Yun lang, this week. 
A Year Later After I Graduate
Woooh! Eksakto palang isang taon na ang nakalipas nang ako ay nagtapos ng kolehiyo. Ang bilis naman ng panahon… Kabilang pala ako sa Ika-97 na Pangkalahatang Pagtatapos sa Taon ng Sentenaryo ng UP.
ang aking kopya ng programa
Naalala ko lang kasi matapos kong tumitingin sa mga larawan ng aking mga kaklase at mga kaibigan sa kanilang pagtatapos nitong Linggo lamang .
Ngayon? Ako ay naka-leave sa aking trabaho, haha. Hindi nga. Ngayon… hindi ko pa rin masabi sa aking sarili na kung ito ba ang aking napiling landas. Ngunit habang ako ay nandito, patuloy muna sa paggalugad sa aking kapaligiran at patuloy din ang pagtuklas ng mga bagong karunungan at karanasan. 
Holy Week at Pangasinan
This last holy week was my first time to be away from my family. I usually spend holy week at home or sometimes at my ninang’s house in Bataan. I remember, when I was in my elementary days, when I spend holy weeks in our home, I usually play tumbang preso or patintero across the street together with my neighbors and cousins. That was our only time to take control of the whole street. But of course, we still observe holy week. We only play during Wednesdays and a bit sometimes on Thursdays. We were always reminded that we should not be celebrating or making fun during these season; that we should reflect. While in our province in Bataan, they observe holy week, as far as I know (because I was a kid back then), by having pabasa. I also witnessed penetensya where several devouts were hitting theirselves on their back.
Our original meeting time was 8pm but because I was on overtime, I asked them, then they said that they will wait for me. I arrived at the bus staion at around 12 in the midnight and board the bus at around 1am. I truly apologized for being the cause of our delay. We arrived at Tarlac at around 5:30 in the moring.
Anyway, this time we stayed at a friend’s house in Matangarem, Pangasinan which is at the border of Tarlac. You can imagine the place as having a typical provincial life —some nipa huts in the community, the sari-sari stores are very very few and are quite situated very apart from each other, having a poso, the people sleeps and wakes up early, … and it is worth mentioning that the sun strikes very bright there.
To be honest, our purpose there is to visit the Hundred Islands and to get to Manaoag. We also planned to visit a resort but we were not able to look for one.
Holy Thursday: We went to Hundred Islands in Alaminos. It was almost a two-hour trip to Alaminos. Iwas was expecting to see each of the island but I eventually thought that would be long. We got a little hard time looking for a good island to stay because the most popular islands (because they are commercialized) were somehow a bit crowded.
looks like a whale in the middle of the sea
(from top to bottom, left to right) Wahr, Gem, Angela, Maki, Tet, Marion, Pie, Lester, Gino
Good Friday: We just stayed inside the house. We planned to attend the mass at Manaoag but one of us is not feeling well. We also wandered why our mothers told us that we cannot take a bath during Good Fridays after 3 o’ clock in the afternoon. Apparently, we took our baths before that time, but we took a shower before going to sleep.
Black Saturday: Pie’s birthday! We woke up early hoping that we can attend the mass. This time, we only took public vehicles to commute to Manaoag and it was a very long trip. It took us almost four hours to get to Manaoag. Unfortunately, there were no mass during the time we arrived. We just lighted up candles and prayed to God.
After that, we bought pasalubong/delicacies and then decided to go home. Both Pie and I thought that it was the longest trip of our lives especially when we were going home because we were very tired and not feeling well, parang dugyot na kami sa init at oilyness.
having the longest trip of our lives - gone crazy, haha
Easter Sunday: We went to a nearby river (that is very shallow, maybe it is a creek or something). And since the water is only below the knee level, we went to a local swimming pool — a hot spring. Surprisingly, it was a protected area by the DENR, but is open to the public.
there are many rocks but the water is clear and cold
Right after lunch, we prepared to go home to Manila. As expected, there was heavy traffic since there were also other people who spent holy week at their provinces. At the SCTEX toll gate, there were guys that give sample Oishi products, maybe to take stress away from the heavy traffic (and of course to market their products).
at Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway
On Local Gameshows (Again)
I would like to mention the newest (currently airing) and some soon to be game shows that will hit our local free TV.
- Pilipinas, Game KNB? (ABS-CBN2) – Another format for another year. It seems that every year PGKNB changes its format. Is this to consider the viewers being fed up of the previous format? And some elements in the set of ‘1 vs 100′ are used.. notice its main backdrop. So when will ’1 vs 100′ be aired?
- Pinoy Bingo Night (ABS-CBN2) – Replaced ‘Kapamilya, Deal or No Deal’. Another pure luck game show… on primetime. How I wish they bring back ‘Wheel of Fortune’… But this the show’s set is cool and the concept of having its audience actually participate during the game is good.
- Hole In The Wall (GMA7) – I have not watched an episode of this new show yet, but it seems that GMA quite pick a good choice on this franchise. I only saw the original (Japanese) version of this game on YouTube and it’s fun!
I think this is not suitable for primetime but to consider that it has the same time slot as PBN, well I think, this show will rate more. *peace* - Power of 10 (GMA7) – After airing the American version on QTV, GMA has came up with their franchise of this show. It is not yet announced when this show will start but auditions are on going, I think. Hey, who wants to win ten million pesos?!
- Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? (TV5) – I think, after the much talked about and award winning movie ‘Slumdog Millionaire’, it is a good timing to revive ‘Millionaire’ craze here in the Philippines. This time Boyet is not its host anymore, but Bossing is. I wish ‘The Weakest Link’ will be revived, too.
Trip to Ilocos
It always amuses me whenever I see pictures of the old houses at Ilocos. I associate Ilocos as very clean place; I don’t know where I got this idea. But since the first time I heard about this place, I longed about going to this place. Not until around two months ago, I just went to Ilocos together with a friend. I was very excited about that trip. Partly, I was eager to get this trip, not only because it was my dream to go to Ilocos, but also to release any stress or tension I feel during the past few days before the trip. Ah… to get away from the very busy city. Aside from excitement, unfortunately, I was not able to prepare well for the trip. I have not bought any special thing to bring or researched about the places that we are going to visit in reference to our itinerary.
The meeting place, to gather all the participants for the trip, is somewhere at Ortigas Center. At the first time I saw the participants, I thought, this trip is indeed for photography enthusiasts, while looking at their luggage and DSLRs. Haha, because mine is a point and shoot. Anyway, after almost an hour and a half of waiting, we started to board the bus and we were now heading to Ilocos! Overnight commute, I think, is appropriate when travelling for more than six hours because you can sleep the very long trip right away. Of course this is not good when you’re the one who is driving. I was sleepy then because I got a few hours of sleep that day in order to make it to work earlier. It was an almost eight hours of commuting from Ortigas to Ilocos Norte. We left Ortigas around ten in the evening and arrive at Burgos, Ilocos Norte at around 5:30 in the morning.
Let me show you a series of images to the rest of our trip.
St. Augustine Church - this was my very first shot for the day
Mama Mary
The sun was not yet set when we arrived at Bantay, Ilocos Norte
the glowing cross - a mass in on going when we arrived; that was my first time to hear a mass in a local language different from filipino
First time to use Rexie's tripod in Ilocos.
![Curved Path - our first meal for the day was the Ilocos Empanada, yum [no image of the food :(]](http://images.lesterjoseph.multiply.com/image/2/photos/111/400x400/17/017.JPG?et=qN%2CyW3s7Tnsr7uRnSIwB1Q&nmid=216315571)
Curved Path
It was empanda in form but its wrapper is thin (like the one in lumpia) and fried. The filling includes Vigan longanisa and eggs. It also comes with suka as its sawsawan. :D
Bantay Bell Tower from below the steps
Paoay Church - our next stop
bell tower
I was taking my lunch then..
from seaweed to ilocos - these seaweeds were part of our lunch
the way to Cape Bojeador Lighthouse
the looking up from the base of the lighthouse
a view from one side of the base of the lighthouse
Capurpurawan really rocks!
the big white rock!
Bangui windmills this time my camera was running out of battery
minutes before sunset and before I ran out of battery
This sets day 1 of the trip. Almost half of the day, I was bothered by my hair but I could not do something about it. The wind blows all the time while my hair was dry… bad hair day, haha.
Day 2. We woke up around 5am to take our breakfast then go start the trip again.
trek to Kabigan Falls
Kabigan Falls and its bantay
I love to take shots of the sky
see the layers
me together with the sky
the bridge
at Patapat Viaduct
view of the Maira-ira Beach - after we ate our lunch
at the Maira-ira beach
I love this image - this is the best that I can get
at Polaris Beach Resort - the last beach that I can experience before our departure to Vigan (and later Manila)
already summer colors
the horizon - okay, the clouds were not that great
a coconut tree - one last shot before we go...
I'll miss Pagudpud
After a few hours of travel to Vigan, yey, we finally arrived! Our first stop was at Villa Angela where we took our dinner for the last time at Ilocos.
And our last walk at Ilocos... was at Crisologo Street where I actually saw the old houses I only see on pictures.
I do not know where this street ends...
the first shop we stopped by
me at the middle of the street
buying pasalubong
Then time calls for us to board our bus off to Manila. Again it is going to be a long trip to the busy city… our home. It was less comfortable this time because we carried more things (e.g. pasalubong) but with much fulfillment that we were able to experience, at least a few if not all, of Ilocos.
The rest of the album can be viewed here.
Bentang Horoscope
Sensya na ah.
Dapat ay magppost ako ng matinong entry kaso masama talaga pakiramdam ko eh (may nakahawa sa akin ng sipon, at ngayon may sore throat pa).
Anyway, na-catch kasi ang attention nitong horoscope ko today:
Problems you’ve been having at work will be over soon. You need to think positive.
Haha, wala lang, benta talaga. )
Ciao.
Horoscope Na Naman :)
You’re happy to have extra responsibilities right now — after all, they’re just extra opportunities to show the world what you can do! But this higher profile can be a double-edged sword, helping you get positive acclaim, but also forcing you to act while everyone is looking. The good news is that you have supreme confidence now and can do very well under pressure. It’s time for you to prove yourself and overcome any past missteps. Show folks that you can’t be judged by one mistake.
- My horoscope yesterday
Tamang-tama ang scenario nitong horoscope ko kahapon. Kulang na lang ay yung ’supreme confidence’. Asan kaya yun?
Nasa akin pa rin ang challenge to prove kung ano ang aking mga kakayahan.
Together, ‘we can do this’!
What Should I Do Next?
Since I am aware na madalas na nga akong nagiging bugnutin or madaling mainis or mairita, ano ang kailangan kong gawin para mawala ito?
Hindi ako ganito dati…
Maybe, I am just missing something.
Gusto ko ring i-share ang related song para sa mood ko ngayon. Haha, eto na pampatulog ko ngayon at explicit version pala ito, hahaha:
- – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - -
Wake in a sweat again
Another day’s been laid to waste
In my disgrace
Stuck in my head again
Feels like I’ll never leave this place
There’s no escape
I’m my own worst enemy
[chorus]
I’ve given up
I’m sick of living
Is there nothing you can say
Take this all away
I’m suffocating
Tell me what the f*** is wrong
With me
[end chorus]
I don’t know what to take
Thought I was focused but I’m scared
I’m not prepared
I hyperventilate
Looking for help somehow somewhere
And no one cares
I’m my own worst enemy
[chorus]
I’ve given up
I’m sick of living
Is there nothing you can say
Take this all away
I’m suffocating
Tell me what the f*** is wrong
With me
[end chorus]
[bridge]
Goddddddd!!!!
Put me out of my misery
Put me out of my misery
Put me out of my
Put me out of my f***ing misery
[end bridge]
[chorus]
I’ve given up
I’m sick of living
Is there nothing you can say
Take this all away
I’m suffocating
Tell me what the f*** is wrong
With me
[end chorus]
Jack of All Trades
Jack of all trades, master of none.
“Jack of all trades, master of none” is a figure of speech used in reference to a person who is competent with many skills but is not outstanding in any particular one.
- “Jack of all trades, master of none“, Wikipedia
Nakakahiya man at nakakainis (para sa akin) isipin ngunit parang nagiging ganito ako ngayon (feeling competent, haha).
Hay…
Dramarama series na naman…
Anyway, I need to find a new hobby or sport man lang, haha, para maiba naman ang lifestyle.
