Back from HK...

The Hong Kong trip was not part of my plans this year.

All I had in mind was Singapore in December for the Standard Chartered Marathon and that's it.

A colleague who was feeling down on one regular work day afternoon became the reason for the Hong Kong trip. That colleague came into my cubicle and said,"I'm feeling sad today. Let's go to Hong Kong." Cebu Pacific had a seat sale back then and the return fare was only P4,300.

The next thing I know, I was already booked for a flight to Hong Kong.

If not for the tragedy that happened last Monday, the same day that I arrived back in Manila, the Hong Kong trip would have been really perfect.

Like so many others, I am sad and furious with the outcome of that crisis. I feel extremely aweful because I had a fantab time in Hong Kong. Major, major. I didn't feel unsafe for a second, I had a good vacation, it was the perfect break from work that I needed. And then, here are these Hong Kong tourists, eight of whom lost their lives, having a vacation in my own country and the vacation turns into a nightmare because of a severely mismanaged situation. Hay.

I really hope that justice will be served. And like many others, I want to see a lot of heads rolling.

At the same time, I feel bad that international media portrays Manila as representative of the safety and security status in the country. It's not. I f-ing hate Manila. I would move to anywhere better in a heartbeat. It's only here that I feel unsafe. When I go to the countryside, I feel so much better and I know that there are so many things that our country has to offer to prospect tourists. I know because real work, volunteer work, vacation have brought me to so many fantab places from Luzon to Mindanao. It kinda sucks that what makes it to the evening news are tragedies like the one that recently happened.

Would it be insensitive of me if I still write about the good time I had in Hong Kong? I hope not. It's been a very good experience, as I have said and I definitely want to write it down so I can look back at it months, years from now.

My prayers go with the families of the victims. Hong Kong, I apologize for what happened.

Ladies and gentlemen, sana Friday na...

I can't wait for Friday to come.

I am already looking forward to hear this.

Woohooo!

Mag-d-drive ako hanggang... sa loob ng warehouse...

We had our second driving session with our Fleet group yesterday.

Despite not having only two hours of sleep, I managed to drag myself out of bed by 6AM to take a shower and get ready to go to the office without looking like I just had a crazy Friday night.

Around 8AM, the rest of the cast was there. My car buddies Rhyz and MJane, and the rest of the PA stude drivers AJ, Mich and Kuya Manny.

As soon as our fantab teacher Peter arrived, we hit the road for our practice driving venue. We had to go to a warehouse in Sta. Rosa because we got kicked out of our practice driving venue last week (some subdivision north of Manila that was still being developed).

Uhm, compared to last week's venue, I like this one much better. It was very different because the "obstacles" in the drive path were a bit difficult. The place is near abandonment so the grasses were really tall, trailers of ten-wheeler trucks occupied half of the lane in some sections, and a pack of goats would appear once in a while. Hehehe!

My driving this week was much better. I think I was more comfortable with the wheel, and I was getting the hang of how to handle things. Uhm, I know it's still way, way different when we go out into the streets and start driving along with road maniacs. Haha!

The highlight of this driving session was getting to drive along the long stretch at the back of Paseo de Sta. Rosa. We had lunch in the area. I noticed that there weren't too many vehicles in the area, so I asked Peter if I can drive from the carinderia where we ate up until the traffic light before the main road. He agreed.

It's really, really different. It was only then that I realized that things can happen so fast, that I'd have to master looking at all sides before making my next move. Sheesh!

I had a good teacher though and he trusted me. I was able to shift gears up until the fourth gear. I did some turns (including a U-Turn which I was worried about). One or two cars passed by my side and I didn't panic. My car buddies Rhyz and MJane didn't panic. They were actually quiet the whole time (Either they were saying their last prayers or I was too focused on the road that I tuned out to what they were saying. Hehehe!).

When I finally stepped on the brakes and transferred to the passenger seat, I thought that the whole thing was really FUN! And yeah, I want to do it again!!! Haha!

The low point was I stalled twice when we got back at the warehouse for more practice driving. My legs were tired and I'm really having trouble with releasing the clutch properly. Any tips?

Peter also let me practice reverse three times. It's difficult. I couldn't see if I was going left or right. Only when I stepped on the brakes did I get to see that I was already way left. Haha!

If you know how to drive, I know you'd go, "Uhm, YEAH! Duh!" Haha! But I'm just sharing my experience.

Camera whores that we are. I brought Hanschen with me so we can document our driving lessons. Harhar! :P

We headed back to Manila by 4PM. Rhyz and I headed to Gateway to catch Step Up 3. The story was lame, but the dance numbers were awesome! I can imagine our dance teacher Reagan as one of the dancers. He definitely fit the profile. And he definitely had the moves.

Anyway, Tey and I were supposed to meet today so that I can practice drive with Bogart (Tey's car, hehe!). But I remembered that there was a race in the venue I was suggesting. Oh well. Some other time.

Friday night...

Friday night was a circus. That's all I can say.

The last night out I had was a random trip to The Collective two weeks ago, I think. It doesn't count though because we all went home by midnight. I went to Cubao X a week ago but it doesn't count as well because I had to go home by 10PM. I promise to go back to both venues very soon. I like the whole artsy, indie feel of the venues. Plus I miss Wabi Sabi at The Collective.

I've been staying away from alcohol as well. It's part of the whole attempt to be fit. No. I just really want to not have to worry about waking up with a hurting joint or ankle because my uric levels went really high again because of alcohol. I do know I can still party and have a good night out sans the alcohol. My friend Jimmy is the inspiration for this. Haha!

Yesterday, I don't know how I ended up having a night out. I was itching to go out, and I think Engel said he was going to meet up with his straight guy best friend. Uhm, I don't remember if I invited myself but I ended going with Engel to his dinner with Joel and his wife Sadel. On the way to the dindin place, we called Jonjon and since he didn't have plans that night we asked him to join us.

The scene of the crime was at Home Depot in Ortigas. It's my second time to be there on an evening and it's a pretty good place for hanging out. We started with dindin at Jay-J's. Food was good, but the service kind of sucked. Wait staff were probably too tired already. Afterwards, we headed to O Bar. Haven't really seen the place so we definitely decided to check it out.

It's way better than the one in Malate. This one was much bigger. The crowd was better. What I mean is I think most of them were yuppies from the Ortigas area vs. the crowd in O Bar Malate who I think are mostly students partying from the allowance given by their folks. Hehe! The A/C still couldn't handle volume of people though. I don't know if it's meant to be that way. Some people probably find sweaty, grinding bodies sexy. Hehe!

Anyway, I had a couple of SMLs. I wasn't feeling tipsy, but I knew I had to stop because of my ankles. Haha! I did drink a couple of times from Jonjon's and Engel's Gilbey's.

The place was packed by midnight. We stayed near the stage at the rear part of the bar. Music got better as the crowd thickened. Bumped into some friends - JC, Migs and another guy who I still dunno if he's straight or what. I was hoping to see runniny buddy I-vanchy but he got stuck in Makati.

We left the place around3.30AM. I had to head home because of driving lessons in a couple of hours. I dragged my tipsy and happy companions out of the bar. I hailed a cab and dropped them off at their places. Had to make sure the two got home safe.

I was home near 4AM. I set my alarm to go off at 6.15AM, and then I was off to lalaland.

Fantab Friday night! Basta. Haha!

Angelo is...

'Nuff said.

Don't you still get that? Hahaha!

Addressed to no one in particular. I'm just being lazy again to post something better.

Get your own slogan here.

Patulong kay Mom & Dad when cutting...

How sosyal naman the instructions of Jollibee for this placemat activity! Hehehe!

This was at the Bonifacio Global City branch.

I wonder if the Marketing/Creatives peeps decided to word the instructions that way specifically for this branch. Hehehe!

Mag-d-drive ako hanggang buwan...

I had a bit of driving lessons yesterday.

The Fleet Group of our company thought it would be good to give driving lessons to non-drivers in our team so that when we need a service vehicle, we can just borrow a car. Right now, it's a bit difficult to get a service vehicle because there are only a few company drivers. There's no shortage in vehicles. There is a shortage in company drivers.

So I spent around two hours just going around and around the small village driving. Yeah, first session and already, I got to go behind the wheel. I love it. Hahaha!

At first, I was really, really nervous. But the one teaching us was very patient and explained things well. I must admit that I started tuning out when he was already about transmission and how the gears work and so on. Haha! Too butch for me. Haha!

Initially, I wanted to take the car with A/T. But another group was using it, so I ended up test driving a Vios with M/T. It was fun. What made it more enjoyable was I was with colleagues MJane, Rhyz and Michelle who were all there for the lessons, as well. We took turns driving.

Uhm, I started with just the first gear and not stepping on the gas. When I got the hang of it, I asked permission to step on the gas, and then eventually to shift to second gears. Felt really nice! Hehe!
Of course, there's so much more to learn and the real test is being able to go out on the road. Eeep! Afraid. Haha!


The next driving lesson is next Saturday. Already looking forward to it.
First, I must get a student driver's license. Haha!

Eleven Layers...

Obviously, I'm too lazy to post anything...

LAYER 1: BASICS
Name: Angelo

Birth Date: Uhm, 1979. Haha! I feel so ancient. But I love being a 1979 baby. I've seen a lot of world histories happen. And I experienced the best of the old and the new, technology wise. 

Current Location: My room at home.

Hair Color: Black

Righty/Lefty: Righty.

LAYER 2: ON THE INSIDE.
Your fear: Rollercoasters. Seriously.

Your dream of the perfect date: The date itself is easy. What's more important is whether the call and/or text after the date. Then the date must have been perfect. ;)

LAYER 3: YESTERDAY, TODAY, AND TOMORROW.
Your first thoughts waking up: Saturday!

Your bedtime: Usually 1130PM. Latest would be 12 midnight. I need my 5 hours. 

Your most missed memory: Any of the travels outside of Manila. I have a love/hate relationship with this city.

LAYER 4: YOUR PICK. 
Pepsi or Coke: Coke Zero

McDonald’s or Burger King: Mickey D's, but it's junk food.

Single or Group Dates: Single.

Adidas or Nike: Adidas.

Chocolate or Vanilla: Chocolate.

Cappuccino or Coffee: Coffee.

LAYER 5: DO YOU.


Smoke: No. Tried once or twice.

Cuss: Whattashit!
Take showers: Yes.

Have a crush: Hmm, none lately.

Like school: Back then, most of the time. Now, I do. UP years are the best!
Think you’re a health freak: I've been a health freak lately. Been going to the gym a lot. Eating healthier. I'm starting to realize that I'm not as young as I was.

WHAT HAPPENED TO LAYER 6???

LAYER 7: HAVE YOU EVER. 


Played a stripping game: Maybe.

Kissed the same sex: Wrong question. What you should be asking is…

Gotten beaten up: Nope. Peace-loving person. Haha!



LAYER 8: GETTING OLD. 
Age you’re hoping to be married by: 35.

Number of kids you’re planning on having: IDK. Maybe just one.



LAYER 9: IN A GIRL/GUY.


Best eye color:  Black.
Hair color: Black.

Short or long hair: Short and clean.

Fat or fit: Fit.

Looks or personality: A beautiful face attracts me. But a beautiful personality is way better.

Fun or serious: FUN. I’m very boring.

LAYER 10: WHAT WERE YOU DOING.


1 MINUTE AGO: started answering this crap.

1 HOUR AGO: I was watching Vampire Diaries.

1 WEEK AGO: My third 21K, man!

LAYER 11: FINISH THE SENTENCE. 


I FEEL: Just right.

I HATE: Lies. It's the worst thing you can do.

I HIDE: Things sometimes and when I need them, I can't find them anymore. Haha!

I NEED: Love and Money. Not necessarily in that order. Haha!

I LOVE: Just because.

Rexona Run didn't let us down...

I conquered my 3rd half-marathon today at the Rexona Run!

Yup, another 21K in the bag. Despite not having enough training and prep because of the Mindanao trip and the severe pain on my left ankle the entire week, I was able to cross the finish line after 3:04.

Uhm, I’m not that frustrated with the time. My last two 21Ks were somewhere around 2:59. Today’s run was already good enough for me given the circumstances.

Although I have to say that I have partly to blame the time on my iPod Touch. I was quite sure that it was advanced, so during the last few kilometers I was really chillaxing. Haha! I was quite surprised to see that it was already 3:04 when I crossed the finish line. Ugh!

Aside from that, I had to stop several times during the run to stretch my calves. By the 15K mark, I could feel my calves hurt. If I didn’t stop, I was sure that I would get cramps.

Oh well, I’m just glad that I was able to achieve my goal of crossing the finish line in one piece. (The weather had something to do with making it a good run. Nice weather this morning. It wasn’t too hot. TYJ!)

As with previous runs, I was with ICON magazine colleague-turned-running buddy I-van. I’m really glad that he’s just as interested in joining runs and in fitness. If I didn’t have a buddy in these activities, I doubt if I would be joining as many runs as I have. So thanks, I-van.

It was also great seeing Twitter friends - JB, Jamie and Marl - who are running icons. Hehe! When I was nearing the finish line, I could feel both of my calves were starting to ache. But when I saw Jamie and JB cheering me on, I ignored the pain and used what energy was left of me to finish the few meters to the finish line. I have to say that it’s really a huge thing when you have friends who cheer you on. They help you not to quit but to really go for it. So thanks, JB and Jamie.

I also saw Multiply friend Edison. Congrats, Edison, on your first 21K! It’s great seeing this guy at runs.

If there’s one more good thing about running, it became a venue for me to see my online friends beyond Twitter, beyond Facebook, beyond Multiply, and in the real world!

Okay, let’s talk about the race. Overall, I’d say that it was a very organized run! Congratulations to the people behind the Rexona Run!

Here are my reasons why I thought it was good.

1. Race started on time. When we got to the venue, we were informed that the run would start at 5:10. Minutes before the start, a Fitness First instructor led runners in doing warmup stretches and exercises. (Why not Gold’s Gym? Haha! Sorry, biased and I love my gym.) Afterwards, the countdown began and we were off. Uhm, major booboo here. I almost ran into a camera man. Jeez, he was in the middle of the road. I was fixing my iPod and when I looked up he was two steps away from me. I didn’t see him because he was wearing an all-black ensemble. Anuveh, Koya?! Hehe!

2. Assembly area was spacious. This gave everyone a chance to do their stretches and warmup exercises wherever they find it convenient. Of course, I-vanchy and I positioned ourselves where we could find some “inspiration.” Wahaha! Mine were runners *** and ***. Stalkerazzi much?! Haha!

3. No need to check in. Thanks to the D-tag, we didn’t need to look for Manongs who would put a check mark on our race bib. As long as the tag was properly placed on the running shoes (which was really easy to do), there shouldn’t be any problem with the time recording.

4. Drinking stations at every 1.5KM. Bottled water and Powerade were overflowing. Gawd, you can bathe in Powerade if you wanted to. Haha! Whether it’s because of the previous Milo incident or that’s how the race organizers really intended it to be, I’m sure all how many thousands of runners are extremely happy that they didn’t have to worry about dehydration. I drank a few glasses of Powerade just to get some more energy. The rest of the run, I chose water. I’m really staying away from those power drinks. I have a strong feeling they’re the culprit behind the astronomical level of uric acid in my body.

5. Marshals all throughout the route. There really was no way that runners will get lost because there were race marshals who guided us. Some were even nice enough to cheer us on. Others looked bored and seemed like they can’t wait for all runners to finish the race. Hehe!

6. Different race route. I don’t like Roxas Blvd. Sorry, forgive me but after that one run which included the stretch of Roxas Blvd from Buendia to UN, I said I would never join another run in that area. When I found out that the Rexona Run will be in MOA, I was really keen on joining because I thought it would include Roxas Blvd. I-van and I still decided to join because we weren’t able to run in July. Our ideal was to have at least one run a month. This is why we decided to join Rexona Run. It turned out to be a nice, nice surprise when I saw the race map (a night before the run!!!) and learned that Roxas Blvd wasn’t included. Yeyyyy! The race route laid out for this run was much, much better than Roxas Blvd. There was no need to fear the buses and cars that pass by Macapagal because aside from having markers throughout the route, marshals and roving patrol guys were present.

7. Orderly distribution of loot bags and medals. Maybe because I was already among the last to finish. Haha! When I was walking towards the finisher’s kit station to claim my loot, a girl already approached me and handed me my goodie bag. The race medal I got as soon as I crossed the finish line. A guy was all smiles as he congratulated me and put the medal on me. Sana “ikaw” na lang iyon instead of that guy. Gago ka, eh! Hahaha! Sorry. May ganon talaga.

8. Goodie bag was really good. The good thing about FMCGs organizing runs is that they have a lot of product samples to give out. Haha! When I got home and brought out all the contents of the goodie bag, I was surprised with all the products. 2 Clear Cool Sport, 2 Clear Ice Cool Menthol, 2 Clear Complete Soft Care, 3 30ml ClearMen Activ Sport, 2 Vaseline Naturals with coconut milk, 2 Vaseline Naturals with lemon & sunflower oil, 2 Vaseline Naturals with Aloe Vera, 3 Cream Silk reShape Conditioner, 2 Sunsilk shampoo, 1 Pond’s Clear solution, 1 Sunsilk Co-Creations, 1 150ml Rexona Quantum body spray, 1 Century Tuna, 2 Knorr Real Sabaw soup, 1 Surf bar, 1 Surf dishwashing liquid. We were also given a 500ml Powerade drink and bottled water. Not bad I have to say!!!

Good Rexona Run! You really stood by your tagline, huh. You didn’t let us down! Thanks! :)

Thoughts on the recent trip to Mindanao...

So I've written about the food and my stupid photo ops from the CDO-MisOr-Davao trip.

What I have not written about is the real reason why I took the trip.

I had to cover two events - the launch of the Telesurgery Program in CDO/MisOr and the turnover of the Automatic Weather Station to the LGU in Davao.

Yeah, the names of the events sound far from the core nature of the telecommunications industry but both utilize the resource and expertise of the telecoms industry in one way or another.

I'm not sure if I've mentioned it before but my work is about the community service side of the company. CSR (corporate social responsibility) in short. I work with a team that deals directly with the communities/organizations in implementing programs. My task is to provide publicity and communications support to the programs.

That's why I had to go to CDO/MisOr and Davao. I needed to gather information and photos about the programs, which we'll use for news articles.

Field work, particularly the ones that require me go to remote areas and the most rural parts of the country, is always a happy task for me. Not only because it reminds me of my Pahinungod days, but also because it is during these work assignments that I get to go out of the comforts of Makati and see the real world. Until now, I believe that one of the greatest methods of learning about the reality is immersion - packing one's bag, taking the habal habal (or if you're lucky, a car with A/C lent by a generous sould), and going down the road less traveled.

That's exactly what we did in MisOr. After the almost two hour flight to CDO from Manila, we boarded a van headed for Gingoog, Misamis Oriental. The travel took around three hours. My work colleagues and I joined locals who are heavily involved in the telesurgery project in the provinces.

Upon arrival at Gingoog, we were given a tour of the provincial hospital. The hospital was impressive, I must say. Given that it was quite far from the much more urban environment of CDO, Gingoog's provincial hospital seems to be ready to serve the needs of the local community. From the people I got to talk to, the person to be thanked for this are the hospital leaders who are progressive thinkers and visionaries.

After a tour of the hospital and a briefing of its services, we boarded our ride again and hit the road once more. This time, we were headed to a remote barangay to talk to a candidate for surgery thanks to the Telesurgery program.

From the asphalt roads of the main highway, our ride turned right at one of the smaller roads. A little further and the concrete road became rough soil and rocks. The ride became bumpy. The trees on both sides of the road grew thicker and thicker. Every so often, we'd see a nipa hut.

Ah, it was such a familiar sight, I thought. I've been down this road so many times - in Mindoro, in Palawan, in Benguet, in Camarines. And I felt exactly what I usually felt in those other occasions - happy.

The pickup eventual stopped, and when we got out, we were greeted by a soft drizzle and the smell of trees and earth that have just been kissed by the rains.

We walked a little down a muddied path and reached the house of Mang Ignacio and his wife Nenita.

It was a two-story house, made out of wood. If you remember the way houses in the barrios are described in the Filipino folk stories that were read to us when we were kids, that's how their home looked like. Just outside the house is the "kitchen." On one side are wood from wherever, gathered from the forest, piled neatly and ready to be used as firewood. Sleeping happily on the moist earth are several piglets. They don't budge even as we approached. Haha!

For the next few minutes, we got to speak to Mang Ignacio. The man is over seventy-years old and is afflicted with hernia. Thanks to the telesurgery program and the province's efficient health care program, Mang Ignacio will soon undergo surgery. The cost would be a fraction of what the family would have to pay, if they were to go to a private hospital in CDO.

Mang Ignacio says that if not for the program, he wouldn't bother getting the hernia treated. He is ready to live with it.

The same is true for 12-year-old Inin, another candidate for surgery through the provincial hospital's telesurgery program. Inin has meningocoele. In layman's terms, she has a huge mass (about the side of a pear) on top of her nose. I don't know how it affects her breathing, but I'm quite sure that it affects her vision. Try putting your curled fist in front of your nose. That's how Inin is.

Her mother, on the verge of tears, tells us that if not for the program, she would have no choice but to just leave the mass alone. No, her daughter would have no choice but to leave the mass and live with it.

Mang Ignacio and Inin are just two of the I dunno thousands of people who need quality health care. I was told that there was one other person from the barangay of Mang Ignacio who has myoma. Since the family does not have any resources, they are doing nothing. They are just waiting for the person's time. You know what I mean.

I am always thankful whenever I meet people like Mang Ignacio and Inin. No, it's not because they make me see how fortunate I am. No. Something's just not right with learning how to be grateful because of other people's misfortunes.

It's because they remind me that something needs to be done, that I should get involved in one way or another, that I can do something maybe not for them but for those nearer to me.

In this case, I may not be able to directly help Mang Ignacio and Inin. But I think that when we are able to put down their story into words, and get it out there for the public to read, and that hopefully, one more soul will be moved to do something, then I think that I was able to do my job.

This is one aspect of my job that I really am thankful for. That I have a chance to come face-to-face with the reality of things, no matter how sad it is sometimes. These are things I would never learn about if I didn't head out. Yeah, I know I can read about it but I'm telling you, experience is the best teacher. That's what Pahinungod taught me. That's what UP taught me.

Anyway, one of the things I'm really driving at here is the importance of action. It doesn't have to be grand. Every small act counts. What matters is that we do something, and not just let the world pass us by.

One man I look up to told me that I shouldn't just be another face in the crowd. Thanks to the trip to CDO/MisOr/Davao, I was reminded of that advice.

The trip did me good I think. Though I was dead tired and the pain on my left ankle made walking extremely difficult, I was glad I was assigned to do the trip. I went back to Manila feeling less jaded, less angry (hehe!) and with a little more belief in the good of people.