Nostalgic... Again

Where I am at, it’s in the news that New Year Celebrations are postponed.

And I quote in the news:

All hotels in Dubai have been told to cancel New Year celebrations, following an order issued by His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, on Tuesday, Gulf News has learnt.

Whatever…

But where I came from, as of this writing, all of them are busy with the Noche Buena preparations. I called earlier and they say it’s raining, but even so… they are preparing. Then, I know how each of us – who are outside the Philippines – wishes that we are home at this time. But as we say here, “What to do, yani?”

So?

So, we switch to nostalgia…

I remember this jingle that was aired more than ten years ago. Write me a comment if you can recall, because I’ve asked several friends of mine here and they can’t even remember…

Here’s the lyrics (or what I can still remember of it):

Gusto kong magpunta sa buwan, makakausap ang mga stars

Gusto ko rin ang under the sea, makikilala ang mga fish

Pag pupunta ako doon, mami-miss ko sila

Si Mommy at Daddy, Jollibee at Kuya

Kay daming lugar na gusting magpunta

Pero gusto ko sa piling nila.

Are you singing yet? hehehehe... I just love this jingle... the melody, the thought...

Wherever we are, it’s this Pinoy thing that runs into our blood, no matter what… And I am happy with this.

Wherever, whichever…

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL!

Shelfari

This is my newest discovery...

Pretty cool...

Interesting...

Got invited by my friend, Reysie...

Add me so we can share books, too...

To sign up, click here.

Poem

This Christmas poem is very moving...

Sad, but true...

Maybe we all should realize the true meaning of giving is, after all.

Complicated

One of my colleagues rarely comes to the office since he is mostly out during fieldwork. This morning, he came, and I figured it’s the best time to greet him for the holidays. He's one of the most difficult persons I met here so far, that's why many of our colleagues here at the office usually stay out of his way when he comes, including me. But I figured, since it's Christmas, it would be best to greet him. Here was our conversation.

“Hi, Joseph… how are you?”

“Fine… how are you?”

"Fine,” I said. Then, “Joseph, are you Christian?” I wanted to make sure that my greetings would be appreciated. Besides, it's a normal thing here to ask what's your affiliation.

He said, “Are you Catholic? Because Catholics are not Christians.”

“No, I just want to know if you’re Catholic or not.”

“See, Catholics are different from Christians. Because…”

I interrupted, “Joseph, why are you making it so complicated? I just wanted to greet you a Merry Christmas….”

Slowly, he turned his back and left.

I felt he was embarrassed for what he did. Well, he should be. He is a very argumentative person, always looking for an opportunity to get in to a discussion. It’s probably to boast about his abilities or to bring someone else’s ego down.

But this time, I got him… On both counts… hehehehehe…

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!

Weekend

Our former room mate Cindy called to say she wanted to come over. Alright! She was just in time for lunch and a movie. Mimi and I wanted to watch a DVD – any DVD – since last week and we couldn’t.

We didn’t have much of a choice though. What we have is only The Notebook (a movie back in 2004), which I wanted to see since I can remember.

It was a happy weekend for me, though. One of the things I miss is watching movies with friends.

The other is our videoke sessions. I remember one trip we had. We went to this river in Pagsanjan where cottages were built along the river. You just rent one cottage and go swim. Then, on the banks you can find sari-sari stores and videoke machines. And off we go singing… “Hulog muna bago pindot….” hehehehehe...

I remember we sang this song on that particular trip, and it has become one of our favorite pieces whenever available… and we have fun singing this. We're not exactly good singers, but what the heck... it's all for the fun...

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Since I became satisfied with Multiply, I was cross-blogging to my previous blogs, i.e., Livejournal and Blogger. I couldn’t do this with My Yahoo 360°. But recently, I have been going there to update myself on my friends’ posts and there are a lot of interesting posts. One of them is this entry. I just find it very articulate, very well-said…. Worth reading, too.

Really?

Just a quick blog...

I came across with this thing from a co-blogger's post.

Che --

[noun]: A master blogger

'How will you be defined in the dictionary?' at QuizGalaxy.com

And I went: Really....

But wait...

Look what happens if it's my other name:

Clara --

[noun]: A person who has the ability to be invisible

'How will you be defined in the dictionary?' at QuizGalaxy.com

And then I go: REALLY!!!!!!!

I WISH.....!

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Just one of those songs Reysie and I both like.

Click here to sing along.

Push

Eid.

Holidays.

My friend and I went out two Saturdays ago. To wrap it up, we ran some errands that has been pending for over a week already at that time. We walked. But right now walking is okay since the weather is cold.

I guess I was feeling high that day; probably because a long holiday is on or probably because the walk brought about the energy. Along the streets as we walked, I sang kinda loud... Then my friend looked at me grinning condescendingly. But I went on. No one could hear except her... and then we laughed really hard.

This was the song:

Almost

But not quite...

I have this long-time dream of being an spectator on a race track. The big dream is to watch F1 racing since I am fond of playing car races on video games - Midnight Club, Gran Turismo, and has played some of the NFS (Need For Speed) series. NFS has become my favorite that I am currently waiting for NFS Undercover. I've played NFS Undgerground several times on PS2, and still playing NFS Carbon (Own The City) intermittently for a year now.

About a week ago, I saw an ad on this favorite newspaper of mine, Emirates Business 24/7, that a series of races would be on from 5 to 6 December. I was apprehensive about this because of all the hooplas like transpo and tickets! Last weekend, while relaxing with my room mates, I was thinking out loud and told them of this and that I dream to see one race. As anticipated, the answer I got from one of my room mates was also pessimistic, considering that thoughts I had, too.

Then, come Sunday.

Ara asked me surprisingly if I wanted to watch car racing. I was enthused by what she said and I thought she was just playing a prank on me; until she showed me the tickets! Complimentary tickets for the full 2 days. Checked out the website here, and got even more excited!!!

Knowing that my greatest obstacle would be the transpo, I told her to give me some time to call some friends to arrange all these, looking forward that I would be coming up with something.

I almost had an answer. But unfortunately, they couldn't make it because the guy who has the car got sick and couldn't give me an answer until today. I wanted to hold on to the ticket until tomorrow but I thought it would be selfish. That it would only end up wasted if we couldn't go anyway.

I am disappointed. I'm in the better-luck-next-time mode.

Ara told me there would be one again next month, and that if she lands with tickets, she'll give me again.

I am just hoping that this next one would be bigger. Like F1s and not SpeedCars.

Wisdom

Yesterday was the National Day... one day holiday. But not the go-out-and-stroll day nor laundry day. I planned to finish the book I am reading (will post a review in a few days).

Excerpt:

Seasons had come and gone... But Mariam had hardly cared. She had passed these years in a distant corner of her mind. A dry, barren field, out beyond wish and lament, beyond dream and disillusionment. There the future did not matter. And the past held only this wisdom: that love was a damaging mistake and its accomplice, hope, a treacherous illusion.

How can life be so alienated that these two things, love and hope, becomes a mistake and an illusion?

A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini. Splendid indeed!

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One fantastic artist.

One great song.

A rare version.