Waiting and Hoping (My Best Buddy's Wedding)

Sunday, October 8, 9:37 AM

Mood: Tired but happy that I have a 1-day rest period (I had my longest sleep in a week….7 hours!)

Mood Music: 32 Flavors (Alana Davis), In The Absence of The Sun (Duncan Sheik), You Wouldn’t Like Me (Tegan and Sara), You’re All I Have (Snow Patrol)


THE WEEK THAT WAS

I had a real tough week at work. We resumed the implementation of the new SAP Business One system last Tuesday. Thrice this week I went home at 3 in the morning, practically spending the night in our warehouse in Malinta. To say that I am dead tired is an understatement…I am amazed at how my body still hasn’t shut down. The only manifestations of a near-burn out are (1) a punishing back pain, (2) Garfield-sized eyebags and (3) some manageable breakouts.

What kept me going? Finding relief that things are better and smoother than our first SAP Go Live. Of course, there are glitches along the way but this time, I find them more manageable. I am keeping my fingers crossed that we can bring this project to its final successful stage. I just hope that people will remain understanding and patient since we are still dealing with learning curves and on-site troubleshooting.

With the overwhelming pressures from work this week, I had to forgo my usual routines and principles:

- I ate rice almost everyday! (Try the new McDonald’s Rice Burger for a quick and kinda-heavy lunch). I badly need the bad carb to sustain me for my 20-hr shift.
- While I dread driving long distances at night, I did it almost everyday this week (going home to Bulacan or to and from our Malinta warehouse). I had to be force myself to be alert since my body is already reeling from the lack of sleep and lack of food.
- I didn’t work out for the whole week (not even some simple curl-ups).
- I missed Breakfast (the Studio 23 show) three times this week. Watching Breakfast is an essential routine for me since this riles me up for the day, with the token optimism and perkiness of the hosts.
- I didn’t have time to get groceries so there is practically no food at my house!
- Since I was famished most of the time, I think I ate pork two times this week. (Argh!)
- I practically survived on chocolates (no fruits or veggies for me this week!). Trivia: I am officially addicted to Flat Tops and Curly Tops (the one in boxes only).


Today is a Sunday and I am still mulling on how to de-stress. Enough sleep. Check. Update blog (ultimate stress relief!). Check. Listen to relaxing music (The Island is a must-listen!). Check.

What do I do for the afternoon? Do I go to the mall? Do I visit check out the new DVDs from my suki pirates? Do I watch the remaining unwatched episodes of Entourage or Grey’s Anatomy? Or maybe I’ll just get more sleep.


FOREVER WAITS FOR BRYAN AND LESLIE

How can I forget to write about this! I usually cringe at the thought of attending weddings but
last September 16, I attended one of the most-anticipated weddings in our office. After seven years of being together, my good friend Bryan and his long-time girlfriend Leslie became Mr and Mrs. Bryan Lim.

I almost missed the church ceremony. I arrived in time to see the picture taking with family and friends. Although Bryan asked me to read the Responsorial Psalm during the Mass, I had to beg off since my schedule is still unconfirmed (I was supposed to get someone from the airport). I heard that Bryan dissolved in tears during the ceremony. I wasn’t at all surprised since this wedding and this relationship really means so much to Bryan. I am so happy for him.

The reception was held at the Crowne Plaza. By this time I am already feeling edgy. Weeks before the wedding Bryan asked me to make a write-up narrating their story as a couple. Then Bryan requested that I make a speech-toast during the reception. Which is just fine since that will only take a few words. But a day before the wedding, Bryan asked that I read the write-up I made…which is two-pages long!!! For Bryan and Les, I mustered enough courage to speak in front of the guests (which includes all my bosses and their extended family).

I decided not to read the write-up word-for-word since that will be like a newscast. I decided to do some ad-libs and do it in Taglish. What’s the use of a perfect English write-up if the guest won’t listen and get the message? Thank goodness my speech went well (basta hindi ako nag-buckle, ok na yun!)

To Chong and Les, there is no doubt in my mind that you make a perfect couple. I will go so far as say that this is the first wedding that I really wanted to attend, because I believe in your relationship. As I have written in the wish-cards, if I will be asked to make a bet on whose marriage will last until forever, I will answer (hands down), that it will be yours. Continue being the perfect example for us life- and love-weary

Bryan and I share the same principles and sense of responsibility so it is remarkable to see things work out well for him. It made me believe that things will also work out for me. Sniff, sniff.


I WANT UNDERSTANDING, NOT PRESSURE

I already prepared myself for this. With Bryan tying the knot, the love radar will point on me. True enough, while waiting for the reception to start, my two bosses/friends interrogated me on my plans on this department. I know they meant well, it’s just that I don’t like being pressured on this. I want things at my own pace. I believe this is something that CAN wait.

If you only could only see what LIFE has made of me, then you would understand why I am the DIFFICULT KIND.

Please do not summon my dark side. I maybe dwelling on the theoretical POSITIVITY and POSSIBILITY but if that keeps me going, then so be it. It is better than drowning in the MISERY of REALITY. I’ve been there before so trust me on that.



SURVIVOR: COOK ISLANDS

With reality TV season back in full swing, I am again in TV heaven. Survivor and Amazing Race are back! I barely have time to watch TV, but I managed to watch all the current episodes of Survivor. I couldn’t say the same thing about The Amazing Race (I just have to wait for the marathon episodes and the re-runs).

Being the pioneer of the reality TV trend, Survivor well…survives. They managed to raise the bar higher with each season. For Cook Islands, they decided to go multi-racial. They got five participants each of the four races: Caucasians, Asians, Latinos and African-Americans.

Of course, I am rooting for the Asian team with two Filipinos on-board. There is Jenny, a boxer and reporter from a Filipino News Channel. And Brad Virata, a fashion consultant. Both are doing quite well as of Episode 4. Not high-profile but definitely not wallflowers either.

The Asians won the first reward and immunity challenges (plus Yul got the Immunity Idol). By Episode Three, the four racial tribes were dissolved into two. Brad and Jenny are still together as part of the Rarotonga tribe.

Casualties as of Episode 4: three Latinos and one Afri-Am.


USELESS ENTERTAINMENT TRIVIA (Wala lang…just so you know)

Here are some things that I remember which usually surprise those who are not paying much attention:

- Famous Singers On Back-up Vocals: Babyface on Take a Bow (Madonna), Mariah Carey on Everytime I Close My Eyes (Babyface) and Last Chance (Allure), Plumb vocalist Tiffany Arbuckle on I Wanna Be With You (Mandy Moore)
- Justin Timberlake refused to be credited for the song Where Is The Love (Black-Eyed Peas). He wanted the song to be famous because of the message and not because HE is in it.
- Gary Barlow’s (of Take That) first solo single Love Won’t Wait is composed by Madonna.
- Mandy Moore is the voice of Ducky in The Land Before Time. Ducky is the small dinosaur fond of saying Yep, Yep! (Ah…ok)
- Carmine Giovinazzo (Dannie Messer of CSI: NY) is the only actor to appear in all CSI franchises.
- CSI Katherine Willows is the mother of the infected children in Erin Brockovich.
- Wentworth Miller (Michael Scofied of Prison Break) is the guy in Mariah Carey’s It’s Like That and We Belong Together videos.


AGENDA FOR THE WEEK

Sure Shot
- Go to Cebu for SAP Go-Live Cebu Edition
- Go shopping in Cebu (go back to that imported shirt store near Banilad)
- Fix room (broken sink faucet, screens blown by Milenyo)
- Change oil and tune-up for car
- Go back to no-rice diet (Gardenia-Quaker Honey Oat Loaf to the rescue!)
- Clean-out celfon inbox (1,097 messages! Am I freaking crazy?!)

Long Shot
- Get a massage (this back pain is killing me!)
- Be home by 10PM (latest)
- Get at least 6 hours of sleep

Remembering 9/11 and the Storm of the "Milenyo"

Sunday, First of October, 7:49 AM

Mood: Bordering on stressed-out and panic-stricken

Mood Music: You Wouldn’t Like Me (Tegan and Sara), Lonely Day (Phantom Planet), Waiting On The World To Change (John Mayer), I Want To Fall In Love With You (Jars of Clay),

I am about to dive into another hell week…which will most probably turn to hell MONTH. So to rep myself up, I will indulge in the best stress-buster I know of…WRITING. Please bear with this deluge of thoughts, as I have been holding them back for the last few weeks or so.

REMEMBERING 9/11

September 11, 2001. I remember coming home late from my work then as a writer/researcher/artist for a publishing company. The people in my house were already asleep and I was about to have a late dinner in front of the TV. What I saw on CNN news was one of the biggest shocks of my life. I saw the images that this generation will not easily forget.

I recall fearing that a similar attack was happening in Manila, at first confused on which World Trade Center the news was referring to. Then I woke up my sister and we watched the horrific images again and again. It was like watching a sick reality show or a demented “B” action movie. Yes, at that time, I was thinking that maybe this is the end of the world.

Five year hence, the dark cloud of terrorism still looms. It is ironic that while technology is making the world “small” and accessible, diversity (be it religion, race, even belief) is further dividing the human race.

Why can’t we just live and let live?

FROM THE DARKNESS CAME THE REAL “GLITTER”

While, September 11 is the one of the darkest days in modern history, it also marks the darkest day in the personal history of a pop music phenomenon. The WTC attacks coincided with the release of universally-panned “Glitter” soundtrack by the then-infallible Mariah Carey. Like a bad omen, the album cover for Glitter featured the Twin Towers of WTC.

For the record (pun intended), the Glitter album wasn’t that bad (but the movie really sucked). Yes, it was lackluster compared to Mariah’s previous efforts like the groundbreaking Daydream album and Butterfly. Some of the gems in Glitter include the songs Never Too Far and Reflections. It just got lost in the media hype on Mariah’s apparent emotional breakdown, the repulsive Loverboy video and the pressure from Virgin Records.

Now, Glitter is ancient history. While it could have easily been Mariah’s demise as a record-breaking singer, trust Mariah to turn it into a platform to greater heights. As we all know, 2005 belonged to Mariah Carey. She staged the biggest comeback for a fallen star, slapped her detractors in the face as she amassed critical and commercial acclaim with the biggest song that year (We Belong Together) and the best-selling album (aptly titled The Emancipation of Mimi).

Kudos to MC! I know it is very Oprah but I have always rallied behind the underdogs, the people who overcame personal tragedies and the people who made things happen despite of and in spite of.

Shout-out: Howdy, Francis (a.k.a Lestat), one of the biggest MC fan I know. Hope you are reading this and hope you are chasing your own rainbow in Canada.

STORM OF THE “MILENYO”

I was in (I think) in fourth grade when the last super typhoon passed Bulacan (Yoling, if memory serves me right). Me as a little boy felt afraid, excited and awe-struck at the same time. Afraid of what damage it might bring (especially the dreaded flood from a nearby river). Excited on the possibility of playing in the floodwaters. And I am awe-struck at the power than nature can muster, like a simple reminder that we are just a speck in the universe.

That same feeling hit me again last Thursday when Milenyo’s eye glared at Metro Manila. But this time I am more afraid than excited, though still awe-struck. It is not often that a category 3 storm passes through Manila. It is interesting to see how the supposed stronghold capital of the nation will hold up to a hissy fit from nature.

By noon, Milenyo had his presence felt. It is eerie to hear the wind howl and our building creak and groan in response. Our work was cancelled by noon (because power was out, not because of the perils of the storm, mind you) and I went out to witness Milenyo’s wrath from a safe distance. Call me a frustrated meteorologist and geologist but I have always been fascinated by the fury of nature. I was shocked to see that it was practically The Day After Tomorrow outside the office. The gale-foce winds were spectacular as it tried to blow everything away. I parked my car in a safer location and the car was practically shaking from the wind. After I re-parked, I was watching my car, afraid that it will get toppled over by the wind.

Since, power was knocked off, I decided to go home to Bulacan where there is water and power. I spent an hour and a half stuck in traffic in A. Bonifacio. Turned out a huge tree fell down near Cloverleaf so that only one out of the four lanes was passable. And all around me, the devastation feels like warp zone. The McDonald’s sign is now a “W” and Jollibee’s face is smiling even if he is hanging upside-down.

Apparently Manila’s megastructures cannot deal with nature’s wrath. Within an hour after Milenyo’s worst lashing, the wide-spread destruction is evident. Billboards fell onto buildings or passing cars. Even container vans were toppled over. Power was out in almost all areas because of electric posts fell like toothpicks (visions of electric bamboo posts for the future).

It is heart-wrenching to see the trees (which we badly need) that were toppled over. More than the billboards and damaged building, I think the trees are the most irreplaceable. It will take years before we can grow trees these big! I hope somebody will organize a campaign to replace these trees. Count me in!

One day after Milenyo and everyone is still reeling from its effects. I, myself have to spend Friday night in the car since there was no power in my house in QC. I only came home at dawn when there was some light. Only then did I sleep. Luckily, power in our office was restored by the next day so we had a refuge during the day.

Looking back, it was amazing how the telecom companies kept their service at the height of the storm. I just wished that they could have extended some public service and warned everyone via text where the storm really is and how powerful it is that everyone is advised to stay put until the worst is over. I think since Manila residents are unfamiliar with the perils of going out in a category 3 storm, some people still went out, resulting to cars that were crushed under posts or billboards.

Please help the victims of the storm. You can Donate-A-Load to Red Cross by texting RED and send to 2899.