Funny Miscommunications

Just last night Mon and I watched the Da Vinci Code in Shangri La Cineplex. As we were getting tickets sabi ng attendant:

Attendant: Ma’am ilang taon na po sila?

Huh?! Gulat na gulat talaga ako. Matagal ko nang pinapangarap ang moment na ‘to: na mapagkamalang under 18 pa rin! Pero hindi ako prepared. So sa sobrang gulat, sabi ko:

Ros: Ahh... 18. (Shiyet!?!)
Attendant: Kailan po ang birthday n’yo?
Ros: August 1, 1983
Attendant: So hindi ka 18? Over 18 ka na.

Oo nga naman! Wahahaha! Mukha tuloy akong sinungaling.

Momon: Over 18 na yan, may driver’s license na yan e.
Ros: Ay, oo... twenty two pala.

Pero natuwa na talaga ako at hindi ko na maitago ang aking kilig. At dahil ayoko nang mapahiya na mali ang sinagot ko... nagpakapormal na lang ako at sabi ko:

Ros: Do you need to see and ID?

Sabay bigay ng license ko. Pero hindi ko na talaga naitago ang kasiyahan ko na pinagkamalan pa akong under 18. Yes!!!

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Last March, Kuya Gen went home to get Matt to bring him to America. Syempre kasama sa quick vacation n’ya ang mga dinner and drinks with cousins. So, we had dinner at Terriyaki Boy sa Libis. Kasama rin namin sa dinner si Kuya Leo, Ate Monet and Bea, pati na rin ang mga ibang cousins ni Kuya Gen. Meron pa s’yang special guest, si Mac Cardona. kapitbahay kasi n’ya si Cardona sa US at kalaro din sa basketball nung bata pa sila.

So anong nangyari?

Si Ate Monet kasi ay Executive Assistant ni Gabby Lopez (CEO of ABS-CBN, in case you don’t know, hehe). Earlier, before Cardona arrived kinukwento ni Ate Monet na si Mr. Lopez daw ay laging binibigyan ng front row tickets sa mga concerts and shows. Minsan daw hindi s’ya nakakapunta kaya si Ate Monet na lang ang gumagamit or pinamimigay n’ya sa iba.

Nag-commence na ang usapan sa mga ibang bagay. Dumating na si Mac at tuloy tuloy nang nakipagdaldalan na kay Kuya Gen, as in wala na sialng pakialam samin. Kami naman, usap usap pa rin. E ang lalakas ng boses namin nila Bea at Ate Monet. Bigla kong sinabi:

Ros to Ate Monet: Uy... bigyan mo naman ako ng tickets!

Pero iba ang sumagot.

Mac (biglang lingon): Oo ba!

Natigilan ako. Long enough para malaman n'ya na di s'ya ang kausap ko.

Ros to Mac: Ah... oo! Ikaw rin!

So much for my first few minutes with a UAAP star na talaga namang nasubaybayan ko... and now rising star of PBA. Hehehe! Buti na lang naka-recover din kami pareho sa blunder namin, at umusad naman ang gabi ng matiwasay.

Hanggang ngayon wala pa rin akong ticket to PBA at kahit ano pang show na hindi dinaluhan ni Mr. Gabby Lopez. Wahaha!!!

Summer Finale

We’ve waited too long for this vacation: Puerto Galera, the second time around. We’re wiser, and we’re ready to make the most of what the place has to offer. Usapan... after this trip, we’ll be ready to explore other places.

Beach Hopping
Hindi kami sumakay ng diretso papunta sa White Beach kasi ang tagal ng aantayin namin. Instead, sumakay kami ng papunta sa Sabang. Kaya tuloy nagkaron kami ng mini-beach hopping experience. Nakita namin ang Sabang Beach, Big and Small La Laguna Beach, Coco Beach at Puerto Galera town. From the town, sumakay kami ng tricycle papuntang White Beach.

CM 4, Our Home
Sakto at binaba kami ng tricycle kung saan kami nagstay last time. Sa aming pinakamamahal na VM Beach Resort, Room CM4. Marami pa kaming arte sa paghahanap ng room na may ref, umabot pa kami sa kabilang dulo. Pero in the end... dahil thankfully at hindi maka-let go si Ben, nauwi din kami sa dati naming room. It just feels so much like home to us.

My braids and Ate Lydia
In the afternoon, nung di na gaanong mainit, lumabas na kami. Nagpa-braid ako kay Ate Lydia. Grabe... ang sakit pala magpa-braid.

Aninuan Falls
Si Ate Lydia na rin ang naging tour guide namin papuntang Aninuan Falls. From White Beach, bumili muna kami ng lulutuin namin for lunch, tapos nag tricycle to Aninuan. After that, nagstart na ang aming paglalakad. May onting stopover lang kami sa bahay nila Ate Lydia para kumuha ng kanin. From there, it was about a 45-minute walk paakyat sa bundok. We crossed the Aninuan River 9 times on the way up, each time building up our anticipation for the falls. Nakakapagod... grabe ang pawis at nakakahingal. Nakakatakot din kasi madulas at di stable ang lahat ng bato pero it was all worth it. We were not disappointed!

Tama lang ang lalim, malamig at sobrang linis ng tubig. May part na mababaw at may part din na malalim. We also had lunch there... si Ate Lydia ang nagluto. It started with chips and my special dip for appetizer. For the main course, we had grilled liempo, tilapia, kamatis and onion, and for refreshments we had chilled Dalandan Soda. We also had apples for dessert. Hay... ang sarap kumain sa tabing ilog.

The hike back was a lot faster pero napagod pa rin kami kasi ang init na. When we got to our room, nagshake muna kami sa VM tapos nag-nap for 2 hours or so.

Banana Boat... Banana Falls.
Our next adventure would be on the banana boat. Scary lang kasi naikwento ni Ate Lydia na nung isang araw lang ay may nabalian sa pagsakay sa banana boat. Nyikes!!! So may onting kaba kami.

Ang highlight ng banana boat adventure any ang “hands-free” ni Bennet! Sa kalokohan n’ya at kagustuhang gawing roller coaster ang banana boat, at dalhin biglang lumiko ang boat, nahulog tuloy s’ya mag-isa! Wahahaha!!! Bago tumama sa tubig, dumausdos muna s’ya sa tapakan na banana, na nakataas pa rin ang kamay at sumisigaw pa rin. Naaalala ko pa ang eksena na parang slow-motion sa utak ko.

Mindoro Sling and Marlboro Lights
Nung gabi... nagpakabaliw kami at tinodo na ang kasiyahan. Mindoro Sling! Si Rhea at Vincent, natulog agad, hmpf! Pero kaming tatlo... nagpa-hulog hulog sa sand, at ang dalawang non-smokers ay nakaubos na halos isa’t kalahating kaha. Nahiga pa kami sa beach at muntik nang matapakan ng cheerleading team. Pag-uwi namin, maximum level na ang english at volume, maraming nang sinasabing maaring pagsisihan paggising.

Goodbye Galera
The next day, we took a last dip and left Galera with heavy hearts. Di muna siguro kami babalik... maraming pang beach na naghihintay sa amin! Pero Galera will always hold a special place in our hearts. Thanks for welcoming us with open arms.

The Seafood Capital of the Philippines

Just last weekend I visited the Seafood Capital of the Philippines, Roxas City, Capiz!

Ay grabe... ang ganda don! Ang linis at malilibot mo ang mga magagandang lugar na tricycle lang. We went there to train the Capiz Bureau of the Kabataan News Network. Pero di rin kami pahuhuli sa paglilibot.

Here's us outside the old house of President Manuel Quezon. Hindi pa masyadong na-develop as a museum ang place pero the current owners who are descendants of the president were kind enough to let us in and show us the place.

We also went to the adjacent town of Pan-ay. Binisita namin ang simbahan. Dito matatagpuan ang pinakamalaking bell sa buong Asya at ikatlo sa buong mundo. Umakyat kami syempre se bellfry. Grabe, ang tarik at may mga paniki! Pero ang ganda ng view sa taas. Muntik nga kaming di maka-akyat, buti na lang pumayag ang pari.

Ang sarap kumain! Dalawang gabi kaming nagdinner sa beach. Kumain ng inihaw na pusit, barbeque, halabos na hipon, inihaw na scallops! Yummy! Fresh na fresh! It's not called the Seafood Capital of the Philippines for nothing.

Pero ang pinaka-enjoy ay ang mga nakilala kong mabubuti at masasayahing mamamayan ng Capiz. Ang babait talaga nila. Thanks so much sa pagtangap at pag-alaga n'yo samin!

Left side: KC, Gil and Bureau Manager Alex
Middle: Noel and Janus
Right: Rhoan and Zen

Babalik ako! Grabe... ang ganda ng Pilipinas.

Magayon!!!

We spent our Holy Week exploring the Bicol region. Pinakamalayo ko nang napuntahan sa South Luzon before this trip is Camarines Norte. Now, I can proudly say that we’ve conquered the Bicol region! Hehehe.

With 3 drivers, and a total of 28 hours on the road, with all the curves—the most extreme called “Bitukang Manok” because of its similarity to the intestines—and all the mountains of rich forestry, we had an adventurous and relaxing time.

Pero pinakamasaya ang pagtanaw namin sa Mayon Volcano. True to its name which is derived from the Bicolano word “magayon” which means maganda, it’s really a breathtaking sight. Sabi nila, swerte raw pag nakita mo ang tip ng Mayon kasi most of the time natatakpan ito ng ulap. AY! Ang swerte namin! Kasi the whole time na nandon kami, nakikita ang tip.

Of course binisita rin namin ang Cagsawa Ruins. Ito ang church na natabunan noong sumabog ang Mayon. Naiwan na lang ang belfry at bubungan ng dormitory.

Hay... ang ganda ng Pilipinas!!!

Congratulations!!!

Congratulations to my Momon who graduated from UP Diliman with a degree of BS Business Adminsitration and Accountancy. Yehey!!! Get ready for the Board exams... you can do it!

Congratulations too, to my Ate Ana for graduating from the Ateneo Law School as Juris Doctor. Hinihintay ka na ng Bar.

US 2005-06: Las Vegas

Third Stop: Sin City, Las Vegas

After our exciting encounter with the Grand Canyon, diretso na kami agad sa Las Vegas. And as I said below, we passed the Hoover Dam and Lake Mead. All of these were just building up our excitement for Las Vegas. And oh... it did not disappoint us.

We stayed at the MGM Grand for the first night. Hindi kami masyadong naglibot kasi antok na antok na kami from the trip the previous night. Namahinga muna kami sa mga super luxurious and comfortable rooms namin.

The Las Vegas Strip is really great. Everything is in excess, lahat engrande. Wala kang makikitang anything na “half-baked”, lahat talaga all-out. Interesting lang kasi usually di ba, when you go to a certain place, you have your hotel, you stay there only for sleeping pero during the day you go out and visit the different tourist spots. Ito ang kakaiba sa Vegas. Dito, hotels ang attractions. Bawat hotel, may iba ibang ino-offer. Grabe ang mga lobby... ang lalawak, ito na mismo ang attractions. Syempre nandon na lahat ng mga gambling tables. Ang hirap nga minsan maglakad kasi sobrang maze talaga s’ya mga slot machines, drunk people, slow walking tourists, tables for all card games, lahat. We tried our best to visit all the attractions, pero talagang nakakapagod kasi you’d have to it on foot.

Here we are at the lobby of MGM Grand. Yung nasa likod namin ang napakahabang videowall, advertising the different shows of MGM. Dito rin sa MGM makikita ang mga lions. Dito rin pala dati dinaos yung dating laban ni Manny Pacquiao with Hector Velasquez and the first match with Erik Morales.

The next day, we moved to a new hotel called Hilton Grand Vacations. Sobrang sulit kasi we got a suite, complete with everything you need, pero we only paid a small amount compared to what would have payed for if we got it sa ibang hotels. It’s still on the Strip pero a little way off. Malapit na halos sa dulo. It’s actually a new facility. Kaya kami nakamura kasi yung brod ng dad ko ay may time share na pinayagan n’yang gamitin namin. This hotel ay hindi casino-type, it’s really just for sleeping kaya tuwing umuuwi kami, hindi kami stressed.

So after we’ve rested, at refreshed na naman kami, go go go na kami sa mga adventures. Una namin binisita and Stratosphere. It’s a tower kung saan mo makikita ang malawak na view ng Vegas. Inakyat na namin kahit na umaga pa.

This is the view of the Strip from the top of the Stratosphere. Sayang wala pang mga ilaw. Pero syempre hindi lang view ang pinupuntahan ng tao sa taas ng Stratosphere. Meron din ditong mga thrill rides!!! As in yun ride, nandon sa tuktok. Di yata kami nagpahuli ni Kuya Gen!

This is a picture I got from the website of Stratosphere... para lang makita n’yo ang context. Naks naman! Yan yung dalawang ride na sinakyan namin. Grabe!!! Yung nasa taas, which is called Insanity ay umiikot to the point na para ka namang lumilipad at talagag nakatingin ka sa baba. Yung nasa baba naman is mas nakakatakot, it’s called X-Scream. Para kang ibibitin tapos biglang mahuhulog. Gusto nga namin ni Kuya Gen na dun kami sa pinaka-harap kaya lang naunahan kami.

Ako yung naka blue. Si Ate Ana yung sa harap ko tapos si Kuya Gen sa likod ko.

Here’s me naman with the monument for Sigfried and Roy, the pioneer illusionists of Vegas. This monument is just outside the Mirage hotel. Mirage is one of the first casino-hotels in Vegas, meron din silang aquarium at syempre, yung Volcano show sa harap.

We also visited the famous Ceasar’s Palace. Ito na yata ang pinaka-grabe sa lahat ng mga hotels. Grabe... ang lawak, ang hirap libutin. Ang daming iba-ibang wings. Meron yung shopping mall, hotel lobby and casino, meron din yung theater ni Celine Dion.

Maganda sa loob, para kang nasa loob ng Rome talaga. The ceilings are painted to look as if they are real clouds, the floors naman parang cobblestones, tapos yung mga facade ng stores, parang facade talaga ng buildings. It gives you a feel na nasa labas ka kahit ang totoo, ay nasa loob ka. It’s lighted in such a way na parang dapit-hapon. At maraming mga mascots, like this gladiator.

We also visited the Bellagio. Remember, this is the setting for Ocean’s 11? This hotel is so grand!!! Parang lahat ginto! Dito rin matatagpuan ang famous fountain dance.

Here’s Bellagio during night and day. Talagang favorite ko s'ya among the hotels.

May special place sa heart ko ang Bellagio kasi dito kami nag-spend ng Christmas Eve. We watched a show of Cirque du Soleil called “O”. I wish talaga na pwedeng kumuha ng video sa show, pero bawal. It’s really a major feast for the eyes, hindi ka talaga kukurap!!! Sulit na sulit ang ticket at talagang ayaw mong matapos ang show.

Of course, nag-gamble din kami. Sad to say, panay ako talo. Si Kuy Gen ang swerte...

We also visited the Venetian, kung saan may mini-Gondola ride. Sumakay kami syempre, pero sa labas. Yung pic sa baba is yung indoor version. Hindi mukhang indoor di ba? Kasi, like Ceasar’s Palace, parang ginawan din nila ng mini Venice sa loob. Tapos alam n’yo ba na yung mismong Gondola na nasa background ng pic na ito ay may sakay na newlyweds!!! As in na-record ko sa videocam yung “I now pronounce you man and wife. You may kiss the bride.” Tapos nag-kiss sila, nagpalakpakan at nagcheer yung mga tao tapos kumanta on cue yung gondolo driver. Grabe, ang saya!

Pumunta rin kami sa Paris. May replica dun ng Eiffel Tower na exactly 4 times smaller than the real one. Pwedeng umakyat kaya lang nasarhan na kami. Hehe.

Pumasok din kami sa Wynn hotel, ang pinaka bagong establishment sa Vegas. E di ba sila ang sponsors ng Pacquioa vs. Morales 2, kaya nagkalat ang mga posters at standees ng event.

Hay... kakapagod! Pero sobra sobra sobrang enjoy.

Next Stop: North Carolina

My Momon

Happy birthday my Mymah.
I love you.

US 2005-06: Grand Canyon

Second Stop: Grand Canyon National Park

Immediately after our visit with my dad’s classmates, we left for a 7-hour trip to the Grand Canyon. Grabe... buong gabi kaming nag-drive. Madilim at halos panay super BIG trucks ang kasabay namin sa kalye.

At around 6 am, nakarating na kami sa Grand Canyon National Park. Meron pa silang sariling radio station to guide you around the park. Pag dating namin sa first viewing point para kaming mga baliw! Di namin na-anticipate na sorbang lamig kaya bigla na lang kaming tumalon out of the car at tumakbo papunta sa viewing deck. Di pa kami nangangalahati, bumalik na kami sa loob ng car kasi SOBRANG lamig! Natatawa naman kami sa sarili namin kasi hindi naman aalis ang mga bato di ba?

Pero the long drive was all worth it. I can’t begin to express how majestic and humbling the Grand Canyon is. Di ba sabi it used to underwater... and if you really imagine that, wala kang ibang masasabi kundi, “Wow.”

Here’s me at the Hopi Point. Ito yung pinaka-malawak at pinaka sikat na viewing point.

Pagkatapos namin sa Grand Canyon, we proceeded to another 5-hour trip to Las Vegas. Of course dinaanan namin ang famous Hoover Dam and Lake Mead kung saan natatagpuan ang boundary ng Arizona at Nevada.

Next stop: Sin City, Las Vegas!

US 2005-06: Los Angeles

Hay... long over due na ang entry na ‘to, pero gusto ko pa rin i-share ang aming latest US trip. Oh well... nilubos na namin kasi last na siguro ‘to for the whole family. Next time na punta ko don, sariling ko nang pera ang gagamitin ko! Shiyet... kailan kaya yon? Hahaha!

First stop: Long Beach and Los Angeles with Kuya Gen and Ate Joy
Although nagpunta na kami sa LA before, it was one swift visit. This time around, mas ok.

We had dinner at Santa Monica. Dito daw maraming celebrity sightings. Actually, nabasa ko sa magazine na 3 days before kami nagpunta ay nandon si Britney Spears! Sayang nga lang at wala kaming nakitang celebs that night. It’s much like Eastwood e, open air restaurants, closed road kaya people can easily walk around or lounge sa mga benches sa gitna. There are also a lot of street performers and street art.

We also tried the new Starbucks drink called “Chortico” (Tama ba?). Yun yung hawak ko sa pic. Wala dito sa Pinas e. It’s not coffee, its chocolate na sobrang lapot. Para kang uniimom ng tablea na sobrang onting tubig, na kasing texture halos ng condensed milk at super tamis!

After dinner, we went around Hollywood Blvd. Of course andyan ang Hollywood Walk of Fame. Here’s me with Charlize’s star. Di naman sa idol ko si Charlize, pero sya lang nakitang feel ko nang magpa-pic don.

We also went to the Kodak Theater. Dito dinadaos ang Oscars, right? Ito ang kanilang grand staircase, sosyal na sosyal!

The night after that, we went to meet my dad’s high school classmates. Then... off we went to Grand Canyon! Hmm... next entry naman yon!

Ay... bago kami makarating ng Grand Canyon, nagstop kami sa mga convenience stores. Kaaliw lang itong isang sign na nakita namin ni Kuya Gen.

Next entry: Grand Canyon