Just when I had just blogged about how I feel towards people viewing my blog, it's pretty ironic to find out the following morning that one of my superiors at work read my entries, hahaha. Apparently we have the same hobby of reading other people's blogs.
I've been blogging for almost 10 years (I recall starting in September 2001, first using DiaryLand), and I also love reading other people's blogs because it's an interesting way to connect with other people in the world wide web. Their blogs are like windows to their lifestyle, their lives, etc. Bien had noticed that my photo blog in Tumblr made it seem like I'm a happy (-go-lucky?) easy-going person with not much stress in life whatsoever. I just brushed it off and said that it was sort of plastic, in a way, showing those things. I don't really dwell much on the stressful things, let alone blog about it in detail online. That's what my public cryptic entries and private blog posts are for.
Speaking of cryptic, wow, I can't believe it's been that long already. And yes, I do mean that. And that.
Without realizing it until later, I noticed that little by little that the card reading Lara did for me was true. Not that I'm rationalizing things, but it's sort of pretty creepy how it rings true. I may have decided to be a bit selfish and devote more time and effort on myself, silently declaring this a "me" year. In fact, I already have something set for myself later this year, and I have to admit that I'm a bit excited to go back into it.
Thursday, January 27, 2011
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Rambling, pondering, whatever.
I honestly don't know how many people still read my blog, and I'm usually unaware of who views it on my Multiply account unless I actually reach the very end of the page where I can find other Multiply users who had viewed the page. Sure, I do get curious from time to time but not really all the time.
The thing is, sometimes I don't really want to talk about certain topics that I put in my blog in person. Unless I'm comfortable enough to talk about it. That's the very reason I just write it down here. And sometimes, I try to make an effort to be discreet, so long as I just get to let it out (then put it all down in a private entry later).
Anyway, a friend of mine just recently said that based on my recent entries, it seemed as if he sensed something. Something that used to be of significance. I don't know how he could sense that, and I didn't even know that I'm even exuding that particular "something." Or maybe it's just an excuse to tease?
In relation to that, I heard something he said another time, in passing, just as a joke, another excuse to tease, the truth based on a gut feel, or whatever. I don't know if it's true, as he said that he just had that feeling. Even if it could be true, I don't want to dwell on it too much, especially coming from another person. I didn't really want to ask, and I didn't really want to hope for something that might be possible yet could also be an empty promise.
Whatever. I'm rambling. Time to curl up with my current book.
The thing is, sometimes I don't really want to talk about certain topics that I put in my blog in person. Unless I'm comfortable enough to talk about it. That's the very reason I just write it down here. And sometimes, I try to make an effort to be discreet, so long as I just get to let it out (then put it all down in a private entry later).
Anyway, a friend of mine just recently said that based on my recent entries, it seemed as if he sensed something. Something that used to be of significance. I don't know how he could sense that, and I didn't even know that I'm even exuding that particular "something." Or maybe it's just an excuse to tease?
In relation to that, I heard something he said another time, in passing, just as a joke, another excuse to tease, the truth based on a gut feel, or whatever. I don't know if it's true, as he said that he just had that feeling. Even if it could be true, I don't want to dwell on it too much, especially coming from another person. I didn't really want to ask, and I didn't really want to hope for something that might be possible yet could also be an empty promise.
Whatever. I'm rambling. Time to curl up with my current book.
Sunday, January 23, 2011
Spontaneous Sunday.
After mass this morning, I decided to go to the CCP area for two purposes--a different branch for Starbucks solitaire, plus I wanted to talk to Paulo about getting tickets to Zsazsa Zaturnnah's run next month, as he wasn't replying to my texts (he later said that he didn't have load, ahehe). The TP Actors Company has a 3pm show of Anatomiya ng Korupsyon anyway, so for sure he'd be there.
I arrived pretty early on purpose, so I could just sit in Starbucks with my tea latte and read my current book du jour (it's currently "Seeing Redd," book two of The Looking Glass Wars trilogy). Gino, Rayna and Kat appeared much later, so when they headed back to CCP, I walked with them, as Gino had said that Paulo was already there in the lobby. I finally got to talk to Paulo about the tickets, and then killed lots of time in the lobby. With a bit of teasing and prodding, I ended up watching Anatomiya up in the gallery of Batute along with Riki and Russell, hahaha. Which is just as well, because when I first saw their recital, it was just a TDR without a curtain call. Congrats again, you guys!
I left almost immediately after their show, and upon boarding a bus that was headed to ATC, I decided to call Lara about Noelle's gig in the evening, which she had texted a few days ago. So another spur-of-the-moment decision, I headed to ATC instead of going straight home, as I haven't seen Noelle perform live. Lara said that her siblings will just meet me there, as she was already with Noelle.
Haha, Johmie immediately found me when I had just arrived at Corte de las Palmas, where the gig was, so I sat with her, their Kuya Jorhez and Brandy. Lara later joined us, and because of the crowd, we didn't have enough seats, so we put the seats together and managed to make us all fit, hehehe.
It was a pretty good mall gig, as Noelle really did make good rapport with the crowd. Her musical prowess on the harp was amazing, so I'm hoping to catch more of her gigs in the future.
To sum it all up, today's spontaneity made my day. And it's only the beginning of the week.
I arrived pretty early on purpose, so I could just sit in Starbucks with my tea latte and read my current book du jour (it's currently "Seeing Redd," book two of The Looking Glass Wars trilogy). Gino, Rayna and Kat appeared much later, so when they headed back to CCP, I walked with them, as Gino had said that Paulo was already there in the lobby. I finally got to talk to Paulo about the tickets, and then killed lots of time in the lobby. With a bit of teasing and prodding, I ended up watching Anatomiya up in the gallery of Batute along with Riki and Russell, hahaha. Which is just as well, because when I first saw their recital, it was just a TDR without a curtain call. Congrats again, you guys!
I left almost immediately after their show, and upon boarding a bus that was headed to ATC, I decided to call Lara about Noelle's gig in the evening, which she had texted a few days ago. So another spur-of-the-moment decision, I headed to ATC instead of going straight home, as I haven't seen Noelle perform live. Lara said that her siblings will just meet me there, as she was already with Noelle.
Haha, Johmie immediately found me when I had just arrived at Corte de las Palmas, where the gig was, so I sat with her, their Kuya Jorhez and Brandy. Lara later joined us, and because of the crowd, we didn't have enough seats, so we put the seats together and managed to make us all fit, hehehe.
It was a pretty good mall gig, as Noelle really did make good rapport with the crowd. Her musical prowess on the harp was amazing, so I'm hoping to catch more of her gigs in the future.
To sum it all up, today's spontaneity made my day. And it's only the beginning of the week.
Randomness, just to update.
Wow, this is only my 2nd blog post for the year? I can't believe I don't blog as often anymore. I guess I've just been looking for more things to blog about before I sit down and start typing away.
Nothing much has been going on, really. But one thing I liked about beginning this year is that there are more things to look forward to, there are more goals to set, and well, more expectations of myself.
Lara did another card reading and pulled out a card for each of her friends for this year. I got Judgment. She recently sent me what it meant.
You're more free to make decisions and are transforming. You take account your past actions and know better. By revaluating and reviving, you drop your old values to embrace new ones. Accept things they way they are.
Make choices without blaming others or yourself. You have a new insight into how you handle your relationships. It is fine to shrug your shoulders and think 'what's the point?' This is your chance to start afresh, let go of the past and stop feeling guilty for your actions.
Interesting. Part of it is already true, which is creepy. Or maybe I'm just rationalizing things again. But so far, I like how 2011 has been for me.
I like that I've been reading more books right now. I didn't really count it as a resolution. I just liked the change. I did skip a Sunday Solitaire last week, but more on that later. I'm just glad that I've been hungry for books to read lately. Plus thanks to my LJ friend Aisa, I received 2 books in the mail last Monday. I saw a list of books in her blog that she had read in the past year, and I a couple of them caught my eye. When I commented that I was curious about those, she offered to send them to me, and she did. Thank you so much, Aisa, for letting me indulge in my more-than-2-decades-old hobby, hahaha.
Anyway, about skipping Sunday Solitaire, I opted to go to Peaberry last week instead of Starbucks, and I ended up hanging out with Aris and Karla during the early part of the evening, then later with Erik until closing time. I love days like these, just spending the evening talking the time away with good food, drinks, and the cozy ambiance. It's also good to know that I have more friends that are in my vicinity.
It's sort of awkward to have a teacher or a professor become your co-worker or colleague (though it's not too weird and happens all the time in our industry). But what's awkwardly funny is having your colleague become your teacher, hahaha. Yun lang.
I love hanging out with random friends and talking about the most mundane things. This past week was no exception. I found Anna, Isab and Russell off to an audition for a thesis film in CSB last Wednesday, and we ended up having dinner plus dessert in the area, talking about having your own country, crazy currencies, sovereignty (yes, pa-deep muna), actors equity in the country, to crazy new names for actors' networking sites, gang names, and pop-up bills for money, hahaha.
Another similar occasion was yesterday (as I write this post). After work, I had nothing to do but I didn't really want to go home just yet, so I went out with Faye, Julie and Meeko for lunch at Greenbelt. At first, we had no idea where to eat, but after a freaky cockroach experience before we ordered at the first restaurant that we decided on, we decided to change and walked directly to Conti's. Crazy conversations galore, and we ended up in various stages of food coma by the time we were finished with dessert.
A new week is starting. I wonder what's in store this week.
Nothing much has been going on, really. But one thing I liked about beginning this year is that there are more things to look forward to, there are more goals to set, and well, more expectations of myself.
Lara did another card reading and pulled out a card for each of her friends for this year. I got Judgment. She recently sent me what it meant.
You're more free to make decisions and are transforming. You take account your past actions and know better. By revaluating and reviving, you drop your old values to embrace new ones. Accept things they way they are.
Make choices without blaming others or yourself. You have a new insight into how you handle your relationships. It is fine to shrug your shoulders and think 'what's the point?' This is your chance to start afresh, let go of the past and stop feeling guilty for your actions.
Interesting. Part of it is already true, which is creepy. Or maybe I'm just rationalizing things again. But so far, I like how 2011 has been for me.
I like that I've been reading more books right now. I didn't really count it as a resolution. I just liked the change. I did skip a Sunday Solitaire last week, but more on that later. I'm just glad that I've been hungry for books to read lately. Plus thanks to my LJ friend Aisa, I received 2 books in the mail last Monday. I saw a list of books in her blog that she had read in the past year, and I a couple of them caught my eye. When I commented that I was curious about those, she offered to send them to me, and she did. Thank you so much, Aisa, for letting me indulge in my more-than-2-decades-old hobby, hahaha.
Anyway, about skipping Sunday Solitaire, I opted to go to Peaberry last week instead of Starbucks, and I ended up hanging out with Aris and Karla during the early part of the evening, then later with Erik until closing time. I love days like these, just spending the evening talking the time away with good food, drinks, and the cozy ambiance. It's also good to know that I have more friends that are in my vicinity.
It's sort of awkward to have a teacher or a professor become your co-worker or colleague (though it's not too weird and happens all the time in our industry). But what's awkwardly funny is having your colleague become your teacher, hahaha. Yun lang.
I love hanging out with random friends and talking about the most mundane things. This past week was no exception. I found Anna, Isab and Russell off to an audition for a thesis film in CSB last Wednesday, and we ended up having dinner plus dessert in the area, talking about having your own country, crazy currencies, sovereignty (yes, pa-deep muna), actors equity in the country, to crazy new names for actors' networking sites, gang names, and pop-up bills for money, hahaha.
Another similar occasion was yesterday (as I write this post). After work, I had nothing to do but I didn't really want to go home just yet, so I went out with Faye, Julie and Meeko for lunch at Greenbelt. At first, we had no idea where to eat, but after a freaky cockroach experience before we ordered at the first restaurant that we decided on, we decided to change and walked directly to Conti's. Crazy conversations galore, and we ended up in various stages of food coma by the time we were finished with dessert.
A new week is starting. I wonder what's in store this week.
Monday, January 10, 2011
A hodge-podge first entry for 2011.
This is quite a record for me. I haven't blogged since 2011 began, as my last post was the previous year in review. So yeah, I owe this blog an update. But because of how much time had passed, maybe I won't go into lengthy details.
Anyway.
Dingdong and I turned a Peaberry session into an annual year-end tradition. We had met up and hung out at Peaberry on the afternoon of New Year's Eve back in 2009, and so we decided to do the same for 2010. We had also invited Lara to join us, but because of the date and all the crazy traffic jams, maybe another time. Even after Dingdong had left, I still had company, thanks to Marj and some of her high school friends. Erik was also supposed to come but he got a little tied up at home. But thank goodness Marj, Erik and I live in the same village. At least now we know where we can find each other for Peaberry, hehe.
I posted this status message on my Facebook profile on January 2nd: "Life really just happens. May mga dumarating at may mga nawawala. Yun lang."
For some reason, I have this bad feeling that a close friend has certain issues with me, yet I can't pinpoint what. Bigla na lang hindi nagpaparamdam, eh kasing dalas kong katext yun sa (then) boyfriend ko. I still don't know if I did something wrong or what. Is it because I flaked out on one particular day that we were supposed to meet? Or my being non-committal to certain projects because I have other commitments? I wish I knew the answers. I messaged that friend once, asking a few questions, and I got short answers. Then I asked if there's anything wrong. Dedma. Oh well, maybe in time. But for now, I guess kailangang mawala para may ibang dumating, at (in the words of Roobak) para magkaroon ka ng mas maraming panahon para sa sarili mo.
I got to attend DUP's Orosman at Zafira presscon on Wednesday last week, thanks to Toots. I was so excited when I first heard that it was going to run again, as I've seen both the 2008 and 2010 runs (though for some reason, the latter had more impact on me). The entire cast was amazing each time, and the music can be spine-tingling.
I got to interact with the bloggers I see a lot at other presscons, and it was my first time to chat with them. They were a happy tight bunch, and I'm glad they let me join in, even for that one day.
One thing I've learned, kailangan may dala ka ring baon sa presscon, hindi lang sa class o sa rehearsal. When the presscon's open forum began and Toots opened the floor for questions, he singled me out as having seen both previous runs of the show and requested that I ask the first question. I was so unprepared that I ended up throwing them a lame question, ahahaha. It was so embarrassing.
(Anyway, I'll try to do a separate blog post about the event another time.)
The following day, Thursday, I spent the afternoon having lunch and hanging out with Carms, Jay and the adorable Evan. The last time I saw all three was way back in September, the day after Carms had given birth to Evan. And I only got to see Evan through the glass window of the ICU. At least this last visit, I got to see and touch him up close.
I just love this little family, even back when Carms and Jay were still engaged. Despite the fact that Carms and I rarely get together and we haven't been friends that long, I feel as if she knows me so well. She always seems to give the best advice at the right time, and I feel as if she's an older sister even though I'm biologically older than her. And I'm glad she found an awesome husband in Jay, who's equally quirky and compliments her perfectly. And now with Evan here, there's more reason to go all the way up north to visit.
On Saturday evening, Rosa and I went to Hard Rock Cafe to watch Nyoy's gig. It's been about six or seven years since I last set foot in that place, and almost the same amount of time since I last watched one of Nyoy's gigs. My goodness, it's been that long? Anyway, as Rosa had been curious and hasn't seen any of this guy's live performances, we decided to go on a Hard Rock night.
We first thought of having dinner somewhere else, but eventually settled on eating inside Hard Rock. Good decision. At least we managed to nab a good table that's far from the speakers, but still a good view of the stage, should Rosa take photos. I think we had way too much salad that night, as we already ordered a big salad to share, but then the other dish we got also had a salad on the side, hahaha. I got to introduce her to Maynard before the show, and to Maica as well (who later joined us at our table along with Mars).
Sitting there sipping my banana-berry colada made me feel old. Hahaha. I remember excitedly sitting among groupies with a glass of iced tea, trying to talk to the others over the music. I realized that hanging out with that group in that particular place wasn't really that conducive to talking. And I actually enjoyed it before? Hahaha. This past Saturday, I just sat back and enjoyed the music.
It was refreshing to hear that familiar music again, along with new songs and new versions. I have to say, I should do this every once in a while again, but not as obsessively as before, of course. It's a good way to end the week.
Speaking of every once in a while, I started reading more often again. I spend Sunday evenings at a nearby coffee shop armed with a book and a tea latte. I missed reading. I love taking the time just for Starbucks solitaire once every week. Maybe I'll keep doing this. It's very cathartic.
Anyway.
Dingdong and I turned a Peaberry session into an annual year-end tradition. We had met up and hung out at Peaberry on the afternoon of New Year's Eve back in 2009, and so we decided to do the same for 2010. We had also invited Lara to join us, but because of the date and all the crazy traffic jams, maybe another time. Even after Dingdong had left, I still had company, thanks to Marj and some of her high school friends. Erik was also supposed to come but he got a little tied up at home. But thank goodness Marj, Erik and I live in the same village. At least now we know where we can find each other for Peaberry, hehe.
I posted this status message on my Facebook profile on January 2nd: "Life really just happens. May mga dumarating at may mga nawawala. Yun lang."
For some reason, I have this bad feeling that a close friend has certain issues with me, yet I can't pinpoint what. Bigla na lang hindi nagpaparamdam, eh kasing dalas kong katext yun sa (then) boyfriend ko. I still don't know if I did something wrong or what. Is it because I flaked out on one particular day that we were supposed to meet? Or my being non-committal to certain projects because I have other commitments? I wish I knew the answers. I messaged that friend once, asking a few questions, and I got short answers. Then I asked if there's anything wrong. Dedma. Oh well, maybe in time. But for now, I guess kailangang mawala para may ibang dumating, at (in the words of Roobak) para magkaroon ka ng mas maraming panahon para sa sarili mo.
I got to attend DUP's Orosman at Zafira presscon on Wednesday last week, thanks to Toots. I was so excited when I first heard that it was going to run again, as I've seen both the 2008 and 2010 runs (though for some reason, the latter had more impact on me). The entire cast was amazing each time, and the music can be spine-tingling.
I got to interact with the bloggers I see a lot at other presscons, and it was my first time to chat with them. They were a happy tight bunch, and I'm glad they let me join in, even for that one day.
One thing I've learned, kailangan may dala ka ring baon sa presscon, hindi lang sa class o sa rehearsal. When the presscon's open forum began and Toots opened the floor for questions, he singled me out as having seen both previous runs of the show and requested that I ask the first question. I was so unprepared that I ended up throwing them a lame question, ahahaha. It was so embarrassing.
(Anyway, I'll try to do a separate blog post about the event another time.)
The following day, Thursday, I spent the afternoon having lunch and hanging out with Carms, Jay and the adorable Evan. The last time I saw all three was way back in September, the day after Carms had given birth to Evan. And I only got to see Evan through the glass window of the ICU. At least this last visit, I got to see and touch him up close.
I just love this little family, even back when Carms and Jay were still engaged. Despite the fact that Carms and I rarely get together and we haven't been friends that long, I feel as if she knows me so well. She always seems to give the best advice at the right time, and I feel as if she's an older sister even though I'm biologically older than her. And I'm glad she found an awesome husband in Jay, who's equally quirky and compliments her perfectly. And now with Evan here, there's more reason to go all the way up north to visit.
On Saturday evening, Rosa and I went to Hard Rock Cafe to watch Nyoy's gig. It's been about six or seven years since I last set foot in that place, and almost the same amount of time since I last watched one of Nyoy's gigs. My goodness, it's been that long? Anyway, as Rosa had been curious and hasn't seen any of this guy's live performances, we decided to go on a Hard Rock night.
We first thought of having dinner somewhere else, but eventually settled on eating inside Hard Rock. Good decision. At least we managed to nab a good table that's far from the speakers, but still a good view of the stage, should Rosa take photos. I think we had way too much salad that night, as we already ordered a big salad to share, but then the other dish we got also had a salad on the side, hahaha. I got to introduce her to Maynard before the show, and to Maica as well (who later joined us at our table along with Mars).
Sitting there sipping my banana-berry colada made me feel old. Hahaha. I remember excitedly sitting among groupies with a glass of iced tea, trying to talk to the others over the music. I realized that hanging out with that group in that particular place wasn't really that conducive to talking. And I actually enjoyed it before? Hahaha. This past Saturday, I just sat back and enjoyed the music.
It was refreshing to hear that familiar music again, along with new songs and new versions. I have to say, I should do this every once in a while again, but not as obsessively as before, of course. It's a good way to end the week.
Speaking of every once in a while, I started reading more often again. I spend Sunday evenings at a nearby coffee shop armed with a book and a tea latte. I missed reading. I love taking the time just for Starbucks solitaire once every week. Maybe I'll keep doing this. It's very cathartic.
Friday, December 31, 2010
Summing up the year 2010.
So finally, here's my annual year in review. Bear with me, as this will be a pretty long entry.
I welcomed the year 2010 halfheartedly, as I had some doubts over certain aspects in my life right from the start. But of course, pessimism will get me nowhere, so I always have that ounce of optimism every once in a while.
As I always say, every year is a blast no matter what, and we can never avoid all the ups and downs. This year gave way to a lot of changes, so despite all the pitfalls, it's still been one year I'll never forget.
January
Little did I know that watching Footloose and hearing a particular bible verse could actually sum up what was to come for the entire year. The famous Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 said:
To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven;
A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;
A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up;
A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;
A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;
A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away;
A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.
Early into the year, I told myself that I should look more into the relationships with the people I love, to see if they're still worth investing in. Little did I know that one significant relationship would disappear by then. At the end of the month, I broke up with my boyfriend of 2 years. Not much explanation, but let's just say that he had his reasons.
That month was also a reunion of sorts with some of my cousins from the US. I haven't seen them since I was 7 years old, and their visit was a perfect opportunity to bond with them both here in Manila and during our 3-day trip to Palawan.
As an outlet, Para hindi mo ito maintindihan was born and performed this month, and it was a great way to bond with Betty, Jenny and Opa, plus a way to explore certain emotions and actions.
February
This month marked the most emotional time I've had all year. I was so glad that I was somehow kept busy because I was working for Rent's front-of-house. I began the month full of hope due to a nice, clean breakup, which eventually led to a breakdown. I was actually surprised at myself for being so angry at someone to the extent of shouting at that person over the phone. But despite that, I guess it was right to have a reason to be angry in order to be able to move on. And near the end of the month, Carmie and Jay got married, and I was so honored to be a part and to help out on their special day. Their wedding made me feel more optimistic about the future, making me believe in love all over again.
March
I was so glad to have Avenue Q to keep me busy after Rent had closed, and I was also grateful for friends who keep constantly in touch during this time, so the bad days grew farther apart. This month also marked a significant get-together with my fellow Dashing Divas, Lara and Dingdong. We trekked all the way up north to UP to watch a thesis production of They're Playing Our Song, and Lara and I both agreed that it was the right show to watch at the right time for us. Another get-together this month was with BFFs Micah and Dyown, both whom I haven't seen since we went to Bulacan for an episode of Chef To Go. I also managed to watch a few shows in CCP despite some awkward circumstances, like TP's Tatlong Mariya, and the AC's voice, dance and acting recitals.
April
I was invited by Lesley to join Make Believe this year and teach my own class, and I was all up for it until we found out that because there weren't enough students, the class got dissolved. Too bad. But I did manage to help out a bit in Lara's class, and despite the fact that I still had to endure the crazy service road, I still loved going there. And while we're still talking about workshops, I also returned to TP's Rehearsal and Performance Techniques workshop, considering the fact that I didn't get to join last year. It felt like a brand new class, having new teachers (Miss Tess and JK), new classmates (I was the only returnee in the class), and a new attack on the class itself. I remember that we were often reminded to challenge ourselves everyday, to "go for the kill" and "get in trouble." This month also gave me the opportunity to be in Sir Dennis' Cinemalaya film entry, and I had a blast hanging out in between takes with Betty, Rayna, Dave and the infamous "Sir July," ahahaha.
May
Kicked off the month with our Rehearsal and Performance Techniques recital, R.U.R. (Rossum's Universal Robots). Quite a challenge playing not just one, but two masculine roles, ahahaha. Anyway, I was grateful for the fact that I've been pretty busy the month before, and decided to continue it this following month with Lara's Make Believe class, as she had gotten me as a guest actor for her class' recital of her own version of The Little Prince. And speaking of Lara, one highlight of this month was the Saturday that we had planned to go up north after Make Believe to watch a couple of recitals in MC under TP. Because of the crazy traffic along the service road, we didn't make it to her Make Believe class in the morning and opted to trek straight up north. My goodness, we were on the jeepney for 4 hours before we made it to Edsa. When we got to MC, we got to watch Tad and Paolo's workshop class' recital (also a version of The Little Prince) before we grabbed a bite at the newly opened MushroomBurger along Katipunan. Lara also gave me a tour of the Ateneo campus through her reminiscing eyes, and while doing that, we spotted a poster of TA's production of La Ronde, which was closing that very evening. It took a lot of effort for Lara to convince me to watch, and we eventually did, after watching Riki's workshop class' recital of La Casa de Bernarda Alba. Huwaw, it made the trek up north worth it, just having a 3-play marathon with my breast friend.
Another significant event this month was that I had decided to grab a different job opportunity, thanks to Anna's referral. I was actually surprised to get the phone interview while hanging out with Lara and Nina in Montessori.
June
This month marked a significant shift of paths for this year. I just got hired as a part-time agent for Convergys. The frustrating part of being hired at this time was that a perfect avenue had just opened, and because of the path I chose, it hindered me to take the avenue of opportunity. But hey, I can always try it next year, right?
Gino had asked me over lunch one day what I had gained since the last relationship that I had lost. Off the top of my head, I had said that I gained the chance to venture out into this opportunity that I used to kept saying no to. Anyway, it was such a refreshing change, and it made me welcome and acknowledge all the other changes that's been going on.
Alongside my first month training and being briefed on the floor at work, I also juggled ushering duties for Atlantis' Legally Blonde. Because of late nights and early mornings, I found myself sleeping during the mid-day instead of at night. But even with that, I even managed to find time catching a few sets of Virgin Labfest at CCP.
I could feel certain friends starting to drift apart as well. It's frustrating, really. Plus I also learned the truth as to how one relationship got strained. Now that I've learned the truth, I guess I have to learn to deal with it. And it made me wonder if I should still try to gain someone's trust after I've lost it unintentionally. Heck, of course.
July
Basically the first half of the month was still juggling Legally Blonde and still being a newbie on the floor at work. And I still managed to watch a bunch of Labfest plays during the less busy days, as well as the preview of Rep's Equus. Immediately after Legally Blonde had closed, Jan and I found another window of opportunity as merchandisers for Cats in CCP. Gigo and I even got to be one of the first to meet the cast (thanks to Sam) as soon as they emerged from the airport. Even after a bit of minor disagreements about our work and fees, we resigned and got rehired due to certain compromises.
Funny how finding myself sitting alone in Starbucks one afternoon can lead to good pondering moments. After all, that particular branch had been witness to a lot of what had happened to me.
August
The beginning of the month required certain pondering and thinking whether I should take the script analysis class under TP. Even though it was exclusive for AC scholars, apprentices and members, they had to decided to open it for a few outsiders, so I took a lot of time thinking whether I should take this class, considering certain "given circumstances" to consider. Eventually, I decided to give it a go, thanks to the good advice of certain friends. So aside from work for 4 mornings, I had merchandising duties during Cats' weekday shows, plus I attend script analysis class every Friday afternoon.
I also got the opportunity to watch Cats one weekend, thanks to the people behind it. I was thrilled to sit at a really good seat, so I had a pretty good view of everything. I was totally in awe during the entire show, because of the talented triple-threats, the set, and the technicals. It was such a treat.
Ended the month watching Banaag at Sikat by TP, Orosman at Zafira in UP, and taking a road trip with Rosa and Iam to Tagaytay.
September
Another month, another show. I had more ushering duties, this time for Atlantis' Xanadu. For a while, I was not allowed in the roster of ushers, because someone had blabbed a stupid lie to the biggies. Goes to show how much you don't know me, whoever you are.
Ed visited again this month from Canada, and because I was busy during the weekends, we met up during a weekday.
Another significant event this month was that Evan was born on the same day as his daddy! I visited Carms, Jay and Evan the day after the birth. Unfortunately, Evan was in the ICU, but I was so glad just to see him, as well as his parents.
At the end of the month, I managed to watch more shows. There was TP's American Hwangap featuring Nicco, Information For Foreigners where Betty and Opa were involved in, and a twinbill of Alimuom and Walang Maliw featuring Tad and Kat.
One thing I have to say about this month is that friends with benefits really do exist.
October
Not much occurred during this month, I realized, but looking back on my blog entries, there were still quite a few significant events, like a rare get-together with Nikki and Nicco at the beginning of the month. We ended up sitting around, talking about certain issues and updates, and joking and laughing about certain things that had happened between us in the past.
Sometime in the middle of the month, I remember pondering about things that had transpired, and I eventually started searching for the crux, that vital point where a decision has to be or has been made, and after that, everything that follows is irreversible. Once I found that crux, there was a time that I sometimes wished I could go back to that, and just freeze time where things were fine and peachy.
At the end of the month, more ushering duties came in the form of 9 Works Theatrical's Wedding Singer. I was in charge of a team of crazy ushers, but despite their craziness and quirks, I was grateful having them on my team, instead of dealing with different ushers every show.
November
I was surprised that I was told that I was being prepped up to be a primary agent at work, but I guess I wasn't that prepared, plus the fact that I was having a lousy cough that never went away for quite a long time, so I sort of flubbed for a while.
I discovered a new place to eat up north, The Real Thing Diner, thanks to Noelle and Lara. It was a great opportunity to finally hang out with Noelle, then Lara and I got to hang out with Nina in Makati afterwards.
Speaking of more get-togethers, I had a mini-reunion with a bunch of high school friends from the track and field team. It was great to see some of them again, considering the last time I had seen some of them were after high school graduation.
After closing Wedding Singer, I managed to catch the preview show of Spotlight's Magsimula Ka, and sitting inside Music Museum made me remember all those few times that I was there for a couple of memorable projects several years ago.
Other than that musical, I got to watch a set of laboratory plays by FEU's theater guild, as one of the plays was directed by Tad. Wahahaha, and to think that the play that he directed was sort of a remake of Labfest 2's Palanca In My Mind. Even though with all the similarities, he did manage to add a little flavor into it.
December
This was the only time that I realized how fast the months flew by. Six months of working part-time in an industry I first thought I wouldn't be caught dead in, and I was grateful for the work and the people I've met because of it. This was the year I had more ushering/front-of-house duties than I had expected, and I managed to survive the year without having a significant other, plus I managed to stay friends (even though it took a while) with my last one.
I celebrated my birthday quietly and on my own, and it opened up a brand new perspective for me. But I managed to make up for it by celebrating one of my 2 best friend's birthday two days after.
I never expected 2010 to be an awesome year, but it was never a crummy year as well despite all those pitfalls. Things aren't all they're cracked up to be, but even with your expectations, you still accept both the good and the bad. Whenever something hinders your path, you'll surprise yourself by eventually finding a way (sometimes an ever better way) around it.
I'm glad for all the hurdles I went through in 2010. I wouldn't be where I am today if it weren't for them, and the people who helped me get through them.
Lara sent me a Facebook message at the end of 2009:
I drew out a card for you. QUEEN OF WANDS.
Either you are this person or you will encounter someone who has these traits and will influence you.
Someone who is magnetic, attractive, believes in woman power, optimistic, self-assured, and upbeat.
You are dedicated to a task, friendly, easy going and wholeheartedly involved in everything you do. You are charismatic, creative, and knows where you're going. You are sexually accomplished. Hehe. You brighted up the atmosphere and are undaunted by challenges.
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
I look back and started looking for that person, and I realized that it was me. Well, in a way, hahaha. I realized I kept myself optimistic even when dark clouds started looming over me. I had to make all efforts work no matter what I did this year, and I do hope I can carry it on in 2011 and the years to come.
2010 was one heck of a roller coaster ride. As I'm afraid of literal roller coasters, so was I of this metaphorical roller coaster of a year. It was exciting, boring, daunting, and enlightening. People came and left for different reasons. I've lost and gained certain things. Thank you to those who have been there with me during the ride. With this, I look forward to 2011.
HAPPY NEW YEAR, EVERYONE!
I welcomed the year 2010 halfheartedly, as I had some doubts over certain aspects in my life right from the start. But of course, pessimism will get me nowhere, so I always have that ounce of optimism every once in a while.
As I always say, every year is a blast no matter what, and we can never avoid all the ups and downs. This year gave way to a lot of changes, so despite all the pitfalls, it's still been one year I'll never forget.
January
Little did I know that watching Footloose and hearing a particular bible verse could actually sum up what was to come for the entire year. The famous Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 said:
To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven;
A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;
A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up;
A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;
A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;
A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away;
A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.
Early into the year, I told myself that I should look more into the relationships with the people I love, to see if they're still worth investing in. Little did I know that one significant relationship would disappear by then. At the end of the month, I broke up with my boyfriend of 2 years. Not much explanation, but let's just say that he had his reasons.
That month was also a reunion of sorts with some of my cousins from the US. I haven't seen them since I was 7 years old, and their visit was a perfect opportunity to bond with them both here in Manila and during our 3-day trip to Palawan.
As an outlet, Para hindi mo ito maintindihan was born and performed this month, and it was a great way to bond with Betty, Jenny and Opa, plus a way to explore certain emotions and actions.
February
This month marked the most emotional time I've had all year. I was so glad that I was somehow kept busy because I was working for Rent's front-of-house. I began the month full of hope due to a nice, clean breakup, which eventually led to a breakdown. I was actually surprised at myself for being so angry at someone to the extent of shouting at that person over the phone. But despite that, I guess it was right to have a reason to be angry in order to be able to move on. And near the end of the month, Carmie and Jay got married, and I was so honored to be a part and to help out on their special day. Their wedding made me feel more optimistic about the future, making me believe in love all over again.
March
I was so glad to have Avenue Q to keep me busy after Rent had closed, and I was also grateful for friends who keep constantly in touch during this time, so the bad days grew farther apart. This month also marked a significant get-together with my fellow Dashing Divas, Lara and Dingdong. We trekked all the way up north to UP to watch a thesis production of They're Playing Our Song, and Lara and I both agreed that it was the right show to watch at the right time for us. Another get-together this month was with BFFs Micah and Dyown, both whom I haven't seen since we went to Bulacan for an episode of Chef To Go. I also managed to watch a few shows in CCP despite some awkward circumstances, like TP's Tatlong Mariya, and the AC's voice, dance and acting recitals.
April
I was invited by Lesley to join Make Believe this year and teach my own class, and I was all up for it until we found out that because there weren't enough students, the class got dissolved. Too bad. But I did manage to help out a bit in Lara's class, and despite the fact that I still had to endure the crazy service road, I still loved going there. And while we're still talking about workshops, I also returned to TP's Rehearsal and Performance Techniques workshop, considering the fact that I didn't get to join last year. It felt like a brand new class, having new teachers (Miss Tess and JK), new classmates (I was the only returnee in the class), and a new attack on the class itself. I remember that we were often reminded to challenge ourselves everyday, to "go for the kill" and "get in trouble." This month also gave me the opportunity to be in Sir Dennis' Cinemalaya film entry, and I had a blast hanging out in between takes with Betty, Rayna, Dave and the infamous "Sir July," ahahaha.
May
Kicked off the month with our Rehearsal and Performance Techniques recital, R.U.R. (Rossum's Universal Robots). Quite a challenge playing not just one, but two masculine roles, ahahaha. Anyway, I was grateful for the fact that I've been pretty busy the month before, and decided to continue it this following month with Lara's Make Believe class, as she had gotten me as a guest actor for her class' recital of her own version of The Little Prince. And speaking of Lara, one highlight of this month was the Saturday that we had planned to go up north after Make Believe to watch a couple of recitals in MC under TP. Because of the crazy traffic along the service road, we didn't make it to her Make Believe class in the morning and opted to trek straight up north. My goodness, we were on the jeepney for 4 hours before we made it to Edsa. When we got to MC, we got to watch Tad and Paolo's workshop class' recital (also a version of The Little Prince) before we grabbed a bite at the newly opened MushroomBurger along Katipunan. Lara also gave me a tour of the Ateneo campus through her reminiscing eyes, and while doing that, we spotted a poster of TA's production of La Ronde, which was closing that very evening. It took a lot of effort for Lara to convince me to watch, and we eventually did, after watching Riki's workshop class' recital of La Casa de Bernarda Alba. Huwaw, it made the trek up north worth it, just having a 3-play marathon with my breast friend.
Another significant event this month was that I had decided to grab a different job opportunity, thanks to Anna's referral. I was actually surprised to get the phone interview while hanging out with Lara and Nina in Montessori.
June
This month marked a significant shift of paths for this year. I just got hired as a part-time agent for Convergys. The frustrating part of being hired at this time was that a perfect avenue had just opened, and because of the path I chose, it hindered me to take the avenue of opportunity. But hey, I can always try it next year, right?
Gino had asked me over lunch one day what I had gained since the last relationship that I had lost. Off the top of my head, I had said that I gained the chance to venture out into this opportunity that I used to kept saying no to. Anyway, it was such a refreshing change, and it made me welcome and acknowledge all the other changes that's been going on.
Alongside my first month training and being briefed on the floor at work, I also juggled ushering duties for Atlantis' Legally Blonde. Because of late nights and early mornings, I found myself sleeping during the mid-day instead of at night. But even with that, I even managed to find time catching a few sets of Virgin Labfest at CCP.
I could feel certain friends starting to drift apart as well. It's frustrating, really. Plus I also learned the truth as to how one relationship got strained. Now that I've learned the truth, I guess I have to learn to deal with it. And it made me wonder if I should still try to gain someone's trust after I've lost it unintentionally. Heck, of course.
July
Basically the first half of the month was still juggling Legally Blonde and still being a newbie on the floor at work. And I still managed to watch a bunch of Labfest plays during the less busy days, as well as the preview of Rep's Equus. Immediately after Legally Blonde had closed, Jan and I found another window of opportunity as merchandisers for Cats in CCP. Gigo and I even got to be one of the first to meet the cast (thanks to Sam) as soon as they emerged from the airport. Even after a bit of minor disagreements about our work and fees, we resigned and got rehired due to certain compromises.
Funny how finding myself sitting alone in Starbucks one afternoon can lead to good pondering moments. After all, that particular branch had been witness to a lot of what had happened to me.
August
The beginning of the month required certain pondering and thinking whether I should take the script analysis class under TP. Even though it was exclusive for AC scholars, apprentices and members, they had to decided to open it for a few outsiders, so I took a lot of time thinking whether I should take this class, considering certain "given circumstances" to consider. Eventually, I decided to give it a go, thanks to the good advice of certain friends. So aside from work for 4 mornings, I had merchandising duties during Cats' weekday shows, plus I attend script analysis class every Friday afternoon.
I also got the opportunity to watch Cats one weekend, thanks to the people behind it. I was thrilled to sit at a really good seat, so I had a pretty good view of everything. I was totally in awe during the entire show, because of the talented triple-threats, the set, and the technicals. It was such a treat.
Ended the month watching Banaag at Sikat by TP, Orosman at Zafira in UP, and taking a road trip with Rosa and Iam to Tagaytay.
September
Another month, another show. I had more ushering duties, this time for Atlantis' Xanadu. For a while, I was not allowed in the roster of ushers, because someone had blabbed a stupid lie to the biggies. Goes to show how much you don't know me, whoever you are.
Ed visited again this month from Canada, and because I was busy during the weekends, we met up during a weekday.
Another significant event this month was that Evan was born on the same day as his daddy! I visited Carms, Jay and Evan the day after the birth. Unfortunately, Evan was in the ICU, but I was so glad just to see him, as well as his parents.
At the end of the month, I managed to watch more shows. There was TP's American Hwangap featuring Nicco, Information For Foreigners where Betty and Opa were involved in, and a twinbill of Alimuom and Walang Maliw featuring Tad and Kat.
One thing I have to say about this month is that friends with benefits really do exist.
October
Not much occurred during this month, I realized, but looking back on my blog entries, there were still quite a few significant events, like a rare get-together with Nikki and Nicco at the beginning of the month. We ended up sitting around, talking about certain issues and updates, and joking and laughing about certain things that had happened between us in the past.
Sometime in the middle of the month, I remember pondering about things that had transpired, and I eventually started searching for the crux, that vital point where a decision has to be or has been made, and after that, everything that follows is irreversible. Once I found that crux, there was a time that I sometimes wished I could go back to that, and just freeze time where things were fine and peachy.
At the end of the month, more ushering duties came in the form of 9 Works Theatrical's Wedding Singer. I was in charge of a team of crazy ushers, but despite their craziness and quirks, I was grateful having them on my team, instead of dealing with different ushers every show.
November
I was surprised that I was told that I was being prepped up to be a primary agent at work, but I guess I wasn't that prepared, plus the fact that I was having a lousy cough that never went away for quite a long time, so I sort of flubbed for a while.
I discovered a new place to eat up north, The Real Thing Diner, thanks to Noelle and Lara. It was a great opportunity to finally hang out with Noelle, then Lara and I got to hang out with Nina in Makati afterwards.
Speaking of more get-togethers, I had a mini-reunion with a bunch of high school friends from the track and field team. It was great to see some of them again, considering the last time I had seen some of them were after high school graduation.
After closing Wedding Singer, I managed to catch the preview show of Spotlight's Magsimula Ka, and sitting inside Music Museum made me remember all those few times that I was there for a couple of memorable projects several years ago.
Other than that musical, I got to watch a set of laboratory plays by FEU's theater guild, as one of the plays was directed by Tad. Wahahaha, and to think that the play that he directed was sort of a remake of Labfest 2's Palanca In My Mind. Even though with all the similarities, he did manage to add a little flavor into it.
December
This was the only time that I realized how fast the months flew by. Six months of working part-time in an industry I first thought I wouldn't be caught dead in, and I was grateful for the work and the people I've met because of it. This was the year I had more ushering/front-of-house duties than I had expected, and I managed to survive the year without having a significant other, plus I managed to stay friends (even though it took a while) with my last one.
I celebrated my birthday quietly and on my own, and it opened up a brand new perspective for me. But I managed to make up for it by celebrating one of my 2 best friend's birthday two days after.
I never expected 2010 to be an awesome year, but it was never a crummy year as well despite all those pitfalls. Things aren't all they're cracked up to be, but even with your expectations, you still accept both the good and the bad. Whenever something hinders your path, you'll surprise yourself by eventually finding a way (sometimes an ever better way) around it.
I'm glad for all the hurdles I went through in 2010. I wouldn't be where I am today if it weren't for them, and the people who helped me get through them.
Lara sent me a Facebook message at the end of 2009:
I drew out a card for you. QUEEN OF WANDS.
Either you are this person or you will encounter someone who has these traits and will influence you.
Someone who is magnetic, attractive, believes in woman power, optimistic, self-assured, and upbeat.
You are dedicated to a task, friendly, easy going and wholeheartedly involved in everything you do. You are charismatic, creative, and knows where you're going. You are sexually accomplished. Hehe. You brighted up the atmosphere and are undaunted by challenges.
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
I look back and started looking for that person, and I realized that it was me. Well, in a way, hahaha. I realized I kept myself optimistic even when dark clouds started looming over me. I had to make all efforts work no matter what I did this year, and I do hope I can carry it on in 2011 and the years to come.
2010 was one heck of a roller coaster ride. As I'm afraid of literal roller coasters, so was I of this metaphorical roller coaster of a year. It was exciting, boring, daunting, and enlightening. People came and left for different reasons. I've lost and gained certain things. Thank you to those who have been there with me during the ride. With this, I look forward to 2011.
HAPPY NEW YEAR, EVERYONE!
Friday, December 24, 2010
First half of the Christmas week.
Last Sunday was CEAA's Christmas party (themed "A Hippie Christmas") in TGIF Glorietta, so even though I wanted to sleep in after a night with my high school friends, I had to go to our office after lunch on Sunday to meet with some of my teammates for our performance at the Christmas party. I got there half an hour late, but even with that, only Rae and Jammie were there.
We ended up staying all afternoon in the nearest huddle room, blocking, choreographing and rehearsing the performance, plus making the simple props that we needed. Thank goodness Dang was there, in need of a place to plug in her laptop. That way, she can surf to her heart's content, and at the same time, play DJ to our team, ahahaha.
When we finally thought we were ready, us three girls (Rae, Jam and me) changed into our clothes and started prepping up for the party. Ahehe, because of my choice to wear a bandanna around my head instead of the usual strands of beads that half the girls wore, I ended up looking more like a gypsy instead of a hippie, ahahaha.
Anyway, the party was actually a blast. I heard that during last year's Christmas party, only four teams performed. This year, all the teams came out sort of competitive, ahahaha! Thank goodness we decided to perform first. Ayan, star pa si Jammie, nyahahaha.
One thing that's so funny with a couple of the TLs (the most competitive of them) was that every time they see me, they would quip, "Ah, si Hogi, nasa theater yan. Baka magaling ang group ni Jammie sa sayaw." Ahehe, can I just say, just because I work in theater doesn't automatically mean I'm a good dancer. Oh well, that's what stereotyping can do to you.
Because of the celebrations during the weekend, I felt as if I lost an entire day on Monday, because I had an annoying migraine and slept the entire day away. And because I was sleeping the whole time, I forgot to eat, so when early Tuesday morning came, I suddenly had dizzy spells before I started getting ready to meet with Rosa. Thank goodness I managed to gobble down some breakfast before setting off.
So on Tuesday morning, I invited Rosa to join me for Carlos Celdran's "If These Walls Could Talk" tour in Intramuros. She invited Mickey along as well. My goodness, because of the crazy traffic jam along South Superhighway, Mickey was the one who got there first, and we were an hour and a half late for the tour. Thank goodness for Mickey's constant texting, we managed to catch up to where they were.
I have to say, Carlos' "Walk This Way" tours are the best. I manage to eavesdrop on the beginning of his "Living La Vida Imelda" tours a couple of times because they always begin in front of the CCP Little Theater lobby gift shop, and because I always hang out in the LT lobby, where it's located, I sometimes try and pretend to be part of his crowd... until they start moving to another venue, ahahaha. Anyway, the Intramuros tour is one that you really shouldn't miss. Despite the fact I was still sort of feeling dizzy when we were still looking for where they were so we could catch up with them, I felt much better after a while, and got so captivated with all the things that Carlos had said. You could pick up so many interesting bits of trivia about Philippine history that you will never find in history school books. And it will make you give more than a second look at Manila, and end up beaming with pride because you are Filipino, no matter how mixed up like the halo-halo we can be.
After the tour, Rosa, Mickey and I headed to SM Mall of Asia and had lunch at Jatujak. Then we went to Toy Kingdom to help Rosa look for Christmas gifts for her godchildren. It's been quite a long while since I set foot and immersed myself in a toy store, so I had quite a time checking out the toys that Rosa was considering for Martina. This one toy freaked me out, though. Aside from the lifelike dolls and interactive character toys, I saw this one monkey. The "try me" sign instructed to put the banana he was holding in one hand to his lips, so I did. To my shock, his lips suddenly moved, and it totally creeped me out because it was so lifelike. Ooooh, you toys shock me.
Anyway, today is Christmas Eve. Only a few hours to go before Christmas. Only a few more days before the new year rolls around. Year-ender entry coming up soon!
We ended up staying all afternoon in the nearest huddle room, blocking, choreographing and rehearsing the performance, plus making the simple props that we needed. Thank goodness Dang was there, in need of a place to plug in her laptop. That way, she can surf to her heart's content, and at the same time, play DJ to our team, ahahaha.
When we finally thought we were ready, us three girls (Rae, Jam and me) changed into our clothes and started prepping up for the party. Ahehe, because of my choice to wear a bandanna around my head instead of the usual strands of beads that half the girls wore, I ended up looking more like a gypsy instead of a hippie, ahahaha.
Anyway, the party was actually a blast. I heard that during last year's Christmas party, only four teams performed. This year, all the teams came out sort of competitive, ahahaha! Thank goodness we decided to perform first. Ayan, star pa si Jammie, nyahahaha.
One thing that's so funny with a couple of the TLs (the most competitive of them) was that every time they see me, they would quip, "Ah, si Hogi, nasa theater yan. Baka magaling ang group ni Jammie sa sayaw." Ahehe, can I just say, just because I work in theater doesn't automatically mean I'm a good dancer. Oh well, that's what stereotyping can do to you.
Because of the celebrations during the weekend, I felt as if I lost an entire day on Monday, because I had an annoying migraine and slept the entire day away. And because I was sleeping the whole time, I forgot to eat, so when early Tuesday morning came, I suddenly had dizzy spells before I started getting ready to meet with Rosa. Thank goodness I managed to gobble down some breakfast before setting off.
So on Tuesday morning, I invited Rosa to join me for Carlos Celdran's "If These Walls Could Talk" tour in Intramuros. She invited Mickey along as well. My goodness, because of the crazy traffic jam along South Superhighway, Mickey was the one who got there first, and we were an hour and a half late for the tour. Thank goodness for Mickey's constant texting, we managed to catch up to where they were.
I have to say, Carlos' "Walk This Way" tours are the best. I manage to eavesdrop on the beginning of his "Living La Vida Imelda" tours a couple of times because they always begin in front of the CCP Little Theater lobby gift shop, and because I always hang out in the LT lobby, where it's located, I sometimes try and pretend to be part of his crowd... until they start moving to another venue, ahahaha. Anyway, the Intramuros tour is one that you really shouldn't miss. Despite the fact I was still sort of feeling dizzy when we were still looking for where they were so we could catch up with them, I felt much better after a while, and got so captivated with all the things that Carlos had said. You could pick up so many interesting bits of trivia about Philippine history that you will never find in history school books. And it will make you give more than a second look at Manila, and end up beaming with pride because you are Filipino, no matter how mixed up like the halo-halo we can be.
After the tour, Rosa, Mickey and I headed to SM Mall of Asia and had lunch at Jatujak. Then we went to Toy Kingdom to help Rosa look for Christmas gifts for her godchildren. It's been quite a long while since I set foot and immersed myself in a toy store, so I had quite a time checking out the toys that Rosa was considering for Martina. This one toy freaked me out, though. Aside from the lifelike dolls and interactive character toys, I saw this one monkey. The "try me" sign instructed to put the banana he was holding in one hand to his lips, so I did. To my shock, his lips suddenly moved, and it totally creeped me out because it was so lifelike. Ooooh, you toys shock me.
Anyway, today is Christmas Eve. Only a few hours to go before Christmas. Only a few more days before the new year rolls around. Year-ender entry coming up soon!
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