All original Mansioneers have left...

PHASE1: CASA GHETTO
Rap, Mac, Prime, Jaja, Me, Rica
June 2000 - Dec 2000

- and Ghetto it was
- with all the manong tricycles whizzing along the market roads, waking us up early in the morning, and eventually lulling us to sleep
- with all the the ghetto drama: "pu!@#$%^** )(*mo! may babae ka na naman! papatayin kita!!!" among other things
- with all the leaks in the roof... and having to feel so poor. those are Matrix moments: "Welcome to the real world."
- having to go to Glorietta to bask in the free airconditioning, eating at McDo and enjoying a P10 ice cream cone
- having to deal with the worst bathroom ever
-having to squash ourselves into one room so that we can all watch TV

PHASE 2: MANALAC MANSION
Rap, Mac, Prime, Jaja, Me, Rica, Nina, YJ, Randy, Kuya Allen, Gen, Cousin Myra
Honorary: Mazjh, Rona, Mike, Bucky, JakeA (at lahat ng naging BF/GF ng Mansioneers)
Dec 2000 - Jan 2009

- jogging around Powerplant while it was still underconstruction
- finally learning how to commute, and learn to toughen up
- fearing that PP will have "clothing price alarms" that will go off if the worth of your clothes is less than PHPxx,xxx.00
- having to feel so poor because the electricity was disconnected (late payment, thanks to YJ. hehehe.)
- having to deal with the creepy Meralco guy after he reconnected the electricity
- having to drink GinPom or Tanduay Rhum-Coke at home due to lack of funds
- writing the Manalac Mansion Chronicles. WHERE IS IT NOW?????
- waking up sweaty because of the summer heat
- staying in PP for the free aircon
- watching Rustans change layout and management
- poker nights at Good Earth Roasts
- eating at Som's when it was still a "karinderya" and we dined with the manong tricycle drivers. chicken noodle was PHP45 and milk tea was PHP12 a glass
- walking along the dark roads of burgos at the middle of night to grab a happy meal and sundae cone
- seeing the apartment owner's black labrador die (what was his name???)
- double deck beds (imagine 7 mansioneers in 2 bedrooms!)
- watching The Ring, the news of 9-11, Sex & the City, and all those series
- having to wake up early para di maunahan sa banyo!
- birthday lunches and dinners
- walking at 3am at the backstreets of Backwell from Grilla, highly intoxicated
- watching ADMU-LASALLE UAAP basketball games, win or lose
- watching Magandang Umaga, Bayan while eating breakfast, blowdrying hair, ironing office clothes...
- having to deal with a constantly dusty and dirty house. and yet we only do general cleaning every quarter. hehehe.

now, all of us have left the Mansion, our comfort-zone for quite a while. life was hard then, but we had fun. maybe one day, we can all get together and catch up. reminisce the old days. and be glad of how life has turned out.

*thanks to Yrmah, my facebook friend*

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1. Take a 10-30 minutes walk every day. And while you walk, smile.

2. Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day.

3. Sleep for 7 hours.

4. Live with the 3 E's -- Energy, Enthusiasm, and Empathy.

5. Play more games.

6. Read more books than you did the previous year.

7. Make time to practice meditation, yoga, and prayer. They provide us with daily fuel for our busy lives.

8. Spend time with people over the age of 70 & under the age of 6.

9. Dream more while you are awake.

10. Eat more foods that grow on trees and plants and eat less food that is manufactured in plants.

11. Drink plenty of water.

12. Try to make at least three people smile each day.

13. Don't waste your precious energy on gossip.

14. Forget issues of the past. Don't remind your partner with his/her mistakes of the past. That will ruin your present happiness.

15. Don't have negative thoughts or things you cannot control. Instead invest your energy in the positive present moment.

16. Realize that life is a school and you are here to learn. Problems are simply part of the curriculum that appear and fade away like algebra class but the lessons you learn will last a lifetime.

17. Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a beggar.

18. Smile and laugh more.

19. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone. Don't hate others.

20. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.

21. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.

22. Make peace with your past so it won't spoil the present.

23. Don't compare your life to others'. You have no idea what their journey is all about. Don't compare your partner with others.

24. No one is in charge of your happiness except you.

25. Forgive everyone for everything.

26. What other people think of you is none of your business.

27. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.

28. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends will. Stay in touch.

29. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.

30. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.

31. The best is yet to come.

32. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.

33. Do the right thing!

34. Call your family often.

35. Your inner most is always happy. So be happy.

36. Each day give something good to others.

37. Don't over do. Keep your limits.

38. Share this with someone you care about (Click the "Share" link below)

For more on wonderful happiness ideas, please join the group "The Happiest Day of Your Life"

http://groups.to/happiness

by: Jimmy Fallon

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i just heard this from my old collection of mp3s. it made me laugh. can relate? =P

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I know what you want, and I know what you need

But I'm goin' screw it up, yeah

Cause I'm an idiot, and I'm your boyfriend, yes I am

I'm goin' take you out, and leave my wallet home

Then I use your cell phone, baby

Long distance, and I'm your boyfriend

Baby I know I'm a man who's made mistakes

I still got some learning to do

I made out with your best friend the other day, and

Now we're best friends too

And I know what you want, and I know what you need

But I'm goin' screw it up, yeah

Cause I'm an idiot, and I'm your boyfriend, yes I am

And I'm goin' get you a gift, Hey! But its something I like too

Hope you like this Norelco Beard Trimmer with my name on it,

And I'm your boyfriend

Goin' Get real drunk,

And call my baby up at four o'clock in the morning

Wake you up, I'm an idiot!

Pick up the phone, come on, Now Look

Lets get in my dad's SUV,

And we'll go over to my house, my crib, my pad

I'll tell my mom to go to sleep

Then we'll have the living room all to ourselves, you see

We'll put on some great DVD's I picked up

How bout like, something like the Matrix

I can turn my boom box up, and make the bass

Smack the side of my moms couch

Hey baby you like fine cooking? Cause you know what?

I got a swanson's dinner in the freezer with your name on it

Check it out

I got a permanent wave, yeah!

I got an ogilvie home perm, baby

Uh! I Honk the horn can you honk the horn?

Can you honk the horn?

Let me hear you honk it! Come on!

Let me hear you say uh uh!

Let me hear you say uh uh uh!

Let me see you say uh uh!

Let me hear you say uh uh uh uh uh uh uh oh yeah!

Let me hear you say uh uh uh uh uh uh uh oh yeah!

people in our lives

in life you will realize that the people you meet have a purpose.

some were put there to test you, some would use you, some would teach you, and some would bring out the better if not the best in you..

some may even cause u pain & heartache..

but one must learn to move on..

so let go of the people who don't treat you right and hold on to those who love you back and see your worth.

last night, i was reviewing my photos... i realized that i can never escape from my past. no matter how i want to start from a clean slate...

i'm not frustrated that i cant.

i just realized that i can never start from scratch. there will always be baggage. we shed some along the way. but we always carry their traces...

the weird thing is, i don't feel scarred. i know i can still fall in love. i can be loved. and not be afraid.

lessons to learn, relearn, and learn yet again...

thanks, Mickee =)

LOVING EACH OTHER: Some Solicited Advice

1. Don't think in terms of forever. Think of now, and forever will take care of itself.
2. Grow up together, constantly.
3. Expect to invest a great deal of time and energy in your relationship.
4. Lasting relationships don't just happen, they are created.
5. Recognize that all relationships cannot be forever. Recognize their temporary quality, but continue to act as if they are permanent.
6. Respect the other person's relationships apart from you. If they are important to the one you care about, they should be important to you.
7. Never idealize others. They will never live up to your expectations.
8. Take your time.
9. Remove price tags from people. Everyone has worth; the excitement lies in the discovery of their value.
10. Don't be afraid of giving. You can never give too much, if you're giving willingly.
11. Don't feel as if you are required to spend every waking hour with those you love. Move aside from time to time and allow them a separate space too.
12. Never force anyone to do anything for you in the name of love. Love is not to be bargained for.
13. Don't be afraid.
14. Don't overanalyze your relationships.
15. Realize that you always have choices. It's up to you.
16. Remember that a relationship is a pooling of resources. It means that with each relationship you are not only giving, but you are becoming more.
17. Don't allow relationships to burden your heart; rather use it to become more aware and sensitive.
18. Don't smother each other. No one can grow in shade.
19. Don't lose in touch with the craziness in you. This, with a large dose of caring, will assure that your relationship will never be boring.
20. Don't brood. Get on with living and loving. You don't have forever.
21. Don't hold on to anger. they steal your energy and keep you from love.
22. There are times when you want to give up on a relationship but never give up on relating.
23. Learn to listen. You don't learn anything from hearing yourself talk.
24. Expect what is reasonable, not what is perfect.
25. Write down all the reasons why you love each person you relate with.
26. Then, when the going gets tough, take the list out and reread it. It resolves problems quickly.
27. After an argument is over, forget it.
28. Don't become involved in pettiness, ego and childish hurts. Those will only serve to degrade your relationship and prevent closeness.
29. Learn to bend. It's better than breaking.
30. Since love can be created, there is no reason to be loveless.
31. Even though you are only half of a relationship, you must remain a whole person, apart from the relationship.
32. Remember that moral and spiritual values don't restrict, they protect.
33. Don't fall in love with love, you'll die with its complexities.
34. Don't allow your relationships to die of neglect.

So, JLo is in it... this is in one of my favorite movies. here's one of the reasons why...

“All these promises that we make and we break...Why is it that you think people get married?

Because we need a witness to our lives. There's a billion people on the planet, I mean what does any one life really mean? But in a marriage, you're promising to care about everything...the good things, the bad things, the terrible things, the mondane things...all of it, all the time, everyday. You're saying... Your life will not go unnoticed because I will notice it. Your life will not go unwitnessed, because I will be your witness.”

~ Beverly Clark
Shall We Dance

"Once the decision has been made, don’t look back.

Do not second-guess, and do not regret a decision.

Put the "what ifs" aside.

It was the right thing to do at the time.

Now focus on what is right at this time."

can't wait for my life to begin

it's strange. i feel sad. but i do feel at peace right now. knowing that i can be anywhere i want to be, knowing that i have a choice on how my life should pan out. i think that's the peace im looking for.

does that mean i know what i want? no, not yet. but you never really know, do you? i will find that out, someday. and i will make mistakes along the way. like i said, i will surely disappoint a lot of people, including myself. but making mistakes and learning from them is something i am willing to go through. it is MY life, afterall.

right now, i don't see the point of giving a deadline or restrictions on myself... not that i don't see the value of that. to me, i've decided to take whatever life throws at me, good AND bad. as you probably know by now, we never know what life throws at us. we make decisions and live with the consequences, hope that it makes us better persons.

i can't wait for my life to begin. hahahahaha.

the right decision

Thanks, Ja.

"How will you know if you have made the right decision? Answer: It's when you picked the harder choice yet your heart is at peace."

coincidences

"...life is composed of a series of coincidences over which we have no control...how we respond, the actions we take in the face of these coincidences, makes all the difference... all these decisions had brought me to my current place in life."

~ John Perkins

from Confessions of an Economic Hitman

How do I Deal

Everyday I wake up

To another day gone by

Nothing but the open road

And a never ending why

Anything can happen yeah

But nothing never does

I try to change It's kind of strange

The same as it ever was

But look at us

How do I deal with you.

How do I deal with me

When I Don't even know myself

Or what it is you want from me

How do I deal with us

How do I know what's real

When I don't even trust myself

Or what it is I feel

How do I deal

Every night in the dark I lie awake in bed

How am I supposed to dream with all the static in my head

(Torn in all) torn in all (in all) directions (directions)

And I pray for some relief

What can I do but feel the weight I'm underneath

And grit my teeth

How do I deal with you

How do I deal with me

When I Don't even know myself

Or what it is you want from me

How do I deal with love

Why do I why do I have to choose

Everybody's telling me

What the hell I have to do

How do I deal with us

How do I know what's real

When I don't even trust myself

Or what it is I feel

Now how do I deal

(How do I deal with you) How do I deal with you (How do I deal with me)

When I don't even know myself

Or what it is you want from me

(How do I deal with love) How do I deal (Why do I have to choose)

When everybody's telling me

What the hell I have to do

(How do I deal with you) How do I deal with you (How do I deal with me)

How do I deal with me

When I don't even know myself

Or what it is you want fom me

~ Jennifer Love Hewitt

before I forget (excerpt 1)

An excerpt from the latest book I finished.

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There are two moments in the relationship with every woman I have known in my life, which have brought me closer to understanding – even if it was without ever fully getting there – what it means to be alive.

One is the moment of orgasm. Not my own, but that of the woman I am with. Because it is immeasurably more wonderful than anything I could hope to feel myself. Seeing – hearing, feeling, knowing – her in the throes of ecstasy, does not primarily bring a sense of achievement, the Little Jack Horner syndrome (Look, what a clever boy am I), but a sense of awe: this is what a human individual – this she who is you – is capable of. It is an unfathomable combination of two sensations which ought to be essentially different, and yet merged: it is a sharing, almost a fusion, which leaves me with a feeling of unspeakable joy, even of gratitude (Thank you for allowing me to be with you in the ultimate moment); but also a feeling of utter solitude. I can see it, hear it, feel it, taste it – but I can never be on the inside of it with you. I cannot even be sure whether I really know what it is like. Is it like my own? Or incomparable? Just as I can never know if what you see at any given moment is exactly the same as what I see. We look at a colour. We both call it red. But is is only because we have been taught to call it by that name. There is no guarantee – not ever – that we see it in the same way, that your red is my red. How much more momentous is something like orgasm. But for that very reason your solitude, your quite literal wrapped-upness in it cannot but bring that experience of what for lack of a better word I call awe.

The other moment is very, very different. And yet not, if one really things about it, so different at all. It is the moment when I wake up with a woman in my arms, and see her still sleeping. I raise myself on an elbow. I gaze. I gaze at her without even for a moment being able to understand at all of what I see. You: sleeping. The one I have shared a special experience with; the one I have shared hours, days, months, perhaps years of my life with. Yet, here, in this instant, so utterly confirmed in your youness that you are turned into a mystery, I am conscious of being on the outside of it: it actually makes me feel an intruder, someone who should not be here at all, should not be allowed to gaze upon you in this ineffable moment of sleep. Because here you are totally vulnerable, you have no protection against the world. Except the protection of your own self. Which, being unfathomable, leaves you so naked that you may just as well have been peeled from your skin, a grape, a transparent fruit, light in the heart of light. And that is a mystery forever.

And yet by falling asleep beside me, you have sanctioned, silently, this intrusion and this gaze. To sleep with someone can be more intimate than making love. It is a yielding, and a trust, that cannot be compared to anything else. You have granted me this. Can I ever be worthy of it? This is the moment I come closest to understanding something of that over used and misunderstood word: love.

~ Chris Minaar

from Before I Forget

by Andre Brink

"Have you ever wondered why the Bible doesn't say, 'Wives, love your husbands?"

something i picked up, of all places, from Facebook.

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"Two days ago, I had an ecumenical meeting with President Gloria and various religious leaders in the country (even Muslim leaders). That was where I spoke to Bishop Ruben Abante, the head of the Alliance of Baptist Churches in the Philippines . We were talking about how to solve the problems of the world. (Naks!) That was when Bishop Ruben gave me a word about families that blew my mind. He said, "Brother Bo, the Bible says in Ephesians 5:25, 'Husbands, love your wives, and wives submit to your husbands.' Have you ever wondered why the Bible doesn't say, 'Wives, love your husbands?'"

"Why?" I asked.

The Bishop explained to me that the responsibility to love the family rests on the husband's shoulder. The wife and the kids are only to respond to that love. In the same way that the Bible says in 1 John 4:9 (my life verse) "We love because He first loved us," we respond to God's love for us. That was powerful. I began to reflect on all the broken families I've
counselled through the past 28 years of my life. Most of them (not all ) were broken because the father didn't love enough. And as I reflect on all the broken people I've counselled, I can see the same pattern. In most of these individuals (again, not all), I see the lack of a loving father in that person's life.

Fathers, you have a pivotal role in the life of your wife and children. You are to aggressively, assertively, deliberately love them-and they will respond. But the good Bishop was not finished. He said, "Why didn't God say, 'Husbands, submit to your wife?'"

"Why?" I asked again.

He said that once that love is there, submission is the natural response . He asked, "Why is there so much rebellion and disobedience among children today?" He explained that kids need to see their mother submit to their father as a model to follow. (We didn't have time to talk about situations where the man of the house doesn't love. Should the wife still submit? That difficult question I hope to answer it in another article.) But let me share with you my experience.

I love my wife. I do it aggressively, assertively, and deliberately. And she submits to my leadership. I have a vision for the family and I'm bringing my family to that vision-and she supports me. But what does that mean in daily life? That I'm king and she's my slave? Gosh, you should visit my home. Because I love her, I want to serve her. And because she follows already my general direction, I realize that 90% of life's decisions are about the trivial stuff. Because I love her, it's my joy to say, "Yes" to her . So in reality, I follow her 90% of the time! She isn't my slave. She is the queen I pamper.

That, my friends, is marital headship-submission in daily life. Husbands, take responsibility in filling your family with love. Wives, support and submit to your husband [in filling your family with love]. And together, we can fill the world with God's love."

I remain your friend,
Bo Sanchez

goldilocks gone...

i lost my mala-goldilocks hair to a totally inept Singaporean stylist who either couldn't understand my proper unaccented English or had no idea what the hell she was doing.

from long, soft, curly hair down to bra length... TO short, perenially flying-away layered bob with the longest strand of hair stopping at the base of my neck. i guess this is what Singaporean stylists call "trim", which is equivalent to cutting half the length of hair.

2 out of 3 bad experiences is bad statistics. so i formally declare that I shall NEVER have another Singaporean stylist touch my fabulous hair ever again. EVER. i am not being racist. my deep disappointment is supported by statistics and heartache.

having said that, i shout: LONG LIVE PINOY stylists! Even the McDonalds-of-hairstylists-from David's Salon can make me happy. And they cost a fraction of what i spend here. I actually paid someone to make me feel bad. how ironic.

but as I am Pinoy thru and thru, i desperately seek for the silver lining in the dark horizon: it's amazing how a bad haircut can single-handedly put things in perspective. i cannot "control" my hair, BUT i can control my life. i've been feeling like my life is spinning out of control and i've been deliriously allowing myself to be spun around.

This has got to stop. And NO, im not pasting a photo of my bad haircut here.

[I need to buy a hairgrower that works. Seriously.]

missing my friends...

it's true what they say, you can never fully appreciate something or someone until it's gone.

now that i'm separated from my old and good friends, friends who i literally grew up with, i miss their company, even if it just means sharing a tub of cheap ice cream or a bag of chips while watching a cheesy Korean movie.

it's fun to reminisce about all the stupid things we did while we were young(er): having different crushes every week, cutting class, crying and fighting over a guy (who isn't even gwapo), having the hots for a cute professor, getting drunk the night before a big exam or orals, getting drunk and still going to class, wearing a skirt in the hopes of getting a better grade (yes, i sunk that low), cramming, surviving philo and terror professors, smoking, drinking until we literally crawled back to our rooms, maxing out credit cards and getting shocked when the bill arrived...

but it's the simple things that i miss: having lunch and making tsismis, long talks until 3am, watching cheesy movies and Sex & the City, going to church together, having lunch at that resto near gate 3 and eat sisig or chopseuy (what's the name???? pakshet!!! Ken Afford???), spending a whole hot summer afternoon by the Cervini pool, eating at Mcdo and the clubhouse, drinking at home because we didn't have money, eating squidballs along Ayala Ave, lunching out and window shopping at Landmark during Fridays, watching series during lunch...

i miss my friends.

and this blog is making me feel old.

boys, read on. swaaaaabeeeeh! XD

Link

Biblical pick-up lines (????)

OK, so I'm very delayed.

if not for terrible migraine, combined with early siesta and ibuprofen, which caused my head to spin yet prevented me from sleeping it off last night, i wouldn't have seen this movie.

yes, i cried while watching. but i don't know if it was the movie or my imploding head, or me, or everything.

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Juno: I just need to know if people can stay happy together forever…

Dad: Well, it’s not easy. That’s for sure. And I don’t have the best track record in the world I know. But I’ve been with your stepmother for 10 years now and I’m proud to say that we’re very happy.

Look, in my opinion the best thing you can do is to find the person who loves you for exactly who you are: good mood, bad mood, ugly, pretty, handsome, what-have-you. The right person still thinks the sunshine out of your ass. That’s the kind of person worth sticking with.

Juno: Yeah, I think I have found that person.

Anyone Else But You (Moldy Peaches)

You're a part time lover and a full time friend

The monkey on you're back is the latest trend

I don't see what anyone can see, in anyone else

But you

I kiss you on the brain in the shadow of a train

I kiss you all starry eyed, my body's swinging from side to side

I don't see what anyone can see, in anyone else

But you

Here is the church and here is the steeple

We sure are cute for two ugly people

I don't see what anyone can see, in anyone else

But you

The pebbles forgive me, the trees forgive me

So why can't, you forgive me?

I don't see what anyone can see, in anyone else

But you

I will find my nitch in your car

With my mp3 DVD rumple-packed guitar

I don't see what anyone can see, in anyone else

But you

Du du du du du du dudu

Du du du du du du dudu

Du du du du du du dudu du

Up up down down left right left right B A start

Just because we use cheats doesn't mean we're not smart

I don't see what anyone can see, in anyone else

But you

You are always trying to keep it real

I'm in love with how you feel

I don't see what anyone can see, in anyone else

But you

We both have shiny happy fits of rage

You want more fans, I want more stage

I don't see what anyone can see, in anyone else

But you

Don Quixote was a steel driving man

My name is Adam I'm your biggest fan

I don't see what anyone can see, in anyone else

But you

Squinched up your face and did a dance

You shook a little turd out of the bottom of your pants

I don't see what anyone can see, in anyone else

But you

Du du du du du du dudu

Du du du du du du dudu

Du du du du du du dudu du

But you

a conversation between me (10 yrs ng may BF) and a friend (ngayon lang nagka-GF. ever.). my answer doesn't suggest that i'm an expert. well, he asked. =P

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Friend: cge nga... pano ka nakasisiguro na you're in love?

Me: Hmmm. it's different for me than most people i guess.

hindi kasi ako nadadala sa bait ng lalaki, porke't magkasama kami parati, or sweet sa akin.

i look at a guy and ask myself kung kakayaniin nya ba ako, good and bad. if nakita kong maayos naman syang lalaki at kaya akong dalhin, saka ko lang ino-open up sarili ko.

it's a conscious decision for me. so i know when i'm in love.

for others it's different i guess. nasasayo un.

basta for me, it's not just kasi kinikilig ka. i guess you know when you're in love when you realize na gugustuhin mo pa rin ung tao kahit nakita mo na ung pangit nyang ugali, na kahit ganun sya mamahalin mo pa din sya.

im not a romantic e. mahirap akong ligawan.

Friend: mukha nga

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HAHAHAHAHAHA!

no time for stillness

the past year has been a ... rollercoaster ride of sorts.

i was flung from boredom, staring at my room's ceiling... to don't-have-time-to-barely-sleep, or fix my bed or my laundry. i was suddenly flung into chaos. or maybe i chose to be...

some nights, i feel myself longing for time to just stop, for the world not to move, for a chance not to think, for stillness...