siem reap travel video

FINALLY done with my travel music video backlog! This is four years delayed. Good thing my best friend has WAY more important things to do than pressure me to finish. Drove myself to hurry up because we (hopefully) have another (more) major trip that this year.

Next on the to-do list: edit clips from four trips this year ala travel vlog (why am I doing this to myself again?)

seoraksan travel video

At least I can say that the bed rest forced me to be productive.

This is my "best effort" at a hiking video. I do not hike in general but seeing that this is our nth Korea trip (and some pressure from my Korean boss to do it), we decided to take a break from stuffing ourselves with food and drinking soju by exercising more.

So we booked a shared tour (apologies to our new friends that somehow got forced to do our trail) and told the driver that we wanted to try the Ulsanbawi Rock trail. We know it's an intermediate (2km)-advanced(1km) trail but decided to risk it. The driver however got a case of "tinimbang ka ngunit kulang" moment and told us not to do the Ulsanbawi route and instead do the Biseondae-Geumganggul Cave trail.

Going to Biseondae was easy enough (it was categorized as "moderate" for 3km) but wtf the climb towards the end was pure torture. Our party of 6 soon dwindled to 3...the other half stayed at the viewing deck while I and two of my friends soldiered on to see that cave. No wonder I almost cried from the steepness (and exhaustion) and I can barely film because I can't keep my balance (took off my bubble jacket despite the winter weather so one arm is basically useless) -- that leg is "expert" (so, uh, higher than advanced) level for 1.5 km. I guess our guide thought that 4.5km of moderate-expert is equivalent to 3km of intermediate-advanced (mukhang pwede nga naman).

So with my shaky hands and general laziness in exploring stabilization techniques in the post-editing process, I give you my most unstable mv to date hehehehehe. At least the view was worth it!

Someone please give me a gimbal to overcome this! Oh and this is the first time I used my SJCAM on land. As I said before, not bad for such an inexpensive camera!

caliraya travel video

Another travel video that is way overdue...went with my ex-colleagues to Caliraya for a hello summer trip in March last year. I'm so used to filming a different set of friends in my previous travel videos (as you may have noticed) so shooting this one was entertaining and challenging hihi.

I tried some post-edit color correcting methods but I don't think I achieved the effect yet...must practice some more.

2013—so daebak I want to cry!

I lost my six-year streak of publishing a year-end post every December 31, but oh well. Better late than never, right? I still need to post one because holy hell, I love 2013!

I have fewer trips than usual in 2013 but they were freaking highlights by themselves I get giddy everytime I reminisce. The plan to go to Sri Lanka didn’t push through but it was replaced by this epic trip to Myanmar in April I’ll just let the travel video show you how offbeat and cool the trip was. This was shortly followed by the highly-anticipated trip to El Nido in June which was so beautiful that it brought tears to my (and my friends’) eyes. Honestly, all of us were so stressed weeks prior that this was a welcome break. And frankly, it’s been a long time since I went on a trip just to play in the water. Then lo and behold, there was a fanmeet with Lee Seung Gi in Bangkok scheduled for August so hello Thailand again for another bout of fangirling! I can’t believe that I got to speak to him and hold his hand (fine, I just woke up this morning to the news of him dating Yoona *sigh*). It's also my first solo trip abroad ever and  it was amazing! And to cap the year right, I can’t resist going to Korea again! We had a way too short trip to Busan and Seoul (I swear, I can spend a month in Korea and not run out of things to do) in October. I’m still not finished doing the travel video yet (so sorry Rissee I’ll get right to it!) but hopefully I’ll have it up within two months, heh.

And then I’m devoting an entirely separate paragraph for this crazy new bout of fangirling over EXO. Ugh, I know, I feel like a cougar ogling at these boys. Believe me, I resisted for more than a year (my fangirl heart can’t memorize another dozen of boys. But well yeah, this music video happened and I was hooked. August 21, 2013. The day I got sucked into the abyss of EXO fangirling. I’ll make a separate post about this one (I can’t believe it’s only barely five months since then. I’m scared TT) but yeah…talk about downloading pictures and videos, talking about them with your fellow friends who care, talking about them with your fellow friends who DON’T care, and writing fanfics about them. Yep, the deep end. It’s a sweet dream AND a beautiful nightmare, lmao.

the music video that started it all

Of course, I can’t close the year without watching some concerts! I got to watch CN Blue! Hell yeah, they were great! And only a few days before my birthday at that. Also got to see Taylor Lautner in the flesh for the Bench promotions. THAT was crazy and tiring hahahaha. It’s a shame that the Matchbox Twenty concert didn’t push through because of the Yolanda tragedy. Hoping that I still can catch them on their next tour in Asia. AND let’s not forget KPOP Republic! The day when I discovered that I can bargain with a poker face just to see EXO! I swear, I turn in to Mr. Hyde in concerts but I really went crazy. I can’t help it. It’s EXO. Well, it’s just EXO-K in that one but still. It’s EXO. Enough said. 

Okay enough of the fangirling, this year is also the year that my niece was born! First baby in the third generation line of our family so we were all crazy excited. She’s so cute, and I’m an aunt! HAHAHAHA. Wishing more children for my sister and brother-in-law so that my relatives would get more distracted and not look at me hehehe. A lot of friends also got married this year (‘tis the season), so it’s definitely a year full of celebration. We also moved out of our home of 17 years TT. It was time to move on though, with my siblings already settling in respectively and my mom entering retirement. I’m now boarding at my relatives’ until I get to move in—get this—my own condo unit! Hopefully I get to move in this first quarter (and survive).

Apart from the highlights, I’m really happy at how the year panned out in general. Everyone in my family is healthy, I get to see my friends regularly (sometimes way too many times than I can count. Not complaining, just saying.), and work is still tolerable! Who would’ve thought! Hahahaha. But seriously, I love that this year gave me new friendships and opportunities to build on current ones. Not to mention taking random beach trips, trying out new food haunts, and just plain hanging around. I love you, guys *tears*

So there! 2014 is a HUGE year for me, since I get to turn into the big 3-0! It’s a bit daunting, I’m scared. But I’m using the “mabenta sa trenta” mantra to tide me over. Got to be fabulous this year, there’s no turning back. And I hope YOU guys continue to be fabulous! Here’s to a new year! Yehet!

2012, you’re a blast!

I re-read my year-end post in 2011 for some take-off points and apparently I wrote in the end that I can't remember when I was THAT much excited for 2012. And boy did 2012 deliver – I can’t focus on ONE specific moment that can capture the year since there are just too many awesome experiences this year.

First, thank you Lord and I’m still employed lol. This year marks my first year in my current workplace. Which is a milestone in itself since the last time I had an anniversary at work is, uh, four years ago? Still grateful that my work is mentally stimulating and my workmates are great to be with. Hahahha, well let’s not jinx it. Here’s to more “happy times” in the office, and may the stress be worth it!

And because of my still-employed status, thank you Lord that I have money to spend (and save)! Despite my initial plans to rein it in (as if I could), I kind of overindulged a bit on my travels this year. So happy that I have enough funds this year and a LOT of friends who are travel-happy like I am. I love that my domestic trips are bordering on the more active type (Sagada, Oslob, and Pinatubo) although I still have my chill trips (Boracay, Vigan, Laoag, Iloilo). My out-of-the-country trips were at the peak of craziness – from going to Thailand with my cousin as a pseudo excuse to catch L’arc-en-Ciel to capping the year with a five-day trip to Seoul, South Korea (this music video just about captures how much fun we had).

I also considered this year as one of the highlights of my fangirling life – rocking to Laruku alone (hence, you can go crazy with no judgment) last March was amazing. Also going through crazy traffic in November just to attend Lee Min Ho’s fanmeeting at Araneta. I also watched A LOT of kdramas this year, and of course spread the hallyu lovin’ to more friends. This year also marks the end of the Twilight series (holler to my TCP friends!) and of course that epic Rurouni Kenshin movie. And how can I forget that epic Big Bang concert where in two fairy godmothers helped me to even catch the rehearsal, THAT was so surreal I can’t even think of anything that can TOP (pun intended) that…yet.

Lastly, I think this year was a blast due to my enjoyable family and friends. My sister got married this year (yay!) so I’m happy that I now have a new extended family. We also had a grand reunion from the mother’s side of the family so I was ecstatic to see everyone, including the new faces and be back in Negros again. I’m also so glad I got to hang out with my forever-reliable friends more this year. And in the midst of all the happy times, I will always remember Ice even if I can’t see her.

So this rounds up 2012. I can confidently say that this is definitely one of the exciting years I had so far. Can’t wait for what 2013 (my last year in the 20-zone!) will bring! So here’s to all of you and may you have a blessed and crazy year ahead! Cheers!

seoul trip music video

It's highly unlikely that I'll make an extensive post about our trip to Seoul, South Korea last November (given ALL the other topics I have yet to blog about *sigh*). So I'm just showing this music video that I've edited featuring the highlights of our trip! Besides, I think my other friends can blog about the trip on my behalf, hehe.

So here you go, another music video (the first one was from our family's trip to Siem Reap) that caused me two weeks of barely enough sleep. The reactions when I debuted this to my friends were priceless though, so it was worth it ^^

farewell ice

One of my best and longest friends in my life passed away this week. I’ve always known that she has a serious illness ever since we were in grade school, but its severity, though we knew it by definition, was easily forgotten as my friend constantly downplays it, even sometimes informing us of whenever she gets confined after the fact. I know that it’s a sickness that can’t be cured, but with constant medical attention it can be controlled and its victims able to live for most of their lives.

Last Tuesday was a horrible day for me, getting that fateful urgent text for us to come right away. Fearing while in the taxi that one of my friends will call me before I arrive because it has happened. Hoping that it might not be too late and that this will just be one of those close calls like before. I arrived at 1:47pm, she died at 1:49pm.

Until now I can’t remember what I felt. Her mom called my name and cried out that Kung is gone. I didn’t know what to say, fearing of saying the wrong thing and at the same time how to react when I’m having difficulty on what just happened sink into my head. I stopped myself from crying out and just let my tears fall, knowing that I’ll have my private time to cry out before I go to sleep. I touched her lifeless body and warred within myself if I can continue to look at Ice’s face since this is not the lasting image I want of her. I silently said my goodbye and went out of the ICU to begin the aching process of informing her friends.

My last picture together with Ice
Thank you Ice, for being the reliable source of boundless optimism in my life. The memories we had will live on and you will never be forgotten. No more teasing you of when you’ll settle down, or annoying you because we keep reliving your past crushes even until now, or even reining us in when we get too crazy. When I go to Japan, it will be with a tinge of sadness knowing that we have agreed years ago to visit that country together.

You have been my friend for more than half of my life, and now I know that you’ll be my guardian angel for the rest of it, always showing the flipside of all the cynical thoughts I let root in my mind. I know things have been hard for the past year and that you’re now in a peaceful place with God. It’s time to rest, my friend. ‘Til we meet again. You’re welcome to appear and scold me (just make it tasteful, hahaha) whenever I screw up.

Thank you, 2011!

They say good things come to those who wait, and while I feel that I'm getting ahead of myself this time, I'm extremely optimistic given the blessings that 2011 has brought. While 2010 forced me to come to grips on what I want to do in my life, 2011 more or less got the ball rolling. And like I said before, I'm a natural planner, and this year hopefully marked the foundation of those plans. Though the future is still uncertain, I'm intensely optimistic and happy about the year that was and what 2012 will bring.

Wealth is...wealth
This is the year when I had some decent financial planning laid out. More or less I was compelled to do so because of the new "projects" I have that require some serious financing. Suffice to say, 2012 and 2013 will be the time when I'll go back to poverty since I'll be spending 90% of what I'm saving so far. Though the latter part of the year was not good from an economic standpoint (my stocks are definitely hurting! should stop second-guessing next time), hopefully the returns are better this year.

Two jobs in one year, yeah you read it right
My career, though not aimless, appears to be on a winding path. I ended last year with a job and though things didn't go as I've thought, I still learned a lot and made great friends along the way. My new job, at last, fits what I'm envisioning for myself ever since I finished grad school. My new co-workers are also a blast and I'm lucky that I get to work with such talented people. Hopefully the next years point to more stability in terms of work.

Tripping
While I didn't have a lot of trips this year (because of the "saving" mode), they are still memorable nonetheless. Our Korea trip in February didn't push through, but that extra money helped me to buy more stuff for myself, hehe. Ended the year with an awesome Vietnam-Cambodia trip, which is a feast for the eyes (both the sights AND the people, hehe) that I feel that I have to come back for more.

Relationships
This year brought me a lot of old and new friendships that I'll always treasure. I had a blast going out almost every weekend with my friends, doing whatever activity that catches our fancy, sharing our various obsessions and introducing new ones. There are a lot (and I mean A LOT) of emotional milestones this year (not just on my end) and I'm glad that I have these wonderful set of people to share them with. I'm also thankful for all the new friends that I got to meet, from work to those I randomly meet during my adventures. Thank you for bringing that additional spice in my life.


And so I end my 2011 post with a whole ton of gratitude for all the blessings the Lord has given me, my family, and friends. I can't remember the last time when I am THIS excited about the coming year. Here's to an even more awesome 2012! Cheers!

An Ode to the Aah-No Trio

Night out last Saturday was one of the most fun and "eventful" ladies night out so far. Frumbie, Q-bop, and Thiris went out to celebrate a couple of things: promotion, birthday, and (just because we want to have another reason for the remaining poor girl) doing work for 3 people that past week. It’s hard to give a blow-by-blow account of what happened (much as this person wants to), so here’s a disjointed recap of “the night”:

1. Going to Fez for after-the-musicale dinner and drinks, c/o Q-bop. Frumbie and Q-bop announced that they want to get drunk. Great music at Fez conditioned the trio (or at least Frumbie and Q-bop, Thiris was sleepy…but was not sleepy for long) to go clubbing.

2. Lazy as the trio are, they hailed a taxi to go to a nearby bar just around 2-3 blocks away. Ride took less than 2 minutes.

3. Trio went to Piedra, sadly one of the few “happening” clubs in Makati(/Taguig)…recession much? Trio were happy that the place is packed. *scene at the entrance*

Big guy bouncer/security dude at entrance: Ilan kayo?
Thiris (with matching megawatt smile and hair projection): Three *holding up three fingers at the same time*
Big guy: Sige pasok na lang kayo na libre….okay lang?
Trio: *astonished faces, with their luck, this should have NEVER happened…but it did!*

4. Trio are in high spirits (free entrance, what the heck, that’s enough cause for celebration). Notable scenes in Piedra:

• Frumbie getting stuck (Thiris and Q-bop didn’t realize she got stuck) by the bar to wait for her change and suddenly got flanked by two huge guys who were ordering their own drinks. Frumbie looks like a loser who went to a bar alone and who would just hit on anyone.
• Boy/s who were hitting on Q-bop, haha, I swear they’re just fetuses…poor boys…
• Thiris seeing her *gasp* terror HS teacher in Piedra…Thiris and Frumbie doing some major blocking ala musicale the whole night so that they won’t bump into each other
• Thiris’ conversation with one of the fetus:

Fetus A: *after hearing that it’s her birthday* So, how old are you?
Thiris: Twelve
(this is really begging for a Twilight meadow scene hahhaah)
• Thiris and Q-bop having bionic eyes….spotting cute guys for miles and miles
• Frumbie losing her tipsy state once she saw a girl puke in the CR

5. And this deserves a number of its own, the much revered COCKBLOCK! Nice going Q-bop! Frumbie trying hard not to laugh at the scene that has the makings of a Spanish telenovela while Thiris good-naturedly still answering the questions of the hurt and recently-cockblocked Fetus B. No more details possible…the moment will forever be ingrained to the gawd-i-love-this-night minds of the Aah-no Trio.

6. Finally, what summed up the night: Single Ladies was played at around 1:30 AM…and the Aahno-Trio just went on a bubble of its own making, unknowingly brushing off BOTH the cockblocker/s and the fetuses. Q-bop doing a 180 to face the other two, who were painstakingly trying to mimic Beyonce’s dance moves. In the end, that single scene summed up the single-life mantra they are harping about in Fez.
Notably, the Trio acted in varied ways that night:
Q-bop: ever the conversationalist, never running out of friendly words to say, being polite all around
Frumbie: not looking at anyone straight in the eye in case they get “ideas”, silently laughing in her mind and thinking that all events have the makings of a telenovela
Thiris: just happily dancing, dancer that she is, not caring how the evening might turn out...since, technically it’s just dancing

"sorta" Valentines post

okay, no introspective love-related post this time around (although when i backtracked my blog, the last one was in 2006! just when i thought i had a tradition of posting a valentines entry). just random stuff during the weekend:

February 13:

• too many people walking around paseo and ayala with flowers
• another "malas" day at work (friday the 13th din, which should've warned me)
• had fun crashing at Ica's place: played rockband til 230AM with 5 singles and a couple (and happy that the couple didn't get too sentimental! hehe). first time to play guitar hero, so addicting *dance revo experience kicking in*

February 14:

• woke up before lunch at Ica's (talked until 4am, persuading her to hurry and watch Boys Before Flowers)
• watched Love and Marriage (a Korean series I borrowed), which I think is appropriate
• ate a very satisfying dinner (two kinds of pasta + baked tahong! yeah!)

we didn't get to do our traditional Valentine's night out (of course the single people go out together) this year...but hopefully i meet up with the gals (and guys) next week. the best Valentines night out so far was in 2007. my multiply album was in private for this but i just HAD to post this particular pic:
to the people who were with me during that night: we're insane! hahaha

also i just HAD to post this pic of Yi Jung and Ga Eul from BBF *sigh*

“With our luck…” Kota Kinabalu Day 3&4

Day 3: November 30 – Mount Kinabalu….
We then ventured off to Kinabalu Park, which was not part of the original itinerary but we still went through with it since it adds more to the nature trip experience. Saw a jaw-dropping view of Mt. Kinabalu on our way there (when I go back, climbing that mountain will be on my list). And as lucky as we are, we got lost! Hahaha, here are snippets of our conversation:

11:00 am: SHADDAN THE DRIVER: the trek should just be around 45 mins
US: okay! *ventures off, supplies tally: 3 cameras, 1 bottle of water, 5 sunglasses, yun lang*

12:00 pm: ME: okay guys, park headquarters daw 8 mins
US: yehey!

12:50 pm: SOME OF US: uh, i think we're lost...
CARM: oh no, may blood...

1:00 pm: ME: OMG people!!! we're lost!!! please help us!
FOREIGNER BACKPACKER AND NATIVE GUIDE: *crickets*

1:15pm: ME: sige, ako muna, mukhang slippery....whoa, shet ang sakit ng puwet ko!

1:20: DAENE: i'm about to fall flat on my face and you're worried about my camera!??!?!?!?!??!

1:20pm and 30 seconds: DAENE: i'm about to be impaled and you're worried about my camera!??!?!??!

1:30pm: EDS: i can see the road!!!
US: yehey!
DAENE: (looking at my pants) oopsie i got a poopsie!!!
ME: no jokes while climbing steep rocks!!!

I’m proud of everyone coz no one had a drama moment and we all managed to come back in one piece. It was exhilarating to say the least. If you ask me the highlight of the trip, it would definitely be this one. Sure we got lost, saw too much trees that even I, a nature lover, soon got sick of, but it was still great, haha. We gave our driver (Shaddan) a heart attack and a native really thinks that we are crazy and stupid tourists now. Thank god the next part is the hot springs so we got to rest. We did not do a canopy walk anymore because we already had too much of the greenery (imagine a 45 min trek that became 2.5 hrs). 

The trip back was so Forks-y since it was sooooo cold, and we did this weird game about who we prefer to go into a tub with (oh so ano na, 50Cent o Nelly? Yogi or Winnie the Pooh? Shaider or Masked Rider Black?) We got back at night then we ventured off to buy dinner…I bought a shrimp mee goreng and 10 sticks of lamb and chicken satay…grabe, todo pigging out. We then crashed in an Irish pub that Daene spotted the night before. Had a pint of Kilkeny (it was good!) and basically hang out and watched soccer.

Day 4: December 1 – Last day! City tour + Monsopiad
Last day, we went to the tallest building (I think) in Sabah then went to the city mosque (which was better viewed at night). Then we went to Puh Poh Tze Temple (camwhoring galore, hehehe) and the entrance lang of the Sabah museum (since we’re low on cash). We then went to Monsopiad Cultural Village and got a treat when Eds got to dance onstage and Daene became the warrior princess (thank god she was able to pop the balloon using the blow dart!). I want to buy that skull memorabilia but it was too expensive, argh.

Oh, I also bought a Kokeshi doll in the trip…can’t find a Malaysian doll, hehehe

With our luck, we got dropped off the wrong airport…hay, so it was 40 minutes of intense brooding as we find ways to call our driver to go back and transfer terminals. Super great trip, I hope I have more in the coming years (Osaka cebu pac promo, I’m looking at you)…have to have more money hehehe.

* pictures from Day 3 and Day 4 :)

“With our luck…”: Kota Kinabalu Day 1&2

Haven’t posted long entries lately, I’m now on a blogging backlog, now’s the start of the blogging recovery period.

Some general observations during my Kota Kinabalu trip:
1. Pay travel tax first before checking in.
2. The Malaysians really look like us most of the time. And they are definitely warmer to tourists than I expected.
3. I really cannot do a Discovery Travel and Living documentary on Asian food. I’m THAT averse to eating spicy food so help me.
4. No lost in translation moments. 60% of the people we met are Filipinos (coming from Mindanao). I felt like we just went to a random island in the Philippines when I got there.

Day 1: November 28

Once again, a big thanks to Cebu Pacific for the cheap airfare. This is my second international flight this year and is less planned compared to my Hong Kong trip. I was so busy during November that I did the itinerary and costing (that’s just the OC travel person in me talking) just a few days before the actual trip.

Carms almost did not make it to the flight. Eds, Daene, Dale (my brother — I get to say that phrase a number of times during my trip), and I had a panic moment while waiting for our flight. But in true Cebu Pac fashion, the flight was delayed and Carm made it 30 mins before the “planned” take-off. Also traded stories with the people (juicy ones, hehe) since we haven’t seen each other for a while. We also drew theories from the “party of 3” idea…well we’re disillusioned, no party of 3 exists (it’s a party of four) and that’s as far as we would like to go, haha.

We stayed at Lavender Lodge for this trip and I got a 2/2 from scoring value-for-money accommodations. The place was spacious and the people are so friendly (big shout out to Daniel and the staff!), and it was great that my “tripmates” are even more sociable than I am so they did the talking most of the time. We asked their opinion regarding our itinerary and they offered alternatives and arranged for our transportation (apparently, public transpo there is not reliable so though it tweaked my budget a bit, it was worth it).

Dropped by a nearby mall to grab dinner and that’s when we realized that there are a lot of Filipinos around. There was a short brownout while we’re eating (welcome to Kota Kinabalu!) which was a bit scary given that we’re in the basement of a mall that we don’t know about hehehe. I ordered a coke float and the ice cream was surprisingly chocolate instead of vanilla…weird, but it tasted great, hehe.

Day 2: November 29 – Beach and Twilight

It’s Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park Day! This is the primary reason why we went to Kota Kinabalu in the first place – to soak in the sun. Luck was on our side (at least in this sense) and the day was sunny. Daniel said that it was raining the day before we arrived so seeing the sun was a big sigh of relief.

We did the three-island-hop. Went first to the Mamutik island which for me was the best out of the three islands as they have better fishes, great sand, less people. Daene, Dale, and I snorkeled and found the same culprits Daene and I saw in Dive and Trek. They were trailing us (probably trying to gauge if we have food), too bad we don’t have an underwater camera. We then went to Manukan which was the most popular I think and it has the most people. It’s mostly perfect for the “tampisaw” experience…I mostly just ate and listened to my ipod (reflection time) since the fishes were a bit scarce. The we went to Sapi Island where we saw a komodo dragon (I think) and Eds had a Koreanovela moment, too bad it wasn’t documented.

We ate at a nearby restaurant that Daniel recommended…that curry lhaksa and beef rendang was freaking spicy…I’m so happy I ordered a different dish, hehehe. Eds, Dale and I watched Twilight with Malay subs…vampire in Malay is Pontianak. Sorry I just HAVE to say that because I was having a hard time containing my laughter at that moment.

* pictures from Day 1 and 2

Breaking Dawn Pre-Launch Party!!!

This is probably one of the rewarding nights of my life, hahaha...I barely got to work the past two weeks for this events (priorities? haha) but it was all worth it. Daene and I a few months ago were constantly talking about such an event and thank God He created Meann and Sheila for we would not be able to accomplish much without them.

We held the Breaking Dawn Pre-Launch Party on August 2 at Powerbooks. Thanks so much for Powerbooks and Hachette for collaborating with us. It was pure adrenalin rush, it was such a blur...there are SO MANY people....I mean, I expected a lot, but I didn't visualize this many...too bad for those people who were expecting a peaceful session of reading at Powerbooks, hehe. Still can't get over the screaming girls (and boys? haha), I kind of lost my hearing for a while (and I doubt that I had a decent interview, which btw, dapat si Daene na, I suck at interviews, because of the noise). I'm so happy to meet other Twilighters, especially fellow TCP members.

Went home with a sore throat (from talking to all those people), sore shoulders, suffering feet...yeah the list goes on. Again, it was all worth it, seeing all of them revel in something we all love. Thanks so much to my fellow TCP admins, and to all of our friends who rescued us literally.

Other pics

HK Trip Day 3&4: "Please mind the gap"

The last two days of the trip are more nostalgic than the first two...but of course, day 3 is the Laruku concert, the ONLY reason why I went to Hong Kong in the first place. I'm reserving my Laruku rants in another entry (because some might not be able to handle me in fangirl mode, haha). So here's what happened for the last two days:

Day 3: Lantau (HK Disneyland and Asia World Expo)
Woke up that day surprisingly not as sore as I thought I would be, given the torture that I encountered yesterday. My first thought when woke up, "shet, this is it, i can't believe it". I was so groggy on our way to breakfast (we spotted a KFC around the area and trying to look for it), but my excitement is already starting when Tim is singing the opening lines to "Stay Away"...it's a good thing the Balmater sisters didn't get annoyed, although I warned them that I might probably wake them up and cost them a good night's sleep once I get back from the concert since I would probably rant.

Went to Disneyland! We all reverted to our childhood selves (asal bata talaga I swear). I really believe that our generation is the Disney generation (although I might get disproved on this). We split into two groups (Tim and I, Balmater sisters) since Tim and I have to breeze through Disneyland in order to go to the concert hall early and not run out of concert merchandise. In all fairness, it was still a blast! We got to see most of the shows (Lion King was great! I sang through the whole show) and took a lot of pictures (although I doubt they would compare to the amount of pictures Rosemae has, hehe). Still got tired from all that walking but at least you get occupied from looking all around you that you don't feel it. I really loved the It's a Small World, which is basically just the song sung by dolls in different languages. But damn, the dolls were so nice! I wasn't a girly girl when I was young but I would love to take all of those dolls home with me. Alice (in Wonderland) was such a trooper and consented to join me in my "vaca" pose. She was so in character I ended up executing a curtsy after shot (wtf?).

Did some wardrobe change after (concert outfit!), then asked the guest relations of the park for cheaper directions to Asia World Expo for the concert. He gave us a cheaper alternative but he didn't tell us we would emerge from the Tung Chung station with a mall that has a lot of factory outlets inside! Thankfully I was able to restrain myself, hopefully I can get back to that mall. Went to the mall's food court and bought chicken wings on rice noodles (we didn't stop to eat in Disneyland). Used a fork on this one because it will take me til Christmas if I try eating with chopsticks.

laruku time! will expound on my next entry read about it here

Went back to the hostel exceedingly exhausted, was able to catch the sisters still awake since they just came back 30 mins ago from when I returned (all that shopping I guess hehe). Roxy and I chatted til 3am talking about our days, mainly of our conspiracy theory regarding Disneyland. Seriously, I really think they are on happy pills.

Day 4: Last day - Mongkok and Lantau (HKG)
Last day of the trip! We grabbed a quick breakfast at KFC again, since we really liked their breakfast meals the day before. Then we dragged our bags around to the MTR to catch the Airport Express. It was a great experience, bitin sobra. The ideal situation would probably be a 4d/3n trip, booking the first flight out and last flight in. I had so little time to shop and we weren't able to maximize some of our stops. We didn't get to eat at the Maid Cafe at Causeway Bay, or grab a more upscale dinner at Tsim Sha Tsui (which we were planning to do). I didn't even get to eat the street food! I never thought that I would really like the place (since I generally prefer to travel to more exotic areas), but I really want to go back...sa may New Territories naman! Haha

more pics here

HK Trip Day 1&2: “Relax! Please Don’t Rush!”

At last the day has arrived! I have waited for this day for two months since I’ve discovered that L’arc~en~Ciel is finally having a concert that I can afford and does not require me to get a Visa! Finally went to Hong Kong with Rox, Rozelle, Rosemae (the Balmater sisters), and Tim, my fellow Laruku friend. It was a blast! Some main points and observations about the whole trip before I go to details:

1. It’s probably a bad idea to have my first international trip to a newly-industrialized country. I almost damned my own country the moment I stepped out of the airport.
2. Disclaimer first: I’m not a racist, but Hong Kong definitely has a smell to it, hehe. The moment we stepped on Mongkok, it smells like MSG (probably from the noodles?). I won’t go into the other smells, for all I know, we also smell in their perspective.
3. I did not see any single person who is really obese, and I think I know why. It’s from all that walking! I never walked so much in a single trip my entire life! I should’ve worked out had I known this would happen.
4. If you look like a Hong Kong native (which apparently I and the Balmater sisters do), greet a person in English before anything else. This is not to waste your or the person’s saliva.
5. Don’t make a tight shopping schedule, there’s a 90% chance you won’t be able to follow it.
6. I WANT TO GO BACK!!!

Now for some details of Day 1 (May 22) and Day 2 (May 23):

Day 1: Airport and Mongkok

Since I’m the unofficial designated planner, I went into Hong Kong more or else with a map on my mind. We don’t want to take out a map in the middle of HK since we’ll look like tourists, but I think we still look like tourists from all that camwhoring. It’s my first time in the NAIA and it literally sucks, it’s a good thing I’m excited enough to overcome the irritation. I braced myself for HK airport since I heard it’s one of the best in the world so yeah, I think it’s one of the best hehe.

Took a bus ride, obviously went to the top deck and sat in front for the ultimate bus experience. Major thrill from the initial speedy driving of the driver, but he soon slowed down, which bummed me and Roxy out, crazy drivers that we are. If there’s one thing I like about HK it’s very tourist-friendly, all signs are there and the transport system is very efficient. Got dropped off at the MTR Mongkok station where Jacky Chan (I’m not kidding, that’s his name) picked us up, although I think it’s his son, to direct us to our hostel. I was overwhelmed the moment we are walking through Mongkok, it was night time and the lights are so bright! And then I saw the people (and cute guys!) in funky hairdos, and loved the place at sight, since I think this might be the closest that I could get to something like Shibuya.

Got in the hostel which was small but super clean as the reviews pointed out. It was already late but we set out to orient our surroundings and get a feel of the prices in Mongkok, hehe. We attempted to try the street food but we chickened out. Went back and slept since we have a full (and tiring) schedule for the next day.

Day 2: Hong Kong Island, Tsim Sha Tsui, and Mongkok (Again)

Got a full day planned for Friday, grabbed breakfast at a nearby McDo, which has a different menu, and luckily was understood by the cashiers. Note: Surprisingly, cashiers in HK are old as opposed to in the Philippines, I wonder why. Finally got a taste of their MTR, which was super efficient. I almost hoped that we get copies of the free newspaper just to pretend that we’re natives, because all of the passengers are just reading and it’s just us who are talking. Got to Central with no worries in order to go to the Peak, which is the highest point in HK. I heard it’s better at night but we simply had no time to do so. Central for me is like a more upscale version of Makati CBD…the typical cars that I saw are Benz and it’s the first time I saw a Rolls Royce showroom, hehehe. Want a way to know if you’re really in an industrialized country? Seeing a homeless guy talking on his cellphone! We’re tempted to take a picture of him but he wasn’t in his post (probably had better things to do) when we went the same way back. The Peak was nice, you get a good view of HK and it’s breezy.

Then we went to Ocean Park, and it was blazing hot, I have to take out my umbrella. The whole experience was a real work out since it was on a mountain, and we have no time to rest because of the schedule I made. Got to see a lot of Filipinos too. Best part for me was the Atoll Reef since it reinforced my snorkeling passion and diving dreams. But the fishes were so big, could they get THAT big? Also went aboard the cable car, which scared the living shit out of me, I think I’m really altophobic, although my friends only realized I was a bit concerned when they saw my grip on the seat, hehe.

We then went to Causeway Bay for some shopping and so that Tim and I could get our concert tickets. Nothing could explain the moment we got our tickets…it’s surreal (and I’m going to have a lot of surreal moments when Laruku is concerned). Tim and I then walked around for some shopping (sadly I was only to buy so little, and Page One doesn’t have a Chinese or Japanese version of Twilight! Argh). We were supposed to have a snack with the Balmater sisters at the Maid Café but we don’t have time for the light show, which starts at 8pm at Tsim Sha Tsui…maybe next time, hehe.

Went to Tsim Sha Tsui to watch the light show, which was interesting but sadly the music was not that loud so I didn’t get to experience the whole thing. Interesting enough, a guy wearing only red pekpek shorts went running by us (jogging?) at Avenue of Stars, hehehe. Grabbed a snack from a nearby vending machine since I still didn’t have dinner. We’re supposed to have dinner at TST but we haven’t encountered a dining place (that could be affordable) from all that walking so we gave up and decided to go back to Mongkok. Also saw this girl coming from behind who was running at warped speed (no kidding)…next thing we knew, she was on the next block not five seconds after passing us.

But on our way to the station, we suddenly found ourselves in Sogo, which is having a sale! So yeah, an unexpected bout of shopping ensued. I ate an Okonomiyaki, which was great for me since I never tried one and it’s the one Mizuki eats in Hana Kimi, hehe. I love eating the okonomiyaki, although I’m not an expert on chopsticks so I wasn’t able to eat as fast as I would want to. Then shopped around, Roxy snapped at a salesperson from Converse (ang bagal kasi eh!). Then we painstakingly went back to Mongkok (by then my lower back all the way to my toes was aching and screaming for help.

Momentarily dropped by the hostel to change footwear, I went ahead of the Balmater sisters for another round of shopping in Mongkok since I want my shopping over and done with (I won’t have any chances anymore for shopping in the next two days unlike the Balmaters and Tim). Met Tim at the hostel entrance but soon separated since he also has particular shops to go to and I don’t want to amble around because my legs are literally giving up on me. In fairness, I got some of the shopping done (what the HECK was I thinking when I made a 20-item shopping list?). So there I was walking alone (my mom would kill me if she had known) in the middle of Mongkok…got a bit emo because of the concert tom and of the fact that I’m alone (even for the time being) in a foreign land (small taste of indepence hehe). There was a point on the way back that I really felt that I would literally crumple in the middle of the road because of my legs (and my lower back—I felt that I was too young to have arthritis though). And was praying all the way to the hostel (I can’t expect that a good-looking Chinese guy would help me if ever I faint, I couldn’t ever get THAT lucky). Note: Bring a lot of painkillers next time. Shoulder where I anchored my shoulder bag also hurt like hell.

more pics here

bye 2007!!!

ok, im here now with my end-of-the-year post...hahaha what can i say? this year really marks the transition from school to the workplace, and there are a great deal many changes, but im also glad for some that remain unchanged...

as expected the first half of the year is the most stressful, nerve-wracking, and emotional months that i've undergone, all thanks to my thesis and all those people (not gonna mention them though) who made it worse, hehehe. nonetheless, the end was bittersweet, i finally got my master's degree (and maintained my cum laude *phew*) and i again didn't cry in my graduation. hay, weird talaga, i cry easily when i watch dramatic stuff but when it comes to the actual emotional moments, i rarely do.

so at last i said goodbye to my second home for 5 years... i can't say that i'll miss the school itself, but i'll miss my barkada, my iep friends, and all the hangouts that hosted a lot of memories for the past five years

what followed next are a few months of laziness and job hunting...i soon grew tired of the whole applying process, and i'm glad that i get to watch FABULOUS asian dramas to tide me over (these asian dramas are also my saving grace during thesis)...soon enough i thankful got employed...here's to taxes!

i guess the topmost thing that made me grateful to have a job is that now i have money to spend any freaking way i want! therefore: more night outs, buy some gadgets, go out of town (corregidor, cagayan de oro and camiguin!!! here's to adding more next year!) and go to concerts (sugarfree, beyonce, akon.... maroon 5 naman next year!) and i plan to engage in more for 2008. as for my financial plan...well, let's plan that when i get regularized, bwehehehhe

a glaring realization that seem to resound this year (and i bet will also be the same for 2008) is the fact that im getting OLD (i know, 23 really isn't THAT old, i can just imagine the 33-year old me strangling the 23 year old me). i don't know why...argh...is this because of the fact that im still single? hahahahhaa. basta...i am now more sensitive to noise, can't keep up with all-night marathons, paying bills (well it's about time, hehehe), one of my friends getting married....waaahhhh basta i feel OLD!!! best recourse? a YOUNGER guy!!! hahaha, don't quote me on that

before i get way out of hand, just want to say that this year is pretty good to me despite the suicidal academic months...i got a good job, my mom got promoted, and my friends are as crazy as ever!!! here's to getting older in 2008!!!

r u 1 of us?

I was having this "intense" chat with my barkada online when we suddenly got to reminisce our early college days....this is one of the "wala lang" things we did for our girl group (we formed this group called Aah~no Lesbohood, history on why that came about I won't reveal in so public a place such as this blog, hehe). Anyway, so the members (we have aliases ha! haha, reminisce naman ako in gr.5 when my classmates also formed a Sailormoon team at ako si Sailor Mars, hahaha) are brange, thiris, t-rose, frumbie, and q-bop (reasons of the aliases is a long story)... we did this (accdg to our then lively ygrps) at 2003, so it's around the end of 1st yr for us kaya very time-based ung ibang items.... dedicated to my aahno friends... u know hu u are :D

U know u're an Aahno Lesbo when:

1. You have enrolled yourself to a new course, hoping to find a new spice in life... CS 101...
2. You're trying your best to locate where the CS Lab is.
3. You can't help but dance the Cameron way to "heaven..."
4. You "always look on the bright side of life..." then try your best to whistle...
5. You imagine whatever you're eating comes from ricecapades...
6. You instantly search for thiris whenever you spot a guy with long straight blond hair..
7. You instantly search for q-bop whenever you spot a guy with shades...
8. You always perk up whenever you hear someone saying "aah.." in a monotonous long voice, or "no" at the end of every sentence.
9. You see red whenever the letters F and C are mentioned.
10. You see Justin Timberlake in a new light... tententenen!!!
11. You become alert whenever you see a stray gnome...
12. You instantly clap your hands whenever you see someone strangling a gnome...
13. You see a dog...and then you see brange...make that a cute dog... and then you see brange!
14. During Civ, you now envision boots plastered on q-bop.
15. You suddenly have this urge to iron your hair...
16. You always have your group meetings in the washroom...
17. You don't sing to Skater Boi, but sing with the lyrics of Play Boi...
18. Elongated mirrors freak you out...
19. Girls with no faces but full of hair started coming out of the tv...
20. You automatically scan the room whenever the words, "Derek" and "Drew" collectively comes within hearing distance...
21. You become wary of elevator doors...
22. You can relate well to the song "A Love Song For No One"...
23. You start laughing even before you can say, "Look there's Chris!"
24. You instantly share your Harry Potter info to brange...
25. You're always on the 4th floor of pearl plaza...
26. You have this Last Song Syndrome...
27. You've invented new acronyms... FC, PSA, PSB, EC to name a few...
28. You're dying to have the UA&P jacket...
29. You have a hideout.. it used to be prom b until the enemy spotted you...
30. You love dirty ice cream!!!
31. You would go to the arcade just to play Dancemania and Percussion Freaks...
32. You own an index plant of the desert...
33. You are delighted whenever you see children...
34. You are good at dubbing people...
35. You totally disagree to the idea of Drew marrying Flo... ggrrr..
36. you're fond of saying the word "thingy"
37. you have only one ultimate goal in your college life, which is to eradicate "fc" and give that f*@#$% b*&#$ a kick on the a#$!
38. you have this habit of tapping each others knee especially during theo class.........
39a. you're not going to HER party.........
39b. you came up with 101 excuses not to attend HER party.........
40. you just love the word "schism".........
41. you suddenly became infatuated with the british accent. thanx to harry potter and george wade!
42. you're fond of having enforced crushes....
43. "what's with the hair ?" (good question........what's witht he hair nga ba?)
44. you know that frumbie's gonna trip on that side of the bridge (near uap creek)
45. you know that t-rose's gonna react whenever a song by blue is playing.....(we're not doing that to A1!)
46. you can't help but dance to the tune of asereje!
47. you want your future monthsary to be on the 25th, 26th, 28th.....or something like dat........)
48. you have this unexplainable passion for videokeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!
49. you can't help but giggle whenever darkangel (just look at t-rose man!)
50. this is the ultimate aah-no sign, YOU'RE SINGLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Disjointed stuff...

Yeah, it's nearing the end of January...thesis work...hopefully finishing my rrl by monday next week (i cannot count the times that i've postponed this)...pressure-o-meter: 30% (pa lang? Hehe)...i need a boost of diligence so bad...

At least the past few weeks weren't such a waste. I even manage to get fit, my classmates (who apparently also have extra time away from thesis) always round up to do some badminton (even ice-skating!) once a week. I also got to play table tennis with Ice (just realized that the last time i played with her was in high school!), bitin sobra, I really need to bond again with my favorite sport, haha.

Also went out last Saturday (I know, I still go out eh?), had dinner with Carm, Eds, Daene, and Dozi, major chika mostly due to Carm's Myx win for the John Legend concert at Singapore (btw Carm, Dale was so jealous! Hehe). Then we all (except Carm, sayang) went to Embassy to meet up with IEP peeps...super fun! Thanks to AA and Donna for getting VIP access for all of us! Although di ko man lang nasilayan ung VIP area, haha. Malaking katipiran un! The drinks were majorly expensive, but the crowd (and partly the music, although im not a big fan of house music) was worth it. As i always said about that night, ang daming beautiful people (us included of course) and they are the type of people one would want in a club---those who don't need encouragement to dance! There was this kinda old guy foreigner who was dancing all-out, a bit creepy, but what the hell. Going there is a unique experience but one that i can't possibly do regularly (i would go bankrupt in no time).

I desperately want to go clubbing with my HS friends (watcha think guys? Can u even read this? Hehe), para new experience naman! My bro doesn't want to go clubbing coz he can't "think" daw amidst the noise (duh, who goes out to think anyway? Hehe), which is actually good since he can't dance, even passably (is that a word?)

Totally hung up with this song by The Isley Brothers (from my motown cd): This Old Heart of Mine (Is Weak For You)...no reference to me of course nyehehe. Expect the usual Temptations-like vibe, but it's great background song to just chillin' out...

Ok im blabbing na, sori im just waiting for my classmates to arrive for our ice skating day, haha...

Next blog entry: Burning out...

Ushering in 2007…

The past few days until yesterday is always the usual celebratory and reflective mood as the New Year is entering…or as Arnold wisely put it, year of the Litson (Fire Pig), haha benta talaga

Sleep Over at Ice
Tambay ulit kina Ice, bonding mania shempre ulit kami nina Ten, Anna, and Ice. Catch up with the kwento (haha buti na lang di ako na-hot seat). Talked all the way til 4am…sobrang saya when we went through Ice’s past letters (shempre ung mga pwede lang basahin)…funny, napareminisce tuloy kami, even brought out the past yearbooks since I can’t remember some of the people we talked about. Nanood din ng mga interesting stuff sa youtube, ended the night (or the morning) remembering the kilig moments of Meteor Garden, haha

New Year Eve Party
Street party ulit to celebrate the new year—our neighbors yearly put together a program and potluck, then cap the night with the usual fireworks… masaya for me in particular kse nakapili ako ng drinks ko (I was desiring an Asti Martini pero mahal…let’s settle for Cuervo instead! Hehe…) I introduced Dale to the wonders of good tequila (first time niyang uminom nito, tsk tsk), and obviously he loved it, nyahahah… here’s an interesting moment sa kitchen:

Mom (to me while I was demonstrating how to drink tequila): Grabe, anak, hardcore drinker ka…
Me (feeling outraged): Mama, di po hardcore drinker, I just drink hard drinks…pag hardcore drinker wala nang pinipili yun at laging tumutungga…

Kinda lukewarm yung mismong celebration (although I had another embarrassing moment sa doorstep naming), paano kse instead of the usual dancing tunes palaging boom tarat-tarat na lang ung pinapatugtog… I settled with dancing to Sexyback in my ipod all alone in the living room, haha…then just fixed myself a margarita (btw, di mashado maganda ung margarita mix ng cuervo…but Cuervo classic in itself is great!) at nagdrama ng mag-isa, bwahaha

Still have some leftover tequila (and other ummm…stuff) at the house, so to anyone who needs a drink just let me know ;)

Jan. 1 Party
My father’s side of the family always get together on Jan. 1 to celebrate my lolo’s birthday…so technically reunion na din siya… spent the morning visiting first my aunts in Rizal (mother’s side) then went straight to Makati…as usual, uminom na naman (salamat sa vodka tita!)…then we (bro and cousins) went to Greenbelt to our usual “coffee and whatever that strikes our fancy” thing (been doing it for 3 yrs na)…masaya grabe, we ended the night at Red Box kse may promo cla…apat lang kami, ang daming leg room…in other words, major bigay todo na ang kanta (of course I sang my trademark videoke songs)

As usual (I’ve been using that phrase a lot lately), I’m bombarded with questions about my love life (apparently those who are my aunts and my grandma are more scared than I am of dying alone, haha)… hay, weirdly enough, even my bubbly 4 yr old girl cousin approached me with the issue:

Janna (when we were both alone and I was about to enter their comfort room): Ate, wala kang boyfriend…
Me (weirded out, sobra): Tinatanong mo ko o sinasabi mo sa kin na wala akong boyfriend?
Janna (looking puzzled): Walang boyfriend?
Me (slightly irritated since naiihi na ko): So tinatanong mo nga kung may boyfriend na ako?
Janna: *nodding and smiling*
Me: Wala eh…*sabay smile* may boyfriend ka na noh?!?!?!
Janna: *throwing me this secretive smile*

Huh? Anyway, naging topic tuloy ng mga tita ko about my lack of love life, hay cge, bihira naman akong maging source of entertainment so pinagbigyan ko cla, haha.

Ended the night watching Swan Princess (bought the vcd when we went out that day…I’ve been looking for a copy for God knows since when and I almost screamed when I saw one at Tower Records))…haaaayyyy, one of my favorite animated movies talaga…one can say that the animation’s simple, the plot’s sappy (vow of everlasting love to break the spell, what’s more cliché than that?)…but man, the soundtrack’s great at super kilig!!! Hay…Derek and Odette, nyahahhaha…from the moment na pinakita c Derek and Odette side by side reading their respective books at their respective castle’s fireplaces, kinikilig na ko…pinanood ko pa siya ng midnight so kinda bad un…napadrama ako ng di-oras

So to end this entry, here’s my favorite song in Swan Princess:

Far longer than forever
I’ll hold you in my heart
It’s almost like you’re here with me
Although we’re far apart


Far longer than forever
As constant as the stars
I close my eyes
And I am where you are

Sure as the dawn brings the sunrise
With an unshakeable bond
Destined to last for a lifetime
And beyond

Far longer than forever (far longer than forever)
I swear that I’ll be true (I swear that I’ll be true)
I made an everlasting vow
To find a way to you

Far longer than forever
Like no love ever known
And with your love
I’ll never be alone

Far longer than forever
Much stronger than forever
And with your love
I’ll never be alone

Next entry: Looking back and forging ahead…

Night outs rundown

What's December without your usual celebratory night outs? Haven't been posting for a while since I'm currently preoccupied with updating my multiply site, since I finally got a new cam! Anyway, here's a hopefully brief rundown of what happened for the past month:

Laguna Trip (Dec 6-7)
IEP xmas party/grace's bday bash...reunited with my boyfriend, Jose Cuervo...simply can't get enough of him, hehe. It's only in an IEP party where you can play Uno Stacko (while freakingly tipsy) and have so much fun (in fairness, out of three games versus sober people, I only lost once). Also got to learn how to play poker! I think I want to invest in a poker set, it's kinda addicting...they say I have beginner's luck, got a straight flush the next day, all thanks to my alleged lucky white chip, hehe.

Nina Concert (Dec. 8)
Accompanied my mom in the Nina concert (she has to attend apparently since it's partly sponsored by her office) in Bagaberde (we thought it was Pasig, yun pala sa Roxas Blvd, hehe). Anyway, kinda weird for me since puro matatanda kasama ko, but it was fine. I mentioned this night because I found one of my latest and great discoveries: the ad campaign for cuervo: Cuervo nation...are u a citizen? I'M SO FREAKINGLY AM! Because of this, I'm usually referred (along with my other tequila mates) as a citizen, hehe. Also got to drive at 2am along roxas blvd since my mom's sleepy (ang sarap mag-drag racing kung marunong lang ako, hehe)

SEC Christmas Party (Dec.13)
Because of my batch's usual flair for drama, we basically monopolized the program, hehe. Although the practice sessions were better than the actual performance (hindi na-maximize yung thigh-slapping ng mga sweet boys!), it was so fun doing choreo. I'm part of the "serious" group in the play and we did this number in Boogie Wonderland using fans. Parang singkil ang dating!

Most of the 5th yrs also remained throughout dinner (and even after that), palibhasa walang pasok the next day, hehe. Ang saya pagtripan c Aze regarding Paul, in fairness she was a great sport, hehe. Also did some bonding session sa mga taong naghihintay ng sundo, nag-quasi- spin the bottle din kami (quasi kse puro c Carlo lang ung natutukan!)

Shotgun Lakwa at Winston Event (Dec. 15)
My bro and I were basically waiting for my mom to finish her xmas party and then pick her up (the car was at our disposal). I was supposed to meet Daene later in the evening but it didn't push through. We were cruising down C5 (supposed to go to eastwud pero daming tao) when Nins suddenly txtd abt this Winston event na may bands sa Metrowalk. Since my bro and I are rakistas at heart, we of course went (sumingit sa lakwa ni Nins). Also got to hang out with Dianne, and Benj (and his usual grp, hehe) kaya surprise lakwa talaga.

Funny din kse kami ni Dale ang nagsilbing information center nina Nins and her barkada regarding the bands, haha. Got to watch Pedicab (sory AA, alam kong gusto mo cla), Kjwan, Imago, Sandwich (thank God u guys played Two Trick Pony!), Pin Up Girls (I miss Mitch! hehe), and Sugarfree (of course). Missed Bamboo and Parokya ni Edgar (I know! Super big loss) since we have to fetch Mom na.

UAP Barkada Lakwa at Fort (Dec. 16)
Barely 18 hrs later, I'm on my way for my college barkada's lakwatcha at Fort. Ate at Polu Kai at Serendra, very classy spot, ang saya! Got to catch up with the ppl and realized how much i miss them. Got my manga present from Daene (yey!). Went dancing at Piedra, super saya! Finally natuloy na ang todo dance night out ko (ever since that Temple night 3 months ago, i've been craving for one). The DJ mixed old and new dance songs alike, although the old songs were too long for my taste. Akalain ba naman putulin ang Sexyback after 2 stanzas?!? Dat's a crime in my book!

Got home mga 4am na, tired but so happy, hehe.

CSA High School Xmas Party (Dec. 17)
12 hrs later (tired of reading na ba?) I then went to my annual pilot class xmas party at hiren's place at dasma. Kinda momentous since I got to borrow the car and drive with Ten and Ice at the helm (parang barko). I told them my most entertaining story to date (I'm sure some people know THAT already). Technically mixed reactions: Ice was shocked, can't imagine that I would do it. Ten was just the opposite, she can totally imagine me doing it and laughed throughout the story (she dropped my license three times before the gate entrance). Pwede ko na daw starting point un for a novel (haha talaga?). Nevertheless, I need to finish the whole story before we get to Hiren's house (I don't plan on spreading the story, hehe).

Kwon Sang Woo meet up (Dec. 18)

I know, last na 'to of my 4-night escapade. Went with Ica to MOA and Glorietta to watch the Kwon Sang Woo mall show. It was stressful! But fun, hehe. Ica was actually the fan, I just accompanied her (he's not one of my Korean celebrity crushes). Nevertheless, napasigaw na rin ako when he emerged. Grabe, ang trim ng waist niya! Bwahahaha. Highlight of the night was when we sprinted, um, ran, across quad, the park, and landing on Mkti Shang to see him close up (as if becoming within 2 meters fr him is not enough already)! We tried to blend in with some Korean fans in the lobby but in vain for obvious reasons, hehe. Landed at 6750 performing a stakeout (in ica's words) at the shang side entrance. Very interesting night hehe.

Muntik na di matuloy (Dec. 21)

Went out with Daene, Dianne, and Nins to Metrowalk (deja vu ang dating, hehe), actually dapat di na siya tuloy tapos natuloy na din na super late na. Super adventure kami ni daene, rode a bus for a lack of a more accessible means of transportation. Inuman lang kaming 4, the mixed drinks were surprisingly heavy wid alcohol. Major bonding, buti na lang walang nangyaring di kanais-nais (although Daene and I saw a guy being beaten up by two other guys, napa-jumpstart c daene)

Ayan na! Phew! End result of the whole month: Sore muscles, no voice, abused liver and bladder, low funds.