Bridget Jones is A Man...and I am Her

REMINDER!

2007-02-10T15:55:00.000+08:00

This blog is no longer active. I have moved to:

http://aborrowedlife.wordpress.com

Au revoir, Arivadeci, Goodbye, Paalam...

2006-06-27T16:57:00.000+08:00

Hold your horses! I'm just moving in with my husband in wordpress. That's the closest we could get to living together...for now. Naks! So, you still get the same mindless and mindful, senseless and sensible, not-so-funny and hilarious entries about my adventures and misadventures. I just wanted to be closer to the love of my life. (giggles) So, please update your links:

http://www.aborrowedlife.wordpress.com

I love you all! Thank you blogger.com for being my home for the past two years. (holds back tears) ...it's time to move on... (walks away, fade out to black screen)

Jack in the INBOX

2006-06-25T21:00:00.000+08:00

Hello, my friends! Been a long time. (For the record, I did not die from fart-thrax as how it was played up in the tabloids. I hate being in the limelight. Ugh!) Super busy at work. The heat is on, as they say. Anyway, would you believe that at the last minute, I decided to ditch the idea of serving a smorgasbord of dishes buffet style to all of you even when I was half way through making it (was inspired by the Friday Feasts, etc)? Yes. I'm just gonna serve it some other time. But what I decided to do, is come up with a meme entry to celebrate my return. (trivia: did you know that I only got to know what "meme" meant yesterday through jher? Ugh, i'm so stupid)

WHAT IS THE OLDEST TEXT MESSAGE YOU HAVE IN YOUR MOBILE PHONE INBOX/MESSAGE ARCHIVE?

Gonna give you three, all from my babe of course. :-)

12:19 a.m., May 6, 2005

Nite my love. I want u 2 know dat i fell inlove w u not only becoz i found u very attractive but also becoz u wowed me with ur intelligence. So dont u think less of urself. Ur my idol, dats y i strive 2 b better in wat i do becoz i want u 2 b proud of me, just as i am very proud of u. I love u very much. I already miss u...

11:32 p.m., April 20, 2005

Ako lang weird. U make me normal. :-)

7:24 p.m., March 13, 2005

Mahal na mahal na mahal na mahal na mahal na mahal na mahal na mahal na mahal na mahal na mahal na mahal kita!

Share yours, my dears! Missed y'all! Mwah!

FX Horror Stories

2006-06-08T10:37:00.000+08:00

I sometimes take the FX/Van/L200 on your way to work. For someone who lives in Laguna and decides to brave the traffic and the long travel, the FX terminal somehow becomes a best friend of sorts—the bullet train of the working class and the redemption of those bound by a fixed early time-in and are late-risers. But there are stories of FX horrors and urban legends lurking out there that are often times true. I’m not talking about things like:

a mugger opening the doors during traffic and snatching cellphones, jewelry, or bags
girls (and guys as well…the cute ones at least) being harassed especially in the dreaded 3-seater middle where 4 people (regardless of size and width) are forced, jammed, and packed like sardines, giving elbow room for deliberate and unintended brushing against boobs, knees, and the like. Though there are urban legends out there about consummated hand jobs while in transit. Ugh. Such talented people.
Or haunted FX ala Stephen King’s “Christine”

No, no, no. This is nothing compared to my experience. (cue haunting, eerie musical score) It’s so horrifying that I cannot even muster the strength to talk about it. The blood, the gore, the smell of………

FART!

Uuuuggghhhh! Eeeeeeeewww! Yesterday, on my way to the office, I boarded a van—the one that has seats facing each other where if you get to sit on the one by the sliding door you feel like you are going backwards? How disorienting…but has its advantages especially if there are cuties with you. It’s like having a front row seat (pun, pun, pun) to PBB teen edition. (giggles) Anyway, I got that seat, driver side at least since I got to avoid the sun. Beside the driver: a very old man and a girl who looks like a student. Finally, we’re on our way. In the middle of our journey comes the smell of fart which I am very sure came from the front seat! The worst smell of fart, dude! Talk about a record-breaker. Dang! Considering I only had oatmeal and coffee that morning, I felt I was gonna puke. Now I know what it feels like to be in the gas chamber (no to capital punishment!). In perfect synchrony, all passengers within reach of the windows opened them. (cars crash behind us because of the deadly farthrax) When the fartometer read zero level of farthrax, windows closed, peace restored. All of a sudden…INCOMIIIING! FIRE IN THE HOLE! Kablaaaam! Another one! And it was even worse than the first one. That must have left a friggin’ mark! Well, same drill.

At the end of our journey, we had a taste of a total of 4 fart bombs. We had no casualties but there were major puking and dizziness.

(cue cheesy musical score, Jerome kneels, looks up to God and angrily screams while shaking clenched fists) whhhyyyyyyyyyyyy God??????? (sobs) whhyyyyyy???

Visit www.skoggle.blogspot.com for more of the pictures... :-)

Bridget Jones - Master of the Universe, Master in Government Management

2006-06-05T17:05:00.000+08:00

This is Bridget Jones, student under Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila's Graduate School of Management via the Master in Government Management (MGM) program. Why government management? Well...

In our unit (Training and Consulting), our experience is more of public health. Me, my technical expertise is on reproductive health or RH (specifically family planning, maternal and child health, STI/HIV-AIDS, adolescent RH) and tuberculosis using DOTS as a strategy, primarily focused on capability building of program implementers and program installation both for the private and the PUBLIC sector. Hence, MGM. But why not masters in public health (MPH)? Well...
In our unit, my immediate superior has an MPH under his belt. My other co-Program Officers have MA's in development communication, development management, research and evaluation. There is NO person specializing in LGU governance. Hence, MGM. So what di ba? Well...
Foreign funded projects will come in this year and next year to deal with policy on reform, strengthening local governance, and strengthening public health management at the local level. Health is under the governance of local government unit brought about by devolution (decentralization). More projects plus a dearth of people with technical expertise on public health AND local governance...equals more opportunity for Bridget Jones! As the projects come in and I get to finish my MGM next year (5 trimesters only!), gonna take my MPH. Talk about cornering the market ei? Bring out the benjies! Cha-ching! Fashizzle, mah nizzle! (chos!)

O, di ba? I am so excited to go back to school! (skips and hops) I need to buy masters students' "must-haves". (giggles in excitement)

Bridget Jones Goes Back to School

2006-06-01T17:25:00.000+08:00

I'm taking the exams at Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila (University of the City of Manila) this Saturday! I'm so excited to go back to school. Wish me luck! Happy weekend everyone!

Hugs and kisses to everyone...

Men are.... (pause) Women are... (another pause)

2006-05-28T19:22:00.000+08:00

First time I watched TROY yesterday and I was glued! (adamantly) No, not because of Brad Pitt's god-like body and ass that's smooth as a baby. I am not like that, you freakos! (pauses as everyone glares at me while crickets chirp) sige na nga...slight lang. Hmph. Anyway, I was so fascinated with the story line. What prevented me from watching it before was I listened to these people saying, "oh god. it was just about a war erupted because of Helen who wasnt even THAT beautiful". But watching it made me slap myself (oooww) for not being able to watch it on the big screen. It was fascinating to watch love, honor, courage unfold and unravel.

Although, what fascinated me more was the thought of...well, in the words of Odysseus, "women have a way complicating things." (maybe that's why I'm now batting for the other team? Hehehe!) I've been thinking about this pattern ever since Eve took that apple and poor Adam getting into trouble. Whoever coined the phrase, "behind every man's success is a woman" should be kicked in the nuts (or if it was a woman who said that, let's kick her in the...uuhh *scratches head*). Well, let's see the following examples, shall we?

Samson's doom was because of Delilah who cut his long, soft, beautiful ...more like tthhhhirty something hair

Ferdinand Marcos' downfall was due to his power hungry, Paris Hilton-esque shopaholic wife...oh I'm sorry, she did it for beauty nga pala daw and she wants all Filipinos to appreciate beauty...sorry po, madam!

Superman gave up his superpowers for his love over the beautiful, then-still-sane Lois Lane (whoa, it rhymed) which put the earth in great peril in the hands of the evil Zarcon and the guy with huge jaws and Liza Minnelli

Spiderman threw his spidey costume in an alley one dark, rainy night just to be with his woman and the world was in chaos in the hands of Dr. Octopus.

NOW, who said women are the weaker sex??? What does this tell us, men? But before we go into that, let's visit what Achilles (whose downfall was caused by him falling in love with the enemy's cousin, Briseis) told Briseis, "You changed me. You brought me peace."

So, depending on your take on all of this, you complete the title...

MEN are....
WOMEN are...

If you can add to the examples, please do.

Welcome Back, Everyone!

2006-05-23T18:04:00.000+08:00

Hehehehe! Is it leik, buhligtahd? Nyahahahahaha! Alright, alright. No, I'm not on drugs and no there was no reported nitrous oxide leak in Laguna. I'm just happy that I am welcoming everyone back into my life. I missed you all! Heniway, here are some newsbits slash random thoughts:

The 600-Million Peso Proposal

Yep. This is the reason for my blog hibernation (ala Over the Hedge? Hihihihi!). Currently working on a huge project amounting to cha-cheeeng! 600-M php! Been working my ass off with our team for this 5-year project. Imagine, for the past week, meetings lasting up to 9 hours and two scheduled on a Saturday and double header meetings! Sigh. Hope we get the project. Fingers crossed!

The Da Vinci Code

Ugh. As you may have read in mah babe's blog, it was not as good as I thought it would be. (sort of reminded me of Schindler's List. Di ba?) The thought of the brouhaha behind it was even more exciting. Coming from someone who has not read the book, it was really below expectations. I'm tempted to make a review about the film but I won't. All I can say is, I was fascinated by the theories presented in the film. Hmm...I just had a great idea for a blog entry! Light bulb moment!

An Affair to Remember

My nth time to watch "An Affair to Remember" and still, I cried like hell! I had a thought last night which I mistakenly ran through Jher: wouldn't it be fascinating to experience to be confused over the one you're with and the one that you love? (Now...imagine Jher's reaction. Hahahahaha!)

Bridget Jones, Outstanding Librarian of the Year

Now, this section is all about books I am currently reading and those that I recently gave as a gift to someone. Let me start with the books that I have just finished and currently reading:

The Goddess Within

And speaking of women, I read all over again this little book called, THE GODDESS WITHIN. It contains lots of quotable quotes from women of all forms and stature. I'm gonna do a separate blog on this. Here's its introduction: "The goddess exists in every woman- she is , always has been, and always will be a vital presence in our world.Her spirit shines through the words and actions of theentire family of womanhood. Captured here in this wonderfully illustrated volume are inspiring thoughts fromtoday's brightest and boldest women. Read their words and let the inspiration flow."

Left Behind

The first book I read where I was literally shocked on the first 15 pages and just made me read through and finish. Jerry B. Jenkins and Tim LaHaye just made me think, IS THERE REALLY A "SECOND COMING"? The concept of being left behind scared the shit out of me. (oh crap. i cursed)

Books I gave:

Mothers and Sons

I gave my mom this book as a Mother's Day gift...with an inscription of course which made her cry and her friend cry even more because of its sweetness. I actually asked her to write something about her thoughts about our relationship. I told her if she does this, I'm gonna post it on my blog as an entry. Fingers crossed!

The Pilot's Wife

Bought Jher a book for his reading pleasure. Wala na sya mabasa eh. I was intrigued by the book's blurb and the fact that it made it to Oprah's Book Club. It explores the question: "How well do you know your partner?" Very appropriate to us! (laughs) Hope you enjoy the book, babe. Mwah! P.S. And of course, I bought Jher a hard-bound copy of "Bridget Jones's Diary". I lost the copy he lent to me. (buti nga kasi bigay ng ex nya...este, friend nya pala)

Well, that's it for the meantime. Oh, please wait for the next entry of "He Said, He Said". We're currently working on a better, kick-ass entry. We had a hard time deciding on the next entry. The "Lovers in the City of Pines" entry was a tough act to follow eh. Till then!

Acknowledgment: www.amazon.com for the book covers

A Dry-run of Wifely Duties and Living Together

2006-05-08T15:30:00.000+08:00

First time I spent the weekend alone with my babe at his place. My biyenan asked me if I could keep Jher company since she'll be out until the 3rd week of May. So, it was our opportunity to practice playing house. (giggles) So, I just want to share my feelings and experience.

Jerome's Log, Pre-dry run Activities

Prepared DVD's for entertainment
Brought DC comics compilation of "Watchmen" series (to keep husband entertained while I do my take-home work)
Menu for the next three days & three nights

Jerome's Log, Day 1

Woke up with Jher the first person I laid eyes on. (parang Fido Dido ang hair pag bagong gising)
Jher prepared coffee and peanut butter sandwiches while I consumed my first cigarette for the day (with Jher glaring and giving me a homily about the dangers of smoking and benefits of quitting...yada-yada-yada...damn, dry run is NOT looking great)
Jher ironed my denim pants while I prepared to leave for a workshop that I have to facilitate that morning (nakabawi kasi pinag-plantsa ako...hahahaha!)
Before I left, I gave myself a last look on the mirror and Jher gave finishing touches on my crookedly tucked shirt, hanky in my pocket...and of course, a GOODBYE KISS (giggles, loving the dry-run naaaa!)
During the workshop, Babe kept reminding me of things that I need to buy while he cleaned the house and washed the clothes (so wifely!)...and of course, I have the occasional text messages: NAKARATING KA NA BA, BABE? and MUSTA ANG WORKSHOP and MISS YOU ALREADY...(kilig)
After the workshop, on my agenda were to look for a replacement part for the electric fan and go to the market to buy stuff for dinner. Both failed attempts (Jher, 3 points; Jerome, 0 points *pouts*) Pero binili ko sya ng merienda in fairness (Jher, 3 points; Jerome, 1 point)
5:00 p.m., we went to the market and bought ingredients for dinner and some for the next day. I prepared a kick-ass "oh my gulay" menu of chow-chow (Jerome, 10-million pogi points!).
After a sensational dinner, we watched tv until 11:30. And then.....
Cheh! Ang dudumi ng isip. I told him my life story until 2:00 a.m. Did you know that he got to know of the details of my life just last Saturday? Tsktsktsk...

Jerome's Log, Day 2

Woke up with him by my side...(Hmmmm...I could get used to this)
He prepared breakfast while I took out the meat from the freezer to thaw (so wifely...of both of us...na-confuse na aketch. hahahaha!)
Now, I'm the captain coz its more of kitchen activities! Kaya sit down lang ang husband reading the DC comics while I prepared almondigas for lunch. Yum! (Jerome, 15,000 points!)
Watched CSI marathon...then siesta (enjoying it so far...)
Went to market to buy additional ingredients
Prepared Kenny Rogers-inspired dinner of spaghetti and meatballs, mashed potato, and fried chicken...(napa-yosi ang husband sa kabusugan kahit hindi nagyoyosi. hahahahaha!)
Watched HOSTAGE on Star Movies (na-tense kaming dalawa dun ha...)

Jerome's Log, Day 3 (today)

Babe woke me up at 5:30 a.m. (I had an early writeshop in Ortigas)
He prepared French toast and coffee...aaaawwww! Tsalap!
Left for work...armed with a goodbye kiss and a text message received 5-meters from his house saying: THANK YOU FOR SPENDING THE WEEKEND. I LOVE YOU MORE THAN YOU'LL EVER KNOW... (susme, kinilig daw talaga ako)

ALL I CAN SAY is: now I know why people get married or decide to live together...hmmmm (thinks about the successful dry-run while drumming fingers)

Launching of "He Said, He Said" - The Most Anticipated Blog of the Year (Charos!)

2006-05-03T17:15:00.000+08:00

We have a new blog, my dearest friends! It is called HE SAID, HE SAID. It is a blog about Jerome and I, Jerome. Yup! We have the same first name, but VEEEEERRRY different views about anything and everything under the sun. We have exciting fights and violent squabbles but you know what the fun part is? How do we arrive at a compromise? That, my friends, is what you're gonna get by visiting our blog. You know?

(clears throat, glides at the back of a Chinese screen on centerstage, appears on the other side in tuxedo, hat, and cane....cue song with dance steps)

You say po-tey-to, I say po-tah-to. You say to-may-to, I say to-mah-to. Po-tey-to, po-tah-to, to-mey-to, to-mah-to. Let's call the whole thing off...

Yup, my luvah is the yin to my yang. We're like fire and rain, sugar and spice, Dharma and Greg...but as they say: OPPOSITES ATTRACT. Never argue with physics (winks)

Enjoy the ride and anticipate lots of intellectual tennis and e-violence, and of course...lots of LOVE... :-)

To Julia, Goodbye; To those who kidnapped her...

2006-04-24T12:16:00.000+08:00

Last Sunday morning, I woke up with the news that two men in a tricycle kidnapped my dog, Julia. My heart broke seeing mom cry from losing Julia. This is the second time that she has lost her best friend. Julia is very special since she knows how to react to non-verbal communication. She reacts to a smile, a wrinkled forehead, and funny faces. We actually think she's human. My best memory of her is when she wants to play fetch, she appears in my room with her favorite stuffed bear in her mouth. (oh god, i just cried...)

Anyway, I know she's in doggie heaven. And besides, she left us with her son, Chucky.

To those who kidnapped my dog, I HOPE JULIA KILLS YOU BACK......(and I'm not being funny)

"I have a fear of...." - (A Blog About Phobias)

2006-04-20T13:50:00.000+08:00

There has been a lax use of the term “phobia”. Clinically, a phobia is characterized by an irrational fear of something, associated with shortness of breath, dizziness, palpitation, sweating, and trembling of the muscles. Therefore, when you are just plain afraid of the dark it does not mean you already have a phobia. Okay, I am stalling with the medical mumbo-jumbo. I am going to admit to the entire blog nation that as embarrassing as it may seem due to the fact that I am a grown man, I am terrified of COCKROACHES…(lets out a bloodcurdling scream)

Oh, my loves. Last Holy Thursday, I had a friggin’ panic attack. Details are as follows and are best visualized by imagining me doing a voice-over like how it’s done in old detective movies (while camera slowly zooms in from a bird’s eye view crane shot). DISSOLVE TO:

I was comfortably plopped on my favorite couch watching SA NGALAN NG ANAK on channel 7, Oishi Wasabi Flavor and Coke conveniently within my reach. I was in the middle of sobbing my guts out from the post-suicide sequence of Connie Reyes’ character when suddenly a familiar voice boomed from the deep recesses of our house. Distracted, I looked up and exclaimed, “God, is that you?” (its holy week, its possible.). “Anong God, God??? Magsaing ka na!”, Mother shouted. Disappointed, I unwillingly stomped like a 5-year old on my way to the kitchen. Mumbling while giving the rice a wash, when from my peripheral vision, I saw something moving. I looked down and I saw a swarm…yes, SWARM of cockroaches came out of the drainage and crawled on my left foot. I ran out of the kitchen as fast as I could. I found myself gasping for air, my heart was racing, my hands and knees were trembling, and I was profusely building a sweat. I picked up the phone and called Jher. It was a scene straight out of “An Eye for An Eye”, I wasn’t able to talk, I was just breathing. Jher on the other hand kept on asking what happened. I finally exclaimed…”I got attacked by (empathic pause) COCKROACHES!” (cue eerie musical score)

Uuuh! (shudders) Reminiscing that awful, icky moment just made me nauseous (picking the right cockroach pic for this entry was a dreadful experience). Other cockroach events are as follows:

Cockroach Experience 1
I woke up one night, parched. So I went to the kitchen and poured myself a glass of water. Half-awake and half-through drinking water when from out of nowhere, this cockroach fluttered towards me. As a reflex action, I threw the glass. The cockroach lived…the glass died, I mean, shattered into pieces.

Cockroach Experience 2

It was one of those dream-filled sleeps. In my dream, a hand was caressing my cheek. Then, it felt like it was pinching me. It got more and more painful. So I woke up. There was a cockroach on my f*%#&@ cheek! After flicking it off my cheek, I spent 3 hours hunting for the damn critter until I finally annihilated it beyond recognition which made me say: “IT’S DEAD. I CAN NOW GO BACK TO SLEEP.”

Feel free to share your cockroach horror stories or irrational fears that you have. Yuck.

The Great Reveal (Results of the Perception Exercise)

2006-04-12T14:56:00.000+08:00

Hello, my loves! A galactic explosion of gratitude to everyone who took time to participate in this perception exercise. (kneels on one knee and bows head) …I shall forever be grateful, kind Sires and Mesdames.

Okay, now that the drama is over, here’s the much-awaited reveal (cue horn section of the twenty-piece orchestra):

This picture was taken while unwinding in Seattle’s Best (pronounced as Shatels Bes, mind you) after he and his team participated in a wedding exhibit chorva in Megatrade Hall in SM Megamall. Most of your comments were hotels, so it kinda had an effect on your perception of his job.

This is my very dear friend, DYLAN (visit his blog). He is only 30 years old and works as an English Editor in a multinational company involved in the BPO industry. He is single (special mention to Quotidian who even said that his cue is “no ring”) and has no children yet. What he has is a partner. Yup. 5 out of 9 comments actually said that he’s gay or bisexual and a couple of “either way’s” and ajay even said that she can just “smell” it. What is it that gives it away? I would love to hear your feedbacks on this. Most of you and the people who have seen this picture also said that he is either not happy, frustrated, or disappointed. Why? I’ve mentioned this to Dylan. My dearest Donnie, maybe you would want to join in after they commented?

FYI, he loves watching movies and writing. He has 1,000+ titles in his dvd collection and he generously lent me 22! Walang sinabi ang Video City, mga ineng. Grabe! He also loves to cook and he has a newly-adopted cute Pomeranian puppy named Turnip!

This picture was taken at the Hongkong wharf after a day’s shopping…or more appropriately, buying.

This is my very dear and loving sister, GILDA. Yup she’s my sister so to all those who perceived her in a negative way I’m gonna hunt you down and beat the crap out of you. Joke lang. Hehehe! Okay, she’s only 25 years old but to tell you the truth, people who see this picture thought she was older. She’s the Group Merchandising Head for one of the more popular department stores in the country. She frequents China so drops by at Hongkong on her flight back to Manila (that’s why she’s there). Anyway, OFW and software/IT chuva are the most common reactions to this picture. She’s single, has no children, and just broke up with her boyfriend of 10 years. Maybe that’s why most people also think that she’s sad? I also tell her that her eyes somehow tell it all. Although, now she exhibits a more vibrant aura since she already met her “replacement” when she played ninang to her ex-boyfriend’s sister’s first baby’s christening. And we had a ball talking about The Encounter! Oh, I just love her.

This picture was taken outside the conference venue in Thailand. Taking a breather. And to my float and quotidian, nobody took his lunch…it was just plain hot and sunny. He didn’t have any feelings whatsoever here. But 100% of the people who have seen and commented on this as part of the exercise say the same thing…that he’s often in a crappy mood, snobbish, and unpleasant. Well…

Ladies and gentlemen, this is the love of my life, JEROME! (applause) Babe, results so far as far as people’s perception about your orientation? 80% say that you are straight and married! Shet, may madedenggoy ka pa! Hahahaha! Anyway, he is 32, single but definitely attached to the most beautiful person in the world…both inside and out. He has no children (unless for some miracle he has grown a uterus and gave birth or something). He works as a Program Officer/IEC and Advocacy Specialist with a non-government organization based in Makati who’s mandate is health. (Ain’t that grand? Both of us are Jeromes who work in social development. Freaky.) Anyway, people always say that he is unpleasant, always in a crappy mood, and irritated. Well, it is true, my friends. But that’s first impression, if I haven’t given him a second look, I will not be this happy (cue audience: Aaaaaaaw!). He actually loves “manly” things more than I do. He’s into cars, technology, gadgets, and he is a very good electrician and carpenter. (Mmm-mmm-mmm. You wouldn’t believe how I enjoy watching him install a light fixture or the lock on my bedroom door. Hahahahaha!)

This is a picture lifted from Oprah.com (thank you to http://www.oprah.com/). So, to all of you who said that she’s in a TV show and being interviewed, you are right. Maybe because of the background and her eye line?

Anyway, this is Christine. She is 50 years old and she has a daughter named Noelle. She is formerly a man named, Dick, and finally decided after years of misery to undergo gender re-assignment surgery. Now Christine, she was interviewed in Oprah for an episode entitled “Husbands Who Became Women”. (Click http://www.oprah.com/tows/pastshows/200305/tows_past_20030507.jhtml) . Librarian, Teacher/Professor, and Principal are the most common descriptions to this picture. Why? And to quotidian, why CEO?

MESSAGE

Hey friends, did you know that this exercise is more about YOU than how you describe the pictures? Yup! It is a version of the projective technique called, the Thematic Apperception Test". If you go back to your comments, you will see that at some subconscious level, you have just described your past and present experiences or your current feelings. You have just given yourself a third-person perspective of a part of you.

I had fun, my loves! Thank you for your participation. Remember, “All it takes is a second look for us to see the real beauty of things.” – Jerome C. Daclison

Perception Exercise

2006-03-30T15:11:00.000+08:00

Hi, guys! Thanks for your comments in my previous entry. I have received lots of slaps from Jher for announcing his singing prowess in the whole of blog nation! Break na kami. Joke! Sige, let's try something. This is a perception exercise which I use in my trainings on gender awareness, family planning, reproductive health, and HIV-AIDS. This entry was also made possible by Toni (Wifely Steps) who is a keen observer of life (thanks, toni! mwah!)

Instructions: Just describe the person on the picture in terms of: AGE, OCCUPATION, CIVIL STATUS, HOW MANY CHILDREN THEY HAVE, PERSONALITY (WHAT THEY ARE LIKE), SEXUAL ORIENTATION, and take it as far as WHAT STATE ARE THEY IN (ARE THEY SAD, HAPPY, ETC.) and WHY (story na ito). I'm gonna run this entry for 5 days, I'm gonna get back and process all your comments. You can be serious or as outrageous as you can be. Number your comments by number according to how the pictures are arranged, okay? Enjoy the experiment and have fun!

How Do You Keep the Music Playing?

2006-03-22T13:07:00.000+08:00

Important question to all my “involved and attached” blog friends out there: have you ever felt like your relationship with your husband/wife/lover/BF/GF has reached its saturation point? That it has gone from “wow” to “ho-hum”? If so, what keeps you together?

Well, Jher and I have tackled this question a number of times, openly discussing about our relationship “plateau-ing”. We’ve been together for 16 months now and I guess we’ve managed to get through this period of stagnation. (interstellar pause and naughtily stares at everyone)

So, the 64-million dollar question is: HOW we’ve done it? Well, spicing things up takes a lot of creativity and I will leave it to your imagination to simmer, brew, and cook something up. (giggles)

But do you know what’s the most interesting thing that keeps the proverbial flame burning that does not require leather straps, whips, edible underwear, and/or costumes for role-playing like construction worker, cop, or French maid? (oh, BTDT…been there, done that. Charoz! LOL!) Seriously, it’s discovering something new about your partner no matter how long you have been together. It’s that moment where you would say in amazement, “I didn’t know that!” that makes things a lot fluffier and rosier in your relationship…”The Moment”. For my babe, I thought I knew him well. However, he gave me The Moment when I discovered that he can DRAW! Samples are embedded in this entry. I was really surprised that I missed this very basic detail of him. I know he’s artistic (which is an understatement given the fact that he’s gay. LOL) but I did not know he could do sketches. Very Regine Velasquez my pangga!

Okay. Let me give you The Moment, as well. Did you know that my babe, Jher, is one hell of a SINGER? He can belt out “Half-Crazy” and James Ingram songs without effort and can do one hell of a rendition of “Bukas na Lang Kita Mamahalin” ala Lani Misalucha (of which he’s very famous for)! Moreover, if you could only hear him sing Patti Austin’s part in “How Do You Keep the Music Playing”, it will freak you out how uncanny the similarity of his voice to Patti Austin.

I guess mention of the song “How Do You Keep the Music Playing” segues to a synthesis of this entry. But more importantly, it is consistently discovering a new facet of each other that makes us anticipate each day for us to experience The Moment…which consequently keeps the music playing. (kilig)

Feel free to share your experiencing The Moment ha? Can’t wait…

The Dessert Factory and Larsian Nights - Two of My Best Memories of Cebu

2006-03-17T22:27:00.000+08:00

Conference over, my documentation team kicked ass, me commended as session moderator...all's well that ends well! And my reward for the anxiety attacks and migraine events brought about by incompetent people and other behind-the-scenes harassment? A night of gluttony and pigging out at Larsian and The Dessert Factory.

Larsian - BBQ Haven

After a long search for and aborted purchase of shoes for Jher at Metro Gaisano in Ayala Mall, Nilda, Chellow, and I treated ourselves to grilled meat at Larsian. Imagine this: perfectly marinated wedges of pork and chicken legs grilled to perfection sealing its natural juices in...then put this mouth-watering thought side by side with a location...Imagine eating this sumptuous dinner--20 meters from the emergency room of a hospital, cars and jeepneys passing you by where you will actually ask, "which will kill me first: cholesterol from grilled pork or carbon monoxide from cars?"

I may sound aristocratic but let me assure you that the bliss you will encounter with that first bite of chicken or pork BBQ after anticipatingly waiting for your order to be served, is going to be forever etched in your mind...(pauses, mouth waters at the thought of yummy BBQ)

The Dessert Factory

I died and have gone to dessert heaven!!! After a hearty (euphemism for "construction worker appetite") meal at Larsian, we went back to Ayala and had dessert at THE DESSERT FACTORY. Our order:

Chellow's Order, CHOCOLATE FUDGE ICE CREAM CAKE.
Nilda's Order: Pistachio Ice Cream Cake
My Order: Peanut Butter and Banana Ice Cream Cake...(no words to describe this, you just have to try it)

My trip to THE DESSERT FACTORY actually reminded me of CALEA's, famous cafe and pastry shop in Bacolod (yuuuummm!)

With moments like these...I thank God for giving me the opportunity to travel. Be back tomorrow, guys. Haylabyu!

Today's Highs and Lows

2006-03-15T22:33:00.000+08:00

Ever watched "The Story of Us" starring Bruce Willis and Michelle Pfeiffer directed by Rob Reiner? Anyway, there's this day-ender-slash-ritual that their characters undergo to review the day and they call it "highs and lows". I thought of doing it.

HIGHS

I thought I've seen it all! Yes, I thought I have met all kinds of participants. I was wrong. I was session moderator for one of the parallel sessions in the PHE conference and I was very glad that we were on time. I was processing the results of the workshop, preparing to synthesis when this participant (middle-aged woman) raised her hand and said, "You are a very good and very dynamic facilitator...(pauses)...but WE REALLY HAVE TO GO. The bus is waiting for us." (mentally committing murder in the first degree) Syempre poise pa rin and said, "Okay, let's wrap this up by doing a rapid prioritization!" Natapos bigla, but I still got the required outputs.

Why is it my high? I just love how life surprises me by kicking me in the shin.

LOWS

It's our 16th month together...and I'm not with my babe. (sniff) I love you! Let's go out on a date when I get back ha? Mishu mishu! Mwahmwah!

LOVE Y'ALL! Mwah!

Off to Waterfront in Cebu...

2006-03-13T16:41:00.000+08:00

Haay...flysung na naman ako to Cebu. It's the 2nd National Conference on Population, Health, and Environment (PHE) with the theme, Creating the Future. See you on Saturday, guys! Mwah!

If you want information about the conference, please visit http://www.pheconference.com.

:-)

Better Late Than Never - A Proposal to End this Squabble Over "What's Best for the Philippines"

2006-03-12T19:10:00.000+08:00

I just read the open letter of my dear blog friend in his blogspot, "Out of My Mind" (click on my links). In fairness, he is now famous and a lot of people have admired and lambasted his now [in]famous entry. I salute you, my friend, for speaking up. I also salute those people who have spoken up to express whatever they feel about the Philippines. But I guess, the real question is: HAVE WE REALLY DONE ANYTHING TO MAKE THE PHILIPPINES BETTER AND GREAT AGAIN, ASIDE FROM EXERCISING OUR FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION AND ASSEMBLY? I guess that's where the real problem lies. All talk and no action. Blahblahblah. That's what's tiring. I want RESULTS, you sons of Bette Midler and Barbara Hershey in "Beaches"!!!

I am not a fan of current events eversince...much so nowadays. I don't even watch or read the news (I actually go for the Entertainment and Lifestyle Sections and segments). Its depressing and it derails me from my focus, which is do what I have to do to fill in the gap of implementation in programs and services that the government should have been providing in the first place, via my work. But then, I felt it got out of hand, when I heard from Jher that PGMA declared 1017. I was so nervous that day I wasnt able to eat and thoughts of tanks and machine guns polluted my highly creative imagination. I almost puked from anxiety. When I got home, I got to watch lots of "intelligent" people dissecting the constitutionality of the declaration, business people expressing confidence and disgust about how the situation was handled, leftists shouting "foul", senators and former political figures shouting "is this what we want??? another dictator???" , then the next day, there was an influx of articles and entries from the very powerful blogging nation. Then, Jher told me about the open letter in "Out of My Mind". Then...i sat down...processed everything...and came to a conclusion...

WE HAVE LOTS OF INTELLIGENT AND SMART PEOPLE IN THE PHILIPPINES! SO MANY PEOPLE WHO CAN OFFER SOMETHING TO MAKE LIFE IN THE PHILIPPINES BETTER. Hurrah! However, all I can say is...PUNYETA! SAYANG!

Even before this highly celebrated coup attempt, I always had the fantasy of PGMA making a surprise visit in the House and Senate and just saying, "you have a problem with me? let's get it over with, and then let's discuss how we can make the Philippines great again." Just like how Kevin Kline's characted did in the movie, DAVE. I always believe that anything is possible. So, taking off from my inference that there are lots of smart and intelligent Filipinos out there who have brilliant ideas to "save" the Philippines, I have come up with a proposal...

THE PROPOSAL

Here's what I propose to do. Why not have a 5-day workshop with representatives from all these smart and intelligent people with brilliant ideas. Someone just needs to harness these talents and brilliant ideas to make it matter. (Daldal nang daldal kasi, wala namang pinatutunguhan, mga leche talaga.) Who's this powerful person who can put these minds together? Well, I would love to volunteer (ALONG WITH 9 other brave souls with the talent and skill of objective facilitation). It's what I do, after all. I would love to get my hands on these smart and intelligent people with brilliant ideas and just...FACILITATE. I envision it to be attended by party representatives from the senate and the house (opposition and administration), the executive dept. (sana umupo si PGMA, it would be my dream to facilitate with her in the audience), leftists, representatives from the poor, from the farmers, students, medical field, business sector...MULTI-SECTORAL and MULTI-STAKEHOLDER in approach. Let's just finally discuss the issues face-to-face, and come up with A WORKABLE AND REALISTIC PLAN OF ACTION. Middle ground for everyone. Hmm...i like this idea. I hope it could happen.

THE CHALLENGE: Take this proposal seriously. Name the time and place. Enough of the provocation of thoughts by creating noise. IT IS NOW TIME FOR US TO GRAB OUR BALLS AND FOR SOME SERIOUS ACTION AND RESULTS. If we keep on just engaging on a barrage of shouts and cries, we'll just end up with no results, no progress, with a nasty sore throat and a very serious ear problem.

Continuation of..."Away from Jerome...and Flirting..."

2006-03-10T17:45:00.000+08:00

Hi, blogfriends! I'm baaaaaccckkk...in the office. Yes, straight from Cagayan de Oro, I went back to the office, to prepare for my departure for Cebu on Tuesday (yes, ah-gain...) Sus ginoo talaga! Para akong si Curacha, ang babaeng walang pahinga...

Anyway, I just wanted to continue why my previous blog elicits an illicit tone. It was meant to be that way, kasi I WAS FLIRTING on the net...pero with Jher pa rin (bakit may "pa rin", I sounded disappointed. hahahahaha!). Kidding aside, I was flirting with him on the webcam. Making faces, kissing the webcam, licking it, showing my penis (gasps)...of course not. (in a British accent) I am so appalled and flabbergasted that you'd thought of me as someone who would expose my privates. Horrible. Hahahaha! Anyway, I loved flirting with him over the webcam...made me thought of naughty things that would be realized this weekend (hopefully).

Have a weekend everyone! Mmmmmwaaah!

P.S.

Jher, I saw the blog about the university jokes. Taga-lasalle ako ha. (long pause with eyes glaring) But since the jokes are obviously about lasalle taft, its okay coz I'm from lasalle-dasmarinas. (rolls in laughter)

Away from Jerome...and Flirting...

2006-03-07T14:33:00.000+08:00

O, mga nanlilimahid at punong-puno ng libag na pag-iisip! Bago gawan ng chismis, heto muna....

I'm in Cagayan de Oro as of this writing (2:40 p.m.). Pit stop for our journey towards Malaybalay City in Vukidnon ("V" talaga...). Anyway, I'm here at an internet shop in the Robinson-Limketkai chuvanes center with my work friend, Reno. We're waiting for our ride so we decided to surf.

While Reno chatted on mIRC (tama ba?), I decided to use the webcam on my yahoo messenger (ID: jcd2010). Would you believe its my first time to use a web cam? I was so amazed, I kept on looking at myself then back at the webcam just like those people in the mall passing by a video cam shop tapos nakahook ang video cam sa isang tv...pag nakita, kunyari hindi lilingon...uuuuy! Hahahahaha! Meron, babalik pa talaga. Haaay. I just love technology. Teka, tumawag na ang sundo namin. Bye! Enjoy! See you in 3 days.

Mwah!

The Jetsetter Named Jerome Daclison

2006-03-05T20:21:00.000+08:00

I am back! and I am sick! Pero I just needed to blog because I missed you all. Jher's by my side, taking care of me (actually, he's blogging din, making sure I won't collapse or whatever). Thanks for all of your messages. I truly love you all. I always look forward to the warmth and sincerity of your messages and your entries most of all. Okay, to answer Melai's question, eto na ang translation of my being a "superhero":

I work with a corporate-led NGO called the Phil. Business for Social Progress (PBSP) with offices in Intramuros, Cebu, Samar, Laoag, Leyte, and Davao. You can visit our website if you want: www.pbsp.org.ph. I am a Program Officer/Training Specialist under the Training and Consulting unit of PBSP. We handle different locally and internationally funded projects, two of which are USAID's Phil. Tuberculosis in the Private Sector (PhilTIPS) and Private Sector Mobilization for Family Planning (PRISM-FP). All the training components of all projects, I'm the guy...the gay guy. Hahahaha. Yes, my loves. All about workplace program installation on family planning, tuberculosis, reproductive health, hiv-aids, I am the guy. Kaya masyadong hectic. Would you believe, I wasnt able to even lay my eyes on the so-called "Fontana Water Park"? I stayed there for 4 days and my route was villa to training vene back to villa. THen I got sick on day 2 of our training. Had the fever but still, I got to take the lead in administering the case exercises and facilitate and run two major sessions. Yeah, kicked ass. Now, my body's kicking my ass. Anyway, nationwide because a lot of workplaces nationwide want to go on-board these projects. What we do is two levels of technical assistance: capability building and consultancy--all about program management, policy formulation, strategic plannning, training on the technology of participation (formerly TOT), and other TA needs.

This is my life..so far. I'm having a blast. I just hope I could slow down a little bit just to enjoy the scenery that the places I visit can offer.

Ayan, I am slowly becoming three-dimensional to all of you. I'm glad. :-)

p.s.

i'll be leaving for Bukidnon on Tuesday....hmph. sexual deprivation na naman leche....charoooooozzz!

Off to Fontana...

2006-02-28T16:36:00.000+08:00

My lovely blog friends, I'm off to Clark. I just wish I could surf the net there. So much work ahead of me. Sana makapag-swimming man lang ako. (sniff) For babe: I'm gonna miss you again, my love. Mwah!

Lost in Translation - (...and Other Memories of Cebu)

2006-02-26T18:44:00.000+08:00

I am baaaaaccckk! Yey! I was so busy in Cebu that I was not able to surf the internet. Yes. That's how toxic my work is...as a superhero, of course. Anyhoooo, I'm satisfied with what I accomplished there. It was my second time to visit Cebu (first time was 2004) and a lot has changed since my last trip. Still lost in translation (where I had a very bad experience during my first visit, that's another blog) but I enjoyed a lot of firsts and "nths" and new memories during my 5-day stay. Let me share them with you:

(1) First time in Danao City and I love it. I stayed at El Salvador Resort. Very beautiful. I got the room facing the pool and the garden. Loved it! Kaya lang na-mumu ako nung first night (nginiig) I also had an awful nightmare where I was chopped into pieces by a serial killer. (I could taste and smell my blood. *shudders*)

(2) Had a nice session with my all-female training participants. Learned a lot of Cebuano terms. I can understand and speak the dialect! (a minute portion of it anyway)

(3) Danao had only one small mall--a "mall-ette"

(4) Had the best banana split at the resort restaurant.

(5) Japanese general manager and staff of Cebu Mitsumi thought I was Kiko Pangilinan. (blushes)

(6) First time to eat at AA's in Cebu City! Grabe, walang diet-diet talaga ito.

(7) The beauty of laundry services. Eric surprised me that I will join the project briefing session, I didn't have any costume left so I got to avail of hotel laundry services for the first time. Cool! I felt like Michael Douglas in "Wall Street" all powerful and snotty.

(8) Mom's text: I JUST WATCHED BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN. IYAK AKO NANG IYAK, SOBRANG GANDA. I THOUGHT OF YOU. WATCH IT WITH JEROME. Cry naman ako at may gay appreciation session na ang mudra.

(9) And of course...a last call from Jher...every night.

I LOVE YOU, BLOG FRIENDS! (butterfly kisses to all) Hey, read my entry on infidelity ha?

That Thing Called...INFIDELITY

2006-02-26T18:35:00.000+08:00

I remembered one of my entries here which discussed our capacity to love vis-à-vis our capacity to hate. It was a truly fascinating journey for me to be in a situation where I got to realize that I can hate as much as I can love someone. It is what Neale Donald Walsh said in his book, “Conversations with God”: Everything is just one thing, expressed in different levels. Therefore joy and sorrow are just one feeling expressed in different levels. Just like love and hate being only one emotion, the two occupying both ends of a spectrum. But there is one thing that I would like to explore right now: being unfaithful. What started this introspection despite the fact that I am currently checked in the Love Shack? (hmmm…maybe things aren’t that good in my relationship after all hence this blog...)

At the risk of sounding like Norman Bates in “Psycho”, Mother and I just ended the day by watching a pretty disturbing movie called, A PERFECT MURDER (starring Michael Douglas, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Viggo Mortinsen) which tells the story of Emily Taylor who has an affair with an artist, David Shaw. The hot affair was kept a secret until her powerful husband, Stephen Taylor, goes to David initially to discuss about buying the latter’s paintings, later letting the cat out of the bag and saying that he knows about the affair…and about David Shaw’s shady past of conning women to wipe out their savings. The story is then weaved with deceit, manipulation, self-preservation, more lies, and climactically ends with...well, a perfect murder. All stemming from one act of infidelity. This made me think…

Just like love and hate, can someone have the capacity to care for someone as much as hurt them? Can we betray someone as much as love them? If so, is this why some people forgive their partners who betrayed their trust? How far would you go if you find out that your partner cheated on you? Conversely, would you cheat on your partner? What if your partner gave you the "it-was-just-sex-it-didn't-mean-anything" defense? Would this be more "acceptable"?

Feel free to share stories and your views…personal or heard of.

Happy Valentine’s Day everyone! (yes, I was being sarcastic.)