Welcome to BOBBYJONC

Maxene

2013-02-24T15:07:00.001+08:00

My youngest sister asked me to write a speech about any topic for one of her subjects for her later’s class. Originally posted 31-Jan-2013.

In summer of 2009, my brother brought home a cute little Chinese Shar Pei and she instantly became the “star” of the family. Her name is Maxene. It was the first time when we had a pure-breed dog since all of our dogs are askal and the others were cross-breeds. She has this distinctive features of deep wrinkles and a blue-black tongue. Due to her wrinkles, we had to spend more time gently scrubbing her during bath time since they are prone to skin diseases.
She was spoiled in many ways. She always had dog treats like Pedigree DentaStix. She has her own dog bone, dog toys and even her own bed. We even bought baby clothes in tiangge for her to wear. We nurtured her like a real member of the family. She was a watch dog. She always follow us wherever we go. She was affectionate but reserved.

One funny thing about her was her selfishness; whenever a dog comes near us, she’ll try hard to grab our attention so that we will not pay attention to the other. When she was young, she never learned to heel, or sit or stay. She did things her way.

Maxene loves eating. Everytime we will eat at the dining table, or even at the living room, she’ll stare at our food as if she’s asking us to give her some. One new year’s eve when all our food were on the table, she stood up in two feet and stayed in that position while sniffing what were served.

On her first year of existence, she gave birth to three little puppies named Luke, Chicken and Lollipop. Unfortunately, Lollipop died after a couple of weeks. The two stayed inside the house until such time when they were uncontrollable that we had to leave them in one cage.
After a year, she gave birth to two more puppies, Bibo and Mixie. Since my father was having a challenging time feeding all of them in the morning, we had to let go of Mixie, who is now with my cousin in Cavite. All of her puppies were caged while Maxene stayed and freely lived inside our house.

One unfortunate event happened last year when Luke had an illness which resulted to his death. A couple of months later, Chicken followed.

We never thought that we’ll get to celebrate Maxene’s fourth and final birthday last New Year’s day. Unlike in previous years, she was less spirited, maybe because she was ageing. Until recently, she got sick. She slowly lost her energy and just remained lying on the floor. She eventually lost her appetite until yesterday when she held her last breath.

There are times when I think I feel that stare, and I reach out my hand to stroke her hair, but she’s not there. She is now in dog heaven and how I wish that isn’t so.

Meet-and-Greet

2012-08-30T11:42:00.002+08:00

I am very honored to be invited to the Geeky Nights headquarters last night and finally meet the hosts: Dale, Mark and Abe. Unfortunately, they were not complete since Victor had to attend to something.

I was uncomfortable at first since I only see them doing the live podcast via ustream, but they were very warm and accommodating when I arrived. It was so surreal! I even forgot to take pictures with them. Haha! They briefly discussed what’s in store for the Geek Army, then they started the show wearing those cool 3D glasses.

I salute these people for being so serious and dedicated as I have witnessed how they plan on their next big project. It is something to look forward to, especially for the loyal viewers of the show.

I also thank them for acknowledging my fan arts. For everyone’s information, I was not commissioned to do the teasers. Hey, I still want to win one of the gadgets so I cannot be a part of the show! But since I am not busy with anything, I have decided to make fan arts and teasers for the show. Doing these also makes me practice my skills (if I have, lol) in using Photoshop and Pixelmator even if I know for a fact that I am not creative and artistic. Check out http://geekarmyonline.tumblr.com.

I don’t know if they’re already used to the praises and hearing how great their show is, but I think a simple gesture of showing your appreciation will keep them motivated to run the show and offer more to their supporters. I learned that there are a couple of groups who copied the idea of making a tech/geek podcast. But according to Charles Caleb Colton, “Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.”

Follow them on Twitter @GeekyNights and like their Facebook page at http://facebook.com/GeekyNights for more updates about the show. And don’t fail to watch each episode every Wednesday night at 9 over http://ustream.tv/channel/geekynights, and subscribe to their podcast.

Again, to the Geeky Nights hosts, maraming salamat and more power to your show. I am really excited to the launch of their new website and of course I’m also hoping to win one of Sony Philippines’ gadgets soon. =)

I also had a few seconds exposure at the end of the show. ;p

Boracay 2011 Photoset Part 1

2012-08-25T22:21:00.002+08:00

http://proyekto.tumblr.com

Time To Change

2012-08-04T23:42:00.015+08:00

We only live once. Why will you waste your time whining about the crappy service of your current network provider since we always have the freedom to choose?

Wait, this is not a paid advertisement (how I wish), nor I was invited during the launch in Rockwell. I am simply writing about my recent decision to join the biggest cellular network in the Philippines.

If you are following me on Twitter, you might have noticed that I’ve been actively tweeting @talk2Globe about my billing complaints and other network-related issues in the past months. I know dear followers, it’s irritating to see these from your timeline, but that is the only way I could receive a timely feedback compared to calling their hotline and waiting for at least 15 minutes before the next available representative assist me. But in all fairness to them, I received resolutions, especially to my billing disputes. However, it already became a cycle. It was tiring. Good thing, my postpaid plan’s lock-in period ended last May and I can freely do anything on my subscription.

Until recently, Smart Communications launched its new campaign, Time to Change with its latest offering, the Freedom Plan. It is a SIM-only plan where there is no monthly-service fee and no lock-in period. I could consider it as a hybrid of a prepaid and a postpaid line; the plan starts from Zero and you only pay what you consume every month, with a credit limit of Php600. If you only used Php1 for the entire month, then that is the only amount they will bill you. This is a perfect postpaid line for students, starters in the employment world, budget-conscious individuals and those subscribed to other networks who wish to try the Smart postpaid services. It is possible to increase your credit limit, which is subject for approval after submitting documents, such as a proof of income. You will be charged with the standard rates if you choose not to avail any of the Freedom bucket services. But I recommended you to take advantage of the buckets to make the most out of your subscription for a minimal amount. My recommended bucket is the Tri Net Combo 400, where you’ll get 500 minutes of Smart, Sun, Talk ‘n Text calls plus 2,000 SMS to all networks plus 150mb of mobile surfing! And according to Smart, they will include the BB Lite Social bucket soon.

But wait, there’s more! You can enjoy a 10% discount on your monthly bill for the first six months if you completely paid your previous month’s total bill that is not less than Php300.

I got mine in just 20 minutes, including the waiting time for my control number to be called at the Smart Wireless Center in Plaridel. I filled-out the application form, presented a valid ID and paid Php250 processing fee. After about an hour, my SIM was activated and I sent my first SMS and made a call.

What triggered me to subscribe to Smart was the unbelievable, eyebrow-raising re-contracting offer of Globe. Before I applied for a regular postpaid plan, I was under the Load Tipid Plan 500 for 2 years, plus another 2 years when they gave me a huge monthly rebate under their loyalty plan. But when I inquired about their loyalty offer for my regular postpaid plan, they only offered me an embarrassing Php142 monthly rebate. Is this for real after they earned nearly Php50,000 from me plus the numerous inconveniences I experienced from them? (I’m trying not to roll my eyes again while typing this. Hahaha!) Take note: I was a loyal subscriber for more than a decade. I’m wondering now how they can achieve their Company Vision: Happiest customers and employees. Values: Together, we make great things possible. Really?! Dear Globe (if you are reading this) it’s hard to give you up, seriously. But I don’t think I’m getting the value of what I’m paying for.

So far, I haven’t encountered any problem with Smart since I only subscribed to them last Monday and I’m very happy seeing full signal indicator bars on my phone! By the way, I have not tested their mobile internet yet because there is no 3G signal in where I live in Pulilan, but I’m already aware of that since last year. I just hope that they, at least, provide us a 3G coverage since they’re already rolling out the LTE Evolution. And I would also like to commend the Smart online specialists, Kimberly, Myka and Tob for being so friendly and helpful every time I have inquiries about the Freedom Plan! Good job guys, you deserve a raise! :))

I just hope that Smart is prepared for network congestion; my theory why Globe experiences this, aside from their network modernization program, is because they actively promoted the MySuperPlan and more people unresistingly gave in to this offer.

And lastly, in the event that Smart will find and read this blog post, I’d like to inform them that I can Live Even More if they will give me a free Samsung Galaxy S3. :D

As of this writing, I have already convinced 2 of my friends to Live More! Go figure. :)

A Dog's Tale

2012-07-11T22:59:00.004+08:00

I woke up around 8 this morning and I heard my sister talking to the dogs at our backyard while feeding them. I went back to sleep since it was too early.

After the additional 2 hours of sleep, I have decided to go downstairs to do my morning routine, which is to eat breakfast and feed Maxene who also slept in my room. My sister's pet also slept in my room last night and I let him pee in the frontyard. My sister saw and she told me that Luke has died. I ignored her because I don't want to show my reaction.

I wasn't really surprised because Luke was not eating properly for the past few days. In fact, he didn't consume any since yesterday, no food nor water. He was just lying inside the cage. He was sick. I felt mixed emotions because last night he was crying in pain and I was praying to God to either comfort him and heal him or let him die than suffer. I was saddened by Luke's death but it was a relief because he is now resting peacefully.

After feeding Maxene her breakfast, we went back to our room. I talked to her. I informed her that her son is already dead. I couldn't clearly describe that moment but I saw her eyes. Maybe I was just imagining things but her eyes looked sad. I immediately hugged her and told her that Luke followed Dolphy in heaven.

And just a few minutes ago, I heard my sister talking to my mom on the phone. I heard her say that she saw Chicken, the sister of Luke digging the soil a few steps beside the cage. It was unusual because she doesn't do that. She then realized that Chicken was digging for Luke's grave. It was really heartbreaking.

Applying for an NBI Clearance

2012-04-18T16:00:00.007+08:00

An NBI Clearance is one of the documents required by all employers to their newly-hired employees. If you have this piece of document, it means that you are free from any criminal liabilities in the Philippines. So, how to get an NBI Clearance? Acquiring one is easy, you'll just have to follow 4 simple steps, but it would require a person to have patience, perseverance and determination in applying for one.

After researching, I found out that an NBI satellite office in Robinson's Otis is considered the best place to go to because you can get one in just 2 hours. Robinson's Otis is an unfamiliar mall to many because it is not located strategically in one of the main roads in Manila that is why fewer people apply for a clearance there so I didn't expect long lines compared to other NBI offices. This branch is open from Monday to Friday, 10am to 7pm. I am not sure if they're still open every Saturday though.

Yesterday, I took the LRT from 5th Avenue to UN Avenue and paid Php15 for the ticket. Under the train station, you can find motored tricycles and they will ask you to pay Php10 for a ride going to the mall. The thing is, you need to wait for 5 other people to join the ride with you. But if you want, you can pay Php60 if you want to ride solo. I was hailing a cab but all of them had passengers inside so I have decided to ride the tricycle instead. Good thing there was one passenger already so I just paid Php50 and asked the driver to go ahead since I was in a hurry.

After an approximate of 10 minutes, I arrived at the mall. There were only a few mall-goers inside so I thought that there were no long queues at the NBI satellite office at the second floor but I was wrong. There were about a hundred people before me filling-out a white sheet of paper, which serves as an application form, at an open space where the Sunday Mass is being held.

After about 40 minutes of waiting, a man started leading around 50 people to fall in line for payment. And he started distributing forms to us, newcomers. He said they only needed 49 applicants before the cut-off. I started filling-out the form and waited for another 60 minutes before he finally called another batch of 50. That was the time I got to sit in one of the chairs provided. After around 40 minutes (3:06pm), he then asked us (the last batch) to fall in line. The first step was payment. I waited for around 20 minutes standing before I got to pay Php115 fee for my clearance.

After paying the fee, I joined the other people in line for the next step, which is encoding. There were only 2 encoders in the office so it took another hour before I got my details encoded on their system. Then another 10 minutes of falling in line for the third step which is image capture/biometrics. I handed my form and the receipt to the staff and he asked me to put one finger at a time on top of a small device connected to their computer for fingerprinting. No more messy ink, finally. Then he asked me to step in front of a white backdrop for image capture. You may smile, unlike in DFA. Then he handed me my receipt.

The last step was the releasing of the NBI Clearance. A staff will just call your name and will hand you the clearance. But in my case, for the second time around, my name has a hit and he asked me to come back on the date stamped at the back of my receipt, May 3. I was a bit disappointed because I believe I have a unique name but in the end, I just have to follow their process since it is for our good anyway. Maybe there's someone with the same first, but not the second name, and last name as mine.

Example:
Katniss Prima Everdeen Melark (hit)
Katniss Everdeen Melark (with criminal records)

I also commend the staff of the NBI satellite office in Robinson's Otis. Based on my experience yesterday, they remained patient and accommodating after dealing with hundreds of applicants. I hope all government employees are like them since we, the taxpayers, are the ones paying for their salaries. And I hope that they will prioritize senior citizens. I saw an old man joined our queue along the way. I believe all of us would understand if they will ask him to go in front of the line anyway. Don't forget to bring a pen and a valid ID. In my case, they didn't really ask for comparison. I only needed it to copy the details of my passport.

Lastly, don't expect that it will still be a fast processing based on the blogs that you can find on the internet as those were the experiences of these bloggers last year. Nowadays, the NBI satellite office in Robinson's Otis is gaining popularity so more people will choose to go there than to start falling in line at 4 o'clock in the morning in other malls and offices. And there's only 6 NBI officers doing the processes versus 500 people everyday.

Additional tips:

Bring with you a music player or a book to survive boredom.

Never bring kids. You may ask someone to go with you so if you want to go to the comfort room, s/he'll be able to reserve your slot since they do not provide control numbers.

Bring some snacks and a bottle of water.

Win a friend. Well this one is optional. Haha!

Always keep in mind, "PATIENCE IS A VIRTUE"

For questions relating to payment fee, clearance location and other concerns, you may text 09175638053. The NBI Text Center will only reply to local numbers. For overseas, please include your email address.

Psychic or Psycho?

2012-02-06T15:54:00.007+08:00

Maybe it's just me, but I think I have some psychic powers. I know it's weird of me to think about it but this is based on facts... Or maybe I'm just feelingero.

Last week, I was reminiscing about my life in the 90's.. This includes the 16-July-1990 7.9 magnitude earthquake that hit the island of Luzon. The memory of that tragedy is still fresh... I was playing with my neighbors that afternoon when we felt the tremor. I rushed back towards our house and hugged my Lola. She was trying to be calm by praying the Rosary.

(Still, last week) I watched this video clip from GMA News of Tina Monzon-Palma reporting about a video footage of the exact moment when the earthquake struck at Gabaldon, Nueva Ecija.

It was a tragic moment for the Filipino people as an estimated 1,621 people were killed, most of the fatalities located in Central Luzon and the Cordillera region. Then all of a sudden, I thought "will there be an upcoming earthquake?"

Of course, no one can predict one, but today, a magnitude 6.7 earthquake followed by several aftershocks struck off the island of Negros and nearby provinces.

I can't help but think, was my last week's reminiscing drama a warning for another earthquake?

Other stories to follow, including the death of Micheal Jackson and the lamp posts in Aurora footbridge and in Intercontinental Hotel.

P.S.
Here is the screenshot of my tweet last week regarding the earthquake:

On Blogging

2012-01-31T23:54:00.007+08:00

I never seem to have found my place online. For the past several months, I have been transferring from one blogging platform to another: Blogger, Tumblr, Posterous, Jux, Wordpress; too many choices when my only objective is simply to write.

I have always wanted to have my own space from a web hosting site. But again, I won't be shedding some dollars every month just to have it. I'm not a frequent blogger, unlike others who can post interesting entries and gain money from advertisers which they will use to pay for web hosting. I don't even think that there are people interested to read this blog. But I need to write. I need to record the silly, the amusing, and the mundane.

I somehow blame Twitter for not blogging often. You see, I have been using this micro-blogging platform for nearly 3 years and I already have 16,822 tweets as of this writing. I think I should change the habit of writing, instead of tweeting, I should be writing a blog entry about that thought. At least I won't be confined with 140 characters.

Ok, I'm not making any sense. I'm hungry. Kbye.

2011: The Year That Was

2012-01-24T13:01:00.010+08:00

I never had a chance to blog about the year 2011 since I was busy with something for the past weeks. I believe it is never too late to look back and take stock of the things that happened in the year that was.

January: I will never forget the time when I went back to my alma mater, the University of Santo Tomas to celebrate its 400 years of unending grace. I was nervous and excited at the same time as I enter the walls of UST. I also had the chance to meet my former classmates again after a long time.

April: This month marked my 5th year as an employee of Convergys Philippines and made me eligible to take advantage of the early-retirement plan. Congratulations to me! Haha!

May: I celebrated my birthday at home with my family, and in Greenhills with my friends.

June: I started working as a Junior Corporate Recruiter where I learned to source and recruit for the non-agent requirements of our company. I also joined a community where I was able to find my way back to Kuya Jess.

July: I was able to spend more time with my friends as we frequent Bo’s Coffee every night right after our respective shifts.

August: They say ‘everything must come to an end’ and with a heavy heart, I bid goodbye to Convergys as an individual contributor. I am very thankful to be a part of wonderful teams, both in operations and in recruitment.

October: When I purchased a new laptop for me and it’s the new Macbook Pro!

December: It was my first time to go to Boracay. I really had so much fun there, and I promised to myself that I will go back anytime soon.

The year 2011 had be a great year for me. It had been a wonderful, awesome and life-changing year. It was a year that encouraged me to strive harder at work and at the same time, tested me with lots of challenges. Nevertheless, I am thankful for these challenges made me stronger and wiser.

Now it is time to get 2012 on the road. As my friend said, I am sure that I will rise up to meet whatever challenges I face and I will be humbled by the success I have. This year is definitely going to be bigger and better than ever.

How much of the Philippines have I visited?

2011-12-04T18:25:00.000+08:00

I still have a long way to go...

My Lakbayan grade is D!
How much of the Philippines have you visited? Find out at Lakbayan!

Who Am I As A Friend?

2011-10-27T18:39:00.003+08:00

A friend of mine and I were exchanging text messages a while ago about his journey to something which I cannot reveal yet. I told him that I'll support him all the way.

Suddenly, a question popped into my mind... What kind of a friend am I? It is very difficult to answer. Then I remembered that I was given letters by some of my friends and I'm keeping it in a box...

You are one of the most important people in my life, and when I count my blessings, I always think of you. It is very rare to find a friend like you in these days and I definitely consider myself very lucky to have you. -Riah

Always remember that your G5 family is very proud of you. Thanks for always brightening up my day! -Jerome

You're one talented, smart, cute (?) (hehe) and thoughtful friend. -Louri

G5 is not the same without you. -Bea

We miss you here in G5 -Jhe

I love you, man. -Pat

You are worth it! Embrace yourself with who you are and what you can do. Everyone else will definitely follow. That's your magic! -Jap

Even if lagi mo ko inaaway, I still think that you are one of the nicest here sa office and you have such a big heart. -Furu

You are one of the most honest and genuine friend I've met in Makati. You never let issues around you affect your character and personality, and I admire you for that. -Faye

I will always be happy to have you not just an officemate, but a true friend. I am always comfortable talking to you regardless of whatever topic - be it personal or work-related. I know kase that you are someone I can trust. -Judy

Ano ba talaga ko sayo??? After 4 years na-realize ko na you mean so much to me!!! Always remember na lahat ng things na ginawa natin together eh never kong makakalimutan!!! -Bianx

We haven't spent a decade together, but the 4 years that I have known you have been nothing short of fun, exciting, tearful and heartfelt. You were my "constant" in CVG. -Diane

You're really a good person, it's rare to find someone who cares about others so much, even more than himself. It's a risky role to play, yo put yourself out there at the risk of getting hurt but it's admirable. -Zach

I'm grateful that our friendship happened. For whatever reason I don't know and don't really care anymore. -Allan

It really feels good to know that there are people trusting and loving you the way you are.

Imagine A World Without Filipinos

2011-10-15T22:59:00.002+08:00

I found this picture on my Facebook wall and I think it's worth sharing. This was originally posted at Arab News by Abdullah Al-Maghlooth | Al-Watan.

TRANSCRIPT:

Muhammad Al-Maghrabi became handicapped and shut down his flower and gifts shop business in Jeddah after his Filipino workers insisted on leaving and returning home. He says: “When they left, I felt as if I had lost my arms. I was so sad that I lost my appetite.”
Al-Maghrabi then flew to Manila to look for two other Filipino workers to replace the ones who had left. Previously, he had tried workers of different nationalities but they did not impress him. “There is no comparison between Filipinos and others,” he says. Whenever I see Filipinos working in the Kingdom, I wonder what our life would be without them.
Saudi Arabia has the largest number of Filipino workers — 1,019,577 — outside the Philippines. In 2006 alone, the Kingdom recruited more than 223,000 workers from the Philippines and their numbers are still increasing. Filipinos not only play an important and effective role in the Kingdom, they also perform different jobs in countries across the world, including working as sailors. They are known for their professionalism and the quality of their work.
Nobody here can think of a life without Filipinos, who make up around 20 percent of the world’s seafarers. There are 1.2 million Filipino sailors.
So if Filipinos decided one day to stop working or go on strike for any reason, who would transport oil, food and heavy equipment across the world? We can only imagine the disaster that would happen.
What makes Filipinos unique is their ability to speak very good English and the technical training they receive in the early stages of their education. There are several specialized training institutes in the Philippines, including those specializing in engineering and road maintenance. This training background makes them highly competent in these vital areas.
When speaking about the Philippines, we should not forget Filipino nurses. They are some 23 percent of the world’s total number of nurses. The Philippines is home to over 190 accredited nursing colleges and institutes, from which some 9,000 nurses graduate each year. Many of them work abroad in countries such as the US, the UK, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait and Singapore.
Cathy Ann, a 35-year-old Filipino nurse who has been working in the Kingdom for the last five years and before that in Singapore, said she does not feel homesick abroad because “I am surrounded by my compatriots everywhere.” Ann thinks that early training allows Filipinos to excel in nursing and other vocations. She started learning this profession at the age of four as her aunt, a nurse, used to take her to hospital and ask her to watch the work. “She used to kiss me whenever I learned a new thing. At the age of 11, I could do a lot. I began doing things like measuring my grandfather’s blood pressure and giving my mother her insulin injections,” she said.
This type of early education system is lacking in the Kingdom. Many of our children reach the university stage without learning anything except boredom.
The Philippines, which you can barely see on the map, is a very effective country thanks to its people. It has the ability to influence the entire world economy.
We should pay respect to Filipino workers, not only by employing them but also by learning from their valuable experiences.
We should learn and educate our children on how to operate and maintain ships and oil tankers, as well as planning and nursing and how to achieve perfection in our work. This is a must so that we do not become like Muhammad Al-Maghrabi who lost his interest and appetite when Filipino workers left his flower shop.
We have to remember that we are very much dependent on the Filipinos around us. We could die a slow death if they chose to leave us.

Requiescat in Pace

2011-07-23T07:07:00.001+08:00

IN MEMORIAM. The University of Santo Tomas joins the entire Thomasian community in praying for the eternal repose of the soul of its Centenarian Alumna, Ms. Amadea Elviña Medina (1911-2011), who became an inspiring part of our Quadricentennial celebrations. She delighted the whole Thomasian community as she displayed her wit in her interview during the Quadricentennial Program at the UST Grandstand on 27 January 2011. She was also an honored guest in the Q Grand Alumni Homecoming Dinner on 28 January 2011, where she led the cutting of the cake replica of the UST Main Building. She graduated from the University in 1933 with a degree in BS Education Magna cum Laude. She passed away at the UST Hospital on 22 July 2011, Feast of Mary Magdalene.

Source: UST QUADRI

Fun-filled Friday

2011-07-10T20:08:00.004+08:00

I finally get to experience fun after spending 5 days at work. Yes, working for 12 hours a day is no fun for me. So right after 12 midnight, Friday (well, actualy it's a Saturday already), I went to see my former teammates at Kiraban, a new bar just a few steps away from Central 1 in Makati.

The place was nice and spacious compared to Central because there were only a few people drinking. Maybe because they only started their operations 2 weeks ago. I tried their drinks and it was not really leaving a mark. There were some talks about career plans and we were able to share our sentiments at work over bottles of beer and mixes of different drinks. But after drinking for 4 hours, I got drunk. As in I had a hard time managing walking straight and talking properly. Then we saw a kart selling street foods. I think I ate 3 squidballs and 4 bite-sized hotdogs. After eating, we have decided to stay at Bo's for some coffee.

We were able to fit the 6 of us inside a cab and we were laughing like hell on the way to Glorietta 5. When we arrived at Bo's they bought froccino to ease the dizziness, and I started listening to my iPod and sang songs loud enough for the people in the next table to hear. What a shame! We have decided to go home at around 6-ish in the morning. It was really a memorable night for us.

On my way home, I got to see my crush inside the bus. She also dropped-off in Pulilan. But I think she lives in Baliuag. ;)

Front Yard

2011-07-04T01:51:00.000+08:00

I spent my Sunday at home and played with my new toy, Canon S95.

I took some shots of our front yard using one of the functions, the miniature effect.

First Night-Out

2011-07-04T01:49:00.000+08:00

First night-out of DLSU-DWTL Batch 167 with some Dazers at Central 2 last July 1, 2011. Fun-filled night with overflowing booze and laughter while reminiscing the weekend with Kuya Jess. +BIL

+BIL

2011-06-29T23:33:00.000+08:00

Baguio Invasion

2011-06-20T01:17:00.002+08:00

Walang kakwenta-kwentang post.

Kung matutuloy, ito na ang pangatlong beses kong aakyat sa Summer Capital of the Philippines. Sana lang talaga wag umulan. Shyet! Kinakabahan ako. Yung totoo. E kasi naman, mga drawing ang kasama ko. Isama mo na ang Queen of Pocahontases na si Maan. Hahaha!

As of this writing, I am currently researching on what to do in Baguio. Gah! Sana may pera ako para mapuntahan at makainan lahat ng ipa-plano ko. Kung hindi, maiiwan ako sa creepy rest house nila Bea. Hahaha!

Balak namin umalis ng Saturday midnight. Syempre kasi napaka-ewan ng shift schedule ko. Not to mention the toooot and the toooot. Kainis lang. Hahaha! So sana may meeting din ang mga kasama ko para quits lang. Plan namin sumakay ng Deluxe bus para mabilis. In 5 hours, nasa City of Pines na kami. Pag dating dun, kakain kami sa carenderia, I insist. Para mura lang. Hahaha! Ok na siguro ang lugaw at mainit na kape. So siguro mga P30 lahat yun. And since nakapagpahinga kami sa byahe at malamig naman, lalakarin na lang namin from the bus station papunta sa bahay nila Bea... At hindi ko alam kung saan yun. Sana malapit lang.

Pagkadating namin dun, wala nang ligo-ligo o bihis, direcho na agad kami sa Baguio Cathedral (Our Lady of Atonement). Tapos direchong Grotto. Aakyatin namin yun habang binibilang ang steps pataas. Pwedeng mag-slow down, pero bawal ang tumigil sa pag-akyat. Pag may tumigil, siya/sila ang magbabayad ng taxi fare namin the whole day. At pag narating na namin ang itaas, panalo kung sino ang may pinakamaliit na butas ng ilong. Tingnan natin kung sino ang hindi maghahabol ng hininga pag nasa tuktok na kami. Ang mananalo ay ililibre ng lunch. Game?

Matapos namin mag picture-picture habang effort sa pagpapaliit ng butas ng ilong, didirecho na kami sa Mines View Park, kung saan makakakita lang naman kami ng bundok. Ano pa nga ba? Tapos direcho sa Good Shepherd Convent. Dun yata ang Pink Sisters. May kwento pala ang Pink Sisters. Dapat daw, wag magpupunta dun ang mag-jowa, dahil magbe-break sila.

So by that time, malamang gutom na kami. Kaya didirecho naman kami sa Camp John Hay para kumain. Gustong gusto kong kumain sa, uhmmm... Basta dun sa Mile Hi Diners yata yun. Hahaha! Nakalimutan ko na. Pero gusto ko lang yung ambience. Pagkatapos kumain, lalakarin namin ang Starbucks CJH. Habang naglalakad, maghahanap kami ng perfect pine cone. Kung sino ang may pinakamalaki, sya ang mauunang pumili ng upuan sa Starbucks. Hahaha! Ang labo men!

Syempre, hindi mawawala ang pagbisita namin sa Convergys Baguio. Alam nyo ba, sa unang araw ng recruitment nila dun, 500++ ang walk-in applicants!!! Imagine! May lalaban ba dun? Hahaha! #yabang

After nun, hindi ko pa alam. Baka manood kami ng Baguio Flower Festival sa Session Road. Ay teka, wala pala. Kasi January-February lang yun. Hahaha! So kung hindi uulan, pupunta kami sa Starwberry Farm at maghahabulan. Parang movie lang? Hahaha! Tapos punta na kami sa Session Road para mag-dinner then hahanap kami ng videoke bar. Since magkikita ulit kami ni Maan, hindi pwedeng hindi namin kantahin ng dut ang I Believe ni Fantasia. Signature song namin yun. Perfect ang blending. Pangako!

Tapos didirecho na kami kila Faye para mag-inuman. Pero sana walang basagan kasi sayang kung hindi namin masasaksihan ang PMA cadets parade sa Sunday morning. Syempre magsisimba kami then maglalaro kami ng golf. Golf? Feeling mayaman. Hahaha!

So ipagdasal natin na matuloy. Otherwise mauuwi na naman sa inuman ang pera namin. Hahaha! You think P3,000 is enough for transpo ang pocket money? Isa pang inaabangan ko e kung may magpaparamdam samin. Especially the White Lady in Loakan. Hahaha! Do you want to read urban legends and ghost stories? Hihihi! Meron ako pero next time na lang muna.

Tagalog

2011-06-19T22:01:00.003+08:00

Isang araw, pumasok ang topic about blogging nung nagkausap kami ng kaibigan ko. Sabi ko sa kanya, sayang yung dotcom ko kasi wala naman laman. Tinanong nya kung bakit. Sabi ko tinatamad ako magsulat. Minsan kapag may gana ako, di ko naman dala ang laptop so wala rin. Tsaka ang sabi ko pa, nakakahiya kasi non-sense naman mga pinagsususulat ko. At hindi ako kagaya ng iba na wide ang vocabulary. Dala na rin siguro ito ng kaka-interview sa mga taong walang sense. Sorry a, pero totoo.

Minsan nakaka-bobo kung araw-araw, hindi sensible ang kausap mo. Siguro, na-adopt ko yun. Kaya wala akong sense. Ni-suggest nya na mag-blog daw ako sa Tagalog. Sabi ko, kahit Tagalog pa yan, hindi rin kaaya-ayang basahin. Sabi nya e wala na silang pakialam. Blog mo naman yan.

Tama sya, blog ko nga to. Yun totoo, kaya ako nagsusulat e kasi gusto ko na balikan ang mga nangyari sa akin kapag tumanda na ko. Iba na rin ang may online space kasi kapag diary, baka mawala ko lang din. Pero maingat naman ako sa gamit.Yun nga lang, napakarami ko kasing notebooks at planners, kaya hindi rin ako makapili kung saan ko sya isusulat.

Laki ng problema ko no?

Anyways, pag nakuha ko na ang camera ko, iniisip ko kung sa tumblr ko na lang ipo-post ang mga pictures. Para naman hindi ako puro-reblog. Whatchasay?

Image source: http://www.work-at-home-blogger.com/basic-blogging-tips-for-new-blogger/

McBillboard

2011-06-04T22:25:00.004+08:00

Last Tuesday was the last time I rode the MRT on my way home. I was with John, my officemate, and we were waiting for the last northbound train. While waiting I noticed this McDonald's billboard...

Bob: Shyet! Kanina pa ko nagugutom. Nakakatakam yun McDo o.
John: Oo nga, P25 lang!
Bob: May tanong ako...
John: Ano yun?
Bob: What if ililibre ka pero McDo lang ang kakainin mo for one whole day, kaya mo?
John: Oo naman!
Bob: Pero yan ang kakainin mo ha, McFloat, Burger McDo, Fries and Sundae, in one seating!
John: Oo yan lang pala e.
Bob: Tange! Ganyang kalaking McFloat, Burger McDo, Fries at Sundae! Pag di mo raw naubos, papatayin ka. Hahahaha!
John: Gago!

Hapdeyt (Kapampangan Version of Update)

2011-05-22T19:22:00.007+08:00

Ok. So it's been a while since I last blogged, 2 months that is. I tried writing after the last one but I lacked time and motivation. See, I even missed writing about my birthday! As what I always rant on Twitter, I've been sacrificing a lot just to fulfill my duties and responsibilities at work. The company is growing rapidly. And that resulted to extended working hours, and meetings left and right. This week, my work schedule will start at 9am and will end at around 10-ish in the evening. But I'm only counting a few more days before the big switch. And now I'm getting excited.

Recently, I've been having sleepless nights because of this Panasonic Lumix LX5 addiction. Haha! I kept on reading reviews and I really can't wait to own one! Since I don't have cash-on-hand, I am looking for someone who has a BPI credit card who can spare me P20,000 worth of credits for 6 months. My plan is to purchase one under a 6-month installment program. The problem is, I don't know anyone who has a BPI credit card!!! Puck!

So there.

The Lost Prince

2011-03-22T23:27:00.003+08:00

I always wondered why life is unfair. I believe I am a good person. I admit that there were times when I made fun of other people. Then afterwards, I realized that doing so was wrong. I just stop and quietly apologize as if I'm talking to the victim of my crime.

We all have wants but in reality, we can never have it all. I sometimes don't understand why some of our valid wants cannot be ours. I just say to myself, to compensate, that God wants it that way. But sometimes I think that He's fooling us. I know it's wrong to question Him. Cliche as it may sound but I am just human.

I'm still a lost soul. I need to understand why these things are happening to a naive person like me. I need the Spirit of Understanding and the Spirit of Wisdom. I am immature.

I didn't know if my questions will be answered. I'm no smart individual. I need guidance. I need strength.

Oh good Lord, take my wheel. Drive me to a place where I can see the light.

Image source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/_kit/3281279331/

UNENDING GRACE: THE GRANDEST CELEBRATION OF THEM ALL

2011-01-28T02:11:00.002+08:00

It took place a few ticks before the countdown to 400 Years reaches Day Zero. And attended by celebrities of all genre, the Dominican Priests, the loyal Alumni, the hardworking Faculties and Employees, the whole student body, and the rest of the Thomasian community who have all been witnesses in this once-in-a-lifetime experience of celebrating FOUR HUNDRED YEARS of existence.

As the night was filled with every song, dance, praises and speeches to the University Of Santo Tomas, the celebration continued to go on a hype and it was capped with the grandest pyrotechnic ever to be displayed within the campus, topping all the previous ones have set.

Thomasians of all ages welcomed its 4th Century with a blast making its mark in history book long before they can ever be written down nor ever be forgotten by anyone.

CHEERS TO UST! CHEERS TO 400! CHEERS TO GOD’S UNENDING GRACE!

(via imahe.tumblr.com)

Frozen

2011-01-17T03:11:00.002+08:00

I'm still awake! I can't sleep. Maybe because of the movie that I've watched before going to bed. The movie is Frozen.

Frozen is a story of a group of friends who went on a ski vacation and was trapped at a cable car. I first saw the trailer last year and I promised myself to catch it once released. Luckily, my friend has a clear copy of it so I just watched in on iPod Touch. Now the result is I'm wide awake.

O_O

Blogging OMW to Makati

2010-11-05T09:31:00.001+08:00

I'm on my way to the office now. Still having this weird pain. I hope it's just my glasses. Initially, the doctor gave me a drug for vertigo. After 3 days, I found out that it's all about my right eye that's causing the dizziness.

Tonight, we will attend the second calibration with OnStar operations. I hope that my fellow recruiters will understand why we're having this. And I hope they'll be more strict in hiring for the said program.

Lastly, I can't hide my excitement for the Naga jobfair next week. I was chosen to represent Makati Recruitment Team. I hope I could get quality hires. And of course to enjoy the trip coz it'll be my first time to go there. So far, the farthest place that I've been in the south is Puerto Galera. I really don't know the geographical location of both places but I know that Naga has the longest travel time compared to PG.

Btw, it's traffic again. What's new?!