nose bleed

did you notice the picture on my header? AND did you also notice that it wasn't aligned/centered? it wasn't intentional, i just don't know how to do it hehehe.

you see, when i found out that i can easily put a picture on the header i immediately click the browse portion to try and have it save. my little brain didn't realized that an alignment issue will surface and the analytical skills that has been missing in my life since birth will be needed.

hay!

i run to the "edit HTML" or whatever and take a look if i can find something, i did found a lot but i don't know what are those hahaha. and just by looking at the gazillion code-combination of letters, numbers and punctuation marks gave me a horrendous headache and made me swear that reading accounting books is better! okay, the reading part was just a joke :).

but seriously, can anyone help me with this dilemna? my header now has a picture and it has been a life-long dream (don't worry, i'll replace it with another if there will be some protests hehe) but with the uneven sides, it looks horrible!

is there an easier path to this universal problem other than studying the codes and be mesmerized by CSS files? help!!!!

UPDATE: Problem solved! lalalalala hehehe

---

gusto ko sanang magsimula sa pamamagitan ng pagpapatawa pero di ko namana ang sense of humor ng aking ama.

gusto ko sanang magbigay ng napakaraming papuri pero di ako makakita ng mga salitang susukat sa kanyang pagiging dakilang ama, mapagmahal na asawa, maaasahang kaibigan at mapagkakatiwalaang pulis na nagsilbi ng mahigit 25 taon sa ating bayan.

gusto ko sanang magkwento ng mga alaala nya pero wala akong maisip nang hindi tumutulo ang aking luha, wala akong maisulat nang hindi ako maiiyak.

gusto kong isipin na ang lahat ng nararamdaman nating lungkot, pagdadalamhati at pangungulila sa pagkawala ni daddy ay tulad ng tubig na normal na umaagos, normal na dumadaloy at normal na lumilipas, at ang lahat ng lungkot, dalamhati at pangungulila na nangingibabaw sa ating lahat ngayon ay aagusin at idadaloy ng panahon, at ang lahat ng ito ay lilipas sa takdang oras, sa takdang panahong ang Diyos lamang ang may alam kung kailan.

gusto kong isipin na bagamat iniwan na tayo ni daddy, nakatingin sya sa ating lahat ngayon nang nakangiti at maligaya sa kanyang nakikita na nandirito tayong lahat, at kahit sa kahuli-hulihang pagkakataon na masisilayan natin ang kanyang katawan, ay umaapaw pa rin ang pagpapakita ng pagmamahal, pagsuporta at pagpupugay kay daddy.

ang labis na kalungkutan na bumabalot sa amin ngayon ay paunti-unting hinuhubaran ng inyong taos-pusong pakikiramay at ang inyong mga dasal ang isa sa mga kinakapitan ngayon ng aming pamilya.

ayaw kong mamaalam sa yo, daddy dahil alam kong magkikita-kita pa tayo, maaaring hindi ngayon o bukas pero darating din na magkakasama-sama tayong muli. pero sa mga sandali na hindi ka namin makikita, sa mga minutong di namin maririnig ang yong boses, sa mga oras na di ka namin mahahawakan at mayayakap, mamimiss ka namin.

ngayon pa lang, namimiss at hinahanap ka na namin. mahal na mahal ka namin daddy.

NOTE: this is the speech that i prepared for the Luksang-Parangal for my father, who passed away on July 25, 2008 and was laid to rest on July 30, 2008. this is the speech/eulogy that i am about to say/read but can only manage to utter the first two paragraphs as the lump on my chest gets heavier and heavier as i go on talking, i just stopped and let my cousin read it for us. we are still grieving but we know that in God's time everything will be fine, and as we woke up each day, we know we're getting there.

i'll leave for a while but of course i'll be back, for the meantime, please pray with us for the eternal repose of the soul of my father, the Retired Master Sergeant Teodoro V. Perion.

I'm officially missing you.

mountains

badminton games

movies

scavenging during mall sales

starbucks

thai food

new shirts

little tokyo

and so much more...

as we usually do the above on weekends, and our weekends are now plastered with new destinations and priorities, i am now starting to miss the smell of the mountain, the dirt on my shoes, the swoosh on the court, the expensive movies and the expensive coffee that goes with it...

changes, changes.

and priorities.

kaya yan. bawi na lang after. :)

(taken last March, my last climb huhuhu)

Will you...? (the continuation)

(Warning: Long post)

Some people say that the best surprises are those that were not planned at all...

I tend to believe the opposite until reality came walking down on me. One Saturday, when I thought everything’s going according to plan (place: check, ring: check, camera: check, speech: check, me looking good: check) and pretend that the dinner is just going to be one of those exploration-and-try-something-new-and-not-the-usual eat out, my confidence level is zooming high as I know that I did everything I need to do...or so I thought!!!

7 pm was our schedule with My Mother’s Garden (yes, that’s where hehe) but we came in early so we can roam around the house and the garden (and for me to familiarize with the surrounding and scout for the best place to, you know...). Coming in early was a nice idea as we did roam around the house and stayed in the garden in front of it and wished that we can also have a similar space in the city, it’s quite romantic actually (TIIING! me: while looking at her, my heart was jumping and my brain’s asking if it’s the time already...)

“tu-ko...tu-ko...tu-ko...”

With a background like that, naaah, definitely not the right time (and the lizard continued what he’s doing like he’s laughing at me “tu-ko...tu-ko...tu-ko...). And Lyn’s also laughing at me as she knows how much I hated tuko because one summer when I was still a child, I was six or seven maybe, I would always tag along my dad (the entire family actually) to this little farm that we have in Quezon, stay in this little nipa hut and...wait, wait, I’ll save that on a later post, lumalayo ako hehe.

Okay, I decided not to do it right there. And since it’s getting dark and the mosquitoes around are now starting to fall in line on both of my ears and most of them can’t resist my charm and alternately biting my arms and my neck (I have issues with mosquitoes you know), we decided to go inside again. The place at night is very charming, with the yellowish light coming from incandescent bulbs above, some candles were flickering, colourful orchids were around, soft music was playing, nice rattan furniture and we were alone sitting there, holding hands (TIIING! me: while looking at her, my heart was jumping and my brain’s asking if it’s the time already...)

“HI THERE!”

It was Letlet, she just came in from the kitchen without any warning hehehe. so, purnada ulit :) After the usual introduction, Letlet stayed for a while and talked and discussed the concept of their charming little restaurant and the endless possibilities this can give them now that the secret has been told, first via word of mouth (thru bloggers syempre) and then, the mainstream media (including the television) and that they are also open for anything like parties and exhibits, even a wedding can now already be held there depending upon the arrangement.

She just said wedding and my heart somersaulted!

She didn't stay long as she will be attending to some errands and she told us to just wait for a few more minutes while their reliable waiter set up the table. She left us with an assurance that we will enjoy the food (and we did!). As she vanished from our view and the waiter told us that the table is ready, I felt something racing on my chest, I know the countdown had begun.

And sweat started to appear on my forehead.

The moment we sat down on the dinner table, we felt the homey and elegant ambiance of the restaurant, like being in a hotel, and alone, with a soft music playing. Lyn immediately said "ang ganda at ang romantic naman dito, perfect na perfect sa mga proposal no? sayang, walang ring!!!" then she gave me that smile.

I almost fell from my chair pero syempre, di ako nagpahalata, instead I just go with the flow and added in jest, "oo nga eh, di nakabili, sayang." then I snapped my fingers like nanghihinayang and a few "tsk tsk tsk" for the added touch hehe. I don't know if my acting was believable but I thought I did good hehehe.

We were in the middle of our pasta dish when I realized that I am losing momentum, nauunahan ako ng kaba, hindi ko maisingit! anak ng tipaklong, ngayon pa ba ako matotorpe?

Fortunately, love can and will find a way :)

While eating, unethical it may seem, I took my cellphone out and started composing a message. Lyn asked me kung sinong ka-text ko, (me, acting of course) I told her that it was my sister in Quezon as they're asking me to send the money for this house painting project that I initiated in the province. And Lyn just said "okay", unknown to her, I am actually texting Letlet.

I asked her if I can meet her somewhere and talk about my plan. I press send and in less than one minute, I saw her entering the restroom and then leaving afterwards. Whaat? Then, I look at my phone and her message was "go to the restroom and meet me there", it was sent twice. Oh my.

So I excused myself to Lyn and told her that I needed to go to the cr (which was unusual, by the way). The room going there is full of wedding paraphernalia and I am still scanning the entire room when Letlet came in with a giggling face.

"So, you will be proposing to her? you will be getting married? oh my god, oh my god! So, okay, okay, what's the plan? oh my god" So I told her what I wanted.

I went back to our table and Lyn was smiling "nakita ko si letlet, sumunod sa yo, ano'ng ginawa nyo? hehehe?" Blushing, I said "she just show me the way to the cr, baka daw ako maligaw hehe"

While we were enjoying the food, the occasional silence (while chewing) was meet with my eyes darting on the kitchen door, my occassional sighing was hidden by alternately drinking water and juice, my nervousness was concealed by me taking pictures of everything, and the cold sweat on my neck was just cold, ha! ganito pala, nakakapanlamig, nakakakaba pero nakaka-excite din.

I was looking at Lyn when the waiter came in with the tray full of desserts: fruit tarts, cupcake and this red little box that surely grabbed Lyn's attention.

Eto na yun. At natigilan na ako, I am smiling but smiling awkwardly, I am smiling but I am also shaking, I am smiling and there's a loud banging on my chest!

Lyn's curiousity about the red little box added more pounding on my chest, but I laughed when she said: "Ang sweet naman nila, me give-away pa!"

Me: Oo...nga...me...give...away...

And she used the knife to know if the red little box was edible or not "wow, naka-box pa talaga, ano kaya to?"

I am speechless at this very moment, almost not moving but just waiting for her to open it...

And when she did, it was her turn to be speechless, her mouth covered by her hand, her eyes reflecting that shiny little stone, she was blushing, and open-mouthed she looked at me...

I knelt and asked her "Honey, will you marry me?"

Still blushing and this time giggling, she nodded and said "Yes."

I took the ring and put it on her finger, though I am still kneeling, she hugged me and I embraced her tight...

(Anita Baker is singing in the background..."Im in love, sweet love, don't you ever go away, it'll always be this way, i'm in love, sweet love...")

next: the aftermath :)

Will you...?

In the land of fairy tales, a kiss from prince charming is all it takes to wake up a sleeping princess, and they live happily ever after…

In the movies, it takes a sleeping man for Sandra Bullock to meet Bill Pullman, and amidst all the struggles and confusions, they live happily ever after…

In real life, it takes more than a kiss and definitely not a sleeping man for the hopeless romantics to live happily ever after, it takes guts, a lot of planning, a bit of luck, a good sense of timing.

And a romantic place to, you know, pop up the question.

The time is definitely ripe for that next step for some bells to start ringing. My brain worked overtime, my mind was on a trance whenever I think of all the possibilities, and I, short of harassing, nay, forcing myself for that creative juice, or what remains of it, to start flowing just to come up with the formula on how to do this, when to do this and where to do this.

I didn’t know that it can be this tough! Or I am just putting so much pressure on myself?

I am not known to be a man of surprises, I maybe hiding or sleeping or off somewhere when the 1001 romantic ideas started falling from the sky, I may have grab some but these were crumbs and not the type that can one can swoon over, I don’t have big and earth-shaking ideas, or stuffs that can turn the world upside down, I don’t want things to be complicated, in other words, yours truly is just your plain and simple Juan.

But this time, I want to be different. I want this to be memorable, especially for her.

And you know what, I was also surprised with what I did.

To be continued...

halo-halo

kaba. kilig.

mapapangiti, pagpapawisan. mabubulol, mapapabuntong-hininga, matatawa.

ewan. halo-halo na! basta. :)

How to welcome the new year on a positive note?

Be thankful for 2007.

For all the challenges, for all the laughs, the good times, the not-so-good ones, for everything.

1. Good Health.

- I am thankful for good health, especially for my dad and my mom. My dad, who's now fully recovered from a scary stroke three years ago, is now doing well, and save for the regular medical check up, the medicines plus a rather slower lifestyle (he's a retired policeman), everything's back to normal. He had completely forgotten and gave up smoking (he was a chain smoker) and drinking (but we let him from time to time so as not to completely denied him) and he take up walking around the neighborhood as his regular exercise, good no? About the same time last year, my mom experienced unbearable stomach pains, and a medical check up showed that she has gallstones that needed to be removed, asap! i know the feeling of how uncomfortable it is as i also have gallstones and had my own share of sleepless nights and throwing up. She was operated on January 2 and since recovered really well. Aside from the usual fever and colds, my family, including lyn, did not have any major health problems this year and i am very thankful for that.

2. Lyn

- One of, if not, the best things that happened to me. We celebrated our sixth year and that six years made realized more how lucky i am to have her. I think the love letter post says everything i need to write. And for 2008? abangan...

3. Work

- I am grateful that I am employed and that I can contribute and give some to my family and for some of their needs.

4. Travel

- Aahh. It has been an amazing travelling year for me. I've been to a lot, explored new places and set foot on places i only dreamt of before, to name a few, i've been to Sagada, to Potipot Island, to Anawangin, ahh, if only i have enough money to travel, i'll surely wander around the Philippines! There's still Batanes, Zamboanga, Camiguin, Siquijor, Caramoan, Cagbalete island, Palawan, Cagayan, Mindanao.... andami pa, Hundred Islands na nga lang 100 na! and may I also add Enchanted Kingdom? hehe

5. Mountain Climbing

- This is something i always wanted to do, and 2007 came as the realization. I underwent the Basic Mountaineering Course with Yapak Mountaineers, and boy! it was an awesome experience. Mt. Pulag summed it all up to me, and i am looking forward for more mountains to climb for next year.

6. Photography

- As i look back to the year that's about to end, i can say that it was the year when photography really knocks me off my feet (naks!). And i am serious. Before, i only took pictures because I need to (for souvenirs) but now, i took pictures because I still need to (hehehe) and also because I have this "itch" that's needed to be "scratched". Photography is one world that I willingly embraced, and it really makes me appreciate things around me and the little details around them. Now, i only need a Nikon d40x and a photography class to understand more the technical aspects of this art.

7. New Friends

- Blogging, Mountain climbing and Photography not only gave me new highs, they also lead me to a path where I found new friends who share the same interests. And i am tremendously enjoying every minute of it. Sabi nga, strangers are friends you haven't meet yet. And I am thankful I met you.

8. Transformers, the movie

- can you blame me? for someone who grow up thinking that there are no Volkswagens, only Bumblebees and that the ultimate coolness is to have, again, Bumblebee as your buddy, i think that's understandable. I wasn't teary eyed when i saw this but the live action movie really brought me to the time when life was still simple and no bills to pay, no deadlines to meet... and for that moment that i was living the child in me, i am thankful.

9. Heroes

- Sci-fi at its best! Who doesn't want to be Peter Petrelli? The dvd marathon of season 1 reminds me of my fascination with The X-file or the 80's Misfits of Science or the original X-men animated series. I am so loving my tv and my dvd player because of this. Yatta!!!!

10. I am alive

- This alone is so much to be thankful of. Despite what's happening to the world, waking up each morning is such a blessing and a gift from above. It always reminds us that we can always look forward to a new morning, a new beginning.

There are still a thousand and one reasons why we should be thankful for 2007, we don't need to elaborate and/or write everything, it's enough that we accepted what was given us and thankful for every lesson learned.

As we leap to the new year, let's bring with us all the positive things we learned from 2007 and transform to a better us.

(Thank you Lazarus for the tag)

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE, KANPAI!!!!!!

Questions (and they're 38).

1. Name one person who made you laugh last night? Lyn, we were talking thru video call/phone (sosyal no? hehe) when something fell behind her, nagulat sya, napasigaw, akala nya ipis. wala lang natawa lang ako sa reaksyon nya. :)

2. What were you doing at 0800? checking my inbox

3. What were you doing 30 minutes ago? checking my inbox

4. What happened to you in 2006? my first time in pagudpud and boracay

5. What was the last thing you said out loud? "NO WAY" when a co-mountaineer asked me to just throw my camera so she can take my picture.

6. How many beverages did you have today? so far, a mug of coffee, three glasses of water...

7. What color is your hairbrush? no hairbrush just a comb and it's black.

8. What was the last thing you paid for? P7.00 jeepney fare going to the office

9. Where were you last night? in my bed

10. What color is your front door? dark brown :)

11. Where do you keep your change? in my pocket, and then all the P5 & P10 will go to my alkansya (my target is to have P6,000.00 from all the 5's & the 10's by the end of the year, and so far so good)

12. What’s the weather like today? cloudy, no, it is now sunny

13. What’s the best ice-cream flavor? cheese, ube-macapuno

14. What excites you? weekends

15. Do you want to cut your hair? right now, yes.

16. Are you over the age of 25? (eyes rolling) yes.

17. Do you talk a lot? no, tahimik talaga akong tao that's why im mistaken as suplado pero hindi naman, tahimik lang talaga ako, i am a man of few words, i am not the type who can talk non-stop, me bilang ang pagsasalita ko at pag lumampas na ako sa quota ko for the day, tatahimik na ako, ibig sabihin, morning pa lang, tahimik na ako, kaya di talaga ako masalitang tao, tahimik lang talaga ako, nagkukuwento rin naman ako pero di masyadong mahaba kasi nga tahimik ako at di masyadong masalita, sabi nga silent water runs deep, ayun, silent talaga ako pero yung "deep" part parang wala yatang ganun hahaha. ano ba ito, no lang naman ang sagot di ba? :)

18. Do you watch the O.C.? O.C, what O.C? obsessive compulsive? ah orange county. NO.

19. Do you know anyone named Steven? wait, does steven spielberg counts?

20. Do you make up your own words? i sometimes talk gibberish but i do not know how to make my own words

21. Are you a jealous person? sometimes

22. Name a friend whose name starts with the letter ‘A’. (looks at phone book) Acor.

23. Name a friend whose name starts with the letter ‘K’. (looks at phone book) Kit.

24. Who’s the first person on your received call list? (looks at phone book) number lang kasi mali yung natawagan nya (sayang P7.00 nya hehehe)

25. What does the last text message you received say? "Gud am, natatakot. she wil undrgo all lab procedures 2day as op prep. Bro kailangan namin at least 10pipol 2 donate Type AB blood" from a friend who's mother will be undergoing an ovarian operation soon. please pray for her.

26. Do you chew on your straw? no, but it can be a good substitute for toothpick in the absence of one. hehehe

27. Do you have curly hair? no, well... (wag na lang hehehe)

28. Where’s the next place you’re going to? Shangri-la mall (Cine Europa na!!!)

29. Who’s the rudest person in your life? smokers in a PUV who doesn't give a damn to other passengers.

30. What was the last thing you ate? hotsilog for breakfast

31. Will you get married in the future? of course, *wink wink*

32. What’s the best movie you’ve seen in the past 2 weeks? i just saw Memoirs of a Geisha in dvd.

33. Is there anyone you like right now? ah marami :)

34. When was the last time you did the dishes? this morning

35. Are you currently depressed? no.

36. Did you cry today? no.

37. Why did you answer and post this? i was tagged by Jho and this week my blog is now ONE YEAR OLD!!!!

38. I'm tagging Verns (uy, first time kitang i-tag ha), Single (ikaw din first time), Hazel (so you will be forced to post something hehehe), Belle (just returning a favor hehe) and Manny (para me intermission sa mga movie review).

(wag na magtanong kung para saan ang picture, gusto ko lang me picture, ano ba?! hehehe)

Happy weekend everyone and Happy birthday to my blog. KANPAI!!!!

mahilig

i am supposed to post eight random things about me, as i was tagged by toe, but i want to put a refreshing twist into a meme that has been done by everyone except me. hehehe.

since i am already randomly posting things about me from time to time, why not write something about things that i like? hence, the title.

mahilig ako sa videoke. who's not, anyway? but it doesn't mean that i am good at it. but, i can carry a tune, a little tune that is, and most of the time you have to look for what remains of that little tune as listening to me can only be good and/or tolerable for the first four-five stanzas of the song, after that you can go back to what you are doing, you can even sleep or just leave me. hehehe. i can "belt" a raymond lauchengco, some classic apo hiking songs (even a VST), i can do a little matchbox 20, some fra lippo lippi and then, middle of the session you'll hand me a knife and beg me to just kill you. :)

mahilig ako sa ampalaya. but i am not bitter (corny!). i eat all kinds of veggies, actually and ampalaya, patola't kalabasa at saka me okra are on the top of my list. i don't understand why some people don't like their greens, di ba sabi nga ni spiderman, you should eat your greens... (kaya siguro nanalo ang la salle kasi green... corny pa rin hehehe).

mahilig ako sa brown. my pants, save for my maong and office uniforms, are mostly khakis, shades of brown, pinoy na pinoy. i also used to have polos, shirts, shorts even socks in brown. my bag is also brown, the color of my watch is gold (well, malapit sya sa brown) and even the floor/tiles of my house is brown, the rattan sofa is brown, the table is dark brown and then the curtains are yellow. weee.

mahilig ako sa tubig. i am not sure how many liters of water i can consume everyday but i can say na marami. for someone who sweat a lot, that's good. and i also prefer water over softdrinks, ibang usapan na nga lang kapag kape. :)

mahilig ako sa jelly ace. well, napahilig is the more appropriate term. before, i am not aware that in the absence of water, it can temporarily rehydrate our body pala because it's mostly liquid. dati, ang alam ko lang sa jelly ace ay isa itong gulaman na naka-pack sa lalagyan na mahirap buksan, me iba pa palang benefits ito pero yun lang, mahirap pa rin syang buksan.

mahilig ako sa sports. basketball, tennis, badminton, soccer, volleyball, track and field, etc. i tried all of them and i excel only in track and field. i was the long jump champion, second placer in high-jump and a member of the champion team in 4x100 meter relay. i wanted to excel in basketball but there are a lot of better and taller players than i am. oh, i also tried bowling but the canal is where i belong so stop na lang lipat na lang sa badminton. hehe.

mahilig ako magpicture. (eyes rolling) obvious ba? :)

at, mahilig ako sa maraming pang bagay, mahilig akong mag-swimming, umakyat ng bundok, manuod ng sine, dedmahin ang saleslady na kanina pa sunod ng sunod, mahilig din akong kumain ng kikiam, mahilig din ako sa music, magbasa ng tabloid, manuod ng tv, mahilig din akong ilagay sa snooze ang alarm clock tapos matulog ulit, mahilig din akong ngumiti bago sumagot sa telepono...

i think it should not only be eight but eight thousand hehehe.

if you're one of the very few bloggers who's yet to do this meme, consider yourself tagged.

Budget 101

the other day, while i was browsing the Business/Money section of the Inquirer, an article about budgeting caught my eye.

a reader posted a question about the topic, and it says:

"I know that a budget is important to better handle your money. However, no matter how much I work on my budget, I always end up going over it. Is it because my salary is too small? I don’t know what to do. How can I have a budget that works with my small salary?"

tut-tut. sounds familiar no? like the reader is asking in behalf of all of us.

the article listed tips on how to work on your budget (you can read them here), and i agree with them that visualizing and listing down all (and i mean ALL) your expenses can really help you work it out with the little money you're getting every payday. the above article also reminds me of a decision i made a few years back.

you see, four years ago, during my pre-amortization days, i already have a budget, i.e. budget for gimiks, budget for movies, budget for things that are not really important (like cd's, magazines and some more magazines *wink wink*). when the realization came that life is not all about gimiks (that's slang for going out/barhopping) and i need to have a concrete foundation for the future, that's the time i gave budgeting a serious thought, and this time, priorities should be read as priorities (okey, so separate the "needs" from "wants").

when i listed down my daily and other petty expenses, nanlaki mata ko that i am spending so much on movies (like almost P500 a week), transportation (taxi araw-araw?) and eating out. if i want to pursue my plan of getting a house of my own, unabated spending like these should be controlled, if not eliminated.

at first, it was hard. and i mean really hard. it's like having a withdrawal syndrome, or like having yummy food on your plate but you're not allowed to touch it, much more eat it. i am depriving myself of an almost daily dose of watching movie/s, the comfort of taxi ride, i thought i was being hard on myself. but, as our parents would always tell us, roads to your dreams are never easy, kasama ang sakripisyo dyan.

and sacrifice i did.

i learned how to control my movie watching habit, taxi is now only an option when i am in a hurry. eating out? still do that, but you can eat out without spending so much, i am spending for the food not for the ambiance, and besides, andaming pwedeng idiscover na murang kainan. in other words, i learned how to be practical with life.

the complete turnaround was a good decision, i was able to go with my plan and slowly i am reaping the fruits of my little sacrifice. if i didn't do this, i don't know if i can buy some things for the house, or for myself or if i can have savings at all (well, i still don't have, but at least i am seeing where my supposedly savings are going).

the road is not really that well-paved, there are some bumps here and there, i took those bumps as a sign to slow down and eventually they will pass and off you go running again.

the payday is nearing again, do i hear complains that you won't have enough to save? baka naman you are really spending so much on something not needed. cmon, sit and list down your expenses and compared them with the amount you are getting, and oh, that starbucks coffee is really expensive, try something else. :)

i am not an expert on this, i just write based on experience (and pains).

how about you?

My 100th (plus five), second of two parts

technically, this is my 101st post, but since this is the part two of my 100th, it is still somehow the 100th, or something. basta. :)

this is regarding the plus five, and this post has been waiting for more than a month already and i thought it's better to post it as my 100th (as a milestone) or the 101st to usher the next 100. whatever the reason (or the excuse? hehehe), this is it.

it was june 4, lady cess posted her answers on the hot seat questions and even with the warning that she'll be asking tough questions and those who will join the tag will regret doing so, i asked to be interviewed (at yari ako dito hehe).

so here they are:

1. Do you now have a real dog? If you don't have one yet, what's preventing you from getting one?

I still don't have, but in Quezon, we already have. Right now, i cannot get a dog of my own because since I am (still) living alone, no one will be left to take care of him/her if am at work.

I believe owning a dog is not as simple as getting one, it also entails responsibility. One should not only be a pet owner, but more importantly, a responsible pet owner (those two are worlds apart, and i want to be the latter). I think my situation right now is not very ideal, it would be very unfair for the dog.

2. You said you can write a love letter in a flash. Write a short love letter for your special girl. Content should be about your appreciation for a sweet gesture she has done for you just recently.

Now, this is tough. Love letter (and in a flash pa ha) is something i haven't done for the last 15 years! do i still have my mojo when it comes to love letter as i claimed to have back in high school? do i still know the works or mine were just plain corny? (corny, corny!) i don't know, but let me try. (okey, inhale...exhale...inhale...)

hi honey,

six years ago, you told me you don't want to enter into a relationship because you don't want a complicated life, but now, you told me you regret saying those because, as complicated as it may, the six years that we had was worth all the complications.

i may not be the most ideal boyfriend, but you always makes me feel like i am one. i may have a lot of imperfections but you've always been forgiving for those. kapag nagsusungit ako, you told me not to, kasi sabi mo lalong pumapangit ako (hehehe). i like it when you make face, kapag nagpapa-cute ka o di kaya pag namimilog yung mga mata mo.

you've always been so supportive and appreciative, and one time, sa wakas, you've praised my cooking! i know you're not really a fan of my cooking, but when you say "it's good", that was something. and when i said "pwede nang mag-asawa?" you just smiled. :)

the six years that we had was such an amazing six years of knowing and loving each other, and i'll never get tired of discovering more and falling in love more as days go by. and when that time comes that i'll hold your hand forever, i'll be the happiest, and you know that.

i love you.

okey, can i exhale now? whew!

3. Name one thing that you did for your girl that is so unlike you but you did it anyway mainly because you are impulsive.

Ok, mababaw lang ito, but it's so not me.

A couple of weeks ago, i went with lyn in Watson's for her kikay stuffs. after she did her thing (and me carrying the stuffs) and while passing the perfume section on our way out, I spotted the Paris Hilton travelling bag that she has been eyeing since she saw it first (and almost bought it) in Cinderella a couple more weeks back but i prevented her from getting it as i thought it was not practical, but this time, in a 360 degree-like turn of event, I even talked to the salesperson and inquire about it! Just like in Cinderella, the bag comes free if you bought two 100 ml Paris Hilton perfume or any other perfume from the same company. She was really giggling with excitement and really into buying it but she was also thinking what she'll do with two perfumes (make that two expensive perfumes!!). So i butt in the sales talk and dared the salesperson that if he can show us a perfume for men that can be combined with the Paris Hilton perfume, we'll get it. At the back of my mind, kalmado ako "huh, tingnan natin!". and as always, i was wrong!

at heto, the salesperson came back with TWO bottles of Perry Ellis (black and blue) and ONE bottle of Paris hilton for men. patay! lyn was grinning and she said "oh, pili ka na hehe". sus!

the hugo boss fanatic in me was trapped with either a perry ellis or a paris hilton as the only way out. i didn't like the paris hilton as it was so...paris hilton! i just settle in with the perry ellis blue as it's what i like best among the three (but hugo boss motion is still the bomb).

we split the bill but i ended up paying more as my perfume was more expensive than hers (even with the 40% discount!) and she get the free bag! i kid her that i'll borrow the bag on our next trek (and drag it along the rocky/muddy trails hehehe), sabi nya "subukan mo!" hehehe, oh well, like i wanted to be caught with a paris hilton bag! utang na loob! :D

another impulsive/budget-breaking expense, but at least, she's happy. :)

4. Among the far-flung places you just visited, which one do you like the least? Why?

Baguio. Don't get me wrong, the city of pines is such a cool place, but the traffic and pollution make you feel that you're still in Manila. It was no longer the same baguio that i saw the first time 19 years ago, when the fog is really a fog and not smog, when pine trees still smell like pine trees, when mines view park is still breathtaking (now, andami nang bahay) or when ukay-ukay is not yet the major attraction. Baguio is a classic example of too much urbanization/commercialization over preserving the heritage (oh, manila is on top of the list don't worry) and in the process, losing its once enchanting charm. i last heard that people of baguio are now starting to fight further concretization (my own word) of the summer capital of the philippines.

sana di sya maging extension ng manila and i also hope Sagada won't suffer the same fate.

5. An easy one. Describe the Zherwin we can expect to see 5 years from now.

In five years (uhm, maybe earlier than five years? hehe), a family man.

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and it's done!

i know, i posted this late and most of you already had a share or two of being interviewed, but if you still want some not really brain-twisting questions, i can give you some, but follow the rules:

Interview rules:
1. Leave me a comment saying "Interview me".
2. I will respond by emailing you five questions. I get to pick the questions.
3. You will update your blog with the answers to the questions.
4. You will include this explanation and an offer to interview someone else in the same post.
5. When others comment asking to be interviewed, you will ask them five questions.

:D