More Than What Money Can Give…

Natupad na rin ang pangarap kong maging ballerina!

Diba, kaloka ang parting words ni lola sa isang milk commercial! Added to the climactic moment na tatalon si lola na paisplit sa ere with the white tutus, accented with bulging bilbils, tapos biglang liyad, kabog to the nth level si Mamita! Magreresign si Liza Macuja kapag nakipag-showdown kay lola. Isang inom ng gatas, tuwid bigla ang baluktot na likod ni lola. TAAAARRRAAAYYYY!!!!

Parang si Tatang Arthro ang level.

“Ang lakas ko!” tapos biglang atras. Kalokang commercial.

Pero isang commercial talaga ang never kong makalimutan. Kapag naalala ko yun, mapapangiti na lang ako, kahit ako’y mag-isa.

Ang eksena. Ipropromote ang isang project ng isang city dito sa Manila. Kinuha si Manang bilang saksi.

Ang linya. “Araw-araw, bumibili ako ng tubig, apat ng piso kada container. Sa isang araw, nakaka-apat ng container ako. Bali dose pesos araw-araw. Parang isang kilong bigas na rin.”

Nosebleed ito! Nagmalfunction ang utak ko kakaisip ng equation na ginamit ni Manang!

Ang final words: “Ang tubig naging bigas.”

Anyway, konek ang aking topic sa climatic na linya ni Manang.

Kahit na hindi natin mahanap ang equation ng mga bagay-bagay sa buhay, minsan, may namimiss lang tayong part ng equation. Kumbaga sa mga adik sa math, we tend to miss some variables ang constants that’s why the equation never balanced. Because the derivative of x raised to the nth power is equal to the n times x raised to n minus one. And the integral of x raised to n times the derivative of x is equal to x raised to n plus one all over n.

Charut lang.

What I’m trying to say is, sometimes we tend to forget the simplest things in life because we are focused more on the complixities. We tend to deny ourselves the simplest pleasures because we drown ourselves to the hard part. Ayun, tabingi ang buhay. Walang katuturan. Walang kabuluhan.

For example, sa isang business, minsan, we tend to focus more on how to earn money. To the point that sometimes, we tend to sacrifice quality and customer satisfaction to preserve income. Ayan tuloy, kakaipon ng pera, lalong nawalan ng customers.

I’m happy because I’m working in an environment where the people truly puts its thrust to quality customer service. Kahit na most of the consultations are in kind bilang part ng promo, bawi naman sa advertisement. One satisfied customer spawns more. At nakakatuwa talagang makita na nagiging mabuti ang mga customers. Kahit na mangarag lahat ng mga nasa clinic, ok lang, basta we can do great service to the patients. And in fairness naman, very good ang feedback sa company. May mga rewards talaga coming from patients na talaga namang hindi kayang bayaran ng pera. May biglang magrerefer na ibang clients, may magdadala ng pagkain, may makikipagkaibigan. Even the simplest “Thank you!” means so much, not millions can pay it.

Kaso minsan, hindi maiiwasan ang mga mishaps. Also, may mga patients talaga na magpapasaway, minsan may masyadong atribido, meron din minsang maldita. From every experience, whether good or bad, all of us are learning from it. In group kung pagusapan, hindi yung kumpulan na nauuwi lang sa chismis. Ika nga, “To err is human, to forgive divine.”

One time, isang patient na naoperahan ang biglang nadala ng dessert sa clinic. Super sarap ng dessert, promise! According to her companion, it’s her way to say thank you, kasi hindi na sya nakakapagsalita. At from 20/200 vision, she was able to reach 20/20 after the operation. Ang saya diba? Talaga namang priceless ang luhang tumulo sa kanya nung makakita na sya ng malinaw. Touching ang moving ang eksena. Kaya muntik na akong mahulog sa upuan. Priceless din na may darating na patient saying na nirefer sya nung girl na inoperahan, try daw magpatingin sa clinic dahil maganda ang serbisyo.

Minsan, kahit na stressed ang buong maghapon sa dami ng mga ginawa, with matching boldyak sessions with the bosses, ok lang. Ang mga patients ang nagiging inspiration ko to strive harder. They are the ones that makes me strengthen myself despite all the frustrations that I’m going through.

At kapag may time ako, I’d spoil myself with the simplest pleasures I can give myself: Buy my vanity items and use it for facial advertisement, buy some quek-quek, dipped in sweet sauce and eat while strolling the street, watch DVD’s alone, listen the Madz’s immortal choral version of Filipino ballads, cuddle the pets (Panget and Muning) create an entry for the blog (kasama yun shempre) and so much more. Doing some of these things in a day would satisfy a strenuous day of work.

Something that makes me complete. (Sounds familiar…)

I Can Move Mountains… Almost!

Nakatala ang araw na ito sa Guiness Book of Boone’s Records. Today, wala ni isang patient ang clinic, at ngayon ang kauna-unahang beses na nagrocery ako using my own salary. Yes mga kapatid! Ngayon ako namili ng mga gamit na dating hinihingi ko pa sa aking mga benefactors. In fairness, mahirap talaga magbudget, at matututo ka talagang magprioritize ng mga primary commodities. Nagkalat ang tukso sa mall, from the signatures clothes to the dashing accessories. Kailangan talagang labanan. Or else ubos ang pinagputahan.

Shempre, as usual, may pahabol si ate. Magtetext yan na bumili this and that kapag alam nyang mamimili ako. Pambihira, gawain ko yan dati ah! Now I know how it feels. Namili na rin ako ng mababaon for the next days dahil na trauma na ako kumain sa cafeteria malapit sa pinagtatrabahuhan ko. Ginto kasi ang plato at kutsara. I guess you guys know what I’m talking about.

Nakasakay na ako sa jeep pauwi nang naramdaman kong nagvibrate ang cellphone ko. Inantay ko munang makaupo ako ng maayos tsaka ako kinuha sa bulsa. An old friend, Don, texted me.

Don: Muzta nah?

Ako: E2, gling me grocery, buy me ng mga gmit. In furnez, mhrp mgbdget huh.

Don: Hahaha, mama material na u pgrocery-grcery n lng.

Ako: Hahaha, mama tlga? U mzta na?

Don: E2, gling lng vacation. 5 days. NgNINANG kasi ako.

Ako: Hahaha kmusta nman ang bnyag? Ngbelo ka?

Don: Hahaha wsh ko lng. Lm mu b, may ngyaya sa akin ng trisum? Tnanggihan ko nga.

Ako: O bkit u tanggi? Hting 2 stones wid 1 bird din yun. Joke lang pre. Ok yn, iwas skit. Byuhin mu n lang. Hahahaha.

Don: Oo nga. Hahaha.

Wala na ako maisip na matext kaya nilagay ko na ang cp sa bulsa ko. Bigla akong may naramdaman malambot na tumama sa siko ko. Nung nailagay ko na, napalingon ako sa katabi ko. Babaeng nakacross ang kamay sa dibdib. Ang sama ng tingin sa akin.

Tsaka ko lang naisip, ang boobs pala nya ang nasiko ko.

Dahil medyo pagod to the highest level ang lolo nyo, hindi ko na nasabi ang sorry. Nagtaas na lang ako ng limang daliri. Spells SORRY. Hindi talaga ako makapagsalita, kasi baka tawa lang ang lumabas, hindi sorry. Bakit kamo? Eh hindi mukhang nasaktan ang girlilet. Nakatitig ng malagkit. As in MALAGKEEEETTT!

“Kunwari ka pa, gusto mo naman hawakan.” Sabi bigla ng girlilet.

Speechless ako bigla. Natutula ampotah. May ganong banat talaga??

Lingon ako sa paligid ng jeep. Lahat pala ay nakatingin sa akin. Narinig ng lahat at sinabi ng girl. At parang high rating na telenovela, hinihintay viewers ang susunod na eksena.

Panic ito, as in. Kaloka to death.

“Sorry miss, that was an accident.”

Putah, ingles yon, INGLES YON!!! Akalain mong may lumabas na ganung mga kataga sa bibig ko in this trying times. Kaloka talaga.

Anyway, biglang pumara at bumaba ang girl, kahit na hindi pa talaga dun ang babaan nya. Nung makababa ang girlilet, automatic transmission nang tumingin ang mga pasahero sa akin at ngumiti, yung iba umiling. Wala na akong pakialam kung ano ibig sabihin ng mga ganung reaksyon. Deadma na lang, lilipas din ang eksena, move on na lang sa byahe, lunurin ang nakakalokang eksena sa background music na King and Queen of Hearts DJ Burog mix.

Pero hindi nagpaawat ang isang lalaki na naglakas ng loob na kausapin ako.

“Tindi mo pre. Babae na lumapit sa yo, tinanggihan mo pa. Sarap talaga maging magandang lalaki no?”

Sabay baba ng lalaki.

Naku huh…

Talking and What’s Inside…

When people talk about God, they are superior;
When people talk about things, they are average;
When people talk about people, they are idiots!

-anonymous

I quoted this line from the speaker of a personality development seminar I attended earlier.

Definitely, part of a person in a professional level is how he/she communicates with the rest of the subordinates in the company or the organization. Primarily, talking is one of them. The way one delivers a simple sentence would spell the character of the person.

Well, lets not talk the how’s of the talking; let’s put our perspectives into the why…

Why do we talk?

One definite answer would be conveying one’s thoughts and feelings. Yes, correct.

What are those thoughts and feelings?

A judgement on what the senses perceives? A conclusion to a series of situations? A realization of personal awareness? A biased story? A senseless idea? A provocative proposition? There goes the differences.

Is there a closure on every communication?

Do we satisfy ourselves with our expression, or we hunger for more issues or ideas? Do we confer everything before finishing a speech? Or ideas will come popping out in the middle of a talk? Are we considering coherence and adherence when we speak? If you answer mostly yes to the questions, it is but of great chance that you’re a good communicator.

The bottom line is, those thoughts and feelings we express that tells us what we are.

The less thought our communication is, the more stupid we get.

So take time to do these before speaking:

Cohere and consider.

I Know What I Saw…

Today is the start of a well, sorta, kinda… promotion.

The bosses at the clinic decided to hire me for good. I will be given a definite job in the clinic and they promise to fund my graduate studies after the board exam.

But of course, before the promotion, there’s the lessons, the training and the pressure. Imagine learning a six-year profession in just a matter of weeks…

Yes, in weeks!

I have mixed emotions: Thrilled, because I will be doing something that helps people; Relieved, because the job wouldn’t require me going out of the clinic, running errands every now and then (Thank GOD!); Weary, because there are lots to learn and apply; and of course, happy, because I’m earning my own money!!!

A dream is just about to come true… We’ll see..

Ay ano ba, English-englishan na ito!

Ndi po iyan ang aking iseshare for this entry…

I doesn’t matter if you guys will believe this story. I just got pissed off because no one tries to listen and understand the situation.

Well anyway, here is the story…

Kaninang tanghali, while making my rounds sa clinic for my promotional training, one of the doctors called and asked for some favor. Kinuha ko sa isang room yung Ishihara Color Blindness test na book. It was on one of the rooms nung clinic. It was in a white box with the name in silver letters: Ishihara Color Blindess test Book, 38 slides. Inside is a spring–binded book with lots of colors and circles. Primarily, it is a test about the color perception ng mata ng isang tao. Tinry ko tingnan yung book earlier to check it myself, pero sadly, only two of the thirty-eight figures ang nakita ko, which means…

TALAGANG COLORBLIND AKO!!!!!

Huhuhuhuhu…

Anyway, lumabas ako ng kwarto para ibibigay na yung book sa doctor na nagpakuha sa akin.

Paglabas ko, I saw the doctor (lets call him Chinito) na nakatayo sa may counter, which is adjacent sa may refraction room nearby. Closing the door, sabi ko,

“Doc Chinito, heto na po yung book.”

Before ko inabot yung book, I saw someone with a white gown (which akala ko is one of the doctors – lets call her Pretty) get out of the refraction room going to the counter, passing in front of Doc Chinito. Tinawag ko si Miss Janice, who is on the counter.

“Miss Janice, dumaan po ba si Doc Pretty? Nakita ko sya kanina dumaan kani-kanila lang.”

Nagtaka pa si Miss Janice sa akin.

“Huh? Eh nasa kabilang room si Doc Pretty, nasa lab, natetest ng mata ng isang patient.”

“Hindi sya dumaan? Eh sino yung nakadoctor’s gown na dumaan dito seconds ago? From the refraction room, dumaan sya sa harap ni Doc Chinito, then sa counter.”

“Wala kaya, si Doc Chinito lang doctor dito. Isang oras na si Doc Pretty sa laboratory.”

Then that moment ko lang narealize, none of the doctors present today were wearing white gowns…

Kaninang hapon, before we leave the clinic, I told the story to the rest of the staff of the clinic. Others took it as a joke, others reprimanded me for telling me the story, kesyo magraraise daw ng issue at ghost story sa clinic, others told me, “You shouldn’t have told anyone, kasi napakauncomfortable pakinggan ng story mo.”

Damn! That pissed me off!

Kasalanan ko pa bang makakita ng ganon?

Dinadaan ko na lang din sa joke yung nakita ko kase I will be working in the clinic for a long time and I should be getting used to those things.

And what’s with the staff getting terrified with a ghost story anyway? Eh hindi naman sila magagalaw nun, added to the fact that they are the men and women of science and health and lastly, they are working in a clinic inside a hospital!

Perhaps they need an encounter with those things for them to understand what happened to me this day.

But nevertheless, I know what I saw, and no one can take that away from me.

Si Simoun at Maria Clara

"When you see the most beautiful thing, it seems that time stops"

Big Fish

Ano na ba nangyari sa mga palabas ngayon? Masyado nang hindi makatotohanan! Ang eksena kase, nasaksak ang bida at kailangan pumunta sa ospital. Ok na sana ang banat ng bida feel na feel ang isang kilong tinubigang pulang jobus na nilagay sa kamay at tiyan, kaso ang banat ng nurse, “May pera ho kayo pambayad?”

Kaloka!

At kung anu-ano pa ang inurirat sa mamatay-matay nang pasyente, kesyo paano daw nasaksak, saan nasaksak at lintek, binola pa ang bida kesyo matapang daw ang bida at nakarating pa ng buhay sa ospital tangan ang nagdurugong tyan.

Isa pa lang yan, hindi pa tapos ang mala kalbaryong eksena ng mga bida.

Ang eksena naman ngayon, eh binugbog ang isa pa nating bida, at may nurse na aligaga dahil kinakarir ng nanay kuno ng bida ang paninigaw sa kawawang nurse. Sa kinalakas lakas ng pangalan na tinatanong ng nanay kuno eh hindi mawari na aligagang nurse kung saang bahagi ng ospital ang bida. At last, nakakuha ng ulirat at nasabi ng aligagang ever na nurse, “Sa ICU po ma’am.”

Lipat ang eksena sa ikalawang bida na magpipilit tumakas sa ospital. Shempre lilingon tayo sa paligid ng eksena, dahil according sa aligagang nurse, nasa ICU sya.

Ay! Dalawa ang kama sa ICU? Ward ba ito?

Alam naman ng lahat na ang bida, may portion talaga na kakawawain. Dapat naman siguro gawing makatotohanan at wag pagmukhaing tanga ang characters at ang mga viewers. Nako, mapagpanggap talaga ang show na yun (Giveaway na yan huh!)

Kaloka talaga…

On a mission impossible nanaman ang drama ng yours truly today. Nadelay kasi ng bayad sa ilaw ang company dahil sa dami ng inaasikaso. As usual, to the rescue nanaman ako to do to payment over the main branch na ng Meralco, na nasa Ortigas, kasi lagpas na ng due date. May kailangan pa asikasuhin sa Philhealth na nasa Shaw Boulevard, kaya mission ko din na tumawag doon (What is career?).

Aba, walang sumasagot sa phone ng Philhealth. Imbyerna na ng konti ang mga bosses kasi minamadali ang mga forms ng mga patient sa clinic. Wala na sila magawa kaya pinapunta na ako sa Meralco dahil magsasara na raw beacuse its almost 5 pm. More more madali pa ako pagpunta doon. Parang eksena sa pelikula na nakikipaghabulan ang bida sa oras dahil sasabog na ang bomba. Pagdating ko sa place…

…

…

…

GRR…

Magkahalong imbyerna at pagod ang aura ko pagbalik sa office at buong lakas kong sinabi…

“Wala ba nakaalaala, PASIG DAY ngayon! Walang pasok ang mga opisina sa Pasig!”

Super Laff In na lang silang lahat.

Pero mga kapatid, hindi pa yan ang main chikka for the day; pasakalye (ay speaking of kalye, nakarating ako sa bahay na may dalang 3x5 na whiteboard at stand, galing sa LOOB ng taxi. Bahala na kayo umisip paano nagkasya. Basta, nagkasya pa kami ni manong driver sa loob at more more chika pa while on the way… Taray noh?) pa lang yan. Heto pa lang…

Kanina, on one of the missions of yours truly eh mamili ng office supplies. Shempre, doon na tayo sa suki, sa pambansang pamilihan ng mga gamit pangeskwela at pang-opisina (Clue na yan!). Nung nagbabayad na ako over the counter…

Shing! (May sound effect talaga wahihihi)

Tumigil ang oras.

Nakita ko sya. Hindi ako namamalik-mata, swear!

It’s her!

I saw the woman who took my manhood away. Ayyyy mali! (Oi, ano nanaman iniisip mo kapatid huh?) I saw the woman who unleashes the man inside of me. She is the only woman I know that makes me feel like I’m a greatest guy this world has conceived. She makes (Yes, makes, that’s present tense!) me feel I’m a man, inside and out. She was the one…

Or perhaps, she IS the one.

She is the one whom I loved… this much.

Everything just came back. Memories of my high school days came flashing back like slides in a motion picture.

[I feel like a kid with a teenage crush on a school day…]

TIME SPACE WARP, ngayon din! (Lalabas si transvestite Yda with the long, shiny white hair.)

First year pa lang ako nung nakilala ko sya. I know a lot from her since she is one of the most popular girls of the batch, with her brains and looks. Saan ka pa? Crush ng bayan yan. Wala atang section na walang may crush dun.

Nakukuntento na ako noon na pasilay-silay, pasulyap-sulyap. At pootah, hiyang-hiya pa ako kapag dumadaan ako sa harap ng mga girlfriends nya, kasi aasarin ako. Every lunch, aabangan ko na ang pila sa canteen para masulyapan ang pag-order nya sa canteen. Sinasamba ako ang bag na dala nya (Yes kapatid, believe it or not!), lagi syang laman ng isip ko bago matulog.

For three years, ganyan ako sa kanya. Just a stance from a distance, seeking a chance, loving her in a trance (sheet nagrhyme yun ah!). Ligaw tingin ba.

[Don’t know what to do whenever you are near, don’t know what to say, my heart is floating with tears. When you pass by, I could fly]

Fourth year high school, before the start of the school year, nagpunta ako sa school to see kung saan section ako napabilang. When I saw my name on one of the sections, nagulat ako.

Sasampu lang ang boys, thirty-nine ang girls!

Pero may name sa class list that made my heart jump.

Its her!

Sheeeetttttt! Magkaklase kami!!!

Noong time na yun, kahit papaano, may maipagmamalaki na ako. I’m one of the top-ranking CAT officers and I’m in a ‘cream of the crop’ class. Hindi na nakakahiya sa kanya. De kalibre na akong haharap sa kanya to say…

Hi, classmate!

Well, anway, may mga kilig moments ako na hinding-hindi ko malilimutan. One time, nagkaroon ng play ang class about El Fili. Nung tumapat sa group nila ang certain chapter ng El Fili, nataon naman na walang boys sa kanila, so they have to borrow some of the very few guys. Ang eksena pala ay ang pamamaalam ni Maria Clara sa kumbento kay Crisostomo Ibarra con Simoun before sya mamatay (Basta may ganun, ndi ko alam kung ano chapter basta may seryoso moment silang dalawa). Hapon nun, habang wala akong ginagawa, sya mismo ang lumapit and asked me,

“Pwede ka ba naming kunin sa group? Wala kasing gaganap na Simoun eh.”

Shempre, palakpak naman ang tenga ni gago.

Nung mismong play, hindi ko masyadong kinarir ang pagarte ang pihong nagbagsak pa ako ng Bible sa sahig just to depict Ibarra’s loneliness nung namatay si Maria Clara. Nung eksena na naming dalawa, tilian ang buong class, kilig na kilig. Ako naman, pinagpapawisan na dahil sa sobrang dyahe. Pagkatapos ng play, sya ulit ang lumapit,

“Thanks huh, ang galing mo talaga umarte.”

Isa pa sa mga kilig moments ko eh nung field trip. Itinerary namin ang bundok Kalbaryo na talaga namang kalbaryo akyatin. Mabato, madulas at basa ang daan dahil umaambon. Dahil may scarcity ang male genes sa class, kailangan tulungan na mga boys ang mga girls. Four girls to one guy (tiba-tiba kami nito, pramis pre!) ang ratio. Akay paakyat at pagbaba ng bundok. Shempre, sya ang isa sa mga inakay ko. At salamat sa madulas na mga bato at maputik na daan, lagi kaming natutumba, with may matching yakap pa.

Weeee…

Pero ang climax ng mga pangyayari ay noong senior prom. [We’re the king and queen of hearts, tell me when the music starts..] Lahat sosyal, contodo makeup and flowing gowns ang girls and ties and ameicanas naman ang boys. She was in a red gown then. Effortless na lagyan sya ng makeup dahil maputi sya. Shempre, picture taking muna habang fresh ang makeup, we had a shot together (At lintek, never napadevelop ang film na yun, exposed na ata. Bakit ba hindi pa nauso and digicam noon eh!) Super dami ang nakalinyang guys na magsasayaw sa kanya, but I was the first. Hindi ko pa malimutan ang background music that time na nagsasayaw kami. Even If by Lea Salonga. It was the moment in time when I asked her this question:

“May chance ba ako?”

She smiled while looking sweetly-eyed into my eyes (Gusto kong tumigil ang oras na yun, sobra!) and said,

“Meron, kaso its too late na, I have someone na eh.”

Gusto kong bumagsak sa dance floor. Kung pwede lang ako magevaporate that time, nagawa ko na. All this time, hindi na mabilang ang chances na pinalampas ko. Nakalimutan ko na may mga nanliligaw pala sa kanya whom she considered. All this time kasi, I was so busy doing my CAT, Electoral Board and student stints without taking the chance with her. Pero ok lang, at least for a time, I was man enough to tell her how I feel. She is the only one that made me do such.

And now, here she is, still as gorgeous as the first time I saw her.

Ay, antagal ng flashback, magbabayad pa pala ako sa cashier.

After kong makabayad, I passed by her back, tapped her shoulder and asked,

“Kamusta ka na?”

She looked back, waved her hand and simply said,

“Hi.”

I walked towards the exit of the store, engrossed with all the memories.

God, I was a man.

I was a man…

Raptusinco! Part 6

It’s the start of the second half of the year!

Tempus Fugit.

One time its new year and before you know it, its Christmas again. It feels like time has passed me us so quickly there is so much to look back and so much to look forward to. Unknowingly, things that I’ve been looking forward to has turned into deeds and I was given so much more than that. Thank God for the blessing he continually showers me.

Ow, I forgot, Raptusinco nga pala ito, time for some counting. Since second half na ng taon, this issue will tackle the things that says, “Crossing Over the Other Half”.

1. Graduation

Primarily, College gradutation is the crossing over from the student life to the professional life. Ika nga, “Gradutation is not the end, but the start of the new beginning” [Farewell to you my friend, we’ll see each other again…]. From years of lessons, books, projects, lunch with the classmates and seeing the campus crushes, its time for every deserving student to have their togas worn, diplomas clutched in their hands and march the aisle. Memories of College days will always be great to look back. The bonding, the sleepless nights, the beating of deadlines, the naughty proffesors, the extra curriculars and so much more.

Now here comes the hard part. The application of the things you have learned. Andyan na ang paggawa ng application letters, interviews, officemates interaction, job work. Ngaun mo subukan ang sarili mo kung may natutunan ka nga sa pag-aaral mo. Its your decision to choose the career path na gusto mong daanan. True as it is, maraming ways, maraming choices. Its yours to take. Ang mahalaga, dapat dun ka kung saan ka masaya at dun sa alam mong hindi mo pasisisihan.

Ako nga, hindi na ako sure kung airline industry nga ang ipupursue ko. Wala ata pwede maging trabaho dun ang colorblind. Huhuhu…

2. Transformers

Wuhooooo!

Hell of a movie!

Astig!

Oo naman mga kapatid, these are just a few words na magdedescribe sa animation-turned movie na Transformers. A a whole, wala kang maitatapon sa movie. Special effects, plot, choise of actors, sounds, lahat maganda. Sulit na sulit. Cool na cool ang pagtatransform ng mga robots. Shock and awe ba ang eskena. One time sasakyan sila then biglang magiging robots. (Kainis! Ang mga aircraft pa ang nasa side ng kalaban!). Wala rin patid ang katatawanan at human-robot drama na nag-add ng spice sa all-out-war na movie.

Pero the best thing in this movie is the nostalgia of the yesteryears. I was like about months old nung unang pinalabas sa tv ang Transformers. I was very young then but I still have the memories. Ang alam ko noon, mag dalawang faction na naglalaban, pero ngayon ko lang nalaman na ang pangalan pala ng mga factions ay Autobots at Decepticons. At ngayon ko lang nakilala si Optimus Prime at Megatron. (Kainis! Bakit eroplano ang archnemesis, gusto kong maghimagsik!!!) Pero pinakacool sa lahat si Bumblebee (bakit ba ito pangalan nya, so gay huh?), from Volkswagen to Chevvy Camara.

The interesting part of the plot is when the Decepticons are trying to rule planet earth by making robots out of our devices. Kaloka! Pati cellphone (na talagang ginawang Nokia ang brand) pwede nilang gawing Decepticon, with matching weapon system pa! Pero may boo-boos na konti, bakit ang mga aircraft carriers hindi ginawang Decepticons, diba? Llamado na sila Megatron kung sakali, anlaki ba naman nun eh.

Basta, this movie is not the kind you want to miss. It never felt this good after a movie na gusto mo paulit-ulitin. Its crossing over to the ordinary movie experience to another level.

3. New Buddies, Old Buddies

Kahapon ng gabi, I met the boys of sa mga bunso forum of guys4men. I had a friend from CBIT na naginvite sa akin na pumunta sa Gateway to meet the boys. Pupunta daw sila sa Malate later that night for the White Party. Go naman ako kaso hindi ako makakasama sa Malate. Have to rest from a week of puyat from work. When I came to see them, I was thrilled. Suddenly, all the forum pictures from the site became real! I met them fave to face and had the chance to talk with them. It was an experience, really. Add pa natin ang mga free silay sa mga cuties around (ahihihi). Ngayon, kapag nagpost ako sa forums, mas comfortable na, kasi kakilala ko na yung iba sa kanila. Too bad, marami palang ibang groups na nandun, and patawid-tawid ang mga members. Iba pa rin sa CBIT, kahit na hindi na nagkikita-kita, solid pa rin. At hindi na kami kailangan maglipat-lipat ng group, kase we all have the boys with us; happy, honest and horny (Joke!), well, unless balak mong mangarir.

4. My Music; My Own Way

Weeeeeee! I finally have my own mp3 player! Got myself a 1 gigabyte player with recorder. Cool! Now I can listen to my favorite songs anytime, anywhere. I can store my favorite songs, from the hits of the Stylistics, Cascades and BeeGees to the music of Imago, Michael Buble and even PULSE!

Buti na lang, nakahanda na lahat ng songs na ilalagay ko sa player, kase it took almost an hour to transfer 700 mb of songs to the player. It will take 11 hours for all of the songs to be played. Ok na ok na yun bah. Para walang boring times. I even brought an ID lace for it, para less chances na masira agad ang headset.

Its great to finally have mine, because to any music lover, having an mp3 player is like heaven! It is a crossing from boredom to leisure.

5. Singlehood… More reasons!

Whats with relationships anyway? Status symbol? Kapag may boyfriend of girlfriend ka eh mas gwapo o maganda ka na sa iba? I don’t think so. (Ay, bitterness itu!) Pero in fairness naman, relationships can make you realize your worth in this world, having someone you love without reservations and being loved unconditionally in return (Sabay bawi diba? Wahihihi bitter talaga).

I realized there isn’t still the need to be into. Buo pa naman ako, none of my soul still needs another half. I can still live by my own. And perhaps, the one that needs me hasn’t found me yet, or the one that makes me whole hasn’t come yet or isn’t aware what that person is doing to me. Basta magkakakakilala at magkikita na lang kami and then we’ll know it.

Dati atat na atat ako for a relationship. I’m happy to have some and learned from those. This realization made me think otherwise. It’s a crossing from desperation to having hopes and strengthening faith.

For now, this is fine. The freedom, the happiness, the contentment; I’m happy with that.

And for anyone who knows about my “Stability other than Quality” principle, you may take the chance with me, if you wish.