Carnaval

Sábado, Dezembro 31, 2005

A Long December (Indeed!)

Fire In The Sky!

The much awaited WPO has finally ended yesterday. A bit disappointed with myself, I've only watched the China/Australia performance last 26 since my family had to go to Baguio the next day. Team China's execution generally sucked, to think that they have invented the fireworks! But the Aussies were just so great. The massive lights and the smoke that blends with it, the great synchronization, the fantastic shapes of the sparkles (spiral, scattered, even smileys!), among others, they were simply breathtaking. The pyros were so huge and was seemingly near from the audience, when they come toward you, it's as if you can grab the sparkles with your bare hands. There's this one highlight from the Aussies where the lights they produced not only move like hundreds of sperm cells but also create screeching sounds like cows to the slaughter. It was really hilarious, I almost hurt my spleen from laughing. The night was totally swell! But I believe I have enjoyed last year’s exhibition than the current. Maybe because there were less people, less traffic, and littler cost of the tickets that time. They even had to sing each performing country's national anthem first before lighting up the sky. O diba, mas sensational?

Baguio Again... And Again... And Again...

I finally got back from Baguio City, which is really a great vacation spot for my family. Many thanks to my grandparents for having purchased a huge portion of land there and having built a wooded house for us. You see, we no longer need to check in at hotels every vacation which would cost us lots of money.

And so for more than ten years, Baguio has always been in the family's itinerary. It's surprising to think that we never get tired of that place, we keep on coming back even if all we do there is going to Camp John Hay and to a haven that is the ukay-ukay. And of course, SM Baguio. Kelangan pa bang i-memorize 'yan?

This December's not as cold as the last. It's not very cold, but it's cold, okay? I used to shiver and cover myself with at least two thick blankets while sleeping at night, but this time one warm blanket would do. There was no fog when I woke up in the morning.

When we got to the house, we couldn't find the handy heater anywhere. So we were left with two choices: whether we shower with ice-cold water or not take a bath at all. Shempre, I endured the former, I finally got the hang of the cold on my third shower, pero nung unang beses ko maligo, nagri-ritwal pa ako. Basa muna toes, then knees, then you get the picture...

Among many others that we did, I give you descriptions on some of the places we went to.

Chocolate Drink at Camp John Hay

Picture says 'Chocolate de Batirol atchaka meron pa'

Picture says 'Chocolate de Batirol atchaka meron pa'

On the first night we went to a place in CJH called Chocolate de Batirol (atchaka meron pa). I had to write about this place because of the warm chocolate drink they serve. The drink costs 60php per cup but tastes wonderfully. The place is like a local version of Starbuck’s but it consists of little kubos with nice variety of foliage everywhere and you walk on gravel, all of which can give you a feel of an ecological atmosphere. I suggest you to visit this place when you go to Baguio. Again, this is not a paid advertisement. =]

We Always Intertwine

Is that Silas Marner?

The Easter Weaving School, an establishment that masters in weaving, is a walking distance from our house. I've passed by the school so many times in my life but it was only a few days ago when we went inside the building. In local travel channels, the weaving place is being featured frequently and I was glad to chance upon the old weavers painstakingly interlacing colorful threads on their looms. I applaud these people, most or all of them are women, because what they're doing is preserving our culture.

As evidenced by what I've seen in that room, weaving is a really exhausting job. I could not imagine the length of time they spent making meters of these

The fabric

from these.

The huuuge spools of thread.

***

My friend in college happened to be in Baguio also last Thursday so I met with her at SM that morning since she was eager to introduce me to her 'midget' British cousins. I was scheduled to leave for Manila in the afternoon. Aside from talking about very serious stuff with her which actually put me in a contemplative mode the rest of the day, I made an itinerary for them so they can appreciate Baguio and Benguet more. My friend said that they went to Tam-Awan Village and they had a great time there. Her cousins loved the province and, well, that made both of us happy.

We left Baguio at about five in the afternoon, after dining at the Filling Station in John Hay. The Filling Station has Wi-Fi, they have a pc there that allows diners to use 15 minutes of internet free of charge. Hehehe. Shempre, the weather was very warm when we got to Paranaque, that's when I started to sense fluids oozing out of my nose... eeeww! My face is so warm and flushed at this moment, uyy! Nagro-rosy cheeks daw ako! =]

Three... Two... One! Happy New Year!

The loud fireworks are driving my half-bred dog, Chino, crazy. He's trembling like mad right now, and that happens every New Year's celebration. Wawa naman, he needs comfort. Yeah, a few minutes to go and it's 2006. Here's to a prosperous new year!

Carnaval took a nap at 11:14:00 PM

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Domingo, Dezembro 25, 2005

Pasko

'Through him all things were made. Without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life is the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not overcome it.' –John 1:3-5

Maligayang pasko sa ating lahat! Let us be forever thankful to Jesus for giving us life and having it abundantly, for strengthening us, for redeeming us from the curse of the law, for sustaining all our needs, for making us ruler over the beautiful works of his hands, for making us seated in the heavenly places with him far above all power of darkness, among millions of other things.

Carnaval took a nap at 5:32:00 PM

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My Face Has Millions Of Ugly Dots You’d Make Constellations Out Of Them

Random things to blurt out:

>Last night I felt so proud of my Mama for making an incredible pasta putanesca, Café Provencial style, for the first time in her entire life. We got tired of the usual spaghetti with meat sauce every God-given occasion so my mother thought of cooking another pasta recipe to knock us dead. The food tastes so good I had three dishes of it.

>And like I said, Noche Buena is never the same without the chocolate cake. The Garilao cake is not like any other. Hindi ito paid advertisement ha.

>My dear Augie sent me a beautiful Christmas card via snail mail! Thank you very much! Your mail arrived just on time. =] Happy Christmas to you and your family. =]

Carnaval took a nap at 4:27:00 PM

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Quinta-feira, Dezembro 22, 2005

Four days to go till Christmas and...

I don't feel any sort of excitement yet. Goodness, I'm numb. Tomorrow, I will be going to Binan, Laguna for a Christmas party that would probably consume approximately 36 hours or my time. Try to consider it advantageous, at least I can get this holiday season blahs out of my system in no time.

December in Barangay Merville to me is primarily about the Christmas lights. Driving around the village and just mesmerizing yourself at the shining-shimmering-splendid decors of the homes can offer you soothing therapy. It just occurred to me that the homeowners should give extra bonus to their katulongs for missing their favorite teleseryes, climbing trees and going over the bakod just to pretty up their fences and foliage. Our house on the other hand still looks a little cheerless. We have a wide front lawn that remains neglected all year round so I guess it needed more lights in that area. Meanwhile I wonder how the house of Korina Sanchez looks like this time. If I were president of the Milky Way Galaxy, I would insert her residence in the wonders of the world list.

The itinerary for next week is Baguio, yet again. I think it's become a tradition of the family. We go there only for that colossal monument of consumerism located on the top of the hill. It's nice to be staying up there, under the overlapping mammoth canopies sheltering the terrace, just looking over the city. But SM Baguio nearly killed all the business firms along Session Road, which is not good of course. And Star Cafe, huwwaaaw, I miss dining in that restaurant.

Dinner break...

Gabi na and I finally had our Bible study with our church mate from Domata ministering to us. Grabe, it just occurred to me how much I truly love learning about Jesus' love for me. Christmas pa naman. Kaya nga I really think it's very wrong to be feeling so busted up inside lalo na this Christmas because sadness and crappiness doesn't come from Him but from the devil. Sabi nga during BS, naghahanap lang sya ng karamay. And yes, I should always remember that I am victorious, more than a conqueror because I'm in Him.

Happy Christmas to everybody! =]

21 XII MMV

Carnaval took a nap at 8:16:00 AM

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Terça-feira, Dezembro 20, 2005

A Long December

Every December I feel crappy for no known reason. It's preposterous to think of myself that way when I enjoy the cool weather so much it drove me to sleep away the remaining hours of the dreary days I spend in the house. I got nothing to do here except Garfield’s favorite hobbies like eating, sleeping, and watching the television. I believe a sedentary life is much preferable than studying sciences ancillary to my field like statistics and economics.

'Keeping time, time, time, in a sort of runic rhyme'

Preposterous once more when this vacation gave me time for blog-hopping. It's an opportunity I don't always get during the toxic school days. Many of them write so beautifully, and their posts talk about many interesting things. Their antics are so funny I rupture my peritoneum from laughing. These are a few of the things that make me want to come back to their sites on a regular basis. I learn so much by reading their posts, and based on the comments I get, they do the same with mine as well. Many of my visitors here have often thanked me for my post about COPAR, which surprisingly didn't make too much sense to me when I read it a few weeks ago. So I'm not sure how it helped them in their assignments. At least I got to help them.

Yet again, when there are so many scrumptious food to be delighted about this coming Christmas eve. The fiesta ham that gives that eternal high, that everyday-is-a-fiesta feeling once you eat it. And Polly Garilao's chocolate cake that I've been talking about in my previous posts. I commend Miss Polly for getting this year's Outstanding Dessert Award from Food Magazine. Can you imagine, her product was made famous only by word of mouth? You guys should be so envious to death by now because you still haven't tasted this absolutely mouth-watering food for the gods.

Oh, the crappiness I sense. It's bizarre, really. I only suppose I feel that way because I don't feel like giving away so much gifts this holiday season although I got enough money to spare for my friends. It's like I'm saving it for more important things. No, even if I'm going to Baguio City next week, I don't think it's about Baguio. Hala! May mas importante pa kaya sa kaibigan?

It's that or maybe because I've missed out on a lot in the past. Those that are insignificant to others but mean the world to me, like the Memoirs of A Geisha trailer that I haven't seen yet. Grabe, some nights I couldn't sleep just because I am saddened by this fact. At sana lang the movie would please me. Also my teacher in one major subject this semester who can't teach. Right now I'm thinking how I am supposed to learn from that subject. And some friend of mine who suddenly maintained his distance from his original friends. I don't know how to approach him yet because I'm not sure if this is how he compensates for his bereavement (long story) or that he no longer feels like spending time with us. People change... People get tired of other people... Well, that's a great adage for this Christmas.

I hate the fact that I've told so many people in the past that I love them and that I'll always be there for them and that I can't live without them. Well, soon enough I'd realize that not only it's been ages since I last saw whatshisface but that it's plainly easy to live without that person. Talk about the stages of school-age and pre-adolescence. Remembering your past just makes things a lot more complicated, but you also get to laugh at some areas in your life, bringing to mind how awfully stupid you were when you were half your current age.

Carnaval took a nap at 10:00:00 PM

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Domingo, Dezembro 18, 2005

Eternal Gloreeeeee!!!

Been shouting, it's nice to scream once in a while.

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Finally, I couldn't believe I had been given the chance to watch the last full show of GoF on its last day at Rob Manila. Grabe, if I had not watched this Mike Newell flick, I would have been the biggest loser of all time. In the movie house, I was accompanied by my friend Ava, the total opposite of my being a big loser and all. She has watched the GoF for five times already, and read the fourth book for more than ten times! She is the biggest HP fan I've ever met in my entire life. A month ago, her right ear had actually vaporized from patiently redialing the number of some radio station who was giving away free tickets to the HP premiere. And she won the precious tickets, of course, because for Ava, they're worth losing her right ear for.

It's a good thing I asked Ava to join me watch the Goblet of Fire yesterday. Since it has been four years when I last read the fourth book, it was a sure thing I wouldn't be able to remember all the events in the movie. Mike Newell did a great job in directing in the same way that Ava did a great job as my interpreter in the entire film. I kept asking her the never-ending questions like: Sino 'yun? Sino 'yan? Asan si Voldie? Anung pangalan niya ulit? Anung nangyari kay Neville? Anung catch sa first, second, and third task? Sino si Barty Crouch Sr/Jr? Bakit sumulpot 'yung parents ni Harry sa duel? I had so many questions and it's weird that Ava delightfully and patiently guided me along. (Ava: Trish, 'di mo na ba naaalala?)

I was very happy to have seen the movie. J.K. Rowling is a genius, her ideas are unique and the twists in the story are always unforeseen. The fourth film is not like the previous three, yet I really thought that PoA was astoundingly breathtaking. Although many of the readers of HP would say that most of the parts in the novel have been omitted, it's also evident that everything you need to know about the Goblet of Fire, every critical scenario that would lead to the fulfillment of Alastor Moody's conspiracies to bring Harry to Voldie (Ralph Fiennes! Ralph Fiennes! Yoohhooo!!!) has been featured in the film. Ang galeng, to think that Book Four consists of more than five-hundred pages.

I laughed and felt kilig moments at the Yewlball(?) events (Dan looked so cute in formal =] and kilig naman over Krum/Hermione/Ron/Fleur. And for me, Viktor is more attractive than Diggory) and cried when Cedric Diggory was killed. But this isn't merely why children and adults are so drawn to love this modern-day fairy tale. It's because of the values like friendship, love, family, courage, fighting evil, doing good, among other things, that it hopes to inspire us.

Everything is about to change. Indeed. But does that include my weight?

Carnaval took a nap at 10:03:00 PM

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Quinta-feira, Dezembro 15, 2005

Tachycardiahhh!!!

It's been a month since HP GoF has hit the movie houses and I still haven't seen it! I'm such a loser. Been pretty anxious lately fearing that I will never be able to watch it. Sana lang meron pa sa Market Market sa Sabado. I hope I won't resort to finally view the GoF at SM Cinemas because the place is rotten, and their seats don't follow the contour of my ass.

Maagang Pasko at Pa-premyo

Me and my group churchmates stayed up till 2a in our house last Saturday because we had to prepare a puppet show for the kids and the young at heart at church the next morning. I was pretty worn out that time because of my five-hour class earlier that day. Plus the rain got too violent at the strike of nightfall in Manila that my pair of pants got heavily soaked with muddy water while I was on my way home. Traffic was quite unbearable too but I couldn't do anything about that.

The puppet show we made was done with mega-karir on the props, background, music, and script, to think that we only had that evening to work on all of these. Theme is about what Christmas really means and the grand prize for the best presentation ba naman ay P1000 pesos, we might as well give our best shot. Pera din yun! The name of our show is "Alalahanin Mo Kaya?" it's some mock presentation of ABSCBN's Maalaala Mo Kaya? Wala na kasing maisip. Bumenta naman sya kahit papaano.

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At the Christmas party in our church the next morning, my group mates really thought that the children won't be too pleased with our puppet show because of our lack of proper rehearsal. And the first group's video production was so wonderfully executed (pang-Cannes festival nga e!) we almost thought their presentation would be declared the unanimous winner when the party ends.

Fortunately, everybody, especially the kids, loved our presentation and we won the P1000 grand prize. Sosyal! The judges thought our production was very ingenious and appealing. Talaga lang ha? I only wish I was among the audience so I can witness the children's fascination. Pano ba naman, ako yung puppeteer sa ilalim ng mesa. Tsk, tsk.

Carnaval took a nap at 7:37:00 PM

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Quinta-feira, Dezembro 08, 2005

Nang Natutong Sumipol Si Maxi

I am one of the few people who do not watch corny afternoon shows like Wowowee, and the fantastic evening shows of the Pinoy Incredibles like Darna, Mulawin, Encantadia, Panday, Kampanerang Kuba. I also don't anticipate watching Pinoy Big Brother because I think this faux Truman Show is a bore and a waste of time. That is why I can't relate often with my friends who always pop in some scoop from each of these fantasy shows during recess. I feel I'm so detached from their world, I have no idea what made them like the said television programs.

Also I'm really not into Filipino movies. Siguro sa loob ng dalawang taon, mga 3 lang napanood ko. Piling-pili naman, kelangan maraming tao muna mag-iimpluwensya sakin na manood bago ako bibili ng tiket. I've watched Feng Shui which somewhat resembles W.W. Jacob's classic short story called, "The Monkey's Paw". Movie's pretty scary, and the flabbergasting sound effects gave me multiple cardiac arrests in 1.5 hours. I also watched Santa Santita and I loved the cinematography during the first half of the film.

The best I've probably seen is Ang Pagdadalaga Ni Maximo Oliveros. Grabe 'yung film, kahit low cost lang ang production, ang ganda talaga ng pagkagawa. It's worth every cent of my money. Oops! Fifty pesos lang pala ang binayad ko, discounted kasi by my friend. Hehe. I'm truly proud of how it was made, it looked so real. Nasabi kong totoo kasi kahit na di ako taga-Maynila at nakatira ako sa isang maayos na village dito sa Paranaque, marami akong napapasukang slums sa Maynila kasi part of my course's curriculum is community diagnosis and organization. Nagha-house to house kami dun and undoubtedly depressing nga talaga ang buhay dun.

Ang Pagdadalaga is another coming-of-age film whose story revolves around a young boy Maxi (played by great child actor Nathan Lopez and guess what, he's straight!) who was smitten real hard by a hunk policeman appointed in their area. The story also gives emphasis to the deep importance of a family. Sabi nga sa Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, family is the most sacred thing in life. You turn your back on them, and that is when you really have nothing. The love for family emanated immensely in the entire film, despite Maxi's father and brothers being involved in petty crimes. Masarap siguro magkaron ng kuya, there's a scene in there that delighted me, the part where Ping Medina interrupted Maxi's stitching by asking him to braid his hair after suddenly slumping onto the edge of the center table. Ang cute ng bond nilang magkakapatid and Maxi's brothers are so protective of their only "sister".

It seemed only one camera has been used in this film, pero maganda parin cinematography. The ingenious close-ups, the shooting from moving vehicles and use of different lighting effects are enough to make you feel like you are part of the story. Surreal. Descriptions fail to come close to how great Ang Pagdadalaga ni Maximo Oliveros is. You'd be curious why the motion picture is presently the talk of the town. Personally naengganyo ako sa panonood kasi kamukha ni Maxi 'yung kras ko nung grade six, at 'yung kras ko rin ngayung college na bading pala. Anyway, I ask you to watch this habang showing pa siya sa SM.

Carnaval took a nap at 8:40:00 PM

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Terça-feira, Dezembro 06, 2005

Beyond Sight

Two Saturdays ago, my friend Karlo and I were on our way home from school. He usually waits for his bus ride to Laguna province at the Park N' Ride while I wait for my FX ride to EDSA/Paranaque at the main post office. Since walking is good for the heart, in fact walking from Intramuros to the Post Office everyday is my only form of exercise, we always pass by the street along the LRT Central Terminal Station. If you are an avid fan of my posts, you'd remember my July 2004 post entitled "The Blind By The Pavement Is A Superstar". Yeah, these people never cease to amuse me everytime I commute, but I still haven't dropped money in their white donation boxes. Illogical, I know. Anyway, what Karlo and I had witnessed that Saturday night was so funny I thought you might want to hear this.

The blind with the stereo and a prehistoric electric guitar had with him also another blind woman to sing his tunes. I did not notice the song they were singing at first since I was only happy to be able to pass by them. And then I felt Karlo nudge my arm. With a furtive sneer, he said something that goes like this: Ano ba 'yun! Pakinggan mo 'yung kinakanta ni Ateng bulag.

For a split second, I stopped, I listened, then I laughed. Mwahahah! What was THAT?!

You must be dying to find out what the song was. Sige, for the record, below is a piece of the lyrics – it's a Tootsie Guevarra song.

Pasulyap-sulyap ka kunwari

Patingin-tingin sa akin

'Di maintindihan ang ibig mong sabihin

Kung mayro'ng pag-ibig ay ipagtyapat mo sa akin

Agad naman kitang sasagutin

I mean no offense really to these people, I love them very much. I just thought it very, very ironic. Frustration kaya ito?

Carnaval took a nap at 10:34:00 PM

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