to plan, konyo quote fans can just as well look forward to being enthralled by konyo quotes with an exotic Castilian or Latin American flavor. Ole!

HTML Attachment [ Scan and Save to Computer ]

TENNIS ADDICTS ANONYMOUS NEWS UPDATES

The Tennis Addicts Anonymous (TAA) will be holding its next mini tennis tournament this coming Sunday, 29 June 2003, at the NUS Sports Recreation Centre.

As of press time, it was known that tennis court number 8 has been booked from 6pm to 7pm for the exclusive use of TAA members for the said event. However, warm-ups for the tournament will start as early as 4pm and will be held tentatively at "the wall".

Tennis coach and mentor ERST will be available during the tournament to give TAA members tips on how to play better tennis.

The tournament will be followed as usual by dinner; venue to be announced later.

___________________________________

KONYO CLUB NEWS UPDATES

All new konyo quotes were recently detected at a birthday bash held at Normanton Park for Konyo Club (KC) member JCSY last Sunday, 22 June 2003.

KC chairman, ERST, who is known to have produced four memorable konyo quotes so far, was heard to say, "…let's wait na lang a while…" by ever-reliable konyo quote detective, JNU. Unfortunately, JNU's supersensitive konyo quote radar alarm went off prematurely so that the rest of what otherwise would have been a promising konyo quote was drowned out by the hullaballoo over the exciting discovery.

Meanwhile, an unmistakably Singaporean hybrid of the konyo quote was heard that same evening from innovative KC founder, MCPA. He was said to have suggested to "make hubad upstairs" in reference to preparing a barbecued food item for consumption. Simply amazing.

Common Sense for Managers

2007-07-12T16:31:00.000+08:00

I got this from Today's Newspaper (July 9, 2007 Monday). It's common sense but I wonder why a lot of the managers seem to have difficulty understanding such a simple concept. Has the world gone topsiturvy?!!!

07.07.07

2007-07-08T22:51:00.000+08:00

(Picture from Today's Newspaper - July 9, 2007)
I am not sure what's with the fascination for "repeating numbers" and history that it seems like "big events" are supposed to coincide with this auspicous dates. This year, there's the July 7, 2007 (07.07.07). Such an interesting number ... and two big things happening on that day ... the LIVE EARTH concert held around the world (24 hours) and the new 7 wonders of the world. Yupppppp.. you heard me alright, they just release the new 7 wonders of the world, but a lot of people were criticizing the method that they chose the 7 wonders as it was through polling, rather than some more constructive judging that was supposedly done. Oh well, I think the publicity stints are more important than anything else.

Check out the new 7 wonders of the world at this site
http://www.new7wonders.com/
or just check the pix above.
The new wonders of the world .. and I have only been to one, the Colloseum. I've always thought that the leaning tower was one of them. Oh well!

Personally, I think that the other sites nominated were better than some of these 7 like Cambodia's Angkor Wat which I think really deserves a spot. But anyway, it's polling and thus people have their own biases for voting which :)

If I were to decide, I will choose the following (in random order)
1. Pyramids of Giza
2. Acropolis
3. Alhambra (I've been wanting to go there)
4. Angkor Wat
5. Chichen Itza
6. Great Wall of china
7. Stonehenge

and the 8th wonder: Banaue Rice Terraces hehehehehe
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Banaue_Rice_Terraces

and the 9th and 10th wonders .. ONLY FOUND in SINGAPORE .. In QIMONDA ... It is a wonder that there actually exist in the world that as st*pid and as *ssholic as these two.

(for "consideration" reasons, I'll remain tact and not expose their faces ^_^)

Oh.. and by the way.. 07.07.07 -- the day I took the IELTS exam! I really didn't plan that, I just realized it after my registration eheheheh.. I hope I have good results as good as the date is :)

The World of Mor*ns

2007-07-04T10:00:00.000+08:00

It's been a few days that I've been quite "early" in the office and I am starting to regret it as I should have stick with my usual schedule. As early as 9 AM, my Northern American counterpart called me to discuss what have transpired during the meeting that they had earlier that day regarding one of the systems that I handle... and he just started spoiling my day...

Again, it started off quite well, discussing about what had happened, but when he started discussing about next steps, he just talked incessantly what we've been discussing for ages. He again asked about lot tracking (which I've been explaining for ages) and then discussed that we should focus on the timing issue of the extraction and etc (which "I" suggested and now, it has become his suggestion).

Anyway, it's already 10.27 AM (more than 1 hour now) and I'm still talking and listening to nonsensical discussions. What I just hate about it is that he repeats again and again.. and spends a loooooot of time TALKING about it" and then asks the same questions again and again.. so just beating around the bush ... basically it is just a waste of time.

For me.. very simple, go straight to the POINT and not dilly dally. I don't wish to waste time talking to people that I don't wanna talk to.... GRrrrrr..
(We already have two of this kind of people in Asia-Pac. Now, it just gotten worse... there's a global epidemic of mor*ons)

Oh well.. what can I do... "real" normal people are a rare specie as this is a world for MOR*NS!!!!

A matter of discpline

2007-07-03T14:48:00.001+08:00

A lot of people have been saying that you can achieve whatever you want ... it's just a matter of discipline. I've always thought that it's all BS. For many cases in real life, it really all depends on luck and how much you are good at "a**kissing." You might have the skills and you can play the part, but it all boils down to the right connections at the right time and the right place. It's a reality that I've faced for so looooong and it can be a bit disappointing (realizing that life is unfair heeheh).

But then again, we can never generalize. Luck and "a**kissing" may in some way be a factor, but I just realize recently, that it can really be a matter of discipline. If we work hard and strive for something, I'm pretty sure that in the LONG RUN, you will get what you want, achieve what you've dreamed.

Just take my colleague for example. People said it's IMPOSSIBLE to lose a lot of pounds in 1 year. But she proved them ALL WRONG. She has lost 48 Kgs in a span of 1 year... and how? It's a Matter of discipline (actually a matter of vanity hahahaah).

Anyway, just looking at this pix just help me to realize and remind me day in day out that I have to continue to persist in what I love and aim to do cuz "Every cloud has a silver lining" :)

Proud to be a Dabaweno!

2007-06-29T15:03:00.000+08:00

I was just looking at Jen's Wedding Pictures. It was really well-shot, with great angles. and I'm Proud to say that the photographer is no other than a dabaweno. Heheheeh!!

And guess who? ......

drum rolls please...

Lito Sy!!!!!!

When Jen told me that her photographer was Lito Sy. I was like "errrr.. sounds like I know this guy" and when Jen confirmed that HE IS A DABAWENO, I instantly remembered that he used to take our class pictures. Those were the days in Stella Maris. I remember when we were still little and he was like talking to the nuns in our school, preparing the class for the class picture. He was already famous then (I think) .. but I didn't know that he will be this famous ... Apparently, he has won a lot of International Awards.

Proud to be a DABAWENO

Check out his pix at www.litosy.com

Naruto Addict

2007-06-18T17:38:00.000+08:00

I should blame Len for introducing me to Naruto. Now, I'm sooooo addicted to it. I just slept 8 am yesterday (Sunday) watching Naruto. I prolly finished 20 that night. And after sleeping for about 3 hours, I woke up and continued watching Naruto. Grabeeee.. Addicted.

What I like about the Anime? Well, it's funny with a tad of seriousness. It talks about this boy who dreams to become the HOKAGE (the greatest ninja of the Konoha Village).

He's outcasted by the people in Konoha because of the cursed seal. He may not be smart, but his perseverance is something that can be admired of... I guess it's simplicity is the winning characteristic of this anime. A simple boy but with a Big Dream :)

Another page turned ...

2007-06-17T02:38:00.000+08:00

(Picture: The Three Bday Celebrants at Diane's Place, June 16, 2007)
Happy Bday to Me.. Happy Bday to Me ... heheehehe
Thanks to Diane, Maries, PJ, Matt, and Jen.
And Happy Bday as well to the other June Celebrants, Fred and Eva.

It's THE time of the year again. I'm one year older than I was yesterday. I guess on the bright side, I have grown a lot for the past few years. My experiences might not have been what you call great, nor was it the one that I was expecting. It is indeed a humbling experience ... the reality of life.

Anyway, just wishing that this year will be a better year (finally see the light at the end of the tunnel) ... I know that I'll get "there," I just need to strive and work harder for it ^_^

Funny Game Show

2007-06-15T14:51:00.000+08:00

Instead of putting emphasis on "titillating" the masses to watch their game shows, I really think that Philippine Game shows should focus more on making creative programmes just like this ...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0bK63uSTTNs

Busog ...

2007-06-14T13:45:00.000+08:00

Wala lang... happy lang ako 'cuz I had a good lunch. FYI, I'm a simple person and it's very easy to please me. Just good food and great company, ayus na ako.

And in terms of food, even it's just a simple dish, basta PINOY FOOD, ok na ok. I rarely get to eat a decent Filipino meal kasi dito.

Anyway, we just had Lechon kawali, Ginataang Tulingan, and Bicol Express (errrrr.. it looked more like pinakbet than Bicol Express) but overall, it's a good one :)

Sana everyweek... makakain man lang ng decent Filipino meal heheheheh

---
Visit www.kusinadepinoy.com. They have Sunday Buffets for only S$9.90 Heheheheh

Insomnia & Photo Editing (?!)

2007-06-12T01:01:00.001+08:00

It's already 1 AM in the morning and I'm still wide-awake. I really really really think I have insomniac tendencies. I dunno why some people just easily fall asleep after a few seconds just lying on a bed ... or some people can even sleep standing in a very crowded bus. But ME, it takes hours and hours before SLEEP visits me.

Anyway, We can always make something good out of something bad. So I decided that I should tire myself out by doing something productive ... photo editing.

I tried checking again one of my fave shots which I took in Munich. What do you think of the picture? I kinda like the angle, the statue, basically how it was shot. That was my first time using my DSLR (and I am still struggling how to use it even now hahaha)...

Anyway, that's it for now.. I better try to sleep again

"The" Quotable Quotes

2007-06-11T13:41:00.001+08:00

We were just talking about the hilarious antics of one of our good friends in the company (Let's call her Mdm Antics). As Judeah would describe her, "she's a natural comedian."

Anyway, I've decided to start blogging her quotable quotes for posterity reasons .. hahahaha ^_^

"Ay, andito pala yung ball" (pointing to DHL hot air balloon along Bugis Area)

They were talking about docking ships when she spouted "Saan ba dumapo [yung barko]?" (I would have to assume that ships pretty look much like the mosquitoes .. Dadapo na lang kung kahit saan)

June 9, 2007
"Saan ka ba nagmula?" (innocently asking Juday's new flatmate.. prolly asking where She's from. This just sounds so "Balagtasan")

"Kelan ba bibiyakin yan?" (referring to Karen's Pregrancy Due Date. I might have to think that in their province, giving birth is very similar to cutting a watermelon half...hehehe)

June 13, 2007
I was a bit worried that I won't have any quotes for this week as our fave friend wasn't around for the past two days. Fortunately, she unknowingly compensates by giving us a few more hilarious antics during lunch time

Hear Yah! Hear Yah! Word of the Day "Chic-Let" - formed from two words "CHICken cutLET". I'm totally dumbfounded.

"Hindi yan Grapes, Grape lang kasi isa lang yan." (trying to correct Josephine who was asking me if what she's eating were dates. Dates equal Grapes?!)

Anyway, Juday, her protege, followed thru with the antics when she said "Oo may singular ang grapes, kaya nga GRAPEfruit" (Not sure if she can actually differentiate grapefruits from grapes)

June 14, 2007
I wanted to show some sympathic gestures earlier during lunch when something got stuck in her throat, but again, I think no one can refrain himself from laughing when the situation is realllllly funny...

"Natinik yata ako... feeling ko natinik ako sa Lechon kawali" (I am not sure but normally natitinik ka lang sa tinik ng isda. As for Lechon Kawali, mebbe may tinik na NGA mga baboy ngayon heheheheh)

Anecdote of the day:
Natinik na nga si Mdm Antics (prolly due to Lechon Kawali raw). Normally, if you have those fish bones stuck in your throat, you swallow a big chunk of rice, compressed or squeezed to form some sort of rice ball, to push it down. Pero ayaw na kumain ng kanin ni Mdm Antics and fortunately the lady in Kusina de Pinoy was really nice and gave her bread (instead of rice). Aba eh, instead of compressing the bread and swallowing it .. NGINUNGUYA pa, and she commented, "Parang ayaw pa rin." We told her again not to chew the bread but just swallow it. Astonishingly, she innocently responded "Baka naman mabulunan ako." The lady in the restaurent just laughed and commented "Sabi na ngang wag nguyain eh. Kung ayaw mo makinig, bahala ka. Hahaha." (I guess that's what we luuuuuuv about Mdm Antics, comically naive in her own little ways)

June 26, 2007:
After a long hiatus from the last madam antics' hilarious antics, there were only minor comical quotes that transpired like the "ikaw ba ang hini-hudyatan ni jek", "i-googleS mo nga", and "Apple, instead of applet, java applet". Fortunately, today, here she goes again.

We were just discussing about colors 'cuz coincidentally, we were sitted next to the person wearing the same shade of color, those wearing purple, wearing blue, and wearing orange and then we were just talking about school colors: UP for Maroon, Ateneo for Blue, and DLSU for Green, when I mentioned that if you want to be specific, it is actually CELTIC green for La Salle.

Mdm Antics, offered to clarify, "anu, Septic Green? Meron ba Nun?" I didn't know that we can actually associate "septic" to colors, I wonder how septic green looks like? err.. like the moldy dirty green, I suppose? heheheeheh

Still not satisfied, Mdm Antics trying to outdo the DLSU color said.. if you are "septic Green", then we are either Golden Yellow or blinking RED. (I'm totally Speechless hahah)

July 4, 2007:
Mdm Antics was very cautious the whole day, 'less I'll be taking note of her antics and publish it in the blog. Fortunately, may pahabol, I was in the same bus with her and Sheryl to Toa Payoh. She was asking sheryl what she was bringing and Sheryl replied "pang Hockey." She said "hah? Pang - AKIT." (Ok, di lang pala comical si Mdm Antics but hard of hearing also hehehehe).

July 5, 2007
Seems like Judeah is really learning a lot from Mdm Antics, that's why we can prolly start calling her Miss Antics. I was asking her over lunch as to how was yesterday's interview and she laconically replied "ok naman." I said "errr.. why don't you elaborate." She again timidly replied "yung nga ok lang." Errr.. Normally when asked to elaborate, you expand on what you just said, not repeat what you said and just add 2 or 3 words more.

Anyway, Mdm Antics di siempre nagpapatalo..
she was messaging me a while ago. She said "UPians pala si Christine, so paano na kami MAPU-ians na" (OK.. no comment hehehe)

Then over lunch, Miss Antics was checking out my pants when I mentioned "Zara po yan." Mdm Antics then said "ano ano.. Zarah Geronimo" hehehehe.. jologs talaga hahhaha (nagsalit naman ako na jologs din hehe)

We took the same shuttle back home, this was the gist of the conversation
Mdm Antics: "Sasama ba kayo sa WHEEL-JOG?" (It's actually Wheel, Walk, and Jog, a charity event with our company as a main sponsor. Mdm Antics has just a certain fondness on creatively shortening words or phrases)
Sheryl: Hindi, Wheel, Walk, and Jog nga
Mdm Antics: Saan ka ba ngayon?
Sheryl: Mag jo-jog
Mdm Antics: Saan ka jog?
Sheryl: nag jo jog ako sa East Coast
Mdm Antics: Saa-aaan sa DISCO? (OK, I never realized you can jog in a disco.. I guess jogging or running is one form of dancing, like the "running man" move hehe)
Sheryl: sa East Cost noh, anong disco
Mdm Antics: Ahhhh... so ano Costume mo? (we just laughed it off realizing that she might no know the difference between a costume or an attire.. but I guess Mdm Antics is just being her cute self hehehe)

(Mdm Antics can definitely hold a conversation extremely well hehehe)

July 10,2007:
After the unravelling of the new member of the Antics family: Miss Antics. Today, we got the opportunity to meet another family member: "Nanay Antics." She told Mdm Antics "Bilhan mo naman ako ng Ban Mian (a type of noodle). Gusto ko yung Liquid." (As far as I know it can only be with soup or dry.. or maybe it can also be liquid or solid hehehe. Btw, Mdm antics requested this to be placed in the blog.)

July 11, 2007:
We all know that there are 7107 Islands in the Philippines. Mdm Antics was just mentioning, why don't we just go to the 7101 Filipino Restaurant. Sheryl smilingly told her "7107, kaya nga 7107 Islands ng Philippines eh." Mdm Antics still unsure "Bakit 7107 ba?" Errr OK. I wonder how your Geography teacher will respond to this. hehehehe High Tide or Low Tide?

July 13, 2007:
Let's give Mdm Antics a break and give her an opportunity to shine. Here's a poem written by, no other than the ultra famous Mdm Antics

PETRA’S MORNING HABIT
Ala siete na ng umaga
Sumikat na ang sun
Tumunog na ang alarm clock
Dumilat na si Petra
Bumangon na sa kama
At nagstretching muna
Kinuha ang tuwalya
At nagpahid ng muta

Pumasok sa banyo
Ang inaantok pang si Petra
Umupo sa inidoro
At nagconcentrate muna
Isa, dalawa, tatlo
Plok! Jebs ay lumabas na
Sakit ng tiyan, biglang nawala
“Feel so good” ang sambit nya.

Lumabas ng bathroom,
In-on ang heater
Kinuha ang shampoo,
Pati na ang conditioner
Pumasok ulet,
Sabon nman ang bitbit
Binuksan ang shower,
The water is mainit
Kuskos on the left
Hilod on the right
Scrub on the front
Rub the other side.

After 15 minutes,
She finally made it
Went out from the toilet
Go straight in the closet
“Mini-mini my nemo”?
Which of these ang pipiliin ko?
She chooses the jeans
With blouse na katerno
Kinuha ang plantsa
Sinetup ang kabayo

Umariba si petra
Sa pamamalantsa
She turns on the radio,
Hala gumiling na
Sinabayan ng kanta,
Aba’y nagwala na.
Napagod si Petra
Sya ay nagpahinga
Sinuot na ang damit
Kahit na mainit
Hanep sa outfit,
Japorms ay malupit
With matching palawit
Sa mga ears nakasabit

Tumingin sa salamin
Di inalis ang paningin
She puts on the make-up
And tie her hair up
Lumabas ng kwarto
Sa kusina dumeretso
Nagtimpla ng milo
Ang ka pair ay cream –o
Solve na ang agahan
Ready na lumisan

Before pala humayo
Pumasok sya ng banyo
Ngipi’y sinipilyo
Mukhay pinulbo
Nag-apply ng lipstick
Blush on sa cheeks
Naglagay ng “leave-on”
Kilikili’y ni roll-on
Nagspray ng pabango
She’s already on the go.

Oops, teka muna
Nakalimutan ni Petra
May badminton pala
Na sked mamaya
Kinuha ang raketa
Isinama sa dala
Chineck ang flat
Kung okei ang lahat
Kinuha na ang things
She’s ready on leaving.

Isinara ang pinto
Ini lock ng husto
Dinoble check ang door
Just to make it sure
Lumapit sa elevator
And pressed the ground floor
Lumakad palabas
To wait for the bus
Alas ostso na pala
Napabuntung hininga sya
Isang oras na nman
Ang nakalipas na

Biglang napapikit
Si Petra’y nagreflect
Tumingin sa langit
At eto ang nasambit:
“Amang nasa langit,
Help me na maging mabait
Don’t be masungit
Sa buong araw na sasapit”
Ito ang aking dalangin,amen.
After finished praying,
The bus is approaching.

July 19, 2007:
Seems like the "Underwater Hockey" craze has actually spread throughout Infineon that even Ms Antics (who does NOT swim) is very much interested to attend one of the SUHcers (Singapore Underwater Hockey).

Anyway, knowing that Mdm Antics is fond of creating new terminologies by shortening most words (e.g. CHIC-let), she was asking Sheryl, "so ano kayo, mga HOCKERS?"

July 23, 2007
Today, Mdm Antics was giving a shot at cracking a joke

Jek: sige.. mauna na kayo. Punta muna ako Singpost (Singapore Post)
Mdm Antics: ah. sige mag "sing" pose ka, mag "dance" pose naman ako
(I actually heard transpose or transpost, but after some clarifications, I realize that she was trying to crack a joke by saying that she will be doing a Dance Pose)

July 27, 2007
With the emergence of a new character, Ate Antics, in the spellbinding story of Mdm Antics. Today, despite the bad weather, it seems to be sunnier than normal.

We were just talking over lunch about French Fries. Normally, I said, "you have to put it in the saltwater before you fry it." Ate Antics, then naively asked "Ano, pati yung saltwater i-lalagay?" (na-fa-fry ba pati saltwater?! Errr Ok, if you want to get injured while cooking, maybe you can just put a pail of water on a hot scorching pan of oil)

August 3, 2007
I was in Lucky plaza with Miss Antics when she commented that I have a big tummy and said "actually, kasi baka sa buto mo (the rib area), protruding kasi"

I smugly teased "aba, ang galing ah.. pa protrude protruding ka na"
She retorted "akala mo ikaw lang smart. I also read pocketbooks. When I was college" .. then I started laughing... when I was college ha, anu yun ....

August 18, 2007
After some continuous persuasion from my officemates to throw a "housewarming" party, I finally caved and tada ... prepared spaghetti (filipino-style), lumpiang shanghai, veggies (marche style), and chicken & pork adobo. But to my utter disappointment, only a few turned up. Fortunately, we had a special guest of honor that compensated for the "lack" of people in the party. An expat all the way from the northern part of Malaysia who played the role of cousin antics, the Bisayang Malay ^_^

Anyway, after prolly a glass or two of John Hennessy, these were the unforgettable 'slips' of cousin antics

Uy Bernard, inom tayo (talking to "mike" who he started calling Bernard for Bernard Palanca)

John2 was asking him to sing a song, but he shyed away saying "Di ko alam yung song pare, kabisado ko lang"

Jek, bakit yung CR niyo nag bubulol (actually he was trying to say nagbu-blue)

Btw, a special intermission during the party... the singing Antics ... (available soon)

Sept 05, 2007
Well.. we've moved to KHL building and thus, I haven't really talked to Madam Antics but fortunately, I have to attend a training for a week at Kallang and again, get the chance to laugh at Mdm Antics naive comments :)

"Anu raw? Sinu-sunga?" (Not sure what sunga means.. but I was saying sinu-"SUE" nga)
"Ano, minatimis na porkchop? Anu yun?" (When I mentioned that we can prolly have Vietnamese Porkchop for Josephine's Welcome Back Dinner)

October 14, 2007
It's been a looong time since I saw Mdm Antics but we planned a get-together at Karen's place to see Joy before she flies for good to Canada... and we just realize how much we all miss her comedic antics ...

talking about feeding samantha (karen's 4-mth old baby)
Joy: Bottle-fed ba si samantha?
Manol: Oo.. pero breast fed, I mean.. breast milk ginagamit
Madam Antics: Milk galing kay Karen?
Jek: Alangan naman. breast milk nga eh..
Madam Antics: Malay mo galing sa lata! (ooookkkkk.. breast milk galing sa lata.... philippine inventor talaga si antics)

Talking about applying for immigration
Joy: basta download niyo lang yun form?
Mdm Antics: Tapos paano.. i-fifill up mo?
Jek: Alangan naman.. follow instructions then fill up the form

October 18, 2007
After a helpful dinner at Jologs, Lucky Plaza, we were en route and talking about the funny answer of Ms. South Carolina when Mdm Antics commented: Ba't naman nila di manahanp yung US? May pangalan naman yung mga lugar di ba?(errr.... you're definitely not getting the question hahaha)

October 20, 2007
Last Saturday, we just had small celebration for Taira, Rachelle's daugher.
Anyway, we were playing taboo when Ms. Antics (player 1) showed us how to reaaaallllyy play the TABOO.

Player 1: (Looking at the card and thinking how to describe Ladybird)
It's TWO words but ONE
(Spice girls na to!!!!)

Player 1 again: (Trying to describe the word Exchange)
When you go to another country, you have salary, right?! (errr.. Saan diyan yung exchange)

Player 2 and daughter tandem: (Trying to describe Mule)
It's a four-legged animal with hooves
Player 1: Lumilipad ba yan??? (Sige nga, anong four-legged animal with hooves na lumilipad.... My LITTLE PONY ehehehe)

November 27, 2007
Mdm Antics really have a knack for poetry. Just check out one of her emails for the Krissie Bash...

Sent: Tuesday, November 27, 2007 3:37 PM
Subject: RE: Dec. 01 - Xmas Party - Start @ 4Pm

Sa lahat,

Uy gawin nman sana nating masaya tong "Christmas Party" natin.
Onti o madami man ang food, mapa Elsie o jologs ang tsibog,
Potluck or luto ni Arlene, Nakastyro o tray man yan
May exchange gift o wala, alas Dos or Alas Kwatro man yan
Umulan o bumagyo, maaga ka man o mahuli,
Basta PUMUNTA KA! masaya na ang lahat.
Salamat kay DakZ ang tumatayong "MONEY-GER"
ng ating Christmas GET-TOGETHER.
O dakz kaw na bahala sa kulang ha!...he..he

December 01, 2007

December was kicked off with a blast, with the pinoys throwing a bash at Ms. Antics' place. It was a fun-filled party with a lot of games, from taboo, Pinoy Henyo, to Charades. And with the special chapter of the misadventures of Mdm Antics, appearances of new characters perked up the story one notch higher.

Taboo:
Brother Antics (D): An INSECT that jumps? (was describing an amphibious animal.. more commonly known to normal beings as a frog. I've never realized that frogs is of the same specie as a bug or an ant.)

Boy ni Mdm Antics (J): You can find this in the FrEdge? (describing "ice" in Ice kachang)

.... type of water ....
Ms. Antics: anu ba yun tawag nung mineral water? "Evinescence" (prolly reminds her of Evanescence drinking Evian)

March 06, 2008

It's been ages since I've added something to this Mdm Antics Adventure. I've been away for vacation and was just back a couple of weeks back. And since I left the company, nobody has taken the role of "autobiographer-of-some-sort" to detail the everyday life of Mdm Antics. Anyway, I still do keep in touch with Antics and this was how it went (in YM)...

Mdm Antics (3/6/2008 11:44:49 PM): uy balak kong bumili ng camera yung pangphotography..ano mas maganda canon or nikon?
Jek: eto naman sagot ko
Jek (3/6/2008 11:45:24 PM): DSLR or compact lang?
Jek (3/6/2008 11:45:35 PM): kasi lahat naman ng camera pang photography..

I was just wondering if a camera serves another purpose other than for photography.. errrr.. maybe house decor???!!!

There's more to go.. I'll keep this part of the blog alive .. basically, adding the quotes as when she starts spilling them heheheeh

Saigon Impressions ...

2007-06-08T15:14:00.001+08:00

May 30 - June 3, 2007

Finally ... after a series of planning, tons of emails, I've finally set a sched to fly to Vietnam even just for a few days.

Didn't really get a chance to go around the whole of Vietnam, but just Saigon (old Name of Ho Chi Minh City)

Where I stayed?
Lac Vien Hotel - It was a 2 Star Hotel. I highly recommend this place as it's clean, cheap, and centrally located (10 minutes to Ben Thanh Market). You can book through www.asiarooms.com. Around 40 S$ per night for 2 people.

What to watch out for?
* If you didn't grow up in the Philippines or Bangkok, you will prolly have a difficult time crossing the streets. There are a lot of motorcycles, zillions of them on the road, and it's damn scary to cross the street. So be Careful!
* Be Careful with those in the cyclos or motorbikes asking tourist that they'll bring you around for a fee. One of the guys told us that we will pay only 40,000 Doong for the whole day! I even repeated and asked him again if it's really 40,000 Doong as I though it was really cheap. (Note 10K Doong = 1 SGD; 16K Doong = 1 USD). Anyway, in the end, they drop us of somewhere around 2 Pm (we started around 11 AM and had loooong lunch), and told us that we should end by then and asked us for 450K Doong which is way way above from what they initially asked. Anyway, we finally settled for 240K doong with the help of one local vietnamese passerby. Anyway, this also happened to some other tourists and backpackers that I've met in vietnam. Tsk Tsk Tsk

Itinerary:

May 30:
We arrived in the Ho Chi Minh, took a cab to our Hotel for 7 USD. We were able to go around the "wrong" Ben Thanh Market, Notre Dame Cathedral, and Reunification Palace (with the "help" of the guys with the cyclos). Anyway, afterwards, we went on our own walking around to see the Opera House and City Hall, and along the way, we passed by the real Ben Thanh Market. So basically, first day wasn't really a good experience for us.

Anyway, we got our lunch in Quan An Ngon: Cheap and Good :)

May 31:
We joined the tour to see Cao Dai and Cu Chi Tunnel (5 USD for whole day trip plus
Entrance to Cuchi which is around 75K Doong). We passed by a shop making lacquerware paintings on our way to Cuchi.

Cu Chi was a nice experience and we were able to go through the Tunnel. But I guess a bit scary as it was not well-lighted and can be quite suffocating. Better bring a flash light when you go to Cu Chi and be sure you are really "prepared" to go thru.

June 1 - 2:
We joined the 2-day tour to Mekong Delta. Got the chance to ride a rowing boat along the small streams to Mekong Delta river and see the floating market. But I guess the journey was much more exhausting and thus I didn't really enjoyed it that Much.

Overall, I enjoyed the food and the cheap souvenirs (lacquerware paintings!!). However, the place and tourist spots are only so-so. So don't expect much or else you'll get disappointed.