1. A dose of culture

Reserve tickets to the hit Broadway musical, Cats, coming to Manila this July, featuring an international cast (and the magnificent Lea Salonga). Ticket prices range from around P800 for nosebleed seats to P5000 to P7000 for good ones (ouch).

For less kabuhayan-showcasey fare, try The Nutcracker or Baroque Fantasque by Ballet Philippines. Final showdates are December 12 and 13. Ticket prices range from P200 to P600.


2. The moon and stars

Get a Galileoscope, a high-quality, low-cost telescope kit developed for the International Year of Astronomy (description taken from their site). For only $20, view the night skies the way Galileo saw it hundreds of years ago.

Alternatively, arm yourself with binoculars and a planisphere, and become a Sirius Stargazer. So far, they've covered the Double Cluster, the Alpha Persei Cluster, and The Pleiades. Cool stuff.

For the best view of the sky, spend a night at a beach with minimal light pollution (e.g., non-commercial beaches in Zambales).


To be continued.

High school batch reunion class picture, stolen from someone's FB
I don't remember half of the people in this photo. I either really didn't meet anyone the whole time I was in St. Paul, or I'm suffering from post-traumatic amnesia. (Sometimes I feel like my life started in college, and everything before that was just a horrible nightmare. The mere sight of nuns gives me the creeps.)

I wonder... will I be opening psychological floodgates if I force myself to remember who these people are? :/

A few of my high school batchmates cooked up an SPCP reunion slated for tonight at the Metrowalk. I'm not going, but it got me thinking about grade school and high school batchmates that I would love to revisit. They're not really friends, maybe they don't even remember who I am, but they're some of the most intriguing people I have ever met in real life. Here's a couple:

1. Sharon Estanislao - Sharon was the high school hothead, the batch's Scary Spice. She wasn't the typical girl's bully, though. She would never attack you psychologically (unlike the other resident bully, the Diaz girl, who I'm thankful I never shared a class with). Sharon was also pretty nice, once she'd copied off of your history and chemistry quizzes. She'd give you gifts (shiny stickers and stuff) and offer to varnish your desk for you at the end of the school year.

2. Judith Miraflor - Judith was the class rebel. She was also beautiful. And very smart. She was one of the people I most idolized, growing up. She would do things I could only daydream about, like get drunk at the Christmas mass, or sneak out of school hidden in the trunk of a cab. While people were talking about her, I was always silently cheering her on. I wonder how she's doing now. Hopefully, she hasn't lost all of her spunk.

I doubt they'll be at the reunion, as they're just not the sociable types. Unless they've mellowed down a lot in their dotage.


And then there are the teachers I wouldn't mind meeting again:

1. Ms. Miraflor (not related to Judith) - Heaven help you if you haven't read the assigned Ibong Mandaragit chapters when she calls on you. She was the most dreaded teacher, ever. She's also the one I most remember. I don't know if it's because she taught us for two years, or because I remember her more fondly now that I don't quake in fear of her ronda (this, even when I read chapters way ahead!).

2. Ms. Reyes - I've always been interested in natural sciences, but Ms. Reyes, who taught Biology and Chemistry, was probably one of the major factors that pushed me into taking up MBB in college. No other teacher made me feel like I'm just being made to see through a peephole; that there's so much more beyond what she's teaching, but I'd have to work at breaking the barrier myself if I want to see more. And I did, I really did!

3. Sir Dela Vega - He once announced in front of the class that he gave me high marks in History because, even if I never participated in class, I got high grades in quizzes and tests. Everyone bugged me to reveal my History grade after that. He gave me an 81. The lowest mark I received for any subject in years. Funny, sir. Absolutely hilarious.


I tried searching for these people on FB, but their names aren't in the database (or, in the case of Ms. Reyes, there's just too many with the same name).

UPDATE: I found Sir Dela Vega. LOL.

Wednesdays are MOB (My Own Bag) Days at the SM Megamall Supermarket. So remember to bring your own shopping bags if you plan to do your grocery shopping there on a Wednesday. If you can't be bothered, or if you forgot, your purchases shall be packed in handleless brown paper bags, unless you opt to buy plastic bags (boo you!) or their green canvas shopping bags.

***

The annual CONVERSE SALE at the Megatrade Hall (SM Megamall) runs from today to December 6. I got there before noon and stocks were already starting to run out.

I couldn't decide between the all-black Metallica high tops and the black and white checkered high tops, so I got both. I know I'll regret it tomorrow, when it finally sinks in that the the money could have bought me an okay office table at SM Home. What is it about sales that makes us involuntarily suspend our better judgement?

On the bright side (aside from the bright side of having 2 new Chucks), I get a free 2-piece Chickenjoy with rice and a Peach Mango pie because I paid with BPI EPS. Tomorrow's lunch -- check! ;p

My first ever mountain climbing experience. That's me in Lex Luthor colors. ;)

Mount Daguldol is what seasoned climbers call a Level 1 mountain, meaning it's fairly risk-free and easy to climb. The way I was huffing and puffing on the way up, though, you'd think I climbed a level one million. Half of the trail was steep, slippery, and muddy (the other half was just steep). My rubber shoes, which I bought post-Ondoy, were baptized in ankle-deep mud. They won't feel so out-of-place with my pre-Ondoy shoes now. In contrast, our tour guide's baby pink sneakers barely had any mud splatters on them. She must have the power to float on soft ground or something.


At the peak

Think going down is cake? Nope. It's hell on the toes, which gravity kept crushing against my shoes. Both my big toes were stubbed to death. Literally. Pareho silang namatayan ng kuko. Poor things. Lesson learned: next time, wear toeless footwear. ("There's a next time?!" exclaimed the battered toes.)

( More photos. )

After more than two months of waiting for a PLDT repairman to come, Ningning lost her temper and waylaid a PLDT repair van on its way to another house, and forced the crew to take a look at our line. So, our phone and DSL are back up! Finally! If we had known this was the way their repair schedule worked, we would have ambushed a repair van earlier.

Will probably swap the PLDT DSL with my cousin's SmartBro again later, though, as PLDT is even slower than I remember. I should have gotten that sh*t disconnected a long time ago.

November 1. All Saints' Day, also known in my family as pig-out-at-the-cemetery day. Went early to avoid the usual scorching afternoon heat. Had hotdogs, chao fan rice, siomai, ice cream, chips and lots and lots of candy.

November 11. Preck's karaoke night / despedida party. I don't even remember what I ate here. But karaoke + food = win. Went to Starbucks afterwards, where I discovered a new favorite drink: the Tazo Passion tea.

November 12. Daddy's death anniversary. Went back to the cemetery to lay flowers and several candles of different shapes, colors and sizes. Would have been pretty if they stayed lit, but it was a windy day. Brought home a party box of donuts and smidgets(?), forgetting that Mom just stocked up on butter cookies, chocolate chip cookies, and chocolate pretzels.

November 13. Everyone's send off. (Or sure felt like it.) It was three people's last day at the office (resigned). First there was cake, and then pizza, and more cake, and ice cream, and more cake, and chocolate-covered turon, and more ice cream. I didn't have to try everything. But you know I did. XD

November 15. 2012. Terrible movie, free calorie-laden popcorn (courtesy of Citibank ;D), which I couldn't stop eating because the movie was so so bad and I needed the distraction.

November 22. Jane's birthday party. I think I had three servings of pancit, and 2 extra-large slices of chocolate cake. Plus there was also nilagang baka. And leche flan. My stomach felt like it was going to explode. And then I ate more cake. LOL.

It doesn't end here, though. This weekend, I will either be going with my officemates to loll at the Laiya beach for three days, or with my family to have a reunion party at a private pool.

And then comes December, the month of unbridled feasting. :/

Since I had quite a few post-Ondoy purchases (to replace home necessities that were destroyed), I realized that I do not always get the most out of my money when I pay with cash. Several banks have ongoing holiday promotions that would give me more bang for my buck. In other words: sulit! Here are some sulit EPS / credit card promos I discovered:


1. BPI EPS or Credit Card Real Thrills

You get one piece Jollibee Chickenjoy with rice for a minimum of P1500 single-receipt purchase, two pieces for P3000, and a whole bucket for a P6000 single receipt purchase. So instead of withdrawing cash from my BPI account before buying stuff, I just use my ATM to make EPS purchases.

I get free meals, and I'm not hassled by the long ATM queues. It's win-win all the way, di ba?!


2. Citibank Free Movie Tickets

Citibank gives one free movie pass for a minimum of P1500 single-receipt purchase, 2 passes + 2 softdrinks + 1 popcorn for every P7000, and 3 passes + 3 softdrinks + 1 popcorn for Paylite purchases worth at least P20,000.

I have accumulated a gazillion free passes and softdrinks and popcorn because I charged my large purchases with Citibank even if I am able to pay in cash. My sisters and I are just waiting for a good movie to come out so our whole extended family can go on a movie date.

Read the fine print.


3. Citibank and SM Appliance Center's Buy Now, Pay After Three Months

If you buy anything worth over P3000 at any SM Appliance center and use your Citibank card, you won't get billed until after three months. I took advantage of this to get stuff that I didn't have budget for right now, but I'd have funds for after I pay off my large credit card purchases next month. XD

******


A word of advice, though: when taking advantage of credit card promotions, it's best to make sure that we're able to pay off our monthly credit card bills in full, otherwise the finance charges would be greater than the value of the freebies. E di hindi na sulit yun!

Have fun with your Christmas shopping! ;)

Hands down, my favorite romantic movie scene would have to be the one from Secret Admirer when Michael realizes that the person who sent him the endearing love letter is actually his best friend, Toni, and that he's also in love with her. But Toni is going away for a year to study abroad, and when Michael reaches the dock, Toni's boat has already set off. So he shouts at her from across the water.

Michael: Toni, wait! Hey! Wait! Stop! Wait!
(Toni finally notices him.)
Michael: I know you wrote the letters!
Toni: Michael! What?
Michael: The letters! I know you wrote them!
(Toni stares at him.)
Michael: Don't leave me! I love you!
Toni: What?!
Michael: I love you! Do you love me?!
Toni: What difference does it make?!
Michael: But do you love me?
Toni: Yes! Does that make you feel any better?

Michael jumps off the pier into the water and tries to swim to the boat, but after a while stops and looks at Toni. Toni hesitates, and jumps off, too. They swim towards each other, and everyone cheers.

It's cheesy, I know. But it was the 80s, and I was young and impressionable. That's why having someone profess his love at the last possible chance (and across a great distance) became my definitive romantic fantasy. Possibly it's also to blame for my tendency to sit back and do nothing, and wait for the person I'm in love with to just suddenly realize in the end that we're meant for each other after all. In my lifetime, this has worked out for me a grand total of zero times. You'd think by now I'd have changed tactics. (Or at least written a love letter to give myself a fighting chance.) Hehe.


Runners up (these aren't movies, but what the hey, this is my list):

- Coffee Prince, in that night beach scene where Han Kyul admits (what he thinks is) his unnatural love to a sleeping Eun Chan, who he still believes is a man. Now that is what I call real love!

- Hana Yori Dango, where Domyouji rents a room in a rundown apartment to be near Makino, and he visits her in her crappy room, and tells her that for him, love doesn't taste like the bittersweet heart-shaped fig, but like the lousy cookies Makino baked for him. (I could melt! Domyouji is totally my Prince Charming.)

Maybe I should try emulating my runners up's leading ladies instead. Let's see how acting like a boy and beating up gorgeous guys works out for me. XD

John Hughes Film Festival at the Shang Cineplex

Schedule:

October 24 (Saturday)
2:00PM Breakfast Club
4:30PM Ferris Bueller's Day Off
7:00PM Some Kind of Wonderful
9:30PM Pretty in Pink

October 25 (Sunday)
2:00PM Ferris Bueller's Day Off
4:30PM Pretty in Pink
7:00PM Breakfast Club
9:30PM Some Kind of Wonderful

For months (years?), I've been holding off re-reading the Wheel of Time series to make sure that the latest book is out by the time I finish the previous eleven. Well, the 12th book (The Gathering Storm) will be released next week. I should be ecstatic.

But, sadly, I now have no Wheel of Time books left to read. They all perished during The Great Flood. I can't remember most of the story details, either, so I can't just dig into the latest book. (Really, can anyone keep track of all of WoT's complicated storylines in their heads?) My mini-notes would help, but they're stuck between the pages of the books that drowned. :(

On the bright side, maybe I'll be able to acquire the eleven books (hopefully, they're available in book sales) just in time for the paperback release of the twelfth. I'm more comfortable reading paperbacks, anyway. In the mean time, I just need to use my Aes Sedai powers to stay out of spoiler stuff for the next year or so. Good luck, me.

This month is all about dinners with old friends. (And cleaning up calamity mud, but I think I've completely exhausted that topic.)

This time, it's dinner at Serendra with my high school friends, plus an adopted much younger friend who also went to the same school.


Gail, Ampy, Apple and me at Conti's

Don't we look like we're still in our twenties? NOT! Hahahaha! Well, except for Apple, who is. We actually talked about this over coffee. The conclusion being that if we're told we look like we're in our twenties, then we're being lied to. At least tell us we look 33. Pwede na yun, mas realistic pa!


Conti's famous Mango Bravo

The cake wasn't as to-die-for as it was reputed to be. Okay lang. The baked salmon, though, was positively orgasmic! No pic because we wolfed down dinner before anybody thought to whip out the cam. XD


The pretty people at Bo's Coffee

Yeah, yeah. You all just wish you'd look like us when you're as old. ;p

Nagising ako kaninang madaling araw dahil naiihi ako. Nung binuksan ko ang ilaw, nakita ko si Squall na natutulog sa ilalim ng mesa. Lumabas ako para pumunta sa banyo. Pagbalik ko sa kwarto, inaabangan na ako ni Squall sa may pinto, at nakasuot sa likod niya ang monobloc na upuan na iniiwan ko sa may mesa. Siguro ay dumaan siya sa ilalim nito at dahil hindi siya kasya ay kumapit sa kanya. Parang hindi naman niya napansin. Mukha siyang pagong na excited! Sobrang natawa ako sa kanya! Ang cute cute talaga ng aso ko!

Bigla na lang pumapasok sa isip ko buong araw yung itsura niya nung pagbukas ko ng pinto, at hindi ko mapigilan na mapangiti. ♥

Sayang nga lang at sa isip ko na lang naka-record yun. Hindi ko na kasi naisip na kumuha ng camera bago ko tanggalin yung upuan.

Had dinner with the UP barkada at Butchie's last week to celebrate Batts's visit (she's based in California and is in Manila for a 2-week vacation).


Foreground, from left: Lolo, Aireen, Batts, me, Fungi. Background: Jello.

After dinner, Fungi, Batts and I went around the tiangge at Greenhills so Batts can buy imitation Coach and Burberry bags and wallets. (Hopefully, she doesn't get detained at the airport for having them. LOL!) We ended up at Krispy Kreme for late night coffee and conversation.



*sigh* I miss them already. :(


***

Fungi got a job at San Miguel Corporation. We're now office neighbors! So far, he hasn't asked me to meet up with him. Maybe he's still busy with his orientation. I wish Aireen and Lolo would find jobs here, too.

It's Zawie's 8th death anniversary today. I can't believe it's been that long.

The dead are always looking down on us, they say,
while we are putting on our shoes or making a sandwich,
they are looking down through the glass-bottomed boats of heaven
as they row themselves through eternity.

They watch the tops of our heads moving below on earth,
and when we lie down in a field or on a couch,
drugged perhaps by the hum of a warm afternoon,
they think we are looking back at them,

which makes them lift their oars and fall silent
and wait, like parents, for us to close our eyes.

-- The Dead, Billy Collins

And we have TV! The remote is a lost cause, though. So we either have to get up and switch channels manually, or sit still stuck on a single channel. But still, TV! I miss staring at shiny colors for hours on end. Squall should be happy, too. He gets a reprieve from being our sole source of entertainment at home.

Meanwhile, my room is the cleanest it's been since... ever! One of the silver linings of the great flood was that we were forced to do our spring cleaning and get rid of all the clutter that has accumulated over the years.

We asked 2 different contractors how much adding a second level to our kitchen area (this is less than 1/4 the area of the entire house) would cost. The quote: at least PhP 500k.
Quote for electrical rewiring: PhP 50k.

Good lord.

And we're still to request a quote for retiling of the living room and two bedrooms. This is the priority because there have already been several accidents involving bare feet and broken/protruding tile edges. And then there are the doors that need to be replaced, and basic appliances.... :/

***

Funny post-calamity anecdote:

My aunt's family was supposed to have ginisang munggo during the day of the storm. She left the beans soaking in a pot of water. When they got back, my aunt looked into the pot and said: "O, toge ang ulam natin ngayong gabi, ha."

We're reaching a semblance of normalcy at home. Last night, except for Ning, we all were able to sleep in our own bedrooms. Squall and I have our bedroom (and bed) all to ourselves once again. Bliss.

My plan of action for the weekend:

1. Srub my walls. (Remind others to scrub all other walls as well!)
2. Scrub my cabinets.
3. Dislodge and clear out all the muddy books and CDs/DVDs.
4. Bag as much of the trash as possible.
5. Test TV, LCD, microwave and other appliances.
6. Look for my spoons and forks.

Other stuff for much later:

1. Bring broken appliances to repair shops.
2. Report phone and DSL line.
3. Organize clothes.
4. Iron clothes.

( Things to replace. )

I'm supposed to meet with my high school friends (Ampy and Gail) on Saturday. I hope I don't still look too putik chic by then.

***

Batts, my US-based friend, just got back. We're meeting next week. Yahoo! I want us to do a walking tour of UP (10+ years after graduation), but I think she has other plans. We'll see. :)

I'm back to the world of the connected.

I hadn't realized how widespread the destruction from Typhoon Ondoy was until now. I honestly thought the damage was only localized in our city. In hindsight, I should have guessed something this catastrophic if our area, which hasn't flooded in the 30 years I've lived there, was turned into a veritable river.

I'm glad all of you are all right. Thanks also to everyone who expressed concern. Sorry if I've been unreachable and unresponsive; I haven't been able to charge my cell phone (our only available mode of communication) for the first 5 days after the flood.

Thanks so much to everyone who brought food, clothes, and supplies. We're now so much better off than we were during the worst of the flood, when we had to share two mini cup noodles between myself, my two sisters, and our two dogs.

A good part of the house is already habitable, although it will probably be another month before we get everything spic and span. A lot of stuff needs to be replaced (none of our doors will close!), but most would have to wait until we free up some funds.

A minor miracle: my wooden bed floats like a raft! So everything I left on it is safe and dry (the mattress, pillows, blanket, my bass, psp, and new books). I guess my bed loves me as much as I love it. :)

Back to work tomorrow. I miss technology.

How is everyone?

Hey all! We're back home. Our house got submerged in the flood, so we had to stay for 2 days at a neighbor's 3-level house. Right now we don't have internet, tv, landline phone, and even radio (posting this via cellphone, hope it works). Our place is a mess, and food and drinking water are not that easy to get. But we're all fine.

Our version of venice

Our area never gets flooded, but now the water on the street is higher than gutter-level. It's begun to overflow into our garage as well. I wonder how the rest of manila is doing. Squall is scared. The concept of flood is alien to him. Electricity is out. As I'm blogging this, my sister is getting our stuff ready for higher water levels. I hope the flood doesn't get any worse, the heavy rains haven't stopped for at least 10 hours now. I hope no humans or animals have drowned. :(

I won a can of San Marino chili tuna yesterday. Hahaha! Just in time, too, because I ran out of CDO ulam burgers and won't have anything to bring for lunch tomorrow.

Also, I found Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog at YouTube. You all have to watch it, before it gets taken down!

Dr. Horrible reminds me of me so much it's scary... XD

I got a new haircut, and a good haul of new books at half price. I am content.

***

There was a Dr. Horrible and Captain Hammer segment at the Emmy's. Shameless plug by Neil Patrick Harris or not, I thought it was amusing! (I kinda wanted to hear from the accountants, though. Really.) I think Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog won an Emmy, or was at least nominated; I'm just not sure for which category.

This was the first time I watched an awards show from beginning to end without once touching the remote. I don't know if it was because of brilliant writing, or if I just knew there wasn't anything else good on TV that early. Or it could also be because I was reading Banana Yoshimoto during the commercial breaks and speeches. Hehe.

I was waiting for at least one Battlestar Galactica nomination, but there weren't any. I also didn't see any of their cast. Fringe's Anna Torv presented, though. Cool!

***

Back to work again tomorrow. I'm raring to go. Not.

I love Sundays because my sister and I get to eat breakfast at Jollibee. This morning I ordered the pancake sandwich, which I deconstructed into something resembling McDonald's Big Breakfast. Yum. We walked to and from Jollibee; hopefully I burned at least half the calories I took in.

***

I was going to go to the Book Fair but I was sick since Friday. How was it? Is it still worth going today? Or is it more worthwhile to check out the sale at NBS and Shang?

***

I love long weekends! (I would have enjoyed it so much more if I hadn't gotten sick, though.)

My friend and I came up with this theory that the rise of the homosexual population in humans is cyclical, and is related to total human population and available resources. Since humans are at the very top of the food chain, it's one of nature's ways of balancing us out.

Biologically, it's not impossible. There are precedents in nature. Many organisms across the animal and plant kingdoms have the natural ability to switch their genders for species survival (like the clownfish, some types of frogs, shrimps, flowers, etc.). So maybe we're able to switch as well, but since our physiologies are more complex, the change only happens on a less visible level (mostly hormonal I would think, but may also be psychological).

It's a bit hard to prove, though.

If we go the historical route, we'd need data on homosexual population in history and compare them against the population and resource data during same time period. I doubt the homosexual population data even exists. We would have to extrapolate this, then, from other sources (e.g., homosexuality in literature, governing laws), but I can't think of any outright that would be reliable.

To study it biologically, we could look at other gender-bending organisms and find out which of their genes turn on and off during gender switches and see if there are similar ones in humans. Ooohh, if only I could get funding for that!

And God said, "Go forth and multiply."

"... for as long as We can support it," Nature adds.


****

In other news, I just found out about pansexuality. From Wikipedia (I know, not the best of sources):

Pansexuality
Pansexuality is a sexual orientation characterized by the potential for aesthetic attraction, romantic love, or sexual desire for people, regardless of their gender identity or biological sex. Some pansexuals suggest that they are gender-blind; that gender and sex are insignificant or irrelevant in determining whether they will be sexually attracted to others.

... Some define bisexual as "attraction to people from more than one gender". Others contrast "attraction to people of multiple genders" with pansexuality's "attraction regardless of gender".

In effect, both bisexuals and pansexuals are attracted to both males and females, but pansexuals don't see the difference between the two (they probably are attracted to the same characteristics in the two), while bisexuals still differentiate between males and females and are attracted to different qualities in each.

So, which are you? ;)