Wednesday LOVE

As I have mentioned in my previous blog entries, my friend and I was quite frustrated when we did not get to volunteer at all last Monday. It was, I believe, a glitch on the organizer's part that time plus the fact that way too many people poured in to help. We had no bad feelings to the station whatsoever, just the general feeling of failing. Flop di ba?

Ida

And so when another chance came again for me to volunteer, I grabbed the chance and well, held on tightly to it. Megatent volunteering was a second Flop but in my third try, I finally hit a success. What an awesome, awesome word. Together with Mando and Ida, and hundreds of other volunteers too at RFM Gym in Pioneer, Mandaluyong, we can proudly and strongly say now that we at least made our part in this whole Bayanihan system, we Filipinos, are known for. We have contributed, whether big or small, in giving aid to our fellow kababayans who were unfortunate enough to be hit and affected by the typhoon Ondoy (international name Ketsana).

Mando

God bless everyone who lend their time to help in every way possible, either by donating or being part of the workforce. It sure made a difference.

Relief goods packed waiting to be delivered.

Kaya natin 'to!

Scenes from all Over

Caught on TV - Man rescued in a rubberboat asked, "28 na ba ngayon?" Cameraman: "Opo, 28." Man somberly replied, "Bday ko na pala." Rescuers who were paddling hard turned to him in surprise before slowly singing, "ha...ppy.. birth..day... to you..." Even in the midst of devastation the Filipino spirit never ceases to acknowledge and celebrate the gift of life.

reposted from latenightepisodes. Seriously, my eyes welled upon reading this.

The turtle survived!

# photo from itsantonia. I believe he was considered as a school pet. :)

Cute. Poor kid though. I sure hope he was fine!

# photo from teejae05.

Philippine Scene after Ondoy

According to Inquirer, death toll has now reached 240, up 100 from the previous day's tally. And there are still news of another typhoon to hit the country in 24 hours. Jeez. Hoping and praying there won't be another like it. Not yet, not ever..

Marikina River scene

Road scene.

Overview

The Aftermath of Ondoy (intl name Ketsana)

Death.


Hope.

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photos from yahoo.ph.

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Yesterday, I, together with my friend Sarsi, had every bit of good intention volunteering in helping the victims of typhoon Ondoy. But it got so complicated in station centers where there were more than people willing to help than things to be done. I'm sure that's not how it was supposed to turn out but we left the place with sodden but light hearts. We don't want to be nuisance anyway. Volunteers were sent home, acknowledging their good intentions, because well, there were really too many people that day. Too many people is not good for the task to keep going.

But alas, there are still centers looking for volunteers. You just have to find the right place. Here are some of it:

Balay Expo, Cubao, Quezon City.
Megatent, Meralco Avenue, Pasig City
Ateneo de Manila University
University of the Philippines Church of the Risen Lord

If you are outside the Philippines and want to help here is a blog where you can go that will help you: http://moongirl.wordpress.com/2009/09/28/donating-to-manila-from-abroad/

As for emergency hotlines (thanks to MiriamQ for the link):

Rescue Operations

1. National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) (+632-9125668, +632-9111406, +632-9115061, +632-9122665) Help hotlines: (+65 734-2118, 734-2120)
2. Philippine Coast Guard (+632-5276136)
3. Air Force (+63908-1126976, +632-8535023)
4. Metro Manila Development Authority (136)
5. Marikina City Rescue (+632-6462436, +632-6462423, +632920-9072902)
6. Pasig Rescue Emergency Number (+632-6310099)
7. Quezon City Rescue (161)
8. San Juan City Hall Command Post (+632-4681697)
9. Bureau of Fire Protection Region III (Central Luzon) Hotline: (+63245-9634376)
10. Senator Dick Gordon (+639178997898, +63938-444BOYS, +632-9342118, +632-4338528)
11. Senator Manny Villar (+639174226800. +639172414864, +639276751981)

Civil Society/ Media

1. Philippine National Red Cross (143, +632-5270000)
2. Philippine National Red Cross Rizal Chapter operations center hotline: (+632-6350922, +632-6347824)
3. Go to GMA Facebook page & post complete addresses and names of people in need of immediate help.
4. ABS-CBN Typhoon Ondoy Hotline: (+632-4163641)
5. Jam 88.3: (+632- 6318803) or SMS at JAM (space) 883 (space) your message to 2968

The Day After Ondoy

Slept and woke up with the images of typhoon Ondoy left my home country. They are real images, so NOT good. Pretty much heartbreaking. I pray for Filipinos everywhere, I pray that we rise from this disaster stronger and with more wisdom than any experience could ever give us. We will rise against this!

This is not the time for any other agendas, the only agenda would have to be: Help our kababayans who are in badly need of help.

Laugh, Cry, Smile

Things that amazed me:

This event happened yesterday but I was too busy to write anything about it so it happened a day later here in my blog (boohoo). Still.. Anyway, this was definitely an event worth camwhoring for, every photographer's dream,. I bet they were drooling with the idea and jumping with too much excitement of capturing the awesome but a bit eerie event.

Red dust over Sydney

The before and after scene.

Photos from SMH. 

These (and a lot more) are the wonderful creation of photographers Akiko Ida and Pierre Javelle. Pretty stoked! Indeed, an art you can eat. 

Golfers on a donut.

Workers on a sugar mine.

Come take a look at more photos of these two remarkable photographers.
~~
Kailan Ka Ba made me cry. Kahit kelan ko pakinggan kakaiyak talaga. Same goes for Huwag Ka Nang Umiyak.
~~
Conversation with an old friend made me smile. Wala lang. It's funny how things becomes so good after a "wala lang naman talaga" talk with them. So, don't ever think that little conversations are useless, because those little conversations really make up for good memories.

Wednesday LOVE

Because I just came from Baguio, it is only natural to write about Baguio. LOVE.

I saw Gold!

So this is Balatoc Mines tour in a nutshell. Despite the rough road and a high-possibility-of-concussion-to-happen ride, the trip was great. These are my friends and we take the road less traveled. Bow.

That's gold you punk! At least specks of it.

Enjoying the tram ride. Weeee! But not in total darkness, no. TYVM.

These boots were certainly made for walking! At least in muddy mines they were.

Proud graduates! Heehee.

I love Baguio. Amazing how I never run out of things to do there. :)

Northbound!

In the land of pine trees, chilly mornings, foggy afternoons, sweet, sweet corn, strawberries, camote bread and hot cocoa, artsy fartsy stuff, the land where the traditional meets the modern times.

I will see you again!

*Pagoygoy wants to say hello and say that he's excited too!

Open Happiness and the Maroons

Because I love my alma mater whether they win or they lose. Sometimes, it's not just about winning nor about losing.

2010, can you come sooner?

A Brilliant Find

Finding a good book that doesn't cost an arm, a leg not even a pinkie, certainly ranks there in my top three winning/best moments in life. I found 1000 Places To See Before You Die in a place where not too many people take second glances, where the musty smell of books equate to one's most cherished memory, an idea that does not even cross many poeple's head nowadays.

After paying (see where my point finger goes), I almost danced my way out of the store. Good thing I don't know how so I was also saved the embarrassment (hey fair deal!).

You and me, my little square friend, are gonna be one helluva friends. :)

It's that time of the year again!

No, it's not Christmas season yet beloved humans, it's the Cine Europa once again. Wow. Time is really flying so fast. I', just as excited as everyone else (especially the loyal followers). This will be my fourth year of watching Cine Europa would you believe it??? Too bad my original Cine Europa pardner isn't here to watch with me this time cos she's frolicking in chilly Baguio. No, make that bumming around haha.

See y'all!

What Our Daughters Should Know About Men

1. If you’re paranoid he’s cheating, then you don’t trust him and the relationship should be over.
2. Going down isn’t shameful.
3. Learn how to satisfy yourself sexually.
4. Men are powerless in the face of female sexuality.
5. Be honest and upfront about your feelings, and demand the same from men.
6. Don’t try to change a man.
7. If he’s annoying when you’re dating, then he’ll be annoying when you’re married.
8. The first time he hits you is the last time he hits you, because you leave.
9. “Perfect couples” have troubles too, so don’t compare your relationship to othe relationships too much.
10. If he’s not willing to work on the relationship, then he’s not invested in it.
11. Flirting with other women in your presence is disrespectful and shouldn’t be tolerated.
12. It’s OK to sleep with multiple men at the same time, as long as you’re honest with them and safe about it.
13. The STD talk really isn’t that difficult to have.
14. Keeping your man sexually satisfied will do wonders for your relationship.
15. You both should be able to say “I’m sorry.”
16. If he can’t laugh at himself, he’s too uptight.
17. A man who cooks you breakfast in bed, gives you foot rubs, goes shopping with you or accompanies you to a rom-com is worth his weight in gold.
18. Mama’s boys are unlikely to prioritize your wants and needs above their mom’s wants and needs.
19. Always trust your gut.
20. Expressing strong emotions doesn’t make you crazy.
21. Don’t bother overanalyzing him. His reasoning is likely very simple.
22. Be able to take it as much as you dish it.
23. Find a man that truly “cares” for you. When love and passion fade, “caring” takes over until they return again.
24. Never waste your time with a man that makes you feel bad about yourself.
25. You don’t owe him a thing, even if he buys you the most expensive dinner in town.
26. Tease him. And just went he thinks he’s going to get it, tease him again.
27. There are seven excuses for getting out of anal sex.
28. You can’t own anyone and they can’t own you.
29. It’s OK to just listen to him breathe sometimes.
30. Men need to be cuddled and hugged, too.
31. Find someone to share your life with, not fill in the gaping hole (not a vagina reference) in your life.
32. Only you can make yourself happy.
33. Love doesn’t hurt.
34. Shoe shopping is great breakup therapy.
35. Never settle.
36. Date potential, instead of vainly searching for Mr. Perfect.
37. Be a lesbian.

After being pressured for 9 hours, it is nice to read something like this at the end of your day. Something to soothe the nerves, something to make you chuckle. And chuckle I did. No. Make that LAUGH. :)

Got it from blairwaldorfs. Nice one young lady!

~
As for my long, definitely tiring and brain-numbing day, well it was that. Haha. At least I can still laugh.

I hate the fact that I have no more time socializing with other people (i.e., office friends, seatmates, YM friends, love ones and not-so-love ones). I have no more time browsing gossip sites and the usual sites I go through every morning. I have no more time to even read the freaking news headline (not that I often do but the point is..).

But the worst part of it all, I have no more time to just lounge around a bit on my lunch break. No more funny coversation with friends, no more relaxing, no more ONE HOUR lunch break.

If that is not sad, I don't know what it is anymore.

Wednesday LOVE

A 5-minute break from the everyday humdrum we call work. Finally, I got one! Though yellow is definitely not my color, I love it anyway. Thanks a lot! You know who you are. *wink*

Mochi + Cranium = LOVE!

Dezato night at New Manila, to taste their sought-after Mochi balls, turned out to be one FUN night. Aside from the delicious and scrumptious foods they serve (in generous servings too), the board game Cranium stole our hearts though. Yes, Dezato Cafe provide boardgames for their customers, a very cool idea indeed.

Assorted Mochi balls

Chicken Parmigiana. Nomnomerz.

We felt so much at home, oblivious to other eaters inside the restaurant. We were having too much fun even though the rules of the game are slighty complex to comprehend. Nevertheless, it still turned out as a success despite not really getting the whole American pop culture haha. I swear someday soon I will have a Cranium in my own hands!

All set for a round of Cranium.

Why hello there little Mochi balls!

Mochi balls on display

Cranium characters. Can you guess who's who?

Sculptorades: perhaps my favorite category. A player must sculpt the clue for their teammates to guess.

Mo(n)chi Monsters: Kimi, me, Mando and Jill

An attempt to promote Dezato :)

So what chu waiting for, get off your asses and head over to Hemady St. in New Manila and get yerself some Mochi balls! :D

*More photos in my multiply account.

TBBT Overload

You've been warned. This post is a Big Bang Theory fest. I missed these guys. Lookit from the first photo, they're back from the North Pole, looking like cave men, except for Sheldon who looked like a villain. :) Can't wait for Season 3 to air!

The nerds are back from the North Pole!

TBBT on TV Guide

4 nerds and a blonde.

In their Halloween costumes.

The cast with creators Chuck Lorre and Bill Prady.

*Photos from http://sheldoncooper.tumblr.com

Tapos Na!

Ahww. The Mark Peckson Project is finally over. I had fun browsing this guy's page, reading his too funny mixture of Tagalog and English words, as he embarked on a journey of learning his country's language.

Keep it up dude, you can always continue learning about it even after your 31 days of challenge is over. :)


Photo from Project Manila.

Great News!

Omg. Omg. I am so filled with excitement after finding out that Mr. Carlos Celdran will be hosting a sunset party at White Moon Bar. The White Moon Bar I've been meaning (and wanting) to go but never had the chance to go to. Eeek. In my excitement, I immediately tweet back to him my intention of attending (along with friends of course!). I also went to tbud's desk (we are officemate now) to tell him the good news. Now, I only have to tell other friends too cos I want to experience it all with them of course. Yay!

Another reason to say yay is this: Cine Europa 12 is coming soon! September 11 to be exact. This is my fourth year of watching the European film festival and I make it a point to catch, if not all, but some of the films chosen to grace the festival. Busy busy month kahit na walang out-of-town. :D

Omnomnom

Wow! And I'm not even a big fan of KK, except when they're having those seasonal doughnuts. So cute. But I want to try this, Snickers y'all!

Yellow

Officially, it is my first anniversary in the company but technically, it wouldn't be until tomorrow. Haha. It's because, although it is stated in our contract that we'll start on the first of September, management advised us to come on the second day instead since they were still finalising stuff in the new office. Of course, we like that. Heehee.

So, happy first year to me and the rest of my batch mates in the office. Sooner or later we'll all be outta there. Now that's something we can all be happy about, but for the meantime, sanayin muna natin mga sarili natin sa mga padalang memo sa araw-araw.

~
Now for some breaking news in the local turf, Mar Roxas gives way to Noynoy as Liberal Party standard bearer. How about that!