Day 2 (Before the show)

I got up at around 9am. My mom was already up, and already had breakfast. I listened to the sound of the city for a while and noticed that there was nothing different from last night. My mom ordered me breakfast, “Yey breakfast!” I thought.

Unfortunately, it was a bit overrated. There were 3 viands, and I forgot what I had probably because they weren’t worthy of any recollection whatsoever. The burger steak was hard, the fruits were unripe, the other food was a bit bland. First look, honestly, I thought they were good. Imagine, 3 viands for breakfast, a heap of garlic rice, and fresh fruits. It was almost worthy of a super wow! Buzz, nope, sorry to disappoint you, but you’re wrong. Next please!

Some of our BNP friends arrived that day too. They had breakfast on the 12th floor (where the WIFI Cafe is), but their room was still occupied. So some of them went off for Ali Mall, and then one of them stayed in our room to sleep. Jetlag is really horrible

While waiting for their room to be cleared, my mom and I had some tantalizingly tasty-sounding coffee, and a sandwich. She ordered French Vanilla Capuccino, and I had the Cookies and Cream Coffee. We planned to drink that with a Chicken sandwich. I’ll be honest, they were good. I could tell the coffee were freshly brewed. Unfortunately, they didn’t taste anything like French Vanilla or Cookies and Cream. Meh. Sige lang, we wanted coffee, and we got it. And the trick there is to think positive… Think positive dru, think.. Gah! My head hurts!

We went to Greenhills after our friends settled in their room, and dropped our luggages and our bags at Teatrino.

At Teatrino, many BNP were already there, the ones behind the curtains, those who were performing, including my dad, and the other BNP councils. We were greeted warmly, and offered food (KARE KARE FOR THE WIIIN AGAIIINN!). Sayang isa lang ang rice, but it was good. Kare kare + bagoong = Napakasarap na grasya ng Diyos.

We went around Greenhills (I was looking for a nice jacket, never found one). Grabe! Greenhills is so fully packed with stuff and people that I actually lost my mood for buying anything. I got dizzy, impatient, I farted a couple of times, grabe! I did find a few nice jackets, but they weren’t within my price range (READ: CHEAP). But really, when I looked at the jacket, and then checked the price, it was a bit overrated. I asked for the last price, pff, not good enough. I could’ve haggled it lower though, but like I said, I lost my appetite for buying… and gained an appetite for pasta!

My mom and I had another date at Delifrance. We ordered the Beef Bu-something.. I forgot! Tsk. I need to get over being bad with remembering names. It’s bad enough that I forget people, BUT FOOD?!

It was 5PM, and we were heading back to Teatrino to get ready. The show will start in 2 hours! Halaaaaa!!

Jetsetting – (was not a word, but now is.) (v.) being a jetsetter; what jetsetters usually do.

This month is pretty full on with travels outside Cebu. Insofar, this is my to-do list:

1. Go to Manila to support my dad in their One Voice concert on June 6. (check)
2. Go home to Davao to blow out family and relatives on June 13.
3. Go to Cavite to serve in a retreat on June 26-28 (unsure).

Day 1
So, yosh! I’m done with number one! On June 5, I took the 9PM flight to Manila, and arrived there at around 10:30. Unfortunately though, the plane had to wait for our gate to be free coz there was still an airline using it. We disembarked 20 minutes after. During the flight, I saw 3 of our manila officemates (who are currently working at Cebu), Dean, Alex-sensei, and someone whose name I forgot (I’m so bad with names! I’m sorry! Pero kilala kita by face (consolation ba yan?) ). So on the plane, I already practiced my tagalog with Alex-sensei (magkatabi kasi kami nun).

I was thinking then that I wanted to ask some more questions about Nihongo, but then, I thought “nevermind.” If I were to sit beside a client, I wouldn’t want to talk about work. So I just shut up.

Buuuut I was restless. To compensate, the rest of the flight was spent watching my Whose Line videos on my iPod for the nth time (sarap kasi tulog ni Alex).

So even though there was a delay after landing, just as I left the terminal building, Kuya Rolly also just arrived to pick me up. I thought, “Wow! Manila Traffic and the PAL delay worked together!”

After a 45 minute-ride of seeing how the rain is making Manila soaking wet, Kuya Rolly dropped me off at Fernandina 88 Suites in front of the Ali Mall at Cubao. I met up with my mom in our room, and she opened my dinner (SINIGANG NA BABOY FOR THE WIN!). It was all right, a bit saltier than how I expected it, but the rice compensated for it… I guess. Or I just didn’t really mind.

After freshening up a bit and planned on what to do the next day, Mama went to sleep, and I got busy looking for a wifi signal in our room. “That’s unfair! The lobby said, ‘Wireless Internet Connection available’”. *sigh* We were told that the wifi is only on the 12th floor, where their cafe is, but is only open until 11:00PM. It was 1:00 in the morning. NOOOOOOO!! WHAT KIND OF CAFE IS THAT?!

So I worked with my phone for about 45 minutes, and looked in my mail, read manga, downloaded a few maps for DoTA (waha), and played for about another hour. I got to sleep around 3AM to the sound of screeching tires, ringing bells and sirens outside our window. “Welcome to Manila,” I thought.

I was born on June 9, 1984. At about this time, you might be counting my age.

When I reached 3 years old, my family was already complete. I had a father, a mother, three (3) older brothers, and our youngest. Yes, I have no sisters.

Being the most sickly in the family, I was very close to my mother. I remember my bedridden-times I would call out, “Ma… Ma! Mama!” and she would come up and check my fever, talk to me a while, and then ask if I wanted anything. I couldn’t say it then (even until now), but I just wanted to see her. Her very presence was (and still is) very calming. Everytime I think of her I just want to go home and forget about working in Cebu. But ehh, I can’t yet. Maybe when I’ve done what it is I’ve come to do, I’ll decide on it.

I was generally afraid of my father when I was growing up. But now that I’ve grown, I just want to go around and jam with him a lot. He comes here to Cebu every now and then, and I never miss a chance to get to meet him. My friends say that I have the same posture as my father’s, but I don’t remember actually following papa. I remember the time he brought me to the farm and the fog started to rise. I leapt hoping to leave cool fog marks and started breathing out as the people did in movies. Papa just laughed.

Belonging in the younger batch of the family, I am also very close to my youngest brother. He’s my best friend, and there’s no one else yet who can fill up his shoes. We’d share awkward silences, and just laugh about nothing. I’d teach him a thing or two, he gets the girlfriends, and I’m left with none. He’s also excelled on things that I used to excel above him: He can dance really good now, and he’s doing even better. He plays the guitar and can sing very well. He has become a fine young man, and only his height has stopped growing. Bunal, bos!

My three eldest brothers are the wisest among us, but the one who contributed the best wisdom is the third. While all my other elder brothers were out working, he stayed behind because he was still studying. We’ve gone through quite a lot together, and he stays quiet most of the time. He’s the type who doesn’t butt in a conversation even if he knows that we’re wrong. But once we ask him, he’s as frank as he can get. Despite his serious nature, he also has a funny side in him that often goes as deep as his silence, which my 2nd eldest brother really enjoys. Idol kita, sank! hehe

Speaking of which, the only one among the siblings who has become a father is my 2nd eldest brother. He has two wonderful children, one girl, and one boy. He has by far, grown the farthest when it comes to maturity and responsibility. Having two children, he is the most caring. Though at times he really doesn’t have to, he drives me around. Thanks, dix.

My eldest brother is.. well.. the oldest. One of the things I remember best about him was that he was the one who carried me when I fainted after standing for about 30 minutes on-stage on a Boy Scout event. I miss him the most. I haven’t talked to him for quite a long time.. Miss you, kuy.