this is the season to be merry christmas!

so, i am planning to do some Christmas shopping this coming week. and if you are too, and planning to get something for me, here's my Christmas wish list in no particular order! :D 1. a new DVD rack, which rotates! seriously, i have 7 DVDs right now which is just on top of my sofa because there's no more space for it. 2. more DVDs to put in my new rack. top choices right now are "A Lot Like Love", "The Wedding Singer", "Four Weddings and a Funeral", "Pirates of the Caribbean 3", "Spiderman 3", and "Hairspray". 3. more Neil Gaiman books. I am still lacking Good Omens, Mirrormask, Smokes and Mirrors Trade Paperback edition, etc. 4. something that you made. 5. something that cooked or baked. so, what do you want for Christmas? :)

random odd thought

no, i'm not being emo. maybe a bit morbid but not emo. but i was just thinking the other day and i realized that this is the best time for me to die. i think that i have done ok with my life so far. maybe i did not do anything exceptional, and i have not really accomplished everything that i have dreamed of as a child. but still, none of those things that i have not done makes my life less worthy. and even if i have not done those, i still don't regret it. maybe that is also why i haven't done them yet. they are just things that i can live with and without. they don't really matter that much. i have worked hard enough, and earned enough to live in a bit of luxury. though the most expensive thing i own is probably my bed/phone/iPod, i don't mind. i was happy spending on stuff i like and love -- giving gifts or spending for my family and friends, buying items on a whim, spending money to collect my DVDs and books, eating great-tasting food, etc. also, i like what i've accomplished so far with regards to my career. i have not changed the world or how the world communicates, stuff like that -- but i feel like i have already contributed something recognizable. and most specially, i am single. no, i'm not saying that i want to die because i am single. what i just mean is that i am not responsible for anyone who can't be taken care of by anyone else. my family have each other, and my friends have their significant others and/or better friends than me. if i had my own family already, specially children, i definitely cannot afford to die. i wouldn't let myself die. i guess, i am just saying that for the first time in a long time (or maybe ever?), i am not afraid to die. and seriously, it's a liberating feeling. :)

Surviving the Urbanathlon

yes, i am still alive! i would like to share with all of you my greatest physical achievement for the year, that is finishing the Urbanathlon! What is the Urbanathlon? Well basically, it's a 10 kilometer run/race plus 2 laps (except for the wall) of obstacle course. The obstacle course includes overcoming four 4.5-foot high marine hurdles, climbing 4 pickup trucks, walking through a 4-feet long 4-inch thick wooden plank, "jumping" over four 3-foot high barricades and finally, conquering an 8-foot wall. and yes, i came out alive, it's a miracle! many many thanks to my teammates who helped me throughout the race. i wouldn't be able to climb that wall and marine hurdles without you. for my officemates and grish for the cheers and support. and especially to mapet for being our official photographer and producing "proof" of our greatest achievement up to date. :) below, a step-by-step guide on how to climb an 8-foot wall. prerequisite though: 3 grown men!

step 1: hold the rope and put your feet up.

step 2: everyone, push!

step 3: hold on for dear life!

step 4: get reinforcement at the top.

step 5: for someone with no upper body strength like me, have someone clamp your feet over the wall, and another one to boost you up through your other leg. requirement though, a bit of flexibility or high tolerance for pain.

step 6: for someone who just went through much pain, rest a bit at the top.

step 7: climb down.

step 8: put both feet on the ground. ta-da!!!

yey! and we crossed the finish line together. that is team building for you! :)

all posted pics here and in my multiply are from mapet. thanks mapet! :)

being alone in the office on a late Saturday afternoon, during a supposedly long weekend is not good for the heart. ok, i'll say it... it's lonely. i'm sad. i need more friends.

i really should blog...

about the last musical play i saw, Avenue Q, and how "there's a fine fine line between love and a waste of time." about the zipping class i took last Wednesday with J and how i am liking it even if i've only tried it once. and i'd really like to dance again, and try on a new sport. about my new TV show obsession, How I Met Your Mother, and the funny things in life that it reminds you of. how it made me realize, for one, that i love being the person people go to bitch to (not "bitch about"), and how it'd be nice to find the person i'd love bitch to (not "bitch about"). and most of all, how it'd be funny, annoying and awesome at the same time to have a friend like Barney. about Gary and Dyan's wedding last Friday, and how i almost ended up with the bride's bouquet. that i found it funny to realize that i was the only "eligible contestant" in our table for the toss. and i thank my sort-of old basketball skills which enabled me to catch that last rose and saved me from the "higher, higher" garter tradition. how the girls with me in the table, Ria and Hannah, were talking about babies, their babies (!), and how it made me realize that we really are getting old and it made me think if i'm sort of late already for this rat race called "family life". but then i see the guys with us and can't help but notice how they have not changed since high school so maybe it hasn't been that long or it isn't late at all. about how it makes me sad that my best friends are moving somewhere far and so it would be much harder now to meet up, catch up and see them. how i would miss them sleeping over in my place on Friday night, watching DVDs even if half of them already feel asleep halfway through it, and how they'd wake me up before 8am on Saturday which makes me hate them. but of course they know how much i love them. and finally about how i think i am ready for phase 4, i'm just scared to admit it. well, let's see what happens.

bora bora boracay... again!

yep, went to boracay again. and yes, i went to the beach AGAIN. i might be unrecognizable to someone who hasn't seen me in the past month. i've got a tan! i am dark! anyway, i went with my ex-officemates this time. and though i've only been to boracay last May, this is definitely a different experience. it's like being in a new place. first of all, we weren't dying of dehydration or heat stroke this time. now, only was there no sun, there were strong winds and some rain. it was not peak season, so there were less people. no lounge chairs on the shore. there were waves -- it'd sure be great if only i know how to skim board! the water activities like parasailing, banana boat, jetskiing, etc. that we used to see last summer was replaced with people kite-boarding. and most fun of all, there was definitely a lot of time for drinking and relaxing! yes, despite all the bitching because of the weather and the constant "who's bright idea is it to come here on September, anyway?!!", i did have fun. thanks everyone for coming! ;) now, on with the pictures!

the jump shots. we always do some everyday.

people in the pics with me are j, parks, paul, vida and kuya bry.saturday night drinking. after devouring 1 liter each of Smirnoff vodka, Kahlua and Baileys. i love these group shots very much. it's so iskul bukul. hehe!wasak pictures on Sunday night. i have never been this red from alcohol my entire life. i even had red spots on my leg! we drank about 3 liters of Vodka, etc.

i also got a new henna tattoo of a celtic cat, which i really liked. however, 15mins of walking later, it sort of got smudged and ended up looking like a fox instead. still ok, i guess.

pics were from Kuya Bry's cam. got lazy taking pictures. blame the weather! anyway, hopefully i get to upload them in my multiply. check them out if you have the time! :)

road trip, part 3

ok, since i'm waiting for something anyway... and this is not much, might as well do it, right? :P Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte we arrived in Pagudpud on Sunday night, tired from the commute and a bit pissed that we missed the sunset. the sun just set and left the sky orange when we finally chose a resort to stay in. the room we had was not as good as the one we had in Vigan, but we'll just be sleeping in there anyway. funny thing though is that half of the bathroom door is just frosted glass, so you could quite make out what is happening or who is in the bathroom. that leaves you the shower area to strip, however the rods and wherever you could hang your clothes are on the side of the bathroom "covered" by the door. ahem, period. we had dinner at a restaurant there, which funny enough is a "Wifi Hotspot". funny because we were in the middle of the province, trying to get away from civilazation... and here it is, on the edge of the country, is a wifi hotspot. anyway, we had bulalo, mini lobsters and bulanglang. food was good enough to restore some of our energy. we walked by the beach afterwards. i was surprised to discover how fine the sand was, almost comparable to boracay. anyway, we didn't get far by walking because we started "writing our names" with Allen's flashlight.

this is what you can do with a flashlight, and some kind of fireworks mode on a point-and-shoot camera having breakfast the next day. last shot before we all got burned for not bringing sunscreen.

we went on a little walk to reach this side of the beach, where there were less crowds, less rocks and more shade. the windmills are still visible from here.

almost 2 hours later, this is what we turned to. last group shot by the beach. too bad we can't get the windmills in the picture.

well, we left pagudpud with a heavy heart as we didn't really want to leave, but we have that 14-hour drive back to manila to "look forward to". it was pretty as boracay, yet it doesn't have that commercial bustle. it's definitely a place where you can relax. ayayay, if only it's not so far, i will be back next week! i can still afford to get a bit more tanned, right? :D

road trip, part 2 - on the way to pagudpud

Paoay, Ilocos Norte

St. Augustine's Church, more commonly known as the Paoay Church, is one of the few remaining Baroque churches in the country.

the side entrance of the church, and the ruined seminary/convent.

the "touristy" pictures

Laoag City, Ilocos Norte we only stopped by Laoag to buy some food as it is the last city on the way up north. while there, of course we had to take pictures of the Sinking Bell Tower.

the Sinking Bell Tower of Laoag. there are old tales that before, a man on a horseback can enter through the vaulted door without stooping. now you can see that Allen is almost as high as that vaulted door.

Burgos, Ilocos Norte

the Cape Bojeador Lighthouse

South China Sea as seen from the top

top of the lighthouse. do we look scared? not so much, it was just so hot up there, that's why we all look like that. :P

Bangui, Ilocos Norte

the Windmills of Bangui. and as far as i know, this is the only place in the country where you can find windmills.

Patapat Viaduct, Ilocos Norte our last stop before resting in Pagudpud. we went here thinking of catching/watching the sunset. 10 minutes in the place and not seeing where the sun is, we realized we were facing north. pfft! no sunset pictures then.

this was one long and scary road. but being here really did feel like i was on the edge of the country, which is well... the reality.

anyway yes, we all went to these places within half a day. now, that really is a road trip. some of the pictures here are from Allen's and Angel's cameras. you can tell which ones because they look a lot better. ;) next is the final installment in the road trip series... Pagudpud!

road trip, part 1

Vigan City, Ilocos Sur 10-hour drive, 5 provinces away... need i say more? well, the trip/commute itself was tiring, especially for Allen who was our only driver. but it was worth all that once you get there. the place was sort of dreamy, since it sorts of brings you back to the late 1800s. food was great too, especially the local delicacies like the longanisa, bagnet, tinubong and bibingka. i'm sure the old Crisologo road would have been more impressive for me, if only i have not been to Norway first. the cobblestoned street is sort of what sets it apart from the rest of the city, and well... i've seen cobblestoned streets before. :p anyway, i am too lazy now to go on more details. besides, they say a picture is worth a thousand words, right? well, a short story is coming right up!

touch down at Vigan on Saturday! my road trip companions: Allen, Luz and Angel

time for a tour of the city. of course we had to take a calesa for that! :)

Crisologo Street, Vigan City at night after the rain

well, before leaving on Sunday, of course we had to trash the hotel room. oops, i mean, act like children and jump on the beds.

finally, on the way back to Manila on Monday, we stopped by Vigan again to buy more pasalubong and take group shots

I adore Vigan City. Anyway, for the rest of the pictures, i will be uploading them to my multiply site. Meanwhile, for much better pictures, check out Angel's blog. up next: Paoay, Laoag, and Pagudpud!

dibidees!

i am now the owner of 83 movie DVDs and 7 seasons of Friends (DVD box-set). for those who don't know yet, yes this is my main vice. i figured since i really like movies, i should support them by not just collecting them, but by buying the original ones also. i even bought some "unknown" DVDs just to check them out. some turned out well, but of course there's also a few that are mediocre and/or not worth it. anyway, i am still looking for several DVDs. i cannot find them in any of the stores here and i am now seriously considering of ordering them from Amazon, but the shipping price kinda scares me. and besides plane tickets, i have never bought anything else online. has anyone tried ordering from the Philippines? any tips? well, if any of you guys know where i can find these DVDs, please let me know. i really want to get my hands on them soon. you may also give them to me as an early christmas gift. :p

1. The Shawshank Redemption
2. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
3. Gangs of New York
4. Count of Monte Cristo
5. Sleepers
6. Meet Joe Black
7. Lost in Translation
8. Lord of the Rings 1-3, Extended Edition
9. Kill Bill Volumes 1 and 2
10. With Honors
11. Fight Club
12. The Wedding Singer
13. The Matrix
14. A Lot Like Love (only because of the song)

i am also looking for the DVD of the local film "Ang Pagdadalaga ni Maximo Oliveros" and of course, "Pisay" once it gets out. btw, if you guys have any suggestions also of what i should get/watch, please tell me. i am sure there are still a lot of movies out there that i don't know of. :) edit: while playing the Never-Ending Movie Quiz on Facebook, i realize i haven't seen and/or i want the following movies too.

1. Dead Poet's Society
2. Good Will Hunting
3. American History X
4. The Breakfast Club
5. St. Elmo's Fire
6. Schindler's List
7. Pan's Labyrinth
8. Murder at the First
9. Se7en
10. Pulp Fiction
11. Cutting Edge
12. The Devil's Advocate
13. When Harry Met Sally

now, let's see if i can find any of these in the midnight madness sale later! :D

to mister brooder

jam, you'd be proud. i finally did it, i took your #1 advice. can you see??? now, i just hope it won't haunt me. :P i am on step number 3 and moving forth!

what do you call it: dependable or work-a-holic?

in the 4 years that i have been working, i have never considered myself as a work-a-holic. all my life though, i have always thought i was dependable. ok, there may be times when i wasn't so dependable as a friend or a child... but that's another story. anyway, i always step up to the plate when i can. and when it is my idea to step up, it's just natural that i give more than 100% of my best effort. otherwise, for me, it's just embarrassing. since i got back here from my trip to Europe, my "usual" work hours became from 10am to 2am. that is, if i manage to come in around or before 10am in the office. most of the people i'm working with on my current project is based in Madrid and/or Oslo, thus i extend my work hours to confer and basically, work with them. but anyway, it's not like i spend 16 hours straight working. i usually break away for 2-3 hours during dinner time and then just come back. of course there are the occasional extra extra work hours; like when i worked until 6am the next day last Thursday night, and when i had to come in yesterday to work even if it's a holiday. but i am not complaining. truth is, working for extra hours is my choice. nobody really asks me to stay and work longer. it's just that i have this weird notion in my mind that i am needed. and these colleagues of mine are doing most of the testing for me (since i cannot really test most of the things from here). i just feel bad about asking them to test and then leave them. that is normal behavior right? anyway yeah, i'm a bit concerned if i am going over the top here. besides, my work attendance is suffering. i mean, when i don't work for extra hours, i'm already very bad at coming in on time. can you just imagine what's happening now? edit: i have therefore concluded that i have become... a work-a-holic. so next question is, how do you stop? :D

the bad thing about living alone is that we you get that rare pang of loneliness, then it gets really lonely. when do i get to the part when i'll stop caring? ok, emo again. i hate feeling emo.

question #1

so, i was having some drinks with my long-time (anonymous) friends A and J last Saturday when a statement from J threw me off guard and made me think... basically, he said that guys become more "attractive" or interesting for women when they are taken (i.e. have a girlfriend) or is seriously courting somebody. my initial reaction of course was "wtf?!?!". but then again, is that true??? what do you think??

brighter than sunshine

pagbigyan nyo na ako, i haven't done this in almost two years. and this song has been in my head since yesterday afternoon, after seeing the ending of the movie A Lot Like Love. yes ending, i think i only saw the last 15 minutes of the movie, and i now plan to buy its DVD. anyway, for some reason, this song feels "special" even though the lyrics and all is nowhere near applicable in my life, or love life. maybe it's just a really good song. i'll be uploading it in my multiply site in a while, just in case you want to listen to it. do listen to it if you have the time! :) ----------------------------------------------------- i never understood before i never knew what love was for my heart was broke, my head was sore what a feeling tied up in ancient history i didn't believe in destiny i look up, you're standing next to me what a feeling what a feeling in my soul love burns brighter than sunshine brighter than sunshine let the rain fall, i don't care i'm yours and suddenly you're mine suddenly you're mine and it's brighter than sunshine i never saw it happening i'd given up and given in i just couldn't take the hurt again what a feeling i didn't have the strength to fight and suddenly you seemed so right me and you, what a feeling what a feeling in my soul love burns brighter than sunshine it's brighter than sunshine let the rain fall, i don't care i'm yours and suddenly you're mine suddenly you're mine and it's brighter than the sun it's brighter than the sun it's brighter than the sun, sun, shine love will remain a mystery but give me your hand and you will see your heart is keeping time with me i got a feeling in my soul love burns brighter than sunshine (it's) brighter than sunshine let the rain fall, i don't care i'm yours and suddenly you're mine suddenly you're mine and it's brighter than sunshine --- "brighter than sunshine" by Aqualung

i am back

okay, so in case there is still somebody out there who doesn't know -- i am back in manila! yes, i am back in humid, hot, polluted and raining manila, and it doesn't get better than that. i miss the cold oslo weather but really, there is no place like home. and i'd gladly stay here for one more year, just for that. ;) so, a lot of things happened in my real life while i was away. things that i can ignore while i was on the other side of the world. i was afraid to come back to manila and have to deal with these changes, but thankfully, things are rushing in gradually. i think i can deal with it now. anyway, it's only been last week that i was in Madrid and Oslo, but now it seems so long ago. a lot of things happened on my first week back, and i'm really happy about that. i haven't recovered from the trip though. i haven't unpacked yet and i haven't been able to meet up with everyone i wanted to see. and i seriously need to do laundry and clean my apartment before guests can come in. but well, i'm back and it looks like i'll be staying for a while, so there's time for that. but if you guys are free to meet up, let me know. i'd love to see you all again. :)

10 things to do once i get back to manila

1. eat all the pinoy food that i missed. like sinigang, tocino, ginataan, barbecue!... yum yum.. 2. eat rice every meal for at least one week 3. buy a starbucks frappucino 4. watch all the new movies in the cinema, especially "Pisay the Movie" 5. catch up on TV shows i missed 6. videoke! 7. pay bills and all debts 8. do laundry 9. meet my closest friends 10. finish that bottle of kurant in my apartment, because you deserve to turn me into a wreck just one more time

more

friday drinking with the Francisco, Elena, Lars L., Morten and Christopher before watching Harry Potter

the viking ship

the hotel breakfast food

the english guys - Graham, Mark, Alex and Andy

and more in my multiply site. :)

goodbye oslo

Unlike my first week in oslo, my second and third weeks felt more like work. Well, i need to be grateful now for the trip so i must work. I stayed out late (up to 8pm) in the office, a number times, during my second week, and my last week was just full of meetings. Therefore, not much sightseeing were done, but that doesn't mean there weren't "happenings" that occurred after work. I still managed to have time to have dinner, or drinks, or go around Central Oslo with Andrew and/or Christopher. Last thursday, for the first time, i had finished a meal (i've never been able to finish my food before, for some weird reason, since i got to Oslo) and played mini-golf. Of course, i let Christopher win, as a "thank you" for accompanying me all around. But i did manage to get two hole-in-one's, something he wasn't able to do, to redeem myself (though they were 90% caused by luck). Last Wednesday, guys from the London office visited for a whole day meeting. They will be leaving the next day (yes, they only flew to Oslo for a one-day meeting) so we "had to" take them out that night. We went to have dinner at a chinese restaurant called "Dinner". It has been one of the best foods i have ever had! Not just in Oslo (though definitely, the best in Oslo), but ever! Andreas took charge of the ordering and we ended up with 10 dishes, 2 servings of each, to feed 7 men and me. I was way too full to eat the last 2 dishes which broke my heart. Both my Fridays were spent drinking with guys from the office. This is what i really like about the people in the Oslo office, they are always available to have beers on Friday nights. Last last friday, i saw Harry Potter in the theater, but had been drinking way way before it with Christopher, Morten, Lars L. and Francisco. I tried some crazy liquors that night, particularly one Danish drink c/o Morten, who i really think is worth mentioning so as to remind me to never try it again. Unfortunately, i forgot what it is called. This last Friday was the most fun of them of all. Using "my last day" as tag line, i convinced a lot of people to join the drinking. My flight the next day was leaving at 8:30am, and really my plan was to go straight to the airport after the "party" (more on this later). All in all, there were Andrew, Brendan, Camilla, Christopher, Morten, Diego, Lars L., Francisco, Hanne and Arild there. Camilla's friend, Rosie, and Christopher's friend, whose name i'll later insert here, also joined us. The "party" ended around 4am. Had lots of pictures that night, but that would have to wait since i no longer have the means to transfer them to my PC. :D Anyway, i did manage to catch my flight despite the lack of sleep and i am here now in Madrid. I know now that i will definitely miss Oslo and the people in the Oslo office. I have now considered some of them as more than just colleagues or acquaintances, and i hope we could really be friends under this environment. And i do wish i'll see these friends again... and again is already better than anything else. Thanks Oslo, for having me there! I really had a very great time. :)

the trip so far

the plane that took me from Manila to Amsterdam.

this is how 8:00 PM in Amsterdam looks like.

my work station in the Oslo office. i just love that ergonomic chair! the extra monitor i have though is "astigmatic". so i'm learning to work with just my laptop now.

the big Oslo office! this is the view from my office room (yes, i got my own room. quite lonely sometimes but i think this is the best situation. this way, i get to call manila everyday). people in the office usually use a scooter like this to go from one end to the other.

one of the tourist spots my colleague/tour guide, Christopher, took me to. i forgot what it's called, just basically he said it is "THE" tourist park. that picture in the middle is a tower made of people. first time i saw it, all i can remember is that tree of dead people from the movie 300. quite disturbing...

basically, i've had a blast in my first week here in Oslo. i went sight-seeing almost everyday with Christopher. we had a drink with Conor, Arild, Brendan and Graham last friday by the Fjord. Arild took me biking yesterday. and later, i'm meeting up with Andreas, Andrew and Hege for dinner. i love the people here, they've been really kind and accommodating. this trip definitely feels more like a vacation than work. i'm hoping it'll stay that way until the end. anyway, i'll be uploading the rest of the pictures in my multiply site, check them out if you have the time. i miss you guys in Manila. i'm really having a great time here, but i'm also looking forward to going back home.