Live Life to the Fullest!

Literally. I walked about 20 minutes from Cubao to kamias. I have just come from dorm and thought of riding a bus to the terminal. The conductor when he shouts out Cubao, elicited auto response from me. I almost forgot that it is not yet the terminal, or I am not so sure. I always ride bus directly from Makati to Bulacan. But it was early so there are no buses yet traveling from Makati. My option is a bus of Noriel GERMAN that is stationed in Cubao. The place is so crowded. And I did not realize that I should not have went down. With my right hand, the guitar I bought for our youngest sister.. ON my left my shoulder bag and my umbrella. I was narcissistic I was looking and observing myself from the glass windows of the line of stores that I passed through. At first, I looked so ridiculous. I am wearing a formal pants and black blouse, and thank God I chose to wear my white gladiator sandals. My get-up is  too beautiful to be walking on the sidewalks with the various personal effects. I almost am free all day, I missed home and went to Church morning, it would not be difficult to get home before lunch. The sun’s light is not yet so hot, it is just 9 am. I walked and tried to find the bus terminal of NORIEL. Then when I reached Kamias Road, I had to realize that I really went into the wrong direction. SO I stopped walking and tried to wait for a while. I now saw buses of Del Carmen from Makati. But maybe it is better if I ride Balagtas. I was so still until I saw the white liner.

Well, here’s the lesson in  this story. If I did not stop, I would be walking under the flyover where the right bus usually passes. It would be too late for me to catch up with it if I crossed the intersection. Meanwhile, I stopped walking, and waited some more time until I saw the right bus. I had to walk few steps before the bus goes up the flyover but walking back served the purpose. I  happened to be on the right bus.

Life is like that. Sometimes, we plan ahead, sometimes too much,  and we just leave unintentionally or abandon what is yet to come that would make us feel really safe, and happy and contented. It takes only a little time of waiting before the right one comes. It is choosing between waiting some more minutes, or starting a new adventure or trail that would eventually consume us more time, only to end up wrong on the second option. Sometimes, the new trail we plan turns out to be wrong, but because we did not perceive them to be failing, it was already to late for us to know because the right one already passes by.***

The hate intended for you

Has become hate for thyself

If love is about being one

Has been this love still I felt?

IF I could turn back the time
I would not do it
I would not come to you
I would not kiss you
I would not embrace you

IF I could turn back the time
I would rather have them the same as the other
Friendship and nothing more
I would rather have it non-committal
Fun yet not so attached

IF I could turn back time
I would choose people
I would limit those whom I gone  in contact with
I would have not met you then
I would not have this endless waiting

IF I could turn back time
I would have not believe any of your words
I would not have confided the things which are important to me
Because letting you know them, and you failing to fulfill
Just create so many expectations unmet.

IF I could turn back time
I would rather have been strict to my ideals
I would have just waited longer till I have what I longed for so long
I would have been more intelligent not to easily give up on lonesomeness
IF I could turn back time.

Our Saturday does not end at the Food Court. Right after, we proceed to the Movie House. It is Ate Mayet and I’s routine whenever we’re in the Mall to watch movie. We chose District 9, a sci-fi about an alienologist who would serve the eviction documents to Aliens that reside in District 9. I did not like the movie at first because of the hodgepodge of people speaking. it is actually a documentary type of movie. But knowing Peter Jackson who also gave us Lord of the Rings, I am sure that this movie has a lot of substance in stored later. The movie builds up when the protagonist acquired the virus that turn him slowly to Alien. As he was struggling, the action unfolds. I particularly do not like the Russian Antagonist who later would pursue him like Geoffrey Rush in Les Miserables pursued Jan Val Jean. He is such an effective villain, however. But he reminds me a lot of this Russian woman who sopla me during my last interview.

The lead character would be struggling to slow down his transformation but till the film ends, they were not able to stop it. He was able to help the alien scientist though to go to the mothership and leave the earth. The alien with his son promised that they would come back after three years. The main lead became an alien. But he does not lose his human memory. His wife would receive improvised flowers on their front door, and she would always think it coming from him. The people did not know what really happened to Wikus Van de Merwebut the audience know that he transformed completely to a “prawn” how the movie called the aliens in District 9.

The film ends at around 8:00. We still have time to catch the Pupil on their mall show at the Entertainment Plaza. I happened to really wait for this time to come since I have been wanting to see Yani Yuson in person. I know he is the brother of Sponge Cola’s Yael who to me seems to have a more appealing personality because Yan is usually the silent type. We never were able to watch them sing. I just bought a CD so we can go for autograph of the band.

WENDELL is the total shocker. He is so kind. I don’t know him that’s why I asked for his name. Maybe, his friendliness is highlighted by Ely’s demeanor.

Dok is the antipatikong mabait.

I never even plan it. Here I am today at the Mall’s foodcourt to taste various foods sold by specialty houses. Maybe this experience will put some spice on my usually boring weekend.

I did not take lunch at home. I told my mom i am going to the foodcourt because they have there free food for bloggers. I saw a hint of amusement in her eyes with the idea that the foods were free. Moreover, i did not intentionally eat to have my tastebuds more sensitive.

Stephen is very amusing while he introduces the participants. For one, I saw some familiar faces like Madz from PGB and few SM managers which I met few years ago during Linggo ng Bulacan activities.

The first in the row is Aling Lucing’s Sisig. Sisig is one of my usual favorite ulam. I liked it spicy. I even attempt to cook once at home but it was overcooked and tostado. Aling Lucing’s sisig product is the exact thing to eat. The pork are just heated perfectly. The mixture in the sizzling plate has a fair combination of pork flesh and fat. Mayet comments: “Nasasarapan ako dito sa sisig.” It may not be as spicy as what I want but it has the flavor that bursts and melts as we chew. The onions though probably won’t do with dogs… OOps, the calamnasi is late but was rendered to us by the server before my plate is up. Mayet’s plate is already empty.

I am a liempong Bocaue fanatic. This time we were offered food by Baliwag Lechon. I have tasted them in the past. So my problem is to determine if they taste differently at the mall =D Definitely, it is to be the same. The liempo is presented in a concave plate with already sauce put on it. Consumers will better prefer the sauce and liempo presented separately because some consumers like tomato sauce, banana catsup, or the liempo sarsa. On a scale of 5, I rate Baliwag Lechon on their liempo 3.5. Nothing still beats the liempo sold in Bocaue!

Another favorite of mine has been served. Pusit, in its Inihaw Express version. It is not adobo, but grilled. The sauce, spicy, gives the excellent taste and aroma. It smells good, it even tastes better when accompanied with the sauce. The sauce is maanghang, maasim, and sweet too. The perfect taste for FIlipino tooth. I will highly recommend the inihaw na pusit of Inihaw Express. On a scale of 5, it’s five.

I was expecting that Kusina ni Gracia is going to offer us the sinigang na baboy. We were offered a strange dish that tastes like afritada na maanghang at may green peas. Mayet says it looks like menudo. It would take a while before we finally know. But for those who like pulutan, this definitely is a go go. Just ask in Kusina ni Gracia counter, menudo or afritada…. Wait…. The server told us what kind of dish it is. Calderetng baboy. Obviously, we’re not a fan of kaldereta. I give this food 3.00.

My stomach is already full. But we’re not yet finished. I gaze at the Venue, we are ten participants. They’re all busy with their blogs. And I am just calming off. My stomach is really pihikan but so far so good…. I will have to post the pics later.

The Chansel pizza elicits different response from me and Mayet. Mayet decribes the pizza as actually dull. She compares the crust with 3M’s. She notices the cheese as not mozarella. But to me, it just tastes fine. Few years ago, I remember few friends laughing at me when I bought a nameless pizza at Uniwide Sales. To me, it does not depend on the brand but on the ingredients used. As long as the pizza is sweet, it is okay with me. Anyway, the brand is Eurobread Chansel, European huh! It has mushroom, and pineapple bits. Just perfectly what I wish the pizza must be. Mayet’s rate is a low 2. Or -2??? I give it a 3.5. =D The SM Staff and officials might not invite us anymore on their next blogger’s event.. We are not kind critics. But honestly,the pizza tastes good to me. Mayet is just simply hard to please.

But wait, I must not forget the shake drink that we were given before the actual food tasting. Maybe they served it as appetizer. Kapelicious is a coffee shake. Masarap siya, it would not lag behind Starbucks Coffee.

Thank you SM! Thank you Sheryl!

My name was drawn on the lottery. I actually won a Fine Ebony Eepc 1000H courtesy of Smart! Thank you Smart! Thank you Sir RC with your lucky hands. =)

My Other blogs:

www.almarosehernandezroxas.blogspot.com

www.arroxas.multiply.com

My attachment to this dog is so deep. Two years ago, I adopted him as a self-therapy. He was just two months old then, but the golden color of his fur had been already visible. My disposition was, maybe this new dog would teach me new things. I wanted to prove then that even at my lowest point, I could still care. This dog filled up my darn days. It were the difficult days in my life because I have not yet recovered from the tragedies and crises. And being with this dog just gave me a sense of contentment and peace within myself. I liked giving him food, I enjoyed cleaning his fur from the bites, cutting his nails and definitely enjoyed bathing him. He was a cute little dog who likes to bite my slippers. One casualty from his stupid teeth was the cord of my 20,000 plus pesos worth foot massager. I could not help myself to get mad at him because he really cheered me up. He had become my friend and ally, and companion.

Last week, Thursday, I suddenly noticed his disappetance for food. He was not actually eating the food I had given him. So I decided to let him loose from the belt thinking that it had been the reason why he was lethargic. The same thing happened on Thursday and Friday. On Saturday I already was alarmed. I did not notice until Saturday that he actually lose weight. It was too late when I had brought him to the Vet on Monday.

I will miss my dog. In fact, just now, I do. He is my ally and companion, daily, in my worst and best days. I don’t think there’s something else that can replace him. To me, he is a symbol of something very important. And loosing him after two years just create a lingering pinch on my chest.

I have always been a victim of other’s misperceptions. Sometimes I ask myself if I am just in the wrong place.

Misperception 1:

Not because mukha akong tanga ay tanga na ako. I grew up in a sheltered way. From elementary until I graduated in college, my life had revolved around school, church, home and later my partime college work. I never had been into gimmicks, the what you call night-life of my fellow students during those days until college where UP education taught liberal ideas. For a time I had been addicted to feminism and activism. Until now, it will be evident in me at various situations. Because of this quagmire of values, I tend to get lost. Might need a “firm base” to clear all these confusion.

Misperception 2.

Not because mabait ako, ay hindi ko na kayang i-descern ang motibo ng ibang tao sa akin. Few people have seen how I was when I am angry. You would not wish to see that. I can discern what people really are by just looking through their eyes and their actuations, gestures and non-verbal behavior towards me.

Misperception 3.

Na lumaki kami ng mga kapatid ko sa luho. That seems to be not the case. My parents seldom brought us the things we need. They had taught us simplicity. Naaalala ko, noon when I was in elementary, nagtitiis ako sa isang pudpod na pencil dahil I was too shy to complain to daddy and ask from Mommy.

Misperception 4.

Not because I am not speaking it out means I already agree. I have friends in every walks of life. I refrain to speak out for fear that I would hurt feelings. Is this consideration a curse or luck? I know that we need to tell the truth. Yet, we need to know the timing as not to offend. But not because I don’t react with what you’re saying that I already agree.

Misperception 5.

Not because I look so favorable, i can tolerate skinny-dipping or childishness. I never like superficiality or kababawan. Sa bahay, when my siblings and Mom acted childishly, my day usually turns bad. Maybe because, I want to do it too and I could not.

I am writing with my left hand…And I wonder if by doing so, something will change on my perspectives.

Occasionally I have to go down so I can feel myself. Go down to feel some pain, anxiety and difficulty which unprivileged people feel. I had to make it deliberate so that I could attain a state where I just feel like them. This is necessary. For the sake of art? Maybe. But it’s more of making oneself not forget what one had been through all these years.

When we understand ourselves, we realize what our purpose is to be.

To be or not to be? - Shakespeare

Tabing Kalsada

Mahirap maglakad sa tabi ng kalsada. Kahapon kailangan kong maglakad suot ang aking mataas na takong. Hinahanap ko ang lokasyon ng kapilya sa Guadalupe bilang paghahanda sa aking napipintong paglipat-bahay. Malakas ang ulan habang naghihintay ako ng traysikel sa Barangka Ilaya. Sumakay ako ng Bus mula sa Istasyon ng MRT sa  Ortigas  ngunit lumagpas ako sa dapat kong binabaan. Muli akong sumakay ng Bus at binaybay nito ang tulay sa pagitan ng Boni at Guadalupe. Sa Cubao ako ay bumaba para sumakay ng Bus pabalik para sa ikalawang pagkakataon. Sinabi ko sa konduktor ng Bus na ibaba niya ako bago mag-tulay. Malaki ang pagkakaiba ng siyudad sa probinsya. Muli akong lumagpas sa Tulay at kailangan kong maglakad pabalik. Nagalit ako sa konduktor ng Bus. Nakakunot ang aking noo habang bumababa ako ng sasakyan. Pagod na ako at masakit na ang aking mga paa. Puti ang aking sapatos at nangamba ako na baka marumihan ito sa aking paglalakad. Walang taksi na papunta sa direksyong iyon. Habang nilalakad ko ang tulay ng Makati, may isang sasakyan na mabilis ang takbo. Tumilamsik sa aking binti ang maruming tubig sa lubak. Umuulan pa noon. Mabuti na lang dala ko ang aking payong. Nagtanong ako sa pulis kung paano makakarating sa pupuntahan ko. May binigay siyang dalawang paraan. Una ang sumakay ng bangka, at ang ikalawa maglakad pabalik sa tulay. Pinili ko ang ikalawa. Ang ganda ng aking damit para maglakad nang ganoong katagal sa tabing kalsada. Mahaba ang aking binaybay.  Walang masakyan na traysikel. Naghintay ako sa tabi ng pabrika hanggang alas-3. Malakas ang ulan at masakit na ang aking paa. Naawa ako sa aking sarili.Alas-3 na ay hindi pa rin ako nakasakay. Napakadalang ng sasakyang pampubliko sa lugar na iyon. Nagpasya akong umuwi na. Tutal, wala na akong ibang gagawin at alam ko na ang lokasyon ng bababaang istasyon ng MRT sa susunod na ako ay magpunta ng Barangka.

The job interview was very fine. It took less than an hour. I defer the offer for the Office of the General Counsel because it has something to do with law.

*******

Requiescat in Pace Tito Mio. Bye to the Uncle who had inspired me to learn how to play the guitar.