second chances..

I really didn’t like blogging.
I mean, i tried it and as you can see, I failed.. given that my last post was more than a year ago.

I just didn’t like the way some people blogged. It’s like self-advertising. It’s like asking for attention.

and i don’t really like asking for attention.. I’m used to getting it without even asking. hahahhahaha

Seriously though, I didn’t like blogging. I mean, if i have nothing important to write for people to read, then maybe it’s better to just write it in a diary.  I still don’t understand why people blog about little things, little unimportant things.

Whatever. I’m just rambling… just saying that I’m back.

Here’s to second chances.. i think.

I hate those religious chain letters..

I hate electronic messages that tell you about Christ and then ask you to pass the message on – electronically.  I believe that you do not exercise faith just by answering to a call in an electronic letter or through a text message. I hate having to feel guilty because I don’t want to pass the message on – Am I not doing my Christian role when I refuse to clog other people’s email with this? Am I evil if I refuse to encourage religious commercialism?

Yes. I know that in this modern world it becomes more difficult to have a closer relationship with your God but I honestly don’t believe that a simple, pass-on letter would help. Will I be included in the list of those who go to heaven if I am one of those people who forwarded the message?

I believe in communicating with your own God personally, not through any medium. If you’re a Christian, then Christ is the only  way for you to communicate with God – not a cellphone, not a PC.

Who the hell started this? I think it’s Globe or Smart.

Warning: Don’t send me messages and letters that ask me to pass it on, particularly if it’s a religious one. It really pisses me off.

Rubbish Rumble

We are having a big issue about garbage.

We’ve had problems about garbage before. You see nobody wants to take responsibility for the garbage meaning nobody wants to take it out even though it’s brimming full. Our garbage then cultivates a whole community of maggots making it less likely for someone to take the garbage out. This has happened a lot of times that the fact that we haven’t fought about it is amazing.

It was then that I devised a solution to our garbage issue. At that time, Ryan and I are the usual people who take the garbage out. Ate Mic is usually home by four or five and by then, the garbage people are nowhere to be found. So I just said that Ryan, Aaron and I would alternately take the garbage out and Ate Mic would be the one to buy the garbage bag. It all seemed fair and it was working.

Until now.

The facts:

August 4, Saturday: I took out the garbage. Time for a new garbage bag.

August 7, Tuesday: Although not yet full, I closed the bag because a few more days and maggots would start to camp. I told Aaron that it was his turn to throw it out.

August 8, Wednesday: Aaron arrived before 12 and said that he can’t take the garbage out because he can’t find the garbage people anymore. He promised he’d arrive home early Wednesday to take it out. Although I think he can still throw the garbage out and he just has to look for the garbage people, I didn’t say anything because he promised he’d throw it out by the next day.

August 9, Thursday: Aaron arrived late again. The garbage just stayed there.

August 10, Friday: Hello Maggots!

August 11, Saturday: Hello Even Bigger, Nastier Maggots!

I got a C!

I want to travel. I love to travel.

It seems like I still have a lot of places to go before I can call myself well-travelled… and to think that’s just the Philippines.

Bakit kasi walang magic carpet, or Floo powder.

My Lakbayan grade is C!

How much of the Philippines have you visited? Find out at Lakbayan!

Created by Eugene Villar.

Updates… updates

My blog silence was just supposed to last a few days but well, it lasted for three months.

Can a lot of things happen in three months? Not really if you’re stuck at home for the last two months. haha

But a lot has happened around me. I see myself right now as the only immobile person in a very crowded street. Others are just passing me by without even a glance, some stop to say hi, some just well.. some don’t pass my street anymore. They’ve changed route, I guess.

I want to talk about a lot of things – about the election and how I found two envelopes containing 600 pesos each. I was furious. I was disappointed. About Chiz Escudero – how I so wanted him to win yet in the end, it seems like he’s with the administration. About the lack of rain for the past few months and how it’s been raining nonstop. I’m babbling. I don’t make sense.

Well, not making sense seems like the most sensible thing a person does after waking up from a very long and deep dream.

A Moment for Virginia Tech

The Virginia Tech Massacre is.. Heck, I don’t know how to define or describe it. Sad is an understatement. To use disturbing or crazy seem shallow – it’s like you just picked up a horrid photograph, said it was disturbing and just dropped it off without really realizing what’s in the picture or why it was there. Maybe, we never really will understand how someone can take somebody else’s life or understand what one person goes through. So I will not try to define it or somehow try to understand it. I am really in no position to say anything but just hold out my hand for those who mourn.

I want to pray for a lot of things, for a lot of people. But in the end, I only pray for one thing – that we end the cycle of hate.

Pacquiao Panic

I am officially in a state of panic. I have a lot of things to say about the Pacquiao fever and I so want to say them, yet I don’t know which to say first. I won’t say anything about the fight though, I don’t care if he honestly beat the hell out of an ‘inexperienced, came-out-of-nowhere’ (no offense to Solis) fighter, but I hated how media just gobbled up the whole Pacquiao platter and how politicians just loved being part of the dessert. So I’ll just do bullets (or maybe I’m just lazy).

• Why was he ever announced as a congressional candidate? Did that somehow help his morale? Did that somehow intimidate his opponent? Was he really thinking that this next punch is going to be for the people of General Santos?
• While he was being interviewed, his staff was shouting ‘Pacquiao for Congressman.’ Hello? Paging Comelec? Isn’t this unfair? And don’t tell me that you cannot contain people from letting out their emotions. Yes – civilians you cannot contain. But people working for a congressional candidate, you should!
• Please, stop calling him a ‘hero’. I realize that Pacquiao has done a lot to the public, boost their morale or make them win a bet – don’t know which is which. But please, have some respect for our heroes. Don’t use the term lightly. It’s annoying already because if ever, Pacquiao is our only hero who is basking in unadulterated love and fame and lives to enjoy it. All the other heroes died for it or at least, suffered for it. I so hope that this doesn’t give a bird-brained politician, eager to join the Pacquiao bandwagon, the idea of elevating him to Philippine hero status – that thought was just added to my nightmare list.

Me in an intrapersonal conversation

How long do you grieve for a mistake?
Hmm.. Mistake is not the term. Mistake would entail that you regret that decision – that somehow it is against some law or rule. It was not a mistake. It just so happened that in the process, you hurt someone.
So how long do you grieve for that person?
You really cannot grieve for a person. You cannot carry his/her pain, his /her burdens.
So how long do you grieve?
why grieve?
******
What is love?
Mushy, overused and so abused question.
But how can I be in a state I do not know of?
You cannot NOT know it. The fact that you chose to be in that state, that you ‘entered’ that state entails that you know it, that you somehow have an understanding of it.
Ok………So what is love?
hay.. talking with stupid, but talking still. such self-love..
******
When is the best time to move on?
Now.
Why now?
Why later?
*****
Am I selfish?
Selfish can be self-preservation. Self-centered can be self-love. Depends on how you view things.
*****
You’re not really answering me
You’re not really asking.
Then, why are we talking?
Because the affirmation and validation that you need from others, you first have to get from yourself.

Ilocos Itinerary

Just to help you out guys, if ever you plan to go to Pagudpud and Vigan.

April 6, Wed

8 pm: Left for Laoag, aboard a Florida non-airconditioned bus. P500 (an airconditioned bus would be around P650)

April 7, Thur

6 am: Arrived in Laoag, transferred to another Florida bus bound for Pagudpud. P75

9 am: Arrived in Pagudpud, had breakfast in a friend’s house so we were able to save a lot. (Breakfast would cost around P100 per person)

11 am: Hit the beach, didn’t pay for entrance. Just paid for the cottage. P500

1 pm: Had lunch, again courtesy of a friend. Tip: Bring your own food at the beach because food served in resorts are really costly.

5 pm: Left the beach, went to the Empanadaan. You have to try Ilocos Empanada. P50

10 pm: Went back to the beach, had dinner.

2 am: Went home.

April 8, Fri

9 am: Left for Laoag, driven by my friend’s tito.

11 am: Arrived in Laoag just in time for the last trip to Vigan. P125 (Partas Bus)

1 pm: Arrived in Vigan, checked in Cordillera Inn. This inn is the only inn (I think) along the famed Crisologo street. Rooms cost P1,500. Had lunch and paid around 400. (Bagnet, Poki-poki, Crab and Corn soup, Rice and drinks.)

4 pm: Met up for the Good Friday procession. Had dinner in Mcdonalds. haha

6 pm onwards: Walked around Plaza Salcedo, Plaza Burgos and Calle Crisologo.

10 pm: Slept early.

April 9, Saturday

9 am: Met up at Chavit’s Baluarte. No entrance fee (there were even talks of free meals, but I guess it’s because of the election period).

11 am: Had an early lunch in Cafe Leona, famed resto in Vigan. Paid around P1,000 for a meal of five.

12:30: Went on a Calesa Tour. P150/hour

2 pm: Went back to the Inn to rest.

4 pm: Took Cary, Camille and Emman at Partas Bus Station.

6 pm: Had dinner at Uno Grille. You have to try their Felicitas Rice. Paid around 400 for a meal of two.

7 pm: Toured Calle Crisologo. Bought some pasalubong. Bought an abel iloco for just P180.

9 pm: Had coffee at Cafe Uno.  Spent around 300.

10 pm: Took pictures of Calle Crisolog0, there were less people so walking along the street was more fun.

April 10, Sunday

11 am: Woke up really late, was only able to pack for the trip to Manila.

12 nn: Checked out, had lunch at Cordillera Inn. I think they have the best bagnet.

1 pm: Took the Bus bound for Manila. P650

12 mn: Arrived in Manila.

P3,500 is already enough to cover for transportation, food and pasalubongs. Family rooms (good for at least four) are only P2000 and deluxe rooms (good for 2-3) at P1500. You can also ask for extra beds so you can save on accommodations.

IIII love IIIIlocos!!!

Ilocos was just slashed off my must-visit list. The great welcome, the amazing sceneries and the lovely night lights in Ilocos made up for the ass-punishing 14 hour bus ride.
We, Camille and bf Cary, Emman and the guy, left Manila at around 8. There was no other available bus so we had to take a non-airconditioned bus to Laoag (I was scared we’d be traveling with chickens and other farm products) and was surprised that it turned out to be ok. We arrived in Laoag at around 6 in the morning and transferred to another bus that will take us to Pagudpud. Finally, at almost 9, we arrived in Pagudpud all geared up and ready for the beach.

I have to thank Myrtle for the warmest welcome and for taking us in during our Pagudpud stay. If it weren’t for her, we wouldn’t have enjoyed Pagudpud to the fullest. Thanks for the fulfilling meals and for playing host/driver/entertainer. We stayed at the beach until 2 in the morning and the guy and I just slept at the shore while everybody had their issues. (Camille and Cary.. Emman.. the new side of Emman..hahaha)

We left Pagudpud at 9 in the morning to get to Laoag just in time for the 11 am bus to Vigan (that was the last trip to Vigan and we arrived 15 minutes before it left). Upon arriving, Cary, Camille and Emman went to Playa de Oro while the guy and I stayed at Cordillera Inn. We all decided to rest for the afternoon and just get back together for dinner, in time for the Good Friday Procession.

The streets were packed and it seemed like everyone went out to join the procession.
We wanted to join the procession at first but seeing that there were a lot of people, decided against it. We just visited the streets of Vigan and enjoyed taking pictures.

The next day, we went to Chavit’s Baluarte. Vigan should be called Chavit Country for everywhere, I mean everywhere, there were posters of Chavit. I only saw one poster of an opposition candidate in all of Vigan, just one. Good thing they didn’t allow posting in Crisologo st. or everything would have been ruined. When it was time for us to have the required calesa tour, we had a difficult time finding a calesa without Chavit’s face on it.

In the afternoon, the guy and I took Cary, Camille and Emman to the bus station. We were supposed to leave with them as well but we wanted to stay one more day in Vigan. After taking them to the bus station, we had dinner and decided to take one more tour of Vigan. There were less people that night and so we were able to enjoy taking a walk along Crisologo street more than we did the other night. We also found a nice store which sells really great, unique products. We stayed for sometime and chatted with the owner, Leonard Chua, about his products and he gave us a big discount. haha.

We woke up really late the next day, so late that all we were able to do was just pack for the trip back to Manila. The moment I was on the bus for Manila, I just wanted to turn around and stay in Vigan or go back to Pagudpud. This was the best trip for me – staying with him in one of the oldest, romantic cities of the country.