Kairita!!! My goodness. Hinding hindi na ako kahit kailan papatol sa mga pasaway na agents sa mall! Tospek oh!

An incident happened this afternoon, as in, impyerno! It's the Family First scam and I almost fell into their deceitful way of luring "potential" customers.

My mother and I had just gone from FEU Hospital for a follow up check-up and before going home, we dropped by SM Fairview to withdraw (sana) money from the ATM. As we were walking our way to the nearest Equitable PCI ATM Machine, a guy (i think he's gay) approached us, saying that we were being given a free umbrella, etc... I didn't really care but my mom was easily persuaded. Then and there, I was asked to sign an info sheet and afterwards, the gay man asked me to show him my credit card. No problem there.

We were then convinced to proceed to their office at the 2nd floor for a small talk. Of course, since we were being given a "free" umbrella, it wasn't so courteous of us if we refused him. Inside the office, I was informed that I was going to have a 45 minute talk with a representative who was about to orient me of what the company is about. Naturally, I started showing resentment.

First of all, it was a waste of my time. We only wanted to withdraw and planned to go home quickly because my brother was waiting for us. As the representative talked and talked endlessly of something that seemed to ultimately be one and the same, and nonsensical, I tried to explain to her that I wasn't prepared for such long conversation. My mother has been waiting for me, we've just gone from a hospital, practically every reason in the entire universe but Carmela, the representative refused to let me go. She even made me feel bad by saying, "If you were in my shoes, you wouldn't want to be treated this way, right?" I answered, "No, you don’t get the point. It has nothing to do with you, nothing to do with what you are trying to tell me, it's just that, I do not have the luxury of time to be doing this, that I was just forced into this..." The girl got a little irritated. But she continued, "Let me just finish this."

So there, I wasn't feeling okay na, she insisted pa rin. She talked again, in circles talaga. She kept going back to things like "savings, income, priorities, etc." I was like, "Hey, we're going nowhere," My mom, who's sick is waiting for me, why can't she just go straight to the point?

I think I tried at least 8 times to cut her, to ask her to have mercy on me and let me go. She won't convince me at all into doing business with them if that’s what she wanted. But she still insisted. Sobrang sama ng loob ko, maiiyak na ako talaga pero parang walang puso at awa, she still talked.

And then, there's a woman, a big, scary-looking chunky woman who came up to me and said, "Patapusin lang natin siya, Ma'am." My God, it's like the people there at Family First were all coercing me. Parang may bouncer na naka-ready to do the dirty work of forcing us to stay out of fear.

Ano ba 'yun? Tama ba yun? I was becoming less and less patient. Carmela was beginning to get nasty and para bang, ako pa ang masamang tao sa aming dalawa when in fact, I returned to her the same statement she gave me. What could she have done if she were in my shoes? Ako na naman ang tinuro niya, patapusin ko raw siya. Kung ibang tao raw yung kumausap sa akin, na-high blood na sa akin.

Oh my...the nerve of that woman. I told her that prior to that, I begged off na, but they said it was going to be just 45 minutes, that's maximum. She was like, "Who told you that? That's not an accurate information." I was like...So how long pa ba before she gets to the point? She couldn't tell me. I was with her for over an hour na. Gabi na, oh Lord. Sabi ko, "Can I just go home? I really have other things to do, I’m not interested." Sabi niya, there are formal ways of leaving the room. Tapos yun nga, she continued to talk, convincing me to choose a bank daw for savings purposes. Sabi ko, I don't like saving up money sa bank. Sabi niya, “Naku, dapat meron.”

Ang kulit niya, sabi ko, ayaw ko nga, mas magaling pa siya sa akin. Tapos sinabi na nga niya na they have something like a 300k - 600k plan na if you give a certain amount for three to 6 years, you'll have that much savings sa bank. I said, no, no matter what they do, I won't settle with them. Ang kulit pa rin ni Carmela. Halatang asar na siya sa akin, asar din ako sa kanya, walang intindi! Kulit!

Finally, my mom went wild and crazy na. She got into the room and when I saw her, I went hysterical na rin. Siguro people inside the room were curious. Hay naku, I didn't care if looked like someone without proper breeding. Basta, I wanted to leave that office instantly. I told my mom, get rid of the umbrella and the damn bag. Sinauli ni mommy and then, I frantically said, "You are all giving me a trauma! Ipapahuli ko kayo. Bawal ang ginagawa nyo!"

They couldn't do anything. Umalis na kami eh.

I read on the internet so many complaints about Family First. I hate their marketing strategy. I mean, if they really want customers, genuine customers, they should just post bulletins and be a little more creative into advertising their firm. Eh with what they're doing, seems like gusto lang nilang manloko. I think this is true since may mga nagreklamo dahil pinapapirma sila pwersahan sa contract bago sila pinapayagang lumabas. I'm lucky I didn't sign any damn contract pero just to be sure, pina-block ko na rin ang credit card ko. I sought for another one in replacement of the blocked card.

Hay, naiirita pa rin ako...the authorities need to do something about it. Bakit ba pinapayagan ng SM ang ganitong garapalang panloloko sa premises nila? Tospek talaga!!!!

Took an online IQ test...Wow, should i believe in the result? Hehe...crazy!!!!

» Your IQ score is 142. According to Lewis Terman, originator of the concept of the intelligence quotient, your score classifies you as exhibiting genius or near-genius intelligence. But you always knew that, deep down, didn’t you?

magastos?- ewan ko ba, hindi naman ako magastos pero parating wala akong pera :-(
makulit?- sobra!!!!!
masayahin?- parang adik daw ako pag masaya! :-)
senti?- right now, i'm kinda feeling senti...
caring?- sabi nila :-)
mapagkunwari?- nope…kasi sa akin, what you see is what you get!
sosyal?- jologs ako eh!
bastos?- hindi masyado…
matalino?- hindi eh, siguro smart, ay, pa-smart lang pala...
brat?- sometimes
pranka?- minsan mahirap maging ganun. baka makasakit ako ng damdamin eh.
sakitin?- nope
funny?- mukha ata akong clown kaya natatawa friends ko sa akin :-(
corny?- medyo...
movie-buff?- yez!!!
rakista?- nope
punkista?- nope
friendly?- of course
singer?- ehem…Britney Spears and Jessa Zaragoza combined. Bopek eto! Hihi!
dancer?- pwedeng magsayaw, keri naman pero super hina memory ko sa dance steps.
artist?- meaning, someone who draws or paints o yung artista as in actor actress? - i draw and paint (a little) pero yung artista? ngek! hindi ako bagay dun. haha! baka magsara ang lahat ng mga sinehan sa akin! hihi...
matangkad?- susko! Pandakekak ako!
panget magsulat?- penmanship? panget ang sulat ko, aminado ako!
haha laki ulo?- ulo ko? literal ba ito o figurative? maliit sa parehong aspeto...
sensitive?- yeah
risk taker?- duwag ako eh...
matakaw?- super!!!
demure?- hindi!!!!
studious?- hindi rin!!!
laid back?- yeah, kinda…
outgoing?- yeah!!!
kj?- minsan! Hihi!
rule breaker?- hindi!!!!
init ulo?- minsan!
bunso?- yup!
goth?- haha…gusto ko ata yun! Hihi!
maarte?- hindi
alcoholic?- nope
musiclover?- of course
spoiled?- nope
sweet?- yeah
sipsip?- nope
obsessive?- nope
conservative?- guilty!
animal lover?- super!!!
mall goer?- nah!!!
gamer?- nope!!!
singkit?- yeaaaaaaaaah!!!!
kulot?- hindi!
mapili?- ako yun, mapili sobra!!!
teachers pet?- nope
iyakin?- actually
antukin?- minsan
masaya kasama?- lagi!
nanlilibre?- minsan lang, hehe
pasaway?- never!
stupid?- madalas ata!
in love?- cguro..... hi po! excuse me po! :-)

Zandro

Still can’t get enough of the episode in tonight’s Maalaala Mo Kaya. I don’t know, for some reason I compare myself to the female character’s struggle with falling in love for the first time. Nah, I don’t think what I felt then was indeed love. It was probably just infatuation, my own experience of a first crush…

I remember it so well. It was in 1992. I was 13, a high school freshman. He was 16, a high school senior. I remember how he looked like then. Small, chinky-eyed, fair skinned with a cute smile… I adored everything about him, though I never got to talk to him. Ah, I did but let me elaborate on a few more details before I proceed to that encounter.

The first time I ever saw him…honestly, I can’t recall. My liking didn’t spring from any physical attraction although later on, I realized he actually had a pretty face to begin with. Haha. But then, I liked him not because of his pretty face. I admired him because he was different.

Studying in a public school, where any place within the vicinity could serve as a classroom for students, the sort of classroom for his senior section was literally placed behind the slightly elevated room us, the freshmen were occupying. Anyway, I would always peek into their class because it was much easier to peep into them than to focus my attention to our teacher whose voice I barely heard. After a while, I noticed this guy who always, I mean, always listened attentively to the teacher and manifested great enthusiasm in the discussion each and every time. That was far from what I was doing really, I had a very short attention span. I guess I still do up to now. Haha.

Okay, to continue with my story, this guy caught my attention. I couldn’t tell how he looked like from afar. Haha. But I did have a friend who knew him instantly as soon as I pinpointed him. His name, my friend said was Zandro. At that time, he was the only guy I ever knew with that name. I guess, until now he’s the only one…

So everyday, I was content with observing his every gesture, his every movement…and I had fun watching him. He was always reading and studying even when his friends were outside, bullying other students. He had a circle of friends but he wasn’t like anyone of them. He was always quiet and reserved. Made me think, how on earth did his friends accept him in their club in the first place? Then I realized, it wasn’t hard to like a man like him.

Zandro always had a notebook and a book with him. During recess, I'd find him reading in one corner while his friends ate like mad dogs. Then I found out something which made me like him even more. My friend who knew him because her brother was Zandro’s close friend and classmate told me about his family's humble background.

The guy comes from a poor family and to help in the livelihood, Zandro worked in the afternoon selling fish and vegetables in the wet market. He was there to help his mother. That was probably the reason why I often saw him skip meals. Poor boy but his mother was so lucky to have him indeed!

My friend, after a few months informed me that her brother mentioned Zandro about me. I said, “Why did you let him know of me?” My friend only smiled, “I’ll introduce you to him.” I angrily resisted, “No!”

Things happened too fast. Next thing I knew, I was standing in front of the guy I liked so much. Yes, it was Zandro who was placed in front of me. He was smiling the whole time. Maybe he knew about my “infatuation” for him. I really wouldn’t know what was playing in his mind then. I smiled then he said something like, “Hi, nice to meet you.” I thought I was going to die. Goodness! That was it, then I had to go because my mother was waiting for me outside. I bid him goodbye. In my head, I thought, 'Ah there will be other chances. I’ll meet him again. At least he knew me already.'

Unfortunately, it would be the last time I’d ever see him. A few days later, my family unexpectedly moved to a new house in Caloocan. The days went on but I couldn’t stop crying. There were so many questions lingering in my head at that time. Why did it have to end that way? I felt as if, there was no closure to our story that merely started when we got introduced to one another. If I didn’t leave, probably something could have worked out.

I cried and cried and cried until my eyes got sore. I even had a theme song for him. At that time, Donna Cruz’ version of “Boy” was a huge hit on the airwaves. I’d always listen to it every single day. Whenever I did, I always cried.

Today, Zandro is just part of a distant memory. He’s the first guy I ever liked, that’s a fact. I liked him because he was a good son, a good student and a good man. I don’t know where he is now. The last I heard of him, around ’95, he was a working student who enrolled in a vocational school. You see, he really had a will to survive.

I feel nostalgic because I remember my youth through him. I was very innocent. Somehow a part of me is still young and innocent no matter how old I get. I can’t totally say that I’ve grown to be a good person. I can only promise that I have tried to be a good daughter to my parents, a good sister to my brother and a good friend to my peers…Something that I have patterned after Zandro’s good example.

I miss the guy.

Love them both

At this moment, I feel like being placed in between two adjacent volcanoes, praying in vain that none will suddenly erupt.

They weren't that way before. My parents have been together over the past 30 years, and with all honesty, nothing ever shook their relationship. They aren't the romantic couple to begin with, so I never really expected too much from them. But they have always been a happy couple…Until lately, when my mother started to get jealous of a female helper who lived in our house.

I don't know what to feel or how to react. I do understand them both. My mother could have felt a little threatened that another woman was doing the household chores that she's been used to doing all these years. My father, for his part was getting pissed that his every action was being subject to suspicion by mommy. The household helper had already gone, but the problem seems to go on endlessly. Mommy, although not directly accusing my father, most of the time burdens him with jokes that link him to the poor girl. Dad doesn't find humor in it though. It's not funny.

Last night, my father came home drunk. I overheard him argue with my mother. I wanted to butt in, stop them from arguing but I guess there was no sense in doing it. He was drunk after all. He wouldn't listen. I looked at my mother, sort of telling her not to say anything anymore to prevent any more serious fights.

This morning when I woke up, they weren't speaking with each other. My father was so cold and stoic. It was so much unlike him. He's always been the joker among us. I guess I got my happy disposition from him, even the love for singing and drawing. So many good things about my father that I can't totally ignore, even if, let's say I found out he's having an affair with another woman.

He was 22 years old when he ran away from home to look for better prospects in the city. For quite some time, he was homeless. My father would narrate how his own father denied him a chance to go to college so he rebelled by running away. In the city, he worked as a janitor. There he met my mother and when my mother's father would beat her up (my maternal grandfather constantly beat up my poor mother which probably played a part into what she has become, sensitive at times), my father came to her rescue. They eloped. Not too long, they got married, and my father, with the help of my mother's siblings enrolled him in a vocational school. Soon after, my father became a mechanic and then, a car painter. That's where we got our money from. Who would have thought we'd have good education with the salary he got?

I'm not eliminating the possibility that he might have another woman. But I haven't seen one. Honestly, I don't feel like there's anyone. His whole life has been devoted to us. He comes home on time, his weekends are spent with us. If he drinks, he does so because he loves to sing karaoke. Then he comes back. He sleeps on the same bed as mom. The last time, mom got sick, he took care of her. I know how much he loves mom. That's why I can't fathom why mommy feels threatened.

But then, of course I can't blame my mother. At her age of 67, she could be feeling a little insecure especially knowing there was a younger woman in the household.

My brother and I, we both tell her to trust dad. We've been through the hardest times. We were so poor then but we never fell apart. I can't understand why this whole suspicion of another girl can break us apart. There were more important issues that came before, and we were able to weather them.

Mom is quiet now. This time though, she's sweeter to dad. I really wish things will be the same again, that things will get better. I can't be happy knowing that they're not. I love them both.

Been feeling sick the entire day. Thank God there's something, I mean, someone who made me happy. I'm still livin' a dream, am I not? Oh God, please help me. I need to get well. I have to get well.

This guy...I'm in love with this guy. Hihi. I'm writing for him though there's nothing to it but just pure passion. Golly, he's such a cutie!

Leo Fever

Leo fever has hit me once again. After watching his performance in the The Departed, I've grown to like him even better. I honestly appreciate him more now than I ever did during his "titanic" superstardom days. Yeah, Leo's such a prolific actor! A rarity among young actors today. He's a natural. I guess I have to watch Titanic again to satiate my Leo craving. Heavenly Leo!!!

A Noble Idea for a Novel

Just finished watching Pearl Harbor and I must say that it inspired me to get back into writing again. First off, I need to gather information since I'll be writing about the Bataan Death March. Ay, I'm so excited this early. But wait, there's more! Hihi...It's a historical love story that I'm planning to write so I guess it has to be accurate and kilig at the same time. Hay golly, I don't ever want to lose interest in this clever idea of mine or else I'll end up not ending it at all. Waaaah!!! Here are some lines from the first chapter I have already written:

"Lying on a comfortable bed in a dark hospital room, my grandfather would have detested being secluded in a place like this. Had he only the strength to have opposed his grandson from doing so, he wouldn’t be found here. Having fought in the battle of the Pacific Islands during the Second World War, Grandpa Pops, as everyone fondly called him, always thought of himself unbreakable. Surely, he proved everyone right. The old man hardly got sick. The only time he ever did some thirty years ago, was marked with much resistance. Grandpa Pops deliberately left the hospital room he was checked in. Later when asked why he ran away, he complained how the sight and smell of the hospital made him even sicker.

I can still remember that first and only day I ever saw him weak. I was only a boy then, living in the custody of my paternal relatives. Grandpa Pops passed out as we were tilling the small chunk of land around a white painted wooden house on a hot and humid Saturday afternoon in Houston, Texas. The doctors’ verdict, it was a sudden attack of vertigo. The older one gets, the more prone they become to suffering such illness. But other than that, he never had any life-threatening disease that could have prevented him from being the usual agile and strong man he’s always been. That was when I started to believe that my grandfather was indeed invincible."

.:GEMINI:. Does Twosomes Nice. Love is one of a kind. Great listeners Very Good in bed. Lover not a fighter, but will still knock you the #### out. Trustworthy. Always happy. Loud. Talkative. Outgoing VERY FORGIVING. Loves to make out. Has a beautiful smile. Generous. Strong. ULTRA SEXY. THE MOST IRRESISTIBLE.

hmmm....some are true, some aren't. a few...i'll find out when i get married. hihi!

.:LEO:. The Lion in bed Great talker. Sexy and passionate. Laid back. Knows how to have fun. Is really good at. Great kisser. Unpredictable. Outgoing. Down to earth. Addictive. Attractive. Loud. Loves being in long relationships. Talkative. Not one to mess with. Rare to find. Good when found.

.:CANCER:. The Cutie MOST AMAZING KISSER. Very high ### appeal. Great in bed!!! Love is one of a kind. Very romantic. Most caring person you will ever meet! Entirely creative. Extremely random and proud of it. Freak in bed. Spontaneous. Great tellin stories. Not a Fighter, But will Knock your lights out if it comes down to it. Someone you should hold on to.

.:PISCES:. The Piece of ass Caring and kind. Smart. Center of attention. Too Sexy, DAMN IT. Very high ### appeal. Has the last word. The best to find, hardest to keep. Fun to be around. Freak in the sheets. Extremely weird but in a good way. Super good in bed. Good Sense of Humor!!! Thoughtful. A partner for life. Always gets what he or she wants. Loves to joke. Very popular. Silly, fun and sweet.

.:CAPRICORN:. The passionate Lover Love to bust. Nice. Sassy. Intelligent. Sexy. Predict future. Irrestible, awesome kisser. Loves being in long relationships. Great talker. Always gets what he or she wants. BY FAR the BEST in BED. Very sexy. Coolest. Loves to own Gemini's in sports. Extremely fun. Loves to joke. Loves to be your first. So you'll never forget. Smart.

.:TAURUS:. The Tramp Aggressive. Freak in bed. Rare to find! Loves being in long relationships.=] Likes to give a good fight for what they want. Extremely outgoing. Sexy as ........ Loves to help people in times of need. Outstanding kisser. Very funny. Awesome personality. Stubborn. Sexual as ......... Most caring person you will ever meet! One of a kind. Not one to #### with. Are the most sexiest people on earth!

.:SAGITTARIUS:. The Sexy one Spontaneous. Horny. Freak in Bed. High appeal. Rare to find. Great when found. Loves being in long relationships. The one. So much love to give. Not one to mess with. Very pretty. Very romantic. Nice to everyone They meet. Their Love is one of a kind. Silly, fun and sweet. Have own unique sexiness. Most caring person you will ever meet! Amazing in Bed..!!! Did I say Amazing in Bed? Not the kind of person you wanna with you might end up crying.

.:AQUARIUS:. Does it in the water Trustworthy. Sexy. Great kisser. One of a kind. Loves being in long-term relationships. Extremely energetic. Unpredictable. Will exceed your expectations. Not a Fighter, But will Knock your lights out. Amazing in bed, THE BEST LOVERS BETTER THAN EVERYONE!

.:VIRGO:. The Virgin Dominant in relationships. Sexy. someone loves them right now. Freak in bed. Always wants the last word. Caring. Smart. Intellectual. Attractive. Loud. Loyal. Easy to talk to. Hard to forget Love at first sight. Everything you ever wanted. Easy to please. The one and only. Ultimate sexiness.

.:SCORPIO:. The sex addict Can be mean. EXTREMELY sexy. Intelligent. Energetic. Predict future. Most erotic. (Freak in bed.) (GREAT kisser.) Always get what they want. Sexy. Attractive. Easy going. Loves being in long relationships. Talkative. The sexiest ever....Romantic.

.:LIBRA:. The lame lover Very pretty. Very romantic. Nice to everyone They meet. Their Love is one of a kind. Silly, fun and sweet. Have own unique sexiness. Most caring person you will ever meet! Amazing n Bed..!!! Did I say Amazing in Bed? not the kind of person you wanna #### with... u might end up crying... the most irresistible. 9

.:ARIES:. The Liar Outgoing. Lovable. Spontanious. Not one to #### with. Erotic. Funny. Take you on trips to the moon in bed. Excellent kisser EXTREMELY sexy. Loves being in long relationships.=) Addictive. Loud. best in bed.