Beauty and Beast

It was 2006 when typhoons Milenyo and Reming both hit the country.

The Bicol region was one of Milenyo’s hardest hit areas. Having not yet fully recovered from Milenyo’s aftermath, the region was once again hit by a typhoon that was twice as powerful as Milenyo. The strong winds and the heavy rains triggered an unforeseen massive landslide that killed more than a thousand people. While everyone was sitting comfortably in their homes in Manila, the 1814 Mayon eruption that wiped out the whole town of Cagsaua has repeated itself and eradicated not just one town. All that remains from lush rice fields and sturdy houses is a broad black dessert and the stench of bodies decaying.

Beauty and beast

Houses used to stand here

Seeing something on TV is far different from being able to experience and to see it in person. This was an eye opener for me. Each person has a sad experience to tell but what moved me most was the story of a kid whose family was wiped out by the flood together with their house. The boy was able to escape the flood that swept a portion of their house. But realizing that his family is gone, he decides to join them and jumped into the raging mud and water. I am still wondering what was running in this boy's mind.

Can you book my next flight?

Inday,

I’ve been trying to look for something interesting to share to you. I have been unsuccessful for several days until yesterday.
I left home in a good mood and had a relaxing drive going to a meeting in Pasay City. Several hundred meters from my destination traffic built up. It should have been a five minute drive from where I was to the venue of the meeting. My temper started to go up until I saw a sign.

He is my source of power.


Later in the day, I was driving back to the office when I saw a very interesting Travel and Tours office. The name of this friend of mine is very unique that it came as a surprise when I saw a Travel and Tours office named after her. She is based in Davao and the office is in Quezon City. What are the odds for that to happen? Amazing! Although I have to clear with her maybe sa kanya nga ito. Perhaps she can help me in booking my succeeding flights to Davao. ;p

My friend in P. Tuazon, Quezon City


And I thought she is in Davao


Hope all is well with you Inday and please get well.

Ayo! Ayo!

The voice can be deceiving

Inday,

Guess what, Dodong got promoted. He’s not just a driving anymore, he is now a collector as well. Great isn’t it? ;p Well it is 8:07 p.m. now and I am still at the office. Was already planning to leave but our boss instructed us to stay, not clarifying why, just stay.

Yesterday morning, I was at the Maynilad Water office for a defensive driving seminar our company conducted for Maynilad. It was a struggle talking to people because I had a headache. I think it was due to lack of sleep because I only had a few hours sleep the night before. My headache was distracting me the whole day but I had a moment of relief during lunch when I saw something that reminded me of a friend in the southern part of the Philippines. What’s interesting is that this friend of mine has her way of reminding me of her, but I sense that she is unaware of this. So we had lunch at The Old Spaghetti House along Katipunan Road in Quezon City, I asked for the menu and when I opened it this is what I saw…

Much for Lunch


This gave me a slight relief of my headache. I wonder how this friend of mine is doing. I hope that she is eating well since she made her presence felt to me over lunch.

Last Saturday, I was invited by my colleagues from my previous employer to go in a comedy bar. We went to Zirkoh, a comedy bar owned by TV personality Allan K. I was hesitant at first because I was trying to recover the expenses I made for my Kadayawan Festival trip last August. Since my friends assured me it will be fun, I just neglected the Php 500.00 entrance (non-consumable) and Php 85.00/bottle red horse. Ang cheap no? But they were correct, I had a great time. There were performers who you would think they were female if you would just listen to their voices. Legit ang boses.

Opening act at Zirkoh


Pambansang Ilong


Regine Smith (boses Regine Velasquez, mukhang Pepe Smith)


Congressman Poohkyaw made an unexpected appearance. Ang galing din niya. What I find impressive with stand-up comedians is how fast they can come up with punch lines.


But the main highlight of the night for me and my male colleagues was Rufa Mae Quinto. She is jaw dropping. I was speechless… until now. ;p I feel I am drowning when I am staring, probably ogling, at her.


At the end of the night, we spent more than Php 1,000.00 for 12 bottles of beer and a serving of onion rings. Whew. Would I go back? If Rufa Mae will be there I would definitely go back. Haha. ;p

Ayo! Ayo!

Forever Young

Inday,

There was a birthday party I attended two several weeks ago that I did not expect I will enjoy. It was the 50th birthday celebration of a “tita” (she’s not really a relative but I just call her tita) and I thought that we would just have dinner. I was looking forward to the dinner because the caterer, Classic Cuisine, serves excellent crispy kare-kare (to my palette’s disappointment, they did not serve kare-kare). Anyway, other than the delicious food, the highlight of the party was the variety show Tita Girly and her friends prepared for those invited to the birthday.

Here is Elvis na napakawalan sa kusina


Tita Girly and friends dancing


The Birthday Kiss


When she was just about to blow her candle and making her wish, guests started to tap their glasses na parang wedding. It was fun. Tita also looked happy with her birthday. Previously have an impression that birthday parties for this age will not be so interesting for me, but I had a great time. Sana sa 50th birthday mo eh ma-invite ako at mag enjoy din tayo like this. Haha.

Ayo! Ayo!

Behave and Be Good

Inday,

It has been a while since I last made an update, ang dami lang nangyari in work that took my time in making updates. Before giving some updates, I first have a chismis to share na kung malaman mo eh baka matulungan mo ako in helping this friend of mine.

Meron akong friend who is currently torn, he currently has a relationship that he and his current girlfriend is trying to fix, which they are close to achieving, but met this person whom for some reason he feels na nag-click lang sila (let’s name them kiat-kiat and durian). Why they clicked? It is possible na nag-click sila because they are both undergoing some concerns on their respective relationships, pwede rin nag-kaintindihan lang sila kaya nag-click bigla after just meeting twice or feeling lang ng guy friend ko na nag-click sila. Sana lang hindi yung last ang dahilan. Anyway, his girlfriend is starting to sense that he may be losing interest in the relationship. I cannot fully say that he is but what I know is that he appears to be in a stage na nag-iisip kung tama na ba yung napili niyang significant other. Ayaw niyang eventually matali and magkaroon ng regrets later on na may pinalagpas na mga tao. Alam mo my friend can’t get enough of this new person he met, parang droga ba. His dilemma now is he wants to get to know durian more at kung meron pang level higher dito eh ok lang but is restrained to because of kiat-kiat. He could take his time and wait what will happen between him and kiat-kiat kaso durian may no longer be available kasi meron nang mga taong from durain’s past na binabalikan siya whom I sense she still has strong feelings for. My friend is torn, he’s thinking of taking a huge risk but is afraid to because of many concerns that include the distance ni durian na hindi niya mapapalaki at maalagaan all the time. Anyway, bahala nalang si batman at si Lord sa magiging tadhana at kapalaran nitong friend ko.

Oh my Gulay!


This is a resto I discovered in Baguio that only serves vegetables, super healthy dishes. The place is called Oh My Gulay! What I like about this place aside from the food is the ambiance and art works that surrounds the restaurant. The place is owned by national artist Kidlat Tahimik and has displayed several of his works there. Also, the place becomes a meeting place for artists in Baguio where they get to share their works. It also acts as an art gallery. I took the photo a few years back, it caught my attention in this particular time because of how serene and/or relaxing the place appears to be at ang sarap umupo, view art works, be inspired and think. I really need to think hard sa gusto ko maging kapalaran ngayon.

Idagdag sa bucket list


This may sound morbid but did you know that my friend and durian already has a bucket list. Imagine they just met but now they are preparing a list of things to do together before they die (pwede rin together or mauna si durian then immediately after si friend ko). The list is already long and recently nadagdagan but na-check check na naman ung mga dinagdag. Well although the place above is already over rated, but I think it will also be nice if this was included in their bucket list, sit down on the powdery sands of Boracay with a shake on hand and just watch people walk as the sun sets.

Anyway, this will be all for now since I have to take a bath and go to work Inday. Before I go, kiat-kiat told my friend to “behave” before my friend left for Davao, durian on the other hand told him to “be good” when they separated in the airport. Wala lang, just sharing.

Ayo! Ayo!

A godfather again?

Inday,

How do you choose a godparent for your child? I was invited to be a Godfather for two of my nephews this year and I am wondering why my cousins chose me. Is it because I can be a good role model for their children, do I appear to be generous, do they see me as a father figure that their children can run to or do they just find me handsome? Haha.

When I was a kid, I was dreaming of a Godparent who would always give me gifts on my birthdays and Christmas, or a godparent who would always give me “aguinaldos” on Christmas and New Year. But being an adult now, I am not sure if I can be the ideal Godparent I had when I was a kid. Magastos pala ang maging ganon. Hopefully I would be able to make up to my godchildren.

Sleeping Soundly

Proud Dad

I gave two pairs of baby sneakers to Noah because that is the collection I want to start now. Let’s see if I would be able to influence him on this interest I have now. Wanted to give him a camera since that is my ultimate interest, but he is just too young to be able to use one. Haha.

Ayo! Ayo!

Final Moments of my camera

Inday,

There is a hole in the wall steakhouse I discovered sometime June where there is excellent steak, generous servings of food and most important of all, cheap. The place is called "Everything at Steak". I like it a lot that there are now many places in Manila where you can get excellent food with prices friendly on your pocket. You just have to be adventurous and patient to find them. The T-Bone Steak that comes with a cup of rice and generous side dish costs only Php 195.00.

Pumpkin soup (Php 120.00 ata, I can't remember the price)

My T-Bone (Php 195.00)

My camera died two weeks ago, brought it to the service center but the repair would cost half of its price when I purchased it. The repair cost would also let me buy a new point and shoot camera so I am torn whether to have it repaired or just buy a new one. The problem with buying a new one though is that I still don't have cash and I could just save the cash to buy a new DSLR. Oh well, bahala na muna si Lord.

Here are the last shots I was able to take with my camera before it gave up.

It's time for french fries

Warming up before the drinking climax

Something new I discovered

The FINAL shot

For the meantime din, the lolo cam is always with me.

Ayo! Ayo!