NYC. Getting over. Just see how we made another history in the UMYF! Though endless debates are still up on my ears, more pleasant memories still linger. Yes, yes the historic San Nicolas UMC in Pangasinan where God has chosen new set of national officers and the newly ratified constitution first took effect.

I felt the warm fellowship among fellow youth leaders and the not-so-friendly smiles of some people. It brought me back on the rotten pages of our history (not the dark ages), which I thought were mere archives and literary collections that are only worth-reading. But the actual experience of history-making was all different. Believe me! God truly blessed me to have seen a new generation of leaders taking a full responsibility of the fellowship, burdened by the needs and willing enough to respond to today's challenges. Nothing could have made me any prouder than to see us spreading wings and learning to fly or even soar (serious mode, toink!).

Thanks to the 86 young people whom God had used to put me in the National ExeCom. Though expectations of "some people" weren't met, I hope that they would still find ways to support and help us through.

Awit Kay Yahweh. It was even greater! UMYF truly has a high appreciation of music and it's no wonder that it has become the language of our generation. We see the untapped talents of our young people in song compositions. And so we gave them a break! Breakthrough. Hopefully, it will become institutionalized and continue in the years to come. Original music by the youth, from the youth and for the youth. All I can say is…diamonds are forever!

Inspirations. Expirations. Wanna personally thank our living inspirations, our kuya's and ate's in the fellowship, who now realize how'd they grown old and got fat in the leadership! Heehah!  No goodbyes. We would still need your motherly and fatherly care (mumbling…) Seriously, we're gonna miss you on meetings and camps^^

Subic-Clark-Tarlac Express! I had my first ride along SCTEX with myf friends last Sunday after our AYC in Dinalupihan. I almost lost my jaw while we drove back from San Fernando to Bataan. Laugh. Laugh. Laugh. Stop me, Nuel! It was such a great time with friends and loved one. Yes, I said it right!

(She is not actually a "shy" type. Forgive the irony, anyway)

To thee that I always hold with deepest regards,

Callous were I over the years. I thought love no more, yet here it comes again. Again? But everything seems too late.  Awful. And so before I let the quicksand eats it up, let me cast my heart's prayer up on the hill. 

I never had the nerve to divulge the feelings. I was afraid to be neglected. But to have presumed you loved me (do you still do?) is more than an emotional jeopardy. The pain penetrates through the very nerves of my being. Stirs up my numb hypothalamus. You already got a manly one! Mine is an empty hand. Everything seems late. Every thing seems dark ahead. But don't worry. I understand. I never mean to shatter your beehive.

I mastered everything about life. Spent all my time to what I thought were holier than thou. Only to realize that nothing has become of me. Nothing more than the lessons learned. I've taken the feelings for granted. Left it futile. In oblivion. Here we now in separate paths. There's a distance. Even afar.

            Your flashing smiles every time busybodies were taunting us. They come across my psyche. Glimpses of yesterday are even passing though my eyes. They do just as quickly as they could. My alter ego can hardly define it. Nor my intuitions can do. To my breath your tears were sharp scythes. And oh, your touch… If only I could bring back time. Only if.

It took me to lose you before I realized. But how could I have lost you if you've never been mine. Never will? No. I must believe that fate is subtle. Not actually a mess. What we have today will be different in the hands of tomorrow. Everything happens for a reason. Sometimes unexpected. Even incomprehensible. So who knows, anyway.

Letting you know about it would at least ease my burden if not lose the love. Please forgive my lunacy. I just couldn't help so I have it freed.

Has it reached you?

Saying I love you will do me no good.

But at least I let you know.

Just in case.

                                                                             Sincerely,

                                                                                    Kibitzer 

      Forget about the bad experience! I am happy to have completed an 8-hour sleep last night after some psychological distress in the past days due to idiosyncrasy. Alongside the lessons learned, time allows me to shoot for a bigger pie out of life… 

Overwhelmed. My contract under probationary status (with my first work) has just expired last week. And after those six months of practicing my profession as HR Assistant, I am glad to have been promoted to HR Assistant Manager with supervisory functions, effective March 10. Though salary adjustment and benefits were not that good, I still am overwhelmed for having been trusted to hold such a position in the company despite my young age (being 21). And to think that I scored "outstanding" on performance evaluation was nothing but equally overwhelming. I would surmise that such promotion entails more expectation and commitment to better performance in the months or years ahead with the company. Well, cheers for the additional color to my resume!

Overjoyed. I had the chance to spend time with my sister who came over from province last weekend for her passport application. Once and for all, we indulged with impulsive buying and luxuriated ourselves with worldly riches in divisoria, then finally at the mall. Thanks for the free movie ticket!

Overexcited. My boss and I have been marketing our company services in the past days, which gave me the chance to meet with VIPs of various companies. Aside from doing business, it exposes me to places I never have gone before. Just last week, I was able to see the whole of Technopark in Laguna where industrial firms, mostly owned by Japanese and Chinese, thrive. It was only then that I discovered the gigantic manufacturing sites and warehouses of big companies here in Manila. What an exhilarating experience!

* * *

Another exciting thing is the long vacation ahead. I am heading to my hometown this weekend for my sis' wedding and concurrently for an early reunion with batch mates. Then, who wouldn't enjoy the four-day off from work as we make way for the holy week? Happy vacation folks!

I should have been writing about my singleness! In fact, I almost have finished an article about the pleasures it brings to me especially in the past weeks, not until I had a very terrible experience last night!

From a meeting in Makati, I tried to get straight home and pass through a nearby mall. I was walking along the basement when a woman approached and asked me if I do own a credit card. In my excitement to join a free raffle promo that I was told of, I decided to spare some time to sit down and listen about the offer. After introducing me to a fellow, she handed me a poster showing the prizes I could possibly win including a luxury car and P888,888.00 cash. I might have thought of it as a bluffer to their true motive so the woman let me read a line on the poster saying that it was not an obligation for me to pay anything that has a value. She further explained that it was a special promotion and just wanted me to know so I may have something to share with my friends about their company. Even before that, I was told that I already won an umbrella and a bag because of the time I gave them.

It was not over yet! She brought me to the third floor of the mall where I would be playing for the P888,888.00 cash. The woman was so persuasive. While on the elevator, she was asking questions about my work and then telling me some stories about her life. I must believe that she were really trained to have such a speaking caress! As we finally reached the lobby of their office, I saw many other people accompanied by agents like her with the same sense of friendliness. Then after few minutes, another woman called my name and asked me to get in for a "45-minute orientation".

She was equally outspoken and convincing. She first asked me to fill out a form while preparing a cup of coffee for me (hmmm! who could resist of coffee???) and then started the conversation by asking of my dreams in life that I wrote on the form. The questions were quite personal so I assumed that we were having intimate and serious talks, which I ought to answer seriously. She commented that I sound so matured and profound (huh?!) while bringing the issue of future security over the cup of coffee and then… finally offering their insurance program!

I had so many questions expressing hesitation not until their account manager came to me. In the end, I was convinced to avail of their insurance through initial deposit over my credit card plus a monthly premium payable within 7 years, entitling me to a P250, 000.00 cash endowment upon maturity period of 15 years. That was the only time I got raffle coupons for the luxury car and won 11 PIN as my ticket for the P888,888.00 cash to be drawn on July 2008.

Ergo, all I took home was a free gym-bag and the insurance certificate for myself after the 45-minute-turned-3-hour-orientation!

Filipino is always known to be fond of eating. Foods like pastries and delicacies (among others) are not only present in our cuisine but also come in wide varieties. It's no wonder that food chains are found elsewhere and have become one of our most favorite hangouts especially during Sunday and other special occasions. Though it seems to be quite a luxurious pastime, feeding both your ego and stomach is worth it sometimes. And when you start plunging into the most tummy-bloating experience, you can't help but look heavenward and give it a BURP!

             It was not an ordinary Sunday for aside from getting a deal of love-themed sermon during the church service, Ayat was turning two years old. By the way, she is the lovely daughter of equally intellectual couple (Ate Jhen and Kuya Joltz) that suggests a perfect cross-culture of Zambali and Ilocano natives. As part of the celebration, we were given a delightful eat-all-you-can treat and a luscious sip of soups at Cabalen restaurant along West Avenue in Quezon City. Yes, I must say that the experience was truly unforgettable for I was literally overfed!

As translated by a friend, "Cabalen" is a Pampango term for "kabayan". A word-turned-bistro that offers lip-smacking varieties of native cookery right from the kitchen of our folks in Pampanga, no less. An irresistibly mouthwatering smell does not only welcome visitors from the doorsteps of the restaurant but also grips a starved. Hearty buffet like a pistang pinoy, there were about 40 viands to choose from thus enabling everybody to give himself an endless delight!

 More than any, it was the kilawing kangkong (half-cooked damp cabbage) combined with bagoong alamang that gave me an extra-delightful experience (not more than an orgasm though! haha). I also couldn't resist trying a handful of crunchy spinach leaves plus arusep (a kind of see-weed) that extracts a self-pleasuring juice when crushed by the mouth. Not to forget of the inihaw na hito and bangus dipped into soy sauce with nerve-kindling red pepper! Of course, my favorite kare-kare should in no way be outdone. What about nilagang (steamed) talong, okra and ampalaya? They were perfectly soothing to my buds! I was all my way savoring with sinangag na kanin and arroz de valenciano when sisig winked upon me. Tokwa't baboy, dinuguan and a lot more were also equally tempting (how bad that my puffy tummy could no longer accommodate them). Alas, I weren't able to try ginataang kohol unlike ate Jhen!

            Kare-kare. It is like beef stew because it has meat and vegetables with sauce. The beef part of the kare kare is made up of ox tail. The meat on the ox tail is very tender, not chewy like beef jerky. The vegetables in kare kare are eggplant, string beans, and bok choy. The sauce is thick and make up of ground peanuts. (Photo and caption courtesy of Noemi Dado. View photos.the-protagonist.net/album)

            If you think it's over, fine-fibered pichi-pichi and gelatin with gata (coconut milk) were still up for the battle. Halu-halo (a simple mixture of sweetened banana, kamote and beans with sugar syrup, milk and pinipig on the top) also made it all the way.  Not to mention of tibok-tibok, maja kalabasa and more on their carte du jour!

            Well, the experience was just yummy as how you imagine it!