Leave of Absence

Wala ako sa mood mag sulat lately(yes naka leave pa rin ang utak ko) dahil sa tambak na trabaho (oo busy talaga ako ngayon without any pretension). Pero I still managed to do some googling sa internet to ease the pressure tsaka yung inis dahil sa mga data na hindi ko alam kung paano ko makukumpleto to present a decent report come 2nd week of August.

Anyway, I saved some of the nice and funny lines and quotes I got from some “suking” websites.

Btw, UP made some series of back to back topping sa iba’t ibang board exams. Congrats UP fellows! UP really, really rocks! Anywhere and everywhere!

Eto na po:

Life is like pag-ihi sa pader, there's no turning back.

The more wisdom you obtain, the more you shut your mouth. This is because the more that you learn, the more you realize that there are even more things that you do not know. The true mark of an idiot is a loudmouth; the true mark of a wise man is humility.

Kapatid ng sinungaling ang magnanakaw. Ergo, GMA's marriage to Mike Arroyo is null and void ab initio.

If everyone does his best, and Jamby Madrigal stops being a senator, yayaman ang bansa natin.

The measure of a man is how many doors he has opened to other people, especially to those he doesn't know.

As a lover you should be like glucose.... simple but sweet.

Hindi ako naniniwala sa tagapaglikha, pero naniniwala ako sa mangagawa.

Atheist ako, pero pag nasa bahay, nagro rosary kami ng Nanay ko, eh kung magalit sa kin yun.

Raging hormones sizzle like... fat.

That is the way it is with a wound. The wound begins to close in on itself, to protect what is hurting so much. And once it is closed, you no longer see what is underneath, what started the pain.

Try everything once except incest.

Hoy girls, wag kayong kukuha ng boyfriend dito sa UP. Pare-parehas tayong mahirap dito. Kumuha kayo ng mayaman. 80% of the child's intelligence comes from the Mother naman eh. Kayo guys, wag kayo kukuha ng bobong babae. Kahit matalino kayo, magiging bobo anak niyo.

Domestication of the human male is one of the greatest achievement of the human race.

You are the best bad influence EVER.

Masarap magmahal kapag ang minamahal mo ay masarap.

Ang init init sa room na to ngayon! nagkaron pa ng aircon hindi naman lumalamig! and it's not even my presence that's causing the heat!

"hijo san ka ba nangga-galing?"
"quiapo po."
"quiapo lang pala eh. ako nga sa impyerno pa galing."

Ladies, don't marry somebody from Las Pinas because they have bamboo organs!!

Q: What's the similarity between tofu and a vibrator?
A: They're both meat substitutes.

If you can read this - Thank a teacher.

Catherine Loria is Grand Winner in the 2008 World Championships of Performing Arts (WCOPA)

The Philippines is on top of the world of performing arts for the third time! Our very own Catherine Loria was declared Grand Champion Performer of the World in the recently concluded “Talent Olympics” in Hollywood.

13-year-old Catherine Loria, from Tiaong, Quezon Province, was proclaimed Grand Champion Performer of the World, a major feat which was won by Jed Madela in 2005 and Aria Clemente in 2007. She sang Yolanda Adam’s version of “I Believe I Can Fly” at the finals. She bested fellow junior contestants Tippy dos Santos and Rachel Razon, junior vocalists also from the Philippines, Courtney Mary Janssen from New Zealand, and Oleksandr Chernenko from Ukraine.

On the other hand, Andrew Clarke from Jamaica was proclaimed Grand Champion Performer of the World in the senior edition beating our very own Marielle Corpuz.

More than 40 countries participated in the annual event which is patterned after the Olympics.
The national directors for Team Philippines this year are Carlo Orosa and Oliver Oliveros.

Source: Starmometer.com
Photo Credits: Oliver Oliveros via PEP
Video Link: Catherine Loria - When You Believe - WCOPA 2008

Classic Pick-up Lines

Wala kong ma blog (naka LOA ang utak ko lately) kaya eto na lang, older post from my multiply.

Sweet, baduy, corny but who knows it might work.

1. Minamalat na naman ang puso ko..pano kasi, laging sinisigaw pangalan mo
2. Ikaw ba may-ari ng Crayola? ikaw kasi nagbibigay ng kulay sa buhay ko
3. Can i take your picture? cause i want to show Santa exactly what i want for christmas
4. Exam ka ba? gustong gusto na kasi kitang i-take home
5. Lecture mo ba ako?? lab kasi kita
6. Centrum ka ba?kasi you make my life complete
7. Miss pwede ba kita maging driver? para ikaw na magpapatakbo ng buhay ko
8. Mahilig ka ba sa asukal? ang tamis kasi ng mga ngiti mo
9. Pinaglihi ka ba sa keyboard?kasi type kita
10. Ibibili kita ng salbabida kasi malulunod ka sa pagmamahal ko
11. Pwede ba kitang maging sidecar? single kasi ako
12.Me lisensya ka ba? cause you're driving me crazy
13. May kilala ka bang gumagawa ng relo? sira ata relo ko eh pag ikaw kasi kasama ko, humihinto ang oras ko
14. Grabe nakakatawa yung mga pick-up lines no? May alam ka pa bang iba? Wala na akong maisip eh cause all i ever think of is you
15. I'm a bee can you be my honey?
16. Am i a bad shooter? cause i keep on missing you
17. Naniniwala ka ba sa love at first sight? O gusto mong dumaan ulit ako?
18. Mabilis ka siguro sa mga puzzle no? kasi kakasimula pa lang ng araw ko, pero nabuo mo na agad
19. Excuse me.. Are you a dictionary? because you give meaning to my life
20. Bangin ka ba?nahuhulog kasi ako sa'yo
21. Pustiso ka ba? kasi can't smile without you
22. Pagod na pagod ka na no? maghapon at magdamag kana kasing tumatakbo sa isip ko
23. Me butas ba puso mo?kasi natrap na ako sa loob, can't find my way out
24. Anung height mo hmm? pano ka nagkasya sa loob ng puso ko
25. Hey, did you fart? coz you blew me away
26. Sana "T" na lang ako para i'm always next to "U"
27. Are you Jamaican? cause Ja-maican me crazy
28. Ako ay isang exam kaya sagutin mo na ako
29. Alarm clock ka ba? kasi ginising mo puso ko

My Favorite Pinoy Food (Ikalawang Lamon!)

Ang pagpapatuloy…

Kung taga Pasig ka, malamang familiar ka sa ibang mga kainan na babanggitin ko kasi. Tatak Pasig tong mga food na to na miss na miss ko na rin. Hindi ko alam kung anong uunahin kong kainin pag uwi ko. Free advertisement na rin to para sa kanila.

Ado’s Pancit sa may Bambang (see picture of pancit serving above). They make the best pancit bihon syempre. Tsaka yung famous loming gawi nila. Bambang actually hosts small time businesses of “short order pancit”. Ang nagpapasarap is yung chicharon na hindi ko alam pano nila ginagawa.

Alex’s Lugaw. Alex’s Lugawan serves the best lugaw and tokwa’t baboy still. Sa may San Nicolas yan. I frequent the place lalo na sa hapon para mag merienda.

Tapsilog sa Palatiw. The famous Tapsi sa Palatiw. Sarap ng mga “silog” menus nila. May free pang sabaw. May branches na sila sa Antipolo(?) and Maybunga aside from the original one sa Palatiw.

Dati meron ako kinakainan dun sa may PCC. Jester name nung fastfood kaso wala na cya ngayun. Sarap ng breaded porkchop dun na may kasamang coleslaw.

Yung puto at laksa kay manang na nagtitinda dun sa may kapasigan sa gilid ng mercury drug store. Sobrang sarap ng inutak!

The famous dimasalang bakery sa Kapasigan. The best braso de Mercedes and pambonete. Sama na rin yung macaroons and pineapple upsidedown cake.

Syempre, my favorite, the Cristobal sisters. Ka Priscilla sa umaga with her yummy sopas and champorado. Ka Lily sa tanghali at hapon with her lugaw, palabok and lumpiang sariwa and pritong lumpiang toge. Tas sa gabi naman cooked food from Ka Jovet. Mouth watering ulams.

Yung barbeque sa kapasigan. Tsaka yung sauce nila na sarap na sarap din ako.

The street food sa may simbahan. Mani, kornik, chicharong balat ng manok, kwek-kwek, itlog pugo, squid balls, kikiam.

Dirty ice cream sa Sumilang! Yum!

Eto naman yung mga fastfood na madalas kong kinakainan:

Bago ako umalis ng Pinas, laman ako lagi ng Cavana, yung sa megamall. Ewan ko parang na love at first sight ako dun sa fastfood nay un. Hindi naman ako nagkamali kasi sasarap ng food nila tsaka yun lemongrass juice nila. Meron din silang juice na kulay light blue (oha!) nakalimutan ko na name.

Yung authentic La Paz Batchoy dun sa food court ng megamall. Ilonggo Grill ata yun, nakalimutan ko na.

Razon’s para sa best halo-halo and pancit luglog. Ang kinakainan ko yung nasa may Ortigas Avenue.Ewan ko kung buhay pa yun ngayon.

Yellow Cab. Syempre Charlie Chan (ka ano ano kaya nya si Mang Jackie Chan?) Pasta!

El Polo Loco chicken, tortilla bread and Spanish rice.

Sbarro’s Zitti and Stuffed Pizza. Great big servings.

Ang walang kamatayan ng burger at palabok ng jollibee na favorite din ni coldman at ng lola ko. Syempre value meal number one-ang paborito ng lahat!

Kenny Roger’s famous chicken, cheese macaroni and buttered mushroom. Staple food ng mga UPeeps pag get together.Hehehe

Ang famous UP fastfood – Rodic’s Tapsi, BBQ at munggo ng beachouse. Chocolate Kiss. Mang Jimmy’s, Aristocart at kung ano ano pang available sa UP.

Dinuguan at Puto ng Goldilocks. Tsaka yung fresh lumpiang ubod.

Ang congee ng chowking, bola-bola and asado siopao, siomai at pancit canton.

Yung Chinese resto sa basement ng mega, building Ba. Nakalimutan ko na name (memory gap). Basta masarap braised beef nila tsaka fried rice.

Ang big breakfast ng McDo, French fries, sundae, hush brown, longganisa meal at ang pancake with super daming syrup.

Mushroom burger sa tagaytay o yung sa may Quezon Avenue!

KFC’s frech fries, still the best!

Yung sizzling sa mga food courts ng mall.

Loming batangas dun sa isang carinderia sa may Sto. Tomas Batangas.

Empanada, okoy at tupig ng Vigan! Sama mo na yung favorite ko na ilocano style dinuguan, igado at bagnet. Ayoko ng longganisang vigan-maalat. Mas masarap pa rin yung longganisa sa palengke na kulay red na matataba tas puros taba ang laman-kolesterol!

Eat all you can sa kamayan at dad’s. Last na kumain ako parang three weeks ata akong hindi makatayo sa sobrang kabusugan-kasibaan kase!

China Bowl ba yun? Yung sa may megastrip ng megamall? Basta yung Chinese menu nila.

Iba talaga sa Pinas. Lahat meron. Lahat swak sa panlasang pinoy!

PS: No foods were harmed during the making of this blog.

My Favorite Pinoy Food

Miss na miss ko na ang mga pinoy food na kinakain ko sa Pinas. May miss factor pala pag hindi mo na nakakain yung mga pagkain sa lagi mong nakakain (at yung mga pagkaing hindi mo kinakain sa Pinas, eg: isda, gulay). Nag cha chat kami ng isang cyberfriend na biglang nauwi sa usapang pinoy food.Although nakakapag luto naman ng ibang pinoy food dito, iba pa rin yung authentic.Dito kasi may certain taste of artificiality kasi ready mix sauces ang available, hindi tulad sa pinas na genuine na genuine ang pagkakaluto (with love). Eto mga na mi miss ko na dyan sa Pinas:

Kare-kare ng mommy ko. Nothing compares. Mom still makes the uber sarap kare-kare for me and the bagoong, yummy. Eto ang first food request ko pag nagbakasyon ako.

Sinigang ng lola ko. Dad’s mom still makes the most mouth watering sinigang for me. Pag nag sinigang si lola hindi pwedeng hindi ako papadalhan.

Tinolang isda. Isa pa ting favorite ko. Ewan ko kung alam nyo to. Eto yung labahita na binabad sa isang trak na asin. Parang daing style tas lalagyan ng sabaw at upo. Super sarap.Syempre especialty ulit ng mommy ko.

Isa pang mom’s dish. Her relyenong bangus. Nung nasa pinas ako bihira lang cya magluto nito kasi mabusisi daw ang preparation. Although pag nag request ako niluluto naman nya (talk about being the favorite son, hehe).

Mom’s Sinigang na Labahita.Favorite fish ko ang labahita kasi hindi matinik tsaka masarap yung lasa, hindi malansa. Kahit prito lang with kamatis ok na ako dun.

Lola’s Utak ng Baka na may Sotanghon. Another weird recipe para sa iba. Utak ng baka tas lalagyan ng sabaw, luya at sotanghon. Sobrang sawang sawa ang daddy ko dito kasi dati pa nya to nakakain, simula nung bata pa sila.

Lola’s Dinguan. Yummy. Lagi cyang nag luluto nito pag araw ng mga patay na dinadala nya sa sementery, pag kain namin.

Lola’s Nilagang Pata ng Baboy. Ibang iba sa mga nilagang nakakain ko. Basta may iba tsaka yung vegetables na halo, tamang tama ang luto. Tas sobrang tender pa nung pata di na kailangang hiwain.

Ate Trish’s Salpicao. Natutuhan nya from a friend. Tender beef na super daming olive oil.

My kuya Dario’s inihaw na liempo. Limang taon ata binabad sa secret BBQ marinade bago inihaw. Sobrang linamnam.

Leroy’s blueberry cheese cake. Natawa ako when he first made this. Kaming dalawa lang kumain kasi ayaw ng mga kapatid ko at parents ko. Kahit yung aso ni Leroy hindi kinain. Masarap naman cya (lahat naman masarap saken) kahit hindi ganun ka firm yung pagkakagawa. Pero dahil sa determination. Leroy makes the best blueberry cheese cake (talk about siblingship).

Marami rin akong new recipes na natutunan abroad. Papatikimin ko rin sila nung mga recipes ko gaya ng Hickory BBQued Spareribs, Beef/Chicken Terriyaki, yung perfected (harharhar) recipe ko of Pasta with White Sauce and my Hot Chicken Salad recipe.

Sa susunod yung mga pagkain na sikat sa Pasig at mga favorite fastfood and resto.

Back on track!

I feel better today. Magaling na magaling na ko.Yey!

Pinagalitan ako ng mommy ko dahil hindi ko sinabi sa kanya na nagkasakit ako. My dad told my mom. Sermon con todo ang ending.

Had nice chitchats with few good friends and family. Eto ata nagagawa ng may sakit. Nagiging mabait at naaalalang i-message yung mga taong malalapit sa kanya.

Indeed, its nice to know na andyan sila kahit minsan ko lang sila maalala.

Dad called me last Saturday night. Tyempong may sakit ako. I told him syempre. Naawa naman daddy ko to the point of telling me to go home. Inulit pa nya na hindi ko naman kailangan mag abroad at kinunsensya ako tungkol sa anak ko. Daddy talaga.

Nag chat din kami ng brother kong si Leroy last Sunday. Update lang of what’s happening sa aming dalawa and the people around us. Chismis kung baga, na lagi naming ginagawa. Everything’s set for his wedding sa December. Sa wakas, lalagay na sa tahimik ang aking idol at bibigyan na nya ng apo ang parents ko. Natuwa ako sa dami ng napag kwentuhan naming from the non-sense ones to the more serious ones. I really miss those bonding moments with my kuya Leroy. I hope to do it pag uwi ko over some cold beers.

My son syempre. Grown-up na si little Cairo. Binata na anak ko.Yaikes! Dami ko ng na miss na moments sa kanya. Don’t worry son, daddy will be home sooner and sana for good. Sana.

Naka chat ko din si Mang Kerwin. My demi-brother and lifelong boy bestfriend. Kakasal din cya sa December with my demi-sister and lifelong girl bestfriend. As always wala pa rin nagbago. Natuwa ako kasi parang kahapon lang kami huling nag usap. Iba talaga pag tunay na kaibigan. Kahit physically absent andun pa rin yung puso at yung friendship connection.

Sa email and yahoogroups ko naman nakakausap ang aking mga college kada. The UPeeps! Busy karamihan sa pagpapayaman pero once in a while pag petiks moment nakukuha pa rin akong kamustahin. Ron and Ivy, thanks sa araw araw na email and yahoo group session. Halatang kayong dalawa lang walang ginagawa lagi sa work.Hehehe. Pretty ladies, kelan kayo mag-aasawa? I miss the baywalk moments! Jet, finally nagkausap din tayo. Hirap mo hagilapin. I’m happy sa blooming lovelife. Finally, this is it! Dy, sa wakas, after 36 years, 8 months and 22 days, naka chat din kita. Masyado ka ng mayaman para magpayaman pa. I enjoyed the chat cum bashing moments kanina. I miss the good old UP days and yung hunting trip natin sa madidilim na parte ng UP.Harharhar!

Lastly, sa highschool tropa. Konti na lang active kasi either career of family mode na ang priority. Atleast once in a while may balita pa rin. Miss ko na yung nabuwag na Friday night session natin sa Eastwood. Boys, isang payo lang: Family planning!!! Mag control kayo mga loko! Ayoko ng maging ninong sa mga anak nyo!Joke!

I hope to catch the other people I’ve wanted to talk to this coming weekend. Magparamdam kayo!

Galing to sa movie na Mulan na pinanood ko kagabi: “When one’s heart is overfilled with joy, some may spill in the eyes”.

Sick-ology

Medyo wala ako sa mood today. I got sick yesterday, terrible colds. Naka limang balde ata ako ng sipon at 3 kahon ng tissue papers. Nag general cleaning kasi ako nung Friday, mga tatlong plastic ng alikabok ata nasinghot ko kaya ang ending ayun kinabukasan. Hatching ng hatching!

I’m feeling better now although may sipon pa rin ako. Thanks to the caramel chai latte na ininom ko kagabi and neozep tablet.

Ang hirap talaga magkasakit especially pag nasa ibang bansa ka. Walang mag aalaga sa iyo. Di ka pwedeng humiga lang at mag antay ng mainit sa sabaw na umuusok pa. Ikaw bahala sa sarili mo kaya kahit may sakit tuloy pa rin ang daily routine. Pumasok pa rin ako (thank God, walang masyadong work and my boss didn’t pester me). I even managed na pumunta sa grocery at isang shoe shop to look for sneakers (snickers?). Bibilin ko sana yung Replay snickers (sneakers?) na nakita kong sale (Php 915 lang) kaso nagdalawang isip ako kasi medyo luma na yung stock (madumi na) tsaka size 10 sakto lang ang size (10 and ½ or 11 paa ko), so I ended up walking out of the shop empty handed. I then went to the grocery to look for cabbage and patis. Nagluto ako ng nilagang baka kagabi. Tas yun nakita ko yung lipton chai latte, tatanong ko lang sana price kasi baka mahal dahil bagong product (kuripot talaga!). Binili ko na rin kasi nasa Php 15 lang naman pag ni convert sa peso.

After ko magluto kumain na rin ako tas before sleeping nag caramel chai latte ako. Sarap nya. Try nyo.

Sana bukas magaling na magaling na ako.

Young Blood - Quiapo Vendors

YoungbloodQuiapo vendors
By Consuelo Maria G. Lucero

Philippine Daily Inquirer

First Posted 01:19:00 07/03/2008

The day after “Ka Bel” died, my father sent me an email urging me to go to the wake for the party-list representative. He said Crispin Beltran was once his boss and one whom he deeply respected, and he felt it was his filial obligation to offer flowers and prayers at his wake. But since he was away in Maastricht, the Netherlands, on a scholarship, he asked me to go his place.

I’m no leftist; I’m not even politically inclined, as some of my schoolmates have probably noted. So when I put on my denim pants and rubber shoes to go to Manila’s Quiapo district to buy some flowers, I thought that I was merely doing what my father had asked me to do: to offer flowers and prayers for a dead man.

When I got to Quiapo, I searched the flower vendors at the side of the church, trying to imagine what colors my father would have wanted. I stopped at a nondescript stall with green, maroon and pink flowers, not just the usual yellow and white. The vendor told the white or yellow mums would cost P100, but if I picked assorted colors it would cost me P150.

I tried to bargain, and she brought down the price of the latter to P140.

I asked if the funeral wreath came with ribbons. “Extra P20 kung may ribbon,” she said.
I did not bother to haggle anymore. Then I handed her a piece of paper on which I had copied the epitaph my father wrote: “Pagpugay sa dakilang anak ng uring manggagawa, Ka Bel; Ang buhay at alaala mo’y titis ng pag-asa sa pakikibaka ng uri. — Kas. George.”

The vendor was shocked by the long message. I figured that she was used to writing only “Condolence and sympathy” on the ribbon. But she talked so loud that the other vendors came over.

“Santissima! Kay Ka Bel mo ba ibibigay?” a vendor of Lego-like toys asked.
I nodded and smiled.

“Diyos ko, Mare, huwag mo na singilin!” she told the flower vendor. “Kay Ka Bel naman pala eh. Kapatid natin iyon sa pakikibaka.”

They called their friends, who were selling trinkets worth P10 or less. One of them offered to do the writing, declaring his handwriting was the best. Others shared their opinions about Ka Bel. Some told the flower vendor to add more flowers on the wreath.

“Nakakasama kasi namin sa rally si Ka Bel,” the friendly toy vendor explained.
“Oo, at wala siyang paki kahit mga mahihirap kami,” the man with the nice handwriting chimed in.

Some asked me if I was going alone, or if I was with a leftist group. I politely told them that I was going on behalf of my school organization.

When they asked me what school I attended, someone said, “Mabuting may mga matatalino pa ring sumusuporta sa mga mahihirap.” I did have the courage to tell them I was no leftist.

Finally they finished the wreath, beautifully done. The flower vendor told me that with all the additions, the wreath was now worth more than P200, but she was giving it to me for free as her own offering for Ka Bel. A vendor of plastic bags gave me a big red-and-white plastic free of charge. And while I was preparing to leave, a cigarette vendor came with a small bouquet of white mums and asked me to bring them to their champion. Then they all bade me a cheery goodbye, while asking me to extend their condolences to Ka Bel’s family. I rode the jeepney to Taft Avenue with a heart that was never more deeply touched.

Had my father been here, he would have gone every day to the wake. He would have go to Ka Bel’s funeral, marching with his buddies in the labor group Kilusang Mayo Uno, sharing pictures and stories of Ka Bel and the KMU. He probably would not have thought of asking me to go with him, knowing that I am not interested in rallies and leftist organizations.

But maybe it was a good thing that he was away and had to ask me to do this. I never would have come so close to the poor and neither would have known how deeply they felt about Ka Bel, their “brother in the struggle” against poverty.

Consuelo Maria G. Lucero, 17, is a third-year Bachelor of Arts in Comparative Literature student at the University of the Philippines in Diliman, Quezon City.