Ang nakaraan...

Year of the dragon '86
April da terd (3rd)
by the swimming pul
of selebrity...


Witnesses to da contraxt:
(signatures follows)
Beverly David
Joclyn Umali
Sandra Ann So
Helen Valencia

Be it known to all present that
we da byutipul wimen of tudey hereby
agree to da paluwing terms:

1. must be a human (half-human accepted especially for Sandra Ann C. So)
2. no more than 6 feet tol (especially for Joy)
3. below one hundred (especially for Helen)
(but not < 50)
4. must be willing to kiss (por Beverly's sake)

status of da humanoid: singol (take note * Helen)
with a few strands of hair

Must be able to acquire not later than year 2,000 PAUNAHAN!

The same requirements por da prebyus constracts still holds VALID.

PAYMENT UPON ACQUISITION: P60.00 each to be paid not later than 2 days apter...

Signed and sealed:
Office of da PIMP
Marry Ann Marcelo

Isang Araw sa Hacienda

Dumating si Mamu nung Marso at isa sa aming destinasyon ay ang aming Mango Orchard sa Bagac, Bataan. Hactually, di amin ang Orchard, may limang puno lang kami dun, hehe. Pag lumaki na ang puno at namunga, we share the profit with the mga tagapag-alaga. Ang layo nga lang talaga, feeling ko more than six hours back and forth. Masayang alalahanin pero nakakalungkot din kasi bumalik na si Mamu sa Amerika kahapon. Naiyak nga kami ni Sister sa airport kasi more than 2 years na naming di nakita ang aming mader tapos sandali lang vacation nya. Sa states, Mamu works at Walgreens and Littmans Jewelry store. Uso kasi dun more than 1 job. Sa sales sya in both companies at proudly lagi syang number 1 sa sales. Dun daw, you do everthing, ikaw na nag-sales talk, ikaw pa din ang magpapasok ng benta at mag-operate ng kaha. Napapagod na raw sya but she like the benefits of working, bukod sa nakakalibang, ok ang health insurance at ok ang kita. Sa mga lakaran namin dito, ako pagod na pero sya high energy pa din.

Hay, nakakamiss. Kaya nga ba super-relate ako blog entry ni Bingerly about pining for her parents.

A TEENAGER’S LAMENT

This letter made the rounds last year via text messaging…

Dear Daddy,

Sorry sa sulat ko... Gusto ko na kasing umalis sa poder ninyo. Sasama na ako sa boyfriend ko. Natagpuan ko na ang tunay na pag-ibig. Napakabait niya at malambing, di tulad ng iba. Matutuwa kayo sa kanya specially sa mga hikaw at tatoo sa katawan nya. Di lang sa mahal ko sya kundi buntis din ako. Sabi nya ok daw para sumaya ng pagsasama namin. Maliit lang age gap namin, 65 lang sya at wala syang pera. Di ito hadlang sa amin. May trailer truck sya at dun kami titira. Kahit may ibang girlfriend sya, alam kong tapat sya in his own way. Tinuruan nya akong humithit ng damo at may tanim din sya nito. Minsan pinapalitan namin ng shabu. Ipagdasal mo din na matuklasan na ang gamot sa AIDS para gumaling na bf ko. Deserving sya gumaling! Don't worry, I'm 15 na Dad at alam ko na alagaan ang sarili ko. In time, you'll be proud of me. Minsan bibisita kami para makilala mo sya at ang apo mo.

Love,
Gabriela

P.S. Dad, si tutuo lahat ng sinabi ko sa sulat. Nandito lang po ako sa kapitbahay. Gusto ko lang malaman mo na madami pang mas nakakatakot sa buhay kesa sa REPORT CARD ko sa drawer ni Mommy. Papirma na lang po kasi may bagsak ako :)

Nay nay nay nay

Nanay, my lola, passed away just before Christmas. It was a sad time for us. I also realized a person cannot die with dignity. Once dead, you are wrapped in a blanket, stationed near the hospital exit awaiting pickup from the morgue, and referred to as a cadaver. You have a window of four hours from the time of death until you become cold and rigid. Meaning, di na nila mababago position mo (unless they break something).

My sister called me up 2AM in the morning crying. Yung pag-ring pa lang ng phone in that unholy hour, I knew already she was gone.

My lola was brought to the hospital after suffering a stroke. Di na sya nakakadilat nor nakapagsasalita but she would shed tears whenever any one from family would talk to her. She also cried when the nurse inserted a feeding tube through her nose. I couldn’t bear to watch. Di ko rin sya makausap kasi naiiyak ako so I had to leave the room and just told Jor-el to talk to her for me. A priest also came to visit her. She died six hours after.

During the funeral, all of my lola’s four children were asked to eulogize. Dahil nasa Amerika si Mommy, ako na lang daw. I stood up and just bawled. Di rin ako nakapagsalita.

A tula made by Nanay on the occasion of Mommy’s grand 55^th birthday celebration in 1994.

Ako'y hindi makata

at hindi marunong tumula

Sa araw na ito

araw na dakila

Ako'y nagsaisip

ako'y nagsadiwa

At pinalad namang makalikha

ng isang maikling tula

Buong puso ko itong iniaalay

sa iyong kaarawan, aking anak

Sa iyong kaarawan

ako'y nagpupugay

Pumpon ng bulaklak

sa iyo'y iaalay

At aking dalangin

sa Poong Maykapal

Pakalooban ka pa

ng maligaya, mahabang buhay

Ang bulaklak na ito

aking pinitas

Tinuhog upang sa leeg mo'y

aking ikwintas

Hindi maluluoy, hindi malalanta

di matutuyo

Pagkat yan ay galing

sa hardin ng aking puso

Ako'y walang ginto, pilak

sa iyo'y iaalay

Kundi ang walang katapusang

pagmamahal

Mundo man ay maglaho,

mundo man ay magunaw

Kailaman ay taglay ko

ay ganyang pagmamahal

Anak, hilingin mo man sa akin

ang bundok ng sinukuan

Sapilitan aking kukunin upang

sa yapak mo ay aking ialay

Ganyan kalaki ang aking

pagmamahal

Abalang-abala

 
Bridal Shower

Helped coordinate the bridal shower of my sister-in-law but I was not able to grace the event, sayang. Di bale, ako naman nag-food tasting, he he. Ako gumawa ng towel cake and both the cake toppers.

 
Halloween

With the kids at Astoria Plaza. There was a puppet show and porcelain painting.

 
Wedding

Photo with the family. Todo ngiti kahit masikip ang gown ;) 

Lungkot at Saya

 Last rites
 Lauriat at San Jacinto Panciteria
 Naghuhulagpos na bilbil
 Even nuns have fun... a day at Villa Escudero

My Uncles arrived from Montreal and New Jersey. Siempre masaya to see them again at katakot-takot na pasalubong, kainan, reunions, at outings. Malungkot kasi they came home to bury the ashes of their brother, my uncle who passed away last June. At one point of the funeral mass, I felt extreme sadness at tuloy-tuloy tulo ng luha ko. It's been a long while since I've cried kaya naipon siguro and it chose to flow at this opportune time. 

Pagod at Puyat

Taken during our convention last September 6-8. Although tatlong araw lang ito eh July pa kami nagpe-prepare. Kami kasi ang gumawa ng software that would process and register more than a thousand attendees of the convention. Medyo hi-tech kasi each computer ay may nakakabit na webcam and it takes the picture of each delegate and prints the pic on their IDs. Ginawa rin namin election software nila. Pang-touchscreen sana where they can just make pindot-pindot on the monitor kung sino boboto nila kaso di na kinaya ng budget nila to provide us with the special monitors. Sayang!

Dahil kaibigan ko yung isa sa mga officers ng association eh I volunteered to man the registration and election booths for the whole duration of the convention. Naalala ko tuloy nung nasa UP pa ko, registration volunteer din ako dun, RVC pa nga tawag sa amin eh.

Pero stressful sya sobra. I had to wake up early and sleep late just to make sure okay ang lahat. There were technical glitches kaming na-experience which up to now boggles my mind. Naisip ko these were caused by the hardware supplier not following the specs na binigay namin. Pero there’s no way to know for sure, kakainis! And now, I’m sick. So heto ako ngayon sa office nagkakalat ng germs, he he

Christmas na!

December 1978

I went to the spa last night because my right arm and shoulder were killing me. I overexerted myself when Sweetham and I and mga kapatid went bowling na may pustahan. He he, di sulit pagsakit ng balikat ko kasi ang baba ng score ko, di man lang umabot ng 100. Talo tuloy kami. I used to be good at this, back when I was still employed and the office would have teams competing against each other. Dito nga kami nagsimula ni Sweetham kasi mahilig din sya mag-bowling and inuumaga kami kakalaro. Heniways, nalalayo ako sa aking nais sabihin. Dun sa spa, may Christmas lights na. Then kaninang tanghali, I went to National Book Store today kasi sale!!! Book prices at much as 50% off. Heniweys again, may Christmas tree na. Sa Rustan's ganun din. Ako na lang ata ang wala pang Christmas decor. Mabuti pa ang ibang diwata, nagsimula na yuletide season nila. Di bale, bukas na bukas din, tatayo ko na din sa aming bahay ang aking mini-Christas tree!!! Promise!

Sa wakas, natapos ko na tag ni Atinapay :)

3 Things that scare me:
public speaking
creepy crawlers
ghosts

3 People who can make me laugh:
Sweetham
this character in the show 'Grey's Anatomy' who keeps on screaming
Me, I laugh at my own jokes, ha ha

3 Things I love:
time alone
massage
sea breeze

3 Things I hate:
confrontations
kalat
traffic

3 Things I don’t understand
how a plane can go up and stay in the air
why the Philippines is considered a 3rd world country
how bad people live with themselves

3 Things on my desk:
empty can of Ouch bubblegum
calculator
food magazine

3 Things I’m doing right now:
trying to come up with matalino and deep answers for this tag
naka-kalumbaba
savoring the silence,well almost--just the sound of the rain and my keyboard

3 Things I want to do before I die:
make peace with the universe
say goodbye to all the people I love
pray

3 Things I can do:
dance hawaiian
fold my eyelids
play the piano

3 Ways to describe my personality:
simple
conservative
reserved

3 Things people might not know about me:
I hate using a toilet na walang toilet paper
I'm afraid of pain and doctors, I'd rather die
I see dead people... (only when I was young at saka once lang.. boo!)

3 Things I can’t do:
Sing in public
Say no to a nice person
Say yes to an annoying person

3 Things (entities) I think you should listen to:
God
parents
ang iyong konsensya

3 Things I don’t think you should listen to ever:
politicians
heavy metal bands
fingernails scratching sa blackboard

3 Of my absolute favorite foods:
lechon kawali
Max's Fried chicken
baked tahong

3 Things I’d like to learn:
fly a plane
cure the sick
be a saint

3 Beverages I drink regularly:
water
Sarsi
Juice

3 Shows I watched when I was a child:
Uncle Bob Lucky 7 club
Cartoons
Pen pen de Sarapen

High School Life ay exciting, kay saya!

 Met with my high school barkada and classmates last Friday night. Sa Teriyaki Boy Eastwood (suggested it, hehe, favorite ko kasi) kami lahat nag-dinner. Before the reunion, after my meeting with a client, uwi muna ako to take a bath and choose outfit. Siempre, tagal ko na di nakita my classmates kaya extra effort sa pag-aayos. Met up first with my barkada Techie and Jessica sa Monte Vista bago sabay na kami in one van to go to Eastwood. Puro daldalan, ha ha. After dinner, hanap kami ng venue for our picture taking (as if di pa enough yung sankaterbang pictures while eating dinner) and found a stairway. Tamang-tama, paakyat si Jericho Rosales (sh?t ang gwapo! Anyways, he’s a local artista who did a remake of ‘Ang Panday” for TV) and nahila namin sya to join our picture-taking. Ang aking mga sosyal na classmates, naging baduy, ha ha After dinner, coffee sa Seattle’s Best (pero ako chocolate drink) then inuman at Dencio’s (pero ako soda lang… kj eh). Hay, nice to meet up with old friends and reminisce and update and swap kwentos!
 I was able to snag a copy of my high school annual picture. He he, mukhang tokneneng ang itsura. According to my annual, I was an “efficient prompter of seatmate”. Bukod sa nagdidikta ako sa mga kaklase ko during recitation, nagpapakopya pa ko. Eh one time, yung nangopya sa kin, essay yon, sakto ang pagkakakopya. Eto pa, hindi sinoli sa kin ang papel ko kundi sya na ang nagpass. Eh di magkasunod ang papel namin, ayun, nahuli ng teacher. Pinatawag kaming dalawa at tinanong kung sino sa amin ang nangopya. Di ko nga sinagot, nakakainsulto ang tanong eh. Ayun, bagsak ako sa World History, nyok! 

Dilaw na buhok

Nung Biernes, pumunta ako sa Saint Luke’s hospital to submit my urine sample (collected over a 24-hour period). Ni-collect ko urine at nilagay sa isang wine bottle. May dala pa akong cooler with ice ha to keep the specimen fresh. Yung mga kasabay ko, cup lang ang mga dala eh ako isang bote, he he. Aligaga ang mga tao sa ospital nuon at daming cameras and media people dahil naka-confine si GMA since yesterday. Hmmph sumabay pa sa akin, hirap tuloy makapasok. Hinarang pa nga wine bottle ko at bawal daw yung sa loob, sabi ko di wine yun kundi urine sample… hayyy. Hinihintay ko nga na may mag-interview sa akin eh para masabi ko naman ang aking reaction a biglang pagkahospital at aking message para kay GMA. Sasabihin ko na sana ay magpagaling sya agad at ipagdadasal ko na mabuhay pa sya ng matagal at ng matigil sa pag-salivate ang mga taong gustong alisin sya. Heniweys, nag-taxi lang kami ni sister to St. Luke's. Si Manong driver, bright yellow ang buhok. Character baga. Halatang mong fun syang tao pati sa pagkekwento. At pag may nakatabi sa kalye na taxi din, binabati nya yung driver nun. Ok tong si Manong pwedeng manalo ng Mr. Congeniality. Sayang di ko nakunan ng picture, kakainis…

Milestones:
FATHER'S DAY
With Switham, niece, and cousin
Walang sawang paggi-games pa din hanggang gabi :)

PAMAMANHIKAN
Catered ang food
Huling-huli habang nagte-take home ng spaghetti, he he

Layas Itinerary

Visited Nanay in Bulacan
At the waiting room for my annual physical exam
Cheap but great finds at a toy store sale… origami papers, kaleidoscopes, butterfly pens, face paints, jackstones, and more (mga diwata, alam nyo na kung ano ang makukuha nyong gifts, he he)
Back home... my favorite tree... the firetree And my favorite spa... La Veranda... just a few minutes walk from my house

Tag from Tokyokuni

4 things I’d rather be doing right now
spa session
light reading – food or showbiz mags
taking a vacation in tagaytay
lego assembly with my nephew

4 things I always carry around
Johnsons baby powder
Eyeglasses
umbrella
camera

4 of my favorite foods
Brazo de Mercedes
Sampaloc candy
Porkchop and fried talong combi with bagoong
Bananas – Banana Split, Turon, Banana Q, Saba con Hielo, shake

4 jobs I’ve had
1 and only 1 job ever – IT Specialist

4 places I’ve lived in my life
Mayon St., Manila
Quezon City
Marikina
New Jersey

4 movies I could watch over and over
The Kid
While You Were Sleeping
Executive Decision
IL MARE (Korean)

4 TV shows I love to watch
Quincy, Medical Examiner
Love Boat
Voltes V
Muppet Show/Donnie and Marie/Charlie’s Angels Marathon every Sunday (when I was still in grade school)

4 places I have been on vacation
Stonehenge
Disneyland
Windows of the World
Philly

Expressions so pure

Ang saya-saya!

Hapi Bertdey

 
Meron bagong game dito called Pinoy Henyo. You will have to guess the word taped on your forehead within a time limit (2 mins). Bibigyan ka ng clue. You have a partner or teammate na pwede mong tanungin about the word. Ang pwede lang nya isagot sa yo ay Yes or No.
Sample --- word is "SPOON"
you: Tao ba to?
Pakner: no
you: hayop?
Pakner: no
you: bagay?
Pakner: yes
you: nakikita ba to sa bahay?
Pakner: yeeeesss!
... and so on until you guess the word or you run out of time. Nakakatuwa tong game na to kaya every family gathering-- Christmas, New Year, birthdays eh nilalaro namin to. Recently, attend kami sa 60th birthday ng Tita ni Switham. May game na ganito eh boys vs girls. Reklamo kami ng reklamo na nandadaya ang mga boys eh di nila alam mas madaya kami. Alam na namin kung ano yung mga words, tawa kami ng tawa kasi siempre nung turn ko na, pretend pa kunwari na tanong ako ng tanong. After 20 seconds, sinabi ko na sagot, he he.
 
Attended a Mcdonald's children's party. Ang shop ang gumawa ng princess gown ng celebrant na si Rizza and Lizzie Mcguire attire ng aking pamangkin na si Dominique.
 
Sumali ako sa games, kakatuwa kasi nanalo kami eh :) Won a toy binoculars na inarbor naman ng pamangkin kong si JC. Ang sarap ng McDonalds specially their caramel sundae, grabe. Buti na
lang may 24 hours open na McDonalds kaya minsan madaling araw eh dinadayo pa namin yan :) 

Obra Maestra

 Pilit lumalabas sa rehas
  Kamukha ni Mona Lisa

Bunggambilya ni Atilapya

 
  

10 of life’s simple pleasures (tag by Atinapa)

1. taking a bath in the rain
2. eating matamis and malamig na pakwan sabay dura ng mga buto
3. melting chocolate in my mouth
4. relieving ear itch with cotton buds
5. toilet paper
6. buffets
7. smell of sampaguita
8. finding an empty slot in a full parking lot
9. water fountains
10. breakfast in bed
more pa, he he…..
11. ice cold water
12. chilling in church habang tulala
13. amusement park rides
14. eating fresh pineapple dipped in champoy powder
15. lego
16. talking to a child
17. big supermarkets
18. watching American idol armed with lots of chips
19. taking pictures
20. hotels
21. climbing an aratiles tree and eating the lilliputian bunga
22. sight of a snow-covered garden
23. a drink from a freshly harvested buko
24. ice cream cone
25. driving an automatic car 

Eulogy-a spoken or written composition in praise of a person’s life

 
My Lolo Tisyo (my dad’s uncle) passed away last week. My sister and I went to the wake and joined in the “paghahatid” (convoy from the memorial chapel to the burial site). At the site, the family released butterflies and balloons. All the butterflies flew away except for one who lingered near my lolo’s casket. It was the butterfly released by my Lola Miling (my Lolo Tisyo’s wife).

My Uncle Cesar, my lolo’s eldest son was tasked with giving the eulogy. Listening to him speak evoked memories of my father. When my dad passed away years ago, the task of giving the eulogy was assigned to me. I found an empty bench and began with a blank notebook, trying to list all of my father’s qualities, one on every page then expounding on each. My Kuya, upon seeing the several pages that I have completed commented “wag sobrang haba, mga ten minutes lang”. My task then became difficult--- how do you sum up a man’s life in ten minutes? Impossible. Unless you take out all the details and you’re left with just the frame of the life he has lived. At the church, I think it took me longer than ten minutes to say my piece because I broke down in tears several times. Looking back, the trip to the hospital, the wake, the eulogy, the interment, those were easy. The most difficult part was coming home and he wasn’t there anymore. 

Government at Work

 
Harapan ng aming abode habang hinuhukay ng mga Manong taga-DPWH. Notice that the tasks like paghuhukay at paghahakot can be done by machines pero dito manu-mano. Pero at least may trabaho sina Manong, di ba? 

Scenes from Enchanted Kingdom

 Sweet Ham with my pamangkin Dominque on a Dinosaur ride
 
 
  
Was able to score free tickets to Enchanted Kingdom when we watched the movie "Exodus" starring Bong Revilla last December. Sarap sa enchanted. The 4D theater-"Bane Manor" haunted house was so scary, napabulahaw ng iyak ang aking pamangking si JC while watching. I love the Rio Grande ride- parang white water rafting. There was also a 3d ride na cartoons-- remember Wacky Races? Si Dick Dastardly and Muttley? Also Yogi Bear and the Jetsons? The lines were so long kasi we went on a Saturday but sulit! Also not as tiring kasi I got to rest while waiting in line. I love, love, love amusement parks :)