Follow That Rabbit!

Easter entry

2011-04-24T10:43:00.000-07:00

This Easter entry is brought to you by the letter U...

...and the number 1.

Hanging out with the parentals

2011-04-22T09:01:00.000-07:00

It's Good Friday, and we decided we to take Papa out for a drive around UP. That's where he studied law, and the campus supposedly held many happy memories of his youth.

Before heading to UP, we stopped at Red Ribbon to pick up a few necessities: empanada, mamon (regular and mocha), and (thanks to Mama), a slice of cake for me.

First stop at UP was right beside the law building (surprise, surprise.) Papa immediately started talking about how things had changed since he was last on campus. How, we asked? There was a vending machine selling cola on the ground floor. ...and that's it.

1 of the side streets in the UP campus. So green!

Retro architecture

We drove further down the route famously known as UP Ikot (the route plied by official UP jeepneys, passing many of the common areas on campus.) Papa pointed out a library to our left, so I decided to stop there and snoop around.

Wonderfully old and worn steps outside one of the many libraries in UP

Driving further down Ikot, we spotted the famous Carillon Tower, after which the University's official paper is named. Built in the '50s, it is, like the Oblation statue, as symbolic of UP as the Blue Eagle is of my alma mater.

Taken from the car; not a fantastic shot, I know

An unknown building across our carpark-of-the-moment

A few buildings away, Papa pointed out the campus of music's Abelardo Hall. "Ate Chi," he said, meaning to say of course that that is where family friend Ate Chi (Nancy) studied music. Ate Chi taught me piano when I was a kid. We decided this was the perfect spot to stop and have our merienda.

Abelardo Hall's facade looks straight out of a 70s movie, you'd half expect people in bell bottoms to come out of the front doors

Even the lot in front of the building had a sort of rhythm to it; the evenly spaced slots, metal poles of no immediately evident purpose, and the sign posts marking the reserved parking areas. There's one even for the Chairman of Strings and Chamber Music. (I'd love to see what that dude drives. Or wears to school.)

Of course, a trip to UP would never be complete without buying a stick of fishballs. I spotted a fishball cart near the Church, and asked Mama to get me some. She came back with 60p worth.

What 20p of fishball looks like. (Well, maybe 15p. I'd gobbled up a few already.)

We drove around a couple more times (really, three... and a half) and decided to head out. Spur of the moment we drove past Eastwood and went further down South to the Fort, and got ourselves some coffee at the Starbucks drive-through (which I hung out at in a previous post.)

Brilliant idea, I will say again

All in all, a Good Friday, indeed.

Surprise getaway

2011-04-21T12:30:00.000-07:00

I've been wanting to write about this for a while, but certain circumstances have stopped me from doing so. Tonight, well, they no longer are.

About three weeks ago, on a Thursday night, I got a surprise gift: a ticket to go to Bangkok for the weekend, accommodations included. It happened over chat: a friend, S., figured out I wasn't feeling too chirpy; he was going to BKK to meet up with another friend, A. (for work), why don't I come join them? Minutes later, I had a ticket in my inbox. Done deal.

Friday went by like a blur. And as swiftly as one can snap one's fingers, it was Saturday, and it was time to fly out.

After a strange afternoon in the Bangkok International Airport, finally arrived at the hotel that evening. Fruits were served, although they didn't seem right for eating. So I took a picture instead.

Kind of reminds you of Twilight, wouldn't you agree?

Had a couple of drinks with S. at the hotel, while waiting to hear from A. It was an outdoor scene, and the trees, the lights, the view of the city, all conspired to have a calming effect on me. Add the alcohol, the fact that I had only had a couple of hours of sleep, and me being plucked from where I had been, ...and I was starting to feel a little better. At least, feeling a lot less like who and how I'd been hours before.

The lights on the 27th (?) floor viewing area

While finishing our drinks, we finally heard from A. (At last!) We headed over to his room, and had a few more drinks ("pre-drinking", which is apparently a thing you do in India, before you go out and hit the bars.) We also snacked on this wonderfully tasty Lay's variety. I swear, it's one of the best chips varieties I've ever had.

I wish they had this flavour here!

Our brilliance knew no bounds as we three all were smokers, but with barely a lighter between us, and our matches running out fast. At least trying to get a light would be an easy way to spark up a conversation.

Three musketeers

Around midnight we headed out to a club called Bed (researched by A., believe it or not, to be one of the best/ highly-recommended in the vicinity.) The music was alright, not top choice, but nice crowd, and thanks to the boys, cost-free. I had to fight to pay for a cab (or something. I think I paid for tip at one point.) The boys took care of things perfectly. "This weekend," they said, "is your weekend. We do whatever you want, we go wherever you wanna go." What more can a girl ask for?

A., me, and S. at Bed

Happy buzz came soon, not because of the quantity I'd had -- A. argued he'd seen me drink more at homebase -- but more because I lacked sleep (really!) Sunday morning practically ran past us, especially since we crawled back to the hotel past 6 in the morning.

After noon on Sunday, the three of us went to Weekend Market to try and hunt for good bargains. Upon getting there though, S. decided to go back to the hotel (his hangover apparently was THE PITS), so A. and I assured him we'd look around for 30 minutes *tops*, and would follow back to the hotel soonest.

Sure enough, that time limit came and went, and we were still scurrying in and around the maze that was the Weekend Market, marveling at the great bargains and unusual wares to be found. Take this sculpture:

This was hand-made, and FOR SALE!

Brilliant, right? And this one as well:

Optimus Prime!

A. managed to buy (if I'm not mistaken) 4 shirts, this after saying earlier that he "couldn't imagine buying cheap shirts from the market." I bought silk scarves and shirts for the family, and wonderfully forgot to get something for myself.

Hours after first stepping into the market, A. and I wandered into a furniture shop playing the sweet sounds of progressive house. A. was practically begging the lady DJ to sell him the CD she was playing that drew us into the shop to begin with.

What's brilliant is once you walk through the furniture store, it magically turns into a cafe/ bar. Suddenly realising how slightly worn and thirsty we were (or maybe we just wanted to hang around and listen to the tunes), we decided to stay for a drink.

*The* shop

As night drew closer we reluctantly decided to head back to the hotel to have dinner and a few more drinks, with hopefully the fully recovered S. (Which he kinda was, by the time we got back.)

Waiting for dinner

Monday morning was conference time for the boys, and I was left to pack and get ready for my noon flight. They were amazingly sweet and stopped by the room in between meetings to say goodbye before I headed out, saying they'd drop by Manila soon.

My first trip to Thailand can be summarised as just too quick -- quickly arranged, quickly happened, quickly over. I'd love to go back and take it slow next time, and see the sights.

Maybe later this year. :) And in better circumstances.

Late Night Mad Tea Party (Minus the Tea)

2011-03-22T10:45:00.000-07:00

Last Friday, I met up with a former colleague Doods. We hung out at the newly opened Starbucks at the Fort (the one with the drive-through. How brilliant is that? It's so brilliant you wonder how come no one ever did it before.)

Doods and me, March 2011

Doods and I hadn't seen each other in months. The last time we saw each other was... sometime in November of last year, if I'm not mistaken. I had straight hair, and she didn't have her highlights then. (We met up to try Banchetto in Ortigas center.)

November 2010

Both times we were joined by Al, the thorn among the roses. Both times the night involved the 3 Cs: coffee, cigarettes, and (great) conversation. Only... last November, so many things held so much promise, both for me and Doods. This time around, well...

Let me say first that the highlight or at least one of the highlights was the fact that because of how late we met up, it technically was Saturday already, which made it Al's birthday. So Doods and I saw it our enormously huge moral responsibility to get Al a cake.

Tadaah!

...Or at least something that tasted a bit like cake, but more than anything, resembled something entirely not cake. This beautiful creation is a pink cake pop, stuck in the middle of a cinnamon roll. Mmm.

So as I was saying, although the great company made for interesting and at times hilarious conversation, the tone this time around was a bit darker, and the mood a little more morose. Things were just not going right in some aspects of our lives.

The wonderful crazy part is that although we all had little train wrecks in our hearts and in our heads, we still wanted to be there for one another and knew that despite our personal chaos, we knew that there was still something that we had worth giving to the people we loved. And that whatever happened, they would whole-heartedly accept the mad hatters that we all were. Things will get better. We're pretty smart. Smart like "if we had coffee houses, we would've put drive-through slots ages ago" smart.

So until the next tea party, say what you mean, have some more wine, and if you want a clean cup, just move one place on.

On a night like this,...

2011-02-26T13:03:00.000-08:00

...I wonder if I should throw my hat in the ring, or throw my hands up in the air and just give up. Accepting defeat just feels so much easier. I thought I had. I was certain I had accepted it. I thought I was certain. But the brain backpedals, and the heart tries to take the wheel and steer. So on a night like this...

"It reminded me that you were so worth the fight," an Incubus song went.

Why should it be a fight, to begin with?

4AM ramblings

2011-02-25T12:31:00.000-08:00

In the Middle (because it wasn't the Beginning, but it certainly wasn't the End yet), there was solitude. And in this solitude there was a girl who wanted to move on from where she was. Any Where and any Time than where and when she was would work; she just needed to escape. But escape gets a little fuzzy when you are trying to escape from yourself. So in solitude, escape turns into the words of a song you wrote in a dream, and Jupiter help you if that song was not the most brilliant song the world would ever hear, ever! but it is lost the moment you open your eyes and grab that pen beside your bed to write it down. The most brilliant song the world would ever hear...

In the solitude, the girl would cock her head to one side then the other, vaguely remembering her goal: Escape. Must. Find. Way. Out. But then the day would start and the day was filled with him and so the solitude falls away like a sigh. Such a sweet distraction... There was no tomorrow to worry about, no next week, no twenty years from now. Just today, this afternoon, tonight. How shortsightedness was ever thought of badly, she could not fathom; what was so terrible about just thinking of the next few hours? What movie shall we watch? Where do we head for dinner? How about a coffee and a ciggy before heading home...?

And at the end of the day, the girl would smile, content, and would want nothing more. Until she climbs into her car, and in the eerie orange light of the dash, sees a once-more empty passenger seat, and grows aware of the solitude, embracing her like a friend long unseen. Welcome back, I've missed you.

Thankful

2011-02-23T10:49:00.000-08:00

It's taken me at least a couple of weeks to even think of a "first post"-worthy entry for this new blog. Re-reading my chat conversation with a good friend earlier today, I think I've found it.

Virg: ok friend. indulge me. we need to list down things that we're thankful for today.
Me: cge let's... i like this! let's!
Virg: i am thankful for the time with akia. we drew mom, dad and her. will take a picture tomorrow. your turn
Me: i'm thankful i have u to chat w/ tonight
Virg: AWWWWWWWR!!!!
Me: ur turn
Virg: i'm thankful for friends who remind me that I'm blessed even when shit hits the fan. thank you to ma-an!
Me: i'm thankful that most of my family are so close together. mama and papa and i r under one roof, and the baby boy, bugger and charm r just nearby
Virg: i'm thankful for a short but deep sleep before going to work. partida nakapag-dream pa ako. that diony and i were possessed by aliens. LAVEEEET!
Me: i'm thankful that although sometimes i get scared of growing old alone... it only lasts for a moment, bec i think of family and friends like u
Virg: i am thankful for a mom who stays with my kid while i do my thing.
Me: yeah while u prowl the streets in your red high heels
Virg: wahaha
Me: i'm thankful that in spite of past heartbreak, and the possibility of heartbreak, my heart still believes i can find the love that i want and long for
Virg: yohoooowwn!
Virg: i'm thankful for a loving husband who brings me to work everyday.
Me: i am thankful for nico who will always give me the best advice, and who only wants the best for me
Virg: i'm thankful for bestfriends even when sometimes you hardly see them. *tear*
Me: i am thankful for my mom who still makes me packed lunch like i was still in school, and asks me when i'm coming home and stays up till i do
Virg: i am thankful for my dad who still says, "Good luck and do your best" for a job interview as if it was my first day in school.
Me: aaaawr!!!!!!!!!
Me: i'm thankful for my papa, who has never told me through words that he loved me, but i know he does whenever he tells me to eat my dinner, or asks the helper to bring me food to my room esp when i'm sick
Virg: awwww. aw. awwwwwww.
Virg: i'm thankful for a job that pays the bills.
Me: yes!
Virg: yes yes yes!
Me: i'm thankful for shelby who despite being mostly smelly and mostly wet, is unbelievably capable of making me feel loved by doing something as simple as snuggling up to me or sleeping on my foot
Virg: hahahaha! ok ok my turn
Virg: I am thankful for a group of managers that is as passionate as i am with work and shiz. Makes the job easier
Me: i am thankful that oliver has trina, because i never have to worry about whether or not he is here with us, because as long as he has her, he is home
Virg: eh si charm?
Me: teka. next line ko yan. wait lang
Virg: hahaha
Me: ok ok ur turn!
Virg: i'm thankful for warm bath water. chengenang lamig sa gabi at ang init sa hapon. weird. 2012.

...There really is a lot to be thankful for. More than just what's been said before. More than what can be said. :-)