I'm Not Sure If They'd Understand English But This Is For the "Dura" Gang (Part 2 October 10, 2010)

Today is the day I express my extreme, solid hatred against the people who took my phone. In a bulky chunk of a paragraph I will tell you why. It happened on a late Sunday afternoon, October 10, 2010.

I got off MRT Magallanes from Cubao after bringing my good friend Bong a box of dessert from my mom. I took a jeepney going to PRC since I was planning to attend the Mass at Don Bosco Chapel before going home. I took the front seat beside the driver. After a minute, a guy sat beside me. I didn't mind him because I was busy planning what to do after the Mass. Besides he looks like he hasn't eaten for days and doesn't have an idea what a facial cleanser is. Moving on, the jeep took off. After a couple of minutes, someone from behind gave a loud sneeze. He asked the driver to stop. While he's stepping out of the ride, the guy at my back said that I have spots of phlegm on my shirt. Being the calm guy that I am, I just took my hanky and started wiping even though I was already on the verge of puking. Little did I know that it was the exact moment when the guy beside me took the opportunity to open my messenger bag and swiftly grab my Blackberry. I was done cleaning all the spots of phlegm when all of a sudden they asked the driver to stop in the middle of the road. The driver just stepped onto the brake like a robot. Seconds after the three guys got off, I thought of looking at my inbox for messages then I realized there's no more phone to check.

I wasn't able to say anything. Right then and there, memories of my one-month old BB Curve 8520 crashed into me- the contact numbers, the saved messages, the random photos, the addresses, the awesome songs in my Music Player...what else...oh yeah, the reality that I was able to buy that mobile phone out of my earnings. Ladies and gentleman, that gadget didn't come free.

Ironic it may seem, before when I hear news about mandurukot, I used to think na tatanga tanga kasi yung nadukutan kasi nagtetext sa kalye or showoff or something to that effect. Now that it happened to me, hindi pala sya katangahan. May mga tao lang talaga na mapagsamantala sa kapwa. 

Now, never will I understand why some people resort to stealing other people's hard-earned gadgets. Never will I accept the reason that they can't find a decent job to put food on their table dahil for crying out loud ang lalaki ng katawan ng mga taong nagpasasa sa perang pinagkakitaan after mabenta yung ninakaw na phone ko. They are the human version of parasites because I don't even think they pay taxes. Why would they involve the working class to their misery? It's not our fault that we have some things that they don't have. That doesnt' give them any right to make us perfect targets for such barbaric act. Never will I understand why there are creatures like that in this world. And never will I honor if those criminals would say that they had no proper education, that they're deprived in life, and that they don't have a choice. Dudes, we always have a choice.

To those people who were victimized by the Dura gang, one way or another, what they did to us will swing back to them in a very nasty, morbid manner. For now I am hurting but this too shall pass. I know Karma is digital.

Click here for more details about the Dura Gang!

Leaving on an Airplane (August 23, 2010)

With all the recent turmoil going on between PAL and its prime pilots, I’m exremely sorry if your flight has been cancelled. I know you just want to close that business deal in Davao, or take a vacation in Cagayan de Oro, or spend time with your family in Bacolod. You have your own reasons for flying and I respect that you are furious. Our pilots have their own solid reasons, too. And I respect them, too.

Many of our pilots have decided to leave the country and accept offers abroad. They’re now getting fatter salary, attractive benefits, travel perks for their families, and better airplanes to work with. International airline companies normally give around Php150,000-Php300,000. My college friend Charisse works as a flight attendant for Emirates Airlines and she’s taking home Php150,000. What more are their pilots? Now, for the others who opted to stay loyal with Philippines Airlines, their only request was to have their Php80,000 monthly pay increased even just a bit. Sad to say, Philippine Airlines, our country’s leading carrier, can’t see the point in giving such increase. This is what’s unattractive. Most employers here in our country don’t invest on its people as their only concern is to earn for themselves. In effect, many professionals tend to pack their bags, thinking they could get better chances in life if they are anywhere but here.

Knowing the work ethics and professionalism of the Filipinos, in most cases we end up succeeding against foreign counterparts. What I love about Filipinos is that we always take pride in everything we do. However, the growing number of people leaving is extremely alarming. Our Department of Labor and Employment should deal with both public and private employers and set the wages by making it in line with neighbor countries like Malaysia, Singapore, and Taiwan depending on the field of expertise. If the government can’t do something about this, please refrain from pulling out huge amount of taxes from our monthly salary. We love our country and our country should love us back. Let’s not wait until all the good ones are gone and what’s left are those unemployed, underqualified, or not qualified.

11 Things 2009 Has Brought Me (December 31, 2009)

1. Dad celebrated his first year in heaven last January of this year. I would be lying if I say that I’ve already recovered because I still immensely miss him. But I guess God took him away from us because He wanted me to learn how to spell the word 'responsibility'.

2. This year I was able to treat my mom vacations in Cebu, Hong Kong, and Macau. Apart from that I was able to spend weekend getaways in Puerto Galera with old college friends from UPLB and in Pagudpud and Vigan with JB, Noah, and Erwin. I wouldn’t want to mention the Bangkok trip that never happened but for the sake of everyone’s knowledge, please check your passport before booking a trip outside the country. Make sure it’s not less than six months from expiry or else you’ll get denied of entry by the airport officers. Never tell me I didn’t warn you because if you do, I’ll make you chew your passport.

3. Leaving my JP Morgan Chase family was one of the huge decisions I had to make in 2009. Chase made me reach my full potentials. In my almost two years of stay with this company, twice I became an MVP for the Manila site, a top seller, an events coordinator, a mentor, a subordinate, and most importantly, a friend. I miss CARMZ, Joe, Carel, Karen, Lauren, Nephi, and a lot more. And how can I forget Carlo Magalad. I can’t thank you enough for all the laughter, the push, the strength to stand criticisms, and the words of wisdom. We may have parted ways but someday when we come across each other I’ll make you proud.

4. After Chase, I entered the crystal clear glass doors of Thomson Reuters. The training is tantamount to taking an MBA in Financial Engineering so if you can just imagine the stress. Fortunately, I got included in this awesome team headed by Love Del Rosario a.k.a Mother. Our department, Reuters 3000 Xtra, is composed of 10 diverse individuals wherein 80% is stubborn, aggressive, and maarte, while the remaining 20% is bordering obsessive-compulsive. But I guess the universe truly has this unusual way of mixing people because when we are together, we work, laugh, eat, question other departments, and embarrass each other all at the same time. The best thing is that we criticize each other without judgement. Yes, it’s possible.

5. In September, my mom had a mild stroke. It was the lowest part of the year but God never left my side as He answered my prayers to keep my mom strong. Now she’s back in good shape. You know I’m not really religious but I do believe in Him. And trust me, when you find yourself in times of trouble, call Him.

6. Last March I got to watch “Zsa Zsa Saturnah Zee Musical” after several years of being unattached to anything related to theatre. I miss acting and singing on stage.

7. If there's anyone trying to bring you down, doesn't like you, or directly or indirectly disrespecting you for unfathomable reasons, simply ignore the person. That creature doesn't deserve any attention. But if he didn't stop, send a professional-sounding mail questioning how he was raised by his parents or ask how his childhood was like because it seems he had a painful one. Use highfalutin words which can hopefully make his nose bleed. If he still didn't stop, punch him in the face.

8. Finally I was able to open a checking/savings account. The tactic is to keep at least 20% of your pay and deposit it to the bank or do an online transfer before hitting the mall. I was also able to get pension plan for myself, a new laptop, and an LCD TV for the family. I’m still quite far from buying a new house and a car, but I’m working on it.

9. Facebook can really move mountains. When I turned 26 last October, I was overwhelmed by the countless birthday greetings on my wall coming from friends, relatives, and even old classmates from preparatory school. I realized that many people actually remember and love me despite of my ‘maldito’ attacks. Whether we admit it or not, Facebook is now a part of our daily routine. This site has swiftly became the perfect medium to express feelings, share pictures, chat with people, flirt, or simply just to attract attention. If you still don’t have an account, allow me to strangle you right about now.

10. I've had my fair share of failed relationships this year. Surprisingly, last December 6, 2009, I think I’ve met the 'one'. Some of my close pals will say that they’ve heard that line gazillions times before and a few will give me a timeframe of two or three months to last this relationship. But you know what, relationships are less than perfect. Say what you want to say morons and bitches but I’m giving this one my best shot.

11. Lastly, as the year ends, grasp on the idea that life has to move on. Whatever challenges we’ve had in the past, be it good or bad, learn from it. Free your minds and hearts from anger and bitterness, otherwise it will haunt us big time. And let’s swear to try to become a better person even on our own, minute ways. Oh well, call me a dimwit but I still believe in happy endings.

Happy Holidays everyone!

Bangkok Trip Gone Bad (November 24, 2009)

I have a friend named James who runs a gambling business somewhere in the north. By mid of October this year, he called up to greet me a happy birthday. As a treat, he gave me his credit card details so that I can book us a flight to Bangkok by November. I instantly went to the Cebu Pacific website, keyed in our details, and then finally had the itinerary printed.

November 23, 2009 came fast. I went home from work, packed my stuff, and then headed to Mall of Asia to meet James. We proceeded to Park and Fly to deposit his car. Upon reaching NAIA Terminal 3, we ran to pay the travel tax worth P1,620. After getting the receipts, we approached the Cebu Pacific boarding area carrying all the excitement with us. I was imagining temples, elephants, Phatphong, spicy delicacies, shirt shopping, and all the good stuff. In a matter of minutes, all the excitement flew away as I was denied entry by the airport officer. It turned out that my passport is less than 6 months from expiry. The not-so-attractive Cebu Pacific representative fed us a litany of terms and conditions, airport guidelines, and other several a chu chu which simply meant that I can’t fly to Bangkok that night. With extreme prejudice, James debated with the officer ala Attorney Katrina Legarda but all effort was futile. I stood in one corner about to burst in tears because needless to say, I badly wanted that vacation. Despite both of us feeling emotionally battered, James moved on to take the flight while I hailed the very first taxi I saw. I messaged my colleagues in the office and all of them gave a sympathetic, similar response: “P@%*ng i#%!” Without a choice, I went to the Department of Foreign Affairs the following day to have my passport renewed. And I’m telling you, it was never fun. I had to double the dosage of my Stresstabs intake that day.

The moral of the story is quite obvious. If you didn’t get it, then go get a knife and stab yourself. Oh well, I’m sure the Big Guy above had his reasons. I’m OK now.

Macau Overnight (September 11-12, 2009)

 We spent overnight in Taipa in Macau. I wasn't able to blog...booo!!! But I took pictures! 

Time to unpack for Venetian!

This is where we stayed...affordable and comfortable!

Venetian entrance...just beautiful...

Mcdo Macau

He's Pinoy! :-)

Genius ceilings!

Our dinner...:-)

Our very big breakfast plates!

They normally use motorcycles to save gas and minimize pollution...why not implement it here in the Philippines?

Macau Airport's washroom...soooo clean...

TIPS TO REMEMBER IF YOU ARE GOING TO OCEAN PARK HK

1. Never wear heals unless you are a genuine masochist.
2. Apply sunblock or else develop skin cancer in no time. If you are on a tight budget, bring an umbrella. If you don't have an umbrella, use the Ocean Park map as sunshield. If you don't have anything, might as well kill yourself.
3. Bring a liter of water. The price of bottled water in Ocean Park is almost the same as your monthly water bill in the Philippines. If you have the means or you are sosyal (real or fake), pay the price. :-)
4. The price of food is also expensive. As advised by our friends from HK, prepare sandwiches and buy chips before going to Ocean park. But then again, if you have the means or you are sosyal (real or fake), pay the price. :-)
5. Study the Ocean Park map or else get lost in space and even get lost in translation unless you speak fluent Mandarin or Fokien.
6. Do not smoke in a non-smoking area unless you want to be ridiculed by the park's staff with extreme prejudice. There are designated smoking areas so it won't hurt to follow the rules sometimes. Same procedures apply for your rubbish. There are available trash bins all over the park. But if you don't want to follow the rules, jump off the cliff.
7. Check the Internet for promos and packages. You'd get to save a lot. If your Internet service provider sucks, rally in front of their office.
8. Check the weather before going there. Don't tell me I didn't warn you.
9. Whatever happens, be it good or bad, just stay grounded and happy and everything else will follow.
10. Vacations are best if spent with your loved ones.

4th Day in HK *WINDSTORM SIGNAL # 3 ATTACKS OCEAN PARK* (September 10, 2009)

Ocean Park is located in Aberdeen which was once a traditional fishing village. I don't know how they managed to construct this huge theme park but I'm sure impressed big time. The place is around an hour and a half away from we stay. Mom and I took a train from Tung Chung to Admiralty station, then we took a double-decker bus heading to Aberdeen. We sat on the 2nd level so we got a good view of the city. In a matter of 15 minutes, we have reached our destination.

As usual we started by taking dozens of pictures. We then moved up by riding series of escalators until we reached the peak. Mom and I decided to ride Ocean Tower. There we got to see HongKong at its best. Cable Car came next. I'm telling you it was so relaxing, I lost all the stress in the world. From inside you'll see the vast harbor area, the ships, the high-rise buildings in the Central area, as well as most parts of Ocean Park. And yes the air is fairly free from pollution.

After Cable Car, we headed to watch the sea lions perform. I admire the trainers for being able to create this unique connection with these beautiful animals. They dance, create cute sounds, glide and play dead, and so many more antics. The show was followed by a visit to the panda sanctuary and there I met An-An and Jian-Jian, two lovely pandas being taken care of by the Chinese government to avoid extinction. Mom then dragged to check out goldfishes and crocodiles in the Asian Mammals area.

We went back to the peak via Ocean Express. As soon as we have stepped into the viewing area, we heard an announcement that windstorm signal 3 attacks Ocean Park. Thus, Cable Cars and all outdoor rides will not be available to the public for safety reasons. I almost puked and fainted in front of my mom upon hearing the best news of the hour. Do they know where I came from? Do they know?!!! I came all the way from Makati City, Philippines just to ride The Abyss, Crazy Galleon, Mine Train, and Raging River for crying out loud. A lot of people were passing by and I had an impression that they felt the same way as I did. Imagine no rides? Why did this windstorm infest China on the day of my visit to Ocean Park? Why? Why? Well, to relieve the irritation, we opted to hit the nearest food hub and order some noodles.

But it's not really that bad. Mom and I enjoyed the view, the clean air, the jokes, and the chat. While waiting for the Dolphin show, we visited some stores, took some wacky shots, then had my last smoke. We took our spot in the Ocean Theatre. There were more or less twenty five hundred people in the area of different races and strokes. A band played as front act. Then at exactly 5PM, dolphins began jumping up and down the pool. Some of these incredible mammals presented funny tricks. Again I admired how brilliant the trainers were for pulling out the talent from these sea creatures.

From Ocean Park we headed straight to Admiralty, rode a train going to Tsim Sha Tsui to buy Curtis, my mom's partner, a Harley Davidson shirt. We finally found the store after almost an hour of searching and getting lost in Kowloon. Causeway Bay is just outside the building where we got the shirt from so we loitered in the area for a few minutes then we realized we're hungry. We ended up eating in this Chinese fastfood restaurant near the MTR station. I ordered two plates of rice with roasted pork and celery for me and my mom. What I like about the restaurant is that they serve Jasmine tea instead of water or should I say they treat Jasmine tea as water. And as always, I felt like a hog!

From Tsim Sha Tsui, we took a train back to Tung Chung. The first thing I did was take a bath. And here I am again typing this blog. :-)

We have the tickets! There's no stopping!

Like nya ko!

Mom and I had so much fun riding the cable car...relaxing ito...

Super huggable panda bear! 

Heavy!

The dolphin show is a must-see!

Ang daming tao kahit may windstorm! 

We went for a quick shop here at Ocean Terminal before heading home

3rd Day in HK *Independence Day* (September 10, 2009)

Today is a slow day here in HongKong. I woke up around 10AM then just logged in to Facebook to chat with my brothers. By lunch we feasted on nilagang baboy (pork stew) prepared by Tito Bamba. For the nth time, I felt like a hog! After lunch mom asked me to go to the city to trade currency. Tito Bamba gave me some instructions on how to go about the MTR and stuff. I was so excited I finished preparing in 10 minutes including my stuff for gym.

I took a bus from Caribbean Coast to Tung Chung Station. The travel time via train from Tung Chung to Tsim Sha Tsui is approximately 30 minutes. I used the time to listen to some songs that I miss and to check out some HongKong fashion. Men here are uber metrosexual you'll think every man is gay. For the girls, I am so amazed on how they defy almost every fashion rule yet still look stunning on every angle.

I arrived at the main city past 3 o'clock in the afternoon. My first agenda was to get some HKD. I checked some money changers along Brisbon Road. I ended up with the third money changer because of the huge difference from the first two. That's a tip! Always check first on prices before trading your Philippine Peso.

With my first agenda done, I walked along Nathan Road, entered a grocery store, then bought myself a cold can of Schweppes Cream Soda. Of course it's not complete without a powerful stick of Lights. Yebah!

I reached Canton Road in a matter of 3 minutes. There I saw the grand Gateway Center where Fitness First is located. A Chinese girl welcomed me with a nice smile. I handed her my Fitness First ID, keyed in some information on the computer then handed me a bath towel and a face towel. Yes, towels are provided at Fitness First HongKong for club members use. I went straight to my locker to change then headed to the treadmill. The running experience was memorable because I was facing the Causeway Bay, overlooking the vast, garbage-free sea. After running for thirty minutes, I did the free weights, the dips, the crunches (yes I'm doing crunches though it's not yet quite obvious as of this time), then some intense stretching. I needed some thirst quencher so I checked out the drinking area. To my surprise, they have Coke Light and Schweppes Cream Soda for free! I got myself a glass of Schweppes then proceeded to the Internet area to check Facebook.

After gym I met with my friend Louie who works in HongKong as an engineer. He toured me around the city. I asked him to bring me to a restaurant serving authentic Chinese rice meals. We ended up in this not-so-chic, carinderia-style place. Louie told me the older (I'm not sure if he also said 'the dirtier') the restaurant, the better the food.The menu was all in Chinese so I just asked the lady for rice and chicken. I am not sure if the cook did some magic because finally I have tasted the most authentic soy chicken in the entire planet. I even took a picture of it. Louie then brought me to this shop selling cookies and biscuits. For my Thomson Reuters team, I bought a few packs of seaweed biscuits.:-) Louie and I finished chatting and touring around 10PM. The MTR will close by midnight so we decided to call it a day.

And now I'm home here in Tung Chung, I am facing the computer and will sleep in 5 minutes. Tomorrow's gonna be Ocean Park Day! :-)

This is more of their Quiapo...

I swear wala ako naintindihan...I just asked for chicken...

Wala pa din ako maintindihan!

Fine, surprise me!

Nasurprise nga ako! The best ang soy chicken nila! 

2nd Day in HK *Disneyland Mania* (September 9, 2009)

We woke up around 9AM yesterday. My legs were still aching from walking the streets of the night market in Mong Kok. But I have to set it aside because Tuesday was Disney Day! Tito Bamba and Tita Cat got good friends working at Disneyland Resort so all of us got in for free. Yebah!

From Sunny Day Station, we transferred to the train heading to Disney. On the train, I saw Cris Villonco. I am not sure if you are familiar with her, well I'm just saying. :-) We walked along Main Street and there we had a picture session with Mickey and Minnie Mouse, then with the Toy Story characters followed by some shots with the famous Disney Castle at the background.

JC and Charm, Tito Bamba's and Tita Cat's kids, dragged me to Astro Blasters to shoot some enemies. After the ride, we rushed to the Disney Storybook Theatre to watch Golden Mickey Awards. The show presented a synopsis of several Disney animated movies like Beauty and the Beast, Little Mermaid, Tarzan, Pocahontas, Mulan, and lot more. It's like an award show wherein the host, Bebe, gets to go back in time to be with the main characters of each animated film. It was filled with awesome dance moves and acrobatics and the mascots were all perky. In the end, everyone were winners. :-)

We rushed to Adventureland to watch Lion King. I was so amazed I dropped my jaw. The effects, the dance moves, the song numbers, the acting, the lights...uber spectacular! The cast was very diverse. There are Black men, Caucasian, Chinese, and even a few Filipinos. I am still speechless until now.

Around 2:30PM we decided to get some chow. We entered Tahitian Island where they serve various Asian rice meals. I had Indian curry while mom had Indonesian rice goreng. It wasn't as good as I thought. Our concessionaire in the office makes better curry. :-) For beverage, I had a bottle of Coke. Here is one good advice: try to bring a liter of water with you if you'll go to Disney because the cost of 1 bottle of drink is HKD 20 which is tantamount to PHP 128. Ulul, anu yun gaguhan? To relieve the shock caused by the price of drinks, I headed to a nearby smoking area and grabbed a stick of Lights.

Next on the list was a Donald Duck 3D film at PhilHarMagic. This is the Rialto version of Disney. Not bad, but not good. Just right. Before the parade starts, me and Charm decided to ride the Space Mountain. This is just a mini-rollercoaster but I shrieked a bit. :-) By the time we went out, the parade is just about to begin.

The parade featured the likes of Donald Duck, Mickey and Minnie Mouse, Cinderella, Little Mermaid, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Goofey, and the rest of the Gang. It was a walk down the memory lane because I literally grew up watching Disney animations. The parade was followed shortly by High School Musical encore.

Tito Bamba and Tita Cat left us with the kids so that means we'll ride all we can while waiting for the fireworks. We took the Wild River, Utopia (this is like driving lesson 101), Tea Cups, Buzz Lightyears, back to Space Mountain, then Grand Carousel, then several other rides that I forgot the names.

The main part of my Disney visit was the fireworks display. The main castle changes colors from blue to yellow to green etc. Images of famous Disney movies were projected with narrations on the background. It was succeeded by a spectacular display of fireworks of different colors from different directions. I felt like a kid.

My Disneyland visit was a dream come true. It's not bad to go back and pull out the kid in us once in a while. :-)

Me and my gorgeous mom! 

With the Mirandilla family..we stayed with them in HK...really warm...

They were having some quarrel...:-)

Lion King show...awesome!

General Mickey Mouse

Snow White...maputi talaga...wala tayo magagawa!

The lovely Cinderella

Ariel getting crazy!

Mom getting nuts!

Buzzy!

1st Day in HK (September 8, 2009)

It was a sunny day yesterday here at Tung Chung, northern part of HongKong. Tito Bamba and JC picked us up from the airport then we went to have lunch at their place with Tita Cat. The building where they live is called Caribbean Coast.It's got an amazing clubhouse and 7 Eleven is like all over. Kiddos JC and Adam toured me around the Phase I area. 

We just took a short nap then Tito Bamba brought us to Tsim Sha Tsui.i We walked along Nathan Road upon getting off MTR. By the way, their MTR system is ssssooooooooo mother effin' organized that first-timers would easily get a hold of how the train system works.

We passed by Cameron Road, saw countless shops then straight to Kimberley Road where Korean BBQ Bistro is located. The buffet is to die for! Almost everything is raw. Mini-grills were provided so you could cook your own meal. I tried the ox tongue, duck gizzard, clams, and a lot more. The dried 'dilis' and pickled cucumber the HK style is a must-try! Tsing Tao Beer was served and it's quite good however I still go for our very own San Mig Light. :-) For dessert, I got myself this nice huge bowl of authentic black grass jelly topped with milk. One thing I just did not really dig about HongKong buffet hubs is that they limit the time customers can stay. Taking for example Korean BBQ Bistro, customers can only stay up to a maximum of an hour and forty-five minutes. Owners...what were you thinking? :-) Despite that, the eating experience I had last last night was the best buffet I have been so far.

After dinner, we went to FOREX then headed to Canton Road where all the high-end shops are situated. They've got Armani Exchange, D & G, Coach, Stella McCartney, and a whole lot more. Tita Cat showed me the way on how to go to Fitness First HongKong. I remember a friend telling me how amazing the branch is compared to the branches in Manila in terms of equipment, cleanliness, and friendliness of the staff. I'll see that on Thursday!

We took another MTR this time going to Mong Kok where the night market is. The goodies are actually cheap. One good advice: never bring a calculator to convert HKD to PHP because it will only stop you from buying anything. I got myself a new bag and some goodies for my team, while mom and Tita Cat got themselves some nice sandals and other stuff.

We got back home past midnight. And I was so tired. But hey, that's just the first day. :-)

Double-Deckers! Cool!

Shot at Cameron Road...well-light city indeed...

Fresh...in fairness...

We grilled our own food...hence, sweaty all over!

Mongkok