2009 Grand Vacay (Part 2): Meeting my favorite people after 5 long months!

It has been a default – my second day (usually night) after coming home from Jakarta would have to be spent with the friends that I had for the longest time!  Another funny default is the venue, TGIF-Glorietta – since it had been the group’s hangout since 1997 (college years), it is a no-brainer answer whenever the question “where are we meeting up?” pops in.

Same place, same table, same food... But then, only 4 people left...

BFF Nons... We both gained weight over the last 5 months so you don't have the right to tell me that I'm fat!

Bestfriend Adrian, great minds think alike! Arriving both in white polo shirt without even talking about it!

Prayer Partner Cris, sana i-grant na ni God ang petition natin... Usapang profound na ulit ito!

Another default - Mocha Mud Pie plus X number of forks (depending on how many people are present!)

After the long dinner, it’s time to call it a night…  but only for TGIF since we all stayed in Adrian’s flat so that we can continue catching up!  Ended up sleeping till wee hours in the morning, which eventually led to having brunch in UCC Cafe.

Totally missed Pinoy breakfast! Thanks for this "lamon" option - longganisa, tapa, tocino, sinangag at itlog!

Apparently, we are all still sleepy... But then, forced to optimize the last meal together since I'll be gone again and won't be back after 2 weeks!

While it was a short 1 night + 1 brunch meal that we spent, being with these friends simply made me happy.  What became even more exciting was that I am leaving the Philippines after only 4 days of being home to see the other half of this group who used to occupy 2 tables in TGIF.  Where?  Move on to the next post… 

Thank you, President Cory Aquino!

That Saturday, I was awaken by an appalling news from CNN that my country’s former President, Corazon Aquino, had died after 16 months of battling colon cancer.  Days after, I can’t help but continuously surf the net for updates regarding the saddening event in my country’s history.

“Showbiz” as it may seem, I was deeply touched by Kris Aquino’s blow-by-blow account and eulogy on the remaining days that she spent with Cory on her deathbed.  As part of the “people power” generation (though I was just 6 years old when it actually happened), relating to her daughter’s touching pieces of anecdotes came out naturally to me.  Indeed, this woman who changed the shape of the Philippines will be personally remembered and forever be appreciated.

Same as my Facebook status during her memorial day, I would like to publicly say: “Thank you, President Cory Aquino, for paving the way to our democracy and making us feel proud of being Filipinos!”

defining “homesick” sa kontekstong pinoy

the blog entry title would speak for itself. perhaps, if you’re in the middle of work pressure, stress, boredom and feeling that everything turns out to be a routine – homesickness would eventually step in to make matters worse (i.e. if you are thriving in a foreign country). just to vent, here it is…

1.  lahat ng nakikita mo sa paligid mo, agad mo nare-relate sa mga bagay sa pinas. halimbawa, habang nasa kalye dito, kapag nakakakita ako ng mikrolet, jeepney ang naaalala ko; pag naman warung, karinderya sa kanto; mga naglalako ng soto at prutas, fish at squid balls!

2.  gusto mong tumawag, mag-text, mag-ym at mag-email sa mga tao sa pinas, but you end up not doing so dahil alam mong mas malulungkot ka pag nag-uusap na kayo ng tuloy-tuloy.

3.  lagi mong tinitingnan ang kalendaryo para alamin kung kelan ang next long holiday at binibilang mo kung ilang araw ang natitira bago ang bakasyong ito.

4.  pinupuntahan mo ang cebu pacific website para malaman kung may piso fare promo para kahit one weekend lang e makauwi ka, kahit at your own expense.

5.  tuwing sabado o linggo, nagluluto ka ng adobo o sinigang dahil miss na miss mo na ang luto ng nanay mo, katulong nyo, karinderya sa kanto o ng gerry’s grill.

6.  senti o eraserheads ang mp3 tracks na pinapakinggan mo habang nagtatrabaho ka sa opisina.

7.  dati, baduy na baduy ka sa mga pelikulang tagalog, pero ngayon tuwing may pagkakakataon, pinupuntahan mo ang free tagalog movie website para manood ng mga pelikula ng star cinema – kahit alam mo na ang kabuuan ng plot (since pinoy movies are always so predictable), pinapanood mo pa rin ito mula umpisa hanggang katapusan at napipikon ka pagnakikita mo ang “buffering” sa screen at napuputol ang panonood mo.

8.  pagnagdadasal ka sa gabi, kung dati e english mo itong bigkasin, ngayon e tagalog na. sabik na sabik kang gamitin ang wikang pambansa na dati e di mo ginagamit ng straight since kalimitan laging taglish ang ginagamit mo.

9.  kalimitan kang mag-crave for chickenjoy ng jollibee. para masagot ang craving mo, pupunta or magpapadeliver ka ng manok sa mcdo, pero pagkatapos mong kumain, madi-disappoint ka kasi hindi yun ang lasang hinahanap-hanap mo.

10.  binabalik-balikan mo ang mga photo files na naka-save sa laptop mo. kahit paulit-ulit mo na itong tinitingnan, di ka pa rin nagsasawa na panoorin ang mga litrato habang napapangiti o natatwa ka.

11.  kung pikon na pikon ka na sa opisina, napapa-mura ka ng ”putang ina” instead na ”shit”.

12.  consciously or unconsciously, naipapasok mo sa casual conversations kausap ang mga foreigners ang mga salitang: ”oo nga”, ”sige”, ”ano” at ”hay naku”.

13.  naiingit ka pag may nababalitaan kang kababayan mo kung nasaan ka na magbabakasyon sa pinas

14.  nagsusulat ka ng entry sa blog mo tungkol sa pagiging homesick katulad nito.

yun lang.

sampung araw na lang!!!!!!!!

simula pa nung 01 december, nagsimula na akong mag-countdown kung ilang araw na lang ang natitira bago ang christmas vacation.  sa wakas, sampung araw na lang, babalik na ulit ako sa pinas!  haaaay!

yup, over the last 3 weeks, sobrang homesick ako – siguro dahil na rin sa christmas mode at sa dami ng pressure at challenges sa trabaho.  kakapagod – kahapon, naisip ko talaga kung bakit ko pa ba pinasok to…  pero buti na lang, may pamilya at mga kaibigan akong nakakausap – kahit malayo sila, kahit sa ym man lang o blackberry messenger nakakausap ko sila para makapag-vent kahit papaano.

ilang tulog na lang…  ilang gising na lang…  haaaay…  sana 23 december na!

the first thing i see every morning... countdown thru "post it" notes... it's what keeps me going...

my li'l christmas tree... giving me a semblance of christmas here...