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...

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!

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.

Prison Break: A Lesson in Project Management

I just finished watching Season 1 of Prison Break and boy---was it a classic example of what Project Management is all about!
Project Management is planning, planning, planning and more planning. It's thinking about all the "what ifs" that could break your project and making sure contingencies are in place for such an occasion. Michael Scofield devised a plan to rescue his brother from prison and a date with the electric chair. He had a plan so meticulously laid he knew what things he needed, where he needed to go and who he needed to cohort with to make it happen. He was so intensely keen on every detail of the prison. Now, in order to make sure that error is put to a minimum in terms of how they're going to escape, he went to the extreme of tatooing the prison layout in his body--camouflaged as ordinary tatoo art. Michael then had himself put into prison by committing a crime he knew would land him in the very prison his brother is awaiting execution---Fox River Correctional Facility.
Once inside, he immediately set his plan in motion. But as Murphy's Law states, "if anything can happen---it will in the worst possible way." Michael was confident that his plan was fool proof but as major blunders came his way we see what the character a true project manager should possess: patience and the ability to adapt to change! With each set back he was able to re-group and and make changes to the original plan until finally they were able to accomplish the planned escape!
It was real treat to watch I tell you! When I was first told about this series I was not at all interested. But as I watched a couple of episodes---I was hooked! Every time an episode ends it's "bitin" and it becomes an itch to watch the next! All 24 episodes are guaranteed to keep you at the end of your couch. Unfortunately, I did not find the escape scene particularly realistic where they had to unhinge the window bars by tying it to a descending elevator without alerting any guards! Still, it's worth all the watch hours! Check it out!

To My Wife

(A Valentine's blog for my wife posted in Friendster, February 14, 2008)

Well folks, it's Vday once more!
Sad thing about this day is that it falls 1 day short of payday, meaning, most of us, by this time have little or no more budget for a valentine's day gift or date! Bummer!
Take my case for instance. I'm so poor-doy right now that I only got my wife "pichi-pichi" last night when I got home---I didn't even get the chance to tell her it's her valentine's present until this morning! In fairness, the "pichi-pichi" was real treat! But one thing's for certain, the situation surely sapped the life out of romance! The whole fiasco turned even worse when I found a box of chocolates and a card from my dear wife in my bag this morning! Darn! How do I top that one?!
No dough, so buying a present would be out of the question! Well since I've got of 45 minutes travel time to the office I might as well make good use of it and wrote a poem:

To My Wife by Carlos Macarayan (February 2008)

Each day with you I celebrate
Every moment I treasure
Your smile,
Your kiss,
Your warm embrace,
I keep them all in my heart.
Every once in while
I'll pick from these memories
and reminisce,
To give me comfort in my solitude,
And Hope in my despair,
You are my anchor.
When I close my eyesI see you

The warmth of your smile

Exorcising all my fears

Keeping me sane

In this insane world.

Alanis' Angst

Inspired by the song "Ironic" by Alanis Morisette...

Alanis' Angst by Carlos Macarayan (1996)

Tell me Alanis
The story of your life,
About the man who hurt you
bad...and
The guy that would make you
Glad...
Tell me about your days
With the salvation army
Singing your songs
to the deaf
Trying to tell them your story---what a shame
Now look whose ears are plugged.
It truly is ironic---
Life, I mean
The Pauper
Now a zillionaire
Basking in the glitter of the paparazzi
Smiling amidst naked feet.
Let is all out Alanis---
All your hidden anger
And the pain that so burdened
your heart
Salving it with melody
The song of your life.

Missing You All!

The year 2008 is truly very special. For the first time in 11 years the complete brood of Macarayans from Blk 25 Lot 20(LAGRO) got together for a reunion! First to arrive, last December 12, was my sister, Conila, from Australia and her family(with her husband Arnold and daughters, Ella and Inna. Then came my brother, Bong, with his wife Fe, and siblings: Nico, Reujen, and Issa. The reunion was a real raucous!
My sister comes for a visit every so often but it was the first trip back to the Pinas for my brother in 11 years and it was a real treat seeing him and the rest of his family again!
Ten grandchildren were in the house for the New Year and a couple of occasions after that---it was a blast!! They were such fun moments that last January 10, 6:16am, my youngest son, Justin Matthew, decided to see what the fuzz was all about!! Now, that’s 11 “apos” loitering our household!
It was fun seeing the children bond! Chesca and Nico seemed to be lost talking about girly stuff; Issa, Colleen, Carl and Tim were playing all day; Reujen and Ringo squared it off on the basketball court. I would have loved to join in on the basketball court and play with the Macarayans vs Lagro game but my bum knee, asthma, and bad back prevented me to…old age, I guess…
Naturally, it was almost always a feast at home during this time---with my mother cooking up a storm to feed the idiosyncratic appetites of the family. Lucky for me, the cacophony of gastronomic fiesta ruined my appetite and I only ate in between washing the dishes(in small quantities, mind you!). Needless to say I didn’t gain much weight during the holidays! Well, not that I needed to anyway! 230 lbs for my 5”11 frame is already too much says my doctor!
Anyway, my sister went back to Australia last January 12 and my brother last January 18. Now all that remained were the reverberating echoes of screaming children and the boisterous laughter of reminiscing adults!
It’s sad that my brother and his family can only stay for 18 days. Everyday passed by so fast. Such a short time to catch up on things. Well, if you’ll ask my mother she’ll surely get sentimental about it. I guess that’s normal for mothers. But that’s something most would misinterpret until such time that we find ourselves missing our children when they have their own families…nonetheless, I’m thankful to God for giving us this opportunity to see each other once more!
Missing you all…

PS
To my dear nephew Reugen, in playing basketball with dirty players: (1) don't get mad---get even...discreetly(specially on official games; (2) play smart and let the ref see what needs to be seen(get my drift?); (3) practice, practice, practice and practice---great players made it big not because of talent alone!; (4) don't run too fast---"MADAPA KA!"