Love At First Sight

It was a quick romance. We said hi. We hugged. We kissed. We said goodbye. All in a span of one hour. Why do all good things come to an end?

I gotta say that Ethan puts all the torpe boys of Manila to shame. How old is Ethan? Oh, he's 2. HeHe. He sat in the same row as me on my Manila-Tacloban flight and charmed his way into my heart.

Yes, I'm in Tacloban. Why? Because Wow Philippines na! I need time to think about things and thought it's the perfect time to get away from chaotic Manila. Hence, here I am.

The good thing about traveling alone is that you're forced to talk to people you otherwise wouldn't have. I arrived at the domestic airport way too early for my 1 p.m. flight. Not content with my Kulay the iPod, I ended up talking to Aling Nene, who's on her way to Kalibo, Aklan to visit her mother in the hospital. Aling Nene is actually from Parang, Marikina which is just a few minutes away from San Mateo. Hay ang sarap makinig ng personal stories ng mga tao! Usi, ba? HeHe.

Then, I met Ethan on the plane and you know what happened from there. HeHe.

The downside of traveling alone? No one to take pictures of you, no one to say "Uy, may papa!" to, and here I am occupying one of two beds in my room.

And being the praning girl that I am, I'm still waiting for my lakas ng loob to arrive so that I could ride the tricycle to McDo. I haven't eaten a meal since breakfast ha!

Wish any of you guys was here!

Praise the Lord

Thirty minutes. In thirty minutes, Rachael can whip up a whole dinner in her show on The Food Network. In thirty minutes, you can get your car's oil changed. In thirty minutes, you can take me from Ortigas all the way home to San Mateo. Only thirty minutes! And with me in the car, it only seems like five minutes! (Tumahimik ka, Homer! LoL)

Me: Father, may gimik ka tonight?
Homer: Oo, sa church namin. Wala akong masyadong kilala doon. Sama ka?
Me: (after explaining *my* gimik that I was hoping to find someone to go with) Sige, game.

While sitting in Galleria, I thought to myself, "Teka lang, ako nagyaya pero bakit gimik niya ang nasunod?!" Mga magaganda talaga o, palaging naapi. Tsk. Tsk.

Last Friday, my gimik was at a school (don't even ask. HeHe!). This Friday's gimik was at GCF. Bagay na bagay sa wholesome image ko! Sa convent talaga ang bagsak ko nito pagdating ng panahon. HaHa! While being a "triangle" during the games, I met Genny with a G. Age? 7! Yes, hindi na ako nagtataka kung bakit ako single. Puro little kids ang kumakausap sa akin palagi! HeHe.

Genny: Do you watch "Cupids"?
Me: Yes, I've seen an episode. (That's such a lie and Pen knows it. LoL)
Genny: Do you know Gab Drilon?
Me: Yes.
Genny: He's my brother.

I told you guys, ako ang nilalapitan ng mga artista! It just comes naturally. HeHe. Afterwards, tambay sa Cafe Breton (naks, si MiNA may mga kasama sa coffeeshop! Himala! HaHa!). Pero sad ako kasi everywhere I go, when people introduce me to other people, palaging niyayaya ako sa future gimiks nila pero parang not realistic that I would actually make it to any of them kasi nga I live in San Mateo. Wala lang, nanghihinayang lang ako dun sa potential friendships. Asus, feeling sorry na naman si San Mateo Girl. HaHa!

So there, Kuya Heinz has introduced me to their whole angkan. Homer has introduced me to their church. Hmm. Sino next? Iko? Iko will introduce me to the whole subdivision kaya? HeHe!

Kapamilya

I've been upset the last few days because it sounds like I'm still frontpage news in the family chismis circle. With some 24 direct titos and titas and some 40 first cousins in two countries and five states, no one wants to be the subject of everyone's attention especially if he/she has never been in the headlines before. Well, I felt better today when I read a forwarded e-mail:

E-mail from Tito to L.A. Girl Cousin
i heard you're getting married. is that true?

Cousin's reply to Tito
no way! i'm not getting married!

Cousin's e-mail to her sisters and me
oh my gosh! why was i not in on this plan!? all of a sudden one day i hear I'M getting married!

FYI, it's not L.A. Girl Cousin who's getting married, but her younger brother. Reading the e-mail (and laughing out loud about it) made me realize that the facts about my being here in Manila may have been twisted and turned more than once before they reached the recipients. Hence, I shouldn't really take all the strong opinions and violent reactions to heart.

Let me just say that I'm here for myself, to find myself, and to be a better person altogether. I didn't make this move to hurt anyone nor am I rebelling. I did this to be happy according to my own personal definition.

I've always done what was right in all of my life so trust me when I say that what I'm doing is "right" at this point in time. Yes, it may sound crazy, but I trust you that no mental hospital will admit me in case you feel the need to bring me to one. I'm not here to do anything wrong, but to do something good...for myself. For once in my life, I'd like to be selfish and take care of my needs. Let me have the six months if that's the maximum time I can have in this country. Let me have the six months with some peace of mind from being understood and supported.

Donde Esta?

What do you do when your #1 tambay buddy is having a party of her own? Who the heck do you bring to that when your tambay buddy is usually the one you would ask to go to such an event? Tsk. Tsk.

And where have all my usual tambay buddies gone?! Kuya Heinz is in NYC. Ale is busy with projects. Tet is slaving away at work. Zara is "Ni hao"ing her way around Hong Kong Disneyland right this very minute.

Bakit ninyo ako iniwanan? Hindi na kayo naawa sa The Sawi and Unemployed! HeHe. Shoot. No wonder my mind is the noisiest it has ever been.

- - - -

Raissa: text nicco na lang
Me: ano naman itetext ko doon, "wish you were here"??? hahaha
Raissa: sira! ask for info kasi mas alam niya

Linawin kasi, people. Alam naman ninyo na iba ang takbo ng isip ko! HeHe.

Game Ka Na Ba?

Option #1: Travel alone this week to Cebu, Tagbilaran/Panglao Island, and Camiguin while yours truly is still waiting for my job offer

Option #2: Travel with The Fusers (ang ganda ng nickname!) in November to Cebu for Ad Congress

Yes, Option #2 makes the most sense. Afterall, haven't I been whining about not having travel buddies? Wasn't it super duper lonely when I traveled to Belgium and Hong Kong/China earlier this year because I was all alone? Didn't people tell me that I shouldn't travel alone in this country?

However, I'm really thinking that I'm going to get a job soon (wishing, hoping, and praying!). If I get a job, I won't get time off for Ad Congress. It will be another failed attempt to set foot in the Visayas! Blasphemy! Tragic even!

*SIGH. What to do, what to do.