Overlook

Overlook

My inmost thoughts are obscure
When a man speak to me
I'm astound for he knows me
My intuition, thoughts could be

He was someone I admire
Someone who has a great sense of humor
Someone who has a unique spirit
And belief

Someone who has self-reliance
Trustworthy and full of dreams he is
And yet he told me he wants to change
He wants diversion to something new... a reborn spirit

Spirit that has spontaneity
Like a wild galliard
In everything he desire
He change, all of him

Patience he will learn
Before he lose himself
And may lead to oblivion
Of some few good things in life

His changes can be a fool
To himself, hurt and pain
Plain things really change
But some will never be the same again

His evanescence began in parted ways
I want to breath, deep
And those airs mend me to realization...
That I was alone.
*************************************
This poem was written on May 5, 2003. I write when I felt that I have to change some traits in my personality. I want to change at that time. But there are drawbacks on changing myself.

I haven't posting entries in my blog lately. I think its a month I've been absent here in blogging because last month I have been busy looking for a job. I've graduated last March and I started searching for a job this late of June until now. And now its October already and Christmas is coming! I can't afford having without money for my own to spend for the coming holiday and without a job! So I keep myself busy on job hunting. 'Wish me luck! And feel free to comment about my poem entry today.

Waking up at Night to Feel the Air of Midnight Summer

Waking up at Night to Feel the Air of Midnight Summer

I sit by the window
Feeling cold and blue
Knowing that I can't be with you
Only breeze of emptiness blow

All I see is starless sky
And hopeless dreams to get on by
Lost in my soul taking me over
Pieces of you in this midnight summer

I am a soliloquy in silence
Reminiscing the moments have passed
See reflections of you, yet in absence
I know things where should be placed

Moments with you
Ease my loneliness in blue
Memories that clamoring my thought
As rhapsodic silence is also fraught

Oh, when better days will come to start?
Longing and waiting, yet this night begin to over
But even were miles apart
I'll stay forever.
*************************************
I wrote this poem on my birthday March 15, 2003. Obviously, I wrote this poem a night of summer, since March is already the start of summer. It's all about missing my friends thinking that they might not greet me on my upcoming birthday or come for a house party but if you'll look at another perspective... it giving a message to someone very special to you that you don't want to let go. I hope you like this poem entry hope I got a good feedback you. Enjoy reading!

Sukob din ang kasal mo!

Sukob din ang kasal mo!

My blog entry title today is very familiar and catchy to everyone especially to moviegoers of this year's phenomenal movie - Sukob. This is one of the famous line of the movie that everyone who watched will probably never forget that movie because of this line. Sukob is a Filipino wedding superstition that a sibling must not go under marriage under the same year or a series of unfortunate events will happen to the couples. The other belief - "Sukob sa Patay" is that if a family relative died in a year, a marriage of a relative must not take place or a series of bad lucks will happen.

Best Wishes... Death Wishes...

I myself was impressed after watching the movie, it was a great horror movie that will surely give you the creeps and suspense you're looking for in a horror/suspense movie. It is in the same level of hit horror movies like "The Grudge" and "The Ring." Sukob is currently the top grosser movie of the year and the top grosser movie in the whole history of Philippine Cinema. It also got a worldwide premiere. Wow! It only means that the movie has surpassed other past Filipino movies that had become top grosser even from the 70's to 80's and 90's! That was really amazing. And I think that no movie can equaled or surpass Sukob's status as the top grosser in the whole history of Philippine Cinema. If there is, it will be a hard-time to equaled it. Unless Kris Aquino and Claudine Baretto will do it again. With Chito Roño again directing another hit movie. Maja Salvador also gave a nuance acting performance who has a vital role in story of Sukob. She was nonetheless who said that famous line in the movie in a monstrous and threatening voice.

Just Married... Just Burried...

I myself don't believe in Sukob before but now I believe. But not in the superstition itself, I believe that marriage in siblings should really take one year apart bec. It is good to remember one beautiful event in one year by one sibling in the family and the other one the nest year. Its like they own each year's memorable event. In "Sukob sa Patay", it really should postpone a marriage when someone in the family died in a year because it is not a good year to remember sometime in the future when something sad happen then at the same time at that year a happy event to remember. A one year after is also a time to let the grief subside. 'Hope you watch the movie because it is really great, the story is excellent and its really worth watching it... kasal ang sumpa...

Repost: Echoes of Caressing Cry

Echoes of Caressing Cry

A river of emotion within me flows
A burst of affection slowly grows
While I ponder
Dreamy in a wonder

My thoughts were in delight
But in my heart, there is firelight
Its warm is conquering my body in uproar
A warm I never felt before

Though I deny
Blue-sky is in my eye
Felicity is swimming in my vein
And bliss to this feelings play in my brain

I conceal it every bit
Hide it
But its voice reaches my surface
To see this through my face

I try to cover this emotion
So, I cast it away in my notion
Yet, it whispers in my ear
Conveying a voluptuous music from balladeer

I thought it would sweep
If I had one sleep
But I was wrong in haste
For even sleep I cannot taste

In every move, I can feel the passion
The strong feeling runs in my blood and wants my submission
It succumbs my whole being
Now, I cannot resist it anymore this feeling

Though I bury it
Though I conceal it
I cannot conquer it anymore
This feeling puts me in torment more and more

I close my eyes
In the silence of my heart and mind it unties
There is a cry
A cry burdens my heart and mind to be crucify

I cannot subdue it anymore
It's you my heart cries for more
But who will knew it out of blue?
When is every act I do there is no echo that I love you. **************************************

This is a repost poem; I've already had published it here in my blog a year ago. I consider "Echoes of Caressing Cry" as one of the best poem I wrote about love. When I first write it in December 1, 2003, all think about is that this is a love poem but as I read on it can be a poem for courting or give on a love letter to woo someone. In the end it turned out one of the best - an "obra". Be the judge. But for me this poem is one of the best love poems I write since the day I begin loving to write.

Echoes of Caressing Cry tells what is happening to someone who is succumb by love and keeps on hiding that love. No matter how many times you try to hide it, it will burden your feelings as your heart cries for that love. It won't go away. And though you conceal it, you find it hard to make her/him see that love for it is only you who tries to conceal that echo of I love you.

Closure

Closure

I'm currently reading a book of Dr. Margie Holmes entitled "Wild Wicked Wonderful" which also defines my personality... And as I read her compilation of advice column I encounter a striking interesting term "closure" in one of her case articles. Margie Holmes defines closure as a psychologist concept often refers to when dealing with people who are in pain over their relationship. She stressed that closure is very important because one of us can never truly move on to other relationships and other endeavors unless we have this. Closure is achieved when there is a clear end to things. It is achieved when you have said what you wanted to say, when you have done what you wanted to get done, when you have the answers to the questions you wanted to be answered. Dr. Holmes said that not everyone can have complete closure at all time when relationships end, but there are some relationships that have more closure than others. In our life, especially in our relationships we encounter the need for "closure" especially when we know that it is time to move on. I find it practical to have closure because it is not only applicable to our special loved one but also to our friends. This concept was an answer to the "things" that keeps on bothering my mind, that's why whenever I've confronted with an issue and then the aftermath... I always have this feeling that I have to do this for me to move on in my life. And that's what I do - I close everything. It becomes an answer for everybody who wants to move on, but the best thing I learn here is that you need to close issues in your life (esp. the dark parts) first before moving on with your life. After closure... keep moving.

Glance

Glance

A glimpse of you
In the look of love
My heart was in sweet response
My mind was in dream beyond

In just looking at you
The blow of air stops
The time of space slows
And only the fire of emotion flows

In time to ponder
All I can think about is you
All my dreams in nights was you
All started in just a glance of you

A glance ito your eyes
And I see... love
Circling around the blackness of your pupil in my fantasy
How I wish more of you I could see

I want to look in your eyes longer
Longer, so that its beauty stays in my mind
And understand the depth of its emotion
I want to look at you longer than devotion

A glance into your face
And I see more of your loveliness
How I wish I could lay my lips there
To kiss the smoothness of your pale pelt than only to lay a stare

I want to caress your face
I desire to feel its loveliness
But I also long to you to cradle my face
So I can kiss your palm in my sweet pace

I'm longing to held your hand than just a glimpse
And press it to feel your warmth
I want to touch your lips
So in my dreams I could kiss those red lips

I'm longing to let you know my passionate love
Than to bridge it through glances
I want to hug you in my arms of true
So you may feel how much love I pour in you

This is what lies in my desiring reverie
A fantasy of longing for you more than just a look
How I desire this is a reality of romance
So that I won't be dreaming from a mere glance.
**************************************
Going back to the old days... I started to posting poems again which I've written. I can't remember since when I last posted my poem in my blog... I think it was a year ago since my last post. Anyway, here we go again back in posting poems. I hope you like it and please do leave a comment about this poem I wrote. Honestly, I haven't write poems lately.... I don't know why... not inspired? Maybe... I did not write any poem since 2005 until to this date. But I'm planning to write again this year... hopefully I get to write again.

Anyway, about the poem "Glance", I wrote this poem last June 4, 2004... fresh from rest after summer class. This poem is about "secret love" because at that time I have a crush classmate in my summer class that seems to be near but yet still "very far away". But I just realized that this poem can be use in courting... as I just read it again while typing this poem. Well, that is the power of poetry. Please do leave a comment about your interpretation of the poem after reading. Have a nice surfing day!

Vietnam Rose

Vietnam Rose

Today is the launch of my 6th layout entitled "Vietnam Rose" inspired from my trip in Vietnam last April 29 and ABS-CBN's teleserye "Vietnam Rose". This layout not only gives a glimpse of Vietnam and one of it's promising city of Ho Chi Minh but also previews the real story behind "Vietnam Rose". It goes beyond the scenery pictures of Vietnam and leads to the stories of Vietnamese who were affected by the war and still continue to struggle in life to rebuild the lost love that has affected their lives during the dark war-torn past.

This layout features a lot of section to feel the ambience of Vietnam in your senses. "Vietnam in a nutshell" gives you a glimpse and basic info about Vietnam and its vibrant Ho Chi Minh City. There is also a section of my detailed journey trip in Vietnam in case you miss my post about it in "Vietnam Diary". Plus a slideshow showing the beautiful places to visit and typical life scene in Vietnam. With this so much exposure about Vietnam, I can be a tourism officer! But I hope you do like my layout. I'm open for comments and suggestions about the layout and please do leave a comment either in my comments section below or in the tagboard.

Maybe one would wonder what "Vietnam Rose" really is. Vietnam Rose is said to be the dubbed name for a venereal disease during Vietnam War but there is really a Vietnam Rose the blooms in the city. These are small astray roses like "damong ligaw" that can be found in streets or in grasses around Vietnam according to an article I’ve read. But beyond looking at those flowers, it is comparable to Vietnamese people who are living today to continue their life after surpassing the dark past of war. Like those stray flowers they continue to search for the love if not rebuilds it to mend their dark past and leads them to a promising life... to a beautiful flower in full bloom. Have a nice surfing day!

Vietnam Diary

Vietnam Diary

Last April 29, the vacation trip that I've been waiting for has come. We visited Vietnam on a 3-day vacation trip. And I enjoy every moment of this opportunity to relax and enjoy. I've been really waiting for this trip. And finally after dreaming of having vacation trip in Bangkok, Vancouver or Tokyo, I never thought that Ho Chi Minh City will be in our destination this Summer. Here is my "Vietnam Diary" on my experience and daily activities in this trip vacation in Vietnam. Happy reading!

Day 1, April 29, 2006, The Red Country
Our journey to the "Red Country" starts in our 7:30am departure of flight PR591 to Ho Chi Minh City. I was definitely excited on this trip to Vietnam because it’s my first time to visit that country. And not only that I'm excited to learn the cultures of Vietnamese people living there. Plus traveling is my passion. I love the thrill and excitement of learning that traveling brings. This also serves my vacation after everything about school has finished.

Onboard, the moment I've been waiting is near. I can vividly see the strip of land of Vietnam. This add more excitement rush in my feelings. But what striking me most is the color of Vietnam's soil. So why did I called it a "Red Country"? It is because the moment I saw the land of Vietnam from the air it was colored red.

Our plane landed at Tan Son Nhat International Airport. I thought were going out of the plane via plane stairs as I've searched in the net but I was wrong, their international airport has already 4 airbridges (where people walk through in and out of the plane). Tan Son Nhat was medium size compared to NAIA Terminal 2. It was just like Cebu's international Airport. But beside it was an under construction building of their new airport of the same name. The work of construction is clearly seen from our plane as we went on taxiway. Vietnam deserves to have a new international airport bec. tourism is booming there.

At the airport there was a beautiful Vietnamese girl that I won't forget in the airport moneychanger who was wearing an "ao dai" (their widely-known traditional dress). She was an attendant of the money changer where we change some of our pocket money for local spending. I won't forget her because of the sweet smile she showed after we changed our money.

The moment we step out of the airport... I had an impression of Vietnam is like Philippines in many ways. They're almost the same, especially the Vietnamese, they are just like us. And the weather is hot! Just like Philippines the weather in Vietnam was a tropical hot. But it is mildly hot there than here which is hotter than hell this summer. As we ride a taxi to go to our hotel, we got a preview of the daily life scenario in Vietnam. Scooters (their main mode of transportation which is amazingly everywhere) are everywhere and the parks are plenty. Many of the buildings were being constructed, a sign that they are a developing country. They are more of a rural place than an urban. Yet, their air is clean and unpolluted unlike here... But I can't help but compared it to ours. We're still better in terms places and buildings along with transportation but if the economy is being asked... hay naku... their economy is booming even their places are more of a rural scenario. And as with us... don't ask me.

We arrive at Liberty 3 Hotel (a 3-star hotel but very very fine) at 12:00pm. We arrive 10 at the airport. The hotel was cool. It was beautiful and very clean. I feel more like a tourist because of it especially when I saw the room. I'm with my mom on this trip with his friend and officemate and wife (they were on the other room). I was amazed at the terrace of our room. It was overlooking the scenery streets and buildings of Ho Chi Minh City! And so I get our cam. That was the first photo I've taken with our cam. Our hotel was in a strategic location. It is in the heart city of Ho Chi Minh City. It was like a "Makati" of Vietnam.

So we plan our day to day trip around the city... First stop - Ben Thanh Market. But before we go to this "shopping heaven" we passed through 23/9 Park which perfectly fine for afternoon strolls (actually according to the tourists information Ho Chi Minh alone has 10 national parks!). I've noticed that around the city and in every buildings or streetposts Vietnamese flags were hanged and displayed, together with banners in red and yellow collored letterings. It was later we learned that Hoh Chi Minh were in a 3-day holiday because tomorrow, April 30 was the celebration of Ho Chi Minh City’s Liberation from American control and was return to their communist government. So we came to Ben Thanh Market which was like a "Divisoria" but a decent and "cleaner" type. It is a market building (so no worries when rain comes while in the middle of shopping) where low costs goods are being sold. You can actually ask for cheaper prices in buying items and discounts when buying many. It is a real shopping paradise for everyone who wants Vietnamese made goods from shoes, bags, shirts, souvenirs to fruits... everything that shoppers might find valuable is there. And one day is not enough to stroll around Ben Thanh Market so we bought few good items and went back to hotel at 6pm bec. we were tired in trying to stroll around the whole market and it was their closing time.

We just leave the goods we bought in hotel, 1 to 2 hours later had a dinner at local resto... it was a fine Vietnamese cuisine. At night Pham Ngu Lão street was alive! There were many tourists around and as the night goes deep many people esp tourist were flocking around trying bars and night-out at Pham Ngu Lao. I see how the night life happens in Vietnam. At the terrace I can clearly see the scenery of these Ho Chi Minh city nightlife. The buildings were nightly lit. And the people were strolling around as every place you want to visit is just a walk away. I really felt what a "tourist" really like bec. I never experience this kind of luxury in my whole traveling experience. It was sure relaxing moment. I ended my first day watching cable tv and sleep happily hoping another unforgettable journey.

Day 2, April 30, 2006, The Mekong Journey
Today we were scheduled to a one day trip in Upper Mekong River. This was scheduled yesterday in nearby travel agency found near our hotel. Actually the were many tour agency around Pham Ngu Lao street that offers the best package for a tour trip... all you have to do as a first-timer in Vietnam is to choose which tour agency gives the best trip package at a right price. At 8:00am we were pick by the tour bus at the agency. Many people at the tour were Vietnamese and only few foreigners like us. At the bus we met Tiun (pronounced as "Tuan"), a local who were with his friends and family take the opportunity of the holiday to have trip.

It was almost a 2 or 3 hour bus ride like a Batangas trip before we arrive in the provincial scenery of Trung Luong. To my disappointment, it rain when we arrive in My Tho City, which I though it will spoil our Mekong trip. There were still few raindrops but we took a ferry ride to visit Ben Tre. At the ferry we crossed the Mekong River... which was a huge river and the water was colored brown maybe because the ground of the river is mud. At the trip we saw 4 islands of shape, the Tortoise Island, Unicorn Island, Phoenix Island and Dragon Island. We changed our ferry to a smaller one at a small station in which I got nervous because the smaller one shakes up when it's not balance and I'm afraid that the smaller boat will turn over to water. You have to be cautious in balance as you go through inside the smaller boat because it threatens turn over. My mom was also nervous and cautious.

At the smaller boat, its continues to rain but few drops only, luckily the small boat has a ceiling. The motorized boat takes us to Bao Dinh Canal which has many water coconuts around the canal and guides the boat to the place. We thought this the same scene we saw at the teleserye of "Vietnam Rose" because of the water coconuts and the boat but later on we realized there is a more closer resemblance of scenery on our later trip.

We reached our first stop - Ben Tre - in which we see the the locals making coconut candies and the locals gave us a free taste of their coconut candies. It taste good especially when it is newly made. There were still few raindrops. Then our tour guide explains to us how the locals use the tools in making coconut candies. There were restaurants and souvenir shops there. Then we hop again in the small boat and continue our tour in Ben Tre province through the canals again. On our second stop there is a small sized road with many trees around leading to a restaurant place. The local tourists with us excitedly picked "makopa" from trees. They are happily giggling in picking it up in the trees while speaking Vietnamese that I don’t understand. I said to myself ano ba yan? Samen ndi yan pinapansin... We went inside the place... there was a restaurant. Our tour guide show us the bee-keeping box and show us the slide full of bees where the locals are collecting honeys to sell. A local went to our table to give us a honey lemon tea, which is relaxing and good because of its sweet taste. She put a honey on the cup first then pour it with a tea then squeeze it with lemon that looks like a "calamansi". There was also a beer made out honey served to us, which look like a "suka" or vinegar because of the translucent color. But we didn't taste it. I was annoyed by a bee who kept on flying near our honey. My mom tried to sway it away. But I warned her that it might attack us. Later, our tour guide showed a large snake (a python) to which my mom was alarmed (she is afraid of snake). We stand up and as the others were busy we take pictures in the surrounding trees.

We ride again in the small motorized boat and we went out of Ben Tre province to the station where we ride a ferry again. Then we proceed to Unicorn Island where we ate our free launch from the tour package. The restaurant was place strategically under a fond of hyacinths. Then after a few minutes of rest we proceed to Unicorn Island. There we were served with local fruits like papaya, pineapple, dragon fruit (my first taste of this fruit w/c was delightful) and mango while being serenade by the locals in "Vietnamese Folk Music". Our tour guide told us to continue walking inside the island where we saw many fruit gardens of many trees.

We headed to the end of the road with fruit trees around and lead us to what we really don’t expect! We will be heading to another canal - Tan Thach Canal - where we will be taking a small paddled boat just like the scene that we saw in "Vietnam Rose"! My mom and Ate Yoly excitedly head first towards the boat while talking that is what they saw in Vietnam Rose series where Angelica Panganiban was being paddled with AJ Dee in the scene. I told my mom that we were really "Vietnam Rose" because of this boat trip. Then the local who will paddle the boat gave us their native hat - the infamous "salakot" of the Vietnamese. We excitedly wear it to feel the ambiance of what is really like to be in "Vietnam Rose" series. We were paddled through the canal that was fully covered with water coconuts. It was a beautiful sight to see and to experience. While enjoying the sights of the water coconuts, my mom and I keep on saying Talagang Vietnam Rose talaga kami. Maybe it is because of the amazement of the experience. My mom reacted when we passed through another paddled boat being paddled by a pregnant Vietnamse, then an old woman... life is really hard but those are their ways to live. The trip crossed us the Unicorn Island and headed us to the floating station for the ferry ride again. We made sure that we got a picture in the paddled boat while wearing "salakot" but we get a ferry ride.

We cruise on our ferry to My Tho City again via Mekong River. This time the sun shines high brighter. We saw a ferry heading to Cambodia as the tour guide told us and saw from the distance the city of My Tho. When arrive at the station we went to the bus again and drove us to stopover in Bonsai Garden at 4pm. There we bid goodbye to "Tuan" the local we meet on the tour because they are on a two-day tour. And he was grateful that he met us. We made sure that we have a souvenir photo with him. We changed our bus as we headed our way to Ho Chi Minh City. While passing through the highway we wonderfully saw kite flying activities of the locals which amazed the tourists. I am very tired of the trip, though sleepy I still try to see the places we were passing through.

It was 5:30pm when we arrive in Ho Chi Minh, the tour guide thanks us for having the trip while I saw the entire scenery of Ho Chi Minh City as the bus passed through the city. Scooters still crowded the streets. And you can see the daily life of Vietnamese around. We were dropped by the tour agency and headed to our hotel to rest from a tiring whole day "field trip".

I think after 2 hour rest, we're back again on strolling and we went to Saigon Plaza Center. It was an amazing sight to see the lighted streets at night swarmed by hundreds of scooters crossing around. There are so many people and it was noisy due to music at Saigon Plaza Center. It happened to be that the center was on sale! And there were many people crowding around especially at digi cam and cellphone section. I am surprised that the Nokia phone that I like was on sale and it was cheaper here than in our country. The same also goes to digital cameras which I long to have. We just stroll around and after we went off to our hotel to rest from a very tiring day.

Day 3, May 1, 2006, Stray roses around the streets of Vietnam...
Today is the last day of our stay in Vietnam as our flight will be at 6pm tonight. And today is our search for a Vietnamese woman who is wearing ao dai - a traditional and symbolic dress of Vietnam. It’s for a picture because a woman who wears ao dai a symbol that you've been in Vietnam. Ever since we've arrive here we have been looking for these women in ao dai. Ao dai symbolizes Vietnam... in a way that while the city is modern and developing their traditional concepts lie wearing this costume have never fade in sight. Actually you may see a woman wearing ao dai suddenly passed across you while walking down the streets or riding a bicycle or a scooter strolling around. It has been Vietnam’s trademark that without having a photo of woman in ao dai you're Vietnam experience is not complete. And so we begin our hunt...

At the morning we ate our free breakfast from the hotel. This time planned to tour the city of Saigon - now called Ho Chi Minh City named after their revolutionary leader Ho Chi Minh. We passed 23/9 Park and Ben Thanh Market then we walk onwards and we were in the central disctrict of Ho Chi Minh City. You see, in just walking by you can reach the nearby visiting place you want to visit in Ho Chi Minh.

We first got a glimpsed of Ho Chi Minhs City Hall. And at last I saw the famous landmark of Ho Chi Minh City which I always saw in travel magazine - Ho Chi Minh's Statue - It was located at a central park in front of City Hall. Vietnam's red and single colored yellow star flag flutter the whole place. There were many establishments around like boutiques, shops, restaurants, hotels and other business offices. We went to Dong Khoi Street that leads us to Notre Dame Cathedral - one of the oldest Catholic churches in Vietnam. On the opposite side of it is the city Post Office which was built by Gustav Eiffel (the one who also built the Eiffel Tower in Paris). After few tour and strolling we went back to Ho Chi Minh's statue to explore place and take photos for souvernir.

From the map, one can easily locate the tourist places in Ho Chi Minh as these places were just nearby and you can reach it through walking. Nearby visiting places that we have not been were the Reunification Palace, Ho Chi Minh City Museum and Municipal Cultural Park. From this district of Ho Chi Minh, no one can see the scars of war nor any clue that the war exist in the city. Vietnam was really different now.

We headed back to hotel to check-out. Along the Le Loi Street, we passed through an attendant woman wearing beautiful blue ao dai. We insist to have a photo with her and she gladly participated. We headed on walking along and we saw many souvenir shops around that offers cheap prices than Ben Thanh Market. Here, we saw two Vietnamese wearing green and gold-colored patterned ao dai. We take photos with them also. And they were happy to participate in taking photo.

We arrive at the hotel at 10am. We organize our things and packed up our clothes to leave at 12pm. But before we leave the hotel we took photos with the attendants of the hotel as a souvenir because they were also wearing beautiful ao dais. We bid goodbye to them and kam ang(Vietnamese "thank you") for their friendly service. We took an airport bus which gave us a further tour in Ho Chi Mihn City. I saw the Municipal Cultural Park and the back of Reunification Palace. I was also lucky to see the Vinh Nghiem Pagoda, a temple place where Angelica Panganiban and Jason Abalos had a shooting scene in Vietnam Rose series.

We arrive 1pm at the Tan Soh Nhat International Airport. Too early for a check-in, the counters were still closed so we rest for a while. After check-in at 5pm, we boarded our flight PR596 at 7:10pm and we’re ready to leave Vietnam.

The scars of war won't be seen in Vietnam today. The city looked to have move on to live the life today. Vietnam is a promising country to development. The country is progressing and developing. The city glitters as if it has never been in war. And the people who were affected by the turbulent past of the war continue to live... moving on to continue living... they are like stray roses flocking in the streets of Vietnam looking for love that heals their broken heart brought by the war.

Relieving my Vietnam experience, those were the thoughts that were circling in my mind as the plane ascends to sky... and see the brightly lit city of Ho Chi Minh from the air. Few hours later we will ascend to Manila.

Bangkok, Vancouver or Tokyo

Bangkok, Vancouver or Tokyo

Bangkok - offers plenty of historical and cultural wonders. A visit to the ancient city of Ayutthaya, once the capital of more than 400 years, can attest to its past grandeur. Among temples and rivers, street markets and shops are havens for bargain hunters. Some eateries offer a cruise on the Chao Phraya River, which many claim to be one of the more scenic cruises in the world.

Vancouver - is the largest city in Western Canada and the nation's chief Pacific port. Its location on hills with views of the harbor and the Coast Range Mountains as well as its mild winter climate makes it a popular tourist destination.

Tokyo - Tokyo is the capital of Japan. The sprawling urban center contains over 10 pecent of the country's population. The city is noted for the Imperial Palace, several parks, museums, temples, and the Kabukiza theater.

These are the 3 places that I'm pinpointing to visit this summer. But actually I want to visit them all this summer. Especially Tokyo... as early April, Cherry blossoms starts to bloom in the city. Oh! What a wonderful sight to see the whole city flourished with a seemingly white leaves trees when those are actually the light pink flowers of Cherry Trees. It was breathtaking. I miss Japan. The Cherry blossom experience is an exceptional experience to remember. I remember when we there back in April 2004... those Cherry Blossoms were sure unforgettable. It's my first time to see it. The falling of the flowers made me somewhat feel the atmosphere of those that I see in anime scenes of Cherry Blossoms. From that moment when I touch the falling cherry flowers, I felt somewhat I am in the anime scene. I won't forget it. It's really breathtaking. I'm also excited to travel to Bangkok and Vancouver as I have never been in these places before. Those descriptions above promise an unforgettable experience to remember when you visit them. I hope I get visit them this summer as part of my vacation plans... and hopefully three of those exciting cities. But whether only one of them I get to travel to or two, traveling one of those places will my summer vacation a summer to remember.

Happy vacation!

Let the Sebastinians live

Let the Sebastinians live

Last night, March 25, I attended a most-awaited event, our highschool reunion in my highschool alma mater (San Sebastian) in a concert entitled "Hits 2 (Marami na kami!)". I was really a night of memories, entertainment and fun as we gather with my fellow highschool batchmates. We were batch 2002 - The Sebastinians 2002. It was actually a fund-raising concert where highschool teachers will perform in dancing and singing presentations and this event was actually the second being the first one entitled "Hits." This year it dubbed the title "Marami na kami!" as they invited from batch 2000 to 2005. And they made sure that from each batch there will be a presentation. Our batch was performed by Jeaness and May, singing the M.Y.M.P. hits like "Especially for You" and "Tell Me Where it Hurts". Talagang madami na kami coz it became the biggest gathering of Sebastinian alumni's!

Actually I'm really excited before this event to happen because I'm going to see my former classmates and friends in highschool that I do really miss a lot. And I will also see my former and favorite highschool teachers there. And my expectations never failed me. I meet again my close classmates in highschool like Joy Anne, Jorizel and Lory Anne. Some of my classmates did not attend but my friends were there like Arthur, Jeaness, May, Kat & Kisses. Jennifer and Arianne were there too. It was a real night of memories and entertainment as we reminisce again the beautiful memories we had in our highschool days. We enjoy the entertainment catered to us by our former teachers in highschool who did a superb dancing and singing presentations (some were acoustics, which were really entertaining). It was also funny to see our former teachers sing and dance. There were also live band performances to complete our concert showcase. Most of the songs played were modern band songs so most of us of new generation youth enjoy it. The concert ended in a extravagant dancing number of teachers. And our reunion would not be complete without pictures! We had pictures with my former classmates, friends and of course with our highschool teachers! We also had a picture in our former 4th year classroom when we visited the classrooms. We literally took a picture in front of the classroom door so that our former section name IV-St. Sebastian place at the top of the door can be seen in the photo.

The Sebastinians live that night. It was a real night of fun, entertainment and memories. The people, the place... it brings back a lot of memories. I really enjoy that night. I hope this event happens yearly so that we can get in touch with our former classmates in highshool every now and then. Ito ay talagang napaka-sayang reunion. It was always delightful to relieve those Sebastinian memories again and again because those are "maravillosa" to remember. Those memories make me somewhat optimistic and happy... that's why everything I learned from my alma mater and memories I take will always be with me and whenever I will go... I will always be a Sebastinian!

The finale at the center stage

The finale at the center stage

This is the day that I have long waiting for! Counting the days to see the end of stage part of my life, it is now over. This recent morning ended my academic years of studying as I have reached my culminating activity for college, our graduation day. The event was held at Philippine International Convention Center (PICC), the same venue where the 1994 Miss Universe was held. There was indeed a sure atmosphere of pageantry and I really felt the ending of my academic years as the plenary hall made feel me prestige as we walk and parade to end our college years, especially when I walk up to get my diploma up the stage. This event is really the conclusion of everything in my studies. And I really felt it this morning. And I'm happy! Kasi ito na talaga ang katapusan... ang pagwawakas! I know learning doesn't end and it doesn’t have to end. But this day signals that those learning I learned inside the four walls of our classroom have to be applied in the outside world (I mean, job). And now, new learning must learn from experience outside the school. I'm glad that I've finish my Psychology course with all my best and high hopes. Congratulations to all my friends in Batch 2006 who graduated this year. Good luck to our careers!

Feel the glamour of Hollywood and Oscar...

Feel the glamour of Hollywood and Oscar...

I've always been dreaming walking in the Hollywood Walk of Fame seeing the Hollywood stars of my favorite actors and actresses like Halle Barry, Charlize Theron, Uma Thurman... But that dream was already fulfilled when in 2003, I made my first step in Hollywood. Today is the launch date of my new blog layout similar to the same aura and atmosphere I felt when I walk in the Walk of Fame in Hollywood... a unique inspired layout in a touch of glamour and prestige of Hollywood and Oscar. This layout coincides in the celebration of recently concluded 2006 Academy Awards where the brightest stars of Hollywood gathers for a night of glamour in an awards night for recognition awards of their acting performance. Now the prestige and glamour shared by Hollywood celebrities during Oscars is not far to feel when in this blog you can feel the glamour of a Hollywood star. Readers... enjoy reading like walking in the red carpet and feel glamour, prestige...

I want party!

I want party!

Today is a very special day for me as today is my birthday! I'm celebrating my 21st birthday today. and I really want a party! You know... party like having discos and good time... because I'm 21 and in guys its a turning point age. Something like a milestone that happened. If I'm going to be the one who will lead I really want to have party!!! And I'm going to invite all of my friends. I'm really dreaming of a party for my 21st birthday... something like everyone will really enjoy it... and they will never forget. Like a pool party since its already summer. Or we can have it in a real party place like in disco bars in malate where we can freely dance to the beat of disco musics. You know I like discos. And like dancing (just in discos coz its dark there, I can move what I want... ^_^) . Anyway, those were just "dream party" but I do hope it will happen someday when I have the "money" already. But for now I have to enjoy a house party they prepared for me for a while. Gotta go my friends are coming.... Happy Birthday to me! Cheers!

Officially out

Officially out

I am now officially out of affiliation with Philippine Airlines today as I surrendered my on-the-job-training (ojt) i.d. which slated on expiration tomorrow this noon. Yes, I'm now "officially out" of PAL but not goodbyes already... we'll see each other again in August. Well... the place brings back again good memories of my training. I met Mam Cora and Miss Jet again. I was also greeted by ever-friendly Mam Loida - she was really down-to-earth coz at first I had an impression that she's a "primadonna" since she's from a Conjuangco clan but yet she is very friendly to trainees and to everyone like me and Mam Glenda - again with her infamous flirtatious nosy greeting ;) Too bad, Mam Manette and Mam Anna weren't there. Well, I feel delighted being there coz I miss my ojt days there... and I met again Miss Jet - my co employee there and whom I'm close with. We share stories again like in the old times of my ojt as I spend my lunchtime there. Miss Jet, whom I fondly called her and not "mam" because were almost in the same age. She's a year older to me. Aside from paying a visit, I dropped by our pictures to Miss Jet. Now that I'm officially out of PAL I told her that from now on I'll call her "Jet", her nickname. And we're now friends! I wish Liezel was also there, one of my co-trainee their so our company is whole again. Oh cut off! Before I retell again my PAL training story again and before this post become a novel! I guess I'm just missing the old times. I'm "officially out" of PAL for now... but I'll be back again. Enjoy reading!

The heat is on!

The heat is on!

Yes! The heat is on... because it's March already! This is the official start of summer! Its Summer 2006! And everybody is happy... this is the time for relaxation, vacation, a lot of sleep, happy hour and a lot more things that can be involved to busy with this summer. I'm really looking forward for a great and "grand" vacation this summer because school is over. It is really over coz I'm graduating from college! Yahoo! :) and I deserve a great vacation... after four years of studying... tests... projects... sleeping at late nights... eyebags... and time sacrifice for social life, I really need a break! I'm going get a lot sleep to erase those eyebags and relieve myself from stress of 4 years of schooling. I'm going to relax to regain my youthful glow coz in the lasts weeks I've been really stressed by my school responsibilities. And everything is about school is over. I'm really counting the days down to the day of graduation. I really want to get over it. And I'm excited about what is going to happen this summer, what will I'll do, what things I'm going to busy with, what are my vacation plans like places to visit with... so I'm really looking forward for a great summer this year. May everyone have a great and sunny summer vacation...

Enjoy summer!

I don't want to say goodbye....

I don't want to say goodbye...

...but I have to do.

This would be the continuation of the phrase title of my blog entry today if I had to continue it.

Last Thursday, February 23, I reach my last day of training in Philippine Airlines (PAL). It has been a month of training there in the office set-up. And I experience a lot and different situations esp. a worklife environment during my entire training in PAL. My exit was somewhat a mixed feeling of I want get out of there but I still want to stay there. Weird, I don't know... I really want to get out there, since I have other things to deal with and I don't like some of my duties and "primadonna" superiors there but I still want to stay because of new-found friends I have met. And I somewhat enjoy my stay there at least.

I'll miss a lot of things there and people who were been very friendly to me...

I'll miss coffee... I usually start my morning there with a cup of coffee. I think I became more coffee addict after (Actually, I'm really a coffee addict). I'll miss Ate Vi and Ron at Sales Admin. They were been very friendly and good to me... even I exited in their department after one week. In my new department at Inflight Services Training Division (IFST), I'll miss Miss Jet, one of my co-employees there who supervises us and who I became befriend with and Liezel, my co-trainee who I am close with. I'll miss some people... whom I share my everyday there... Mam Cora's whining voice and whining phrases of "kk", her infamous questions of "galit ka?" and "are you ok?" together with her infamous eyebrow raising, Mam Glenda's nosy greeting and her phrases of "Ian, you have an assignment..." and Mam Anna's smiling face.

What I won't forget in my training in PAL is you have to smile or greet a co-employee there everytime you face them. I was trained there to have a smiling face! and I was difficult for me because I normally have serious face and not all the time I’m in the mood to smile. So everytime I go to our office, In the elevator goin up in 3rd floor (where my office is located), I started to fake wash my face with my hands and massage it so that any undesirable emotions that can been in my face disappears and make my face look delightful before I go to our department... ready to smile to everyone. It also made me set aside my bad moods and feelings to resurface in my face when I'm at the office. I somewhat feel that I was also train to become a flight steward in a moment because I have to cater a smile and a warm friendly aura to everyone. Coincidently, our department is specializing in training flight attendants of PAL.

My training is over. And I want to thank those people who made my stay in PAL an enjoyable experience and a memorable one. I want to thank Mam Angie; for always being friendly to me, Sir Rowen; aside from friendly, helped me work on my transfer at IFST, co-trainees - Vilma and Ron at Sales, Liezel at IFST and Miss Jet; co-employee at IFST and friendly trainers of IFST - Mam Glenda, Mam Ana and Mam Manette.

I don't want to say goodbye... My training is over and I'll surely miss a lot things there especially the people who have really good to me and the everyday work life we share. I'll miss the atmosphere of friendship we share and the stories we shared. I'll miss our happy moments too. I never thought that those people that I've shared a month with I'll miss them. The farewell of missing them made me think that this is like a beauty pageant where you'll stay a month in another place, meeting new people you befriend with. And after the contest is over you have to say goodbye and go back your real place. But one thing is for sure... I will never forget them.

...but I have to do it. I have to move on with my life. I have other things to accomplish. And some things in my training that I don't like, some tasks, some people... The time has come that it has to end it. It's over. I have to do it to for me to move on. I'm delighted that my training is over at least. Still, I have feelings of - don't want to let go - maybe because of the attachment to my everyday environment and of people I enjoy to be with... and bec. of the happy moments we share in a short time. And I want to explore more. But the time is calling to end it... I have to do it... I have to say goodbye.

I’m back with a 90th beauty!

I'm back with a 90th beauty!

After 3 "long-awaited" weeks of absence in posting messages, I'm back again here! During the past weeks since my last post I've been busy in finishing my thesis which slated on defense last February 18 and at the same time working on my training stint in Philippine Airlines. And I'm back with a 90th beauty! Why? Coz, we garnered a score of 90 passing grade in my thesis about beauty pageant contestants! It was really a nerve-wracking moment during the defense but I was able to answer the questions from the panelists intelligently and confidently. I'm delighted that my thesis is already finished and only minor revisions I have to work on, because in the last 3 weeks my sked was so hectic that I think I was banned in the Internet for a month! I’m glad this research is already over. Keep on visiting as I'm considering changing my site layout soon. Enjoy reading!

We Teach you… Excel!

We Teach you... Excel!

This first blog entry title comes from the brochure tagline of Philippine Airlines Learning Center. Well, its quite long time since my last post and this is the first for 2006. And for the start of this year, I've just completed my one week of duty in my industrial setting training, which started last Monday. Well, the title and tagline from brochure really has an association to my entry today. My on-the-job training in industrial setting was in Philippine Airlines, particularly in their Learning Center which is their school for training and development.

I didn't choose to be in the HR (human resources) department as the office there is dull, the place is gloomy and the commute for transportation is disadvantage. So the PAL Learning Center located at Padre Faura St. Ermita, Manila is an advantage to me... since the transpo for commuters like me is easy as the buses were just passing on the Taft Avenue. The PAL Learning Center at Faura is really suitable for my training, located at the heart city of Manila; it is near to other familiar and visiting district of the metropolis.

PAL Learning Center is the home of their training and development department. It is where their employees are trained before they go to their actual workplace. It is also where the pilots and stewardesses are being trained.

I started in Sales Admin Dept... I don't know why the HR assigned me there since am a psychology major. But at least I enjoy my work there together with my co-trainees - Ron and Vilma... who we fondly called "Ate Vi". But on Monday I'll be assigned on 3rd Floor in Inflight Services Training Department, so that I can be with Nagi, my classmate. We worked for my transfer there. And I really want to transfer there because it’s more related to my course especially training - we're also studying it.

Now that my educational and clinical setting has ended, it's now the time for the industrial setting... well, I hope that what the tagline in PAL's brochure says "We teach you... Excel!" will happen to me. May my training experience in Philippine Airlines will serve as a training ground for me to discover new learning and experiences that would help me become a better person.

New Year Diary: 2005 Year-ender Blog entry

New Year Diary: 2005 Year-ender Blog entry

It's almost few hours towards new year - 2006. It's almost 12 hours before new year to be exact... and me here writing my last blog entry for 2005. I don't have a Christmas entry as I am really busy aside from the holidays, is finishing my thesis.

Looking back, I'm glad that some of my important new year's resolutions last year have been materialized. Now, I hope that those good that I've started will continue towards next year for me to be a better person. This year one of my important resolution of not holding any firecrackers anymore continues. I've starter this last year because I realized the importance of my hands, whether it's just a "lusis" I really don't hold any in celebrating new year. Back then I realized the importance of my hands... and as a writer I really love my hands... they are my instrument to my skills in writing. I would rather celebrate the new year with a countdown and toast a wine at the strike of 12. Say what you want or call me corny or whatever but for me its better to prevent twice than regret double the times in the end.

I want to give insight regarding new year's resolution... new year's resolution should not only be made every end of the year. Instead, it must be done everyday and keep track of it everyday so you can monitor it if you're really improving especially if it is about taking away the "bad sides" of your personality. Will you wait for the end of the year to change? No... Resolutions can be done everyday as every new day is a new chance to change your self, your way of life... or whatever. Don't wait for that long, start changing today. It would be great to make it in the list your new year’s resolutions. I hope these enlighten everyone about new year's resolutions.

Thank you for those visited my blog and for reading my share of story here. May the new year will be great as 2005 and bring us more prosperity and blessings. Happy New Year everyone!!! Cheers!