Snap for a Tune: Indak

Indak
Up Dharma Down


Tatakbo at gagalaw
Mag-iisip kung dapat bang bumitaw
Kulang na lang, atakihin
Ang pag-hinga'y nabibitin

Ang dahilang alam mo na
Kahit ano pang sabihin nila
Tayong dalawa lamang ang makakaalam
Ngunit ako ngayo'y naguguluhan

Makikinig ba ako
Sa aking isip na dati pa namang magulo?
O iindak na lamang
Sa tibok ng puso mo

At aasahan ko na lamang na
Hindi mo aapakan ang aking mga paa
Pipikit na lamang at mag-sasayaw
Habang nanonood siya...
Paalis at pabalik
May baong yakap at suklian ng halik
Mag-papaalam at mag-sisisi
Habang papiglas ka ako sayo ay tatabi

Tayong dalawa lamang ang nakaka-alam
Ngunit hindi na matanto kung sino nga ba ang pag-bibigyan ko
Makikinig nga ba sa isipan na alam ang wasto

Ngunit pipigilan ang pag-ibig nya na totoo

Iindak na lamang ba sa tibok ng puso mo
At aasahan ko hindi nya lamang aapakan ang aking mga paa
Pipikit na lamang at mag-sasaya
Habang nalulungkot ka
Pipikit na lamang at mag-sasaya
Habang nalulungkot ka

Ako'y Litong-lito
Tulungan niyo ako
Di ko na alam
Kung sino pang aking pagbibigyan o

Ayoko na ng ganito
Ako ay litong-lito ohwooh

Since my brother started listening to this, all of us at home including my mom has been hooked to this song. A really nice song that's easy on the ears while I try and finish this project for a friend if not this week at most next week. It's been long overdue and I need to make up for it. *fingers crossed

Christmas is the most wonderful time of the year

There's a certain warm fuzzy, light-hearted feeling that goes with Christmas most especially for us Filipinos. Just the thought and aura can bring some sort of cheer for me.
It's different though being reminded of it when you're away from home and alone. Christmas festivities and the energy every pinoy evokes hence the atmosphere is really different. Although I think I've also been out of the country with family twice on Christmas. To me it's just a joyous, peaceful celebration with friends and family.

Christmas in disneyland - well that's another thing. Makes you feel like a kid again. Such a happy place!

On another note: I haven't done any gift shopping yet though there's not really much to shop for. Guess my circle is not that big... Not really a good thing.

Diliman Engineering December Festivities

I miss college. One of the many things that added color to my college life was the December festivities in Diliman. For a start there's the engineering week catering to the competitive nature of the different eng'g accredited orgs. While we still had our share of exams that didn't stop us from enjoying all the different activities lined up from sports-oriented to talent oriented stuff. From the main events: smoker's night which was basically org-bashing, awitan, indakan, maskipaps, dateng'g game culminating with the Ms. Engg to all sorts of mini-games here and there (ex. Car stuffeng'g, breng'g me, command and conquer). There are enough activities to organize and participate in to keep everyone preoccupied. It was truly a time to be young, wild and carefree. Add the lantern parade and the oblation run and viola you have a free, festive atmosphere in Diliman which you can associate with Christmas.
Having been out of college since 6 years ago, I have this feeling of nostalgia. I miss that kind of feeling the Diliman Engineering 'Christmas' evokes. I won't be back this year but maybe next time...

The OAK Starbucks planner

12.14.2011. I finally got my first ever starbucks planner. And it's all thanks to option 2 and the 14 sticker promo! And the free stickers I got from friends who didn't collect. Yes, I am not a starbucks addict. I don't even drink coffee save for the cranberry white mocha frap that a friend just recently introduced me to. Even that was not love at first taste and took quite a few sips of getting used to. If not for the chamomile full leaf tea which, accounts for the most stickers in that 14 I contributed, I probably wouldn't have started collecting much more complete all 23 of them (option 2 required no holiday drinks but 23 stickers instead of the 17 option 1).
Though I love doodling, I'm still thinking whether I'll keep it or give it as a gift. To whom I don't even know yet.

Another clubbing Christmas Party

So it's that time of the year again where parties abound. Contrary to some my social calendar is actually quite open and I've already attended last night my only (I think) Christmas party. And as usual, for the third time in a row, I did not get to qualify for the raffle which was the main thing I looked forward to.
Since joining the company, I always ended up coming late after the cut-off and this year was no different. We were so close however. It took just one wrong turn along the service road to take us from a few kms away to more kms away back to edsa! Too bad! :( it was all good and since i'm actually used to it I got over it except for a few bitter rants here and there. When a teammate won the coveted ipad (what i was rooting for), I couldn't help but be envious! Haha oh well...
Nonetheless, we just made the most out of it. It was good that they got a band that played nicely and pumped up the crowd. They were aptly named, In heat, as they turned up the heat at the party. You could see that our team's population was heavily composed of males as most would end up staring at the band when they did their thing. 6-7 drinks later, I had too much gas inside, I struggled a bit. But their rum tasted nice. It took one burp and whatever buzz I was feeling was instantly gone.
I kind of wonder though, considering how we kind of had our own little circle as if we were having our own party, reflects how we've become isolated and outcasts from the team... Was there something in our airs our aura that repels them away and keep their distance? Does it still have something to do with the "pinagpala" thing? I am too offended with that to even bother to force myself to mingle.
Anyhow, we rested a bit and people watched at all the high heels, legs and skimpy outfits and pretty young things at opus while drinking at starbucks. It was more interesting looking at them ladies than guys (or for the lack of it). Makes you think, there are too many rich people in Manila! And we're not one of them. With that said, we re-entered republiq to milk our free entrance so we see and experience how they party. My conclusion, it's darn expensive to party there. You'd have to shell out prolly more than 2000 to get a buzz going. (more if your tolerance is high unlike me). I am starting to feel old for these kind of parties though and all the drinking makes me think of my body and health.
One other thing I realized, I think I have too much crass when I drink though haha yes, cRass..

The mean, manang and now also late girls haha

Some more grabbed pics (and a little vanity service):

What's in a name?

Or in this case, what's in a title? Sadly, it has some sort of bearing for me that I actually am ashamed to broadcast it in public whether on immigration forms or anywhere else. Internally, it's not a problem but the negative association with the title by some circles make me want to hide it. So much that I found myself hesitating several times from adding 'people' or connections in one 'professional networking' site. I have not added some of them still for fear of this bad judgement considering how nice sounding theirs are already. I know that it's different (somewhat) but sometimes it's just hard to have to explain. Still it kind of makes me think if I have been left behind...
The title I do want is still the same though - wife and mother. Hahaha kidding aside I really want... Oh well. Bahala na si batman!

Malabo lang

It hit me today. Internally, I am more relaxed when there's a constraint and hold back when there isn't. Externally, I hold back when something is stirring up inside than when there's none. A contradiction really. On the road to recovery. Nagising din!
Spell hopeless though. It's gotta change.

Whatever!

Hiding and masking this sadness with another more bearable and common one. So typical.

Stuck up in the past. I realize I can't get a move on... No matter how
much I know and want to move to the next stage in life...

Young, careless and free... Ah, those were the good old days... I am getting old. The numbers are catching up to me and hits me right there.

It's like I'm watching the passing of my youth.

Too much thinking. Everything in my mind and scattering bits and pieces everywhere in cyberspace. Yes, I think too much. And I am lonely...

Where to? What next?

It's not that I am not that grateful for the opportunities given to me NOT granted to others... It's just that I am asking myself the exact questions above: where to? What next? What do I want in the long run?
I probably have been going with the flow for too long I need to figure out how I can grow and how I want to grow. Since a married and family life is not one you can think about single and alone, you start to look for options... I've known and thought what I wanted since starting out 6 years ago and since then it hasn't changed. I wonder though am I just too stuck with the idea? What if the idea does not really match with reality? Do I keep looking over and missing what's here? Has it really been a long time coming? Or others deserve or have more right than I am to be thinking about these things? The grass may not always be greener on the other side, but maybe I can make it so. It's not always what they can offer, usually it's what you can offer.

It's not you, it's me...��

What the hell is wrong with me? Am I a free spirit or a tease? Maybe I am both but definitely a coward. Why am I still single when in fact I have quite a fickle heart... Or maybe that's just it, I do, I can like(maybe a little even more) somebody but oftentimes my mind and my principles do not agree... I find myself let loose on the emotions and control only when the feasibility or reality of it is remote. Once it becomes tangible and material, I run away and hide. But did it ever? Have I really seen and felt it to be just and real? When my mind does, my heart is stone cold or turns to stone... Try as I may, I find no cracks or little but not enough cracks to go forward. Will they ever both agree?
The great wall of joyce - will you even crumble? Will someone even try to knock it over? But even if someone does, if I refuse to budge, just by sheer will it won't. Why won't I? Can someone meet me halfway? Is it really just me or there's not really the one yet? I keep on waiting, searching, hoping but this hope somehow messes things up as well. For as I hope, I keep on being idealistic and looking for that perfect deal, situation, package. Sometimes, it sucks to be me. More often than not, I have not really been able to be true to whatever emotions I may have had-no matter how insignificant. And usually, I end up with pent up emotions.
The one that got away.
The bad boy
-
The emo crush
-
?

*sigh.

Thrill seeker...

Got to experience this new thrill ride at hk disneyland's toy story land. Probably next to the drop at hk ocean park and maybe G-max at sg, this is another favorite. I used to get really scared and nervous before getting into one of these rides but I'd do it anyway. Now, however, I feel so used to it and look forward to the adrenaline rush (in a safe way) that there's not much jitters while in queue.
Ironic how in real life, I cringe at taking risks and go for the safe, easy route.

It's easy to forget...

In spite of, despite of... I am blessed and fortunate enough to be here right now surrounded by family and friends in God's love. Thank you!
Happy thanksgiving especially to those who celebrate it!

Immigration encounters

The first few years of overseas travel was a breeze and I have not had any real negative run-ins with immigration authorities until last saturday. Here's what I've had to deal with so far (the memorable ones):
1. Travelling from bangkok to phuket my last name was misspelled by my friend in the plane booking. This doesn't really qualify as immigration authorities are not involved. Nonetheless, it gave me a scare lest I be left alone in bangkok while all of my friends go island hopping in phuket. Because the difference was very minor, I hopped to phuket without problems.
2. Getting to the US with my visa , the homeland security had to see the rest of our supporting papers due to the 'mismatch' between the blanket petition in the visa and the company mentioned in our invite letter. We had to make a dash through the Minneapolis airport to make it to our connecting flight. Our check-in baggage didn't make it and we had to wait until the next day. Yes, do bring an extra set of clothes in your handcarry. I don't consider this negative, just memorable.
3. During the hk trip with my mom last February, hk immigration authorities had to ask me especially my mom several questions regarding the purpose of our visit. It was a good thing that we didn't book a hostel and have a bit of an itinerary in mind though we didn't really make any arrangements. It was her third time and my second but her passport was just renewed and was thus empty. Our conclusion was that she got considered as a candidate for someone that could be an illegal DH. Maybe she should bring her old passport with her. The hotel booking probably saved us and maybe the itinerary.
4. On my recent business trip to copi-suban, I didn't make the distinction between business and work. Good thing God was there with me and they let me pass with my fumble. I didn't realize you had to be specific. I thought they were one and the same and should do.
5. I looked different probably older as the one in my passport that the officer felt or was compelled to verify my identity. This was on the trip home yesterday. She called me by first name and I thought I heard 'Rowena'. My first thought was did I give her the wrong passport? Of course, that couldn't possibly be the case until I realized she was calling out my actual first name. You see, I am not used to people calling me by that and it's something I rarely use and more often than not only on paper. Took me a few seconds to realize and say 'first name' but the officer let me through.
6. And the most memorable and the only real negative one goes to our own immigration authorities. It's my first time to travel with officemates for pleasure and when asked what our relation to each other us, instead of saying friends we said officemates. Both should have been true but maybe just maybe if we said the former instead of the latter, it saved us some time and BV. After saying officemates, she asked us what we were going to do in hk and then looked for our company id. Can somebody please explain to us, why we should be carrying this around when: a) we don't have an office there, b) it is not considered a valid id, c) we were not travelling because of work but holiday/vacation? Luckily for me, I had mine with me but this only caused her to lash out some more on my friends for not bringing theirs. I said lucky because if I did not cram packing I probably would have also left it at home. The driver's license didn't cut it for her and she gave herself as an example that she always carries hers around. Yes, she was technically working at that time and needed to wear hers. Out came the health card and the valid US visa (which had the name of our company) but she could not be convinced. Our passports have multiple visas on them and several stamps but that apparently didn't help our case. I was waiting for her to ask for our itinerary/hotel bookings but she didn't ask for them. She was too mad at us for not bringing and showing her our company id. I can't really explain her behavior aside from being some form of power trip or making us cringe in case we were hiding something. We didn't really argue that much to avoid aggravating our situation... She was signalling to her colleagues and deep down I was getting scared that they will escort us out. I was considering name dropping if the situation got worse and contacted my dad for back-up. Good thing we didn't have to resort to that and just absorbed her stress and her madness. Whew! And I thought you'd have less problems the more stamps and visas you have...

Must love hk ❤

So i just got back again from hk after just 9 months... and already i'm thinking about going back but only during their 'winter' season. Between hk and sg, it seems cheaper there although more on the chaotic side. The cool weather + outlet shopping is the next best thing to the US black friday shopping for me I guess considering the proximity. As an added bonus, I can use those stockings (though the weather was not cool enough this weekend for that).
Last February, I was with my mom and it was cool enough for stockings on our macau jaunt. The ngong ping+buddha trip the following day didn't require one though.
This time I was with officemates, and we stayed at hk disneyland hotel and butterfly on prat. Because of the late bookings, our accommodations were a bit on the expensive side. Butterfly on prat is a boutique hotel near hotel benito. They upgraded us to suite rooms although on our first night they charged us extra for the extra person though it was already specified in our asiatravel reservation. Too bad though we didn't really get to maximize our stay in the hotels because for the most part we were outside. Maybe a full four/five days need to be alloted so it won't be as tiring. Maybe I can go back to ocean park next time.

Thrice I've been to hk and I haven't really noticed anything that different on the negative side unlike SG orchard road which kind of shocked me comparing 2006 with 2011. Guess I ❤ hk (of course, a large part is due to the fact that it's somewhere around my means). i'd love to be able to visit other countries as well such as taiwan, sk, japan, europe! I wish!