~* WHAT THE... *~

Have had the *freakiest* experience last Fri when my sis and I (along with Maggie, her British officemate) were at Xaymaca...

It was about twice that I noticed a camera flash going off just outside the bay window where we sat. I had a sneaking suspicion that some sicko was taking a snapshot of me from the outside but I just ignored it coz I was busy dancing and stuff. The second set of Brownman Revival has just ended so we sat down exhausted, slumped on our backs, I combed my hair and tidied up (I am inventing words here... hermm...) myself. And then I notice this guy right outside the bay window and he was like coming closer towards me (note: he is at the al fresco tables of the bar and I am inside the bar) so I kinda turned my back on the bay window... Lo and behold he freakin' knocks on the glass to catch my attention... so I turned to look at him and then, HELLOOOO, he jams a digicam on my face (well the bay window glass STILL between my face and his freakin' camera... anyhooo...)!!! And I'm like "WHAT DA F%$#?!? What is up with that?!?" So the moment I saw the digicam, I quickly turned away. And then, hellleeeerrr, my dear sister goes: "Be adventurous! Nakita ko itsura, cute naman sya ah!" Helleeeeerrr! I do not have plans on having my face turn up on some perv's porno site or whatever. I know it's such an extreme uber-paranoid-of-me scenario but hey, nowadays, you just never know what twisted thought is going on in the mind of a guy, whether he's a hottie or not. OK, but in fairness, yes, I saw how he looked... he is cute, sorta long hair, like a scruffier version of Paolo Paraiso (?)... something like that. But hello, if you are not some weirdo, you could at least go inside the bar and introduce yourself first! 'Last time I checked, jamming a digicam right smack on someone's face is NOT proper at all unless you're a paparazzi with a license to invade someone's personal space.

Twas so funny when I was recounting the story to Vic and Bianx during lunch time today. The moment it came to that part of the digicam-in-yer-face incident, both Bianx and I went: "WHAT THE...?!?!"

V. strange people out there. Really.

We're jammin'.

~* CANOSSA SYNDROME *~

Got this from fellow-Canossian and dearest friend Abbie...

Dammit, this is gonna test my memory! This is like 9+ years ago!

1. Bakit ka nahuhuli sa pila bago mag-flag ceremony?
Hmm. I don't think I was ever late. Mabait na bata ako noon.

2. Anong favorite mong bilhin sa canteen?
Vicks candy... Chocnut... was never a fan of Aling Tessie's arroz caldo. I do not like eating arroz caldo, goto and stuff like that.

3. Na-guidance/principal's office ka na ba?
Nope. But I remember napagalitan kaming dalawa ni Charo by Ms. Perez when we were laughing at one of my classmate's nervous tick back in grade three. Bata pa lang ako, laitera na talaga ako!:P

4. Sinong favorite teacher/s mo doon?
Ms. Naval (high school), Ms. Fransisco, Ms. Bayani, Ms. Perez (grade school)

5. Sinong HATEST teacher mo naman?
si Ernani. Hands down. :P

6. San ka usually tumatambay? Why?
The open hall below the AVR, canteen, kiosks. Most probably because that's where I can scope out my crush ;)

7. What's ur most unforgettable experience sa highschool mo?
World Youth Day (spending time at my foster home -- Abbie's), Retreat at Betania and that fateful retreat letter that changed my high school love life at the last minute.

8. Varsity?
Wala. Bano ako pagdating sa sports since I was a kid. If shopping was a sport, then call me sporty.

9. Sinong una mong nakilala sa high school mo?
As in a new person not from grade school, I think it was Che since she was the cousin of Mikki.

10. Sino unang mga barkada mo?
My barkada from grade school... THE CHARMS!!! (Charo, Inah, Hazel, Mitzi, Mikki, Ivy)

11. Sinong mga kabarkada mo nung nag-graduate ka from HS?
The remnants of PINK ILLUSION... my band EXORDIUM (Charo, Mitzi, Ajie)!!! THE GIFTED (Kathy R., Lea H., Mabel F., Vanessa the Twin, Che, Jovi)

12. Sino mga barkada mo from highschool hanggang ngayon?
Abbie, Mitzi, Charo, Tin, Ivy, Ajie

13. Na-mimiss mo na ba yung uniform mo?
Hellerrr?! Nope.

14. Favorite teacher's quotable quote?
He's not really my fave, pero this was the quote I can vividly remember. It's from our computer lab teacher. I forgot his name. Basta, he always says "Silence means yes" when nobody answers when he asks if we understood his lecture. And his favorite--the BACK-SLASH key for the commands and stuff. Sometimes he says "backlash" instead of "back-slash". HAHAHA!

15. Most unforgettable person? Why?
(ABBIE's POST: Hmmmm, let's see what Aileen's answer. Haha.) Sige na nga, si T2! First love chuvaness. Hayyyy.

16. I-describe ang mukha mo sa grad pic.
'Nyeta, hindi pa uso mag-pluck and shape ng kilay noon kaya grrness! Pangeeet the kilay. And I don't like what I'm wearing on the casual shot... kadiri, floral dress! *ackkk*

17. Anong binibili mo sa labas tuwing uwian?
Hmm. Back in grade school I think it was the hot pink-colored cotton candy!

18. Sino huling nakita mo sa batch?
Shucks, kelan ba tayo last nagkita, Abbie and Charo? Sa sobrang tagal, I can't remember anymore :( I think it was when Tin was here, right? With Jamie Balubal at Cena and then with Abbie and her gigantic pearl earrings and She Abu at Starbucks ATC and at Vivere Suites.

19. Anong contests ang sinalihan/napanalunan mo?
Spelling contest, Art contest, Battle of the Bands, Science contest, Religion contest

22. Kamusta naman ang Intrams?
Hay I don't even remember. Since I was a kid talaga, I do not give a sh*t about sports. No athletic inclination at all. EVER. I just remember roller-blading during intrams.

23. Sino mga sikat sa batch nyo?
THE INNOCENCE BAND, syempre! (Troy, Maco, VN, Homer, Wong)

24. Sino mga magaganda at gwapo sa batch?
male: Troy, Kaloy, Maco, VN
female: Mitzi, Abbie, Che, MM, Cindy Lopez

24. Nasa friendster mo ba yung crush mo sa HS?
Wala. Hindi sila techies eh. Bano.

26. Did you ever regret going to ur HS?
Nope. I wouldn't have met the persons who have left such an indelible mark in my life (such as my gal pals: Abbie, Mitzi, Charo, Tin, Ivy, Ajie; Best guy friend from HS: Jako; Twisted love affairs: Troy, Maco, Kaloy)

27. Sino sa mga ka-batch natin ang dapat napasali sa Star Circle Quest?
(ABBIE'S POST: Errr...si Troy? Si Kaloy? O si Maco? (Haha! See a pattern here?) ) --->> ABBIE, WHAT PATTERN? *innocent look*

28. San ka na nag-aaral ng college? Course?
Green Archer baby! De La Salle University - Bachelor of Science in Commerce, Major in Marketing

30. Sino ang peborit labs team of dem all mo?
Aktib and Abbie (long-live our World Youth Dayz! hehe...)

31. Anu-ano ang mga section mo?
St. Elizabeth, St. Catherine, St. John the Beloved, St. John the Baptist (shucks, tama ba 'to Abbie? My memory is not that good anymore, gaaah...)

32. Sino ang crush mo sa upper batch?
Syempre, ang crush ng bayan: JAN MICHAEL DUNGAO! hahaha!:P

33. Sino ang crush sa lower batch?
Ayan... Dito ako magaling -- corruption of minors! *evil grin* Si Aries Carpo, Zandro Ramos, DJ Desa, Alvinsor, Charles, Troy E., kapatid ni Aktib (whatshisface?). Hay sabi na nga ba, mahilig ako sa totoy eh :P

34. Orgs mo nung highschool?
Peer Counselling group, Combo Club (yuck, I can't believe how uncool they call the rock band's club! har-har!:P) Hmm, 'can't remember the rest. It's like two clubs every SAP time dba?

35. Sino pinaka-na-mi-miss mo ngayon?
The One Who Broke My Heart The Baddest. Enuf said.

~* THE ONLY ONE! *~

Okay now this is beginning to be a habit every Friday. So now I can come back to that doctor in the orthopedic institute (the one who told me: "do anything! just move!") and tell him that I am exercising every week now. Hehe. Reggae-dancing at Xaymaca. Now that's counted as my exercise, right?! :P

So as usual, I was there with my sister and Abbie, along with my sister's friends: Retchie, Dodjie, Ramil and Archie. Usual seat at the back. Danced on top of the bench as usual. And hello, I have learned to drink San Mig Light without squirming. I don't really like the taste of beers. I'm a vodka drinker. But ordering too many bottles of Vodka Cruiser or Vodka Ice will totally skyrocket my bill. So there. San Mig Light it is.

Jao, Brownman Revival's bassist was really nice to us and even came over our seats to say hi. So 'bait. Ramil and I went at the backstage to ask for a picture with the band but Dino said they were not all there and it's better if we do it after the show when everyone's at the backstage. So anyway, I made kulit to him and asked if Only One was on their set list. Heck, I even asked to see their set list! He was actually holding it and then I saw that it was the first song on their second set. So hurray for me! :) Yebbah. So when we were saying goodbye, I suddenly remembered that I did not introduce Ramil to him, so I introduced them. And then I said, "Oh ako, hindi mo na alam name ko noh?!" And he like flashed a sheepish smile and said "Hindi, alam ko... ikaw si... Only One!" Haha!:P

After the gig, I approached Jao and asked him if we could have a pic with the band. So everybody who was there gathered around at the backstage. Alphy (the lead guitarist) kidded that he felt bad that he got cut off in our pic last week when I showed him and Jayson (trombone dude) our pic from last week which was stored on my fone. So I kidded him that he should make pwesto in the middle na for our picture that night para sure na he won't get cropped out of the pic :P Dino who had a white small towel hanging on his neck was kidding that papasada pa sya ng jeep. Haha. He did look like a jeepney driver, kaya lang, as he told my sis, hindi nga lang Good Morning yung towel nya :P So there, had a picture again. :) Yeah baby, I am not from Kodak for nothing! ;)

This was our pic the time when Ramil and I went backstage. Dino goes: "Mukha naman akong sabog dyan..." And I went: "Eh mukha ka namang sabog lagi eh!" And he goes: "Ah oo nga!"

~* NOW PLAYING: BROWNMAN REVIVAL *~

Please bear with the rawness of the audio... this was recorded live at Xaymaca bar --Brownman Revival's version of The Only One--an original of Lionel Richie(it has been remade by Big Mountain). This song is my uber-fave on their repertoire. AS IN I make kulit to them to perform their version of this song. The first time I heard 'em play this, it became my instant fave ;)

***Brownman Revival performs every Friday at Xaymaca bar in Timog***

THE ONLY ONE

Let me tell you now
All that's on my mind.
For a love like yours.
Is oh, so very hard to find.
I've looked inside myself.
now I'm very sure.
There can only be, you for me.
I need you more and more....

You, turned me inside out and you showed me.
what life was about.
Only you, the only one that stole my heart away.
I wanna do all I can, just to show you.
Make you understand.
Only you, the only one that stole my heart away.

When you're in my arms.
When I'm close to you.
There's a magic in your touch.
That just comes shining through.
Want you everyday.
Want you every night.
There can only be, you for me.
You make it seem so right.
Oh, girl, cause.....

You, turned me inside out and you showed me.
What life was about.
Only you, the only one that stole my heart away.

In my mind, there's no other love.
You're the only girl my heart and soul is thinking of.
Only you, only me.
There can never ever be another.
That understands the way that I feel inside,
Cause....

You,turned me inside out and you showed me.
What life was about.
Only you, the only one that stole my heart away.
Yeah, you, turned me inside out and you showed me
What life was about.
Only you, the only one that stole my heart away.

(you stole my heart away)
You stole it. (you stole my heart away)
Only you, the only one that stole my heart away.
Yeah you, (you stole my heart away)
Oh you stole it, ( you stole my heart away)
Only you, the only one that stole my heart away.
You stole my heart away.
stole it, (you stole my heart away)
Only you baby, the only one that stole my heart away.

~* DANG. *~

Dang. This was what I missed when I decided to skip the Hoobastank concert last Aug.

HAH! So much for me thinking that Doug Robb has an adolescent's body. Definitely NOT. Meeeeowww. Who would've thought he'd look as yummy as that? :P

~ * RETURN TO XAYMACA *~

After like a month of not going to Xaymaca, I finally joined my sister and her friends in reggae-dancin' in Xaymaca. Along with my sister, I was with Abbie, Cris, Ate Ga and the rest of my sister's officemates. Rick called my after the first set and said that he would drop by Xaymaca. He got there around 12ish with his officemate from Colgate. When the second set started around 1ish, they left--wehehe, di nila ata trip :P Oh well.

So anyway, after the first set, we met Jason of Brownman Revival, the hmm, was that trombone?, yeah, I think he's the trombone dude of the band. He's nice and chatted with us a bit.

Reggae-dancin' on top of the cushioned bench against the wall, as usual. Have sweat like hell since it's a hot house by the time Brownman Revival does their second set. That's why this is the only place where I wear a sleeveless top (or else I would hyperventilate or something). I think they finished around past 2am. We went to the backstage after everyone has winded down by 3am. It was the keyboardist dude (my bad, I forgot his name. There are just too many of them to remember all their names:P) who accommodated us when Abbie, Cris and I were standing by the doorway and peeking into the court/backstage. When we went inside, they chatted with us. The percussionist dude (okay, I'm sorry, I'm really bad with names so I will call them dudes for now until I memorize all their names :P) who wore such cool shirts like Reese and the Little Prince chatted with us. He said he hasn't even read The Little Prince though but said something about the French author of the book who disappeared.

After taking a picture with the band, Dino (the vocalist) and the bassist dude chatted with us. Oh yeah, Dino Concepcion is cute without his trademark shades on. He put his shades on when we posed for a picture but he didn't wear it all that time we talked. He has nice deep-set eyes, super-tangos nose and those corners on his mouth that I like in a guy (think: mouth of David Duchovny). Yes, definite cuteness. As in totoy-cute. Which is my type. Hah! :P

Dino's nice to talk to, he makes funny comments and stuff. Aww, he was sooo adorable when he stepped on my toes and said sorry. Haha! :P

Dino Concepcion of Brownman Revival


Us with Brownman Revival


Dammit, I had to shampoo for 3 times and soap 3 times to get the weed/smoke stink out. Gaah. Oh well. That's a Xaymaca night-out for me!

Dino rocks. Yebbah. ;)

~* HAPPILY EVER AFTER *~

Is there such thing as a "happily ever after"? Or is it just bullcrap that you just see in the movies?

I just came from the premiere night of The Notebook at Greenbelt. Good thing 'twas released by Pioneer Films who were our client--they were gracious enough to give us tickets. *sigh* I was just saying the other day that I soooo wanted to see The Notebook coz I have read the Nicholas Sparks book and I loved it.

Hallmark was one of the sponsors and they were handing out these greeting cards to everyone who came in. "This is a mockery!" "This is an insult!" I exclaimed as I read the greeting card's cover: "For My Dearest... I'm so glad we found each other" OH PHOOOEEEY. %#%$! :P *Sorry, bitter beeotch alert!* :P

I liked the movie. I rate the movie in terms of whether I cry watching it or not. Eh I cried... so ergo, it is good :P Such a sob story, I swear.

As I watched it though, the first person that popped in my head was T2. Ahhh. Great. Now what does that mean? But then after the movie, on the way home, I thought of both T2 and TOWBMHTB. And then _______. I mean, what the crap does meeting _____ mean in the grander course of things? Yeah, I know that T2 really loves me that it pains me to think about it. But then I recall how free I felt when I was with TOWBMHTB. When does feeling like THAT ever happen again? Will it ever happen again or is it just a one-shot thing that the universe gave me? After something good passes or fades, am I to accept that it is gone forever? "But he did not come back eh...", I told Vic as I was talking to her about stuff. It was sad for me to hear the words that I uttered. But I have to be brave and forcibly accept that fact. So again, what is the point of me meeting somebody like _____ after such a crappy heartbreak? What? Is he like this bone tied at the end of the stick that a stupid dog can never reach? Another ITY? Is this like the grand act two of unrequited love? A cruel encore? I hate it then. I f%#$!ng hate that feeling. I don't ever wanna feel like that again.

So do men really fall in love like that (as in the movie)? Having met a lot of men and having heard so much about men, I can't help but doubt their sincerity coz sometimes, no matter how boy-next-doorish they seem to be, in the end, they all seem to think with their d*cks. Maybe if it weren't in their nature to be such uhmm manyaks, I would probably be less cautious. But I have seen how their mind works (courtesy of my self-proclaimed 'I'm just all bark' *yeah right* guy boss). Ahh but the way Noah was so patient with Allie in the movie is just so ahhh *sigh*. There are no words to describe the beautiful poetry that their souls make when they are together. *wow, where did that come from? shucks, nagpapaka-profound nanaman ako...*

Wahaha. I am probably just sour-graping. Oh f*ck it. Oh but I'd rather be bitchy than depressed. I think not believing in love anymore is a wiser choice than being idealistic and romantic and thinking that my soulmate is out there and that we'll find each other in time, that everything happens for a reason, that love will come when you least expect it, that true love comes to those who wait.... crap like that.... I'm sure you get the picture. Now if you are attached and reading this, do not lecture me and give me more bull crap. I have fervently prayed to God. I have read self-help books. I have pondered on the meaning of life. I have wished upon a star, upon visiting a church for the first time and all other crapdom. Been there, done that. I have set myself up for disappointment so that when the thing I fear most happens, there will be less tears, less pain.

Crap. So this is what watching mush does to me.

Gaah. I'm just blabbing. Don't mind me. I just had to vent.