JUSTICE FOR MARCOS

One of the reasons why I look forward to my brother's marriage with ate Nhing is having more chances to bond with future brother- in- law Marky.

As I see it, I am to my family as what Marky is to the Cruz's... aside from being the youngest like him, I can match his non-stop chattering endurance, and I just recently found out that we both have epileptic tendencies although his condition is much more serious.

With his bubbliness and so much zest for life, it's still a shock that he's gone now.

It hurts a lot to think that he may be alone in his last moments in an unknown place without any loved ones around.

I cannot imagine that such a sweet, warm boy who will always protect and care for others even at his own expense can be BETRAYED IN THE WORST POSSIBLE WAY.

In behalf of the whole Cruz family, thank you for all your concern & efforts in helping us find him.

Now all we ask is that justice be served for the baby of the Cruz family whose very sympathy, trust & goodwill to others had ironically caused him harm in the end.

We love you Marky! You are -as your Facebook name suggests- truly immortal in our hearts! May you help us in bringing light to your senseless death.

Please help us find justice for Marcos by helping us answer who he was last seen with in RIZAL on SATURDAY, OCTOBER 5 and who he came to see in QUEZON on SUNDAY, OCTOBER 6 2013. Share this photo to friends on FB, specially those in Infanta, Quezon or Rizal, and if you can, please print and post on tricycles, in beach resorts, jeeps, and other establishments. 

I GoBigger and GoBetter with Globe

I'd go better with Globe anytime because it allows me to call all my friends 24/7 with this promo from Globe!

Also,  only Globe Prepaid gives me Bigger and Better unli offers such as:

Go Bigger
– GoCALL100 gives me more call minutes (500 mins) VS Competitors offer (200 mins). No need to use prefix to enjoy unlicalls.
– With GoUNLI30, I get real unlimited service with unli allnetwork texts, unli calls to Globe TM, plus the real UNLI-chat experience with the best apps available. It’s the real deal compared to competitor’s UNLI offer.

Go Better- GoUNLITXT49 gives me the same UNLI texts to Globe/TM at a BETTER prices VS Competitors offer.
– With GoUNLI25, I get real unlimited service w/ unli Globe/TM calls and texts, plus unli Viber chat to the rest of my friends. It’s the real deal compared to competitor’s UNLI offer.

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On marriage

The other day, I was talking about marriage over lunch with my two team mates at work. Probably to get back at me and Ai for interrogating him and teasing him on why he currently has no girl friend in one of our previous lunches, he decided to turn the tables and pester me and Ai on why we still haven't tied the knot at our ripe age.

To answer Leonard, and all other people who wonders why I haven't married yet, I always say that:

1. It's a feeling, not a time-pressured requirement for anyone. As I have said over and over again to anyone who asks, getting hitched should be based solely on feelings (or lack thereof) and I will not be pressured to do it just because I'm getting old. I do not feel like marrying because I do not feel like marrying. I'm not normal like other marriage-minded females so what! Don't ask me at what age I plan to marry because it will never be an age but something that will depend on my feelings, so if I don't have any feelings, I will not marry. First of all, why will I want to enter a state where I am not sure of the consequences? There is no guarantee that marriage = happier me so why will I wish for something I don't have when it won't even bring me joy? Plus, I will only be stressing myself (like other girls I know who wring their hands wishing for marriage) by wanting something I don't have which I'm not even sure of. I am content with my life, and if any one else tells me not to be, then I demand that that person gives me something that is sure to make me happier -like shopping money. Also, please see reason number 2.
2. Has it ever occurred to anyone that they shouldn't ask women about these things? It's rude, it's impolite, and it's not as if the choice is entirely for us to make, as men should be the ones initiating a marriage proposal.So don't ask me!

To irk me further is this article from dailymail.co which friends keep on sharing and kept popping up irritatingly at my Facebook newsfeed:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2176281/Generation-refuse-grow-No-mortgage-No-marriage-No-children-No-career-plan-Like-30-somethings-Marianne-Power-admits-shes-.html

It's an article about the "generation who refuses to grow up" and I was on the brink of sharing it on my own wall while skimming the first few sentences of the article, but as I read on I slowly became madder and madder, until I don't want to share the article anymore but just whack some sense onto the author (Miss Marianne Power's) head. Even though my friend who posted the article did not share my view that the article is judgmental and said that all it did was just compared generations, for me it's the tone kept the article from being seen by me as nothing other than judgmental.

With concluding words, Ms. Powers had said:

"I’ll be the last guest at the party, dancing alone, long after the music stops. And I don’t want that." 

and:

"We’re propping up bars across the country, hoping the dim light disguises our wrinkles and that our Topshop outfits help us to blend in with the 20-somethings around us. And that’s a very sad thought. Perhaps it is time to finally grow up." 

As if the basis of truly growing up and being a better human being depend solely on the ability or the inability to marry someone and have kids. Here the author was, longing to be a wife and a mother and basically saying how pathetic she and the rest of us are just for choosing not to marry and/or not to have a child, without even considering the other aspects of her life that are positive and which makes her happy, and also without considering the not-so-good aspects of marrying and having children.

Is she saying that my friend who married, got beaten up, and had her child sexually harrassed by her psycho ex-husband made better life choices than her and other single individuals?
Is she saying that those who just neglects and leaves their children to be cared for by their relatives are better human beings than single aunts and uncles who looks after their nephews and nieces?

Because to me, it seemed Ms Marianne Power's answers to that are yes.

Kettle Korn: Poppin’ Fun All The Time!

If I were to star in my own movie, I would be a guardian angel, who keeps giving sick humans or those who have disabilities what they need like, giving a blind man eyesight, a deaf little girl the ability to hear, etc.-the catch is, I have to have what they need before I can give it to them, and every time, I give them a special ability they need, I would lose this facility, so I would be the one who will become blind, deaf, etc., until at the end of the movie, I will be rendered almost useless, and when cruel street kids would see me in the street walking unsteadily, they will make fun of me... all because of my desire to help others!

I'm sure that when the film starring me is produced, all of my friends and family will run to the nearest cinema to watch it, and they will be watching it with a Kettle Korn in tow, because Kettle Korn makes watching movies poppin' fun all the time!

http://on.fb.me/18p0W59

Tastes like the real thing

If you are craving for Pork Sisig but you just can't eat pork, you might want to try the Tofu Sisig for P235 at Clump Resto Bar.

Lila Says: A book review

Yesterday, I found this book at the bookstore, which I immediately jumped into and finished reading once I got home. 

Two things mainly attracted me to buy the book: 

1. dirt cheap price  
2. the fact that it was an international bestseller

After staying up late reading and being sufficiently disturbed after finishing the book I decided to write a review for it. 

One of the unique things about the book was how it is being packaged by its publishers and/or editors. They claimed that the 128-page book was written with a Bic ballpen on a notepad by an anonymous 19-year old boy who goes by the pseudonym of Chimo -one of the main characters in the book.That he faxed the first few pages of the book, and that the rest of the manuscript was sent by the boy's lawyer. 

Reading the first few pages of the book, I can see that the author was someone who was really smooth with words and used to flattering everyone around him, describing the main character and the object of his affections (Lila) in nothing less than the highest praises, coming up with words like her voice, skin and face is like an angel's, and coming up with so many superlatives in not just one but all physical attributes of the girl. 

Surely, I know when someone is putting me on. 

It also seemed that the boy, who talked in a streetwise gangster cool slang, is trying to pen all his sexual fantasies into the book, making it seem as if the goddess-like main character of his story has unsatiable desire for him.  

He also make it seem as if he is just being a quiet, shy gentleman all throughout the story, never admitting that he was at fault for the sudden shocking twist to the story when he most probably is! 

Most likely, he had been spreading the stories that was entrusted to him with care by the 16-year-old Lila, breaking her trust just so he could seem all macho to his douchebag male friends. And of course the douchebag male friends being their douchebag selves, what else can they do but use the knowledge that was shared to them by Chimo in judging women they don't know and wreaking havoc to the society?

Ultimately, reading Lila Says just succeeded in reviving my anger at douchebags and making me want to buy at least 3 copies of the book so I can distribute it to all male chauvinistic pigs I've known in my life, some of which are classmates in school. Or maybe I'll just lend it patiently to each of them one asshole at a time. But even after reading the book, I doubt if they can understand the significance of it. I sincerely hope the book succeeds not just in reviving anger from women like me but in somehow removing douchebags in the society, as well!

Good taste, great pairings with San Miguel Lifestyle Brews

My favourite San Miguel Lifestyle Brews drinking experience occurred years ago in 2007, and yet it was something that is unforgettable for me. I had the pleasure of drinking Cerveza Negra for the first time during a reunion among college friends. All kinds of alcoholic beverages were being served at that time, but being a person who always likes to discover new things and always wanting to try out choices that everyone else overlooks...

I decided to order San Miguel's Cerveza Negra, and give it a try.

Whoa, what an experience! The cool dark malt was slowly met by my tongue, throat and taste buds with approval! With just 5% alcoholic content, Cerveza Negra is a no-fuss drinking companion that simply chills and soothes rather than other drinks boasting of higher alcoholic content which leaves me with a sick feeling afterwards. The more I drink of it, the more I was quietly, elegantly, wonderfully calmed. It relaxed me with a subtly soft sensation which I loved!

I loved the experience so much that even if I am not much of an alcohol drinker myself, I decided to give Cerveza Negra a try again 2 weeks later.Somehow, I missed this drink I've just recently tried already.

Me sporting a tan and posing with the label I peeled from my Cerveza Negra bottle  that  night.

This time, I invited my friend Chris (who was, at that time, my readily available eating buddy whenever I'm found craving for something) to come with me as I hunt down the dark lager I am craving. I don't think anyone needs to wait for an occasion to drink. If the craving is strong enough, we should not ignore it and do something to satisfy it!

As the drink was not sold everywhere, we went from restaurant after restaurant in Shangri-La Mall, Edsa trying to look for Cerveza Negra in the menu.
Finally, we found that Congo Grille had it in their menu. Bingo! We decided to order the Pork Sisig and Inihaw na Liempo to go with the beer. As expected, Cerveza Negra gave me that subtly calming, fresh cold beer taste that's smooth and instantly relaxing at the same time. A bit darker tasting that gives you the right sophisticated edge of flavour but not so bitter you wouldn't enjoy it, the dark beer was the perfect taste to contrast the salty pork dinner we were having! Cerveza Negra once again proved that it's a classic beer fit for any occasion -whether having a class reunion or simply hanging out with a good buddy!

Conclusion? Beer craving satisfied, mission accomplished!

Drinking experience that's above the ordinary

Life of Pi: A Movie Review

Not having the time to research about what I was about to watch, the first thing that came to mind when I heard the movie title and watched the opening credits of the movie was that it was somehow related to tai chi or Pooh's Little Instruction Book or Tao way of living or anything Zen, most especially since the opening music they used was very soothing and something you will hear at the Spa or perhaps while doing yoga.

I think the 12 year-old Pi Patel has an uncanny resemblance to my good friend Mark Lester a.k.a. "Yaya".

What I liked:

• I liked the part where it showed millions of jelly fishes glowing at night in the sea.

• I super liked the part where a huge eerie ghost face of Pi's mother was shown in the sea amidst all the other zoo animals which drowned, depicted in a constellation-like formation in the big vast sea which Pi is traversing.
• I liked that the hyena, zebra, orangutan, fish and the tiger seemed to be directed into acting and interacting with each other (although I cringed at the thought that a goat, fish, or some other animal might have to die for the movie -I surely hope not!)  

• I loved the cat qualities of Richard Parker, the Bengali tiger of Pi... how he hissed like a cat when he's trying to protect himself while at the same time inching backwards, how he followed Pi out of the boat and back, how he laid like a pet cat on Pi's lap, and all his many adorable cat qualities.

In short, I loved the movie even though it doesn't have much of a story (as per Ruth) and basically involves surviving in the sea. Thanks for bringing me, P.I.C. (courtesy of Ms. Becina)!