Divisoria madness (!)




One weekend, Bucky, VC and I braved the Divisoria xmas madness despite a serious threat of migraine due to lack of sleep (we played poker the night before). Scared of the jeeps and getting lost, we left early, like 7am. We almost got lost, thanks to my navigation skills (or the lack thereof), but were able to arrive in Divisoria before 8am. Thankfully, there was more than enough parking in Tutuban Mall when we arrived.


We rushed to Mall 168 since it was the only open place early in the morning. The air was still crisp & cold, but the streets were already getting busy, shoppers eagerly rushing to 168, street hawkers hurriedly setting up their wares. It was a first for VC, and also for Bucky after 4 years, and they took it in full-blast. The mall itself was in frenzy. Besides tinderas and shoppers haggling, there was also a dragon dance going around the whole building that made the place livelier. We left 168 Mall at around 10am, by then, the streets have gone alive. People were literally swarming everywhere. With much bumping & smell of human sweat, we crossed the alley going back to Tutuban Mall.


I promised myself not to spend too much, which after less than a hour, gleefully broke. The lure of discount shopping was just too much. I consoled myself in the fact that I was able to buy a lot of stuff and Christmas gifts with just a little money. As compared to shopping in a normal mall. Nothing beats Divisoria.

Playing poker ...





at Eric’s house. I lost 2 rounds = P100 cost for the night.

We started playing poker last September, I think. Bucky was so eager to play. He learned the rules by watching World Poker Tour on tv, and playing party poker. Anthony, Nina’s boyfriend, had a set of chips so we organized a game, with only Anthony having the most experience. Ever since that first game, we played every Friday, inviting more and more people to join. The most regular players are me, Bucky, VC, Anthony, Nina, Eric, Dino S. Recent additions included Cris Cabigao and gf, and Melissa. We used to play at Good Earth Roasts in Rockwell, but tonight, we decided to have the game at Eric’s place’s rooftop. The waiters have been showing meanness, mostly because we don’t give a tip, unlike Peachy’s group which gives P200 tip per night aside from the buckets of beer and food.

The game bores me most of time, making me impatient and not mindful of my hand. But I do appreciate the interaction of the players and reading betting behavior. It just takes too long sometimes. We usually start at around 9pm and end at 3am the next day. Kakapagod at puyat. I have only won one game ever since we started, mainly because of my impatience.

Christmas Parties!

I was stressed out last Christmas. I wasn’t complaining that there were too many parties to go to, it’s just hard to get up the next day, especially if the party was held during a weekday. We had one for our group, then for the whole IT, then for the whole Smart. In hindsight, I feel grateful for a very fruitful year with S. The company had been very generous for the past year.

The S&P was surprisingly fun. Our theme was “The Prom”, so we brought our dresses, makeup, and high-heeled shoes. The newbies prepared funny presentations, which bought the house down. There was the prom king & queen awarding and, of course, the exchanging of gifts. I got a wireless mouse & keyboard! The tequila and beer were overflowing. I was to go home with Moby, who was drunk and seriously dressing a crush on Ms. Beautiful. After finding him dozing off at the female’s dressing room, we went home, together with Collie. I found out the day after that he doesn’t remember how he was able to drop Collie and how he got home. Crazy dude.

The IT Xmast Party’s theme was “Rockista”. So there was a competition for best Rockista get-up. Newbies from different IT groups also made “presentations”. Even newbie manager Sir Jay Sulangi, donned on a madonna-inspired outfit! It was fun cheering for our newbies and watching them making a fool of themselves. Hahaha!

Smart Corp xmas party was much funner because of the bonus announcement. Harharhar. IT dept bagged the 2nd place of the Christmas presentations done by the employees. There were celebrities (I had a pix taken with Maverick and James, a hottie ex-Smartee Pinoy Idol contender!) and NLN!