Memory Lane

Philippines summer 2009, my whole family and some relatives went on holidays to our hometown in Atimonan, Quezon. After some 3 to 4 years of hectic schedule due to work, I finally having a break I deserved. A hot afternoon at the beach, a chilly evening sharing food and drinks with my family, my brothers and sister, my mom and dad, my aunties and uncles, my cousins, and my girlfriend. A couple of days without thinking of work related things. That’s all I ever wanted.

Surprises really come a lot when you are on the road. I got more than what I expected.

My childhood memories.

Before going straight to the beach, we dropped by to my old grandma’s house, where I spent most of my childhood days. We passed by just to get some coconut fruit to be used for my Mom’s buko salad. While helping gathering coconut fruits, I suddenly felt nostalgic. I can see me running around the place, a kid playing carelessly in the woods and grass, not worried meeting work deadlines, paying monthly bills, and how and where to get your meals for tomorrow. The only problem I had is where will we play when the rain comes? Will grandma cook my favorite laing or fried dried fish again?


It’s precious. It's something no one can take away from me. Something that helps me rethinks how should I lead my life today. How I wanted my life to be came back clearly. Glad to meet myself again. Nice to meet you Shermel.

The Winter's Tale

Awesome! The audience including me is mesmerized. For at least 5 minutes after the show, the audience never stops applauding. I saw a girl seating behind me with teary eyes and the audience is awed with amazement.
Simon Russell Beale’s performance as the jealous King Leontes is so powerful. Even though I can’t see his face from where I am seating, his voice is full of feelings you can feel his anger while accusing her Queen, and his agony when he realizes his mistake. Rebecca Hall’s performance is remarkable, for a minute I want to scream and tell King Leontes, hey your queen is innocent, set her free! Ethan Hawke is remarkably good and different bringing tension reliever and comic relief in the show. I remember him as an actor for serious roles, but here, he brings comic relief as Autolycus, a beggar and thief with a guitar on his hand, singing and dancing!
Overall great performance by the casts and the production is excellent! 5/5 As we are now experiencing crunch time, this play is still worth seeing!

The Rebooked Ticket

Here’s my first official blog entry for this year. I should be posting today my review for Shakespeare's play I watched yesterday, but before that let me share you the adventure I went through getting the ticket.
I bought the ticket last March 15, after Simone, my friend who is currently based in London told me about it. She mentioned about this play she wanted to see but she couldn’t until May. Wait, she didn’t mention the play, she asked me how far I am from The Esplanade Theater, and that her sweetheart Simon Russell Beale will perform there. I get only able to know the play title after I tell her I’m going to watch it. Sorry Simone, I couldn’t contain it to myself, I have to spill it out.

I invited a friend to come with me and we booked ticket for Thursday, March 26. The day comes and something emergency came up at the last minute… In short, I missed it. I almost lost my interest in seeing the play until I read a SMS from a friend which I supposed to go with that night. He simply said, “Hey, awesome play! You should see it!”
So what I did, last Saturday, I went back to The Esplanade Ticket Office to get a new ticket. Sad, the same category I booked last time is already sold out. That’s category 6, ticket price is S$85- plus S$3- SISTIC Fee. So I ask for the next price which is category 5, S$120- plus S$3- SISTIC Fee. I thought they might cancel the S$3- SISTIC Fee if they will learn that I was supposed to see it but unfortunately miss it. Whoa, the lady attending me said, “Can you wait a minute, the promoter is here today, let me see what I can do for you, ok? Meanwhile let me have you’re old ticket.” So she went to a room for about 10 minutes, and after that she came back smiling at me. I can sense she has good news for me.
“We don’t normally do this, but the promoter agrees to refund your ticket. Unfortunately, the same category is not available anymore, so we offer you an upgrade to category 4, you just pay the difference, is that ok with you?”
OFCOURSE! I’LL TAKE IT! The lady’s name is Joanna, she’s very helpful. Thanks Joanna! Now my excitement is back with a better seat!

Batanggala is Back

Yeah, I'm back and even better. Wahehe. Tama ba yung english ko? Pasensiya na nahawa na ata ako sa mga katrabaho ko sa Singapore, ganyan kasi english nila eh, sila lang ang nakakaintindi. Sarap matulog lalo na kapag inaantok, hirap kasi matulog kapag hindi inaantok, kapag tulog ka na, kapag gutom at kapag inlove. Oo inlove. Kanino? Secret. Malalaman ninyo din. Post ko dito bukas yung detalye. Basta naka plaster pa mukha ko eh, ayaw pa matanggal ang ngiti.

vAsh in HK - Day 5

September 23, 2005
Tired! Kakapagod, ang dami naming ginawa sa training kanina and namasyal kami ang saya. 7:50am na ako bumangon, 2am na yata kasi ako nakatulog kagabi, ganda kasi ng discovery channel, tungkol sa airbus a380 saka yung art of war ng waterloo. Tapos yun hindi ako makatulog kaya late na ako nagising. Konti lang kinain kong breakfast tapos binati ulet ako ni ms brenda, ang cute niya talaga, hehehe. Tapos simula na ulet training. Natapos training ng 5pm, tapos mag-meet kami sa hotel lobby ng 6pm, nakatulog ako, 6:30pm ako nagising, nakakahiya sa kanila. Tapos punta kami sa The Peak, it’s a place where you can view Hong Kong from the top. Ok yung resto na kinainan naming tapos ang ganda ng view. After nun picture taking sila hehehe. Sumakay kami ng cable car pababa! Ang sarap, asteeg, saya! After nun lakad kami, dumaan kami sa tapat ng china bank at hongkong bank! Naalala ko bigla si shamir. Kasi siya nagsabi sa akin na yung HongKong bank building pala, nadidisassemble. Asteeg noh? Sayang nga wala ako magandang camera. Hindi rin kasi maayos kuha sa camera ng phone ko lalo na pag gabi. Tapos sumakay kami ng ferry patawid ng Hong Kong island papunta ng kowloon. Tapos ayun uwian na. Eto pagod na ako at kailangan ko pa ihanda yung mga gamit ko. Uuwi na ako bukas. =)

vAsh in HK - Day 4

September 22, 2005
Nakabili na ako ng pasalubong! Sana magustuhan nila yung mga pasalubong ko. Nakabili na rin ako ng regalo ko kay drew. Ayosh pagod na ako. Si ms brenda binati ako kanina. Siya daw ang nag-aasikaso sa SSC Training naming dito sa hotel, ang ganda niya! Sayang wala ako picture hehehe. Nagpunta ulet kami sa avenue of the stars tapos kumain sa isang Japanese restaurant tapos balik na sa hotel. Binalikan ko yung shop na nakitaan ko ng mga stuff toy. Sana magustuhan ni drew yung pasalubong ko sa kaniya. Sleep na ako, pagod na.

vAsh in HK - Day 3

September 21, 2005
Hello. Pagod na ako. Gusto ko na matulog. Maaga natapos training kanina kasi kailangan sumibat ni Mr. Juergen ng maaga papunta ng Seoul, South Korea. 12nn tapos na kami tapos kain na kami ng lunch. Kasabay naming nag lunch si nakalimutan ko name niya kakaiba kasi eh. Taga PC Maulburg, siya magdidiscuss ng level transmitters. Nagpunta kami ni Nurdin, oo kami lang ni Nurdin at ako ang guide niya hehehe. Pumunta kami sa office ng EH dito sa HongKong. Kewl ng lugar, ayos yung office nila. Sandali lang kami, sinilip lang talaga namin. Gusto ko na sana ulit bumalik ng hotel kaso nagpapasama si Nurdin sa Mosque nila. Yup muslim siya hehehe. 5 minutes lang daw, sabi ko gawin na niyang 10 minutes para mejo makaikot naman ako dun sa area. Naglakad lakad ako hanggang sa makakita ako ng shop ng stuff toy. Tingin tingin lang tapos nakita ko price ok naman. Nakakita ako ng bear para kay drew, dolphin para kay apple at isa pang bear para kay yayin hehehe. Kaso kulang pera ko kaya babalikan ko na lang siya bukas. Pagbalik dito sa hotel inikot ko yung hotel, pinuntahan ko yung shoppoing arcade pero under construction pa pala siya. Pinuntahan ko yung swimming pool at court at gym ayos ang ganda. Then baba na ako kasi magkikita kami ng 6pm para sa dinner. May dumating na dalawang Taiwanese. Yup dami na naming hehehe. Sakay kami ng taxi papuntang Luiyen men. Famous daw yun kasi cheap at fresh ang sea foods. Sunod sunod kasi mga sea food restaurant tapos tabing dagat siya! Asteeg. Kagaya ng dati parang walang katapusan ang dating ng pagkain hehhehe. Busog na busog ako grabe. Si Nurdin nga give up na daw hehehehe. Paano antok na ako. Miss ko na si drew =(