Many Happy Returns

"So, what's the drama all about?" was my opening salvo the moment Rudeboy picked-up the phone.

"I'll just tell you about it when we meet up later," he replied.

"The usual place, I suppose? Ten-ish?"

"Yes, I'll text you later what time exactly."

"Alrighty, I'll see you later!"

La Commencement Était la Fin

The reality was all but an illusion.

For my heart, it was all-too real - the emotions were true, the emotions were honest.

Sin Series 1: The Sin of Envy (1)

Envy (also called invidiousness) is best defined as an emotion that "occurs 

when a person lacks another's (perceived) superior quality, achievement, 

or possession and either desires it or wishes that the other lacked it."

- from Wikipedia

A couple of months ago, I committed the sin of envy.

As I saw the certificates being handed out to some of my colleagues, I asked myself, why am I not receiving those? My stats were well above average. I'd even like to think I was among the top people on the floor. Yet, why didn't I get any of those certificates?

The Oddity of Triggered Memories

It was raining cats and dogs when I decided to take a look at my Facebook profile. I was surprised when I saw that someone tagged a few photos of me. It was an album of my last trip in Europe. Eying a particular picture, I noticed that the girls had earrings on their ears. That wasn't unusual since it was snapshot of our sound-check before a performance. What was weird was that I also had an earring still left on. I can't remember if I did use my earrings when singing onstage. There are a lot of stage no-no's in our group, and I'm almost sure that guys wearing earrings are one of them. Nonetheless, I think I was in the position of power enough to get away with those cosmetic infractions while performing. Besides, I would've threatened our manager that I'd go straight back home in the middle of a competition tour if he'd flag me down for wearing my earrings onstage.

Memories and Cowardice: An Apology

"Anong pagkain mo sa bag?" I asked as I approached my friend at the back of the bus. We were enroute from Sweden to Germany; I was hungry and it was way past lunch time with no pit stop in sight.

She smiled as she handed me her large tote bag.

"Eto, may tinapay pa at mga jam from breakfast kanina. May nilagang itlog din dyan. Hanapin mo na lang yung asin sa pakete."

Around the World in 80 Days, Proverbially Speaking 3 (A Re-post)

a thug at the Jewish Memorial in Berlin, Germany

Around the World in 80 Days, Proverbially Speaking 2 (A Re-post)

Old Town in Brussels, Belgium

I just love romping through these parts of any city! We spent the whole morning exploring the nooks and crannies in the old town section in Brussels. I munched on authentic Belgian waffles (almost bready in taste and texture), and loaded up on Belgian chocolates for pasalubong. Bad decision. It took all my creativity to figure out how to store the chocolates in my luggage without them being squashed.

By the way, I couldn't help but look for Patrash! lolz

Around the World in 80 Days, Proverbially Speaking 1 (A Re-post)

The best part of what I used to do was that I got to travel around Asia, Europe, and North America singing my ass off. At that time, I'd take it for granted to pack my luggage for months at end. Sure, it was exhausting and grueling to be constantly on the road. But looking back, I was definitely lucky enough to have been be able to go around and see really, really cool stuff.

For Anthony (A Repost)

Dear Anton,

Wow, it's been a while hasn't it?  I'd offer a thousand and one excuse for not writing you at all, but hey, better late than never ehehehehe

Sikretong Malupit ni Eternal Wanderer, Huling Yugto

Sikretong Malupit ni Eternal Wanderer, Ikatlong Yugto

So gorabelz ako sa binabalak ko. Binalibag ko si girl patihaya para magmistula syang isang daing na palaka.  Mula sa pakikipaglaplapan, e dahan-dahan ko binaba ang aking bibig at dila sa kayang leeg.  Sa kanang boobs. Sa kaliwang utong. Nagtagal ako doon. Sa kanyang pagtu-twist e para syang palaka na nakatiwangwang at kinukuryete . Bumaba ako sa pusod.  Inikot-ikot ko ang dila sa loob.  Kulang na lang e kumokak si girl sa sarap.

Sikretong Malupit ni Eternal Wanderer, Ikatlong Yugto

Sikretong Malupit ni Eternal Wanderer, Ikalawang Yugto

Sa totoo lang, worried na worried ako. Was there something wrong with me? Bakit ganun? Turned on na turned on ako sa bawat halinghing ni girl habang nilalapirot ko ang utong nya. At sa bawat pagkayod ng finger ko sa puday nya, e Moana Lisa ang drama ni bilat.  Ewan ko ba, the more na umuungol sya, mas lalo akong nalilibugan.

Sikretong Malupit ni Eternal Wanderer, Ikalawang Yugto

Sikretong Malupit ni Eternal Wanderer, Unang Yugto

Matapos siguro ng mga 15 minutes e nagsawa na rin kiskisin ni ghelay ang tumbong nya - kaya binulungan ni Eternal Wanderer ito na "Tara, yokabelz tayo outside." Di rin matiis ni Eternal Wanderer na dilaan ng konti ang tenga ni ghel. Mukhang kinilig naman si girl, kaya sumama sya kay Eternal Wanderer palabas ng club.

Sikretong Malupit ni Eternal Wanderer, Unang Yugto

Merong dark na secret si Eternal Wanderer. Matagal na nya ito tinatago sa loob-loob nya.  Inisip nya kasi, kung ibaon nya ito sa limot, e makakalimutan nya ang masalimuot na nakaraan. Pero hindi talaga e.  Para itong karumaldumal na cancer, dahan-dahang kinukutkot ang buong pagkatao nya. Hindi na nya makayaan ilihim pa ito.  Kailangang masabi nya ito sa sangkamunduhan para maibsan ang kanyang pagdadalamhati.

Tawagin Mo Akong Ligaya: The G4M Adventures 3

Tawagin Mo Akong Ligaya: The G4M Adventures 2

Mga ilang linggo na rin kami nag-uusap ni Pilosopo mula nung nagpalitan kami ng YM.  Ok naman syang kausap: sensible at philosophical.  At mas lalong ok ang kanyang braso tuwing nakikita ko ito sa cam.  Para bagang uumbagin ka any monument sa laki nito.

Tsalap!

One time around midnight, e biglang lumitaw si Pilosopo sa YM.  Nagulat ako kasi usually maaga syang natutulog.  So mi-nack ko sya dali-dali.

Tawagin Mo Akong Ligaya: The G4M Adventures 2

Tawagin Mo Akong Ligaya: The G4M Adventures 1

Isang gabi, magkasabay kami ni Cubao Boy na nagchat sa lobby ng G4M.  Napansin ko na abala syang chinachat.  E shempre, nag-oshoso ako. Ako fa! May cam ang kolokoy na nakulitan ni CB, so clinick ko.

Ay. Teh, naka-shorts sya. At sando. Sight na sight ko ang arms nya. And mind you, biceps pa lang, ulam na. Ang sarap papakin! *tulo laway*

Aba, magpapahuli ba ako kay CB? Of course not! Naki-eksena ako.

Ternie: Hoy, CB, pakilala mo naman ako sa kausap mo.

CB: Ay. Chege. Eternal Wanderer, meet Pilosopo. Pilosopo, meet Eternal Wanderer.

Pilosopo: Hi, Eternal Wanderer!

Ternie: Oh, please you're too formal. Do call me Ternie. I'm dalisay, busilak, and mayumi. And you're smokin' hot.

Nakita kong natawa sya on cam. Bumenta yata ang hirit ko.

Pilosopo: Sure, sure. Lemme do that again. Hi Ternie, I'm Tasyo. You wana go private on YM? *winks*

Aw.

Yayaaaaaaaaa, where's my clip naaaaaaa? Make hawi naman my golden, flaxen locks because it's getting long eeeeeh!

Tawagin Mo Akong Ligaya: The G4M Adventures 3

The Embedded Memory in Comfort Food

Everyone has his or her own  idea of what comfort food is.  It is highly subjective; most of  the association stemming  from pleasant  and memorable childhood experiences. For us Filipinos, what food could give more comfort than our own cuisine?  For some, it may be a bowl of pipping-hot sinigang na baboy, the meat and fat quivering in its softness, the vegetables green and crunchy, and the soup so sour  that one can't help but shudder in delight.  For others, it may be the humble adobo, be it saucy or dry, dark or light, sour or salty.  Eggs and potatoes are optional of course, but it is always best if it's lovingly cooked at home.

Tawagin Mo Akong Ligaya: The G4M Adventures 1

May ipagtatapat ako.

Naadik ako sa kaka-chat noon sa late and lamented na G4M lobby. Minsan, inaabot ako ng 8 oras na dire-diretsong pagcha-chat doon.  Nakaka-aliw naman kasi. Iba't ibang personalities ang makikilala. May kwela, may tahimik, may makulit, at may mga naglalakihang *toot*

Maala-Ala Mo Kaya ang Iyong Kabaklaan 4 (Pwamis, Johnny Cursive, Huling Kabanata Na 'To!)

Maala-Ala Mo Kaya ang Iyong Kabaklaan 3

Ate Charo, hindi naman po ako isang Laila Chikadora para sabihin na may nangyari sa amin ni Albert Martinez.  Though looking back, doon ko po napagtanto na kakaiba po pala ako.  May lihim na pagnanasa po ako sa kapwa kong lalaki.  Pero okay lang po yun, ayon sa aking mga magulang.  Ang bilin lang ni Popsy e practice safe sex daw at wag magda-drugs.  Since masunurin po akong bata, isa sa kanyang mga tuntunin ang aking masigasig na sinusundan. Hulaan nyo na lang po kung ano iyon.

Maala-Ala Mo Kaya ang Iyong Kabaklaan 3

Maala-Ala Mo Kaya ang Iyong Kabaklaan 2

Juspolord, Ate Charo, natulala po ako napaka-gwapo itsura nya! Naaalala ko na naka puting sando sya at faded na masikip na maong na tila may tubo ng pvc na nakabakat sa harap.

O.a. na po ako.

Pero totoo na ang puti-puti nya at may matching may-I-smile-with-dimples drama pa.  Tila tuloy may humaplos sa aking puso at tumbong sa aking natanaw right in front of me.

Maala-Ala Mo Kaya ang Iyong Kabaklaan 2

Maala-Ala Mo Kaya ang Iyong Kabaklaan 1

Pero okay lan yun, Ate Charo.  If truth be told, mas gusto ko po talaga kalaro yung mga babae kong kapit-bahay.  Enjoy na enjoy po ako sa tuwing kami ay mag-chinese garter at jackstone.  Tuwang-tuwa sila lalo na kapag nagbabahay-bahyan o doktor-doktoran kami kasi merong gaganap na tatay at doktor.  Pero naaalala ko, naiinis ako dahil nakakasawang gampanan ang role ng doktor palagi.  Ang gusto ko po talaga ay ako  po yung pinunong nars na nakaputing cap at matching stockings.  Ayoko namang maging nanay.  Napaka-bargas na nun. Baka palayasin din nila ako sa laro tulad nung  sa mga lalaki.  Sabihin pa nung mga babae e nang-aagaw ako ng eksena.