Real Estate Property for Sale (Oriental Mindoro, Philippines)

Location: Victoria, Oriental Mindoro, Philippines

• Area: More than 8 hectares
• Current products: Lanzones and Rambutan
• Price: Php 450,000 per hectare

Interested parties may call (+63917) 244-1221 or (+632) 497-2715. You may also send inquiries to glenn.ala@gmail.com.

Looking for a Chef de Partie

An upscale restaurant chain is looking for a Chef de Partie.

If you are:

• Male or Female, 25 -35 years old
• With a degree in Culinary Arts
• Experienced in planning, organizing and directing kitchen operations
• Knowledgeable in the food and beverage cycle
• A team player
• Willing to join a reality show

Send your resume, with 2x2, face and full body pictures to:

Hired!
GMA Network Center
EDSA corner Timog Avenue
Quezon City

Or email us at hired@gmanetwork.com.

For inquiries, please call 982-7777 loc. 3025 or 926-4523.
Deadline of submission of applications is on 08 December 2008.

Goodbye, Maxi!

He was always very special. Not just because he grew up in our care, but also because Maximo Oliveros was a sweet and happy dog, always in a great disposition and friendly even to strangers.

When he joined the family, everyone was instantly in love with the doe-eyed furry creature that he was.

He grew up roaming freely around the house and within the gates of the apartment.

Maxi was hyperactive and would always play chase with me and my brothers and sister.

I would even let him sleep sometimes on the bed with me.

Early this year, my younger brother and sister moved in to the new house in Bulacan. Maxi moved in with them. He had the whole lawn to himself and could move about freely, but often, they had to keep him leashed to keep him out of the house.

And then last week, the accident happened. My sister, Mikee, was tying him to his leash when he tried to break free and bit her on the hand. She managed to break free but was left with a couple of small gashes on her fingers. The next day, Maxi died for still unknown reasons.

Out of fear, we had his cadaver checked. Thank God the results came out negative for rabies. We will never know how Maxi died. But he will always be remembered.

Maxi was the family dog.

He was my dog. And he will be missed.

Ballet Manila's Tatlong Kuwento ni Lola Basyang

Found this through Mr. Joey Ayala's Facebook status and it got me very excited over Ballet Manila's newest show.

I got first-hand experience watching and working with Ballet Manila when Hired did the company's search for a ballerina. (Fifteen-year old Kim Mendoza won and is now one of Ballet Manila's company scholars.)

I worked very closely with the Philippines' prima ballerina, Lisa Macuja-Elizalde, and principal danseur and BM's Artistic Associate, Osias "Shaz" Barroso throughout the filming of the search.

I tell you, it was quite an eye-opener. It was very inspiring to watch real, professional ballerinas and danseurs rehearsing and performing on stage. These are artists in the truest sense of the word. It made me wonder how and why I could have missed out on this classic art form!

At the shoot, I was able to watch the company's Hi-Skul Musikahan at the Star Theatre, which was the setting for the final task of our Top 2 applicants.

I was also able to catch the Dress-Technical Rehearsal (DTR) of the show they were performing in Korea. It was spectacular! It is no wonder that Ballet Manila has grown so much in reputation not just in the Philippines but worldwide. It is truly a world class dance company.

As you would see in the video, there is much to expect, especially since the show involves the aristry of some very established names in the fields of dance and music, including Tony Fabella, Mon Faustino, Joey Ayala, and Ryan Cayabyab.

(Incidentally, it was Joey Ayala who read my poem, Alay sa Choc-Nut, at the book launch of Bubot at Tatlong Dosenang Sundot ng Damdamin some time in 2000, and it was through him that I found the video and learned more about BM's Lola Basyang.)

Catch the world premiere of Tatlong Kuwento ni Lola Basyang on December 5, 6, 7, 13, and 14 at the Aliw Theatre. For ticket reservations and schedule of tours and performances, visit Ballet Manila's website, balletmanila.ph.

(Photos courtesy of Hired segment producer, Redge Estrada.)

Alay sa Choc-Nut

Ang sarap-sarap ng Choc-Nut na ‘to
binubuksan ko pa lang
naglalaway na ‘ko.
‘Di nga magkanda-ugaga
sa pagpunit ng papel na balot e.
Hayun, sa pagkahayok,
tuloy, Choc-Nut muntik nang
malapirot.
Leche!
Kapag lumabas na
ang balot mong palara –
ayan na, malapit na –
alam kong matitikman na rin kita
lasa mong kakaiba.
Diyos ko, salamat talaga!
Dahan-dahan kong bubuksan
makikita ang ‘yong kahubaran.
Haaaay! Langit!
Anong kasiyahan!
Iningatan kong huwag madurog
hinawakang parang itlog
saka inilapit sa bibig ko
ang kaaya-ayang bisyo.
Tangina!
Nalaglag pa’ng isang piraso!
Sayang.
Pupulutin ko na lang.
Aba, grasya rin ‘to ‘no.
Kaya bago pa mangalaglag,
Please lang huwag!
Isinubo ko lahat
buong Choc-Nut!
Kaaakh! Kwaaakh!
Aaakh!
Tuloy, ako'y napaubo,
sa lakas ng pagkakasubo.
Tubig! Tubig!
Dali-dali akong tumakbo
sa kusina para uminom
ng tubig na malamig,
Glug… glug… glug.
Aaaaaah…
Glug… glug…
Uhmmm…
Putang Choc-Nut ‘to
Papatayin pa ‘ko!

- written some time in 1998, published in the anthology called Bubot at Tatlong Dosenang Sundot ng Damdamin, by Finkomarts

This was one of my earliest poems. I've lost all copies of the book and the poem, and I only recently encountered it online when I googled my name. I came across a blog with this poem. Thanks to Ellysa Sy of Caloocan City, who posted it. You can find her post and her blog here.

Who knows, one day this might just become a song. Hahaha!

Incidentally, I think it's worth mentioning that the book, Bubot at Tatlong Dosenang Sundot ng Damdamin, is catalogued in the Ateneo Libraries Union Catalog, archived in Ateneo's Rizal Library. Good to know somebody still has a copy.

Salt and Pepper Sirloin Steak with Buttered String Beans and Potatoes Topped with Mushroom Gravy

Had me a feast today with this Salt and Pepper Sirloin Steak, which I cooked in olive oil in a pan. I sided it with buttered baguio beans (string beans) and potato sticks, and smothered everything with mushroom gravy. Mmmmmm.

Guinataang Sitaw at Kalabasa, Crispy-Fried Tilapia, and Oven-Baked Chicken Pandan

Had some friends over for dinner after the holidays soon as I recovered and got back to cooking. Thought I'd do something Filipino and whipped up a smashing combo: guinataang sitaw at kalabasa, crispy-fried tilapia, and oven-baked chicken pandan.

This is the guinataan dish, which is stringbeans and squash, sauteed with ground beef, and cooked in coconut milk. Guinataan, of course, means cooked in coconut milk, or gata in Filipino. Very flavorful.

Crispy-fried tilapia. Crunchy and tasteful.

Got this from the grocery ready to cook. It's marinated chicken thigh meat wrapped in pandan leaves, which I cooked in an oven toaster for about 20 minutes. It turned out really tender and juicy, not to mention yummy.

I was originally intending to consume all these by myself, but I thought, hey, this is too good not to share, so I called on friends, Jay and JM.

They swear, of course, to the very pleasant gastronomic experience we all shared. 'Til the next dinner!

Bacon, Lettuce and Tomato Salad with Caesar's Dressing Topped with Shaved Parmesan

Was sick over the holidays but I mustered some strength to whip up a classic. Wanted to feel a little healthier so I tossed me a BLT salad with Caesar's dressing. Topped it off with some shaved Parmesan cheese to taste.

It was, needless to say, yummy.

Bucket List

Okay, this is so I don't forget. The list just keeps getting longer so I'm putting some of the things down while they're fresh on my mind.

• Be a travel writer - get paid to go places and write about them.
• Put my music out so it's heard by many.
• Sing and play music on stage and TV - be a kick-ass rockista.
• Act on film and TV - and eventually go international.
• Host a show on TV - a travel show, maybe, or a cooking or music show.
• Cook and invent more and more dishes.
• Write books.
• Have a great body.
• Own a house by the beach.

That's it for now. I think. Will just add and subtract as I go along.

Home-Cooked Yumyums

Lately, I've spent more time at home. It's been a month since I moved to the new apartment. (Yes, it's been a month, and this is only the first time I am writing about it. I want to show pictures only when I feel I've completed all the decorating of the place. Until then I will hold the post.) And since then I've been working at home a lot, writing my scripts and articles here, and checking and responding to mails.

I've also taken to cooking (rather, gone back to it) and to inviting friends and family over for dinner. I love preparing meals for friends and family, and cooking meals for myself.

This one was for dinner last Monday: tenderlean pork cooked in balsamic vinegar and rosemary, topped with pesto.

This one was for tonight, at the dinner I gave my little brother and sister: Breakfast steak cooked tender in olive oil and soy sauce, topped with sauteed asparagus and garlic slices.

My guests: niece Wendy, brother Andrew, and cousin Wilma.

This is me with my baby sister, Mikee, and niece, Wendy.

Of course, we had fun. And of course, they liked the food. So here's to more home-cooked meals and to lasting bonds with family and friends! Cheers!

Multiple Intelligences

Always wondered what types of intelligences I have so I googled for tests and arrived at the site called, Multiple Intelligences for Adult Literacy and Education.

I took the test, with the following results:

Your top three intelligences:
Intelligence Score (5.0 is highest)
Description

Musical (5.00)

You like the rhythm and sound of language. You like poems, songs, and jingles. You enjoy humming or singing along with music. You probably remember things well when they are associated with music or rhythm. Try to incorporate sounds into your lessons, such as using a familiar tune, song, or rap beat to teach spelling rules, or to remember words in a series for a
test. Here are some other ways to use your musical intelligence:

• Create a poem with an emphasis on certain sounds for pronunciation.
• Clap out or walk out the sounds of syllables.
• Read together (choral reading) to work on fluency and intonation.
• Read a story with great emotion — sad, then happy, then angry. Talk about what changes — is it only tone?
• Work with words that sound like what they mean (onomatopoeia). For example: sizzle, cuckoo, smash.
• Read lyrics to music.
• Use music as background while reviewing and for helping to remember new material.
• Use rhymes to remember spelling rules, i.e., "I before E except after C."

Spatial (4.00)

You remember things visually, including exact sizes and shapes of objects. You like posters, charts, and graphics. You like any kind of visual clues. You enjoy drawing. Effective techniques of enhancing your learning using your spatial intelligence include creating and/or using pictures, maps, diagrams, and graphs as you learn things. Other suggestions:

• Write a language experience story and then illustrate it.
• Color code words so each syllable is a different color.
• Write a word on the blackboard with a wet finger. Visualize the word as it disappears. See if you can spell it afterwards.
• Take a survey. Put the information in a chart.
• Write words vertically.
• Cut out words from a magazine and use them in a letter.
• Visualize spelling words.
• Use colorful newspapers like USA Today.
• Use crossword puzzles.

Self (3.86)

You have a very good sense of self. You like to spend time by yourself and think things over. You will often take in information from another person, mull it over by yourself, and come back to that person later to discuss it. You like working on projects on your own. You often prefer to learn by trial and error. Effective techniques to enhance your learning include keeping a journal and giving yourself time to reflect on new ideas and information. More ideas:

• Go on "guided imagery" tours.
• Set aside time to reflect on new ideas and information.
• Encourage journal writing.
• Work on the computer.
• Practice breathing for relaxation.
• Use brainstorming methods before reading.
• Listen to and read "how to" tapes and books.
• Read cookbooks.

The scores for your other five intelligences:

Social 3.71
Nature 3.57
Language 3.29
Body movement 3.29
Logic/math 3.14

Just because these five are not in your top three doesn’t mean you’re not strong in them. If your average score for any intelligence is above three, you’re probably using that intelligence quite often to help you learn. Take a look at the Practice section to see how to engage all your intelligences.

The Long Road Home (The Full Story)

SEQ. 1. INT. DAY. G'S APARTMENT.

G is busy with house work when his cellphone rings. It's Ces Aldaba, his actor-uncle whom he recently met at the taping of an infommercial. Tito Ces asks if he's available for taping the next day for an afternoon soap. He excitedly says yes and agrees to wait for more details from Tito Ces.

SEQ. 2. INT. NIGHT. G'S APARTMENT.

Piper and G are busy with work when G receives final instructions for taping the next day in Pampanga. The call time was 6:00 AM. The role was going to be a doctor. The soap was Gaano Kadalas ang Minsan, starring Marvin Agustin and Camille Pratts. Scenes of international stardom flash before G's eyes.

SEQ. 3. INT. DAWN. G'S APARTMENT.

It's 5:30 AM. G is packing some doctor clothes and preparing to leave. He did not finish his writing assignments and resolves to finish them on the road as he closes the door to his apartment and leaves.

SEQ. 4. EXT. DAY. 7-11 OUTSIDE GMA.

It's past 6:00 AM. G is waiting for the production staff, Jonsky, to call him into the van that will bring them to Pampanga. Jonsky tells him he was supposed to have been called at 5:00 AM and should have joined the rest of the talents/extras in the jeepneys. In his mind, G thanks God for his luck. He gets to ride with some of the minor actors/celebrities in the van.

SEQ. 5. EXT. DAY. PARKING LOT OUTSIDE MT. CARMEL HOSPITAL.

The van arrives in San Fernando, Pampanga, at the location - Mt. Carmel Hospital. G and the actors/celebrities get off the van and proceed to the hospital building. Jonsky instructs them to proceed to the standby room at the 2nd floor. G follows the actors/celebrities. Jonsky stands by the door and looks G in the eye, and says, "Go and have breakfast at the parking lot." G quickly realizes he does not belong with the actors/celebrities and lines up for breakfast - heaps of rice and one slice of paksiw na bangus. He lugs his wardrobe and laptop bag around and looks for a decent place to eat in. He finds a spot in the basketball court and picks his way through the fish bones of the bangus. He decides not to eat the rest of the fish for fear of having fish bone stuck in his throat the rest of the day. He hears some lady yelling for the talents to gather.

SEQ. 6. INT. DAY. 2nd FLOOR HOSPITAL LOBBY.

G joins the rest of the talents in the exodus from the parking lot to the 2nd floor lobby where they were supposed to wait for their call. G suveys the lobby and tells himself, "So, this is camp. Bummer." He picks a spot at the stairs and begins working on his writing assignments.

SEQ. 7. INT. DAY. 2nd FLOOR HOSPITAL LOBBY.

G occasionally looks up from his work to check if any of the staff are calling him. None did. Many of the other talents are busy putting on nurses' costumes and doctors' costumes and rushing to and from camp. G wonders when his call will come.

SEQS. 8 to 16. INT. DAY. 2nd FLOOR HOSPITAL LOBBY.

Same as Seq. 7. This goes on through lunch. No calls. No instructions. No nothing.

SEQ. 17. INT. DAY. MAIN LOBBY.

G is surprised to find an old acquaintance from theater entering the main lobby carrying all his coats, shirts, and pants. G thinks to himself, "Aha! A co-actor! Finally, someone I know! Now, I am not alone." G approaches Allan, an actor more experienced on TV than G, who promptly introduces him to his girlfriend, fellow actor, Mimi. They exchange a few words and Allan and Mimi camp out with G at the 2nd floor lobby. G and Allan are handed scripts by one of the staff. A few minutes later, Allan announces he has found a nice, comfortable place for us to camp out in at the ground floor. G joins them but says he fears he might miss his call. He leaves his things with them and goes back up again to the 2nd floor lobby.

SEQ. 18 to 101. INT. DAY. 2nd FLOOR HOSPITAL LOBBY.

Much like Seqs. 7 to 16, except G finishes his writing assignments and starts wondering how much longer he has to wait. He occasionally visits Allan and Mimi to chat, but nothing seems to appease his growing anxiety.

SEQ. 102. INT. NIGHT. CONFERENCE ROOM.

Ground floor camp. Very comfortable seats. Air-conditioned room. The staff that gave G and Allan their scripts earlier comes in and announces G has been memorizing the wrong script. G gives a faint smile as he receives the correct script.

SEQ. 103 to 856. INT/EXT. NIGHT/DAWN. ALL AROUND THE HOSPITAL.

G waits. And waits. He smokes. He waits. He eats. He chats. He sleeps. He waits. He plays computer games. He waits. He sleeps again. He waits. And waits still. He washes his face. And waits still.

SEQ. 857. EXT. DAY. PARKING LOT.

G calls Tito Ces to get advice. He has been waiting 24 hours to be called for his scene. Tito Ces says he should wait. G puts the phone down and briefly considers committing suicide.

SEQ. 858 to 903. INT. DAY. CONFERENCE ROOM.

G waits. And waits. He smokes. He waits. He eats. He chats. He sleeps. He waits. He plays computer games. He waits. He sleeps again. He waits. And waits still. He washes his face. And waits still.

SEQ. 904. EXT. DAY. PARKING LOT.

G is smoking his last stick when he finally gets his call. He rushes inside and everything suddenly becomes a blur. Before he knows it, the scene is over and he is sweating like a pig. He breathes a silent prayer that the ordeal is finally over.

SEQ. 905. EXT. DAY. ON A BUS.

G collects his thoughts as he makes his way back to his life. He remembers doing the scene with Marvin Agustin and Camille Pratts. He remembers the Assistant Director calling a cut when he missed his blocking and completely blocked the lead stars from the view of one camera. He remembers hitting his foot on the bench on the scene. He remembers forgetting his line and imagining the director cursing because of it. He remembers hitting the door on his exit. He remembers saying sorry a lot and Jonsky shushing him because his lapel microphone was on and the scene was still ongoing. He remembers briefly swearing off show business for the rest of his life. He remembers needing only one take for the other half of his scene and taking back his decision to swear off show business. He remembers all this and starts writing on his blog,

After 28 hours at a taping out of town, I am finally on my way home (literally writing this on a bus). This is probably one of the longest days of my life. There are stories to tell. More in a later entry.

Then G falls asleep.

Looking for a Public Relations Officer

QTV's Hired is looking for a Public Relations Officer with the following qualifications:

• Male or Female, 18-26 years old
• At least college level with excellent interpersonal skills
• Loves to party with a strong fashion sense
• Confident, aggressive, and up to date with current trends
• Creative, fun-loving and able to work in a dynamic environment
• Willing to join a reality show

Send your resume with photo to hired@gmanetwork.com.

Deadline of submission of applications is on 31 October 2008.

For inquiries, call 9264523 or 9827777 loc. 3025.

What's in a Name?

Got this from www.asiaflash.com.

The Personality of Your First Name: Glenn

There's an extremely pronounced individualistic side to your character. In all those with this first name, there's always something of a free, wild stallion. This means that it won't be easy to make them accept rules and that they'll often refuse any too imperious or too restrictive order. Their enterprising spirit, their dynamism, their ability to see far and wide can hardly make do with impediments to their freedom of action.

You like responsibilities and you refuse to be taken care of: you only long to look after yourself even if it sometimes means erring because of exaggerated optimism. You never want to walk in someone's shadow. Fundamentally, you feel free enough, strong enough to be able to exist by yourself. You don't need someone who comforts you, neither a protector, neither a guide.

Your relations with authority, whatever it may be — parents, teachers, superiors, administrative powers — are always more or less tense. Your often rebellious attitude makes one believe that you're tactless. But on the contrary, when you're yourself invested with authority, you want others to respect it duly.

Your intelligence is above all lucid and logical. You're too direct to ever get lost in existential meanders, and you aren't either inclined to mull over the past.

Extremely enthusiastic and anxious to succeed in all your undertakings, you're nevertheless sufficiently conscious of your chances of success. You're endowed with the faculty to adapt yourself to circumstances and to use them as a springboard. As you're an emotive person, you can experience depression in the wake of a brutal failure, but you don't let yourself be downhearted: you'll wait for your forces with a view to making a new start.

Of an irascible nature, you flare up quickly, and you often happen to lose your temper. But your anger is that of a superficial and touchy personage who'll get indignant or become angry but who'll thereafter look for forgiveness. When annoyed, you'll shout very loudly and will immediately forget all about it. Your anger once cooled off, you'll bear no grudge. If you sometimes happen to give in to shattering fits of anger, there're at least no actual manifestations of hostility: you simply try to assert yourself!

You're prompted by a powerful passion. But your passion is not raw and overflowing: it's rather a fire that smolders under the ashes and which emits more heat than flame. It manifests itself in your taste for risks and your desire to remove the constraints that are imposed on you.

In everyday life, you're sociable, merry, and of agreeable company. You're also often obliging. Your enthusiasm is contagious. In your relationships with others, you appear rather conciliatory, understanding, and tolerant. You're generally frank and direct in your words as in your acts.

The Long Road Home

After 28 hours at a taping out of town, I am finally on my way home (literally writing this on a bus). This is probably one of the longest days of my life. There are stories to tell. More in a later entry.

Done Reading

I finished reading them soon as I announced I was going to. I just forgot to say I was done with the first set of the Vampire Chronicles (Interview with the Vampire, The Vampire Lestat, and The Queen of the Damned). Tinz has yet to lend me the 4th installment, The Tale of the Body Thief.

And then there's the following to find:

• Memnoch the Devil
• The Vampire Armand
• Merrick
• Blood and Gold
• Blackwood Farm
• Blood Canticle
• Pandora
• Vittorio the Vampire

I still have Lord of the Flies to finish. And Prue has yet to lend me Twilight. Prue? Or maybe Jes can lend me. Jessica?

Somebody please lend me more books to read!

Kakampi

This is for those who were not able to catch the airing of my very first TV infommercial. This is the omnibus version, which aired on a Friday. The solo version, which aired on a Thursday contains some more shots of me, but both carry the part where I deliver my line.

This was for the telecoms brand, TM. Start of something big? I hope.

Here's the youtube version that I uploaded.

Oh, Angelina!

The Reason I Would Rather Not Be in a Long Distance Relationship

Okay, I admit. I, too, am affected (to say the least) reading Piper's last entry. I'm posting my responses to the many questions she posed. I advise you to wear your hard hats before reading on because rocks and stones might come pouring down hard from the heavens.

QUESTION # 1: CAN LOVE REALLY EXIST BETWEEN TWO UNEQUALS?
- The Bible says in 2 Corinthians 6:14, "Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness?" This, of course refers to faith but the principle has many applications, including romantic (purely secular) relationships between two unequals.

QUESTION # 2: WHEN YOU'RE TIRED, DO YOU JUST REST?
- Uhm, yeah.

QUESTION # 3: IS THIS CONDITIONAL LOVE? Magpakatotoo tayo, mahirap ang UNCONDITIONAL LOVE. May ganun ba talaga?
- Meron naman. Kay God.

QUESTION # 4: WHEN SOMEONE DOESN'T EXERT EFFORT AND TELLS YOU "EH WALA AKONG MAGAWA," DO YOU BELIEVE HIM?
- I'm a "just do it" and a "try and try until you succeed" kind of person, so no, I won't believe him.

QUESTION # 5: WHEN THAT SOMEONE TELLS YOU "intindihin mo naman ako" WHEN YOU FEEL THAT YOU HAVE DRAINED YOURSELF TO UNDERSTAND HIM, SHOULD YOU ANSWER HIM BACK AND SAY: "eh patayin mo na lang kaya ako!"
- Why not?

QUESTION # 6: WHEN YOU SHARE A SUN LINE TO AVOID HEARING THE LINE "wala akong load eh" BUT YOU STILL HEAR THE LINE "eh walang signal eh", O ANO KA, ANO MASASABI MO DUN? HA? HA? HAHAHAHA! NATATAWA NA KO SA MGA ORAS NA TO. Hahahahaha!
- Ako rin, natatawa na. Mwahahahaha! Try and try until you succeed. I never stop until I've exhausted all my options.

QUESTION # 7: WHEN YOU'RE UP THERE AND HE'S DOWN BELOW, GIVEN...TUTULUNGAN MO SIYA. ANG TANONG, HANGGANG SAAN?
- That's a question of choice. Depends how much I choose to love him.

QUESTION # 8: WHEN ALL HE SAYS IS HE MISSES YOU AND HE LOVES YOU FOREVER, DO YOU JUST HAVE FAITH IN HIM? YUN LANG HA. YUN LANG ANG PINANGHAHAWAKAN MO. HAHA. WALA NGANG EFFORT DIBA?
- Action speaks louder than words. Yun lang.

QUESTION # 9: (eto medyo digging up the past ha, again, wala akong paki) WHEN HE THINKS THAT SAYING I LOVE YOU TO HIS EX GIRLFRIEND IS OKAY TAPOS ANG DAHILAN AY "friend ko sha eh" SHYET. MAY TATALO DUN? CGE NGA? YES, I TOO WAS STUPID TO GIVE HIM ANOTHER CHANCE. HAHAHAHA.
- I have only this to say: You can dig up as much of the past as you want, but me? I'd rather not. Hahaha!

QUESTION # 10: AT ETO KA, ETO KA. WHEN FACED WITH TWO CHOICES...A CHOICE BETWEEN PLANNING YOUR FUTURE, REUNITING WITH YOUR HONEY AFTER MORE THAN A MONTH, SCOUTING FOR POSSIBILITIES, EXPLORING A NEW WORLD, SETTING UP GAMEPLANS FOR YOUR CAREER, WITH FUN TRIPS AND HAPPY SUNSHINY DAYS vs. A GIG AT ICM WHICH HE ALREADY SAID NO TO, KAYA LANG SAYANG DAW KASI FASHION SHOW NG MOSSIMO, DEADMA NA KUNG MASAYANG ANG PLANE TICKET NA AKO ANG NAGBAYAD AT NAKABOOK NA THREE WEEKS AGO ....AT ANO ANG PINILI? GO FIGURE. eto naman ang choice niyo: maniniwala ka bang mahal ka niya talaga at iintindihin mo? o sasalampak ka sa upuan mo, magsisindi ng yosi, titingin sa kawalan at tatanungin ang sarili, "san ko nga ulit nakilala ito?, may problema ba ko nung mga panahong yun?"
- Hahahaha! I choose the latter - sit and smoke and try to remember how I even got into it.

Two Poems

I just posted 2 poems at the poetry site. I found them archived in one of my backup disks. Here are excerpts from the poems:

RITWAL
Para kay Babs

....
Natigalgal ang buwan sa ritwal. Umungol
kasabay ng pag-init ng ipinahid na putik.
Hinawakan niya ang aking tiyan at lumuha
sa naramdamang pagkalam nito. “Heto

ang bilugang hugis ng buntis. Samsamin
mo ang tamis at pait ng minsan kong
pagdaplis sa maikli mong buhay.”
At doon nahati ako sa baywang
....


CANNIBALISM

Sa paghawak
sa armas kong pilit
binabayo
dama ko
pagkaupos ng sigarilyong hithit.
Sa pagningas ng aso
at pag-init ng laman
nararamdaman
pagkaubos ng kaluluwang said.
....

Read the full poems at the poetry site or click on any of the following:

Ritwal
Cannibalism

Lysistrata (Redux)

Found tons of pictures in my backup discs and loaded all that I could on my new laptop (which I got on installment through the GMA cooperative), and online too. Sharing with you those I found of me onstage.

Did Aristophanes' Lysistrata for Dulaang UP in 2004 under Prof. Amiel Leonardia's direction.

In an endless banter here (over dominance of the sexes) with good friend, Margo Borgonia, as Lysistrata. I played the Commissioner.

What is that, soldier?

Losing the argument, Commissioner?

Here as one of the old men in the English version where Fonz Deza played the Commissioner.

Photos, of course, are courtesy of Dulaang UP.

The Imaginary Invalid (Redux)

Did Moliere's Le Malade Imaginaire a few years back (2003) under the direction of Prof. Amiel Leonardia. With Frances Makil-Ignacio, Margo Borgonia, Fonz Deza, Richard Cunanan, Roy Alvarez, Romnick Sarmenta, and the Dulaang UP ensemble.


Played the role of Argan's crazy, prophet-of-doom physician. Here with Richard and Frances.

With Roy and Margo.

Spelling out Argan's doom in this scene.

Argan's physician, Dr. Purgon.

Photos and poster courtesy of Dulaang UP.

The Maids (Slideshow)

Here's a slideshow of the pictures taken during our one-night-only performance (2003) of The Maids by Jean Genet, directed by Marte Nerona, featuring Ronnie Martinez (as Soledad, the older maid), Paul Santiago (as the Señora), and myself (as Clara, the younger maid).

Here's an article on the play taken from Wikipedia:

Genet loosely based his play on the infamous Papin sisters, Lea and Christine, who brutally murdered their employer and her daughter in Le Mans, France, in 1933, although the play is not the story of the Papin sisters as such. Solange and Claire are two housemaids who construct elaborate sadomasochistic rituals when their mistress (Madame) is away. The focus of their theatrical playing is the murder of Madame, and they take turns portraying either side of the power divide. The deliberate pace and devotion to detail guarantees that they always fail to actualize their fantasies by ceremoniously "killing" Madame at the ritual's denouement. The play was first produced by Louis Jouvet in 1947.

The Maids

This photo was from the play, The Maids by Jean Genet, which I did a few years back for Dulaang Laboratoryo under the direction of then student-director, Marte Nerona.

Got you interested so far? Click here for more photos.

Looking for a Coffee Shop Supervisor

Q's Hired is in search of the next Coffee Shop Supervisor for a high-end coffee shop:

• Male or Female
• 25 to 35 years old
• With two (2) years supervisory experience in F&B or service oriented company
• With good people skills, and is a team player
• Willing to join a reality show

Send your resume and pictures at the following addresses:
hired@gmanetwork.com
karlcamila@yahoo.com

Hired!
GMA Network Center
EDSA Cor. Timog Avenue
Diliman, Quezon City

Hired! airs every Sunday at 8PM only on Q.

Do you have what it takes?

Padlock Party

Evie/Piper posted pictures and a video of the PADLOCK party held at my apartment last week, in honor of my birthday and Jeng's (and Blessie's). Couldn't have been any more fun than it was. Only things missing were Blessie (and her pansit, which means shorter lives for Jeng and I - hahaha!) and Prue.

Click here to see the pictures. Be sure to check the video as well.

Happy Happy Birthday

I don't know, maybe when one gets older, one loses the inclination to party.

Spent the eve of my birthday with my brothers, Ian and Adam. We were drinking and singing - two things we like in common - at my apartment until about 2 in the morning. When they left, I savored my first official night as a single person living alone. (I let go of my maid, rather, was rid of her finally that day so I literally live alone now.)

On D-day, I went to work and met Illac Diaz and his mom, Sylvanna, two very well-adjusted, happy, and generous people. At the shoot, I got a very surprising SMS from a talent coordinator who called me the day before for a project. He told me that the project was pushing through. (More of this in a later entry.)

After work, I spent some time at the office and jammed with some staff. My mom called to greet me, and so did many other good friends. My phone told me I was running out of space in my inbox - it was filling up with birthday greetings from friends and family.

Later, I went to Bar Uno, where one of the hosts asked me what my birthday wish was. I responded with, "I couldn't wish for anything else. I have everything I need."

Up to now, the words still ring in my head.

Yes, I do have everything I need.

The Chronicle of Change - One Year After

"I have been contemplating on creating my own blog for some time, but I never really found the time nor the drive to do it."

- July 12, 2007

Thus began my personal endeavor to bare my life open to the world. It was a little more than a year ago when I started chronicling the changes that happen in my life. The Charmed Bloggers - Prue, Piper, Paige - encouraged me, and I couldn't be any more thankful to them that they did.

So many things have changed. So many good things have happened. And following the line of previous posts on gratitude, I thought it wise to make a list of the major changes that have happened in the last year that I am much grateful to God for.

• I used to hold a good managerial position in the Network but realized that the job was not perfect for my personality type. God gave me a more fitting, more relaxed, more creative job as TV Director and I love it.
• I realized I could write songs, something I have always considered doing but was just so afraid to try. I learned to play the guitar, and learned to play percussions, and I continue to learn something new and improve on my playing everyday with practice.
• I have learned (and am learning more everyday) the keys to happiness: embracing change, throwing out the negative and keeping to happy thoughts, staying away from (or closing the door on) dark, gloomy, negative people who can so easily drag you down with them, always looking at the brighter side of things, keeping myself from changing the things and people I cannot change but changing instead the way I look at them, and finally, being thankful.
• I realize now I have the power to change other people's lives by showing them how I changed mine and how these changes have affected my life positively.
• I have grown more independent. Now I live alone (albeit belatedly at 33 years old) and wash my own clothes and cook my own meals and work my ass off to pay the rent and the bills - all those grown up stuff I did not have the chance to do earlier in life.
• I have grown to love my family more than I ever thought possible.
• I realize that helping others is infinitely more satisying and fulfilling than just knowing you can.
• I have learned to love being alone.
• I also realized how my pride has led to so many of my downfalls in the past, and I am learning to always keep it in check.
• Most importantly, I have learned that God is infinitely more infinite than infinite.

I will end this anniversary entry, the same way I ended my first entry. I leave you with this quote.

"I guess things have changed - as they do all the time. And really, if there's ever going to be a theme to this, it will have to be change - the strongest and the only constant force in nature.

So here begins the chronicle of my life and times, the chronicle of change."

Happy Thoughts

Just thought I'd share with you my mantra for this season: HAPPY THOUGHTS!

Woohoo Paige! Woohoo Piper!

Gratitude

Found this on the net. Good read. Click on this link.

I especially like this part from Melodie Beattie:

Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos into order, confusion into clarity.... It turns problems into gifts, failures into success, the unexpected into perfect timing, and mistakes into important events. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today and creates a vision for tomorrow.

Here's something I also found from (or was reminded of by) Paige, where she quoted Oprah. Here's the link. Especially like this quote from Oprah:

I live in the space of thankfulness - and I have been rewarded a million times over for it. I started out giving thanks for small things, and the more thankful I became, the more my bounty increased. That's because what you focus on expands, and when you focus on the goodness in your life, you create more of it. Opportunities, relationships, even money flowed my way when I learned to be grateful no matter what happened in my life.

So I am taking this opportunity to thank my family and my friends - the people who love me in spite of me. I am where I am now and I am who I am now because your love has shaped me, your patience has empowered me, and your own gratitude for the blessings that have come to you from heaven have inspired me to do the same.

Special thanks to Piper and Paige for the enlightening talk. I am grateful we had it.

Alright

Another beginning is starting its ending today. I ain't okay
so don't come raining down on this parade.
The bubble has burst. The clowns have gone. The party's over.
Now, I'm done with this charade.

You left the room and left the lights on all night.
I woke up blinded and you were nowhere in sight.
Honestly couldn't remember if we had a fight.
And all this time I thought we were alright.

Now there's no more laughing and talking 'til morning comes
through the windows. No more kisses on the nose.
And now I'm beginning to feel the gaping hole you left in me.
You have gone, and so it goes.

You left the room and left the lights on all night.
I woke up blinded and you were nowhere in sight.
Honestly couldn't remember if we had a fight.
And all this time I thought we were alright.

Promises made and promises broken, feelings to share left unspoken
We could've given. We could've chosen. We could've been.
But you made your choice and now I'm broken. What else is left to bargain?
I could not have seen it coming.

Maybe tonight when I imagine you beside me
under the sheets on my bed.
I'll close my eyes to try to catch some scent of you
on the pillows on my head.

You left the room and left the lights on all night.
I woke up blinded and you were nowhere in sight.
Honestly couldn't remember if we had a fight.
And all this time I thought we were alright.

Another beginning is starting its ending today. I ain't okay
so don't come raining down on this parade.

- for Doc, completed August 4, 2008

Brownbuds at Umagang Kayganda

The Publication of Ra

An old friend, Sandra, encouraged me to send in one of my poems for the newsletter of her group, Humanity's Team Philippines. You can check the published poem, The Emancipation of Ra, here.

Looking for an Events Manager

Hired is currently on the look-out for an EVENTS MANAGER. The qualifications are as follows:

• Male or female, 21-30 years old
• Single
• With at least a year of experience in an events company or in a service oriented company that deals with multi-tasking, i.e. theater, advertising, journalism
• Must be passionate and driven
• Must be talented, creative and thinks out of the box
• Must have an eye for detail
• Must be patient and willing to work extra hours
• Can work with minimal supervision
• Must be able to work with a team
• Well versed in spoken and written English and tagalog
• Must have pleasant personality

Please send resume with photo to hired@gmanetwork.com. Deadline of application is on August 11, 2008. For inquiries, please call Tinz Tuliao at telefax 926-4523 and 982-7777 local 3025.

The Things You Do When You're Hired

Thanks to Redg for all the pictures below, which I stole from her Multiply site. Over the last few weeks she has been diligently documenting the activities of Hired's staff at and outside work.

At Ballet Manila's rehearsal studios: Mon, Redg, Regie, Tinz, and I, behind the scenes of the Ballerina search.

A fitting celebration at Cafe Rallos after the wrap of the Ballerina series shoot. Redg in pink.

The Beatles? The i-Witness hosts? Not likely. Tinz, April, Karl, Alvin, myself, and Mon.

At Disney's birthday party (Cafe Rallos) - me, Redg, the birthday boy, Tinz, Mariz, and Jes.

Food at last! We were starving after the shoot.

Belting out a duet with Mariz. I think it was Bakit Ngayon Ka Lang.

On khon, jamming with Tinz a.k.a. Sitti Astals.


Singing with April.

We obviously love to sing.

At Starway videoke place with Regie, Jes, Redg, Mariz, and VJ search winner, Greggy.

April (in pink jacket) not one to miss out on the action.

The Dancing Queen mania lives!

Ballerina fever - Karl, me, April, Mon, Regie, and Jes.

Pose like a danseur.

Ballet rocks!

On location at Vivere Hotel where we shot some sequences of the VJ search.

At Greggy's victory party - Redg, me, Jes, April, Pael (runner up), Tinz, Mon, Mariz, Karl, and Disney.

The originals - haha! - contemporaries in MTK!: Mon, me, and Regie.