Highlights of my 2006
[February] My sister went to Tokyo, Japan for a business trip.

[March] We watched him in concert at the Araneta Coliseum.

[April] We went to Boracay for 5 days and 4 nights of Sand, Sun, Seafood and Snapshots.



[May] We found ourselves once again in Araneta Coliseum for another concert.

[June] We got caught in the FIFA (soccer) World Cup fever.



[July] We booked a suite at the Philippine Plaza Hotel to watch the final game (France vs Italy) of the FIFA World Cup.



[August] We rocked it out with JD Fortune and INXS in an awesome concert!



I camped out at the cinemas to watch as many movies as I could during the numerous foreign film festivals (French, Japanese, Australian, German, Spanish, Cine Europa, Cine Manila, Israeli)



We stayed at the Linden Suites twice this year. June for some R & R. October during typhoon Milenyo's days of darkness!



[November] We had our loft repainted.



[December] The last few days of this year, I shopped till my feet ached, my muscles atrophied, my wallet emptied and my credit cards maxed out at several malls offering their annual year end SALE. Yeeehaw =)




Ring out the old, ring in the new. Ring happy bells, across the snow. The year is going, let him go. Ring out the false, ring in the true. Lord Alfred Tennyson

Let's (Friday) feast!
Appetizer
How do you usually celebrate on New Year's Eve?
Eat (media noche), drink (red wine) and be merry!

Soup
Name one thing unexpected that happened to you in 2006.
My sister surprised me with a trip out of town, I totally didn't expect this vacation, at all.

Salad
Where was your favorite place that you visited in 2006?
Definitely Boracay (April, 2006), the trip I mentioned above. It was my first time there and I totally fell in love with the place.

Main Course
What resolution is your top priority for 2007?
I don't make resolutions :D

Dessert
Using just three words, describe 2006.
Plethora of hues

'Tis the day after Christmas
So everything - the last minute shopping, the mall hopping, exploring the night bazaars, the putting up of Christmas decors in the rush to get ready for the big day was one big exercise in futility because a high tension drama on Christmas Eve ruined the festivities. I don't want to talk about it but suffice to say it wasn't pleasant. It had all the elements of a telenovela. So anticlimactic really, I knew it would happen. Arghh! Damn it!

So as I rightfully predicted I spent Christmas day in bed nursing this pesky cough I have been battling for 3 weeks now. I read my book ("In the Walled Gardens" by Anahita Firouz), only getting up for meals, to check my emails and blog hop. In the evening to inject some cheer into my morose soul, I watched a pirated "DVD copy" of "Little Miss Sunshine" , a delightful movie I saw at Greenbelt last week which I totally adore. It worked. It made me laugh and cry at the same time.

This SMS exchange though didn't help boost my low morale:
Me: I wish you a magical festive season filled with loving wishes and beautiful thoughts. Happy Christmas! best regards, Daph =)
Him : Daph? Sorry my phone book got erased. Who is this?
Me: it's me Daphne we met over a year ago.
Him: Hmmm where? Sounds familiar but I can't place the name
(by this point I was already cringing and totally embarrassed that he doesn't know nor remember who I am)
Me: It was only once for drinks at "xxxxxxxx"
He: Hmm ... Daphne Laura? Hi there! Merry Christmas
Me: Oh right I should have added the "Laura" So how have you been?

He doesn't reply back. Ugh! I guess this explains why I never heard from him again after that first 'date'.

Anyways!


I don't want to end this entry on a sour note, so allow me to post some pictures I took of the brightly decorated houses on Policarpio Street in Mandaluyong. We go there annually to catch some much needed Christmas cheers. This year, we squeezed ourselves among the hordes of people on the 23rd of December. People of different shapes, sizes, age and gender and dare I say of different body scents as well. As I walk around being jostled left and right, trying to steady my hands so I can take good pictures, I always wonder how much they pay for their electricity.

Merry Christmas!!!

Three Wise Men
Three men died on Christmas Eve and were met by Saint Peter at the pearly gates. "In honor of this holy season," Saint Peter said, "You must each possess something that symbolizes Christmas to get into heaven."

The first man fumbled through his pockets and pulled out a lighter. He flicked it on. "It represents a candle," he said. "You may pass through the pearly gates," Saint Peter said.

The second man reached into his pocket and pulled out a set of keys. He shook them and said, "They're bells." Saint Peter said, "You may pass through the pearly gates."

The third man started searching desperately through his pockets and finally pulled out a pair of women's glasses.

St. Peter looked at the man with a raised eyebrow and asked, "And just what do those symbolize?"

The man replied, "They're Carol's."

A change of heart
I know I said in an earlier post that I was a Scrooge.
I don't get into the whole frenzy of the Yuletide season.
Well, guess what?
I have had a change of heart.
Why?
I was mortified and stricken by this numbing fear when my mother had trouble breathing. So the day after my mother was hospitalized, I realized that life is too precious.
I need to be more positive and make extra effort to be upbeat for the sake of my family especially during this merriest of seasons, a holiday which my mother loves so much.

So I illuminated my loft with bright, colorful decors

I spent an entire day at the Mall of Asia for my Christmas shopping

I placed the gifts beside my tiny Christmas tree

I've been making the rounds of the different night bazaars
(Greenhills, Libis, World Trade Center) for some bargain hunting

Happy Holidays everyone! =)

The Ghost of my Wintry Past

A Canadian friend of mine sent me this picture of his frontyard after a severe snowstorm blanketed the city. It brought back pleasant memories of my very distant past. I have always been a winter person. I thrive in cold climates. I love walking in the snow all bundled up like the Michelin man in my thick parka. With itchy thermal wear inside to keep me warm, layered with turtlenecks, sweaters, lamb wool pants / skirts, mufflers/scarves, thick stockings, mittens and a woolen cap to cover my ears. Fully stuffed like a turkey with rosy cheeks and a cold red nose to brave the frosty elements.

I vividly recall our entire class (in elementary) had this 'Classe de Neige' ('Snow Class'). We lived one entire month away from our parents, away from school in this little mountain town high up in the Swiss Alps. We took the train from the Gare du Midi (Central Station in Brussels) and traveled miles through the scenic European countryside, crossed the border to reach this remote Swiss town. The entire class was billeted together in this spacious boarding house with bunk beds. We walked to the large mess hall for our meals. Our lessons were conducted in a heated chalet. Amidst a panoramic setting of white clouds in clear blue skies, powdery flakes of fresh snow with cable cars nestled in a valley of snow capped mountains, we studied the geography of Switzerland, had group science projects, mingled with the pupils from the other schools (also attending their Classe de Neige), learned to ski (I totally failed in this subject, I'm Asian for God's sake :D), went hiking in the mountains - it was total assimilation in a winter wonderland up in the chilly Alps.

I was such a happy trooper. My classe de neige is an experience I would always cherish and remember with such warm fondness. But that was a long time ago, back in the days when I wasn't jaded nor sarcastic when every single thing had this semblance of pure innocence coupled with simple joys. Much like this classic French Christmas Carol I sang with my former classmates, way back when "I was small and Christmas trees were tall".

Petit Papa Noel
C'est la belle nuit de Noël
La neige etend son manteau blanc
Et les yeux leves vers le ciel
A genoux, les petits enfants
Avant de fermer les paupieres
Font une derniere priere.

Petit papa Noël
Quand tu descendras du ciel
Avec des jouets par milliers
N'oublie pas mon petit soulier
Mais avant de partir
Il faudra bien te couvrir
Dehors tu vas avoir si froid
C'est un peu a cause de moi

Le marchand de sable est passe
Les enfants vont faire dodo
Et tu vas pouvoir commencer
Avec ta hotte sur le dos
Au son des cloches des eglises
Ta distribution de surprises

Il me tarde que le jour se leve
Pour voir si tu m'as apporte
Tous les beaux joujoux que je vois en reve
Et que je t'ai commandes

Et quand tu seras sur ton beau nuage
Viens d'abord sur notre maison
Je n'ai pas ete tous les jours tres sage
Mais j'en demande pardon

Little Santa Claus
It's a beautiful Christmas night
Snow spreads its white coat
And eyes lift toward the sky
On their knees, small children
Before closing their eyes
Say a last prayer.


Little Santa Claus
When you come down from the sky
With thousands of toys
Don't forget my little stocking.
But before you leave
You should dress well
Outside you will be so cold
And it's kind of my fault

The sandman has passed
The children are going to sleep
And you will be able to begin,
With your sack on your back,
To the sound of church bells,
Your distribution of surprises.

I can't wait for sunrise
To see if you brought me
All the lovely toys that I see in my dreams
And that I ordered from you.

And when you are on your beautiful cloud
Come first to our house
I wasn't always very good
But I ask for your forgiveness

Greetings
Hi there, I'm Palmie aka Daphne's blog.
I turn 3 years old today.
My mistress Daphne has developed blogger's block.
She couldn't even come up with an interesting post to proclaim my 3rd birthday.
But I have a plan.
Perhaps, her readers can come up with some requests/ideas for her to write about so she can snap out of this lethargic phase.

I have to warn you though.
Daphne is rather fickle minded so don't expect her to heed all your requests but I'm sure she would appreciate them.

Thanks!

Signing out,
Palmie.

Breaking news!
I was having a late lunch when I switched the TV on to ANC and listened as a heavily accented court clerk read the promulgation of the verdict regarding the Subic Rape case. I lost my appetite when he started reading the graphic details complete with really descriptive private body parts.

Ewww! Then it was time for the final verdict.
Click here for the news article!

So there is justice after all in this lawless society, huh?

Beware: Scrooge Alert!

Amidst everything that has been going on these past few months - running around watching foreign movies at several film festivals, getting sick with stomach flu, a nasty cold and the complete repainting of my loft - I totally forgot that Christmas is just around the corner. Geez! It only occurred to me last night after Mel Tiangco and Mike Enriquez announced that there are only 27 days to go before Christmas.

Well not that it matters because I am not really a Christmas-y person. I don't go shopping for gifts, I don't have Yuletide parties to attend nor grand family reunions to gate crash. I am still a bit hesitant to put up the few Christmas trinkets in this place because it might scratch the newly painted surface. Besides with all the mess still laying around, I'm not exactly sure where the box marked "Decors" is. Therefore my only task would be to buy some food items, hear midnight Mass on Christmas eve, head off to my parents place, send SMS greetings to my friends/relatives, have Noche Buena then I would probably just sleep the whole day. Boring, no?

But I live in a nation where malls are adorned with Christmas decors as early as September, where you hear Christmas carols on the radio in October, where family reunions are prevalent, where malls are crowded with the presence of visiting balikbayans and OFWs, where the streets leading to the malls are obstructed with horrendous traffic jams - all in the spirit of celebrating a season that sadly is now equated with materialistic extravaganza and wasteful indulgences.

So yes I feel like AM a Scrooge but what the heck?

I can't change the way I am, can I? :D

A plethora of hues
They (the painters) said 5 days. Phew what a hectic 5 days it was.

4 painters + me and sis all cramped in such a tiny space. Mostly just me during the day while sis gallivanted around town to work. I'm pretty impressed they got the job done within the negotiated time frame.
Never mind that the whole place is a big heap of scattered mess.
Never mind that I am tired beyond exhaustion from moving furniture from one room to the other room, from downstairs to the upper floor. Never mind if I almost fainted from the stifling heat.
What on earth is wrong with this freaking weather? It is already November but you would think we were right in the smack of a balmy summer day. Ugh. I hate it with a passion.
Anyways, everything that needed to be painted was painted.
Fortunately, the paints we bought were odor free so no toxic fumes at all. It would probably take a few more days to get everything sorted out. Arranged back into the messy organized chaos which I seem to strive in. It is a special talent, you know. The technique of organized mess. I may not know what is hidden under a pile of papers but I know where to find the basic essentials, when needed. So there!

Well here are a few pictures I took of the new 'cotton candy' look. Kindly excuse the poor quality, I was using my cellphone and took them while trapped precariously between heavy furniture. I also made sure to snap from an angle where the 'kalat' (the mess) won't be visible. I just wanted to showcase the different hues which I am slowly training my eyes to get used to after living in a place where cream and off white reigned for the past 5 years. I'm loving it!

This is the staircase taken from the corridor facing my room.
Dominant colors are orange sherbet and chocolate brown for the railings.

This is the medicine cabinet in the upper floor bathroom.
Shade is named Sparkling blue.

This is the window situated on the second floor - the one located above the main living room area with its high ceiling.
It is a loft after all so those windows are actually only for aesthetic purposes. We cannot even open them unless we get a high ladder to climb on top. Orange sherbet coated walls is the dominant hue in our place right now.

This is the aircon in my bedroom.
The walls are a soothing light shade of blue named Peace River.

United Colors of Paint
Tomorrow we are having our loft re-painted. Yes, after postponing it for the longest time, we finally decided to splurge just go for it. Little did we know that it would be so difficult choosing the appropriate colors. We (my sister and I) spent almost an hour deliberating color schemes at Ace Hardware, the other day. We already had some basic hues in mind but once we got hold of the color swatches, we were overwhelmed by the wide variety of colors available.
Our final choices are Orange Sherbet for the living room, kitchen, the railing of the staircase + the second floor hallway area (my sister's office) with Claypot for the border base and the cabinets. Upstairs in my room, I went for two shades of blue. A light aquamarine shade aptly named Peace River for the walls and Sparkling Blue for the closets. My sister's room will be reddish orange (Mango Tango) with a tinge of a shade which reminds me of vanilla ice cream for the closet. The painters said it would take only 5 days to finish everything BUT I have my doubts. Of course, I am already pretty excited about the final outcome but I don't really relish the fact that I will be out of my comfort zone for a few days.

Now excuse me as I need to clear up A LOT of clutter, sort them into boxes then cover the furniture with blankets.

Hasta la bye bye for now. =)

Not again!
Yesterday, I craved for something sweet so I went to a branch of Go Nuts donuts to get my sugar rush. A box of 3 Choco Nut Sprinkle Zigzag (yummy!) then she asks for my name so I can claim it from the counter.
As some of the readers of this blog know, I've stopped using DAPHNE because they keep getting it wrong. It vexes me to high heavens when they would spell it as Dafne, Defni and once someone actually wrote Delfin. Well duh?!
I started using the name Sara just for the heck of it until my best friend named his now 8 month old baby daughter Sara so I totally lost interest in the name. Why? It's a long story. Forget it, I won't elaborate.

So there I was standing at the cashier, she asked me again for my name because I had this blank look on my face. I blurted out LAURA. Fair enough. That's my second name I might as well make good use of it, right? 5 minutes later, I get my diabetes inducing snack and upon checking the receipt. Guess what? My name was printed out as L-O-R-A.

Geez they still got my name, wrong.

Arghh!

So let's see
I've been running from one mall (Greenbelt) to the other mall (Shangri-la Plaza) reading subtitles to get a sense of different cultures from all these foreign movies. Sadly, there are a lot of empty seats at the Greenbelt Cinema for the CineManila screenings because a movie ticket costs 100 Pesos. While over at the Shang Cineplex, I line up way in advance to watch those European films for free. Some people do not seem to understand the word "Reserved" even when it is pasted boldly on a seat. They would persist so all the usher does is to tell them to vacate the seat. Therefore totally distracting me from reading the subtitles.
It seems the Filipino audience while viewing a foreign movie:

• like to talk out loud to the screen
• laugh at imperfections like someone stuttering or someone being overweight
• gasp collectively at a nude scene
• use expressions like "hala" and "ayan kasi" to express disbelief
• are easily shocked during a dark scene and scream

The most fun part for me though is hearing their comments while I'm waiting in line (yes, another line!) to use the restroom after the movie is over. They totally crack me up to no end. But yes I am still in my elements even if I seem to have pulled a pinched nerve in my right leg so I limp around town, this coming week I will still be camping out at the movie theaters. =)

Pleasant distractions
CineManila officially starts today. It will run from November 3 - 15, 2006. Its main focus are the locally developed digital films thus giving our local film industry a much needed boost. There are also a few foreign films included in the festival which will be screened at Greenbelt 1, Cinema 2. This would be my main hang out because I admit I'm not into local films so bite me :D For more details check out their website.

Next week, the Shang Cineplex heralds Cine Europa with a variety of European movies to be shown free of charge. The films are:
Austria "Karo und der Liebe Gott"
Belgium "Everybody Famous"
Belgium "When The Sea Rises"
Czech Republic "Zelary"
Finland "One way ticket to Mombasa"
France "Russian Dolls"
Germany "Das Wunder Von Bern"
The Netherlands "Simon"
Portugal "The Dauphin"
Spain "Cosas que hacen que la vida valga la pena"
Sweden "Klassfesten" (The Reunion)
United Kingdom "Breakfast on Pluto"

Screening Time Schedule:

November 9, 2006 (Thursday)
7:00 PM (Cinema 1) Karo and the Lord(AT)
7:00 PM (Cinema 3) One way ticket to Mombasa(FI)

November 10, 2006 (Friday)
1:50 PM Karo and the Lord(AT)
3:50 PM Everybody Famous (Manila Only)(BE1)
6:30 PM One way ticket to Mombasa(FI)
9:00 PM Simon (NL)

November 11, 2006 (Saturday)
2:40 PM The Russian Dolls (FR)
4:40 PM The Miracle of Bern (DE)
6:40 PM The Dauphin (PT)
9:00 PM Breakfast on Pluto (UK)

November 12, 2006 (Sunday)
1:50 PM When The Sea Rises (BE 2)
4:50 PM Zelary (CZ)
6:50 PM Simon (NL)
9:00 PM Things That Make Life Worth Living (ES)

November 13, 2006 (Monday)
1:30 PM The Reunion (SE)
3:50 PM Karo and the Lord(AT)
6:20 PM Everybody Famous (Manila Only) (BE1)
9:00 PM One Way Ticket to Mombasa (FI)

November 14, 2006 (Tuesday)

2:00 PM The Russian Dolls (FR)
4:45 PM The Miracle of Bern (DE)
7:00 PM The Dauphin (PT)
9:00 PM When The Sea Rises (BE 2)

November 15, 2006 (Wednesday)
1:50 PM Zelary (CZ)
3:50 PM Simon (NL)
6:50 PM The Reunion (SE)
9:00 PM Things That Make Life Worth Living (ES)

November 16, 2006 (Thursday)
2:10 PM Karo and the Lord(AT)
4:40 PM Everybody Famous (Manila Only)(BE1)
7:00 PM One Way Ticket to Mombasa(FI)
9:00 PM The Russian Dolls (FR)

November 17, 2006 (Friday)
2:00 PM The Miracle of Bern (DE)
4:15 PM The Dauphin (PT)
7:00 PM When The Sea Rises (BE 2)
9:00 PM Zelary (CZ)

November 18, 2006 (Saturday)
1:40 PM Simon (NL)
3:50 PM The Reunion (SE)
6:00 PM Things That Make Life Worth Living (ES)
9:00 PM Karo and the Lord (AT)

November 19, 2006 (Sunday)
1:50 PM One Way Ticket to Mombasa (FI)
4:50 PM The Russian Dolls (FR)
6:50 PM The Miracle of Bern (GR)
9:00 PM The Dauphin (PT)


So if you pass by my blog and notice I haven't posted any entries, you know why. I will be camped out (yet again) at the cinema theaters. =)

Undas 2006

I have always been traditionalistic. I have grown accustomed to performing certain rituals and traditions during specific days of the year. For example - Visita Iglesia on Maundy Thursdays (visiting 7 churches during Holy Week), Hearing Mass on Easter Sundays, Christmas Eves and on New Year's Day.
So today being All Saints Day or is it All Souls Day (I get them confused), it is imperative we pay homage to our dearly departed relatives. From the manicured lawns of the Loyola Memorial Park in Sucat, Paranaque with a lunch break at Max's Restaurant for its finger licking good chicken, we crossed over to the quaint and cozy 'apartment' style cemetery in the San Juan area. We ended the day by delving deep into the bowels of the teeming sea of humanity in one of the crowded public cemeteries in Mandaluyong - that was our itinerary today. Fortunately, we don't stay too long in these places, we just lit our candles, deposit our flowers, pray the rosary then hie off to the next stop. No nosy relatives to run into, no camping with tents and umbrellas together with pots and pans of food (something I've never liked - picnics) so it was relatively painless.

Except of course for the blazing heat, the dehydration and the varicose veins I developed standing for hours but it is a small price to pay for remembering people who have filled our lives with fond memories to last us an entire lifetime. =)

Phew!
Maybe it is a sign of some sort that when I turned a year older, I got my tummy rocked with painful spasms, I nursed a cold which progressed into a wheezing cough and I endured terrible monthly cramps - all within the span of a few weeks, one after the other. Eeeps!
A sign of what?
I have no idea!

But I don't recommend it to anyone.
The only good thing is I lost some weight.
But I'm sure I would put it all back on, the weight I mean once I get my hands on some sinful delicacies I have been craving for with fervor.
I want nachos, chocolate ice cream, go-nuts and strangely, a bowl of piping hot clam chowder.
Yes it's official I'm back to normal.
All I can think about is food, food and more food.
Yay! =)

Meme time
First, it was painful tummy spasms now I have a nasty cold. Eeeps! So I'm all medicated, feeling drowsy yet I'm in the mood to answer a meme which I copied from their blogs =)

1. Grab the book nearest to you, turn on page 18 and find line 4.
"calling. But inevitably they opened up - as they had not opened up to" - Flags of Our Fathers by James Bradley with Ron Powers. A book which I finally finished reading. It would forever haunt my mind with very graphic descriptions of the brutal atrocities which the Japanese military inflicted upon the American soldiers who invaded Sulfur Island aka Iwo Jima.

2. Stretch your left arm out as far as you can.
Ok, now what?

3. What is the last thing you watched on TV?
Survivor: Cook Islands live telecast on Studio 23. It was just a silly recap of scenes not aired from previous episodes. Yawn!

4.Without looking, guess what time it is?
3:30 p.m.

5. Now look at the clock, what is the actual time?
3:40 p.m.

6. With the exception of the computer, what can you hear?
My sister typing away on her laptop.

7. When did you last step outside? What were you doing?
Yesterday to buy cough medicine.

8. Before you started this survey, what did you look at?
The mirror.

9. What are you wearing?
A blue batik inspired sun dress I bought in Boracay.

10. Did you dream last night?
No

11. When did you last laugh?
Earlier when I called my mother on the phone.

12. What is on the walls of the room you are in?
A charcoal portrait of me and a round wall clock from Istanbul, Turkey.

13. Seen anything weird lately?
No but I read an email from my best friend who told me about this really weird Japanese film he watched at the ongoing Tokyo International Film Festival.

14. What do you think of this quiz?
It is fun.

15. What is the last film you saw?
The Guardian.

16. If you became a multimillionaire overnight, what would you buy?
Plane tickets so I can travel all over the world.

17. Tell me something about you that I dunno.
I haven't read a single Harry Potter book nor do I intend to start. Not really my genre of reading material.

18. If you could change one thing about the world, regardless of guilt or politics, what would you do?
Educate every single child on earth.

19. Do you like to dance?
Not really.

20. George Bush
The name of 2 U.S. Presidents.

21. Imagine your first child is a girl, what do you call her?
Daniella Marie.

22. Imagine your first child is a boy, what do you call him?
Carlo.

23. Would you ever consider living abroad?
Yes, why not?

24. What do you want GOD to say to you when you reach the pearly gates?
What took you so long to get here?

Incredible!

We got our Meralco bill today. It amounts to a staggering P4,890.75!
You would think that with 6 days of total darkness due to typhoon Milenyo, they would offer some rebate/discount. But no siree, the high and mighty Manila Electric Company might go bankrupt if the consumers pay half the due amount for such a lousy service. Hmmm I guess I have to take into consideration, it is a lot less than what I paid last month - a whooping P6.092.85!!! Bills, bills and more bills. Such a bane on our existence.

Ugh!

"Is it moving?"

That is the question my sister and I would keep asking each other ever since those series of earthquakes rocked Central Philippines. Sometimes it feels like I was having a dizzy spell because I swear the floor seems to sway. Since I live on the 12th floor I have become really paranoid from any kind of movement. Even a door banging in the corridors makes me cringe for fear that the whole apartment would start shaking again. As I write this post, I feel some sort of swaying sensation beneath my feet. It is nerve wracking, really. My fertile imagination has developed this (conspiracy) theory that North Korea is to blame for this natural disaster. When they decided to test their nuclear bomb off the coast of Japan or wherever it was, our planet Earth got misaligned. The ripples from that bomb blast sent radioactive waves of electromagnetic energy across the very core of the earth and pulled its axis off the course, permanently.
Ergo, we are now experiencing these scary tremors.



So although I love this view of the Ortigas area, a picture I took from the Linden Suites room (the 16th floor) we stayed in during the dark days of super typhoon Milenyo, I would probably freak out every time the earth shook.

A subtle tinge of melancholy
Ok so I turned 38, yesterday.

It had to be one of the most if not the most subdued I have ever been on my birthday. I have to admit I wasn't exactly looking forward to celebrating the fact that I only have 2 more years to go before hitting the big 4-0. So I didn't make any plans whatsoever. Factor in the fact that I have been battling severe stomach cramps due to a stomach flu and/or food poisoning or maybe a combination of both, I ain't sure. All I know is I would experience sharp bouts of spasms in my tummy that would make me bow in pain. That is not exactly how I would like to usher in my 38th year but so be it.

My family though won't let me wallow in self pity so they dragged me out of bed. They treated me to a sumptuous seafood feast at "Fish & Co" for lunch. Then we watched "World Trade Center" at the Shang Cineplex.

A little trivia about my birthday. It is imperative that I watch a Nicholas Cage movie on October 19. I recall with fondness watching "Windtalkers", "Matchstick Men" and "Captain Corelli's Mandolin" during my previous birthdays. I guess this is some tradition I need to uphold now every year. Granted, of course that there is a Nic Cage film showing on October 19.
For dinner, we had Japanese fare at "YAKU" at The Podium.

So you see even if I was in pain I still managed to stuff myself up pretty good. Thanks in part to the ever reliable "Imodium" and also my strong will power not to let belly spasms ruin my birthday.

In conclusion I would like to say:

to all those who greeted me on my birthday.

Even though I realized something - a rather harsh fact of life. Something I just shrug off with a nonchalance which betrays my good natured personality - the older I get, the less I hear from people who I thought were going to be my friends for life.

Ugh.

Sorry for the rant, blame it on the bitter pill I just swallowed.

Peace out.

Hear ye, hear ye! =)

Bedside reading
The Spanish Film Festival has ended its run for this year. I saw a total of 9 films. It was a great experience!

Now I have a 'mission' - to finish reading this book before next month. I bought it for only P30.00 last year during the National Book Store warehouse sale. The author, James Bradley is the son of one of the 6 flag raisers immortalized in that famous photograph taken at Iwo Jima. He has a very descriptive way of writing and is very detail oriented. It is a well researched book. He painstakingly traces the lives of the 6 flagraisers during the Depression era to the time they are drafted into the Marine Corps. This eventually leads to that important moment in history when they raised the American flag on a tiny island called Iwo Jima . From the few pages I have read so far the book is quite engrossing.

The movie adapted from the book is directed by Clint Eastwood, stars a solid cast of young actors and it is produced by Steven Speilberg. It is scheduled to open in theaters here in the Philippines, sometime next month. I am looking forward to it but I do want to finish reading the book first, all 356 pages of it.

Now kindly excuse me as I bury my nose within its pages.

In case you're wondering ...

No, I haven't gone on a blogging hiatus.

I have just been pleasantly distracted by the art of Cinema.

I managed to see 2 German films last week at the Shang Cineplex.

So far I've watched 4 Spanish movies from Pelikula: 2006.

I got a few more I want to check out this week.

I might as well bring a sleeping bag to camp out at the Greenbelt cinemas.

A bientot! =)

Foreign Films Fest Galore (yet again)
Ok so I'm back home. Nice and cozy in my little nook. We now have electricity but no cable TV. The phone lines are working so I can access the Internet albeit it is back to my dial up connection but hey I ain't complaining.

The 3 days, 2 nights stay at the Linden Suites was a major relief. We had cable TV, broadband Internet connection, a bathtub with hot water for our showers, a Jacuzzi (on the 9th floor) and a microwave oven for those butter popcorn I've craved for the longest time.

Now it's back to the nitty gritty grind of my routinary life. What better way to feel normal again than to indulge in my biggest passion - movies.
This week 2 major film festivals commence.

• Pelicula 2006 - the 5th Festival of Spanish and Latin American Films. October 3 to October 15, 2006.
  Cinema 1 Greenbelt 3. Ticket prices are only P50.00!
  Click here for the schedule of films to be shown.
  
• The German Film Festival October 04 to October 08, 2006.
  Shangri-la Cineplex. Ticket prices are only P50.00.
  Click here for the film sked.

See you at the movies! =)

Celebrate good times, come on!

Today my sister dearest celebrated her birthday. My baby sister. My only sibling. The taller one.
The more mature, more responsible and more sane than silly old petite ME.

This is the picture of her birthday cake. The one that Linden Suites gave her. The yummy Sans Rival textured cake that melts in your mouth. The one with a lone candle which she had to blow out in front of people who were having breakfast this morning at the coffee shop. She tried to keep a straight face although deep inside I know she hated it. She doesn't like to draw attention. She thinks it is really cheesy and embarrassing when the waiters in the restaurant show up with a cake to greet someone on their birthdays. I had to control myself from bursting from laughter from the cringed look on her face when she heard them singing "Happy Birthday" as they approached our table. The cake that I am now currently bingeing on (this is my 3rd helping, yes I'm a glutton) as I write this post using the broadband Internet connection in this hotel room.

Happy Birthday lil one.
I swear I had no idea they were going to do that to you, this morning.
I sincerely hope you won't take revenge on me on the 19th when I turn a year older.
If you do, I would absolutely disown you, for sure.
Heh, just kidding!
You know I love you and I always will. =)

Enough is enough!
After suffering 4 days and 3 nights of darkness, heat and mental strain, my sister and I have had enough. So here we are with parents in tow, nicely ensconced in the Linden Suites for 2 nights. We checked in today, Sunday at around 3:30 pm. Our parents aren't that young anymore and I wasn't sure they nor I could take another night sleeping in the dark with mosquitoes buzzing in our ears, sweating like pigs in our cramped little space.

Besides tomorrow is my sister dearest's birthday and I didn't want her to welcome her 3X year in such deplorable conditions. We still don't have electricity in our place but we do have constant supply of water. The elevators work every other hour, the place is pitch dark and our 12th floor unit feels like a sauna. Without TV, the Internet or even something like a hair dryer, it was really like living in the Dark Ages.

So yes I intend to fully enjoy myself, get enough sleep, soak in the aircon and more importantly I can check my emails, blog hop and just feel 'normal' yet again.

Anyways this post doesn't really seem coherent, I'm tired beyond comprehension.

Quotable Quotes
Somebody's boring me.
I think it's me. (Dylan Thomas )


Bwahahahaha.
How appropriately true in my case. =)
But at least I can still grin and bear it.
So it isn't so bad, after all.

My Sunday fix

Sunday family brunch/lunch with my parents. At the mall or their house or here in my loft. Great bonding moments!

Eavesdropping on other people's secrets on this website.

Listening to the radio on my cellphone all day. Oldies, 70s songs, 80s fare. Songs from Tom Jones, The Cascades, Bobby Darrin, Brenda Lee, The Beatles, Andy Gibbs, The Eagles, Kenny Loggins, John Waits, Tom Petty, Rod Stewart, Bryan Adams etc. Tunes I grew up listening to so nostalgic sentiments wash up all over me.

Filling up the countless raffle coupons from the different supermarkets which my mother forces me to do. She is somehow convinced I'm lucky although I haven't really won anything major like a plasma TV or a brand new car. Ugh!

I end this post with a few lines from one of my favorite songs of all time:

I beg your pardon
I never promised you a rose garden
Along with the sunshine there's gotta
be a little rain sometime
When you take you gotta give
so live and let live and let go
oh oh oh oh
I beg your pardon
I never promised you a rose garden

My fragile ego booster
Last week, my sister and I attended this lecture somewhere in the Ortigas area. It was a presentation of a company who sells timeshare vacations and/or club membership to the public. It is a long tedious story on how we wasted our precious time in their office on a Saturday afternoon. So I'll spare you the boring details.

Anyways, the lady who was assigned to us politely asked me my age. I blurted out I'm 37. I am the type of person who doesn't dread to tell people my real age. I mean why lie, right? You are only deceiving yourself if you do that. She was surprised and told me I hardly look my age. The real boost came though at the expense of my sister dearest. The young lady mistakenly thought my sister was older than me. Heh! I corrected her and we all chuckled. My sister though had this look on her face that said "oh no, not again" written all over it. Yes, it has happened several times in the past.

Much to my chagrin I'm turning a year older, next month. So nowadays the tone of my volley of e-mails to my best friend is as depressing as watching the inconquerable Titanic sink into the ocean. So I really needed that boost to my sunken ego.
But as Keane said in their song "Somewhere Only We Know"

Oh simple thing where have you gone
I'm getting old and I need something to rely on
So tell me when you're gonna let me in
I'm getting tired and I need somewhere to begin

The scary part is I have no freaking idea where to begin.

Sigh.

Music tag
I was tagged by Snglguy to list 7 songs that is currently blasting on my playlist.

Here goes:
1) "Be Yourself and 5 Other Cliches" by Supernova. The newest rock band composed of Jason Newsted, Gilbey Clark, Tommy Lee and their newest front man Lukas Rossi. Lukas was recently declared the winner in the reality TV show, Rockstar: Supernova. Lukas' version of this song is alot more edgier and has more angst to it than Toby Rand's Aussie pop interpretation.

2) "Les Yeux Ouverts" by Beautiful South. I posted about this song several days ago. Scroll down ... there ... see it?

3) "Afterglow" by INXS - I saw them perform live at the Araneta Coliseum, last month. It's my favorite from their latest album "Switch".

4) "Blind" by Lifehouse - this is my anthem/theme song for let's see about hmmm 2 and a half years now. Long story! Check out the lyrics, you will probably get what I mean.

5) "Cuando Me Enamoro" by Andrea Bocelli - my fav song from his "Amore" album.

6) "Somewhere Only We Know" by Keane - this is included in the OST of the movie "Lake House". I have to say the only good thing about that film are the songs on its soundtrack.

7) "The Dolphins Cry" by Magni. He was my favorite among the Rockstar: Supernova rockers. I knew he won't win but I loved his versatility and his wide vocal range. It doesn't hurt either that he looks really hot. I totally dig his version of the Live song.

Let's dance to shake away the (Monday) blues
Not that I got the blues or anything.
Just thought this was a cute way to start the week.

So shake it, baby! =)

Film Festivals Galore

Japanese Contemporary Cinema featured in Japan Foundation's month-long EIGA SAI

The Japan Foundation, Manila, in cooperation with the Shangri-La Plaza Mall, the Cultural Center of the Philippines and the UP Film Institute presents slices of Japanese life as seen through the eyes of a new wave of Japanese directors in "Eiga Sai: Contemporary Films" from September to October, in celebration of Philippines-Japan Friendship Year.

Screening venues are at the Cinema 3, Shangri-La Plaza Mall (September 13-19), CCP Dream Theater (September 26-30), and the UP Film Institute (October 2-3). All movies are subtitled in English. Admission is free.

For detailed screening schedules and inquiries, please check the Japan Foundation, Manila website or call the JFM at telephone numbers 811-6155 to 58.

All the best from Down Under
The 4th Australian Film Festival unveils from September 15 to 22, 2006. The films will be screened in three venues—Greenbelt 3 Cinema 1, University of the Philippines-Cine Adarna and Ayala Onstage at the Ayala Center Cebu.

Admission fee is Php50.00 at Greenbelt 3.

For the schedule of screenings, log on to the Australian Embassy website or call 7578173, 7578135; Greenbelt Cinemas at 7297777; and the UP Film Institute at 9263640.

I'm not sure I really have time to see all of these films but hopefully I'm not too tired nor lazy to catch a couple of them.

On verra! =)

Fatigue
I woke up tired.
I've been tired a lot, lately.
Blah ... blah ... blah!

Yawns.

Time to reflect

5 years ago, the world stood still as the tragedy unfolded in New York.
Let us all offer a moment of silence to remember the victims.
It also reminds me I've been back here in jolly old Pinas for 5 years now.
Phew.

Time flies by so fast.

My current LSS

Les Yeux Ouverts
Ce souvenir je te le rends
Des souvenirs tu sais j'en ai tellement
Puisqu'on reva de jours errants
Pas la peine de changer trop

Ce souvenir je te le prends.
Des souvenirs comme ca j'en ai tout le temps
Si par erreur la vie nous separe,
J'le sortirai d'mon tiroir.

J'reve les yeux ouverts
Ca m'fait du bien
Ca ne va pas plus loin
J'vais pas voir derriere
Puisque j'aime bien
Vivement demain

Un dernier verre de sherry
Du sherry mon amant quand je m'ennuie
Tous les jours se ressemblent a present
Tu me manques terriblement

English Translation
This memory I'm giving back to you
These memories, you know I have so many
Since we dreamed of passing days
No need to change too much.

This memory I'm taking from you
Memories like that happen to me all the time
If life mistakenly sets us apart,
I'll get it from my drawer

I dream with my eyes open
It feels good
It does not go any farther
I don't look back
Since I feel good
I wish tomorrow would come quick

A last glass of sherry
Sherry, my love, when I feel sad
All days look alike to me now
I miss you so terribly

* This song by Beautiful South is included in the soundtrack for the movie "French Kiss" and I recently heard it too in "The Devil Wears Prada"
* It is the French version of "Dream a Little Dream of Me".
* The picture is my shot of a Blue Margarita glass, my favorite 'poison' in Boracay.

The Daphne wears Orange
These are a few of my orange stuff. The other items are in the dirty laundry hamper awaiting the soft caress of the gentle spin of the washing machine.

Walking shorts with the number 23 and my two piece bikini. At the back on the right is the linen blouse I bought last weekend. The one on the left is a 'kurta'. An ethnic Indian long sleeves blouse much like a tunic. My online friend H sent it all the way from India as a token of his appreciation because I designed his poems website. =)

They match my bag which I bought in Singapore 2 years ago.

This is SURI(ly) proof she does exist
After months of being maligned endlessly with really malicious rumors about the existence of their baby daughter, Tom Cruise and Kate Holmes have agreed to have Suri's picture taken by famed photographer Annie Liebovitz. The couple are pictured on the cover of the October issue of Vanity Fair with their bundle of joy, Suri. Click here for the story.

Isn't she the carbon copy of her dad? So cute!
The baby not the father, ok?

Teehee!

An ironic afternoon delight
Yesterday, I was bored beyond my wit's end not to mention the fact that I was melting in the stifling humidity so I decided to hop over to the mall.
After a few minutes of loitering at book stores, I said to myself 'hey instead of wasting time why not just go for your monthly hair treatment?'

So I went to check if my regular hairstylist was around. Fair enough, he was there so I had my protein hair treatment along with some dry hair repair thingie he recommended then I had it styled with some pointed layers in front to frame my fat face then it was straightened by a blow dryer for aesthetic purposes. So 2 and a half hours later (yes it took them that long!!!) there I was with shiny glossy hair the kind you only see in shampoo ads but with a huge splitting headache from not eating anything for snack.

The ironic part is after I showered this morning, my wavy curls are back on my head, I've tied my hair into a ponytail like I always do.
So my extravagantly frivolous pleasure was literally washed down the drain.

Oh well. =)

Happiness is (well at least for me it is)
Going through those stacks of vcds at various video stores, you know those they sell for only P100 or P75 and finding rare little gems of films I've always wanted to buy.

Now if only I can find a cabinet big enough to contain all the films I've bought through the years, I will be truly pleased! =)

Something fishy
Last night after my sister and I emptied our wallets during our major shopping spree at the Ayala Malls, we decided to dine out before heading home. Well truth be told, she needed a completely new wardrobe so I was just the 'bag' lady as in the one who carried all the stuff she bought while she sneaked in and out of the fitting rooms. But hey I did buy myself one single item. A bright orange linen blouse because I'm currently obsessing over the color orange. This is evidenced by the numerous orange items (bags, underwear, clothes even socks I might never wear but bought anyway simply 'cause it looks pretty) I have hanging in my closet.

So anyways there we were standing outside the row of various restaurants at Greenbelt 3 and mentally crossing each one till we reached that little nook near the Cinemas. We ended up at Fish & Co. much to the chagrin of my sister who loves seafood yet strangely doesn't like fish, at all. I've always wanted to eat there. I ordered the Clam Chowder (which I simply love) together with my main course - Fish and Chips which is served in a hot pan. While sister dearest ordered was forced to have the New York Fish and Chips (it has Parmesan cheese mixed with the fish) but opted for the seafood rice instead of the fries. The fish was fresh and tasty. They serve a rather big portion of fish (well for me anyway since I don't really eat much during dinner). Nice ambiance too. Check out their cute website.

I Am ... I Choose
I was tagged by Jax

Rules:
1. Emphasize all lines that apply to you.
2. Tag 5 more people after you finish, complete with links to their sites.
3. Let the person you've tagged KNOW that they've been tagged, for Pete's sake.

I wish I was a different ethnicity.
I have an eating disorder.
I'm short.
I'm tall.
I think I'm really attractive.
I prefer winter over summer.
I'm a geek.
I'm a shopaholic.
I'm reasonably intelligent.
I'm attracted to girls.
I'm attracted to boys.
I like British accents.
I smoke regularly.
I drink regularly.
I smoke socially.
I drink socially.
I get drunk easily.
I do drugs.
I will never date a bad kisser.
I've lied to avoid kissing them again.
I brush my hair at least 50 times a night.
I'm religious.
I'm not religious but have morals.
I lie frequently.
I'm impulsive.
I'm hardworking.
I liked "Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind".
"She's All That" is one of my favourite movies.
I'm good at History.
I speak more than two languages.
I enjoy taking pictures.
I like spending money on myself.
I like spending money on others.
I have a regular income.
I earn money on a job-by-job basis.
I pay my own bills.
I rely on my parents for money.
I can cook.
I enjoy cleaning.
Tidyness is a must in my life.
I like clutter.
My idea of good music is Britney Spears.
I have heard of Blonde Redhead.
I enjoy Blonde Redhead.
I'm fashion-conscious.
I have good taste.
People tell me I have good taste.
I excel academically.
I'm told I have yet to fulfill my potential.
I'm good at sports.
I'm good at certain sports.
I couldn't do sports to save my life.
I'm creative.
I'm artistically inclined.
I wanna be an artist when I grow up.
I wanna be an engineer when I grow up.
I eat when I'm upset.
I cannot adapt to change.
I'm interested in politics.
I have shoplifted.
I download MP3s.
I've done underage drinking.
I've gone underage clubbing.
I can dance reasonably well.
I can dance extremely well.
I dance like a cardboard gorilla.
I can sing.
I sing like someone stepped on my foot.
I can swim.
I enjoy surveys.
I enjoy surveys when I'm bored.
I keep a journal.
My teachers don't like me.
I enjoy controversy.
I can be a bitch/bastard.
I have a thing for bad boys/girls.
I have tattoos.
I've been in a nudist colony.
I'm not sure if I want to have children.
I'm not sure if I'll get married.
I know who I will marry.
I'm interesting.
I'm a good liar.
People enjoy talking to me.
I annoy people from time to time.
I'm a born leader.
I'm a born leader but shouldn't lead.
I enjoy felching.
I have a foot fetish.
I have a shoe fetish.
I watch "Sex and the City".
I don't think Sarah Jessica Parker is pretty.
I wanna be J.Lo.
I cut myself.
I've cut myself.
I hate people who pretend to be suicidal.
I hate popular people.
I think cheerleading is a sport.
I'm photogenic.
I live in Chucks.
I think graffiti is art.
I have dated a criminal.
I have been cheated on.
I have cheated on someone.
I have a temper.
I like playgrounds.
I dance in the rain.
I'm obsessed with Shakespeare.
I have tanlines.
My favourite color is pink.
My favourite color is black.
I would classify myself as emo.
I'm musically inclined.
I like listening to music.
I like music-blasting cars.
Thongs are comfortable.
I like flip-flops.
I know what monogamy is... and I believe in it.
I wanna be a social worker when I grow up.
I have sibling/s.
My sibling/s annoy me.
I think "South Park" is funny.
I believe in LOVE.

I'm tagging only one person - Snglguy. :D

A food post ... well maybe not.
I was chatting with this dude. The topic veered towards his fav food. He said he loved burritos. I told him I've never had a burrito in my entire life. Let alone know what it looks like. He was shocked because it's like one of his main food groups. So he just recommended I try the famous San Francisco burrito if I ever visit the US of A. The chat ended after a lengthy discussion about the film "Tampopo" (a film I haven't watched) which also delves into food albeit in this very bizarrely perverse way.

Yes insomnia does that to you.
I chat about weird topics with complete strangers at 2 in the morning.

Just another picture post
In the spirit of channeling happy positive thoughts, I decided to post another picture.

Sa totoo lang, napipikon na ako sa walang katapusan na negative vibes nasasagap ko mula sa aking bespren kuno. Kung nakinig lang siya sa akin noon pa na huwag mag-asawa kaagad eh di sana hindi siya nababaliw sa isang katutak na suliranin niya ngayon. Ayan tuloy!

Yikes napilitan pa akong mag-Tagalog kasi baka mabasa niya ito. Kahit na nagsumpa siya sa akin na kailanman hinding hindi niya babasahin ang blog ko. Pasensiya na kayo sa aking kabaliwan, pero blog ko naman ito, di ba? Taray ko, no? Hehehe

This was taken May 2005 during my mother's birthday celebration. We spent it at Country Suites in Tagaytay City. A vivid shot of clouds hovering over the Taal Volcano and Lake. I love this view!

Hey it's midnight
Time for my current favorite midnight munchies.


The back of the pack said:
No butter
No preservatives
No Artificial Flavors
No MSG but High in Fiber!

So yummy I can eat 2 in one sitting.

Teehee! =)

Head in the clouds

I've been down these past few days. It seems like there was this little cloud hovering over me everywhere I went. Mind you, I wasn't directly involved but I still felt upset. I consider him my true confidante, my best friend and dare I say my soul mate. I know it's foolish but when he is depressed I get depressed too! Then I realized this morning, things happen. It is entirely way beyond my control, so brooding over it won't do me any good. It is amazing how a single email can make things seem so much better. There seems to be a tiny glimmer of hope for him and he has finally realized that enough is enough so I'm uplifted by his mood change.

Onwards!

Tech news with a splice of uploading one's life
Apple Computer Inc., the company that manufactures the ubiquitous iPod have agreed to pay Creative Technology Ltd (Singapore based company) for the use of a key patent. The news is better explained in this article.

On a personal note, I think I am one of the very few people on this planet who doesn't have an iPod. My sole reason is I don't need to own one.

But on the occasion of my father's birthday, my sister and I bought him this "toy". We got him the dark blue one. It's really small and lightweight. It looks like a lighter.

I've been busy uploading songs into it and will return it to my Dad, this weekend. In the meantime, Sis and I play a game of "rock, paper and scissors" to settle who listens to it. My 'revenge' - I uploaded songs from my PC so she has no choice but to listen to Andrea Bocelli and Il Divo (among others) crooning songs in a language I am not fluent in but somehow soothe my tattered nerves.

As to why my nerves are frayed, well that's a different (blog entry) story. Or maybe not. I guess there are certain things best kept private. So I will just end with this quote from: "The Weather Man"

"Do you know that the harder thing to do and the right thing to do are usually the same thing? Nothing that has meaning is easy. "Easy" doesn't enter into grown-up life."

A milestone
He was born several decades ago in a tiny barrio that has now grown into a progressive town. He was a young boy when the imperial Japanese army invaded, ransacked and pillaged our beloved country. Yet, my father doesn't bear any resentment towards them. His usual joie de vivre made him endure a childhood in such harsh conditions. He always maintained this positive attitude that people are by default good so they are not really capable of doing evil things. Well I guess, it makes sense to always think good of your fellowmen. What doesn't really make sense is how I seem to bear so much resentment towards the evil 'conquerors' in my heart. I guess someone has to do so on behalf of my father.

Anyways, let's move on.
He pursued his career with an insatiable drive and spent 40 years of his life working to provide a decent life for his family. Everything he did was for 'mga bata' as we would fondly call me and my sister. A term he still uses even when we are already in our 30s.

His main passion is watching movies. In his childhood, he would save to watch the latest Errol Flynn or Humphrey Bogart movie at the cinemas. You mention a certain film to him, he will tell you exactly where he watched it, the year it was shown and the director of the movie. He will pepper most conversations with lines from old movies or say 'I was in my 3rd year of college when I saw that John Wayne film'.
He has the sharpest mind, his memory is still intact after all these years. Of course with age, the usual lapse of where he left the keys or his glasses are to be expected. Now that he is retired and is a card bearing member of the Senior Citizens club, he gets to watch movies for free. A hobby he and my mother happily indulge in every week. Nowadays, he is my best source if I want to know if a currently showing Hollywood (take note, he has no interest in local movies either just like yours truly) movie is worth watching or just wait to rent it from the local video store.

He was a voracious reader and his analytical mind can retain most facts.

He made us read the Reader's Digest and Time Magazine from cover to cover. He told us we need to know what is going on in the world. That our universe doesn't revolve merely around our little space. We have to be constantly aware of contemporary events as they unfold in the world. Despite the fact that his eye sight isn't as sharp as they used to be, I managed to convince him to read "The Da Vinci Code" and "Angels and Demons". He is currently reading "Cujo" by Stephen King.

My wanderlust tendencies were developed early on because my father loves to travel. He would drive with my mother as his navigator to neighboring countries when we were stationed in Belgium. He exposed us to new places to admire the scenery, taste the local cuisine, visit the tourist sites and just soak in the atmosphere of a different culture. Oh yes, we did a lot of traveling, indeed. Despite all his worldliness, he still maintains a humility that dates back to his humble beginnings. He prefers to keep a low profile and would get flustered if we made a big deal over him.

My father is the only one who has captured the ability to make me laugh boisterously. He has a keen sense of humor and always sees life as one big laughing matter. Nothing is too serious. He can always find something funny to chuckle about.

He is also very music oriented and watched a lot of foreign artists perform in concerts when they visited the Philippines, way back then. So music is an important part of our daily lives. It was never quiet in our houses. No matter where we lived, the sound system would be blaring with music.
I'm the one who patiently combs the Internet for any type of songs he wants me to download. Then of course I would upload them into his mp3 player. He searched all the music stores everywhere we went to find a CD of Roy Hamilton, but was never successful. Lo and behold, I found all the songs recorded by Roy Hamilton on Limewire and burned them into a CD so he can listen to it to his heart's content. He calls me his little techie consultant. A monicker I carry with a badge of honor and pride. =)

His main advice when things get too unbearable is to "take 3 deep breaths". Calm down, clear your mind then face the problem, head on.
It sounds rather trivial but hey it has always worked for me.

Yet after all the good things I've said about him, he is not perfect. He does have his flaws and imperfections yes believe me he does!
But then no one is perfect, right?

Today as he celebrates another milestone in his life, we his family will spoil him rotten. We bought him several gifts. Items which will feed his main passions. I'm sure they will light up his eyes with such joy and excitement. Then he would berate us for even bothering to spend too much for him. But I can't think of anything better to do today than to celebrate the life of a man who has enriched my life not materially but with so much cherished moments of delightful experiences. A man I simply adore to bits and pieces. I am the person I am today because of him. I thank God for blessing me with a soulful father

Happy Birthday, Dad!