Quiapo Chronicles

You and me and five bucks.

2011-09-12T09:38:00.001+08:00

Talking to a friend last night and remembered Reality Bites. My favorite scene?


T: You see, this is where Troy was fired... from his eleventh job. He was an illustrious office cleaner. Now if you'll come this way, please...we will continue our short but happy walking tour...of the career of Troy Dyer. And here we have the newsstand...where Troy dared to ask the question... Are employee snacks subsidized? The answer... tragically, no. In total, he has been fired... from... yes, count them... twelve jobs.


L: Twelve? Ouch.


T: So you shouldn't feel so bad. One of these mornings, I'm going to wake up before noon and...


L: Ha ha. Yeah, right.


n the TV... and there Bryant Gumbel will be, and he'll say... "Today we have with us... the Pulitzer Prize winning documentarian Lelaina Pierce. "Lelaina, after your first film, Why Barbie Is Bad... You seem to have forgotten all about... your best friend, Troy Dyer."


T: And I'm gonna turn 


o


 a couple of smokes, a cup of coffee..


L: Troy who? What was that name again?


T: Oh, right through the heart. I'll probably be working at the Whole Foods... playing warehouses... hanging around places like the Radio Shack... screaming that I used to know you... and you'll be there in the lights... and you'll be all beautiful and shit.


L: Oh, Troy. No, no, no. That'll never happen. They would never hire you at Whole Foods.




T: You see, Lainie, this is all we need.


.


.. And a little bit of conversation. You and me and five bucks.




L: You got it.

Wherein I tell you I had sandwich for breakfast.

2011-09-12T08:27:00.000+08:00

Di ko alam what got into me but suddenly was seized with this brilliant idea to play [X] Marks the Spot by Sandwich on the way to work this morning. It was a brilliant idea, alright. I'd forgotten how fun the band was. Realized too that no two songs in the album were the same. Talk about creativity huh? The term "musical stylings" is uncannily apt for them. Or, that album at least. I particularly love the song, Manila: "Paraparaparaparaparapara Boss. Diyan lang sa tabi. Gigimik lang ako sa Malate." And how can you not love, "Take me to the Quiapo Bridge" just as the band segues into the song's bridge?

This is so gonna be a great day.

Wherein I wonder if I'm doing things right.

2011-09-10T21:30:00.000+08:00

Kapag sinabi ko sa iyo na ika'y minamahal
Sana'y maunawaan mo na ako'y isang mortal
At di ko kayang abutin ang mga bituin at buwan
O di kaya ay sisirin perlas ng karagatan

Kapag sinabi ko sa iyo na ika'y iniibig
Sana'y maunawaan mo na ako'y taga-daigdig
Kagaya ng karamihan, karaniwang karanasan
Daladala kahit saan, pang-araw-araw na pasan

Ako'y hindi romantiko, sa iyo'y di ko matitiyak
Na pag ako'y kapiling mo kailanma'y di ka iiyak
Ang magandang hinaharap sikapin nating maabot
Ngunit kung di pa maganap, sana'y huwag mong ikalungkot

Kapag sinabi ko sa iyo na ika'y sinisinta
Sana'y ibigin mo akong mulat ang iyong mga mata
Ang kayamanan kong dala ay pandama't kamalayan
Na natutunan sa iba na nabighani sa bayan

Halina't ating pandayin isang malayang daigdig
Upang doon payabungin isang malayang pag-ibig
Kapag sinabi ko sa iyo na ika'y sinusuyo
Sana'y ibigin mo ako, kasama ang aking mundo

Made the mistake of listening to this song Friday morning and it put me in a blue funk (again). It got me thinking about things that have been crossing my mind with in increased regularity lately, despite very determined effort to block them from my placid, if numb, consciousness.

Forest vs. trees-wise, I can't help feeling the niggling suspicion that I could be doing something more worthwhile with my life. I believe there are no do-overs and we get to make do with only one life. So you'll understand me if I want to make sure I don't waste this one.

Half the time I second-guess myself and wonder if am doing things right. Am I?

Oo, alam ko lovesong yan ni Gary Granada. Eh sa iba ang naaalala ko sa kanta eh. Deadma na :)

I Write Like

2010-07-28T12:15:00.002+08:00

No plagiarism please!

Post your text and click on the button ANALYZE to see what writer you write like.

I posted three different blog posts of mine and I got three different results:

Dan Brown (eeew!)

David Foster Wallace (does this mean I write well but sound suicidal?)

Stephen King

Hmm. I guess my writing says I am a schizo.

Try it for yourself.

PS. Dan Brown is icky but things could be worse - like sounding like whoever wrote Twilight. Ngiii!!!!

"Thank you Time for the, er, relevant comments."

2010-07-24T10:10:00.000+08:00

I use the Time Mobile App to read up on what's happening elsewhere in the world. I love it primarily because it's free ;) and informative. Recently though, I've been enjoying the app more for the unintended hilarity (or at least a fat-ass question mark in your brain) from the links supplied by Time to certain points in the articles.

For instance, in the article "Black Parents Shocked to Give Birth to White Baby Girl," the 'helpful' link supplied to the sentence "The explanation for this lies in that mixed-race women carry some eggs containing genes for white skin and others for black; similarly men carry the same range of genes in their sperm" was (See pictures of pregnant belly art.)

In the piece "New Laws Target Workplace Bullying" the sentences "Recent brain scan research has shown that bullies are wired differently. When they see a victim in pain, it triggers parts of their brain associated with pleasure." merited the link (See 10 ways your job will change.)

In the article "Obamas to Vacation on Florida's Gulf Coast," the sentence goes "The White House said the Obamas will visit an undisclosed section of Florida's coast in the weekend of Aug. 14." And the link? (See pictures of BP oil spill victims.)

Finally, in the article "The Case Against Summer Vacation:" "But as reformers strive to redeem summer as an educational resource, the trick is to seize the opportunity without destroying what's the best about the season: the possibility of fun and freedom and play." The link was (See pictures of a diverse group of American teens.)

I really hope the linking is being done by a computer.

Oppa!

2010-06-27T08:03:00.000+08:00

Getting organized

2010-03-03T21:18:00.000+08:00

I subscribe to electronic newsletter distributed by David Allen of GTD fame. Here's a nice guide from him about getting organized:

So, how does the meaning of something translate into organization? Pick up anything around you that you're wondering what to do with, and apply a simple set of formulae:
I don't need or want it = trash
I still need to decide what this means to me = In-basket item
I might need to know this information = reference
I use it = equipment and supplies
I like to see it = decoration
When I could possibly move on it, I want to see the action as an option = next action reminder, reviewed when and where it could be done
I need to be reminded of this short-term outcome I've committed to = project list item, reviewed weekly
I need to have this when I focus on a project = support material
I might want to commit to this at any time in the future = Someday/Maybe list item
I might want to commit to this on or after a specific time in the future = calendared or "tickled" item incubated for review on a specific future date
I want to achieve this "bigger" outcome = goals, objectives, visions that you review on some longer interval (a.k.a. your higher level Horizons of Focus)
It's something someone else is doing that I care about = item on Waiting-For list, reviewed at least weekly
I need to consider it when I do certain recurring activities = item on a checklist

Test these against anything you find lying around you in work or life that you think you need to know how to organize. Organizing tools should not be so mysterious—they are merely to support these various functions.

2010-03-02T22:17:00.000+08:00

I go on MCLE tomorrow. I think my boss totally forgot about that. I therefore expect her to flip when she learns that I'll be gone for the rest of the week. It's gonna be tough on her especially since one of the associates has mastered her inner bitch and, as a result, has been conducting subtle displays of insubordination and passive-aggressive behavior. As for me, I am busy plotting my escape.

2010-03-01T15:20:00.000+08:00

I have been very lazy lately, with mid to low-level of productivity at work. It seems like am just marking time now 'til the inevitable (yes!) packing of my bags.

I am off to a job interview this afternoon. Let us hope hi-jinks will not ensue.

Wherein I talk about a potential nightmare

2010-02-25T23:14:00.001+08:00

Kunwari, I mistakenly email my application letter and CV to my boss, will the following confidentiality notice prevent her from asking me about it?

EMAIL CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE: This message is private and confidential. If you have received this message in error, please notify us and remove it from your system.

(ETA: Ay hindi pala kasi nakalagay please notify us. Hmp!)

Wherein I talk about my neighbor's singing.

2010-01-10T14:29:00.002+08:00

Marco Sison sings: "My love will see you through..."
My neighbor's version goes: "My love will see you soon." Hahaha. Akala ko may lyrics sa karaoke?

Wherein I think about ditching PLDT.

2010-01-10T14:25:00.002+08:00

Hay naku. After suffering for months from PLDT's incompetence, insensitivity, and crappy customer service, I have had it. Seriously considering making the switch to Globe.

Wherein I show you my new hair.

2010-01-09T18:08:00.001+08:00

I was bored with the long hair. Maintaining it was a bitch and it took forever to dry in the morning. So I cut it and now am back to my short locks. I think this will be better for traveling as no more taking forever with the hair dryer. Just wash, put a bit of hair product, and wear.

Thanks to the nice Korean lady (I could never remember her name) of Hair News.

Wherein I talk about Noona-love.

2010-01-09T10:48:00.002+08:00

Elsewhere, they call it a Puma (or Cougar) getting into a relationship. In Korea, it's called Noona-love.

Noona is a Korean term used to refer to an older girl. So, as you may have guessed, noona-love is when a noona gets into a relationship with a younger guy (or a dongsaeng). Noona-love of course takes off from the perspective of the boy: falling in love with a noona.

So why, you ask, am I talking about this? Yes, I would like me some noona-love, thank you very much. And yes, Jang Keun Suk (Hwang Tae Kyung of You're Beautiful), I am talking about you. Although I have found lately that I've developed a hankering for Lee Seunggi (Hwan of Brilliant Legacy) as well. Kim Bum (whom I don't have a crush on but maybe time will come when I'll say that I spoke too soon) will also get a taste of noona-love in his upcoming drama The Woman Who Still Wants to Marry.

For a more concrete representation of noona-love, please refer to this video of Because You're My Woman by Lee Seunggi.

ETA: For reference, here are the pics of the aforementioned beautiful boys:

Wherein I talk about how technology is not for everyone.

2010-01-07T20:37:00.002+08:00

My boss' struggle to familiarize herself with her Blackberry has been a constant source of hilarity for the past two days. She presses all sorts of buttons while taking calls from clients. I can hear her explaining to them how she's just gotten a B'berry and she's still learning to use it. She then complains that it's sooo difficult!

It's obvious that any benefit she may derive from using it is far outweighed by the stress she's dealing with right now. I think she'll be much more productive if she just sticks to her trusty old Nokia. Until the time she makes the same realization, I'll just sit back and enjoy the comedy.

Wherein I talk about the China trip

2010-01-06T22:30:00.001+08:00

Finally.

All visa requirements have been submitted and now we wait for word on whether we'll be able to go to Shanghai. Needless to say, I am very excited. Very interesting things await me in China. For instance, I'll get to experience winter! I get to try the few Chinese phrases I learned (including the classic "Please give me a bottle of beer." Hahaha!). A bit torn though on whether or not to wish for snow. Meanwhile, my brother Joel keeps on hassling us, saying that, being winter newbies, we won't even be able to venture out of the hotel. Luchie and I are very determined to prove him wrong. Here's hoping we succeed.

A complication that somewhat diminishes my excitement for the trip is the work that I still have to finish. Just this morning, while at a meeting, I almost fell off my seat when I heard the boss promise client that we'll have all affidavits out and ready for filing by next week. Uhm, yeah... I wanted to ask who they expected to prepare these affidavits since the affidavits won't obviously draft themselves. Instead, I had to bite back my question and vent my frustration by furiously digging into the penne arabiata. Good thing the pasta was quite spicy and kept me busy fanning the burning sensation from off my tongue.

Still.

Despite all the work that needs to be done and in total disregard of the slave mentality that I professed to possess, I am comforted by the idea that these people are not actually MY clients so, ultimately, they're the boss' problem and not mine.

Shanghai, here I come!

Wherein I talk about Korean make-up

2009-12-25T17:44:00.000+08:00

Etude House just launched in the Philippines this month. There goes the underground business of the Korean make-up dealers in Multiply. Right now, three (3) Korean make-up/skin care retailers are officially in the Philippines: Skin Food, Face Shop, and Etude House. I think Elianto is also Korean though am not too sure. The label says that their make-up is made in China but there are also Korean blurbs on the label.

Anyway.

I stumbled upon the Etude House branch in Megamall two nights ago when I was looking for something to buy to break my P1K bill for my fare home. I ended up buying pink eye shadow (yes, I've always wanted to have sparkly pink eye shadow but somehow never got around to buying one.)

Pictured here are Park Shin Hye and Jang Keun Suk, models for Etude House's cosmetics. I think not too many people know about Etude House right now but sales are gonna shoot up next month when You're Beautiful starts showing here in the Philippines via ABS.

Based on the browsing I did the other night, it appears that Etude House's items are cheaper that SF or FS. For instance, they have BB cream selling for just a little over P500. SF and FS BB creams sell for more than P1K. I don't know about the quality of the cream though. Based on the forums I've visited, SF BB creams get the highest points for effectiveness and coverage.

A minus point for the EH branch in Megamall is the sales crew. If you're going to sell expensive make-up (meaning make-up that's not in the same price range as Ever Bilena and the other local brands), you better get staff who, at the very least, won't make your shop look cheap. There were two girls who looked barely out of their teens just basically ignoring the customers and focused on trying the make-up on their faces. What was especially off-putting was that they talked in loud voices and called each other 'sis' or 'girl'. Uhm, eew!

2009-12-19T11:27:00.000+08:00

I promise to be good while in China.

And there's almost 100% chance I'll keep my promise since wala naman fangirling opportunity in Shanghai. Wala akong kilalang artista from Mainland China.

2009-12-19T11:23:00.000+08:00

Dear Chinese Embassy in the Philippines: We are soooo ready to go. Please give us our visa na!!!

Wherein I show you a correlation chart

2009-12-10T19:40:00.000+08:00

The best thing about jdoramas? The correlation charts, of course!

2009-10-22T20:47:00.000+08:00

We found Nemo!!!

Malabo Trading

2009-10-22T20:43:00.001+08:00

I wonder whether this company ever makes money. Hahaha. This is from a building directory in Tsim Sha Tsui, HK. A Google search turns up that they are exporters of baby wipes, baby/adult napkins, kitchen wipes, etc. worldwide!

2009-10-22T19:59:00.000+08:00

One Night in Mongkok. Hmm... Sounds like a song?

2009-10-22T19:56:00.000+08:00

Another sea lion, another idiot. Hahaha!

2009-10-22T19:54:00.001+08:00

My brother Joel, having fun and being an idiot, during our visit to Ocean Park in Hong Kong in July. I guess he was making the most out of a disappointment. We made the mistake of going to the place on a Sunday. Apparently, that's Ocean Park day for the locals. The place was packed and it was a nightmare for me, H1N1-wise. We barely saw anything as there were super long lines everywhere. We couldn't even find a bench where we could eat our snacks.

Wherein I talk about myself.

2009-10-13T00:56:00.003+08:00

I lost the rest of my casette tape collection and half of my books in the flood. My bookshelf and cabinet were also wrecked and I had to throw away a lot of clothes. I lost my diplomas, class pictures from gradeschool to high school. I lost all the little mementos I kept from the many jobs I've had.

I didn't feel sad at all.

I didn't even feel depressed at the sight and thought of all of the clean-up (it's probably gonna take weeks) that I would have to do to establish another kind of order in my life. Why didn't I feel anything? It took me years to put together the stuff I eventually lost. Why don't I feel any sense of loss?

Of course, I realize that the fact that everyone in the family is safe and that we didn't lose anything major plays a factor in my current state. Still, I wonder. Everyone I talk to who learns about what happened to us commisserate and offer their comfort. BUt I can't even empathize with their sympathy. Am I numb or just resigned? Or have I somehow, and without my realizing it, picked up a zen-like perspective on things? I really don't know. And I don't think so.

I really thought I would care so much about stuff. My stuff. Apparently, I don't. It's sad but it's also comforting in some ways. I feel like I can just pick up and go anywhere and start living a different kind of life. In the end, it wouldn't matter much where I would eventually end up. I'd still be me.

MSI Wind U110 Eco Updated (Slightly) With 15-Hour Battery Life - Msi wind u110 eco - Gizmodo

2009-09-23T04:19:00.001+08:00

Fifteen hours? Wow!

MSI Wind U110 Eco Updated (Slightly) With 15-Hour Battery Life - Msi wind u110 eco - Gizmodo

Shared via AddThis

Wherein I cite a real-life example of pandering.

2009-09-22T21:37:00.000+08:00

Willie is very qualified (to run for senator). I don’t see any problem with Willie. That’s the one thing that he should think about.

- Your senator, Manny "Maling Akala" Villar

Wherein I comment on Korina's letter re RG Cruz

2009-09-19T12:10:00.000+08:00

The letter says: “It is ability, track record, integrity, honesty, diligence, intelligence, compassion and vision that should bring an aspirant to his rightful place in history, stupid. Not long coats!” In the first place, NOBODY EVER considered long coats as playing a role in a person’s advancement. Well, certainly not a person in his/her right mind. Moreover, just because this person RG Cruz has a preference for long coats does not mean that he believes wearing such would bring him “to his rightful place in history,” whatever the hell that is. Korina should not confuse the movie hero “Neo” to RG Cruz because RG Cruz does not in any way resemble Neo, Neo is a fictional character, and, most important, we are not in a movie.

Isa pa: “So to you, RG Cruz, I say, I hope that... you will, henceforth, attempt to save yourself from the very real prospect of disappearing, leaving this world without a trace, no better and even worse than when you found it.” Is this a fucking murder threat? So if RG Cruz is eventually found inside a cemented drum at the bottom of the ocean, alam na natin kung sino ang may kasalanan!

I probably won't be voting for Roxas for VP if this is the best choice for a life partner that he can come up with.

Wherein I link to a letter where Korina says a lot of things but manages to make no sense.

2009-09-16T16:26:00.000+08:00

Here's a letter of Korina Sanchez posted by Marichu Lambino on her blog.

Korina's writing style is meandering and confused. Congrats to you if you understand what she is saying.

Wherein I talk about stock certificates in the context of paying taxes.

2009-09-15T23:10:00.001+08:00

What's so important about stock certificates?

I can certainly understand how certificates are important to the stockholder and the corporation. I also get it that a buyer of a share of stock would be more 'kampante' about buying shares when he/she could see the stock certificate and know for sure that such share in the name of the seller actually exists and will be recognized by the corporation.

What I don't get is how come a stock certificate has suddenly become indispensable to the payment of capital gains tax due from the sale of shares.

I went to the BIR this morning to have the CGT liability of a client computed. I already made initial computations but I wanted to confirm the amount since I was just approximating the amount of surcharges and interest due because of the late payment of CGT. I went to the RDO armed with the deed of sale, the articles of incorporation, and the 2008 financial statements.

First thing the officer of the day (OD) asks me is 'where is the stock certificate to be cancelled.' She says that they won't even compute the CGT unless I give her complete papers, including the stock certificate. I tell her that the corporation didn't issue stock certificates. She replies that this is the first time she encountered such a thing. I explain that sometimes that happens and that, while it's certainly irregular, it's not really that big a deal as the transfers are recorded in the corporation's stock and transfer book anyway. Ergo, there is a way of monitoring which shares and how many went to who.

I wasn't able to convince her so she refers me to the chief of the assessment section. He shakes his head when I explain the problem. He says, 'buti pumayag yung buyer kahit walang stock certificate.' Inside my brain, am thinking, 'well that isn't really the BIR's problem right? All that should matter is that I am here to pay the damn tax." So I ask him if they could just compute the tax liability first as my client only wanted to know how much tax needs to be paid so that they could prepare the money. I said that maybe I didn't need to have the complete documents yet (especially the stock certificate) since I wasn't filing the return yet. I merely wanted to know how much CGT should be paid. He tells me that they need the stock certificate to determine the par value of the shares. I refer him to the deed of assignment and the articles of incorporation. I also tell him that he can compute the book value too as I brought the FS. He tells me that he needs the stock certificate to compute for the costs and expenses to be deducted from the gross capital gains. I tell him that the costs aren't even in the stock certificate. Hay!

So I've been wondering the whole day why the BIR requires that the stock certificate to be cancelled should be submitted. Bakit nga ba? Is it to prove the authenticity or existence of the shares? Eh ano ngayon kung hindi siya tunay? The fact is that the taxpayer is reporting the transaction to the BIR and is willing to pay the tax. What more can they ask for?

Hay!

Wherein I talk about Battery Bar.

2009-09-13T07:36:00.000+08:00

Sometimes the battery indicator in your laptop can be frustrating, especially if you're working outside and you didn't bring a power cord with you. Of course, the indicator will tell you how much power is left but this is usually shown in percentage terms. So you wouldn't have a fairly accurate gauge for knowing just how many hours you can still work before your laptop finally dies.

I had this problem when I attended an annual general meeting of stockholders recently. I was using my laptop to keep track of the people who showed up but who actually issued proxies before the meeting. I needed to constantly update who was present physically and by proxy to determine the quorum. We also needed to update the number of proxies that could still be voted. As some of the issuers showed up, there was a risk of shares being voted twice. Since our client was a membership club and they had a lot of stockholders, keeping track of the numbers became a bit tricky.

The elections were scheduled for a whole day. Asus promised that the eePC would last 9.5 hours so I thought I wouldn't need to bring the power cord anymore. Still, throughout the day, I was nervously eyeing the battery to see if Redford would last 'til the end of the meeting. Toward the late afternoon, nakaka-tense na talaga as the battery icon showed that the power was almost at the bottom.

This is the good thing about Battery Bar. It tells you not just the percentage of power still available but actually calculates how many working hours you have left. I can't really vouch for the accuracy yet as I've just installed it. The website for the program though says that the longer you use it, the more accurate it becomes because it becomes more familiar with your system.

Battey Bar is free to dowload. There's a more advanced version that you can buy. However, I don't think you'll really need the additional features like being able to customize the fonts and colors of your battery indicator.

Wherein I rant re a Colgate commercial.

2009-09-12T18:12:00.000+08:00

Have you noticed the new Colgate Total Commercial? The one where a guy (presumably a dentist/dental technician) accosts a random guy or girl and asks whether he or she realizes that germs are breeding (can't remeber the exact term) in his/her mouth right then? Hay. If that happened to you, siguradong mapapatay mo yung atribidang yun. Imagine, you are minding your own business and then this person gets in your face and accuses your mouth of being a haven for bacteria! That's sufficient provocation to cause passion and obfuscation in a normal person.

Wherein I tell you not to judge me.

2009-09-11T21:20:00.002+08:00

I am not a book.
You have not been appointed by the Supreme Court.
Ergo, do not judge me.

Wherein I ask if I look young.

2009-09-11T21:18:00.000+08:00

My friend Monica has commented in several pictures that I uploaded unto Facebook about how young I look. This got me thinking about the implications of her comments:
1. Do I really look young for my age?
2. Or she is walking around with a mental picture of me as a really really old person such that she is surprised whenever she is presented with an image of how I really look?

Wherein hat-throwing amazes the one with short attention span

2009-09-10T17:34:00.000+08:00

“The political landscape has completely changed with Sen. Aquino throwing his hat ... It will be very, very interesting,” Jinggoy said. Then he added: “I don’t think there’s any chance to unite.”

Noynoy must be a magician. He can change the political landscape just by throwing his hat! Moreover, ganon ba ka-interesting ang isang taong nagbabato ng sumbrero? Autistic ba si Jinggoy?

It shouldn't be so difficult.

2009-09-09T23:26:00.001+08:00

“I talked to my sister and I did ask her that’s the part of my life that I want to be private as it can’t develop in the public like in a fishball . I think she understood it…She texted me and apologized,” said the senator.

Fishball? Hahaha! I think what Noynoy meant to say was "fishbowl." Kawawa naman siya, the Inquirer reporter is making him look stupid. Read this for the context.

Wherein you meet Redford, and other random things

2009-09-09T23:07:00.000+08:00

I have decided to name my eeePC Redford. Because it's white.
I am glad that Noynoy Aquino finally decided to run, although, at this point, I am not yet sure that I will vote for him. What I am sure though is that I will never vote for Manny Villar. I have heard stories from friends who have worked in Congress and the Senate and they tell me that he's really dirty.
It is ironic that Villar's campaign pitch, supposedly aimed at dispelling the mistaken notions about him, is actually misinforming the public about who he is and what he stands for. To date, Villar has not explained the charges of wrongdoing brought against him. Instead, he muddles the issues by claiming that he is being persecuted by his enemies.
As for Erap, well I can only hope that Arthro, aside from strengthening the bones, could help him grow a conscience as well.
Check out 'This is a Crazy Planets' blog by Lourd de Veyra on spot.ph.

Turning things around.

2009-09-06T22:17:00.001+08:00

I'm dusting off this old blog and I'll start posting here again. Ever since I moved to Tumblr, I've become more lazy at stringing sentences together. Tumblr boasted of the ease with which it enabled bloggers to publish different types of posts - the editor pre-formats text, quotes, audio, video, and link posts. However, the same ease of use made me less inclined to post stuff that required me to set aside at least ten minutes of my time. I just posted quotes or links or whatever that I came across elsewhere and they would show up on my blog nicely-formatted, without the least bit of effort from me. Soon, I couldn't even summon any effort at all. Hence, the erratic posting frequency.

So I am moving back to Blogger.

I also realized that I loved my posts here because they contained snapshots of where I was, both in the sense of physical location and who I am as a person, the past few years. Sayang naman if I'll totally chuck everything.

I'll probably move my Tumblr posts here though I don't think I'll be moving everything. Aside from the fact that I've moved jobs twice since 2007, nothing interesting has really happened to me in 2008 so I wouldn't miss much if I left of some of my Tumblr posts.

I hope I'll be able to summon the interest, energy, and discipline to post here with regularity. I miss writing about things other than work. It seems that in the past two years, I've become a boring person. Aside from the TV series marathons, I've hardly done anything that didn't involve work. I've read a handful of books this year. And rarely saw any movies, let alone good ones. Hay, sad, sad, sad. It's a sad state of affairs to be bogged down by boredom, know it, and yet cannot even be bothered to do anything about it.

If I had it all...

2007-07-27T00:23:00.000+08:00

Had a good talk with Jay over dinner and beer earlier. He says I should learn to acknowledge my feelings--that I should give them free rein. Hmm. I tell him that I usually tell myself "I refuse" and by doing so, the negativity seems less real somehow. He says that I might get so used to masking the negative that I'll end up masking the positive as well. So own the pain and own the joy. He made a lot of sense but masking takes years of practice and am not so sure that I can easily unshackle myself from things I've gotten used to doing. I really wish things were easier.

If I were a king
If I had everything, piece by piece
If I had you if I could give you your dreams
If I were giant-sized, on top of it all
Then tell me what in the world would I sing for
If I had it all.
- Dave Matthews Band, If I Had It All

By the numbers

2007-07-25T22:21:00.000+08:00

So, how am I doing so far? Okay, I guess. Let's look at the numbers for my first eight days at lawyering:
Number of hearings (or similar) attended: six
Number of pleadings drafted: four
Number of demand letters drafted: two
Number of adverse party dead: one.

The Smoking Popes

2007-07-21T23:05:00.000+08:00

Grabe. Buhay na naman pala ang The Smoking Popes. Happy.

At eto ang isa sa paborito kong kanta nila. Nasa college pa lang ako nun. I tried really hard to learn this on the guitar but I never did. Sad.

The Space Between

2007-07-21T22:52:00.000+08:00

You don't need a reason for the Dave Matthews Band.

Judicial ethics

2007-07-21T21:57:00.000+08:00

My boss asked me to do research on judicial ethics. Let's take a look at what Rule 3.04 of the Code of Judicial Conduct states: "A judge should be patient, attentive, and courteous to lawyers, especially the inexperienced..."

Hilarious.

Sleep?

2007-07-17T23:04:00.001+08:00

It's 11:00 o'clock. Just had dinner a few minutes ago after getting home at about 10:30 PM. Now am torn between sleeping and watching another episode of the West Wing. God knows I need sleep real bad. Yet one part of me--the stubborn part, that is--wants to say "bahala na bukas" and just indulge myself. Sabi ni Bon Jovi "I'll sleep when I'm dead." Maybe.

Eat your heart out, Stephen!

2007-07-13T23:13:00.001+08:00

KCD says: "Hi Ces -- I wish we had more time working together. You're fun, creative, well-grounded and competent."
Ahem.

Despedida pics

2007-07-13T23:06:00.000+08:00

Saying goodbye means having an excuse not just to party but to take a lot of pics.

These are from the party Thursday night:

Two cuties (Me and Maxine) with the CSC Directors IV.

With three of the hippest CSC directors and Dalen (which is not to say that Dalen isn't hip).

Maxine. And isn't she just the cutest.

The group we jokingly refer to as "Familia Zaragoza" because of a group pic we did way back. Anyway, this will probably be my last party with them as I'll soon become the (willing) slave of my new bosses over at this law office in Taipan Place.

We try to look like we're having fun. Oo, eto na yung wacky namin. Hmmm, medyo subdued pa rin.

Finally! An excuse na magpa-cute. And damn do I look good! Hahaha!

And the following were taken during my despedida merienda at the office today:

With my erstwhile boss, Karina Constantino-David. Thanks to her, Jason gets dislodged as my favorite boss. Ika nga ni John Cusack sa High Fidelity, Chair KCD is "number one with a bullet."

With my friend Lea, who prays that I get the life I deserve. Naks!

Si Ms. Jinky. One of my favorites. Ginalang kita ever, Ms. Jinky! Although mas mami-miss ko si Kuya Rey. Hahaha!!!

In fairness, bawal ang panget sa OCH.

Don't blame me, May ginaya lang ako dito. :) Last time out from CSC and it's goodbye forever.

Isa pa. Baka di gumana yung kanina.

With Director Mae. One of the nicest directors in CSC.

Samson (Regina Spektor)

2007-07-11T23:32:00.000+08:00

I was getting shampooed in the salon when I fell in love with this song. As soon as I got home, I googled the lyrics I remembered and downloaded the song.

You are my sweetest downfall
I loved you first, I loved you first
Beneath the sheets of paper lies my truth
I have to go, I have to go
Your hair was long when we first met

Samson went back to bed
Not much hair left on his head
He ate a slice of wonder bread and went right back to bed
And history books forgot about us and the bible didn't mention us
The bible didn't mention us, not even once

You are my sweetest downfall
I loved you first , I loved you first
Beneath the stars came falling on our heads
But there just soft light, there just soft light
Your hair was long when we first met

Samson came to my bed
Told me that my hair was red
He told me i was beautiful and came into my bed
Oh I cut his hair myself one night
A pair of dull scissors and the yellow light
And he told me that I'd done alright
and kissed me till the morning light, the morning light
and he kissed me till the morning light

Samson came back to bed
not much hair left on his head
Ate a slice of wonderbread and went right back to bed
Oh, we couldn't bring the columns down
Yeah we couldn't destroy a single one
And history books forgot about us
And the bible didn't mention us, not even once

You are my sweetest downfall
I loved you first.

I feel like this...

2007-07-11T08:44:00.000+08:00

Wild, Unattached Twenties Spent At Work

SEATTLE-Frank Anderton, 24, spends his freewheeling, consequence-free post-college years working late at the office.

Government girl, soon to be privatized, found unconscious

2007-07-10T08:08:00.000+08:00

REUTERS - An unconscious Cecille Soria, slumped on the floor of the Centennial Room of the Civil Service Commission, caused some panic early evening yesterday. She was found with her head bleeding and holding a photocopy of her resignation letter. Jinky Illut, the only OCH staffer still in the office at that time, said that she was surprised when she heard three loud thuds. It was upon closer investigation that she found out what happened to Cecille. Upon regaining consciousness, Cecille revealed that she banged her head on the wall out of frustration after re-reading her resignation letter.

Records furnished by CSC Security showed that Cecille had submitted her resignation letter earlier that day. Upon the Chair's inscription of her note of acceptance of the resignation "with deep regret," Cecille immediately had the letter photocopied and submitted the original to the OPMD. She kept the photocopy of the letter for her files. Around 6:00 pm, while packing her things to go home, Cecille once again perused the contents of the letter. It was during this inspection that she determined that she FORGOT TO INDICATE THE EFFECTIVITY DATE OF HER RESIGNATION. Faced with the possibility of plodding on in CSC for another 30 days, Cecille momentarily lost her sanity. It was during this time that the thought of banging her head against the wall occurred to her. "I swear it seemed like a good idea at that time," Cecille mused while she was being taken to the CSC clinic at the ground floor of the building.

Despite the bleeding, CSC medical personnel stated that Cecille's injuries were minor. She had a few contusions on her forehead. When pressed for more information regarding the bleeding, the CSC nurse stated that the bleeding came from the pimples on Cecille's forehead that apparently burst upon impact with the wall. Cecille was able to go home an hour later, with instructions from the nurse to keep away from walls for a while.

This must be how it feels to be...

2007-07-07T23:42:00.001+08:00

Ngwek! Parang Lost in Translation ang drama ko rito. Pinag-emote ako ni Jay.

Pagkain muna

2007-07-07T22:35:00.000+08:00

Imee told me to blog about the Ilocos trip already. I texted her this morning that I would, tonight. Kaya lang, with the way am feeling right now, I don't think I can do justice to the trip. Am feeling a bit woozy: Not sure if this is due to the fact that I inhaled paint all day at the office, or that I just had two meals today, or that my head is still reeling from the stupid movie that Cora and I watched.

Anyway, to placate those desperately longing to hear about what happened, I'll be posting pics of some of the food we ate. Enjoy.

This is empanada, one of the most popular food in Vigan. You MUST taste this when you get there cause you can't say you've been to Vigan unless you've eaten empanada. So what's inside, you ask? Well, there's cabbage and a bit of other vegetables. They also put in egg and ground beef. Basta masarap. Go to Plaza Burgos in Vigan and you'll see rows and rows of empanada stands.

We also got a taste of the empanada in Laoag, Ilocos Norte. The Laoag version of empanada has an orange crust and they use longganisa instead of ground beef as filling. Imee thinks mas masarap ang empanada ng Laoag.

This is Pippian, a dish that Elena had us taste. She ordered two dishes of Pippian. This one pictured had chicken in it. The other dish had frog. Before you say 'yuck,' let me say that it was my first time to eat frog and both dishes tasted exactly the same.

This is caviar but we call it "boogie" in Ilocano. I don't know if I spelled it right though. Masarap sana kaya lang medyo maalat yung timpla nila. I don't think we even emptied half the plate. Sayang.

The Sinanglaw that I've been jonesing for for the last few years. Sarap! Give me a bus ticket and the promise of unlimited Sinanglaw and I'd go to Vigan in a heartbeat. :)

Imee quotes

2007-07-03T22:44:00.001+08:00

On our recent trip to Ilocos, Imee was quite busy:

If I can help it, I try not to deal with the Lopezes. Hanggang MERALCO na lang ako.
Nag-smile lang ako dahil ayokong matawag na KILLJOY!
May rule yata sa Ilocano dishes na not more than three ingredients.
My gulay! Three empanadas in three days is more than enough.
I have never felt so shortchanged (referring to the purchase she made in Vigan).
Gusto ko naman kumain ng pagkain na hindi hikahos.
Si Marky Cielo ang future haligi ng inDUStriya.
Ang only claim to fame ni Mon Confiado ay nagbangayan sila ni Ynez Veneracion.

More Wiloci

2007-07-03T22:39:00.000+08:00

More pics, this time from Jacs' camera:

Jacs says na 100% ang attendance ng centaurs. :)

With Linda and Donna na, as usual, ay 1) maingay habang may nagsasalita sa harap and 2) maagang tumakas. Sabi ko nga eh, "Linda and Donna, maingay na nga kayo sa klase, pati dito maingay pa rin kayo." Hahaha!

Accidents

2007-06-28T21:05:00.001+08:00

Yung may linya ang paborito kong quote sa The Human Stain by Philip Roth. Basahin mo. Maganda yung libro.

Wiloci event pics

2007-06-28T20:52:00.001+08:00

Me, Cora, Jacs, Joanne, and Doc Celia. We were the early birds.

Centaurs-Wiloci minus Linda and Donna who both had to leave early. Also, minus Joanne who took this pic.

This one, with Joanne and minus me--cause I had to take this pic.

Portians. With LP Chicky.

Poem ni Enuh

2007-06-23T01:07:00.000+08:00

Ang galing-galing talaga ni Enuh magsulat. :)

On remembering

you will remember it differently
than i, you and your discrete units of time,
marked by the traffic of people
that arrive, and stay, and sometimes
stop to talk, or perhaps you remember
geographically, what is fixed
and what moves, where it moves,
what is comfortably still,
or perhaps you remember
in color, the absence of shadow,
the tables and chairs laid out
and remain constant like set pieces
in some theatrical play, day
after day without aging,
and all else is peripheral to you,
or perhaps you remember none of it at all,
while i brush away the images
of chairs and tables and people like annoying cobwebs,
leaving only a few knickknacks of memory,
and you've never noticed how
i try to sound more interesting, and
when i talk to you, i am part
nervousness, and all illusion
of confidence, and if i asked you,
"what color and shade
are my eyes," you would stammer
slightly and make a foolish
guess, but i, i can tell you
that sometimes when your eyes widen
just so, they are a luminosity in the darkness,
and then perhaps you would ask "how can light
penetrate black on black?" but i will tell you
that black has nuances too,
not just the paradox of absence, and
that sometimes when you're terribly excited,
the color is startlingly clear
and transparent like a mirror: these fragments
are important to me. i remember well.

Quitting

2007-06-16T09:00:00.000+08:00

Well, I've gone ahead and done it. I quit my government job yesterday. In 30 days, I'll be back in the embrace of Ortigas: hello again to Buddy's, Tektite tiangges with Cheer Mae and Celna, Salsa Rosa, and my favorite music store in Shangri-La.

I said goodbye to my boss after the case briefing yesterday. My officemates knew that I would be talking to Chair KCD after so they wore stifled smiles as they ambled out of KCD's office. Meanwhile, I was at the other side of the room, shifting from one foot to another as I worked up the nerve to face the Chair alone.

"Ma'am, magpapaalam na po ako." I said, and KCD laughs a big, hearty laugh. And then she asks me, "Saan?" I told her I was moving to a law firm in Ortigas. We talked a bit more about accidents and how I may find myself in government again one day.

Funny. I was really happy about the prospect of moving to a law office. But after I made my leaving official, I alternate between giddy excitement and a bit of sadness. I hate farewells.

"the atlantic was born today and i'll tell you how:
the clouds above opened up and let it out.
I was standing on the surface of a perforated sphere
when the water filled every hole.
and thousands upon thousands made an ocean,
making islands where no island should go.
oh no.
those people were overjoyed; they took to their boats.
I thought it less like a lake and more like a moat.
the rhythm of my footsteps crossing flood lands to your door have been silenced forever more.
the distance is quite simply much too far for me to row
it seems farther than ever before
oh no.
I need you so much closer."

- Death Cab, Transatlanticism

A lack of color

2007-06-12T18:08:00.000+08:00

From A Lack of Color (Death Cab), some of the nicest lyrics I've heard in a while. I just recently rediscovered how lovely it is to listen to the album Transatlanticism when it's one AM and you can't sleep but everyone else in the house, even the dogs, are slumbering.

Life is great when you can fall in love with music over and over again.

"And when i see you
I really see you upside down
But my brain knows better
It picks you up and turns you around
Turns you around, turns you around

If you feel discouraged
That there's a lack of color here
Please don't worry lover
It's really bursting at the seams
Absorbing everything
The spectrum's a to z"

Tina Fey has always been my favorite.

2007-06-09T14:10:00.000+08:00

Tina Fey. Parang ako. Hahahahahaha!!!

I got this quote from somewhere: "Tina is living proof that funny is sexy. And that smart is sexy. And that cool shoes and glasses are sexy. And that cleavage and great hair and lovely brown eyes are sexy. Oh, forget it: Tina is just living proof of sexy."

This applies to you guys:

2007-06-09T13:26:00.000+08:00

"I'm proud of my target demographic, but with that pride comes a burden. This burden is not mine to bear, it's yours. As my fan, you have a responsibility to accept all my work unconditionally." - Janeane Garofalo, Feel This Book

Scenes from a job interview

2007-06-09T13:17:00.000+08:00

Most people would go to an interview, with their best foot glammed up, polished, and ready for show. Yes. Most people would. I, on the other hand, went to my job interview psyched up but ended up looking like George Costanza. For instance:

Partner: You have a big voice.
(Cut to scene in my head where the partner tells me that am sooo perfect for litigation.)
Me: Yes ma'am.
Partner: This is a small room.

Or this...

Partner: Describe yourself.
Me: I'm a happy person.
Partner: You mean cheerful.
Me: Yes sir. And happy too.

And what about when they asked me what my weaknesses were?

Me: Sir, I live in Fairview.
Partner: So?
Me: That would mean that I would have to wake up really early.
Partner: And?
Me: Sir, so when I get here, I'd be very sleepy.

When asked about my strengths, I started to tell them that I could (the term okray came to mind except that I knew I couldn't use it in front of them without losing their respect) uhh... say something negative... or criticize... or tell people off without looking like I was actually doing so. What I was actually trying to say--very unelegantly--was that I could "make people okray without them noticing it." Hahaha. When they finally got my drift, one of the partners said, "well, we'll have to ask Markk Perete if that is true."

We also talked about hobbies...

Partner: So what are your hobbies?
Me: I like reading books, watching movies, music. I love to write.
(I'd ran out of things to say but they were all looking so expectantly at me that I suddenly blurted out...)
Me: And I have a website. But I'm not going to tell you the address.

Cora also had a lot to say, including an anecdote about riding the elevator to the 15th floor and then taking the stairs going down to the ground floor, but I am not at liberty to share them with you. Let's just say that when Markk learned how and what we did at our respective interviews, he said he regretted ever mentioning our names to the partners.

I wonder what could have made him say that. If I may say so myself, I think Cora and I did rather well.

To M and her new nose

2007-05-24T13:22:00.000+08:00

My friend M is getting a new nose (or so she tells me, I'll believe it when I see it) next week. In tribute, I am posting Magnetic Fields' song I think I Need A New Heart and changing all mentions of "heart" with "nose".

To M, good luck on your extreme makeover.

I Think I Need a New Nose
Artist:The Magnetic Fields

Time stands still
All I can feel is the time standing still

as you put down the keys
and say don't call me please
while the radio plays

"I Think I Need a New Nose" ohhh

"I Think I Need a New Nose" ohhh

You've lied too
but it's a sin that I
can't tell the truth
cause it all comes out wrong
unless I put it in a song
so the radio plays
"I Think I Need a New Nose"
just for you
"I Think I Need a New Nose"

cause I always say I love you

when I mean turn out the light
and I say let's run away
when I just mean stay the night
but the words you want to hear
you will never hear from me

I'll never say "happy anniversary"
never stay to say "happy anniversary"

so I think I need a new nose ohhh
I think I need a new nose ohhh
I think I need a new nose ohhh
I think I need a new nose ohhh
Give me time

You know you should look for a new job when...

2007-05-22T12:18:00.000+08:00

Last night, I was horrified to realize that more and more of my friends are coming to me with questions on admin law, rules, and procedure. Ohmygawd! I so do not want to be an expert in admin law, much less be known as one. Somebody save me before I get sucked into the vortex of administrative law hell.

Saturday

2007-05-19T23:43:00.000+08:00

Before anything else:
Sometimes I wish that I was more inflexible. If I could be more definite about what I wanted, and not think twice about telling people to "take it or leave it", perhaps I wouldn't find myself in situations where I make do with things I don't really want.

It's almost midnight.

I'm the only one still awake, listening to Wilco's "A Ghost is Born", one of the three albums I bought earlier today on our foray into Cubao. Cora and I went to see Markk's tailor, to have some decent clothes made. I guess we both wanted to look more like lawyers and less like indigent clients. Afterwards, I tell her we should go to the Marikina Shoe Expo compound to check out the shops there. I've seen several articles about how "interesting things" were happening in the area and I had long wanted to see these for myself.

We saw this gallery which featured artwork by Team Manila. We wanted to go in and have a look but the place was still closed. A tambay told us that we had to wait for a few hours since they usually open around five in the afternoon. Sad. That would have been really interesting.

Next, we wander into a thrift shop selling odds and ends: vintage home decor, vintage coke and pepsi bottles, Susan Roces studio pics from the 60s, a phonograph, a Bong Revilla coffee mug, etc. I spied a carton with CDs stacked in a corner. I asked the Manang if the CDs were for sale. The box contained rarities, as in CDs not usually seen in Music One and, ahem, SM record bars. I open one jewel case and discover that the CDs are not originals, just burned copies. In fairness to the seller though, there was an effort to make the CD presentable. I guess they scanned the album jacket and printed them in glossy photo paper. Anyway, everything looks nice except for the CD itself. I try to haggle for a bit and the Manang agrees to sell me an album for P90 each. Not a bad deal at all. So I got three albums: Jacintha (Here's to Ben, A Tribute to Ben Webster), Madeleine Peyroux (Dreamland), and Wilco (A Ghost Is Born). I've wanted Wilco's album for ages but the ones by Jacintha and Madeleine Peyroux, I only bought on a whim.

After doing the rounds of theshops, we go to National Bookstore where Cora gets pissed after I beat her to a hardbound copy of Phillip Roth's The Human Stain that was on sale for only P65.

By the way, the other night, Tinny texts me that Atty. Robin received a comment from Bryanboy on his blog. Tinny tells him that "he should be honored" since, as you kids know, Bryanboy is a true-blue internet celebrity. But Atty. Robin doesn't know who Bryanboy is. Hahaha. I tell Tinny that she should ask Robin to have one of those "I (heart) Bryanboy" pics taken and send it to Bryanboy. The idea still cracks me up days after.

50 books:Updates

2007-05-18T12:48:00.000+08:00

Obviously, a long way off from my target 50. Hahaha. I still have half of the year anyway. I just started A Collection of Beauties at the Height of their Popularity by Whitney Otto. And I have about a dozen books, both bought and borrowed, waiting for me.

Some Kind of Wonderful

2007-05-18T12:26:00.000+08:00

I grew up in the 80s but I didn't get to watch this movie 'til I was in college in the 90s. I fell in love with the movie when I first saw it. I was pissed everytime Keith (Eric Stoltz) went off to see Amanda Jones (Leah Thompson). My heart broke as Watts (Mary Stuart Masterson) watched Keith kiss Amanda just after their date at the Hollywood Bowl. I saw it a couple of times more, mostly when it was showing on cable.

So when Benet got me this movie as a birthday gift, I was really really happy. Thank you, Ms. B! I will love you forever.

Of course, the movie wasn't as good at 31 as it was at 19. I found some of the dialogue downright cheesy. But. Still. This is Some Kind of Wonderful and so nostalgia made some allowances for lapses in plot and direction.

The pic below shows the final scene. Keith has just given Watts the earrings. Keith says to Watts, "You look good wearing my future.

The Obligatory Birthday Write-up (Part Two)

2007-05-09T08:00:00.000+08:00

A year ago, I boldly proclaimed that "30 was the new 20." There shall be no proclamations of such nature this year. It's taken a year to disabuse me of such a stupid notion. After all, surely 30 deserves to be 30: Because 30 is special and great and cool in and of itself. (Note how I am trying to convince myself that this is true.)

I am thankful for the past year filled with so much grace. Rewards that took a long time coming finally came. And let me just say that waiting for these turned out to be good after all, good for the soul though not for my peace of mind. :) The waiting, I think, has given me a better handle on things. I appreciate the things that have come my way but am not overwhelmed by them (I hope).

But enough of this. Let me just say that how I feel now is like what they said in the ending of Angels in America: "More life. The great work begins." Hahaha. Talk about delusions of grandeur huh?

Picture! picture!

2007-05-03T09:05:00.000+08:00

This was taken right before we made the climb up the lighthouse.

Halfway up the lighthouse, just outside the tower itself.

Warning raw: High Voltage. Pwede siguro dito yung kanta ng Oasis na She's Electric. :)

Inside the top of the lighthouse. Am resting my right hand on what used to be the metal support of the giant light bulb.

Wondering how bright this thing is supposed to be at night.

Jinky, Dalen, Me, and Bane.

Perfect.

They say I look like a VJ.

Taken at the base of the windmill. The pic doesn't show how the sun is scorching hot.

We passed by this on the way back to Stephen's house. It's the rebulto of his grandfather. I said why is your grandfather guapo and you're...

Fun shots while driving.

Dalen and Jinky ham up for the cam.

Bane looks like she's dead and that we're rushing her to the morgue but we still opted to have pics taken before then. Hahaha.

The people at the front seat. I photoshopped this pic of course.

Not just fun but funny.

The spiral staircase going down the tower.

Outside the lighthouse tower. It's really hot.

Same people, different pic.

The sea looks gorgeous.

Interesting huh?

A final pic before we leave.

Professional posers!

We drove past Brgy. Ablan. This pic just begged to be taken. (Nga pala, that's Stephen and his last name is...)

I took this pic. Maganda yung composition (I think), except that my model looked a bit awkward.

Windmills!

There's 15 of them yata. We didn't count though.

Not charging at windmills at all.

I tried to capture the windmill's spokes at their backs but my perspective sucked.

Stephen gave it a try and succeeded.

Another shot can't hurt. :)

Don't even get me started on what Bane is doing. Hahaha.

Coconut trees in Pagudpud.

Jinky and Bane during lunch at a Pagudpud restaurant.

Lazy Sunday afternoon.

Pagudpud, by the beach.

Final pic before we go.

At the lobby of Palazzo de Laoag, just before we left Sunday evening.

With The Hotel Owner's mom.

With The Hotel Owner and his family.

All together now.

One final group shot in the van that took us to the bus station.

Trip to Ilocos

2007-05-02T11:33:00.000+08:00

So what happens now?
(Another suitcase in another hall)
So what happens now?
(Take your picture of another wall)
Where am I going to?
(You'll get by, you always have before)
Where am I going to?

I spent the weekend in Ilocos.

I had to go home to Vigan for Dangz's wedding. Stephen had to go home to Laoag too. And then we thought that GMA would declare a long weekend. Anyway, we convinced Dalen and Jinky and Bane to make the trip north as well.

I get off at Vigan and they head off to Laoag. I asked the tricycle driver to take me sa hayskul, since that's the landmark for the compound where my relatives live. I almost get lost. I haven't been there in almost three years kasi. All I remember is that there's a sari-sari store in front. I see Manang Ella tending to the store and she waves me over. Manong Eufring soon comes out with Auntie Piling in tow. They are surprised. I didn't tell anybody that I'd be going there.

After breakfast, I tell them that I'd go walk around the city for a bit. Apparently, I still know my way around the town. The sMalls (maliit na malls) in the area were still closed at 8:30 so I went to the Heritage area and checked out the antique and souvenir shops instead. I was looking for a nice packaging for the kinky gift I got Dangz for her wedding. I settle on this native bag painted bluer, with a pink rosebud cum ribbon. I chance upon a gorgeous funeral (merong slight na pomp and pageantry and circumstance). It looked really cinematic having a hearse pass through the old houses sa Heritage area. Hmm, there's an idea for when I finally sign off as well. Although it'll probably make sense only if I die in Vigan or somewhere near. Otherwise, it's just plain crazy to transport a corpse for hundreds of kilometers just so there can be pomp, pageantry, and circumstance di ba? Or, maybe not. Pero I'll still insist on Bring Me To Life by Evanescence as the music for the funeral.

I walked around the city in circles, trying to kill time. Then Dangz suddenly texts me, asking where I was. I had to hurry off to the hotel. Tuloy I forgot to eat the empanada that I've missed for ages. Sayang talaga.

It was my first time to see the inside of the Vigan Plaza Hotel. If you're planning to go to Vigan, you should go stay there. The room we got was gorgeous. From the outside you'd think that it's just an old house that got converted into a hotel. That's probably true. Pero from the inside, you discover that the place is sooo spacious. Next year, I will definitely bring Cora, Markk, and Imee there.

Dangz had a garden wedding, set at the Heritage Resort in Caoayan. Maganda rin pala pag civil wedding kasi you can have it wherever you want... as long as the solemnizing officer agrees. Kate says that the Catholic Church, on the other hand, does not allow weddings held in venues other than a church. Dangz wedding was set for 5:00pm but it was really intended for dusk. The wedding actually started mga 6:00pm na because we had to wait for the sun to go down a bit. Everything about the wedding was nice, except the Emcee From Hell (Yes, ganon siya ka-significant. He deserves to be a proper noun.) who kept on putting on a fake accent. For instance, what should have been Miss Cecille Soria came out sounding like Mrs. Cecille Soria instead because inaartehan niya yung S niya. And the horrific pronunciation went on all through the wedding to the reception. While we were seated at dinner, I said to my seatmate, "there's something fundamentally wrong with that person's throat.

I met a new friend, three-year-old Kia, who was so cute and makulit. I told her mom that she looked like a maliit na matandang babae. She was a flowergirl at the wedding. When we were both dressed up and about to join the procession of the entourage, I saw her holding a basket. I said how come I didn't have one too and where did she get the basket? She said "eh di sa cabinet." Hahaha. And I really love her cause after we got dressed and made up, she told me, "ate ang ganda mo." Hay. Such good taste at such a tender age.

It was way past 9:00pm when I rushed off to Laoag to rejoin the others.

I try to sleep while on the bus but I couldn't.

Instead of going to Pagudpud and staying overnight Saturday as we earlier planned, the group opted to stay at the Palazzo de Laoag and check out their acoustic night. The bar was full when we got there. People seemed to enjoy the music. As I told The Hotel Owner, the repertoire was okay, the musical arrangement was okay. The female vocalist's voice was dreamy. But the male vocalist's voice was grating to the ears. To illustrate, I said parang puro siya treble at konti or walang bass. We quit the bar at 3:00am.

Next day, we went to see the Burgos light house. We took a lot of pics as we got to go all the way up to the top of the lighthouse. Hehehe. My brief visit there has presented me with a business opportunity so I might just go back there soon. And what business is this, you ask? Grabe, it was a rather tedious trek to the top. Add to that, the sun was raging hot. And there was no one selling refreshments. Not one soul. And to think na marami kaming nakasabay na nasa lighthouse din. Hmm. I might just go there and set up a van offering refreshments. I could also offer to take their pics and print it within minutes using a laptop and portable printer. I could charge people even as much as P100 per and it still wouldn't be highway robbery (kasi nga I... ahem... take great pics).

Next in the itinerary were the windmills in Bangui. We were lucky cause we got to go all the way to the beach where the widmills were. Stephen said the last group he took there only went as far as the (some sort of) viewing deck since the way to the beach was closed. Ang galing. Of course, we also took pics. I had this great image in my mind of us looking down on the camera with the spokes (?) of the windmill at the back of our heads. I took the pics but, because of poor execution, Bane ended up looking like she had giant antennae. Kasi nga, I didn't want to lie on the ground for a better perspective. Anyway, Stephen was willing to do so and he did it. So we ended up with perfect pics. Good thing pala that I didn't get it right the first time kasi I wouldn't have been part of the pics. I'll post the pics here as soon as I have them.

There was this lonely house at the top of the hill, overlooking the windmills. I just fell in love with it. The place was so tranquil. I bet that with a great companion (a guy and/or a dog, hahaha), good food, books, music, a laptop, and some wifi, I could be really happy there. You could either write or take a dip in the ocean, depending on what your fancy prefers.

Next we went to Pagudpud. We didn't get to swim anymore though. I left my swimming things at the hotel because I thought that I'd be too tired from the trip. Instead, we hung out in the garden of this house by the beach, drinking softdrinks, talking, and taking pics. I even saw the rocky portion of the beach that was the subject of the pic which made me want to go to Pagudpud so bad.

When we got back to the hotel, The Hotel Owner treats us to a dinner of sinanglaw, puki-puki, binagbagis, and cabatiti. Dinner was great but we didn't get to enjoy it as much cause we had to catch up to our bus reservation at 8:30pm. After dinner, we had a bit of pic-taking and chika-chika with The Hotel Owner and his family and we were off.

Happy.

Nga pala, for the curious, Palazzo de Laoag may be reached at 09189023354 or 09213712097 or see www.palazzodelaoaghotel.com. Tell them I sent you (Naks, do I sound like Gandalf?). Hahaha. Or if you have anything you want to ask The Hotel Owner, I can do so for you. You know my email and number.

Garden State

2007-04-27T07:58:00.000+08:00

Garden State Some Poor Fuck's Favorite Movie

LOS ANGELES—Despite the existence of cinema classics such as Citizen Kane, The Godfather, and Seven Samurai, the 2004...

It's not one of my favorites but I liked the movie. Hmm... I guess am just a few steps away from being a 'poor fuck'. I like Zach Braff. I make no apologies.

Scenes from an oathtaking

2007-04-26T09:16:00.000+08:00

While we're lining up to go inside the PICC, Markk says to me, "Hmm... this looks like another blog entry." Siya nawa. Since I didn't take any photographs, this day shall be blogged.

I arrived a bit late. By that, I mean that we were supposed to meet "2pm-ish" and I got there almost 30 mins after 2:00 pm. Kasi naman, I was only supposed to have my hair blow-dried (and yes, this means that I'll share with you ALL the gory details) pero last minute I decided to have my face made up as well. Big mistake. Next time talaga I'll be the one to apply make up on my face. I ended up looking like a... Hay, no need to crucify myself here. Basta. The Father and I went straight to PICC after so I had no time to fix what I looked like. Pagdating sa pila, I asked wet tissues from Doc Tere and proceeded to erase some of the make-up that have started to cake on my face. Nag-improve naman ata although, at one point when I asked what I looked like, Markk couldn't even stifle a laugh.

Like I said, I arrived late. So I went straight to the line. Mayamaya, Cora and Markk approached me, saying na madaya ako for lining up when we earlier agreed to meet up first and line up together. I said I thought they'd already gone ahead since I was late. That was the reason why dumiretso na ako sa pila. Anyway, I found another line, at the farther side of PICC. It was shorter. My blockmates and I lined up and, in a few minutes, we were inside.

The SC people made us rush through registration. Kumpleto na raw kasi ang mga justices and it's not good to keep them waiting. Okay. Since we lined up late, we were in the last row of seats. Sa likod namin, parents na. We hardly listened to the proceedings. We caught up on what was happening to each others' lives. We traded chismis. Siempre, we also shared corny jokes. The members of the choir were attired in orange too. When they approached the mic for the national anthem, I said, "ay akala ko taga-FloroFoto rin sila." Jason insisted that we sing along to the SC Hymn and the Judiciary anthem. Kaya nga raw the lyrics were printed in the program. Sige nga. So we started singing: off-key, off-tempo, and laughing so hard. Isa-isang tinawag ang mga topnotchers, together with the deans of their law schools. Dean Carlota had to stand up and wave thrice. We cheered so hard for him. The bar examiners were also introduced. Kawawa naman yun si Justice Acosta of the CTA, who was the examiner for Tax. He got booed by the crowd. Ang hirap naman kasi ng exam niya eh. Besides, he asked us about the gross receipts tax--na di naman kasama sa coverage. Most of the examiners were from UP too so we also cheered whenever UP was mentioned.

Pagkatapos ng event, we made a beeline for the doors. We didn't bother having our pics taken. Kung florofoto lang din naman, no thanks. Outside, some people were crowding different parts of the PICC lawn and parking lot, taking pics. Hay, we also didn't bother na. We figured we could just go to the PICC on any random day and pose for pics wearing our togas. Sabi ni Raymond (ata), we could also just go into any theater na may green seats, have pics taken wearing the toga, and say that we had the pic taken the PICC. Nobody would know the difference.

Nakita ko pala si Aga, who was my blockmate sa 2005E. Most of the people in our batch became lawyers last year. We were left behind kasi I went on LOA for a year and she transferred to another school. It was great seeing her kasi she was one of my 2005E favorites. Naisip ko tuloy yung mga "alpha-male" conversations namin with Namqui.

Nga pala, I was a bit miffed during the speeches kasi the justices kept on quoting Frankfurter, Vanderbilt, and other American justices. As if naman Filipino justices of the past didn't come up with gems too. Nakakainis talaga. And etong si Justice Calleja, he was pretty boring. Only time our interest was piqued was when he mentioned--and I paraphrase here--the tender flesh of a woman. I didn't get the context kung bakit he had to refer to it. I wonder if it was really in his speech or he just drifted off to sleep somewhere in the middle of his speech and dreamt of the tender flesh of a woman. Hahaha.

Other matters:
It was great seeing Joan and Jason for the first time in months. Ganon din si Doc Celia. Sheilah had her hair straightened. Tin had a sexy dress on. Jhim kept calling me "panyera". And I saw Rozy, whom I hadn't seem in ages.

On Dennis' album

2007-04-26T09:15:00.000+08:00

Our boy Dennis (yes, hotness Dennis Trillo) has gone and gotten himself an album. You MUST know this already. His version of All Out of Love have been playing ceaselessly on radio. Trust me, it's the least interesting of the songs in the album. Of course I have a copy of his album and am not the least bit embarrassed to admit to that. The gorgeous pic on the cover alone is worth the 280 bucks I shelled out. Take a look at the album jacket though and you'll find out that you've gotten a really good deal on this one. There's the centerfold of Dennis topless and staring intently at you, giving you an intense 'come hither' look.

Seriously, though, the album turned out to be way better than I thought it would be. There are okay ballads but most of the songs are of the pop-rock genre. Sure, he's no Christian Bautista, but our boy Dennis can sing. I think it would be interesting to hear him live. I wonder if his vocals underwent the audio equivalent of Photoshop-ing. I'm sure it did but I hope that the polishing wasn't overdone. My speakers right now tell me that that's not the case cause you can still hear a hint of rawness in the songs. Okay lang. 'Raw' suits pop-rock just fine.

Only drawback to listening to the album is when All Out of Love and Love is All that Matters come on. My friend Stephen has irrevocably claimed those two songs for himself. For days, he would belt those songs in the office. Now, I can't listen to them without hearing faint echoes of Stephen's awkward renditions. He'll kill me for saying this (Well, maybe not. I don't think he reads my blog.) but it's practically a living nightmare for me.

Transitions

2007-04-24T09:12:00.000+08:00

We moved last weekend. It's been a few days and I still haven't gotten my room fixed up. I just took out the bare essentials from the huge plastic bags and boxes where I stashed my stuff. Looking for things easily turn into a tiring production. Try looking for AAA rechargeable batteries. It's taking me days to unpack what took me just about four hours to cram into random containers.

The biggest problem I had with the move was packing up my books. I don't have the exact count but I must have at least 200 books... not counting the ones I lent to my friends. Grabe. Books are a bit like overstaying house guests. They come to your house one by one, sometimes in twos. And pretty soon you realize that you've got much more than you'll ever need and that they've actually become a nuisance.

I came across some old pics while I was tidying up. It's sad how I couldn't even remember some of my former officemates' names when I used to see them everyday. It got me thinking who among my current officemates I'll still remember after five years. I wonder if people will forget me just as easily. Five years is an awfully short time to forget someone. You've got to be significantly insignificant to be forgotten in five years.

I still haven't gotten any beauty rest. Hahaha. To think that when we passed the bar, my friends and I planned elaborate schemes to fix ourselves up for the oathtaking: four-inch heels, gorgeous dress, knockout hair. But how time flies. Pretty soon, we realized that we just didn't have any more time to get anything halfway decent to wear. So we console ourselves with the thought that it's just barely a one-hour affair. And, anyway, everything will be hidden by the toga we're supposed to wear. And, in the end, how you look won't matter one bit cause you'll just be a speck in the blur of 1,800 faces.

Happy

2007-04-14T00:19:00.000+08:00

Just got home from dinner with law friends and classmates. Ang sarap ng pakiramdam having dinner with people whom you haven't seen for some months now. Pero mas masarap ang kwentuhan namin. Nakakatawa na kami nang hindi nag-iisip na bukas may recitation or exam or kailangang tapusin ang bar review sked. Masaya talaga.

Earlier this evening, I went back to UP law to attend the testimonial for bar passers. 85% pala ang passing rate ng batch namin: batch meaning yung nag-graduate na kasabay namin and first take sa bar. Okay na yun. Dean Carlota was happy with this year's showing. Lalo na may tatlong topnotchers pa. Andun sa testimonial sina Dean Carlota, Dean Carale, Ma'am Daway, and Chancellor Cao. Only two topnotchers were present Debbie (fresh from the Caribbean) and TJ. Both of them said a few words in behalf of our batch. Si Sir Lumba, who tried his best to be entertaining, was the emcee for the evening. I always used to hassle Sir Lumba for his lame jokes pero he managed to come up with a gem kanina. He said that wherever our careers may lead us, even if we never get to come back to UP or never see each other again, we should always remember na (to paraphrase Casabalanca) "we'll always have Malcolm." Hahaha.

Then Mario, Karen, Markk, Cora, and I went out to dinner. Karen says that we're slowly shedding off the vestiges of our pretensions to being "mabait" kasi we already passed and don't have to pray for good karma anymore. Ang dami namin na-okray. Afterwards, Ryan, Gee, Sheilah (the mittimus expert), and Bryant joined us. Bryant showed off his perky nipples that were showing through his shirt. Grabe. He doesn't wear an undershirt to work. So this negates the effect ng pag-coat and tie niya. He was enjoying every bit as he told us how the Ateneo kids at Sycip get shocked by his stories. Markk joked that if the "outing" for Siguion Reyna associates was a Carribean cruise, the outing of Bryant took place every lunch. Hahaha. Buti na lang Bryant never gets offended. Kaso nga lang, while he was talking about male rape, I pointed out to him that there were kids seated behind him who could probably hear everything he was saying. Sabi ko, huy, maaaresto ka sa ginagawa mo.

While we were having dinner, Mario showed me this text message that I sent him nung August 7, last year. I said: "Mario, drs just no use gettng urself ol workd up ovr somthng na inevitable nman. Wag mo muna icpin future. Jst concentrate on studyng. Tsaka I've seen ur blubk. Maayos ka sumagot. Pramis. Tsaka we'l stil luv u regardles. D maddfyn ng bar pgkatao mo." He said, "mare how time flies." Oo nga. Now we passed what looked like an insurmountable challenge. I said that 'touched' naman ako that he kept my text all this time.

I had a really fun time tonight. Sayang talaga na busted camera ko. It would have been nice if we were able to have our pics taken with the teachers. It would have been nice to see our happiness preserved for posterity.

Ahem...

2007-04-09T18:42:00.001+08:00

What type of person do you attract? Your Result: You attract artsy people! Those free spirited artists with great imaginations find you interesting. They are usually interesting themselves, so its not a bad thing, but they CAN be a bit wifty and choose odd goals. If you like life to always be a bit 'different' from the norm, but not too extreme in any one direction, these are the people for you. If you seek logical decision making skills and good money management, you may want to change something in the way you appear. Artsy people are fun for adventure and exploring, so, have fun! (smoking weed helps too)
You attract Yuppies!
You attract geeks!
You attract unstable people!
You attract models!
You attract rednecks!
What type of person do you attract? Quizzes for MySpace

Thinking, lately...

2007-04-06T20:57:00.000+08:00

My brother Joel finally got home last night so am now blogging from my new laptop.  It's really nice. It's small and lightweight, but a bit longer than usual kasi nga widescreen. I told Joel before that I wanted something with a bigger screen so I could watch dvds on it. He asked if am stupid and didn’t get the concept behind laptops? He said I should really look for something smaller and lighter since it’s all about mobility. I can always watch dvds naman on tv but am I actually willing to be lugging around a huge contraption? Oo nga naman.

Everyone's asking me when I’ll have my blowout. Sabi ko, just wait for a bit cause I need to save enough money pa (and I still have to pay for this laptop). Apparently, passing the bar is not convertible to cash so am still as hikahos as ever. When Christie and I were about to leave the office the other day, people at the lobby were teasing us that we should now take a cab cause we’re lawyers already. Pero nag-jeep lang kami kasi nga it’s not like the Supreme Court handed us a blank check di ba?

People also keep asking what my plans are and whether I'll be looking for another gig soon. Grabe naman. I don't know yet what to do. Definitely though, if the government office that I talked about last time were to offer me the job in their HR, I won't take it anymore. I decided that it’s time try out things that make me afraid. And being stuck in a table in a little corner of HRD, pushing paper, isn't exactly something that would force me to overcome my fears.

Ceso Status Check

2007-04-04T10:07:00.000+08:00

Current approximate level of emotional stability: Minimal.
Current approximate level of happiness: Maximum.

Now I know how it feels like to be an overnight sensation. Hahaha.
A big "thank you" to everyone who helped me along the way and to everyone who remembered. I love you all.

Bar results out tomorrow.

2007-04-02T16:15:00.000+08:00

I believe this is when we close our eyes, brace ourselves for what's coming, and pray like we've never prayed before:

2006 Bar results out Tuesday
By Tetch Torres
INQUIRER.net
Last updated 01:24pm (Mla time) 04/02/2007
MANILA, Philippines -- The results of the September 2006 Bar examination will be known Tuesday night after the Supreme Court determines the passing average and decodes the names of examinees.

Updates

2007-03-31T21:04:00.000+08:00

Recent Motion Picture Viewings:

The Pursuit of Happyness
Starring Will Smith and Jayden Christopher Smith

Will Smith wants to be a stockbroker, and he wants to be one really, really bad. This movie could be the DeadPoets Society or Mr. Holland's Opus for stockbrokers... or just any ordinary bloke with a dream. The message is: if you pursue your dreams long enough, struggle and stay focused, you'll eventually achieve it. And success will be so sweet that you'll hardly be able to keep your tears to yourself. Will Smith was really, really good in this movie. My favorite scene was when he was finally invited to join the firm. One of the bosses goes, "was it as easy as it looked?" And Chris Gardiner says, "No sir." I would give anything to feel the sort of happiness that Chris Gardiner felt come Tuesday. Five years of having dinner at 11pm. Five years of foregoing sleep. Five years of saying "no" to things, and people, and opportunities. No. The past five years have not been easy at all. And my yearning to claim those four letters in front of my name is so visceral that I can feel and taste it.

Little Children
Starring Kate Winslet, Jennifer Connelly, and Patrick Wilson

Kate Winslet is Sarah, a grad student in English Lit who suddenly finds herself one day as a bored suburban housewife. Patrick Wilson is Brad, a stay-at-home husband who can't seem to pass the bar. Both of them frequent a park where all kids in the neighborhood congregate. Sarah is barely tolerated by the other mothers. She also doesn't exert much effort getting to know them because they represent everything she doesn't ever want to become. Brad is called the "Prom King" since he's the only father with a kid who is a regular in the park. Sarah and Brad meet. And after much self-denial and evasion, they finally have an affair. The affair is a rebellion for them both: a resistance to the unremarkableness of their lives. It's also sort of a way of getting back at their spouses who they each think have trapped them into where they are. Their stories intersect with those of a convicted sex offender who suddenly moves into the community and an ex-cop suffering from a post-traumatic stress disorder after accidentally shooting a teenager in a mall. All their stories are told from the perspective of an unseen male narrator who tells the story a bit like the narrator in Desperate Housewives.

As usual, Kate Winslet is brilliant. I don't think I've ever seen her in a bad performance. I liked the part where Sarah asks Brad if his wife was beautiful. Brad replies, "beauty is overrated." Sarah is appeased for the moment but, as the narrator says, things sound different at 3:oo in the morning. Lying in bed, Brad's comment haunts her. And she begins to question how Brad is as a person if he can't even appreciate the beauty in his life. I think the movie tried to explore the idea of evil: how good people can do bad things and how doing bad things doesn't necessarily make good people evil. I think the movie's saying that sometimes people who bad things because they just can't help themselves and other times, people do bad things because they feel trapped in certain situations where they don't have much choice. Anyway, the movie is really good. You should watch it.

The Curse of the Golden Flower
Starring Gong Li, Chow Yun Fat, and Jay Chou

First off, let me just say that Jay Chou looked really hot in this movie. This movie by Zang Yimou is about political intrigue. The Queen, Gong Li, is having an affair with the King's first-born (not her son). She thinks that the King is trying to kill her off bit by bit by poisoning her. She therefore organizes a coup to dethrone the king. Jay Chou is the Queen's and the King's first-born. He is also the Queen's favorite, and the one she prefers to succeed to the throne. The golden flower of the title is the symbol used by the rebels to distinguish themselves from the legit soldiers of the palace. I guess this is like the upside-down flags that the Magdalo wore when they took over Oakwood. The movie started off a bit slow. Well, it's either that or the fact that I feel so tired these days that would account for why I feel asleep during the first 15 mins. The story picks up when Jay Chou arrives. Or, more accurately, my interest was piqued when Jay Chou arrived.

I will no longer go into the story. The movie is good but I liked House of Flying Daggers and Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon more. The movie felt more like Hero (the one with Jet Li in it). The first few sequences in Hero, I also found a bit boring.

What I realized from the movie is that it's really difficult to defeat the Chinese through soldier to soldier combat. Even if you kill off thousands of soldiers, there'll be thousands more to take their place.

Finally, a bit of kuwento:
Napanaginipan kasi ni Markk ang Our Lady of Montserrat. Sabi ni Cora sa kanya, yung Lady of Montserrat ang image ni Mama Mary sa San Beda. Kung gusto raw ni Markk, punta kami this weekend. So kanina, nagkita-kita kami to go there. Pagdating namin sa labas ng gate, sarado ang simbahan. Hmm. Sayang naman. Nandoon na kami. Pano kaya kami papasok? Sabi ni Cora, pasok raw kami campus ng Beda kasi sa loob eh bukas yung simbahan. So punta kami sa guard. Naghanap siya ng ID. Fine. Tinanong san kami pupunta. Sabi ko kay Markk sabihin na mag-iinquire kami sa LLM (Master of Laws) program nila. Okay! Kumagat ang lady guard. Kaso, binigyan kami ng papel na dapat raw papirmahan namin sa Reg ng Beda. Papunta kami sa simbahan, siempre tawa kami ng tawa. Ang hirap naman magsinungaling. Pagkatapos sa Church, nakita namin ang Reg. May ilang windows. Nakalagay dun Law I, etc. hanggang IV. Tapos me window ng Pre-Bar. OKay. So lapit kami at nagtanong tungkol sa LLM program nila. Hindi raw dun sabi nung babae. Punta raw kami sa kabilang building. Sa may second floor. Ha? Eh di natatawa na ako. Sabi ko kay Jay, sana pala sinabi natin na kung nasa kabilang building pa yung sa LLM, in that case, pwede bang Pre-Bar na lang inquire namin? Kasi nga di ba kailangan lang naman namin papirmahan yung papel para makalabas kami ng campus ng maluwalhati. Nagprisinta si Markk. Siya na lang raw ang hahanap. Hmm. Buti naman. So naiwan kami sa baba at pinag-usapan namin kung yung mga sculpture sa fountain ng garden sa Beda eh mga cherubim (hindi sabi ni Jay kasi di naman pakpak yung nasa likod nila) or mga sirena (kasi nga me buntot ng isda sa likod nila). At kung mga sirena nga iyon, ano ang symbolism at ba't nandon sa tapat mismo ng Abbey ng St. Benedict (yung simbahan)? Your guess? Probably not as good as ours. Hahaha.

Waxing poetic

2007-03-29T10:01:00.000+08:00

Was busy reviewing resolutions for the Chair's signature when I came across this gem. Grabe. I just HAD to post this:

"Complainant, the ever wild, passionate and energetic trader of tirades, wrongly advances her allegations without material evidence or proof but full of speculations fueled by anger and hate lubricated by revenge."

Markk is off my phonebook!

2007-03-27T23:56:00.000+08:00

Just got home from a dinner with Markk and Cora. Markk should have spent for the dinner since we spent most of our time trying to exorcise his demons. Yes, he still has them, despite his much-publicized Markk Perete Medium Term Development Plan (though he prefers 'Millenium Development Goals'). I try to give an objective and/or more mature perspective to things and all he and Cora can say is "just wait 'til you fall head over heels in love and you'll know." Oh well. I just think that there comes a time when we should stop pining for people who got away and start appreciating those people who stay. In the end, it's not the intensity (though it's important) but the constancy and the steadfastness (alam ko synonyms ito. try ko lang ang 'pashmina writing style') that matters. One cannot be deliriously happy all the time. It's just not possible.

While we were walking out of the mall, I ask Cora and Markk for compliments, you know--aesthetics-wise--for me. I don't even know why I remain friends with these people. They stammer and stutter and can barely get out adjectives that describe me. A flower in the desert says Markk. What the hell is that? Was he by any chance alluding to a damn cactus, I ask. A cactus naman daw that quenches the thirst of a weary soul. Whatever. At si Cora naman, all she could do was laugh. Sabi ko nga--kay Markk especially--that I don't know if I actually get anything from our friendship. So am considering removing him from my phone book. Hahaha...

Edited to add: Guess I won't have to take him off my phone book anymore. He says the mere fact that he can stand me is a testament to my likability as a person. Hmp! Sige na nga. I'll take the compliment kahit na sobrang backhanded ito.

I Twitter.

2007-03-27T09:00:00.000+08:00

Or is the verb form of Twitter Twit?

Anyway, I can't get Twitter to work on this blog. Sad.
Here's my twitter page. I'll just link to it instead.

The bar and other flights of fancy

2007-03-24T18:40:00.000+08:00

"Alam ko na mahirap mag-antay ng pag-asa." - Dong Abay, Dyad

The week just past was fraught with speculation and tension. Every now and then, I would receive text messages and emails either bearing chismis of just when the bar results would come out or questions asking when I think the SC would release the results. Never have so-called reliable sources been so conflicted in their "reliable" news. Sometimes I think about these things when I can't fall asleep after having been wakened by a random neighborhood cat's scream. I've made my peace with the results. Whatever news will come--and I really really really hope for good news--I hope I'll handle it with dignity and grace. Ayokong maging mayabang. Conversely, ayoko rin maging sour grape or maging bitter. Basta.

Anyway.

Have I told you that I bought this double CD titled Pure Acoustic? May bago na naman akong artist na na-discover. I love Matt Costa. Ang ganda talaga ng Cold December na kanta niya. (Tinny, if you're reading this, I hope I get to talk to you soon or sometime in the future. It may sound terribly juvenile but I miss talking music with you. *insert smiley here* Wala akong nakakausap about music. I guess this means everybody's grown up except me.)

And for even more interesting news:
There's this government office that I've been trying to get into since last year pa. I sent them my application letter just before I started to review for the bar. And then I reiterated my application twice over. For months, I thought that those papers fell into a gaping hole and disappeared. Apparently not. They called me up about three weeks ago, asking if I was still interested in working for them and whether I would be able to go for an interview the following morning. Hay naku. Remember what happened to me when the law office called? Ganun na naman nangyari. I was so surprised that I panicked. Suddenly, I found myself saying na "can I call you back to confirm if I can make it? I'm not sure about my sked." Ang kapal ko talaga!!! What fucking sked is there to speak of? I do nothing important in the office anyway except serve as a minion and expert paper shuffler. Soon as I put the phone down, I try to call up Cora, who tells me she can't talk to me kasi she's still in the SEC. Ouch. I pace and mutter to myself for a few minutes. Then I pick up the phone and dial...

So I went for the interview. I heard good things but not all the good things I wanted to hear. Still. If I can make it there, mas okay siguro dun compared to where I am now. (Though there is a saying about better the devil you know than the devil you don't know. Kung bakit ito relevant, ako na lang--and probably a handful of officemates--ang nakakaalam. Hahaha.) I really want to work there but the work they might make me do is not exactly what I envisioned myself doing. Plus, I also ask myself when I'll decide to try out litigation? Parang weird naman na kung kelan ako tumanda that's when I'll try it. Pano if things don't pan out? Tsaka I might not have the stamina for it anymore. Questions, questions, questions.

Kaya nga gusto ko nang lumabas yung bar. So I can finally plan my life. Dear Supreme Court Justice Gutierrez, kailangan pa ba ako uli mag-aral or can I start trying out other options na? Sabihin mo na please. The suspense might yet kill me. Hay. Naisip ko tuloy yung kanta ni Jason Mraz: "Hey, Mister Curiosity. Is it true what they've been saying about you? Are you killing me?"

Nga pala, last week, Joey Ayala performed in the office during a sort-of concert. After the show, he sold some of his cds. Siempre, I bought one. When I was having him sign it, I told him that "I've loved him since college pa. As in." And below the dedication on the cd jacket, he wrote his mobile phone number. WTF right?

About music that rock my world ;)

2007-03-18T20:53:00.000+08:00

I was feeling a bit off last Friday so I begged Cora to have dinner with me. She said no at first cause she wanted to go home to Bulacan. Thirty minutes later, as I was about to get on the MRT, she calls me and asks if I can still have dinner with her. Apparently, her boss--whom she loves to pieces (hahaha!)--told her to go to work on Saturday. Siempre, nainis siya. And there's nothing like being pissed about stuff at work to make you want to have dinner with friends.

But this post is not really about Cora. It's about my church, Music One. Ngayon lang uli ako nakapunta at naka-browse ng bagong CDs sa Music One Shang after almost a year. Grabe!!! I didn't know that Bloc Party and Clap Your Hands Say Yeah albums are already available in Manila. Finding their CDs felt sooo good. I also came across a CD by The Smithereens, where they recorded their own take on The Beatles' album I Wanna Hold Your Hand. The store had the CD on continuous loop so I got to listen to the whole album. Tapos I saw this The Cure box set. It was a religious experience, I tell you. I was in heaven and I wanted to buy it sooo bad kasi nga one copy na lang. But Cora prevailed upon me na wag na lang. The box set contained one CD of their best songs, another CD of acoustic versions of the same songs, a DVD of their videos yata, and a DVD of them playing acoustic versions of some of the songs. I swear that if I get good news at the end of the week--assuming of course that the news I've been waiting for comes out at the end of the week--bibilhin ko talaga yun. Deadma ang budget di ba?

Pero wala pa rin akong nakikitang CD ng Up Dharma Down. San ba nabibili yun?

Tala ng buhay

2007-03-17T21:56:00.000+08:00

Di rin pala okay minsan na pinipilit mong maging masaya kahit anong mangyari. Kasi minsan, akala nila okay lang kahit ano ang gawin o ipagawa sa yo kasi di ka nagrereklamo. Kaso di naman talaga okay ang lahat. Minsan talagang nakakapagod na. Minsan, tinatanong mo rin ang sarili mo kung bakit ka ba nagpapakapagod ng ganito. Para san ba lahat ng ginagawa mo? Buti sana kung pagdating ng araw eh masuklian kahit papano ang hirap mo. Kaso ilang beses na rin namang nangyari sa yo na yung mga mga pangakong binitawan eh napako o nakalimutan. Ilang beses mo na rin sinabi na unahin mo muna sarili mo pero madaling sabihin, mahirap gawin. Ang nakakainis lang, di naman ganon kalaki ang hinihiling mo. Ang kailangan mo lang naman eh ilang sandali para tumigil ang mundo sa pag-ikot, ilang sandali para makahinga ka ng malalim upang di ka tuluyang malunod.

Fix You - Coldplay

When you try your best but you don't succeed
When you get what you want but not what you need
When you feel so tired but you can't sleep
Stuck in reverse

And the tears come streaming down your face
When you lose something you can't replace
When you love someone but it goes to waste
could it be worse?

Lights will guide you home
and ignite your bones
And I will try to fix you

Perpekto - Dong Abay

ikaw ay nagdaramdam
puso ay nagdurugo
hindi mo yata alam kung san ka patungo
ikaw ay naliligaw
isip ay nalilito
ayaw mo ng gumalaw
hindi ka sigurado
ikaw ay napupuwing
minsan nabubulagan
mata ay nakapiring
daan ay kadiliman
ikaw ay nadadapa
napipilayan din
di makapagsalita
anung ibig sabihin?
wala, wala namang...
wala namang perpektong tao
ano ba ang epekto
kung meron kang depekto?
ano ba ang epekto
kung meron kang depekto?
ano ba ang epekto
kung meron kang depekto?
ano ba ang epekto
kung meron kang depekto?

ikaw ay nawawala
minsan ay nawawalan
di ka naniniwala
puno ng alinlangan
ikaw ay nanliliit
ligtas ka ba sa rehas
bakit ka nakapiit?
bakit ka tumatakas?
ikaw ay natatakot
parang walang hangganan

ang kirot ng bangungot
di mo makalimutan
ikaw ay nanlulumo
bilang na ba ang araw?
gusto mo ng sumuko,
mundo ay nagugunaw
ikaw ay inaalon
walang kalaban-laban
tuluyang nalulunod
tungo sa kalaliman
ikaw ay nalulula
agad kang nahuhulog
babagsak sa lupa
at biglang madudurog.
ikaw ay nagdurusa
kaya pa bang tumagal
hindi na makahinga
lalo pang nasasakal
ikaw ay dumadaing
dala mo ba ay sumpa
para kang ililibing
at ipinagluluksa.
wala...
wala namang...
wala namang perpekto
anu ba ang epekto
kung meron kang depekto?
wala namang perpektong tao...

Enuh's

2007-03-12T18:18:00.000+08:00

Just thought I'd post this gorgeous poem from Enuh:

free as the hand
i wrap around
your wrist
i try to draw you in
hoping it will
drown out the noise
around you
and inside my head

i smile
at you (only
you don’t
see) meaning
to put you
in my glass cage
and try to watch
you unobserved
only you
shrug me off
with absent-minded
gentleness

A national media moment

2007-03-10T12:07:00.000+08:00

Where: Inside Jay's car, with Jay and Markk
When: Last night, on the way to Shangri-la mall to fetch Cora for dinner sa Pearl Drive
What exactly happened:
We were listening to music and bitching about stupid political ads. Jay switches the car radio to AM. We hear two voices--presumably those of two doctors--talking about bulutong, buni, and other skin diseases. Then one of them segues into a discussion about the need for "resistensiya" to fight off the virus, since chicken pox comes from a virus. And then the voice says, "katulad ni Atty. Cecille Soria na malakas ang resistensiya." I pause. Jay and Markk laugh. I say, "narinig niyo rin yun di ba? di lang ako?" Both of them say they heard it as well, and can't stop themselves from laughing. I was thinking that maybe there was somebody with a name like mine, and who happened to be a lawyer too. I say, "baka naman di Soria yung apelyido. Mali lang rinig ko." We all laugh. They say, "wow, Atty. Cecille Soria."
Later on, Jay comes clean that the doctor on the radio is his friend and that he texted that doctor to greet Atty. Cecille Soria on his radio show. Kaya pala nilipat ni Jay sa AM. And I think this happened because I was saying that nainggit ako kay Kulas who already had about 4-5 seconds (per Markk's estimate) of national TV fame just the other night. Sabi ko kasi buti pa si Kulas, siya nauna ma-TV sa centaurs. Kelan kaya ako magkakaroon ng national media moment.
I just did. Hahaha.

Ambiguously...

2007-03-08T23:36:00.000+08:00

"I think too much about the things I want too much." Kanta yan ng Blur. I'd really like to pray for some clarity except that I might not know what to do with it if ever I get it. I wish things were simpler, more comprehensible.

Climb up over the top.
Survey the state of the soul.
You've got to find out for yourself whether or not you're truly trying.
Why not give it a shot?
Shake it. Take control and inevitably wind up
Find out for yourself all the strengths you have inside of you.
- Song for a Friend, Jason Mraz

Davao, last of the series...

2007-03-08T23:33:00.001+08:00

Back to my kwento...

Or not. Apparently, basking in the sun in Davao will not make work a mere figment of my imagination. Reality not only bit, but also slapped me across the face a couple of times. Now am neck-deep in work. Malapit na ako malunod. So, to make my life easier, I decided to just post the pics, put a bit of annotation, and bahala na kayo if you'll enjoy it. Naisip ko rin kasi na maybe it's unfair to bore the three people who read my blog with the minutae of my existence. Wag na lang di ba?

An open letter

2007-03-08T23:31:00.000+08:00

I can't say I ever liked you but am seriously starting to hate you. It's not that I find it difficult to do what you're asking me to do. It's that I don't want to take responsibility for fucking up your filing and getting your license taken away from you. The thing is, it's easy. It really is.
If you're asking for favors, be nice. It wouldn't kill you to do so. Am not even asking that you do it genuinely. But at least make an effort naman. Try being human.
Don't be a bitch all the time. Especially if you leave your toothbrush in the office CR.

A perfect pic

2007-03-03T17:33:00.000+08:00

Sayang, I can't remember who I hassled to take this pic of me. This pic captured the languidness of life at pearl farm. And the pic came out perfect: the lighting, the colors, (and me, hahaha) etcetera. I didn't even have to edit anything sa Photoshop.

Back from Davao, first of a series

2007-03-03T07:00:00.000+08:00

It's the day after I get back from our office trip to Davao and I still (!) wake up at fucking 5:00 in the morning! This really pisses me off kasi I have been trying to catch up on sleep to compensate for three nights of being wasted. Hay, these are times when I hate my body clock. It rarely lets me oversleep. May pupuntahan pa naman ako mamyang hapon. Kelan pa kaya ako makakatulog?

Anyway, moving on...

Pearl Farm was a blast! Yep, with an exclamation point ha.

I woke up really early ng Tuesday cause I had to rush an SPA for my uncle. Paggising ko, Jason Mraz' Plane was playing in my mind (and it kept on playing also for the most part of the plane ride going to Davao). Medyo creepy nga cause the song goes "Leaving your town again/ and I'm over the ground where you've been spinning/ and I'm up in the air so baby hell yeah/ Oh honey, I can see your house from here/ If the plane goes down, damn/ then I'll remember where the love was found/ if the plane goes down..." WTF right? (kaya nga napraning din ako when Kuya Bob all of a sudden sings Bye Bye Love a few minutes before our plane landed in Davao). I shouldn't be scared really cause, based on the computations made by Levitt sa Freakonomics, the probability of dying from a plane crash is the same as that of dying from a car crash. Of course, based yung study niya sa US stats ng accidents so baka nman sa Pinas di totoo yun. Anyway, enough with the digressions na nga.

Kakabihis ko lang when I get a text from Lea, asking kung asan na ako kasi andun na sila sa airport. Wala pa yatang 7 am nun. Less than 15 minutes later, I also get a text from Christie saying na kakadaan lang nila Boni. My sleep-deprived mind thinks, "ba't ang aga nila?" Pero the day was bound to be a good one talaga. The cab driver was a nice old man who gamely said that he'd try when I told him that I should be in the airport by 7:30 am. We talked about his apo who was trying to make it to UP's varsity team sa taekwondo. He was telling me lawyer jokes too cause I told him that I was a lawyer-wannabe. As the cab pulls into the airport, sabi ko sa kanya, "manong, ano na punchline? Bababa na ko eh." And he goes, "Hayaan mo na, mahaba yun eh." When I get into the airport, Dalen and Stephen smile big smiles. Ako na lang pala and si Chair ang wala pa.

Di pa ko nakakasakay ng plane pero haba na ng kwento ko. I can hear the house waking up. Sige, I'll make kwento later. Mag-edit muna ako nung pics. I have to remove the ones I don't want the parentals to see. Hahaha!!!

Trip to Manaoag.

2007-02-24T22:25:00.000+08:00

(ETA: Biglaan tong pagpunta Manaoag. But not because of the rumors na March 23 na labas ng results ha.)

These pics are from last night's (or this early morning's) trip to Manaoag. We went crazy taking pics. Tin's on the car behind us. Siguro she might have wondered about the flashes going off.

This is Will and me.

Will takes this pic para kita naman si Dale, who's on the front seat. And this is Jhim's finger--para kasali pa rin daw siya.

Si Dale kumuha nito.

Ako naman kumuha nito. Ano kaya tinitignan ni Jhim?

Eto, ako rin. Pa-cute si Jhimboy.

I like this pic. Kunwari close kami. :)

Taken just after the mass. Sabi ko, where do we take a pic? So sa parking lot na lang kami nagtiyaga. Nagmamadali kasi ACCRA boys.

Dale, Jhim, Marc, and me.

Rhosig boys. They try to look like they mean it. Hahaha.

Dale, Will, Cora, me and Jhim.

Isa pa ulit. Sabi kasi ni Marc, madilim yung una (mukha lang okay kasi inayos ko na sa Photoshop).

Dale and Will. Dale and I are original blockmates from 2005E. Nagpa-ampon lang ako sa centaurs. Dale is more of a prodigal centaur. Or international student. Though walang tatalo kay Kim Enage pagdating sa, shall we say, "internationalism".

At breakfast. Happy sila pagkatapos mauto kami ni Cora na manlibre ng breakfast.

Inaantok na? Hindi pa.

Sagot sa tanong ni Markk P. Kung ano ibig sabihin, ako na lang nakakaalam. Hahaha!!!

Pauwi na.

One-man driving machine.

I have kwento.

2007-02-16T00:19:00.000+08:00

Sobrang gabi na ako nakauwi ngayon. May tatapusin sana ako sa office kaya lang nauwi na naman sa kwentuhan ang lahat. Ang dami ko pang kailangan gawin sa opisina. Pakiramdam ko nalulunod na ko. Sabi nila, so that you won't drown you have to keep on kicking. The message is lost on me. I don't even know how to swim. Di ko ma-imagine just what the hell kind of kicking I should do so I won't sink.

I feel like am so inefficient. Kaya lang, I can't fault myself naman kasi I think that I work hard. Siguro yung pwesto ko? Masyado maraming distraction. Lahat ng nangyayari sa ibang tao nakikita ko. I try to listen to mp3s na lang to drown out the background noise kaya lang pumapalag naman boss ko kasi I won't be able to hear her whenever she calls me. Ganito din nun pakiramdam ko sa CESB. Could it be the working space set-up in government offices that is the problem? Sure I used to get distracted too sa UA&P but that's because, most of the time, Chang and I are having so much fun. Kaya lang kahit papano, there's still a certain measure--however small--of peace and quiet. As things are now, sometimes I can't even hear myself think. Eh kailangan pa naman mag-concentrate pag kaso ang binabasa mo.

I drew my blinds closed tonight. I have to remember to keep them that way. Malamig na naman. Ding! There goes the polar ice caps alert in my mind. Anyway, kagabi, I forgot about the blinds. Ta's naiwan ko pa electric fan na nakabukas. I don't even remember why I thought of turning it on. Kaya nung umaga pag gising ko? Nanginginig na ako. Kinapa-kapa ko pa sa dilim yung kumot ko. Ang sarap matulog.

I am the mistress of procrastination. San ko nga ba nabasa yun na why do today why you can put off tomorrow? Ngayon nga supposedly nagpupuyat ako to work on my damn case briefs. Instead, nagmumuni-muni na naman. O siya.

Nga pala, Markk texts me (as in just a few minutes ago, while I was booting up the laptop) that he got into this university somewhere in the western hemisphere. Ayos. Kailangan na lang niya scholarship. I say I'll ask around. I have vested interest in him getting to wherever he wants to go. Siempre, pag andun siya, plane fare na lang problem. Siguro naman he'll fix us up with a bed and some kind of edible food. Hmm, siguro simulan ko na mag-ipon. Europe, here we come!

P.S. May nakita akong mag ng British Council kanina. This guy that I used to buy books from, his name is Joel Toledo, wins 2nd place ng Bridport prize (I think that's the name). It's an international poetry writing thing. Most prestigious prize raw in poetry. O di ba? To think that a while back, when he said he was a writer, and I asked him what he had written and he told me, I just said "nah, never heard of it." Now he's (sorta) famous.

We heart KCD

2007-02-16T00:14:00.000+08:00

Celebrating Valentine's Day with Chair KCD.

Pics from the binyag of Kate's baby Lara

2007-02-06T12:46:00.000+08:00

Garden of Justice and something, one of the gardens sa Church of the Holy Sacrifice in UP.

These are pics of the main sculpture dun sa Hardin ng Ina (or something). This is also one of the gardens situated around the church.

Ngayon lang ako nagka-pic dito in my ten-plus years in Diliman as a student and/or tambay

Dash and I ham it up while Jobert takes the pic and laughs.

Dangz and her fiance.

Two of my bestest friends from Pol Sci in college.

Back then, who woulda thought that Kate would be first?

Pics!

2007-02-05T12:50:00.000+08:00

Here's a bunch of pics that shoulda been posted a week ago :

In Law School, Obama Found Political Voice

2007-01-30T10:49:00.000+08:00

Barack Obama arrived at Harvard as an unknown; by the time he left, he had become a political sensation. Story's here.

Federer

2007-01-28T23:42:00.000+08:00

"...and the the truth is that TV tennis is to live tennis pretty much as video porn is to the felt reality of human love." - David Foster Wallace, Federer as Religious Experience, New York Times, 20 August 2006

I watched the men's final of the Australian Cup earlier today. Buti na lang natiyempuhan ko as I've been constantly turning the TV on for most of the weekend, checking to see if the final was on already. I didn;t know the sked of the matches and I was only able to catch the tail-end of the final between Serena Williams and Maria Sharapova.

I used to watch tennis a lot when I was in high school and college. Back then, Agassi was a hotshot with long hair and loud clothes. I tuned out after he cut his gorgeous hair and started celebrating his receding hairline. Anyway, a few days ago, I stumbled into several articles on Roger Federer (there's this article by David Foster Wallace gushing over what he called "Federer Moments") and so I decided to see what the hoopla was all about. Magaling nga si Federer. Sayang I wasn't able to watch his semifinal match with Andy Roddick. It was a phenomenal game raw. Anyway, back to Federer. He's really agile. I guess he really focuses kasi throughout the final with Fernando Gonzales, he was stoic. Although nung nanalo na siya, he started smiling. He's cute. Hehehe.

But that Fernando, he's gorgeous. Naaaliw nga ako everytime Gonzales bent to tie his shoelaces. He's got a very nice rear end.

Back in 2004, Fernando Gonzales and Nikolas Masu get it on. :)

Nga pala, this is what Fernando said about Federer just after the final: ""I have to congratulate again, again Roger. He's a great champion. He played a great match today, the whole week and almost all of his life." Hey, he's funny too.

I don't need or want it	=	trash
I still need to decide what this means to me	=	In-basket item
I might need to know this information	=	reference
I use it	=	equipment and supplies
I like to see it	=	decoration
When I could possibly move on it, I want to see the action as an option	=	next action reminder, reviewed when and where it could be done
I need to be reminded of this short-term outcome I've committed to	=	project list item, reviewed weekly
I need to have this when I focus on a project	=	support material
I might want to commit to this at any time in the future	=	Someday/Maybe list item
I might want to commit to this on or after a specific time in the future	=	calendared or "tickled" item incubated for review on a specific future date
I want to achieve this "bigger" outcome	=	goals, objectives, visions that you review on some longer interval (a.k.a. your higher level Horizons of Focus)
It's something someone else is doing that I care about	=	item on Waiting-For list, reviewed at least weekly
I need to consider it when I do certain recurring activities	=	item on a checklist