Goodbye Summer

I spent the last weekend of May in one of my favorite places…the beach!

Oh, being under the sun is so much fun…especially when spent with friends, who doesn’t mind getting toasted.

Unfortunately, it rained when we arrived in Matabungkay, Batangas.

Gloomy without the sun.

It was a 3-hour drive from Manila. As usual, I slept through out the trip (my forte).

Memories…memories…memories….I was exactly here a year ago with other set of friends. We stayed in Coral Beach that time.

I was about 120lbs then, hehehe.

Having monkeys as friends =)

Good food here.

This was the first get away I had with my high school super friends, with their hubbies and kids. Just imagine all the things for babies they brought! The cars were fully loaded.

Baby Hugh of Tine.

Baby Yumi of Sharon.

The babies with Ate Violet.

The place where we stayed is owned by Hubert’s college friend. Big! With 3 bedrooms, each with its own bathroom. The kitchen was well equipped. The place was clean and well maintained.

Extra room outside the main house.

The main house.

The resort is being sold for 12.5 M.

The beach of Matabungkay is not known to be that nice. It’s not white sand, it’s rocky and weedy.

It’s fun to be with people you love! Cooking and sharing meals together, just being yourself, wearing your hair down and being the butt of jokes.

yum, yum...i love anything grilled!

Missing the rest of the BYLs *wink*

I wish we could do this often. Be away from everything, bond and laugh until midnight. This is becoming rare, especially when everyone is busy with career and family. I think I’m the only one in the group who can get away anytime hahaha.

I love you guys. I had a blast.

Until our next get away, hopefully with Annabanana.

Kisses.

Retrieved

I got my cards and ID’s back! Thank God. Though the atm and credit cards are useless, I’m still glad everything was returned to me.

These were claimed by the sister of my officemate who lives in Gagalangin. Thank you so much, Tita Beth.

I don’t want to go into details. The story became twisted as to how the man found my cards. I don’t care anymore. He texted me again:

I texted back and said thank you for the last time.

I hope I won’t be hearing from him anymore.

XXX THE END XXX

Victim

I was victimized, for the first time. And hopefully, the last time.

My wallet was stolen. I’m sure it was between while waiting for a jeepney and that moment I squeezed inside the jeepney along with other people. This is along Buendia and Taft Avenues.

It was raining hard at 7:30am yesterday. I was cuddling my shoulder bag and an envelope bag, while carrying my old blue umbrella. I have a huge bag, stupid me I didn’t attach the clasp. The bag was not wide open, you wouldn’t actually see what’s inside. The thief must just be really quick.

I realized my wallet was gone when I searched for it once inside the jeep to pay my fare. Panicky already, I scrambled everything inside my bag. Cellphone, camera, make-up kit, hairbrush, Eclat, Kleenex and Ipod. No wallet. Sigh. I have no money to pay for my fare!

I went down the jeep without paying the Php8.00 fare. I didn’t look back. I was afraid that the driver might recognize me as a non-paying passenger.

Upon reaching the office, I called Citibank and Metrobank to cancel my credit cards. No transaction was processed for the day, good. Next, I called Landbank to cancel my ATM cards. No withdrawals as of June 5, good.

This is embarrassing to say, but there was only Php50.00 inside my wallet, and some coins, hehehe. I don’t usually bring cash. I’m so dependent with credit/debit cards.  I don’t care about the money (sa kanya na Php50.00 ko!), even the credit and atm cards (I had them blocked anyway, and will be charged Php400.00/each *leche*), and the wallet (err, not really…it’s new, and not yet fully paid *sigh*). I just want my ID’s back. I don’t want to go through the hassle of applying for government-issued ID’s. Imagine the effort, time and cost, it spells problem talaga.

At 11:45am, my desk phone rung. It was Mr. Jun Sahagun, claiming he found my wallet in Avenida. He was able to contact me based on the number shown on my company ID. He enumerated what’s inside my wallet and offered to meet up so he could return it. He lives in Tondo. I couldn’t think straight. I was resigned to not bother about it all. He gave me his cell phone number so we can communicate.

At 1pm, Ms. Rosavilma Sebastian, a barangay secretary of Gagalangin, Tondo, called to inform me that a “concerned citizen” deposited my cards in their custody. Just cards, no more wallet. So, I guess Mr. Sahagun kept the wallet for himself.  Haaaayyy….it’s getting crazier by the minute. She advised me to claim it during business hours.

Good thing I have an officemate who lives in Gagalangin. I asked her to claim the items for me instead.

Haaayyyy….the fact that my ID’s were exposed to some strangers is bothering me. My home address, contact numbers, SSS and TIN numbers…everything were there for them to use for whatever purpose.

OA, but I fear for my safety now.

Barangay Fiesta

And then there was silence….

Last week was very chaotic in my barangay. There were too much noise and activities…pageants, singing contests, motorcades, games for the kids, drum and bugle going round and round and round…..

It was the feast of San Isidro Labrador, the patron saint of good harvest, of the laborers.

The feast is celebrated every15^th day of May. A week long celebration was conducted by the barangay. The entire street of Sandejas in Pasay City was festooned with decors.

A long stretch of silver buntings.

Pink buntings on the next block.

Greetings from local politicians were visible.

Kids had so much fun during parlor games.

Hitting the pot.

Special mass was conducted by Fr. Bernardino Cortez, Auxiliary Bishop of Manila

 

Groundbreaking ceremony attended by the Mayor and the Congresswoman.

Pasay City Mayor Tony Calixto

Congresswoman Emi Calixto.

The musicians.

They look bored....

And one of the contests…..

Organized by the gay community members.

I went home one night amid the screams of people. I checked out what was going on, only to find out that I was just in time for the swimwear competition….

Whoa!!!!

Red na red, parang  mosquito net lang =)

Skimpy na kung skimpy!

White is for purity =)

Then the formal wear....

Green barong with black sando

This contestant got sooo many fans.

He was taking off his mask here. Nag-ala Zorro sya.

Then my camera went dead....batt empty.