Well just got back from Davao City and I was shocked to find out that the terminal fee at Davao International Airport just went up from a meager PHP 40 to PHP 200! Wow! I thought - well ok - since we have a better terminal compared to Manila Domestic Airport, understandable, but when I tried to hook up to their wifi, there is no more free internet access. What happened? It used to be that Smart offered free wifi access at the terminal and now it’s gone. I was hoping the super price increase will benefit all. I was really hoping.

Today, I went to Park Square just besides Glorietta 3. Just yesterday the whole nation was shocked with the allegedly ‘bombing’ of Glorietta 2. As news media outfits reported over the wave the aftermath of that disastrous event, I was hesitant to really go out the house much less go to Park Square. But I remembered, I have to make a Gcash transaction and the closest Globe Center was in Park Square and Glorietta. Even though Glorietta was open for business I don’t want to test my luck just yet so I chose the former. The atmosphere at the whole place was so surreal. I often visited Greenbelt, Landmark, and Glorietta on a weekend to hangout and do window shopping and most of the time - if not all the time - the whole place transformed into a bazaar. But this time the place was so quiet, even though there were still people hanging around (I bet they are not there to enjoy but to be uzis). A thousand solemn faces I should say, yesterday was a very tragic day, today was even gloomier.

Last Tuesday, some guys and gals from our company went to grabbed some drinks. After a long debate - with Argie wanting to go to some oldies place in Malate, not that it is bad but it is freaking Tuesday! - we decided to settle at Grilla in Rockwell. Pretty cozy place I should say. After 3 buckets of mouth-watering beers and a chocolate fundu for pulutan - WTH! - we decided to transfer to another place and then it happened. Argie wanted to go to this Jeckyl and Hyde place and keeps on insisting it is just around the corner. John doubted Argie’s statement and reiterated that the place was in Taft and has been closed for 3 years now. But Argie was such a pain in the ass and kept on insisting that such place existed. After several arguments, we joked Argie that maybe he wanted to go to Ozone Disco - no offense to people with relatives that died in the horrifying accident. And we just laughed at Argie. Argie, now sober, said that he was time-warped. LOL. Afterwhich we decided to spent the next 30mins at Pier1 in the Fort ordering beer at the same time sipping some tuna belly soup, again courtesy of Argie. Pretty rough Tuesday night.

Last Friday night, Chester invited me for a night out. I was hesitant at first because the place is in QC which WTF a million miles away from Makati. But I still went along because I was in Trinoma that time. Earlier that evening, I had dinner with Rheena and Shelie, err call that a despidida for Rheena (she will be working in Singapore) and destressing activity for Shelie (she hasn’t slept for 3 days because of her masteral). So after dinner we went to Starbucks to -obviously- drink beers, err coffee and tea. There I met up with Chester. After, we went to Guillys Island which is right besides ABS-CBN building. It was my first time there, it was actually a nice place, reminiscent of the Embassy bar, and the music was cool too, a lot of house and lots of R&Beh midway. After a drink or two or three or four or hell I forgot to count, we decided to dropped by Barrakz to have one last drink for the road. Ironic as it may seems but it will be our last drink at that fateful place. You see, Chester parked his car right besides the establishment, and after that one last drinking spree, we found out that one of tires were deflated and teared. Like WTF! No single guard ever noticed it happened. Good thing a gas station was nearby and we temporarily fixed it, and off we go. When we were almost halfway from his place the tire simply gave up, it was like a scene straight from the movies only this time we weren’t chased by either cops or hoodlums. Everyone in the street was looking at the car and some were concerned while others were laughing, hell, we didn’t even have a choice that time, we can stop and let the car be towed but that would be a HUGE hassle so Chester decided to let it ‘crawl’ up to the vulcanizing shop. Fortunately the tire wasn’t completely busted when we arrived there or else that would be another HUGE problem. Imagine driving around EDSA with a busted tire and screeching mag! Whooah (in Keanu Reeves style). Anyway, after that I rode a taxi and went home, but just before I called out one I step on this HUGE dog poopoo. Like ecky thump! Did we just opened a pandora of misfortunes?

This is a WTF question I have been asking lately. Ever since that incident that transpired at National Bookstore in Davao City during my -ugly- years, this question has been bugging my mind. You see when I was in high school, just before someone really loved me, my hair was semi-afro, with a moustache and goatie to boot, and let’s throw the very brown skincolor in the mix and just picture how messy and fugly I looked like. Picture it already? -This was btw around 1999- Ok let’s keep moving. And so I went inside National Bookstore just to look at magazines and then proceeded towards the exit door. Just right before I am about to go out, a security guard approached me, stopped me and began body searching me. Like WTF, I told myself. Do I look like a snatcher? Look mr guard, don’t you recognize my high school uniform! I am from Ateneo for pete’s sake. Well that didn’t bother mr guard and after a minute or two I was set free. That began a long hatred for the famous bookstore. Geez.

Then today, I rode a jeepney going home. I was seated right beside a guy. When I was about to put the coins in my pocket, this guy immediately grabbed his pocket to check his belongings. Like WTF mate, I know I am ugly, but you are darker than me and fuglier than me! Why in heaven’s name would I be interested in your things, I said to myself. So in retaliation, I looked at him and threw out a sarcastic smile and moved. I hope he got the message. But I was thinking, is it the constant paranoia that people always check their belongings while in the jeepney or is it just the way I look like?

This is both a curse and a blessing. Blessing because potential snatchers might think I am one of their comrade and curse because ladies and guys alike tend to be wary of me. Either way I will choose the former, but I am afraid that one day I will be the fall-out guy (fall guy, my bad).

Brod! Congratulations on your succesfull trip (finally!) to Japan. Don’t forget that you are not there to work but to look for Japanese girls. Kawaii ni!!!! See you a year from now and we are expecting some techie products as pasalubong. Gambatte kudasai!

Last Thursday, the whole Perl team, as well as the QA and the Graphics team went to Elbow Room at Metrowalk, Ortigas for their team building. I was the only one that wasn’t part of either the three teams or with the HR, so in effect I was just a gate crasher, but never a party pooper.

That was the first time I went to Elbow Room and good thing they reserved a VIP room. The VIP room is quite big, with 2 tv sets dedicated for videoke, a long table for the foods, and a billiard table smacked in the center. If you have no plans on renting the VIP room, one can still play billiards on their public area however you lose the videoke and swap it for a live band instead - which is not a bad idea afterall.

The price, as I can recall, is PHP 4,000 for the VIP room from 8PM - 12MN (not bad ehh). However food is not yet part of the package. Compared that to Redbox’s PHP 399 (exclusive of tax) + PHP 99 for buffet per person which is good for 7PM - 12MN.

It was a fun night and we wrapped it up with a final drinking round at Jay-Js.

Jeepney drivers are funny bunch of people. Here are the different segways they like to crack and which I heard myself.

Driver: Konteng urong lang, maluwag pa yan, ginagamit yan araw-araw. (Please move, there are still seats available, they are used everyday)

Driver: Oh yung wala pang bayad, maraming po akong pinapakaing anak. (To those that haven’t paid yet, remember I have many mouths to feed)

Last Tuesday, I went together my girlfriend and her family to Fontana in Clark and wow it feels like I’m in a totally American suburb. 1/2 of my dream came true!

We stayed in a villa with 3 rooms and 2 bedrooms per room. I slept alone in the room. I didn’t actually turned off the lights. I was afraid that maybe, just maybe, a girl was raped by American in my room and she will cry at night staring at my face. So to make me stronger, I wrapped myself with all the blankets I could find and just cry.

The only problem with it is if you don’t have a car then tough luck. You will never find your way around Clark. And did I say it’s hot!?

Pictures will follow. 

I don’t have any of the faintest idea why my gf and I always end up riding a stinky taxi, not only once but twice! They say when you’re in a roll you’re in a roll.

Anyway, as soon as we are inside the taxi the revelation starts to unfold. The stinkiness - we believe - originated from their feet. Well I don’t have super "aromatic" feet, but hey Mr. Driver be considerate to your passengers. Don’t open up your shoes or even yet prepare a car freshener. That way we don’t have to die inside the backseat.