Friday, October 31, 2008

Iloilo Tripping!

My wife was not able to attend her mother's funeral in Iloilo last year due to her pregnancy so I promised her that I will bring her there on the event of nanay's 1st year death anniversary. And so, from October 27-31, we did just that!

Day 1
Well, it’s 11:51 in the evening of October 27 on board Super Ferry 9 bound for Iloilo. Got me a stateroom for the missus, Tim, Justine, and Colleen. They’re asleep now---happily I should say---given the aircon, tv, and a solo bathroom at their convenience! Unfortunately, leaving the others behind is giving me pangs of loneliness…okay, okay---guilt! Specially after I heard that Carl was crying after the send off entourage was on their way home. If Chesca was very vocal about her protest regarding her being left behind and Ringo’s unemotional aplomb, Carl was deadpan and detached about the whole situation---so we thought! Anyway, Chesca and Carl were supposed to be part of the trip. Unfortunately, I got late in booking for a six bed cabin. Why not economy or tourist? The fare is cheaper, yes, but you’ve got no privacy at all! Not to mention a common bath and a negligible air-conditioning system! Besides, it’s a 21 hour boat ride so might as well travel with some style!



Day 2
Aside from the above mentioned perks of going stateroom are the “no line” meal and the reserved table. Looking at the long queue at the economy and tourist I do believe I made the right choice. Sad thing is---the food sucks!

I had the chance to roam around the facilities. According to Jasmine the Front Desk, the best Super Ferry boats are 15, 16, and 17. So far, the best SF boat I got to board on was #12. The presence of escalators says that it is a big boat! It is unfortunate that there isn’t a new boat travelling the Iloilo route, so, we ended up with #9. You can tell that it’s old just by looking at it! Not much to entertain your self in except for the karaoke bar in the dining area and the over priced convenience store!

The prerequisite for the room is a private bath, so it’s either cabin or stateroom. When I took the rounds of the place, I stopped by the common bathroom and though it may not look too shabby, the smell was something else! Another justification for the rooming I chose!

We arrived at the port of Iloilo at 7:35pm. Since disembarking was not favorable with two kids in tow plus a laptop, a big suitcase, and a trolley bag, I decided to get a porter to do the heavy lifting @ Php 200. I was not in the bargaining mood and settled with the guy mainly because of his gently manners. The van fare was hefty at Php 150 considering that the meter only got to Php 55 from port to the Century 21 Hotel. Anyway, it was a nice cool van and Ceasar was a smooth driver. I eventually decided to hire him again for our trip to Dingle tomorrow.

After cajoling Tim to get in the elevator---boy, he really broke the silence of the hotel with his tantrum---we finally got to settle in. SM Delgado was just around the corner and I did some last minute addition to our travelling provisions.

Tomorrow afternoon we will be setting off for San Matias, Dingle.


Day 3
Brrrr! Was the aircon COLD! Woke up with my throat parched!
Jhoy and Justine was already awake by 7:15am. After a Jollibee breakfast, a fast drop by at SM Delgado to replenish supplies (normally consisting of water, diaper and a whole lot of junk food), and ordering room service for lunch, we set off for Dingle.

We arrived at San Matias around 1:30pm and was met by Lola Ayak, Auntie Judith, and Auntie Ne-ing all of whom gave us a tearful welcome accompanied by a litany of Visayan I could not understand.

We were suppose to go to the cemetery late in the afternoon but it rained and we decided to there tomorrow instead.

The highlight of the afternoon was Tim getting attached to a chicken! Tim has been fond of chickens for so long it was a real treat for him to actually hold one. Good thing about this chicken is that she doesn’t care how many times Tim grabs to pick her up---she just lets it be without pecking back! My worry is if Tim decides to take the chicken home with us!

Also with us during this time were Noynoy and his children Kayla and Francis, Jurome, and Kuya Roming.




Day 4 and 5 to be continued tomorrow...

Saturday, October 25, 2008

Boxers or Brief?

Working after lunch can be very challenging. I’ve tried to sneak in a 30 minute snooze before and what I got after was a big throbbing headache! So I just try to relax and watch my favorite TV series (now it’s “How I met Your Mother”). However, once the 1 o’clock lights goes on and it’s back to work, sometimes you just can’t keep your eyes on straight and you end up crossed eyed sleepy in front of your computer! Darn I hate those moments! Specially when I’m in the middle of composing an advisory and I just couldn’t get my head on straight! I’ve tried splashing water over my face, shimmying like a wet dog, slapping my face silly---but when I sit down I’m back to slumber mode!

Last Friday was no exception. So instead of doing the usual wake up routine that I do, I went around the office and did a survey. The question: What do you prefer in a man---BOXERS or BRIEF? My respondents---all the ladies present on our floor! Total: 10. Based on the survey results 70% of the ladies like men in boxers! Now, let me clarify that of the respondents who voted boxers---71% wanted the cycling short style…thing. My idea of a boxer short is the loose kind with the button fly (didn’t realize there was this other…thing!). Well, I guess this reinforces my wife’s thing for boxers too! And she tells me that I look good in in them---how can you argue with that?! So one day at the department store she buys me these boxers for me to wear. The first day I wore one it felt like my package was all over the place! It just wouldn’t stay put! Now, I just walk from Edsa to San Miguel Avenue where the office is located (if you’re familiar with the place---you’d say that’s quite a long walk) and when I say walk I say brisk walking! Weird thing when you’re walking this fast and you’re on boxers is that your nuts is ding-donging as you go! Heck, it’s damn WEIRD! Another odd thing about boxers is the button fly. My question is---why put on buttons at all? I mean, for convenience I don’t button up when wearing boxers. Imagine this: you’re already in the verge of exploding in your pants and you couldn’t get the damn buttons to open!! See?

Yes, the front opening is convenient for immediate release (specially after gulping a lot of bottomless ice tea!). But putting the package back in feels kinda awkward. Sometimes you think its already in but no sooner that you feel that its still dangling outside the damn boxers! Guys, you know how it feel to have your package hitting zipper, right?! Totally NOT COOL!!

I guess I need to tell the missus to buy me those boxer briefs instead!

Tuesday, October 7, 2008

Heroes Season 3


New season, new twist.


Season 2 left off with Sylar getting back his powers and resumes the latest season with our favorite villain finally cornering Claire and gets to dissect her brain. Thing is, he does not kill her for some special reason (which is still unfolding).


Then comes a new revelation: Peter, Nathan, and Sylar---siblings? Well, apparently, Sylar was given up for adoption by Mrs. Petrelli (reason still unknown). Now that makes Claire her nephew, right?


Sylar as the protagonist? After being captured (again) by the Corporation and "nurtured" by Mrs. Petrelli, Sylar is being groomed as unlikely partner of Noah Bennet to capture the escapees of Level 5. Will he be able to prove himself the heroe? Or, will he make a smorgasborg out of the escapees and steal all their powers?


The premise of the show remains the same---to change the future! Yeah, yeah, time travel is a bit unfair! Ok! It's unreasonable! Anyway, at the beginning of the first season, we had a lone time bender in Hiro Nakamura and by its season ender Peter inherits Hiro's powers and began using it in the second season. Needless to say, future-Peter changes the future once more when he goes back to the past and tries to assasinate his own brother, Nathan, whose decision to divulge the existence of people with special abilities leads to a tumultuous future. Does he die? Yup! For all you Nathan Petrelli fans, no need to worry because he was risen from the dead by the dead Mr. Lindermann! Now how the fuck is that possible?! I guess we'd just see as the new season unfolds!


Many male viewers went amuck as Nikki's character was killed the last season but I guess the producers saw the impact of Ali Larter's presence in the show and wrote a storyline for her to be back in the cast of the latest season as Nikki's identical sister.


As a whole, I find it still worth the watch time.


So far, 3 episodes have aired. Episode 4 is already out in torrent.