*Something forbidden you have done that might surprise your friends: ( .... )
*People should not marry before this age: 25
*People should not have children before this age: 18
*The appropriate age for having sex: 22 (or whenever you're out of college)
*Your most recent lie: I have a boyfriend (to someone who asked me to have sex with him..)
*A lie you tell yourself: That I no longer love him...
*Something you have stolen that was not worth the risk: n/a
*One person you have killed in your thoughts: One of the ex's kabits
*One person you might kill if you knew the law would protect you: same girl
*Name a friend you should not have kissed: D?
*Describe a moment when you achieved absolute happiness: Don't think there's such a thing...
*Recall a compliment that made you blush: My classmate called me beautiful and he was not making a pass at me (or so I think, but sometimes I can be naive..)
*Write about your most beautiful and your most horrifying memory of your parents: One night, after gimik, I came in to the living room to find my dad half asleep on the sofa.. It's a beautiful sight to remind me how much our parents really still worry about us, even when we're way past drinking age... As for the horrifying, I choose to be mum about that..
*Does a naked photo of you exist? ho-hum ;)

Labels: survey

I think it's not a myth. The gay community are the most fun people to hang out with. We went to the Recovery Party at the Westin today, and yes, we had a blast. Again. :)

Sigh. All the fabulous men are gay. Not.fair. :)

Labels: party

We celebrated pride weekend by going to the White Party in Orosa strip, Malate. We should love everyone, gay, lesbian, straight, bi - and no one should ever have to feel discriminated against, or abused because of who he or she is. Enough said. I'm sure we all know we are all beautiful creatures. :)

The street party was probably a blast, but we took cover in Mamma. There was no more room on the streets for us and our lungs craved for air, and our bodies craved for a good drink! :) I loved all the fairies, and men characters in white who roamed the streets. It was a sight to see. Hot. Hot. Hot. :)

After dancing our hearts out to "It's raining men!!" and downing several glasses of wine (and my usual white russian, hehe), we ended the night in BED.

And what a way to end the night. Really had a blast.

Labels: party

There are so many things that one can enjoy in life. There is joy in something new.. Like eating someplace new. Don't you just love looking at a menu and seeing you neither can pronounce nor know what you are looking at? Don't you just love the feeling of excitement that comes with the anticipation of experiencing something that you've never experienced before? Like say, Indian ice cream, which you find out you didn't like, but then, hey, you're not supposed to like everything after all. As in life where it's the journey that matters, it's the experience that matters.

Prince of Jaipur, is a good experience. It's pricey and although I've not eaten in a lot of Indian restaurants, I do believe my novice tongue loved the food. Their butter and garlic naan is something I want to go back to. Hahaha.

And then there's the joy of the old and familiar. Like friends you've known for more than half your life. Nothing beats that. These are people whom you'll know will remain a part of your life, through good and bad, most likely till your last breathe. And that knowledge is priceless.

And then there are friends whom you have known not quite as long. But are also a big part of your life. Even if you're two hemispheres and oceans apart, they remain close to your heart. (Yeah, I'm talking about you M***.. :) Thanks for calling.. and thanks for always, always being a good friend!)

Labels: food, friends, restos

Prior to meeting Vietnamese-American friend T, I was never adventurous when it comes to food. But he was someone who introduced me to a new cultures (among other things), via the restos we used to go to while we were in Oregon.

I learned to eat with my hands, with 5 or so other people dipping their hands in the same huge plate of food at a Morrocan resto called Marrakesh :)

Before, the only Indian food I ate was our Filipino version of chicken curry. After eating in Swagat, my taste buds literally got burned, but I discovered I loved rotti, and tandoori chicken..

And of course, he introduced me to Greek Cuisina, one of my fave places ever to eat in Portland, not just because of the food, but because of the atmosphere of fun. Entertainment includes a belly dancer moving about the whole resto, plate-breaking for bday celebrants, newly-engaged, and all sorts of celebrations.. They encourage everyone to dance with them on the floor to traditional Greek music, and just be a Greek for that night.

I kinda miss being adventurous in food like that. Since I got back to Manila, I've stuck to my usual Chinese cuisine. Whenever someone asks me where to eat, I'd say, anywhere Chinese. But tonight, in honor of my friend T, we will go check out Prince of Jaipur at the Fort (thanks, baby for the recommendation). I have done my share of research, and I think this one is worth going to.

Yeah, I'm going to discover new cultures, one plate at a time. ;)

Labels: food, restos

INDIE FILMS GALORE!

Been dying to catch Cinemanila the last few years, and I just couldn't seem to be here everytime it happens. The annual festival will run from July 1 to 12.

Some of the films I wanna watch: Vibrator, Magnifico, Babae sa Breakwater (shown in Cannes and won Urian for best film), Imelda (stars Imelda as herself. Don't know what to make of that, yet. But here's a review.), Zatoichi, Osama (Golden Globe winner for Best Foreign Film)... I hope to catch at least a couple.

For schedule of screenings, call Cinemanila at 897-1319 loc. 336.

footnote: I also wanna watch The Mother and Bus 174. Walang Before Sunset eh.

The ex is here. For good. In the same timezone, a few hours drive away. Too near.

We have been talking over the weekend. I caved in by returning his call. Bad idea. I always charge ahead even when I know it's bad for me. He's bad for me. And I ticked off D because of that. He was mad. And now D doesn't want to talk to me. Hopefully it will pass. I like D. I like having D in my life. I have promoted him to semi best friend status. He really does get me. And he's so not afraid to slap me back to reality. Figuratively, of course. He is harsh sometimes, but I needed to be told that way, so I can stop being sentimental, and stop this thing with the ex altogether.

Why am I still talking to him anyway? Didn't I already establish a long time ago what a monster he is for putting me through so much abuse? Why do I turn jello whenever he suddenly starts being Mr. Nice as D would say? D asked me, "aren't you tired of getting hurt?"..

I think D is tired of me too.. Of me being hot and cold, and happy and sad, laughing and crying. And I realized last night after we had a "fight", that it's him I want to keep in my life, and not the ex. D may not be the man of my dreams, but he is a damn good friend. These days, I'd rather have a friend, than have a prince who might eventually turn into a frog.

I know I'm the only one who can put an end to this saga with the ex. I have to be firm. I have to constantly remind myself that he is no longer the man that I used to know. That man is long gone. Maybe that man never even existed. D tells me to put that reminder in my email, handphone, PDA, whatever it is that I use daily. I laughed. And he told me he wasn't kidding. Much as I hate to admit it, he's right of course. I need a neon sign right before my eyes, reminding me to flush the ex out of my bloodstream. D's silence is definitely more effective than his words. It's only 8AM and I miss him already.

Labels: exes, relationships

Still kinda not over the disappointment from last Saturday night. I have been so excited to go to the Fete, just because I missed it last year. This time, I made sure I got there early (730PM) so I'd beat the traffic. I made sure I wore low-heeled sandals (which after walking around and just before the official festival opened, I had to remove in exchange for my reliable flip-flops, which I carry with me in the car all the time). I even brought antacids so I could drink up. I was ready for the Fete.

I hung out at the main stage as planned. Everything was ok. I discovered this cool ethnic-flavored band called Kadangyan. I fell in love with them.

These guys brought me to way back when... I was then a tubao wearing high school kid, wearing a native backpack to school, who was taught to love her country and its culture.. And that's what Kadangyan means, btw, it's an Ifugao term for "rich in culture".. Which we are. Ain't it great just to rediscover that? :)

After a 15-min break, there was a brief fireworks display.

The crowd cheered, and soon after, Capoiera went up the stage with some members dancing off-stage (I could not see them but I saw legs flying up the air)..

All I know was, I was having great fun. Then I saw him. My man. My bassist. Louie Talan of Loquy/Razorback. He played with Cynthia Alexander, who officially opened the festival. Who, as always, wowed the crowd with her haunting voice.

The Makiling Ensemble was next, then while I was loving Radio Active Sago project, and as Lourd de veyra shouted his lyrics, felt huge drops of rain on my forehead. Not a good sign. Had to run away, and was just in time before the rain poured.

The music soon faded. And that was the end of it. No more fete, washed away by the rain, leaving thousands of people stranded, some of them soaked, without anywhere to go. All the bars were packed. The beer was warm.

And it was just time to call it a night, at 1AM.

Labels: concert, fete

Tom. night will be the start of the summer solstice - longest day of the year, the beginning of summer, for the people in the northern hemisphere, that is.. For us living right on the earth's equator, well, it's sort of the end of ours (not really.. but, I'm not going into all the scientific details, because, I don't know. hahaha)...

Oh, summer, you went away too soon!! I don't want you to go yet.. Summer is the time for brief love affairs, with someone, with some place like Bora.. It's also the time for inhibitions to go away, and for people to play... It's the time to get out there and get burned.. Well, literally and figuratively... :p

And one of the most popular summer solstice festivals, is the Fete dela Musique, which started in France (don't you just love them? they gave us, among several other wonderful things, ern, French kissing, and French fries.. hahaha)... The Phils. started the fete about ten years ago, in Malate, then somewhere along the way, they moved to El Pueblo, and this year, in Eastwood.. It just gets bigger and bigger.. This year, they will have ~2x more bands playing all kinds of music! They're expecting 2x more people (10000++!!) flocking to the venue. Bad of course.. Where to park? Argh. How to breathe? Double argh.

But, I totally enjoyed my first Fete.. Music and alcohol are two of my favorite things ever.. hehehe.. Never mind all the inconvenience (like feet hurting like hell after about 5 hrs of standing up/dancing/walking, etc; people stepping on your poor toes; 2 hrs to find a parking space; getting sweaty and sticky, and all sorts of eewwwww)... It is FUN, FUN, FUN!

Here's a quick overview to what we'll see tonight :

World Music (main stage)- opening by Cynthia Alexender at ~9PM.. Various performances by Pinikpikan (including closing at 3AM)... Loquy at 1230AM.. Makiling Ensemble (after CynthiA), Brownbeat, Radioactive sago, Bayang Barrios... I'm hanging out here most of the time

Reggae (Via Mare) - Tropical depression (2AM)ROck (Parking lot) - The Dawn, Mongols (940PM), 6 Cycle Mind, Rivermaya, Bamboo (1130PM), Sugarfree, Cambio, Sandwich -- all happening after 9PM..

Alternative (Cybermall) - Narda, Session Road (150AM), Kitchie Nadal, Barbie's Cradle

Hiphob/RB will be at the Basement, Electronica at Big kahuna, Drum Jam by K-honistas at McCau Fountain area (830PM).. Well, there's also Jazz, lounge music and blues..

Footnote: IT RAINED! HARD! AND THE RAIN KILLED THE FESTIVAL :( More about this year's fete when I'm over the inis. Hehehe.

Labels: concert, fete, summer

I think God has a weird sense of humor sometimes.

Today I asked Him for some distraction. I had been thinking about the Ex again since last night after he asked to see me. PLS DONT ASK ME WHY COZ I DON'T KNOW THE HELL WHY, but yes, I wanted to see him. I came close to calling him last night, well, just about a hundred times. And today I finally did press that green phone icon thingy. And pressed the red one just as fast. And I wanted to hit the green icon again, and so on and so forth. I was antsy. And I prayed for some distraction.

I was already driving through SSHi-way, on my way home, when I got a call from work. Emergency meeting. Delivery issues chuva. Ok. 1.5 hrs later, I was already home, but still on the phone. Meeting not over. Between the bus drivers cutting me, and the folks on the phone yelling, the farthest thing on my mind was calling my ex. Distraction was what I wanted? I got it, in a fashion that is no longer quite surprising to me. Fridays are mostly like this. Sometimes they catch me during my gimik, half drunk. I stay glued on the phone, while my friends, well, get drunker and drunker.

Now I’m still gathering more data. And got another SMS. “Kumusta ka na?”, from, ern, FIRE INSPECTOR? What the?! I sort of “met” this guy when a fire truck driver rammed into a pick-up, which rammed into a car, which rammed into my car last Feb. He was this inspector guy, the boss of the fireman, who took the blow, and helped get the approval of the mayor in that town to pay for the car damages. He gave me his phone number so I can follow him up re my cheque. After like four months, cheque is FINALLY ready and yesterday, I finally went back to the municipal hall to claim it. Mr. Inspector personally assisted me, chatted with me while all the red tape was unfolding before me. And I thought I found it strange when he had to walk me to my car, and then said, “I hope this is not the last time that I see you”. And I went, “Well, I certainly hope it won’t be because one of your fire trucks rammed into my car again.”… As I was driving away, I thought, “eeew! Was he hitting on me?? DOM!!!!!”… And quickly erased the thought. Until the SMS tonight. Yeah, distraction. Yet again. But can I just say this one more time? Eeewwww!

Dear God, you’re so funny ha. The next time I ask, I will be VERY specific. :P

Labels: boys, exes

More than a year ago, I had my life plotted out perfectly. Or so Ithought. The things we laid out "till death do us part", I have to now work out, on my own.. It's scary, as it is exciting, but I decided to take the steps, and enter the world of grown-ups. It is strange - this world of mortgages, real estate taxes, investments, savings (gulp) and yes, thinking about the future. (Potah, how can real estate documentary stamps cause P5k +++??? I had to pay tens of thousands just for documents and processing fees.. haaaaaaaaaaay..Nakakaiyak ever! :)) It is surreal. It does not mesh well with my living-in-the-moment lifestyle.

Yet, the truth is, this getting old bit is getting to me.. No matter how many immigration officials have mistaken me for an unaccompanied minor everytime I approach their booth, it doesn't change the fact that, yes, gulp again, I've finally gotten past the twenty-sumthing range. Ouch. No matter how much I want to stay stuck, I have to move forward, and face real responsibilities. Alone or not. Just as no matter how much I resist, Manila is now my home, and Cebu is just well, full of fond memories of my generally happy youth.. I feel like a stranger there even as I'm anonymous here. But thank God for the friends and family whom I can still go back to, whenever I feel like getting in touch with my roots or the need to reconnect, whenever I want to feel grounded again. Like it or not, I am here for the long haul. Well, you know, until I take on another opportunity for growth. But for now, this is my place under the sun. It is far from being charmed, but I have come to love it just the same.Which is also why I'm declining the new carrot called another U.S. assignment flashed before me. I don't wanna pack my bags again. Not yet. Not when I haven't even unpacked everything since I arrived last year. I wanna stay and see what's out here for me. Hey, there will always be new opportunities down the road, as long as we continue to seek them out.Yes, I'm staying. Unless of course I run out of gimik money, and I have to eat my words. Haha. Kidding.

Labels: life

So who isn't in love with Bora?

Isn't waking up to the sound of the waves hitting the shore, the best alarm in the world? Isn't the glorious expanse of whiteness, or the turquoise blue waters, just the best sight? Don't you just love the feel of sand on your feet as you walk along the 4km beach strip? And how about the slap of the wind on your body, as you lazily sit by the beach, watching all the activity around you?

Is it being away from the hustle and bustle of your daily life? Is it the escape from the noise and pollution and the fast cars or the fast-paced lives? Is it the sun, or the wind, or even the rain that you somehow miss as you get cooped up inside a high-rise or a plant far far away from civilization?

What is it about Boracay that everyone just loves?

It is everything and nothing in particular. It's the lure of the calm during the day, and the drunken activities during the night. It's the lure of being able to strip yourself from all your worries and inhibitions, even just for a few days. It's the lure of just being able to enjoy and feel the island, no matter what you do or don't do.

Bora is a paradise. That is certain.

Labels: beach, Boracay, vacation

I wanna write about Bora, but I had such a love-hate relationship with it, it makes me smile/cringe everytime I think about it.. Much like a relationship gone sour but will always have a place in your heart.. so, I will have to postpone that for some other time.. Methinks I'm still having withdrawal symptoms, I can still the hear in my head, the waves as they hit the shore.

I was watching Along Came Polly. It's not an awesome movie, just good to watch.. Not too awww.. but not too ewww either. Stars Ben Stiller and Jen Aniston, both of whom I'm particularly fond of.. Ben of course for Zoolander, and Jen for well, Friends..

Anyhoo, there are two main characters in the movie... Reuben, an expert risk assessment analyst, who is so risk-averse, he doesn't eat peanuts in a bar, because he thinks he'll catch ebola virus doing so.. He never goes out of his comfort zone because he has calculated all the risks possible in life, that he lays it out so perfectly.. Until his wife leaves him for a scuba instructor on their honeymoon.. A few days later, he meets Polly, his classmate from middle school, who was a good student and was even a UN delegate, but is now a globe-trotting salsa-dancing waitress, who lives in the moment. She lives her life so differently.. She's on the no-plan plan...

Plus points for the movie aside from the stars: it's set in NY, there are a good number of funny and endearing moments, the characters are not very exaggerated, and well, i like the dialogues...

Some of my fave ones are:

"I've been living my life, ok? I've been in good relationships,I've been in shitty ones. And I moved a lot, and I've been happy. And I've been sad, and I've been lonely, and that's what I've been doing. Which is more than I can say for some people who plans their life so carefully, and thinks they can catch the Ebola virus by sticking their fingers into a bowl of peanuts.."... - Polly (after Reuben asked her what happened to her when she used to be doing so well with her life.. not verbatim, btw)..

"I destroyed your throw pillows. They don't serve a purpose. They're purely decorative" - Reuben (to his wife after finally ending it with her)

"Move on with your life. It's not about what happened in the past. Or what you think may happen in the future. It's about the ride, for Christ's sake. There's no point of going through all this crap if you're not going to enjoy the ride. And you know what, when you least expect it, something great might come along. Something better than you even planned for." - Reuben's father

"Since we've been together, I felt more uncomfortable, out of place, embarrassed, and just physically sick than I have ever been in my entire life. But I couldn't have gone through all that, I couldn't have thrown up 19 times in 48 days, if i was in love with you. Maybe you're right. Maybe this is just a fling. But if you get on that plane and you go to Cincinnati or wherever it is you're going, we'll never know if it could have been something more.." - Reuben (to Polly, after Polly tried to run away again.. not verbatim)

"I don't want to get married. I just wanna take you out to dinner. Sometime this week.." - Reuben (to Polly after she responded that she did not want to marry him)..

The movie fits well to the conversation I had with the globe-trotting single hottie whom I'll call B (who's incidentally taking a Safari trip to South Africa this July)... hehehe.. Living in the moment.. Taking risks.. Go seek out the exciting, and adventurous, and out of ordinary.. Even if it's just talking to a guy on the bar, who's not really your type, but offers you a beer without really hitting on you.. Even if it's accepting free cocktails from a not-so-attractive bartender but gives you the laughs, or maybe hang out with a stranger from another city, one whom you'll probably never see again, but you know, you don't want to marry the guy, but just wanna enjoy the night.. And then maybe, one of these days, you can finally take that first scuba dive, even if the open waters freak the hell out you.. =)

Labels: life, movies, relationships

Just as I was beginning being single (again) was such a drag, I just found myself waking up today, with a silly grin on my face, actually relieved that I am where I am today. True, the grass may look greener at the other side of the fence, but man, I am not ready for coupledom. There is so much to explore, so many new people to meet, more countries to go to, things that I know will change once I commit myself to a partner. Because obviously, once you decide to have a family, priorities change. If there is one thing I'd like to promise myself, it's that I'd like to have very few what-if's in my life as much as possible. I wanna live life to the fullest, because yes, it's short, and it's the only one I've got.

In more juvenile news, I'm soooooooo crushing on this guy I met the other night. He's a schoolmate, a writer, economist, well-travelled, very smart, guapo, charismatic, 31 yrs old, and very very single.. Hehehe.. I hung out with him and a classmate, and we just clicked. We just have so much in common... Grabeh, mahal ko na cya.. Hahahaha... But, he seems too good to be true.. And, he didn't get my number. lolz.. (Though, that is something very easy to solve... hehehe).. Too bad he only has a couple more subjects to go, and I'm still OSY. But, our common friend who introduced us is matchmaking... Bagay daw kami eh.. Harhar.. Just quoting... We'll see how this one goes.

Well, I'm off to the beach in a few hours. Yeah, it's been drizzling. Sana it's sunnier in the islands. Regardless. I.will.enjoy. Ciao! Have a good one, folks =)

Labels: boys, dating

D and I had the closest thing to "THE TALK" yesterday. After several months of "hanging out", I finally found the opening I was looking for to bring it up. He sort of stood me up last Friday.. He appeared to have a valid reason naman, lame but valid. Still I was majorly pissed. After calmly ignoring some other pressing things about this not-quite-a-relationship the last few weeks, I finally gave in to my uhm, less-than-graceful you-are-an-asshole speech. Ok. So I didn't really call him an asshole. But, euphemism and all, I think he got the point. He seemed genuinely worried about the whole thing. But no, he did not declare his love for me, like that scene in the final SATC episode where Big said "It took me a long time to get here, but I'm here... Carrie, you're the one..".. hahaha..

Anyways, all I can say is, he called me up twice in one day and been emailing/texting me non-stop. Which I find really adorable. And now I can't stay mad at him. Dang it. Pusong mamon talaga. But what can I do? I've known him for 18 years. I have to give him the benefit of the doubt. He still doesn't earn a space in my address book. I have deleted his number. But it is for my own protection, really. I don't ever want to be the first to call or text him. But even if I have not memorized his number, I will know it's him, so, you know, I'm not yet totally erasing him out of my life.

Nyeta. I'm losing my so-called poise over this. I.am.not.falling.for.him.

And that is that.

Labels: boys, relationships