Teri Hatcher Insults Filipino Doctors/ Medicine Schools in Desperate Housewives

In the Premiere of Desperate Housewives(Season 3) Teri Hatcher made a remark about Filipinos - doctors/nurses. She was talking to her doctor and then she said "Okay, before we go any further, can I check those diplomas? Coz I would just like to make sure they are not from some med school in the Philippines."First of all I'm a huge fan of the series and no one could ever ban me from watching it, it's absolutely hilarious and full of racial slurs. Gabrielle Solis' maid who is Chinese was always insulted in the series because of her ethnic origin. The Applewhites, the black (or should I say colored? hehe) family, in the Wisteria Lane neighborhood was often suspected of doing misdeeds just because they are "different" as the series may suggest. I think we should not mind Teri Hatcher's remarks and should laugh out loud. American shows does that all the time. We should be intelligent enough and should learn from our mistakes from the "Filipino" biscuits controversy and Claire Danes' remarks. We should bury the hatchet of false Filipino pride and make use of or True Filipino Pride into productive use by improving the state of our economy.The Filipino doctors, who are graduates of Filipino schools, and Philippine med schools should prove to the world that they're good and the best in the world, as one friend commented. As long as there are no flags burned, which is done by half of the world to the American flag, I think the Filipino has a place in the world arena

They Asked me to Sing (and Dance, too!): The Bagaberde Episode

There we were, last September 29, braving Typhoon Hannah on it's alert warning signal no. 1. It's been weeks of planning until Au arrived from Dubai last Friday, with no definite itineraries of our nightout.The Residencia cousins went out of Bulacan to paint the town red which started with a sumptous dinner at Gerry's Grill, Mall of Asia as the Saturday round of fireworks lit up the sky that seem to welcome us to our reunion.As usual, the gimmick night won't be complete without the endless photo sessions ranging from elevator shots to parking lot shots. We also went to the Sofitel Philippine Plaza where Mr. Park, our friend from Korea, stayed. The gang can't help but wonder at the longest buffet in Metro Manila at Spiral. We are still undecided on where we will go on that fateful night. Endless deliberations on either the group would split or we'll go together. We finally decided to got to Pier One Roxas but it seems like it's reeeking with people and the ambience is totally bland and dull. We shifted to the nearby Bagaberde instead which featured the bands Dress Down Friday and the Hyperbeat. Au negotiated with the Bagaberde management for a discount since we're 17 persons all in all at the 250 peso entrance rate. It turned to be a smart decision. So there we were, gulping pitchers of Cuba Libre and Screwdriver while others were into beer. When the Hyperbeat band played, I was so shocked when a girl member of the band just pulled me to the stage and asked me to dance with them. The semi-erotic (yuck) dance number left me gasping for breath since it's highly-energized and because of the cigarette smoke that fills the air. On their third or fourth number, Hyperbeat asked me to join them again. This time the girls asked me if I know how to sing, I answered with a hand signal, that reminded me of how the French signals "a little" or "un peu". The girl in the black top seem to misundertood what I said that it nearly reavealed my true sexual identity (haha). The male member of the band asked me if I know "Just Once" by James Ingram. And my unprecedented performance began. The once formal tone of Bagaberde was turned into a comic ambience of ZIRKOH! The gang just roared into cheers when I hit the high notes that I am not hearing my voice anymore. After my number, the group acknowledged the presence of Ms. Dinna Bonnevie in the crowd that drove me nuts. Knowing that Ms. D watched me sing made me melt and sent shivers down to my spine! During Dress Down Friday's second set they also asked me to join them and this time it's a snafu (Systems Normal All Fucked Up!). I don't know the lyrics of another James Ingram song. A very handsome member of the group in the person of "Archie" was there to help me out but we just can't pull it off.

Dress Down Friday's repertoire is mostly R and B mixed with pop and house music tunes. Archie nicely belted out popular songs such as my favorite Freestyle's "Half Crazy" and Get Far's "Shining Star". They even tried Sean Kingston's "Beautiful Girl" that made us get off our seats and groove to the music. Hyperbeat's tunes are more 80's with a mix of popular tunes such as "Umbrella". Hyperbeat charmed their audience by their comedy antics that even Ms. D danced with them onstage.

Whew! That was a night. It all ended up at 4 am. It'll be part of Residencia's history. Hope we could do this more often if only everyone's here with us and not abroad. Thank you very much, Au. For this, Residencia's gimmick would never be the same again.

Mes Aliments Preférés: 100 of My Favorite Gastronomic Treats

I was so inspired by Ari Bancale’s blog on his favorite food, omgirl45’s passion for food and Melvyn Isidro’s new look of Cheesecake Melliza that I’ve decided to do my very own food blog. Contrary to my previous post, I have not included a French dish because I have never eaten an authentic French dish myself (sad truth, I ate at a pizzeria, at a McDonald’s joint, and ate Secretariat and hotel food in Paris!). One of the perks of a protocol officer is to sample local hotels’ specialties as well as dishes from around the world. I have included my town’s (Sta. Maria, Bulacan) specialties and some of the home-cooked meals I’ve devoured. Those in bold are must-try’s. (MOA means the Mall of Asia). So in random order, let’s dig in and start the fiesta:

1. Lava cake at Plato Platina (MOA and Blue Wave Macapagal): scorching hot fudge brownie with freezing cold vanilla ice cream on top, simply romantic

2. Paella of our Socials Director Mr. Raymond Toledo

3. Buttered fan clams of Dencio’s

4. Spicy seafood jambalaya of Gumbo’s (MOA and The Block)

5. Everything as in everything at Hussein’s (Serendra, Bonifacio High Street): I never liked Arabic food until Hussein’s.

6. Sushi and maki at Nambantei’s (Greenbelt 3)

7. Hainanese chicken at the Heritage Hotel

8. Ilustrado Restaurant’s bagnet: just visit your doctor afterwards hehe

9. Aling Nene’s barbeque (Makati): fave pulutan

10. Reyes barbeque (Timog Avenue, MOA): WINNER!

11. Yellow Cab anchovies pizza

12. Rai-rai Ken’s sushi on a bed of “lato” seaweed (only at Rai-rai Ken SM City Cebu)

13. Tapsilog Queen at Tapa King

14. Rainbow salad at the Rainbow Connection (Malate): a dieter’s treat

15. Tom yang soup at Dusit Thani (Glorietta)

16. Noodles at Li Li Restaurant (Hyatt Hotel and Casino)

17. Sweet and our pork with kangkong with bagoong at Chowking

18. The Shangri-la Makati breakfast: feast like a king

19. Ensaymada and coffee at The Manila Diamond Hotel lobby!

20. Country breakfast at Pancake House

21. Bibingka at Bibingkahan sa Dos (Sta. Rosa, Marilao Bulacan)

22. Green mangoes with bagoong at the Mall of Asia

23. Chicken tocino super meal at Jollibee

24. The good ol’ BigMac at McDonald’s

25. Jollibee Chickenjoy: I just had one today

26. Bud-bud meals and Nightclubbero meal at Bakahan at Manukan (Roxas Boulevard corner Buendia)

27. Oysters at Marina (Timog Ave and PICC Complex)

28. Korean beef stew rice at Chiggy’s (Remedios and MOA): heavenlymeeh’s treat

29. Mojo potatoes at Shakey’s

30. Hamburger at Manila Hotel

31. Beef misono at Tokyo Tokyo

32. “Sipa” at Wok-In (Adriatico Malate and Makati Park Square 2 )

33. Jonas pares (Sampaloc, Manila)

34. Salads at Antonio’s (Tagaytay): posh and sosi

35. Tawilis breakfast at Taal Vista Hotel (Tagaytay)

36. Steak at Tagaytay Highlands: you’ll be askin for more

37. Bangus fiesta platter at Bangus Restaurant (MOA)

38. Sandwich wrap at Piadina (Ayala malls)

39. Popcorn and lemonade at Musclebeach (Ayala malls)

40. Shabu-shabu at a local restaurant in Sabae, Fukui prefecture in Japan

41. Caesar salad with seaweed at Albert restaurant in Tokyo

42. McDonald’s burger with wasabi mayo in Japan

43. Malate street shawarma ni Manang (Nakpil St.)

44. Spicy Norwegian salmon maki at Teriyaki Boy

45. Suman with Tsokolate “Eh” breakfast at Café Adriatico (Malate): sumptuous delight but so expensive

46. Salzburger knuckle, a dessert, at the Mandarin Oriental (Makati): the weirdest dessert I’ve tasted

47. Chocolate cake ay Circle’s Shangri-la Makati

48. Vietnamese spring rolls of the Vietnamese Embassy: catch it at the International Bazaar Foundation at the PICC Forum on November 25.

49. Soft roll bread of the Asian Development Bank Canteen (Ortigas)

50. Grillades at Sutokil (Mactan, Cebu): PARADISE!

51. Churittos and the Manila’s longest buffet at Spirals (Sofitel Philippine Plaza, PICC Complex)

52. Paella at Casa Armas (Malate and Greenbelt 3)

53. Whopper at Burger King: kailangan pa bang imemorize yan?

54. Longganisa from Vigan, Lucban and Cebu: you can find them all at Hot Café (Roxas Boulevard fronting the US Embassy)

55. Malaysian laksa and nasi “mani”: hehe

56. Potato salad at Almon Marina (Park Square 2 Makati and MOA)

57. Julie’s bibingka and puto bumbong (Sta. Maria, Bulacan): limited engagement only

58. Bon’s, Jennie’s, Daboy’s pork chicharon (Sta. Maria Bulacan): guilty pleasures just watch out for your cholesterol count

59. Baguette of Delifrance: I don’t know if this is French!

60. Congee, tofu and lumpiang toge at the National Shrine of the Divine Mercy Canteen (Marilao, Bulacan): especially on a rainy day

61. Tita Virginia’s (mom of Arvy and Venice Olarte) kare-kare: forget your diet!

62. Russian embassy’s caviar in Fita biscuits: very expensive

63. Samurai crepe of the Mandarin Hotel: always a treat at a Singaporean Embassy reception

64. Goldilock’s fresh lumpia

65. UST Hospital’s strawberry jelly: I want lots of it during breakfast

66. UST’s parking lot hamburger: now extinct

67. Aling Oying’s lumpiang shanghai, tocino and nilagang baka (Sta Maria, Bulacan): my weekend getaway

68. Kuya Rolly’s (my collegue) Bicol Express: a lunch treat!

69. Pretzel’s at Auntie Anne’s

70. Beef and tuna turnovers at Brownie’s

71. Cheesecake Melliza’s carrot cake and cheese cakes (Glorietta 4): simply heaven

72. Cinnabon cinnamon bread

73. Smokey’s taco dog (The Philippine Heart Center)

74. Rockefeller oysters at Bubba Gump (Greenbelt 3)

75. Curry, curry and curry at Prince of Jaipur (MOA, The Fort)

76. More curry, more curry and more curry at Bollywood (Greenbelt 3)

77. Mixed tempura of Haiku (Greenbelt 3)

78. Fajitas of Soul Food (then Greenbelt 3)

79. Whatever we ate at Burgoo’s (MOA)

80. Eng Bee Tin and Echague hopia

81. Buttered/a la pobre shrimps at Taste Asia

82. Lobster bisque of Manila Hotel

83. Chocolate desserts at Max Brener (Greenbelt 3)

84. Java chip frapuccino and Belgian waffles at Starbuck’s

85. Café mocha and croissants at Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf

86. Brewed coffee and choco honey dipped donuts at Dunkin Donuts

87. Coney dog and rootbeer at A & W restaurants: are these still around?

88. Crispy kangkong of Dencio’s (Harbor Square): hope you remember this Ari J

89. Pork sinigang at Mang Inasal (Harbor Square): comfort food, I ate this during my break-up

90. Bizu’s canapés with cottage cheese: Malacanang treat

91. Iranian pistachios: Christmas treat

92. Australian fish and chips

93. Krispy Kreme donuts; sige na nga!

94. Mozart chocolates from Austria: with pistachios/walnut at the center

95. Hawaiian macadamian nut chocolates

96. Makati Shang-rila’s moon cake: limited engagement only

97. Manhattan’s $1 and $2 dollar street hotdog

98. Kimchi at Kaya Restaurant

99. Inang Nene’s carabao adobo: an All Saint’s Day treat, I miss this!

100. Eurobake’s inipit and ensaymada (Malolos, Bulacan)

Photo credits: Melvyn Isidro of Cheesecake Melliza, Glorietta 4

Cuisine Française

I'm back at my french class and our lesson last Monday was aliments francais (French food) What I don't like about the French language is that everything has a gender (yes, as in everything, as in le poulet (chicken) is masculine, la salade (salad) is feminine, and you can't guess the gender as in Espanol, you have to consult your good old dictionnaire). There is even a French bureau which primary responsiblity is to assign if a word/object is indeed a male or female ( the latest being the computer (l'ordinateur as masculine). The class was divided into to groups and we were tasked to do either a diet menu, a vegetarian menu or a gourmet menu. Being a protocol officer, I took advantage of this "kaartehan" and came up with this invention:

Menu pour homme qui fait regime pour maigrir

(Menu for a person who wants to lose weight)

• Entree Salade de Radis avec Vinaigrette d'Olive (Radish Salad With Olive Vinaigrette)
• Soupe Consomme a L'oignon (Onion Consomme)
• Plat Principal (Main Course) Thon Grillade avec Riz Rouge et Tofu (Grilled Tuna with Red Rice and Tofu, sosyal!)
• Fromage (Cheese) Yaourt aux Kiwis (Yoghurt with Kiwis, my initial reaction was why in the world would a yoghurt based dish be included here, the French are so weird!)
• Dessert Compote De Banane sans Sucre (Boiled Bananas in Sugar-free sauce, in Tagalog: minatamis na saba pero wag gagamit na asukal yun lang yun!)

I don't know if I'll enjoy such treat but we pulled it off. The French are really soooo weird!

Can a Heart Still Break Once it Stopped Beating?

I know you’ll never get to read this. But I wanna write this anyway. I can’t believe it’s been a year. Our simple joys of museum hopping last year has been turned into a Boracay getaway this year. Our simple lunch at the outskirts of Intramuros Parian has turned into a grand celebration at a posh Boracay joint.

Everything changed since. Your thoughts has never changed though. You’re still the person I knew sans the kuripot lifestyle. I’ve always want to travel with you but the idea never prospered. We both know the reason what’s keeping us from running away.

It’s been a year since Louie’s birthday. You should see her, full of life and hope. Is there a possibility you’ll meet her again? I still remember how we laugh at the Happy Birthday Louie spiel in the parlor games. These are all part of our past. The history that has been haunting me in my dreams every night.

Am I over you? Can a heart still break once it stopped beating?

The Magic That is Kapamilya Deal or No Deal

I was writing this just as I finished watching Kampamilya Deal or No Deal where Jerhan Mama-o, a Muslim, won 2 million and became it’s seventh millionaire during tonight’s episode.

I remember hearing my flatmates (my flat has 4 floors) clapping to the beat as Ms. Kris Aquino’s 26K grooving to the game show’s theme while the briefcases are being brought down. The claps were in two sets depending on households if they subscribe to cable television or not (the claps of the cable subscribers including moi were a bit delayed haha).
I remember that time when we were all excited on the premiere of the new show including my ex screaming to the top of our lungs “NO DEAL” while comfortably watching primetime television last year. I remember when my mom, dad, bro and sis can’t seem to understand the mechanics of the show that they ought to watch GMA 7’s Captain Barbell instead. It’s a good thing we had 4 television sets. These were the times when I was stuck in Bulacan, unable to work because of you know what happened, strapped to a rocking chair all day trying my luck on being the next text partner.

I remember texting everyone “NO DEAL” expecting that they’re watching the same show. I didn’t really like Ms. Kris Aquino. I find her too frank and so comfortable with her contestants that sometimes she tends to offend them. And the real spectacle was how revealing her gown went thus far. Good thing she’s out of GKNB. In spite of all of these KDOND has been part of my daily routine especially in the brink of self-pity and feeling of worthlessness.

Back to tonight’s episode, I became inspired of how the contestant became so confident that the 2M is in his briefcase. I wept while jumping when the briefcase was opened knowing he truly deserves it because of his faith. Indeed God is Great (Allah or whatever he is called in 99 names and more). As Ms. Aquino revealed that they are nearing the defunct of the show, I believe in her statement that they continue to inspire the Filipino people as clearly depicted in this episode particularly in bridging the gap between the clash of faiths.

I would like to commend Ms. Aquino, the staff and crew of KDOND, Endemol and ABS-CBN for a job well done. Continue to raise the standards of prime time television especially in this era of game show scam speculations and stiff ratings competition. I would also like to thank you for being with me through the tough times. Bravo!

Full Circle

It's been three months since I last posted anything. I was so busy with the ASEAN Ministerial Meeting during the last week of July and early August. I stopped going to the gym because of that Conference and my Eclipse gym membership hasn't been renewed since. This is my blog's 1st year anniversary and I'm sharing this with my new friends in Multiply. I also handled the visit of the Foreign Minister of North Korea which is coinciding the ASEAN Ministerial Meeting. I became so interested in them that I also watched the National Geographic special about them, how they revere their Great Leader and all. And I tell you being with this guys is so incredible. We exposed the North Koreans to the culture of our country and treated them to Tagaytay Highlands.

In the last 3 months I've been through a lot of partying ang shopping just to keep me busy. I'm addicted to Zara Man clothes and invaded their branch at the Mall of Asia since they opened last 17 August. My deskwork has been piling up and everything seems to normalize once again.

I think I've reached the full circle. Everything comes back to where it once began, with the hope of a brighter tomorrow

Flashbacks: June/juin/Junio/Hunyo

The month of June is very special to me. It's the month were a lot of cultural activities are happening especially in the diplomatic circles. June 2 is the National Day of Italy, the month also culminates the French Spring in Manila and the start of fete de la musique and June 12 is our very own national day.

The French Spring in Manila is a three-month long celebration in honor of the Philippine and French culture. Last year's theme is FSM06: Sama sama which features Samuel Beckett's "Waiting for Godot" (see blog on "First Blog, Last Heartbreak") which is originally in French but is shown then in Pinoy version. I also watched the amazing Allegoria Stanza of the La Baraka Company which featured a mix ofFrench contemporary and hip hop dance. The events were held at the CCP and they are well attended. This year, the Alliance Francaise and the Embassy of France came up with another exciting line-up of events. One of these events is the Manila Jazz Festival ( http://gator224.hostgator.com/~alliance/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=93&Itemid=99990001 ) to be held at the Hotel Sofitel at 6 pm onwards. I was invited by my French teacher but I really doubt if I could attend.

The Italian Embassy celebrated their national day last April 25 instead of the 2nd of June because the monsoon season. It was jump-started by toasts and operatic arias in the sunset.Traditonal Italian cuisine was served throughout the night and products from Italy such as Bulgari, Ducati, Adidas, Malboro Classics ( I never thought Marlboro Classics is Italian!) and Diesel were featured at the exhibits. Wines flooded the Coconut Palace which exuded grace and charm that is very Italian. The night was highlighted by a fashion show of well-known Italian designers.

Reminiscing last year, I was soaking wet as I was sipping wine at the same venue. All the preparations for the grand event were ruined as rain poured and guests were squeezed inside the covered parts of the Coconut Palace. I didn't finish the party last year for my ex and I are scheduled to watch the ZsaZsa Zaturnnah Ze Musikal that time at the Tanghalang Huseng Batute. CCP Figaro was still open that time (the hell that they closed it!) and there are still a few restaurants at the Harbor Square. We were having coffee just before the show as the fireworks go off at the Coconut Palace signalling the end of the Italian reception. It was cold and raining that time but I have someone to cuddle up with.

Last June 11, the annual "asalto"entitled "Bayan, Bayani, Bayanihan" was staged at the CCP Main Theater in celebration of the Independence Day Celebration. The performances of Mon David and Bituin Escalante were superb as they belt out popular Filipino jazz tunes. The performances of the "Philippine Idol" finalists were all crap. They sing at their worst live! Gian Magdangal and Mau Marcelo were staples in the Filipino music scene but not topnotch. There's nothing spectacular in this year's asalto. The Ballet Philippines' rendition of the "Swimming in the Ilog Pasig" was ridiculous, transition and continuity is really bad throughout the program and the Philippine Madrigal Singers were a bit shaky that night. I captured Eula Valdez' "Ikaw ang Superhero" at the Asalto via my N70 phone ( the video was grabbed by ZZZZ multiply sit at the zsazsazaturnah@multiply.com ) and it almost brought me to tears as I remember that same moment last year. It was a time where we are almost at the CCP everyday to get tickets and to attend to these events. My partner that time came to the asalto in radiating red. That is the point where I told myself " That person is the one". I just can't forget that smile and those ideas that makes us argue all the time.

"Mga Hinabing Gunita' was the theme of last year's asalto. It was much more elegant and interesting that time. History and art were the prevalent premise of the show. The numbers were more vibrant (led then by no less than "The Company") and more meaningful. The only asalto signature that delighted the crowd was the street tribal dance performance of the winners of the Aliwan Fiesta ala "Sinulog" style followed by fireworks at the CCP lobby.

I invited my ex this year but I was ignored. It's good that my invitation did not matter. It was a senseless show anyway. Mylah, my officemate said: "Eh lahat naman ng gawin mo boring, hindi maganda. It's hard to please you these days. You were a nicer person last year."

Could someone be my next superhero?

Suicide ala Bridget Jones

The Day's Calorie Intake: 2700+++
Medicine Intake: Coumadin 2.5 mg, Lifezaar 50 mg,Aldazide 50? mg, Norvasc 5 mg
The day's Cigarette Intake: 5
Alcohol Intake for the week: 6
Present Whreabouts: Eclipse Gym Malate (yes, they have wifi too)
Last Night's Whereabouts: a secluded bar with loud music and fuzzy smoke
Activities today: a lotta hullabaloos of work in the office, blogging at the gym while doing 215 lbs of deadlift, 90 lbs of military press and -55 p
lbs of military pull ups
Contemplating on: disappearing if not forever.. even just for a year, a month or even a week.

Suicide? Sorry to disaapoint you guys but I failed almost everyone. I failed my friends (Cielo, if you're reading this I'm terribly sorry), I failed my family (if my mom would ever read this, I know she'll kill me), I failed the one I love most and most of all I failed myself.

The crap that I was discussing on miracles, being nice and all of those dramas seem to have no effect to me now. I am so weak when it comes to the lure of my former lifestyle. The Pre-enchanted Kingdom days were full of deception and superficial happiness. It seems to come back now.

I've realized that all my life.. It seems that I've been all alone. That the one I've loved was never mine.

Call me pathetic. But I really don't care anymore.

What I've Been Doing Lately

Well-proven and time-tested norm: RESPECT BEGETS RESPECT. And I think I’ve earned it.

My life became more exciting after my break-up. It seems like I’ve been catching up on what I’ve not done during the past year. I already said I’m back at my gym, which focuses on strength training rather than aesthetics.



I’ve been bugging my ex from time to time of broken promises, lost time and things that I’ve not done when we’re still together. Call that bitterness, but that’s my way of coping up. I’m heavily dating. But I just can’t get the ***** outta my head. I just wish there’s a machine which will make forget everything that happened.

I’ve signed up for French class this year. Ma classe de francais est le lundi et le mecredi à cinq heures jusqua huit heures tous les jours. ( My French class is every Mondays and Wednesday from 5 pm until 8 pm everyday. Hehe). My teacher Mlle. Alix celebrated her birthday last 23 May. I remember David Sedaris’ book “Me Talk Pretty One Day”. I just can’t fully grasp the intricacy of the French language that my head would ache at the end of the 3 hour class. But I guess it is working. Now my favorite tv station is TV cinq monde! Mlle. Alix’s vacation in Bohol is a welcome relief. We won’t have classes till June 14! Ouuuuaaaaiiisssss!



The elections just wound up in Bulacan. Amidst the heavy campaign, my Tito Bon lost the vice mayoralty race in Sta. Maria. But that might be a blessing in disguise. I finished Prison Break Season 2 and Wentworth Miller just pulled it off. I can’t help but mimic the way he pronounces “Sarah Tancredi”. I am still going gaga over my Havaianas that now reached its 10th pair and still counting.

Now I’m still hoping for the best. I wanna throw away all the hurt past me. I’m on a fight against depression. I work vigorously and I keep cigarettes and alcohol out of my mind.

Holier than thou

I loved you up to the end.
Watching you walk out of my life does not make me bitter or cynical about love.
But rather makes me realize that if I wanted so much to be with the wrong person..
How beautiful it will be when the RIGHT ONE comes along. (Thanks goofy5 of g4m for that very nice thought, but how would you know if that person is the wrong one?)
********************************************************************************

How to make you’re your life miserable on a Maundy Thursday:

1. get trapped on a NLEX traffic, lunchtime, onboard an open air bus to Bulacan
2. listen to Patti Austin’s “If I Believe” and Daniel Bedingfield’s “ If You’re
Not the One”
3. read Nick Hornby’s “High Fidelity” e-book on your pda phone
4. receive a mms message from Merboy on the boat circumstances on his way to Puerto Galera

5. reminisce what happened last year
*************************************************************
Holyweek 2007 is not that bad really. The Residencia peeps (actually just five of us Michelle, Jason , Arlene, Bong and moi) wandered Bulacan for our traditional Visita Iglesia after the annual Gulod Pabasa
( which by the way celebrated its 50th anniversary. More photos at
http://rv109creek.multiply.com/photos/album/21) The highlights of the said religious activity is as follows:

1. The Saint Michael the Archangel Parish in Constantino, Meycauayan Bulacan boasts of it’s intricately wood-carved altar with gold inlays. The church itself is made of limestone that cools the place. It is also rather unusual that we start the visita at this point.
2. The Holy Cross of Wawa Parish in Bocaue Bulacan is well known for the Pagoda Festival and the Miraculous Cross that it houses.

But what impressed me most is the church’s serene vigil room.

3. The Church of St. Lawrence in Balagtas, Bulacan is located at the back of the town’s municipal hall. The visitors were also treated to a hot bowl of lugaw (congee) which Bong devours in the photo (hehe).
4. The outlined light of the Church of Saint Idelphonse amazes us while we are on our way. The church is also newly renovated.

5. The Tabang Church has its dramatic way of luring parishioners back to the church. A lot of candles adorn the place coupled with the dim lights and classical meditative music solemnized our visit.
6. The historical Barasoain Church captivated me with it’s majestic ceilings that remained witness to Asia’s first Constitution. On our way home, we grabbed a box of the famed “inipit” (which is by the way so expensive, 350 pesos a box!)

-------------STOP AT TREATS NLEX FOR KFC he he
7. Back to homebase, the newest addition to our parish, Immaculada Concepcion, is the tomb style stations of the cross.

8. Lastly, the Church of the Mother of the Holy Eucharist in san Vicente Bulacan is a sanctuary for us. I’ve taken a video of the cave replicating the Holy land sites which leads to a fountain and the church.

I have also recorded videos regarding this holy week. It's my journey through the attraction at the Church of the Mother of the Eucharist at San Vicente, Bulacan and the "Prusisyon", the Good Friday tradition in Sta. Maria Bulacan. Enjoy guys.

Aftershocks

Abducted. Those who have read my last two blogs were all sympathies for me. I would like to thank all of you for that. But as I recount the events that happened in Feb, it wasn’t that bad at all. I thought I would be recovering in like a year or so but it proved to be an exaggeration. I am into this new series, The 4400, which is about people abducted by aliens from 1956 -2003, and they all reappeared through a ball of light over a lake in Seattle. The 4400’s were trying to reconnect to the world. That is exactly what happened to me this March. It’s as if I already forgot what happened last Feb. Freaky huh.

Baguio. Last 21-22 March, my boss and I went to Baguio, It turned out to be boring. I enjoyed the 14 hour bus ride (we didn’t ride a chopper this time) better than my 12 hour stay there. I just bought a box of strawberry jams and 3 kilos of fresh ones and chocolate flakes.

Trim. It started out as a challenge. My ex said (this is when we’re still together, while looking at the cover of ICON magazine, where there is bunch of bare-chested guys): “You (your body) were never like that and you’ll never be like that”. I was barred to work out for year. But guess what: I’m back.

Eclipse. I enrolled at the Eclipse Gym (www.eclipsegym.com), Mabini last March 3. It’s a La Sallista (Taft that is hehe) gym where people sport havaianas and basketball uniforms (yes, no rubber shoes allowed in the gym area). I was told that athletes of the NBA workout barefooted in their gym. I’ve like 4 types of exercises in a session which is thrice a week. The gym doesn’t have instructors but coaches that don’t believe that my condition should impede my workout. A friend of mine saw me and he can’t believe that I’ve gained a lot of weight. All I said was: “That’s why I’m back! See you in May. (haha)

Havaianas. Arvy and Ness’ dad just came from Brazil and he bought every Havaianas flip flops that he could grab (and Ipanemas too). I bought the almoana(?) and surf style pairs to complement my existing blue pair. I just love it. And it became part of my bathroom door décor.
Happy. The question is am I happy? The answer is YES I AM. I’m a survivor remember. Someone asked me that if there’s a song that would describe how I am now that would be The Last Time by Eric Benet (thanks to my friend Red for introducing the song to me). Kudos!

The Last Time
By Eric Benet
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A Eulogy for a Lost Love

"Never knew I could feel like this. Like I've never seen the sky before"
The first time I saw you, there's nothing extraordinary
But there's this spark that I saw in your eyes
We were not given a chance then
To know each other more

After two years I saw you again
Now the magic stayed
And became enchanted to your smile
We braved the rapids of Rio Grande
And dared to walk in Victoria Park and Brooklyn

We held our hands under the blue moon
And very grateful that at least
we're under it, at times that we're apart

"I want to vanish inside your kiss, everyday I love you more and more"

We learned to dream and soar high
We dreamed of a living in a place very far
Where lights never falter
We dreamed that we could explore the world together

We shared our thoughts on almost everything
We cared so much for Chinese Taipei
Even agreed that ASEAN should have a single currency
And argued on Ada's fate in a musical

Geography, the Arts and History are our passion
We went to museums on every occasion
We stared at works of art for hours
Even elaborated historical dioramas on top of our lungs
We argued on the differences of a country and a state
And agreed that Puerto Rico will never be a part of the United Nations parade
Even though it has a Miss Universe representative

"Listen to my heart can you hear it sing? Telling me to give you everything
Seasons may change winter to spring, I love you, until the end of time
Suddenly the world seem such a perfect place
Suddenly it moves with such a perfect grace
Suddenly my life doesn't seem such a waste
And all revolves around you"

Then tragedy struck
I kept my condition from you
as long as I can bear
You held me in your arms in my hospital bed
Valentine's was canceled that year
Instead I was brought to the cardio vascular unit

You made me live again
You've been so patient
Even though at times of self-pity
I shoo you away

You gave me a reason to live again
To fight for my life
To fight for you and my family
I embraced immortality
Just by having you by my side

When we're in each other's arms
Life seems so simple
I felt safe
I felt secure
I felt important
I felt like I'm the most beautiful person in the world
I felt like I'm irreplaceable

"And there's no mountain to high, no river too wide
Storm clouds may gather and stars may collide
I love you until the end of time
I will love you until my dying days"

But whatever happened to paradise?
You left me at the wake of my ultimate sadness
I gave you time to think
And became ready to any eventuality

In spite of that, I thank you for your honesty
I believe you have fulfilled your mission
I believe God sent an angel in your person
To wake me up and be closer to Him

Thanks for the memories
I will love you forever
So what happens now?
We better not ask anymore

I'll miss you

In memory of a lost love
(January 10, 2006 - February 6, 2007)


Belated Happy Valentine's to Everyone