Ika 8 ng Mayo 2009: Looking Forward

I was thinking, maybe hoping, that work might be suspended because of the inclement weather. MS's teacher texted me last night that their field trip today will be postponed due to the typhoon. He said that there will be regular classes unless signal number 2 is imposed. Isn't it weird that summer classes are suspended because of a typhoon? Anyway, I was hoping that the suspension extends to me.

Last night, it really rained..... actually it poured out. I came from an unexpected dinner party of our administrative head in school which the owner hosted for her in her condo in Serendra. I was tired and it was late when I finished my class.... but somehow I had to say yes. Except for getting home late, I was actually free for the night. It was the first time that the invite to such private event held in the residence of the owner was extended to the teachers. I was the only teacher in school. How could I say no. Besides, I was kinda curious about Serendra. I said yes.

After class, the two school staff, a sister of one, another guy, and I went to the dinner party. The celebrant went ahead of us. Unfortunately, it was raining hard and I really couldn't see much outside as we drove in front of the condo. We went to the basement parking and got out of the van sent by the owner to fetch us from school. The celebrant, the owner, and a couple of their friends were at the dinner table when we came in. It was a small party. The place is nice and cozy with a white colored wall. The crystal light fixture provides an interesting pattern that looks like wallpaper on the wall. The table was cleared and fresh food was served for us. We took over the table as the rest of the party went out for a smoke and some watched "Tayong Dalawa" over a Sony Bravia, probably 52" lcd TV. My mouth was watering, not over the food nor the soap that is showing ....... but the nice and wide black screen. I could only remember my teeny weeny 14" old TV set.... that was good enough for me but it had to be struck by lightning......... and now I am exposed to this giant screen.... and I could only dream..... sigh. Anyway, we had salad, chicken relleno, pastel de lengua, pancit, and dulce de leche cake from Red Ribbon. We were talking and watching but I avoided looking at the TV most of the time.

It wasn't long after we finished dinner that we all prepared to go home. I was dropped off at the shuttle terminal. I was praying that there will still be a van waiting for passengers. It was late at night. I would be riding a bus if there was no van anymore. I don't want riding a cab late at night. Between getting held-up along with others and being waylaid and ditch in an unknown location, I'd go for the former. My prayer was answered. There was still a van. Five more passengers got in before we left. The travel was fast and I fell asleep. When I got off the van, the rain was pouring hard. Since the street where the tricycle terminal is located is being repaired, I walked about a kilometer going to the terminal. It was great that the tricycle I rode had a piece of plastic hanging in front of the driver as its only rain protection. I was soaking wet when I arrived home. After disinfecting myself, I went to bed.

Maybe, one can understand why I want work suspended today if summer classes get suspended. I had one long night. However, no good news was forthcoming. MS went to school. And I had to go to work too. Hubby is even spending the night in a resort as he is part of the advance party for their company outing tomorrow.

It's Friday. I am looking forward to the weekend. We would have a clan gathering tomorrow at my cousin's place....... and a Sunday lunch which is my brother and my send off party to our youngest brother and his family in my home..... We would probably miss my youngest brother in our family gathering for a long, long while. I asked my other brother to buy my favorite caramel cake from Estrel's for the two occasions...... it's so sinfully yummy..... dieting becomes a mortal sin. Unfortunately, it's one of those bakeshops with only a single location..... and of all places, QC (there used to be one in Recto many years ago)...... I have been a follower of this cake for a long time but get to have this treat once in a blue moon....That is another reason to look forward to the weekend.

PS: Huling araw na pala ng trainee ko sa division. Wala pa pala siyang diseotso at hindi dapat nakapasok sa amin bilang trainee. Pero nakapasok nga dahil dineklara niya na diseotso na siya kahit sa Hulyo pa ang kaarawan niya. Bata pa kasi at di marunong magtago ng mga ganitong bagay kaya nadulas sa isang kapwa trainee. Ayun ibinisto siya sa HRD namin.

Nagpaalam siya sa akin at ikwinento na kinausap na siya ng mga taga HRD at sinabihan na huling araw na nga niya ngayon. Mabait na bata at magalang din. nakaklunglot din tuwing aalis na ang mga trainees namin. Napaaga pa itong nakatakda sa division ko..........

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Ika 7 ng Mayo 2009: Memories

I woke up quite late. I must be tired these days. I rushed up because I had to dig through our albums in the attic. MS needs a family picture for their school activity today. He texted me last night that he needs art materials and a picture. I prepared the art materials last night. I was too beat up to go to the attic last night. I told myself I'd wake up early and do it in the morning.

Two albums are with my brother because I asked him to scan some pictures. One has a family picture...... darn. I was trying to find one among the loose pictures..... nothing! I started looking at the albums. This will take a long time. As soon as I found one that is almost a family picture, I took it. I am missing from the picture though. I would have a painful discovery too. Going through some albums, I discovered that some pictures are already missing. ED and MD have been getting some pictures because of school requirements and are not returning them. Those pictures are precious and can never be recreated once lost. The negatives are almost certainly impossible to locate. With the fast changing technology, the process of recreating those pictures may be obsolete in the near future. I would have a lecture on this wanton disregard soon! They probably never appreciated the time, effort, and money I spent on those photo albums. More importantly, they do not realize the memories that go with those pictures. Don't we all smile or wax nostalgia looking at old pictures? Am I just getting old?

MS and hubby were already halfway through their breakfast when I came down. I tuned in to American Idol which I forgot to watch last night....drats. Hubby left shortly and MS was finished. I was still having breakfast when my cousin called. I had to gobble the remainder of my breakfast quickly. Flies abound and I didn't want to go back and continue eating with some of these pesky flies hovering over my food. She reiterated her invitation to us she relayed through MD. She and her hubby are celebrating their _th wedding anniversary and her eldest sister is coming home from UK. It's rare that the family gets together and I said yes, of course. Although, I am planning to also hold a going away party for my brother this weekend. That means it has to be set on Sunday.

With so many distraction, I knew I couldn't hitch a ride with Manong. I had to be attentive when he comes however, to ensure that MS brings the stuff he needs. If he forgets, I'd be blamed for it. I hurriedly took a bath. As soon as I finished, I called to MS to remind him to bring his art materials. When Manong came, I had to shout from my room again for MS to bring his materials for the nth time. I calmly prepared for work after overextending my motherly duties.

Today, I took a van at the shuttle station. With the rain, the parked van looked so inviting. As we weave our way through traffic, I am thinking of this Saturday's affair. That would be another camera moment for me when the clan is gathered. We will make some memories even as we lose some.........

PS: Me bagyo pala kaya maulan......si Emong na papalapit na. Mukang nawawalang na ako ng pag-asa na makapunta pa ng beach. Tingin ko tag-ulan na talaga.

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Ika 6 ng Mayo 2009: Unfinished Business

Whenever I don't have classes, I kinda slack off a bit on those day, Wednesdays and Fridays. I don't have to beat myself to go to the office early because I can stay a little bit longer in the evening. I have a number of tasks to do at the office. I was right in time when Manong fetched MS. It seems like I have also became Manong's ward and I cannot be late. Manong can be quite strict with punctuality.

Not wanting what I saw at the terminal, a dilapidated van, I headed to Alabang for the third straight day. There was a bus filling with passengers but I lined up for the Jayross bus. I sat at the very first row and asked for assistance from the conductor to train the aircon vent on me. My seatmate gave a helping hand too and directed the other vent to me. I had all the chills I can take.... it was too much but I didn't want to dismiss the effort of my helpful seatmate so I endured the cold temperature.

The conductor loaded a movie in the DVD player just before collecting our fares. That should make me forget my chills. I think it was the same movie I watched before on the lady assassins, China Dolls as I thought then........but it's Naked Weapon as I learned today. I got to watch the start of the movie. The plot follows the evil travails of Madame M as she snatches pre-pubescent girls, including Charlene (Q), who show aptitude in sports or combat, hordes them on a remote island and forcibly enlists them in her assassin masterclass. After six years of grueling Pygmalion-esque training, the girls compete in a caged fight to the death; the winner graduates to become the Madame’s premium prize-fighting assassin, to be released into high society like some postgraduate femme fatale. I knew I wouldn't finish the film once again. I watched a longer portion of the film the first time I watched it in a Jayross bus also. There is another Chinese film I watched twice but couldn't finish also. I am thinking of taking a leave of absence and having a joy ride from Alabang to Fairview to complete one movie...... an inexpensive way of getting entertainment.... maybe I should pack snacks and lunch. Who knows I might be able to watch three or four films if the conductor wouldn't mind my lingering.

My unfinished movie watching in the bus actually results in frustration because I'd like to finish what has been started..... I'd probably not know how the movie ended and it will hound me eternally. Even if I can probably find a copy in one of those sleazy pirated DVD havens in Quiapo, I won't have the time to go there or sit to watch a film like that. I'd rather reserve the pleasure to one of the many must-watch films and those kinds of films do not make it to that list. Then again, it's very rare that I get a chance to watch any movie.

Many, many years ago, I borrowed the film, The Insider, from a video rental. That was the time, renting VCD was still considered the cheaper form of entertainment until the age of piracy and downloadable files set in.

Based on a true story about a CBS 60 Minutes-episode in 1994 on malpractices in the tobacco industry, that was not aired because CBS parent company Westinghouse objected. "60 Minutes" producer Lowell Bergman (played by Al Pacino) sniffs a story when a former research biologist for Brown & Williamson, Jeff Wigand (played by Rusell Crowe), won't talk to him. When the company leans hard on Wigand to honor a confidentiality agreement, he gets his back up. Trusting Bergman and despite a crumbling marriage, he goes on camera for a Mike Wallace interview and risks arrest for contempt of court. As matter of conscience partially prodded by producer Lowell Bergman, he revealed that, the tobacco industry was not only aware that cigarettes are addictive & harmful, but deliberately worked on increasing that addictiveness. Unfortunately, both protagonists of this story learn the hard way that simply telling the truth is not enough as they struggle against both Big Tobacco's attempts to silence them and the CBS TV Network's own cowardly complict preference of putting money as a higher priority over the truth. Westinghouse is negotiating to buy CBS, so CBS attorneys advise CBS News to shelve the interview and avoid a lawsuit. "60 Minutes" and CBS News bosses cave, Wigand's hung out to dry, Bergman is compromised, and the CEOs of Big Tobacco may get away with perjury. Can the truth will out?

I was glued to the TV enjoying a quiet Friday night (the start of my movie watching days as it's the beginning of the weekend) as Wigand torn between self-preservation and the truth while his marriage crumbled was set to reveal inside information. It was about half of the film as I just replaced the first vcd with the second one, when in a snap there was static and then nothing on the screen..... $%^&*!@#$%^&**..... I silently cursed and hurled invectives like I have never done. I wanted to scream and kick except that I might wake up my young son and the neighbors might think a crime in being perpetuated in our home. I bit my lips as I breathed heavily unable to release my fury.

When I returned the VCD to the rental shop, there was no other copy.... darn again. Buying VCD at that time could be expensive expensive. I could only hope to buy it on sale some other time. I have since forgotten about this film, even the title such that when I searched for it in video shops I would not know what it is exactly I was looking for. I had to search Russell Crowe's file to look for the right title of the film for this post. Such good films are not seen in your friendly Muslim DVD vendor either. I am just reminded of this incident because of my recent experiences in being unable to finish a movie. I don't think the Jayross personnel are open to suggestions on movie choices.

I think I have to take matters into my own hands. I have decided I am buying a new LCD TV set this weekend. I also have a DVD player I got through a raffle at our school Christmas party just hanging in the cold. My room will be one glorious theater this weekend. I think I might just finish these movies that have kept me yearning and gnawing all this time....

PS: Dami nakatambak na kailangan gawin. Di ko malaman ang uumpisahan ko. Sa totoo lang ayoko umpisahan pero kailangan ng gawin at baka masita na ako ng mga bosing. Kaya kailangan nang magpanggap.......

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Ika 5 ng Mayo 2009: Broken Dreams

I thought I was early today but Manong came in with me barely finished preparing for work. I thought about not hitching a ride anymore. Then again, it was drizzling.... not a good time to walk. I rushed getting my school stuff and went out hoping I didn't forget anything.

At the terminal, there was a long line like yesterday. I decided to go out. I took a nice Jayross Lucky Seven bus at Alabang. Traffic was bad like yesterday. I tried to read my module for tonight's lessons. After sometime, my head was heavy and I closed my eyes to get some sleep.

I watched Damages last night in MS's room. It started at 11:30 instead of 11:00. I love the show so much. It has more twists this season as Patty Hewes and her legal team try to expose an environmetal disaster perpetuated by another powerful corporation. I must be a frustrated lawyer because I love shows about lawyers. I am mesmerized by court dramas. Remember the Tom Cruise starrer, "A Few Good Men", which to me is his most riveting performance in his entire career that doesn't require him to lose his handsomeness. I like the court scenes of him and Jack Nicholson..... even those of the very dapper Kevin Bacon, intriguing Keifer Sutherland, and good looking Noah Wyle. I used to also follow The Practice.

My late Dad was a lawyer. I could have followed in his footsteps except that I didn't know exactly what I wanted to do after high school graduation. I ended up enrolling in a course with the shortest queue..... that was engineering. No regrets though..... because my background serves me in good stead. Sometimes though, I yearn for something that is missing in my life. I find myself taking the cudgels for the underdogs at times that led me to thinking that I could do better if I were a lawyer.

I discovered my real inclination quite late in life.... I already have a family, with two young daughters, to whom I devote most of my time. My dad, when he was still around, could have sent me to a law school. He always dreamed about having another lawyer in the family. He thought my youngest brother would be the ideal candidate. He was, intellectually. However, circumstances prevented him from pursuing a law career. He was in second year law proper when my parents simultaneously succumbed to debilitating illnesses and he had to take care of both of them. After my parents were gone, he lost his appetite for a law career and started working as a college instructor and later researcher for the military using his history background. I guess he hasn't found his place here. That is why he is hoping he'll get a better chance in another place.

Perhaps, I myself could never make my dream come true.... There's just too many ifs and buts..... Time is also in short supply as I juggle the demands of my various roles. My current financial situation does not even afford me the chance to make my dream a reality. As I get closer at the end of the road, the dream seem more elusive. The closest I could get to that dream is to continue to fight for the causes I believe in.

Sleeping in the Jayross bus, I continue to dream on........

PS: Nagpapahulog ng sulat ang biyenan ko sa akin para sa anak niyang nasa Amerika. Makailan beses ko nang sinubukan na sabihin sa kanya na tuturuan ko siyang mag-email na mabilis at matipid na paraan para makipag-ugnayan sa anak niya o kahit kanino pa man. Ayaw niya at matanda na daw siya. Sabi ko hindi naman problema yun. Pero hindi ko siya mapilit mag-aral na mag-email. Ni hindi pa nga niya nasubukan na umupo sa harap ng kompyuter at tumipa ng mga letra. Hindi ko alam kung natatakot siya sa kompyuter. Kesyo baka daw masira. Sabi ko hindi masisira. Sadya sigurong me mga taong hindi pwedeng sumabay sa bilis ng takbo ng teknolohiya. Kaya eto ako ngayon at kailangan pumunta sa post office para bumili ng selyo at ihulog ang sulat na aabutin ng ilan araw bago mabasa ng kinauukulan.

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Ika 4 ng Mayo 2009: Starting Right

I had a good Sunday and that should give me a good headstart for the week. I had enough spare time yesterday to do the things I planned to do...... had carwash during the Pacquiao-Hatton fight. When I reached the shop, Pacquiao and Hatton were being presented.... then there's the national anthem. I watched the commercials, I mean the fight, in the shop and watched Pacquiao knocked down Hatton at home.... almost an hour for a two-round fight.

Anyway after the fight, Hubby, MD, and I went to the saloon for various services. Home service rates were raised by the owner..... an additional P50 for each service is added to the regular rate to take care of transportation. I argued that the masseuses do not take separate transportation. I was haggling the increase because of the number of persons availing of the services in our home..... there's hubby, MIL, me, and now MD. MD took after my vanity..... ED is the complete opposite and goes to the saloon just for a haircut and nothing more. I have not properly talked to the owner on the rate increase but I would really bargain on this..... I think an additional P50 per service is too much. Our home is a tricycle ride away. The reason we patronize them is because of the low prices and their acceptable service.

Hubby had a carwash too like what I did the first time I tried the saloon because these establishments are adjacent to each other. When we are benefited by the economic activity of another even if we are not directly involved in his activity, we have what is known as externalities or spillover effects. They both enjoy the advantage of spillover effect or positive externalities because of their proximity. For people not wanting to waste time, it great to have complementary services in a single location to optimize people's time. I had a foot spa and manicure while MD had a manicure/pedicure package. Hubby had his massage. He wanted to have foot spa too but the therapist said that it is not good to have a foot spa because he can no longer soak his feet as chills can get into his body. He should have had the foot spa first and the massage later. We didn't know that. He was disappointed. I, on the other had, can still have a massage..... but I might not have time. We are still going to the mall. We were not done when he was finished. He took his car and went home to fetch ED and MS. They would pick us up from the saloon in a while.

MD's feet were still being cleaned when I was finished. I thought about having a back rub which was granted. That's the nice thing about this saloon, everything I want is possible at low prices. MD was not done when hubby and the two kids arrived. I extended my back rub a bit. Then, I paid for the the services, went out and waited in the car for MD. In a while, MD emerged with lavender nails.

We went to the mall. Hubby would treat us to dinner at the Yellow Cab. He would actually cash in the coupon he won in their Christmas party. He would also buy a new monitor for the study room while I would scout for a possible TV replacement. ED is also buying materials for her school uniform. Hubby made a sidetrip to the optical shop to have his glasses repaired..... that little detour caused me a little purchase at Regalong Pambahay where there is an ongoing sale........ 30% for all items. I am a huge admirer of their items. I bought a partition made of shells and some chimes, a collection. Next, we went to the textile store but the store supervisor who used to be the school directress for the nursery school where the kids went to, took the day off. She would recommend a dressmaker who will make ED's uniform. We decided to postpone the purchase till when the store supervisor in in the shop. MS and I went to the appliance center and started looking around. Hubby and the two girls followed. We were all mesmerized by all the appliances. I trained my eyes on the TV sets as the brood looked on..... lots of temptation. But it really isn't time to purchase new appliances.... maybe just the replacement for my TV set. I am weighing my options because I am most likely purchasing this on credit with 0% interest option for 12 months. Two loans of mine obtained through the same means will be retired this month. I also requested that the salesperson take the dimensions of the TV set so that I can make sure it fits the space allotted for it.

After my canvass, we went to Yellow Cab. Hubby ordered Charlie Chan pasta, our usual fare; meatlovers pizza; and buffalo chicken without the hot sauce; and drinks for all. We ate heartily although MS was looking for rice to go with the chicken. While dining, ED let us in on a surprise information. She said that Yellow Cab is actually a Filipino company based here. Hubby and I couldn't believe that and asked her several times if its true. She was certain because a close friend of hers knows the owners. All the while, we thought, the resto originated in NY. ED said that there is not even one in NY. There's one in a Middle East country, Saudi Arabia, she said. That is one successful marketing coup pulled out by the owners then. I am sure a lot of people were thinking the way we did... with the interiors, posters, product offerings, and marketing strategy designed for Yellow Cab. Anyway, there was nothing left of our meal when we finished eating.

We went to the computer shops after dinner. After canvassing in two shops, hubby went to his "suking" computer shop. He bought the monitor on credit at 0% for 3 monthly installment. We headed home after this. I passed by Regalong Pambahay to pick up my purchase.

At home, MD and ED were proudly telling me about the cake that they baked for me before we left as an advance Mother's Day gift. We wanted dessert and I told them to prepare it so we could all partake of the chocolate cake. MD is the family's chef. She took the cake from the oven and the chocolate icing she prepared. She tried to get the cake out of the baking pan but it wouldn't go off nicely. When it loosen somehow, the cake cracked and was divided into three pieces. I think it lacked butter or some liquid ingredient.... it was a bit dry. It tastes good though. We were all laughing and teasing MD about the cake as she tried to remedy it. In the end, the cake looked like a volcano that erupted. We all started giving it names. Hubby said volcanic eruption. I called it lahar. MS said pandemonium, I think. MD served us all slicing a piece and putting it on a small plate as ED got glasses and water. I told MD that maybe, she should get the ice cream scooper. We were laughing as we ate MD's disastrous offering. After dessert, everyone retreated to the bedrooms. I stayed for sometime to work on my lecture. In a while, I would give in to sleep.

With a happy and meaningful weekend, I am ready to face a new week on this new day. With the Pacquiao victory, I guess so are a lot of Pinoys....

PS: Nagpabili ako ng bag sa ukay-ukay sa Baguio sa mga estudyante ko na me field trip dun. Mura at magaganda daw ang mga bilihin sa parteng iyon. Sanay na sanay sa pag-uukay ang mga estudyante ko at maraming bagay na ginagamit nila na magaganda ay galing sa ukay. Hindi ko pa nasubukan ang bumili sa ukay ukay. Sana isa sa mga araw na ito, makapunta ako at maranasan ko naman ang mag ukay-ukay.....

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Ika 3 ng Mayo 2009: On a Sunday

Brainchild's break.........

It was the break of dawn when I started writing this post unsure if I would finish it. MD and I had just watched The Curious Case of Benjamin Button on ED's laptop.......three long hours........ maybe longer.... It was worth it though...... a good enduring love story of a man who becomes younger as he ages and a woman he held in esteem all his life.

True enough this post was not finish in one sitting. I'm back after doing our marketing early in the morning and some cleaning chores downstairs. As I try to finish this blog, MS is lurking close by waiting for his chance at this laptop. Once ED wakes up, a monopoly on this laptop will be imposed. Half of the monitor screen in the study is blackened. The other laptop is yet to be brought to the service center.

I retrieved my TV and the electric fan from the repair shop. It turned out that the technician-owner is so saddled with repair jobs, he can't seem to find the time for my TV. Three of his technicians left for greener pasture according to his wife. I should be looking for another shop later today. I hope it is still reparable at reasonable cost. Otherwise, my TV will have its early retirement.

I am thinking of having my car washed and getting a foot spa later........ maybe after lunch. I guess everything will come to a halt around lunchtime as all Pinoys will be glued to their TV sets watching the Pacquiao-Hatton match. Crime rate will probably go down. Economic activities will slow down too. Even appoinments will be rest or canceled in the name of the fight. I will be a curious but not necessarily an interested viewer. That's should be all for me on this Sunday......

PS: Parating na ang kaibigan kong si V......... ngayon galing Canada kung saan nandon ang pamilya nito. Nakapagbakasyon ng wala sa oras ang kaibigan ko dahil sa mahinang order sa kanilang kumpanya...... dahilan para isara ang operasyon ng kanilang kumpanya ng halos isang buwan.

Sana ay walang maging problema ang kanyang paglalakbay at makauwi siya ng maayos. Lahat ay nagmamanman sa napipintong paglaganap ng H1N1 (swine flu) virus.

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Ika 2 ng Mayo 2009: Nostalgia

Brainchild's break.......

Since yesterday, I have been uploading our old photos in our family site. My brother was here yesterday and that got me started with the task as he handed me his memory stick with our scanned old photos. I smiled and reflected on the time that passed since those pictures were taken as I was uploading the pictures. There's joy as I relive those poignant memories of our yesteryears.......a feeling of nostalgia enveloped my being as I look at our pictures when my kids were young and I was a young mom myself..... What happened all these years? It seems like it was only yesterday as I never really felt time passed me by..... One look at my kids and they are all grown...... not the tiny babies dependent on me for everything.

We all love looking at old photos that pierce the heart and evoke raw emotions. We may have not known the pleasure they bring years later when we see ourselves immortalized in those photos. Through them, we are reminded of our past when life was simpler and we live life with careless abandon....... why should we care about our uncertain future anyway. It's so different now..... time's passage not only aged us but changed us as well. We never know if the family and friends we have may be estranged with time's passage. So seize and savor the moment........ give in to the stirrings of the heart.

PS: Dami ko gusto gawin sa buhay ko ngayon. Natapos ko na lahat ang mga gagawin ko kaninang umaga. At me oras na pwedeng gamitin na sarili. Gusto ko magpunta sa parlor para magpa-foot spa. Gusto ko rin palinis ng kotse. Gusto ng anak kong bunso pumunta Cartimar. Gusto ko rin manoood ng pelikula. Meron lang akong mga tatlong oras na pwedeng gamitin bago kami magsimba maya maya..... Makatulog na nga lang.

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