Today...

"Our Kaleidoscope World has lost one of its brightest colors".

He was an icon of my generation. A perfect example to show that God allows u-turns.

Francis learned about his condition almost at the same time that Nana learned about hers. During Nana's healing period, I would show her photos from Francis' blog while telling her how strong and happy he is despite his very tough chemo sessions. So I was updated with his battle, and other people's "battles" as well, because I was also taking care of Nana during her own battle. Nana is free of cancer now. Francis...well, he is in a happier place now.

My new baby

I've always wanted a lappie that's light and portable, something small and can easily fit inside a girl's handbag.

I got my wish last night. Hubby bought me a new lappie--an HP Mini 2140. So here's my new baby, Hippie:

(Borrow muna ng pics ha, di ko pa napipicturan si Hippie eh.)

I love how small and light it is. And the keyboard (which I'm very pihikan with) is not so bad too. I can't wait to get a new skin for Hippie! Like this maybe:

Or maybe this:

I wonder if I can ask the skin to customise Hippie's skin, using some of my fave pics maybe?

Thanks honie. I love it but I love you more honie, of course.

Traffic Moments

Reading from Chico's blog made me miss traffic in Manila. Corny ang traffic jam dito sa Singapore--sisiw for a Pinay like me. Lam mo ung usad ng mga kotse pagpapasok (or palabas) ka ng parking sa isang mall sa tin on a WEEKDAY? Traffic na sa knila yun. I guess that's one thing I like about Singapore, transportation systems are so efficient--you don't have time to get pissed.

Some of my unforgettable traffic moments in Manila:

A GIRL'S GOTTA DO WHAT A GIRL'S GOTTA DO. Around 2000, Jun and I were dating each other again (after a five-year break up period). On one of those dates, we were supposed to go to Side A's concert at Araneta. It was sometime July 2000 so maulan. We got stuck sa Edsa (Guadalupe part). Lubog ang kotse sa baha! As in lubog pati headlights.Hindi gumagalaw ang traffic. Si Jun busy sa pagconcentrate para hindi kami mamatayan sa gitna ng baha. Ihing-ihi na ako! La ko choice kasi talga. I found a plastic bag somewhere sa car. Pumunta ko sa back seat and there I relieved myself! dyahe! nagpapacute pa naman ako sa mga panahong yun kay tutuy!

WHY SEATBELTS REMIND ME OF ECHO. Jun and I were stuck sa isang interchange along C5. I saw this red F150 on the lane next to us. We were smoking so down-windows kami. i noticed the driver. omg, it was jericho! mind you, this was the time na he was still smokin' hot and not pa-soshal. I poked my head out a bit and asked him: "Jericho, isdatchu?" (ang bakya ko shet). He gave me (us pala) a big smile, waved a hand and said: "Hi!". Then the traffic light turned green, and before he sped off, he waved at me (us pala) and shouted: "Ingat!". And, when he saw us make a turn to the gas station, he gave us the mandatory-parang-kabarkada honk. Jun said, starstruck: "Shet, binusinahan nya ko! Tropa na kami!" Ako naman, I fastened my seat belt kasi sabi nya "ingat" daw ako e. Haha mga feeling eh no?

LOCK JAW PRINCESS. When I was a kid, up until my teenage years, I would always get "lock-jawed". It was really bad to the point that I 'd get really scared opeing my mouth, especially if I want to yawn. One time, when I was around 13 years old, super traffic sa SLEX. Then out of the blue, I got lockjawed na naman. My sister Cha thought I was joking around so she just kept laughing. And they're so used with my lock jaw episopdes, they think kaya ko naman uli "ibalik" yung panga ko. My dad finally noticed na serious na talaga kasi hindi na ko makahinga at yung laway ko tulo na ng tulo! As in basang basa na ung panyo at kamay ko. So this was like from Bicutan hanggang Nicols hanggang Edsa-Baclaran. My dad insisted on bringing me to his personal doctor kaya sa Pasay pa ko napagamot. Akala ko mamatay na ko! Ang hirap huminga at di ko malunok laway ko! Shet! When we arrived at my dad's doctor's house, tinapat nya lang ako sa pader, and using his own HANDS, attempted to put back my jaw in place. And it took him THREE FUCKING TIMES to finally get it right. Kala ko madudrog na panga ko shet! Whew!

Here's Morning Rush's "August 26, 2008 → The Top Ten Traffic Moments - Astroboy"

1. Homer - My lolo was one lucky person. He was stuck in traffic in the northbound lane on the SLEX. Right next to the airport, an airplane overshot the runway and settled on the highway. He was the last car missed by the plane.
2. Kirei - During traffic along EDSA, my best friend and I found ourselves behind a military truck. I waved at the soldiers, smiled, and blew them a kiss. A couple of soldiers waved back while the others smiled. Sobrang hiya ng best friend ko. So I told her, kahit sa ganung paraan man lang, mapabaunan ko sila ng konting saya bago sila sumabak sa digmaan.
3. Specialist - I was along c5 on my way to the office. After the Katipunan flyover, I saw a plastic bag thrown from the shanties. It almost hit the car in front of me. It splattered and I saw that it was filled with human poop.
4. Riverbanks - Our car and the car in front of us were flagged down by an MMDA person each. The car in front sped off after talking to the MMDA, then that guy talked to our MMDA. Apparently, the girl in front was Kris Aquino, and she told the MMDA that we were with her. If that was really her, then thanks, Ms. Kris!
5. Dru - I was listening to my ipod as I crossed the street. Then this truck almost ran me over. When I looked up, it was a truck of condoms!
6. XtraRice - As I was making sabit sa likod ng jeep (I’m a girl), the car right behind me started honking. When I looked, who should it be? My crush.
7. SC - I was stuck in trafic 0n a jeep somewhere in Blumentritt, when a w0man suddenly screamed, her ear bleeding. Apparently may humabl0t ng earrings niya, a guy 0n a bike.
8. Astroboy - I saw this car sticker on a car in fr0nt of me in traffic: “WARNING: children playng outside the car can cause accidents and adults playing inside the car can cause children!”
9. Carlo - When we were stuck in traffic in Cavite, we decided to ask a jeepney driver what was causing the congestion. The driver replied,”Kasi may umano sa ano diyan sa may ano eh.”
10. Marcus - One rainy August afternoon in 1998, I left the office in Pasig at 4:30pm and reached Alabang at 5am the next. We spent the whole night crawling in traffic along SLEX.
11. Racer - An MMDA flagged down a friend who was on a motorcycle. My friend said, “Ano pong violation?” The MMDA answered, “Wala naman, pa-angkas lang. Trafik eh.”
12. SC - While stuck in traffic in a taxi who happened to be listening to RX, I texted you guys to tell manong driver na pakilakasan ang aircon kasi nagmamantika na ko sa likod. Without talking, he did.
13. SPY Shadow - Our military vicar was apprehended by a highway patrol for beating the red light. But the officer, who was a Catholic, let him go when he recognized the priest, and said “Father, ingat na lang kayo doon sa next intersection kasi hindi po mga Katoliko ang mga assigned doon!”
14. Astroboy - One night, my sister had to take a taxi h0me. Nung malapit na siya, she tapped the driver’s sh0ulder then he screamed! He said after, “Pasensiya na po, 25 years kasi ak0ng driver sa punerarya. Di ako sanay na kinakalabit ng pasahero.”
15. Na name - While stuck in traffic on a bridge, may dad suddenly screamed, “May tumalon!” Apparently a lady committed suicide by jumping off.
16. Sayuri - We were not moving along Roxas blvd, when suddenly a motorcade on the other lane stopped right alongside of us. My son rolled down his window to see the commotion, then the limo that the police were escorting rolled down the windows, and who should peek out — Michael Jackson! He handed his sampaguita necklace to my son.
17. Jose de vengenge - One time in a bus, the conductor shouted, “O sige, pasok lang, maluwag yan kasi laging ginagamit!”

when kids have kids

My brother, who I love very very much, turned 14 today. Although he's really getting taller by the day and his voice is starting to have this manly pitch, I still see him as my baby brother. I guess it will always be like that for me. Just like how I feel Biggie will always be my little sister, even if she's not so little anymore.

So when I thought about Alfie, a 13-year old kid who is now the youngest father in the UK, I was like, omfg. What in the world is happening? So he fathered the child when he was, like, 12 years old? (I shall ask my hubby later if it's really possible to be, ermmm what's the word, sexually-able at that age.)

Last time I checked, there are several other boys (a 14-year old and a 16-year old) also claiming that the baby is theirs, but Alfie is still sure that the child is his. He is also assured by the 15-year old mom that the baby is his. I am not sure about the latest developments, though. They will probably have a paternity test or something.

This baby-faced kid is sure lucky to get laid at 12 years old. At least he won't have an "American Pie" dilemma. Okay, I'm saying that just to humour things up. But this is really serious stuff. I mean, is the economy really bad that kids nowadays can't afford to buy a condom? Okay, I'm saying that again just to ermm, humour things up.

But you know what, at least they didn't abort the baby. I think the consequences haven't really dawned on them--Alfie doesn't even know what the word "financially" means (see video). He looks like a freakin' 7-year old kid. At least Alfie and Chontell (who should have known better because she's already 15 years old) have that courage--the source of which may be the mere ignorance of what really lies ahead of them--but it's still courage. Blinded courage, maybe? Ignorant courage, maybe? Is there such a thing?

I guess things are really simple in the eyes of a child. That includes things like having a baby and owning up to it.

Basilio?!? Crispin?!?

I decided to take a "study break" for a few minutes. I clicked on a link I stumbled upon last week.

Na-stress ako. Nag-review na lang ako uli.

Oscar Hangover: Why I was rooting for Kate

I guess Ms C.V. and I had the same thoughts so I am re-posting this from her site:

So, I missed the live telecast of the 81st Academy Awards. I had to work, what can I say? It would have been nice to say, “Play now, work later” but newspapers don’t move their deadlines so that columnists can watch TV before writing their articles. But within a minute after hitting the “Send” button, I was running to the Blue Room to turn on the TV. Not that I didn’t know the results already. I was checking my feeds while writing my column and I already knew who won.

What’s the big deal? I’m not a celebrity watcher, definitely. But this year’s different. I was rooting for Kate Winslet. I wanted her to win. And not just win but win for her performance in The Reader. After six previous nominations, I thought that The Reader was finally the perfect vehicle for her victory. I do love Meryl Streep but Doubt was not a strong vehicle for her.

But it was really more than rooting for one actress over other contenders. I wanted Kate Winslet to win because a victory meant more visibility and people would start straining a little harder to hear what she has to say. Kate Winslet is one of those few celebrities who feels great about herself and her self image. She is well known for not allowing Hollywood to dictate her weight, her style and her priorities (she declined Woody Allen’s Match Point to spend more time with her children). Remember how GQ magazine issued an apology to her after airbrushing her cover photo in 2003? Most women will gush about how much better they look after the airbrushed weight loss but not Kate Winslet who complained that that wasn’t how she really looked. Probably a little hard to understand for women who think that faked good looks are better than what’s real.

And Kate Winslet’s idea about her goals is different from most. She chose art house films (Hideous Kinky, Holy Smoke!) in favor of commercial movies (Shakespeare In Love, Anna and the King) and that, I think, says a lot about her character.

So, I suppose I like Kate Winslet because I have respect for her as an actress and as a woman.

STO, no mo'

Llast friday, I signed my name as usual in one of the "corres". And that would be the last time I sign my name as an officer for IRAS. So as a remembrance, I took a photo.

I felt like taking a photo of the sunset as viewed from the 20th level of RH. Sunsets meant the end of another day, just like this was the end of another job for me.

And here's a snapshot of my futile attempt to be organised:

Some things I'd miss in IRAS: working with my team, my fave girl sunitha, the five-day work week, my work station and the (almost) thousand-dollar chair. oh and the coffee and tea at level 5.

Some things I won't miss in IRAS: the very inconvenient smoking area, the irate taxpayers, the need to stay back after work to finish stuff, the job itself (haha). and the frustration.

Before and After

Before:

and after packing:

Why?

IRAS is a good place to work in. A lot of people asked me why I'd want to leave a government job when it's one of the most stable positions in Singapore. And my only answer: "I'm not happy because it's not just for me. It's not something I'd want to do for the rest of my life. I can stay, but I would just be a floater." I felt like recording those lines and have them played when someone asks me the "why's" of moving on. i can never be happy in a job if I am just a mediocre at it. Because I hate mediocrity. There, i said it. whew.

I didn't want to waste my time doing something that I realised I did't love. So when opportunity came, I grabbed it. I'm looking forward to my new job. I think it will be more fulfilling and fun. Can't wait to start. :)

Proud to be Pinoy

On my last day, I wore a LOVE MANILA shirt. Oh and as a souvenir, I gave my team a CD compilation of songs by pinoy artists (both original and covers)--mostly love songs. Someone said it was one of the most unique "goodbye" gifts she received. While I was burning the songs on a CD, i realised that the best pinoy songs are the tagalog ones pala.