Sunday, December 28, 2003 12:16 AM
phenomenon
I can't sleep for one usual reason: my whole family is here.
For the first time in my life (this may be sentimental to some people), but my parents, my sister, my brother-in-law, my three-year-old niece, and I are under one roof.
And it's my roof.
Saturday, December 27, 2003 12:15 AM
bonding
Tomorrow, the family will leave for Surigao to celebrate the New Year. They're leaving without me. I don't know how to feel about that. For sure though, I am not happy about it.
My sister, dad, and I picked up my American brother-in-law at the airport. Phil missed me (so he says). Yeah, we click in a very weird sort of arrangement: we're both evil.
And here's something I never thought would happen in my lifetime: I was the chauffer to everybody's enjoyment. Who cared if I had a cold or cough? I, literally, don't hold my time because I had to drive everybody from place to place, never mind traffic at its worst. (Now, you can understand why I decided not to go home). Plus, I had to act as the babysitter at certain times. Oh yes, every time I see my niece's wicked smile, I swear she's thinkin', there goes tita with her weird antics again... I knew I convinced her not to wear that ugly shirt, yeah peeing on it was a good idea...
Call me mean but for the first time yesterday, I talked back to my sister. She was screaming on why her window wouldn't slide down at the passenger side and I got so sick of it I snapped, "geez! it's not like I locked it on purpose!". Long story. It just felt weird, that's all. We never argued before... except for this one time when I was thirteen and I made her cry (she was 27). (Told you I'm evil).
But I am going to miss them. So is anyone going to take me in this new year?
Friday, December 26, 2003 7:37 PM
that after-Christmas feeling
It's that feeling that you're forced to get back to reality when you're dying to just stay in suspended animation called Christmas bliss.
It's actually my first time to spend Christmas away from home. Because of the calamitous landslides in Surigao and the persistent rain, flights were cancelled and roads are impossible to pass. The family got stuck here in Manila for Christmas eve. It wasn't bad, to tell you honestly, it was a breath of fresh air from the traditional things we have to do. Of course, there was the usual noche buena, and my usual fever on Christmas Day (I always get sick on Christmas and I still don't know why). If we were to spend the holidays in Surigao, we'd have woken up early today to raise the flag at the city hall to commemorate the raising of the first Philippine flag in Mindanao by my great-great-grandfather. I think the people there will live if the living descendants miss this year's commemoration. I'd like to spend just one not-so patriotic Christmas in my lifetime. And then there would be other things, political things, I'd rather miss altogether.
Still, I can't ignore that gnawing feeling of going back to reality, that I still have requirements for graduation to finish, which is why I am not going to go home and spend New Year in Surigao with my family. Anyone out there wanna adopt me for New Year's celebration?
Thursday, December 25, 2003 6:57 PM
MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYBODY!!!
Tuesday, December 23, 2003 10:13 PM
christmas traffic hell
My friend has concluded, after convincing me that my good deed of letting the perpetrator go was indeed good, that the best indication of becoming a good driver is the fact that other people are now bumping me instead of me bumping them.
My father begs to disagree, however. He says that I am not putting my defensive driving lessons into practice since I could have easily avoided an overtaking jeepney from putting a mean scratch on Bembol’s left-corner bumper.
Ah! But I refuse to be so easily judged as someone who has not yet learned her lesson in car-bumping accidents. First of all, Bembol was stationary, I was giving way to a very insistent jeepney who didn't have a right-of-way in the first place. Second of all, I had eyewitnesses who saw me stop and wait for him to pass, only to hear the awful sound of metal to metal rubbing against each other. And third of all, the asshole of a driver had the balls to attempt a hit-and-run only to be caught in bumper-to-bumper traffic, with no other means of escape. A security guard was heroic enough to get the jeepney driver to pull over and talk to me, this happened after my foul-mouth downpour of cuss words only deserved by lowlives such as hit-and-run drivers.
But in the end, I let him go. Certainly not because of the fact that he was just earning a living as a public utility vehicle driver, as some passersby were saying to me (and trust me, they got an earful too). I believe that a license to drive entails the responsibility to ensure safer driving (yes, even if this is Manila) and I don't give a damn if his passengers were waiting, he should have the balls to face me at least and justify his cheap shot. Come to think of it, my insistence on him facing me made him a better person at least. It takes a man to admit his mistake.
And just because its a scratch big enough to make me sulk for days, and small enough for insurance to ignore my claim, and just because I am feeling all Christmas-y in traffic hell-dom, this driver may go about his life like nothing ever happened.
Good thing, Bembol is ten years old. That's all I'm saying to console myself.
Sunday, December 21, 2003 4:03 PM
i think i'm lucky this Xmas
I've gotten the best Christmas gift yet. And it came several days early. The gift is not even wrapped, but it came from abroad. The gift was the opportunity to spend my very first Christmas with my sister and her daughter.
I'm ecstatic.
Sunday, December 14, 2003 8:28 PM
losing my groove
Ever read that book, How Stella Got Her Groove Back?
If you haven't, I don't know if it's worth rushing to the bookstore and getting a copy. Personally, I think the book is so full of profanity, I'd settle for The Devil Wears Prada any day. But somehow, I like how straightforward the author told Stella's story. So should I give a synopsis? If you haven't watched the movie (like me), well, it goes like this: 42-year-old woman (who obviously does NOT look her age) meets a guy half her age in the Bahamas and they fall in love; trouble is, everyone wasn't too happy about it, especially since she quit her job and all. But the main point of the story is that (and I seriously apologize for ruining the book for anyone who's interested to read it) Stella in the beginning was driven by money and power, unfortunately, her life was empty and she decided to make some drastic changes fast or else she WILL start looking her age. In the end, she did got her groove back because of the risks she took. She practically defied what society imprisoned her into and started to live her life the way she'd always wanted.
I'd like to think that I'm a person that doesn't readily succumb to the opinions of other people. This self-desired unconventionality has always given me something to hold on to. But I think I have come to the point that when I look around me, I have become boring --- in the blogging sense. I used to write what I think, what I did, what I want to say without any fear, but now, I just don't know anymore. I can't even write a funny entry without hurting myself.
Now, if all it takes is to date someone younger than me, heaven forbid that he be half my age because I do NOT want to break the law and exploit a minor.. If all it takes is to just date, then that's not it either (although it would be nice to meet someone). But really, I just want my groove back. Desperately.
I'm tired of living in a slump.
Friday, December 12, 2003 11:59 PM
great things happen to those who rehearse
The chorale had a Christmas concert tonight. We were awesome (especially if you heard how we sucked at a dinner last night). :) Yes, I know that sounds a bit too proud but I'm glad that the crowd liked our performance. We have another performance on the 20th. It will be the first time that the UA&P chorale is going to compete. And if we sound just as good as we performed tonight, I think third or second place is in the bag already. So more rehearsals (and more prayers) might give us a shot at first place. I'll be crossing my fingers so much, I'd gladly tape them up till performance day.
As an aside, I felt like a mutant alto-soprano singer. I had to sing some songs in soprano because they were repeats from our past concert, and then I had to strain my ear to hear the alto tune. I was too stressed that I think in one song I ended up singing an incomprehensible tune that the choirmaster glared at me. Oh well.
Wednesday, December 10, 2003 9:59 PM
a big thank you
I am grateful to everyone for making my birthday special. From the SMS messages and long distance calls, to the unexpected visits, to the personal greetings and tags, and thoughtful gifts, I thought my birthday would be just another day, but it really wasn't. Until now, I am in still smiling like an idiot --- a happy idiot.
Thank you so much from the bottom of my heart!
Tuesday, December 09, 2003 10:31 AM
once upon a time
Twenty-one years ago today, December 9, a woman was rushed to the hospital for a most awaited birth of a second child. Labor took a long time and everybody grew bored. "What kind of child is this?", they asked, "she wouldn't come out when everybody else has waited for her for at least fourteen years!". Even the couple's first daughter, the baby's older sister, fell asleep on the couch inside the hospital room.
The husband was nervous and tired but at the same time excited and ecstatic. He went up to the doctor and asked if he still had time to go and buy flowers for his wife. The doctor confidently said, "I don't think this baby is coming out any time soon". So the husband merrily went out and bought flowers at a nearby shop outside the hospital. And while he was at it, he decided to buy chocolates too.
Imagine his frustration when he arrived at the hospital to find a baby girl already at his wife's side. But his wrath faded away (and he forgot to curse the doctor to kingdom come) as he saw the newborn's face including the bald head that was to remain bald for the next eight months (but that's another story).
So on December 9, at 9:09 pm, twenty-one years ago, a girl got unfortunately named Maria Teresa Fidelidad Alba Geronima aside from her surname.
Maybe it's true, maybe it's not. But I still think it's stranger than fiction. Happy birthday me.
Monday, December 08, 2003 5:36 PM
another all-nighter
I woke up at 3pm today and missed class. Bad Alba! Very bad Alba indeed!
I spent the whole night tinkering with Adobe Premiere on a Mac. It wasn't something I'm used to, so maybe that was why it took me the whole night. I must confess that until now, I still have no clue how to manipulate it, except typing in texts and cutting the musical score. (I must add that Soliloquy was the whiz kid in this all-nighter).
Anyhoo, we're at it again tonight. Why, you ask, are we torturing ourselves with lack of sleep? We're getting paid. Bagong raket. Times are hard.
Friday, December 05, 2003 5:21 PM
downtown
I treated myself to an early gift to an upcoming occasion. By dragging Soliloquy to a cross-country expedition from Pasig City to Manila on the color-coding day (where Bembol is not allowed anywhere near Mandaluyong, San Juan and Makati even on the window hours from 10 to 3), we finally reached Recto. Now, there’s something that every driver in the world should understand. Driving in Metro Manila is one thing, but driving in Manila per se is a different thing altogether. We’re talking the worst traffic-rule abiders but the most cunning and the slyest of motorists. Literally, the whole road was one race-track, I couldn't really understand what every jeepney imaginable was hurrying for. To top it off, every pedestrian had a superman complex as if their invisible suits screamed invincibility. I never use the horn against people (I think it's really rude), but people in Manila are an exception.
After getting pissed off with the parking people (just because I am a girl doesn't mean I don't know how to parallel park!), we speedwalked to Deovir for the anticipated art materials I needed for my intermediate acrylic lessons next week. Deovir is not really a stand-out, but it's the ultimate place to shop for paints, brushes, books, easels, palettes, etc etc! I went crazy and splurged the money allotted for the trip. If I went to any National Bookstore outlet or any other art shop, I'd probably have spent a good two or three thousand plus. I only spent half for eleven brushes, two covered palettes, a mixing palette, masking fluid, and acrylic tubes. It was like a candy store only for artists!!! Happy happy joy joy indeed!!!
So to that parking attendant who insulted the very core of my female-driver being, I forgive you. You can continue living your life now.
Wednesday, December 03, 2003 9:41 PM
expected yet unexpected
Never mind if it doesn't make sense. The important thing is that something happened today that assures me a cool year ahead.
I got called back to the office --- the NGO where I worked for three weeks as a freelance stint. It still hasn't sunk in, but I think I just got offered a permanent job this morning.
One of my bosses (JJ) asked me if I was interested to be his assistant. I was. Like I said before, working for that NGO is the best first job I'd have envisioned for me to take. And here it is, being offered straight out.
And fair enough that he agreed to letting me start in February, after finishing everything else.
I pray to God that I will be cleared for graduation by March.
On a lighter note, Khairi sent JJ an email sending his regards to yours truly. Kuala Lumpur is starting to sound really exciting at the moment.
Tuesday, December 02, 2003 12:09 AM
being in love
With surrealism that is.
I have been introduced into the Philippine Art scene only today, and to my luck I met Lina Llaguno-Ciani. When I saw her paintings at her "Strings and Things exhibit in the Galleria Duemila in Megamall, it was love at first sight. I never liked surrealism before, but Ciani certainly gave a whole new meaning to it. I had goosebumps as I pored over each intricate detail of the strings and the hidden objects.
If ever each aspiring artist should have a role model to look up to, I think I found mine.
"Trio" by Lina Llaguno-Ciani
Monday, December 01, 2003 1:03 PM
calling waltzer!
I need to email you about KL (need travel info please). I'm making arrangements for a birthday gift for a certain pol eco student who is disillusioned into painting watercolor. ;)
Try encoding your email into my commenting system or my tagboard. Thanks!
