Nature Tripping

Yesterday was my only rest day coz i already used my other rest day last week. When I woke up my sister asked me if I can come with them to La Mesa Eco Park, I was kinda hesitant coz I'm not used to going out with them without my brother in tow. But since my brother told me that I should also go out with them once in a while so I submitted to my sister's request. And so I went with my father, my step mom, and my 'half' siblings.

When we reached East Fairview Subdivision the way to the eco park, I had fun reading the names of the streets (cigarette brands). We passed by Winston, the main street, then turned right at Marlboro, then we went in to the La Mesa Compound. When I first saw the dam, it doesn't seemed like a dam to me but an ocean... its so wide.. and also deep, its water elevation is 79.90ft. Then we went to eco park, when you're inside the park you would feel like you're in the province coz the ambiance is soooo 'province-like', you'll see tall trees around you... fallen leaves... you'll see butterflies and birds. There's a swimming pool inside the park, there's also a function hall under the Ipil trees, a swamp where everyone can go fishing, a camp site for everyone, souvenir shops and picnic huts. The entrance fee of the park is only Php40.

We searched for the boating lagoon, we asked the staff there and were led to another site. We walked for a while then we reached the SuperFerry boating lagoon, its a tie up project of ABS-CBN and Aboitiz i think. The fee of the boat ride is Php100, you only pay for the boat rent and there are only 4 persons per boat but since my brother is only 1 year old we were permitted to ride in one boat even there are five of us. My dad was the rower of our boat. My sister and step mom were nervous coz they both don't know how to swim, but after a few minutes their nervous went off and they learned to enjoy the ride. There were also a group of little kids having their field trip who were enjoying the boat ride.

After about 20 minutes we went off the boat then walked towards the parking area. While were walking i noticed that the houses there are almost the same with one another. They have this 'country style' houses and the paint of the houses are alike too! Some of the houses there are selling food for the tourists and also love birds, my little brother really enjoyed watching the birds and chasing little butterflies. We all had fun, after that we went to SM Fairview to buy our groceries.

Tripping

Last Friday (Feb 17. '06), my brother and i were supposed to go to Baguio but we had changed our plans. Instead of going to Baguio, we changed our itinerary to San Isidro, Nueva Ecija to visit ate Jet, my bro's friend since elementary and the organizer or whatever you call her of the Gawad Kalinga project in the town of San Isidro. We left the Manila at around 6:00PM with my bro's other childhood friend ate Leslie, then we reached Gapan, the capital of Nueva Ecija past 8:00PM. Before proceeding to San Isidro, we ate first at Jollibee in Gapan then we went to the terminal to take a jeepney ride to San Isidro, unfortunately there were no longer jeepneys after 9:00PM. We called ate Jet right away to tell her about our situation and she suggested that we take the tricycle to San Isidro. Luckily, there was a bus to San Ildefonso who'll pass by San Isidro so we stopped the bus and hailed it to the town. When we reached San Isidro, we took the tricycle to the GK site. When we reached there we were welcomed and greeted by ate Jet and some of the residents of the site. They gave us a very warm welcome. The place is very serene and peaceful, and the houses though smaller than the average houses you can sense that the people living there very happy. Their houses are very colorful.

Ate Jet led us to her house, her house is small but very dainty. I love the feeling of being there because its feels like home to me. I also love the experience of fetching your own pail of water to bathe yourself. We slept late that night coz we were busy chatting and planning for our next day activity.

When we woke up the following day, my brother prepared breakfast for us. And also we helped ate Jet arrange her house to achieved its oriental look. Then after that we took a bath then prepared for our next activity, and that would be a late lunch at Isdaan in Gerona,Tarlac. Again we took the tricycle to the town proper, then hailed a jeepney to Sta. Rosa and from there we rode a bus to Tarlac City. We went to MetroTown Mall in Tarlac to feed ourselves then after that we rode a bus again to Isdaan. It was just a 15-minute drive from Tarlac City but I don't know why the conductor charged us Php55 for the ride. When we reached Isdaan there are a lot of people there because it was Sunday, we had a hard time looking for a place. Finally we found one, at the center of the pond. We enjoyed watching and feeding the fishes in the pond and i also love seeing kids amazed with the sight. Not long before sunset we left Isdaan for Tarlac City, we hailed a jeepney and my brother was shocked coz the fare was only Php15, we were like "Oh My God! We were fooled! Sigh." But my bother said that let's just think it was part of the package. When we reached Tarlac City we asked around as to where we should wait for the bus to Manila and we were instructed by a kind security guard at MetroTown to go to Siesta, its where the stopover of the buses. So we went there, we waited for almost an hour but we can't find a ride coz the buses were already full.

We almost lost hope. So we just waited along the highway, then we saw a Dagupan Bus for Manila so we hurried to their terminal, and luckily there are enough seats for us. Though the bus is not cozy... its an old bus with broken chairs but still we're thankful coz we'll be able to go back to Manila that night.(though we still have doubts about the bus) We reached Manila at around 10 o'clock. We were very satisfied with our trip coz the journey was really fun and challenging.


Disclaimer: We all don't know how to get to Tarlac via Nueva Ecija

My Valentine trip to Isdaan

Wow! Its great that Valentine's Day is over! But I had a great time yesterday. Dad called me up at the office yesterday and told me to come home 'ora mismo' in his español tone. I was quite mad at him because I had plans of pigging out with my friends at NSG but because he wants me to come home right away,i won't be going out with my friends. When i arrived home my family was already waiting for me at the driveway. I just left my things at the foyer and i rode with them in the car. It was in car that i have known that we're going to have a dinner date at Isdaan in Gerona, Tarlac. it was quite a long drive, actually its a 2-hour drive. But when we got there the place is very relaxing! Unlike the first time i went there, there are more guests last night because of the obvious reason... valentine's day of course. The staff are very warm and friendly, as well as the ambiance. I love seeing the fishes there... I love the food... The people and the singing waiters and cooks! We had so much fun! And i love to feel and breathe the fresh air of Tarlac. I must say that i had a wonderful night last night, though the trip was exhausting, its all worth the experience!

'Balentimes' day Blues

I'm back to work now! And i'm good as new. I'm not supposed to report to work today because the doctor as well as the ombudsman (my dad) 'summoned' me to rest another day but with me being hard-headed (..and workaholic whoah!) by nature... "I insist!" said I, "...can't afford to be absent again!" So... here i am working instead of resting. Its really nice to be back here, it feels so good working again. But the only thing i hate about working is waking up early, i hate it when i feel like curling up in bed then suddenly my clock starts snoozing. I also hate the feeling of waking up when everybody else's sleeping. But that's how the life of a 'career woman' goes.... Well, i only need to accept the fact that I need to sacrifice a little to succeed. Clichè but true.


Anyway, this morning at the Quezon Ave. MRT station a little girl selling cards approached me.

Girl: Ate bili na po kayo ng balentimes card para sa boypren nyo.
Me: Huh? 'la akong boyfriend eh.
Girl: Ate wala kayong boypren? Bakit? Maghanap na kayo kasi lapit na balentimes wala
kayong parkner.

I was about to say something but i just chose to be silent anyway she's just a kid, and besides she's a total stranger I don't need to explain anything. That's when i realized that February 14 is fast approaching unfortunately there's nothing i can do to stop that day from coming. I ain't bitter, its just that i don't like that day. I don't like it when everyone expects you to go out with somebody, expects you to receive roses, chocolates and the like from someone. And the way people stares at you when you're walking alone that day. Its not that I don't like the day itself but what i don't like is how people act that day. I know i'm cheesy, but not cheesy enough for these stuff.

I remember when i was in my 2nd year in college it was my first day at my new boarding house my boardmates and i had our 'acquaintance period' and they asked me if i have a boyfriend and my answer was 'none' cause i just broke up with my boyfriend that time. And they were like "Why now? Its almost valentine's, you shouldn't have broke up with him, you'll be alone on valentine's day." And my answer was... "it just happened.. i couldn't help it when he was turning to a bitch." And it didn't end there they told me that i won't be able to spend the night in my new boarding house if i don't have a date on valentine's day. See how people act on valentine's day? They made valentine a "very big" deal!

Valentine isn't about having a date nor giving/receiving roses and the like, for me its more on spending time with your loved ones, be it your girlfriend/boyfriend, your family or your close friends who made you and your life special. So you don't have to cram yourself in finding a date this Valentine, if you really don't get to date with the opposite sex why not pamper yourself! That would still be a great experience.

I was sick... sigh.

I had a very unproductive week. I was sick since Monday. Geesh... i don't like the feeling of burning! I felt like i was burning (literally), i was burning with fever! I can't help but think about my pending projects... i lost the whole week because of my fever and that means i need to work my ass off next week to pay for the lost hours to meet my project's due dates. But on the brighter side, i'm also glad (oh not so glad) that i was sick because i was able to rest for days, i had good night sleep coz it seems like it was ages ago since i had a good night sleep. and i also get to spend quality time with my family at home in fairview. i didn't stay at my place the whole time that i was sick because if i did, nobody would take care of me there. i'll be alone, and miserable... i hope to be back to work on Sunday. I still have cough and colds now but not severe like the past few days. I miss the workplace and the people i work with. I also miss staying in my place. I wonder how my place looks like now because it was last week since i last visited it. I'm planning to stay there when i get back to work till the end of February. I'm learning to live on my own because i think my dad's almost convince about my staying here in the country and not leaving abroad. That would be great if he permits. I'll be alone here in manila because they are all leaving for Canada, they'll be staying there for good. And mom's also in Zamboanga so that means.... i can paint the town scarlet red!!! harharhar.


Oh my, its almost dinner time... need to stop this... i'll write agin tomorrow. I still need to take my medication, and i can't stay long infront of the computer because my cousin's going to use my PC. Maybe i'll write tonight or tomorrow... it depends...=)

I'm Back!

As i promised, here's the continuation of what i wrote the other day.....

The competition went well last Sunday at Le Pavillion. We had a 'healthy' competition. Though we didn't bag the title, we're still happy of the results. As they say its not a matter of winning, but its how you played the game. And were contented of the results because we know that we gave our best and we are all winners in our own rights!

There were supossedly 5 guest bands who will be performing that night but only 4 performed and they were 6 cyclemind, Mojofly, Parokya ni Edgar and Rivermaya. Bamboo wasn't able to perform because they found out that the rival of the product that they are endorsing was the main sponsor so they weren't able to play that night.

The winners of that night were VXI, who got the 3rd prize, Convergys 2nd and finally, Client Logic who bagged the title 'CCAP's Best Band of the Year' and who won the hundred and fiftythousand pesos and the plantronics bluetooth headset worth Php17,000.00 each! Wow! That's a lot for the four band members!!!

After the competition, i already left the venue. I went with my brother and cousins to bay walk. We had dinner there while listening to the live band playing at yakitori dori. We also went to Malate. We went home at around 2AM. And i wasn't able to go to work yesterday because i wasn't feeling well and i felt so tired. It was already 2 o'clock in the afternoon when i woke up.I feel so lonely last night, its not because we weren't able to bring home the bacon, but its because I'm not going to be with my band mates anymore, we wouldn't be able to hang out together like we did before. I'm missing them so much. I know that I'll see them around the workplace but its really different when we were still rehearsing before. I know life would never be the same again. Sigh. But i need to understand that the only constant thing in this world is 'change'.I hope to hang out with them again one of these days.... I'll keep my fingers crossed. Now, I'm back to the real world, my normal life! Work-Home, Home-Work... Shop sometimes... That's it, i think. I'm back to my daily routine... Good thing there's Kristinions where i can express my thoughts... Where i can just simply be me...

Screen Pop's Final Judgment....

Finally, the long wait is over! Tonight will be the Finals Night of the Call Center Association of the Philippines' Jammin' '06 Battle of the Bands. As you remember we're one of the fortunate bands who graced our way from the eliminations to finals. Hope that we'll make it today... Hope that we'll bring home the bacon. I'lll write more about the competition after the finals, coz as of now i'm battling with my tension.... (though i'm not a coffee addict... i really feel nervous)

Anyway, Screenpop is the name of our band, of Touch Asia's band and the band memebers are:

Vocals: 1. jonette 2. jeth 3. orly
Drummer: Nix, Bassist: G-Boy, Guitarists: beegdawg & joven, keyboardist: tin

After the competition, i know i'm going to miss these guys... they are very nice and they never fake it. I'm going to miss our dinner together and our jammin's every rehearsal break. Sigh. I know i'll still be seeing them around, but the thought that we won't be able to hang out like we used to makes me feel sad. Duh! So much for this 'mushy' stuff, i still need to prepare myself for the competition this afternoon. I promise to write more about this tomorrow. :0 ciao!