Indy Shebang..

So yesterday was supposed to be this country's anniversary of independence. Forget about what they celebrate, I'm just all about the food and the Kobayashi vs. Chestnut showdown! This time last year, I was busy photographing middle-aged nurses who are having a great time in the kitchen with an array of Filipino dishes on the table and loadsome of BBQs to chow down, while the youngsters (and I mean, those bratty little kids) enjoy our backyard pool despite the uncooperative weather. While this year, I found myself alone in the kitchen frying sausages with our cable provider anti-festively cutting the connection (thence, no hotdog eating contest telecast for me). And the worst part? The sun was shining bright outside and rain forecasts were uncharacteristically set aside.


Trust me, those tasted good! After all, they should me smoked, right? LOL.
Pardon my cooking frying skills, or lack thereof. That's one of the main reasons why I stopped pursuing being the next Paula Dean. But anyway, after that meaty breakfast that my mother and brother later feasted on, I was left with nothing but the internet, obsessive video-uploading at Multiply, and the crappy TV antenna to entertain myself with. I couldn't cook up an appetite to make more BBQ'd stuff just to make the day worthwhile, so I just spent the rest of my day chatting up with old friends from the Philippines.

This made me realize how ridiculous I am when I, a Filipino, forgot about my very own independence day a month ago. So with that, I want to segway to Alternati's question #4 in my "Interview Me" post (below). I was being vague for the only reason that there's just a bundle of things I miss about home that I wouldn't have enough space and energy to list them all for you. But since I now feel like I owe Mother Philippines an apology, here's a special 10 things edition about what I truly miss about my native.

1. My friends.
Because it totally sucks how half of my social life now tends to revolve around Friendster.

2. The village bakeries and "sari-sari" stores.
Here, whenever we run out of eggs, we always have to waste about ten drops of gasoline just to get to Kroger or Tom Thumb. Whereas back home, there's always Manang Rose's mini mart to buy or even utang eggs, salt, rice, etc.


3. Taho, halo-halo and sago't gulaman stands.
Diane and I, back in our childhood, would always call each other whenever we feel like buying taho (even during the hot summer) or going to this little burger joint by the church. And it was not just another burger stand, it probably had one of the best burgers I've ever had, plus, they also had halo-halo and sago't gulaman. While here? You can only get halo-halo from Chowking which is about 3-4 states away from here, and hamburgers, though generally cheap, are (per my brother) like heart attack on a platter. :))

4. The summer leagues.
My subdivision had a lame summer league—although John and Camille Prats (you know, those kids from Ang TV!) became regulars there over the years. I always hopped to the next village because that's where my friends were and the cutest guys played. Trust me, there's never a better place to catch the hottest sweating guy than on the courts. Y'all know that.

5. The party scene.
What I like best about the party scene back home is that it's waaaay more subtle than the wild stuff here in America. In Manila, it's normal to have a good time without having to shove one maniac's face to the bouncer because of excessive flirtation. Here? It's not an ordinary night without some horny guy feeling you up like he's never touched a woman in his life!!

6. Divisoria/Tiangge
The place for the cheapest dasters on earth!! And yes.. I wear dasters.


7. Bubble Gang
For some reason, I absolutely enjoyed that show. Especially Michael V.. Haha, I adoooore him!

8. Tagaytay and Baguio.
Tagaytay and Baguio both have the temperature I want for my wedding. Not too hot, not too cold. In Dallas, you get the best of winter and summer that you can barely feel any difference during spring and fall!

9. Tropical Hut Hamburger
Why the hell you never established a branch in America?? Are you blacklisted or something??

10. And lastly, cursing in Tagalog.
I don't get to do that anymore because I only get to utilize my native tongue when I'm at home. I mean, you just have to conceal the foulmouth when you're around the family, right? So just imagine how often I want to pull the malutong na P.I.M. whenever I encounter some bitch around here. Like, seriously. A bitch, go to hell, or fuck you is never more hurtful than that or a gago or tarando. Am I right, Talamasca? :-P

So there.. I've paid my dues. And if that's not enough, my family finally got The Filipino Channel, and I'm afraid, I might be hearing more of Kris Aquino now than ever before. Punyeta!

2006: Best Year Ever

I was on my knees paying gratitude for the year that has been, when I started unwrapping the year's colorful events in my head: from Zizu's infamous headbutt to celebrities' junk exhibitionism. 2006 is yet another banner year! But as you may know, this year wasn't exactly as productive as it should've been. I was out of school, pathetically undecided of what route in life I wanted to take. Hence, all of my time were spent and entertained by sports, reality tv, and honey wheat bagels. On a soon-to-be-demolished-bum's point of view, why don't we recall all of the stupid things that we laid our eyes on and conquered our numskulls.


The first half of the year was dominated by the most unlikely couple EVER, Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes, that even The Today Show was dragged into this then-fabricated love affair. The Dawson's Creek alumnus got preggers, and then speculations of an alien morphing inside her womb surged the surface. It never ended, until one cute thick-haired baby named Suri tickled our very eyes. She's probably one of the prettiest babies I've seen of late, but is she real? That I still don't know. But in spite of happy couples like TomKat, Hollywood has made its place a daunting foundation for sacred matrimonies. Sad but true, splitsville was just as trendy as flaunting your crotch. Speaking of displaying the vags, this year, hands down, belonged to Britney Spears. Apart from the most anticipated divorce in history, she lightened up every office cubicle in the world by quite-purposely flashing her fanny. Sure enough, her tool paved the way for the greatest comeback of modern times since Paula Abdul. And there were the other bitches who've altogether monopolized the daily episodes of E! News and sorts. Nicole Richie, the dubbed anorexic (I actually like her); Lindsay Lohan, the firecrotch; and Paris Hilton who's famous for banging half of Hollywood at age 12. It was entertaining when it started, but I'm so sick of these skanks, and I seriously hope to see a new set of regulars on TV and tabloids in the coming year.

On the brighter side of showbizcrap though, this year's TV shows were more than spectacular. Whoever thought that a show that embodies superheroes would be such a hit? I mean, considering that Smallville isn't as magnetic, hehe. Then there's the erupting left eye, the revival of the poncho, the death of Edgar, the wife murderer, the escape of gorgeous convicts, and the additional steam to an already sizzling cast. Scripted TV is back!!! But of course, reality TV won't allow you to ignore their geniuses too. Big Brother was back, with the Chenbot, and an all-star cast. Janelle didn't win, to my dismay, but Taylor Hicks is the new American Idol! A couple of rehab graduates won the Amazing Race, the Hoff was uninvitedly back on our TV sets, and some tattooed manbitch was named Tim Gunn's new boytoy. Wish for next year? More drama, less peculiar results.


It wasn't just the world of glitz and glamour that shook up the world in 2006. Sports' boneheads made headlines for themselves too! Zinedine Zidane's idiotic gesture that crippled his nation's chances of winning the World Cup, in his last game before retirement, no less, was the talk of the town for at least two weeks. I have all the respect for the guy, I mean, arguably the best soccer player of his generation, but come on now. A wrestling move on a sweaty grass field in the middle of a championship match? You gotta be kidding me. Then there was Terrell Owen's suicide/overdose drama right here in my usually peaceful neighborhood of Valley Ranch, Bode Miller's bageled performance at the Olympics, and Floyd Landis' testosterone overload. But it wasn't all that bad this year in sports. In fact, there were some seriously noteworthy performances just like Roger Federer's third year of sheer dominance, Rafael Nadal's superiority on clay (and Federer, hihi), Tiger Woods' emotional comeback at the British Open, Longhorns' amazing Rosebowl win, Saints' momentous homecoming, Andre Agassi's farewell, Mavericks' first trip to the NBA finals, and on top of it all... Emmitt Smith winning Dancing with the Stars! Ha, whatta year.

I can honestly say that I had fun throughout. From being sleepless during midnight of June 6 '06, to indulging a whole afternoon in YouTube, to laughing my ass off Borat's one-liners, to watching Saddam's long awaited execution. 2006's yearbook will forever hold memories of all these stupidity and awesomeness. I hope you all enjoyed it too!

And with that... I wish you my friends a prosperous, entertaining, and zit-free 2007. Cheers!

Year-end survey

It's that time of the year again when we look back to what we've accomplished, and/or failed to do in the past year, when we recall the bitter moments we all had with our EXes, when we weigh in to check how much fat we've gained, and when we bring out this traditional survey...

What did you do in 2006 that you'd never done before?
Eat In-N-Out's famous burger. Haha, but seriously? Fight for my color.

Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I didn't. But I plan on making one for next year, and hopefully I get half of it done.

Did anyone close to you give birth?
The best cousin in the world, Hannah!

Did anyone close to you die?
Thankfully, none.

What would you like to have in 2007 that you lacked in 2006?
Something worthy of my time, like school and money-making.

Did you suffer illness or injury?
That damn wisdom tooth!

What was the best thing you bought?
My first pair of chucks.

Whose behavior merited celebration?
MINE! Bwaharhar.

Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
My mom's. Especially for refusing to buy me a new ironing board. :))

Where did most of your money go?
Christmas gifts.

What did you get really, really, really excited about?
My 10-day trip to California and Nevada.

What song(s) will always remind you of 2006?
Sexyback by JT. DUH?!

Compared to this time last year, are you:
i. happier or sadder? -- happier.
ii. thinner or fatter? -- OH. Thinner, baby, hahaha!
iii. richer or poorer? -- $300 bucks richer.

What do you wish you'd done more of?
Work out.

What do you wish you'd done less of?
Pig out.

What was your favorite TV program?
Grey's is a no-brainer. But HEROES is the shit, man!

What was your greatest musical discovery?
KT Tunstall, Ray LaMontagne

What was your favorite film of this year?
Little Miss Sunshine. I have a couple more, but I enjoyed this most.

What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Accomplishment in school. Or landing a job somewhere with a satisfying wage.

How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2006?
Preppy in church, sporty in malls, hobo elsewhere.

What kept you sane?
Sports and television.

Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2006:
I'm the only person I have, through thick and thin, in sickness and in health.

What was the nicest thing someone told you about yourself:
That I'm a naturally happy person because of my optimistic outlook in life.

What did you like most about yourself this year?
Well, highlighting what was said about me...my optimism.

What did you hate most about yourself this year?
My being argumentative, especially towards my mom.

Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:
"This could be the very minute, I'm aware I'm alive. All these places feel like home" - Chocolate by Snow Patrol

Was 2006 a good year for you?
It was sloppy at times, but definitely better than anticipated.

Where were you when 2006 began?
Kuya Richard's old apartment in Dallas.

Who were you with?
Family, Kuya Richard, and other Pinoys from CMCD.

Where will you be when 2006 ends?
I'll be watching a Mavericks vs. Nuggets game.

Who will you be with when 2006 ends?
Papa and Patrick.

What was your favorite month of 2006?
November. I was out of town, enjoyed myself, and it snowed when I came back.

What are your plans for 2007?
Go back to school, pursue the dreadful world of medicine, and become an achiever.

What are your wishes for the new year?
A good and successful schoolyear, cool new friends to hang out with, and a new dress size.

My REAL grown up Christmas list.

I know this won't matter to you, but I'll give it a shot anyway, just in case a gold-hearted individual out there would have something extra to spare me with. I mean, seriously, if Gail got something granted out of her list, then sure I can too. Right? Fine, not really. Haha, but what do I know? It's already Santa Oprah studying my wishlist, hahaha!

I'm not gonna go good samaritan-ish on you and say all I want for Christmas is world peace... Pfft, that's good, but you won't hear me saying that. Instead, I'll be selfishly giving you (and Oprah, haha) a rundown of my needs. :))

1. It's common knowledge that this season isn't just about what it celebrates, it's also about food and being fat. But unlike you, I have some severe issues to work with, and as much as I enjoy eating, I know I need help. And what better way to help me get over this fat situation than gifting me Horizon's new treadmill!

2. Along with that, Ellen told me about Hydracoach, a new thingamajig that calculates the amount of water your body needs, and consumes everyday. Isn't that amazing? Note: it hit stores late December ;)

3. A relaxing but physical vacation would be a perfect way to end the year too. I also need to work on my forehand, so if anybody wants to chip in, The Phoenician would work.

4. Or if it wouldn't, Nintendo Wii offers sports like tennis, baseball and boxing. That'd be just fine for a daily workout.

5. And if that's not asking enough, I also need a personal nutritionist. That of yours, Oprah, too!

6. Or if he's too busy with you, then maybe you can just ask your friend Kirstie to get me some Jenny Craig help. Her change was dramatical and definitely the subject of my envy. A year of subscription would absolutely save my life!

7. Or if that's too much already, a pedometer from Wal-Mart would be fine. I was at Children's yesterday and I read something about keeping a good, balanced lifestyle. And all you need to do is walk 10,000 steps a day. I'm not very good at math, let alone counting, so that pedometer thing will surefire help my ass.

8. And while walking, I think I'm gonna need a new pair of Nikes. Those that got sensors monitoring your progress. Through your iPod, it tells you how long you've been exercising, how far you've gone and how much calories you've burned. Isn't that COOL???

9. And of course, I'm also gonna need an iPod nano for that. Apple green, please.

10. Apart from my concerns with health, I also happen to have a wish for my parents. They'll be celebrating their 25th year together by the end of the month, so if Colin Cowie can come over and help me with things, that'd be amazing.

11. Okay, I'm not entirely deluded yet, and I'm still aware that there's a slim to none chance that Oprah might actually be going through my crappy list. So you know what? I'll probably just wish for a free ticket to Los Angeles so I can audition for Deal or No Deal.

12. And if that works out, I'll be able to get all things mentioned AND finally get a new apartment. Look at me. I'm an adult, and I still live with my parents. I'm out of school and totally jobless. In other words, I need to move out. Immediately! Preferably to AMLI, which is conveniently just across this house. I still want to be close, especially when rough times come, like running out of salt or tin foil.

Alright, enough of this nonsense... In case I don't get to blog on the day itself...

On the first day of Christmas...

Damn, December's here! And in no time, I'll have to turn a year older again. But I'm not gonna dwell on that just yet. In fact, I'm pretty much thrilled by the approaching Christmas season. It's my favorite time of the year for the simple and very corny reason that most families gather in this occasion more than any other. Well, not that I'd normally care about others, but whatever. I just thought it's cool to think about it that way, besides the most anticipated part of scrapping the gift wrappers on Christmas morning.

And what better way to kick off the season but with snow! On a very rare event, this northern part of the state was slathered with snow two days ago (still November, word!), from morning til afternoon, and it never stopped. Boy, you can only imagine our sophomoric glee while watching the flakes cover our frontyard, as if it's getting any thicker than an inch. Haha!



My sometimes incosiderate mother though attempted to ruin our gaieties by asking us to Christmas-ized the house, inside and out, in the midst of a killer temperature. I'd normally bitch and be all "please, stop killing me!", but I'm practicing being patient right now, therefore, I just had to be the obedient daughter, even if watching the snow spread before my eyes was the perfect lazy day I've always dreamt of. I didn't have to do much though, since there's the little brother (who's literally big, btw) who's more than willing to climb slippery ladders and attach one electric extension to another, and a partridge in a pear tree. The finish product was more than satisfying anyway, and I'm proud to say that I took part in making the Christmas tree, oh yes! And there, we finally got our first ever PAROL!!! Now my mother stands a chance in winning that Deck The Halls-esque contest here in Valley Ranch. She's obsessed with decorating that even our indoor plants are now plastered with running lights. Seriously.

And since we're already talking Christmas, I thought I'd just ask you, my dear friends, for some wanted advice. I happen to be jobless, and with only more or less $300 in my pocket (seemingly impossible to buy 5 people quality gifts, but that's all I fuckin' have *sniffles*), I'm wondering what gift is best suitable for the greatest father on earth. I know, I'm too sweet! :)) My mother, who's my super best friend as you know, deserves a stupendous giveaway too, but unlike my father, she's very easy to pick a present for. Kindly help??? Just for my dad. I want to give him the best gift possible, even if it's under 50 bucks, hahaha, just kidding.

Gloomy but Giddy 4th

Despite the uncooperative weather...
The grill still willingly served us to a bloaty 4th of July celebration. Obviously, we're not Americans. But I think, being legal residents can already be a healthy excuse to have another one of those splendid get-togethers.

And of course, we couldn't resist to haul ourselves with the American tradition...BBQ!


Mama with raw meat, and Bo starting to grill 'em.


Tita Tina continued the grilling, she's such an expert.


All time faves. From Pansit Palabok to Pizza. Yum!


And the oldies...no young'ins, so you can't find me there d:
It was fun, although the planned pool party didn't push through. Our spacious kitchen served us fine, and the bazillions of eats to chow down. (: