I Miss You

It’s been a while since we last had a good conversation over BBM. I used to enjoy our exchange of messages. It was always fun chatting with you. If I remember it right, I am always the one who start the conversation but it didn’t matter because you would always respond well. Those were really happy days for me. Until all of a sudden you lost interest in replying.

A couple of weeks ago you seemed uninterested. So I responded according to how I felt was right. I also backed away a little. For a couple of days I didn’t send you messages. Then when I felt or I thought it was the right time I started sending you BBMs again. Unfortunately those attempts were left unanswered. It’s as if I made a call and got “the number you dialed is either unattended or out of coverage area” type of response. I couldn’t understand why a simple hi or hello because so difficult for you to type.

I then gave space for a few days thinking that somehow you’ll miss the exchanges we used to have and respond again. But boy was I terribly wrong. When  I sent you  BBMs again you still didn’t reply.

Then a little birdie told me that you now have a new BB friend. I also learned you send that new friend messages on a regular basis. By regular I mean morning, noon and evening. Is that the reason why you don’t answer me anymore? Wow! How difficult is it to type hi or hello? Oh, please don’t tell me you don’t have time.

Learning that was really painful, you know. It’s as if I suddenly became invisible – or maybe even nonexistent. It was hard when I finally realized that my value to you is so small that you don’t even want to say hi anymore. I mean I would probably understand if the frequency becomes less but to totally remove it altogether is really downright painful if not insulting.

It’s funny that when you started this no-response stance, I found a new friend who would always send text messages. If you think about it, our exchanges are actually better than ours. I mean this friend is the once who initiates the conversation. Never did I start the exchanges. Good morning! O kumain ka na ha. Drink lots of water para hindi manghihina. Rest ka na. Gabi ka na naman uuwi magtaxi ka na. Meme na ko, meme ka na rin – messanges I never got from you. You never did ask me if Im doing okay or not.

This new thing is very much welcome, if you must know. I really appreciate it. It fills the void. But it’s different. It’s nothing similar to what we had. And really, what I have with this new friend does not erase the fact that I miss our exchanges. I miss our conversations. I miss the jokes you give. I miss the pang-aasar. I miss the nonsense stuff we talk about. I miss you. I. MISS. YOU.

I do not want to beg you to do the things you used to do. I do not want to beg you to ‘comeback’ so we could do things we used to enjoy (or was it only I who enjoyed then). I do not want to do these things because it would be meaningless if you were just forced to do it. But heavens I’m hoping you would find it in your heart to miss the things we had and comeback.

Please!

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Sino ba dapat mauna? Who should make the first move?

Alam ko namang may pagitan sa ating dalawa ngayon. Tingin ko nga alam mo rin na may pagitan sa atin. Alam ko nung una sinubukan kon punan ang pagitan na yun. I tried to bridge that gap. I tried to fill that void between us. But you ignered it. Di mo man lang pinansin kahit kaunti. I'm not sure if you were just busy then. Baka naman nagmamatigas ka lang. But then ngayon pagnagkikita tayo parang hi and hello na lang. There are awkwards moments nga when I wan to say something but I  hesitate. And during those moments I feel you feel the same thing. Naghihintayan ba tayo kung sino ang mauuna? We do not know who should make the first move. Ako parang gusto ko mauna pero parang mas magiging satisfying kung ikaw kasi that would mean what we used to have is really important to you. Kasi pag ako ulit parang ako lang naman ang natutuwa eh. Tsaka baka  kasi you've already become so sanay that ako lagi magpapakumbaba.

I wish something, someone, basta, would intervene. Sana mag-conspire ang hangin, lupa, ulan, araw para we could be in a situation that who started filling the gap wouldn't matter. Yun bang wala na tayong choice but to talk like we used -- like the way I want to, like the way I really enjoyed and secretly believed that you also enjoyed.  Baka naman kasi ako lang talaga ang may gusto at napipilitan ka lang before. Ewan.

It's really hard kasi when there are so many things that remain unclear. Wait! Ako lang pala ang nag-iisip na things are unclear. When this whatever this is started you said I have nothing to expect. I was okay with that. But then the things we do -- how you responded to me and my moves -- made me think that baka naman there is something to hope for. Nag-a-assume lang ba ako? Baka. Sana naman hindi.

I  should be the one to initiate something so we could talk about this again. I know I should because you are not required to and I know you wont event if you need to. But you know I'm afraid to ask. You know why? Because I'm afraid that you would ask that we just put an end to all this para wala ng reason para may pagdududa. Baka instead of having whatever little thing we have going on eh mawala pa ang lahat.

I don't know what to do. I do not know anything anymore. Bahala na si Batman.

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Sino ba kasing may sabing umasa?!

Me: Hi!
You: Hello!
M: How are you? Nakauwi ka na ba?
Y: Yup.Kanina pa.
M: Ano ginagawa mo?
Y: Nood tv. Facebook.
M: Kumain ka na?
Y: Hindi pa eh. Maya na. Tapusin ko muna to.
M: Wag ka pagutom ha.
Y: Okie.
M: =)

We do this everyday. We exchange messages several times a day. Nakakatuwang isipin na nagrerespond talaga sya sa mga 'pa-cute' ko sa kanya. Akala ko dati di nya papansinin ang mga messages ko but it  turned out mali pala ako. Dati nga ako lagi ang nag-start ng conversations pero now, minsan nauuna na sya. Masama bang kiligin? Hihi....

Ngayon he also drops by our house regularly. Pag-niyayaya kong kumain sa labas sumasama naman. Pagkasama namim mga classmates namin may mga bulungan kaming para sa amin lang. Haha. Private usapan, sariling sulyapan.  

Y: Hi!
M: Hello! (Medyo kinikilig kasi nauna sya mag message)
Y: Musta?
M: Ok naman. Masaya. You?
Y: Sobrang saya.
M: Talaga? Why naman? =)
Y: Yup.
M: Well good for you!
Y: Talagang good.
M: Haha! Mukha nga. Kwento why.
Y: Naaalala mo yung sinasabi ko sa yong classmate?
M: Ah yeah (Biglang kinabahan)
Y: Binigay nya na cell number nya. Tsaka dinner kami after class.
M: Wow! Good for you. Congrats
Y: Thanks!
M: =)

Where the hell did that come from? Hindi ko to inexpect. But I can't do anything but pretend that everything's fine.

M: Hi!
Y: Ellow!
M: Musta?
Y: Ok lang.
M: Kumain ka na? I hope tapos na para maka pag-aral ka na.
Y: Tapos na.
M: Okay naman ba kinain mo? I hope nabusog ka.
Y: K naman.
M: Ano ginagawa mo?
Y: TV. FB.
M: Wow pa relax-relax pa ha. Wag kalimutan mag-aral ha, may test tayo tomorrow. Medyo mahaba babasahin.
Y: Yup!
M: Good luck!
Y: (no more reply)

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Cheap Tablets - Are they worth buying?

I am using a Pipo tablet which I got for only P3,000 ++. It works fine for me. The screen gives a clear image. I don't have problems watching movies -- no sound or image delays. Surfing the net is also fine. I use it for twitter and facebook and I'm quite happy. It also works fine with games. I play temple run 1 and 2. I also play candy crush among others. It is pretty much okay when it comes to games. What I don't like is that it has no rear camera. And even the one in front does not give a good image. You also cannot download instagram with it even if it runs on android. But anyway, what would be the use of instagram if you can't get clear pictures anyway.

I can these cheap tablets are okay in general. They serve various basic needs. There will be limitations, of course, but if you can live with them then you'll be fine. What you need to do is to read carefully the specs of these cheap tablets first before you buy. Check what areas they are good at. If you like to use it just for games then see if the tablet is good for playing games. If you like to watch movies, then see if the tablet has a good screen resolution and the images and sound are always in sync. If you like taking pictures, then see if it has rear and front cameras. Again, carefully check what the tab can and cannot do and match with your own needs and preferences. 

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Candy Crush Saga - addicting

Candy Crush Saga is addicting. Admit it! A lot of people are hooked. If you want proof, check your notifications. More than half of your notifications is perhaps requests for lives or gifts sent by your other friends playing Candy Crush Saga.

I know of a friend who actually "buys" life using her credit card. That's Candy Crush Saga addiction. I on the other hand change the time on my tab. I add 2 1/2 hours to get additional lives.

I'm only on level 65. Owwwwmayyyyyygaaaaaaasssshhhh!!!!! I hate chocolates. Not that I like them to begin with but seeing them hiding the other candies makes me really hate them. Arrrggghhhh......

Hmmmmm......okay, time to stop this post.....I received a "life" from a friend!

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Summer Heat

We always hear people complaining about the heat these days. I for one complain about it because when you go out at noon you will really feel the heat on your skin. I'm lucky because my room at work has a good air-conditioning unit. I pity those who work outside or in offices without proper ventilation. 

I saw in a website (http://www.pagasa.dost.gov.ph/) that our temperature for today will be from 25 - 35 degrees Celsius. Wow! 35 is really high. I hope those working outside like vendors, street sweepers, traffic enforcers, etc brought with them protection - umbrella and hat. And I  do hope they brought plenty of water to drink lest they die of dehydration. 

It's summer. Normally we all dream of going to the beach to relax and cool off. But 35 degrees Celsius is really scary because that would mean "sunburn". I do not think a tube of sunblock with the best SPF would be enough for a couple of hours of exposure to the sun. 

Hmmm....beach? I'll just wait for 'better' days (hopefully before classes start).

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Wifi service in Buses

It used to be such that only Jac Liner buses going south (Lucena and Batanagas) have wi-fi on board. For a very long time, Jac Liner is the only bus company that offers this service to their customers. But recently, many bus companies followed their lead. DLTB now has wi-fi service too. I've also seen other buses going north which offer the same kind of service.

This is actually very nice for travelers. It was particularly helpful to people last week when traffic was bad because of the many vacationers who took advantage of the long weekend (Holy Week).

My only reminder to travelers is to be very careful with your belongings particularly your gadgets. Because of the wi-fi service in buses, many travelers tend to expose the gadgets they have. This actually attracts opportunists like robbers and snatchers. Try to be as discreet as you can in using your gadgets when traveling, okay?

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Kris Aquino - James Yap and Heart Evangelista - Chiz Escudero controversies

The days preceding Holy Week was not quiet because of the many controversies that happened particularly in showbiz. Top of the list is the fight between the Presidential Kris Aquino. It's Kris Aquino so expect it to become a "national concern". It even became more "news worthy" because of the appearance of the other Presidential sisters in Ted Failon's interview for ABS-CBN and Jessica Soho's interview for GMA. 

Things that are worthy to note are the phrases "three years" and "isang iyak ko lang sa tv". The three years comment of course was interpreted by many as a direct reference to the President himself who still three years in office. This comment did not sit well with I think a lot of people. If Kris Aquino indeed said that, that would mean exercising power for personal gains. And that I think is not right because it does not go well with "daang matuwid". The isang iyak comment was believed to refer to her power to convince people. She definitely has convincing powers. The many endorsements she has prove that people really believe what she says. But this time, did people really believe her. According to news reports and tsismis alike, many actually believed James yap more than Kris. I don't have the facts to support that but if it indeed were true, then her convincing power is now put in question. How will the advertisers react to this?

The other controversy is that of Kapuso actress Heart Evangelista and Chiz Escudero. It became big news because it involved persons in showbiz and politics. Many reacted to the issue because Heart Evangelista is no longer a child to be 'helped' by her parents in this manner. Many say that she is already old enough to make her own decisions. But the mother was good in the sense that she already had a defense in case people will throw her this argument. She said that her daughter is a 'needy' person plus some other things. But the sad thing is, she actually put her daughter down. The alleged qualities of Heart are not really worthy of a person idolized by many. 

Chiz Escudero was also put in a very bad light. It became even worse because he is seeking re-election. Had it been thrown at him at a time other than election season, damage would have been a little less manageable. But the latest surveys actually showed that it already had an effect on his popularity. He dropped a few notches lower. 

So what do we do with these controversies? Nothing! These are private issues that just happen to have happened in the lives of public figures. They do not directly affect us if you come to think about it. Their effect in our lives will probably come in in the future -- that is if the President will really use his powers for personal matters and if the re-electionist Senator is really an alcoholic which might affect his work as a legislator.

Did I say anything new here? Not really! I just want to ride the  tide. Lol 

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Text Responses Rewind

I'm posting something that I have already posted before but I'm editing it a little bit. It is about the different ways guys reply to text messages from their partners. You see, many issues between couples are results of texting issues -- wrong replies, no replies, late replies. I hope you'll enjoy reading this again.

1. SKY PATROL reply
The SKY PATROL reply is sent to you when you send the text message "I'm here already. Where are you?" (Translation: D2 na me, wer na u?) The reply is like a report from the sky patroler of TV Patrol. "Traffic in EDSA is heavy. It's a bumper-to-bumper situation. There seems to have been an accident near the flyover. That's where the bottle neck is.
 The traffic excuse is an overly used excuse. It is a convenient answer for guys. For them it is a good excuse because (a) it is always heavy traffic in Metro Manila so chances are you'll believe him and (b) girls won't spend/waste time to verify if there is really heavy traffic where he says there is -- or would you?
2. ON the WAY  reply
This is still in response to the same question in number 1. "I'm on the way already." (Translation: Papunta na. A variation  would be "nakasakay na.")
Do you think this gives a clear answer? NO? No, it does not. It could mean a lot like (a) I just left the house, (b) I just got on the bus, (c) I'm near, (d) I'm halfway there, (e) I'm just about to leave the house, etc.
Confusing reply, right? That is actually what guys want to achieve. They do not want to tell you something that you can later on question. You see, if he arrives long after you sent that message you cannot ask him the question "What took you so long? I  thought you were already on the  way." (Translation: O e akala ko ba on the way ka na e ba't ngayon ka lang dumating. Siguro dumaan ka pa sa ibang babae mo no? Siguro pumunta ka muna sa mga barkada mo no.") He can answer you safely like "When I sent you the reply I just got out of the condo. I said I'm on my way, not I'm near". You can't say he's lying.
 3. SAFE reply
"I was on the bus. I had to keep my phone in my pocket to be safe." (Variations: I was on the jeepney. I was on the tricycle. I was on the MRT/LRT. I was waiting for the bus. I was waiting for a jeepney.) This is a reply usually given when you ask him why he didn't reply to your previous message/messages. Guys usually give this answer because if you nag him about it he has a ready reply. "I wanted to text you but you know how it is when you commute. There are a lot of snatchers out there. Do you want me to lose my phone? The more that I will not be able to text you if that happens."
Just recently I learned a new variation of this one. I'd like to call this the DON'T DRIVE AND TEXT reply. If you ask your boyfriend why he didn't reply to your text, his answer would be "I was driving. I obviously can't text".  
 4. MR. CONGENIALITY reply
"I'm with my friends". This is a reply he gives after you've sent the message "Why aren't  you replying?" several times. You might feel bad that he is prioritizing his friends over you but that's how it is with men. When a guy bonds with his friends, he really gives his full attention to whatever they are doing. If this  happens just once in a while then stop nagging. At least he is being honest with you. You can get mad if he is with his friends more often than he is with you.
5. Un-LOADED reply
"I ran out of load." This is a common reply to the questions "Why are you not texting me?". It is a lame excuse, I think, but many guys use it. If you know the guy has money and he still gives this kind of excuse, slap him on the face. Okay, that's bad. Just nag. That's more painful than a slap on both cheeks. I mean if he has money, getting load shouldn't be a problem. There are a lot of stores selling electronic load.
A variation of this is "my line got cut". This is possible. But for your protection and peace of mind, find out about his billing details. Check with the service provider the usual period when they 'cut' lines. By the way, if your  partner is using blackberry and subscribed to bb chat or bb social, he can still send you bbm even if his line is cut so don't make him fool you.
 6. GUILTY as CHARGED reply
"Low bat." "Empty bat" "I wasn't able to charge". This is also as common a reply as that of number 5. What does this tell you? Your guy is irresponsible. We should all keep our phones with enough battery charge. Be forward looking. Charge your phone if you know you'll be out long. If your guy is like this, think how irresponsible he could/would be with his other concerns.
7. ANTENNA reply
"There's no signal". Your guy thinks that he still lives during the time when cellphones need to have a retractable antenna to get a signal. (Translation: Lagyan mo ng tinidor yung antenna ng radyo para marinig mo si DJ Triggerman. -  Did I translate it well? lol) Though there are still times when you can experience losing signal, they seldom last long. Just move a few steps away from where you are and voila, you have a signal. 
8. SPELL STOP reply
"OK", "CGE", "=)". When your guy texts you short responses like these, it means only one thing: STOP. He does not like to chat with you so just STOP.
9. MISSENT reply
"I'll see you later, baby!" is a missent message if baby is not a term of endearment he uses. He is intending to send it to somebody else but he mistakenly sent it to you. (Translation: I am cheating on you and I hope you won't find out about it.) I know you'll get really, really mad. Who wouldn't be? But at least be happy because you're the one on his mind even while texting the other one.
10. NOT MISSENT MISSENT reply
Did that confuse you? Let's make it clear then. Read this message. This is a reply to whatever text you have sent. "Bro, I felt sad this morning. I thought it was going to make her happy but I think she didn't even appreciate it." Who is the message for? Is it really for 'bro'? The answer is a big NO! It is for YOU. He intended you to know what he was feeling - in this case he probably wants to tell you that he felt bad that you did not appreciate his effort to make you happy on your 11th monthssary celebration. He does not have the guts to tell you straight so he made it appear like a missent message. How do you distinguish it from a real missent message? A not missent missent reply is detailed. Reading would tell you right away that he is talking about you. It is written such that you would know what he means. A real missent reply usually doesn't tell you anything concrete yet it tells you a lot. Or at least you think it tells you a lot. It actually makes you speculate.

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Song of My Life

A friend of mine asked me a few weeks ago what the 'song of my life' is at this point in my life. I said none. Her reaction was "WHAT? How could you have none?. I said "is there a need to have one?". Then she frowned. So I asked why should one have a 'song of my life' at every stage in his or her life.

She said it somehow summarizes that period in your life. The song would remind you of where you are at. And in the future, it will be easier to recall what you have been doing or what you have been experiencing say 15 or 20 years before. I failed to 'see' her point because I know I can still remember the things I was doing when I was in 2nd year high school or when I was a freshman in UP even without a 'song of my life'. I can actually remember some songs that we used to sing during those times but they are not necessarily 'songs of my life'.

On my way back to Manila after the Holy Week I remembered again the conversation we had. The thought was actually triggered by the songs being played on the bus. They were a mixture of old and new songs. When I remembered the 'song of my life' idea I decided to pay more attention to the lyrics of the songs being played. It was then that I realized that some songs really connect to certain events that I have actually experienced.

One song that I think I can relate to is from the soundtrack of A Walk to Remember, a movie which I've watched a hundred times and up to now still makes me cry buckets. Well, that's of course an exaggeration but it did actually make me cry when I watched it on the bus (again) sometime last month. The song in a way speaks of having so many questions that need to be answered now or in the future. I know I've had those phases in my life when I had to ask a lot of questions. There were periods of confusion as some of you probably also had. I certainly am not interested if somebody knows the way to Atlantis but I would like to know the answer to the question "is true love just once in a lifetime". I am also not interested to know why Samson loved Delilah but I would like to know "why aren't you here with me". I am sure at some point you also had these questions. If at some point you'll know the answer to the question "can love move a mountain" please do tell me, okay?

Will I now try to have a 'song of my life' for every phase I will go  through? Nope! I won't. But I'll probably be more attentive to song lyrics now. Who knows, maybe there will be songs that would really fitmy life experiences.

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Standard Chartered Bank and their Amnesty Program Offer

I have been offered amnesty program by Standard Chartered Bank. This should tell you that I am having problems paying that account. So what am I writing this blog for when I know I am the one at fault? Well I just  want to tell my experience about this 'amnesty' offer of Standard Charter Bank.

I was given an offer for amnesty program. The caller said I need to pay a certain amount before I get the application form. The amount given was the minimum for that month. It's lower than the total overdue amount. So I paid that amount. The caller also said my next payment (with the fixed which was less than half the usual amount due) would be the following month. I was waiting for a call about the application for over a week. Nobody followed up. Then somebody called and talked to me in a sarcastic voice. She was asking why I did not pay. I said I was offered the amnesty program. She said it does not show in her record (she's probably in front of her computer looking for it as she was talking to me). She said things that implied I was lying about receiving an offer. I said it was Standard Chartered who offered, I didn't ask for it. Then all of a sudden she sounded as if she knew everything about the application (probably something popped up in her monitor). She said the offer lapsed on (she gave a date). She said I did not submit the application before the end of the offer. That date she gave was just a couple of days after the offer. I paid the day after the offer was given but I didn't get form which was supposed to be sent through email.

The following week I received a call from a male caller telling me that I have been sent a new application for amnesty. The amount I was supposed to pay monthly is now different from the previous offer. I downloaded the application and sent it back through them through fax. Then I got a call asking if I have already submitted the requirements. I said yes but the payslip was sent only the day after. He said it's okay. He'll just retrieve my application from where it was received. I paid what I was supposed to pay. I thought everything's fine already. Just a while ago, I again received a call from Standard Chartered Bank asking me to pay the minimum amount for the month. I said I have an application for amnesty. The caller, a girl again, was speechless for a while. Then she put me on hold (she probably had to do a quick search in the computer). When she came back  she said it has probably voided because usually if its over a month already it means it is voided. Notice that her tone shows she is not sure of what she was saying. The use of probably and usually tells that she wasn't 100% sure of her facts. She was nicer than the first caller so I gave her the benefit of the doubt. I said I want to ask her something but I asked her not to take it personally. I asked if they really intend to give their clients amnesty program or do they just offer the program to them to 'force'/'entice' them to pay the minimum amount required for the offer to be officially given. I asked if this is a ploy they do to get at least the minimum. She said no. She said they really give genuine offers. If I were in a bad mood, my question would have been 'are you fooling us?'

I asked her again if there is really an official endorsement from Standard Chartered Bank that the application was voided. I said I want to really know because it was only a week after I received the email when a follow up was made and that's definitely not a month ago because if it were then I missed Christmas. She was again unsure of her words. Then she put me again on hold. When she came back she said they count from the time the offer was made.

My question now is "Does Standard Chartered Bank really offer amnesty program or they just make false offers to make people their 'required minimum amount'?"

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Christmas Gifts for Men I - 10 Gift Ideas for Your Boyfriend, Brother, Father, Friend or Boss (but mainly for the boyfriend)

There are a lot of bazaars now in the metro because Christmas is fast approaching. As I write this, we'll be celebrating Christmas in 25 days, 13 hours and 50 minutes so expect more bazaars to open  up even for just a week or two. Bazaars become popular because it is a good place to find good gift items at reasonable prizes. But that is not the point of this post. This is all about Christmas gifts for men. I would often hear from bazaar goers that it is more difficult to find gifts for men than for women. There is some sense to this observation. There aren't as many choices of gifts for men so women just settle for basic gifts like t-shirts, neckties, faux wallets, pens and hankies. They may not complain when they receive these gifts but I know they would also want to receive something that was well thought of. I'll be giving you some suggestions about this. This  list includes some of the basic choices I already mentioned but I'll give tips on how you can make them look more exciting.

1. Spa package. Yes, I know this is a bit expensive. But don't worry, there are a lot of discount sites (like ensogo, cash cash pinoy, metrodeal, etc) now where you can buy vouchers at very, very low prices. Men love to be pampered like women. But many men do not feel comfortable going to one especially if they are alone. So give them a gift  certificate. If they have the gc already they will surely go to the spa shy or not. Or better yet, get a gc for two and join him.

2. A buffet treat. The best way to a man's heart is through his stomach. True? True! Men love to eat so he will surely love the idea of getting the chance to eat everything that he wants. There are a lot of places where you  can treat him to a buffet (eat all you can). There are also a lot of offers in discount sites.

3. A gadget. Boom! There goes your 13th month pay. I am only suggesting this to those who really have a lot of money to burn. But if you do not have much, you can just settle for accessories. A nice protective thingy for the tablet would be appreciated (but I would  suggest you give original versions). Earphone/Headphone is also a good idea.

4. Shirt. Yes! You can still give him a shirt. But make sure you look for the right size. Knowing if he's S, M, L or XL is not enough. You see an S in one store is not necessarily the same as the S in another. And even within a store, an S in one rack can be different from the S in another rack. Design affects the size. So how do you make this gift special? A safe way would be to find that hard-to-find shirt he likes. There are men who are obsessed with this or that jersey from Nike or this or that new statement shirt from NatGeo or this or that new design from A & F. You may need to order these from abroad so better start deciding now. A not so safe way would be to experiment a bit. Give him a shirt that is not like the usual shirts he wears. Find something a bit trendier. Who knows, he might have been planning to have that design but is just afraid to try.

5. Car Accessories. If you cannot afford to give a car, give him some accessories. lol. I'm not referring to the dogs with heads bobbing up and down and the plastic sunflowers with  flapping leaves when there is sunlight. Give him stuff like sun shield, car matting stuff, eyeglasses/sunglasses holder, cellphone/laptop charger, etc.

6. Unique Beer. If your guy drinks beer, give him a six pack of a unique beer brand. Go to a liquor store and ask the salesclerk for a brand that is not sold in sari-sari stores or even in bars in the metro.

7. Gumball dispenser (with gumballs lol). Who says that gumballs are only for kids? Men love gumballs. Look for a mini gumball dispenser (similar to dispensers in malls where you insert coins to get your round chewing gum) over the internet and order one. This is something your guy can bring to the office. Gumballs are good stress relievers, you know.

(If you are 'on a budget')

1. Socks. Men need socks everyday so giving them socks is very practical. But remember that sports socks are different from formal socks. If the guy spends most of his time in the office wearing tie, find him dress socks. If he is into casual clothes always, give him some less formal socks. If you do not know the difference, ask the salesladies. They would be more than willing to help you. But again, this is not a strict rule because surely, the man in the suit sometimes plays ball and the man in jeans sometimes sips wine.

2. Handkerchief. Like socks, men need this everyday. But please do not give them hankies with their name embroidered on one corner. Men do not like other people to know their names when they are blowing their nose in public. And stick to safe colors -- white, blue, gray -- plain if possible.  

3. Boxer shorts. This is the in thing among men. Men wear boxers over their undies before they wear their pants. Men also wear boxers to bed. Some men wear boxers when they go to the neighborhood convenience store. Giving your guy a pair or two would be safe. But please, even if you are on a budget, please find a good brand so it would last long. 


The title says Gifts for Men I. This means there is going to have at least a Part II so watch out for that.

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Sparkle Spa

Last night, my friends and I went to a spa. We were 12 guys. We went to Sparkle Spa in Paranaque (located at the side of Robinson's -- Merville). We got a voucher from Metrodeal so we got some pampering at a 'pampered' rate -- really good rate. We got a voucher worth PhP 150.00 which is good for a hot oil treatment, back massage and hand and foot reflexology.

We didn't arrive at the Sparkle Spa at the same time. It's good because only 6 of us could have the treatments at the same time. This means we were divided into two batches.

So how did it go? First we had our hair washed. Then the hot oil was applied. Some massaging was done on the scalp. Then a 'foil' was wrapped on the head -- I looked like one of the coneheads. Then we were brought upstairs for the rest of the treatment. I chose the reclining chair over the bed. The person assigned to me is named Rose. She did the hand reflex first. It was good although I felt it would have been better if she used less oil. But its ok since the oil is unscented anyway. After the hand reflex, she washed/cleaned my feet with hot towel. Then she did the foot reflex. This for me is the best part. She applied the right pressure. It was very relaxing. My feet needed that. Then after awhile she did the back massage. This one is the least on my list because it was short and I had experienced better back massage. It's not bad. It's just that I had better. Then after the back massage, we went downstairs again to finish the hot oil treatment.

It was a relaxing evening except that we had to commute home. Sigh.


Note: Sparkle Spa has wifi.

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Different Responses or Replies - Replying Behavior of Guys/Boys/Men

After months or years of being with your boyfriend/boy friend, you can already predict what his reply will be when you send him a message. Guys are not really very creative with their replies. That is if they reply at all. Here are the different replies of boys/men.

1. SKY PATROL reply
The SKY PATROL reply is sent to you when you send the text message "I'm here already. Where are you?" (Translation: D2 na me, wer na u?) The reply is like a report from the sky patroler of TV Patrol. "Traffic in EDSA is heavy. It's a bumper-to-bumper situation. There seems to have been an accident near the flyover. That's where the bottle neck is. (Translation: Masikip ang daloy ng trapiko sa kahabaan ng EDSA. Bumperrrr to bumperrr dito. Mukhang may nangyaring kalunos-lunos na banggaan sa may lugar papaakyat ng flyoverrrr. Doon nagkakabuhol-buhol.)
The traffic excuse is an overly used excuse. It is a convenient answer for guys. For them it is a good excuse because (a) it is always heavy traffic in Metro Manila so chances are you'll believe him and (b) girls won't spend/waste time to verify if there is really heavy traffic where he says there is -- or would you?
2. ON the WAY  reply
This is still in response to the same question in number 1. "I'm on the way already." (Translation: Papunta na. A variation  would be "nakasakay na.")
Do you think this gives a clear answer? NO? No, it does not. It could mean a lot like (a) I just left the house, (b) I just got on the bus, (c) I'm near, (d) I'm halfway there, (e) I'm just about to leave the house, etc.
Confusing reply, right? That is actually what guys want to achieve. They do not want to tell you something that you can later on question. You see, if he arrives long after you sent that message you cannot ask him the question "What took you so long? I  thought you are already on the  way." (Translation: O e akala ko ba on the way ka na e ba't ngayon ka lang dumating. Siguro dumaan ka pa sa ibang babae mo no? Siguro pumunta ka muna sa mga barkada mo no.") You can't do this with this kind of reply because he'll just tell you "I didn't say I was near already. "
3. SAFE reply
"I was on the bus. I had to keep my phone in my pocket to be safe." (Variations: I was on the jeepney. I was on the tricycle. I was on the MRT/LRT. I was waiting for the bus. I waiting for a jeepney.) This is a reply when you ask him why he didn't reply to your previous message/messages. Guys usually give this answer because if you nag him about it he has a ready reply. "I wanted to text you but you know how it is when you commute. There are a lot of snatchers out there. Do you want me to lose my phone? The more that I will not be able to text you if that happens." (Translations: nakaktakot mag text sa jeep. Alam mo naman maraming magnanakaw ngayon. [Lalo pa malapit na ang pasko - the Christmas season version.]. Gusto mo bang mawala ang phone ko? Paano pa kita ma-tetext kung wala na akong phone? [Thought bubble you can't read: "pwera na lang kung bibilhan mo ko ng bagong iphone ngayong pasko])
4. MR. CONGENIALITY reply
"I'm with my friends". This is a reply he gives after you've sent the message "Why aren't  you replying?" several times. You might feel bad that he is prioritizing his friends over you but that's how it is with men. When a guy bonds with his friends, he really give his full attention to whatever they are doing. If this  happens just once in a while then stop nagging. At least he is being honest with you. You can get mad if he is with his friends more often than he is with you.
5. Un-LOADED reply
"I ran out of load." This is a common reply to the questions "Why are you not texting me?". It is a lame excuse, I think, but many guys use it. If you know the guy has money and he still gives this kind of excuse, slap him on the face. Okay, that's bad. Just nag. That's more painful than a slap on both cheeks. I mean if he have money, getting load shouldn't be a problem. There are a lot of stores selling electronic load. And there are a lot of convenience stores where you can buy call cards. I think this excuse is only acceptable if your guy is just a boy who depends on his parents for his load budget. If that is the case, please be understanding. (Translation: send him load. lol)
6. GUILTY as CHARGED reply
"Low bat." "Empty bat" "I wasn't able to charge". This is also as common a reply as that of number 5. What does this tell you? Your guy is irresponsible. We should all keep our phones with enough battery charge. Be forward looking. Charge your phone if you know you'll be out long. If your guy is like this, think how irresponsible he could/would be with his other concerns.
7. ANTENNA reply
"There's no signal". Your guy thinks that he still lives during the time when cellphones need to have a retractable antenna to get a signal. (Translation: Lagyan mo ng tinidor yung antenna ng radyo para marinig mo si DJ Triggerman. -  Did I translate it well? lol) Though there are still times when you can experience losing signal, they seldom last long. Just move a few steps away from where you are and voila, you have a signal. 
8. SPELL STOP reply
"OK", "CGE", "=)". When your guys texts you these after exchanging texts message with you for a while, that means he wants the conversation to get. That means stop.
         (Translation:
                Teacher: Juan, spell STOP
                Juan: STOP, O-K, STOP.
                Teacher: Good! Juana, spell STOP.
                Juana: Stop, C-G-E, STOP.)
Get the drift. Stop texting. If you insist, he might give in but just give you one-word answers and this might irritate you more. So remember, OK, CGE and =) reads STOP.
(Variations: "G'night" and "Luv u")
9. MISSENT reply
"I'll see you later, baby!" is a missent message if baby is not a term of endearment he uses. He is intending to send it to somebody else but he mistakenly sent it to you. (Translation: I am cheating on you and I hope you won't find out about it.) I know you'll get really, really mad. Who wouldn't be? But at least be happy because you're the one on his mind even while texting the other one.
10. NOT MISSENT MISSENT reply
Did that confuse you? Let's make it clear then. Read this message. This is a reply to whatever text you have sent. "Bro, I felt sad this morning. I thought it was going to make her happy but I think she didn't even appreciate it." Who is the message for? Is it really for 'bro'? The answer is a big NO! It is for YOU. He intended you to know what he was feeling - in this case he probably wants to tell you that he felt bad that you did not appreciate his effort to make you happy on your 11th monthssary celebration. He does not have the guts to tell you straight so he made it appear like a missent message. How do you distinguish it from a real missent message? A not missent missent reply is detailed. Reading would tell you right away that he is talking about you. It is written such that you would know what he means. A real missent reply usually doesn't tell you anything concrete yet it tells you a lot. Or at least you think it tells you a lot. It actually makes you speculate.

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He Said (my thoughts for the day), She Said (Quintessential Highlights)

Hi friends! My friend read my Pa-Hopeful post and she liked it. I asked her to write her own version of it -- with girls as pa-hopefuls. Then I had this idea that we write about the same topics with my posts about men and her posts about women. Something like "he said, she said". Wait for her version of pa-hopeful. Read Quintessential Highlights.

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The Different Types of Pa-Hopefuls

Pa-hopeful
n.

1. A person who makes people hope that they can give them something good.
2. A person who gives false hopes.

Pa-hopeful is a term we just coined last night. It was our translation of the Filipino word nagpapaasa. Nagpapaasa has asa as root word which means hope. Pa is a Filipino prefix that could mean a lot of things depending on the word it is attached too. In pa-hopeful's case, pa means to make someone. If you'll translate it directly, pa-hopeful means 'to make someone hopeful' or to give someone hope. Maybe you'll ask why in definition number 2 there the word 'false'. I say false hopes because the Filipino term nagpapaasa has negative connotation.

There are different types of people who are pa-hopeful. To make these types easier to understand, let us use some characters. Let us use Gregory as the pa-hopeful and Joana as his victim.

1. The CONFUSED Pa-hopeful
Gregory knows that Joana likes him. He does things that make Joana think that he also likes her. But Gregory is actually not sure if he really likes her. He is confused about his feelings for her. He is not sure if he wants her as a partner or just as a friend. He makes Joana think that he somehow likes her so that if and when he discovers that he does like her, he will not have a hard time courting her.
2. The TORPE Pa-hopeful
Gregory knows that Joana likes him. He also knows that he likes her. He keeps dropping hints but he is not man enough to actually make a move. He is waiting for her to provide the opening. Worse, there are torpe pa-hopefuls who are actually waiting for Joanas to make the move.
3. The BRAGGART Pa-hopeful
Gregory knows Joana likes him. He doesn't like her but he doesn't make any efforts for her to stop liking him. This is simply because he likes the idea that someone likes him and he likes people to know about this.
4. The Closet GAY Pa-hopeful (or Pa-minta Pa-hopeful)
Gregory is gay and a closet one at that. He knows that Joana likes her but he doesn't like her at all for obvious reasons. He doesn't mind tthis though because he uses this to hide his true identity. If you think this is unfair for Joana then think about this. Gregory might actually stop from being pa-hopeful and actually court Joana and make her his girlfriend to strengthen his manly status.   
5. The No-balls Pa-hopeful
This title sounds very much like the torpe pa-hopeful but they are definitely different. Mr. Gregory No-balls is like Mr. Gregory Torpe in the sense that they both know that they like Joana. But Mr. No-balls knows how to court a girl like Joana. So what's keeping him from courting her? Why does he remain pa-hopeful? The plot is like the plot in many romance movies. Gregory No-balls is the campus heartthrob. Joana is the geeky ugly duckling. Naturally, Gregory doesn't want to have anything to do with her because he doesn't want to ruin his image and he doesn't want to be laughed at. He probably makes her hopeful as part of a bet with his friends although deep in his  heart he feels guilty. This could end in 4 ways. (1) He will forget his feelings for Joana to protect his image. (2) He will pursue Joana and drop his friends. It will be like an 'against all odds' love affair. (3) The ugly duckling will turn into a swan and they will be happy together. He will  be able to keep his image and his friends as well. (4) The swan will drop him like a hot potato. He will be the biggest joke ever.
6. The USER Pa-hopeful
Gregory knows Joana likes him. He doesn't like her but he likes receiving gifts (and money?) from her. He thinks of her as an ATM machine. She is his sugar mommy. He is the male version of the bilmoko girl.
7. The LOSER Pa-hopeful
Gregory thinks Joana likes him. He does things to make her like him more. Then he brags about it. What he doesn't know is that she actually does not like him. She is also being pa-hopeful. She is playing with him. He has no idea that people are laughing about him. 
Now, don't think that only these Gregory-s are the pa-hopefuls and the Joanas are the victims. The boat could actually be turned. Joanas can be pa-hopefuls too. But how they will be called will be different though. I mean you cant have a Ms. Joana No-balls, right?
             

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DLTB - BLTB - Welcome Back

DLTB, former BLTB is back. People who grew up in Quezon, Batangas and Laguna in the 80's surely remembers what BLTB means. BLTB stands for Batangas, Laguna, Tayabas Bus Co. Quezon was originally called Tayabas. It went out of business some years back. But I think sometime this year it came back again with a new name. It is now called DLTB. I think it is under new management.

In my last few trips to Quezon I rode DLTB. The first time I rode DLTB was unintentional. It's just that the Jac Liner that goes to SM Lucena just left and the next one would take about an hour (the next bus goes only to the Grand Central Terminal). I was rushing so I went to the next bus station and found out that the bus would be leaving in 10 minutes.

The trip was actually good. There still aren't a lot of people riding DLTB so I had no seatmate. I was able to put my bag beside me. And since the buses are relatively new, they do not smell bad. There was a sign that says wi-fi on board. Hmmmm.... No originality. Jac Liner was the first one to offer that. But who am I to complain. lol I asked the driver for the password. He said there is none. I also asked him if all buses have wi-fi. He said not yet. They are still waiting for additional routers. That's fine. Jac Liner was like that too in the beginning.

Since then I have been taking DLTB for my trips. It was particularly helpful after the All Saints Day break. I knew there would be a lot of passengers so I decided to go to the DLTB station instead of the other terminals.The bus left with me as their only passenger. But two bus stops after, the bus was already full.

Anyway, what i like about the bus is that it is not always full, I can put my bag on the seat right beside me, the seats are still  good and comfortable, once in a while there is wi-fi, it doesn;t smell bad, they do not stay long at the bus terminal and to top it all, the drivers seem to be careful.

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Flower Arrangements - All Saints Day 2011

I had a blast arranging flowers last Oct. 31. My cousin takes flower arrangement orders from people in our town for the All Saints Day Celebration. She then goes to Dangwa in Manila to buy the flowers and takes them back to out town in Quezon. I've been helping her for the last 3 or 4 years.

This year I went with her to Dangwa. I arrived there ahead of her so I had the chance to look at how the people there arrange flowers. I've learned a good number of styles which I used for our designs. It would have been easier if we have all the materials (flowers, twigs, leaves, etc) within our reach. Unfortunately, we could only buy the things that we think are necessary because it would be costly to buy 'everything' we find useful. This means there were instances when we had to make do with what we have. It's good that there are other useful things in the 'backyard' which we could use. All we needed was creativity and imagination. We were able to come out with what I could say are good flower arrangements.


I had the most fun doing the wild flower arrangement. I used a woven basket as the container. Then I used flowers that I call wild since they are not the usual roses and gerberas and orchids. We had these flowers but just to make the flower arrangement a little 'familiar' to the customers. I do not know the names of the wild flowers except for the 'mickey mouse'. I also used a lot of leaves and twigs and sticks.

This year we were able to make almost 30 flower arrangements. It was tiring but at the same time fulfilling. 

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My Thoughts for Today

I used the message from God application on facebook today. God's message is

... that every day you are choosing either to be grateful or to be disappointed. You can worry to no end about what you don't have. Or you can marvel at God's breathtaking gifts: the morning dew, the sun, the clouds, the trees, the flowers, the birds. Could you create any of these? These miracles of life are always around you, ready to be celebrated, ready to be welcomed into your life.

I have been taught to appreciate all God's gifts including those mentioned in this message. I know they are God's wonderful creations. I know God created them for all of us out of His love. There is no question about that. He Loves us that's why He blesses us with all these things.


I woke up this day hopeful. I prayed yesterday for something I really need. it is something that I know I must have right now because otherwise I'd be doomed. Yes! That's not an exaggeration. I prayed with much faith that He would be there as promised. Then I learned my prayer was not granted. Poof! Then I have to be grateful as the message told me. My mind tells me that I should -- that that is the right thing to do. But my heart just say 'how?'

I would like to appreciate the morning dew. But can the morning dew heal my dad's colds right now? I would like to appreciate the sun. But can the sum warm my family's hungry stomach? I would like to appreciate the clouds. But can the clouds cover my bills? I would like to appreciate the trees. But can the trees pay for my rent?

To some my concerns may seem minor -- too little to even think of not appreciating God's blessings. You just don't know the whole story. If you did, you would understand. You might even help in finding the answer to the question 'can the flowers soothe away the anxiety I feel inside?' You might help ask 'can the birds carry my disappointments away?'

No! I  am not questioning God. At least that's what my mind tells me. But I am questioning myself why these things are happening to me. I know there are reasons behind these. There are reasons why do not deserve the blessings others receive. My question is when will this disappointment, this anxiety, this sadness, this despair end. Will this end before I wake up again to another set of blessings -- the morning dew, the sun, the clouds? Will I have to wait till the trees fall, the flowers wither and the birds die? Or will I wait for the time when I will no longer feel, see, hear, smell and taste all these creations? Will these end with a bang!

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Frustrated! Disappointed!

I'm not in a good mood today. Not really foul mood but not in anyway near good either. I've been feeling this way in the last few days actually. Good thing is that not a lot of the people I encounter everyday see it.

Recently I've been getting frustrated and disappointed easily. My patience and tolerance to things are running low. I'm finding it hard to accept that some people, especially those whom you have high regard for, can disappoint you. It's easier to accept negative actions of people whom you do not believe in in the first place than actions of people whom you thought you can depend on. 

The problem is that I am also to blame in many of these appointing situations. You see I have let these people believe that I can easily accept things and that I don't get disappointed easily. I have made them believe that I am an understanding person. I may have given the idea that they can always get away with anything they want. I might have given them the notion that I do not get affected by  their foul actions. But I do get pissed sometimes. You don't see a halo on my head, do you?  

This will pass. I hope. I hope it does before I do something drastic that I will regret later.

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