Killing the Time Could Be Expensive

It was Wednesday, still cold outside, and I worked on a 3-11 shift. On days like these my sleep usually took longer; no cell phone alarm. That particular day took on a different path because I hadn’t taken my breakfast earlier on. It must be the weather. So I left the house around 1pm because I already could hear my growling, empty stomach. The kind that makes me suffer dizziness and mild headache!

For someone like me who chose not to cook, breakfast is either Jolibee or Chowking. It’s past 1pm when I arrived at the downtown area and while in transit my appetite dictated to eat pork chao fan with toppings - pork siomai and lumpia shanghai. Fyi, I am not Chinese. That combination is by the way what I call my classic order. I mean the kind that when I appear in front of the cashier, she will know my order in a spark and I’m left with saying “right” or an amiable smile, or a customary nod to mean yes. However, Chowking plazamart is under major renovation. I passed by the place thrice but the closed sign still welcomed my gaze. The fourth time that I did, I already gaped. So I thought of eating at Bobs Centroplex and gobbled pansit luglug or palabok. Remember I didn’t have breakfast.

After getting full and satisfied, I checked the time. Still early, I decided to roam around aimlessly and do what people call, killing the time. There is a furniture shop in the area and I was interested to buy a tall solo chair made of wood. I walked around. I explored. I saw none. So I shifted to looking for a bookshelf considering that mine is too small for my books. I inquired and the lady owner, quite nice and accommodating, told me to explore the second floor where their stocks are many. One bookshelf nailed my eyes, picture below, already loaded with my precious book collection. I just couldn't resist to not have it. The next thing I knew was I already took out my wallet and paid. And that’s the story of my killing the time one lazy Wednesday afternoon.

Welcoming Twenty Eleven

I should start with a greeting, Happy New Year Everyone!

Many are extremely baffled, yes extremely, how to kick off the new year with a bang! It’s glaring in the eyes. Last Wednesday, Dec. 29, I was scheduled to attend a meeting at BACIWA. The usual routine took place; I called Faith and waited outside the gate. The operator said the cab will arrive after 10 minutes. I waited for15 minutes. There was no sign of a moving object from a far so I gave up the waiting. The Gray Adventure will never probably meet my eyes. I walked the distance from Emerald Street to the highway, which is quite near. Now comes another episode of waiting. All cabs within my sight were occupied not until after 10 minutes of standing like a post on one side of the Shell Gasoline Station.

I still had work in the 30th and on my way home the next day, the streets were unbelievably jammed. The usual ride took longer than usual that I almost fell asleep. I even remarked to the driver, it's too early for the Masskara!

The 31st of December is full of magic. There is a strong force that brings everyone outside of their abode to do business of many sorts; buy gifts, buy food, party, shop, and so on. What’s in your list? Add to my list. Isn’t that magical? It is! We often say we are short of money but when it’s the 31st, we easily let go of our money, whether from savings, salary, borrowed, and worst, swiped from the credit cards. Now businessmen, join me in laughing out loud on that magical day! Your riches have just gone leaps and bounds!

The first day of 2011 was a perfect day for resting. It was cold and gloomy! People at FB were quite uneasy of the meaning it brings but I said, it’s meant to chain people in their beds! For the longest time that I was deprived of a10-hour sleep or more, thank God, I had it last January 01. I woke up past 1:00 in the afternoon and it felt good! I thought that watching movies and eating in between is a good treat. After all, the last movie I watched was The Prince of Persia! Stop rolling those two eyes!

So off I went to Robs and standing at the movies counter, I came up with a plan; to watch three movies in a row. The magic of three! I carefully examined the time that the movies will start and finish. Five minutes after doing the math, the movies in order should be Dalaw starring Kris Aquino and Diether Ocampo, then Rosario played by Jennylyn Mercado, and Tanging Ina by Aiai Delas Alas. I am not a movie critic so I won’t attempt to do it. Although I must say after watching all three, the time element being my sole basis of the order of the movies, coincided with how the audience should watch it and be entertained given that the three are of different genre.

First, I was afraid, I was petrified of the “Dalaw” done by Karylle to the main characters, Kris and Diether;
then brought back in time as the drama of one woman named Rosario unfolded; then laughed like no one is watching, the one that is characterized by rhythmic variety, vocal loudness, and lingering vibrato as Aiai and Eugene do their comedic antics.

The first day of 2011 was solitary, restful, gloomy but the kind that I love, and cold, just enough!

May 2011 be even better for all of us!

How Did I Begin Writing?

I was in Junior High when my English teacher signed me up to participate in the school's press conference. It was the time when most of the senior staffer will soon exit in the editorial board. When I entered in the huge writing venue, I felt that we were all fishes in the ocean; some were big, others were small to become writers. The judges were the fishers with their fishing nets ready to screen us all. We were all made to write in all journalism categories; News Writing, Editorial Writing, and Feature Writing in English and Filipino. I was fished out winning in all three (modesty aside) categories. And that's how I get to be the next Editor-in-Chief in our school paper.

My first two trips in Cebu were made free with pocket money because of two Regional School's Press Conferences that I participated in. My first was in Lapu-lapu City and my second in Mandaue City. Though. I never made it to the NSPC.

I moved in Bacolod in May 2006. It made my debut as a travel magazine writer in a national publication, Philippinewide. I was asked to write a feature story about the Masskara Festival which of course came along my first writer's fee.

Take Pictures!

Pictures are a great deal for Filipnos. That is the reason why they will never be replaced with videos and other media. There's just a whole lot of difference about having pictures as a way of collecting and remembereing memories. Not to mention that Filipinos are a bunch of melodramatic people.  Almost every occassion, from the simplest to the grandest, taking picture is as basic as breathing.



I started blogging in June 2008 and since then all the pictures posted in this site were taken using my Sony Ericsson P1i cellular phone with a 3.2 megapixel camera.




Last Sunday, I bought my first camera. A 12.1 megapixel Sony Cybershot Digicam will now bring a change to how pictures will present the story itself or facilitate understanding when words are not enough in this blog. And hopefully the change is for something better!



Coffee, Anyone?

For someone like me who works on a rotating schedule, coffee is not a social accessory; it is a necessity. Thank God, Coffee shops are ubiquitous.

Coffee shops in Bacolod are practically easy to find. They are almost strategically located in the major Streets of the City.

Calea, Bobs, Kuppa, Bascon, and Starbucks are among the most popular for coffee addicts. Some are inside huge shopping malls like Brew ha, Bo’s, and Pietro. Some which are relatively new now gaining popularity are Café Uma and the newest coffee shop which is part of L’ Fisher Hotel.

I think it is also worth mentioning some coffee shops, though they closed already, made a connection to me. Café Vienna, now Bistro Negrense, was something I liked because of their acoustic nights during Friday’s and Saturday’s. Music and coffee make a perfect combination when you are tired or stressed out. Those moments when you intentionally don’t want to think and you are just there to feel good and come out feeling renewed ready for slumber. Another one is Figaro which was inside SM. It was one spot in the crowded mall where you can find serenity and silence. And this is probably the reason why they closed. The good thing though is that I was able to buy my first coffee tumbler there a week before they closed. A pretty good remembrance!

Calea, since I set foot in Bacolod, has been a favorite hang-out for all ages. A sweet-tooth that I am, one wouldn’t question my love for their mud pie. Something that I can probably eat three times a day!

Bascon Café, particularly the one near La Salle, is a very intimate nook. This is a relatively small café which is quite good for lengthy and personal chitchats. I am talking about the making-up-for-the-lost-time kind of conversations. A place made relaxing because of its being away from the frenzied city streets.

Bobs is one of the popular coffee shops if not the most. I believe that this coffee shop and Calea are one of Bacolod’s identifying marks.

Then Starbucks came. I must admit that when it opened it changed my desire to consume coffee. That is why, as early as December, I already got myself their 2011 planner. It has an artistic cover. I chose the red velvet one.

Now, I’m on to having my second planner. To date, I have 5 stickers. Coffee, anyone?

Division D Christmas Party

Voice of Our Youth Impromptu Speaking Contest

Having to sit as a judge in the District Level Youth Impromptu Speaking sponsored by Rotary was very taxing. I felt the lingering pain in my head after listening, analyzing, comparing and contrasting the different speaking style and technique of 16 high school speakers in Negros, Panay, Zamboanga, and Pagadian. ‘Twas a good thing I was seated beside TM Mario who cracked jokes in between speakers. Somehow it made my sanity intact. And the cold venue at Peque Gallaga Theater blew away the heat in between my ears.

Emerged champion is the male speaker from Iloilo. Second place is the female speaker from Zamboanga and the third is another female speaker from Bacolod City. My warmest felicitations to the winners and to the Rotarians for a pleasant Saturday morning full of wit, reason, and critical thinking!