Bits and Pieces

1.        I discovered the best place to hang-out by yourself and read. Changi Airport coffee shops (Starbucks, Coffee Bean etc). Last night – I remembered that I need to pay my  Amex bill.  There is a American Express Forex booth in Changi Airport that also accepts Credit card payments. Since wala naman akong ginagawa – I decided to go to the airport and pay my bill. Dahil tambak na rin ang mga magazines na nabili ko — all waiting to be read… naisip ko na mag-coffee na rin at magbasa.  After paying my bills — I bought a decaf café Americano and a plain bagel + crean cheese sa Starbuck. I turned on my Ipod…. and read my magazine. Medyo naaliw yata ako… di ko napansin ang oras.  An hour or so later… natapos ko na ang aking coffee and magazine… I decided to head back home. Bakit sya best place? May sense of anonymity kasi.  Walang nakakakilala sa iyo. The other people are also busy with their own things .. kaya di ka nila papansinin.  So you can get lost in what you are doing without worrying what other people thinks.  It’s the best place to be around people but feel that you are alone. Makes sense? If not… okay lang … kanya kanya naman kasing trip sa buhay talaga…. J  

2.        Okay…. Can’t help it…. Need to have an entry about Wendy. Hehehe…. Sa ngayon naaawa na ako sa kanya. She’s being booed everywhere she goes … sa Araneta.. sa ASAP… Kawawa naman. The people do really hate her no? Sabagay… sya naman ang may kasalanan…. But still.. when will the hatred end?  Advice? Tigilan na nya ang pagsasabi ng “Tao lang po ako… nagkakamali”. It’s really irritating.  All she have to say is that she’s wrong and she’ll do her best to win back the people. Baka sakali pang tigilan na sya ng tao.  She should also stop from exploiting her financial status… Oo na… galing ka na sa hirap… madami  ka na problema… well so do millions of other people… So… being poor does not mean you are entitled to fame and fortune as compared to those who are financially fortunate. Bottom line — its talent, charisma, and hardwork that really counts.   

3.        Sa The Buzz – Wendy was asked is she loves Bruce… she said she have feelings for Bruce… pero she needs to sort out some things first. Hmmm… bakit sa loob ng bahay iba ang statement nya? Kawawang Bruce… Day 1 pa lang yan outside the house. 

 4.        Transformers (the movie) have already opened. Pero di ko pa rin ito napapanood. I was trying to book online for Sunday sa GV Max in Vivo City… but all the good seats are already filled up. Ayaw ko naman panoorin ito sa ibang movie house. I like the GV Max theater in Vivo City. Kung yung movie na papanoorin nyo ay hitik (hehehe.. lalim) sa action at special effects… this is the cinema for you. The surround sound is really good. Parang part ka na ng movie hehehe… The cinema itself is big… kaya less ang chances na mablock ang view mo if in case may “big headed individual” na maupo sa harapan mo. Its also relatively new – kaya hindi pa amoy paa yung mga chairs… still very comfortable. Even the aisle between the rows are wider.  Kaya pag may dadaanan….. walang  “face-ass” situation hehehehe… Kaya its this theater or wag na lang… hehehe.. joke lang…. pag wala talaga… tiis na lang sa iba… J  

5.        Most played songs sa aking ipod since last week :

Only Love,  Forevermore – Jed Madela – from Only Human                 

Only Reminds me of You, Crazy for You – MYMP – from New Horizon                

Harana, Summer Breeze, Here Comes the Sun - The Company – from Destination: Bossa                

Himala, Man of Steel, May Tama Ako – Jay-R Siaboc – from Hiling                

Promise Me – Lea Salong – from Inspired

You Get what you give, Someday We’ll Know – New Radicals – from Maybe You’ve Bee Brainwashed Too

                

Clocks – Coldplay and Buena Vista Social Club – from Rhythms Del Mundo: Cuba

I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For – Coco Freeman featuring U2 – from Rhythms Del Mundo: Cuba

She Will Be Loved – Maroon 5 and Buena Vista Social Club - from Rhythms Del Mundo: Cuba 

I bought a few OPM cds when I was in the Philippines… kaya ito pinapakinggan ko ngayon.  The New Radicals album and the  Rhythms Del Mundo: Cuba was introduced to me by my friend Vida.  Kung gusto ko na medyo marelax… I listen to the Compay’s new album Destination: Bossa and the Rhythms Del Mundo: Cuba album.  I finally gave in to the Bossa craze hehehe…….  

6.        I was in a “jologs” mode last weekend.  I watched “You Got Me” and “Ang Cute ng Ina Ko”  in vcd.  Nakakatawa naman kahit papaano.  Di ko lang alam kung naging mababaw lang ako magmula ng dumating ako dito sa Singapore ha. Sam Milby/Toni Gonzaga and Luis Manzano/Anne Curtis look good together. They are both believable as couples in love. The movies are predictable… pero okay lang.. pangpalipas oras lang naman. Medyo irritating si Ai-ai and Eugene Domingo   (yung nanny ni Anne sa movie) pero I think the director wanted this to be a physical comedy .. so forgivable naman.  All in all… both movies are entertaining… wag nyo lang masyadong taasan ang expectations nyo.  Remember… these are feel good movies… hindi sya ginawag para manalo ng OSCAR award for Best Foreign Language Film.

7.     Medyo bothered ako by a very recent incident dito sa office. A team lead here in the office called and asked about a task she assigned to me.  I said its finished and sent her a mail couple of weeks ago pa. She said – ok… please print me a hardcopy. So… akala ko naman pag-uusapan naming yung assignment. I printed a copy… then pinuntahan ko sya dun sa other end of the room.  Nung inabot ko yung printed copy … she just said thank you. Yun lang….. thank you. Kung kailangan lang nya ng hardcopy of the assignment … can’t she just print it herself? Mind you … may printer couple of feet away from her. So hindi sya effort. Wala lang. Di naman ako secretary? Hmm… weird lang. I doubt na ganun sya ka-busy no. Is this plain and simple laziness and disregard of another person’s time? Ewan. Bahala nga sya. Medyo nabother lang ako. 10 years of working… and ngayon lang ito nangyari. Kaya siguro ako medyo slighted.  

-02JULY07-

Samu’t Sari (ulit)

1.     I created a new playlist in my Ipod yesterday. It’s the “Idol” playlist. Dito ko nilagay lahat ng Idol related songs. So far – I like Chris Daughtry (Daughtry), Carrie Underwood (Some Hearts), Elliot Yamin (self titled — This guy is a huge surprise. The album is really good), Kelly Clarkson(Breakaway). I am not too sure of Katherine McPhee’s album (self titled).It seems that the album is going in different directions. She’s not sure if she wants to be the next Beyonce or a rock star or a sentimental singer.  I am not a fan of Fantasia’s Album (self titled)too. Not sure why but I keep on seeing Donald Duck every time I hear Fantasia. I have the winning songs of Jordin Sparks (This is my now) and Blake Lewis (You give love a bad name) and I like them both. I have a couple of Taylor Hick’s songs pero di ko pa ito napapakinggan… kaya no judgement muna. As for the other idols… hmmm .. hanap na lang ako ng madownload sa net hehehe… o baka naman may mga mababait akong kaibigan na magpapahiram sa akin… any friend who wants to be elevated to nice status?     

 2.     I had a haircut last Friday. Yup I’m bald now…. Okay.. an exaggeration… I’m short-haired now. Gone are the days of long, black, shiny hair. O sige na po… puro reactions – gone are the days of long, black, bad hair days. Now – it’s short (too short for my liking) and easier to manage. Pagkaligo – kaunting suklay.. can na. Di tulad dati na kailangan pagtuunan ng pansin at panahon. Ngayon green and go lagi. Sabi ng katabi ko dito sa office … I look very young daw… mukha na kasi akong sanggol hehehehe….  

3.     I experienced a momentous event last Saturday. Finally — nakapunta na rin ako sa Holland Village! Yes! Hehehe… I watched Oceans 13 with Cha and Elaine sa Vivo City. After the movie – nagkayayaan mag-dinner. I told them we can check out The Station Kitchen at St. James Power Station or Holland Village. Una naming pinuntahan ang Station Kitchen – the place looks ok…  di lang naming trip that night. So… Holland Village! Yes! We took the cab kasi di naming alam kung saan yun. Nung nakita ko na… initial reaction ko is wala lang… para lang pala syang Siglap. Am initially wondering bakit masyadong hype ang lugar na ito. Pero okay pala syang tambayan. The place is nice and quiet (compared to Orchard/East Coast). We decided to eat at NYDC – stayed there till around 1:00 a.m. Kain, tawanan… catching up… I will definitely go back… hirap maghanap ng masayang tambayan.. and Holland Village definitely suits me just fine…… 

4.     I went to Moomai’s house last night (Sunday) as she is begging me to attend a product demonstration. As I am a very good friend – I attended (with her promising that dinner is free!). The product – Saladmaster. Nung una — deadma lang ako. Kasi madalas na natin nakikita itong mga ganitong gimik sa TV shopping. Anyway – dahil sa di naman ako bastos (masyado) I listened intently. Aba – first demo was to cook Betty Crocker cake without the vegetable oil and water. Tapos hinaluan pa nila ng shredded carrots and zucchini. Aba… kakaiba. They use the saladmaster sauce pan. Tapos habang niluluto ang cake – nagluto naman ng sinigang…. Na walang tubig. Opo… hinalo-halo lang ang pork/vegetables(kasam yung pechay leaves)/sinigang mix sa saladmaster wok at niluto na in low heat. Habang niluluto — nagprito din ng chicken sa saladmaster electric skillet. Prito lang.. no oil. Nagsaing din using the saladmaster sauce pan. Nung naluto na lahat… around an hour — pinatikim na. Wow.. sarap.. malasa lahat. I was amazed by the sinigang. May sabaw na sya. The vegetables are cooked just right… hindi nalanta yung pechay considering sabay ito nilagay with pork. The chicken is very crispy. Sarap. The cake – well its your normall Betty Crocker cake pero di malasahan yung carrots and zucchini. Amazing hehehe… I was actually ready to buy… hanggang malaman ko ang presyo – the set with promo (na kasama na yung mga gusto ko) costs around SGS$6,500. Opo… in pesos — around 200K. So expensive. Hay. Pero lifetime warranty daw… and very durable. May mga patotoo naman na it’s a very good product. A friend’s grandmother bought dati (early 50s yata) and nagagamit pa rin nila ngayon.  Hay. Si Moomai bumili na pala. Sabi ko nga hiramin ko na lang hehehe… If you want to know more their website is www.saladmaster.com. Nga pala. Sabi nung nagdemo – Kris Aquino bought the entire set sa Pinas… around 1 million pesos lang naman ang presyo… biro mo.. si Kris — nag-deal! So.. tingin nyo.. Deal or No Deal?  

5.     Bought a Nautica cardigan… for a bargain price of SGD$62! May 20% discount kasi dahil sa Great Singapore Sale. It’s actually a steal. Lam nyo naman… hirap maghanap ng size for me dito sa land of the payatots…. Ngayon, ang problema ko na lang ay kung saan ko ito isusuot… Hmmm… makapunta nga sa Alaska…… Masarap kaya halo-halo dun?

Samu’t Sari

1.        I am beginning to develop hatred to the song “Careless Whisper”. Bakit? Ringtone po kasi ito ng anaps na nakaupo sa likuran ko. Sa isang araw siguro ay naririnig ko ito ng mahigit sampung beses.  Minsan – tahimik ang lahat – bigla na lang may tutunog … anak ng pating… Careless Whisper na naman. Minsan naman umiihi ako… tahimik… biglang tutunog… ano pa ba… Careless Whisper… nasa cubicle pala yung may-ari ng phone.  Feeling ko — the song was written to annoy me. Hay….. I’m never gonna dance again.. guilty feet have got no rhythm…   

2.        Lunch is one of the highlights of my day.  Pagdating ko pa lang dito sa office — I am already looking forward to lunch. Not because of the food (okay partially because of the food). Siguro kasi lunch for me is a reminder that half of the day is over and  half day na lang ang kailangan hintayin at uwian na!  Saya di ba?  

3.        Green tea cannot be use as substitute for coffee.  I drink coffee to keep me awake. Lalo na ngayon – I need all the help I can get para di ako makatulog dito sa office.  Ngunit dahil gusto ko na bawasan ang aking coffee intake - sinubukan ko mag-green tea. Isa lang ang masasabi ko – lalo ako inaantok.  Balik coffee na ulit ako.   

4.        I’m a Friends fan. I am re-watching it again. One thing I noticed is that — there is no scene wherein anyone of the characters are ironing clothes. They have “doing the laundry scenes” but no “ironing the clothes scene”. Hmm.. does this mean that they don’t iron their clothes? Bring them to a Cleaner? Fold the clothes neatly after washing/drying? Hmm…. Just wondering.  

5.        I think that the Ipod is the best invention ever… okay… so I am exaggerating - it’s a very good invention. Because of the Ipod video – I can discreetly watch Grey’s Anatomy here in the office and still look like I am busy working! Long live Apple!  

6.        I love reading Michael Tan’s column “Pinoy Kasi” and Ambeth Ocampo’s  “Looking Back”  in the Inquirer. Wala lang. Di kasi bias. Saka interesting ang mga topics. Their columns are intelligently written and is not boring kahit na mga “facts and studies” na ang binabanggit nila. Bakit kaya wala akong mga kaibigan na tulad nila? Sabagay, Birds of the same feathers flock together… and I don’t think I am a Bird. Siguro pwede akong Koala Bear? O Panda? O.. wala nang kokontra!   

7.         I sold my Xbox 360 to a friend. I bought it at SGD 699 — it’s an emotional purchase.  Honestly – I am not much of a video game fan. Kaso nung mga panahon na yun — I need to buy something or kill someone. I would have preferred the latter – di ko lang trip ang makulong at malatigo. Kaya bumili na lang ako ng Xbox. Sinubukan ko ito laruin — pero it was damn complicated. Aiyah… the controller has thousands (ok.. I am exaggerating a litte again) of buttons. Ang daming combinations para lang umandar ang letseng kotste o tamaan ang pesteng bola. L  Hmp. Gone are the left-right-left-right-up-down-up-down-a-b days. Hay… Namimiss ko tuloy ang Nintendo Family Computer. Life was so much simpler then.  

8.        I am looking for Veronica!  Veronica Mars to be precise. Veronica Mars is one of my guilty pleasures. I like the witty humor, the sharp dialogues and the predictable unpredictable storylines.  I watched Season 1 and 2 with gusto. I am now dying to see Season 3. I  am wondering why this show did not reach mainstream popularity here in Singapore. Season 1 was shown in Channel 5 in a forgettable timeslot — so forgettable that I already forgot. Star World normally picks up good shows – but missed out on this one too. Axn was also too slow to notice that this is a great show. Hmp. Cable tv sucks!  Hmmm… I wonder if TFC can include this in their line-up. If they do – it will surely be dubbed in Tagalog — but I don’t care. Veronica saying “Salamat po” will surely be something worth watching!  

9.        I am not sure if I like or hate Meredith Grey (Ellen Pompeo) … I know I like Grey’s Anatomy…. But I have unresolved feelings to the lead character. I am not sure if she’s weak or strong… a slut or misunderstood….. a good surgeon or a bad one? Hmmm…. she’s a complex one. A one-woman teleserye. You can add a Mc Dreamy, Mc Steamy or a Mc Flurry… but that’s what they are… an addition…..the token hunk factor. They are there just to add spice to an already spicy show.  But if you loose Grey’s character – then the show  wont make sense anymore. First – the show will be called “Anatomy”  which in my opinion is not an interesting title at all.  They can add the surname of another character… like “Yang’s Anatomy”…(well after Meredith, Christina’s character is the next interesting one) but I don’t think it will work either. Maybe I do like Meredith…and hate her as well.  She’s a complex character and viewers are expected to feel complex emotions as well. Hate, love, pity, madness, happiness… all rolled into one….. seriously….  

10.     In a few hours… I will be the proud owner of the new  Nintendo Wii. I have been waiting for the Singapore launch since last year. I saw the demo last year and fell in love with it.  A colleague informed me last week that it is already available in Best Denki in Vivo City. I went there lunch time last Friday to check. It was there — in all its glory. I decided to purchase it the next day as I don’t want to bring it with me in the office. I went to back to Vivo City the next day to meet a friend… and made a detour to Best Denki. It is still there — calling my name.  I decided to delay the purchase — think it over… and see if there is a better deal on the IT show. I went to the IT show yesterday and pushed my way against a flood of people all looking for a good purchase. Luck has run out —- there is no Nintendo booth. I decided to go back to Vivo City… excited to make the purchase.  And surprise of all surprises — the Nintendo Wii is sold out — in all  Best Denki branches. My day ended in vain.  This morning – as I have nothing to do here in the office – I called the official Singapore distributor for Nintendo. The customer service provided me with a few stores to check out.  I called them and hit jackpot on my second call! Alleluia. A store in Tampines still have a few units left. Tampines…see the irony? Well.. to those who’s not familiar with the places here in Singapore — Vivo City is very far from where I live… its probably an hour or so via MRT. Tampines on the other hand is one MRT station away! See the irony?  I went to London to visit the queen… only to find out that she’s in Singapore drinking Teh-tarik! Anyway – long story short — I asked the store to reserve one unit for me. After office – I wll buy it. Come hell or high water. (01JUNE07)