Are You Not Entertained?!? (Chapter 4 of the "Unoriginal 2007" Series)

1. What bill do you hate paying the most?

Credit card bill (like everybody else)

2. Where's the best place to eat a romantic dinner?

The beach or on the balcony of a nice small cottage in Baguio overlooking the city (Mountain Pride! Whooo!).

3. Last time you puked from drinking?

College. I don't remember what year exactly, but I remember puking in the living room toilet of Casa Zuluaga.

4. Have you ever gotten drunk and danced on a bar?

I don't need to be drunk. :)

5. Name of your first grade teacher?

... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... Dammit! Hindi ko na maalala.

6. What are you doing right now?

Nuking (microwaving) my lunch (and writing over Zane's answers to this sarbey).

7. What did you want to be when you were growing up?

A pilot. Then a doctor. Then an engineer (no specific type until I reached highschool).

8. How many colleges did you attend?

Just one.

9. Why did you get the shirt that you have on right now?

Believe it or not, my mom still buys most of the shirts I wear, including this one. She has better taste than I do.

10. If you could move anywhere and take someone with you where would you go?

Anywhere with lots of trees, parks, mountains, nice beaches, and no fault line.

11 . First thought when the alarm went off this morning?

"Where's that darn snooze button?"

12 . Last thought before going to sleep last night?

"Sana may makita akong Marvel Legends Hydra Soldier bukas sa Robinson's Galleria."

13. Favorite style of underwear?

Bench BXS. Hindi ko alam kung anong style yun.

14. Favorite style of underwear for the opposite sex?

Commando! Hahahahahahahah...haha...ha...*ahem*. Yung seamless and bikini cut. :D

15. What is your opinion on sex without emotional commitment?

It's neither right nor wrong, but be ready to face the consequences.

16. Do you bite your nails?

I used to at one point in my life.

17. Are you a jealous person?

Not anymore. :)

18. Are you allergic to anything?

Dust, and more recently, to Mefanamic Acid and Ibuprofen (Pain Killers).

19. What books, if any, have made you cry?

Really, really close: His Majesty's Dragon (when one of the main dragon characters died), Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (sa sobrang daming namatay).

20. Does it get annoying when somebody says they'll call you, but doesn't?

Not a big deal.

21. What is your favorite simple ice cream flavor?

PISTACCIO FOREVER!!!

22. Whose car were you in last?

My car. Ano ako, mahirap? :p

23. What would you rather be doing right now?

Surf, draw, eat (Midway Grill), sleep. Repeat.

24. What song lyrics, if any, are stuck in your head at the moment?

"I will never let you fall, I'll stand up with you forever..." - Your Guardian Angel by Red Jumpsuit Apparatus

25. What will you dress up as for Halloween?

Parang walang tatalo sa Captain Planet costume ko e (see "Humiliation Station" album for reference pics). I honestly have not thought about this.

26. What is your favorite TV show?

Heroes, Naruto Shippuuden, House, CSI.

27. Do you get along better with the same or opposite sex?

I get along with everybody (at least I'd like to think so).

28. Can others make you cry easily?

Depends on what they say.

29. Who was the last person to piss you off?

I forgot. :)

30. Are you picky about spelling and grammar?

Having a two-time E.I.C. for a girlfriend does that to you. :)

31. Do you pay attention to calories on the back of packages?

No, not really.

32. If you could be any type of fruit, what would you be?

Dragon Fruit (it just sounds cool).

33. How many hours of sleep do you need to function?

8 hours usually do the trick.

34. When was the last time you slept on the floor?

Every night.

35. Have you ever been attracted to someone, but not physically?

Yes, I think so.

36. What are some things that are needed in a relationship?

Love, Patience, Laughter, and Genuine understanding.

37. Do you like traveling?

Oo naman.

38. Would you ever date someone covered in tattoos?

Small and strategically placed tatoos are fine with me. Anything over is dependent on how we interact.

39. Do you believe the guy should pay on the first date?

Yes, I'm traditional that way.

40. Are you currently wanting any piercings or tattoos?

Piercings, no. Tatoos, yes. Sa may forearm (yung parang harvest tatoo ni Pao. Astig e.)

41. Which do you make: dreams or plans?

A healthy balance of both. :)

42. Can you speak any languages other than English?

Tagalog (Filipino)

43. What is your favorite salad dressing?

Vinaigrette. :)

44. What movies do you know every line to?

The Matrix, Who Framed Roger Rabbit

45. Has anyone told you a secret this week?

Nope.

46. Have you told someone else that secret?

Wala ngang secret, bakit ba ang kulit mo?

47. Would you rather take the picture or be in it?

Whichever way is okay with me.

48. Do you wear flip-flops?

Yosh!

49. If you could eat one food for the rest of your life, what would it be?

Tinolang manok.

50. What's the sweetest thing someone has done for you?

Treat me like I'm still a little kid. :)

I'm Getting Married...

...
...
...

Not anytime soon though. But now that I have your attention, please take a look at some of the comic sets I have on sale (seriously, I need the money). These are from my own personal collection and have been kept in pristine condition (a lot of these I've read only once) since the day they were purchased. All comics come in their own plastic with backing board. I'm willing to meet buyers in the Makati, Mandaluyong, and Ortigas areas. Cash on delivery. G-Cash payments will also be accepted. ;)

You can download the complete PDF list through this link.

Just send me a message for any questions. If you're looking for anything not on the list, let me know anyway. You never know, I just might have it in my stash.

SALAMAT IN THE HOUSE!

P.S. I'd appreciate it if you could let your other friends who might be interested know about this, too (the comics, not the "getting married" part).

Yutsnudugutsnutsyudugurub (Chapter 3 of the "Unoriginal 2007" series)

Swiped from Pao (from Bry, from Jon, from Djong).

The phone rings, who do you want it to be?
- Si Christine Reyes...asking me to be her prom date (or for my body, I'm ok either way).

When shopping at the grocery store, do you return your cart?
- Nope. Kusang bumabalik yung mga cart na ginagamit ko kasi takot sila sa akin.

If you had to kiss the last person you kissed again, would you?
- Of course! 'San ka pa? :D

Do you take compliments well?
- Yes, I'd like to think so.

Do you play Sudoku?
- Maybe sometime in the future (pag asa PSP ko na s'ya).

If abandoned alone in the wilderness would you survive?
- Nakakabastos ang tanong na 'to sa mga Nefut na katulad ko.

If your house were on fire, what would be the first thing you would save?
- My laptop bag, may Dad's bag of important documents, and the box of comics with Ultimate Spider-Man in it. If theirs time to go back, my toys.

Who was the last person you slept in the bed with?
- The Goddess Kurdapya

Who do you text the most?
- As much as I'd like to answer "Pi", my work textgroup is the #1 recipient of my SMS love.

Favorite children's book?
- Harry Potter

Eye color?
- Dark Brown

How tall are you?
- Payb Nayn

If you could do it over again, start from scratch, would you?
- No. :)

Any secret admirers?
- Either there are none or they're very good at keeping it secret.

When was the last time you were at Olive Garden?
- 'Eto yung katabi ng Queen's Castle sa Quezon Avenue 'di ba?

Favorite ex?
- Wala akong ex. :)

Where was the furthest place you traveled?
- New York, though I have no memories it.

Do you like mustard?
- Only a big and juicy Hungarian Sausage.

Do you prefer to sleep or eat?
- Eat. Definitely.

Do you miss anyone?
- I do, once in a while.

Can you do splits?
- 'Nung nagka-Karate pa ako, oo. 'Nung nag-Wushu ako, akala ko magagawa ko ulit pero hindi ako nagtagal e.

What movie do you want to see right now?
- Bourne Ultimatum...saka Caligula.

What did you do for New Year's Eve?
- Kumain, nanood ng parties sa TV, at nagpaputok.

Do you think The Grudge was crappy?
- I haven't seen it yet.

Was your mom a cheerleader?
- No, she wasn't. But she was once a barangay muse in her younger days. Ganda ng nanay ko.

What's the last letter of your middle name?
- O as in Olrayt!

Are you hispanic?
- True story: I met this Archaeologist in Mindoro who had the same last name as mine. He told me we all came from the same Friar. So I guess, yeah, I am hispanic.

Do you like care bears?
- Maybe a little.

What do you buy at the Movies?
- Yung ticket lang para makapasok.

Do you know how to play poker?
- Yes, I do. I'm just not very good at it.

Do you wear your seatbelt?
- Always.

What do you wear to sleep?
- Boxer/basketball shorts saka sando.

Anything big ever happen in your city?
- July 16, 1990 killer earthquake in Baguio City. Scariest day of my life.

Is your hair straight or curly?
- Straight.

Is your tongue pierced?
- (Anlupet ng sagot mo, Pao). No, it is not.

Do you like Liver and Onions?
- Yes.

Do you like funny or serious people better?
- Funny people. Seriously.

Ever been to L.A.?
- Yezzah.

Who is on your mind right now?
- Paolo (I'm writing over his answers).

Any plans for tonight?
- Tagaytay road trip for a despidida/birthday celebration.

What are your favorite songs at the moment?
- "The Way I Are" by Timbaland
- "Lovestoned" by Justin Timberlake
- "Beautiful Girls (the reply)" by Jojo
- "The Takeover, The Break's Over" by Fallout Boy

Do you hate chocolate?
- Sinong author nitong survey na 'to? Babatukan ko lang.

What do you and your parents fight about the most?
- It used to be about my refusal to work abroad. We don't really fight anymore.

Are you a gullible person?
- Depends who I'm talking to. Madali akong mauto ng mga taong kakikilala ko lang.

Do you need a boyfriend/girlfriend to be happy?
- I don't think so. But it is wonderful to have someone to share who you are with.

If you could have any job what would it be?
- Comics and toy shop owner, comics artist, videogame concept artist, or animator.

Are you easy to get along with?
- At least I'd like to think so.

What is your favorite time of day?
- It's Morphin' Time!

Are you generally a happy person?
- YOOOOOOOSH! :D

Keep Those 80's Properties Coming!

For a better part of my childhood, I thought I wanted to be Michael Knight. Turns out, what I really wanted to be was a Knight Rider -- not a Michael Knight -- just a driver, with my very own KITT (short for "Knight Industries Two Thousand").

I still vividly remember having my photo taken while sitting inside the real-life KITT (could've been a replica in hindsight) in Universal Studios and thinking how great it would be to go home with this really smart car, who could talk to you and jump over obstacles with his "Turbo Boost".

So a new KITT (and what a sexy car it is) is slated to debut on the big screen in 2008. Could a new Michael Knight be in tow (assuming it's still him)? I'll be damned if it's still "The Hoff", though I'm quite sure he'll have a cameo at the very least.

Which Transformer Are You?

I AM
70%
OPTIMUS PRIME Take the Transformers Quiz

Three-Somethings (Chapter 2 in the "Unoriginal 2007" series)

Stolen from Pao.

THREE NAMES THAT FRIENDS CALL YOU

1. Ejay
2. Eej
3. Jeps

THREE MOST IMPORTANT DATES IN YOUR LIFE

1. February 10
2. August 17
3. July 22

THREE THINGS YOU'VE DONE IN THE LAST 33 MINUTES

1. User-access definition
2. Browsed "My Multiply"
3. Went to the restroom

THREE OF YOUR FAVORITE BANDS

1. Dishwalla
2. Fallout Boy
3. Nickelback

THREE WAYS TO BE HAPPY

1. Don't mind what other people may or may not think
2. Live in the moment
3. Have no regrets

THREE OF YOUR FAVORITE SONGS AT PRESENT

1. R. Kelly - I'm A Flirt (o ha?)
2. Fallout Boy - Thnks fr th Mmrs
3. Justin Timberlake - Lovestoned

THREE PHYSICAL THINGS YOU LIKE IN THE OPPOSITE SEX

1. butt
2. hips
3. lips

THREE PERSONS YOU MISS FROM YOUR PAST

1. Lola Pita
2. Lola Sisang
3. Lolo Naning

THREE GIFTS YOU WOULD LIKE TO RECEIVE

1. The entire Transformers Masterpiece line
2. MacBook Pro
3. A display cabinet/shelf (for my toys)

THREE OF YOUR FAVOURITE HOBBIES

1. Reading comics and fantasy books
2. Travelling (kahit window shopping lang sa Greenhills for toys)
3. Drawing

THREE PLACES YOU WANT TO GO FOR HOLIDAY

1. Japan
2. Malaysia
3. Miami

THREE FAVORITE CARTOON CHARACTERS

1. Optimus Prime
2. Naruto
3. Kenshin

THREE GIRL'S/BOY'S NAMES

1. Janus
2. Katarungan (though it doesn't really go well with my last name)
3. Francis

THREE MALLS YOU USUALLY GO TO

1. V-Mall
2. Glorietta
3. Megamall

THREE OF YOUR FAVORITE FASTFOOD

1. Chowking
2. Jollibee (lagi akong napapakain ng two-piece tsiken dyoy)
3. Taco Bell (sowsy!)

THREE FAVORITE DRINKS

1. Water
2. Green Tea
3. Coks Lights

THREE THINGS FOUND IN YOUR BAG

1. Office laptop
2. Intuos3 tablet
3. Love

THREE PERFUMES/COLOGNES

1. Axe (Energy, Pulse, or Dimension)
2. Hugo Dark Blue
3. Player's Cologne for Men

THREE FAVORITE COLORS

1. Blue
2. Yellow
3. Green

THREE EVENTS YOU'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO

1. Birthday treat ko kay Pi
2. Payday
3. A toy convention/sale

I Almost Ran Over Somebody Today...

...motorcycle driver.

He fell off his bike, right in front of my car's path! Just stepped on the brakes in the nick of time (burned-off a good few inches from my tires in the process). By the time my car was at a full stop, the guy's head was this close (*forms estimate of an inch and a half with hand*) to my front bumper. FREAKIN' SCARY!!!

You know why the guy fell off his motorcycle? He ran into a pedestrian, who, for some reason, panicked at the sight of the incoming bike and patintero-ed (I have know other way to describe it) with it in the middle of the damn road. Do you know when two people coming from opposite directions walk into each other and side-step in the same direction for a few times before the other decides to give way (i.e. tarantanggo)? Think of that, but replace "two people" with "motorcycle driver and dumb-ass pedestrian".

What a way to start my day.

Discover the Work You Were Born to Do

This is probably the only career-related article I have read that has struck a nerve as hard as it has. James Gonyea, contributing writer from Monster.com, writes:

"So you've been hearing that voice again, the one that says you're not doing what you were born to do. That may be true, but how do you figure out what you should be doing?"

"How?" indeed.

A lot of us have tried to answer this for the longest time, but we never really managed to arrive at an acceptable answer (which is probably why most of us are where right now career-wise). Fortunately, this article helps you do just that (trust me, it does). Read on and be enlightened:

"To begin answering this question, examine whether your current career path matches your core interests, beliefs, values, needs and skills. Professional career counselors usually undertake this strategy when attempting to help clients identify appropriate career directions.

"Here's what I ask clients to help them find their core. Ask yourself these questions, and record your answers:

1. What subjects do you most enjoy reading about?
2. What television or radio programs do you most enjoy?
3. What are your favorite types of movies?
4. What are your favorite hobbies or pastimes?
5. What type of volunteer activities do you prefer?
6. What subjects do you enjoy discussing with friends?
7. What subjects come to mind when you daydream?
8. What have been your favorite jobs?
9. What were your favorite school subjects?
10. What are your pet peeves?
11. If you doodle, what do you often draw?
12. If you ran the world, what changes would you make?
13. If you won a million bucks, what would you do with it?
14. Who are your favorite kinds of people?
15. How would you like to be remembered after your death?
16. What are your favorite toys?
17. How would you describe your political beliefs?
18. Who do you most admire in life and why?
19. What tasks have brought you the most success?
20. What tasks do you think you could do well that you haven't yet done?

"Examine your answers. Do you see a certain behavior or belief in more than one aspect of your life? What information do you see repeated that seems to reveal a behavior pattern? What are your long-lasting interests?

"Using this information, paint a self-portrait by completing the following statements:

• I am mainly interested in…
• I believe most in…
• I most value…
• For a good life, I feel I need…
• I can do the following well…

"Now ask yourself if your current job helps you achieve these five statements. If it does, you're probably in the right career. Chances are, however, that the nagging voice means your current career is not satisfying your core features. If this is the case, then it's time to find a better fit."

Ouch!

My Six Weird Things

Tagged by Peejay. So I'm supposed to disclose six weird facts about myself. It's a lot harder than I thought. Anyway, here goes:

1. My teeth are too big in relation to the size of my mouth. Mathematically, they're not directly proportional to each other--my dentists can attest to this. I once had an impacted tooth extracted, they (two dentists) had to break it in two first before they could take the entire thing out. And because my mouth is small, I had suffered cuts at the sides of my mouth after the procedure.
   
2. I have this tendency to replay past events in my head--mostly embarrassing moments--and try to imagine what I should/could have said or done to avoid the humiliation. What's weird is I sometimes catch myself speaking the things I'm saying in my head out loud. Think Jonathan Brandis in "Sidekicks" when he has his Chuck Norris day dreams.
   
3. Speaking of catching myself, I sometimes catch myself snoring.
   
4. I this huge fear of being chased by Turkeys, and having birds or any flying animal swoop towards the area of my neck. I'm scared they might peck and puncture a critical blood vessel and kill me.
   
5. I never forget a face...but I'm not very good at remembering the names associated with them.
   
6. Un-cricking my neck or back makes this really, really loud sound (bordering on scandalous), it looks like it's supposed to hurt. It's actually feels pretty good afterwards. Pi is especially afraid that my head would fall off every time I do this.

So there. Off the top of my head, I'm tagging Melai, Djong, Sus, Luis, Pao, and Joan.

The Air Up There

Getting my Kung Fu on in San Juan, La Union last January 21, 2007. Thanks to Rofil Magto for the excellent shot.

BUMP!

So, Blogger has apparently graduated from Beta. *clap clap clap* And I wouldn't even have known about it had I not been over to Jon's blog and seen his high praises for my enthusiasm to keep this site updated (you may refer to his sidebar just in case you're not getting what I'm talking about). I'd very much like to blame the earthquake in Taiwan for depriving me of internet access and the resulting lack of updates, but seeing as my previous post was on July 24 -- 2006 -- doing so seems rather lousy, if not pathetic (not to mention insensitive).

Anyway, just bumping up (or down, whatever floats your boat) the last entry, try to give the old blog a fresh look (wow, ganda a!). I played around with the new features a bit, hence the slightly altered look (yes, it's been altered!), but it seems another revamp is in order. I guess an overhaul will give me the motivation to keep on doing this. I love to write, it keeps me sharp, and it's good practice for my English (especially now since...well, that's a story for another time). I'm just lazy sometimes.

Actually, I'm lazy most of the time.

Ah, Laziness, Procrastination! My favorite sins. It's time I did something about those.

The Top 10 Worst URLs

I'm not a big fan of forwards. Though there are those few gems that are worth sharing (like this one). Had a blast reading these.

1. A site called "Who Represents" where you can find the name of the agent that represents a celebrity. Their domain name...wait for it...www.whorepresents.com
2. Experts Exchange, a knowledge base where programmers can exchange advice and views at www.expertsexchange.com
3. Looking for a pen? Look no further than Pen Island at www.penisland.net
4. Need a therapist? Try Therapist Finder at www.therapistfinder.com
5. Then of course, there's the Italian Power Generator company...www.powergenitalia.com
6. And now, we have the Mole Station Native Nursery, based in New South Wales: www.molestationnursery.com
7. If you're looking for computer software, there's always
   www.ipanywhere.com
8. Welcome to the First Cumming Methodist Church. Their website is
   www.cummingfirst.com
9. Then, of course, there's these brainless art designers, and their whacky website www.speedofart.com
10. Want to holiday in Lake Tahoe? Try their brochure website at www.gotahoe.com

He he he. :)

Because I Am Cheap...

...please answer this (just so I know, too, who among you are still kind enough to put up with this blog). Grabbed this from Jon Z., by the way:

1. Who are you?
2. Are we friends?
3. When and how did we meet?
4. Give me a nickname and explain why you picked it.
5. Describe me in one word.
6. What was your first impression?
7. Do you still think that way about me now?
8. What reminds you of me?
9. If you could do anything to/with me, what would it be?
10. How well do you know me?
11. When's the last time you saw me?
12. Ever wanted to tell me something but couldn't?
13. Are you going to put this on your Blog/LJ/whatever and see what I say about you?

C'mon, you know you want to. :)

Returns

"As in the case of making a mound, if, before the very last basketful, I stop, then I shall have stopped. As in the case of leveling the ground, if, though tipping only one basketful, I am going forward, then I shall be making progress."

~ Confucius

Ejay Returns

Following a mysterious absence of several months, the Man from the mountains comes back to Earth in the epic post "Ejay Returns", a soaring new chapter in the saga of one of the world’s most inconsistent bloggers. While a three-year old job plots to render him "postless" once and for all, the woman he loves, Pi Santiago, has remained hopeful for his blogging and drawing life.

Moving on...



Look familiar? This is a photo (5 different photos, actually, photomerged using Photoshop CS2) of my second jump into the cool waters of Tali Beach in Batangas, taken by the talented Mr. Jugo.

I'll post more photos from that trip...er...soon.

Superman Returns

Official movie description:

"Following a mysterious absence of several years, the Man of Steel comes back to Earth in the epic action-adventure Superman Returns, a soaring new chapter in the saga of one of the world’s most beloved superheroes. While an old enemy plots to render him powerless once and for all, the woman he loves, Lois Lane, has moved on with her life."

In what seemed to be further affirmation of my belief that I have, indeed, become a luckier man, I won two tickets to the advanced screening of this year's most anticipated film. Worry not, my friends. Spoilers do not abound in this post.

Five words: Brian Singer is my hero.

It's been 26 years since the last, great Superman movie (Superman II, 1980). That's an awfully long window, what with the advent of new technology in movies in the last decade or so. Some big questions were raised, naturally: Can anyone take the place of the great Christopher Reeve? How can you revive a practically dead franchise after the mess left by the forgettable Superman III and IV? Well, after 26 long years, the wait is finally over. You've probably read the rave reviews about how great "Returns" is. I'm telling you now, it's well worth the hype. From start to finish, Superman Returns is evidently, more than anything, a labor of tremendous love. A well-thought-of story, an amazing cast (Brandon Routh owns the role now), great cinematography, and fantastic, geek-gasmic special effects (you will believe a man can fly).

The Man of Steel has been away for too long, and the world has obviously missed him. But he's back! And I guarantee, nothing will prepare you for what you are about to see.

Portrait Experiment: Pi

Taken at Tai Hing, Makati Avenue last March 21, 2006. *Sigh* My girlfriend is so gorgeous.

Freedom Forever

(Because Gerwin already had first dibs on "Remember, Remember".)

I couldn't be more happier with the way V for Vendetta turned out. Being a big fan of the graphic novel it doesn't disappoint. However, being a fan, it's also hard not to want a few more details from the book to be included in the movie. Nevertheless, the Wachowskis still managed to do a fantastic job of squeezing in all of the key elements of the source material into two and a half hours (the tweaks are understandable, considering the complexities and premise of the original story). It's just too bad Alan Moore didn't want anything to do with the film, because he really would have been proud of it (you can't blame him though, after what Hollywood did to his League of Extraordinary Gentlemen).

Natalie Portman's acting prowess didn't go to waste here (in contrast to how she faired in Revenge of the Sith). She fits into the role of Evey quite nicely. Hugo Weaving on the other hand was simply flawless and could do no wrong as V. He brings much life and justice to the character. Notable scenes are the domino sequence and the final battle. The Wachowskis' screenplay genius is clearly shown in these scenes (and is guaranteed to give you goosebumps).

V for Vendetta is one of the best films to come out this year. For fans of the graphic novel, it is an excellent adaptation and something they will definitely appreciate and enjoy. For non-fans, it is a great introduction to the entire mythology of V, something I sincerely hope will encourage them to start reading one of the greatest pieces of literature ever published.

Just My Luck

I think my Dad might have been Chinese in a past life.

It's funny how I only started to notice recently. I mean, for the longest time, his closest friends have always been Chinese, he loves doing business with the Chinese, heck, he even knows how to speak Chinese (just Mandarin really, but still).

His fascination for the Chinese probably goes way back to our days in Saudi, where he and my Mom used to work as a doctor and a nurse, respectively. During our time there (majority of which I can no longer remember), Chinese and Filipinos all moved in the same crowd. The doctors and nurses who were there the day I was born were Chinese. So, it was no surprise that a good number of my Ninongs and Ninangs during my christening were Chinese. Xiao Adong they called me, or Little Eddie. Not only that, I even have a photo (my very 1st Christmas I think it was) where I was being carried by a Chinese Santa Claus! With that much exposure to the Chinese, how can you not help turning Chinese yourself?

The influence of the Chinese culture is very evident in our family. You'll find various artifacts in our home, from the Laughing Buddha to the Jade Toad with a coin in the mouth. And for a good number of years now, my parents have been sort of "guided" by Feng Shui. Well, they're really superstitious to begin with so I guess it was just a matter of time before Feng Shui became a full-fledged member of the family. I had my reservations about this, of course, having been educated in a Catholic school that taught me that believing in superstitions was a sin (any serious advocate of Feng Shui, however, will contest that their beliefs are far from mere superstition).

I was born in 1981, year of the Rooster. I never really paid much attention to the significance of this until early last year. Following Feng Shui tradition -- and my folks were very keen on pointing this out -- 2005 was supposedly not a very good year for me.

Intriguing but true enough, it wasn't. I suffered from financial difficulties and I was having a professional crisis, among other problems. I just couldn't seem to get my act together.

Fortunately, I was still blessed enough to get past those towards the end of the year. This year, they say, is a much better year for Roosters. The 2nd quarter hasn't even started yet and it seems my luck could actually be changing for the better. For starters, I won four invites to the advanced screening of V for Vendetta last Monday (I'll be posting my review of this soon...I don't want to spoil it for anybody). But more important than a couple of invites, my finances are surprisingly in order and I'm starting to find the balance I was longing for in my career.

The computer scientist in me insists there is a logical explanation to everything that's happened to me in the past year or so. But I can't help thinking I owe all of this to more than just mere coincidence. Could it really be good Feng Shui? Divine Intervention maybe? Perhaps, knowing my good fortune this year simply pushed me in the proper direction...a classic case of "pyschological effect"? I guess I can't really say. At this point, I'll just have to wait and see what happens next. The fact is, it's too early to conclude that 2006 is indeed going to be a good year for me. The good news is, I've started it on the right note...and it can't get any luckier than that.

Reboot

Let's try this again.

This is the longest time I've been away from the old blog (three months on the 15th, counting from my last post). The really sad truth is I kind of lost the taste for it. It just came to a point where I felt like I had to "work" on my posts, rather than just allow my thoughts to freely flow into my writings, the way I used to. I don't know...what with the major burnout I was slowly starting to feel prior to my week-long vacation back home in Baguio a couple weeks back, maybe putting the blog on hiatus was just what I needed? Just some time off to get myself back into fighting form.

I can't help but think though, had I had access to the proper tools (those being home internet connection and/or my own laptop), this would have been a totally different story. If Jon, Gerwin, and the rest of the frequent bloggers (please refer to my sidebar) are any indication, nothing beats being able to blog directly from home. But enough of that. Point is I'm back, and hopefully, I've managed to dig up and bring a little more consistency with me this time.

Quite obviously, a lot of things have happened with me in the last three months. Here are a few highlights from that period (squeezing ALL of them into a single post might take me another three months, so allow me to start with these, while I slowly work my way back for the rest):

Return to the Motherland

I went home to Baguio last February 19 to take, what I felt at the time, was a much needed break. I just started to feel like I'd somehow hit a roadblock somewhere and started to lose sight of where I really wanted to go (that's some pretty deep shit...I guess turning 25 does that to you). I was too overwhelmed with reality that I simply needed to get away from it all for a while, just allow the cool pine breeze to fill my tired lungs, and take the time to recover and regain my footing to get back on track.

I stayed for a week (which is probably the most time I've spent in the hometown since moving to Manila for college back in '98) and just tried to make the most of my time there: I slept in, I watched a lot of TV (Celebrity Poker, NBA, HBO, MTV, and Bikini Destinations), I ate a lot of my Mom's cooking, and I hung out, having dinner and drinks on ocassion, with my highschool friends. The major downside to going on vacation on a normal week, however, is you're the only one on vacation, so meeting up with your friends isn't really that easy. But I still had a geat time overall. Taking a break was the best gift I've given myself so far this year.

It would be interesting to note that the last weekend during my stay also marked the start of the annual Baguio Flower Festival, or more popularly known now as the Panagbenga, which opened with the traditional parade of flowers (there were actually two parades, the first one was held on February 25, then the other on February 26; each was sponsored by two warring factions in the local government). The funny thing about all this is, I actually brought my camera with me, but I failed to take even a single photo of the event (I stayed at home during the first parade, and I was on my way back to Manila during the second). Though, I did manage to capture some shots of my Mom's adopted cats:

Celebrating the Quarter Life

I actually celebrated my 25th birthday three times this year.

The first time was on the 9th. Pi and I had agreed to celebrate, just the two of us, a day earlier. She treated me to a fantastic dinner at Fish and Co. in Greenbelt 3. She also gave me a letter (which I had to read out loud) and three gifts, each with a special significance to who I am: a Crest mechanical toothbrush, a sarong, and The World's Greatest Super-Heroes, the hardbound collection of Paul Dini and Alex Ross' oversized masterpieces. After dinner, we headed out to Tiendesitas in Pasig, this relatively new, tiagge-ish place we've been hearing really good things about. By the time we got there though, most of the stores were already closed. The only notable place open at the time was a pet shop (I forget the store's name). Anyway, here are a couple of photos from that night:


The second celebration was on my actual birthday, the 10th. Lolo Tol, Lola Tia (Lolo's sister), Uncle Bobby, Tita Donna (Uncle Bob's wife), Joyce (my sister), Joseph (my brother), Pi, and I all met up at A Venetto in Glorietta 3, Makati for dinner. I had decided to just have a nice, quiet, and simple get-together with family to mark the ocassion. My parents were in Baguio at the time so they couldn't be there. Here's a photo I asked one of the waiters to take (which I later realized was a very big mistake):


The third and last celebration was on the 11th. Just dinner with college friends at Friday's (Wallet Death) in Glorietta 3 (again). The celebration was actually for four of us (myself, Brian, Mac, and Toffer). High point of the evening was when one of the waiters thought I was Brian "The Hawaiian Punch" Viloria (which is actually the 2nd time someone's mentioned it to me). Anyway, here's a photo of our table (and this time, I remembered to bring the tripod):


That should do it for now. Check back here again soon.

Photo Experiment: Multiplicity

The first of many experiments with the new toy. Taken at our Pasig home last November 13, 2005. Comments appreciated as always. More photos can be found in my Flickr account.

Patotot

Tagged by Gerwin...

So, I'm supposed to write 20 random facts about me then tag the same amount of people the number of minutes it takes me to write the facts. Game.

1. I was born in Al Hasa, Saudi Arabia.
2. Growing up, I wanted to be a pilot.
3. I haven't drawn anything in over a year.
4. I've studied Karate, Jeet Kune Do, and Wushu but didn't last long enough to master any of them.
5. I consider the July 16, 1990 earthquake the most terrifying day of my life.
6. I contracted typhoid fever when I was in 3rd grade.
7. I have formally courted only three women in my lifetime.
8. I've failed one subject in my history as a student (Linear Algebra).
9. Aside from comics, I also collect toys.
10. I am a proud Mama's boy.
11. Back in 1st grade, my mom caught a "love letter" I wrote for my crush in my backpack.
12. "Sige, mag-asawa ka na! 'Wag ka nang mag-aral! (Go ahead, get married! Don't study anymore!)" are words I remember very well after the incident in number 11.
13. I was so traumatized by number 12, I never talked to my mom again about any of my crushes.
14. My crushes in grade school have always been part of the honor roll.
15. My mom never knew Pi and I were together until way after our 1st month.
16. I have never missed an issue of Ultimate Spider-Man.
17. My four front teeth used to be just two huge ones.
18. I am easily envious of people who can afford the things they want.
19. I'm a pretty good dancer.
20. I'm a virgin.

Tagging Concon, Adrian, Mon, Bryan, Ia, and Pao (I didn't write the facts in six minutes, I just ran out of people to tag).