Marc Aldrich Gopal. 22. Novena, Singapore. Filipino. Proctoid. Wanderlust-y. Leo. Atenean. O-C. Sleepyhead. Anti-mediocrity.
Potterite. Pet Fanatic. Acquired Taste. Lives life. Loves life.
You think you know but you have no idea.
Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life. Don't be trapped by dogma- living with the results of other people's thinking. Don't let the noise of other's opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become.
Everything else is secondary.
Finally, a taste of summer . . . Posted at 06:49 PM
I'm downloading the latest episode of Gossip Girl, so here I am trying to sneak an entry in. Well, there have been lots of stuff that have been happening in my life. I mean, this week has been a hell of an emotional rollercoaster - imagine a week of joy, anguish, anticipation, frustration, resentment and the list goes on. But the thing is, I'm not in the mood to type all of that here. And even if I was, I still won't. haha
So anyway, yesterday was the 3rd birthday of Luis, my nephew, who is also my godchild. And we celebrated it, swimming! haha Well, actually, I had no intentions of swimming. After all, only God knows that I'm in no position to flaunt my body. haha Well, not quite yet anyway. This nephew of mine is the eldest child of my favorite and all time beloved cousin - Airene. And well, my role was basically that of a driver. haha O di ba? I finally play a role in outings and whatnots. So after loading the food and other swimming gear at the back of the CRV, we were off to the venue! But then, Airene's husband realized that they forgot to lock their house. Can I just say, this was certainly not one of their proudest moments. haha But there I was laughing in the driver's seat while making a U-turn back to their house. haha So anyway, after making sure that their residence was secure, we were finally on our way to the pool. It was somewhere in Marikina, but I can't really remember where we went. Unfortunately, after months of driving, I still don't have a sense of direction. haha
One thing to note about this trip was that this was the first time that my nephew - Luis, went swimming. And yes, my cousin made sure that nothing bad would happen. Can you say floaters galore? haha And I was just laughing the first time he jumped in the pool. Well, it wasn't really a jump, but rather a slow and calculated "immersion"haha with the support of both his parents. haha But then, after that, he really did enjoy the pool. My niece also went swimming, but I had to always hold her since the baby pool was still too deep for her. Afer just a few minutes, they were already enjoying themselves. And so were a lot of people! I mean, there were so many children. No wonder we have a food shortage.
Well, they were enjoying themselves so much that I also wanted to join them. But the thing was, my sister and I didn't really have any intentions of taking a dip, so we didn't really bring any swimming gear. Fortunately, Airene's husband brought an extra pair of shorts along, and after a few minutes in the changing room, I was already in the water with my nephew and my niece.
After a few minutes under the make-shift falls, I realized something. This was actually the first time that I went out this summer. And though it was just somewhere in Marikina, in a group of pools filled with so many people trying to cool themselves from the merciless heat of the summer sun - it was still an activity worthy of being called 'summer.' And during those precious few hours I was there in the pool, it was like I escaped from everything that I was dealing with. While in the pool, I was no longer Aldrich-waiting-to-hear-from-so-and-so-company. neither was I Aldrich-eagerly-preparing-for-the-final-interview-in-so-and-so- company. In the pool, I was just Aldrich-just-trying-to-have-a-great-summer-like-everyone-else. *sigh*
And I was just looking at the children playing in the kiddie pool. They all looked so happy, and basically had no care for the world. And I looked back at my own childhood. It was just a few years ago that I was in their position. And now, well, I'm older. And things are, well, more complicated. Its not that I don't like where I'm at right now. But its just that when I was a child, more often than not, I got what I wanted. But now, well, everything is just so different. And it just seems that these days, I hardly ever get what I want. crap. Is this me being welcomed to the real world?
Well, it seems that reflections can come from even the most people-infested areas. haha Or maybe it was just all the chlorine getting into my system. But I guess, I just wanted to type all of these here to help me realize that not everything is about work and career. Well, at least not yet. Tomorrow is another day. And I doubt if my stress over all these applications will not be there. But for now, I'm happy. Its just been a while. Or maybe its just the chlorine talking. Who knows?
Til next time! Ciao!
PS Oh yeah, i'll try uploading the pictures I took today in my Multiply. Yes, you've read that correctly - my not-so-subtle way of saying that I, now have a multiply account. Well, its pretty bare,the layout is one of the default ones and all the pictures are stolen from other people's multiply accounts, but don't worry, it will be up and running in no time. You can visit my Multiply Account here. And its for contacts only, so add me! Oh, and snaps for Oliver (FMS) for thinking of the username. haha
Reading: e-mails. Hearing: David Archuleta - When You Believe Feelin' unusually happy.
Well, today was quite an eventful day. It started out boring with the prospect of my usual FF12/LOST Marathon combination in the afternoon. But then, I told myself that things have to change. haha Or at least, I have to mix things up a a bit. And so, I went to Quiapo, all on impulse and totally against the current status of my finances. I have never driven to Quiapo, and I doubt that I will ever drive to Quiapo - I mean, where the hell would I park the CRV there?
So I rode the LRT 2 from Katipunan to Recto Station and after a few (well, actually not a few, but several) steps, I was already in Quiapo - in all its pirated glory. Just as I was crossing this street from Isetann to the SM Outlet Store, it started to rain. And boy, did it rain - I mean, vendors were literally like headless chickens looking for plastic coverings to shield their wares from the rain.
And what did Aldrich do? Aldrich stood in one corner, smiling like a friggin weirdo, with the wind blowing my hair away and the rain slowly seeping into my chucks. haha Why, you may ask? Simply, it felt nice. huh? Well, it felt nice to have this outsider perspective - of not really having to worry about anything or anyone right at that moment. I was just there - enjoying the blessing of rain, which is something to be thankful for particularly since summer has particularly been harsh this year.
Plus, I love the rain. I love the way it changes the surroundings. I love it when children play under the rain - which really makes me reminisce the times when I played under the rain way back when. I love the way it changes the sky to a gloomy yet comforting way. Plus, it rained in Quiapo - the first time I ever saw rough downpour in the streets of that Pirate's Cove.
When in Quiapo... DVDs! haha This time around, i totally went Tagalog. haha I only ended up buying four movies - (1) Desperadas (2) Sakal, Sakali, Saklolo (3) Over My Dead Body, the only English one and *drum roll please * (4) My Big Love. I went around some more, and I actually fell in love with another phone in the process. haha I actually wanted a Nokia 7373 way back when, but now, I'm totally pining for this new one, and I can't even remember the model number. Crap. Now its becoming obvious that I'm not that into phones and the new releases. That, and the fact that i'm still using my K700i that I think, just celebrated its second birthday, which is just over a century in techie years. haha
So anyway, I rode the aircon bus going back to the house. As expected, Espana was flooded in some parts. But I couldn't care less. Put me inside an aircon bus, with a relatively comfy seat and headphones to boot and I can travel to anywhere. So when I came home, I had to shower to wash off the remnants of Quiapo (and trust me, anyone who goes to Quiapo has it haha), and then we watched My Big Love.
Now, I'm not in the mood to actually talk about the movie, to write a synopsis or draft a review of the movie. All I'm going to say is that the movie was definitely something cute, nice and definitely something that proves that the once-famed Philippine Film Industry is still alive and kicking and is definitely not going without a fight. And I totally love Toni Gonzaga - she really is a great all-around artist. Plus, there's this other girl that totally was funny - she's the host of this late night/early morning game show in ABS-CBN. wait, let me google her first- ayun, it turns out she has her own site - her name is Jaymee Joaquin! Go Kabagang! haha
Ayun, the movie was nevertheless shallow. haha But the thing was, I had no expectations. I mean, who the hell would expect a cinematic gem entitled "My Big Love." For me, it was just a light, and possibly a feel-good movie. and it certainly was. There was even a cameo of the new overpass near Gate Three of Ateneo.
And yet, the movie made me think of something. Well, its basically what the movie talks about - of love transcending physicaly qualities, going beyond our current society's fanaticism with looking good, staying slim, maintainingg that clear and oh-so-radiant skin. And I guess, the film is deeper, if you just try to look harder.
For one thing, it talked about happiness. Looking great is a full-time job in itself. This is even particularly more difficult for people who aren't gifted with fast metabolisms and healthy eating habits. So, most people tend to work hard just to look great. But what happens when that day finally comes? What happens when you wake up one morning and you're completely satisfied with your skin, with your face, with your body? What happens if the person you see in the mirror is exactly how you've always dreamed you'd look like?Would you be contented? I doubt it. Would you be happy? Who knows? Odds are, you wont be. I was talking to this high school kabarkada of mine last year, and I was telling him how big his stomach bulge has gotten over the years. I mean, beer belly kung beer belly talaga. haha And with us being close and all, I was of course, laughing. haha And then, he went all serious on me, and then said, "At least, happy naman ako." In all fairness to myself, I hardly am rendered speechless. But that was certainly one of those moments. *sigh* buti pa siya, happy. haha aaaanyway, its all about never holding out on oneself, of finding one's happiness. Just like Toni Gonzaga's fifth rule in her fitness program, "be happy."
The other obvious thing is of course about love. And actually, there's just one thing I want to say. The movie was all about Sam Milby's transformation - the Before and After. And I guess, true love is when one falls for you because of the "Before" and not just the "After." I think that's why the movie had sooo many kilig moments - particularly because Toni Gonzaga's character saw through layers of fat that Sam Milby's Character had (yep, all of those layers), and saw how great a person he really was, how sweet, generous ekek he was. This was something Christine Hermosa's character was unable to do. And in the end, Sam Milby's transformation was just the cherry on top, an added bonus. *sigh* These days, parang ang hirap maghanap ng taong ganyan. Sana, makahanap din ako. . . haha!
Ayun. Anyway, this entry turned out longer than I expected it to be. Mukhang ginanahan yata ako! haha Anyway, I'll just type another entry soon! I'll just leave you with several statements from Jaymee Joaquin. Got to love this girl! I really hope your career takes off! Mabuhay ka Kabagang!
Go kulugo munggo sago bisugo! C'mon mamon pulmon salmon! Oh well papel hotel lapel! My god higad pugad alagad sagad! Oh no nuno macapuno sanggano! Rock and roll almirol parol tootsie roll! Wow lugaw bugaw sigaw!
Ciao! Reading: JD Salinger - Catcher in the Rye Hearing: Mariah Carey - When You Believe Feelin' reflective.
My oh my, how time flies! And to be honest, I have been having fun these days, so I guess that's why I haven't been posting much entries. Yep, being a full-time bum does have its benefits. haha
For one thing, I had to prepare several documents for my employment. Take note, I'm not yet even sure which company I'm going to work for, but I have to be sure just in case. And I guess, any decent company is going to require an official transcript from Ateneo, so that's why I went to Ateneo last Monday. And it was quite impulsive mind you. One minute, I was playing FF12, desperately leveling all my characters up to level 50 (OC eh no? haha) before I start the chain of events in Archadia (too much detail? haha), and then I realized that it was only about 3:30 and I could still make it to Ateneo just before the Registrar's Office closes. By 3:40, I was already in Katipunan. haha Its only now that I have a car that I realize how near my house really is to Ateneo, I mean, I was there in 10 minutes - and that's including the minor change in clothes and afternoon traffic.
So anyway, my car doesn't have the Ateneo sticker, so I had to stop at Gate Three to get this gate pass. And then Manong Guard asks me where I was off to. And then, I said, Registrar's Office. And then he asks me if I knew where it is. At first, I found it quite offensive. I mean, I've been studying in that friggin' school for eight years, don't you think after that much time, mukha na akong atenista? haha Whatever that means. And with all the confidence that I could muster, I said, "Its in Bellarmine, right?" And then, he said, its now in the building beside Leong Hall. Confused, I thought to myself, what building beside Leong Hall? De La Costa? the Rizal Lib? And then it all came to me, the old SS Building! haha Ayun, so I parked the car in the parking lot across the Library, and right then and there, I saw Vina from Regcom, coming back from the SS Building, and holding copies of transcripts and I think, her diploma notarized, or something like that. haha It has definitely been a while. So, we caught up with each other's lives. Turns out she's pursuing this course in Culinary Arts, for 14 months. At least she's all set. Quite unlike me who's stuck in limbo. crap. haha And then she told me that some other friends of ours were watching Iron Man and eating dinner in Trinoma later that afternoon. Ayun, sabi ko, text text na lang. haha Yes, text text na lang.
And so I rushed to the newly repainted SS Building, which I guess, now is called the Registrar's Office. And the line was friggin' long. And when it was my turn, it turns out that I could only get my transcript by Monday. Crap. One week's worth of processing before I get that school document. Well, I wasn't really in a rush, but still, what if an employer was rushing me and I could only get a copy of my transcript by next week? Well, there's no employer. But what if di ba? haha
Ayun, so I looked around Ateneo, and boy, I really felt like a stranger. And its only been one whole month since the last time I've visited. Crap. I grew up in Ateneo, and now, I feel like I've outgrown the place. I mean, its still all there. The ever-subzero temperatures in the Lib, the towering (haha) statue of Horacio De La Costa, the trees along Fr. Masterson's (sp?) Drive, but then its like I no longer play a role in all of that. I'm neither student nor teacher. Right then and there, I was just this nostalgic alumnus, desperate for a connection. *sigh*
And so, after much text-text, I was able to go to the Regcom get-together in Trinoma. haha Imagine, I was in Trinoma by 5:30 - I even had time to shave, change clothes and walk the dogs. haha O di ba, efficient? haha Plus, there was barely any traffic along North Ave. It turns out, they were planning to watch the movie by 8:10. Crap. Last full show yata yun eh. I didn't feel like going home at around midnight, so i just went along for the dinner. Jam reserved a table for us in this restuarant, Crocodile Grill yata. Hmmm, who were there ba? Jam, Jo, Cams, Kami, Con, Kay, Rhea, Mara, Erik, Paolo and of course, si Vina. haha Grabe, it has really been a while! So of course, we talked about work. Given that only Mara and Paolo are currently employed, we talked about the lack of work actually. haha Grabe, as in it felt so comforting that I'm not the only one that was stressed from all this job hunting. haha It turns out, birthday pala ni Cams this saturday, so we bought her a cake (we, meaning Mara and Jam, i think. haha) And then, Cams kept on going to the CR. It turns out she already paid for the bill! O di ba, sushal! haha Happy Birthday Cams! haha In fairness, the food just kept on coming. Ang galing umorder ni Jo! haha Imagine, two platters of crispy pata, and a whole lot more. My fat cells were screaming for joy! And then, Vina, Con, Kay and I had to go home na rin while they went on to watch Iron Man. Sayang talaga, dapat I should have watched the movie na din. tsk tsk
The next day, I had to undergo this medical test in Healthway. Thankfully, Jam was there din, so I had someone to talk to. Well, I'm not really scared of hospitals, but I guess, I'm still thankful that a familiar face was there. First up was the general check-up. I had this doctor who specialized in family medicine. But I swear, with her face and flawless skin, she could have passed for a dermatologist. Ayun, so she asked me if I smoked or if I drank. No. No. haha And the next part shall forever be forgotten. haha two words: rectal exam. That totally took me by surprise. And I honestly can't remember what happened. It was all a blur actually. bwahaha And then, I had to go for this blood test. It was the first time I had blood taken out from me. I thought it was going to hurt, pero the nurse was great, I mean she looked harassed, but she was great at getting my blood sample. There wasn't even a mark. galeng! And then, I had to prepare a urine sample. Sayang, I wasn't able to fill up a whole bottle. Pero the nurse said that it was okay. Next up were dental exams and x-rays. Tapos the nurse gave me this cup for my poo specimen. haha She said that I could drop it of anytime. But I didn't want to come back so I went to the CR to do my business. But no, ayaw pa rin. haha felt na felt ng bowels ko ang pressure, and they weren't cooperating! haha So I walked aroun SM, drank water and ate Kettle Corn. And voila! haha Something tells me that this is too much detail... haha Jam also had the same problem. tsk tsk ang hirap mag-poo on demand no! haha
The next day, I had to pass some requirements sa Buendia and then take this exam in the Fort. nakita ko rin pala si Mako and Ilene sa Glorietta. In fairness, parang reunion ng Atenista kanina. I even saw Jedrick kanina. Sosyal yung doors nung company, kasi magsaswipe ka pa nung card, before siya mag open. Quite like what Unilever has. There were two tests, and as usual, downfall ko na naman yung numerical reasoning. And take note, yung calculator na gamit ko, yung pang-tindahan. haha bawal daw kasi yung programmable/scientific calculator, so ayun. And it was multiple choice to the next level. Kasi usually, you have four choices di ba, A B C and D. But no, this one totally blew me away. Baket? well, it had 8 choices. A B C D AB AC AD BC. O di ba? kakabaliw. and if your answer is BC for example, then you'd have to shade both B and C. and take note, BC is a whole different answer from B or C! napagod ako dun. And when the time was up, I still had 5 unanswered items! Good luck talaga. Buti na lang the english part was relatively easier. Haaay, thank god for verbal reasoning.
Pero there's something that happened kanina. haha I was riding the MRT, and as usual I was sitting kasi i rode from the North Avenue Station. And then I think I finally saw my soulmate, talk about making me melt. haha Si, "the one." haha This is sooo un-like me. Pero, felt na felt ko na talaga kanina. haha Sumakay si "the one" sa GMA-Kamuning (artista? haha) and then nakatayo siya kasi super siksikan na rin talaga. Tapos ayun. God, I was so obvious it was pathetic. Nahuli nga ako nakatingin eh (ala Susan Roces, not once but twice!), which means nakatingin din siya sa akin di ba? haha Tapos nagsmile. Tumambling yung sikmura ko. haha Tapos sabi ko sa sarili ko, if "the one" gets off in the same station that I was going to get off, sign na talaga ito. haha So when I got off at Buendia, and "the one" also did, my heart skipped a beat (pronounced as "my heart skipped a bet" tapos ayun, may partition yung exit, one to the west and then one to the east. "the one" went to the west and I went to the east. We went our separate ways. pakshet. I was already running late for this thing. Pota talaga. Bakit ba ako ganito? bakit!? haha
Sabi nga ni Addision from Grey's Anatomy, "Nothing is worse than missing an opportunity that could have changed your life." This was an opportunity definitely missed. "the one" could have been the one who changed my life. "the one" could have been the one that broke my life's monotony. "the one" could have been my new inspiration. But no. I let that all go. crap. haha Pero who the hell looks for love like in the MRT? haha Well, other people have weirder love stories di ba? malay mo. pakshet. haha Naiinis ako. Crap. At nahihiya man ako sabihin, kinilig ako kanina. bwahahahaha. pagbigyan. Minsan lang mangyari sa akin ito. haha
Ayun, back to sanity. I have another trip tomorrow. This time around, I'm south-bound. It looks promising, but the location is just sooo far. Anyway. We'll see. Siguro naman sobra sobra na itong post na ito. haha Ang habaaa na! Ayun, next time ulit!
Sometimes we have to see for ourselves. We have to make our own mistakes. We have to learn our own lessons. Until we finally understand for ourselves... That knowing is better than wondering, that waking is better than sleeping, and even the biggest failure, even the worst, beat the hell out of never trying.
*sigh*
Reading: Blog Roll Hearing: John Meyer - Your Body is a Wonderland Feelin' frustrated.
Grabe, yesterday was such a tiring day. I mean, that's probably why I'm typing this entry the day after, instead of last night. The moment my head hit the soft and warm pillows in my bed, I was off to dreamland.
So, anyway, I woke up extra early for this interview that I had. It was scheduled for 10:30 in the morning, but the company is way way far from my place. Its in friggin' Paranaque. Have I ever been to Paranaque? Well, yes. After all, you can't board an international flight without stepping into Paranaque right? But all those times, my family rode a taxi or hired a car. This time however, it was up to me to commute - a test of my commuting prowess. (prowess daw! haha) I didn't want to be late, so I woke up at around 6:00 and by 6:30, I was walking with my sister to the pedestrian overpass - she's off to another day in school, while I was off to yet another interview.
Ayun, so I rode a jeep to the Quezon Avenue station, and then rode the MRT. For some unknown reason, the train I stepped into had no passengers yet! Could it be that there are no passengers in the North station? Asa ka pa. I think, they purposely did not let passengers in from the North station because if they do that, then puno na yung train right then and there. So anyway, I stepped off in Taft Station and went down to ask for directions as to how to get to Paranaque. It was around 7:30, and everything was going as planned. If there's one thing that I learned over the years, its that things hardly ever go as planned. haha
MISHAP Number One And so I was walking along Baclaran, when I noticed that something was wrong with my shoe. I think it got stuck with this uneven part of the pavement, and the back part ( well, the "heels" ) of my right shoe, sprung open. In fairness, parang nagsasalita talaga yung shoe, and it was wide open! And so, I rushed to the chinese vendors to buy this knock-off of Mighty Bond. It turns out, the container was 90% air, and 10% adhesive. So ayun, sayang yung 10 pesos. I was desperately looking for a shoe repair person, pero wala! I mean, there were tons of vendors selling shoes, but there was no one there repairing shoes! pakshet. I walked around 50 meters more, until I finally found one. It took about 30 minutes to actually let the rugby dry, pound it till it stuck, and ayun, my shoes were back to normal. haha
Can I just say, Baclaran is soo just like Quiapo or Divisoria. Grabe, piracy at its best talaga. Pero, I felt that Baclaran was dirty-er(?) that the other two. Plus, the vendors weren't really that accomodating. haha Ayun, so I asked this MMDA person how to get to blah blah company, tapos he told me to ride this jeep with "Sucat Highway" in its sign board. And of course, sumakay naman ako. I told the driver to drop me off at blah blah company, tapos I paid him twenty pesos. The change? four pesos. That's when I knew I was in for a hell of a long ride. And so, we passed by NAIA, SM Bicutan (i think), and then we drove some more. Until, I saw the company's big sign board. And so, I went off and entered the building.
In fairness, malaki siya. Quite like Unilever - which has its plant and all other business processes in one location. I looked around (of course, usisero ako. haha) Since I had time to spare, I went out muna to look around some more. God! So this was Paranaque, well aside from the airport. I mean, its still part of the NCR di ba? Manila is such a big place! And the people looked different. No offense, but they did look different. Not weird or anything derogatory. But just different.
MISHAP Number Two And so i went back in the main lobby, and went directly to the reception. She was busy, but was kind enough to entertain me. Pero I think she was kinda disappointed when I just asked her where their restrooms were. haha Ayun, she gave me the directions. Tapos the next thing I knew, I was changing from my smart-casual-commuting-wear to my semi-formal-ready-for-interview-wear. haha Then, of course, I had to make sure that I was presentable and all that. Tapos, I heard a person walking towards the CR. Then, the door opened, and lo and behold, it was the secretary with a weird look on her face. I thought she had a message for me or something. And then, she just proceeded to one of the cubicles with this smirk on her face. Then, I looked around. Tapos I rushed to the door, and looked at the sign. And there the sign was:
Pota. OMFG, Kaya pala walang urinals sa loob! And so I packed my bag and rushed to the other restroom. Crap. hahahaha So, of course I composed myself, and went out as if nothing happened. Pero, when I was waiting for the lobby, the receptionist came back. tapos she smiled ulit! Ayun, siyempre natawa din ako.And then she told me that my interviewer was ready for me na daw. And she bid me good luck din. O di ba? Parang nagbonding kami sa CR. bwahahaha
MISHAP Number Three So, it was the usual round of questions. Which I of course answered the best I could. When I went out, I sat down around the lobby and I met this girl who turns out to be an intern there. here's a portion of our conversation:
Aldrich: Ah, so you started just two weeks ago... Intern: Yes, and then, next month, graduate na rin ako. Aldrich: Ah, so Octoberian ka? *long pause* Intern: Hmmm, sa June ako magagraduate actually. Aldrich: Ay, oo nga. *awkward smile*
So, ayun sa logic ko nung time na yon. . . there's January, February, March, April, May, and then October! Great Aldrich. just great. hahaha
Anyway, after that, I dressed up again to my commuting wear, and then i noticed that just beside this company was the bigges Bio-Research branch I've ever seen. And then i remembered a brochure about this somewhere. And I think Justin and I meant to go there in the past, kaso lang we didn't know how to get to Paranaque. And of course, hindi ka na iyon pinalampas! haha And oh my god, it was a big-ass pet shop. I mean, there were rows upon rows of aquariums, tapos may reptile area (eeew.), a kitty and doggie mansion (mansion pa talaga yung tawag), and then there were small ponds for different varities of turtles, koi and carps. it was like a more organized and commercial version of Cartimar! I loooved it. *sigh* I sooo want to go back. Feel ko, di ko pa naikot yung whole place eh. I was hungry na kasi.
Anyway, that's it. I commuted back, and there wasn't really anything eventful about the commute back. It was just so humid, and nobody wants to hear me ranting about the heat again di ba? haha Til' next time! Ciao!
Reading: e-mails. Hearing: Kelly Rowlan - Work Feelin' tired.
I was online yesterday, YM-ing Leo about stuff. And he was curious as to who "the one" is. haha Hay nako Leo, kahit ako, hindi ko rin alam ang name niya. Anyway, ayun. And then he told me how long my entries are, and how boring they seem because of the lack of pictures. At first, I was thinking, "who the hell listens to Leo anyway?" haha (joke lang leo!) Pero seriously, I mean, I know this blog is public and all, but if there are standards that matter in this corner of cyberspace, its going to be my standards, mine and mine alone. Clear? Crystal.
So ayun, I'm happy about today. I mean, God knows how bad things have gotten recently, and yes, that makes all the difference. I mean, good news all around. I even managed to evade a PNP raid in Quiapo. O di ba? talk about luck. *sigh* so this is how it feels.
'Til next time. Ciao! Reading: Silk. Hearing: Silk. Feelin' happy.
I just came back from Robinsons Tandang Sora after buying ice cream for Mama. haha *sigh* It was just about to rain and all I wanted to do was just lie comfortably in my bed and finish reading something. But hell, this day comes around only once a year, so there. By the way, Happy Mother's Day to all the mothers out there.
On my way back, I was riding a jeepney that wasn't really full, there were roughly around 4 of us inside. And then, the covers on the windows were already down since people were already anticipating the rain - it was around 5 pm, yet the sky was sooo dark. So there. And then all of a sudden, there was this hand that came from outside the jeep, and nabbed the phone of this girl who was sitting in front of me. At first, I though she knew the guy and this was all just a joke. But then, as I saw the guy running towards the corner of the street, I knew he had no intentions of giving it back. Crap. And the girl looked like she was traumatized. And all she was able to do was sit there. Crap talaga. This was like what happened to me and my Palm Tungsten. Oh god, I miss Andre. Oh well. It took months before I had enough money to buy it, but just seconds to lose it. haaaay. What goes around comes around. That's all I'm saying.
Anyway, when I came back, Mama and my sister were watching the Buzz, and they were doing this feature on Jericho Rosales. It turns out, he's not together with Heart Evangelista anymore. First, I thought, that's showbiz. I mean, people hook up and people split up as well. But then, I saw from his face how hurt he was. I mean, there were tears, real tears. Well, not the tears that you would force your eyes to make the tears drop. But well, the tears were really falling without any effort, the kind that has its roots from deep, deep inside. Basing from my own experience, those are truly tears from a traumatizing experience, one that breaks you from within.
What, you may ask, makes this break up different? Well, for one thing, they've been together - against all odds - for three years. But it goes beyond that. And from what I understood from all the questions Boy Abunda asked Jericho, it seems that Heart broke off their relationship through text/e-mail. And they supposedly can't talk about it because she's in Dubai. OMFG. What a shitty thing to do. I mean, if you're going to break someone's heart, at least have the guts to do it personally. They've been together for three years, and all he gets for closure is a friggin text or e-mail? I'm not pretending that I'm in-the-know in this particular situation. But I guess, its more of me truly feeling sorry for Jericho. I mean, everyone deserves an explanation. But that doesn't mean that you can skip the personal touch, and simply type your heart out in an e-mail or a text message. ugh. Thats cowardice to the next level. If you were brave enough to take a risk when you started the relationship, at least be brave enough to personally end it, when you feel that its over. Ayun. Anyway, after that, I got frustrated so I went up to my room to browse.
Soon enough, I stumbled upon this site, where you can estimate how much you're worth as a person. This is obviously boredom to the next level. Neglecting any serious repercussions (because this test is just for plain fun), I took the test. haha It turns out, I'm worth - $3,010,870. Any takers? Take the test by clicking the image below:
Anyway, that's it for now!
Reading: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Hearing: Jesse Mccartney - Bleeding Love Feelin' neutral.
I was listening to the radio a few minutes ago, and the DJs were actually talking about this new song of Natasha Beddingfield. I'm not really sure whether its a "new" song, but well, I've heard it before. They also said that she performed the song in American Idol. Damn. I missed her performance!But thanks to the power of youtube, I was able to catch her performance. The video quality is quite grainy, so I guess, I'll just post the high quality music video of her song - "Pocketful of Sunshine."
Simply, she really is a strong singer. I mean, I can't say that she's better than the so-called divas particularly because she sings differently from Mariah or any other singers out there. But I guess, her songs come from a different place, somewhere deeper. I just can't explain it. haha
I don't think a lot of people know this, but I get addicted to different artists. I mean, I had this Leona Lewis phase. And then, this Jordin Sparks phase. And I could remember a The Calling phase. haha But a couple of years ago, I had this Natasha Beddingfield phase with her album: Unwritten! Yup, her song was the background music when Kris Aquino endorsed Pantene. Way back then, their unique selling proposition was that Shampoo can bring back the shine of your hair. These days, its all about less breakage right? haha
Anyway, that's it. I just recieved an e-mail and I finally have some stuff to do. 'Til next time! (^_^)
Do what you want but you're never gonna break me.
Take me away, a secret place
Take me away to better days
I got a pocketful of sunshine
I got a love and I know that its all mine. Hearing: Natasha Bedingfield - Pocketful of Sunshine Watching: Natasha Bedingfield - Pocketful of Sunshine Feelin' comfortable.
Hmmmm, its been a while. I mean, I have not been posting on the daily basis not because i did not have the time. God knows I've had all the time in the world these past few weeks. I haven't really been posting because well, I feel that things in my life have plateaued.
I mean, yes there are things happening, but its just like i feel that these days are like the breath you take before one deep dive into the unknown. Its like the precious few minutes before the start of a race, where everything is about to begin... Simply, I just feel restless. My mind is racing as to where I have to go next. And I guess, that's about it. In the past, i had this idea as to where i was going to go. But now, its like I can go anywhere. And to be honest, that scares the sh*t out of me. But anyway, I've tried to handle it the best I can. Ano pa ba ang magagawa ko? Here's what I've been up to the past few days:
1. interviews, and more interviews. This part is sooo redundant already. So this is how it feels like to be a celebrity with all these people asking lots of stuff about me. nakakapagod ha! hahaha I'll post the weirdest questions that I was asked once all this is over.
2. I finally got a copy of my transcript. After four long years of laboring over countless subjects, all I've got to show are two pages of legal-sized paper. haha Oh well, the big-ass diploma and sun-shaped medal with the eagle compensates for that, I think. haha
3. I requested an endorsement letter from a previous professor of mine. haha I feel that out of all my professors, he was the one who appreciated me the most. haha I'll pick it up from Ateneo on Tuesday. To be honest, I'm excited as to what he has to say about me. haha If its all good, I might even post it here. maybe. or then again, maybe not.
4. Its been raining for the past few days. I sooo love this weather. But its irritating because I just had the car washed, and then it rained again. And when that water dries, it leaves behind dust marks. Crap. haha
5. I think my baby girl, Cielo is in heat. haha Soon enough, there might be a doggie bun in the oven. haha Or maybe not. She seems awfully moody these days, especially when Goblet approaches her. Oh well, love-hate relationship naman talaga sila. And can I just say, its about time they have puppies. There's literally a waiting list. haha
6. I almost drove out of the garage with Mitten still on top of the CRV yesterday! haha He sleeps on top of the CRV kasi, and then, I didn't look if he was on top. Mama came running through the door when she saw Mitten still on top of the CRV! haha and when I came to get him , the damn cat was still asleep! haha talk about sweet dreams. haha
7. My schedule for next week is just sooo damn crazy. I mean, I've packed Monday and Tuesday to the brim (ala selecta! haha). Plus, its Mama's birthday on Tuesday. *sigh* kainan na naman yan.
8. Loreal Philippines finally contacted us for the awarding of the Loreal Estrat Business Game! yay! And its set for this Tuesday. I'll bring my camera para naman dumami yung pictures ko sa Multiply. haha My oh my! I'm soooo looking forward to what they have in store for us. And I think my high school kabarkada - Michael (FMS) is the one organizing the event. o di ba!? haha sushal!
9. I miss having my pond. I had to give it to Justin so that I could park the CRV in our "garage." So now, I don't even have an aquarium. And I'm not even feeling bad that I devoted so much of my money to that pond. I just want a pond again. =(
10. Can I just say, to enjoy being a bum is a privilege. haha Its like being crazy. Only the rich can afford to be crazy, depressed or mentally unstable. My funds are dwindling. haha And I don't even go out much. Crap.
Ayun. I guess that's it for now. Ciao!
Reading: Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix Hearing: Jesse Mccartney - Best Day of My Life Feelin' sleepy
David vs. David - Fearless Forecast Posted at 09:22 PM
Well, I just watched the battle between David Cook and David Archuleta. And despite my obvious bias for the former, I think David Archuleta outperformed David Cook tonight. I was really looking forward to what David Cook had in store for tonight. Sadly, towards the end of his third song, I was *still* waiting.
Crap. I sooo want David Cook to win. He's got the makings of a rock superstar. Only one with such potential can perform Mariah's classic song "Always Be My Baby" that continuously is being played across Philippine airwaves. But this time, I guess, he showed a different side of himself. Maybe it'll take time for people to appreciate this side. Who knows, maybe people will appreciate his performance and we'll have the biggest upset in all of American Idol Finals history. But then again, maybe not. Its still up to the people to vote. But all biases aside, I'm betting that Archuleta has it in the bag. Damn.
But in David Cook's defense, since when did winning the American Idol become a prerequisite to becoming a star? Did winning American Idol ever secure a career in the music industry? Take a look at the past winners. Its a hell of a lot more complicated than that. Cook's image is more than marketable, and he's got (in my opinion, more) potential. And though I think some people would hate me for saying this, I have this sinking feeling that Archuleta's appeal has an expiration date, a fleeting fad (he's bound to grow up sooner or later, the Brady Bunch did, and so will he.). *sigh* can you already sense the bitterness?
Anyway, I'll just have to wait and see, just like the rest of the world. Meanwhile, some people in some corner of the world are making money, lots of it. haha Reading: Blog Roll Hearing: David Cook - Always Be My Baby Feelin' frustrated.
What-if and what-could-have-been Posted at 11:33 PM
To be honest, I don't think I'm a sensitive person. Some would even say that I can be dense sometimes. And I can't help but agree.
I could have told you how I felt about you. But I didn't, even if I had the chance. Because I treasured us being friends. I didn't want to lose another friend. Not because of this. Not all over again.
Looking back at the past and the signs, I doubt you felt the same way. Or then again maybe not. I'm dense that way. I finally feel that I can tell you. But how? Now that its been a while. Yes, a while since you walked out of my life.
But I can't help but wonder. What if? What could have been? Reading: Palancas Hearing: Mariah Carey - Bye Bye Feelin' reminiscent.
For some reason, the results are out. haha Here I was thinking that since it was supposed to be broadcasted "Live" through Star World, Filipinos like me would see the big reveal together with the rest of the world. But heck, I'm too happy to worry myself about time zone differences.
The votes are in, and with a margin of 12 million votes, David Cook is the new American Idol. I guess Americans were bound to choose the right candidate some time. haha Yes, the world isn't fair. But heck, sometimes, there's justice in the world.
PS I was browsing through some of the news articles, and I came accross this article that described David Archuleta as a " human Bambi, immune to cynicism and open to faith." haha WTF!? haha Anyway, I'm still going to be watching the results show later. haha I want to see it through my very own eyes. (^_^)
Reading: Blog Roll Hearing: Jordin Sparks - Tattoo Feelin' thankful.
Nagdadrive ako kanina sa may Katipunan, pabalik na ng bahay. As usual, traffic na naman, lalo na dun sa area sa harap ng MWSS. Wala naman akong katabi kanina, tapos for some reason, naka-off yung radio. Tahimik, tapos umuulan pa. So ano ang ginawa ko? haha napaisip ng mga bagay-bagay. Ayun. Nadagdagan na naman ang drama sa buhay ko. haha
Sa totoo lang, madami-dami din akong problema. Kaso lang, sa mga panahon ngayon, isa lang naman ang problemang hinaharap ko - yung problemang nagpatalbog ng iba ko pang problema. Hanggang ngayon kasi, wala pa rin akong trabaho. Milyonaryo na siguro ako pag meron akong piso sa bawat taong nagsasabing, "Ha!? Ikaw!? Wala ka pa ring trabaho?" Oo. wala pa rin akong trabaho.
Maraming nagtataka kung bakit ganon. Sa totoo lang, isa na ako dun. haha Meron ngang nakarating sa akin eh. Apparently, my being unemployed is being used against me. haha ewan ko lang ha.
So why exactly is Aldrich still unemployed!?
1.) Goodness, its certainly not because of the lack of offers. 2.) I don't want to work just to say that I already have work. (that's just shallow.) 3.) I don't want to force myself to work because all of my friends have already started. (even shallower) 4.) My family's not exactly filthy rich, but no one's depending on me to be the breadwinner. So there's no pressure there. 5.) I don't want to commit to a company and then change my mind weeks after, realizing that the job wasn't for me.
Ayun,so, I guess, what I'm driving at is the fact that I want my first job to be the job. I don't want to choose a job because its the one with the most money, or the one that's most convenient, or that it was the first one that offered, or that its the one with a good name. I want my job to be the first job, the job that would allow me to grow professionally and personally (haha, parang interview.) I'm looking for the one that would make me appreciate who I am, flaws and all. One that would release me from my inhibitions, one that would allow me to reach my potential. Yes, I'm looking for the right fit. I'm not looking for just any job. I'm looking for THE job. Pang long run na talaga ito! haha
So, now you know why I'm still unemployed. And if you read between the lines well, you probably have an idea why I've been single for almost two years now. haha (!) Eh ikaw? Bakit ka unemployed? Or if you are employed, are you sure its THE job for you?
Reading: Blog Roll Hearing: Janet Jackson - Someone to Call My Lover Feelin' insightful.
Well, not a lot of things happened today. But somehow, I feel happy today. I just played Final Fantasy 12 the whole morning. If there ever was a game that just continues to exceed by expectations, its this friggin' game. haha I mean, there's just so much in store for the player - hours and hours of brilliant storytelling and over-the-edge graphics. And I'm not yet even done with it yet. I mean, I still have a lot of optional quests to do before the ending.
So anyway, after that, family trip na naman. Its quickly becoming a tradition - Sunday outings. haha Today, well, we went to church. O di ba, that is certainly something blogworthy. At least for my blog, it is. And then after that, we went to this family friend to have them make my sister's uniform. Ang ganda ng uniform niya. haha Plus, she won't have to worry about what she's going to wear to school. di ba?
Tapos, on our way to the CRV, mama and I had this weird conversation:
Mama: Alam mo... Aldrich: Ano yun, ma? Mama: Ang landi ng kotse mo. Aldrich: *wide grin*
In fairness, nabaliw ako. Halos tumambling ang sikmura ko. haha Hindi ko alam, nasa vocabulary pala ni mama ang "malandi." haha Pero alam mo, malandi talaga ang aking CRV. haha Well, of course, thats me being biased. haha!
And then we went to SM Megamall. haha Once again, I endangered the lives of the people driving in EDSA. haha This time, I took the right exit to Rosario, so i didn't have to take the long U-turn near the Buendia MRT station. Though, I still think there are some mistakes worth making. haha Kahit magastos sa gas. And, did I mention how expensive gas is!? I mean, I started driving just this January and gas prices were roughly Php45 per liter. Now its friggin' Php52 per liter. OMG. haha Tapos, we went around, bought some stuff. Can I just say, parking in SM Megamall on Sundays is hell! Hell I tell you !!! Oh well. And then we went back home na.
My sister and I had this craving for isaw. So after parking the car, we went to this isaw stand near our house. In all fairness, suki na kaming dalawa. haha And for the first time ever, we went to the store together. Usually kasi, I go there on my way home. And my sister does the same. But the shop owner, Ate Gretchen, knows that she's my sister. Anyway, while waiting for the isaw to transform into all its cooked isaw-y goodness.. we had this conversation:
Ate Gretchen: So, sino mas matanda sa inyo. Aldrich: LOL Stemely: Sino sa palagay mo ate? [with confidence] Ate Gretchen: *points at my sister* ikaw. Aldrich: LOL ulit. haha
By the way, my sister is two years younger than me. haha ayun. hanggang ngayon, can't let go pa rin ang aking sis. What can I say, the best things in life are free. Yep, minsan, hindi na kailangan ng pera para maging masaya. Reading: Blog Roll Hearing: Leona Lewis - Better in Time Feelin' happy.
Grabe, ang daming nangyayari these days. And I just can't find it in myself to type them all down here. I think, I've had so much time recently to type down lots and lots of detail. But now, I mean, there's literally a lot of things going on and I can't seem to know where to start. But I'm just too tired to narrate all of them here.
Anyway, I just want to point out two things.
First of which is that I appreciate everything that I am experiencing. I mean, these days are just full of new experiences - of meeting new people and just making sure that I don't decompose at home. haha Here's to meeting new friends and new experiences! (^_^)
Secondly, something great happened earlier. I mean, there was one company that truly appreciated me - one that really did make me feel special. I guess, it just makes me think that although much of my experiences in job hunting has been frustrating, there are just fleeting moments that make me realize how much talent (talent daw o! haha) and potential I have. And I say that with all humility. Its just sometimes, I forget. And it just makes me appreciate the few times that people remind me.
But if there's one thing that I regret today, its just that other people had to fade in order for me to shine. *sigh* For me, the best situation is of course a win-win situation. And I strive for that when I work with other people. Unfortunately, its a dog-eat-dog world in the realm of the unemployed - but at the end of the day, I still want world peace and prosperity for all. In the end, ang masasabi ko lang, "I'm not feeling any pressure right now." bwahahaha Reading: Wikipedia Articles. Hearing: Leona Lewis - Bleeding Love Feelin' appreciated.
I was clicking random topics in wikipedia a few moments ago (yes, I'm that bored today), and then I stumbled upon this amazing fact:
Did you know what the highest-rating news segment in the history of Philippine newscast is?
Yes, as the title of this entry suggests, it involves Kris Aquino. And I personally watched this news segment - of her telling the whole nation about how her ex - Joey Marquez (how they got together in the first place is beyond me, Joey is just sooo ewww.) pointed a gun at her face, and gave her a venereal disease, Herpes, if i'm not mistaken. Apparently, even those in the workplaces paused from their work to hear Kris' story. O di ba!? Mga chismoso at chismosa!!! haha
Now, several years later, her star is still shining brightly. Plus, she even had more scandals after this. And yet, its only in the Philippines where you tell the whole nation that you have an STD, and years after, still proudly endorse feminine hygiene wash products (Gynepro anyone!?). haha If that doesn't say star power, then I don't know what does. haha
Anyway, back to boredom... Ciao! Reading: Yahoo! Mail Hearing: Jesse Mccartney - Bleeding Love Feelin' amazed.
Yep, I know its highly unusual for me to post several entries all in one day... but this one is news-worthy. haha Well, when I got tired of browsing through wikipedia (after all, my brain has its limits), I went to billboard.com next. And there I was surprised (well, not really) to see David Cook. He just released 11 songs (i think) while Archuleta released 3, if I'm not mistaken. And in all fairness, to say that David Cook penetrated the Billboard Charts is indeed an understatement. Here's why:
Number 03 - The Time of My Life Number 15 - Dream Big Number 22 - I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For Number 28 - The World I Know Number 42 - I Don't Want To Miss a Thing Number 47 - Billie Jean
My oh my, 6 songs all in the top 50! haha And for Archuleta fans, he's got one in at number 36 with Imagine. Anyway, there. haha He's definitely on a roll - and the number one is surely in his future. Look out Li'l Wayne. haha
By the way, does anybody know where I could get the studio version of Dream Big!? I have been searching for it for the last 30 minutes and all I could find are recordings of that song when David Cook sang it in the AI finals. tsk tsk Help please... (^_^) Reading: Blog Roll Hearing: David Cook - Time of My Life Feelin' sleepy
tapos ayun, may partition yung exit, one to the west and then one to the east. "the one" went to the west and I went to the east. We went our separate ways. pakshet. I was already running late for this thing. Pota talaga. Bakit ba ako ganito? bakit!? haha
