money matters

i feel agitated everytime i end my conversation with my mom. maybe coz our topic always centers on money. recently mama is borrowing money for my aunts and uncles and mamuy to help them rebuild the home in manila. i'd like to help but with the amount mama is asking from me, i dont think i can. the amount is kinda wayyyy over my budget, my savings even. even if i have that kind of money, it means il be starting from zero. i would have wanted to settle back home in the next months, years but if i'll be lending it, guess i'll have to stay here and save up. i asked mama, "ma, ayaw nyo yata ako pauwiin eh". musings of someone feeling anxious to go home.

i told her that i would like to go back already and i hoped to be self-reliant - not depending on them for anything. but with that, im going to be broke. every little cent il be spending, i would be asking from her. mama said "ampunin kita, pahiramin mo lang kami ng pera". eh? "di ba anak mo naman talaga ako?" hahaha

i havent said yes yet. still thinking about it. or if how much i can contribute. i feel guilty because somehow i feel that i dont have a reasonable excuse not to. buti sana if i have my own family to take care of, or a wedding to plan, an MBA education to support or any responsibility that requires financial stability.

you see, the house is already old and is basically made of wood that's already infested with termites. after consultation, they feared that a strong wind or some other force of nature might just bring it down. i want to help. but what about me? yeah, selfish me. i never forgot what my HS teacher used to say when she would ask us to donate for charity... "give until it hurts, until it hurts no more". it will damn hurt .. my pocket mostly.

till now, im still pondering how i can help. i just hope they will respect my decision and that all of us are happy whatever that may be.

modern toilet in mongkok

we scoured the streets of mongkok to look for this toilet-themed restaurant. this concept originated from taiwan (as i have read) and now in hongkong. and what do you know...

there were many people waiting in line (or maybe it's in the adjacent resto nearby?) but we took the chance of lining up in queue just to go for the experience.
we waited for a few minutes - thanks to their organized method of handing out wait cards. they have different cards for different # of dinner groups - for 2s, for 4s and for big groups. empty toilet seats, este table waiting for us.
hanging on the wall, instead of a painting, are toilet seat covers to choose from!
enjoying our strawberry-blended ice. this is good enough for 4 of us.. more even, as we didnt get to finish it. all that ice makes us wanna just open up our toilet seats and do your thing. hahaha

we didnt really ate there as we have some other agenda that night. we merely tried their snacks and this dessert. the food is served in toilet bowl-like or soap dish-like plates. experience-wise, it's a unique and refreshing one.

Modern Toilet
3F mpm building
portland street
mongkok, hk

of hk meds and docs

i've been under the weather the past days. i quarantined myself within the confines of my room. too weak to wander around and too lazy to go for a check up. that was saturday. my official bumming day. sunday, i HAVE to drag myself out of bed coz i dont wanna sneeze and blow my nose all day at work the next day. i went to the doctor in Kornhill plaza in taikoo. i waited for 1 hr. my body feeling a little feverish already. hay, this is one of those times i wish i have someone with me. first, to accompany me when im feeling weak or scared in going to the doctor. second, to do my every bidding, coz im 'sick'. hehe

anyways, so after a little more than an hour, i went inside the doc's office. he asked a few questions, told me to breathe in/out. then, im done - out the door in less than 5mins! i just wonder how much they charge for that kind of consultation. good thing it is covered under our company's medical scheme. at the doc's aid desk i was prescribed 2 meds. i was a bit surprised because usually i get a minimum of 4. hahaha

monday, i went to see another doctor, coz i felt that the meds i was given the previous day was not enough. (talk about getting "addicted" - to the thought of taking many medicines, not necessarily drinking them) off to the doc in siu sai wan. i waited less but still after a few minutes, im out the doc's office. now, i was given 5 medicines for what he said, 'common colds, fever' .. this is what im familiar. lolz.

im not really a doc/med kind of person so when i get down with anything, i feel paranoid that i wont get well. maybe it's coz i dont drink my meds?!! right.

(in the picture: clockwise, for runny nose, for sore throat(orange), for stomach acid, for fever, for runny nose)

7 wonders, pinoy style

www.new7wonders.com
ive only been recently made actively aware of this survey. thanks to watching gmanews.tv videos about the tubattaha reef. i've briefly ignored this call for voting for the reef as one of the new 7 wonders. but now i'd like to do my share. we respect the 'original' wonders of the world.. but it's about time we also recognize our present beauties. hehehe

there are other pinas wonders like mayon volcano, underground cave ? in palawan. we only have 1 vote but can choose up to 7 wonders all over the world. hope you do yours too! voting is until dec 31, 2008.

mv: hate that i love you

buddha's birthday holiday

today is buddha's birthday... holiday here in hongkong. i would have liked to visit the giant buddha in lantau but i realized that it would be crowded there. i was thinking of a leisurely travel to the island - take the 1hr ferry from central pier. then hop on the bus for another hour of travel up the buddha's location. i can take the ngong ping route, boarding the cable car but im still too apprehensive after the one too many closure directives to this tourist site. i would have trodded along the wisdom path hoping to incur more to guide me in life. hahaha i would have eaten the vegetarian meal that comes along with the entrance of the monastery. i would have climbed the 264 steps. i would have enjoyed my pictures with the buddha - my miniscule frame against its dominating figure.

well, those are just would-bes as per my research. next time, there would be real stories of my trip.

a special day for mothers

happy mother's day!

one of the most vivid, fondest memories i had with mama was during the time i was sick when i was in 4th year high school. i just got out of the hospital (first time i was hospitalized) and i was trying to recuperate at home. one time, while it was time to take my meds, i got up, walked to the living room when suddenly i blacked out. i didnt know what happened but after falling on the floor, i immediately stood up. mama and papa were there and they were shocked. so am i. (telling it to you now, it sounded funny) guess there was a time gap of a few seconds between falling on the ground and standing up again. i think i bumped my head on a nearby wall, too. haha next thing i knew, i was already in the car and mama was hugging me tightly till we reached the hospital to have me checked up. feeling her touch, her warmth, her care is just so assuring. as i have mentioned in my other posts, we're not the touchy kind of person so this gesture is mostly appreciated. i felt her utmost protection, being cradled in her arms like a baby once again. and it felt good.

now, one of the things mama instills in us is the power of prayer. when we feel happy, sad, confused or whatever state we found ourselves in, she would always tell us to pray. with any problem, situation or endeavor we are in, she would always tell us to ask God for guidance and strength. this mother's day, i am grateful for having her as my mama not just because of the good that she's done for me but also for being a blessing to other people as well.

special mention: to gewi, happy mother's day! (momi ka na talaga hehe)

household help: fridge won't cool

*sigh* another household dilemma for me. all of a sudden, the ref just won't cool. i tried to unplug, plug it again. but to no avail. i searched the internet hoping for some easy do-it-yourself fix. i found some troubleshooting guide, simple checklist on how to check why the fridge won't cool but ultimately, it would say "call a professional". summer is fast approaching and this is one appliance that will help me "keep things cool." i already threw away the spoiled food - marinated chicken, 3 cappuccino flavored ice cream, and some veggies. soon.. maybe even more. *sad face* i havent consulted a professional yet since i find it more hassle than buying a new one. why? coz i have to ask around if they know any repair guy... next, most likely he doesnt speak english. next, i heard it may be expensive too. this is already an old, 2nd hand ref so im not sure how long a repair could last. maybe a few more months?

i checked out fortress, a big appliance store here in hk, and found a ref that fits the bill (size, price). BUT it's out of stock and won't be shipping until end of may! just my luck. i know i have other alternatives... BUT im bent on this already. whether my patience in waiting, or my need to get a fridge will win. we'll see.

management 101

some words of wisdom to keep us up on our feet...

------------------------------------------------------------------
Lesson No.1

A crow was sitting on a tree, doing nothing all day.A small rabbit saw
the crow, and asked him, "Can I also sit like you and do nothing all day long?"

The crow answered: " Sure, why not."
So, the rabbit sat on the ground below the crow, and
rested. All of a sudden, a fox appeared, jumped on
the rabbit and ate it.

Management Lesson: To be sitting and doing nothing,
you must be sitting very, very high up.

Lesson No.2

A turkey was chatting with a bull. "I would love to be able to get to the top of that tree," sighed the turkey,
"but I haven't got the energy." "Well, why don't you nibble on some of my
droppings?" replied the bull. "They're packed with nutrients." The turkey pecked at a lump of dung and found that it actually gave him enough
strength to reach the first branch of the tree. The next day, after eating some more dung, he reached the second branch. Finally after a fortnight, there he was proudly perched at the top of the tree.

Soon he was promptly spotted by a farmer, who shot the turkey out of the tree.

Management Lesson: Bullshit might get you to the top, but it won't keep you there.


Lesson No.3

When the body was first made, all the parts wanted to be Boss.The brain said, "I should be Boss because I control the whole body's responses and functions." The feet said, " We should
be Boss as we carry the brain about and get him to where he wants to go." The hands said, "We should be the Boss because we do all the work and earn all the money." And so it went on and on with the heart, the lungs and the eyes until finally the asshole spoke up. All the parts laughed at the idea of the asshole being the Boss. So the asshole went on strike, blocked itself up and refused to work. Within a short time the eyes became crossed, the hands clenched, the feet twitched, the heart and lungs began to panic and the brain fevered. Eventually they all decided that the asshole should be the Boss.

Management Lesson: You don't need brains to be a Boss - any asshole will do.


Lesson No.4

A little bird was flying south for the winter. It was so cold, the bird froze and fell to the ground in a large field. While it was lying there, a cow came by and dropped some dung on it. As the frozen bird lay there in the pile of cow dung,it began to
realize how warm it was. The dung was actually thawing him out! He lay there all warm and happy, and soon began to sing for joy. A passing cat heard the bird singing and came to investigate. Following the sound, the cat
discovered the bird under the pile of cow dung, and promptly dug him out and ate him!

Management Lesson:

1) Not everyone who drops shit on you is your enemy.

2) Not everyone who gets you out of shit is your
friend.

3) And when you're in deep shit, keep your mouth shut!

what's in your voicemail?

what's in mine: only 2 saved messages. i dont know how long these messages are kept but i opted not to delete them just for the heck of it.

message 1: a friend just saying hi. <-- awwww

message 2: "TANGINA MO" <-- whatda?!!!

i always look forward to listening to my voicemail - pat myself on the back and say "someone cares". haha BUT when this kind of message makes its way thru my personal effects, can't help but wonder why.. and WHO?!!

first of all, the voice is from a guy. pinoy. (ang lutong ng mura eh) the message came in at 6:00am. he sounded drunk, with that crisp tone of voice echoing from an empty room. i have a vague idea who he might be but i dont wanna pursue it. just let it be. if he happens to be a random guy, accidentally dialing my #, well... he's just a big loser! if he knows me, vice versa, and to evict that kind of emotion... i dont know what to think. but as long as i know im not doing anything hurtful to anyone, i refuse to feel guilty nor affected by such childish act.

off to big wave bay

big wave bay is one of the few beaches in hk which you can enjoy for free. most beaches here are for public use. though devoid of any n-star accommodations, the facilities are well-kept and maintained - shower area, changing rooms, toilets. BBQ area is clean. lifeguard service is on till 6pm.

i know 2 ways to go to big wave bay: 1) via mini bus or bus # 9 from shau kei wan terminal or 2) hike up the mountain near island resort in siu sai wan. since we were looking for some adventure, we opted for the latter. we were "warned" that it takes 45mins - 1hr to reach the beach. jayson, our guide (hehehe) took us up to the "view compass" site until we parted ways. he would've just told us where to start our trek but i was too cautious coz 2 of my fwends "lost" their way up. took them 2 hrs before they reached big wave beach. anyways, after jayson left us we were on our own in this very very long plight of stairs. seems never ending at some point. there were even counters on the steps. lost count of how many there were. thousands, i'm sure! all in all, it took us 1 a lil more than an hour to traverse the path - with our pace, stopovers for picture taking. haha

soon the beach is now in sight. we were so excited. our steps now were faster, eager to feel the sand and water soothe our aching feet. finally finishing our hike... we set foot on the sand - the fine sand is soft and rejuvenating. the weather is a bit overcast with temperature around 24degrees. the water is cool, the waves, not high but enough to do surfing for beginners. hehe the place is abundant of restaurants, and everything you may need for the beach. it's convenient. even the location itself. coz a few minutes from big wave you will get to the busy city life. hopefully, this wont be the last time i'll get to enjoy the beach this summer.

pichur pichurs!

out with da gurls

since may 1 is labor holiday, i urged my fwends to have a ladies night in wanchai on april 30 night. just hang out, enjoy... the FREE drinks. here, most bars serve free drinks to ladies on wednesday nights. looove it. though im not a big drinker now, not spending on a gimik night is a blast! unexpectedly that night, there were a LOT of people in the bars, along the streets. then there's this big signage in one bar.. "welcome US navy/US military" . that's why! a lot of foreigners hanging out. maybe some ship docked on the pier and so wanchai clubbing industry is livened up anew.. if you know what i mean. hahaha well, it's HK's red light district.

we strolled in the area, hoping to find a not so crowded place coz we don't wanna be squeezed amongst those big bulky-looking beings. we tried going in "spicy fingers" first. there's live band, a place to sit. but the crowd... can't really blend in. a lil bit older. we just had one round of drinks. coz it's not free. haha we moved to "swindlers". free drinks and entrance for ladies! wuhoo .. DJ music but it's all good. danceable tunes. plus the crowd is younger. we settled here for the entire time and enjoyed dancing, chatting with other expats like us. haha didnt notice the time until the crowd got thinner. after that.. our usual ritual was to eat in "boracay" (yeah, i wish) -- that small pinoy joint around the corner where we get our dose of goto to prevent hangover. haha

here's how we enjoyed the night. pichurs pichurs!

my sassy girl, US remake

i didnt know that there will be a US version of this asian (taiwan, korea?) drama. i remembered i finished watching my sassy girl... everyone thought it was great, but i didnt. it felt short of what i was expecting. i got sooo irritated with the girl, how she makes kawawa the guy, to the point of over acting.. for me. hmm, does that make her all the more effective?

anyways, im not raring to see this US remake but it would be out of curiosity if i do watch it.. streaming, that is. haha

ghost whisperer: dead reckoning

ive been watching reruns of ghost whisperer. besides loving jennifer love hewitt, im into the supernatural (read NOT horror) thingy. the story basically revolves around melinda, who can see earth-bound spirits, talk to them and help them crossover. good thing, she has the full support of his husband, jim (yummy david conrad!) a paramedic in their small town, grandview. that's it. simple as the plot is, it is complicated by the lives of the people she helps.

at first, il be a lil scared mainly coz she has to deal with ghosts, ergo ghastly faces, morbid getups, etc. but then in the end, the story redeems itself coz melinda gets to help the spirit move on into the light. performance-wise, i would be biased coz i favor jen (close?!!) BUT there are times that her character just irritates me. pakialamera, to an extent. but who wouldn't when you have to talk to family of the dead and help them face their issues? it would be a refreshing plot when she would just have to let the situation be. not interfere with the lives of the living and dead.

i've finished season 1 and thankfully, i liked the finale. a wee bit different from the other episodes. im now into season 2, and just like the other episodes in season 1, it's "aight". came across S02E12, dead reckoning. melinda is being haunted by the spirit of person in a coma. he's trapped in this plane coz his family wont let him go -- physically, emotionally, spiritually. he has already accepted to himself that that's all there is in his life, that he's not meant to go further. with melinda's help his family came to acceptance and submission.

if im family, of course it would be hard to let go that easily. it's ok to grieve for a loved one but wallowing in that pain too long would also make it hard for the soul of our departed to move on. also, i wouldnt want to have someone to have "unfinished business" with me, vice versa. life is too short for regrets.

CARPE DIEM!

to mama

H A P P Y B I R T H D A Y!!!

i opted to text her an emo message... because i didnt have to tell it to her face.. and start to sound weepy or something. haha feels good opening up to my parents in that way. something that we're not used to. somehow, regrets of not being able to thank them, tell them we love and care for them is lessened. i'm still learning the ropes in this aspect. it's really weird how saying "i miss you", "i love you" to friends is easier than telling my family.

getting my own chucks

my very recent purchase is my converse "chucks" all-stars. most people here in hk own a pair, or at least something like it. i believe it's high time that i bought rubber shoes coz it's been ages since i last bought one. the one im using now is a nike owned by rose. pathetic haha besides being uso here, it's also cheap. i bought the leather kind, as what my fwend said. i didnt know it was that basta i went for quality and design lang. well, the price got steeper as it moves up that scale.

the next day, i had a break-in and it works well for me. took it for a LONG walk and twas all good. the following afternoon though, it rained and so i had it all wet with my denim jeans staining it with color on the all-stars logo at the back. *sigh*

jdrama: hana kimi

Hana-Kimi, known in Japan as Hanazakari no Kimitachi e (“For You in Full Blossom”) is a shōjo manga series written by Hisaya Nakajo.

Hana-Kimi centers on Mizuki Ashiya, a Japanese girl who lives in the United States. One day, she sees a track and field competition on TV, and becomes attracted to one of the competitors, Izumi Sano, competing in the high jump. She begins to idolize the young athlete and eventually transfers to Japan to attend the same school that Sano attends. There is a catch, however—Sano attends an all-boys high school, named Osaka Gakuen, and Mizuki must disguise herself as a boy to enter. The majority of the series happens during Mizuki’s second year at Osaka (from Volume 4 onwards), although her first year was significant for her being able to remain in Osaka.

hanazawa rui from hana yori dango stars as sano, the athlete whom mizuki is trying to help (or stalk). he still has the same passive emo look that you saw in HYD. i loved the dramedy in this series especially when elicited by nakatsu, sano's bestfriend. i sooo adore nakatsu! cute and funny. the way he struggles with himself... coz he feels he's falling in love with mizuki, knowing he's a guy! hahaha he refuses to believe it.. not wanting to be dubbed a fag. however, the heart has ways that you can't understand. so he admitted his liking for mizuki, in spite of the consequences.

i heard there's a taiwanese version too. abs-cbn airs the jap version while gma shows the taiwan version. just great eh?

ching ming holiday

today is ching ming holiday. one of the 2 holidays that people in hk remember their dearly departed. the other is cheung yeung, which falls on october, i think. it's the same as all soul's, all saint's day in pinas. hongkongers offer prayers and food to their dead. and when i say food, i mean, suckling pig or roast pig. a kilo i think of this cost around 400hkd. higher than previous prices. but as they said, this is a non-issue for them as this comes only once (or twice) a year.

the cemeteries are usually located atop a mountain or somewhere on higher ground as they believe that the closer they are to the heavens, the easier for the souls to move on. the view from our office is facing the cemetery and it's even higher than a 20-storey building. i'm not sure if there are buried bodies there or just the ashes. no idea.

high-tech mausoleum
saw in the news that in guangzhou, china -- to avoid getting the ashes of another dead person, they devised a small chestbox with microchips inside. you just need to scan it through the reader and wallah it displays the information. no more fighting over whose remains are who. ASTIG!

lines..

1. Minamalat na naman ang puso ko..
*** Paano kasi, laging sinisigaw ang pangalan mo..

2. Ikaw ba may-ari ng Crayola??
*** Ikaw kasi nagbibigay ng kulay sa buhay ko..

3. Uy picture tayo!!
*** Para ma-develop tayo!!

4. Kung ikaw ay bola at ako ang player, mashushoot ba kita??
*** Hinde, para lagi kita mamimiss..

5. Can i take your picture??
*** 'Coz i want to show Santa exactly what i want for Christmas!!

6. Exam ka ba??
*** Gustong gusto na kasi kitang i-take home eh!!

7. Lecture mo ba ako??
*** Lab kasi kita..

8. Centrum ka ba??
*** Kasi you make my life complete!!

9. Miss pwede ba kita maging driver??
*** Para ikaw na magpapatakbo ng buhay ko..

10. Mahilig ka ba sa asukal??
*** Ang tamis kasi ng mga ngiti mo..

11. Pinaglihi ka ba sa keyboard??
*** Kasi type kita..

12. I hate to say this but... You are like my underwear..
*** 'Coz i can't last a day without you!!

13. Ibibili kita ng salbabida..
*** Kasi malulunod ka sa pagmamahal ko..

14. Pwede ba kitang maging sidecar??
*** Single kasi ako eh..

15.Me lisensya ka ba??
*** Coz you're driving me crazy eh..

16. May kilala ka bang gumagawa ng relo??
*** May sira ata relo ko.. Pag ikaw kasi kasama ko, humi­hinto ang oras ko..

17. I'm a bee..
*** Can you be my honey??

18. Am i a bad shooter??
*** Coz i keep on missing you..

19. Naniniwala ka ba sa love at first sight??
*** O gusto mong dumaan ulit ako??

20. Mabilis ka siguro sa mga puzzle noh??
*** Kasi kakasimula pa lang ng araw ko, pero nabuo mo na agad..

21. Excuse me.. Are you a dictionary??
*** Because you give meaning to my life..

22. Bangin ka ba??
*** Nahuhulog kasi ako sa'yo..

23. Pagod na pagod ka na noh??
*** Maghapon at magdamag kana kasing tumatakbo sa isipan ko eh..

24. Me butas ba puso mo??
*** Kasi natrap na ako sa loob, can't find my way out!!

25. Anung height mo??
*** Pano ka nagkasya sa loob ng puso ko..

26. Hey, did you fart??
*** Coz you blew me away!!

27. Sana "V" na lang ako..
*** Para i'm always right next to "U"

28. Nde tayo tao..Nde tayo hayop...BAGAY tayo...BAGAY tlga tayo...

29. Ako ay isang exam...kaya sagutin mo na ako...

30. Mag empake ka...sama ka sakin....punta tayo home for the aged......
*** Kasi i wanna grow old with you......

31. Alarm clock ka ba?
*** Kasi ginising mo ang natutulog kong puso.....

32. Alam mo bang parang 7-11 ang puso ko?......
*** Kasi 24 oras bukas para sayo.....

33. Nung mahalin kita.....daig ko pa ang na traffic sa edsa......
*** I can't move on....

34. Nakalunok ka ba ng kwitis?
*** Pag ngumiti ka kc...may spark....

35. "Pag ako gumawa ng planeta, gusto ko ikaw ang axis ko..
*** Para sayo lang iikot ang mundo ko.."

36. You look like someone I know
*** My next Girlfriend

37. Ako na magbabayad ng tuition fee mo!
*** Basta pag-aralan mo lang na mahalin ako.

38. Feeling ko mouse tayong dalawa...
*** You know, we just click.

39. Excuse me, tatanong ko lang kung didiretsuhin ko bang daan na 'to,
*** O may ibang shortcut sa puso mo?

&#!(^>.....

i was signed in to yahoo chat one lazy lunch time. i buzzed my cousin out of sheer boredom (haha) i really wasnt expecting any reply since it's bed time for her. surprisingly, she did message me back... with the opening line "didnt you know you're gonna be an auntie?"

i was like... "huwattttt?!!" i couldnt believe what i read. choking on my food in my mouth i hurriedly replied. SO many things were going on in my mind. AS IN! 3 of my closest cousins were abroad, all girls and only 1 has a boyfriend.

"at sino ang may sala?!!!!", i asked. she didnt answer but went on saying "i didnt know until 2 weeks ago" i thought, 2 Weeks?!!! and you didnt even bother to tell me?!! i restrained myself from flooding her with my replies. and just waited. "i hope you wont get mad.. i love you." i was feeling nervous by then, thinking that she's pregnant. i would've called if i only have the means. that's how affected i was. "happy april fools day!" ARGH!

i felt SO stupid la! hahaha im not used to 'fooling' around people on april 1. not anymore. if i tried it here, they won't just get me. and i have to explain it pa. pathetic! haha i just joined her laughing.. this time she called me already. and rationalized that it's not april 1 here anymore. hehe well, at least she had a good laugh before going to slumber. just too bad at my expense.

**********

Happy birthday, Rona!!!