The Not-So-Private Journal of Juana Beth

Dear Poy

noreply@blogger.com (Juana Beth) — Thu, 10 Mar 2011 06:32:00 +0000

I can’t exactly remember the last time we saw each other in person. Was that the time before you and your family moved to Montalban? I think we were incoming fourth graders then. Ah, such fond memories. We were friends, neighbors, and classmates. We almost grew up together. All of us.

Unfortunately, SMCS closed down so we were forced to go to other schools and make new friends. I remember how the “gang” held a little going away “party” for you guys at my best friend’s house. It was one of the most memorable events during my childhood; we bought packs of Pritos Rings, Tomy, and Moby at Manang Daleng’s and then washed it down with melon juice in plastic cups.

“Pol Pikunin! Pol Sipunin!”

You’re such a pikon kid then, you know that? I recall how we used to endlessly tease you because you easily get pissed off. Sometimes, you run back home, crying. Sorry ‘bout that. Tee-hee.

I didn’t hear from you much since then… until the recent years. Thank God for Facebook because it helped us catch up on each other’s lives. I don’t usually go online on chat. But when I do, you’d always chat me up. We usually talk about music, guitars, and you being a kickass web designer. You constantly reminded me to send you a high-res photo of me so you’d be able to make it look as kickass as you are. You’re a good man, Poy. I know it. Sorry I forgot to send the photo. Now, I’m too late.

We were planning a get-together sometime next weekend. I’m as excited as you are but time is an enemy. We’re all too busy with our corporate lives that we forgot to set a concrete date for the reunion. Personally, I figured that we’ll eventually see each other so I didn’t felt the need to rush.

And then this happened.

I cried, Poy. I didn’t cry because you left us. I cried because I wasted precious time. We should’ve had that guitar jam session we’ve been planning for ages. You should’ve taught me how to vector in Photoshop. We should’ve filled the gaps. We should’ve laughed and drank beer or something. Something—anything—before you left.

I know you’re okay now. And I’m hoping and praying that we—especially your family and girlfriend— will, too. We miss you already.

Your friend,

PS.

Yeng Constantino, a good friend of yours, wrote a song especially for you. Have you heard it? It’s badass, man. Bad. Ass.

PPS.

She blogged about you, too. It’s so touching. You should read it!

My kind of weekend!

noreply@blogger.com (Juana Beth) — Tue, 08 Mar 2011 06:51:00 +0000

Hey, fellas! How were you gorgeous lads the past weekend? Mine was blissful—well, not totally but I won’t have it any other way (if it could get better, why not?). I spent the weekend with my family, along with my boyfriend, at my Lola’s home at Quezon City. Man, I used to avoid the place when I was a kid. But now that I’m an old, corporate-working slave, I’m seriously thinking of spending my weekends there. And absolutely no Internet!

Sunday’s lunch was beyond amazing. I decided to try my budding cooking skills into (not-so) use by whipping up a big kaldero of creamy carbonara; a recipe I learned from Lola. Well, my Pops did most of the work but I think I could handle it alone next time.

***

How’s my new blog template treating you? I’m not so blessed with CSS know-hows so I just used Blogger’s default templates, a little tweaking, voila! You have a very teeny-bopper blog. Thank goodness they’ve update their template selections, though. When I started blogging here, I had to endure the most boring template choices in the planet.

I know, I know.. My blog header’s empty. To the guys behind HelpDeskExecutives.com, I borrowed your header’s image. It’s kind of the best I could find on the Internet.

It’s kinda frustrating for a photo hobbyist like me, though. I could just take a photo of a notebook myself but my camera is in the camera hospital. Damn autofocus feature gave up on me. But hey, as soon as I get an original and decent picture, I’ll immediately take the photo off my site. Cool?

How to look in gwapo for 10-15 seconds

noreply@blogger.com (Juana Beth) — Tue, 22 Feb 2011 08:06:00 +0000

Hi, y'all! Just taking a quick break from the piling heap of workload today by sharing you a hilarious video (as usual) by Ramon Bautista and Tado.

In this video, hunk extraordinaire Borgy Manotoc gives Ramon and Tado tips on how to correctly sashay into a room-full of women while looking hot.

Oh my good Lord, my tummy is about to burst from suppressed laughter. ROFL!

My Chick Bad: Bad chick moves

noreply@blogger.com (Juana Beth) — Mon, 21 Feb 2011 09:48:00 +0000

Must dance again. Must come up with dope moves like these:

My chick bad indeed!

Woes of an un-famous writer

noreply@blogger.com (Juana Beth) — Mon, 21 Feb 2011 07:56:00 +0000

What if I tell you that I write for a living?

Would you label me as a poor, literary slave? Would you think less of me? Would you have these tall expectations that I produce long paragraphs in a short span of time and that these long paragraphs are completely unflawed by grammatical blunders?

If you answered ‘yes’ to one of the questions above, then you seriously need to re-assess your lack of better judgment. Seriously—run somewhere and get divine intervention or something.

Lately, it’s incredibly frustrating and sad, at the same time that most of the stuff I get paid to write has nothing to do with any of my interests. Every working day, I am expected to produce search engine-optimized string of sentences about a product or service that I don’t have first-hand experience in; I am expected to market something I haven’t touched or felt, but look as if it’s the greatest thing in the planet; and lastly, I am expected write the same shit during the whole 8-hour work timeframe.

Most of my articles and other write-ups (except this blog and my other personal blogs, of course) adhere to what we call “Company Standards.” To put it simply, my professional writing haven’t got a smoke of a soul. All is purely for business purposes—even my writing style is severely altered by the editors’ preferences.

What non-writers miss most of the time is that we don’t automatically spew sensible sentences at a drop of a hat. What are we, a human word factory? We need time to think. We need time to adjust on the surroundings. We need space where we could position at the most comfortable way. We need inspiration. Why, fictional Sex and the City character, Carrie Bradshaw even work at the comforts of her apartment building just to come up with a sensational column.

What I’m trying to say is, don’t get your panties up in a bunch when us, writers, do not exceed your expectations. Don’t expect us to be perfectly articulate all the time. After all, we’re just humans like you.

*Photos are taken randomly from Google Images

Better than GaGa

noreply@blogger.com (Juana Beth) — Sat, 19 Feb 2011 19:19:00 +0000

Idolizing, no--the mere fact of liking--a Lady GaGa song is widely frowned upon by the highly conservative folk. I am conservative; but somehow I find myself enjoying this unpredictable singer-slash-songwriter's music.

Some of her songs were even covered by other musicians--and she's not even wrinkly or dead yet! It's funny how other artists' get waaay too insecure of top-grossing albums. Yes, I'm talking to you, Ke$ha.

If you've been following @LadyGaga lately on Twitter, you must have seen the video that supposedly brought tears on her eyes:

This 10-year-old has some nice pipes, I must say. I'm thinking of doing a cover, too, using my age-old guitar. But how do I conceal myself? Hmm.

Second thoughts?

noreply@blogger.com (Juana Beth) — Thu, 17 Feb 2011 09:26:00 +0000

I initially created this blog with intent to chronicle my goal to land a job and, very hopefully, achieve a career in Singapore. Since the start of 2011, I’ve been sending out hundreds of online applications using different job portals and browsing forums (such as PinoySG.com) to gather as much information I need. My target jobs as of now: A copywriter or a marketing executive.

A little over a month, I have been receiving several inquiries; Four, to be exact. Call me shallow, but I have learned to immensely appreciate the fact that employers in Singapore find my resume impressive enough.

My friend from college and I are planning fly to Singapore on April. That’s roughly two months as I’m typing this. Money and accommodation is a huge, HUGE predicament. I need, at least, fifty Philippine grand in order for me to survive overseas job hunting. I’ve only got a quarter of that figure stashed in my saving account.

Whenever I think of leaving my family behind, especially my ailing Lola, my heart breaks into pieces. Honestly, I’ve got mixed feelings about this whole thing. I know I’ve been praying hard and long enough to ship myself away to the Merlion City, but leaving my family will be one of the hardest decisions I will ever make in my life. I’m desperately hoping that all of these would just fall into place one day.

Good morning!

noreply@blogger.com (Juana Beth) — Mon, 07 Feb 2011 04:10:00 +0000

I just want to remember today's exciting e-mail message so far this month:

Okay, calm down, Juana Beth. You still haven't got the job yet. But there's a flicker of hope right there.

Here's to more good mornings!