Starbucks Bihon Party!!! 11:33:00 PM

every once in a while, its good to have a getogether with old friends from gym just to chill out on a friday nite. starbucks was the chosen venue for this getogether to celebrate the birthdays of lyn and ian, both june celebrants. and what a way to celebrate this by having pansit bihon and lumpiang shanghai , among other foods, and YES inside Starbucks! ok ok just before u get confused and look stupid ordering bihon and shanghai from ur favorite starbucks outlet, foods were brought to the venue by some guests for the potluck bday party of the 2 celebrants. i dont think its really allowed to do such parties in any starbucks outlet but this was made possible only thru the "connections" of dear friend beth who knows someone from that particular branch. well of course we have to order all our beverages from starbucks AND clean up the place after (imagine leaving behind bilaos, bbq sticks on starbucks tables! heheh). the getogether went pretty well - catching up on old friends i havent seen for quite awhile, small talks on the side, seeing new people around, and most of all sharing good food with everyone.

Kudos to beth for organizing the party and arranging for the venue. i now officialy turn over the crown to u as the official surprise party organizer! hahaha and of course, happy birthday to dear dear friends lyn and ian. will see everyone again in the next party...(whos bday is next anyway???) or maybe in the series of small parties im planning to host in my new place, set to kick off in 08-08-08.....pls watch out for further details.

tidbits:

> it was a foursome movie thingy last nite with arvin, rach and lyn. been so hot to watch "The Happening" but the group just opted to see "Get Smart" instead, due to the bad reviews of the former. so i might just end up watching M. Night Shyamalan's latest thriller on dvd or ALONE! grrrr....

> woke up early sunday mornin (around 4am) seeing my surrounding pitch black when i remembered leaving my bathroom lights open when i got home around midnite.....creepy?? not really, i realized after few moments of being OA...brownout lang pala!!! typhoon "frank" was making its presence felt in manila early this morning. strong winds and heavy rains knocked down some trees right outside my building. the weather pretty much ruined my typical sunday routine - lunch with mom, doin groceries and pt session in the gym. but then i decided to just spend my entire day cleaning up my place, not a bad idea.

> its gonna be a crazy week in the office when the "re org" will be officially announced. worse, a possible workforce reduction looms. hoping things will be fine for everyone next week

=)

An Open Letter to Dad 9:30:00 PM

How in the world can someone forget the special occasion being celebrated today when everything u see on tv and every newspaper reminds you that today is supposed to be a day for fathers. Almost the whole day ive been thinking how else can I express my appreciation to someone whos no longer with us. So I decided that maybe thru this blog, I can hopefully express my gratitude to a man who gave me life. Because to me, its more than enough….

Pa,

Thank you…. Two important words I wasn’t able to tell you before you passed away. Im saying these words now with all sincerity. Thank you. Thank you Pa.

Thank U for the times when u had to carry me on your shoulders when I was crying out so loud outside the bathroom the nite you were supposed to leave for Cebu for work, and assuring me you will come back for us in a few days……

Thank U for the bruises I got on my legs from your ultra thick belt, everytime u wana discipline me, for it prepared me for the pains I have and will go thru in life. …

Thank U for telling mama one night while having dinner that you wanted me to go to the best university in college. Made me realize how much you believed in me…

Thank U for being a good provider to the family. we may not be wealthy but you made sure we are provided with all the basic necessities in life. it taught me that i do not need to have everything in life and to work hard for the things i want...

Thank U for respecting our differences. We might not have the same religion and beliefs, but u allowed me and mom to just follow our heart. This made me conscious of the reality of God. That is, you made me believe there was a God.


Pa, we might not have the ideal father-son relationship, you might not have been the perfect father and I might not have been your perfect son, but I want you to know that in your silence, you have my highest respects. Thank U for your continuous guidance. I want you to be proud of my small acheievements. Most of all, i want you to be proud of who i have become.

I will end this “tribute” by saying I have, in my life time, met and known many fine fathers, and have read about many great men , yet, I can truthfully say I am glad I am your son, Papa.

Happy Fathers’ Day wherever you are Pa.





--Jerry


p.s. my papa passed away (@ age 72) sometime 1995 due to lung cancer. And the biggest pain any child can feel was that in his deathbed, he could not seem to recognize me anymore…til he passed away one early mornin….

A Boracay Summer 2008 2:50:00 PM

A Boracay Summer 2008

Just when I almost gave up on the thought of getting a boracay tan this summer, my dear friend gary invited me to join him instead for his june 5-8 work assignment there. So in 24 hrs, I booked myself a plane ticket and filed for a 2 day leave from work! Hahha if you don’t call that excited I don’t know what!

For once, this particular boracay trip was less toxic. I had all the time for myself and not having to follow any agenda unlike previous trips. This years’ boracay getaway was filled with sun (thank God!!), sand, sea, delicious food, and wonderful company. And im really glad to have achieved my purpose of goin there this year - to continue my annual boracay rendezvous (5 years straight and counting!), getting a tan (thank God I got one at the last stretch of summer 2008), and getting a really good rest.

This trip wouldn’t be complete w/o getting my tan and yeah I got it almost perfectly (so my friends say) compared to last year when I “overcooked” myself and I looked like a “toasted longganisa”. Likewise had my angel wings henna which I didn’t like at all! (see the comparison somewhere in this page from the angel wings I had last year and tell me w/c ones better).

And your trip will never be complete w/o dropping by Jonahs shake resto where I had a cold cold lemon shake to beat the scorching sun that Friday and Saturday afternoon. Food stalls remain aplenty in the island but quite noticeably there have been quite a number of restaurants offering buffet @ only P280!!. gary and I indulged ourselves in one of the restos offering the P280 dinner buffet last Friday nite and food was just so so. Nothing great but then, you wont expect a Circles quality buffet for P280 right? Hehhe…Staying in Station 1s Sitio Waling Waling for the first time was an added treat. The 2 storey 2 bedroom villa was quite magnificent. Thanks Gary!


What a way to end my last nite in boracay by visiting the suite in West Cove resort being used by boxing champ many pacquiao everytime he goes to boracay. Too bad we were not able to go inside his room and take a quick peep so I just had to satisfy myself with sunset shots of myself right outside his room.

For some reasons, theres something about Boracay that makes me wanna go back everytime I can. The Piscean in me perhaps? Being in the island and simply dippin in the clear boracay waters just gives me that peace and tranquility you wont feel anywhere else in manila. My 3 days 2 nights in Boracay was truly well spent. I wouldn’t mind going back again this year if time permits – and hopefully stay in Discovery Shores and try out parasailing for the 1st time? Hehhee

‘til my next boracay tryst…..