Saturday, June 16, 2012

Rommel and Geng


And so my two dear friends tied the knot last November. I was a Julie Tearjerky all throughout the ceremony. I don’t know, weddings really make me cry. It is out of sheer gladness. More than laughter, crying is my ultimate outlet for expression of joy =)

I am not bipolar. Just saying.

It was a Christian wedding, held in Fernbrook Gardens, officiated by Pastor Jobi.



Rommel and Geng were each given an opportunity to thank their parents and share their journey to Christianity.



Among AM’s friends, I am closest to these two. I spent almost all my weekends with them, attended parties together, went to places outside Manila, spent summers together and I personally got to know each member of their families and their other friends.


During our trip to Baguio, with Rommel's dad.

During a party in Palanca.
 
Rommel's surprise birthday party in Posadas.

While waiting for our flight to Boracay.

Finishing a bottle of Patron without getting drunk *lol*

Crazy weekend in Matabungkay.
with Geng's family

Fact: I did not instantly hit off with Geng the first time we met, but because of this trip, everything changed.

Boracay in 2009

Rommel is like a brother to AM. They’ve been friends since forever.

AM was the Best Man.


Rommel & Geng got a beautiful love story. They have been together for 11 years, with a 4-year break in between. 4 years! Loud and clear….4 years! They literally grew old together *LOL*.

I was a little sad that I missed all the preparations, the hustle and bustle, including the Bachelorette’s Party. Had I been totally free at that time, I could have danced with the stripper! Hahaha.

The wedding day was lovely. The sun was out and the birds were humming and flying over us. It was even lovelier with the presence of our dearest friends.

Rei, Arni and Abel.

The very pregnant Jasmin, Cla and Arni.

Mr. and Mrs. Constantino

I was the cord sponsor. It was an honor indeed. The entourage were all family and relatives, the Best Man and I were the only "strangers".


What is happiness?!

The Rosello family.

The Balancio family.


The secondary sponsors.

I was crying the entire ceremony. Really crying. Thank God for waterproof mascara!

It felt like losing a great friend, when in fact I know I wouldn't lose either ever.

Concrete evidence, hehehe

The reception was fun. I was in a party mood despite the crying part.

Don't mistake this as a wacky shot. We are normally like this *lol*


I was around 92lbs that time. My arms!!!

Friends since grade school ;)

Good times!
To find one true love is not easy. The road may be crooked at times, but if you're meant to be with someone, the universe will conspire to bring you together. I'm glad these two found each other. It was meant to be.

Check out the shoes of the groom =)
I love you both! I pray for your perpetual bliss, undying support for each other, mutual respect and everlasting love.


Cheers to friendship and beyond!


******************************************
I do not own most wedding photos. Some I grabbed from Geng
and the groom-to-be Marcial. Thanks!






Friday, June 15, 2012

What's Your Mix?


I actually find the ad of Bayo very nice. Though the good intentions of the company were misinterpreted, and branded as racist at that, I still find it noble. Without reading the manifesto and just taking the ad itself alone, it’s actually being proud as a Filipino, even by a fraction or a drop.



bitchvarsity.com


The manifesto spoiled it all: "the mixing and matching of different nationalities with Filipino blood is almost a sure formula for someone beautiful and world class".  It drew a lot of spat from netizens, who complained and boycotted Bayo, because the ad was insulting…that being 100% Pinay is not beautiful and world class.


bayo.com.ph

The dissing went on for weeks. My head spinned after reading the rants on my timeline.
People claimed that Bayo insulted Lea Salonga (she’s 100% Pinay and world class)…what about Margie Moran and Gloria Diaz, each crowned as world’s most beautiful woman during their time, and both 100% Pinay…

In every hullaballoo though, expect Filipinos to come up with something naughty and nice. Here are some parodies:

Walang tulugan! (technogra.ph)
 (projectrace.blogspot)

shawie.com


technogra.ph
Funniest! (professionalheckler.wordpress)

Jon Snow, one of my favorite characters from Game of Thrones! (itsmorefunwitheyey.wordpress)

wheninmanila.com
pinoygigs.com
storify.com

mentisflatus.tumblr



Other brilliant minds added these:


Jinkee Pacquiao                                         50% Filipina 50% Siyensya
Kim Chiu                                                     1% Fat 11% Muscles 88% Bones
Raymond Gutierrez                                  30% Filipino 70% Filipina
Mike Enriquez                                           80% Nose 20% Saliva
Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago              50% Lecture 50% Public Humiliation
Sen. Chiz Escudero                                   100% single


This advertising campaign ended up as a national mockery, prompting Bayo to issue a public apology.



Advertisers should be more careful next time. The pictures without the explanation would have been sufficient. If you cannot fully express the correct idea that you wish to offer, do not say anything. Let the picture say it all instead. Parang ganito lang:

storify.com

And for everyone, this is really true....

storify.com





Thursday, June 14, 2012

Books 9-13






Mario Puzo is an Italian-American author, known for his novels about the Mafia. The Godfather is his most famous book, in which an adaptation was made (starred by Marlon Brando and Al Pacino).

The Fortunate Pilgrim is his second novel, written in 1965. It tells about the story of a mother, Lucia Santa Angeluzzi-Corbo, and the struggle of her children as they settled down in America. Love, death, friendship and pain, intertwined with humor, were rolled by Puzo in this story, which he claimed to be his best novel he had ever written. According to Puzo, the book proved to be his most interesting book because it was full of surprises. It was written to show his rejection of his Italian heritage and his callow disdain of those illiterate peasants from which he sprang.




This is the story for anyone who has ever wondered: How can I truly love the one I'm with when I can't forget the one who got away?

Ellen and her ex-boyfriend, Leo, accidentally met, exactly 100 days after Ellen became Mrs. Graham. A business project between Ellen and Leo was forged that eventually led to confusion and stirred their emotions for each other. Secret meetings ensued thereafter and Ellen was caught in her web of lies.


This book painfully showed that whenever you end a relationship, a proper closure must be made. That way, "only ifs" and "but ifs" will never be entertained in the future.


I can be a geek at times. I dig facts and trivias.

Did you know?


- that Lady Gaga's real name is Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta. Her stage name is inspired by the Queen's song "Radio Gaga".

- that the tallest building in the world is Burj Khalifa in Dubai, with 163 floors.


- that Philippine national hero Dr. Jose Rizal could read and write at the age of 2. And grew up to speak more than 20 languages.


- that 4 is the only number in the English language with the same number of letters as its value.


- that Venus is also called the earth's "sister planet", as the 2 planets are similar in size, mass, density and volume.




I had this book for over a year now, a Christmas gift from dear Josie, and I only got to read it recently (LOL). I also have his other books, still unopened (Mc Arthur, Skinless Longganisa and Alamat ng Gubat). I started reading Bakit Baligtad Magbasa ng Libro and mga Pilipino, but never got around to finish it. And I think I misplaced the book now (LOL).

Bob Ong is a contemporary Filipino author known for using controversial Filipino to create humorous and reflective depictions of Philippine life (wiki).

Bob Ong’s quotes went viral via Twitter and Facebook. Sample of which are:

“Huwag na huwag ka hahawak kapag alam mong may hawak ka na.”

“Kung maghihintay ka nang lalandi sayo, walang mangyayari sa buhay mo…Dapat lumandi ka din.”

“Hiwalayan na kung di ka na Masaya. Walang gamut sa tanga kundi pagkukusa.”

“Hinahanap mo nga ba ako o ang kawalan ko?"

Kapitan Sino is a story of a regular guy in a regular neighborhood. He is a repairman who discovered his electrical power and went out to save the city from fire, explosion and robbers.

Currently reading: A Storm of Swords by George R.R. Martin



The third book in the Song of Ice and Fire series. HBO recently concluded the 2nd season of Game of Thrones. I should finish this book before the 3rd season starts. This is becoming more difficult to read because of the numerous characters, plus the order of events.

Lord Tully is dying. Tyrion Lannister is horribly disfigured. Joffrey is marrying Margaeret and not Sansa. That’s what I have read so far. Spoiler, hehehe.

Hopefully next week, I’ll be able to start 50 Shades of Grey.


Monday, June 11, 2012

Sundate


It really is good to be home. Being with family, sleeping on my own bed, home-cooked meals and hearing my nephew talk incessantly are some moments that I take pleasure on. Though I sometimes feel like a “guest” in my own city, such irrelevant feeling fades the moment I see my Mom and Dad. They are my constant reminders that I belong in Davao City…that the city will always be my home.

A lot of us came home to Davao to attend the wedding of Ineng and Isbong. Sans distance and time, we remained friends until today. This type of friends whom I never get to see often, but when we meet up, it’s like we never grew apart.

Blast from the past =)
 
After a siomai feast with my mom and nephew, I went to Abreeza to meet my pals.

My mom and Yeco.

How lucky today’s generation to have such a beautiful mall, Ayala at that. Back then, we only had Victoria Plaza (the first mall that opened when I was in highschool), NCCC (right in the heart of Chinatown), Felcris (for imported items) and JS Gaisano (which burned down several times). Later additions were GMall and SM.


The first Starbucks in Davao opened only last year, right here in Abreeza Mall.

Pretending to be tourists, we took pictures everywhere! And when we saw a picture wall, click-click away….

With Anna Mae and Bret.

Walter took our pictures. He didn’t join us as it was embarrassing daw *lol*.


With Walter, taken over a decade ago *lol*

I bumped into Nelcci, whom I haven’t seen for years. We were schoolmates and became officemates for a short, short time.

Nice to see you!

We had a hard time deciding where to eat dinner because there were too many choices. And unfortunately, the restaurants that were recommended by Chona were overflowing with people. Ending: Seafood Island.




Service was good. Food was good. Company was good.

The lady in yellow is Chona. Walter in white.

Kinilaw and pinakbet.

Chicharong bulaklak and pork sisig.

We decided to watch Men In Black III after. It was my first time to try the cinema of Abreeza. It’s small pala. So wherever you sit, the screen is THIS huge, smacked right in your face. And oh, ticket was only 130php. Ka-barato jud.



After calling it a night, Chona drove us home (thanks, dear!). We have to be up early for a breakfast date the following day.