Monday, December 13, 2004

a birthday bash!


LSS: REAL by Plumb
“look at me I’m twenty three, beautiful, a sight to see tonight…”

1 day to go and I’ll be turning 23. I don’t plan on throwing out a party, but I had an advance celebration last Saturday (Dec. 11) because it was my nephew’s first birthday. Makikisakay na lang ako sa children’s party nya para walang gastos, hehehe…and sometimes it feels good to be kid again.

Birthdays Rewind…

I can’t recall any of my birthday parties when I was a kid. I’m not really sure if I had cake every year, but I can remember when I turned 7 or 8 years old, I had a pink cake courtesy of MinĂ¢ (Auntie). I’m not even sure if it was round or rectangle, basta ang alam ko may cake ako.

Birthday 1999: Debut

It was a weekday and our preliminary exam was scheduled that week. I had a celebration but it was not a typical debut party. I don’t have the 18 roses, 18 candles, and the cotillion. It was just a simple gathering with my family, relatives, and a few close friends. I was not dressed like a typical debutante. I was wearing a plain gray shirt and a pair of faded maong pants. My sister and I opted for a blue rectangular birthday cake to complete the celebration.

Birthday 2002: 21 years old

It was a weekend and we decided to go on nature tripping para maiba naman. I celebrated my birthday at EPOL SPRING RESORT in Marilog District with my family (minus ate mimi), two of my closest friends (Ethel and Presy), and our dog Pam. We had so much fun while swimming in the freezing water and trekking in the slippery pathways. Halos lahat kami nadulas including Pam. On our way home, kuya asked me: “happy jud ka sa imong birthday en?” I just laughed at him.

December 13, 2002. 9pm. The Mongols concert at Blue Post Bar and Billiards grounds. Since the band’s main man is Ely Buendia, my sister and I went out to watch the concert even if we don’t know any single song of the band. The place was not too crowded since they’re not that popular yet.

We were heading to the restroom when I spotted Ely and his bandmates in one of the tables and I noticed that he was looking at our direction. (Hehehe…I know what you’re thinking. Hindi ako nag-a-assume, he really looked at us). The girl’s restroom was so full so I just waited for my sister outside. I leaned on the wall facing the mirror in the men’s cr, and much to my surprise, Ely Buendia was coming to answer the call of nature (I assume). He was looking at the mirror while brushing his hair with his fingers. It went on for a while and I was looking at him without batting an eyelash. I looked at his back, I watched him do his hair, and I simply admire his image in the mirror. He turned around and closed the door, and just seconds later he emerged from the cr. That caught my attention. Ganun ba ako kagrabe tumingin para mailang sya at pagsarhan ako ng pinto? You can ‘t blame me if I looked at him that way. I’m just a fan who longs to see my long time crush and idol in person (as in yung malapitan talaga). And there he was only inches away from me and yet I was too hesitant to get the FRUITCAKE book inside my bag and ask for his autograph. I can clearly feel and hear my heartbeat and the butterflies in my stomach. He was so near and yet so far.

Take note: Nanalamin lang sya sa cr, hindi man lang sya umihi. Uuuyyyy, si Ely talagang sinundan pa kami sa cr. Hhhmmm…parang may pagnanasa, hehehe…(walang papalag, do not forget that it’s my birthday. I have every right to daydream and let my imagination run wild…wilder…wildest…?)

So to make the long story short, they performed, we watched, and the rain started pouring as they were about to finish their last song. They headed back to the restaurant area, and there we were, trying to gain enough guts to approach this somewhat unapproachable guy. We ended up talking to his wife Dianne.

me and my sis: excuse me.
dianne: yes?
me and my sis: pwedeng magpa-sign?
dianne: sure. (Dianne to Ely: o, ayan may pila ka na)

I handed the book over to Ely while my sister instructed him where to sign. We said thank you and gave him our “close-up commercial” smile. He answered you’re welcome while smiling and that revealed his braces. Wow, biruin mo, the three of us got something in common pala! Hehehe…

I looked at my watch, it was already past midnight and that means birthday ko na. We left the place immediately after getting Ely’s autograph, and went home riding a jeepney.

Sayang hindi namin dinala ang camera. Sayang hindi pa uso sa amin ang camera phones. Sayang nag-jeep lng kami pauwi (mas mabilis sana kaming nakarating sa bahay kung nagtaxi kami, at pagkakataon ko na sanang makasakay ng taxi…joke!). Sayang lang ang pera namin sa taxi, mas masaya naman sumakay sa jeep. Sayang hindi ako nakabili ng birthday cake.

Oo, maraming sayang. Maraming “sana ganito”, “sana ganyan”. Pero masaya ako kasi hindi nasayang ang araw na ‘yun – ang araw ko. Sa lahat ng nangyari sa concert at sa outing, nalaman kong hindi lang pala isang simpleng greetings ang HAPPY BIRTHDAY…

(alam nyo na siguro ang sagot ko sa tanong ni kuya)



Tuesday, November 16, 2004

last full show


i got to watch The Incredibles last saturday night right after I met up with my friends. it was my first time to watch a last full show alone, and i thought there would be less people inside the cinema. but i was surprised to see the place full of moviegoers and most of them are kids (alangan naman, it's a movie intended for kids!). i was expecting that there would be no "movie pests" during that time slot, but i was wrong. kids outnumbered the adults. seated next to me was a family with three "super makukulit" kids. all throughout the movie, they kept asking their mom about what happened to the super heroes, convincing her to buy them The Incredibles merchandise, and one of them even asks where the hell is spiderman while munching his popcorn and trying to make a noise with his drink. for God's sake could you please shut up! kids like these are not cute (well, for me) when you're trying to concentrate on something.

Saturday, November 13, 2004

wala lang


i have nothing to do in the office. it's a saturday and there are no bosses around...yahoo!!

***

dahil sa walang magawa, i went on checking my emails. binasa ko lahat ng mga emails ko except the forwarded messages, and one particular email from my friend made my eyes glued on the monitor as my mind wanders in another world...wala lang, binasa ko lang naman ng ilang ulit ang message nya...i think i just miss this person so much...kelan kaya ulit sya mag-eemail and kelan ko kaya ulit sya makikita?

***

i received a message from my friend in the states and i was so happy to hear that she finally tied the knot...we're excited to see the pictures!

***

i want to watch a movie (The Incredibles probably) later but i remembered i have to meet up some friends after office...i'll just watch it on monday since it's a non-working holiday.

***

my friends and i are meeting up in port cafe, but i'm craving for space burgers. i hope i can convince them to have some burger instead of gulping down a cookies and cream shake.


***

Sunday, October 31, 2004

Sunday, October 24, 2004

zzzzzzz........


"ganito ang umaga, di pagpapalit sa iba,
kapag ikaw ang kapiling, sumasarap ang gising..."
-true faith-

whew! at last i got to wake up at 10:30am again. Since i started with my new job, i need to wake up at 6:30 am everyday and i'm not used to it.



talk about hang over! Posted by Hello

Saturday, October 23, 2004

saturday sunshine


Reasons why I love coming to work on saturdays:

·Napatugtog ko na lahat ng entries sa playlist ng winamp.
·Highest scorer na ako sa lahat ng games sa pc ko
·Na-check ko na lahat ng emails ko, nagreply na din ako sa mga dapat
kong replyan.
·Nag-update na ako ng friendster account ko.
·Nabasa ko na lahat ng articles sa http://peyups.com
·Nakailang posts na rin ako sa http://pinoyexchange.com
·Na-visit ko na lahat ng blogs at websites na paborito kong puntahan

Lahat ng pwede kong gawin para palipasin ang oras nagawa ko na, pero ang bagal pa rin umikot ng relo. Kahit anong gawin ko, ayaw pa rin tumapat ng short hand sa #5 at ng long hand sa #12. Hindi naman ako pwedeng lumabas ng office. Mas lalong hindi ako pwedeng maglakadlakad dito sa department namin dahil magmumukha naman akong tanga. Kailangan magmukha akong busy. Kailangan magmukha pa rin akong nagtatrabaho at nag-aanalyze ng kung ano mang pwedeng i-analyze na work-related, kahit na ang talagang focus ko ay makuha ang possible longest words sa text twist.

10..9..8..7..6..5..4..3..2..WWWOOOOOOOOOOO……hay, salamat! Nibagting na jud.

when I die


Lunchbreak. Everybody were through eating their lunch and were busy talking about their dream weddings when I enter the room. As I took a seat, five pairs of eyes were staring at me and one of them suddenly asked me, “ikaw, anong dream wedding mo?” I started chewing on a piece of pork steak and I just smiled at them and answered, “wala akong dream wedding, dream funeral meron ako.” Everyone in the room was shocked after hearing my answer. One of them said that I am so morbid. Another asked if I’m ok. A girl commented that it’s not normal for girls our age to think about death, funerals and stuffs like that. Everybody in the room find me weird.

I let them continue on their comments, reactions, and questions, while I continue munching on my food. I hurriedly finished my lunch and immediately left the place with five persons wearing puzzled look on their faces.

Hahaha! I was laughing my heart out while I brush my teeth. Why? ‘Coz I don’t really have that dream funeral thing on my mind. I just want them to stop bugging me with those kind of questions because it’s not very ME, and I don’t want to strain my mind thinking about those kind of stuffs.

Nakakatawa lang kasi sa dami ng pwede kong isagot, yun pa talaga yung naisip kong sabihin. Maybe it’s one of the effects of working for a memorial park for almost three years.

I had once witnessed the funeral rites of one of our clients. There were like four dead people in just one interment schedule since they came from just one family. Their death was so tragic because they were victims of the Davao Seaport bombing. I can clearly see and feel the family’s grievances as the victims were laid to rest.

On that moment, I suddenly imagined my own burial rites. I said to myself that I don’t want a tragic death, because I don’t want people to cry during my funeral. I want them to be happy for me that I am finally laid to rest.

I want my interment day to be filled with music. My playlist would only have three songs. These are “Crossroads” by Bone-thugs-n-harmony, With a Smile by E’heads, and Paglisan by Color it Red.

Crossroads: because “I’m gonna miss everybody”
With a smile: because I want people to smile on my funeral. “now it’s time to kiss away those tears goodbye…
Paglisan: because wala lang. I just want to add drama in a somewhat melodramatic ambience. And the lyrics really suits the occasion. “at sa ‘yong paglisan ang tanging pabaon ko, ay pag-ibig…”

Instead of throwing flowers while my coffin is being pulled down, I want people to throw pieces of papers with their personalized note. I want them to write something that reminds them of me. It could be anything from funny moments, embarrassing ones, dramatic events, happenings at school, at work, etc. I want them to write on that piece of paper if they were once angry with me, if I hurt them or caused them pain, if I made them happy when I’m still alive, if they had loved me and how much they had loved me. They could also write a letter, compose a song, make a poem, or offer their prayers. I want everybody to tell me everything that they hadn’t told me when I was still alive through that piece of paper, because when I die, I want to bring all the memories that happened in my life.

These notes and songs would be the one to keep me company, and help lessen the boredom as I took the long journey to my next destination.


Note: I’m still looking for a nice epitaph to engrave on my tombstone.

Saturday, October 16, 2004

sembreak


give me a break! i've been working 8 hrs. a day, 6 days a week from 8am-5pm. how i wish i am still a college student so that i can enjoy the privilege of having a sembreak. today would be the last day of the semester for most of the schools, and i can't help but envy the students. they can sleep and wake up anytime they want. they can do whatever they wanna do. they would be spared from their daily routine, quizzes, exams, projects, assignments, reports, oral recitations and teachers. they could sleep all they want. that's all i wanna do right now ---to sleep.


i just want to lie in bed with that sembreak song playing on the radio, lulling me to sleep, putting me in a deep slumber, keeping me company as i enter the dreamworld, where my boss doesn't exist and leaving all the worries behind the so-called real world where everything is not so real...

sembreak...naaalala kita....

Wednesday, October 13, 2004

ninang again!


i should be in the office right now but i have to attend the baptismal rites of my 7th inaanak. i planned to go undertime for 1 hour but the ceremony took for almost 2 hours, so i just decided to go back to work in the afternoon. buti na lang pinayagan ako ng boss ko, 'coz i thought he wouldn't let me.

i was just wondering why in my circle of friends, i was the one who had the most number of godchildren. ang daya 'coz during christmas season, mas marami akong dapat bigyan ng gift. but it's ok, 'coz they tell me that babies are blessings, and it means that i will also be receiving continued blessings...i just hope, nobody would get me as their "ninang sa kasal"..."heller"...i'm too young for that!

Tuesday, October 12, 2004

tawas please!


i am the information desk reliever for today and all i got is a headache. this is all because of this particular old man. he really stinks, it seems as if he hadn't taken his bath since birth. instead of giving him priority number, i wanted to give him tawas as big as a boulder. i wonder how his housemates manage to live with his "unique" odor.

ang aga-aga pa para mabwisit ako. aside from having bad odor, he was also arrogant in asking questions. so instead na maawa ako sa kanya, i just got so annoyed with his manners (if he's got it by the way...)

when i left the info counter, i was still haunted by this old man's smell. i was so paranoid the whole day i kept on sniffing myself to check if i already had his odor...

Sunday, October 10, 2004

internet vs. exam


on oct. 17, i'll be having my cs exam and i still haven't started reviewing. i'd rather surf the net and update my blog than review for that exam. i really get bored reading those kind of questions. but i'll try reviewing this time 'coz this would be my 2nd time to take that exam and i don't wanna fail again...shet! nakakahiya, d ko mapasa pasa yang cs exam na yan. sayang din yung binayad ko no. that's my one day worth of going to office and see my "dementor" kind of a boss. if i failed again, ok lang...there's always a next time (pero 'wag naman sana). as of now, i'll finish updating my winamp first...

Monday, October 04, 2004

slumbook!

from http://www.friendster.com bulletin
posted by honnie ruth

Part 1: Basics
1. NICKNAME - nn, mangkukulam, tutay, bibokid
2. GENDER - female
3. BIRTHDATE - dec. 14
4. WHERE DO YOU LIVE - davao city
5. HEIGHT - 5'1
6. SHOE SIZE - 5 or 5 half
7. FIRST CRUSH - ely buendia
8. WHATS YOUR SIGN - sagittarius
9. WHATS THE FIRST IMPRESSION OF YOU - tahimik, mahinhin (akala lang nila yun!)
10. HAVE A TATTOO - wala

Part 2: Food
1. MCDONALDS OR BURGER KING - mcdo 'coz i haven't tried burger king yet...
2. COKE OR PEPSI - coke
3. ROOT BEER OR CALI - root beer
4. TEA OR COFFEE - tea
5. VANILLA OR CHOCOLATE - vanilla, pero pwede ba ube?
6. CAKE OR PIE - both

Part 3: Pick one
1. MARRY PERFECT FRIEND OR PERFECTLOVER - perfect friend
2. CATS OR DOGS - dogs
3. 1 PILLOW OR 2 - 2
4. W/ OR W/O ICE - with ice
5. TOP OR BOTTOM - both?
6. WINTER/SPRING/SUMMER/FALL - summer
7. SKIING OR BOARDING - ewan
8. BIKING OR BLADING - none, 'coz i don't know how to ride them both...pathetic no? hehehe...
9.ROCK/RAP/R&B/PUNK/ALT/SKA/TECHNO/SWING - rock/alternative
10. NIGHT OR DAY - night
11. VEST OR MITTENS - vest
12. DRESSED OR UNDRESSED - dressed
13. BUNK OR WATER BED - bunk
14. MAKE PLANS OR GO ALONG - make plans
15. TRUTH OR DARE - truth
16. MTV OR VH1 - mtv
17. OCEAN OR POOL - ocean
18. SHOWERS OR BATHS - showers
19. BLIND OR DEAF - blind na lang, i can't live w/o music

Part 4: Favorites
1. COLOR - blue
2. NUMBER - 6
3. SUBJECT - literature
4. SHOE BRAND/s - nothing in particular
5. SPORT- basketball (i don't play, i just watch it), bowling
6. DRINK - iced tea, juices, softdirnk, milk
7. ANIMAL - dogs
8. HOLIDAY - christmas
9. FAVORITE LINE FROM A MOVIE - "akala mo lng wala, pero meron, meron, meron" (hahaha...wala akong maisip sa dami ng magagandang lines...)
10. BAND - eraserheads...forever! ( d naman masyadong halatang fanatic...hehehe...)
11. MOVIE - sa ngayon 13 going on 30 (i just watched it yesterday)
12. PLACE TO CHILL - bahay lang...nood ng tv, listen to radio
13. FLOWER - kahit ano, i'm not really into flowers...
14. PERFUME - victoria's secret (pear glace), cool waters

Part 5: Would you?
1. MOVE ANYWHERE - ok lang
2. DYE YOUR HAIR - i wanna try...
3. MEET ONE FAMOUS PERSON - j.k. rowling
4. LIVE WITH ONE PERSON FOR THE RESTOF YOUR LIFE - yes
5. NAME ONE PERSON YOU LOVE - ahhh...secret na yan...
6. NAME ONE THING THAT EMBARRASSES YOU - many to mention...slumbook na slumbook ba ang dating??..hehehe...)
7. DO YOU LIKE SCHOOL - so much! i went back last year but not in the typical school....
8. DO YOU LIKE TALKING ON THE PHONE - yes, depends on the person i'm talking to
9. DO YOU HAVE YOUR OWN LINE - landline sa bahay, cellphone

Tuesday, September 14, 2004

damned if you do, damned if you don't

I just received my last paycheck from my previous employer. My clearance, exit interview and other employment forms were enclosed with it.

An exit interview is conducted everytime an employee leaves the company. But it was not really an interview because they just gave me a piece of paper with questions regarding my stay with the company. There was one question that was somewhat asking me on what aspect of the company needs improvement. As an encoder, I focused my answer on the program that we used, and my answer was: "The system. The program is so damn slow."

Based on my experience, the program that they are currently using is really slow. You can really test your patience while processing an account. One account would take more or less than 1 hour to complete the payment process, and that was just one step of the entire procedure. You can just imagine how boring it is to stare at the animated hourglass in your monitor, and wait for 48 years until it is done. That alone would really affect your work output and efficiency.

Upon reading my exit interview, the Human Resource Officer was not pleased with what she read. She had a problem with the word "DAMN" that I used to emphasize on how slow their program is, so that they could find ways on how to improve it and lessen the load of their pitiful employees. She encircled and underlined it twice and wrote a note that says: "This girl is rude in answering. Do not accept her if she re-applies."

Oh my God, I’m so scared! I have just lost the chance of re-applying to that poor excuse of a company. If she thinks she scared me to death, well I’m so sorry to disappoint her because I’m not. I am actually pleased as hell with what has happened because I know it affected her. It was just like a kick on her ass. Imagine an underpaid employee kicking the ass of the Human Resource Officer. Hilarious!

I thought the purpose of the exit interview is to know the flaws, the strengths and weaknesses of the company. I thought that that interview would serve as their basis to improve on the quality of their Human Resource and for the betterment of the company, or so I thought.

When I answered that question, I was just being honest. Damn it! I was just being true to myself.

Now, if she had a problem with my honesty, I think she should seek professional help. She acted like my Values Education teacher. Their only difference is that our teacher taught us to be true to ourselves and to be honest with what you feel. I understand that as an HR Officer, it is her job to discipline the employees, but I believe that controlling the employees’ views, decisions and feelings is not included in her job description.

Instead of acting like a pre-school teacher teaching little kids on how to answer questions in a manner that she prefer, she should busy herself with making plans for the employees additional benefits. On giving them seminars and letting them attend conferences that will provide them the career growth that they are continually seeking, that will enhance their skills, and will make them efficient and competitive employees. That’s one way of boosting their morale and would definitely motivate them to give their best at work and never say anything that would hit the ego of every Human Resource Officer, because a part of the employee’s satisfaction lies in the hand of that one person.

Reality bites. Truth really hurts. Peace and good riddance!


oh! and by the way, to mrs. HRO: never did it occured to me, even in my wildest dreams to come back to your office for a re-application. nope. not in a million years...