Eve of NY 2014

It's nothing different from last year's except that instead of Shifu, I have Coco for company. 

Earlier, I was already set to prepare chicken congee and ice cream to welcome the new year but when I got hold of this beauty, all other things escaped me. It was still light when I escape to Teruel and tinker with my new toy. By tomorrow I would have already overcome its novelty and find the inspiration to whip a mean New Year's lunch. In the meantime, laze is the operative word. 

Only two hours is left of 2013 and what a year it has been. As I have posted on FB, given the chance of living 2013 again, I wouldn't change a day and the decisions I made however bad they were. I can't remember laughing and crying and talking this much as I did this year, it's crazy.

Another Mait in the House

The plan was to help me make my bat cave earn its rightful name that is a "house".

Sensing though that Mimi just got off from her last shift for the week, arriving at night on a really late bus and eating a long overdue dinner, cleaning seem to be an unwelcome activity for a first time visitor. So after a short fellowship over our rather overcrowded dinner table, we hiked the few blocks separating mom's house with mine. There were myself, KZ, Mimi and a boy cousin from Jocelyn's branch of the family tree, Joshua.

For the night, Coco slept outdoors while I took the couch, the mattress for the out-of-towners and the low-lying-table for my house-sitter. It was a quiet night dotted with small talks, "The Big Bang Theory S7 playing at the background. Before the day's activities caught up with us, we all unboxed some gifts with the 'requisite' photoshoot to remember the night by.

I gave KZ a shower gel and body lotion set, Mimi a lip conditioner and a sassy pair of socks while I got a bottle of Red.

Some Christmas Eve

Why does this have to arrive tonight??? THANK you SUNCELLULAR for making my Christmas Eve SUCK.
Read this:

"SUN ADVISORY: Good Day! This referes to your request for bill adjustment. Based on our investigation, the usage charges on your account were valid. As such we cannot grant the requested bill adjustment. For further details, feel free to call hotline 200 and email us at Suncellular@digitel.ph."

I seldom rant online but this injustice is just too blatant to be ignored. I spoke to a lot of your customer service rep face to face and they don't have a clue of how to address the issue of an FB50 subscription gone awry resulting to an unusual data usage of a customer, who has been loyal to the network and never has since incurred such a QUESTIONABLE BILL. And guess what, I was never notified via sms when the promo has expired nor there has been an advise on how to unsubscribe from the promo.

When I filed my complaint with your celshop at Robinson's Bacolod, I have never met an agent so apathetic that she only took only brief notes about my complaint. I had to prompt her many times, "aren't you gonna take note of (that) as well" so that you (THE INVESTIGATION TEAM) would have a clear idea of what really happened.

Only the technician SM Bacolod celshop made sense and for a spell I was appeased by his explanation that the data usage indeed started with your stupid promo I was so excited to try out. It was through him that I learned that the promo wouldn't even work on Blackberry which phone I have been using since I enrolled (I never used the Champ and the Alcatel that went with the subscription). Also since I had this unli BBM as add-on for my plan, he said that the promo would have been incompatible as well.

That, I believe is true because though I already received the notification about my being subscribed in the promo, I have never ever connected to FB via that service because again, it simply won't work.

I did not even include in the complaint my being billed for the BBM that I wasn't able to enjoy for three months now. Because the first time I went to your shop for help, your lady agent in SM Bacolod did not see the sense first of turning off the STUPID DATA service and turned my EDGE signal off instead.

This is the first time that ever happened to me and you never considered THAT FACT in your investigation. I even paid promptly, even if it was against what I think is right. I should not be paying for the service I did not enjoy, much less I did not get at all.

This is really frustrating. And to think that similar thing happened to a friend of mine.

My, you have to take more good care of your customers. The fact that we chose your network over the others (a decision that I am beginning to regret) should get you thinking on how to serve us well. If this is a ploy to get bigger revenue for the Christmas Holidays, it's really lame.

You have to get you agents in line. Educate them so that they may take CUSTOMER SERVICE to that level enough to make us stay with you. 

Of Books and Bills Payment Woes

How do you manage to finish a book that you find so difficultbto read?

Thank you brain.

I have been struggling the the short second life of bree for weeks now. Its another Stepanie Meyer vampire story that, after the twilight series, seem to be a poor attempt to milk that cow yet again.

A opportunity presented itself when I was tasked to pay the bill (electric) on the DUE DATE. When I got to the payment center, the building was teeming with subscribers ffrom all around the city. The seats were all occupied, there was only one fan deployed to cool the congested room.

I got my qeueu number from the guard and spied that the qeueu system monitor doesn't work. The other guard calls out a range of number from time to time ànd guide the cutomers towards the cashier. When I came in, they were serving 231-240. So I went out again to do some other errands and bought slippers for Auntie and medicines for tatay.

I had lunch before I went back to Noceco. This time they were serving 261- 270. It barely moved in the past hour that I was away. Good thing, they added another window. Still, it was already 2:30 when I got my turn. Then, I was already done with my vampire book and has already started with Chrichton's Airframe.

What irks is the lack of system. Had Noceco split the billing cut off of customers, congestion might have been avoided. Each company has different salary payout dates so assigning a due date on a weekly basis is a workable scheme.

Just my thought.

Distraction or Devotion?

That was the message in today's service at Maranatha.

I left LC late and got in just in time to take note of the first point on the projected presentation on the church wall. It was difficult not to get emotional during the final prayer and it didn't help that I brought neither a hankie nor a disposable tissue paper on my person. I was my proud self but was badly hit by these two words: hipocrisy and arrogance.

As planned, I made my way to Capitol Heights for lunch. The gate was open so I made  my way to Mait's door. There were Joshua (from Jocelyn's side of the tree), Jedyl and Mimi. It was a short affair  but enough time to cure the glue on my shoes and recharge my phone.

Mimi went out with me and Starbucks was our first stop. JD has long given up about our 2pm adventure with Smaug  so we just lazed there until Kz had delivered Avem at the terminal. We joined her at Robinson's an hour and a half later for some Christmas shopping which lasted until past five.
As there was still time to spare (risking another late night trip home), I suggested that we catch the Hobbits second installment at Rob instead.

 At the end of the day, I accomplished everything I have set myself to do for today.

Yeah, Jogie! What would you do?

I seldom talk to my neighbors so when I found one waiting for me by the gate this morning  was something  to wonder about.

And it was a big issue indeed. In the middle of the night, a neighbor spied a stranger sitting on the curb partially hidden by the coconut next to the gate, and two un-numbered tricycles (painted blue body) waiting on opposite ends of the street.The police have been informed  but as they do in movies, they arrived an hour  late.

Thankfully, that was just  an attempt. The scary part was remembering the fact that I went home to an unlit house so late from being out with Mimi and KZ and Jing2 for some RnR (I had my hair 'repaired') the night before, and that I left Coco at Mother's.

When that was over, the first thing that popped into my mind was to tell Glen about it. I sent an sms saying: Two weeks  ago, your house. Last night, my house. Attempted :burglary. Happy holidays (sarcasm)!!! To which he replied: So will you blog about it too? I said: Hahaha! Maybe. About my missing the party because of it. And most of the neighbors were aware and I wasnt. Darn! His final words being: Missing the party. What a lame ass excuse.

So anyways, I ditched the company party and arranged for somebody to clear the area of o vergrown plants. It took most of the morning to finish.' In the afternoon, I had my ceilings reinforced.

The exhausting part of it all was the thinking. Considering all things to the best of my knowledge, staying was a good call.

Maddie ° Fauce Nuptials

Weddings? I'm both excited and reluctant about attending them. The former though far outweighs the latter at the thought of reuniting with Lear friends whom I have not seen in full force in the last five years that I have been visiting annually (the reluctance stems from the program games with which I am wont to hide from finding it too childish...lol).

I had Lira for company on this trip. To get the most out of the 24 hours that Lira could afford to stay away from Bella, wetook the first flight out of Silay bound for Cebu. For this tobe feasible, I stayed the night at Patricia, spending almost half of it glued to the internet (stalking...lol).

It was the first time that we passed by the direct route to the airport from the circumferential road which surprisingly opened just this week. The cruise took only 20 minutes to complete.

We took the Opon jeep from Mactan airport like the locals do. Lira's excitement at being back was amusing. She couldn't help remembering the places she held dear like the the lab where she went to when Lear hired her,  her old boarding houses, the ferrystation...We both marvelled at the changes in the cityscape notably the new arcade which houses the same old guitar shops, the metro shop just after junk food factory and the massive construction going on on the spot where AA used to be.

When we alit at Mercado, we decided to give Ace a surprise by showing up at he door only to know that she left already. Instead, we roused Ping from her slumber and got her to have breakfast with us at Tamiya. It was both a sad and happy meeting which ended with Ping seeing us off to SM bound van terminal.

Pats and Greg were already in SM whom we agreed to meet at the department store to pick our gift. Service that day was an all-time low experience for us as the agents were so enamored by a certain celebrity couple that we waited ages before our orders were made ready. Then we have to qeueu at the cashier and wrapping sections that we decided to have al fresco lunch of grilled fresh fish just across the mall.

When we got back an hour later, wrapping wasnt done yet. And when we finally got the finished product, it was a massive disappointment :(

Our siesta indulgence made us miss Maddie walking down the aisle but ample time to meet and greet friends long have missed. What a happy afternoon.

Business + Pleasure

Four Houses in Four Nights

Bacolod had the honor of  hosting this year's seminar for Registrars around the country. It ran for three days that to spare my fragile body from travel fatigue, I included accommodation in my budget request, citing the minimum rate to have it a greater chance of being approved.

Day one (Nov. 27) - We listened to three speakers, from which I gleaned most relevant information (to our operations as a TVET institution) with regards to the implementation of K-12. Most of CHED's discussion dealt with the basis and standards in classifying, evaluating and monitoring HEIs which is good to know. As for TESDA, I already know the topic by heart.


The day ended with me watching Catching Fire and grabbing dinner at Pizza Hut with Grace and checking-in at Casa Mait for the night (spending much of it tinkering with the electronic gadgets while ingesting chips and soda)
.

Day two (Nov 28) - L' Fisher did not serve coffee that during the lunch break, I took a little trip to my favorite cafe and bought Americano for Sir Mandy, Latte for Ms. Lani and the Drip Variety with whole milk for myself. We had guests from Immigration who talked about the Policy on Foreign Students and a Lecturer (was it from Adamson or San Beda) on Legal Implications of the Education Reforms (who is a very funny man).

I had to sit through the socials and I won a sheet and pillow case for my indulgence. The program, amazingly wasn't corny, I have to say I was glad I stayed for it.

For the night, I checked in at Circle Inn with Grace and Mimi and took advantage of their swimming facilities. Their mom popped in after work and stayed for an hour for a chat and coffee.

Day two (Nov 28) - After the business meeting and before heading home, Grace and I took a detour and popped in at Cutis Care along Burgos St to get some facial. It was a late birthday present I gave her.

This time I spent the night at Lira's in Patricia Homes. I only went home to see about everybody and have a fresh set of clothes for my dawn trip to Cebu for Maddie's wedding.

Oh, what a week!

Of Hunger Games and Catching Fire

Catching Fire was met with so much buzz, it following a big first installment and now featuring big music groups as Coldplay in their soundtrack, I was compelled to join in the bandwagon. Almost always an informed moviegoer, I challenged myself to read the middle book (of three), downloading a copy online and saving it in my tablet which I always bring with me. It was shorter than Tolkien or Rowling but it took me almost a week and finished the last 77 pages on the bus ride to Bacolod on the day that I watched the movie.

Fidelity-wise, the movie did not disappoint. It featured the all the necessary scenes that can fit a 2-hour feature. Some went exactly as I imagined, a few did not (maybe in a parallel universe, I am a movie director). I especially liked how Katniss' gown transformed into a likeness of a giant mockingjay.

I like how the events were arranged and executed. They were well thought of and I couldn't help but nod my head in agreement each time they are presented.

As a whole though, the story line struck me as sick: putting 24 lives in line for the "pleasure" and "entertainment" of the minority rich. It is a place and time that no man would want to be.

Impossible it may seem but I think this is based on real events, maybe in a grander and in a much exaggerated scale. I haven't read any on Suzanne Collins so I cannot make a conclusion with just one book.

But consider this, I am a believer that we, too, are just pawns in the game masterminded by our politicians. We may not feel or realize what wedge we are in in their scheme of things but trust me, something is happening which we do not know of. The whistle blowers are our only chance in knowing the truth behind every news that we are allowed to witness. With that, like the residents of the Capitol, we can tolerate them or emulate the people of Panem who felt that they had enough and start a rebellion (aw!)

Haiyan and PDAF

Wow! Look at the time! November, so far, was beset with trials beyond human comprehension and control. With all that's been said and done, I have managed to maintain a low profile.

There's Napoles' hearing that gave birth to "Napolzoned"(read: "di ko po alam" slash I "invoke my right") which was derived from one of Ramon Bautista's coined term. There's also the matter of PDAF which SC has finally declared to be unconstitutional. Both issues were almost wiped out of circulation when Yolanda hit the nation leaving Tacloban a wasteland and kept Filipinos either united or divided.

Besides the little help that I have afforded to share, life goes on for us who were spared. Home has always been a refuge from adversities, man-made or otherwise.

The first weekend after all these found me and Jing2 dining at MO2 San Juan following a. Our impression on their good food (back ribs and chicken misono) was set back from the poor service that we got from our waitress. Apparently the only other customer in the room was THE BOYFRIEND that our menu was given to us in haste and we were given a butter knife to cut our steak with just to mention two. It was funny in a sick way that we were treated that manner and that Jing2 can be really nasty when she choose to (slapping the table with her menu...I mean, look at the big smile on that face....lol).

The Imperial Palace, Mount Kurama and Seika U

To get to the Imperial Palace, one has to go through a tedious affair of enlisting ahead of time by presenting your passport if you are a tourist. I happened to read this month's tourist guide and today is that fateful day when pre-registration is no longer required.

We were supposed to go with Mae's fellow scientist (she was from UPLB). We were a few minutes late than the agreed time of 7:30, she left a message on her apartment door saying that she went ahead of us.

The palace was easy to spot. Outside the train station, we just had to follow the direction of the throng and we found ourselves in the company of about a thousand or so like us. Most of the tourists are locals, old folks who finally got the time to explore and spend the money that they worked so hard for. The other major group consists of Koreans.

It was a bright day to be out and about. We went clockwise around the palace, passing by four massive gates (one for each side). The highlights of the tour were the view of the imperial throne, the garden and the different rooms that royals use to entertain commoners and courtiers.

After a heavy steak lunch, up we went to Mt. Kurama. It is the highest point at this part of Kyoto. Along the the maple grove, the leaves are already starting to show their early autumn colors. We just took the easiest route available to the main temple by riding a cable car up and walking back down. Even after the short walk, my right foot felt the strain already (after five days of endless walking)

Day Trip to Hiroshima

Our day at Hiroshima was a cornucopia of experience. Mae has never been there yet so it was literally an adventure. 

The adventure began at the Kyoto Subway Station where we had to run to catch our train. It was a near miss. Shinkansen's n700 bullet train has just ejected its last passenger when we arrived. Late in getting our tickets, we were assigned seats away from each other. I was seated on the left where the morning sun was that the window was closed most of the time so I didn't get to see how the other cities we passed by look like. To my right though, I saw suburb homes on mountainsides. They all look the same as the houses here in Kyoto: small but have all the comforts imaginable. Some homes ran on solar power. Sigh! 

At Hiroshima station, we had our first western breakfast since we got here: McDonald's. My sausage burger seem less appealing now that I have sampled Japan's good food. So anyways, we started our walk out of the Station towards the direction of the garden, the castle and the war memorial. We walked past our first destination and had to go back about half the distance we already covered. Shukenin garden was located in the middle of the city just behind the modern art museum. Unlike around the temples, the trees here are relatively young but all bore the trained beauty that only Japanese's "OCness" and eye for detail can accomplish. Like all Japanese gardens, this one has a pond with gazebo and bridges and ducks and koi in it. 



Our next destination was the remade Hiroshima Castle. The original structure was lost in a fire a long time ago. The rebuilt one was destroyed during the '45 bombings. Its base was made from cut boulders which is an extension of its massive double wall that was designed to come down to drown those who dare cross the moat. Now it houses an interesting collection of Katanas and Samurai helmets. Boy, samurai swords are heavy (They have one displayed inside a glass which guests are allowed to touch and lift), so is the helmet and head protector. You wonder how the Samurai used to get around or move at all. 

There's one section there where guests are allowed to dress up as Samurai or a Japaneses lady. That part was fun. That belt for the inner garment almost did not fit me...lol. I was really looking forward to getting to the bay side where Wolverine was when the A-Bomb hit Japan but the Peace Memorial took so much of our time. 

We walked past the A-Bomb dome (which stucture is the only one left standing 4 seconds after the world's first atomic bomb was detonated), the monument of Sadako (erected in honor of the all the children who died), the Cenotaph (listing of all their local heroes that died in the war), and the well manicured park located on the way towards the museum. 

Hearing of the Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombing from all the history classes that I've had from grade school to college were nothing more than just historical dates to me. Seeing the remnants of the horrors that these people or their ancestors have gone through  broke my heart. If dropping the bomb has ended the war, was it a good or a bad decision? The thing is, I would have preferred to die instantly by sword or bullet rather than to live with melted body and writhing in pain for days. Nobody were spared from the blast. Children ages 12-14 mostly suffered having been outdoors when the bomb hit the ground. It only lasted four seconds but imagine its force which wiped out the whole city and melted stone into glassy substance. How could anyone survive it? Most of the people died. Those who survived, suffered a great deal and died anyways within the day, some for a few days and longer for others. Those pregnant mothers bore children with microcephaly. And cancer became commonplace. On display were audio and video on the actual bombing, singed and tattered clothes of children, melted lacquer teacups, deformed nails and so much more. 

We walked slowly to the tram stop to get to the Hiroshima station. There we had udon with shrimp, bacon, sprouts, cabbage, squid and eggs over crepe before catching the 7:58 bullet train back to Kyoto.

Central Kyoto

Kyoto houses a thousand shrines and temples which are either Shinto or Buddhist.

Today we started with the manga museum. It was actually a big library where locals spend time to read books at their leisure. Books lined the walls on three storeys that were open to the public, mostly by Japanese authors. Comic books and superheroes from other country's were also featured in one section. And did you know that they had manga classified as for male adults and female adults only just to mention two?

No picture taking is allowed at the special exhibit featuring the four seasons of Japan with their females scantily clad in some as subjects.  After being in touch with the kids in us, we heard mass at a catholic cathedral at 12 noon. The priest was local and talked very slowly in English.

Lunch was at an eatery where they have a sushi and sashimi carousel. I finished 7 varieties (that included grilled salmon, raw tuna, sea bass, squid, shrimp tempura, etc) and downed maybe with a pitcher of hot green tea.

Then we visited Ginkakuji Temple which is a cultural heritage site. Then we walked the 2km philosophers path (stopping by a cat park) which was lined by sakura that are getting ready for their winter sleep.

Lunch was so filling, we just had some roasted chestnuts I spied in the Market on our way to Guion district (Memoirs of a Geisha). It was almost 8 and the Maiko and Geiko might have been already performing for Kyoto's elite inside closed doors. We spied two geishas in a taxi and we ran back to see where they alit and asked to get a photograph to which one (we have 'cornered') unfortunately declined.

It was another long day. We took a single van train and alit at ... where we had to walk 5 minutes to get back to our apartments. Tomorrow is another day...and more stories to share.

Flor @ 71

...shared birthday with one-year olds: Limbo (Oct 17), Prince (Oct 27) and Momo (Oct 27)

What Now? Five Point Oh Earthquake on the Richter Scale

I was taking a break from walking Cuchi (my third that morning) eating thai curry at sis when everything around us shook. Stating the obvious was our common initial reaction - Linog? (earthquake?). Then we both exclaimed, "breaker!" I dashed off to get a towel to insulate my hands but when I got to the main switch, sis had switched it off already. We both sat out the horror, confident that the roof won't collapse on our heads. It seemed unwise to expose ourselves out of the house.

The day started out alright. The only thing odd about it was my walking up so early I managed to walk all three dogs. Speaking of dogs, none of the seven seemed to sense the impending calamity. When we called in to check about the old folks, nanay was able to station herself in the middle of the garden leaving her husband inside their room praying.

We count ourselves fortunate that besides tapwater being rich in sediments, we didn't have to endure the destruction and anxiety experienced by residents of Bohol and Cebu which had it worst. Cultural heritage sites as the Baclayon Church in Bohol and Sto. Niño in Cebu were not spared. Their massive structures did not stood up to the sheer pressure of earth's crust movement.

It is a relief that all my friends in Cebu are doing well, anxious at every aftershocks but nevertheless safe.

GRAVITY

A favorite comedienne, Sandra Bullock, took on a serious role as a bio-medical engineer, Dr. Ryan Stone, sent to service the Hubble. The mission went awry when they got hit by showers of debris from a missile strike which started a domino effect, killing their shuttle crew and hurtled her into space for a spell. Her mission commander, veteran astronaut Kowalski played by the debonair George Clooney, rescued her from an eventual death so early in the film. Kowalski provided Ryan motivation to survive while jovially resting in the thought of bagging the record for the longest spacewalk even if it were his last.

Close to giving up all hope (I would, if I were in her place. Her frustration in putting out a fire inside the ISS, disentangling the craft from a parachute and  understanding manuals in Russian and Chinese was contagious.)  to the point of asphyxiating herself inside the Chinese space station, memories of Kowalski's words jolted her awake and brought back her will to live. She faced her greatest fear, landing the craft, which her simulation sessions always ended in a crash.

Stone lived to breathe earth's atmosphere again, swim across the lake and walk (on wobbly legs) on the sandy shores.

Except for the three times that power went out and the guy sitting across the aisle from me (who talked on the phone apparently to his boss with an irritatingly loud voice), I have one word for today's experience with Gravity: "gripping."

From the moment when the "action" started, I was rendered immobile in my seat, holding on to the armrest for dear life. Did you ever had that dream where you face something scary or threatening and you struggled to get away from it but felt like you didn't move at all? Well, the weightless movement of the character/s in space looked dreamy. It was almost like I can feel what she felt at that time, that when she finally walked on earth, I echoed her sigh of relief.

Like the protagonist, I, too, took a solo flight (inside SM cinema).

Learn some. Teach some.

How many times have I told myself that I'm no longer up for more upgrades? It seems though that I have very little say to the matter and it's ironic how I can't say no to circumstance. Maybe, deep inside I'm still rearing for some challenge and unknowingly lies in wait when opportunity comes.

More than the madness of getting to understand the lure of cryptic ism (to THE singular entity whose enigma ruffles me so), that rush of joy at an accomplishment is something that I found interesting in my sedate existence of late. Not that I am getting bad at what I do routinely. It is the pride of hurdling a seemingly insurmountable obstacle that brings renewed excitement; a potent distraction from the baser facts of life.

And so began my quest in the almost forgotten path of html when little brother broached the topic of a niece needing help in web development. The task entails creation of a simple site from scratch; make use of links; no templates.

The online tutorial helped a lot but a sharp eye from an experienced programmer did me well in finding that missing slash or logical symbol to get the site up. Besides html, I did a little photoshop on the side (again to no avail) and used the versatility of powerpoint to design my background images.

As I was pressed for time (I was in a meeting for four hours), KZ did the links as well as text and background formatting, after I copied and edited some texts online.


Three things I gained from this project: learning a hosts of tags from KZ, teaching her how to understand positioning conventions (boy, I was so glad), and helping somebody complete a school requirement (hahaha).

Good day, indeed!

Delight

It's one of those days when spontaneity and great desire push you to do things that are beyond normal. It has been three days already when the "barako" grounds JM got me from his birthday in Manila ran out. I had to make do with (chos!) kopiccino and Nescafe gold until I got my stash replenished.

After a brief affair that was breakfast, I was on the bus by 9:15, reaching Starbucks just in time for a cup without feeling too full for lunch. For my free beverage (after successfully registering my Starbucks Card online), I had espresso frappe for Grace and bought a hot Ethiopian blend (with whole milk) for myself and a bag of Dark espresso roast to tide me through the days away from the big city.


When it was time for lunch, to Chalet we went for some "kansi"  And since it's not their specialty, it would be unfair to compare it to Sharyn's. (The place was so hot as a portion of it is being prepared for a kiddie party that afternoon.