Small Talk

The long and short of the story is this: Bong Alvarez, the ex-basketball player beats up a taxi driver. Gretchen Malalad, the Bb Pilipinas-SEAG Karate Gold Medalist and erstwhile TV reporter tries to get an interview and is denied. While trying to interview the driver, Alvarez plants an elbow on Malalad’s jaw.

All hell breaks loose.

Actually, the funny part( for me at least), was during the interview by Kris Aquino on Boy and Kris.

Kris: And anong nangyari…

Gretchen: nasiko po ako, nagkabunuan na po kami, and so ang reaction ko ay (Gretchen tries to take a karate stance )

Kris: (butts in) Gretchen napuna ko na na nagulo ng husto ang buhok mo. Kasi sa Umagang Kay Ganda, nabalitaan na sinabunutan ka. Totoo ba un. (Kris, then brushes back her hair with her hand )

Gretchen was visibly taken aback by the question

I was half-expecting a shampoo endorsement to kick in….

Well, you really can’t blame Kris for being concerned about Gretchen’s hair…but I found it amusing.

Another gem.

Kris: May training bang binibigay sa inyo [sa ganyang pangyayari], para mapangalagaan ang inyong kalusugan?

Drink more milk and eat more Star rice, maybe?

You probably think me corny. But hey, today, I’m sallow and shallow….

Living in the Philippines brings you to a full appreciation of what Mother Nature can do when she’s on her period.

The past week was all wind and rain. There was this day that was particularly bad since classes were suspended on all levels and all my roommates were either students or teachers. I had to get up by my lonesome while they snored their way through the stormy morning.

I seriously contemplated staying in bed.

To make matters worse, I couldn’t get a ride to the office - as did probably a few hundred other stranded commuters.

Well, it did look like a picnic, I got to meet up with some long lost friends, and exchange commuter horror stories.

But anyway, I decided to walk all the way to Makati since there weren’t any buses or taxis en route.

The plan would have worked. Unfortunately, Mayapis street was dead flooded. There were even portions where the water was so high it would tickle you just below the chin.

They should really rename Mayapis.

Malalim is more like it.

I chose to wait by the parts where the water was lowest when I realized that my shoes were busted and taking in water.

I met up with an old Smiley friend, Ate Mabs, and we mulled getting back to Gil Puyat and hopping on the MRT to get to Makati( which was a decidedly roundabout way).

But then, FIlipino ingenuity struck gold.

There was this palamig vendor who chucked his wares, brought up some stools on his cart had offered to ‘ferry’ us across to dry land.

And so there we were on our ‘gonodola’ hearing horror stories from the vendor on how last year, there were actually people using small boats to ferry passengers across.

The vendor was nice, though — or crafty, depends on how cynical you are. Instead of charging us fare, he merely asked us to give a donation of any amount.

Ate Mabs gave 60 pesos for the both of us since I didn’t have any change on me (or so I said :D).

Unluckily for me, although I got to the office slopping wet, shoes busted, feet wrinkled wet and all, office was cancelled after a few hours. 

I really should have stayed in bed.

As I said a while back, I just ended a tenure with Sun Life of Canada, Philippines, Inc.

I really enjoyed my time there, and I’ll be using that experience as a gauge for the next jobs I take.

Anyway, It’s probably time for me to spill the beans on my observations/life there :D. Read on, it’s probably interesting.

1. The team I ended up with is cursed with the inability to stop eating.  I gained 10 pounds while I was there as a result. Yes, Joy, I’m looking at you.

2. The joy of it all is that most of the people over there are anime-maniacs. And that makes for workplace heaven. You have Eugene (master anime-ist, and benefactor of sad, depressing, tearjerking anime, and mindless fun animes as well), Daniel (Mr. I’m-Too-Busy-To-Watch-Anything-But-I’ll-Watch-It-Behind-Your-Back), Jonats(blood, guts, decapitation, and violence galore), and Ed( Hentai and other unspeakable horrors :D, just kidding).

Oh and by the, way if any of you guys listed above are reading this, I need my Hajime No Ippo.

3. When I need to think I either do two things: walk around, or sit inside a toilet stall. Since you guys don’t see me walking around too often, guess where I go to think. Luckily the restrooms at SunLife are kinda clean. But for some reason there’s always someone taking a dump. Why at the office?

4. I’m gonna miss the foodcourt. This is where I was initiated into Thai food( whooo chicken basil! ). PotDog was fun. And Waffle Time did its part to keep me alive.

5. I’m gonna miss the lunch outs with the team. These were the people responsible for introducing me to the joys of dining at D’Amici and North Park.

But they make my wallet bleed so…

6. My being addicted to DOTA is Aldrich’s and Jonat’s fault.

7. Cyril cracks me up for no reason at all. I guess we all need a little nonsense once in a while.

8. If Ms. Jojie ever got mad at me for always hightailing for a DOTA session instead of staying over, it’s Fer’s fault. His and his alone. I don’t know why I can’t resist it when he comes over with his evil eye and whispers,"Ano,DOTA?"

9. The ABSI team - for all the rough patches we’ve been through together - are a jolly good bunch to be with. And they have a knack for recruiting great talent. I just wish Lem and Christian would DOTA a little more often.

Well, in the end all I can say is thanks for the memories and the experience. And don’t forget me( for the next few months, at least)

This post is to remind me that I haven’t blogged in a long time. I’ve been busy with work and am in a blue funk. Anyway. I hope to add something useful to the blog sekkai soon.