How much of the Philippines have you seen?
My Lakbayan grade is C+!
How much of the Philippines have you visited? Find out athttp://www.blogger.com/Eugene.
Friday, June 22, 2007
50 things about me (as if u wanna know)...
I found this in friendster's bulletin. and having nothing else to do, i answered the list.
1. How tall are you barefoot? 5'4"
2. Have you ever smoked? Yes
3. Do you own a gun? Nope
4. Do you hate someone right now? No, not really
5. Do you get nervous? A lot
6. What do you think of hotdogs? Not my favourite food
7. What's your favorite Christmas song? Latin version of Silent Night
8. What do you prefer to drink in the morning? Orange juice
9. Can you do push ups? Yes, macho yata itech…
11.What's your favorite piece of jewelry? My gold ring that looks like a flower. It was given to me by my aunt when I was just 6 yrs old
12. Do you like painkillers? Yes, I think have an addiction to Mefenamic Acid. The pills don’t work on me anymore…
13. What is your secret weapon to lure the opposite sex? Um, I don’t lure the opposite sex. If they like me, they like me. If hinde, di wag!
14. Do you own a knife? Yes, its in the kitchen
15. Do you have H.I.V? God, no!
16. Name? Janus
17. Name 3 things u wanna do at this exact moment: be in Eiffel Tower at night, skinny dipping under the moonlight, be wrapped in Bucky’s arms
18. Name the last 3 things you have bought lately: a kilo of grapes, scissors, noodles with stewed beef
19. Name 3 drinks you regularly drink: water, orange juice, milk
20. What time did you wake up today? 730am. I turned off the darned alarm clock and went back to sleep…
22. Current worry? Not having enough money, job security
23. Current hate? uncertainty
24. Favorite place to be? On the sand under the sun
25.Least favorite place to be? MRT at 8am
26. Where would you like to go? Europe, Maldives, Greece, Brazil, India
27. Do you own slippers? Of course
28. What shirt are you wearing? Sando blouse
29. -- missing????
30. Favorite color? Red, orange
31. Would you like to be a pirate? Nope, they look dirty at walang ligo
32. Last time you had an alcoholic drink: before I left for Singapore
33. What songs do you sing in the shower room? I don’t sing in the shower
34. What did you fear was going to get you at night as a child? Someone like Sadako
35.What's in your pocket/s right now? nothing
36. Last thing that made you laugh? When bucky told me he would still let me sleep in his house even if we break up
37. last thing that made you cry? Realizing that I hurt a friend
38. Worst injury you've ever had? Ankle sprain. I couldn’t walk properly for weeks
40. How many cellphones do you have? One. And I need one more…
41. Who is your loudest friend? Louder than me? Bucky.
42.Who is your most silent friend? Hmmm. Cant think of any right now
43.last movie watched? Fantastic 4
44. What is your favorite book? The God of Small Things, 100 years of solitude, Of Love & Shadows
45.What is your favorite chocolate? Royce dark chocolates, Andes mint and chocolate
47. What song do/did you want played at your wedding? She
48. What were you doing 12 AM last night? asleep
49. What was the First thing you did today? Took a bath
50. What was the last thing you did the day before yesterday? Chatted with Bucky
I found this in friendster's bulletin. and having nothing else to do, i answered the list.
1. How tall are you barefoot? 5'4"
2. Have you ever smoked? Yes
3. Do you own a gun? Nope
4. Do you hate someone right now? No, not really
5. Do you get nervous? A lot
6. What do you think of hotdogs? Not my favourite food
7. What's your favorite Christmas song? Latin version of Silent Night
8. What do you prefer to drink in the morning? Orange juice
9. Can you do push ups? Yes, macho yata itech…
11.What's your favorite piece of jewelry? My gold ring that looks like a flower. It was given to me by my aunt when I was just 6 yrs old
12. Do you like painkillers? Yes, I think have an addiction to Mefenamic Acid. The pills don’t work on me anymore…
13. What is your secret weapon to lure the opposite sex? Um, I don’t lure the opposite sex. If they like me, they like me. If hinde, di wag!
14. Do you own a knife? Yes, its in the kitchen
15. Do you have H.I.V? God, no!
16. Name? Janus
17. Name 3 things u wanna do at this exact moment: be in Eiffel Tower at night, skinny dipping under the moonlight, be wrapped in Bucky’s arms
18. Name the last 3 things you have bought lately: a kilo of grapes, scissors, noodles with stewed beef
19. Name 3 drinks you regularly drink: water, orange juice, milk
20. What time did you wake up today? 730am. I turned off the darned alarm clock and went back to sleep…
22. Current worry? Not having enough money, job security
23. Current hate? uncertainty
24. Favorite place to be? On the sand under the sun
25.Least favorite place to be? MRT at 8am
26. Where would you like to go? Europe, Maldives, Greece, Brazil, India
27. Do you own slippers? Of course
28. What shirt are you wearing? Sando blouse
29. -- missing????
30. Favorite color? Red, orange
31. Would you like to be a pirate? Nope, they look dirty at walang ligo
32. Last time you had an alcoholic drink: before I left for Singapore
33. What songs do you sing in the shower room? I don’t sing in the shower
34. What did you fear was going to get you at night as a child? Someone like Sadako
35.What's in your pocket/s right now? nothing
36. Last thing that made you laugh? When bucky told me he would still let me sleep in his house even if we break up
37. last thing that made you cry? Realizing that I hurt a friend
38. Worst injury you've ever had? Ankle sprain. I couldn’t walk properly for weeks
40. How many cellphones do you have? One. And I need one more…
41. Who is your loudest friend? Louder than me? Bucky.
42.Who is your most silent friend? Hmmm. Cant think of any right now
43.last movie watched? Fantastic 4
44. What is your favorite book? The God of Small Things, 100 years of solitude, Of Love & Shadows
45.What is your favorite chocolate? Royce dark chocolates, Andes mint and chocolate
47. What song do/did you want played at your wedding? She
48. What were you doing 12 AM last night? asleep
49. What was the First thing you did today? Took a bath
50. What was the last thing you did the day before yesterday? Chatted with Bucky
Week 3
Friday. The last day of my first 3 weeks of working here in Singapore.
So what exactly has been my work about? I’ve been doing business process documentation, interviewing users, cleaning up the process diagrams handed-over to me, which were in such a bad shape that I had to redo the whole thing. I earned the ire of the users because I’ve been already the 3rd person interviewing them for the same purpose. I would be irritated myself, if it happened to me. But work has to be done, and so I bear the brunt of their impatience. And my boss constantly asks me about how SAP can “do things”, in relation to the processes I’ve been documenting. So far, I’ve been confident with my answers. Hoping to keep this up. Hehehe.
I decided to hang out by the benches outside Suntec to catch some sun and polluted air (there are cars and busses going around the Fountain of Wealth, and smokers behind me). For the past 2 days, I found the client’s office very stuffy.
So, 3 weeks. What do I think, so far?
Singapore is a multi-cultural country. Though it’s predominantly Chinese, there is a large portion of the population who are Indians, Malays, Muslims, and Filipino. Call it weird, but I find comfort in hearing inane Tagalog conversations and tsismis in the bus or MRT.
For the past 3 weeks, I have compiled a list of general observations (not in any order) about the people, the culture, and the interesting things here in Singapore. N.b. these are just mere observations, and not sweeping generalizations. I don’t aim to hurt or judge anybody.
1) “-lah”. What could this 3-letter word/suffix/phrase mean? Whenever I talk to anybody who is distinctly Singaporean, these 3 letters seem to pop out at the end of each sentence. “Don’t include this lah”, “Let’s go out for lunch lah”… and so on. Why? Why?
2) Singaporeans are workaholics. They take pride in working long hours, working at home, working on weekends, during lunch... I found it sad.
3) They’re so quiet in the office. If it was quiet in my previous office, it’s quieter here. People hardly talk, there isn’t anyone listening to music (even with earphones), or the occasional jostling and joking around. I could hear the aircon humming overhead. Nakakapanis ng laway…
4) It’s amazing to see the number of shops and malls here. There are just so many things waiting to be purchased! Laptops, digital cameras, phones, speakers, usb devices, ipod, mp3 players, shoes, bags, clothes, food, more shoes… I often wonder how these shops could survive.
5) Most foodcourts only have a handful of stalls with spoon and forks.
6) All of the foodcourts I’ve been don’t give out paper napkins as part of their service! So frustrating…
7) The serving size of meals here is BIG. Most of the time, I can hardly finish my meal. I usually buy my food as “take away”. Whatever I couldn’t finish for lunch is usually my dinner. Katamad na rin mag-prepare. I miss Gingging. Hehehe.
8) Canned/bottled softdrinks here cost an arm! $1.50 for a can of Coke Light x P30/$SG1 = P45/can. And that’s already in a foodcourt. Crazy! Another reason to stick to the diet (if there is one).
9) Most foodcourt/hawker busboys/cleaners here are senior citizens.
10) Most people here eat alone during meal times, like I do. 3 or 4 strangers can share a table in the foodcourt, not minding one another’s business.
11) Despite observation #7, people here are slim, sexy, well-groomed and fashionable, especially the women. They can walk for hours in stilettos and strappy sandals, with short skirts or shorts, despite the always impending rain. Also despite their varicose veins and leg spots. Now that is confidence.
12) [Another] despite observation #11, I noticed that most people here are not fond of taking a bath or washing up everyday. There isn’t a day, during the morning bus ride, that I don’t see a pretty lady or a guy smartly dressed but smelling of someone who just got out of bed. Amoy kama. As a result, I think people here have gone immune with BO. Either that, or they’ve mastered the art of ignoring it even in the enclosed space of an aircon bus or MRT. As for me, the only thing I’ve mastered is pretending to ignore BO. I keep a straight face whenever there is an “encounter”, but deep inside, I want to belch and run out.
13) Everything is ‘sanitized’ here. Everything looks clean, manicured, and OC. There is hardly any dust at the house, or any litter in the sidewalks. The MRT and the buses are well-kept. Buses only stop at designated areas. There are no creepy kundoktors or hold-upper looking men. There are trees and shade even in the heart of the city. Ang saya-saya.
14) I think there is only one big grocery store here (Carrerfour) that can rival SM and Landmark.
15) Prices of liquor are outrageously! No wonder people here are so … somber and always looking constipated (ehehehe).
16) There aren’t too many pogi and guapa people here. Well, beauty is subjective. But as for me, people here look too Chinese or too Indian for my taste. I’ve come to realize that the Filipinos’ physique and “face” has been too watered down by centuries of intermarriage with the colonial Spanish, that we look neither distinctly Asian nor Malay nor Spanish. Whereas people here are, like I said, too … distinct.
17) There is hardly any traffic here. “Hardly”, in comparison to the monstrous traffic back in Manila. Traffic here would mean being stuck for a maximum of 1 hour. One hour back in Manila is just ‘normal’ travel time from Makati to Ortigas. Maybe because there aren’t too many cars here. Too expensive. And besides, the public transport system is very efficient and covers most of the country, so why bother with a car?
18) Whereas there are queues or “pila” for cabs, people don’t queue at bus stops. Rampage! Especially during peak hours between 6pm and 9pm. Parang sa Pilipinas din pala.
19) Children here are very independent. Those as young as 6 years old can go to far-off schools without a yaya, provided they have their own ez-link (smart card for busses, MRT) ticket or coins.
20) People read in the busses and the MRT. I still couldn’t bring myself to catch this habit. The strain of focusing my eyes on the letters, while the bus or the MRT is forever shaking, gives me migraine.
21) There is hardly any news about killings, rape, child abuse, rallies, hold-uppers, and terrorists. Like the general surroundings, the news is also quite sanitized. Parang exciting na dito ang nahulog na kotse sa kanal, kotseng nakabanggan sa kalye, and the like. Made me think na ang boring talaga dito.
22) Deal or No Deal here is a boring show, compared to the ‘dramah’ and excitement in Pinas’ version. The audience isn’t too loud, the host doesn’t have Kris Aquino’s ka-eklatan, and is so “trying-hard” to be witty and funny.
23) The entertainment industry here is a speck compared to Pinas’. You see the same faces in almost all the local shows. One actor could be doing drama in one show, and comedy or action an hour later in another show. Mileage.
24) Most taxis here are Toyota Crown. Kulay at company lang ang nag-iba. There must’ve been a time when they mass-imported these cars to be used as taxis. Cabs here are nice, clean, don’t smell of cigarette smoke, and they issue receipts, so you wouldn’t hear the irritating “kayo na po bahala ma’m ha…” comment.
25) During communion at mass, people follow the queuing per pew system. A row of people can only stand up when the row before them has already queued or taken communion. It’s very systematic, and facilitates faster distribution amongst the people. Unlike sa Pilipinas, walang systema. Queue at your own sweet time.
26) Sentosa, the largest island/beach resort here, with an atmosphere like Boracay, is pitiable compared to our beaches. The sand looks and feels fake, the water is murky and has a horrible shade of monster green (yeck), and the whole place just reeks of “artificial”. Even though I shun Boracay for having lost all its “naturalness”, I would prefer it, hands-down, over Sentosa anytime. But then, who am I to complain? It’s the only ‘decent’ beach near the city. And as I need to be sun-scorched once in a while, I don’t have any choice.
So there, 26 items in just 3 weeks. I’m foreseeing that this list will grow longer, as I begin to miss dear old, chaotic, unforgettable lupang sinilangan.
Friday. The last day of my first 3 weeks of working here in Singapore.
So what exactly has been my work about? I’ve been doing business process documentation, interviewing users, cleaning up the process diagrams handed-over to me, which were in such a bad shape that I had to redo the whole thing. I earned the ire of the users because I’ve been already the 3rd person interviewing them for the same purpose. I would be irritated myself, if it happened to me. But work has to be done, and so I bear the brunt of their impatience. And my boss constantly asks me about how SAP can “do things”, in relation to the processes I’ve been documenting. So far, I’ve been confident with my answers. Hoping to keep this up. Hehehe.
I decided to hang out by the benches outside Suntec to catch some sun and polluted air (there are cars and busses going around the Fountain of Wealth, and smokers behind me). For the past 2 days, I found the client’s office very stuffy.
So, 3 weeks. What do I think, so far?
Singapore is a multi-cultural country. Though it’s predominantly Chinese, there is a large portion of the population who are Indians, Malays, Muslims, and Filipino. Call it weird, but I find comfort in hearing inane Tagalog conversations and tsismis in the bus or MRT.
For the past 3 weeks, I have compiled a list of general observations (not in any order) about the people, the culture, and the interesting things here in Singapore. N.b. these are just mere observations, and not sweeping generalizations. I don’t aim to hurt or judge anybody.
1) “-lah”. What could this 3-letter word/suffix/phrase mean? Whenever I talk to anybody who is distinctly Singaporean, these 3 letters seem to pop out at the end of each sentence. “Don’t include this lah”, “Let’s go out for lunch lah”… and so on. Why? Why?
2) Singaporeans are workaholics. They take pride in working long hours, working at home, working on weekends, during lunch... I found it sad.
3) They’re so quiet in the office. If it was quiet in my previous office, it’s quieter here. People hardly talk, there isn’t anyone listening to music (even with earphones), or the occasional jostling and joking around. I could hear the aircon humming overhead. Nakakapanis ng laway…
4) It’s amazing to see the number of shops and malls here. There are just so many things waiting to be purchased! Laptops, digital cameras, phones, speakers, usb devices, ipod, mp3 players, shoes, bags, clothes, food, more shoes… I often wonder how these shops could survive.
5) Most foodcourts only have a handful of stalls with spoon and forks.
6) All of the foodcourts I’ve been don’t give out paper napkins as part of their service! So frustrating…
7) The serving size of meals here is BIG. Most of the time, I can hardly finish my meal. I usually buy my food as “take away”. Whatever I couldn’t finish for lunch is usually my dinner. Katamad na rin mag-prepare. I miss Gingging. Hehehe.
8) Canned/bottled softdrinks here cost an arm! $1.50 for a can of Coke Light x P30/$SG1 = P45/can. And that’s already in a foodcourt. Crazy! Another reason to stick to the diet (if there is one).
9) Most foodcourt/hawker busboys/cleaners here are senior citizens.
10) Most people here eat alone during meal times, like I do. 3 or 4 strangers can share a table in the foodcourt, not minding one another’s business.
11) Despite observation #7, people here are slim, sexy, well-groomed and fashionable, especially the women. They can walk for hours in stilettos and strappy sandals, with short skirts or shorts, despite the always impending rain. Also despite their varicose veins and leg spots. Now that is confidence.
12) [Another] despite observation #11, I noticed that most people here are not fond of taking a bath or washing up everyday. There isn’t a day, during the morning bus ride, that I don’t see a pretty lady or a guy smartly dressed but smelling of someone who just got out of bed. Amoy kama. As a result, I think people here have gone immune with BO. Either that, or they’ve mastered the art of ignoring it even in the enclosed space of an aircon bus or MRT. As for me, the only thing I’ve mastered is pretending to ignore BO. I keep a straight face whenever there is an “encounter”, but deep inside, I want to belch and run out.
13) Everything is ‘sanitized’ here. Everything looks clean, manicured, and OC. There is hardly any dust at the house, or any litter in the sidewalks. The MRT and the buses are well-kept. Buses only stop at designated areas. There are no creepy kundoktors or hold-upper looking men. There are trees and shade even in the heart of the city. Ang saya-saya.
14) I think there is only one big grocery store here (Carrerfour) that can rival SM and Landmark.
15) Prices of liquor are outrageously! No wonder people here are so … somber and always looking constipated (ehehehe).
16) There aren’t too many pogi and guapa people here. Well, beauty is subjective. But as for me, people here look too Chinese or too Indian for my taste. I’ve come to realize that the Filipinos’ physique and “face” has been too watered down by centuries of intermarriage with the colonial Spanish, that we look neither distinctly Asian nor Malay nor Spanish. Whereas people here are, like I said, too … distinct.
17) There is hardly any traffic here. “Hardly”, in comparison to the monstrous traffic back in Manila. Traffic here would mean being stuck for a maximum of 1 hour. One hour back in Manila is just ‘normal’ travel time from Makati to Ortigas. Maybe because there aren’t too many cars here. Too expensive. And besides, the public transport system is very efficient and covers most of the country, so why bother with a car?
18) Whereas there are queues or “pila” for cabs, people don’t queue at bus stops. Rampage! Especially during peak hours between 6pm and 9pm. Parang sa Pilipinas din pala.
19) Children here are very independent. Those as young as 6 years old can go to far-off schools without a yaya, provided they have their own ez-link (smart card for busses, MRT) ticket or coins.
20) People read in the busses and the MRT. I still couldn’t bring myself to catch this habit. The strain of focusing my eyes on the letters, while the bus or the MRT is forever shaking, gives me migraine.
21) There is hardly any news about killings, rape, child abuse, rallies, hold-uppers, and terrorists. Like the general surroundings, the news is also quite sanitized. Parang exciting na dito ang nahulog na kotse sa kanal, kotseng nakabanggan sa kalye, and the like. Made me think na ang boring talaga dito.
22) Deal or No Deal here is a boring show, compared to the ‘dramah’ and excitement in Pinas’ version. The audience isn’t too loud, the host doesn’t have Kris Aquino’s ka-eklatan, and is so “trying-hard” to be witty and funny.
23) The entertainment industry here is a speck compared to Pinas’. You see the same faces in almost all the local shows. One actor could be doing drama in one show, and comedy or action an hour later in another show. Mileage.
24) Most taxis here are Toyota Crown. Kulay at company lang ang nag-iba. There must’ve been a time when they mass-imported these cars to be used as taxis. Cabs here are nice, clean, don’t smell of cigarette smoke, and they issue receipts, so you wouldn’t hear the irritating “kayo na po bahala ma’m ha…” comment.
25) During communion at mass, people follow the queuing per pew system. A row of people can only stand up when the row before them has already queued or taken communion. It’s very systematic, and facilitates faster distribution amongst the people. Unlike sa Pilipinas, walang systema. Queue at your own sweet time.
26) Sentosa, the largest island/beach resort here, with an atmosphere like Boracay, is pitiable compared to our beaches. The sand looks and feels fake, the water is murky and has a horrible shade of monster green (yeck), and the whole place just reeks of “artificial”. Even though I shun Boracay for having lost all its “naturalness”, I would prefer it, hands-down, over Sentosa anytime. But then, who am I to complain? It’s the only ‘decent’ beach near the city. And as I need to be sun-scorched once in a while, I don’t have any choice.
So there, 26 items in just 3 weeks. I’m foreseeing that this list will grow longer, as I begin to miss dear old, chaotic, unforgettable lupang sinilangan.
Wednesday, June 20, 2007
Singapura … Singapura …
Today is officially my 20th day here in Singapore.
I arrived with my parents and youngest brother last June 1. I had soooo much luggage that I asked for them to come with me, so that I could use their luggage allocation (anyway, they didn’t pay for the plane fare). We spent the afternoon walking around, taking pictures of the Merlion and the Fullerton hotel. Then we had dinner at the Esplanade outdoor hawker center. It was a long walk back to my parents’ budget hotel along North Bridge. Onchie stayed with me at Rap’s.
On the 2nd day, we went to Sentosa via cable car. It was such a nerve-wracking experience, especially for dad. You can just imagine what will happen if your coach was to plunge down the sea. Scary thought. There was not much to see in Sentosa really. We just went to the Merlion statue again, had pictures with the friendly yellow python (yikes!), and had lunch at Subway while waiting for Onchie to finish the 4D movie. Then we checked out the macau bird show (which was really for kids, it was OA) then headed to the beaches: Palawan and Siloso.
The ‘beaches’ don’t even come close to the so-so beaches we have back in the Philippines. For one thing, the sand looked fake. Also, the water looked murky, as if a monster might appear from it anytime. What pitiful souls… crowding into the only ‘beach’ they have. There was an interesting place though, claimed to be the ‘southernmost point of continental asia’. It is an islet connected to Sentosa island via a hanging bridge, and Sentosa Island is connected to Singapore via a bridge, and Singapore is connected to Malaysia via the Singapore-Johore causeway, hence the reason it’s still connected to continental asia. At 7pm, we watched the water & light show called ‘Songs of the Sea’. The plot was very thin (coz it was intended for kids), but the effects were really cool. Even Onchie enjoyed the show. He and I went back to the cable car station via the Sky Ride. It was like the cable car ride, minus the protection of the coach! Our feet were literally hanging in the air, almost skimming the top of the trees. Scary! The ride stopped for around 2 minutes, so were left dangling tens of meters above ground, totally helpless. Even though the ride was scary as hell, the view of the city from above the treetops was breathtaking. Either that, or I was out of breath like shit because of fear.
The cable car ride back to the city was less scary, and the view more beautiful. Everything was bright and twinkling.
On Sunday, we heard mass at Good Shepherd Cathedral, the oldest Roman Catholic church in Singapore (erected in 1843). Our lunch at the hawkers by the hotel had been fun: Onchie and mom waged war with their chopsticks. Then off we went to Chinatown. Mom, as usual, had a blast window shopping, touching the items, asking for the prices and looking away. For all the time she scoured the stores for anything, she was only able to buy 2 or 3 items. Ay ka-kapoy. After shopping, we came across the newly opened temple.
Onchie and I went in and joined the Sunday afternoon rush. There were so many devotees and tourists flocking by the giant buddhas. There was just so many people. They buy candles as offerings and ask the monks do the chanting (via high-end sound system).The supposed solemnity of the place was lost in the crowd: taking pictures, talking, shouting, haggling for the prices on the smaller buddhas… After Chinatown, we went to Little India and shopped at the Serangoon Plaza. To my chagrin, mom bought soap, lotion, shampoo, and toothpaste! Mura daw kasi. Hay! I was able to buy a camera tripod at a bargain: $21 only. The cheapest one I found in Chinatown was $35. After Little India, we took the MRT going to Orchard Road. By this time, we were so tired that we just had dinner at Burger King and went back to the hotel. We didn’t even go into the malls to look for Onchie’s Havaianas. Having realized that the night was still young, we decided to go to Bugis Street for some tiyange shopping until midnight.
As their last ‘tour day’ was Monday, I left them to fend for themselves because I had to report to work at Suntec. Little did I know that my company had already moved to Jurong. So I went there via the MRT and got almost got lost because I didn’t know which bus to take. After getting instructions in the main office, I arrived in Jurong at around lunch time, only to discover that my project manager wasn’t there. So I was instructed to do my medical examination and take the rest of the day off. Just when I had finally decided to go back to the city and meet my famiily, the project manager calls me and tells me to go back to the office. Haaaaaaayyy………. And since I didn’t have a laptop in the office yet, I had to go back home and get my own. Grabe, kakapoy. I finally met up with my parents at around 8pm. Kainis pa coz Dad and I ran out of our roaming load, so we couldn’t coordinate. I went to their hotel as the last resort, hoping that I’d bump into them. Good thing that Dad was waiting at the hawker area by the street and saw me walk by. He was waiting for Mom and Onchie to wrap up their shopping. When they didn’t show up after I ate dinner, we decided to look for them in Bugis Junction. We found both of them doing pahabol shopping and bargaining. It was already 10pm when we went out the mall (syempre, closing time na rin). Onchie wanted to shop some more because he still had some SGD, but since all the malls were already closed, we went to the nearby Starbucks and ordered his first frappuccino. I helped them pack their shit. Good thing they bought a lot of extra bags (which was supposed to be for my use), all the soap, toothpaste, shampoo, candles, and what-have-you that my mom bought, plus the shoes that Onchie and Dad bought, were secured.
Today is officially my 20th day here in Singapore.
I arrived with my parents and youngest brother last June 1. I had soooo much luggage that I asked for them to come with me, so that I could use their luggage allocation (anyway, they didn’t pay for the plane fare). We spent the afternoon walking around, taking pictures of the Merlion and the Fullerton hotel. Then we had dinner at the Esplanade outdoor hawker center. It was a long walk back to my parents’ budget hotel along North Bridge. Onchie stayed with me at Rap’s.
On the 2nd day, we went to Sentosa via cable car. It was such a nerve-wracking experience, especially for dad. You can just imagine what will happen if your coach was to plunge down the sea. Scary thought. There was not much to see in Sentosa really. We just went to the Merlion statue again, had pictures with the friendly yellow python (yikes!), and had lunch at Subway while waiting for Onchie to finish the 4D movie. Then we checked out the macau bird show (which was really for kids, it was OA) then headed to the beaches: Palawan and Siloso. The ‘beaches’ don’t even come close to the so-so beaches we have back in the Philippines. For one thing, the sand looked fake. Also, the water looked murky, as if a monster might appear from it anytime. What pitiful souls… crowding into the only ‘beach’ they have. There was an interesting place though, claimed to be the ‘southernmost point of continental asia’. It is an islet connected to Sentosa island via a hanging bridge, and Sentosa Island is connected to Singapore via a bridge, and Singapore is connected to Malaysia via the Singapore-Johore causeway, hence the reason it’s still connected to continental asia. At 7pm, we watched the water & light show called ‘Songs of the Sea’. The plot was very thin (coz it was intended for kids), but the effects were really cool. Even Onchie enjoyed the show. He and I went back to the cable car station via the Sky Ride. It was like the cable car ride, minus the protection of the coach! Our feet were literally hanging in the air, almost skimming the top of the trees. Scary! The ride stopped for around 2 minutes, so were left dangling tens of meters above ground, totally helpless. Even though the ride was scary as hell, the view of the city from above the treetops was breathtaking. Either that, or I was out of breath like shit because of fear. The cable car ride back to the city was less scary, and the view more beautiful. Everything was bright and twinkling.On Sunday, we heard mass at Good Shepherd Cathedral, the oldest Roman Catholic church in Singapore (erected in 1843). Our lunch at the hawkers by the hotel had been fun: Onchie and mom waged war with their chopsticks. Then off we went to Chinatown. Mom, as usual, had a blast window shopping, touching the items, asking for the prices and looking away. For all the time she scoured the stores for anything, she was only able to buy 2 or 3 items. Ay ka-kapoy. After shopping, we came across the newly opened temple.
Onchie and I went in and joined the Sunday afternoon rush. There were so many devotees and tourists flocking by the giant buddhas. There was just so many people. They buy candles as offerings and ask the monks do the chanting (via high-end sound system).The supposed solemnity of the place was lost in the crowd: taking pictures, talking, shouting, haggling for the prices on the smaller buddhas… After Chinatown, we went to Little India and shopped at the Serangoon Plaza. To my chagrin, mom bought soap, lotion, shampoo, and toothpaste! Mura daw kasi. Hay! I was able to buy a camera tripod at a bargain: $21 only. The cheapest one I found in Chinatown was $35. After Little India, we took the MRT going to Orchard Road. By this time, we were so tired that we just had dinner at Burger King and went back to the hotel. We didn’t even go into the malls to look for Onchie’s Havaianas. Having realized that the night was still young, we decided to go to Bugis Street for some tiyange shopping until midnight. As their last ‘tour day’ was Monday, I left them to fend for themselves because I had to report to work at Suntec. Little did I know that my company had already moved to Jurong. So I went there via the MRT and got almost got lost because I didn’t know which bus to take. After getting instructions in the main office, I arrived in Jurong at around lunch time, only to discover that my project manager wasn’t there. So I was instructed to do my medical examination and take the rest of the day off. Just when I had finally decided to go back to the city and meet my famiily, the project manager calls me and tells me to go back to the office. Haaaaaaayyy………. And since I didn’t have a laptop in the office yet, I had to go back home and get my own. Grabe, kakapoy. I finally met up with my parents at around 8pm. Kainis pa coz Dad and I ran out of our roaming load, so we couldn’t coordinate. I went to their hotel as the last resort, hoping that I’d bump into them. Good thing that Dad was waiting at the hawker area by the street and saw me walk by. He was waiting for Mom and Onchie to wrap up their shopping. When they didn’t show up after I ate dinner, we decided to look for them in Bugis Junction. We found both of them doing pahabol shopping and bargaining. It was already 10pm when we went out the mall (syempre, closing time na rin). Onchie wanted to shop some more because he still had some SGD, but since all the malls were already closed, we went to the nearby Starbucks and ordered his first frappuccino. I helped them pack their shit. Good thing they bought a lot of extra bags (which was supposed to be for my use), all the soap, toothpaste, shampoo, candles, and what-have-you that my mom bought, plus the shoes that Onchie and Dad bought, were secured.
Onchie had to sleep with my parents because they were leaving for the airport very early the next day. As I stood alone in the bus, I suddenly felt a strong pang of loneliness, it almost made me cry. My first four days in Singapore had been tiring but fun, because my family was there. I wasn’t sure if I’d survive without them to hold on to. By the time I got to Rap’s place that night, I was so tired to mull about it.
The next two weeks of work had been very hectic… And I terribly missed Bucky.
Sunday, June 17, 2007
What Your Name Means (http://www.paulsadowski.com/NameData.asp)
-- this thingie almost made me laugh... where do these people get this shit????
You entered: january kristi migalbin
There are 21 letters in your name.Those 21 letters total to 99. There are 8 vowels and 13 consonants in your name.
Your number is: 9
The characteristics of #9 are: Humanitarian, giving nature, selflessness, obligations, creative expression.
The expression or destiny for #9:The expression that you exhibit is represented bythe number 9. Your talents center in humanistic interests and approaches. You like to help others as you were intended to be the 'big brother or big sister' type. You operate best when you follow your feelings and sense of compassion, and allow yourself to be sensitive to the needs of others. You work well with people, and have the potential to inspire. This suggests that you could successfully teach or counsel. Creative ability, imagination and artistic talent (often latent) of the highest order are present in this expression. It's possible that you're not using or developing all of these capabilities at this time. Some of your talents may have been used at an earlier time in your life, and some may still be latent. Be aware of your capabilities, so that you can make use of them at appropriate times.
If you are able to achieve the potential of your natural expression in this life, you are capable of much human understanding and have a lot to give to others. Your personal ambitions are likely to be maintained in a very positive perspective, never losing sight of an interest in people, and a sympathetic, tolerant, broad-minded and compassionate point of view. You are quite idealistic, and disappointed at the lack of perfection in the world. You have a strong awareness of your own feeling as well as those of others. Friendships, affection, and love are extremely important.
Undeveloped or ignored, the negative side of the 9 expression can be very selfish and self-centered. If you do not actively involve yourself with work that benefits others, you may tend to express just the opposite characteristics. It is your role to be very involved with other people and their needs, but it may be difficult for you achieve this role. Aloofness, lack of involvement, and a lack of sensitivity mark the low road of this expression.
Your Soul Urge number is: 6
A Soul Urge number of 6 means: With a number 6 Soul Urge, you would like to be appreciated for your ability to handle responsibility. Your home and family are likely to be a strong focus for you, perhaps the strongest focus of your life. Friendship, love, and affection are high on your list of priorities for a happy life. You have a lot of diplomatic tendencies in your makeup, as you a able to rectify and balance situations with an innate skill. You like working with people rather than by yourself. It is extremely important for you to have harmony in your environment at all times.
The positive side of the 6 Soul Urge produces a huge capacity for responsibility; you are always there and ready to assume more than your share of the load. If you possess positive 6 Soul Urges and express them, you are known for your generosity, understanding and deep sympathetic attitude. Strong 6 energy is very giving of love, affection, and emotional support. You may have the inclination to teach or serve your community in other idealistic ways. You have natural abilities to help people. You are also likely to have artistic and creative leanings.
If you have an over-supply of 6 energy in your makeup, you may express some of the negative traits common to this number. With such a strong sympathetic attitude, it is easy to become too emotional. Sometimes the desires to render help can be over done, and it can become interfering and an attitude that is too protective, rather than helpful. The person with too much 6 energy often finds that people tend to take advantage of this very giving spirit. You may tend to repress your own needs so that you can cater to the demands from others. At times, there may be a tendency in this, for becoming over-loaded with such demands, and as a result become resentful.
Your Inner Dream number is: 3
An Inner Dream number of 3 means: You dream of artistic expression; writing, painting, music. You would seek to more freely express your inner feeling and obtain more enjoyment from life. You also dream of being more popular, likable, and appreciated.
-- this thingie almost made me laugh... where do these people get this shit????
You entered: january kristi migalbin
There are 21 letters in your name.Those 21 letters total to 99. There are 8 vowels and 13 consonants in your name.
Your number is: 9
The characteristics of #9 are: Humanitarian, giving nature, selflessness, obligations, creative expression.
The expression or destiny for #9:The expression that you exhibit is represented bythe number 9. Your talents center in humanistic interests and approaches. You like to help others as you were intended to be the 'big brother or big sister' type. You operate best when you follow your feelings and sense of compassion, and allow yourself to be sensitive to the needs of others. You work well with people, and have the potential to inspire. This suggests that you could successfully teach or counsel. Creative ability, imagination and artistic talent (often latent) of the highest order are present in this expression. It's possible that you're not using or developing all of these capabilities at this time. Some of your talents may have been used at an earlier time in your life, and some may still be latent. Be aware of your capabilities, so that you can make use of them at appropriate times.
If you are able to achieve the potential of your natural expression in this life, you are capable of much human understanding and have a lot to give to others. Your personal ambitions are likely to be maintained in a very positive perspective, never losing sight of an interest in people, and a sympathetic, tolerant, broad-minded and compassionate point of view. You are quite idealistic, and disappointed at the lack of perfection in the world. You have a strong awareness of your own feeling as well as those of others. Friendships, affection, and love are extremely important.
Undeveloped or ignored, the negative side of the 9 expression can be very selfish and self-centered. If you do not actively involve yourself with work that benefits others, you may tend to express just the opposite characteristics. It is your role to be very involved with other people and their needs, but it may be difficult for you achieve this role. Aloofness, lack of involvement, and a lack of sensitivity mark the low road of this expression.
Your Soul Urge number is: 6
A Soul Urge number of 6 means: With a number 6 Soul Urge, you would like to be appreciated for your ability to handle responsibility. Your home and family are likely to be a strong focus for you, perhaps the strongest focus of your life. Friendship, love, and affection are high on your list of priorities for a happy life. You have a lot of diplomatic tendencies in your makeup, as you a able to rectify and balance situations with an innate skill. You like working with people rather than by yourself. It is extremely important for you to have harmony in your environment at all times.
The positive side of the 6 Soul Urge produces a huge capacity for responsibility; you are always there and ready to assume more than your share of the load. If you possess positive 6 Soul Urges and express them, you are known for your generosity, understanding and deep sympathetic attitude. Strong 6 energy is very giving of love, affection, and emotional support. You may have the inclination to teach or serve your community in other idealistic ways. You have natural abilities to help people. You are also likely to have artistic and creative leanings.
If you have an over-supply of 6 energy in your makeup, you may express some of the negative traits common to this number. With such a strong sympathetic attitude, it is easy to become too emotional. Sometimes the desires to render help can be over done, and it can become interfering and an attitude that is too protective, rather than helpful. The person with too much 6 energy often finds that people tend to take advantage of this very giving spirit. You may tend to repress your own needs so that you can cater to the demands from others. At times, there may be a tendency in this, for becoming over-loaded with such demands, and as a result become resentful.
Your Inner Dream number is: 3
An Inner Dream number of 3 means: You dream of artistic expression; writing, painting, music. You would seek to more freely express your inner feeling and obtain more enjoyment from life. You also dream of being more popular, likable, and appreciated.
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