My Asinine Thoughts

I’ve had my blood taken on 3 separate occasions in a span of  6 days.  I’m so sick of tests, medicine, doctors and hospitals. I try to avoid the latter like a plague if I can help it. Unfortunately for me, these are all necessary since I’m not sure what my student insurance would cover in the US. I don’t have insurance here either but I’m pretty sure the cost of tests and consultations here is a fraction of what it would cost over there.

To top it off, I’ve been feeling crappy since Saturday and I don’t know what’s wrong with me. I wish my body would cooperate and get sick already to get it over with instead of prolonging my agony and waiting until I’m out of the country before it escalates.

My room is still a disaster area since I haven’t finished packing. I keep putting things in and taking things out because it’s very hard to decide what to pack when I’m only limited to 22kg per luggage. I wish I could be more organized and have all of these done a few days before my departure. Then I could just take it easy and relax. Alas! I was not built that way.

My friends and I went to Sonya’s Garden for Cresta’s bridal shower. After we finished our lunch, we headed straight to the spa and got a massage. It was all strictly GP, no macho dancers, no porn… we just took a quick look at a racy how-to book and listened to Sabrina’s birthing horror stories.

The Bride-To-Be*

Ok, so maybe it was more of a PG-13 thing*

The Photographer, The Model, The Collaborator

*taken by Rosey

Driver’s License: Government’s License to Hoover Some More Money Out of Our Wallets.

Another story of why I hate the Filipino system. The system sucks. The People who work in the system suck even more.

I went to the LTO near JP Rizal yesterday to renew my license before I leave next week. My license won’t expire until my birthday in October but I figured I could renew it if I tell them I’m leaving the country soon. My sister and I went to the customer service window and I was told that it was too early for me to renew my license and if I am leaving the country soon I should show them proof by photocopying my airline ticket. I was told twice that I needed to show them my ticket. Twice.

Hassle right? I called my travel agent and asked if she could email or fax me my e-ticket and she said it wasn’t a problem and could do it right away. I figured it was doable so my sister and I went to get our health tests near the LTO (yuck! yuck! yuck!) and then went back to the customer service window to ask for their email address or fax number so my travel agent could fax them my ticket. But… but! It was not allowed. Maybe they didn’t have internet access (LTO? Walang access?), or they didn’t have a fax machine (LTO? Walang fax machine?) so I was told to go to an internet cafe or one of the stores across the LTO for fax services.

I went to one of the stores, gave my travel agent the fax number, paid P15.00 and got my e-ticket in less than 2 minutes. Finally! So we went back to the LTO to the same customer service window and talked to the same man and I gave him my e-ticket with a smile and was promptly told this:

“Ok, now give me a copy of your passport.”

What the fuck?!?! Kanina sabi nya to give him the ticket, just the ticket and he said it twice and now that I have the ticket may dagdag na copy of my passport pa? Why couldn’t he have told me this earlier? Had I known that I needed a copy of my passport as well I wouldn’t have gone through with the health tests and wasted P400.00. I would have known then that I wouldn’t be able to complete the requirements since my passport was in Caloocan.

There are no words! No words I tell you!

I wanted to smash my hands into the window and smack his face three hundred and fifty-seven times! In the end I just told ditsi to go ahead with her application while I have my tests endorsed so I can apply in Caloocan instead.

A few weeks ago I was having second thoughts about leaving the Philippines and I actually thought that I’d be better off staying here for school and work. Now that a few weeks have passed, I know I made the right decision to go to California. While I have no plans of staying put in the U.S., I can’t see myself staying put here in the Philippines either. The thought of dealing with government employees prone to power tripping for the rest of my natural life makes me ill.

Note: A story that has some relevance to what I experience whenever I come home. It’s a good read, funny and short.

Note Note: Paano nag re-renew ng driver’s license ang mga politicians at mga Ayala? Sila kaya ang pinupuntahan ng LTO?

I had dinner with my high school friends at Zao the other night to celebrate Sabrina’s birthday (part 2). I organized the get-together this time around and my hair almost turned white because it was so difficult finding a day when they would all be free. We finally settled on Monday night and when I got to Serendra, the place looked almost deserted because: #1 it was Monday, #2 it was raining incessantly, #3 it was Monday.

It’s probably been a few years since we were complete like this because I’m always out of the country and Cresta is always either out of town or out of the country as well (she’s an FA). This dinner was also important because it would be a few years before we could ever get together like this again since Rosey is moving to Texas and I’m going back to California.

It’s stupid to think that things will not change when everything changes all the time. Someone gets married, someone starts a family, someone moves abroad, someone is always busy with work, or someone’s mobile number and home address keep changing (Mawee? Where are you?). But I’d like to think that the one thing that cannot be changed is the friendship we started when we were kids. These women will always be my friends no matter where I am or no matter how many years have passed since we saw each other last.

from left: Neth, Rosey, Sab, Crez, Me, Jo

newlywed Lyneth, ready to move Rose, MIL sufferer Sabrina

sexy Cresta, crazy Me, supermom Jo

may nakita si Rose sa kabilang table na mukhang interesting so nag order din kami

Mukhang kropek, amoy kropek, lasang kropek... it's KROPEK!

Jo's dessert (Chelsea)

Zao: The shaking beef was tasty and oh so tender.

Chelsea: The chocnut and nutella cakes were yummy! I want to try the cookie dough cheesecake next.

I had the chance to see Lifehouse up close last Friday when I went to 94.7, unfortunately the only proof I have of seeing them is a blurry shot of two girls and the top of Jason Wade’s head which is really no proof at all. Shyet.

When I entered the station, there were four tiny girls sitting there who looked like they were still in high school (one still had her uniform on!). I sat down beside them and hung my 29-year-old head in shame. Things didn’t turn out the way I’d hoped and I almost backed out when I found out that the people who were supposed to join me couldn’t make it. But I was already there so I figured what the hell, andyan na eh. I held on to my camera and waited. A couple of minutes later a burly guy (who was incredibly rude) told us to sit in one row because the band was on its way out. I turned on my camera and then saw several Pinoys surrounding the band, herding them as if they were surrounded by a throng of insane, screaming fans instead of 4 quiet ,teeny girls and bewildered me. There was this feeling-bouncer guy who kept shielding the band members away from us… anong akala nya? Threat kami? Did he think we’ll assault the band with our cameras or worse… with kisses? O to the A! When Jason Wade walked in front of me, we only had Mr. Feeling-Bouncer between us, unfortunately Mr. Feeling-Bouncer was tall and wide and Jason was kinda short. The only opening I had was ruined when two of the girls stepped into my line of vision just as I took my shot (ergo the blurry pic mentioned above).

Later when all of us were waiting for the elevator, one of the girls was checking her camera and moaned, “Manong! Ikaw tuloy yung nakunan ko!” Well, I wanted to say “Miss! Ikaw naman yung nakunan ko!” but I kept my mouth shut, we were all disappointed anyway. When I got down to the basement where my car was parked, naabutan ko pa yung band na pasakay ng van, but I was too pissed off to even do anything so I went straight to my car and just thought of what I wanted to have for lunch.

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Saturday, July 26, 2008

Lifehouse Concert at the Araneta Coliseum

#1: Mr. Humongous Bighead.

Pinoys are relatively short, even the men so imagine my disappointment when a tall, white man sat in front me. WTF? Of all the people that could be sitting in front of me, why does it have to be a white man with a big head?

#2: I was waiting for the opening act, but there wasn’t any. I was under the delusion that it would be Matt Nathanson because he’s the front act for Lifehouse’s current tour in the US. Asa pa, and I was so looking forward to telling Jeff (and making him feel bad) that I saw Matt perform live. The best laid plans nga naman o…

#3: The band members tried to rock and jump around, but most of the audience remained immobile. Filipinos are screamers, not jumpers. To be fair, we’re excellent screamers - loud and creative.

#4: Special request ang Take Me Away and Blind.

After the band performed “Blind,” Jason said that they haven’t played it in years but they found out that the Pinoys loved the song, as well as the next song they will perform which was “Take Me Away.” Buti na lang pala nalaman nila ng maaga.

#5: Maganda ang boses ni Jason, powerful and distinctive, kaboses nya yung sa CD… hmm that sounded kinda estooopid.

#6: Masaya naman ang concert, I was with Rosey and she took lots of clear pictures yeehee!

…that is a silly question.

I came back to the Philippines a little over a week ago and as soon as I came home and ate aning’s beef steak and papa’s breaded shrimp, I immediately unpacked the boxes in my room filled with books, clothes and knick knacks. I placed most of my books in the bookshelves, organized my closet, arranged my earrings, fixed my dresser, hooked up my computer and printer, checked my sheets and then plopped down on my bed delirious with happiness.

My two months in Taiwan was fun but painful and now that I’m in the comfort of my own room, I can say that I’m glad I went back. I had to go back to know that I made the right decision to leave last year. Taiwan will always be my second home, especially since there are people who live there whom I care about a great deal. If I ever do go back in the future, I know that it will only be for a short visit and I’d probably just travel around the island.

Then in about 3 weeks I would need to start putting most of my things back into the boxes again. An exercise in futility you might think, but not for me. After moving around for the past 4 years, nothing will take the place of my room and my space here in our house. It was nice to see most of my things together, to have them within my reach and not thousands of miles away even if it’s only for a few weeks. I’m happy about leaving again but with apprehension on the side, nothing new.

I haven’t been doing anything much for the past week, just hanging out at home and taking it easy but I suppose I better get moving soon since I have so many things I need to do. I have to organize 2 birthday dinners, a bridal shower, a reconciliation between 2 friends if it’s possible, meet up with several friends and cousins, go to my dentist, my doctors, my dermatologist, to the spa, get a blood test, buy pasalubongs and things I can’t buy in the US, fix my papers, go to embassies etc etc etc. I think I’ll start next week… or maybe the week after that.

I did get a facial this week though. I went to Belo and had a glycopeel and a power peel in one session. I thought I was going to end up looking like Freddy Krueger afterwards but I discovered that the glycopeel treatment was just cleaning with no peeling involved and the power peel was the same as the diamond peel so I didn’t look so scary when I went out, my bangs on the other hand were definitely scary because Doris butchered them last Sunday (Why Doris? Why?)

Ditsi and Arnel’s friends Rina and Alvi got married in Baguio last Sunday and they showed a video during the reception of their friends (collectively known as “The Mod Clan”) lip synching to Michael Bublé’s Everything. Galing! (watch out for the guy in green, he’s hilarious!)

I was in the Philippines for a couple of weeks to take care of my traveling papers and to drink copious amounts of Tokyo Tokyo red iced tea. Oh, I also went home to be with my folks before mama leaves for the US again. I wasn’t able to meet up with my friends save for a few because I.Am.Lazy! Haha! The heat that greeted me when I arrived was enough to incapacitate me for the duration of my stay. I kept meaning to call my old friends, yet everyday I find excuses not to such as:

1. It’s too hot, I don’t feel like making a phone call.
2. It’s too hot, I don’t feel like going out.
3. It’s too hot, I don’t feel like moving at all.
4. It’s too hot, I’d rather watch videos all day.

So that basically sums up my visit to the Philippines. The one time I had to go out almost all day and had to commute, resulted in my getting an eye infection the next day. It was pretty scary since my left eye reddened, swelled and looked and felt like jelly (I poked it several times, couldn’t help it since it jiggled).

Anyway, the heat lessened when my family and I went up to Baguio during Mother’s Day weekend. Traffic there was a bitch but at least the temp was cool, plus the food’s great. The day after we came back was the only time I started packing for my trip and as usual I had a difficult time making all of my things fit into my luggage (which was eensy weensy this time, thank you Cebu Pacific!)

The next morning, I said goodbye to popsy, syoti, mommy (who won’t be back in the PI for a good long while) and ditsi, who drove me to the airport. Poor ditsi had to go to the airport 4 times this week. Arnel had to leave for China on Monday, I had to leave for Taiwan on Tuesday, Arnel came back on Thursday, mama had to leave for the US on Friday, then Arnel had to leave for the US today.

I read pep.ph everyday waiting for news about KC Concepcion and Richard Gutierrez, and today I found out that they are going to star in a movie together! Aba! Manonood ako nun! Ang sarap tignan ng dalawang sobrang attractive na tao on screen, especially taong galing sa bansa natin. We have a lot of really good-looking actors and actresses but KC has always had something about her that made people interested in whatever she’s doing, si Richard naman eh ang gwapo and interesting din kasi he seems I don’t know… classier somehow compared to the rest of his family. So bagay talaga!

I think one of the last local movies I saw was “Sigaw” on dibidi while I was in Taiwan. Gina borrowed it from a co-teacher and we had no idea what it was about. A few scenes later, all of us were scared shitless especially when Iza Calzado’s character started materializing out of the ceiling over the bed. It kinda made it difficult for us to go to sleep afterwards but thankfully, it passed. Oh! I just remembered I saw “Karma” with Sabrina, Jo and Minerva last year. I seldom watch horror flicks and actually limit it to local films because they do horror a hell of a lot better than other genres.

I generally stay away from scary films because I’m prone to bad dreams. I’ve often thought about going to a fortune-teller to ask why I always have nightmares even when I think about soft, fluffy things before I go to sleep. My nightmares have run the gamut from serial killers, ghosts, monsters, zombies, decapitations, gun violence, religious figures out to suck me into the void, chop-chop body parts, godzilla, scary dinosaurs and some very twisted, sick things I don’t even want to mention here.

The earliest nightmare memory I have is when I was in K1 or K2, so that would make me around 6? My yaya at the time was Nenette and whenever she picked me up from school, we’d pass by a restaurant and I’d ask her to buy me Sarsi. I preferred drinking my Sarsi on the go so they would put the soft drink in a clear plastic bag and put a straw inside. Then one night I had a dream about leaving school, getting picked up by Nenette, stopping by at the restaurant, ordering my Sarsi… but this time when I was handed the soft drink in the plastic bag, I saw a bloody, decapitated head inside instead. Suffice it to say I never asked Nenette to buy me Sarsi after school ever again.

Hmm, I started this post about KC and Richard… and then I’m ending it with one of my nightmares? Is this stream of consciousness writing or just the result of my crooked mind?

I’ve only been in the country for a few days and I’ve already found myself in two separate pride-stomping situations. The first was when I drove to Buendia on my mother’s birthday and was caught by the police because of color coding and the PGH 100 plate on my sister’s car. I’ve been warned by ditsi beforehand that cops might stop me because they believe that PGH plates should be put OVER the regular car plate instead of ON it. The same thing happened to a friend of hers but never to her. She told me to reason out to the cops because it seems to be the modus operandi of Buendia cops to stop cars with PGH plates and extort money from unsuspecting and stupid (me) drivers.

Armed with this warning I still crumbled when 3 cops on motorcycles went after me. First they told me that I violated the color-coding rule and second I violated the PGH Plates rule. The cop who went to the driver’s side furnished a memo dated October 2006 stating some kind of rule about commemorative plates. I’m ashamed to say I spazzed and didn’t look at the memo carefully. I told them that it was my belief that if you have PGH plates color-coding doesn’t apply, even in Makati. They said no. I asked what the use was for PGH plates, they said “nothing.” The second cop asked me for P2,500.00 for my two violations and we haggled until the price went down to P500.00 because I told them I was on my way to Dasma to pick up my mom’s birthday cake and I didn’t have enough money on me (true) to pay P2,500.00.

After everything was done, I told my sister and was given a lecture about fighting for my rights and should have asked for the names of the cops. She wants to see the memo herself and find out what it states exactly to the letter. The ON or OVER the plates rule sounds dodgy to her and she wants to get to the bottom of it. She’s so mad that she’s determined to go to Buendia herself during color-coding and confront the cops there. We’ll see what happens next week.

The second incident happened the other day when I parked near Sta. Cruz church and was approached by an MMDA (at least someone wearing an MMDA shirt). He gave me a ticket and asked for P30.00 which I paid without question because I know parking is never free in Metro Manila. When I got home at the end of the day, I was going through my bag and saw the ticket. I discovered that it was a used one with a different car plate than the car I was using. Shit. Naloko nanaman ako.

I love the Philippines, it’s my first home. While I believe that I won’t live here for good anymore I will keep coming back because my roots are here. It’s just so frustrating that I have to be on my guard all the time and also shameful that after being born and raised here, I’m still not savvy enough to handle situations mentioned above. I have a big mouth, I’m mean and occasionally nasty, I scream a lot… I’m all bark and no bite.

These are the times when I really hate this country. I’m not some kind of balikbayan who would start talking trash about the Philippines because I don’t live here anymore. I hate people like that. You know what I’m talking about. Those pinoys who have got their noses up in the air because they’re not Filipino citizens anymore or they’re now earning in dollars or pounds or euros and have suddenly forgotten where they came from. What I hate is that so many people from different classes in society will screw you every chance they get, and the authority figures you should ask help from would screw you over even more.

More than anything, I hate finding something out about myself that’s a cause for shame. I SHOULD fight for my rights, I SHOULD not give in to pressure, I SHOULD not be afraid to argue when I know I’m right, I SHOULD have more lakas ng loob, I SHOULD bite more than bark. Grrr! Awrrr!