Now think of that one thing held by someone else. “Hey! That’s mine!!” yes? There’s that certain connection wherein that thing, you know and feel, is yours.

Today, walking to Cebu IT Park, I encountered an elderly woman who greeted me “Maayong Pasko.” She held a cane, and an elderly man. She let go of her companion and extended her hand, palm faced up.

I instinctively pulled out my wallet but saw that I didn’t have bills. I opened the coin purse of the said wallet, turned it upside-down and gave all my coins to her with a smile on my face.

I apologized and said, “Mao ra’y naa nako.” Obviously, if you take it literally, I still had some more with me, but that was all I had that I could give.

She smiled, “Kana na lang pud, dong.” I looked down, and she was asking for my wallet.

My wallet?

It was given to me as a gift for my 16th birthday by my cousin, Gordon. It was a magic wallet with a coin purse and it was one of the most useful things I have ever received. This also had some sentimental value because Gordon and I hardly ever see or communicate, being that we live in different countries.

Years had passed, the wallet had grown “secret” pockets which it never had. The leather had become very soft. The ribbons that held bills had given way, but i sewed it back together. I had left it in the office, at home, at random places, but I had never lost it.

It didn’t take me a second to say, “Aw, o. Kini ay.” and I gave it to her.

She didn’t have to walk away. I had stronger legs. I didn’t watch her go, I left it with her.

The memory is still fresh with me being that it’s still 30 minutes ago upon writing this. I could sense the joy as she received my little gift. She opened the coin purse, opened it a few times. “She has a new toy.” I thought.

I went ahead. I didn’t bother looking back, or greeting “Merry Christmas”. I just walked away.

I looked up and said, “Ama,” but couldn’t continue. It was difficult to describe both the joy of helping someone out, and the separation from something so sentimental.

I looked down and asked, “Could I have done more, Ama?”

Wow! I’ve won something from a company I never heard of! But didn’t the saying go as “there is no such thing as a free lunch”?

During the conversation, my suspicion only rose more because of certain shady topics, and below is my attempt to recall them.

1) Specific days to pick-up Certificates.

The woman on the other line was stressing that I claim it Saturday or Monday; Somewhat she was adamant about it. The conversation was in Tagalog, but I can best relay it in English.

Woman: “Sir, where are you now?”
Dru: “I’m in Ayala. Having lunch.”
Woman: “Ah okay. Which of the following days are more convenient for you to pick up the gift certificates: Saturday or Monday?”
Dru: “Ahh.. I’m not really sure. I’m very busy right now.”
Woman: “How about today sir? You can come here in our office after your lunch there in Ayala.”
Dru: “Uhh, no, I’m sorry. I still have other things to do.”
Woman: “Oh, you’re busy, sir? How about this Monday? What time will you be out from work?”
Dru: “Seven. What time will your office be closed?” (Bad move for being polite.)
Woman: “Until 7, sir. But you can still claim at 7 to 7:30. Is that all right sir?”
Dru: “That’s another thing, I also have work. I might do overtime then.”
Woman: “If that’s the case, Saturday would be the best day, then, sir.”
Dru: “Who are you to tell me what I can do with my schedule?”
Woman: “I’m sorry, sir. Can you repeat what you said?” (She didn’t hear me. Sad.)
Dru: “Nevermind.”
Woman: “Okay then, sir, is it okay that I line you up to claim your certificates on 7-7:30 either tonight or this coming Monday?”
Dru: “Okay. But I’m still not sure.”

See what I mean? It’s not like I owe them anything that I have to go there on dates they specify. The nerd ng babaeng yon!

2) Too many valid IDs required.

To claim, I needed to have 3 valid identification cards. My weird-o-meter was ringing; Even established companies require at most 2 valid IDs to verify authenticity. Why would this unheard-of company have the gall to ask for 3? Well, okay, she wasn’t really impudent when she asked me, but still: 3?

Speaking of 3 here’s number

3) I’ve received free certificates before.

I fell victim on the first time I was called to receive like free certificates. I use the word “victim” because I felt like was being forced to do something. It was from an insurance company called Cocoplans, or maybe it was a partner of it. I don’t quite really recall anymore; maybe I chose to forget, but I’m sure it has something to do with Cocolife, and Cocoplans.

The experience wasn’t pleasant at all. I filed for an undertime because I was told to claim it at 5 o’ clock. I took a 20-minute jeep ride, and then walked a bit just to reach their office. I was greeted, brought into a room with small round tables, with 3 chairs per table, and was given a brief friggin’ long introduction about their company.

Something like this, but only uncomfortable.. And indoors.

I signed some papers and then I received my gift certificates. After the agent left to “process my papers”, she came back with some “good news” I have been pre-selected as a recipient for this new insurance plan they have, and that I should not pass it up. So she tried to sell me something while painting a very dark and morbid future for me.

“What if, simba ko lang, you meet an unforeseen accident when you get out? You’re already covered with this insurance even if you still haven’t paid any amount.”

See? My future to them is about me dying and getting sick and disabled!

I said “no.” And she said something along the lines of “Sayang lang ang akong pagbaligya nimo, dili ra sad diay nimo kuhaon.”

Was she trying to make me feel bad? The nerd ng babaeng yon!

Anyway, after I said no again, she left to get my “papers”, and then this other guy, the supervisor I assume, came in and resold, retold everything the first agent did. Not only was this guy a shock, he was also wearing a CD-R King ID sling. Way to go, dude! You’re more believable now!

(A little opinionated background: CD-R King, to me, is a company known to sell cheap electronic items. The items are not usually top quality, as these items have the chance to lose their functionality after a week or two. So this supervisor guy wearing a cheap company’s ID sling, well, it made him less credible.)

I still said “no.” And then this was the exchange:

CdrKing: “So our insurance plan isn’t nice, sir?”
Dru: “It’s nice, and all, but I just can’t handle the expenses now.”
CdrKing: (almost immediately, like cutting my sentence half-way but I had already finished) “So it’s nice then! Why won’t you get it?”
Dru: “No! Okay? No. I’m still trying to pay my bills, and I can’t pay for something as expensive as this.”
CdrKing: “So the plan isn’t nice, sir?”
Dru: (pissed off) “I GUESS NOT THEN!”
CdrKing: “… Sayang lang ang among pagbaligya nimo then dili ra sad diay nimo kuhaon.”
Dru: “‘No’ is ‘no’. What is ‘no’ to you? I don’t want to. Okay? I won’t. Not now.”

(Note: not word for word)

The room was silent. There were other people. Mga chismosa!

CdrKing left flustered, and the agent came in, said her formalities, and then I left. When I got out of the room, I could see the people inside the office peering over shoulders and trying to get a good look at who made CdrKing flustered. I assume that’s what happened at least.

They had originally promised me that I will “only be there to claim the gift certificates”, but noooooo, it didn’t happen! I left 2 hours later! That’s how much time they wasted on me, and I on them!

Conclusion

In the end though, I never got to use the gift certificates. Not one of them was used. I had, since then, vowed never to believe in free things.

So what makes this any different from the previous experience?

Well, it’s google. See, like last time, if you key in [cocoplans free gift certificates] the first page will have something like “scam” in their titles. I wanted to check if this is legit or if anyone else had fallen for something like this. Unfortunately, it didn’t yield any good results. Only results about job openings and Ayala news articles were available for the search string ["Alternative Distribution Channel" cebu city]

Below is the “confirmation text” I received from the lady:

alternative distribution channel confirmed claiming schedule
Date: Oct. 15/17, 2011
Time: between 7-7:30pm
Look for: name omitted
Bring the ff. For the name and signature verification:
- valid Id’s mentioned
Personal access claiming code:
jvs-11353067
Location:
J. Llorente st., corner don gil garcia capitol site cebu city., 2nd flr. Of CP Center bldg. At the Alternative Distribution Channel.
Landmark:
we are in front of megavalue drugstore which is beside new robinsons cybergate near chong hua hospital.

Please be here on the said date and time. And present those mentioned id’s for the direct releasing. Thank u and Godbless

Weird? YOU DECIDE!

Side note:
Wow, there have been at least 20 thousand people who have clicked my link accidentally! XD

For those who have really taken time to read through my blogs, thank you, and I hope I provided some light into your life through comic relief. At least a bit. Kahit konti lang. Please?

“Wow! I can take something to rid me of this cough and then something else to get it back!”

Say whaaaat?! XD

WordPress has been awesome. I’ve been in here for quite a while. Hiatus here and there, I still get to post a few thoughts. It has a wonderful interface for writing article drafts and it has served me well.

A month in dru-ing and I’ve found it very convenient. I’m still having second thoughts about whether I put drawings in tumblr, and then blogs in wordpress. However for now, I’ll just keep working on updating my tumblr.

This is a courtesy post: Follow me on tumblr too! (or stumble upon it when you find time or when you’re desperate.) Thanks!

Red

“Rehabilitated?… Well, now, let me see. You know, I don’t have any idea what that means.

I know what you think it means, sonny. To me it’s just a made-up word. A politician’s word, so that young fellas like yourself can wear a suit and a tie and have a job. What do you really wanna know? Am I sorry for what I did?

There’s not a day goes by I don’t feel regret. Not because I’m in here; or because you think I should. I look back on the way I was then: a young, stupid kid who committed that terrible crime. I want to talk to him. I want to try to talk some sense to him, tell him the way things are. But I can’t. That kid’s long gone and this old man is all that left. I gotta live with that. Rehabilitated? It’s just a bullshit word. So go ahead and stamp your forms, sonny, and stop wasting my time. Because to tell you the truth, I don’t give a shit.”

- Red, The Shawshank Redemption

The video was inspired mostly by John Mayer’s song “Dreaming With A Broken Heart.” I had heard it a few times back, and I thought the piano was nice and the lyrics were good. However, at the time, it was of no use to me.

After my officemate left, I heard this song again and a burst of inspiration flowed. This and that came, we had a plot, and the characters were set.

Anyway, I wouldn’t want to stall you. I’m posting my video up here too so that everyone can see.

I’m so proud of my friends. :’)

On afternoons, I usually go to the mall, or a coffee shop nearby, or a place where I can just sit and draw. Though the latter, I haven’t really done in quite a while. (Note to self: Must draw again). Somehow with just people-watching, reflecting, talking to myself (which I often catch myself doing), I find serenity.

On midnights, I usually fancy going out for a bowl of batchoy near the corner of the street. I do it on a whim. Every night. Well, on a number of occasions.

I have had a share of fruitless ventures when batchoy was not on my list but still wanted to go out. I end up aimlessly walking around IT park, or just give up half-way out the corner, or walk to JY Square Mall (which is about 6 or 7 blocks away), and walk back. Nothing extraordinary. The thrill or the gusto sometimes just die on the way.

Being alone sucks sometimes, however it does have its perks. I get to be with the person who’ll I’ll be stuck with most for the rest of my life. If you still don’t get it, I get to learn to live with and by myself.

One evening, I was bored. I went out. Midway, I thought batchoy was not really nice to have, being that it had been quite humid the past how-many nights. I thought I rather just return, muscle through my hunger and sleep it away. But hey, I still continued walking. I turned on the corner. I continued on my no-goal walk, and decided to visit the nearest convenience store. I reached City 25.

I was greeted by the guard (I swear, I thought she was a guy), and I thought, “Hey, let’s have something cold.” I walked to the freezer, and looked for pinipig crunch to no avail. “Boo. No pinipig crunch.” Disappointed, I wanted to check the next convenience store at IT Park. BUT! Something else caught my eye.

It was foreign. Korean.

I picked it up. Lo and behold, it was an ice cream sandwich! (or so I think) I quickly bought it (for Php 60) and gobbled it up on my way back.

I was not disappointed with my discovery. The vanilla ice cream inside it, multiplied with the brown sweet stuff (somebody said it was mongos, but what the hey), plus the dough-like covering was delicious!

Every bite was bliss. The combination of having sweet, sweeter, and bland did not spoil my sweet tooth. Half-way before I reached home, I had already finished it. I wanted more, but I decided I’ll just come back for another when I get bored again.

Insofar, aside from my discovery of that amazing batchoy corner long ago, that was yet another great exploration! When I reached home, I took a shot of the wrapper.

Rapper.

Joke.

Here. Does anyone know what it's called?

For this Lenten season, however, I’ve decided to hold back on the following things:
1) Sin
2) Beef and Pork
3) Extra Rice

Though I haven’t really been strict with #2 and #3, avoiding #1 was the most difficult (duh). My sacrifice this year, I think, is more lenient than it was before food-wise. Last year, I only had poultry and seafood, and the year before that, I also fasted on Friday (eating dinner only). Adding sin up in the list was just crazy, but I gave it a shot anyway.

I remember the time, 2 years ago, when I fasted on Fridays. Two words to describe it: “Very Humbling.”

Food was everywhere. Holding back was a trial, all I was thinking was “malapit na ang 7pm!” which now, I think was just very greedy of me. I thought about the people who were on the streets with nothing; just an open palm to ask for help. Blessings were everywhere for them: Food, shelter, companionship, love, and yet they had little or none. Blessings were also everywhere for me, and yet all I was doing was limiting myself from them.

How blessed I am compared to them. How unfortunate of them compared to me. We both yearn but I had the capacity to feed my hunger, and they don’t have that much.

What resilience, what humility, what trials they have compared to me who is only worrying about where I shall have dinner with my friends. What ignorance, what apathy, what indifference I have for this realization, and yet do nothing.

Starting that time on, I would help anyone who would ask with whatever I have. I’d ask myself, “What would I want people to do to me when I’m in their predicament?”

The Lenten season is an avenue to learn new things about myself, and this year, I learned to just take it easy with life, follow my heart, and just roll with the punches as they come along. Be strong. Accept myself. Don’t abuse the blessings, and keep in mind a moral and clear conscience. We fall to temptation and commit sins many times, but it’s the standing back up that really counts.

Have a Holy Week!

Feelings such as joy, sadness, ecstasy, and even being in love can be expressed in song. When one sings a song, the tune is telling the world, “I know how you feel,” “There there,” “It’s exactly as I think it is!”  Such tunes and words calm anxious hearts, strengthen faiths, give embraces, wipe tears, comfort the depressed, give people courage, lift morales, and best of all, a way to praise our God. It is telling those who can hear, “I understand you! You are not alone!”

“The worst thing in the world is being alone.”  Though music does not feed you, it has enough to make you forget about it. Even if you’re by yourself, you know someone out there has listened to the same music as you, and that someone out there, is going through what you’re going through. “Be strong!” it tells you, “You can do it!”

In that aspect, all types of music I greatly respect, and it is untrue when we say that “Today’s music is nothing but garbage.” When in reality, like 50 years ago, bad music will just be forgotten, and those that actually meant anything will live on. Time will be our filter.

In this context, I would like to share with you a song I’ve grown fond of. Years back, the lyrics had been powerful, and they grasped the feeling of being on the losing end of breaking up, of having to hide everything from everyone; telling everyone you’re okay, but drown in tears when alone. If songs can elate you, it can also be a medium for heartbreak.

Friends, Breakdown by Mariah Carey.
PS: Please excuse me not putting up the official video.
PPS:  I especially like Mariah’s 2nd stanza. XD

Break Down
By: Mariah Carey Feat Bone Thugs N Harmony

Break, break down, steady breakin’ me on down
Break, break down, steady breakin’ me on down
Break, break down, steady breakin’ me on down
Break, break down, steady breakin’ me on down

You called yesterday to basically say
That you care for me but that you’re just not in love
Immediately I pretended to be feeling similarly
And led you to believe I was O.K.
To just walk away from the one thing
That’s unyielding and sacred to me

[Chorus:]
Well I guess I’m trying to be nonchalant about it
And I’m going to extremes to prove I’m fine without you
But in reality I’m slowly losing my my mind
Underneath the guise of a smile gradually I’m dying inside
Friends ask me how I feel and I lie convincingly
‘Cause I don’t want to reveal the fact that I’m suffering
So I wear my disguise ’til I go home at night
And turn down all the lights and then break down and cry

So what do you do when somebody you’re so devoted to
Suddenly just stops loving you and it seems they haven’t got a clue
Of the pain that rejection is putting you through
Do you cling to your pride and sing “I will survive”
Do you lash out and say “How dare you leave this way”
Do you hold on in vain as they just slip away
[Chorus]

Yeah, c’mon
Yeah, c’mon, c’mon
Break break down
Gotta get control
Roll roll roll along
Steady breakin’ me on down
Roll roll roll along
Break break down
Gotta get control
Roll roll roll along
Steady breakin’ me on down
Roll roll along

It’ll break you down
Only if you let it
Everyday crucial situation wrackin’ my mind
Tryin’ to break me down
But I won’t let it
Forget it
Forget it

I’ve been feelin’ like you’re breakin’ me down
Kickin’ me around
Stressin’ me out
I think I better go and get out and let me
Release some stress (stress)

Don’t ever wanna feel no pain (pain)
Hoping for the sun
But it looks like rain (rain, rain, rain)
Oh, i just wanna maintain

Yeah, when you feel the pressure’s on
But nevertheless
Krayzie won’t fall
It’s over
It’s endin’ here, here
[Chorus]