Saturday, November 29, 2003 10:15 PM
hmmm...
You know, all these voice changes tell me one thing:
I'm getting all grown up. :-D
Friday, November 28, 2003 11:26 PM
reality really bites
I'm sentenced to more rehearsals over the weekend. No going out for me. Plus I need to look for a keyboard quick. Why?
Because I have been displaced to the alto section. Alto 2, to be exact.
I have my big mouth and my adventurous (if you call it that) side to blame for this current change. Because let's face it: after that one week of one of the most severe sore throat experience I've ever had in my life, my voice never really went back to Soprano 1 range, thus the demotion to Soprano 2. And then there's me contemplating on trying out the alto tune.
So while we were vocalizing and I was having a hard time lingering on the notes at the edge of the keyboard (I used to reach them *sigh*), the choirmaster stops and says "are you having a difficult time? would you rather move to the altos?"
Challenged and somewhat excited by the prospect of singing something aside from the melody, I said "pwede pa-try sa Alto 2?".
Choirmaster called me in front and tried to hear my low notes. Come to think of it, I've never heard my voice so low before. Vocalizing does increase your range, in my case however, the range went lower. I actually surprised myself by picking the lowest female voice (incidentally by the way, it's also the most powerful).
Unfortunately, the moment I tried learning the songs, correction, re-learning the songs, I somehow felt a longing for the melody. I can't believe how hard it was! And then reality sank in that I will never sing Shiru Ladonai or those other songs the same way ever again.
How I miss my beloved high notes... Fare thee well. Now the current question in my mind is, will I be saying goodbye permanently?
Thursday, November 27, 2003 11:28 PM
retail therapy
You know that the day is not going right when you wake up with two ridiculously large zits that have comfortably-placed themselves on one of each cheek.
Trust me, if I was an immensely superficial person condemning my life to a meaningless charade of beauty alone (though I have yet to meet one who has done so), those two little monsters are omens of a disgraceful death.
But I was annoyed all the same. Time for a bit of retail therapy, so I said to my half-Czech cousin with a New Zealand citizenship. Yes... time for a bit of retail therapy financed by own mother as a going-away present for my exotic-looking cuz. We decided to grace Greenhills with our presence. I believe we have already contributed greatly to the Philippines as we have fueled the economy with our demand for shirts, bags, and sandals. I am happy to report that the money supply has increased (though only slightly), which is why I cannot understand why the news keep wailing about the peso-dollar etc. etc.
Oh I forgot. FPJ officially declared his decision to run for President next year. Sheesh. This actor-turned-politician scared all the forex away.
Another thing that I feel incompetent about is the fact that I suck at watercolor painting. It's too damn hard to control the paint from running on the paper. I have been warned that it is the hardest of mediums, but dammit, I didn't imagine it was this hard. Maybe I should stick to pastel? At least, I get to do cover-up. My watercolor exercises just look so kindergarten-ish.
Oh well, maybe when I do acrylic next week, I'll surprise myself.
Sigh.
Tuesday, November 25, 2003 8:50 PM
:-)
I graduated from oil pastel today. On thursday, I'm painting in water color. I'm so excited, I'm tempted to open my new set of Reeves Water Color Tubes!
Here's what I did in class today. Enjoy!
Saturday, November 22, 2003 11:42 PM
i now know what ante-hell is like
It's shopping for a thirteen-year-old, with a thirteen year old.
It's that age where girls' bodies are just changing... if they were cars, it's the proverbial "engine break"... or something like that.
I'm really not into shopping. I have no fashion sense and the only time I shop for myself is when I really need to buy something for a function or any special occasion. In times like that, I need to bring someone else with me. Usually Soliloquy dresses me up. But how is it that I was shopping with a thirteen-year-old girl just moments ago? My godmother's great granddaughter happened to be around and she was looking for flared pants.
Flared pants never sounded so deadly. I was bored right out of my skull and my feet became freakin' numb because of walking around two malls. Every time I pointed something out (and they looked really nice which was indeed an achievement for me), she'd shake her head and say "nah, I don't like the fabric", or "how formal", or "I don't like that thingie that holds the belt", or "it's not flared enough", or "it's not beige enough", or "I wanted a black one".
Gaaaaah!! It took a lot to stop myself from grabbing her shoulders and shaking her until her head would come off. And I would just like to say that the shopping ended in vain. She didn't buy a single pair of those flared things.
In my opinion, the world may as well run out of flared pants. I think I'm wearing a skirt to Church tomorrow.
Friday, November 21, 2003 9:42 PM
i need a good cry
I don't know why but I just do.
I came home last night feeling so detached from the real world. The past three weeks have been great but I really have no idea on what's been happening outside the office and the hotel. I didn't even know that there was a kidnapping incident gone bad. They found the victim dead after paying half a million pesos.
I think the worst part is when I came home and I didn't even know what my roommates talk about. I felt so left out I went to my room and just slept.
And it's not just that, when I went to chorale practice this evening, I felt like I didn't belong there. The choirmaster was late and while everyone was tinkering around with the songs, I actually asked myself if I had enough talent to be there.
These are clearly withdrawal symptoms. Today was my last day of work. Tomorrow I'm swimming it all off.
Thursday, November 20, 2003 5:28 PM
old flames and stopping traffic
And I mean old. Well, okay, slightly old. But anyway the point is, they're at least ten years older than me. At least.
Remember the Malaysian guy with the two MAs from Yale who asked me out? Well... I met him again, and we talked as if the six months that went by never happened. He's still the same Khairi, the same director of the Malaysian Institute for Corporate Governance (so waltzer, if you happen to meet him, say hi for me), the same delegate who would rather hang out with me rather than listen to the speakers who droned on and on.
In comes a new character in this story of unrequited affections (I feel my head getting hideously large here, bear with me). Another Lawrence came into my life, and this time he's a law professor in Ming Chuan University (who studied at Yale Law), who suggested that I go with him to Taiwan. Great job, check. High IQ, big check. Good-looking, check, check, and exclamation mark! What else is there to look for? If only he were younger, ya?
When the seventeen foreign (East Asian) delegates and I walked from the hotel to my university last night, I was torn between talking to Khairi and Lawrence who wouldn't leave my side. My boys (all seventeen delegates) were under my watch when crossing the streets of Manila during rush hour! Only a Filipino could imagine my fear if one of them would get run over by a sane Manila driver, much more by a crazed one. Jin-Wan Cho, from Korea, wondered aloud how people cross the streets here where there are no stoplights. I told him it was a skill. But never in my life had I tried to shield a group of grown men from impatient drivers before. It was ridiculous to think that I had the guts to hold up my hand to stop traffic like I was Neo freezing the machines from attacking Zion in The Matrix.
It was cool, nonetheless. I loved working with these men, intellectuals from all over East Asia trying to make solutions to rid corruption in government and the corporate sector. The next time I'm going to see them will be in May. Hopefully, by then, I'll be a permanent staff.
I can't believe that while I am typing this, I am starting to miss them. It was really amazing in my part to actually converse with real, live, hot-blooded political economists. It's just one of the things that tell me that the world may have become screwed up in some ways, at least there are people who want to set everything straight.
Tuesday, November 18, 2003 12:31 PM
and so it begins
Let the freaking out, the running around in three-inched heels, the never-ending cheek-numbing smiles, the unconditional patience with delegates who have the same IQ as earthworms and the rest of my underpaid enslavement begin.
I'm out on the field, folks. Conference in EDSA Shangri-la. It's going to be big, I tell ya.
Monday, November 17, 2003 5:20 PM
I've had it up to here
I am finally enrolled. Finally. After the drama that Mr. Avila just made me go through.
Trust me, I think that's already saying a lot.
Saturday, November 15, 2003 11:19 PM
woohoo!
The only great thing that I could tell the world is that I finally resolved the insurance arrangements. I am freeeeee!! Yesterday, I finally paid the company whose car I rammed Bembol into.
Now the ironic thing is that my temporary license expired today and I'm now supposed to hold the plastic card thingie in my wallet. It's half an archipelago away unfortunately.
FYI, people, if you wanna see me drive, go over to Soliloquy's blog and see me in action. You've been warned though.
Thursday, November 13, 2003 11:32 PM
messages from home
Quite a number of MMDA people have already asked for Bembol's registration. Why? Because when my dad registered him in Surigao, he forgot to send me his registration stickers. For two weeks, I've been asking for them, and today I finally got them.
With a letter that says:
Dear sweetheart,
At last, I got your stickers this afternoon.
How are you?
Text me.
Love,
The greatest Dad in the universe
Great sense of humor definitely runs in the family.
11:54 AM
i need to grow up
My nephew messaged me. I'll post it here. Marty is twenty years old. For tagalog and english readers, I apologize for the vernacular language, but I think you'll understand the gist. I'm just happy he and I are communicating. I love relatives!
hi auntie! kumusta na mo diha? gi mingaw na ko sa
manila. heheheheh i was surprised when i saw ur
profile... i forgot to tell u when i was there(i
know u'll be happy of what i'm going to
say..hehehe) when i first saw u ba, i said to
myself, parang pumayat si auntie! hehehe
pero i never had the courage to say it kai MAUWAW
man ko..hehehehehe bitaw, when man mo maka visit
namo diri sa cebu? aron kami nasad ang mag tour
ninyo diri..hehehe anywayz, i added u na sa akong
friends list. auntie, diri lang sa ko kutob kai
mag emote sa ko diri kai bag-o ra mi nag kuyog sa
akong crush..hehehehehe.God bless..
don't forget to thank the Lord for all the
blessings he has given us. take care.. give my
regards to everybody.
Paul Walker...aw este, MARTY diay hehehehe
Now, he and I had an agreement, like all other nieces and nephews, he should call me ate like he would call any elder sister. But the secret's out. Lai, Marty, and the rest call me auntie or tita when we're with family.
And yes, I've always been the butt of many jokes and pranks. Given the very little, almost nonexistent, age gap, I am not considered an authority figure (except on special cases). Marty and the rest would always motion to kiss my hand, as is the Filipino custom to show respect to elders, when we see each other, and I would always take my hand away (to insist that I am not old). That's how we break the ice in the very few number of times we get to hang out.
Wednesday, November 12, 2003 3:03 PM
the grass is always greener in someone else's lawn
It feels like a refrigerator in this office. I am freezing. And it doesn't help when a certain monthly cycle drains the energy out of one's body.
There's a rally outside my building, it's the second one I've seen this week. There are so many people and they all look like ants from the 24th floor.
In this cold, I think I'd like to join the people on the streets. It may be raining, but it looks a little warmer down there.
12:20 PM
guilt: the third time's the charm
I got caught.
Again.
For the third time.
In Manila.
Again!
For the third freakin' time!
And this time, the offense was justified (honest!). I swerved. I mean, I think I did. What exactly is the definition of swerving?? I got the Philippine traffic rules book but the MMDA seem to have a different notion on what it is. Well, anyway, even if I did get caught (yes, Bundi, for the third time, you may retrieve your jaw off the floor now), I still got out of it --- meaning, I was not given a ticket.
I love my license. It has a provincial address. *wink*
Honestly, though, I feel bad. The guy was only doing his job. But then he suggested I pay him off, good thing I was too dense to notice it till I drove away.
Tuesday, November 11, 2003 3:35 PM
yahahaha!
I was getting into the corporate rhythm. My right ear was practically plastered on the phone while I spoke to CEOs, secretaries, and ambassadors about the upcoming conference in the Shangri-la Hotel. I did everything I was supposed to do --- confirmed attendance and sponsorships --- being the most polite and charming girl I could muster. It was frustrating at times, especially the Australian Embassy. I memorized their trunkline already and for three days I've been trying to get through the ambassador, I couldn't hide my relief when I got hold of her secretary. She laughed at me when I exclaimed "thank God you answered!". It was quite an incredible accomplishment to finally get her direct line number. In fact, the Central Bank of the Philippines called the office to ask me the ambassador's digits. Strange. Was there some supernatural force that enlightened them that I am now the proud know-er of the ambassador's direct line number? I don't know, but everybody in the office is wondering how they found out.
Should my embarassing non-mistake (as opposed to it being one) develop its own consciousness and finally have a life of its own, I'd name it after my boss. My boss, who shall remain nameless, told me to call up a company and ask for their logo, which I obeyed. I gave PhinMA the email to which they could send their logo to and happily reported to him the achievement of contacting them as he ordered. Then the embarassment begins:
my boss: "What amount will they give us for the sponsorship?"
me: (confused) "Uh, sir? I was only told to ask for the logo..."
my boss: "Yes but that's assuming they will give us a sponsorship."
me: (thinking horrid thoughts on giving him a finger because apparently I was not given the gift to read minds and make assumptions like he was) "Ah okay, I'll call them again now and settle the matter."
I called the company again. They told me to call them back tomorrow. Grrr. I apologized to my boss for my non-mistake and sought refuge in the pantry where a co-worker gave me a cookie while he laughed at this small anecdote. Grrr.
By the way, sleeping in a bathing suit is not at all comfortable. I was to swim last night at the building's pool for my daily exercise but there were other swimmers hogging this particular body of water. Soliloquy and I waited them out in my flat hoping that unless they won't leave soon, the pool will unusually evaporate itself.
I fell asleep and woke up at 4am. So is it still cardiovascular activity when you're doing laps in your dreams?
I regret cancelling art class today.
Monday, November 10, 2003 10:54 PM
left out
Don't you just hate that feeling when people you love to be with seem to rather want to hang out with other people? Sad. Immensely painful too. It's moments like these that I wish human hearts were made of stone rather than layers of tough muscle (called the myrocardium, fyi).
Well. Yeah. Maybe this is the beginning of the end? Maybe this is the beginning of keeping things to myself rather than blurting it out to the world?
Anyway, how I wish that people could just read this instead of me confronting them about it. But I think they're too caught up with themselves rather investing into any kind of relationship that involves me in it.
Like I said: sad, immensely painful too.
And yes. Nagpaparinig ako.
9:39 AM
stupid sophomores!
You don't know who you are waking up at 1:30 in the morning!
All I can say is, this is NOT UP. Nope, the UA&P campus is not big enough (unlike UP where it's almost a town in itself) to handle a student population beyond 2000, so I don't understand why you have to line up hours before the enrollment should start. Moreover, the administration made the whole enrollment thing foolproof so you won't have to get your sorry asses out of bed in the middle of the night just to wait at the university gate chattering and yelling.
Oh and I just couldn't resist calling the local barangay police. You were just too damn noisy that you ruined a good night's sleep altogether. Imagine my disappointment when I thought there was a rally being staged (finally!) in front of the most conservative school in the world only to find out that you were just yelling your hearts out to make the residents in the area miserable. Ooooohh... how I relished the moment when the security people at my building told me that other residents also called the police to shut you up.
And after waiting for thirty long minutes for the police to do some kind of exciting raid, they just passed by in their little police cars. Arrrrggghhh! SO I called the university security guards myself and specifically instructed them that unless you guys won't put a sock in it, I will get the building's water hose and shower you myself from the seventh floor. Believe me, my flat is in perfect trajectory given the excellent water system we have in the building. You should thank the guard that talked to you or else you'll be lining up for enrollment soaking wet in the numbing cold of the tropical morning.
Sunday, November 09, 2003 12:16 AM
"it's alive!!!"
---screams the girl whose nameless PC is finally back in action.
And now it's time for me to abuse the super-computer capabilities of my resurrected nameless PC.
Please comment. I'd love to know what you guys think about my oil pastel work from art class.
Friday, November 07, 2003 3:59 PM
boring!
I am bored. I did everything I was supposed to do today five hours earlier than planned. Dang. Nothing exciting is happening, except the fact that a major universal bank said they'll sponsor the upcoming conference because "anything from Dr. Estanislao (the big boss) is most welcome." Hmmm... I could get used to calling up CEOs... yesterday I actually called up Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala II, President of Ayala Corp, one of the biggest corporations in the Philippines.
I basically don't like calling up and following up sponsorships. I'm more excited into the organization proper of the conference. I actually miss running around in Shangri-La in high heels.
I'm surfing the net to keep myself from falling asleep on my desk. Here's something interesting I read, and I think all parents should have a good look at it.
12:40 PM
men in uniform II
You know, the security guards in the RCBC Plaza building are cute. Nice people too. One asked me yesterday before I went home if I already worked here as a regular employee. Hmmm... how do you explain freelance? So I told him the simplest explanation I could think of: on-the-job training because really, it is training for me.
I just told one guard yesterday. Today, all of them say hi to me like we've been friends since forever. When I entered the building and surrendered my university ID, they told me to keep it and just sign in. Hmmm... these people have been talking apparently. When I went to the lobby to withdraw money from the ATM, one of them asked me where I was doing my OJT and we chatted for a bit.
I think this is the beginning of a downpour of special treatment.
Thursday, November 06, 2003 5:29 PM
closing time
I'm still at the office, passing time so I can pick up Julette when she gets off work. I think this is considered bonding time for the both of us. We've been through a lot and lately I noticed we haven't hung out and spoken for more than three sentences. Long story. Nothing worth remembering. Funny how stupid decisions can sever friendships.
Anyway, I had a good first day. Finished everything they handed out to me. It is so damn cold out here in the office. It doesn't help when it's raining outside, can't wait to go home and start on my pastel homework.
Tomorrow, I'm negotiating my salary!
8:38 AM
the early bird gets a headache
Tell me what's better than blogging in your office, just typing away on your own desktop and glancing every once in a while to the right to gaze at the amazing view of the Metropolis at 8:35 in the morning.
An aspirin I suppose. I only slept around five hours last night. I was too excited to go to the office for my very first full working day and I got hooked on Harry Potter 5 (finally I got to start reading it, I've been confused hearing bits and pieces of the whole plot). Julette, my roommate since freshman year, hitched a ride with me, which meant she has to get to the office at around 8 and we have to leave the house forty-five minutes earlier. Well, she got to her office (a few buildings away from mine) on time. I, on the other hand, am too early for work. One hour early to be exact. Talk about getting really riled up for work.
I'm waiting for my bosses to arrive. They'll be here in twenty minutes, I expect. So I'll probably go 24 floors down to get a cuppa from Starbucks. Oh, and I regret bringing Bembol... I feel like my salary is going straight to his parking fees. Imagine 100 pesos for five hours in this building?! I'd rather commute.
Wednesday, November 05, 2003 7:37 PM
I got hired!
Remember that NGO I did my internship in? Well, it just so happens that they have another conference coming up and I was the first name they could think of to do the secretariat job. And this time they're paying me! Uber-cool! The job is only for three weeks and we're looking at 6-8 thousand pesos. Nice timing considering that Christmas is coming up... one of two special days in December.
Sunday, November 02, 2003 10:02 AM
cadette alba reporting for duty, sir!
Permission to speak freely, sir.
Permission granted, private.
Thank you, sir. At 0700 hours, Julette, a civilian, and I pulled out of quarters and carried on with the mission. At 0715, we arrived at our destination in the Greenbelt area and commenced with our Catholic assignments. I am happy to report that the mission, to finally convince Julette to ride the car for the first time since I've been driving, was a success.
Very good, cadette. I am pleased to hear your report. There were no problems, I assume?
Sir, no sir!
Very well. Please standby for your next mission.
