Sounds familiar...

There are only 18 songs in my ITunes at the moment, which might make it the most lame and most boring ITune in the whole universe, and maybe even the next. Because of this, I've made it a habit to connect to the network and mooch off my other colleagues ITunes. That's the great thing about having an office network, you can benefit from other people's resources.

Golf must have the most number of songs in the office. He has around 30 days worth, if I'm not mistaken. He has a very varied selection, which is awesome. Best of all, he has Sophie Ellis Bextor, which means he definitely has taste. I'm a big fan of Sophie since 2002, but unfortunately, her albums aren't available in Manila or Hong Kong. I should have gotten one of her CDs when I was in Europe last year. He also has Carpenters, Isaac Hayes, Louis Armstrong and Nina Simone, so you can tell this kid has got an old soul. Alas, he has no Britney Spears, though.

Today, I decided to venture out of my comfort zone and listen to my other officemates' iTunes. The first one I saw was Keith's, so after a quick double click, I was in his song network. I expected Keith's selection to be predominantly Chinese. Since he's a Hong Kong Chinese, I could imagine him listening to KellyJackie, Rain, and the Twins all day long. When I began poring through is music selection, my deduction proved to be a correct one. Most of the songs are written in Chinese, so they're of no use to me.

Still, my persistence led me to scroll down and down and down. And while doing that, I saw this very familiar title:

"You made me stronger."

I thought... could it be? Could it be the song of Asia's Songbird, Ms. Regine Velazquez? Could it be the song she wrote after breaking up with Ariel Rivera? Curious, I double clicked on the song, and waited with baited breath.

"Is it hard to believe i'm ok? After all, it's been a while since you've walked away. I'm way past crying over you finding someone new..."

Yes! It was Regine! It was so great hearing one of her songs after a long time. Not because i'm a fan, but Regine really has one of the best voices on the planet. She's got the voice of an angel, and listening to her is so soothing - even if she's shrieking 40% of the time when she sings. So that song played for a few times before deciding to move on further down the list.

Then I saw it...

"Bulag, Pipi at Bingi."

Whoa! How could that classic Filipino song be in my Chinese officemate's iTunes! I double clicked on the tune just to make sure, and it was indeed the ditty that every Pinoy must know.

Wondering why he had Pinoy songs in his list, I checked the album title to see the source of these 2 songs. The Album title is "Classic Asian Love Songs", and was produced in HK. By the way, that's also where "You made me stronger" came from. This little factoid made me break into a big smile. That's because: 1. Two Pinoy songs are considered Classic Asian Love Songs in Hong Kong, and 2. My Chinese officemate likes listening to it. (I checked the playlist, and he plays these 2 songs often.)

I should chat with Keith one of these days so we can talk about Regine. He might want to know more about the voice behind the song.

And yes, it looks like i'll hang out Keith's iTunes more often these days.

Internet Junkie

Since my move to HK, i've noticed that almost 80% of my day is spent on the internet. I'm either doing research, (yeah, right), answering emails, downloading articles, or writing on my blog. In fact, my wrists are now complaining that they spend more time on the keyboard than anywhere else. Could carpal tunnel syndrome be far behind? I hope not.

One of my colleagues once commented that someone should bring me out of my room because everytime he passes by, i'm hunched in front of the Mac. And that worries him. Hahaha. But he does have a point. Often, I force myself to go out and interact just so i can pull away from the computer and the net.

Weekends are supposed to be "internet free" days. But often, I find myself sneaking into internet cafes to check mail or write. This is the reason why I love going back home to Manila. It's the only time when i'm 100% detached from all things techie and internet. It's when my social interaction instincts and skills kick in and i'm more in tune with the world through my eyes, and not through the eyes of some person who has "www" in his name.

The Homeboy is now a Handyman

It's been almost a month since I bought my curtain rods, but the search for a good carpenter to install them has been a vain one. There was one very good prospect, a Pinoy handyman, but when he gave me his quote for the project, it simply reeked "i'm cheating you because you look like you've got money to spare."

Last Thursday, I attempted to install the simple vertical fabric blinds from Ikea. Surprisingly, it was quite easy to put up. It took only 2 hooks and 15 minutes before they were up, and my heart was swelling with pride when I looked at the very nice results of my efforts.

It's time to take it to the next level. After debating with myself the past few days, a decision has been made. "Better install the blinds yourself, Lester," was the message from my mind.

And I did.

After making a quick stop at Ikea this lunchtime to buy 2 curtain rods and 3 pairs of curtains, I've decided to install them myself. Definitely, it would be more complex than fabric blinds since i'll be dealing with long steel rods that are heavy and require a lot of screwing. But it was a lazy Sunday, making me stand up to the challenge.

With Kylie Minogue, Kelly Clarkson, Gwen Stefani and Ray Charles in the background, my handyman instincts kicked in and my work began.

Suprisingly, it took only 1 hour to install the curtain rods in my room and in the dining area. My room now has a new curtain rod and new curtains (colored red and yellow, in honor of Mother Spain, hehehe) and the dining area now sports a navy blue with white box curtain. Both have added more sense of "homeness" into my home.

Looks like there's another alternative career waiting for me. I might just have the chops to become a Carpenter. And I don't mean the one that sings "We've only just begun." Though that would be quite nice, too.

New Edition. New Addition.

Two of Abercrombie and Fitch's new edition denim styles have found their way into my closet. One was by a simple twist of fate, and the other, thanks to a friend who came from NY.


The first one is a Saranac Signature Boot in Extreme Light wash. It has destroyed details all around, plus the classic moose embroidered at the right leg. Aside from the embroidery, there's also a silk screened print that adds to the design character of the jeans. The fit is nice, and the fade is just enough to keep it from entering the dreaded "Get Used - early 90s" era. This would look awesome with a plain white shirt.


The second is a Kilburn Low Rise Boot in Dark Dirty Wash. This one doesn't look to spectacular when you hold it up, but once you wear it - it becomes a totally different animal. The fit is great, the waist is very low yet not too tight, so it just skims the hip rather than strangling it. The leg, though relaxed, still follows the shape of the thigh closely. Ergo, it looks slim, but it gives the leg room to move around. The wash is found between "Dark" and "Dirty" which enables it to move from rugged to smart casual just by a change of tops.

Now i've got 2 more pairs that will join the group of "newly acquired but haven't been used" jeans in my closet. I have to get out of the house more...

That figures.

Our MD approached me to say I've been doing a great job: Excellent ideas and stellar copy, he says. It's funny because I feel more appreciated here in my 4 month stay compared to my 2 year stint in my Manila agency's new management.

At least now I know that the problem was more with them than me.

Almost there...

My jean closet is feeling a bit miffed that I'm paying attention to other parts of the house more than her.

I've been spending the past few days in Ikea, finding things to stuff in my apartment. It seems like i've been spending more time in Ikea than in Granville shopping for clothes. And that, I must say, is NOT NORMAL!!!

But there's a feeling of accomplishment when I see that my flat is beginning to feel like home. Plus, there's a sense of pride each time I'm able to single-handedly put something up. Be it as mundane as blinds, coat hangers, or a mirror.

I better finish this home project of mine soon.

Shoeuthanasia...

Almost 4 years ago, during my trip to Spain, Tita Evelyn bought me to one of the sports shop in La Illa Mall to get me a pair of shoes. Initially, she suggested a pair of leather shoes - Spanish leather shoes are top quality, after all - but it wasn't my style. I told her that i'm more of a sneaker/athletic shoe kind of guy, and that how we ended up in that store.

Among rows and rows and rows and rows and rows and row (yup, there were that many rows) of shoes, one pair caught my eye. It was a pair of adidas running shoes, in different shades of gray, with reflectorized stripes. The moment I slipped them on, they felt so light and comfortable, making it ideal for walking and running. Needless to say, this was the pair for me.

Now, almost 4 years of excellent service to me, these shoes are just about ready to give up. The signs of wear and tear started appearing this year, beginning with the edges of the sole coming off, to little tears in the fabric appearing. But the past few months, the damage began growing bigger, and bigger, like 1/8 of the sole coming off the base.

Normally, this is a clear sign that it's time for this pair to retire and move on to that big Foot Locker outlet in the sky. But I love this pair so much that my decision was to put up a fight to keep it alive a few years more. So i've had a passionate love affair with SupaGlue the past few weeks - patiently glueing every bit of the sole back to the base. It usually works, but when I start walking, another part of the sole manages to unhinge itself. So I stick it on again.

The situation is actually quite bad that i'm contemplating carrying a small tube of SupaGlue each time I use them. In case of emergency, as they say. But this extreme measure is also giving me the impression that I should simply give up and let it go.

After all, they've been with me through a lot of things. Trips all around Europe, Asia, Mexico and the U.S. (Making it my most travelled piece of property, along with the Delsey bag given to me by Marite in 2002.) I've waded through floods with it, and it's my shoe of choice whenever the rains pour like crazy. Ergo, it lived a full life.

But like many things that have emotional significance to us, it's hard to give up on, much less - let go - of things that we love so much. That no matter how we convince ourselves that it's ok, and sometimes try to find a replacement to what we need to give up, it's still hard. This I know for a fact because I already bought 3 shoes to "replace" it, but I end up using the old one more often than the new ones.

I guess some things are just irreplaceable.

Retro in the Metro

Riding the escalator on my way up from the MTR, I saw something that was equivalent to a time machine that would instantly zap me back to the early 80s.

Lois and Sergio Valente Jeans!

The two girls ahead of me were wearing these two iconic 80s brands. Behind their nicely shaped bottoms lay the tags, so i'm not sure whether it was the tag that caught my eye, or their nicely shaped bottoms. Or then again, it might simply have been because they were standing ahead of me on a steep escalator, with their bums strategically positioned in front of my face.

When I hear the brand "Lois", memories of childhood in front of the television set come to mind. They had these campy ads pretty much like the: "Kerr Jeans fits you right, right from the start... Kerrrrr Jeans!" jingle. Though the Lois ad escapes me right now, it was close to that genre. The brand identity was very distinct, with its bull and almost handwritten font. The brand, I think, was more popular with the female set since the males only wore Levi's back then. My sisters would have a couple of pairs, and they wear it with their Esprit hanging tees. (The one that says "ESP" up front, and "RIT" at the back.)

Sergio Valente Jeans was one brand with a very distinct jingle. It went: "Sergio Valente, Sergio Valente Jeans! Uh-oh, Sergio... Oooh... Sergio... you caught my eye... *fade away".

Aside from its distinct logo, Sergio Valente made really linear jeans. It was straight from hip to hem which worked well on shorter people. It was the type of jeans that made you tall and thin. Though back in the 80s, that wasn't too big a concern since Kate Moss and her supermodel posse weren't in vogue then. But despite that, Sergio had a big cult following - including my Mom. She had a couple of SVs along with her Gloria Vanderbilt Jeans.

It's so nice when you see these retro brands re-emerging. It lends truth to the adage: everything old becomes new again. Tomorrow, I hope to run into someone wearing Texwood: The Apple Jeans. That would really make my week.

Over sharing

There's a glass with 3 different toothbrushes in our office restroom. According to urban legend, those teeth scrubbing babies are "for public consumption" and anyone can go ahead and use it to expel meat, poultry, vegetables or preserved plum that may be lodged in between your teeth. The concept of sharing toothbrushes was so gross, I quickly dispelled the story as mere hearsay.

Reality check...

Today, two different people used the same toothbrush in 2 different occasions. When I went in around 2pm, there was one guy brushing his teeth using the purple toothbrush found in the glass. Two hours later, there was a different guy using the same toothbrush! Then it hit me, it wasn't an urban legend. IT'S TRUE!

There exists a public toothbrush that people within the office share. I've heard of shared company resources, but this is totally, totally ridiculous.

Well, at least I know that the employees in this office are really close...

Today's best buy

After not seeing anything good at my favorite sample outlet store for quite sometime, today's purchase has definitely made up for it. Today I got a denim jacket that's just so cool, it'll make Antartica look like the Sahara Desert.

Everything about this baby screams character. The dark denim makes it suitable to wear with any kind of bottom, whether jeans, chinos or twill cargos. The body has distressed details, and it's so distressed, it should see a shrink really soon. In between the distressed bits, you'll find this fatigue colored jersey cloth, and a fatigue piping up front. The collar is made of blue twill, and thre are a lot of buckles in the wrist and waist area.

Add all the details together, and you've got a fashion piece that can be dressed up and dressed down according to my mood. It's part Diesel and part D&G, a bit of Gap coupled with a bit of Galliano.

And if it's any gauge of how cool it is, I've been wearing it for only 3 minutes, and 2 people already complemented me on how nice my jacket is.

I sing the body symmetric...

One of my officemates once remarked that I have very symmetrical hands. When I put my 2 hands beside each other, palms up, my palm lines actually look like mirror images. They're both "M" shaped, and they'll probably fit right in then I clasp my hands together.

She also said that upon looking at my palm, she read that I'll have a lot of money, which is always cool. The problem is, Joannah's friend from Singapore also told me that since my fingers have gaps on the base, I tend to spend a lot of money, ergo it slips through the gaps. So looking at that, it seems logical. I get a lot of money, then spend a lot of it.

Hmmm... Sounds like a plan....

But I digress. Aside from my hands, this morning saw me finding another symmetric aspect of my body. After waking up and sitting up on my bed, two moles caught my eye. There was one mole on the lower part of my leg, about 8 inches above my ankle. And on my right leg, on exactly the same spot, there's another more. So when I put my two legs together, the moles are like mirror images. Exactly the same size, color and spot.

Looks to me like i'm a well-balanced person.

And we're on air!

I've just been told that our "Venus" TVC will be airing tomorrow. Cool beans!

This is the first commercial I conceptualized for the Hong Kong office, so i'm quite excited about it. Aside from the fact that the TVC was very well made and is visually stunning, it's one of the TVCs whose concept is close to my heart. So i'm both glad and proud to see it on air.

I love my job!

Domestic Disturbance

Every time I take a gander at my flat’s kitchen, I’m reminded of the “ugly relative that you don’t want anyone to see, so you either hide him or ignore him.”

Compared to the rest of the flat, which looks all clean and decent, the kitchen is really an eyesore. The floor is made of patchy linoleum, one of the cabinet doors has been dislodged, the countertops are dirty, and the walls have this tacky wallpaper designed as bricks.

Since I moved in almost 3 weeks ago, I’ve been constantly ignoring the kitchen. I’m hoping that if I ignore it long enough, it’ll go away. Or maybe, by some power of magic, the kitchen will suddenly become spic, span and gorgeous. Ergo, while I’ve buying a lot of stuff for the living, dining and sleeping areas, I haven’t bought a thing for the kitchen yet.

Today, I’ve decided to face my fears head on. At around 9 in the morning, I stood in front of the kitchen, *winced*, then assessed the damage, *winced*, then imagined how much work would go into cleaning it, *winced*, and decided that I should do something about it. And yes, I winced again.

Heading down to Park and Shop, I found myself in the home area for the first time. In a few minutes, household-cleaning implements occupied my cart; cleansers, dishwashing liquid, sponge, cleaning towels, garbage bags, and paper towels.

By 10 am, my daunting task began. Channeling my inner Tim Allen, Martha Stewart and Nigella Lawson, I proceeded to clean and arrange the kitchen as best as I could. My actions became some sort of a mantra which I chanted in order to stay sane: scrub, wipe, sweep, mop, scrub, wipe, sweep, mop, scrub, wipe, sweep, mop.

It escapes me how a small amount of space can rack up so much dirt. The range hood was filled with some sticky gunk that wasn’t grease, the sink had white splotches and the shelves were covered in dust.

Thanks to my new best friend, Cif, (the cleanser formerly known as Jif, according to the pack); I survived the cleaning frenzy in one piece. While the kitchen isn’t as spanking new or picture pretty, it was decent, at the very least. The counter tops were clean, the sink was rid of its spots, and the floor has been swept (which revealed more of the ugly linoleum – but that would be another story.)

After an hour of cleaning, I look at the results and bash my head in frustration!

Just kidding…

I’m actually happy with the results. At the very least, the place is now clean. And now, I can start buying stuff for it. I do need plates and glasses, after all.

It might not be the best looking kitchen in the lot, but it’s a start.

Villains I love to Hate

Once upon a time, I read this article about Princess Punzalan who, at that time, was enjoying a second wind thanks to her performance as the villain Selena in “Mula sa Puso.”

She recounted that someone at the mall tried to pull her hair because of all the treachery and evil she’s been doing to Claudine Barreto’s character in the soap. That’s when she realized that her acting was so effective, she was no longer an actress but a real life villain.

This is my personal gauge of how effective a villain is: when I find myself wanting to stand up and charge to the screen to inflict bodily harm on the movie’s baddie – then I know the actor did really, really well.

In the hundreds of films I’ve seen, a few actors have made me want to do just that. In honor of them, let me write down the top 5 villains that I love to hate.


1. Gary Sinise in “Ransom.” – Pure, scheming, cruelty. That was the embodiment of his character in that film. It didn’t help that he was the FBI agent assigned to the case, then turned out to be the mastermind of the entire kidnapping. Sick as it may sound, it gave me so much joy seeing him hurt in that film. When his crime partner/girlfriend Lily Taylor died in the shootout scene, I let out a chuckle because I knew that killed a part of him, too. And when he was shot in the end, my mind was screaming: “DIE, BASTARD, DIE!”


2. Kirsten Dunst/Samantha Mathis in “Little Women.” – Okay, so technically, they weren’t villains in the film. But their character – Amy – tormented Jo so much that I thought they should be classified as one. They were scheming and manipulative, only wanting what’s good for them. When Kirsten threw Winona’s manuscript into the fire, I wanted to jump into the screen and whack the living daylights out of her. When Samantha showed up in the March household with Teddy as her fiancé, it took me an amount of self-control to keep myself from shouting: “BITCH! YOU STOLE TEDDY FROM JO! BITCH!”


3. Cameron Diaz in “My Best Friend’s Wedding.” – She ended up with Julia Roberts’ guy. She made Julia Roberts unhappy. Anyone in his or her right mind would definitely say that THAT is the ultimate villainy of them all. No one should ever make Julia Roberts sad. NO ONE! And even if Cameron is as cute as a button and hot as hell, she’s a villain because of what she did.


4. The Shopkeeper in “Pretty Woman.” – Related to reason number 3. When she told Julia Roberts off and said: “I’m sorry, but we don’t sell clothes for your kind here,” and gave her the raised eyebrow-sneer-shrug combo, she automatically became an evil witch in my eyes. I kept on telling myself, “I wish I owned that Rodeo Drive shop so I could have fired her snooty ass right then and there.” That’s why when Julia came back and delivered her line: “You earn on commission, right? Big mistake – HUGE!” I could almost hear a chorus of angels singing “Hallelujah” in the background.


5. Edward Norton in “Primal Fear.” – The whole time you thought he was the victim. The whole time you thought that there was injustice done to him. Then right before the movie ends, he turns out to be the cold-blooded killer that Laura Linney saw him to be. When the credits started to roll, I sat there in disbelief, and I wanted the projectionist to rewind the movie so I could jump in the screen and beat Edward Norton silly.

Recalling all these villainous moments is turning out to be more fun than I expected. I should do this more often.

I hate Peter Sarsgaard!

Despite all the lukewarm reviews, I decided to catch “Flight Plan” today. Jodie Foster has always been a big favorite of mine, (I thought “Nell” was overlooked for an Oscar) so I try to catch as many of her films I can.

“Flight Plan,” in my opinion, didn’t disappoint. It had a steady pace, an interesting plot, a lot of “edge-of-your-seat-hold-on-to-the-armrest” moments, and a not-so-bad conclusion. The narrative tries to throw you off with the odd twist and surprise characters, something that’s always good in a film. But personally, the nice thing about “Flight Plan” is how you leave the theater still connecting together pieces of the story and silently nodding your head thinking: “So that’s what it was.”

One of the best parts of this film was the fact that you don’t know who the bad guy is until the last quarter of the film. Normally, that would be irritating, but in this case, it added so much to the suspense – and eventual resolution.

Jodie Foster was her usual brilliant self. She owned most of the film, and only a few actresses can get away with having every little bit of the story revolve around her. Her strength, vulnerability, anguish and intelligence all melded together to create a realistically flawed character. But in crucial parts of the film, her interaction with the movie’s main villain is what spiced up the story.

Which brings me to Peter Sarsgaard. He’s fast becoming one of cinema’s most effective bad guys.



According to my former film teacher, Ms. Santiago, the villain is always an integral part of every story. In this person’s hand often lies the conflict, and in any narrative, the conflict is the propulsion that determines how far the story can go.

What makes Peter Sarsgaard so stellar as a villain is the fact that he looks nothing like one. He has these droopy puppy eyes, boy-next-door hair and vulnerable charm that would best typify him as the trampled-down-upon little brother.

And he does! Most of the time, you follow him around the story thinking he’s one of the good guys. He's the compassionate seatmate who offers a helping hand, gaining everyone’s trust and good graces. Then, just as you least expect it, KA-BLAM! He shows his true colors and you realize he was the big, bad wolf the entire time.

“Flight Plan” is the second film I’ve seen in a month that had Peter Sarsgaard in it. The other one was “Skeleton Key” with Kate Hudson. His character in that film was essentially the same; a nice, country lawyer who hires and helps out Kate. But come the end of the movie, we see him for who he really is – a reincarnation of an evil voodoo master. Again, I didn’t see that coming.

Only a few actors can get away with this “nice-guy-turned-baddie” shtick. At the top of the list – and a far, far, FAAAARRRR number one would be Kevin Spacey’s brilliant performance in “Seven.” But give Peter Saarsgard a few more films, and I think he’ll turn out to be a person who you’ll just love to hate.

I’ve been iced!

Tried the new Sprite Ice today, and I must say it’s another winner from the Coca-Cola company.

Like the original Sprite, this one’s refreshing, light and goes down easy. But after a few seconds, you can feel the cold rush down your throat. It feels as if there’s an ice cube slowly making its way down, or for the more imaginative, it’s as if there’s a person skiing past your tonsils.

I’m going to get hooked on this stuff.

SHORT BREAK

Suddenly remembered Melanie Marquez’s winning quote: “Don’t judge my brother. He is not a book!” That should be engraved somewhere.

Attention! Attention please…

In my world, everything needs to be explained in 30 seconds, and if you don’t get your point across in 5, then you’re most likely to be ignored.

Imagine the damage this kind of philosophy does to a person’s attention span, in particular – my attention span.

Kids have an attention span of about 3 to 5 minutes. Adults, according to a motivational speaker I once met, can focus for about 15 to 20 minutes before their minds go a-wanderin’. If these 2 factoids were true, then I’d have the attention span of a 12-week old fetus.

Whenever I read a magazine, the first paragraph – or the lead paragraph as I taught my students – is the most crucial part of the article. If it’s not enough to pique my interest, then consider the whole article trashed.

Choosing a CD follows the same philosophy. When scanning an album, the first few beats of the song is my cue whether to listen to the entire song or simply press “FF.” When the first 10 seconds of the track is arresting enough, I know that the rest of the song would be great.

My Charlotte Church purchase was largely influenced by this “first few beats” philosophy. Eighty percent of the album’s tracks had an excellent opening vibe, and that’s a very high percentage.

Often, I find myself asking whether this is a trait worth cultivating or changing. Should I really be that critical to the first few seconds and judge the entirety based on that? Or to paraphrase the question in a cliché, should I “judge a book by its cover” or must “first impressions last?”

All grown up. All funked out.

Bought Charlotte Church’s new album “Tissues and Issues” today, and it’s so exciting to see her all grown up. I’ve been a follower of hers since she exploded into the scene with her angelic voice and ethereal renditions of popular church hymns. That means I’ve been listening to her since her “The Prayer” days.

It seems to me those days are behind her. From the CD cover, to the magazine covers she’s been gracing recently, it seems that she’s shifting from virgin to vamp.

Décolletage revealing dresses, wind swept hair, dark make up, and a come-hither expression is what I’ve been seeing her do these past few months. Maybe Charlotte is trying to fill in a niche since Britney is now a mommy, Christina’s getting a bit old, Lindsay and Hillary are bordering on bubblegum and Jessica is better seen than heard. She must have noticed a vacancy in the “pop siren” division, and is trying to fill in the void.

But unlike most of the girls mentioned above, Charlotte can really sing! Her pristine voice, doing ditties laced with angst, gives her songs an extra oomph. Listening to her is almost like listening to an irony. A good irony, at that.

My favorite tracks are “Crazy Chick” and “Let’s be alone.” I instantly fell in love with “Let’s be alone,” that I decided to use it in my latest commercial. It helps that the product we’re selling is pretty much like the new Charlotte Church: young, feminine but with a sexy vibe that guys find irresistible.

I know I do.

Full Friday

Everytime I fly in to Manila, I put every minute of the day into good use. Jumping from one place to the next with precision timing so as not to waste any time. Today was no exception, in a span of 14 hours, I've seen so many good friends, been to my favorite spots, did myself a couple of personal favors, and yes, I squeezed in a bit of shopping for good measure.

From the airport, I proceeded to our house where I dropped my stuff. Missing the rowdy jeepney, I took one going to Morato where I had my haircut. Marcos, my barber, said he missed me - we haven't seen each other in about 4 months. Though I didn't tell him, he knew I came from out of the country. He said that I have this certain aura, and that my skin is fairer and more pinkish. (Sounds like a whitening soap ad, eh?)

Next stop, Robinson's Galleria. This is my favorite place of all time, that's why I was in 7th heaven when we won the account, and was really disapppointed when we decided to let it go. Met up with Tess and Eunice, talked about expat life and how I miss the Philippines, and showed them my moustache, which they thought was cool. In between that and meeting Bonique, I was able to roam around some more, and bought this fabi studded belt at Topman. I wonder why they don't have this brand in Hong Kong.

Met up with Bonique who was shell shocked with my moustache, only to tell me half an hour later that it already grew on her and that I look nice with it.

Took the MRT to Makati, and finally went to Tito Pacqui's office where Ate Lissa works. Then I met up with Lyli to show her my cool Energie pants. Bought some local magazines. Met up with Jong at Jollibee. Then had dinner at Chili's with a few friends.

After I checked my watch, it was already past 11. I was so tempted to go to Eastwood and catch a late movie, but I remembered I have to be at St. Scholastica's early to have breakfast with Prichy. So I decided to turn in.

I love these Manila visits!

Ding-dong! I'm Happy!

At the ground floor of my flat is this little grocery which carries a lot of Asian goodies - and a chunk of which are from the Philippines. From the outside, I spotted a few bottles of Rufina Patis, Datu Puti suka, Clover Chips, Nagaraya Cracker Nuts, Sunflower crackers, Rebisco Cream Sandwich, and yes, Skyflakes - ang pambansang biskwit.

I decided to check it out this morning to see how Pinoy they really are. Lo and behold, I saw something that made my heart skip a beat and gave me goosebumps all over:

Ding Dong and Happy.

Ding Dong has been one of my cheapest thrills since college. Back then, a small pack cost about 50 cents, and you'd already get your fill of pop beans, cornic, and green peas. It came in little plastic packs that were simply so hard to open. It was so cheap back then, that it was almost a social stigma to carry it around. I remember my friend who, upon seeing me gnoshing a pack of Ding dongs, proceeded to say: "Wala ka na bang pera at yan ang kinakain mo?'

Despite its being cheap, I loved how it tasted. I guess a lot of it was because of the high MSG content, and people commonly know, MSG makes everything taste fabulous! By the new millennium, my favorite snack also decided to turn a new leaf. It became Ding-dong 5+1 and came in neat, silver foil packs. The addition of cracker nuts into the mix really upped the likeability aspect. And I was even more hooked!

Happy Peanuts were an accidental discovery. We usually have Growers or Tobi at home, but one time, both brands were out of stock. The brand within arm's reach was Happy, so we thought of trying it out. And we're so glad we did! Happy was excellent. It wasn't greasy, AT ALL! It had a nice texture, thanks to the little bits of roasted garlic in each pack. And it came in different flavors - so you eschew the flavor fatigue syndrome easily.

It became such a hit that we forgot about Growers and Tobi altogether. My parents like Happy so much, that they even bring a stash to the US whenever they fly there - to the delight of my brother and his family. The thing about Happy, though, it it's garlicky breath residue. But that's the price of sheer enjoyment!

Needless to say, I bought a load of Ding dong and Happy from that store. If I can only get hold of diet Sarsi in this joint, then my flat will really start to feel like home!

Electric Youth

Kids today have such a passionate love affair with Electronic devices. At this day and age, everyone should have at least 1 computer, 1 TV, 1 DVD player and 1 video game machine at home. My family isn't spared from this want and need. We actually have 3 computers, 3 TV sets, 1 Xbox, 1 PS2, and a host of other diversionary devices that need to be plugged in.

I, on the other hand, am living in a flat with no TV, no DVD player, no computer, no microwave oven, and no refrigerator! (The last 2 i'm planning to buy this weekend, though.) This makes me one of the most electronically challenged people in this country.

Seriously, i'm not planning to buy a TV set for the flat. I was never big on TV, even in Manila. I'd only watch it to catch the latest commercials coming out, or watch a film that I missed, or play DVDs of concerts I like (notably Kylie Minogue, Britney Spears and The Beatles.) But out of a hundred percent, my TV viewing experience would only account for about 8-10% of my time.

Maybe because I was born and raised in an era where kids loved to stay outdoors: rough it up, play, climb a tree, swim in a lake, go to the neighbor's house to play patintero, taguan or habulan upo. My generation was a more social one, preferring to play with other kids rather than kids nowadays who prefer to play with imaginary playmates generated by this black box with 2 joysticks. My generation would create worlds and live in it, rather than download a prefabricated world from a disc and kill as many people as they can.

I'm beginning to fear that the next generation might not have too much imagination, because the ones they fill their minds with now are created by people from my generation, and trapping them in electronic gadgets. I see it in school where I teach: kids would rather watch the movie than read the book. They would rather exercise their fingers rather than their arms and legs.

When I look at the cool toys and gadgets available in the market today, i often think: "these kids are lucky. We didn't have these when we were kids." But now, i'm beginning to think that we're luckier that way.

I look at Britney... and I see me...

Woke up today, and yes, i'm in my own flat. I slept shorter than usual, which is why i'll probably be sleepy at some point this afternoon.

For the first time in 3 months, I went out of bed and walked up and around the flat. In the serviced apartment I used to stay in, it was so small that i couldn't even roam around. So what I'd usually do is go back to sleep in case I woke up earlier. I collected garbage, fixed the food stuff I had lying around, and read a few magazines.

I was planning to shave, then I realized something shocking... I didn't have a mirror in my flat.

That would have been fine if I was just going to dress up since I can imagine how an outfit will come together even without looking at it in the mirror. But then again, I was going to shave! I needed to see myself.

The solution? I took my Britney Spears CD, and the opposite side was shiny enough to double as a mirror. So there I was, CD on my left hand, razor on my right. And it turned out to be a really good mirror, resulting in quite a clean shave.

Now, Britney not only does a lot for my mood, she does a lot for my face as well. But I should go out and buy a mirror tonight, or else I might be doing the same thing in a few days. And I definitely wouldn't want to say:

"Oops, I did it again..."

Lovely sight

I arranged my jeans in the closet, and now they're neatly hung in random order. (Random, but my favorite jeans is at the leftmost part of the closet for easy access.)

It's so nice to look at, I might consider not using them at all. Just staring at them would be gratifying enough.

...NOT!

It's official

The furniture has been delivered.

The lay-out has been fixed.

The bed has been made.

Tonight, i'm going home and sleeping in my flat for the first time.

After more than 3 months, i've finally found home.

Everybody is welcome.

Lester, is that you?

Went to Zara and saw 2 smashing shirts. One said "Rock Royalty" while the other had "Golden Paradise" spelled in matte gold balls. They had my size so I was off to the cashier to purchase them.

Midway, I stopped and thought: "if I don't buy these shirts, I can actually buy *insert name of Ikea furniture item here*. That's a more intelligent choice compared to a shirt i'll probably use only twice."

After struggling with my inner self, i neatly put back the 2 shirts and went to Ikea to buy curtain rods, blinds, quilts and quilt covers. All these babies cost the same as the 2 shirts I planned to buy. Needless to say, it's the better way to spend money, right?

...

...

Besides, I can always buy the shirts next week. I'm sure they'll still be there.

Lest we forget

Dropped by Statue Square, and there was a free concert for Filipina Helpers. There was a Filipino cover band playing, and a Filipina who's supposedly a teeny weeny minor star here in Hong Kong. (Probably with the Pinoy community.)

It felt was one of those "baraylihan"* we went to as kids in Malinao, Albay. It was done on the streets, and everyone was dancing and singing along the band. They were playing pop standards like: La Vida Loca, Lambada, Can't get you out of my head, Get the party started and Sex Bomb.

All the DHs who where there were gleefully partying, which was very refreshing to see. Even the way they dressed, it was unlike their usual persona. On weekdays, you'd see them in shorts and t-shirts, bringing their alagas to school. You'd see them at their most frumpy and unattractive. But that weekend, they were all dressed to "party." Wearing hipster jeans, tank tops and heels. When you look at them, it would be easy to suspend reality and simply see them as "girls who just want to have fun."

But that's the thing. That's who they really are. They're women who - in the Philippines - love to go out and party, whether in the town plaza or in some rinky-dink disco in Bambang. Although in Hong Kong, they're simply seen as domestic helpers who clean the house, cook, bring the kids to school, and do their amos every command. Two completely different women, in one same package.

I'm just happy that these women never forget who they are despite the job and label the Hong Kong society has given them.

And i'm hoping that we, too, don't forget.

I can fly! I can fly!

You scored as Peter Pan. Your alter ego is Peter Pan. You are a child at heart. Anything you believe is possible, and you never want to grow up. Goofy 88% Peter Pan 88% Donald Duck 75% The Beast 69% Sleeping Beauty 69% Cinderella 56% Cruella De Ville 56% Ariel 50% Pinocchio 44% Snow White 19% Which Disney Character is your Alter Ego? created with QuizFarm.com

Oh shoot...

I'm shooting a commercial again.

When I look back, it's hard to believe i've been in the industry for more than a decade. After stumbling into advertising even before my graduation day, it has never left my system. This is something I love doing and know will do for as long as my mind churns out ideas. Hopefully, that'll be a long, long time. Plus, my former boss told me: "You know, you'll be president of a multinational agency soon..." With a line like that, you can't help but be hooked.

The first commercial shoot I attended was during my 1st working day at Adformatix. The project was for Mamee Noodles (now a dead brand), and it was for a raffle promo. The director was Jun Austria and his AD was Ronnie Bertubin. It wrapped up after midnight, and my parents weren't to thrilled that my first day ended so late.

My first storyboard transformed into an actual TVC was for Coleman. It was a group of kids who you thought were lost in the wild but it turned out they're just camping in their backyard. Ries and Trout says that you'll never forget "first" things, and it's true in this case. Here's what I remember from my first TVC:

Title: Camping
Producer: Raul Blay/Doreen Bernal
Director: Trevor Hone
Talents: Khalil Kaimo (a last minute replacement for CJ Ramos who was doing the celebrity bit.) Charlene Getubrey, Rex Agoncillo (later did the Coke Beat TVC), Cecille Yatco.
Location: Mariposa, New Manila

Being a copywriter trainee then, everything was new and held me in awe. It was a long, arduous process but it was fun, nonetheless. I still remember the script that I wrote for it:

Every Coleman product is designed to withstand the harshness of the great outdoors,
so they can stand up to your normal, everyday use.
Coleman. Unbeliveably tough.

Voice over: Buddy Norton.

After that, I made commercial after commercial after commercial. I've actually lost count of a lot of it, maybe because they were embarassingly bad. But a lot I still remember. Like the Myra series with Eula - that wildly successful campaign. The Splendido Ad that never aired. Palmolive Aromatherapy with Bianca Araneta. KC's Palmolive Ads.

Of course, one of my latest commercials is one of the more spoofed and irritating ones:

Can you say: "Ang soppp... Ang dulas... Gandaaaahhhh"

Go Mama Ricky! You're still a star in my book.

The TVC that we're shooting now is my first board for Y&R HK and it's a really nice concept. We got a french director to shoot it, and he's doing a lovely job handling it. My colleague, George, took pics while we're shooting, and as much as I want to post it, it's confidential.

They're expecting the shoot to end around 7am tomorrow, making it a 26-hour shoot.

This is the part of the shoot that I don't miss...

Few down, a lot more to go

create your own visited country map
or check our Venice travel guide

I've been to 22 countries around the world. For some, that might be a lot, and for others, that might be too little. But if you look at it at a grander, more global scale, I've only visited about 10% of the whole world.

I'd love to travel more, and I certainly will. But I must confess, this recent spate of budget airline tragedies made me lose interest in traveling by air. If I could only globetrot by boat or land, then i'd probably cover much more ground.

I'm a homeboy!

Since I got the keys to my first apartment, my focus has momentarily been diverted from clothes to home accessories. (Operative word being "momentarily.")

The past few days, i've been aimlessly loitering around Ikea, in search of furniture. One thing I noticed is that my method of choosing sofas, tables and chairs is the same as the way I pick out jeans, shirts and shoes. What I did was to distinguish which had to be "classic" and which could be "trendy." Then i decided to spend more on classic furniture and less on the trendy ones.

Ergo, those things that i'll be using a lot, like beds and sofas, are the articles I chose to spend on. Other stuff like closets, tables and shelves, well, that I've decided to scrimp on.

I'm done with the first round tonight, and another one tomorrow. By Monday, they'll be delivering it to my flat and from there, the fun begins!

After my trip to Ikea, I went to Granville and found 2 nice shirts at ISO. That's how "momentarily" momentarily is. (insert evil laughter here.)

Moustache Musings

Things that I noticed since growing this bush on my upper lip:

- My facial hair is golden brown.
- It tends to trap a lot of liquids, making it difficult to drink or sip soup.
- It smells like food after eating.
- Sometimes, i forget that I'm growing one, and feel like something hairy is crawling up my lip. I panic momentarily, but regain my composure.
- I need a moustache trimmer because it's starting to get unruly.
- I'm beginning to develop a mannerism: running my fingers along my moustache when I'm thinking.

Ah, the joys of facial hair.

The world is (a) flat!

Yes, I finally have a flat to call my own. After more than 3 months in Hong Kong, I'm moving in to my very own home away from home.

It isn't a very impressive flat. It's in a commercial building near the touristy side of Kowloon. It isn't 60 storeys high like Tanya's flat, and it's not as picture pretty as the units you see in the ads. (Then again, they're ads. So they're supposed to be pretty.)

What I like about it is that it has a lot of space. The living and dining area is one of the biggest I've seen. And the bedrooms are - in HK city flat standards - huge. My primary consideration when I was looking for a place is that I want to be able to move around. Give me room! That's what I say.

And this flat will give me room. Room to move around. Room to lounge. Room to host my family and friends. Room to cook. Room to store useless stuff that I might amass.

I got my keys tonight, and entered the flat as its new owner. To celebrate, I bought 2 rugs and a silverware set from Ikea. For the record, these are my first "home purchases" in Hong Kong.

Tomorrow, i'll start shopping for beds and other furniture. And by Monday next week, i'll be able to really declare: I'M HOME!

Still growing up

I wrote my first few checks today. Parted with a lot of money in a matter of minutes. But it's for my flat, so why not?

Writing checks feels such a grown up thing to do.

"All grown up"

In the continuing saga of: "Lester tries to grow a moustache."

Almost a month after I last shaved, my moustache and goatee has grown considerably. Whilst it isn't thick and bushy like my Dad's moustache, it ain't sparse and Fu-Manchu-y either. Let's say it's enough to be noticed, but it also allows some of the flesh to pierce through. In fact, if I look at it on the mirror, it's a looks a bit grayish.

Surprisingly, a lot of my officemates dig this "new look" of mine. Reactions range from "you've changed so much," to "that's looks really, really good on you," to "that very cool, eh. Very, very cool!"

Nice feedback, albeit quite vague. It's like answering the question "How are you?" with "I'm fine, thank you," as opposed to "well, i feel a bit feverish, but i'm sure it'll go away with a few glasses of fresh orange juice."

Surprisingly, it was one of my clients who gave me the most concrete feedback.

She saw me and said: "Wow, you've changed a lot since I last saw you." Then I pointed out my moustache and told her that i'm experimenting and trying to grow it. Her pleasantly surprising reply was: "You look all grown up! Without it, you were the boy-next-door, but now, you're a man with character."

It made me realize that I was just that most of my life, the "boy-next-door," much like Bill Pullman. Everybody likes him, but people rarely single him out or look for him. He's this guy who's cool if he's there, but it's ok if he's not. This is cool when you're in your 20s, I guess. But i'm in my 30s, and maybe it's time for me to be somebody else.

One of the nice things about being in a different country is that you can actually reinvent yourself. Though I'm not doing that drastically, I think this "'growing a moustache" is a step closer to that. Yes, they had a glimpse of me "sans moustache" and now that i'm growing it, they're more receptive. I can only imagine how my friends in Manila would react if they see me growing one. They will - like my Mom - probably demand that I shave it off this instant. The reason: it's just not me.

But maybe I'm trying not to be "me" too much. And maybe that's good.

It's funny how they acknowledge my moustache here. This afternoon, one of them asked me: "Hey Lester, can you and your moustache come here for a moment." I thought that was so funny, and cool.

Again, i'm looking at this as an experiment. In a few months, I might want to see the clean-cut me again and shave this friggin' thing off. It does get irritating sometimes, but I can still manage. That's what GROWN-UPS are supposed to do, right?

Amazing how a little bit of facial hair can change your character in a big, BIG way.

That's Interesting. Never saw myself as him...

You scored as Colossus. Colossus is the strongest X-Man physically. His love for his family and his sister Illiana make him strong. Although he can be prone to fits of rage, he has a big heart under that organic steel skin. Powers: Can change his skin into organic steel making him nearly invunerable and exponentially increasing his strength Jean Grey 90% Colossus 90% Cyclops 85% Gambit 85% Rogue 80% Iceman 75% Beast 70% Nightcrawler 70% Storm 60% Wolverine 60% Emma Frost 45% Most Comprehensive X-Men Personality Quiz 2.0 created with QuizFarm.com

Zara-tonin

Whoever owns the Zara franchise in Hong Kong must be grinning ear-to-ear. Zara on a weekend is just like Greenhills on December 22 - packed with people, and shopping frantically.

I'm a big Zara fan since the early 2000s when I discovered the store in Barcelona. I find their menswear casual but edgy, and the women's line is classic but playful. Since then, i'd make a regular pilgrimage to outlets in Europe almost every year, and would happily come home with a stash of jeans, shirts and the occasional jacket. What's great about this brand is that the stuff I bought 4 years ago are as wearable now as when i first bought them... that's a testament to how timeless the appeal of the brand is.

I bought my first pair of really low-rise jeans way back in 2002, and when i wear them today, people keep on asking me where I got them. When I explain that I got them 3 years ago, they swear that the design could have been something from this season's collection. Which makes me realize that Zara is not only timeless, it's fashion forward.

Now, Zara is taking up more space in my closet than it did 2 years ago. It didn't help that they now have stores in Asia, and it has elevated from being a once-a-year thing to a once-I-feel-like-it thing. Some of my favorite clothing pieces are from Zara, and my dual-time watch from Singapore is yet to be dethroned as the best looking watch ever.

Shopping in Zara Hong Kong is much more difficult that when i'm in KL or Singapore. The reason being there are more fans of the brand here. Nay, they're not Zara fans, but Zara HOARDERS! One thing I learned is that when you see something you like, go ahead and buy it. Because in a few hours, it might be gone forever.

Take this simple jersey that I saw last night. It was made of a nice cotton fabric, there was an interesting slit in front, nice print, and it was only HK$49! (the price is what did it for me.) So, I saw it last night, and there was a big pile of it in different colors and designs. I came back today after lunch, and the shirts were all gone!

AFTER LESS THAN HALF A DAY, ALL THE SHIRTS WERE GONE! THAT SHOULD BE WRITTEN IN THE GUINESS BOOK OF WORLD RECORDS!

Imagine, in a span of 3 hours, all the shirts, in all the colors, all the designs and all the sizes were lapped up by this crowd of shoppers in the Kowloon branch. (It's the price! I'm sure it's the price!) I proceeded to the IFC branch, and all the shirts were gone as well. That's how popular it is.

Maybe it's because the brand is new and a novelty that people are just snapping everything up, call it an "infatuation phase" with the brand. Knowing how finicky the Hong Kong market is, the brand might not be as hot in a few years or so. But for those like me who are in a long term relationship with Zara, no matter where the store is or how old it is, i'll always feel the same way. Just like that moment I first laid my eyes on it in Barcelona in 2001.

So while its making some Hong Kong businessman very happy these days, Zara has been making me happy for the last 4 years.

And I heard that the Manila store is almost complete. Ah yes, it's yet another reason to be deliriously happy.

Good deeds

I miss doing them. It's one thing I can't do as often here in Hong Kong, for the main reason I don't know too many people who need good deeds.

In Manila, good deeds are fun and easy to do. It was as simple as dropping by Adformatix to tell Sir Con that he's the reason why I am where I am now. Or dropping by Arnie's office with a little treat on hand, like Kiehl's lip balm. Or carrying a cake all the way to La Union so that they can get a taste of excellent Apple Walnut-Cake from Manila. Or buying Prichy lunch at our favorite hang-out, Jollibee Vito Cruz. Or buying my sister a new ensemble at People are People. Or giving an unsuspecting cab driver a P100 tip.

What constitutes a good deed for me? It's something you do that puts a smile on someone else's face. That someone can be someone I love: like my sibling, nephews, nieces or friends. It can be someone who created a lasting impact on your life: former bosses, former colleagues, people you've crossed paths with once but left quite an impression, or someone who I shared my life with. It can also be someone random: a cab driver, a salesclerk, a lost tourist, or a kid on the street.

Good deeds make people happy. Happiness, in my opinion, is the best thing one person can give another person. Each and everyone, including myself, can't have too much happiness. It something that you'll never tire giving, and getting a lot of. And this is the precise reason why I love doing good deeds, because it makes me, and another person, happy.

Double Happiness! Ask any Chinese person, and they'll tell you this is tres good.

Yes, I do a few good deeds here and there, but I miss doing it on a regular basis.

So what's stopping me?

First, i don't think people here are used to being the recipients of good deeds. So they react to it with ambivalence, or worse, suspicion. I guess it's a cultural thing. No one's nice to other people, so they don't expect other people to be nice to them. It comes as quite a shock whenever I bring "pasalubong" from Manila to HK, and I do mean A SHOCK! But it looks like they're getting used to it, ergo, I'm fast becoming "Lester, the good boy."

Second, i don't know too many people here. And the people I know don't need good deeds, (or I don't think they need good deeds.) I should really go out and meet more people, so I can have more "good deed" recipients. I'm also afraid that my being nice might be misconstrued as something else: like being cocky or narcissistic, or worse, messianic.

Third, I miss the people I'm used to doing good deeds for. After three months, I realize how much I miss my sisters and brother, my nephews and nieces, my D' Frendz, my Melrose gang, my former officemates, and all the people who mean something and everything to me. I'm actually doing a few good deeds for them, but I have to wait until I go back to Manila before I can see the happiness on their faces.

But like McGyver, I should make do with what I have. Maybe I should chuck fear out the window and start doing good deeds for some random Pinoy in HK. It would be nice to see a random face radiate with happiness again.

"What's the point?"

It's a question that I find myself asking the past few weeks.

It usually follows: "Are there any nice jeans today?" Or, "What did I buy this time?"

Well, at least those two questions are easy to answer. "Yes, there were nice jeans at G-Star Raw, but they were a bit loose around the leg area and they make me look short and stubby." "No, I didn't buy anything, but the Miss Sixty denim blazer would definitely look good on my sister."

But when you ask yourself "What's the point?" You're in for quite a search.

Better start searching now...

Spooky!

It's been a while since a movie last spooked me. And I must say, "The Skeleton Key" spooked me GOOD!

There was an instant disconnect when the name "Kate Hudson" was in a horror movie poster. I'm certain that a lot of people thought: "Where the hell is bright and bubbly Kate?" Then again, it would be nice to see Kate out of her element, just to see if she's as versatile as she's touted to be. Can she beat the "Meg Ryan curse" and prove her range?

The answer is Yes. Whilst it wasn't a groundbreaking revelation, it was refreshing to see Kate play a dark character. She managed to ditch all the cutesy-patootsy antics she carried with her in "How to Lose a guy in 10 days" and "Raising Helen." This was something Meg Ryan couldn't do. I swear, while I was watching "In the Cut" and "Proof of Life," my mind was waiting for her to do that "Awww...shucks" head throw that she mastered. Even in "City of Angels," it was hard to take her seriously as a doctor contemplating on how life fragile is.

Enough of Meg Ryan. I love her! She just needs to work on her range. I love "Kate and Leopold", by the way.

Back to Kate. In "Skeleton Key", I momentarily forgot she was Kate Hudson and was convinced she was really a New Jersey girl trying to make a living in New Orleans. She was totally lost in her character.

The nice thing about the movie is that it eschews all those tried and tested horror tricks. No shadows crossing in front of the camera. No sudden music crescendos. There were a few things popping in from out of nowhere, which was cool. With this combination, it escaped the rut that "The Others" fell into, and that is being compared to "The Sixth Sense" too much. (This was M. Night's best film yet, his others were so lame! But I digress...)

It's really the end of the film that got me. The conclusion and resolution was quite subtle, some might even say it's predictable. But once you leave the theater, and start piecing the things together, that's where the scariness really kicks in. And believe me, it KICKS IN hard and good.

I watched the film in the morning, and I was still carrying that spooked out feeling at night. While walking, my mind was playing "Iko, Iko" and goosebumps would just pop out of my skin. I haven't had this kindn of feeling since "The Blair Witch Project."

More horror films should be made this way. It's one big mind game, and a fertile mind is the best place to plant horror seeds.

Bread-diction

A few days after finally deciding to check out the little bakery in front of the office, I find myself addicted to two of their products.

The first one is their version of the "monggo-bread." It's this croissant-looking creation with swirls of red bean paste. It also has a sprinkling of peanuts and a generous dose of sesame seeds. This creates the right blend of sweetness that makes it excellent for breakfast of dessert.

The second one is a long, rectangular shaped soft bread. It looks like one of those submarine sandwich buns, although this is a bit flatter. It's filled with floss and beans (suspiciously Hunt's pork and beans tasting), and has a few peanuts here and there. This bread is great as merienda because it's like a very light sandwich with a sweet/salty kick.

I've been buying these two everyday for the past few days. I'm hoping my frequent visits will help me secure a discount in the near future.

It's a holiday! Time to answer a survey...

LAST MOVIE YOU SAW IN A THEATER:	The Brother's Grimm
WHAT BOOK ARE YOU READING NOW:	Archive
FAVORITE BOARD GAME:	Mad Magazine game
FAVORITE MAGAZINE:	In Style
FAVORITE SMELLS:	Fresh sheets, stuff coming out of a Balikbayan box
COMFORT FOOD:	Reese's Peanut Butter Cups
FAVORITE SOUNDS:	Howling wind
WORST FEELING IN THE WORLD:	Diarrhea
WHAT IS THE FIRST THING YOU THINK OF WHEN YOU WAKE UP IN THE MORNING:	What time is it?
FAVORITE FAST FOOD PLACE:	McDonald's & Jollibee
FUTURE CHILD'S NAME:	Boy: Eduardo Miguel; Girl: Sofia Ysabel
FINISH THIS STATEMENT: "IF I HAD A LOT OF MONEY, I WOULD":	Make a lot of people happy
DO YOU DRIVE FAST:	Nope
DO YOU SLEEP WITH A STUFFED ANIMAL:	Nope
STORMS -- COOL OR SCARY:	Cool
WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST CAR:	Proton Wira
FAVORITE ALCOHOLIC DRINK:	Corona, Tequila
FINISH THIS STATEMENT,'IF I HAD THE TIME, I WOULD LOVE TO':	Spend more time with my family and friends
DO YOU EAT THE STEMS OF BROCCOLI:	Yes
IF YOU COULD DYE YOUR HAIR ANY COLOR, WHAT WOULD YOU CHOOSE:	Black
GLASS HALF-EMPTY OR FULL:	Half full
HOW MANY CITIES/TOWNS HAVE YOU LIVED IN:	Quite a number
FAVORITE PLACE TO RELAX:	In a cinema house
FAVORITE SPORT TO WATCH:	Gymnastics
WHAT IS UNDER YOUR BED:	Shoes, suitcase
TOILET PAPER/ PAPER TOWEL--OVER OR UNDER:	Under
CREATE YOUR OWN! - or - GET PAID TO TAKE SURVEYS!

Lester and Melvin attack Macau

"Pictures paint a thousand words." So goes the cliche. But they're cliches because they're true, a lot of times over. As much as i'd love to write about Macau, and how I've bonded with the country in such short a time, I'm going to let pictures tell the story in the meantime. (And besides, i'm STILL going to write about Macau when my mind is a bit more organized and lucid.)



Like two good altar boys, Melvin and I are well behaved in front of the Ruins of St. Paul. This place is much nicer at night. Very serene, with only a few people camped out - some having an impromptu picnic, others walking their dogs. Most of the time, they're locals, which is a welcome change after seeing this place swarming with tourists during the day.



Lester, the jolly white giant, attacks the unsuspecting city of Macau. He heads off to the Macau Tower and tries to pull it out.



After a long, arduous fight, Lester is overpowered by the sheer might and determination of the nation's army. Once apprehended by the National Guard, they chained the jolly white giant, hoping he will no longer wreak havoc in the city.



Outside the Macau Cathedral at night. Very peaceful. Very serene. It feels like you're in the plaza of some colonial town in the Philippines -- like Vigan, La Union or Malinao.



And here's an absolutely hare-raising shot to end the night.

Of long weekends and unfinished posts

It's going to be a 3-day weekend, thanks to the mid-autumn festival. Melvin and I are jetfoiling off to Macau tomorrow for some serious R&R and a mean round of photography. I'm going to test drive his Canon D50 because i'm planning to buy something similar. Might as well master my shooting skills while i've got nothing to do on weekends.

It'll also be a good time to finish writing my other blog posts. I've got about 5 or 6 blog drafts that I haven't published yet. The thought isn't as complete as I'd want it to, so I decided to park it until I've filled in the missing bits.

Three days to practice my writing and photography skills - indeed, this will be a happy weekend!

Nice jeans...

My officemate and fellow fashion-phile had to stop me as I walked down the corridor. He looked at my jeans and said: "Hey, where did you get those jeans? They're gorgeous!"

Coming from a person who's hard to please and perpetually complaining about the fashion sense of people at the office, this is definitely a good thing.

I'm so glad a I got these jeans.

Last night's best buy...

Jeans from two percent homme.

Compared to the jeans i've been buying in the past, these ones look pretty boring. No distressed details. No patches. No prints. No fading. They're just your good ole "boy next door" blue jeans. So why did I buy them? The fit and construction are utterly and undeniably fabulous.

The waist, though not very low, falls somewhere between the 1st and 2nd hip. So if I'm feeling a little bit risque, all I need to do is to give it a little tug - and voila - "dangerously low waist" jeans. The leg is cut straight and very linear, as an added bonus, it's cut close to the body. This skimming effect gives me the illusion of added height. (I can almost hear my friends say: "what do you need that for? You're tall.) I also like the hem which has a little roughed-up edge, and the fact that it has the perfect length. When I'm wearing my Chuck's, they fall exactly on the ground - no more, no less. This is great because I don't have to trip all over them. (Unlike my favorite Lee D-strukt jeans.)

Oh, there's a quirky detail near the butt pocket - a little belt at the back - in case you lost a little weight since you bought them.

I loved this pair so much that I bought 2: one in deep navy, and one in black. The black one is my first pair of black jeans in eons. But with a fit like that, I'd buy it in any color - even pink!

Since we're on the subject, they do have pink jeans at TH. I don't think i've got enough fashion power to wear them, so while they look cool, I thought it best to stay away - far away from them.

AND NOW, ON TO MY SISTERS' JEANS

They've got new stocks at Maple and Outlet 100, and they've got a new stash of Zanadi Jeans.

Zanadi is an American brand, and is actually made for teens. But since American teens are notoriously tall and full bodied, their jeans can fit grown women as well. They come in sizes 1 to 11, and the 5 to 9 range will fit any woman with waistlines 26 to 32.

I was able to get 2 pairs: one was this plain medium wash denim that looked plain up front, but from behind, you have this elaborate embroidery of a mermaid amidst a floral paradise. One look and I was bowled over! I knew Ate Bullet would look spectacular on those. The second one had floral embroidery, beadwork, and steel rivets scattered all over the waist and leg area. It channeled those Abercrombie and Fitch designer denims - at a fraction of the original price.

Aside from those two, I also bought a pair of Request jeans - and these are BAD-ASS-ROCKER-CHICK jeans. It was fully painted with swallows and pierced hearts, and had the word "Request" painted then embroidered around the back hip area. Then there was a pair of Rush jeans that didn't have a waist band - i'd call these the DAMN-I'M-SEXY-COME-HITHER-AND-DROOL-AT-ME jeans. I bought a black belt to go with that - and i'm sure this ensemble will give my sister another round of looks. (Add to the tons she already gets.)

I should really change careers and work as a buyer and/or stylist. I'm getting really good at buying clothes and creating looks for other people. Just ask Alfie and you'll know.

McNificent

Tried out the new Grilled Chicken Sandwich combo at McDonald's and I must say that it's a great addition to their menu. It's a big chicken breast marinated in barbecue sauce, then grilled juicy and not dry. Then it's sanwiched between two torpedo buns with lettuce and mayo. The sweet-ish chicken breast flavor is neutralized by the lettuce, and the mayo adds a tangy twist. The soft bun tempers the entire flavor mix.

Plus, the combo comes with potato wedges in lieu of French Fries. Wedges - wherever you buy them - is a taste and texture explosion that leaves fries out in the cold. The only fries that can go mano-a-mano with wedges are the Vlamsees Frittes in Amsterdam. These potato babies really fill-in whatever space is left in your stomach.

Top it all off with a cold glass of Coke light and a red bean pie, and you've got lunch that'll make any fast food junkie happy.

I think i'll do this again tomorrow!

This looks strangely familiar..;.

My room in Hong Kong is beginning to look like my old room in QC. Shoes are all crammed under the bed, and when there's no more space, I park them in every corner of the room. My small closet is all filled with jeans and jackets that i've resorted to folding my extra jeans and putting them on top of the television set. My shirt cabinet is likewise packed, so you can see a pile of shirts on the refrigerator and tv stand. And my shorts? They're sitting on the couch along with my back pack - leaving no space for me to rest on.

Obviously, i've been buying too many clothes again. And to think i haven't even begun transporting my clothes from Manila to Hong Kong. When that's done and over with, then my room will definitely feel like home.

Odd...

Odd Comments...

I'm actually quite surprised when people leave comments on this blog - pleasantly surprised if I might add. But the past few days saw my blog getting weird comments from people selling some sort of unearthly currency. Mesuspects that it might be the blog equivalent of spam.

So if it's Blog Spam, should it be called BLAM?

Odd Salad...

Bought this fresh fruit salad from my favorite Mango Sago place along Haiphong Road last night. It had fresh fruits alright, but it also had boiled eggs! And instead of cream, it had a mayonnaise base. It tasted like egg salad meets fruit salad. Of course, I got a hang of the taste eventually, but it didn't stop it from being odd.

So if it's Fruit and Egg salad, should it be called a FREGG SALAD?

I'm a G(r)eek!

Athena


?? Which Of The Greek Gods Are You ??
brought to you by Quizilla

I've always been fascinated by Greek Mythology. I think i've read and re-read Edith Hamilton's "Mythology" book more than 100 million times. I wanted to stop Pandora from opening the box and my heart fell when she eventually did. When Orpheus chose to look back and check whether Eurydice was still following him, I almost shouted out: "Don't you understand the meaning of trust? You should trust Hades because he is a god." Hera always held my fascination because of her cunningness and capacity for vengeance.

There was a time when i memorized all the gods' names - both Roman and Greek. Like Venus was Aphrodite, or Mercury was Hermes, or Athena was Minerva, Diana was Artemis, Juno was Hera and the great father of the gods Zeus was also Jupiter.

Reading the results of this quiz instantaneously put a smile on my face. When we were in high school, we were required to do a stage play based on a Mythological tale. I don't quite remember which story we did, but I do remember who I played. We were an all-boys school, so in the tradition of old English theatre, the males had to do female roles. And the part I got?

Athena.

Daddy's boy

My Dad always called me his "carbon copy." Growing up, he'd always show me off to his friends and tell them that i'd look just like him when I reach adulthood.

There were instances that really proved his point. One time, from out of nowhere, some guy walks up to me and asks: "Anak ka ba ni Egat?" And this was the first time I saw this guy! He turned out to be Dad's friend, and he identified me because I looked exactly like him. Then, there was this instance when I answered the door, the person outside looks at me for a few seconds and asks: "Egat?"

Dad and me have the same bushy eyebrows and face shape. One of our main differentations is that he has a moustache, and i've got a smooth face (most of the time, at least.) But today, I've decided to grow a moustache and a beard, just for kicks. I want to see if I'll really look like Dad when all factors are made equal.

Giving them wings

"Later that year, at the turn of spring
Heaven sent angels down,
and gave Grandma her wings.
Now she's flying, and sliding, and gliding,
in better days."

- BETTER DAYS by Dianne Reeves

In a span of two weeks, 4 people I know were given their wings by heaven.

First was Onat, our former final artist, who succumbed to Kidney failure. He was only 32, and never did I see this happening to him at such a young age. Onat was the quiet type, but we'd talk a lot about our common favorite subject - jeans. We never failed to complement each other if we thought the jeans we were wearing are high on the "cool charts." This was usually followed by 2 important questions: where did you buy it, and how much is it. We were both big fans of Big Star Denim and all those funky cut jeans. And we never tired talking about that.

Once, I told Onat how cool his BC Ethic cap is, so he was generous enough to lend it to me. It was the cap I wore in one of my favorite photo shoots. He never asked me to give him the cap back. He was generous with his stuff just as he was generous with his time, stories, and work.

Second was Ate Ging. I heard that she passed away Monday due to a depression-related sickness. Ate Ging was one of my cousins in Bicol. Their house was just beside my grandparents' home that's why we would hang-out at their place often during summer. Ate Ging was very mild-mannered and quiet, but I often looked at her as a figure of authority. We last saw each other 2 summers ago when we had this mini-reunion in Bicol. Little did I know that it was the last time i'd see her.

This made me realize how a bad thing depression can be. It was also an eye-opener to how volatile life is. We were talking about what happened last night, and Auntie Ben - her mom - said that Ate Ging looked alright that day. She saw her kids off to school, she even collected the lunch that my Aunt sent her. Then a few minutes after lunch, when my cousin-in-law Kuya Dodie came home, he saw Ate Ging lifeless on the sofa. Nobody saw it coming, but it did.

Yesterday, John and Franz were found murdered in their home. It was apparently the handiwork of their houseboy and driver who planned a robber/carnapping. But as these stories usually play out, their plan probably went awry, then Franz and John might have put up a fight.

Last night, while I was walking and trying to digest their fate, there was a heavy load in my heart and it almost drove me to tears. Often, you read about violent crimes like this, but when it happens to someone you know, and someone who's a friend, it just magnifies the senselessness of it all. Why couldn't they have just taken the money? Why did they have to hurt John and Franz? I wouldn't be surprised if I read somewhere that they were high on drugs when they did the deed. I also read that one of the culprits left his license in the Pajero. With this positive ID, I hope they can capture these guys immediately, and give them the death penalty in an instant.

My last correspondence with John was about 2 months ago when I transferred to Harrison, and our building was just behind his work place. He was setting up a lunch meeting so we can update each other with our own goings-on, and at the same time, he could give me the Stroopkoeken that i've asked him as "pasalubong" during his last trip to Amsterdam. Now I'll never be able to talk to John, not be able to share travel stories, not be able to go to the videoke, and never have that Wunderman reunion we've always wanted to have.

Death is always a sad occurence. But it also serves as an eye-opener, it tells us how we should really cherish every minute of our lives, how we should tell people we love just how much we love them, how we should never let chances pass, because we never know when life is going to end.

Right now, I try to make sense of things with Dianne Reeve's song. That even if their life on Earth has ended, somewhere they're using their new-found wings to fly, slide and glide in better days.

Losing John

Erwin called me up around lunchtime with gory and shocking news. Our friend John was found murdered in their house this morning. He had multiple stab wounds, and the motive for the killing is still unknown.

All I could think of was: "Why John?" He was such a nice guy who didn't have a mean bone in his body. We worked together during our Wunderman days, and I know him to be such a generous soul. He and Franz loved to travel, and we'd always look at their pics from Brazil, Spain, and their native Appledoorn. He'd always bring us Stroopwaffles from Holland everytime he'd go there. And he would always volunteer his messengerial services whenever he'd go to Amsterdam - just in case i'd like to send Roland something, and vice-versa.

He was also a big singer, like most Pinoys. During my birthday in 2003, we went to 8th day to watch Freestyle, and he sang "Bakit Ngayon Ka Lang" with Jinky, to the delight of the audience. John had a very good singing voice, and Chiqui, his constant "duet-mate" can attest to this.

It's during times like these when you look up and ask: "Why?"

We might never know the reason. I just pray that he's in a better place now. And I pray much fervently that whoever did this to John and Franz will pay for this heinous and senseless crime.

I know this is harder than it sounds, but, Rest in Peace, John and Franz. Our prayers are with you.

Tired...

I must have been really tired last night.

The moment I entered my room at around 9pm, i didn't even bother to turn on the lights. I proceeded to lie down, and automatically fell asleep. I woke up at 2am, still wearing my jacket, jeans and shoes. While i'd normally stand up to change and wash up, i just decided to sleep some more.

So there I was. Room without airconditioning (was too lazy to even turn it on), still wearing my office clothes (complete with shoes), and slumped on the bed.

I woke up at 6am, then changed to my white shirt and boxers, then fell asleep again. By 9am, that's when i became lucid and really awake.

All those nights sleeping after midnight are beginning to take their toll.

I've been ID-ed

Went to the Immigration department to collect my ID card. The system for collection is as efficient and high-tech as the application process.

After you turn in your temporary ID, they ask if you're picking up the ID personally. When you answer "yes", they ask you for your left and right thumbmarks to see whether it matches with what they have on their database. And when it's a perfect match, you get your card.

One of the neat things about this ID card is the chip which stores all your important data. This makes it virtually impossible for anyone to misuse the ID or get around carrying a stolen one.

In Macau, you even have the option to NOT pass through an immigration officer when you arrive. All you need to do is insert your ID card in the "E-pass immigration system", then put your thumb on the marker, and you're set. The data of your arrival has been automatically stored.

Having a National ID like this really is a big source of convenience for people. At least we don't have to carry separate SSS, TIN, Pag-Ibig, and PhilHealth IDs. It's also easier to track Filipinos leaving and returning. It'll also provide easier access to personal records in the census.

People are afraid that it might be used as a tool to violate human rights, as personal data would be so easy to access and use. But if people can go beyond paranoia, this National ID system just might work.

The Racist is on!

There was this very interesting guest in the seminar we attended today. She's a dermatologist, and if I may add to her credentials, she's also a racist.

Background: She's a Hong Kong born Chinese who grew up and studied in Australia. Judging from her language and demeanor, she has assimilated well into the culture down-under. Heck, she even has their penchant for putting other races down.

It all started with a simple question: "Why are Chinese people obsessed with white skin?" She answered by launching this litany of how inferior other races are.

"People from Hong Kong and China have no self-identity," she opens. "They've been influenced by the British and the West for so long that they feel the need to look and act like them." She argues that most of the people from the west are white skinned, Asians feel that if they have the same skin color, they can attain the same status them. Thus, the desire to be whiter.

At this argument, most of the people in the room gave an uneasy scoff. Maybe because 60% of the people in the room were Chinese from both the Mainland and Hong Kong.

Then, she continues by bashing the West as well. She said that the people from North America and Europe are obsessed with getting tans because it gives them a sense of status. That white skinned Westerners are minimum wage earners who can't even afford to take a vacation in Santorini because their salary can't afford them to. And they want to get a tan, even the fake ones, just to lead people to believe that they have money to go on a sunny holiday.

To cap it all off, she launches another salvo against South and South East Asians. "There's a stigma that comes with dark skin in Asia," according to her. "Why? Because look at the dark skinned people. Who are they? They're Indians, and most of the Indians are our security guards and laborers. They're Filipinos, and Filipinos are are domestic helpers. They're Indonesians, and they're prostitutes. Who would want to be associated with them?"

Including myself, there were 3 Filipinos in that room. While we would love to pounce on this ignorant "Chinese masquerading as an Australian," we decided to keep quiet and let her ramble on. It's not that we don't love our country enough to defend it, we just felt it's not worth fighting a battle because it would be stooping down to a lower level.

What made this woman so strange is that she's completely ignored the fact that she's Asian. Because she was raised and educated in Australia, she feels like an Australian and feels she can trample on other "non-1st world races." I just hope she realizes that after she's stripped of the degrees and accent, she is still Asian. No matter how long she lived in Australia, she is still Chinese.

Alas, that also happens to a lot of Filipinos. I've met quite a number of Pinoys who are living abroad who diss the Philippines so much, never needing encouragement to put the country and its people down. They feel that just because they have a new home country or a new citizenship, they've eradicated the core of their identity, that is, being a Filipino.

Often, i feel sorrier for Filipinos who think like this. They fall under that old tagalog saying: "Ang matsing, damitan mo man ng ginto, matsing pa rin."

It's beginning to look a lot like...

September 1 is a one of the dates I look forward to. I'd wake up and excitedly prepare for work. Board the Cubao jeep going to the MRT station, whip out my stored value ticket, go through the security check, and go up to the platform. There, i'd hear it. The sound that never fails to lift my spirits high:

"We wish you a Merry Christmas. We wish you a Merry Christmas. We wish you a Merry Christmas. And a Happy New Year!"

Today marks the official start of the Christmas season in Manila. Radio stations would start playing all the cheesy and not-so-cheesy holiday ditties. People will start greeting you "Merry Christmas" in half-jest. National Book Store will start bringing out their cards and wrappers. And people will start taking out their naughty/nice list and start shopping.



I love, love, LOVE the fact that we have THE longest Christmas season in the world. It begins September and ends on the Feast of the Magi. I guess it reflects our innate love for parties and joyous occasions. Being 101% Filipino, I always try to find an excuse to party, or organize a party. There's something about friends, food and funky music that really gives me an adrenaline rush. The season gives us the excuse to party as much as we want, as long as we want.



I'm going to miss that this year. When I rode the MTR this morning, it was the usual tri-lingual PA system asking everyone to "Please mind the gap between train and the platform," and "Please stand back from the door." When I was walking to the office, I had the same "it's business as usual" feeling. No one's there to greet me "Merry Christmas" or "Uy, Ber months na! Pasko na!"

Maybe I should just run off to HMV, buy a Christmas CD and pop it in my iBook. It won't be the same, but it's a start.

MERRY CHRISTMAS WORLD!