malamig na impiyerno

Hindi naman ito kasing seryoso kagaya ng pinapahiwatig ng title ko. Pero ganito ang araw araw na nararanasan ko sa buwiset na opisina ko. Pasensiya na kayo kung punong puno ng emosyon ang post na ito, inis na inis lang talaga ko. Kailangan ko lang ilabas ito, kaysa naman bigla akong magwala dito.

Attack of the Series II: Good Show, Good Times

Writing about TV shows took me back to memory lane when eks, PJVP, and I were excited every night to watch the latest season of 24 on DVD. Since eks was the busy one, PJVP and I would wait for him to come home (when he used to live beside my place) because we didn’t want to start without him. And for every time he chose work (*wink*) over watching with us, telling us to watch the episodes without him, I’d feel bad, but I’d watch it anyway. haha.

We’d watch it until 2 or 3 a.m., not minding the lack of sleep and the long day of work the next day. We’d watch it while eating our favorite foods (drive-thru fastfoods hehe), or preferred watching than eating (well, not really). Heck, we’d watch it even if my player breaks down from long hours of playing—and it did break! I remembered the three of us panicking because the player broke at the middle of a very exciting scene (almost all scenes were exciting) and tried everything to fix the player. But since it had no heart and wouldn’t cooperate, we decided to finish it on eks’ 14-inch LCD computer (good thing it has good video cards), trying to do all we can to make the sound louder and to make the 24 experience better.

But is there something better than watching a good show with good friends and loved ones?

Good times!

Attack of the Series I: My Monday-Night Show

I missed wanting to go home before 9 p.m. every Monday night to be on time for Charmed. Although I know that I can watch it on DVDs, there’s still something exciting about scheduling your time to catch your favorite show and doing everything to fit the TV show on your schedule (not finishing work, not attending parties, not talking to anyone hehe). This I did for a long period, I guess to have something to look forward to every week.

But there are other TV shows that I had to refrain myself not to watch on TV, not because I hate the show but because I love it so much! These are the shows that one episode is a big NO CAN DO, these are the shows that make me want to go home early (around 4 p.m.) and sleep early (2 a.m.) hehe. These are House, 24, and Naruto.

Just last year, I decided to watch Friends to, well, make me smile before I sleep, and true enough, it’s a very funny show. I watched several episodes every night when I come home from the office until I finished all the seasons, even my mom got hooked with Rachel Greene and Ross Geller’s long and winding love story.

Lately, I’ve “discovered” the three CSIs, and I watch them every time they’re being shown on AXN or Foxcrime, usually CSI followed by CSI Miami. I think they’re not the latest seasons, but they definitely are new to me. I do not go home early nor decline attending a party for these shows yet, but my time at home is better spent watching them than any other shows in their timeslot. I found the technological advancements of CSI fascinating, making me wish we had an agency like that here (or do you think SOCO qualifies?). Similarly to Jack Bauer and Gregory House, I admire the cunning brilliance of the agents: They can tell what the last meal of the dead victim was or the weight loss pills that were mixed to sedative that created a deadly chemical reaction. That insatiable hunger for knowledge and obsessive search for truth are attitudes appealing to me.

I’m also starting to watch Numb3rs. I’m never good in math, but sometimes I feel I understand the complex equations explaining or predicting a circumstance or person’s actions. Oftentimes, I pretend I understand. hehe.

someone like him…

Two nights ago, I dozed off while listening to CNN. I don’t usually watch CNN as I am more interested in local news, i.e., happenings in my country, but I wanna experience the festive mood of America, even on TV. It’s been such a long time when Filipinos got together to celebrate as important an event as Obama’s inauguration. The only events I know where there are so many people, some of whom were allegedly paid, were when Filipinos were exercising mob rule. haha!

Anyway, while I was half awake/half asleep, I’ve been thinking of how it’s been too long since we have our own Obama. Of course, he still has to prove himself, though his speeches are impressive. But the real magic was that he was not only the President of the United States, but also a symbol of many good things—hope, courage, change.  In fact, he can be all things good, as Americans referred to him as a symbol of so many things.

It depressed me that the closest thing we had, and I believe someone better, was long gone, assassinated in our national airport in broad daylight. I was barely a year old when he died, but he has become a legend in our history, a national hero.

He had the eloquence and audacity to gather solid support for anti-martial law groups. He had the youth and charm that captured Filipinos’ heart. He had superior intelligence that questioned tyrannical rule. He had the courage to fight the tyrannical ruler. He had the nationalism that allowed him to leave his family in the US to return to his struggling country and die in his land.

I believe he could have been our Obama. He was not just a leader, but an inspiration to all, especially the youth. He could have changed the face of Philippine politics and government that up to now are being haunted by incessant human rights violations, crimes, and corruptions. Ultimately, he was not only a person, but a symbol. A symbol of hope, courage, change, and everything that is good.

We have two “leaders”: those with charisma but no reason and those with reason but no charisma. Is there someone like Ninoy?

candle burning, candle burned

While driving on my way home, the car engine, without warning, suddenly stopped. It was at N. Santos road in front of Puregold here in Paranaque. Good thing it was traffic because it was less likely that an accident may occur. Dad took over and tried starting the engine again, but it just wouldn’t. Mom and I looked for someone who would help push the car to jumpstart it. We were at a very busy street, and we had to make the car start or move it.

Fortunately, Mom approached an already leaving tricycle driver from the Puregold parking lot, and without hesitation, the man left his tricycle immediately near the entrance of Puregold to help push the car. Very kind. He pushed the car alone while Dad tried to jumpstart it. I couldn’t help because I was wearing high heels (damn high heels). He was really thin but he could push the car alone, although not as fast as it needs to be pushed. Meanwhile, Mom and I were looking for another one to help push the car when Mom saw three employees from Puregold who just left work. From this group, one man volunteered to help and let the other two already go home. How nice, the Filipino concept bayanihan is still alive.

So, in the busy street, they were pushing the car back and forth because there’s only a short distance between where we stopped and a construction in the street (the government never runs out of road to repair), only stopping whenever the trike driver leaves to check his trike and belongings or to move his trike nearby. After a while, the Puregold employee told Dad to turn to the Puregold parking lot because we might be towed. From there, Dad and the two tried to jumpstart the car again until they reached Unioil, in front of Multinational Village. Dad decided that he would just park the car and wait for it to cool down. The trike driver immediately said goodbye and was already walking away when I called out to him. We gave him a little money that he would have earned if only he wasn’t helping us. I am really grateful to him. The Puregold employee, hearing that Dad gave something to the trike driver, immediately said that there was no need to give him anything. Mom expressed our gratitude to him, and he said, “I would want others to help me too when I need help,” wow, the golden rule. I said my thanks and bid him goodbye, then he left.

Then we met someone opposite the two.

While Mom and I were busy thanking the two, Dad was busy convincing the Unioil staff that we’d only stay for a while, that we’re just waiting for the car to cool down—this happening in only a few seconds after we parked. We were parked at the side of Unioil, near the fence dividing Unioil and Puregold, not the side where there are stores and car services. I asked for a mechanic, he looked for it, but the mechanic was already gone. He then insisted that we should leave. Duh? Can’t he see the car won’t start? At first, I was annoyed by him, but then I realized that he was only an employee there. He said, “there’s our operations manager, and she doesn’t want you parking here,” pointing to the lady wearing a hat near the gasoline truck unloading fuel. My parents were convincing him that it would only take a few minutes when the gasoline boys and other staff were approaching one by one. Mom told them that we’d speak to their manager, who was just 15 meters away, to let us stay for a while, so they’d stop bugging us.

By this time, I was already annoyed by them nearing us and watching if we’d already leave or not. They have a large space, and we weren’t disturbing any of the gasoline activities. I remembered one time when I was alone and my engine suddenly stopped at Petron Macapagal (not this car). The gasoline boys were so nice to offer to help me move the car to their parking area, and they never asked me to leave. Petron Macapagal is a far more busy gas station than is Unioil Multinational.

Thus, Mom approached the manager with a smile and asked her if she would just let us park for a while. The manager, without a trace of amiability in her face, said that our vehicle would be blocking the gasoline trucks once it leaves, which until we left was still unloading fuel. Upon immediate and longer inspection, we were in no way obstructing the gasoline truck’s or any other car’s way into and out of their gas station. As there is a Jollibee in the gas station, Mom said that maybe we could dine at Jollibee. Voila! She allowed the car to stay where it is, no need to move, as long as we eat at Jollibee. I thought we were blocking the way?!?

I was irritated why mom would say that we’d eat at Jollibee, but I understand. The manager did not look obliging at all. We walked back to the car, and I told mom I don’t want to buy anything from Jollibee, that it is so selfish of them not to let us stay, and that gasoline stations should let vehicles stop over.

Mom told Dad that we should go to Jollibee, but Dad said we should just wait a few minutes, and the car may start already (hence, no need to eat at that fastfood). I also want to wait. And in just 3 minutes, the Unioil staff were again approaching one by one. They were not speaking, but acting as if they’re waiting for us to leave OR eat. Grrrr!

Despite my disapproval, my parents said we should just stay at Jollibee and grab something to eat. I said I am not eating anything lest I succumb to their capitalist and greedy nature. My parents felt compelled to buy something from the fast food chain. Of course, we don’t want our car to be towed. Perhaps sensing my fury over the situation, my mom ordered just fries and 2 peach mango pies. After my parents finished eating the fries and even before the pies were served (it took long!!), Dad went to the car and tried to start it again. Good thing it already did because I felt I’m about to explode. Mom took the uneaten pies and we left.

As regards social stratification, there’s an undeniable difference between the manager and the two guys. As regards morality, there’s a remarkable difference. Be the judge.

Update (January 20, 2008)

A Unioil representative has already responded to my complaint and has read this blog. He apologized for the bad experience I had with one of Unioil’s gas stations, which he believed was an isolated case. He also assured me that this behavior will not be tolerated and that due reprimands will be given.

He would like to set up a meeting with me to “show our sincerest apology and a chance to make up for our mistakes,” but the company’s apologies and assurances are enough for me. I am hoping that this negative experience I had with Unioil ends with me.

I would like to thank Unioil for the quick response to my feedback.

techie is the way to be

People say I’m very good in computers—when I was in grade 4. I used to go to my mom’s office and play with her computer, learning by myself Wordstar and Lotus 123, among others. I learned no-look typing, but not the proper way. Computers were rare then because they’re insanely expensive. I stopped going to my mom’s office every afternoon, preferring to watch daily cartoon shows, and only had my own PC when I was in 2nd year high school. By then, I already lost my interest in computers and other techie stuff. This was aggravated by the lack of good computer teachers in my high school, teaching MS DOS when Microsoft Office was already the mainstream. Thus, I became semi-computer illiterate. And by the way, I had my e-mail address only when I was in 2nd year college because my professor accepts reports only on e-mails (thank you, sir!) and learned navigating the net only in 3rd year college. I am so behind technology.

Last year, I was almost hired by a large multinational company if only I had background on SEO and some other programs, as the HR manager said. I would have lied that I know these programs if only I’ve heard these words before. I couldn’t fake it. haha. There were also other good opportunities that I missed because of lack of IT experience. Web is the future, with a strong presence now.

With all these said, I realize that I should equip myself with IT knowledge. I envy those people who know a whole lot about web developing, Java, C++, and other programs that I only know by name. I think these people are cool, wearing USB necklace and bringing their laptops and superiority everywhere. If I could self-study, I would, but it seems too complex for me. Hence, I decided that I should take a short course on web developing (do tell if you know a good school). It’ll be good for my brain and, more importantly, for my resume. haha.

s-e-x-y

Would you look at that? Confident. Sexy. Defiant. Not your typical woman. I’ve seen her in shirts and gowns, and she wears them all with style and elegance. I bet she can wear a lingerie in photos just because she wants to, and it would look good on her. Most gals do not have that perfect figure (or that anorexic body type), but the way she carries herself says how anyone, ANYONE, can be sexy if she thinks and acts that she is. Attagirl!

dear eks,

if you’re reading this…

 I’m just kidding. But you really are a  great writer and life’s lighter when you’re around. So, I want you to rock on…

 and continue having…

fun with  us (with or without beer!).  Celebrate life, and I wish you a rockin’…

our little princess

For 1 month, my family and I have been blessed with the presence of my niece Keng and her parents (see post about their coming home) for the holidays. And as all vacations go, all of us wish they could stay here for a few more weeks, but they must go back to Qatar for work or else lose their jobs (sounds good to me… hehe).

During vacation time, all of us, young, very young, and old, were competing for Keng’s attention and who gets to carry her, play with her, etc. I guess all of us want to be remembered by this almost 2, cute, and sweet toddler and to be adored by her. With much evidence (and bias), she adored me the most!

Since she’d stay here for only a month, all of us maximized all the time we can with her, making and cherishing memories. I took many, many pictures (consuming most of the computer memory!) of her every move, smile, and giggle so that we’ll have these pictures to look at while waiting for her to come back next Christmas. Also, I want her to know when she grows up that, although she’s away for most of the year, we all love her here in the Philippines!

She likes apples! With every food, she gives a little of that food to the person holding her first before  eating. Such a sweet, sweet girl!

 Keng watching cartoons intently in my bean bag

Like her ninang (me), she likes to sing!

I cannot emphasize enough how much she enjoys bubbles. My litte cousins and I blew bubbles to make her giggle. We attended a children’s party a few weeks ago, and there was a bubble machine there! She was so thrilled!

Keng watching the bubble approach her face

with tito eric (our cancer survivor) watching over her

me holding her coz she always falls downs laughing!

the bubble/laughter machine

They’ll be leaving for Qatar tomorrow midnight. Darn, i miss her already. Well, I guess I just have to wait until next Christmas! Au revoir!