By now almost every Scholastican would have found out about the current state of Ms. Salazar. Broke my heart to read about the agony and pain she's going through. Had a hard time remembering how she looked like (she looks like this old lady from church but she looked a lot fierce). I was fortunate not to be suspended by her for any disciplinary action (everyone goes to her office when you're late or absent) but the moment her tall figure walks the corridors more than 12 years ago, everyone straightens up as if a general is about to make an inspection. She was probably pushing 60 already by that time - but still very strict - and now she's probably very thin and frail. What's worse - alone.
Made me a lot petrified about the possibility of being an old maid :( I hope she'll be relieved of the pain very soon. Let's pray for her.
Thursday, October 30, 2008
Sunday, October 26, 2008
Abada girls moment #1: One rainy night
Since I've started waxing nostalgic about my days as a college dormer, and now that Halloween's just around the corner, lemme share with you the hilarity that is the Abada girls circa 1996-1999: the years where the late bloomers started falling in love, learned how to smoke, cut classes to watch a movie or do something else, stalk crushes, get drunk like there's no tomorrow, eat like construction workers, and discovered that there is still some sort of nutritional value in pancit canton and greasy fastfood (because we managed to get decent grades and graduate on time!)
*****
Setting: The white house on the corner has a steep driveway and from the white gate where only people can come in, you'll see a short staircase leading to my room with Cathi and Jo-Anne (and eventually Bianca). The main door to the house is on the left side. Since our room wasn't originally part of the house, the three of us can actually come home anytime we want.
It had been raining so hard one night during freshman year and Jo-anne, Cathi and I were in our room, studying I suppose (or maybe feeling homesick, I can hardly remember). Ate Baby the caretaker who couldn't care less about us, would usually knock on our door if one of us receives a phone call. She doesn't talk so much, and sometimes we have to guess who's it for.
So we thought that knock meant somebody received a call and Cathi opened the door (since her bed's the closest). When she opened it, there was a woman wearing white, drenched, with her hair covering her face, standing on top of the stairs. Cathi closed the door (or was it Jo?) and said, "Huy, may babae sa labas!" I remember getting nervous all of a sudden - I stood up and squished myself in between them hahaha. I don't remember exactly but one of them bravely opened the door again. AND THE GIRL WAS STILL THERE, NOT MOVING! We slammed the door on her face for the second time and shrieked so loud that McDo patrons could have heard it. What's funny is the three of us locked ourselves in our very small bathroom that's even smaller than a regular Starbucks restroom hahahaha! If it was indeed a serial killer out to strangle us three, we were doomed. From our bathroom we could see Ate Baby's quarters and I think it was from there that we told her there's a stranger who got in.
Took a while before we managed to open the door again and Ate Baby supposedly drove the woman away. I bet she also can't contain her laughter that time. Apparently Pagan came in with Joel then and forgot to close the gate, and since it was raining so hard, the woman was probably seeking shelter or something. In retrospect I feel guilty that we slammed the door on her face. BUT SHE SHOULD'VE SAID SOMETHING INSTEAD OF JUST STANDING THERE LOOKING LIKE SADAKO! (FYI, The Ring wasn't shown until a few years after).
Yun ang ab workout! Ang sarap pa naman naming tumawa lahat!
*****
Setting: The white house on the corner has a steep driveway and from the white gate where only people can come in, you'll see a short staircase leading to my room with Cathi and Jo-Anne (and eventually Bianca). The main door to the house is on the left side. Since our room wasn't originally part of the house, the three of us can actually come home anytime we want.
It had been raining so hard one night during freshman year and Jo-anne, Cathi and I were in our room, studying I suppose (or maybe feeling homesick, I can hardly remember). Ate Baby the caretaker who couldn't care less about us, would usually knock on our door if one of us receives a phone call. She doesn't talk so much, and sometimes we have to guess who's it for.
So we thought that knock meant somebody received a call and Cathi opened the door (since her bed's the closest). When she opened it, there was a woman wearing white, drenched, with her hair covering her face, standing on top of the stairs. Cathi closed the door (or was it Jo?) and said, "Huy, may babae sa labas!" I remember getting nervous all of a sudden - I stood up and squished myself in between them hahaha. I don't remember exactly but one of them bravely opened the door again. AND THE GIRL WAS STILL THERE, NOT MOVING! We slammed the door on her face for the second time and shrieked so loud that McDo patrons could have heard it. What's funny is the three of us locked ourselves in our very small bathroom that's even smaller than a regular Starbucks restroom hahahaha! If it was indeed a serial killer out to strangle us three, we were doomed. From our bathroom we could see Ate Baby's quarters and I think it was from there that we told her there's a stranger who got in.
Took a while before we managed to open the door again and Ate Baby supposedly drove the woman away. I bet she also can't contain her laughter that time. Apparently Pagan came in with Joel then and forgot to close the gate, and since it was raining so hard, the woman was probably seeking shelter or something. In retrospect I feel guilty that we slammed the door on her face. BUT SHE SHOULD'VE SAID SOMETHING INSTEAD OF JUST STANDING THERE LOOKING LIKE SADAKO! (FYI, The Ring wasn't shown until a few years after).
Yun ang ab workout! Ang sarap pa naman naming tumawa lahat!
Saturday, October 25, 2008
Unwinding
After weeks of parent meetings, practicing with the kids, working on a new proposal, curriculum planning and a handful of arguments later, I'm winding down. Friday night I was sound asleep before 7pm and didn't get up until 6am today (still in my jeans hahaha). Finally had a lighthearted chat with Peejo after a few not-so-good ones during the week. Was able to watch the 2 latest episodes of Heroes (OMG!) and will meet up with a friend later and do some shopping. Yay! Work will have to wait or else I'd go mental.
The Curse of the House on the Corner
I used to live with 11 other girls in this old, white house on the corner of Esteban Abada street a few steps away from McDo Katipunan. It has what it takes to send chills down your spine - a creepy huge mirror in the living room, a dark, dingy hallway with empty shelves, a gigantic wardrobe whose partially open doors will make you think of a bloodied hand crawling out of it, supposed whispers of a little girl from one of the rooms, and a caretaker who emerges out of the kitchen at nighttime with a face as white as bone (but the neck and arms remain an uneven tan).
Legend has it that a curse has fallen on the female tenants of this house. True, the rent was dirt cheap with cable TV, landline and no curfew; and for three girls sharing the room adjacent to the house, there was aircon and another bathroom, even. It was believed that the Abada curse puts anyone's lovelife in doom (TAN-DAN-DAN-DAN!!!). It was only Pagan who was supposedly spared from this, but only until after an ex-boyfriend's suicidal attempt on the flyover. The harana episode by the stairs during our freshman year was supposed to be promising. However, that ended abruptly but started the yosi bonding habit by the stairs til the wee hours of the morning (totally forgetting we had homework/tests the next day). Nobody really had anything going for them in the lovelife department (at least with the guys we liked hahaha) until we were forced to move out because they had to renovate the house.
A few years after graduation, we still found ourselves as singletons, and were actually thinking if the curse actually materialized. That white house is now an orange building with a bank on the ground floor. We met and dated some men but they didn't stay for long, or we can't bear to spend another minute with them. As we push to our 30s, we were psyching ourselves that we'll just be career women for the rest of our lives.
Fast forward to 2008. Tina has a beautiful daughter, Damcelle's found her Mr. Right, Mix is happily married and grape-picking in the French countryside and working on her book; Atty. Pagan's busy with Shorty and their wedding plans; Mimi's exchanging sweet nothings with a French beau from miles away; Irene's been happy with the Indonesian; I've found a jogging and food trip partner in Peejo; and new on the list is.... (TAN-DAN-DAN-DAN!) Bianca holding hands with (ahem) on a rendezvous in Town Center!!! Hahahaha! :) Maybe the curse is wearing off now. Cathi, Keysi, Duday, Jo-Anne, cross your fingers! :)
Legend has it that a curse has fallen on the female tenants of this house. True, the rent was dirt cheap with cable TV, landline and no curfew; and for three girls sharing the room adjacent to the house, there was aircon and another bathroom, even. It was believed that the Abada curse puts anyone's lovelife in doom (TAN-DAN-DAN-DAN!!!). It was only Pagan who was supposedly spared from this, but only until after an ex-boyfriend's suicidal attempt on the flyover. The harana episode by the stairs during our freshman year was supposed to be promising. However, that ended abruptly but started the yosi bonding habit by the stairs til the wee hours of the morning (totally forgetting we had homework/tests the next day). Nobody really had anything going for them in the lovelife department (at least with the guys we liked hahaha) until we were forced to move out because they had to renovate the house.
A few years after graduation, we still found ourselves as singletons, and were actually thinking if the curse actually materialized. That white house is now an orange building with a bank on the ground floor. We met and dated some men but they didn't stay for long, or we can't bear to spend another minute with them. As we push to our 30s, we were psyching ourselves that we'll just be career women for the rest of our lives.
Fast forward to 2008. Tina has a beautiful daughter, Damcelle's found her Mr. Right, Mix is happily married and grape-picking in the French countryside and working on her book; Atty. Pagan's busy with Shorty and their wedding plans; Mimi's exchanging sweet nothings with a French beau from miles away; Irene's been happy with the Indonesian; I've found a jogging and food trip partner in Peejo; and new on the list is.... (TAN-DAN-DAN-DAN!) Bianca holding hands with (ahem) on a rendezvous in Town Center!!! Hahahaha! :) Maybe the curse is wearing off now. Cathi, Keysi, Duday, Jo-Anne, cross your fingers! :)
Monday, October 20, 2008
Today is a good day
Sidenote: There is something wrong with my Multiply compose page. The icons to change fonts, colors, attach pictures, include links, etc etc are gone since the other day! Weird.
Anyhoo, it's a good day to post a blog (just like any other day for me for that matter hahaha) for a number of reasons:
PEEJO AND I HAVE BEEN TOGETHER FOR 4 MONTHS!
Yes, this is the longest relationship I've ever been in so far (I'm not kidding) and it has been most blissful! He'll come home on the 3rd of November but we've been chatting and calling each other almost everyday so it feels nothing has really changed hehe. We've both been praying hard that this is the last for both of us. I can't wait to see him again! He already showed me his pasalubongs for me and I can't wait to show them off hahaha!
I RAN AGAIN TODAY - 4kms in 30 minutes at 8.0kph on the treadmill!
Nothing beats a good, continuous run. Took a break from exercise last week and it's pretty surprising that I had enough endurance to cover that distance even after my inactivity. A great de-stresser too; welcome change from facing the computer for 3 days straight last weekend (yuck). I hope I'll have time to run every other day. I've started dieting again in time for Shep Sons' wedding in December.
LIAN'S HOME!
Dengue's still wreaking havoc. After Tita Agnes, it's Lian. I'm really glad she's home! Hopefully it ends with her and no one's going to get infected again.
5 FREE TREATMENTS!
GCs for participating daw at the Grand Aero Fusion. Buti naman may pampalubag loob hahaha. Anything's good as long as it's free:) I'm sure they appreciated our efforts, people just have different ways of showing it.
GOOD HAIR DAY
The trick is to change shampoos every month, at least for me :) No need to get hair treatments, really. Doesn't matter if it's cheap or expensive shampoo. Conditioners are a lifesaver!
ROSARY HABIT
I've been at it for two weeks straight already, thanks to Peejo's mom who gave me a rose-scented rosary from Rome. I pray it everyday on my way home, and the scent sticks to my hands. I've been praying for different people per mystery everytime; I hope it does wonders :)
SALPICAO FOR DINNER
What a way to ruin someone's diet on the first day! But then again, people always say food here at my house is often better than in a restaurant (hence, walang payat dito!)
It's the little things that make a difference in your day, really. It's up to you if you'll acknowledge them or not :)
Anyhoo, it's a good day to post a blog (just like any other day for me for that matter hahaha) for a number of reasons:
PEEJO AND I HAVE BEEN TOGETHER FOR 4 MONTHS!
Yes, this is the longest relationship I've ever been in so far (I'm not kidding) and it has been most blissful! He'll come home on the 3rd of November but we've been chatting and calling each other almost everyday so it feels nothing has really changed hehe. We've both been praying hard that this is the last for both of us. I can't wait to see him again! He already showed me his pasalubongs for me and I can't wait to show them off hahaha!
I RAN AGAIN TODAY - 4kms in 30 minutes at 8.0kph on the treadmill!
Nothing beats a good, continuous run. Took a break from exercise last week and it's pretty surprising that I had enough endurance to cover that distance even after my inactivity. A great de-stresser too; welcome change from facing the computer for 3 days straight last weekend (yuck). I hope I'll have time to run every other day. I've started dieting again in time for Shep Sons' wedding in December.
LIAN'S HOME!
Dengue's still wreaking havoc. After Tita Agnes, it's Lian. I'm really glad she's home! Hopefully it ends with her and no one's going to get infected again.
5 FREE TREATMENTS!
GCs for participating daw at the Grand Aero Fusion. Buti naman may pampalubag loob hahaha. Anything's good as long as it's free:) I'm sure they appreciated our efforts, people just have different ways of showing it.
GOOD HAIR DAY
The trick is to change shampoos every month, at least for me :) No need to get hair treatments, really. Doesn't matter if it's cheap or expensive shampoo. Conditioners are a lifesaver!
ROSARY HABIT
I've been at it for two weeks straight already, thanks to Peejo's mom who gave me a rose-scented rosary from Rome. I pray it everyday on my way home, and the scent sticks to my hands. I've been praying for different people per mystery everytime; I hope it does wonders :)
SALPICAO FOR DINNER
What a way to ruin someone's diet on the first day! But then again, people always say food here at my house is often better than in a restaurant (hence, walang payat dito!)
It's the little things that make a difference in your day, really. It's up to you if you'll acknowledge them or not :)
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
Thoughts on winning and winning some more
Let me take a break from my so-called hermit life which I'll adapt in the next three weeks or so. Not all of you may have known that my gym friends and I joined a recently concluded dance competition, and needless to say, we weren't part of the Top 3. We might have been the winners in our friends and family's eyes, but looking back to that very stressful and nerve-wracking day at MOA, we knew deep inside that it wasn't us who had the X-factor that the judges were looking for.
Maybe it was all about the expensive costumes (unfortunately, the lack of support from the management was pretty evident), or the lack of PEP squad-like moves (me doing a backflip? goodness gracious!), or the theme (would we have fared better with a Saturday Night Fever feel?) or the chosen dance genre (I would have to agree that belly dancing was definitely more eye-catching than the common hiphop or street dance, and probably more difficult but I haven't tried it yet). Whatever it is, maybe from the start we weren't destined to win (in the dictionary sense).
Hands down, Master Neil's choreography is something for the books. And the countless hours of practice at the gym and at Tita Agnes' house almost took its toll on everybody's health. Did God want us to win? Of course He did, He always does everytime. But the catch is, do we have the same understanding of winning as He does? The selfish prick would immediately question the judges' decision and would have walked out like Kanye West in the MTV awards or that men's basketball team from Taft (now don't go retaliating about that bonfire incident on me! hahahaha! peace :P) But the humble and understanding heart sees it as an opportunity to count the winning moments in that journey.
Yes, the grand prize money was big and the recognition very overwhelming, but it does take a great deal to accept this fate when we all know that we gave it our best shot. I guess God has other plans for the group, but I believe He gave us this moment to realize the worth of everyone and the value of our friendship and hilarious bonding moments. The fellowship that started from being dance classmates has extended to spouses and children and parents and significant others, even. Now tell me if that's not short of a miracle.
The announcement of winners wasn't the end, it was the beginning of something great. And to you my dear friends whom I've grown to love and consider as an extended family, I would like to say that you, the Alagangstas, are the winners in my heart :)
To Neil - you are the best choreographer I've ever known... even if you are the only choreographer I know hahaha! You made me appreciate the gym again and made me realize that dancing is one thing I can be good at!
To Esa - thank you for all your support and the sleepless nights you've gone through to prepare our costumes, helping out with the choreography and all the preps. You're one very hot momma!!!
To Tita Agnes and Tito Elmer - I've never met anyone as accomodating and as supportive as you! Thank you for lending your house, feeding us and making us feel welcome everytime! Peejo sends his regards to you.
To Lian - what creative hands you have! God bless you dear for helping us out all the way even if you're sick! And I hope you get well very soon.
To Jenny - if not for you, the group will fall apart. Seriously! Remember the time we started talking before a Monday dance class back in the RCBC building? If not for that I wouldn't have met the others nor stuck with Neil's dance classes for that matter. Thank you for befriending me then :)
To Gnet - basta kayo ni Noel, idol namin ni Peejo! Kahit hindi nakakatawa, natatawa ako kasi natatawa ka hahaha! You've been very generous to everyone and I will never forget the Saturday you made us feel like a princess! Mwah!
To Polle - remember the time we bonded sa may South Station? Hahaha! Pati yung dinner natin sa Sushi-ya na kilig na kilig ka sa kwento ko? Looking forward to more bonding and kulitan moments with you!
To Fran - you really are a good dancer, and a very pretty one at that! Malapit ka na magkaboyfriend, I can feel it in my bones! Hahaha! Basta wag lang maging masyadong mapili at baka mauwi sa bungi. Ay, kay Polle pala yon. I'll pray for a good boyfriend for you! Pogi pero average intellect lang, pwede na ba yon? Hahaha!
To Hermes - thank you for saying that I am a good dancer. Most of the time I feel I'm not, but you boost my confidence and I feel good about myself :)
To Will - attorney, ikaw tatakbuhan ko pag may nagdemandang magulang sa kin ha! Hehehe!
Kala ko nakakaiyak na, pampasira pala ng mood ang individual messages ko hahaha!
Maybe it was all about the expensive costumes (unfortunately, the lack of support from the management was pretty evident), or the lack of PEP squad-like moves (me doing a backflip? goodness gracious!), or the theme (would we have fared better with a Saturday Night Fever feel?) or the chosen dance genre (I would have to agree that belly dancing was definitely more eye-catching than the common hiphop or street dance, and probably more difficult but I haven't tried it yet). Whatever it is, maybe from the start we weren't destined to win (in the dictionary sense).
Hands down, Master Neil's choreography is something for the books. And the countless hours of practice at the gym and at Tita Agnes' house almost took its toll on everybody's health. Did God want us to win? Of course He did, He always does everytime. But the catch is, do we have the same understanding of winning as He does? The selfish prick would immediately question the judges' decision and would have walked out like Kanye West in the MTV awards or that men's basketball team from Taft (now don't go retaliating about that bonfire incident on me! hahahaha! peace :P) But the humble and understanding heart sees it as an opportunity to count the winning moments in that journey.
Yes, the grand prize money was big and the recognition very overwhelming, but it does take a great deal to accept this fate when we all know that we gave it our best shot. I guess God has other plans for the group, but I believe He gave us this moment to realize the worth of everyone and the value of our friendship and hilarious bonding moments. The fellowship that started from being dance classmates has extended to spouses and children and parents and significant others, even. Now tell me if that's not short of a miracle.
The announcement of winners wasn't the end, it was the beginning of something great. And to you my dear friends whom I've grown to love and consider as an extended family, I would like to say that you, the Alagangstas, are the winners in my heart :)
To Neil - you are the best choreographer I've ever known... even if you are the only choreographer I know hahaha! You made me appreciate the gym again and made me realize that dancing is one thing I can be good at!
To Esa - thank you for all your support and the sleepless nights you've gone through to prepare our costumes, helping out with the choreography and all the preps. You're one very hot momma!!!
To Tita Agnes and Tito Elmer - I've never met anyone as accomodating and as supportive as you! Thank you for lending your house, feeding us and making us feel welcome everytime! Peejo sends his regards to you.
To Lian - what creative hands you have! God bless you dear for helping us out all the way even if you're sick! And I hope you get well very soon.
To Jenny - if not for you, the group will fall apart. Seriously! Remember the time we started talking before a Monday dance class back in the RCBC building? If not for that I wouldn't have met the others nor stuck with Neil's dance classes for that matter. Thank you for befriending me then :)
To Gnet - basta kayo ni Noel, idol namin ni Peejo! Kahit hindi nakakatawa, natatawa ako kasi natatawa ka hahaha! You've been very generous to everyone and I will never forget the Saturday you made us feel like a princess! Mwah!
To Polle - remember the time we bonded sa may South Station? Hahaha! Pati yung dinner natin sa Sushi-ya na kilig na kilig ka sa kwento ko? Looking forward to more bonding and kulitan moments with you!
To Fran - you really are a good dancer, and a very pretty one at that! Malapit ka na magkaboyfriend, I can feel it in my bones! Hahaha! Basta wag lang maging masyadong mapili at baka mauwi sa bungi. Ay, kay Polle pala yon. I'll pray for a good boyfriend for you! Pogi pero average intellect lang, pwede na ba yon? Hahaha!
To Hermes - thank you for saying that I am a good dancer. Most of the time I feel I'm not, but you boost my confidence and I feel good about myself :)
To Will - attorney, ikaw tatakbuhan ko pag may nagdemandang magulang sa kin ha! Hehehe!
Kala ko nakakaiyak na, pampasira pala ng mood ang individual messages ko hahaha!
Sunday, October 12, 2008
It's gonna happen when it's supposed to happen...
"...then you'll find the reason why one step at a time..." - Jordin Sparks
And so I wonder if it's gonna happen tomorrow... if we'll get first prize in tomorrow's competition. We've been slaving over this for weeks, and I hope everything pays off. I really think we deserve it!
Do drop by the Music Hall of SM Mall of Asia to witness the Grand Aero Fusion of Slimmers World at 5pm! Wear white and support us!!!
And so I wonder if it's gonna happen tomorrow... if we'll get first prize in tomorrow's competition. We've been slaving over this for weeks, and I hope everything pays off. I really think we deserve it!
Do drop by the Music Hall of SM Mall of Asia to witness the Grand Aero Fusion of Slimmers World at 5pm! Wear white and support us!!!
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
The jitters
5 days to go til I put myself up for humiliation hahaha! My legs and bottoms are sore from all the practices and we still have 3 (or 4?) practice sessions to go. Muscle strain na nga talaga. Am so getting a massage next week.
You may ask what on earth I'm talking about. Well, if you happen to be in MOA on Sunday, Oct 12 around 5 pm, then you'll know what I'm talking about. Wear white in support! Hahaha!
You may ask what on earth I'm talking about. Well, if you happen to be in MOA on Sunday, Oct 12 around 5 pm, then you'll know what I'm talking about. Wear white in support! Hahaha!
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