Fight!

First time in a very long time that I'm still here at 9 in the evening.

I'm catching up on my emails and I've got several literatures on platforms that I need to read.

It's stressful. It's hectic.

It's good to be back.

Cosmic reality

I seem to be living in a parallel universe this past few weeks.

I don't know if it's good for me --- but I'm in a suspended state.

Am I stalling?

I'm not sure.

2 more days to go...

Another leaf will turn.

Deciding on our fate

The gods above are currently deciding on our fates.

Sadly, sometimes part of our future is not in our hands.

Don't do it randomly - like you're shuffling a deck of cards.

Or like picking a name from a fishbowl.

Some of us dedicated most parts of our lives for a cause.

Thank you...

for the goodness of people.

Thank you for the exercise of restraint and fortitude.

Thank you for pleasantly proving me wrong.

Thank you for giving me a flicker of hope that all is not lost.

There are some good men and women out there with big hearts.

And this is for them.

May you multiply in number.

Apropos

Elvin posted this on his Twitter and I had to RT:

"Live simply so that others may simply live". Give and help out until it hurts." HealPhilippines

It is not enough to commiserate. It is not enough to say, our hearts go out to our wounded brethren.

In times like this, empathy is simply not enough.

Distance is not an excuse. There's Paypal, G-Cash, Western Union, relief operations centers in the States, in Hong Kong, Taiwan, Macau, in all of Asia, Australia, even in Europe and the Middle East. Pinoys from everywhere are reaching out.

THERE IS NO EXCUSE.

People are getting sick and hungry in the evacuation centers.

Relief goods and medicines are NOT enough.

Don't postpone help for tomorrow.

Because we need them TODAY.

TNC sense of humor amidst the ravages of Ketsana aka Ondoy

Context: This lunch time, Palangga blasted a text to TNC inviting everyone to attend Noel Cabangon's benefit concert and drink tonight, moving the usual Thursday gig to a Wednesday instead.

I had to decline since I need to build emergency kits and continue helping in Globe's relief operations.

While everyone is busy taking turns in doing volunteer work in the afternoon, TNC's Thad texted this:

"Give strong drink to one who is perishing, and wine to the sorely depressed: when they drink, they will forget their misery and think no more of their burdens."

Proverbs 31:6-7

Thinking that this is a ploy to move TNC tonight, I had to Google and double-check.

Totoo nga.

And this officially becomes TNC's mantra and ultimate justification for its existence.

Hanep.

On Carrie's Big

Commercial from the onslaught of the typhoon...

I was watching the preview of Sex and the City The Movie on HBO this afternoon.

An SATC producer quipped:

"Sex and the City will not be Sex and the City without Big. He is the problem and the hope."

Nuninuninu...

Sounds familiar, doesn't it, Gem?

Hahaha.

Please help Ondoy victims


Guys, re-posting important contact numbers.

If you want to send help - food, medicines, supplies - or if you want to volunteer in the relief operations, please see the numbers below:

Rescue Operations

National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) (+632-9125668, +632-9111406, +632-9115061, +632-9122665) Help hotlines: (+65 734-2118, 734-2120) ndcchelpdesk@gmail.com

Philippine Coast Guard (+632-5276136)

Air Force (+63908-1126976, +632-8535023)

Metro Manila Development Authority (136)

Marikina City Rescue (+632-6462436, +632-6462423, +632920-9072902) Pasig Rescue Emergency Number (+632-6310099)

Quezon City Rescue (161)

San Juan City Hall Command Post (+632-4681697)

Bureau of Fire Protection Region III (Central Luzon) Hotline: (+63245-9634376)

Philippine National Red Cross (143, +632-5270000)

Philippine National Red Cross Rizal Chapter operations center hotline: (+632-6350922, +632-6347824)

Rubber boat and chopper requests

NCRPO (+632-8383203, +632-8383354)
Private citizens who would like to lend their motor boats for rescue please call emergency nos: +632-9125668, +632-9111406, +632-9122665, +632-9115061)

You can also text (+632917-4226800 or +632927-6751981) for rescue dump trucks.
For those who are able to lend 4×4 trucks for rescue: Please send truck to Greenhills Shopping Center Unimart Grocery to await deployment, Tel No. (+632920-9072902).
Petron & San Miguel Corporation are lending choppers for rescue operations, call/text: (+632917-8140655) ask for Lydia Ragasa

Power supply concerns

Meralco (+63917-5592824, 16211, +63920-9292824) If you want service cut off to your area to prevent fires and electrocution.

Donations of heavy duty flashlights needed for rescue operations in Cainta, Rizal area. Contact Cielo at (+632918-8824356)

E-Donations

SMS: text RED to 2899 (Globe) and 4483 (Smart)
G-Cash: text DONATEAMOUNT4-digit M-PINREDCROSS to 2882
TXTPOWER.org: Paypal, Smart Money (5577-5144-1866-7103), G-Cash (0917-9751092)

Cellphone services

FINDERSERVICE. For Smart, text wis to 386.
FINDERSERVICE. For Globe, text find to 7000.

Don't let this moment pass...

...without reaching out.

It's time to give back to the Universe and to our fellowmen.

I went home to an apartment flooded with rainwater. I have several newly-purchased books that have been destroyed by the flood. Rainwater crept through the ceiling, drenched my Zen installations, Asian rugs and pillows.

But how can I complain? I still have a roof on top of my head and my entire family is safe.

Today, my friends trooped to Red Cross and other rescue operations centers to volunteer.

GT also organized a relief operations team. myGlobe girls volunteered to either man our emergency service hotlines or pack relief goods. Mela and I are donating food and we volunteered as packers of relief goods tomorrow afternoon.

Friends, if you can and if you want to volunteer or send food and medicines to the victims of typhoon Ondoy, please coordinate with the nearest Red Cross in your community. You may also get in touch with your parish or public schools housing some of the typhoon victims.

As a special announcement, the Jesus Loves the Little Children Foundation in Pasig need food. There are kids inside the foundation who are in dire need of food because the Pasig area is still flooded and there are no markets opened because of the flood.

You may bring donations of any kind to River of God at Robinson's Galleria. It's located on the lower level, East Wing near the LTO and Ryan Cayabyab's Music School. You may also text or call Pastor Rachel Sanchez on how you can help at 0908-8953022.

Happiness is...

1. Charlie's Burger for lunch with JT

2. Sleeping soundly as Mandarin Oriental's soft, white bedsheets and pillows embrace me

3. An unexpected pasalubong a.k.a. Gucci from him

I love this version of life.

Happy.

In the land of the women

The dim-witted, full-of-themselves, ill-mannered, stringer assholes walking this planet are such embarrassment to their mothers.

I'm sorry to say this - but good men - REALLY hard to find.

I feel for friends who are being strung along by men who want to have their cake and eat it, too.

But it's definitely NOT going to be MY cake.

Despite his flaws, his mistakes - and all the doubt and demons inside his head sometimes - I need to credit him for being earnest. I need to appreciate how humble he can be to apologize and be remorseful.

Flawed as he is --- he is true and he can look me in the eye.

At least, most of the time.

Honey, ditch the dude. Can do better. DEFINITELY waaaay better.

Loving Thursday nights

The Thursday Night Club - TNC, as it was baptized - is mostly in Quezon City as of late.

I don't mind braving the traffic.

The company of Arlene, Teng, Plang, Wryl, Thad and the others who come and go during the drinking sessions is a perfect refuge after 4 stressful work days.

Every Thursday morning, I wake up looking forward to the margaritas and just laughing my head off. I will miss Thadacious when he comes back home to his southern kingdom after the bar. He's just the perfect complement to Teng's sense of humor.

Laos talaga ang hindi marunong magbato ng witty comeback.

And the doors are not open for the dimwits, I must say.

Ibabaon ng buhay.

'Til the next TNC.

Fight!

Shangri-La Mactan, Cebu: One more time with feelings

Another 4-day break at the Shang, Mactan = Nirvana.

Okay foyn, I must admit: I love manicured lawns and gardens, pristine beaches, mosquito-free dinners al fresco and hotel staff at your beck and call.

I luuuuuurv the resort.

I can surely rough it when needed, but my ideal vacay is a hassle-free beach trip with hotel staff who will treat me like a Princezz with a Z.

Just some of the things I love about Shang, Mactan:

1. Food

Buffet breakfast at The Tides is to die for!
Forget the buffet dinner, though. It's... forgettable.

Service bread at Acqua - soft dough, nice and warm when served.

White cheese wrapped with Jamon Serrano. Aylavet!
Have it with white wine.

Salmon wrapped with mashed potato at Aqcua

Angus strips - we ordered medium rare but came out well-done.

I forgot what this is - but a sumptuous dish nonetheless at The Tea of Spring.

Buffet dinner at The Tides - seafood, sushi and sashimi were good.
The rest - nah. Disappointing.

2. Booze

Mangaaaa!!! That's actually a mango-based cocktail.

Jagermeister!!!

Trying to get smashed at my ever-favorite hangout at Mactan - Cowrie Cove!

3. Pool and the beach

Moi observing a hermit crab passing by

Nice underwater cam!

Fantabulous beachfront

4. Room view and all the amenities






















5. Timezone - ang walang kamatayang Timezone! Aylavet!




Almost everything is always fun at Mactan.

And everything is so much better of course, if you've got great company. =)

Going back for the 3rd time. Why not?

Thank you

It's a beautiful day to be grateful.

I'm thankful for what I have.

Lucky Bitch. =)

And I'm back here again...

...waiting for boarding, as I quietly sit with Kohji and my brewed coffee.

I know - airports can be chaotic, especially if you need to go through one of the worst airports in the world (aka Terminal 1). I like sitting and watching people go by, though, especially on Centennial 2 since things are more organized here.

Airports give me that feeling of transition. I like transitions - they can be earth-shaking, but they spur changes.

Airports give me that nice feeling that the world is my one big oyster.

A lot of my interesting stories happened at the airport.

This is where everything began...

I can just hear violins playing on the background.

And I can still remember the way he looked... despite the 3 years that passed.

Retro

Connection between PLDT and Globe (for both Globelines and Handyphone) were cut today - unintentional or otherwise. I can't call my travel agent through my mobile phone and landline! WTF! Sabotage? Since I had to follow up my plane tickets and travel voucher, I had to do it the old school way. I had to line up and use a friggin' phone booth!

Take note - hindi na tatlong bente singko ngayon. You need 5 bucks to make a landline call.

This makes me stroll down memory lane.

Idol!

'Been watching Moro Gandawali compete in surf competitions since last year.

What can I say? Idol talaga.

I know there's a competition this coming October. I wonder if he's competing.

I shall be rooting for the Moro!

When I grow up, I will glide through water the way he does. Ambitious! Hahaha.

Surf's up!

I've got bruised legs and knees. I've got a scraped shin. When I woke up this morning, my entire body is a-achin' like a surf board paddled and hit me a hundred times over.

But it's all good, because...

I don't know about you, but this girl can surf.

Falling off my board on the first few attempts.
Yes, I got wiped out. Several times!

Awkwardly balancing on the board

Woohooo! Glide, glide, glide.

Bringing it on shore

On fighting form

Surfer dudette!

Yes, I can really surf.

It's your birthday, we're gunna party like it's your birthday...

No verbosity needed. We had ubeeeeeer fun celebrating Arlene's birthday!!!

Happy birthday Arlene! Cheers to more fun, more alchy, more friends and more parties together.

'Nuff said.

25 shooters & cocktails from Shakers Big Punch

Winner ang mobile bar!

Go Gail!

Bring the flamers down!

Moi & Teng - no we're not yet drunk.

Moi & Arlene - we're both Fire Snakes!

Winner party friends. Si Spocky walang kupas!

Benjie & Sandy

Cheers!

I'm inggit

The legendary couple that became Woodstock's iconic photograph in the late '60s are still together - after 40 years. Bobby and Nick Ercoline, who were a couple at that time of the Woodstock concert, are still married to each other until now.

That's a happy reminder that relationships can last.

If their generation can still believe in ties that bind - why can't we?