Survey, Oh I Miss You!

I was busy browsing my older posts when I've noticed that it was a long time since i've answered a survey on my blogsite. Since I don't have anything to do, I might as well answer a survey again. :)

*Who was the last person to go to the movies with you?
-  Jow, Tanging Ina
.
* What is the wall paper on your cell phone?
-  Letters of my name on blocks

* Name something great that happened yesterday?
-  jogging?haha

* Do you like Chinese food over pizza?
- pizzzzzza
.
* Where was your default picture taken?
- Enchanted Kingdom
.
* Ever had an encounter with the police?
- yep, Recently. The paranoia thing you know.
.
* Do you eat junk food everyday?
-no.
.
* Waiting for someone to call?
- no.
.
* Where did you get the shirt you are wearing?
- Bap's closet
.
* Last time you had pizza?
- last week. Didi's pizza on bap's despedida.
.
* Has anyone ever spell your name wrong?
- Henson to Henzon.
.
* Have you ever seen your best friend cry?
- yes.
.
* Does it annoy you when people say " their heart is broken"?
- depends.
.
* In a social setting, are you more of a talker or a listener?
- depends.

* Have you ever sang when you thought no one was listening, but someone was?
- yes.
.
* What does your heart say about you??
- "take it easy later..."
.
* Have you ever been to camp?
- yes. sooo many times
.
* Do you keep a planner?
+ no! I wish i could keep one, but January is about to end. sigh.
.
* What jewelry are you wearing?
- watch?
.
* Are you keeping a secret right now?
+ idk.
.
* Who is the person you tell everything to?
- Aika, Rhyss, Kat and Miles.
.
* Has a friendship/relationship ended recently that you wish didn't?
+ yes.
.
* Do you use the word 'hello' daily?
+ yes, I have a landline connection in the office. My spiel is "Marketing, Hello?"
.
* What is your zodiac sign?
+ Leo. Forever
.
* How is your heart?
+ good
.
* If you had to live on one liquid for the rest of your life what would it be?
- Tokyo2 red tea?!
.
* Whats on your schedule for tomorrow?
+ arrange some files and issue a memo about our marketing sched for Feb..
.
* Are any of your texts in your inbox locked and why?
+ no.
.
* When was the last time you talked to your special someone?
+ ...
.
* Do you think you've changed over the past year?
+ that i don't know.
.
* What will you be doing after this?
- attend mass then Bale Capampangan for Lolo Tang's bday :).

FRIENDS OVER FOOD (a Taste of Korea)

(January 29, 2011, Saturday, Lunch time)

This is an incident where conversation tastes and costs better than food.

Atlast! Our Korean lunch materialized. It's well-planned that I, Aika and Peps will be spending a lunchtime in Korea Town. Because of schedule conflicts and budget constraints, the schedule of the date was moved, but in the end, we managed to fix everything just for this date to push through.

Days ago, I've been dreaming of Kimchi (Korea's staple food). I really got excited in our date, and to think that I can have the chance to taste authentic Korean food where I only see on the television.

On the day of the date, I met up with Peps, Aika, and Miles (since she's around the metro, we invited her as well) in the terminal and took a jeepney ride to Korea Town. Fortunately, we immediately saw the Korean restaurant that Peps referred.

We were surprised that the food was quite costly, and only few dishes are familiar to us. The food was actually good, but my taste buds won’t lie to me, that nothing beats Filipino food.

Then I’ve noticed that Miles is out of the mood. Maybe because she spent too much on a food that she doesn’t even know the name. I told her that she must not spoil the fun. Right then and there, I thought that this dream date was a misadventure after all.

We continued eating. Then when were finished, we started playing pranks on Peps and other common friends that we have. That’s when the fun started. I never laughed that hard for a long time!

Indeed, when you’re surrounded by good old friends; food, place and all that seems meaningless because of the quality of conversation you are having. Extravagant restaurants and fancy food are just secondary to the memories being shared especially when you're with your favorite friends.

Me and Miles :)

Miles and Peps



Authentic Koreans (Me and Aika) haha



Side Dishes (Miles starting to Brat)

U-dong. Supposed to be mine, but Miles doesn't like her order, so we swap.

U dong

Aika's order: Squide rice :)

Kimchi :) My favorite Korean Sidedish

Fake smile by Miles hahahaha :)

SOMETHING TO WATCH OUT

This past Christmas season, one of the things that toped my wishlist is a wrist watch.I don't know why I didn't find time to buy, or if I have the means to buy a new one.hahaha But then this week, two wrist watches came into my possession.



Random

He is Kamatis. :)

It was weekend last week when I and Aika had our usual coffee date. That time, I'm not feeling well because of my hangover the other night. We don't know where to start, movie?coffee?calimaki? We have no idea.

So we decided to sit in the food court of the mall to think. Then she asked me why I'm not wearing my watch. I told her that I'm in hurry that's why I forgot to wear it.

Atlas, we know where to go, CALIMAKI! haha We got our order and having our usual conversation, when she took a paper bag out of her sling bag and give it to me.I opened the bag and it was KAMATIS. :) A wrist watch. :))

It's been a long time since someone gave me a gift randomly. I missed the feeling, and I'm loving the feeling itself :)




Welcome Back

He is Newsweek.

That was last year since I saw him (Newsweek).

At first, me and my friend Kat had a speculation that someone within our group stole Newsweek from me. One night(that was last year), I joined Kat's classmate for a drinking session. Then the next day, Newsweek was gone.

Kat confirmed then that last night, it was Newsweek I'm wearing. We thought that perhaps, because  I was drunk, one of the people we had a drink that night stole Newsweek from me.

Months passed by, and still no trace of Newsweek.

It was Monday morning of this week, when I was rushing to fix myself for work.Suddenly, I saw Newsweek inside of my iPod shuffle box. He was not lost nor stolen after all.

----

These wrist watch stories taught me two lessons: first, things you want the most come to you when you least expect it. Second, don't over think, it may lead to pre-emptied judgment.

WAKING-UP FROM A BAD DREAM

“Many of us gets distracted by urgencies, addicted to urgencies, and even mistakes urgencies of importance”

                                                                        -Elvira Balinas, PhD, via Facebook

I woke up one morning, when suddenly, I am in a room, sitting in front of a poker table with a man on a cloak shuffling a deck of cards. The man in the cloak dealt the cards without me being ask if I really want to play. The pot money then was amounting to 600 thousand pesos, while I only have 10,000 pesos, convenience, and time to spend with my family and friends in my hand.

I need to think fast whether I’ll fold or gamble my belongings. The pot money offered by the man was really tempting. I only have a minute or two to decide. I was scared, I mean really scared to place a bet. I was about to fold, but unconsciously, I bet all of what I have.

THE END OF THE PARANOIA

The paranoia that’s been killing me slowly these past weeks is officially over. Unfortunately, I am correct, everything that was promised by the man in the cloak all left without a single trace, not to mention the money that I, my family, and all of those dreamt the same dream, spent with this illusion.

Honestly I’m not disappointed to the fact that I’m here to stay near to everyone that I love. But what hurts me in this incident is that the paranoia that haunted me is the same paranoia that is now haunting my parents.

It is my parents’ idea to share the scam-painted-into-a-blessing to my relatives. The intention is for my relatives to experience the possibility of a good life in a foreign land with us. But unluckily, we, together with them, were all tricked with the man in the cloak.

Yes, we all choose to bet, but all of us lose the game, not because our hand was bad, but because the game was a complete misdirection right from the start.

When the man in the cloak vanished, I don’t know what to do or even where to go, in fact, all of us felt the same way.

FOR MY PARENTS

There’s no question to their visions for us to have a good life, to the point that they’ll sacrifice almost everything that they have. They may be distracted by urgencies at the time of the deal, but then, what I saw is that their sight was blurred because of the promise of good life for us: their children. If time comes that I’ll be having a family, perhaps, I will also gamble like what they did.

They may be facing this adversary at this moment, but I together with my brothers, and sister will never leave  them alone in this fight. We’ll together face this storm with hope, so we must hold on to each other until it will all be over.

FOR MY RELATIVES

In behalf of my family, I apologize for making you involved in this incident. Though you swore that “walang sisihan”, but then, I’m still sorry.

Though this might sound sour-graping, but this misfortune also gave me the chance to spend more time with my cousins. If it isn’t for this incident, I won’t know that I and Kuya Erwin share not only our birthday, but also the same favorite meal in a fast food chain.

Also, I had a chance to bond with my Quaizon cousins and Auntie Zenneth , wherein we shared memories from way back, causing us to forget the misery we were encountering at the moment.

I and my family will not stop until the one responsible for this pays, but then, I thank you for your understanding and broad-mindedness that you shared in this time of mischief. Indeed, blood is hell thicker than water.

Maybe the start of this year isn’t good for us all, but remember, we still have 11 months to celebrate the goodness of the rabbit. If we all had a bad start, perhaps, we’ll have better in-betweens and hopefully the best ending for this year.

The best thing to do now is to: learn from our mistakes, stay in tacked, haunt the bitch down, and go on with our lives. Remember, we still have each other. :) 

JUST A BAD DREAM

Then there I was, bet all of what I have, the man dealt the cards unevenly, and I loss. The losing part is not the one which made me think; rather the fear of betting itself makes me wondered.

Then I realized that most often than not, people who are afraid to gamble are not cowards after all. They are those who already have something valuable in their hands, valuable enough to make a chance pass by.

In my case, I have an even-compensating job, good officemates, unbeatable set of friends, loving relatives, and the best family in the world, so what is 600 thousand in exchange for those, right?

Then a familiar ring sounded, I woke-up and realized that I was just in a bad dream, where in I must get out of my bed, go to work, and really work hard for a good future. This way will surely take a long time; however, it is the surest way I know and that I have at the moment.

Get Me Out of This Misery :(

The paranoia keeps on haunting me. I have no one to talk to. Can anyone save me from this insanity? January 14, come quick pleaaaaaase?

File Name: PARANOIA

This is killing me. This is the reason of my less-slept nights. I don’t know what to do and where to go. Please… grant me the patience to live the coming days with positivism.

December 26, 2010, around 2:00pm

I was busy arranging our garage in our ancestral house in Angeles City for our clan party, when my dad rushed to me and said he had a phone call. The phone call was a big opportunity. His friend’s friend is in the Philippines (working in Canada) right now, and he has slots for possible direct-hiring jobs in the Maple Country.

At first I was in shock. Though not yet sure, I had a fear of leaving my family and my closest friends here, not to mention my job that I’m loving at the moment.

My dad gave me an hour to think. But who am I to let go of that chance? So we went right away to the recruiter to settle things up. That same day, I passed my resume and pictures to the recruiter.

December 27, 2010, around 10:00pm

I was still on my way home when my dad sent me a text message that I must hurry-up, so that I can sign the documents for the embassy. “That fast?” I told myself.

When I got home, I woke my dad to help me sign the papers. While my dad is constantly reminding me that I must not make any mistake in signing-up the document, there I was, hoping that I’ll make a mistake. Seriously, I’m not ready for this surprise. L

December 28, 2010, 9:00am

We went to my dad’s friend to submit the papers to the recruiter. The recruiter was then an hour or two late, that’s why I had a chance to converse with my dad’s friend.

Our conversation ran in circles with the opportunities that awaits me overseas, that helped alleviate my apprehensions. That time, it already sunk in to my system that this is the break I’ve been waiting for.

After hour or hours of waiting, the recruiter came and then I submitted all the requirements needed.

January 2, 2011, 2:00pm

This is the 3^rd time we’re meeting the recruiter to pay for a sort of an employment fee. He also said that I’m moved to a higher post because of my college degree. He even mentioned the possible salary I can get. And this is the official day of the beginning of this paranoia.

The Break

Living in the Philippines is not easy, especially if you’re just a regular employee like me. Though I have a decent job and a single status, that’s not a hindrance for me not take this shot. Since my country is reach in human resources, the only way you can save money swiftly is to work in countries that are rich in capital, unless you have your own business.

The salary offer is really tempting. I mean really tempting. Let’s put it this way, converted in Philippine peso, my salary for a month there is equivalent to my 80-mont salary here in my current job. Isn’t that convincing enough to take risk and leave the country?

The Paranoia

I think I’m done with the “I can’t leave” part. Actually by now, I can live with it. But what’s killing me right at this moment, and for the past days, is that what if this chance was a mere fraud?

The job offer and all its condiments are all too good to be true. They’re too good to believe in. I became critical to the fact that after all the excitement and drama I’m wasting my energy at, what if it’s not true at all?

January 14, 2011 is our schedule to go to Manila to fix our Visa. That day is the very day that this paranoia will die its natural death. There’s no time that I’m wishing that January 14 will be the day next to the day I’m waking at.

The “what ifs”, the promise of a good job overseas, the promise of good life for my family are haunting me right now. They won’t even let me sleep for long hours. I don’t know where this being critical of mine will lead me, but in closer look, I’m just worrying because this chance can make a great impact on my future.

I wish this paranoia will end soon and the promises it has will all be granted. I rest my case.

WHEN THE MASK IS NO LONGER NEEDED

People always have to wear their social mask. I don’t know if I just coined the term “social mask” or if it really exists. I’m pertaining to the attitude we portray in every person we meet.

When we meet someone for the first time, most of us desire a certain impression that we would like to get from a crowd or over a new found friend. In that tendency, we let our best attitudes and behavior surface. That’s what I mean when I say “wear a social mask”.

This Sunday, January 2, 2011. I’ve met my best bud in college which we tag ourselves FAB Friends.

It’s been weeks of text message brigade before this day came to life. Despite of our busy schedule, with each having a career, it’s really hard for us to be complete.

Then there it was, good old times rolled once more, just like before:

L-R: Rj, Paul, Athens and Sarah

Let the good old times roll :)

Rock on :)

Fab Friends

yeah :)

:-)

Coffee after :)

The celebration was not complete because of the absence of Marj, who is now in Korea with his husband, and Thal, which didn’t come because of schedule conflict.

Though we ventured in different paths, and we didn’t have the chance to spend time often not like before, still, the fun and laughter we felt that night was something familiar. It’s the FAB way.

A person can really say that he is close to another person if he already let go of his social mask. That he interacts with a group not for impression but for companionship itself.  In our case, not a single member of our group wears his or her's, all of us already threw and crushed that mask years ago, simply because it's no longer needed. :) 

They are one of the few people which saw me beneath my social mask. With them, I can be who I am even without that silly mask. :)