Too Much

I have friends in Laurel, Batangas whose houses are just a few meters away from the shores of Taal Lake. I've actually been there twice - summer of 2000 the first time and fiesta season of the following year the second time.

I was in awe to see a Styrofoam box full of such big and live fresh-from-the-fish pond tilapia during my first visit. The box of fishes became our dinner, our pulutan came nighttime, and our lunch the following day.

Needless to say, I looked forward to again indulge in such big tilapia on my second visit. But it was the town fiesta and the locals seemed to focus more on pork and chicken to offer their guests.

It was during that second visit, though, when I experienced going in one of the fish ponds in the middle of the lake. It was owned by one of my friend's cousins and I remember being ecstatic when I saw their little kubo in the middle of the lake. They even let me swam in the fish pond saying it's still safe cuz it's not yet the harvest season. They explained that during harvest seasons, the fishes have already grown big that being attacked by a school of tilapia could actually kill me.

It was the last time I went there, though. I still have communication with my friends from Laurel until now, but invitations to come over became elusive as they got busy with their lives (read: getting married and raising a family).

Anyway, it was such a sad thing that that exact lake which is part of my happy thoughts of Batangas is now home to dying fishes. I guess I won't be looking forward to eating tilapia from there anymore in many years from now.

I just hope people would not only think about making money but also think about the harm they do to the environment in the process.

Building fish ponds had given these people money, but building too much of it had taken their income away.

Now what is that phrase about too much of something? Or is that a song from Spice Girls? Well, even too much love will kill you, right?

Anyway, I hope we support this campaign against irresponsible fish farming. GMA News and Public Affairs is really incomparable (at least locally) when it comes to things like this.

Choices

I was about to have coffee when I saw this book (How to Ruin Your Life By 40 by Steve Farrar) on the dining table. I don't know who owns the book. Parang it was left there for me to read. Not that I'm already forty or anything but it's an inspirational read.

I opened it to a random page and look what I read:

Causes have effects.
Actions have reactions.
Choices have consequences.
That will be the story of your life.

It's like telling me to plan ahead carefully, with caution, and with heart. We all should. We shouldn't just be jumping on decisions, because before we know it, that decision might have already ruined our lives.

Nice morning. The sky is so blue. Let's try to make the rest of the day as lovely as this morning.

Hindi Ka Nag-iisa

Using popular actors in campaigning is a sure way to endear the hearts of Filipinos. Add it with the voice of Asia's Songbird which never fails to give us goosebumps, and a good video concept. Wagi!

There's just a part of the song that's a little off. Why do I feel awkward in hearing "Ninoy at Cory" (loud and clear) in this song?

All I can say is: "oh!"

Reminds me of Pia Cayetano's campaign poster years ago with his late dad Rene Cayetano in the background. She won, though.

Happy Halloween

November 1. It's not really Halloween that comes to my mind at this point, but the realization that Christmas is just around the corner. I'm not ready yet. For Christmas, that is.

I'm always among those who do the last-minute Christmas shopping. It's not really a matter of not planning ahead, but the financial capacity to shop ahead. LOL! Currently, I have 16 godchildren. The oldest one is 14. And he still asks for gifts during his birthdays and the holidays. I think I've spoiled them all.

But yea, too much talk about Christmas when it's only Halloween. Did anybody go trick or treat-ing last night? Hmm...

Let us make Alan Valdez our Halloween guy. Not that he looks Halloween-ish. He's so good looking to be that. Not to mention so well-endowed.

New Layout!

Wow I'm so bored I decided to change the layout. Thanks to whoever made this theme. I don't like the little gray bar with "recent posts" on it but what the heck, it's the cleanest layout I could find at the moment. I totally missed out on Pinoy Big Brother Double Up. I dig Rob pa naman. And Patrick, and the one who was originally in House A who had a thing for Princess (or not?).

And oh I miss Melai. I can only watch Uber on afternoons because I prefer Survivor Philippines at night.

Perhaps I should buy a tv tuner so I can record PBB and watch it after I watch Survivor on tv. Hmmm...

Perhaps tomorrow. I'm actually going to the ortho tomorrow afternoon and if I have time to spare I can drop by the mall and search for the cheapest tuner I can find.

Right now I have just finished watching Gossip Girl (season 2 episode 11 - I'm so behind). Jenny's character makes the show interesting. And Vanessa's, too.

Oh well, goodnight Upper East Siders. I'm off to bed to dream of Nate. No, he's boring. I'll dream of Chuck instead.

Domain

I've been considering buying a domain. LOL! Yeah, writing about it makes me laugh at the idea myself. But I've been wanting to blog on wordpress.org for some time now. Their magazine themes make me drool. And I can't blog on wordpress without a domain and host. I also have a bunch of blogs. Working on a magazine-themed blog, I can put all my blogs together in one url. Well, not all because some would be absurd to put with the majority, but mostly all. I realized most domain names I like are already taken. But my name full name is still avaible, though, I wouldn't do that, of course. Unless I'm a very famous person like ate Vi. LOL! No, I mean unless I'm a celebrity. I only have four thousand something left on my credit card. Buying a domain and a host will cost me like 20 usd for this month, and something like 7 usd for the succeeding months. Gawd! I'm still looking for a great magazine wordpress theme. Something that's free. I told myself if I found one that I really like, I will go buy a domain instantly. Hmm...

I.Hate.Penalties

My niece's sem break officially started today. During these times, I make her do errands I don't wanna do myself. Like paying taxes. Tomorrow is the due date for the last quarter of my business permit. I hate long lines so I asked her over breakfast to go to the city hall to pay for my taxes. Obedient as she is, she agreed. I was preparing the documents when I couldn't find the third quarter receipt. Nor the little 3rd quarter sticker in the business plate. OMG! So I had to pay for two quarters today. Plus the penalty for the late 3rd quarter payment. It sucks. I hate penalties. As if paying for business permits here in Taguig isn't penalty enough! Grrrr! And then tomorrow is for BIR's Percentage Monthly. Sigh.

New Rig

This is actually for the gaming shop. I'm in the process of replacing old units. I still have 2 more to replace (plus one monitor).

This is an Intel C2D e7400 on ECS mother board. No matter what others say, I really prefer ECS mobos. I bought an Intel mobo 2 months ago, I seem to be having a little problem with it.

 
I know I promised myself not to spend a lot. But this has been on the timetable and is for the shop. And the shop is one of my sources of income.

... but I still feel a little guilty.

Oh Please Stop...

I can't help but feel paranoid everytime it rains, to think that the recent flood didn't even affect me or my loved ones in any way. How much more paranoid could the flood victims get whenever the rain falls?

We had a very sunny morning today. Although the wind was a little cool but it's always like that during the "ber" months. Many of us thought, and mostly hoped, that the rain is over.

But the rain has just started. Again.

Please stop. Perhaps even just until the soil has dried up?

Ang Baha sa Third World

If typhoon Ondoy didn't bring so much devastation to the country, I'm sure everyone would already be talking about Christmas. After all, it's less than three months away.

But instead of shopping for the holidays, as we always do as soon as the "ber-months" start, we now shop for either relief goods (for those who have money to share) or extra groceries for the pantry to prepare for the worse that could happen.

As far as I can remember before Ondoy reached us, news about electricity crisis was the thing that bothered me and my mom. Brownouts are so bad for the business it would really affect our family's income.

But our fears are now diverted to the flood. We now don't fear brownouts anymore. At least for now.

But with all that the people in the flooded area has lost, what's a little brownout a day for us, 'di ba?

I hope the flood will subside soon and that no more typhoon gives us flood anymore this year. Malapit na ang Pasko. Even if my heart melts to the thought of how those who have lost what they have in the flood could celebrate Christmas, I think a typhoon-less Christmas would already be a great gift to all of us in the Philippines.

Meanwhile, I can't help but get a little... mad... at one of the fashion bloggers I admire. You know, blogging away as if nothing bad is happening to the Philippines is okay if you're not a Filipino. But for a Filipino blogger to keep on blogging about fashion week without even a mention of care about the victims of Ondoy is... (for me) brutal.

I know that he's not so proud of the third world that he comes from. But please, show some care naman. Nakakakilabot basahin mga post mo. Okay lang sana if there's at least one post showing concern.

But then again, baka naman nag-donate na s'ya to the flood victims of the third world.

Sana.

What Do You Do?

When I was younger and still in school, I used to see myself working in a top corporation on a nine to five shift, going home to my mom every night in a house that I built where we’d have sumptuous dinner over happy talks.

But that was before I realized  what my potentials are, and how I would not be able to work under pressure and under a set of rules.

I was in college when my female cousin encouraged me to try fiction writing. She saw my potentials as I used to write in the high school paper and I love reading a lot.  I tried it and got my first fiction published without any hassles. I stayed at writing for a while but I didn’t have a contract so I had all my time, which means I could write just whenever I felt like it. And handling your own time has its cons.

Perhaps I would have persevered more if I did it for a living. But I didn’t even do it for a living. I did it just for fun so I really didn’t have to force myself to write.  I regret it now, though. I was so young then, that had I persevered, I could have been popular by now. There had been plans to go back to writing but it never happened. The drive is lost.

Now, as I write this post, I realize that my writing inspirations had really been my professors, and the stories that they made me read. I remember how amazed I was when my language teacher Mr. Villanueva made us go to the Palanca library to read a Palanca-awarded story – Sa Dulo ng Bahaghari. I ended up reading not only that story. And the analogies left me in awe.

It was a great change, a great shift, for someone who grew up reading The Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew mystery stories and later on the Sweet Valley series and Mills and Boon romances.

I was inspired.

I got tired of writing, though, after a few years of draining my brain. It’s also something I could not tell my friends that I do. Tagalog romances were so “not in” for my pack. So as I was writing romances, I made it a point to have a short story or two published in some reputable magazines. And the magazines, I showed to my friends.

A few years after, I went into business. Pirated VHS and VCDs. It was fun at first, but I eventually hated it. Stock updates were so often and I had to get myself updated even on the type of movies that I hated. It was a short-lived one.

Then Counter Strike became a fad. I got addicted. And I put up a gaming shop so I could play for free, all day, and all night if I wanted to. With it came the addiction to other games as well, and I found myself engrossed in the business.

I still keep the shop up to now. Computer gaming has been continually  in-demand. Thanks to online games. The business is already seven years old this year, and it’s still going strong despite the competitions.

I also do other small jobs on the side just to keep myself diverted. Because honestly, I don’t wanna get tired of this one. It’s almost as if I’m only playing, but earning money as well. It gives me lots of time for myself and my mom, not to mention I meet lots of people – mostly kids – that I become friends with.

It’s fun. And being among the young crowd delays my aging. LOL!

Shout!

It's really good to just shout your lungs out whenever you're frustrated, or mad. It takes away the stress of the situation, making you feel better afterwards. Lock yourself in a room (I used the bathroom tonight), close your eyes, and shout into nothingness. Be careful not to shout facing a mirror - you might be tempted to hit your reflection. And don't form words while shouting - curses will definitely come out of it. And you shouldn't, shouldn't shout at the person you're mad at. You'll be really sorry afterwards. I miss Tears for Fears...

8 Things I Think are Crucial For Me To Stay Happy

1. My mom - have lived with her all my life. I can't imagine living without someone who understands and cares for me, and who loves me just because.

2. Good health - good health is the greatest treasure one could have. You might have all the money in the world, but money doesn't cure illnesses all the time.

I had only been in the hospital twice - first was when I suffered amoebiasis during my college days, second was for hypokalemia two years ago. The second one was a little major and I was almost ready to die when it happened. My body was lifeless. I couldn't even lift a finger or move my toes. And I was like, I couldn't live like this I might as well die.

Hypokalemia changed my life, really. It made me realize that I can die any time, and that death won't give you a notice when it comes. From then on, I tried to make every single day of my life fruitful and meaningful as much as I could.

3. Money - let's face it, it's easier to be happy when you have money. Material things bring happiness, admit it. And it's easier to live life with money. Been there myself.

I was in grade one when the mining company my father was working for died down. It was hard for all of us, especially because my older sister is already going to college that same year. My father decided to move to Manila when opportunity came. He brought my older siblings with him. My mom and I stayed at the province, and I remember how my mother did everything she knew to make money. Aside from sewing, which she kept as a job since she was still single, she also raised hogs, planted bananas, bought and sold goods to and from Manila. I was sad for her. I was the only witness (in our family) of her hard work.

When my father and two siblings had settled a bit, dad started sending us money. I knew mom started feeling a little better. And I can still remember vividly the coloring book and crayons she bought me the day after she received the money. And I knew at that moment that I could already breathe a little easier.

4. My dog - oh lo! She's the center of my life. I originally planned to adopt a kid but with the bad experiences on bringing up my two nieces, I decided against it. It's kinda hard to invest in people, more especially so when they're not your own kids. I'd rather give all of my parental attention to my shih tzu. At least dogs give their humans unconditional love.

5. Friends - I'm not a big crowd person, but I have a lot of friends. Friends who don't like big crowds, too. LOL!

6. Internet - my love. How could anyone possibly live a fast-paced life without the internet these days? Well, at least I think I can't.

7. Movies - Most movies I've watched, I watched over the net. So I put internet first before movies.

It's just such a good experience to get lost in a movie everytime. And hey, we learn a lot just by watching.

8. Travelling - I make it a point to go somewhere new each year. This year I'm planning to go to Sagada. Perhaps during the "ber" months. I just don't have any idea yet on who to drag along. But I don't think that'd be a problem at all.

This list is originally 10. But I can't think of two more that'd be "crucial" to my happiness. LOL!

Let’s All Be Careful

So many deaths. First the Verde Island (or should we call it Puerto Gallera?) Tragedy. Then Exodus Tyson's death. Both involve children, and I know the grief of their loved ones is unimaginable.

Let's just pray for Franco, Anton, and Exodus. More importantly, let's pray for their parents and loved ones. May they accept the fate of their children and see light through the incident. I know it may somehow seem impossible, but the Lord has His ways. There's always something to learn from and be thankful for in every situation that we are in.

The kids are now in heaven, where they will feel no more pain.

I'm actually going out-of-town on Saturday. I was planning on bringing my toy dog but now I decided against it. She'd be safer here at home.

Too Much Of Something

I've been playing Rohan Online a lot lately, but I'm not really a fast leveler. Even in the previous MMORPGs that I've played, I always seem to be left behind by other players who started playing at the same time as I did. My inability to stay on a single task for long, straight periods causes that. I just can't sit in like 4 or 5 straight hours just playing an online game. I have to move. I have to divert. But then eventually, I would beat most of them in levelling up - which can be attributed to my having a sense of continuity. I may not be able to play for long straight hours, but I don't get tired of a game so easily I play regularly even just for short periods. Perhaps the opposite of that becomes the problem of other players. They play for long periods, everyday for the next two or three weeks, grinding and farming with the goal of being the strongest. Until they begin to grow physically exhausted and tired of the game they will stop playing for a while. But of course they will go back. And by the time they go back, they still want to play but have lost the drive to level up much. By that time, though, I am at level with their characters and still have the zest to play. The same can be said in relationships, and I speak from personal experiences. I used to have a boyfriend named Jun who was also a block mate. We sat in class together, ate together, went to parties together... It was good at the first few weeks but it started limiting things I can do in school only to the things that we can both do together. Not to mention the after-dinner phone calls which lasted for more than an hour at the least. I loved him but my inner being wanted to get out of the relationship. I wanted to do other things aside from the ones that we did together, to explore, to befriend other people. I guess it was a mutual feeling of intoxication that our relationship didn't even see the finals of that semester. And it taught me not to go into a relationship with a block mate again. And I haven't. So you see, too much of something is not good at all. You don't wanna get tired of someone you really love, do you? Let's not overindulge all at once. Take things as they come, slowly, a little bite at a time.

One Lifetime

I haven't had the chance to watch Gossip Girl Season 2. I was always planning on watching it but time doesn't permit me. I was able to finish season 1 by watching it on the bed through my iPod before sleeping - most of time finding myself dozing off halfway through an episode and finishing it over breakfast from the part I remember last seeing. I never had the luxury of having idle time. Oh, the countless things I could think of doing had I the time to spare! I could walk my dogs every morning and at night after dinner; I would rent all the good movies I missed for the past 5 or so years; I would bring my mom to the beach on Saturdays and we would go out for dinner at night; I would read all the books that I've bought and have zero backlog; and the list goes on and on... But there's just so many hours in a day. And there's just one lifetime to miss out on all the things that we love doing. This morning, while having Monday sickness thinking that I accomplished almost nothing of what I wanted to do over the weekend, I promised myself to do a little of the things I want to do each day. I know it's just a matter of carefully planning it out, effectively managing time. I actually believe in writing it on paper. I tend to accomplish more if it's written down on a planner or something. And I have an agenda tonight: Watch GG S02 Ep01. Have to rush =) Chuck Bass, here I come!

Top 5!

When asked about the top 5 things most important in your life, it's almost always easy to come up with a list: 1. God; 2. Family; 3. Friends; 4. Health; and 5. Employment They're actually interchangeable depending on your priorities at the moment it was asked, but the first two are always at the top - unless you don't believe in God, that is. But say, we focus on stuff that makes us really smile or laugh even just for the moment, things we say we can't live without (but actually can), or those luxurious things that can almost be considered guilty pleasures... what are your top 5? Here's mine according to priorities (at the moment): 1. Latest gadgets/internet; 2. Sex; 3. My Shih Tzu; 4. Movies; and 5. Music