Discourses about my future abode

Checked out 3 flats tonight. All of them look exceptionally promising.

Flat 1: Has one big bedroom and a nice living room and a decent dining area. The kitchen and bathrooms are ok, too. This one is furnished, and it has that suburban California vibe to it. Honestly, my first impression when I stepped in was: "Whoa! Did someone beam me up to Hayward, California because this looks like Auntie Aning's house!" Which is a good thing. I particularly like the bedroom because it's super spacious. Downside is that it only has 1 bedroom. Where will my guests sleep when they come over?

*conversation between me and i
ME: They sleep beside you, stoopid!
I: Well, of course. But that'll only work if they're family members visiting. How about friends.
ME: They can sleep on the couch.
I: Don't you think I've thought of that? It's the precise reason I'm getting a sofa bed.
ME: So what's the problem then?
I: I kinda feel bad since they won't have too much privacy. They ARE sleeping in the living room for crying out loud.
ME: That ain't your problem, buddy. They're visiting you, so beggars can't be choosers.
I; But I don't want them to feel like beggars...
ME: Oh shush! You've got two more to check out.

Flat 2: Same building and specs as the first one. Different floor, different orientation and 2 bedrooms. Frankly, it's just like the 1st flat, but this one is unfurnished, and the paint looks a bit old. The kitchen ain't so nice as well. But then again, it has 2 rooms. More space for visitors, less space for me though. The thing is, Flat 1's 1 bedroom is also Flat 2's 2 bedrooms. So imagine the big bedroom with a wall in the middle, and there you have it folks. The living room and dining room are of the same size. So if I get a sofa bed, then I have room for more guests. Downside: compared to the first flat, the color and decore are pretty unattractive.

* continue conversation
I: Looks promising.
ME: But did you see the roach traps in the kitchen? Uh-oh. Bad news.
I: Well it's an old building, and it's Kowloon. It's bound to have roaches.
ME: Just because it's bound to have doesn't mean it has to have.
I: I don't like the bed and cabinets though. It's so... provincial...
ME: Agree! We must get rid of those in favor of those frosted glass babies in Ikea.
I: Ah, you have my nod on that.
ME: I think you've found a home, Mr. Morales.
I: But I'd still like to see that last flat. Who knows?

Flat 3: I have been warned. This flat requires A WHOLE LOT OF IMAGINATION! You see, it's just going to be renovated. It was formerly a 4 room halfway house/hostel, but it's going to be transformed into a 2 bedroom flat. The renovations haven't began, though, so it's supposed to look really sucky at this point. And man, they weren't kidding. The flat looked like it was some dingy massage parlor in its past life. Which led me to ask the landlady: "What was this place before?" I was quite nervous that IT WAS a sleazy, dingy joint, and I wouldn't want to live there.

So when she told me that it was a hostel. That kinda eased my reluctance. The landlady - a very, very nice woman, I must say - explained to me the changes that were to be made and how the whole thing will look. She asked me to "imagine," and being a creative person, my imagination went wild! Not only was I imagining how the flat would look, I was also imagining my furniture in the rooms, my visitors as they hang around in the living room, the breakfasts I'd cook in the kitchen then serve my guests in the dining room. I had to slap myself back to reality before my mind went too far away.

Downside: Old building. Offices for neighbors. I think they're mostly Indian or Nepalese in the building. I passed by an Air Nepal office on my way to the flat. And there's some sort of an Indian office in front of the flat I want to rent. Also, it'll only be available on the last week of September.

ME: Too many downsides.
I: Well kid, that never stopped you before.
ME: Looks like somebody likes the flaaaatttt...
I: It's got a lot of space, and high ceilings, white walls, parquet flooring...
ME: This has got a lot of potential, huh.
I: Snaps to that!
ME: So, let's ask for a draft of the contract.
I: Just what I had in mind.

Tomorrow, i'm going to look at the contract. At least, if this falls through, I've got 2 more options that I love equally.

Should I bring out the "Home Sweet Home" mat now?

Ron has answered...

"Hmmm.. I guess there are hundreds of flats available. So I think you are just a little bit too picky. Diplomatic enough? Hehehe. Then again, maybe it's really as hard as finding the right person for you."

Truer words have never been spoken. But I think i'll lay-off the "Looking for flats/Looking for love" analogies at the moment. That can wait until I've actually found a flat. Then I can write about it in my living room on a relaxed Sunday afternoon.

Ahhh... to dream....

Is it me? Or is it the flats?

Another flat, another disappointment.

This one was unbelievably bad. The location was a long walk from the MTR station. The building looked like a run-down tenement. The view was lousy. The size was a bit small.

Sometimes I wonder if there aren't a lot of nice flats in Hong Kong, or is it the fact that i'm just too picky. I guess it depends whose side you're on.

Maybe I should ask Ron for a 3rd person's point of view.

*I'm sure he's going to say: "It's you, Lester. It's definitely you!"

This is just so, SO totally me

width="240" height="180"
alt="Lifelike Electronic Sabotage and Thorough Exploration Replicant"
border="0">

Yes, I do a lot of throrough exploration. That's one big, CHECK!
The sabotage part, well, let's say I've been guilty of sabotaging things at some point in my life. (Bad Lester. Bad Lester.)

Blair

Way back in 2nd year high school when in LSQC, our English teacher - Ms. Teresita Colindres - asked us to write a diary as part of our yearly graded requirement. It was a way to improve our writing skills, as well as help us express ourselves better. Her instructions were to write as if we were talking to a friend, unloading the day's problems, worries, or even mundane events. That was when "Blair" was born.



Blair was the name I gave my diary. I didn't want to begin writing with the traditional "Dear Diary" because I thought it was too cold. If I were talking to a friend, I would like that friend to have a proper name. And this was the name I christened that little, brown, Golden Gate tickler book.

The "real" Blair was Lisa Whelchel, a character in that hit sitcom "Facts of Life." A good part of my childhood was spent sitting up and waiting for this show to come on. It chronicled the story of 4 girls with very disparate personalities who are living together in an exclusive girls school. They were Blair, Jo, Natalie, and Tootie -- all under the watchful eye of Mrs. Garett.



Among the 4, I fell in love with Blair immediately. She had the most sass, and she had the best lines. Being the rich, mean brat, she was the cattiest of the lot, which is a big "check" in my list. Because of these characteristics, I saw Blair as a person I could be friends with, and I imagined the 2 of us hanging around, complaining about triviality of life, and being mean to the nerds in school. Part of this was the fact that I was a nerd in school (though I was never terrorized), so at least in my diary, I was living on the other side.

Eventually, Blair became my other best friend. If there was something bothering me, i'd tell Blair. When my teachers became a royal pain in the derriere, i'd tell Blair. If my crush gave me the time of day, i'd tell Blair. Soon after, I was telling Blair everything.

I was so into Blair that I forgot the little factoid that I was supposed to submit this to my teacher - and I was dissing a lot of her co-teachers! Not to mention I was opening myself up for another person to just read. There lay the dillema. Would I be honest to Blair and risk being the subject of controversy. Or should I hold back and censor my "talks" with Blair so that I wouldn't rock the boat.



So I asked myself, "What would Blair want me to do?" Looking back at all the "Facts of Life" episodes, the reason why people thought Blair was the ultimate bitch was the fact that she spoke her mind too much. But it was the same reason why Jo, Natalie and Tootie loved her. So I did the right thing. I let Ms. Colindres read everything, unadulterated, uncensored, honest!

I think Ms. Colindres appreciated that, because I'd get line of 9s every quarter. She told me how she found my candor very refreshing, and my brutal honesty very brave.

From then on, I wrote that way about a lot of things, and strange as it may seem, I find that people appreciate that. And I have my 2nd year English teacher to thank for that. Now that i'm writing this blog entry, I feel that it's a continuation of my relationship with Blair. It may have taken a while for me to reconnect with her, but like old friends, when we got together again, it's just like picking up where we left off.

If only Ms. Colindres can read this, I'm sure she'd be smiling.

TOUCHDOWN!

It's my second "official visit" to Manila. Admittedly, the feeling is a bit strange (pronounced STRAN-JAY like Shash, Xtine and I used to say it) when you're actually in your own country as a tourist. People in the hotel talk to me in English and greet me: "Welcome to Manila."

The girl who escorted me to my room asked me: "So Mr. Morales, have you been to Manila before?" And I said: "Yes, I've been before. I've been here 30 years before." Then the usual mock-shock-oh-you're-Filipino-schtick ensued. I'm getting really good at this chameleon thing.

By 8:00 pm, I was settled in my room. And the question was: "Now I'm in here, what am I to do?" I think what a person does in the first few hours reflects the kind of things he misses or looks forward to doing whenever he's out of the country. Much like how Biboy just wanted to hang out in the house when he came back from Georgia. To avoid the rush hour traffic, I told my siblings that i'd visit them around 9:30 to 10pm, so that gives me an hour and a half to do whatever I please.

The stuff I did was really unconscious and unplanned. Here they are, in chronological order, and let's see what it says about my personality:

1. Called my former office to check if my last paycheck is ready. Talked to our guard who had a bad health spell and checked if he was feeling alright now.
2. Walked along Ayala and savored the "calling it a day" atmosphere. Ran into Reg in front of LKG tower - he's one of the nicest people at Harrison.
3. Went to RCBC Plaza and headed to the office. Looks like the building guards still remember me because they didn't ask me to get a visitor's ID. Not bad for a guy who resigned 3 months ago.
4. Walked to Greenbelt 1 and checked out my favorite shops at the Greenbelt Plaza.
5. Went to SM Surplus Shop to check out all the stuff i've been missing. Got a couple of Superhero shirts, a steal at P299.75 each.
6. Went to SM Snack Exchange and bought Mango Juice, Orange Juice and chocolate cookies.
7. Walked back to the Peninsula to leave my stuff before I go back to the house.

Given that list, it's easy to see that i'm really such a mall rat and a clothes whore. Yes, some things never change!

Here comes the sun

Looks like Shash was right.

Yesterday, she said something like: "with my luck, it's going to be sunny and dry tomorrow." Today, the clouds began to clear and the sun came out this afternoon. I'd reckon, that same time, she would have already touched down in Manila and is back in our beautiful, warm country.

After a week of rains, the sight of that blinding yellow orb is very welcome indeed. Hopefully, it'll be there again tomorrow morning, bathing us mortals with its warm rays. It's such a great feeling that,

that,

that,

I feel a song coming along! (oh geez, how very, VERY Bollywood!)

Presenting my favorite "After the Rain" song. And no, it definitely ain't Mariah Carey's "I can make it through the rain."



COME CLEAN by Hillary Duff

Let's go back
Back to the beginning
Back to when the earth, the sun, the stars all aligned

Cause perfect didn't feel so perfect
Trying to fit a square into a circle was no lie
I defy


Let the rain fall down and wake my dreams
Let it wash away my sanity
Cause I wanna feel the thunder
I wanna scream
Let the rain fall down
I'm coming clean
I'm coming clean

I'm shedding
Shedding every color
Trying to find a pigment of truth beneath my skin

Oh....

Cause different
Doesn't feel so different
And going out is better
Than always staying in
Feel the wind


Let the rain fall down and wake my dreams
Let it wash away my sanity
Cause I wanna feel the thunder
I wanna scream
Let the rain fall down
I'm coming clean
I'm coming clean


Rain fall down
(I'm coming clean)
Rain fall down
Rain fall down


Let the rain fall
Let the rain fall
I'm coming


Let the rain fall down and wake my dreams
Let it wash away my sanity
Cause I wanna feel the thunder
I wanna scream
Let the rain fall down
I'm coming clean
I'm coming clean

Oh, coming clean
Oh, coming clean
Let the rain fall
Let the rain fall
Let the rain fall
I'm coming clean
Let the rain fall down

Hmm... oh oh oh...

Let's go back
Back to the beginning

The Princess Diaries

Today, I had the distinct pleasure of being visited by royalty. HRH Princess Shash has chosen to descend upon Hong Kong and give one of her loyal subjects a visit. The stopover is part of her tour of China & its neighboring territories.


I’m just SO EXCITED to see that she’s here. It’s always a thrill when you see a friend outside the country. There’s nothing like discovering a different culture with someone who has the same interests, same likes, and same sense of awe. Princess Shash, who I also call “Shashie Friend” definitely fits that bill.

The story of our friendship is quite an interesting one. The time I met Shash and the time I became friends with Shash are two different instances. There was a considerable time gap between these two points. If I were to draw a “Friendship Timeline,” I met her at point A and became friends at point J.

We first met in college, way back in 1989. We were part of CMC’s block I-1, a group of wide-eyed freshmen bravely entering the world of independence that was UP. It was a considerably big block, and it was but natural that clusters began to form within the group.

Among the clusters were “the guys”: Me, Jack, Chuck, Gani, Daryl & Rommel – 6 guys in a block of more than 30. Because we were outnumbered, we instinctively clustered. There were “the Assumptionistas”: Ovvian, Rosalyn, Tintin and Janet. If this were an American school, they’d be the Cheerleaders.

Then there were “the Geeks,” or the A-list of our block – the venerable ”high-society” if you must. I remember them occupying two benches in CASAA where they’d all meet up. They’d be writing on some sort of a logbook, sharing “Super Lemon,” and basically just chilling out. Shash was part of “the Geeks” along with Debbie, Chona, Kathleen, Mona, Eds, Grace, and eventually Gani and Daryl joined them as well.

Needless to say, I wasn’t a member of “the Geeks” because I was A GEEK! Unlike their A-list counterparts in teen flicks, the nice thing was that they were never mean to the uncool kids. I remember getting to drop by and hang out with them once or twice (Oh, ok. Just once…) This was quite an honor for a nerd such as myself.

By the time our sophomore year kicked in, a lot of our block mates left CMC and found their own niches. Ovvian went to HE to pursue Interior Design. Chona went to BA. And Shash, I heard she went on to the College of Economics.

Contact between Shash and me during those 3 remaining years were few and far between. There were the occasional run-ins along the academic oval. Bumping into each other during the lantern parade. The chance meeting along Palma Hall. Each one would consist of the customary “hi” and “hello,” and nothing more.

A few years after, 1994 if i'm not mistaken, I came across her name again. That time, I was already working as a copywriter at Adformatix, and she was up for an AE post in the same agency. When Jojo told me that she was probably going to join our team, there was this initial sense of uncertainty.

For one, we were never really that close in college, so I couldn’t really vouch for her. Another reason was the fact that we haven’t seen each other in 5 years, and often, those years add up to an awkward feeling when you see each other again. My mind was trying to figure out how to bridge those lost years.

Her first day at work came, and all the uncertainty just vanished. I remember the first time we greeted each other, it was like meeting an old friend and picking up where you left off. It was strange, given our history – or lack thereof. But everything flowed smoothly from then on.

From teammates in Optima, we became part of an inseparable group: Shash, Xtine, Fiesta, Kuya Ers and me. We worked very well at doing the advertising bit, handling the ad work for AsianBank and Nivea. It was during her Adformatix stint that Shash was christened “Princess Shash.” This was due to her very refined and very classy demeanor. Well, she did graduate from Colegio de San Agustin, so you couldn’t expect anything less.

Our friendship and teamwork extended way, WAY after work. We eventually became lunch mates; buying pork chop from the Jeepers then concocting our special “Maggi Savor/Ketchup” sauce. We were meander mates who’d go to Makati Cinema Square at lunch to buy goodies at Plaza Fair. We’d also go out after office, attacking Glorietta to shop, or simply to check out Donut Magic because Xtine said they have “to die for” donuts. (They really did!)

Going a step further, we chose to spend holidays and long weekends together. On record, one of my favorite out-of-town trips was our first foray into Subic as a group. It was at the beach house of Abe’s relative, and we commuted all the way up there. We ate dinner at the “Coffee Shop” which served humungous tacos and Iced Tea that you had to concoct yourself. Then in the morning, we’d go to the market to buy fish and meat for lunch, then cook by the beach.

Then there was the “daing” experience: after lunch, we all slept under the sun like daing left out under the sun to dry. After the afternoon nap, we’d run back to the beach for an afternoon swim. Those were simple pleasures, but made extraordinary because of the people we were with.

This was followed by other memorable get-togethers: the Ad Congress in Baguio where we found out that Shash is as princess-like when she’s drunk, Joji’s wedding, followed by Jojo’s wedding (where we all got dressed up in our Filipiniana finery!) And of course, who can forget our AX Christmas Parties where Optima won the “Best in Décor” for 3 years straight. We did Sesame Street during our last year together: I was Ernie. Shash was Mumford the Magician.

Eventually, I left Adformatix to join the corporate world. While I told all my AX friends that we’d still stay in touch after that, I likewise accepted the possibility that we’d drift apart after. At SMC, I’d be moving around a totally new circle and there’s the prospect of being immersed in a different kind of system.

The cliché goes: “Absence makes the heart grow fonder,” and realists counter it by saying: “Absence makes the heart go wander.” And I’ve seen myself do both in many instances. In the case of my Adformatix group, particularly Shash, Xtine, Fiesta and Kuya Ers, my heart grew fonder – big time!

Even if I was working in Ortigas, I’d find myself in Makati sharing a meal or a drink with the group. We’d still go to Angela’s in MCS to buy cheap clothes. We’d still eat at McDonald’s in the evening and sing “A whole new world” while waiting for our orders to arrive. Shash did a killer impression of Lea Salonga as Princess Jasmine:

“Soooaring, Tahmbling, Free wheeling. On an endlessdiamondsky…” (for those who haven’t seen the animated version, this is how Princess Jasmine sounded.)

Like most stories go, we eventually went our separate ways: Shash moved to another agency, Fiesta moved to Pinoy Central, Xtine moved to California, Kuya Ers stayed at Adformatix, and me – I left, came back, and left again.

When we went our separate ways, that’s when our “Princess Shash” became “Shashie Friend.” This was not meant to strip Her Royal Highness of her equally Royal Title, but it was to mark the transcendence to another level. If you may, it’s another additional title. (Just like HRH Princess Sophie, the Duchess of Cornwall. It’s something like that.)

It’s a title in honor of a friendship that would span agencies, geographic boundaries, even countries. A friendship marked by so many glorious occasions, among them:

1. Her wedding, (Xtine, Fiesta and I had to play hooky from work to attend this,)
2. The birth of her two little princesses (Xtine already left by this time, but Fiesta and I were there both times. Even having a little post noche Buena party during Justine’s birth)
3. The baptism of both Bella and Justine (I’m Bella’s ninong. Fiesta is Justine’s ninang.)
4. Xtine’s homecoming (where Shash, Melvin and Fiesta finally met Mario)

One of our group’s most cherished possessions in Adformatix is our photo wall. Near Xtine’s desk was this wall where all our pictures together were plastered. It started as a small group of pictures, then it grew, then grew some more, until it covered the entire wall.

When they moved the wall (It was actually Noncy’s cubicle and we were squatting on it), Xtine and I divided the pictures for safekeeping. I still have all those pictures of the group, along with the lovely family pics that Shashie Friend sends of her and the kids. They’re pictures worth cherishing, just like the friendship we have all these years.

While walking around Hong Kong with Shash and Melvin, I’m both amused and amazed that we’ve grown this close as friends despite the fact that we were just acquaintances – practically strangers – way back in college. That we could have been friends since 1989, but we weren’t. That the friendship could have had a longer history, but it doesn’t.

I believe that it’s one of those instances where it’s not quantity, but it’s the quality that matters.

Mecca in Macau!

While this isn't exactly it, what I got is really close to what's in the pic.

I've been dreaming of these pair for God-knows-how-long. Yup, it even came to a point that these A&F jeans came to me in a dream, asking me to please buy him.

Because of that, I've been bugging people from the US to hunt down these jeans and bring them home. From Biboy to Mom to Tanya to Olan, they've all received an email for me begging for the "Saranac Destroyed Boot" jeans. Heck, if my US visa weren't expired, i'd fly to the US and get it myself.

Then, on a routine "I-gotta-escape-from-the-rain" trip to Macau, I went to Uno-Uno to kill time. I wasn't even planning to browse through the racks, but somehow, something called to me. It was like a little voice saying: "I'm here... I'm here..."

*glorious hallelujah music inserted here"

And there it was: A pair of Abercrombie and Fitch Saranac Destroyed Boot jeans. It was the closest I got to my dream jeans. Holding my breath, I went to peek what size it was.

...suspense
...suspense
...suspense

THEY WERE SIZE 30 JEANS!

Yup, they were my size! They were my size!

Like Gollum trying to covet the ring, I immediately hugged "my precious" jeans to make sure nobody will touch, look at, or purchase them. These were my jeans. MY JEANS! And no one else was getting it.

Excitedly, I ran into the dressing room to fit it. Honestly, I wasn't too deliriously happy with the fit. It was a bit too loose around the thigh area and the waist was a tad bit too high. But at that point in time, it was perfectly alright. The jeans of my dreams were now wrapped around my waist and legs, and nothing else mattered. Not even the burgundy A&F t-shirt with a cute moose cut-out that I picked up earlier.

Then, I also bought a pair of G-Star A-crotch denim jeans with silver thread. This one fit me perfectly, and of course, the design shouted; "Wear me to a wild night out!"

Hmmm... seems like I've got more reasons to visit Macau these days. Aside from the colonial architecture and the more relaxed atmosphere, there's the prospect of finding more Abercrombie & Fitch Jeans. And yes, that's reason enough for me!

Top Three Songs

I've been listening to these 3 songs over and over and over and over and over and over and over again the past few weeks. In fact, I alternate them as my lullaby to help facilitate my transition to la-la land. I've grown so addicted to these songs that:

1. I have them in my ibook and it's the 3 top played songs in my playlist.
2. I drop by HMV at Causeway Bay THEN at Tsim Sha Tsui so I can listen to them before I go home.
3. I turn the CD player on when I get back to the room and play these songs.

They're quite an eclectic mix of songs, which makes me wonder why i'm obsessing about them. If it were all pop or all jazz, then I can easily say: "I'm just into a jazz thang..." But no! They're quite diverse: One is a pop/rock ditty, one is very seductively electronica, and the last one is boom-boom cheerleader stuff.

The end product of listening to them is that I now memorize the songs by heart. Want proof? Let me write the lyrics for you:



CHOCOLATE by Kylie Minogue

Fragile, seems I opened up to quick and all my dreams were woken up
I slowly lost my fight
with every single man a river cried

I had no sensation, completely numb I felt no satisfaction
I thought no one could ever get me high again
I swear I was not looking

I've waited so long, I thought the real thing was a fake, I thought it was a tool to break me down
you prove me wrong again

If love were liquid it would drown me in a placeless place refine me,
in a heart shape come around me and then melt me slowly down
if love were human it would know me in a lost space come and show me,
hold me and control me and then melt me slowly down, like chocolate

Tastes so good my hearts been mended, who'd have thought it would?
an empty bed and still I won the catch, a man who I love and who loves me back

I've waited so long for love to heal me, so I'd feel it, thought it wasn't real and then you came
you prove me wrong again

If love were liquid it would drown me in a placeless place refine me,
in a heart shape come around me and then melt me slowly down
if love were human it would know me in a lost space come and show me,
hold me and control me and then melt me slowly down, like chocolate

Come here, zoom in, catch the smile
there's no doubt it's for you and I'm addicted tonight

Just one look boy to mellow it out
just one heart here to save me now
your candy kisses are sweet I know
hold me tight baby, don't let go

*Images of strippers gyrating around silver poles come to mind each time I hear this song.



HOLLABACK GIRL by Gwen Stefani

Uh huh, this my shit
All the girls stomp your feet like this

A few times I've been around that track
So it's not just goin' to happen like that
Because I ain't no hollaback girl
I ain't no hollaback girl
[2x]

Oooh, this my shit, this my shit [4x]

I heard that you were talking shit
And you didn't think that I would hear it
People hear you talking like that, getting everybody fired up
So I'm ready to attack, gonna lead the pack
Gonna get a touchdown, gonna take you out
That's right, put your pom-poms down, getting everybody fired up

A few times I've been around that track
So it's not just goin' to happen like that
Because I ain't no hollaback girl
I ain't no hollaback girl
[2x]

Oooh, this my shit, this my shit [4x]

So that's right dude, meet me at the bleachers
No principals, no student-teachers
All the boys want to be the winner, but there can only be one
So I'm gonna fight, gonna give it my all
Gonna make you fall, gonna sock it to you
That's right, I'm the last one standing, another one bites the dust

A few times I've been around that track
So it's not just goin' to happen like that
Because I ain't no hollaback girl
I ain't no hollaback girl
[2x]

Oooh, this my shit, this my shit [4x]

Let me hear you say, this shit is bananas
B-A-N-A-N-A-S
[4x]

A few times I've been around that track
So it's not just goin' to happen like that
Because I ain't no hollaback girl
I ain't no hollaback girl
[2x]

Oooh, this my shit, this my shit [4x]

*I love the MTV version where they edit out the "shit" word. It's totally cute!



SINCE YOU'VE BEEN GONE by Kelly Clarkson

Here's the thing we started off friends
It was cool but it was all pretend
Yeah yeah
Since you've been gone

You dedicated you took the time
Wasn't long till I called you mine
Yeah Yeah
Since you've been gone

And all you'd ever hear me say
Is how I pictured me with you
That's all you'd ever hear me say

But since you've been gone
I can breathe for the first time
Im so movin on
Yeah yeah
Thanks to you
Now I get
What I want
Since you've been gone

How can I put it? you put me on
I even fell for that stupid love song
Yeah yeah
Since you've been gone

How come I never hear you say
I just wanna be with you
I guess you never felt that way

But since you've been gone
I can breathe for the first time
Im so movin on
Yeah yeah
Thanks to you
Now I get
I get what I want
Since you've been gone

You had your chance you blew it
Out of sight, out of mind
Shut your mouth I just can't take it
Again and again and again and again

Since you've been gone
I can breathe for the first time
Im so movin on
Yeah yeah
Thanks to you (thanks to you)
Now I get
I get what I want
I can breathe for the first time
Im so movin on
Yeah yeah
Thanks to you (thanks to you)
Now I get (I get)
You should know (you should know)
That I get
I get what I want
Since you've been gone
Since you've been gone
Since you've been gone

*It's such a cool, bad-ass bitch break-up song.

Now excuse me while I sing these songs all over again...

Sample Fashion

Those are two words that have captured my fancy these past few weeks. "Sample Fashion" is to Hong Kong what "Surplus Shop" is to the Philippines. Whenever you walk inside one of these stores, be prepared to be find clothes by some of the better known American brands, at prices that are a fraction of what they usually cost in the US.

What i've been buying a lot lately are Abercrombie and Fitch shirts. Since these are mostly made in Hong Kong, China and Macau, it's no surprise that you can find a lot of these in Sample Fashion stores. While there may be a dearth in design choices, the ones they have are pretty decent -- usually the A&F signature moose in its many permutations. There's also an interesting yellow shirt with a 70s type print and the line: "Snorkeling is Sexy" emblazoned in front. Good thing the phrase is in English, because "Ang Sarap Sumisisid" would definitely have a lot of raunchy connotations.



Then again, that line sends out the same signal as my "Hot FCUK" shirt, methinks...

Trouble with these shops though is finding my size. Most of the shirts with ultra-hip-cool-awesome-radically-out-of-this-world designs are in Large or Extra Large. There are a couple in Medium, and thankfully, I fit in some of them. But if they had all those designs in Small, I'd be a very happy - albeit very poor - man.

Aside from the shirts, I came across certain gems in the pants department. My lovely finds include an American Eagle cargo in dark khaki, and a Hollister Co. bermuda short in cream. They both cost around HK$60, which is practically a steal in this part of Asia.

I would have also hit the gold mine on jackets if only they had them in my size. They've got loads of great A&F track jackets, alas, most of them are in Extra Large. That's why when I chanced upon a black Hollister Co. track jacket, I only needed a nanosecond to think about it, then it ended up in my purchase pile. It's about time I gave my H&M "Las Vegas" jacket a trip to the Laundromat.

Girls have the upper hand in Sample Fashion stores since 3/4 of their stuff are for girls. Aside from the aforementioned A&F and Hollister Co. shirts (and they've got a lot of those), you've got brands like American Eagle, Express, Ann Taylor, H&M, Gap, Banana Republic, Huhn Tahn, plus some European sounding brands.

To ease my shopping guilt, i've actually bought some stuff for my sisters, and i'm sure they'll be tickled pink with the loot i've got them. A&F bermuda shorts in classic white, Hollister beaded shirts, an Express beaded halter top, plus a few boho pieces with some strange Chinese sounding brand.

After scouring one Sample Fashion store after the other, I suddenly miss Surplus Shop even more. Hands down, we've got better choices back in Manila, and the stores are much bigger, not to mention better organized. I could never let a week pass without dropping by their branches in Cubao, Megamall and Makati. Now it's been more than 8 weeks, and I haven't paid homage to the Shrine of Surplus Stuff.

Imagine all the great loot i'm missing. *sigh*

I'm going to Manila before this month ends. Hope they'll have new stocks in Surplus Shop when I do.

Bonjour!

Your French Name Is

Chapin Ouvrard

What's Your French Name?

I think my French name is SOOOO Cooooolllll!

Por Fin, I'm In!

They finally handed my work visa to me today. That means I can get my ID and start putting my plans in action. I've actually been wanting to do a lot of things, but a lot of them required the HK ID. Now, the real fun starts.

First thing i'm planning to do is to is sign up for a volunteer program. I usually just spend Saturdays mall-hopping and shopping, and each time I do, my mind tells me: "There is definitely more to life than this," and "there's got to be a bigger reason why i'm here."

Now, it's time for me to find out.

Wow, pare! Ang labo mo...

This conversation happened to me and another Pinoy who struck a conversation with me upon learning i'm also from the Philippines.

*after talking to him about travelling and the places i've been to.

PINOY: So you've been to a lot of places na pala.
ME: Yup! I love travelling. It's something i'm very passionate about. I love seeing other countries and cultures.
PINOY: Talaga! Ako rin! I really love to travel.
ME: But personally, if i'm visiting a country for the first time, i'd rather go there alone. I know it's weird, but I prefer to travel alone.
PINOY: Ako rin! Whenever I travel gusto ko rin alone ako.
ME: That's good.
PINOY: Galing 'no? Pareho tayong mahilig mag-travel alone. Dapat pala minsan, let's travel alone together.

And for a moment, I was speechless. Yes, it was one of those few, precious moments that I really had nothing to say...

Hey Prichy! You're right!

Lester, your true talent is spatial ability

Your ability to visualize objects in three-dimensional space gives you a unique view of the world. Because of this talent, you are much better than most people at imagining new designs including floor plans, page layouts, and three dimensional objects.

How do we know that's your true talent? While you were taking the test, we calculated your responses to each test question and rated your skills in 5 areas. You scored highest on spatial ability.

People like you are usually great when it comes to putting together assemble-it-yourself furniture or other household items — whether the items arrive with instructions or not. Your spatial skills also help you understand the finer points of how things work.

And that's just a small part of what we know about you from your test results. You also have other hidden talents that can have a dramatic effect on your career, your life and how other people see you.

Doppelgangers

Way back in my first agency, I had an officemate named Nikos who did a very good impression of me. He could imitate my way of speaking, up to a point that he could say "Yes" and "Mismo" just like me. That's why when people would look for me in my cubicle, he'd answer them. So the poor soul walks in to see i'm not there.

But that was more than 5 years ago.

Now there's someone who wants to take Nikos' position, and his name is Andy. He's been spending the past half hour or so trying to talk and act like me. My other officemate think he's doing a pretty good job, but I beg to disagree, of course. I don't see a Hong Konger getting my very American way of speaking down pat.

Then again, let's see if he'll get better at it as time progresses.

Little Oddities

There's this habit i'm beginning to develop. I take all the coins out of my pocket and arrange them by value and size: $10s, $5s, $2s, $1s... then arrange them in one straight line on my hand. After looking at it for a few seconds, it goes back to my pocket.

Needless to say, they all go back in a state of disarray when they land inside. So, after a few hours, I take them out of my pocket and do it all over again.

===============

I'm wearing these really nice American Eagle cargo pants I got at Wan Chai. It's a low-rise pair which is quite unusual, and that's the source of attraction for me. It has two buttons up front, and a lot of details around the belt area.

The only problem is, because the waist is so low, the zipper is very, very short. And that makes it harder for me to pee. Instead of just pulling down the fly, I have to unbutton the pair before I can do number 1.

It made me begin to wonder that this might be a girl's pair of pants. But the size is in inches (31) as opposed to numbers (0-2-4-6), and the buttons are on the right -- so it's made for a guy. But why is the fly so short? Hmmm... I don't think I even want to go to there.

================

I've been having dreams about people and friends who I haven't seen in ages. Last night, it was Prex who has in it. (Which might qualify it as a nightmare. Hehehe.) Wonder what that means?

It's Jack!

I'm wearing my Jack Jones Jeans today. Paired it with my Adidas Y3s and a button down shirt I got from the ukay-ukay in Galleria.

And yes, there's nothing like an great haircut to complete the look.

And the therapy continues...

Zara has a lot of promising jeans this season, but most of them come in black. I'm not too keen on black jeans, for the simple reason that it isn't as casual and laid back as the your good 'ole blue denim. Black jeans have this formal vibe to it, so it's best worn with a crisp, button down white shirt and leather shoes.

No matter how much I try to picture it in my mind, black jeans will never go well with my black Chuck Taylors and my plain, white Pull and Bear tees. That's good, by the way, since i'm leaving Zara empty handed for a change.

That was until I went to Shenzhen.

We checked out MixC, one of their high end malls. Lo and behold, there were two of my favorite European brands: Springfield and Jack Jones.

Springfield is one of Spain's best imports to the Philippines (my sisters would argue that Mango is the best import, so I won't say that it's THE best import.) They've got very nice tees and jackets, although their jeans are a bit high-waisted for my taste.

Jack Jones is a jean line from Denmark, and its best known for its variations on the worker jean. They've restyled it in a way that it becomes "hip meets functional." The product is a low-rise jean with carpenter jean details.

Only, another European brand, also makes jeans with cuts and details that are stellar! Too bad for me, they only make jeans for women. It's good for my sister because i'll probably end up buying her a pair and bring it back to Manila.

Then, I dropped by Kitterick this evening, and checked out the magic rack. (It's the one that says "Final Sale.") Lo and behold, there were a couple of funky Indu Homme jeans on sale. Normally, I wouldn't buy Indu Homme since their designs are a bit too risque for my conservative taste. But the jeans were dirt cheap, so I tried on a couple of pairs.

A weekend passed, and now there are 3 new pairs of jeans in my closet:



1. Jack Jones Vintage Denim - I like the way this jeans fall: low rise with a straight, wide leg. It's washed continuously to create that even fading. The twist is, some details have been shielded from the process and still keep the dark blue hue. Among them are the hem and a big patch on the left thigh.

2. Indu Homme Wrecked Denim - Energie has "distressed" jeans. Abercrombie and Fitch has "destroyed" jeans. This pair of jeans is neither. It's really wrecked! There are two gaping holes on the knees, making my kneecaps stick out when i'm sitting down. There are two slashed holes near the back pocket, and the hem is slit so long, it's about to fall off. This pair packs so much attitude, you only need a plain shirt and sneakers to complete the look.

3. Indu Homme Patched Denim - This pair looks like it was made from 3 different denim patches and sewn together. The result is an interesting construction with an outstanding fit. True to the Indu tradition, the waist is cut low and falls on the 2nd hip. There are some distressed details in the front and at the back that soften the attitude.

I'm looking forward to wear these babies this week. Which will I wear tomorrow?

(decisions... decisions...)

Look who we have here...

Amazing is the only word to describe this. I ran into an old blockmate of mine from college today. The last time I saw her, it was during our freshman year in UP. That's 15 long years ago. And of all places to run into her, it had to be in Hong Kong!

I was taking the routine ferry ride from Tsim Sha Tsui to Central when I saw her in pier. Initially, I wasn't sure if it was her, after all, it's been 15 years. Then when I found myself one row behind her, it was an opportunity to take a closer look. So after repeated glances, I thought, "what the heck, this is a foreign country!"

So mustering as much courage I could possibly muster, I turned to her and asked:

"Ovvian?"

She faced me and after a few seconds said:

"Lester!"

Yup, it was our very own Assumptionista in Block I-1. The daughter of the famous sculptor. This made her our artist in residence.

We took the time from TST to Central to catch up. See what we've been doing with our lives the past decade and a half, and from what I've gathered, she's been using her time well. Since she'll be in town for a few more days, we'll meet up for another kuwentuhan session.

This is going to be SO MUCH FUN!

Making the cut

When Melvin asked me what I wanted to do in Shenzhen, the first thing I told him was:

"Melvin, I need to have a hair cut."

It's very hard to find people who speak English in this part of China, so we enlisted the help of Jeff in our quest for a good haircut. Jeff is very fluent in Mandarin, and he would be the key in explaining what kind of cut i'd like.

After going around a couple of neighborhood areas in search for a hole-in-the-wall barbershop, we ended up in this salon just a few blocks away from his flat. It was reminiscent of a sleepy-town salon. The girls were either watching TV or reading magazines. There was just one customer but more than 10 chairs. Everybody looked bored out of their wits. You get the picture.

Then when the 3 of us walked in, the place started to teem with life.

Being used to the usual Headway haircut, I must admit that the Shenzhen salon process was a bit off-kilter for my taste. Here's how it goes:

1. They shampoo your hair. BUT, unlike in Manila where they let you lie down with your head on a sink, here, they shampoo you while you're sitting down. They use a mineral water bottle with a small hole on the cap to control the water they splish-splash on to your hair. Starting at the top of your head, they work their way down using very small and calculated strokes. The attendants are very careful not to let any excess water or shampoo fall on your ears, eyes, or clothes. A massage was also part of the shampoo process, which felt a bit odd instead of relaxing. After 15 minutes or so, you're off to the rinsing area.
2. The massage. After the shampoo and rinse, they proceed to give you a body and arm massage. It made me want to ask: "Are we in a hair salon or a massage parlor? What's with all this massaging going on?" If I were a big massage fan, it would be cool, But I hate being touched, so this was torture.
3. The haircut. Unlike Melvin, who got this funky looking guy to chop off his locks, I got this burly looking girl -- and that made me nervous. But once she started snipping away, I felt very comfortable since she looked like she knew what she was doing. So I sat back, relaxed and watched my unkempt hair start to fall to the ground.

After 20 minutes, the haircut was done. It was perfect! It looked like Mang Domeng or Mang Pano (God rest his soul) did it himself! It was amazing. But the girl in her wanted to do more, so she did a bit of blowdrying, and a bit of styling magic, and I looked like a hip teener once again.

I told Melvin that I was so happy with my haircut, I'm planning to write UNESCO and make that salon a World Heritage Site. Or maybe I can write someone and transform it into a shrine.

In case I won't be able to go to Manila for my haircut, i'm happy to know that someone just as good is just 40 minutes away.

Spaced out!

I'm in Shenzhen! My first trip back to Mainland China in almost 5 years, and my first foray into what most people call "Hong Kong's poor brother."

First impression: There's so much space!

If you're used to staying in Hong Kong, you equally get used to living in cramped spaces. Here, the roads -- even the main highways -- are a bit narrower than usual. The sidewalks are quite sparse, and it you add the hundreds of thousands of people plying them the whole day, then they're almost non-existent.

But after stepping out of the railway station, I was immediately treated to a huge, concrete plaza which was practically empty, save for a few well-wishers waiting for people to return from Hong Kong.

While waiting for Melvin, I went around the area, and it was just SO refreshing to not have someone within 3 feet away from you while walking.

When he arrived, we took a mini-bus from the station to his flat. And again, the highways here are massive. It's like EDSA, sans the MRT in the middle. Despite the size, there was some congested areas here and there -- typical Friday night rush hour, as I'd learn.

We went down at Di Wang, which is the area where Melvin's flat and office are located. Again, the spacious sidewalks offered me a welcome change. In some areas, the sidewalks are so wide, you can even drive a car through it. Makes me want to look for a scooter or a skateboard and zig zag all the way around.

After dropping off my stuff at the flat, we proceeded to Shenzhen's version of Divisoria. This was my first exposure to how cheap stuff are in Shenzhen. They have office pants for RMB15! That's roughly P105! (This sounds sooooo Oh Tokyo! I can almost hear Ellen saying: Mura lang po ito, RMB15, sa pera po natin, P105 lang! Mura po, di ba?!)

Compare it to the usual HK$450 pants at G2000, that price is definitely a steal.

The supermarkets are also a sight to behold. Being a "supermarket junkie," it's one of the first places I visit whenever i'm in a foreign land. My fondest memories of my travels abroad are the supermarkets i've visited: Soriana's in Mexico, Albertheijn in the Netherlands, El Corte Ingles in Spain, Walmart in the US, Carrefour in France -- among others.

The Park and Shop in Shenzhen is humongous compared to its tiny brothers in HK. There's so much aisle space and so many things to buy. I could spend half a day just exploring the place, but it's almost 11. Melvin just grabbed a tub of ice cream and we were on our way back home to his flat. Of course, we walked along the wide, wide streets going there.

I think i'm going to like it here...

Desperately Seeking Shoes

I brought only 2 pairs of shoes with me. My trusty Adidas running shoes (bought in Spain more than 3 years ago. Talk about longevity) and my classic black Chuck Taylors.

It's been almost 6 weeks since I got here, and my shoes are feeling the pinch. The soles of my Adidas are beginning to deteriorate, and my Chucks look like they're ready to give in.

I've got about 60 pairs of shoes in Manila, why on heaven's name did I just bring 2. Thought I was going home this weekend and was seriously thinking of hordeing major footwear, but my trip was moved to 2 weeks after.

Must...
get...
more...
shoes...

Today's best buy!

Decided to walk a little further this lunch time. It proved to be a very productive walk because I came across the biggest bargain yet:

*drumroll please*

ADIDAS Y3 FOR ONLY US$100!

These babies go for at least $250 to $300 in the US, and around P12,000 to P15,000 in Manila. So imagine my surprise when I found this pair in one of the shops at Provident Center. And to make things even more fabuloso, they came in red with orange soles. The color is just up my alley!

Yes, I am a happy shopper today!

What does my name mean?

LESTEREDGARDMORALES
L	is for	Loud
E	is for	Energetic
S	is for	Slippery
T	is for	Twisted
E	is for	Energetic
R	is for	Radical
E	is for	Energetic
D	is for	Dainty
G	is for	Glorious
A	is for	Alert
R	is for	Revolutionary
D	is for	Distinguished
M	is for	Mysterious
O	is for	Organic
R	is for	Revolutionary
A	is for	Arty
L	is for	Luxurious
E	is for	Exquisite
S	is for	Spectacular

What Does Your Name Mean?

I got a kick out of this blogthings test. And it's pretty much accurate. Though i don't know how a bumbling mess like me can be classified as "Exquisite." Harharhar