Ilocos! :)

I'd like to wallow in self-pity and say that I went to Ilocos as the third wheel of a doctor couple. But with my better judgement, I'd say I was very lucky to be their baby. I never moved a muscle, I never planned the trip, and I had the right to whine. Now, I was looking for a chance to really relax during a vacation, and I knew this was it.

After a 7-hour bus ride that kept me awake thinking if I was going to die right then and there, we were at Vigan! The Calesa ride was the best! We went to different sights and landmarks, including the Bell Tower where Panday was shot.

Jesse (Calesa Driver): Pupunta po tayo dun sa pinagshootingan ng Panday
Chubbs: Ni Jericho Rosales???
Jesse (Calesa Driver): Hindi Mam, ni FPJ.

Another great thing about Vigan is the longganiza. Panalo talaga. I knew I had some back in Manila, but I guess being in Vigan made me really appreciate it.

The next day, we were off to the beach! Saud beach in Pagudpud is beautiful. I super love beaches. I love relaxing, having fun in the water, and making those weird noises when jumping with the waves. We were truly enjoying ourselves. We were like kids given playing time permission instead of having to take the afternoon nap. Ang sarap.

After dinner that night, we started munching on some chips and drinking Coke. Our way of getting wasted. We each started reading from the Buddhist Daily Reflection book I got from Singapore. Here's one line that Ate Mitzi liked the most:

Success is composed of numerous failed attempts and one final, perfect attempt.

I had fun. And it was amazing to me that simple things such as chips, Coke, and a Buddhist book could be the best elements for a night of good company.

On our final vacation day, we were touring Pagudpud. For us, the best stop was the Blue Lagoon. The sand was white, and the waters were so blue and so calm, it was like a pool. The surroundings were a feast for the eyes. And we had that beautiful place all to ourselves. We were kids who couldn't stop saying "Ang sarap sarap!!!" while in the water. Blue Lagoon in Pagudpud is paradise on earth.

When we were about to leave, I got to thinking about the lives of the people in Pagudpud. They led such simple lives compared to what we had in Manila. They didn't have big plans for themselves like earning a lot of money or going abroad. Their simple lives keep them alive, and that's enough for them. I sometimes envy them. I wish I was given a simple life. I could have loved it.

Bye, beach...
I love you, beach...

After a tiring day, it was time for us to go. We were leaving a beautiful place, hospitable people, and great food. But we were carrying with us good memories and a true promise to come back to experience Ilocos again.

Ti ayat ti maysa nga ubing,
Nasamsam-it ngem hasmin
Kasla sabong nga apag-ukrad
Iti bulan ti Abril

*(The love of a young woman is sweeter than jasmine, like a blooming flower in the month of April.) When we were little, Lolo would play this Ilocano folk song with his ukulele. Up to now I still know the tune.

Ilocos, August 2006

Ilocos Vacation!
Vigan-Laoag-Pagudpud
August 22-24, 2006
with Ate Mitzi and Kuya Marky!

Lakads

Pics from:
- Thursday dinner at Mang Jimmy's with Chris, Miki, and Daniw
- UP-ADMU game at Araneta with Geviv
- Friendskami lakad in Makati

Info Logbook

During our CURSOR days, we would rake our brains for the hardest lyrics
to guess and write them down in the Info Logbook. This is only to find
out the next day that Victor has guessed all of the titles of our
hardest lyrics ever.



If I'm on your YM list, you know I've been doing this for the past few days. So here, give it a shot:



1. These are the moments I know heaven must exist.

2. Sundan mo ang paghimig ko.

3. For in romance, all true love needs is a chance.

4. Like sand on my feet, the smell of sweet perfume, you stick to me forever.

5. I'll always have the memories, she'll always have you.

6. There's an awful lot of breathing room, but I could hardly move.

7. Say goodbye, say hello, to a lover or friend.

8. You were just a dream that I once knew.

9. No, I don't believe our love's terminal.

10. You can never live until you've loved with all your heart and soul.

11. Do you expect me to believe I'm gonna let us fall apart?

12. When you breathe, I wanna be the air for you.

13. I saw you holding hands, standing close to someone else.

14. You're the last thing on my mind before I go to sleep at night.

15. I give you my destiny. I'm giving you all of me.

16. Wag sana nating itapon pagmamahal na wagas.

17. Ikaw nalang ang siyang kulang sa buhay kong ito.

18. So impossible as they may seem, you've got to fight for every dream.

19. Coz it's frightening to be swimming in this strange sea but I'd rather be here than on land.

20. One pair of candy lips and your bubble gum tongue.

Merlion Country

I remember I used to write something about every new place I've been to -- from Boston to San Francisco to Australia. But it stopped with Singapore. Maybe because I equate Singapore with work -- with late nights and take out dinners, with lonely evenings at the hotel and missing home, with SIT, BAT, and tons and tons of issues. I found nothing interesting to blog about that.

But now I find myself blogging about my last Singapore trip because it's the one I enjoyed the most and it was truly memorable. I had fun spending time with friends, and of course, the little work that needed to be done was fun as well.

Saturday. First day of Cutover and oh, happy 1st year HP Anniversary to me!

Sunday. I met up with Maricar and Roch at Takashimaya for lunch at Tori-Q. After lunch and some window shopping, we went back to Sheraton to get their bilins and chismis while watching Love Actually. Once in a while, we would glimpse at the sunbathing bodies by the pool downstairs. The girls were sexy, but there was one guy wearing conspicious lime green trunks. Haha.

Thursday. We had dinner at EngSeng. The best, the best, black pepper crabs!!! You say 4 girls can't finish 5 crabs and a lot of sidings? Wanna bet?

Saturday next. Christa and I went to this huge Buddhist compound along Bright Hill. It was beautiful. It's always fun seeing how different religions inspire different types of architecture. And we got free Buddhist books as well. Then it was off to lunch at NYDC in Wheelock and more book shopping at Borders. I super love book-shopping there. I almost don't feel like spending a lot on books because of the discounts and charging it to AMEX, of course.

Late Saturday afternoon, I went to meet up with Maricar, Roch, Brez, Miggy, RJ and Myan to go to the Macritchie Reservior for some hiking. It was very tiring. With the steep 3++ KM trail and having to lug a huge bag, who wouldn't be tired? But it was fun as I was with the usual riot of HP-Accenture friends. Hahaha. You wouldn't believe how many "OK ka lang, Chubbs?" everyone said along the trail. Concerned sila, thank you Lord.

After some shopping at an Esprit outlet and buying my wedge Bata shoes that I truly love, we proceeded to have dinner at Din Tai Fung. The best dumplings I've tasted ever. 'Nuff said.

Early Sunday morning next. Love-of-your-life sharing in Sheraton Room 1420. Never imagined this mix would be able to bond this way.

Sunday noon, Roch and I wake up to sleepy non-alcoholic drunkeness because the love-story sharing ended in the wee hours of the morning and we weren't able to get cheap booze.

Tuesday. EngSeng Part II. Tells you how good it is here. We love it!

Friday. We all skipped work in the afternoon to attend the celebration of Gillette Integration at Sentosa. We were all so excited to see our teammates who were working in Melbourne (Flo, Jusel, Denz, Ivan, and Sarah). It was the first time our team was complete! We hastily wore our costumes for the day: barcoded stickers (the product of our own sweat and tears) and went straight to Sentosa.

We all enjoyed the games: luge-racing and beach volleyball, even though I totally suck at sports. After the games, we headed to the venue where a program and dinner was prepared for us. Gillette ANZ Integration was awarded with the Best Project Start Up. That moment is one of those happy instances that would shoot you up in joy for a split second. I would have loved to see and capture each and every one of my teammates' faces the second it was announced. Classic.

After the dinner, we went for some ANZ bonding time. We went for videoke where Denz brought the house down with his Doble-oke performance. But nothing could top our Indian mappers' rendition of Barbie Girl. Imagine 4 grown-up men singing Barbie Girl. Perfect entertainment. Needless to say, I really really enjoyed the celebration. It was a rightful reward for all the work that we put in for the project. It was my perfect Friday night.

Going-away Saturday. Before finally saying good-bye to Singapore, Miggy and I met up with Roch, Maricar, and Joh to go and see the Singapore Botanic Gardens. Once there, we helped ourselves to a restaurant's breakfast buffet. Yum! A great way to start the morning. Especially with the long walks that we took. Mala-Macritchie itoh. But we got to see various plants, flowers, and wildlife that one obviously wouldn't see in the hotel. Add to that singing our own rendition of the Flinstones jingle. Again, no matter how tiring it was, I still enjoyed it with the company of friends.

When we went back to Sheraton, I was getting sentimental about leaving. I was thinking of when I would get the chance to see my mares again as I wasn't assured of coming back in the near future. For the first time, I was sad about leaving Singapore.

If I were writing this a month ago (as I should have been), I'd say I had a grand time in Singapore, I'd miss everything, and hope I'd be back soon -- but not too soon. But now that I'm more or less sure of my travel plans, I guess I'd just say, See you soon, Merlion Country!

My Weekend

08.04.06 First Friday Mass, Dinner, Starbucks, and Hale!!! with Chris, Miki, and Hannah Joy
08.05.06 Just my Luck with Jena