JUMPSHIPPER

Madge Gone Wild

2012-03-21T16:12:00.008+08:00

Only a True Legend can rip-off from herself and re-define re-invention...

Madonna's new music video for her latest single Girl Gone Wild off her upcoming album MDNA is reminiscent of her videos past. A hodge-podge of Erotica, Vogue, Human Nature, Express Yourself and Justify My Love just to name a few, it's the first Madonna music video in the last few years that puts her back in that league she created solely for her.

Welcome back Madonna...

Like you ever left us really...

https://twitter.com/roccoryan

Man Overboard

2012-03-20T19:29:00.001+08:00

Three years have passed and now I'm back!

I have to admit, I did not miss writing on my blog all that much. Posting status updates on Facebook with the accompanying pictures and occasional one-liners were enough to share what I had been up to and where I have been the past three years.

Now, here I am pretending to be a writer again.

Out of the sea...
Wish I could be...
Part of your world...
...again!

Now that I have finally jumped ship and decided to work on land again, I intend to get back on this blog to share my thoughts (mindless and/or otherwise) and my experiences (pleasant and/or not) to those who care enough to care.

To another start...

To a new beginning...

The Boy in Oz

2009-03-04T02:10:00.000+08:00

I’m in a land that they call Down Under…

Ain’t nobody’s gonna steal my thunder!

I’m in a land where they say G’day!

Ain’t nobody’s gonna stand in my way!

I’m gonna beat my drums…

I’m gonna ring my bell…

And I don’t give a damn if I go to hell!

… Don’t you agree with me, Australia?!?!?

These words Her Madgesty once declared on her widely successful Aussie stop for the Girlie Show Tour. Naturally, having that in mind, I was excited to know that my return to ship life would take me to AUSTRALIA… Sydney & Melbourne in particular.

I actually boarded my 2nd ship in Sydney and I remember the night we flew in, I could already see the Sydney Harbor Bridge and the iconic Sydney Opera House from the plane and what a sight!

Like in my previous first times seeing world renowned landmarks, I could not believe that those I have only seen in TV and movies are now right before my bespectacled eyes.

Too bad that I did not have enough time to wander the night we arrived Sydney since we had to get up early the next morning for my 1st day on the job. And too bad as well that my work schedule did not allow me much time as well to wander far and long in Sydney & Melbourne each time we dock there. We’ve been on this run (Australia-New Zealand) for 4 months now and simply put, it wasn’t as fun as I thought and hoped it would be. My fingers are crossed that Asia would yield more amazing times.

The only time we had a great chance to experience Sydney was rather eventful, New Year’s Eve! Yes, I had the great opportunity to welcome 2009 by witnessing one of the most popular and acclaimed fireworks display in the world this time of year.

Lo and behold, there was another downside. We did not get to see the whole thing in the best vantage point. Due to the enormous number of people in the streets, we could only go as far as being stuck in a street party with a side view of the Harbour Bridge.

But just the same, we had an amazing time! The fireworks was spectacular and the party mode was contagious! It was such fun celebrating the night with my friends and so many other people from different parts of the world. It was like one big happy convention!

In the middle of the whole celebration though, I could not help feeling bittersweet. It’s still so much more fun ringing in the New Year back home with my family and/or friends. Sure, the Aussie fireworks were amazing, but it does not beat the simple joy of lighting up a ‘watusi’ and watch it dance away or the childish excitement in lighting up a ‘labintador’ or ‘bawang’ then waiting for it to explode. The Aussie pyrotechnics do not hold a candle to our beloved ‘Roman Candle’!

Still, it was such an experience and so much better than celebrating New Year’s Eve in the middle of the ocean like what I did last year! For that, I am still thankful…

Well, naturally, I am sharing some of my photos in Australia just to prove that I was really there and I did not make this up… Enjoy!

click to view my Aussie pics

;-)

Nothing... Definitely... Maybe

2009-02-21T03:55:00.000+08:00

So much has happened since I last wrote something on my blog that I do not know where to start…

Or not much has happened after all…

It could only be all in the head…

Definitely…

Maybe…

It’s one of those times when so much is going on and yet, on some strange level, you feel nothing…

That’s where I am now…

Well, actually I’m in New Zealand right now…

I’m back working in a cruise liner and I’m now on a different ship, on a different itinerary with a different set of colleagues…

Different… for better or worse, that pretty much sums up my impression of my 2nd venture as a seafarer…

I guess, I’ll just leave it up at that…

… No Explanation, No Apology, No Regret…

Back At Sea

2008-11-11T20:59:00.003+08:00

So I'm back...

Back at sea for yet another year...

But as I embark on another contract as a seafarer, I can't help but look back on my very brief respite from work. The too short of a 2-month vacation spent with close friends in the place I now re-affirmed that I will always call home.

And I want to thank my very good friends for making my homecoming so much worthwhile.

As Madonna once declared: “I may not be a homecoming queen or anything, but I sure feel like one…!”

To my good buddies from MB Philippines (you know who you all are!), my FAB friend from Sanfo, my great sistahs from my most recent previous office, to my fellow pri-Madonnistas, my new-found friends that formed the Batch 48 Enervon-C… my heartfelt Thank You for the time and fun moments shared…

But most especially, my heart screams and hollers the biggest words of gratitude to my much-loved and much-missed Sunshine…

Despite the inevitable awkward first encounters when I first got back, when we did not know how to begin again… we were able to move past the past, and move on to a more promising tomorrow…

Our moments may not be many, but they were surely special…

My heart aches more now than it did the first time I left home and it’s because I know a part of it is left with you.

But now at least I know that my return home next year, offers me more to look forward to.

And I know that “somewhere, beyond the sea somewhere, waiting for me, my lover stands…”

Dear Uncle Sam...,

2008-10-31T08:09:00.000+08:00

Madonna once said that "Rejection is the greatest aphrodisiac."

And boy, do you have that hold on me...

You denied me entry once last year and it almost broke my heart...

A denial that almost derailed my plans...

A rejection that almost snuffed my dreams...

But I moved on...

Another opportunity came and it lead me to somewhere else...

Places I did not expect I'd be in...

Places I now realized held more allure and excitement than I ever imagined...

And I came back with the experience you said I lacked deeming me unworthy of your approval...

But still, I longed for your nod...

So much that the mere thought of another rejection frightened me to bits...

And that moment came when I had to present myself to you again...

And I'm so glad you softened up...

And you made it a whole lot easier for me...

And now you said 'Yes'...

And I have that feeling that you need me now more than I needed you then...

And now my plans are back on track...

And now my dreams can keep on dreaming...

For that, I thank you...

I'm A Songer... Believe It Or Not!

2008-10-24T07:17:00.000+08:00

Of the many great things I experienced as a seafarer, probably the one that tops my list is the amazing opportunity to do the one thing I've always dreamt of doing...

Performing in front of a crowd...

I'm not much of a singer but I do try...

And onboard the m/s Rotterdam, I did have the chance to participate regularly in The Filipino Crew Show. The show that is being staged almost every cruise with non-professional performers from the Filipino community working in the ship.

I knew about this gig even before I boarded my first vessel and was actually looking forward to it. And I volunteered to sing one song on the first chance I got... this was around November last year.

And I'm glad to say that since then, I was always given a slot on the show for at least one song.

I was even lucky enough to find a duet partner for what would be a second song which, and I say this with as much modesty as I can, always pleased our audience.

A few months ago, I posted on my Multiply site a video snippet of one of my performances. This is the duet I always performed with my colleague and friend Kristine a.k.a. Liam.

The feedback has been nice and I was told (by my sisters, no less!) that I should post an entire performance so as not to make it 'bitin'..

So here it is, a full video of our interpretation of the song 'The Prayer' which will always be one of the highlights of my 11-month stay in the Rotterdam...

Please bear with the not-so-clear vid...

And please bear with us... we're not professionals, remember?!

And please do enjoy...

The Adventures of Me, Me World Tour

2008-10-22T19:51:00.001+08:00

“I’ve been to Nice & the isle of Greece,
As I sip champagne on a yacht;
I moved like Harlow in Monte Carlo...”

Memorable lines from a memorable song...

And not it's not from Mimi..

Actually, this post has nothing to do with Mariah at all...

I'm a Madonnista after all...

Anywho, I'm finally writing about what happened to me & where I've been for the past year...

It may not be complete, but this is as comprehensive as I can get...

Like most people, I don’t really like numbers. I can’t say I hate Math when I was required to study it back in my long-forgotten academic years, but nevertheless, I can’t say that I’m keen on calculating either.

Still, allow me to summarize my first year as a seafarer in numbers...

26 Countries...

11 Months...

4 Continents...

1 Ship...

Memories... Countless
It all started from my first flight outside the Philippines to Istanbul in Turkey, and culminated in my homecoming flight from Rome, Italy. Suffice it to say, I’ve had one amazing experience in my first year as a seafarer.

However, since my access to the Internet have been compromised by the ultra-slow connection on-board and the relatively ultra-ridiculous rates in most Internet cafes ashore, I have not been able to give my friends and online buddies a regular account of my adventures.

And now, I will attempt at recounting the highlights of my year in my own words...

Some pictures from what for me are the best places I’ve been in and the most enjoyable moments I’ve had with my wonderful friends are also here...

In random order...

ISTANBUL, TURKEY

The first foreign land I’ve set foot on (though technically it’s Amsterdam where we had a 2-hour stop). Lucky for me (and my friend Cara, who’s also on her first trip), we were given a whole day and night to experience Istanbul before we eventually boarded our ship to start our supposedly 10-month contract.

Without much cash and without much experience going around in a strange land, Cara & I decided to just walk around the Turkish streets near our hotel. Holding on to our pocket money, we roamed downtown Istanbul doing the kind of shopping that we do best... window shopping!

Like most Pinoys who are abroad, we could not help convert the Euro-prices of the stuff we checked out to Pesos and it made us feel as poor as rats. Little did we know that compared to other European countries, shopping in Istanbul is actually cheaper.

But then again... we had enough money for some local food that actually tasted good and saw amazing mosques and some cute Turks along the way...

Our ship has docked in Istanbul (and another Turkish city, Kusadasi) a few times after but I was unable to roam around there anymore.

But I think for me, once is more than enough.

As Cara & I usually say, Istanbul will always have a special place in our hearts...

Clowning it up in Istanbul

click on the image for more photos

VENICE, ITALY

Only 2 weeks in to my contract, our ship went on dry dock in the quiet little town of Trieste in Italy to do ship maintenance & interior refurbishing.

It was 10 glorious days of no guests, only contractors and the not-so-glorious task of general cleaning of our department.

However, we were given 2 days off (which is a rarity!) and my new-found friends in the Front Desk decided that we would all go to Venice which is only an hour train ride from where we were.

I do not have to say how significant Venice would be to someone like me.

Sure, Venice is known to be a cradle of culture & the arts for the last few centuries.

Sure, it’s supposedly one of the most romantic places in the world (if you can ignore the mild stench from the not so clean canal waters).

But for me, it was an opportunity to go on a gondola along the murky Venetian waters a la Madonna!

Forget the Rialto,

forget San Marco... it’s Like A Virgin, baby!

And sure enough, with my last remaining Euros, I went with my friends on a gondola, with Like A Virgin on repeat play in my I-pod and glided along the canals around Venice.

I’m indeed touched for the very first time...

Ganda Lang sa Gondola!
click on the image for more photos

ROME, ITALY

Any Catholic would be anxious to go to this wonderful city and I did not waste time pleading my way to a chance to go ashore in Civitavecchia and go all the way to Rome. The travel time alone to and from would be approximately 4 hours. Since on average, we are only given at the most 5 hours ashore, I had to charm the one in charge of our schedule to give me more time for this port.

And lucky enough, I was given a long break and with my friend Gretchen (the Juday to my Ryan), we set off on our Roman adventure.

Unlucky enough, our trip to Rome took longer than expected with the perennially-not-on-time train and the heavy traffic within Rome.

So what we anticipated as at least an hour and a half opportunity to roam around Rome got down to only 10 minutes!

So we spent just 5 minutes to the one place I’ve always wanted to be in... The Vatican!

That’s 5 minutes of a silent prayer & the obligatory ‘picture-picture’.
The other 5, was spent hailing a cab to get us back to the train station.

Luckily again, on our second time to Civitavecchia, I again was given a long break. And with a smarter travel plan & strategic itinerary, I was able to visit the Vatican once again and also have visited the Coliseum, the Trevi Fountain & again, The Vatican!

We saw other places along the way so my second Roman Holiday was much more fun and fulfilling (with more pictures!).

We normally ask each other which city we’ve visited can we imagine living permanently in, and Rome is probably one of my top choices.

The energy & friendliness of the people there plus the amazing architectural structure and cultural scene seem to appeal to me more than any other place I’ve visited.

And the gelato is great!

Live at The Coliseum!
click on the image for more photos

SANTORINI, GREECE

Probably the cutest-looking and most picturesque towns I’ve seen (especially as seen from the sea or on a tender boat ride to the port) with its houses of white & blue seemingly reflecting the white clouds above it and the clear blue skies & sea around it.

This is also where I had my first-ever donkey ride!

Okay, it’s more horse-mule than a donkey, but still!

What made the ride more exciting is that we had to go uphill at the side of the cliff to get to the town center above the port and with the barely manageable donkeys and the narrowly winding pathway, the ride was a blast!

We could have just taken the cable ride up but where’s the fun in that?

We had our fill of amazing giros and my usual serving of ice cream and went into the narrow streets of Santorini.

Admittedly, it felt like being in a public cemetery with the bare white walls of the houses that are so close to each other but the atmosphere is so peaceful and calm even with many tourists around.

Going home in Manila months after, I was told to watch KC’s & Richard’s movie because they shot in Santorini. Unfortunately, their crappy film was not able to capture the beauty & energy of the place.

It’s a good thing I’ve been there myself...

I Love Santorini!
click on the image for more photos

CAIRO, EGYPT

The Pyramids.

The Sphinx.

Never in my wildest dreams have I imagined getting to see these 2 architectural wonders.

I thought that the most I’ll get to experience Egypt is through my Social Studies classes in school and the occasional features on TV.

But there I was, under the blazing heat of the sun and the sandy winds of Cairo, looking at and having my pictures taken with the Pyramids and the Sphinx on the background.

It’s weird though that after a bus ride that took about 2 hours, spending more than 30 minutes in the place was more than enough.

Simply put, there’s not much else to see there.

Once you see the Pyramids, that’s it!

The heat did not help either, it only made us wanna go back to the ship.

Not that I did not enjoy Cairo at all.

It’s just that in this case, once is indeed enough.

Camel-riding in Cairo!
click on the image for more photos

JERUSALEM, ISRAEL

Just like Rome, the Catholic in me was very eager to visit this Holy Land.

And like Cairo, it took us more than 2 hours on a bus ride to get to the Church of Holy Sepulchre which is the sacred place where Jesus was taken after being crucified and where He was laid before His Resurrection.

Words are not enough to describe how I felt touching the very ground where His body was washed & cleaned after being taken down from the cross.

There was this certain energy and calmness that flowed through my body and in some heavenly sense, I was able to feel His presence.

There were practically thousands of people there but I could sense the peace inside.

Unfortunately, I was unable to crawl all the way to the tomb where Jesus was supposed to have been laid to rest. But I was able to check out a similar tomb and it was really interesting.

Though I’m Catholic, I also visited the Wailing Wall where the Jewish silently pray and where they insert their written prayers into the gaps in the stone walls.

And even if taking photos is not allowed, I had my pics taken here as well!

Like they could stop us?!?

O Holy Land...
click on the image for more photos

ST. PETERSBURG, RUSSIA

One of my most memorable experiences, I experienced in St. Petersurg, Russia.

Which is not to say this is my favourite port... Hell No!

In fact, it’s safe to conclude that it’s of my least favourites.

Okay, they have some amazing churches, buildings, fountains and monuments.
But nothing that we could not see anywhere else in Europe.

But that’s not why I hated it there...

It was in St. Petersburg where I was almost arrested!

Yes, by the police. And for what?...

‘Picture-picture!!!’

Since a cab ride in Russia could cost about $20 per person, we just decided to take public transportation to the downtown.

After a bus ride to the subway station, we queued to buy our train tokens.

Since the interior of the train station was beautiful with amazing murals and sculptures, we instinctively took a few photos inside.

When it was my turn to take my friends’ photos, we suddenly heard and saw 3 policemen from 3 different corners aggressively approaching me.

With one of them carrying handcuffs and another talking to me in Russian, I knew I was in trouble and was already imagining myself being carried off to a Russian prison!

One of the policemen then pulled out a paper which I thought was their Miranda rights.

Still trying to act cool and composed even though my knees are starting to fail me, I nervously peeked at the paper and realized that it was just a list of the Train System’s rules and regulations and it clearly says that for security reasons, picture taking inside the train stations and inside the trains is strictly prohibited.

My eyes then scrambled to check what the penalty would be and lo and behold, I only had to pay a fine of 100 rubles which roughly is about $5. Not bad.

It’s not only that experience that left a sour taste in my travelling mouth when I think of St. Petersburg.

The sorry state of their port, the unfriendliness of the people (and they stink!), the absence of English-speaking Russians in the streets and the extreme difficulty in going our way around without being subjected to an almost-robbery rates of their taxicabs.

It’s a good thing I have Anastasia playing in my I-pod to get me through the harrowing day...

The 'Arrest'ing Picture...
click on the image for more photos

BUENOS AIRES & USHUAIA, ARGENTINA

It comes as no surprise that coming to Argentina is an incredibly exciting idea for me.

To be where the woman (whom Madonna played so well) used to reign in was so much for me to comprehend that when we finally got to Buenos Aires, the first place I wanted to go was Casa Rosada. The place where Eva Duarte Peron a.k.a. Evita used to address her loyal followers from during the height of her fame and power (and where Madonna famously sang that Broadway showtune). Don’t Cry For Me, Argentina indeed.

I also had to visit the places mentioned in the Buenos Aires song: Rio de la Plata, Florida, Corrientes, & Nueve De Julio and got to pay my respects to Evita in her final resting place in Recoleta.

Need I say that I had the Evita soundtrack on my pod while I’m in Buenos Aires?

Buenos Aires is actually a great city and we’ve docked there a number of times during our South America cruises. We always head to Florida Street since it’s their shopping district where you can find practically anything you need.

At night (we stop overnight in Buenos), it’s Sahara where we usually go because it’s the most fun club there and most seafarers enjoy being there. We didn’t do any tango, though.

We also tried to go to a mostly-gay club Amerika where not surprisingly, only I and my Kuya friend really enjoyed.

Another Argentine place we went to is Ushuaia which is officially the southernmost city in the world.

Hence, it was dubbed ‘The End of the World’.

It’s a contrast to Buenos’ fast-paced atmosphere.

In this quiet little town, everything is a few blocks away.

The climate is also great for just walking since it’s really cold and I enjoyed the cool breeze from the snow-capped mountains surrounding it.

I'm Not Crying, Argentina!
click on the image for more photos

ANTARCTICA

Our ship cruised along that Antarctic waters quite a few times and though we were not allowed to dock anywhere there, it’s more than enough to see the place from our safe place in the ship.

We went there during winter so you can imagine how cold it was. I already had 3 layers of thick and warm clothing and I was still hypothermically freezing.

But I couldn’t care less.

I had my first taste of snow on the bow of our ship and though I was still on duty then, I raced to the bow as soon as I heard that it was snowing! Amazing!

The sight of huge glaciers and icebergs is also overwhelmingly awesome.

Any guy from a tropical country would be astounded by the experience.

And I definitely was!

Antarctic Cool
click on the image for more photos

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL

The home of the Havaianas!

Yep, after chastising my friends in Manila for wanting to buy those expensive rubber sandals that actually look just like any regular rubber sandals, I too fell victim to the Havaiana phenomenon.

But judge me not, for in Brazil, it’s practically a dime a dozen cheap!

So much so that I did not only get one pair of Havaianas, but three! And I also bought more than a dozen pairs for my siblings and some friends.

But of course, Brazil offers more than just these amazing sandals (I’m sounding like an endorser now!).

Rio De Janeiro is known for the towering figure of the Christ The Redeemer monument that stands over the above the city.

When we got there, the weather was cloudy so we could not see the monument from the city. But after about an hour drive uphill to Corcovado mountain, we finally got to see it up close.

And what a sight to behold!

I also got to go to the famed Ipanema beach which became popular thanks to Frank Sinatra’s song. Another famous Brazilian beach is Copacabana (made popular by Manilow) but I did not go there.

The beach is nothing spectacularly special but the mood there is really nice. People had no qualms displaying their bodies of varying built and clearly, Brazilian men & women have no inhibitions to public display.

While Pinoy men can only go as far as wearing surf shorts when beaching, the Brazilian guys proudly cavort in their most tempting skimpy Speedos.

Again, what a sight to behold!

At one point, our ship docked in Rio for 2 nights and that’s when we took the chance to experience their nightlife as well. While most of my friends went to this modern club, I & my friends Liam, Joel, Jonathan and Jhan decided to go to a more authentic Brazilian club, Scenarium.

It took a while before we enjoyed the night since we had to wait some time to get a table and the music is not exactly what we are used to.

But after a few drinks, we had the most amazing & unusual fun!

The Redeemer & the redeemed...
click on the image for more photos

MONTE CARLO, MONACO & NICE, FRANCE

Of all the places we’ve been in, these 2 are probably the ones known mostly for its glamorous and high-end reputation.

And since I’ve always felt glamorous inside anyway, it just like home! Haha!

Actually, Monte Carlo is the place where I most felt poverty-stricken.

With some of the most expensive cars just driving along their clean roads or parked unceremoniously in the sidewalks, and some of the most high-class boutiques located everywhere with clothes more expensive than what I actually earn in a year, I felt so little and insignificant.

But I’m a seafarer, and I always go where seafarers always go... the cheap places!
And you can actually find some in Monte Carlo, believe it or not!

In Monte Carlo, I got to their Royal Palace where Prince Rainier & Grace Kelly stayed. Malacanang Palace actually looked better in my opinion but it was still fun to see.

I also got to witness the changing of the guards which is at best, interesting.

Nice, France is about 2 hours away from Monte Carlo and the only reason I really wanted to go there is again... Madonna-related!

Nice is where Madonna filmed arguably her best concert ever, Blond Ambition.

Silly, but that’s the only reason.

I could not care less if it’s nice (just like its name) or not...

I just felt I had to be there.

Frankly, it’s not much different from Monte Carlo and honestly, I would not have missed much if I didn’t go.

But still...

Madonna actually had another concert in Nice for Sticky & Sweet this time.

It’s just a bummer that I got there a few days later!

Welcome to my world...
click on the image for more photos

LONDON, ENGLAND

Finally, London!

Our ship had London as a turn-around port for a few times but we docked in Harwich town which is roughly 2 hours away.

Being a turn-around port, it is a very busy day on each cruise, and we are not given a lot of time ashore to allow us to visit London.

Aside from the fact that we have only a few hours ashore if we’re lucky, the ship would also be leaving the port early since it’s the start of another cruise.

Hence, I was already resigned to the fact that I will never be able to go to London (like Paris which was 3 hours from where we docked in Le Havre, France).

Until one significant thing happened... and again, it would seem silly for those who do not know me...

I saw the movie Caregiver starring my other idol, Sharon Cuneta!

It’s not that I have not seen the images of the Big Ben or the London Bridge before, we all see them a lot.

But knowing that Mega actually shot the movie there inspired me to look into any option which would allow me to visit London anyhow.

Besides, Madonna is a Londoner now so I might bump into her!

Wishful Thinking!

My big break came when I was assigned to do nightshift again giving me practically the whole daytime off.

Much thanks also to my Manager (Nanay Christel) for allowing me to leave my shift early and arranging that I join the bus transfer reserved for guests to be dropped off to London for free.

And so with my London map on hand, and my itinerary strategically planned as well, off to London I went on my own.

Adventure indeed!

I was dropped off at Victoria Station where I started my walk towards The Buckingham Palace.

Nope, the Queen was not there... It was crowded but I still enjoyed it. I had to find my courage to approach just anyone to take my picture and luckily someone did.

Then I walked towards St. James Park station to take the Underground train to Westminster to see the Abbey and of course, Big Ben.

And boy is Ben Big!

Then off to the Underground again to go to Tower Hill where I walked a few blocks to see the London Tower and of course, The London Bridge!

After spending about 2 hours walking around, going Underground, walking a little bit more, I felt that I’ve seen enough and I had to get back to the ship.

I would have wanted to go Harrod’s, to the Wembley Stadium, to West End... unfortunately, there was not enough time.

Heck, I did not see Madonna again!

Bummer!

It's London calling...
click on the image for more photos

So, there!

There have been other places I've been in the course of my 11-month travel around the world (actually, based on an on-line site, I have been in approximately 11% of the world)...

Bulgaria, Chile, Croatia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Romania, Senegal, Spain, Sweden, Ukraine & Uruguay...

I did not include them here not because I did not like them or enjoyed my visits there...

They just were not outstanding enough to stand out...

But I'll definitely post some of my most favorite pictures on another entry...

Makes sense?!

Anywho...

Thank you for bearing with me in my understandably long blog entry...

And I do hope you enjoyed it...

... I sure did!

My Sun Shines Back

2008-10-21T17:55:00.000+08:00

Yep, for those who have been reading my blog for the past 3 years (?) I’ve been doing this,

The subject pretty says much everything...

After a year of temporary estrangement,
A year of attempts at platonic love,
A year of ‘just friends but with benefits’,
A year of trading hints at a possible reconciliation...

I’ve come to the conclusion
that my life is not as bright,
without my Sunshine...

So, a few weeks before my homecoming...
After Sunshine took the step in popping the elephant-in-our-room question...
I made the decision, without much hesitation...
To go back on that Sunshiny road once again...

And for once, I took to heart and actually lived up to my blog’s byline...

No Explanations, No Apologies, No Regret!

The Return of the Material Comeback

2008-10-13T16:31:00.000+08:00

It goes without writing, I have been lazy on my blogging...

Funny that just when I seem to have so much more to say, so much more stories to tell and so much more to recount, I have suddenly become mute...

It’s been said that a picture is worth a thousand words & that’s pretty much what I have posted to try & make up for my only 3 blog entries in one whole year! I have managed to pick what I think are the best pictures that have been taken of me in all the places I’ve been in the past the past 11 months.

But I realize that that’s not enough...

In this day & age, a picture is only worth a thousand words, when there’s at least a caption that come with it... ;-)

So slowly, I’ll update my photos...

So soon, I’ll start blogging again...

Thanks largely in part to my much-awaited, long-saved-up-for, ‘Katas ng Dagat’ notebook... (I also have my own camera now! No more free-loading cam-whoring!), I can hope now to be more active again in my once-active bloggery.

Now, if only I can finally figure out where the best, easiest & free-est wi-fi place is, then I’m set!

Yup, no paid long-term internet account for me, my dear...

After all is said & done, on some levels, one way or another, in some matters, in this Material World...

I’m still your typical, practical & mostly uncompromising cheapo!

Material Boy or not...

And that my friend, is something I’m not entirely ashamed of... ;-)

9 Down, 3 Going...

2008-06-14T16:21:00.000+08:00

Time goes by so slowly for those who wait…

I have been sailing for the past 9 months and it’s been a quite some time that I realized the paradox of the whole experience. I’ve been out to the world, and yet I’ve been so much out of touch from it that I no longer know what’s happening out there. For God's sake, I don't even know what's happening to Her MADGEsty!!!

By the time I get back home, which I am earnestly hoping to be sometime September, I have a lot to catch up on. Who’s new, who’s hot, who’s not, who’s just arrived, who’s gone, who’s with whom, whose without…? Lots to tawk over cowfee, ha!

Anywho, for those at the very least interested, I’m doing fine. I’m doing great. I’m doing fab, actually! As of last count, I’ve had the chance to set foot on 20 different countries and have seen and experienced things most people won’t get to see in a lifetime.

Don’t get me wrong. I’m not bragging. That’s not my thing (my friends’ eyebrows are raised at this point!). I just find it so amazing that a year ago, the only places my tired old feet have wandered in are the streets and sands of my beloved country. It’s a lovely place, mind you. But now I am aware that there’s so much more out there.

Movie scenes, book pages and magazine editorials don’t do enough justice to the beauty of the different countries I’ve been fortunate to be in and I doubt that the pictures we managed to take will convey the experience my newfound friends and I were blessed to have.

Yet it’s not without much sacrifice. I wrote ‘I have been sailing…’ as if we’re having a leisurely vacation but the truth is, life as a seafarer are much harder that anyone could possibly imagine. Long work hours, difficult guests, challenging situations and the occasional bouts with nausea when the seas are rough… I could go on and on. Most may think (I did) that money grow on trees when you work in a cruise liner. But nothing could be farther from the truth. We earn good, alright. But marine life is no joke.

Before I start sounding like I’m complaining (I’m not!), let me post some of the pics I have of myself and my friends in our continuous adventure aboard (and off) our now-beloved ms Rotterdam…

Please click here for my Pics from Multiply

So, all things considered, I’m having a lovely time with so many lovely people in many different lovely places.

No time left to whine… ;-)

OLDer... COLDer...

2008-02-01T02:25:00.000+08:00

It´s been months since I last took the time to write an entry here... and what a few months I have had!!!

Since my last blog post, I have been to places I never dreamt of being in, seen things I only saw in movies and in my dreams.

Now they´re just a part of my daily grind.

A welcome distraction to my new life as a seafaring workslave...

It´s such an exciting time, yet bittersweet at times...

Spent the holidays away from my friends and family for the first time...

Spent my birthday with relative strangers (though they´re becoming good friends now)...

Funny that I only had the audacity to admit my weakness and cry, when the season was supposed to be merry and happy...

Well, I chose to be here and I have no regrets...

The benefits far outweigh the drama...

I hear more hoorahs than huhu´s...

I feel more chaching than tsk-tsk...

Anywho...

You might wanna check out my pics of my recent travels... here they are...

CHECK OUT MY CRUISE PICS!

Enjoy!

I'm an Oh.Friggin'.W.

2007-09-29T08:41:00.000+08:00

Filed under Self Travel Work

The DIVA has left the building...

I have waited for this for almost a year, and I have very much anticipated the time when I can finally write about it and now the chance has arrived...

I am finally leaving to pursue a new career as a seafarer. Like what I wrote about in previous entries , I have applied for a Front Desk position in a luxury liner and now, I will actually do it.

In the months that I waited and waited, I had drafted many blog posts in my head imagining how I'll summarize my arduous application process and express the excitement and anxieties I feel once I am definite to fly off to see the world.

Yet now, all those drafts seem futile. No words can explain my current state of mind and I dare try no longer.

So, I will just state the fact that I am now officially an OFW as I am finally leaving this Sunday to Turkey (via Amsterdam) where I'll board the passenger ship which will take me to a 10-month cruise to Europe, the Mediterranean and South America.

My new work may prevent me from accessing the internet for some time and I won't be able to update this blog...

But I'm sure once I do get back on the keyboard, I'll have more to talk about and show more photos of my adventure...

Until then, wish me luck and bid me adieu...

My ship has sailed!

A Message From The Past?

2007-08-12T12:09:00.000+08:00

Filed under Self Life

the measure of true love

is not when it's lost

it's how it lives in your heart

that it may come and go

yet it will remain embedded in your soul

all forgiving

all encompassing

all consuming

that to lose doesn't mean

losing a part of you

rather, to lose means that there's a part of you

that is set free

and letting go of that

wandering soul

that used to be a twin of your very own

to roam

and finally find its own place in the sun

is what makes you the better person you could be

maybe loss is the only way

to bring you somewhere

you are really meant to be

bringing you to

the one

you are truly

meant to be with

I have recently given up my apartment to go back and stay with my family in Imus. I was rummaging through some old stuff stored in my room trying to figure out how to clean up some mess I have collected through the years and make my old room habitable again.

I chanced upon an old organizer I had since college and found a small paper with a typewritten poem on it. The same poem as above.

Like a scene plucked from a J.K. Rowling book, I felt an odd feeling while reading the poem trying to remember where I got the note, who gave it to me and when I got it. Hard as I try to pick on my middle-aged brain, my memory just failed me.

Then suddenly, I had this funny feeling that I could have been the one who wrote it.

Through the years, I have had momentary phases of inspiration when I would just write poetry at random. But I never got the habit of collecting and keeping them for posterity. And most of these poems, I can no longer remember.

In any case, I just thought of sharing this poem in the hope that someone out there would also find inspiration from it.

With all modesty, I can safely say that I have definitely come a long way since that time when I most likely needed to hear the message of this poem. Suffice it to say, I have learned to live by it... without me consciously realizing it!

Hell, maybe I DID write it!?!? ;-)

'Earth' Gone Madge

2007-07-10T02:17:00.000+08:00

Filed under MADONNA

Almost one whole year since her last live performance onstage, MADONNA has once again become the major highlight of a global event, this time for the worlwide series of concerts that is Live Earth, and gave a spectacular performance.

Hey You

Ray of Light

La Isla Bonita / Hung Up

Sure, her performances (except for Hey You which she debuted in Live Earth) were just re-hashes of her Confessions Tour numbers, but it's always great to see Madonna at events like this.

Back Without A Gall!

2007-07-07T01:35:00.000+08:00

Filed under Self Health Friends

It's good to be back!

After almost a week in the hospital and about three weeks of quasi-house arrest for my recovery, it's good to finally be out with my friends again and be back at work (the latter's the one downside of my 'liberation').

Like what I mentioned in an earlier post, I had to go under the knife for the second time and this time it's for an Open Cholecystectomy (Gall Bladder removal). The whole experience was just like a replay of my first surgery 3 years ago and it went without a hitch. Thanks to my ever-reliable and ever-so-charming Dr. Padlan.

Much thanks also to my ex-Sunshine for being the one who stayed with me during my entire stay at the hospital. This post-relationship friendship we chose to have has never been better!

I also am glad to have friends who took time to visit me (or simply texted) while I was in Makati Med for making it a little more worthwhile (admittedly, I enjoyed my hospital stay!).

My recovery was a bit of a challenge though. I already expected the difficulty in doing some of most basic things like walking or moving around (hell, laughing was really a pain for a few days and sneezing was like a punishment!) but I really struggled with the diet I was forced to be in. For a certified carnivore and grease-lover like myself, it was difficult to ignore my food cravings and just settle with fruits and some bread (I still can't take eating vegetables just yet).

But gladly I am doing much better now and just a few days before my return to work, I already was able to go the White Party in Malate last Saturday. Though the party was a big letdown, being in the company of my friends after my hiatus was a nice way for a 'comeback'.

A few days into my 'officecoming', I had the chance to meet a new friend from SanFo (hello Yves, thanks for a lovely time!) and I also got to see my first movie in a long time ("Transformers" was a blast!).

So overall, it was a nice month of surgery, recovery & a comeback!

The Papa I Knew...

2007-06-12T04:45:00.000+08:00

Filed under Papa Self

It's that time of year again when we allot one day to pay tribute to that one man we hold most dear to our hearts..., our fathers.

Truth be told, I have always considered myself a Mama's boy. Thus, I will not be honest if I say I was close to Papa when he was still with us. Much of what I know about him are just things I heard from Mama or my sisters and my brother. The rest, I learned from those rare occassions I got to spend time with him.

It is for this reason that I've always felt that if there's one thing I wished I had done, it is to have tried to get to know Papa more and him to get to know me. But thinking this, I realize that this may have been one of a few (or maybe a lot, I could only guess) that we had in common. We both value our privacy and our solitude. And I feel that we're both satisfied not having to say what's no longer needed to be said. Maybe to a certain extent, we already knew each other without uttering much.

In any case, in the occassion of Father's Day which falls this coming Sunday, I wish to share this song which has been special for me from the very first time I heard it. For some reason, it's always been Papa who comes to mind everytime I listen to or sing along with this song.

Maybe it's because the lyrics kind of illustrate Papa the way I knew him...

You don't know him
Like I know him
He must be allowed to stand proud
If you shame this man and make him crawl
He'll be no man at all...
No man at all

And he's gotta be someone
Who wakes every morning
And takes on the world for a whim
Who touches your hand and
makes you fall for only him

and he's gotta be someone
who's strong as a lion
yet sweet as a meadowlark song
who makes any dream seem
like you'd love to go along

Oh, everything about him is a contradiction
Built a boundless empire
with a heart of a child
I'd trade it all if I could just recall
the last time the emperor smiled

and he's gotta be someone
who burns with a passion
that never, ever sets him free
Oh please say tonight might
relieve him of his misery
and bring that someone I knew
to me...
-He's Gotta Be Someone
Lea Salonga
Little Tramp-The Musical

DOWNLOAD THIS SONG

On behalf of Ate Riza, Beng, Oding & Jon-Jon...

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY, PA!

Wherever you are now (in the company of Mama & Ron John), we will continue to send to you our love and gratitude for all the things you have done for us.

We are who are now, and we will be whoever we'll become, because of everything you have been to us.

And for me to be even just half the man you have been, will be my lifelong honorable goal...

Papa
Father's Day

Man, I'm Stoned!

2007-06-12T00:47:00.000+08:00

Filed under Self Health

In a few hours, I will be off to Makati Medical Center to admit myself in preparation for my scheduled surgery Wednesday. I'll be undergoing an Open Cholecystectomy, or in layman's term, Gallbladder Removal.

A few months ago in the pre-employment medical exams for the cruise liner I'm applying for, I found out through an ultrasound exam that I have gallstones. And though these are not life-threatening, I was advised to have them removed as soon as possible so I can be cleared medically (otherwise, I won't be allowed to be deployed and board the ship).

Anyways, I'm not exactly nervous about the operation since it's pretty much a routine procedure for doctors and this is actually my second time to have open surgery. What I'm anxious about is that I'll have to live with yet another scar on my once-flawless body (hah!). I already have one on the right side of my waist and now, I'll have another one on my tummy. Darn!

Vanity can be really punishing sometimes...

Health
Gallstones
Cholecystectomy

Vanity Pair

2007-06-08T06:44:00.001+08:00

Filed under MADONNA Magazines

As if she is not yet the most covered woman in that magazine...

MADONNA, arguably the queen of vanity, will once again grace not one but 2 covers of the special Africa Issue of Vanity Fair magazine.

As part of the covers series exclusively shot by Annie Leibovitz, Madonna joins a league of 21 celebrities and politicians for the common goal of yet-again raising awareness to the problems, challenges, promise and future of Africa.

...open up my heart, cause my lips to speak
bring the heavens & the stars down to earth for me...
- Isaac by Madonna

MADONNA
Vanity Fair
Africa

Summer's Over, Keep The 'Sunscreen' On

2007-05-30T02:32:00.000+08:00

Filed under Music Life

I have been meaning to write about this for some time now but somehow, never got to it until now. Well, as the end of this summer comes close to its end, I thought it would be a bit appropriate that I tell you about one of my most favorite songs ever...

Everybody's Free (To Wear Sunscreen) by Baz Luhrmann.

The first time I heard this song, I thought it was the coolest and wittiest songs I've ever heard. And the more I listened to it, the more I realized how much it makes sense.

You see, the song contains a speech-like rap enumerating some of the guy's words of wisdom particularly for the young. I have read somewhere that this was originally a newspaper article that Baz Luhrmann (director of Moulin Rouge & William Shakespeare's Romeo & Juliet) decided to turn into a song hiring an actor to read over the song Everybody's Free from the Romeo & Juliet soundtrack.

Much like my favorite book (All I Really Need to Know, I Learned in Kindergarten), the 'Sunscreen Song' managed to dispense advices on pretty much everything under the sun through a series of simple statements and witty remarks and not sounding preachy at all.

Here are just some of the stuff the song contends (some profound, some so mundane it's funny!):

Enjoy the power and beauty of your youth...
Do one thing everyday that scares you...
Don’t waste your time on jealousy; sometimes you’re ahead, sometimes you’re behind…the race is long, and in the end, it’s only with yourself...
Remember the compliments you receive, forget the insults...
Don’t feel guilty if you don’t know what you want to do with your life…
Whatever you do, don’t congratulate yourself too much or berate yourself either– your choices are half chance, so are everybody else’s...
Get to know your parents, you never know when they’ll be gone for good...
Don’t mess too much with your hair, or by the time you're 40,it will look 85....

And my two favorites...

Don’t be reckless with other people’s hearts,don’t put up with people who are reckless with yours...
Do NOT read beauty magazines, they will only make you feel UGLY...

I try to take these nuggets of wisdom to heart since I know I'll need them one way or the other, at one point or another...

Click image to listen/download and for the complete lyrics of this song...

Music
Baz Luhrmann

Exes, Why's & Zzzsss...

2007-05-09T22:57:00.000+08:00

Filed under Self Sunshine Friends

Why the title?

Well, allow me to explain...

EXes

Last week, I had the chance to spend time with 2 of my exes... separately, of course!

Friday, I had a last minute invite from an ex to join him and our other friends for an overnight trip to Tagaytay. I hesitated a bit and initially wanted to take a rain check since I still had to come to work that evening. However, considering that he just got back from the USA and I haven't seen him in a long time (and he isn't exactly the type who takes 'No' for an answer), I eventually agreed.

We had a nice evening in Tagaytay when we checked out the nightlife there (we had a few drinks in Café Lupe) and spent a considerable and wacky time looking out for any signs of cruising activity in the area (call it research, if you will...hah!).

Little did we know that he had a surprise up his sleeves! When he previously said we already have a place to stay in, we thought that he reserved a room in one of the hotels there. But lo and behold, after checking out the area, he drove us to a nearby subdivision up to a beautiful house that turned out to be his! Apparently, part of his US earnings for the past three years had been spent on this cute little house. Enviable!

Fast forward to Sunday, I texted my most recent ex, my Sunshine, to watch Spiderman 3. Lucky for me, he agreed. And we did watch the movie that night and bought a couple of Spidey merchandise (1 for me & 1 for his nephew).

What was interesting about our movie 'date' was that we were a little quiet the whole time and an awkwardness was clearly felt. We did not have our usual chit-chat and non-sense exhange of words. It simply was like we were both on a blind date with a stranger. Well, I guess we still have to give ourselves a little more time to adjust to our new reality.

From friends to lovers to friends...

Incidentally, today would have marked our 3rd anniversary...aaaawwwww!

Which leads me to the 2nd part of this blog post...

WHY's

Since I announced my break-up with Sunshine, I was met with the expected universal question (with varied degrees of shock, surprise & disappointment) from our friends: WHY?

And like in my previous entry, the only reason I tell them is that we have reached that point where parting ways would be the best for both of us.

And sweet that they are, my friends also have that follow-up question to 'why' which is... How are you?... Are you okay?... How are you holding up?

And with all honesty, I have consistently assured them that I am doing just fine. Sure, I am sad and disappointed on what happened, but compared to the previous break-up's I had to go through, this is without a doubt the most okay I have been. I guess it helps that we ended up amicably and I saw no pressing reason to be bitter about it.

As I also have told a few of my friends, without me realizing it, I kinda knew that the end was bound to happen and I have somehow prepared for it. To quote a line from the Madonna documentary Truth or Dare: "It's like when someone is dying, I kinda have to make peace with it before it happens; so when it happens, I don't feel anything..."

Again, not that I did not feel anything, it's only that now when I look back at what we had, unlike in my previous relationships, I do not have tears in my eyes... only a smile on my face... aaawww!

ZZZssss

And for the last part of my entry, I just wanted share the fact that I haven't been able to have a good enough sleep for the past few days mainly because I have to take care of some requirements I need to get so I can finally realize my plans to work abroad.

Since late last year, I have been working on my application for a job that would take me to America to work as a Front Desk Agent in a cruise liner. I have put on hold my application process for a couple of months since I have health-related concerns I need to resolve before I leave (and also so I can have time to spend summer with my friends).

And now, I have resumed pursuing this job and since I am pretty much on the last leg of the process, things are turning out to be more hectic than I anticipated. This Friday, I'll start my 10-day Basic Safety Training which I will take in the afternoon while I still have to report for work in the evening. I will also be returning back to my university (UP Diliman) to finally get my academic records (which I filed for 2 months ago! Damn bureaucracy!). Right after that, I will have yet another pre-employment medical exams and then I will go through the process of getting my seaman's book/certificate. And then I'll be scheduled for an interview with the US Embassy for my working visa.

Much as I want to just resign from my current work so I can fully focus my time and energy on my application, I am just not in that opportune position yet. So I only have to toughen up for the meantime and just brace myself for more sleepless nights (or day for that matter)!

What I had to do to fulfill the American Dream...

Self
Sunshine

Our Bantayan Island Getaway

2007-04-27T03:49:00.000+08:00

Filed under Friends | Travel

For three years running, I have managed to allot time & money (& my friend's giving spirit *wink,wink*) to spend Holy Week in some of the best places in the country with some of my greatest friends: Jun, Vannie, Sonny, Wookie & Winsley (plus new found friend Glenn).

This year, we have all decided to fly to the island of Bantayan in Cebu and spend a rare long weekend frolicking in its white sand beach and its clear seawater.

The travel going there was long and arduous and we spent pretty much most of our first day bound to our seats in the plane, in a van, in the ferry and a multi-cab. But all things considered, it was all worth it.

The island is nice (though not as much as Bohol, Camiguin or Boracay), the resort we stayed in was cozy and the fact that not a lot of people were there, it was a nice place to unwind and relax in for a few days.

Interesting fact: Bantayan is the only place in the entire Catholic world where it is allowed to eat pork even during the Holy Week (yes, they have an expressed permission from the Vatican!). With the 'No Pork Policy' lifted, we were able to feast on whatever food we like without much guilt and boy did we eat! We even joked that we get hungry practically every hour!

I could ramble more on about the stuff we did, said and wished we could have said & done and them 'jaw-dropping action scenes' (it's a long story!), but I'll just let you check out some of the photos taken during our trip so you'll have an idea how much fun we had...

Enjoy... well, probably not as much as we did...

www.flickr.com

Rocco Ryan's Bantayan Island Getaway 2007 photoset

Friends
Travel
Bantayan
Cebu

The Sun Sets on `Shine

2007-04-17T08:31:00.000+08:00

Filed under Self | Sunshine

2 months shy of our 3rd anniversary, My Sunshine and I decided to call it quits.
And it has turned out to be the most amicable break-up I had to go through...

None of the arguments, none of the 'placing the blame', none of the tears...

Not because we didn't care...
Not because we no longer love each other...
Not because what we had didn't mean anything at all...

We just got to that point where this is where we are supposed to be...

We gave our all, we did our best, we shared what we could...

the sweetest songs
fade to echoes in the wind
the best of times stand
so a new day can begin
and the dreams we dream
that seems so real at night
must meet the morning light
and vanish from our sight

it’s just goodbye remember
time was never our friend
we walked our road together
and we came to the end
it’s just goodbye
now i won’t tell you not to cry
but i swear that what we had won’t die
‘coz it isn’t over
it’s just goodbye

i close my eyes
& i still can see your face
i know the truth of us
can’t be bound by time or space
and the joy we shared,
the magic that we know
is something that we own
though we may be alone

it’s just goodbye
it doesn’t really matter why
i know what we had can never die

‘coz i’ll always love you

yes, i’ll always love you

so it’s just goodbye…

Self
Sunshine

Comeback 'Material'

2007-04-15T19:43:00.000+08:00

Filed under Blogging | Self

After months of non-blogging activity, and without a need to explain why the long absence (not that anyone really noticed anyway)...

The Material Boy is back!

Many things have happened in the time I was gone. Some good, some great, some very promising and one very sad. I may or may not recap everything, but I will sure try...

I just hope you guys missed me at all... hehe!

Blogging
Self

Get Ready To JUMP

2006-10-06T03:37:00.000+08:00

Filed under MADONNA | Videos

After the rather underwhelming music video for Get Together, and after her record-breaking Confessions Tour, Madonna is back once again with her latest video for JUMP, the 4th single off her album Confessions On A Dancefloor.

Are you ready to JUMP?

special thanks to Madonna Fanzine's fire_incarnate for this video

I honestly like this video! It may not be Madge's best, but it's my favorite among the COADF videos. It's simple, it's fun, it's exciting and Madonna looked amazing!

Are you ready to jump...
Don't ever look back...
Just take my hand...
Get ready to JUMP!
- Madonna, Jump

MADONNA
Music Videos