ADVENTURES
I can’t seem to get up from bed early these days. I wake up around 7 am when my cp’s alarm goes off but I find myself ignoring the darn thing and dozing off again. The next thing I know, it’s already past 8 in the morning and I am running late. Argh! Plus, I also feel sleepy at the office. Now, what the heck is happening?!
Well, I know what’s happening but I’m just afraid to face it. Can’t and won’t.
Find Your Heartsong.
Candice, Anj, Ramil and I bonded last night. We watched Happy Feet. I really liked the movie. It’s so cute! Haha! I won’t review it for you and I won’t tell its story. You better watch it. Sobrang aliw.
A glimpse:
Memphis: What’s going on there? What are you doing?
Baby Mumble: [tap dancing] I’m happy!
Memphis: What’s with your feet?
Baby Mumble: They’re happy, too!
Candice is jumping into another field and until now, she still can’t grasp that she’s actually making that huge step. It’s something way different from her previous job kasi. And she tossed and turned a million times before accepting the recent offer. She also cried buckets over this. Understandable. Ang masasabi ko lang, if the opportunity comes, go for it. Hindi ba yan ang motto natin nung college? And just because we’re not in college anymore, you’re forgetting that already. Lundagin mo, girl!
Find your own heartsong.
Blessings come in various disguises and sometimes, it’s easy to miss them because we refuse to see them as blessings. (Okay, I’m also talking to myself here. And to you, whenever it applies.)
Fresh Off the Krispy Kreme Oven.
The US phenomenon is here.
I had the chance to sample Krispy Kreme’s donuts courtesy of F&B World / Baking Press. (And that was on Monday, before its opening on November 30!) Yes, what they said is true. KK’s donut is a melt in your mouth goodness. It’s soft and sweet… just like any donut. Haha! For those who haven’t tried it, its taste and texture are closest to that of Go Nuts Donuts.
IMHO, it’s too sweet. Whoever wins that one year supply of Krispy Kreme donut will die of diabetes in no time if he/she doesn’t know how to share. Swear! Haha!
Shabby Chic: Cupcakes by Sonja
I was at Piazza Serendra recently and boy, the place is different. It’s like being transported to a different side of the world. And since I was already there, I grabbed 4 cupcakes from Cupcakes by Sonja. I read rave reviews on that small shabby chic place so I was really looking forward to sinking my teeth on its luscious cupcakes.
I ordered the following: flourless chocolate cupcake, vanilla, lemon drop, and berries and cream. The flourless cupcake is so chocolatey. It’s like eating Starbucks signature chocolate drink. Haha! The other cupcakes were nice. Crumbly but delicious. I don’t know why I wasn’t that impressed with the cupcakes. Maybe an effect of all the rave reviews I read. My expectations were already sooo high and when I finally got around to having bites of it, I was disappointed. A little bit lang naman.
Otherwise, the little cups really deserve a round of applause.
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Finally, after a million years, I’ve already posted my entry, este, page pala on my weekend travels to Sagada and El Nido.
SAGADA is a fifth class municipality of Mountain Province located 275 km north of Manila, 100 km from Baguio. It has a population of 10,575 people and 2,158 households.
EL NIDO is a fourth class municipality in Palawan, located about 420 km southwest of Manila. It has a population of 27,029 people in 5,191 households.
Visit GreenSalad for the kuwentos or click on the places’ names above.
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Countdown to (my first) Starbucks Planner:
12. Toffee Nut Latte Frap
13. Iced Caramel Macchiato
14. Iced White Chocolate Mocha
15. Iced Tea (Passion)
16. Iced Latte
17. Toffee Nut Frap
18. Iced Signature Chocolate
Note to myself: After drinking the 21st cup, I won’t drink anything from Starbucks for the next three months! Promise! Hahaha!
MEMORIES
Note: This should have been posted on the second week of November. Haha!
I had a vacation leave just in time for the All Saints’/Souls’ Days. I’m warning you again that this post is long. Coz that’s one week of leave noh. So malamang, mahaba-habang kuwentuhan ito.
Remember ‘See You Later’? LATER is NOW.
I went home to La Union just in time for our high school reunion. Talagang buzzer beater! I arrived mga 10 o’ clock in the morning na at our house and without even catching some much needed sleep, I prepared to go to that gathering. Go na!
Yes, we did go. After so much deliberation and all. I was kindda wondering why we should take lots of time thinking about going or not. Ano ba, kung pupunta, pupunta! Besides, what’s wrong in going to reunions anyway? Nothing at all.
There’s an almost always wrong connotation associated with reunions. And I hate people who really wanted to go but keep on holding himself/herself back just because they’re ashamed of whatever they had done or haven’t done. Whatthehell?! I fuckin’ don’t want to hear reasons like "Wala pa kasi akong nararating," "May asawa/anak na kasi ako at a young age," "Hindi pa ako nakakatapos ng college," or "Wala pa akong maipagmamalaki." That’s all bullshit.
Lahat tayo, may narating na. When we graduated high school, we didn’t remain in that phase of our life. We all moved on. We advanced towards something, whether it be college, early motherhood/fatherhood, work, whatever! We became someone. Maybe not someone whom others have envisioned us to be but someone whom we envisioned ourselves to be.
Define "walang narating." Sino ang pwede nating gawing standard ng mga taong may "narating" na? I mean, we chose different paths. Who can say you’re not successful in what you’re doing? The least you can do is be proud of yourself. Manindigan ka na lang. Panindigan mo kung anong mga nagawa mo sa buhay mo and be happy with it!
The point people is that whoever you are now, it really doesn’t matter. What matters in reunions is your life before, who you were before and who you were with. Coz reunions are for seeing each other again. Seeing old faces and bringing back memories of yesterdays. Masaya man o malungkot o nakakainis o nakakatawa. It’s simply GOING BACK. Kiber na lang sa mga tsismosa at usisera.
At kung hindi man naging maganda ang stay mo sa CKC, hindi lang nila kasalanan yun. Kasalanan ba nilang bagsak ka madalas? Kasalanan ba nilang wala kang natutunan?! Kasalanan ba nilang lagi kang nasa office ni Sir Ulpindo or ni Ma’am Gundran?! In studying, it also takes two to tango. The institution (and the people in it) and you. Kung angst lang naman with regards to CKC and some of the teachers ang paguusapan, marami din ako nyan pero hindi naman sila ang primary reason ko for attending the reunion.
Kung hindi tayo magkikita-kita ngayon, kelan pa?!
Easy for me to say?! Nah… I must admit that I had doubts in going to the reunion. Actually, when I stepped my feet in CKC’s grounds again after three years or so, I was still thinking, "What the hell am I doing here ba?!" But the moment I saw familiar faces, "Ja, alam mo kung bakit ka nandito." So carry na lang.
The whole event was fun. Yes, konti lang kami from our batch pero masaya siya. In fairness sa aming makukulit (at naggagandahang) coordinators na sina Danver at Raphael(le). Pero as usual, kindda boring yung ibang parts (typical of CKC events, hehe!) pero the batch of 2001 made it more interesting.
Mae, Grace, Cath, and I made it to CKC HS covered court kindda early so while waiting for the monobloc chairs to be filled up, we went to McDo first. I miss this particular branch (just in front of CKC HS). Anyway, after some hours of talking (na parang hindi naman kami nagkita ng ilang taon, hehe!), we went back. Medyo marami ng tao. So we registered. Eto lang ang tanong ko, for PhP60.00, bahket Coke lang ang nakuha namin?! (Oops, meron din palang small souvenir keychain.)
Why was there a young graduates’ reunion ba (for batches 1996-2006)? What’s the point?! Saan nila nahugot ang ideyang iyon?! Well, hindi naman pala nila basta basta napagtripang gawin yon.
Christ the King College is celebrating the 75th anniversary of ICM. Congratulations!
Syempre, mas maraming tao from the younger batches. Eh ano?! There was a singing contest. One contestant per batch at syempre, wagi si Danver. (Punyemas na singing voice yan, lalakeng lalake!). I was wondering where the graduation song contest was. Dapat kasi kakantahin yung grad song eh pero hindi na itinuloy. Do remember that most of the grad songs are original compositions kaya kung hindi madalas kantahin, hindi na maaalala. Oddly enough, I remember ours. Both melody and lyrics.
"Tinatangay ng hangin ang aming mga gunita / Sa bakas ng kahapon na aming nilikha / Ang sikat ng araw, amin nang makikita / Sa Silangan salubungin ng buong sigla / Pagtatapos at pamamaalam ay haharapin / Anumang pagsubok ay susuungin / Ito man ay sangandaan, takip-silim / May liwanag din sa bawat dilim… Narito na / Ang isang bagong umaga / Panibagong pagsubok ay pagdaraanan / Narito na / Ang isang bagong umaga / Narito na / Ang isang bagong kabanata /"
Okay, I’ll stop there. Humahaba na ‘to masyado.
For a batchmate who knows the lyrics better, just drop me a comment. Haha! Baka kasi hindi n’yo napansin, wala ang kantang ito sa yearbook natin. Now, I don’t remember this song just because I always sing it. Swear! Hahaha!
Back to the reunion… the event reminded me of our senior’s camp in 2001. Waw! Nostalgic. Haha! Almost all felt like that once upon a time bonfire night… except for the Pussycat Dolls number of the guys, este, girls, este… ah basta! For the lack of a better word to describe them, beautiful people na lang. Beautiful people = Danver, Raphael, Bryan, Hans, Paola, and Harold. Don’t cha wish your girlfriend is hot (hot, hot) like them?! Panalo!
It ended great. Actually, tumakas na kami kasi baka paglinisin pa kami ng buong covered court. Haha! Joke! Cath, Camille, and I had a late dinner with Sonny, Celso, and Patrick before going home. Camille stayed with our other batchmates at the Living Room (kung ano man sya). Inuman sessions muna for them but sleeping time for me. I was freaking tired.
O diba, masaya naman?! Hahahaha!
[Click here for our reunion photos.]
Well, of course, it was also a bit sad and poignant for our barkada. Yes, because of him who he is already gone for a moment.
Remember ‘Goodbye’? Well, Hello Again.
Speaking of those who are gone, we did our usual routine for the All Saints’ Day.
Wednesday morning, we went to the Aringay to visit my grandfather’s parents, older brother, and nephew who were interred at the local cemetery and memorial park. After lighting candles and offering flowers and prayers, we were invited by Lolo Manoling, one of my lolo’s younger brother (and the friendliest), to have lunch in their house.
It was sort of a tradition na eh that we’ll go to their house, just several minutes from the town market, and eat lunch there. Usually, they butcher a pig and cook dinuguan, igado, etc. Some of the greatest cooks that I know of are from the Abenes family. Swear! They just know what to do with pigs, chickens, and cows.
After filling our tummies with food, we went home and took a rest before heading to the Bauang cemetery.
My grandmother’s parents, uncle, and younger sister are the ones interred there. The skies are already gloomy when we reach the tombs. My sister and I went to our other relatives’ graves and offered candles, flowers, and prayers.
I also brought a small bouquet of white chrysanthemums for a friend. I saw his family there. God is really good. Even if the person is gone, He always sees to it that He gives the family and loved ones someone to remind them of the person. In the case of my friend, it was his daughter, who looks just like him.
After several hours, we felt it’s already going to rain. (Actually, it always drizzles/rains/ during the afternoon of All Saints’ Day in Bauang.) So we started our trek to the parking lot, which is by the way located at the other side of the cemetery so we have to walk beside and above the tombs (And whenever I have to step on one, I always say "Sorry po. Padaan lang po." I’m not really comfortable in stepping on tombs but when you just have no choice, you just have to. Aaah!!!).
We were really good with timing. The moment we got in the car and closed the door, the (heavy) rain poured. The cemetery emptied immediately when everyone scrambled towards every direction to find shelter.
So that’s our Nov. 1 scenario. Hello and goodbye. Hello and goodbye.
Too Early to Say Goodbye. I’ll Remember Your Mystique Always.
And I also accomplished one of my 101 goals in life last week. Travel to one of the most enigmatic and most beautiful places in the Philippines… SAGADA!!!
This is one post worthy of a page (or more if I haven’t stopped myself) in my blog. So to read about our trek in Sagada, visit greensalad.wordpress.com. You can also get tips in my sort of travelogue. And of course, lots of pics too for you to be encouraged to pack up your bags, don your trekking sandals, and go to Sagada, Mountain Province.
I’ll get you nearer heaven. Somehow. Haha!
JOYS
What’s your Christmas wish?
Nothing grand like world peace, I hope.
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I should have been posting our Sagada adventure and my recent El Nido, Palawan escapade but I keep on putting it off coz it’s so long, not to mention full of pics! I have a hard time uploading our pics. Yeah, I solely blame my dial-up connection at home. Sheesh! I can run faster than that thing… considering the fact that I’ve never run since well, I couldn’t remember. So that gives the conclusion that my speed is technically 1 kilometer per hour. Haha!
My recent adventure is a fusion of the elements of earth, air, fire, and water. Earth and fire for Sagada while air, fire, and water for El Nido. A little bit of something something for both. I wish I can just describe the experiences in few simple words but I can’t. Coz everytime I begin to talk about it, I am just lost for words. The places? They’re indescribable. Simply indescribable!
So, while I grasp for the right (and perfect) words to narrate my stories of earth, fire, air, and water, here’s something else. Hehe…
It’s nearing Christmas! Yeah! Christmas is my most favorite time of the year (everyone does!) And with this post, it’s actually obvious that I’m excited. Lagi naman eh. I’m excited about the Simbang Gabi (although I don’t get to complete it), the bibingka and puto bumbong (yum, yum), the longer and colder nights (brrr), and the Christmas decors (just love the malls for these stuff). What? You’re expecting me to say Christmas spirit, hope, joy, and love?! Well, that also. Hehe!
Some gave me the items in my last year’s WISH LIST. Others completely ignored the damn thing. Haha! But they gave me nice gifts also.
This year, my wish list contains the following:
(kailangan specific para hindi na kayo mahirapang mag-isip. naks!)
MakeUp: F Max Mousse Foundation / Fashion 21 / Penshoppe colored lip glosses /
Accessories: Headbands / Sarongs / Shawls / Cover Ups / Large Belts / Sunglasses (still)
Scrapbook Materials: issues of Srapbooking magazines / embellishments / papers / stamps / punchers / anything related to it
Writing Materials: Journals / Diaries / Pens
E-books: David Morrell / Sidney Sheldon / Nicholas Sparks / John Grisham
Gift Checks: Freshaire / SM / Landmark Gift Checks
See? Hindi masyadong expensive ang mga gusto ko for this year. Cheap and simple. Hahahaha!
My ultimate dream gadget this year:
IPOD NANO RED Special Edition
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My Countdown to my first (and last?) Starbucks Planner
5. Iced Tea
6. Gingerbread Frap (for Patrick, I know andaya ulet! Haha!)
7. Iced Peppermint Chocolate
8. Iced Toffee Nut
9. Mango Frap
10. Iced Peppermint Mocha
11. Iced Toffee Nut
TOMASINO
Got this survey from Julls. Well, since I’m on reminiscin’ mode lately (effect of the one-week leave I had, story later), I’ll also answer it. Hehehe!
1. Name: Janelle / Jaja
2. Course: AB - Journalism
3. Batch (yung year sa ID # nyo): 01 (as in 2001)
4. Student Organizations I joined: Hmn, let me see… I was never really good at clubs. But I did join some. I joined DEKADA, a political party, during my first year. I was (sortta) active since I was in my early third year. Then there was Artlets Volunteers in Action (AVA). I went with the group to Liliw, Laguna once for an outreach and then I dwindled again until I just heard that AVA was no more. And then there was AB Pax Romana. I joined mainly because of Anj who was really active in it. She even became VP External (or was it Internal?!). And then, there were of course the UST Journalism Society. If ever there was more, I couldn’t remember it simply because I wasn’t active.
5. I chose UST because: Honestly… because it’s a Catholic university and caters mostly to the middle class. I only took 3 entrance exams for college: UST, UP, and St. Louis University (Baguio). I passed UP Diliman’s Pol Sci but I suddenly felt I don’t like the course (crazy!) and I don’t like the campus. Too far from Makati. As for SLU, I passed Mass Comm but almost everyone from my high school batch was going there so I felt like I want to go somewhere else. Hehe.
6. I like to stay at this place in the campus: Pax Romana office at the AB building or the benches in front of AVR (our waiting place for the next class, which will start 15-30 minutes later) / Co-Op (pero wala na sya ngayon… I loved the kwek-kwek, mongolian mix, and the rice box with chicharon. Yum, yum!) / AB hallways (para sa kuwentuhang umaatikabo) / Benavidez Park aka Lovers’ Lane (para sa mga pictorials at shoots. Chenes!)
/ at syempre ang mga naging classrooms ng JRN2 Batch 2001-2005!
7. I recommend this resto/fast food chain in UST: Ang legendary Almer’s / Momo’s / yung Quickly before / BRB… Yun lang ang naiisip ko. (Anj, Kel, Ivee, Candice… help?! Hehe!)
8. Fave subject: Hay, madami. Kung minsan, kahit ayaw ko yung subject pero kung gusto ko yung prof, ok na yun. Syempre, the best ang classes nina Sir Bong (Consti), Sir Lito (Journ major subjects), at Sir Emer (Philo)… grabe, mavens ng kani-kanilang subjects kaya masaya ang mga lessons with them. Pati yung kay Sir Jere (Research) kasi makulit sya kahit na tedious ang kanyang subject. Big Mac (Mam Macapagal)!!! Grabe, na-enjoy ko ang world lit because of her (besides, she named me "Empress," na later on ay nagevolve into "Goddess." Naks naman!)
9. Least fave subject: Syempre Math pero gusto ko naman ng Algebra. Ayoko lang masyado yung Stats at Finance. May calculator na involved eh. Yung Pol Dy at Taxation din. Ack! Pati yung Art App. Bleh.
10. University/college event in school that a Thomasian should never miss: Syempre Paskuhan. Proud ako sa fireworks. Pero yung last Paskuhan namin eh wala. Sadness. At Baccalaureate mass pag gragraduate ka na… Ansaya non kasi may fireworks pa rin at rite of exit. Hehehe. Lahat symbolic. Mas ok pa nga yun kesa sa graduation mismo. Sa AB, yung Faculty Show. The best!!! Ang kulet kulet. Tsaka yung Salinggawi show na rin. Yung annual bongga presentation nila.
Hmn, ansaya balikan ang college. Sobrang miss ko na.
Grabe, nashock ako the other day… It was my first time after several months na makaapak muli sa UST and nalula ako sa changes. Kamustah naman ang pay parking na may food establishments na rin. Haha! Tsaka ang bongga ng facade ng UST Hospital! Mukhang mamahalin. Haha! And anlawak na nung facade at back area ng main building. Pero ang sad kasi nawala yung Colayco park (teka, nasa’n si Colayco?! I mean, yung statue nya?! Hindi ko napansin). Isang ayaw ko sa mga pagbabago is yung org building sa harap ng Central Library. Heller, panira ka ng view. Asan na yung ibang statues don?! Mukhang crowded yung part na yun ng Dapitan side.
Anyway, that goes with the coming celebration of UST’s 400 years in 2011. Huwaw!
Old and new.
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What’s New:
Countdown to my *strange* CHALLENGE for the holiday:
Yes, I’m going with the craze: STARBUCKS PLANNER.
Now, call me crazy. Sa kakuriputan ko sa ilang bagay, anong pumasok sa kukote ko at naisipan kong maglaan ng PhP3,000+ para sa isang planner?! Well, wala lang. Challenge. Just like what I did with the vegan and the stay within my budget challenge. Well, actually, hindi naman sya talagang challenge coz pleasure yung drinks. Pero well, I was one of those people who think getting that planner by drinking 21 (PhP140+ each) Starbucks drinks (amounting to PhP3,000+) is ridiculous. Was.
Anyway, I have 4 out of 21 stickers so far:
1. Toffee Nut Frappuccino
2. Hot Chocolate (for Kel… Hehe! Madaya!)
3. Iced Peppermint Mocha
4. Iced Gingerbread Latte
Let’s see if I can keep up with this…
