while half- asleep...

It’s 3:15 in the morning, Sunday, October 30, 2005. I just got back from my trip to Angeles, Pampanga for the Tigtigan Terakan Keng Dalan Festival. This was my last Intensity G trip. It’s the very last for the year in terms of coverage. No more agency from here on end. I’m glad.

There would be a lot of things I will miss with this account. Since I got transferred to a more sophisticated brand, I had to let go of this one. It’s a huge burden/responsibility to let go, which makes it a good thing I won’t be handling it for next year but at the same time I’m a bit nostalgic. Having to be immersed with Intensity G ever since I started working, I have to tone down a bit with the new brand.

Being part of the team on-ground was kinda cool. I got to travel—road or by air. I got to eat at a lot of places and tried their specialties… I got to learn about local history, culture and the people…I got to meet a lot of new friends… VIP passes at concerts ( although we never really stayed long enough to enjoy except at bars)… and of course I got to meet a lot of stars in a short time.

Which festivals have I gone to?
Bangus Festival
Pahiyas Festival
Tuna Festival
Masskara Festival
Kagay-an Festival
Kadayawan Festival
Tigtigan Terakan Festival
And I forgot the others…

Stars I’ve met along the way?

Dos Quizon
Jaboom twins (Tin and Kat and of course Mommy Rose!)
Geoff
Eigenmann
Brad Turvey (Paolo, you still owe us dinner!)
Giselle Sanchez (the woman who brought me Pineapples…)

It was one hell of a ride. Being able to be the one to close the year for Intensity G on my own gives me such pride. It was rough, but we got through, and I ‘m still standing. Though I admit there was glamour in Intensity G, I’m glad to be retiring of it. Now I’ll have sure weekends I can spend with my friends, family and Ian (who has been so supportive of me and mad at the brand for taking our weekends together away so much of the time!). It’s finally over. I can breathe easier.

Hope you guys can watch it this Friday, November 4 in Wowowee. It’s a special 3-minuter portion about 2 of the festivals we’ve covered. It’s not much, but there are a lot of stories behind those 3 minutes.
- Live like there's no tomorrow. Love like it's your last.

Priorities

Last night, i almost ruined the best thing that ever happened in my life.

I drove in silence. The radio was turned off. All i could hear was the engine running, the bustle of Makati at night, and the voices in my mind. What happened?.

I took the skyway. I have no idea why i wanted to pay that much for toll but i wanted to be home south as fast as i could. Was i running away again? Being so preoccupied talking to myself i missed the special lane for e-pass. Damn it!

I was near Sucat when he called. I let it ring... He calls the second time and i still refuse to pick it up. Breathe Shali, breathe. I was nervous... Hey, tuloy pa ba tayo mamya?

He asked me to meet up with him at Mio Mart. We still had to buy beer and some food for the night. It was supposed to be an "inuman" with our friends... A very post-birthday bash... But there was one problem. He was mad at me and i had no idea why.

I was scared to ask but at the same time i had to. There was no point in making my friends go to his house when we're having a fight. I called one of my friends and told him the situation. Then i asked him.

"Kung hindi mo alam, huwag na lang".

I sat there by the pool area clueless and frustrated. What did i fuckin do? I had an idea but i wasn't clear on the details.

Finally he confessed. Those words that came out of his mouth hurt. They were true. "I just know where i stand with you."

I've become a heartless person. It's all about priorities. When does work end and real life begin? Is it at 6pm? I took in everything he said. All the more it made me cry. I had hurt the person who's done nothing but sacrificed for me. I never even had to ask. And yet there i was in that room earlier that afternoon more concerned about work than listen to him for a brief moment.

I loathed myself. I never knew there would be a time i would let him down. I screwed it up, all because i wanted something badly.

Priorities. I almost forgot to live.

- Live like there's no tomorrow. Love like it's your last.

Bitaw

I just heard something disturbing before I left the office… “ayoko ng magtrabaho”. This coming from a person I idolized. “Ayoko na.” Hearing this from someone who was great at her job because of her drive and dedication made me scared. She’s been working here for so long, and ever since I got in this was the first time I heard her complain. Ever.

Scared. It was frightening. I suddenly stopped my worked and found myself shocked (with matching jaw dropping). In my mind I said “are you giving up?” I flashbacked to Papu. Was she the reality everyone is in and people are just scared of admitting it?

Comforting. After hearing those words, I came to realize what Ian’s been telling me, “tao lang rin yan.” Enough said, I could hear him telling me “I told you so”. Yes, he’s right, as always. I’m not the only who gets tired. I’m not the only one who gets frustrated in my department. Though being told that, and getting scared at our situation, I found myself being comforted at the fact that though I’m a freshman, I don’t differ that much from the “pioneers” of this gruesome industry.

The industry. Ah yes, the industry. I swore to myself that I wouldn’t be one of those lying sacks of b@tches. And yet here I am now. Oh please. I can actually hear the objections. Believe me, if you can manipulate client, or any other person for that matter, your one of those. Constantly surrounded by wolves in sheep’s clothing. I felt bad one time… but only that one time. The angst from work can often blind you from caring.

The angst. When you work your ass off, have a schedule worse than that from a call center and you don’t get approval from client in the end (not to mention if your client is a pain)… the angst is inevitable. If think you’re doing ok with your job but your attention has been called cause you’ve been screwing up and they think it has something to do with your personal life… the angst is DEFINITELY inevitable.

So what do we do now? Let go like Papu? Weak. Maybe we just need some venting out. Ayoko ng magtrabaho. Say it loud and proud. AYOKO NG MAGTRABAHO! But just make sure your boss isn’t around.

- Live like there's no tomorrow. Love like it's your last.

blue sandman

Welcome sandman, welcome.
On which business do you stay?
All i ask is to hear my plea--
place your blue dust on me

Deny me not such gift--
of great slumber, of restful sleep.
or ill steal from your supplier
and take it for keeps.

- Live like there's no tomorrow. Love like it's your last.

The Greatness of Gundams

If you were in a room alone with a woman… what would you do? Would you try to kiss her? Would you try to woo her? Or would you watch Gundam in cartoon network?

When a woman had a rough day, she runs to her man for comfort. The peg for this would be a woman running in slow mo to her lover in open arms with such longing. Visualize that and right when they’re about to have that blissful embrace the lover stops, lies down, and gazes on an open TV… showing damn Gundams.

But hey, a woman can’t compete with a Gundam, especially those with add-ons. They’re potential collections-- Little robots gallivanting around dimensions with their human friend that doesn’t really do anything when they’re fighting. And of course there are the jellyfish looking creatures that float in mid-air. And the triplets who talked at the same time and dressed up as robots so as not to be detected by the enemy! It’s really fantastic actually. And the great thing about it? There’s a moral in the story. That’s why you shouldn’t keep your eyes off the TV. If you don’t pay attention, you just might not get the moral ending. It’s vital. Watch.

Commercial. Time to do a little kissy- kissy. But wait! We might miss the Gundams when they fight the bad Gundam. Cartoon network has short commercials. Between building yourself up for some kissy- kissy and a commercial about another cartoon, there’s really not much time for the kissy-kissy. And what’s this? A kid who controls a robot to do good in the city? Amazing.

These are things vital in life. Cartoons freakin rock. It’s no wonder kids love them so much. You learn so many wonderful things about morals in such a creative way. Just take a look at the way they’re drawn. Details people. Details. Tsk. Some people just don’t understand.

So if you really weigh the idea of being with a woman and watching Gundams with add-ons that teaches you moral lessons in the end… you should go with the latter. It just makes sense in the end.

- Live like there's no tomorrow. and watch the damn Gundams like it's your last.

news

What differs from news of pregnancy last year at 21, from news of pregnancy now that you're 22?

Though there's only 1 year worth of gap, there seems to be less shock and fuss over the news. Was it maturity or was it a mere anti-climax from last year's news? or maybe people just thought that it was bound to happen sooner (rather than later). Or maybe people just don't mind period.

Regardless of what people thought that night, everyone was happy with the news. Even little Yco tuck away in his bed. May bago na siyang kabarkada.

It's only a matter of time that wedding bells would be heard. Another surprise maybe... or maybe not. but for now, more congratulations are in order. Baby showers, birthday, baptism and the ninongs and ninangs getting drunk and dancing like idiots again caught on tape.

The barkada's growing... not so much growing up but getting there. :)

It's always nice to know that life isn't all about work. Having known the barkada since gradeschool places me back to when life was much simpler and calm. Maybe the word should be "reminds", not so much "places". That life CAN be much simpler and calm... much much calmer...

Congrats again to the news parents ! (6months from now)... You guys will make great parents!!! at pag hindi niyo ako ginawang ninang i will rant about it in my blog... ahehehe

- Live like there's no tomorrow. Love like it's your last.

meddlesome people...

"why don't we all just get along?"

- Live like there's no tomorrow. Love like it's your last.