Mia's World

So i'm sitting on my computer, procrastinating as usual.

Working on my thesis? Finding useful sources pertaining to my thesis topic? Nope, i'm writing on Livejournal and listening to the sound of my one year old neice Addison laughing to the sound of the "ULTIMATE FART MACHINE". fun.

Sucks to be an unemployed "ROCKSTAR" - big dreams, little on funds. So to insead of drowning in the sorrow of my debt, i'm going for a few interviews this week!! Today i'll be heading over to Athlete's World at 2 for an interview! Damn, i need a job...

Anyways, Addison is crying and i just heard a loud thud.. she's alright though. God, if only it was still acceptable for me to cry the same way - maybe then i can just make everyone feel bad for me and will pay me to stop crying... hmm...

So i've been home for just over a week now... damn it's cold (and snowing too!!)

Not much has changed since i left here in Mississauga 3 months ago. Biggest difference is that there's a new little bundle of joy i get to play with named Ashton =D Other then that, i'm really missing the philippines, and i'm missing it bad!

I never really thought how much one trip could seriously impact me the way that it has. I've meet new and awesome friends, seen new places and have tried things i never thought i would. I've partied like no tomorrow and have learned what it's like to be independant and on my own.

In all honesty, I was definitely scared to leave what's familiar to me for 3 months - i actually cried at the airport before heading on the plane, scared and unsure of what was ahead. I didnt know what to expect; if i would actually understand the world and be able to "adapt" to a whole new culture. Little did i know i would meet some amazing people along the way, all guiding me down new paths which lead to some cool and interesting adventures!

The biggest lesson i think i've picked up from this experience is that nomatter where you go in the world, there are people that are just the same - Unsure of what's ahead and just going with what feels, well... right. Those people are the ones that can connect with you, and can help show you that you are never alone. (cue the sappy emo music... NOW)

I'm gonna keep this short and sweet to spare all the emo-crap, but I've definintely caught that bug that so many feel after going to the P.I., i didn't want to leave, so much so that i even extended my trip by a week!

Who knows, maybe after me and my girls in WJ? finish our business down there, i might stick around and see where else i can find myself. But one this is for sure.. Philippines - "I shall return!"

So today was supposed to be the day i left to go back home. But i decided to extend - how ironic because I'm BORED OUTTA MY MIND!!!

I'm waiting to hear back from Anna, who's at work right now, cuz i'm so bored and lazy to go to the mall or anywhere for that matter. this weekend wasn't too eventfull, i pretty much have been sleeping most of the time since i finished the internship; WHICH is a good thing for varous reasons:

1) From the excessive amount of partying
2) I must get back to being time adjusted for the 12 hour relapse when i get back home.

Well, what else has happend... hmm. to keep myself entertained i had written a new WJ? song after being inspired at the clubs. it's more of a fun upbeat kinda song where i wrote it in about 20 minutes. Other then that, my room flooded! that was pretty funny..

Yesterday me and anna were supposed to go to Embassy, but waiting for her call, my eyes started shutting on me, and i ended up falling asleep. Fun saturday night.. whoot.. haha!

Not sure what the deal is for this week.. let's just see what i can pull outta my hat for the last week i'm here =D

So yes, my internship is done and i have nothing really left to do in the P.I. I really don't mind it though, im having a blast here regardless. So much so that i pushed my flight an extra week...

New Friends, new places and new adventures.... Things that would be hard to do back home in Toronto.

Dont get me wrong, i miss everyone with all my heart and i can't wait to see everyone again. But then what? back to the old daily grind? Working 3 jobs and finishing up school doesn't seem like a life i'm quickly rushing back too.

I've discovered a new "me", one in which i felt almost ashamed to show back home due to my "rocker girl" image. If there's anything i've learned from my Filipina Best friend Anna, it's that it's OK to be a girl once in a while!! So now i have long brown hair, i get my nails done and i'm in love with halter dresses (wearing my trusty jeans of course!). I've been introduced to a whole new world down here, and i'm finding the idea of transitioning back difficult to imagine.

Here i live on my own. Under no one's scrutiny. When i get back, i'll be questioned about everything i do, or want to do. It's a guarantee. My life has drastically changed and i feel as if i'm no longer hiding behind my "rocker" face, I am now a new me. But i think that this taste of new found independance will have to be put on hold once i get back. Things will seem to be the same for everyone at home but me.

I think i've caught that bug that so many people my age get once they visit the P.i., the feeling of finding a new place to belong and escaping the realities of life. Who knew? Me, the most coconut out of all my friends, loves the Philippines!!

I got a tattoo on Monday. The tattoo is of 3 shooting stars on my wrist. I wanted to get 3 Stars to represent me and my sisters. they're three different sizes wth the smallest star representing me, with a big star wrapped around it. The big star represents Mom. It's a symbol of her watching over me and that no matter what, i know she'll be there along with my sisters. When my mom was around my age, she took a journey in Canada to begin a new life. I'm about to start the same transition, i wanted to have something that would show that i am turning a new page in my life, and wanted to keep my mom and sisters with me nomatter what. (insert rachel crying and melissa tearing... NOW)

There have been so many changes in my life since my mom died, and i feel that if things didn't happen the way the did, i wouldn't have grown the way i have in the past 3 1/2 years. I know for a fact that i wouldn't have even taken this trip to the P.i.

I've learned that there is still so much in this world for me to do. My new life is just beginning and i'm not the same person i was before i left. I grew and i love the person i'm becoming. I just hope everyone will learn to love me the new me the same =)

From the requests from a lot of you, and the complaints of the lack of updates, i have finally decided to start writing an update as to what i've done since the last entry!


Boracay



Yes, so me and anna went to Boracay. Had a good time, but it's not as crazy as everyone says it is. I guess i'm just so used to partying in the city...

Finished Internship



Completed my internship at Agatep Associates. Had an interesting but fun time!! I'll def Miss the people there =(

MORE PARTYING!



would you expect anything else??

Tattoo

And yes, it's real. I'll explain what it "means" later on..

Ok so that's my update..

OH and by the way, i'm extending my trip by a week!! See you all on March 26

Welcome to the world Baby
Ashton Charles "Chuck" Dinglasan


February 14, 2007 ~ 8lbs. 7oz.
Can't wait to meet him!!



Well i slept over at tita Mila's house this weekend. The first weekend since i got here that i haven't partied or done anything involving wasting loads of cash on alcohol! but i did go shopping at divisoria, god, i spend just little over P2000 (or $40) on 2 bathing suits (both are "Roxy"), a spring jacket (from HK), 2 pairs of shoes and a pouch. i wanted to buy more, but the divisoria is so big!! that plus i really gotta save my money for BORACAY!

I'm so excited for that! finally something to really look forward too, other then my alcohol filled weekends. I'm really bored of clubbing here... i'm taking a break from my weekend trip to Jaipur for the next 2 weeks. Sigh... i really wish there was more "vacationing" for me to do here.

Me and Anna have got the time off and are just waiting for Thursday morning to hit! i think this week will definitely be the longest week of the trip... counting down, i only have 4 weeks left on this trip. So this week boracay, next 2 weeks for working, and the last week for doing nothing.. absolutely nothing (well except for shopping!)

So my tagalog is getting better. No longer can i just say "conte lang po". i can actually go to the market and somewhat pass with my basic "makano ito po?/ayao, mahal na/ wag ko gusto/anong "final"/sabi siya 100 peso lang!"
and my directions are getting better as well.. "canan/kaliwa/direcho sa canto po, Dito/doon nalang"
LOL! ...well i'm passing ok?

For the Arauag clan.. here's some interesting news! Guess who's in the Philippines Too??!? Our dissappearing Cousin KEVIN! haha!! so apparently he likes running away from toronto and reappearing in the philippines! haven't seen him yet, but i talked to him on the phone and he's coming to tita mila's tonght. He's here doing some filipino martial arts and stays for just about 6 months at a time.

But yeah, i'm starting to get bored.. i can't wait to get home, now that ashton is in the world i can't wait to play with him! ..btw.. i dont want to call him chuckie.. all i think is about the creepy doll, i'll just call him A.C... like A.C. Slater.. HAHA!! Again with the WJ? Theme...

So right now my throat is killing me.. i can feel the sides of my throat starting to swell... argh!! k.. no more alcohol for a while for me!! Especially since next week i'm going to Boracay with Anna!! Whootwhoot!!! yep, We're right now in the process of confirming a place to stay and our flight. we have it reserved so probably tomorrow we'll have it booked! we're planning to go between Feb 22-25. It's supposed to be me, Anna and Shayne (another chick from work) but i think shayne won't be able to get the requested time off.. poo.. it's all good, me and anna have been partying non-stop for the past how many weeks, that i think a weekend in bora won't hurt! lol!

Other news.. rachel is 4 days overdue. i say have the kid on valentines day!!

K.. just because i've noticed that everyone who reads this is a facebook addict, i've decided to import the blogs from here directly to my Facebook account. MEANING that both livejournal AND facebook will have the same blog entries! WhooHoo!!

fun

In new news this week, planning a trip to BORACAY with some co-workers. Hopefully they can get the days off... i'll let you know if we're going as soon as they get the ok!

If any of you are interested, i suggest you d/l the song called "Hawak Kamay" by Yeng Constantine. It's the song of the moment here and probably the theme song to my trip... besides the obvious WJ? song "Thousand Mile Memory" =)
It was written by the chick who won the Pinoy Dream Academy show, it's a really beautiful song, sort of like a modern "Nandito Ako".. Enjoy!!



Hawak Kamay - Yeng Constantine

Minsan madarama mo kay bigat ng problema
Minsan mahihirapan ka at masasabing “di ko makakaya”
Tumingin ka lang sa langit
Baka sakaling may masumpungan
Di kaya ako’y tawagin
Malalaman mong kahit kailan

Hawak-kamay
Di kita iiwan sa paglakbay
Dito sa mundong walang katiyakan
Hawak-kamay
Di kita bibitawan sa paglalakbay
Sa mundo ng kawalan

Minsan madarama mo
Ang mundo’y gumuho sa ilalim ng iyong mga paa
At ang agos ng problema’y tinatangay ka
Tumingin ka lang sa langit
Baka sakaling may masumpungan
Di kaya ako’y tawagin
Malalaman mong kahit kailan

Wag mong sabihin nag-iisa ka
Laging isipin meron kang kasama
Narito ako oh, Narito ako

Sa mundo ng kawalan
Hawak-kamay, Hawak-kamay
Sa mundo ng kawalan

K.. because you all are bugging me, i am uploading ALL of the pics i have taken on http://mariacabillan.multiply.com that site you see the pics that i have taken and uploaded the day after.

nothing new this week. I've finally been able to cash in my cheques, so now i have money again. but i'm just going to hold on to it till the last two weeks so i can just blow it all.. MUAHAHH!!

k that's my update.. Happy rach???

so since the last update, i probably had the wierdest week EVER!

Yes, i did get hit by a motorcycle, and yes the guy on the bike fell too.. but of course drove off! we got his license plate anyways. So we went to the hospital AFTER the girls had to eat (yeah they dont really respond to things like that right away) we checked in and the people at the hospital got confused as to if i came in because of my stomache problems, OR because i got hit. haha, anyways i was cleared and everything is ok now!

Other then getting bowled down like a pin, i met a few cool people this week. First i met the Managing director of Asia Pacific Kraft foods (Mac and cheese baby!) and got to go to this event where Kraft Philippines was donating P50,000 to the Helen Keller foundation. There i got to meet the US Ambassador to the Phils. yay.
Also, i met another TV personality. I got to meet Juddah Paolo, host on Studio23 and the former coca cola "Hotta Hotta" Model. funny, cuz since i saw him on TV, i said straight up "i wanna meet that guy! that's going to be one of my goals" hahah! well i guess that was accomplished! July actually has the pic on her phone, she hasn't sent it yet though.. ehh.

yesterday at Jaipur i met more Canadians! whooHoo! 3 vancouver guys and torontonians, including one of Melissa's old XTC Barkada friends, JR. i was talking to someone when randomly he comes up to me and says "are you Cabillan?" this entire trip i've been tripping out from meeting so many people, that just really freaked me out! ends up he's sunshine's bro doing a documentary here, on guess this, Families that live in cemeteries.. freaky...

Other then that,for more pics, look at my facebook album! ive got a hold of a cam, so i'll be putting pics in.

Peace out!

so last night i got hit by a motorcycle. Did i ever mention how crossing the street is like a real life game of Frogger?

if you wanna see some pics of the FIRST week i was here with jill.. go to this link

http://www.parazz.com/html/?username=majandriah&albumID=87585&photoID=

Now that my internet is working on my laptop.. here are the first 3 entries from my trip... ENJOY!!

January 7, 2006 9:38 (central time)
Chicago Airport

So right now I’m sitting in the waiting area for Japan Airlines in Chicago. There’s wireless access everywhere, but I’m not willing to pay $7 to use it for the next hour. So I’m writing on word to kill time. So far today I’ve had about 2 hours of sleep, and my knees felt really awkward on the trip here to Chicago. Of course with my luck I was stuck in the middle between and older man and a sleeping older woman. So to kill time I’ve been playing my DS, sigh, the DS is my LIFESAVER!!
Well, here’s some exciting news, last night before I left I had received an email from Charlie Agatep, the president and CEO of Agatep Associates; get this, he was just ranked one of the TOP 3 PR practitioners in Asia!! That just freaked me out a bit, he sent me the article and wanted me to see what Euro RSCG and Agatep have accomplished last year, it’s really hitting me out big this company really is, the rankings were done by a UK based PR survey, so you know there is some validity to it.

Anyways, some of the Japanese pilots just arrived, I don’t board for another hour or so, but my DS is calling my name. I’m telling you, the ultimate brain-killer/time-waster is this stupid system…


January 8, 2006 – Tokyo Narita Airport
3:58 p.m (Japan)

Finally in Asia, seemed like the longest trip EVER! Thankfully I was sitting right at the back of the plane where I was seated beside Genevieve, a Montreal “hippie” girl who happened to be my age. If I wasn’t sitting beside her I bet the trip would have even been longer. She was heading to Bangkok for a couple months on her own to do some backpacking and do some work on a farm. She’s definitely got that hippie thing 100% down; including the no shaving, dreadlocks, lack of deodorant and hemp wearing parts. But it was awesome to talk to her, she was telling me bout her life back in montreal and talked about being vegan, we noticed that the shoved all the vegetarian/vegan meal eaters to the back, almost as if we were exiled or something. Anyways, we exchanged emails and I can’t wait to hear about her trip. Yay, a new friend for me!!
As I arrived in Japan, I couldn’t help but notice how animated everything is! Not only are the signs covered with cartoon characters, but the people themselves look as if they were drawn straight out of an anime. Stores look as if I was walking through Pacific Mall, and I can’t read anything at all. It’s cute when I hear people talk here, they often mispronounce their R’s with L’s and keep saying “thank you ma’am!”, *shudder* a warm up to what is to happen in the Philippines. I’m sitting at Terminal 74 where I am surrounded by Filipinos.
As expected, I’m getting weird looks since I’m by myself on my computer. It’s weird to think how right now it’s 2am back home, I’m trying to get adjusted as fast as possible so I don’t miss out anytime Jill is still in the Philippines. Already I’m missing home, but after talking to Genevieve, I know that this is going to be an experience that will really change my life. Anyways, I gotta go for now, the sandwich Genevieve gave to me from the plane (which contained mayo, so she couldn’t eat) is starting to smell.

January 10, 2007 – Pacific Place Condo
11:53 PM

It’s already end of day two and I feel like so much has already happened!!

Recaping since I arrived; I barely remember the trip from Tokyo to Manila, I was pretty dazed by the time change and barely could keep my eyes open. I was only able to keep my eyes open long enough to enjoy my vegetarian meal, then zone back into my sleeping phase. I landed here Monday night to be greeted by none other then tita mila, accompanying her was Tita Chris from Vancouver… it seems like everyone wants to be here! After walking down the arrivals gate, I automatically recognized the smell, it was that smell of mama and papa after arriving back home to Canada; familiar, yet had an “uulam” and diesel fuel musk to it. Tito Mon was waiting in the car. They brought me to the office condo where I was greeted by Christine “tin-tin” and Lorena. We arrived at the apartment condo to drop my stuff off, then went for a little walk to the local McDo for some 30P McFlurries, which by the way were TINY, think about the size of the courtesy cups that they give out. They stayed over at the condo for the night.

Tuesday morning I woke up to find that I was alone in the condo. So instead of watching a TV that only turns on when it wants too, I decided to take a trip back to the office on my own. I got ready then set out to the condo. HOWEVER, with only visiting the condo once, I didn’t really know where to go. All I could remember was to take a right at a street and the office would be right there. So I took a right, but just not at the right street, and kept on walking. I found myself walking to the end of a street where it met the highway, I asked a few security guards only to be confused by my accent with the “Emerald Plaza” instead of the Amberland Plaza. I headed back and realized that I turned one street too early, and the office was just down the street from the condo. Stupid me.
Anyways, after that, me and Lorena went to Megamall where we had lunch. The skating rink looked very tempting, so I decided that I wanted to go skating with lorena, but she didn’t want too, so I went alone. But I did make some friends on the ice! A few local girls didn’t know how to skate, and asked me to teach them so I showed them as loren just watched from the stands. After lunch and Megamall, we went to loren’s place to meet up with randy. It’s so weird how much randy and joe look the same; it’s like I wanted to kick him, but I knew it wasn’t joe!! I met randy’s wife as well, and was asked the typical question; Is Joe Married yet?
Lorena then walked me over to tita Mila’s house to meet with RJ, who still happened to be sleeping to go to Robinsons Mall. I bought a pink notebook with a jeepney on the front and a few pens as well as my sim card and “load” for my cell. I spent the night at RJ’s where I found it hard to sleep due to the extremely strong AC.

This morning dad arrived back from Boracay. He wanted to head over to the duty free to buy, you guessed it, alcohol. Of course being dad, couldn’t find his passport, so asked me to bring mine along for purchases. Out of the duty free day, I got a bottle of frangelico, a hairdryer, cookies and crackers. We left the duty free only to be greeted by more filipino traffic. We came back to the office where I had to rush with loren to the areneta collusium to meet with Jill and Shaan for the Alaska vs. Sta. Lucia game. I met jill at starbucks and went to the south gate to receive our clearance as production crew. It was awesome! Not only did we get to watch the game free, but we also got to job shadow the crew and joke around on the courtside. Jill and I went nuts watching the Magic Mic, Cow, Mr. Softie and paint can do the Fergilious. We might be going to another game this Friday. We then joined Shaan for dinner, but made a quick stop at home to meet Vicente, her adorable 2 year old son who loved the popcorn we had brought for him. We went to dinner at this beautiful dinner complex where me and jill went nuts at the Cupcakes store, we both bought 4 gourmet cupcakes; which didn’t just look pretty, but tasted amazing!! Shaan’s hubby “vince the prince” came a little later for some drinks and pulled out some old fashioned American humor, poking fun of poutines and our beloved Timmies. Shaan’s driver brought me and jill home, but only being here 2 days, I forgot where the condo was exactly. We drove in circles before iremembered that the condo was the “pacific place” instead of the “phoenix place” which was a street. Anyways, here I am now. Sitting for 20 minutes recapping my day; if you read through this, congrats; I know you probably did Rachel!!

Week 3 working at agatep associates. Damn.. i'm almost 1/2 way through this trip!

anywhoo.. I finally got to meet the WJ? superfan July, that was both wierd and cool at the same time. we went to the Mall of Asia before going to check out some gig's in the city. And of course in Canadian style, had to go skating at the "only olympic sized rink" in the COUNTRY! Holy crap that ice SUCKED. it was like someone just mopped a layer of water on it to keep it frozen! Not only that, but every hour falling from the ceiling was SNOW. but it wasn't anything close to snow, it was more like falling chunks of packed snow, the type that would have that stinging cold hurt if you got beaned in the face with it. Although it was obviously far fromthe real thing; i have to say it was the cutest thing to see the little kids rush underneath the snowfall to get covered with as much of it as possible. But as for the skating itself; never in my life have a witnessed so many people either standing still, "walking" or falling over on an ice rink. There were only about 3 really good skaters that obviously were competitive, but other then that, i couldn't believe my eyes. You would think that 90% of these people were trying to learn how to walk all over again! But it's the philippines, what would you expect?
we went to see some bands afterwards. Holy damn, those bands are amazing. I went to an underground place called "Saguio" where the night was called Sonic Boom. Makes me feel intimidated for when WJ? comes around. But then again, all these bands are all guy bands without even one girl in any set. I felt a little tired during the show, and after the 4th set i was about to keel over. We went back home via July's Driver.
Yesterday was the most boring day i've had yet; and i'm expecting more of those to come. I woke up around 12, watched TV, ate, walked to the office to check mail, then went back home to watch the documentary "Imelda" (if your interested in the explaination as to why some Filipinos are all about the appearance over substance, you have to watch it), then went to bed. Whoopi.
Tonight i'm not sure what i'm going to do. I think i'll jsut head to the mall or something. gah, i hate the mall...

And in local news.. WTF? rachel and addi are going to be on the Life Network?? WTH?!?! K, make sure to have a segment that talks about how im' in the Philippines and can't be there to witness the birth of my next niece/nephew.. then start crying!

who actually reads this??

POST!!

So i convinced my co-worker Anna to come with me to Jaipur yesterday. Anna is the exec. assistant at Agatep that Anthony (my roomate) has a crush on. lol! well anyways, she's 23 and is a libra like me, (oct 14) But she's one of those, dare i say, "obviously hot nerds". Her idea of an exciting night involves sitting at home in her PJ's reaing philosophy books about inner and spiritual beauty... we actually had a big conversation about it at this work yesterday!! Anyways, the last time she went clubbing was when she was in Grade 6, and hasn't been to a club since. So i told her to come to Jaipur with me since i'm in need to find a party partner, and she's needs some fun in her life apart from her crazy nights of reading.
As i've been mentioning in almost all my post-jaipur blogs, Prince of Jaipur is a Restaurant/club owned by this indian man; there's ALWAYS and i mean ALWAYS parties happening every night, and the place is packed with tourists and locals, in particular, people around my age that randomly live here. And i mean RANDOM, i've meet so many people from Cali, Vancouver, Austrailia, New Zeland and China; not to mention at the people living here are white. haha! The guy who promotes this place, Chris, is a mistiso guy that moved here after doing modeling and now promotes in the club scene. He's the guy to text when you want on the g-list!
Well back to Anna, according to her, she's not a drinker and doesn't like to dance. Fair enough. But she does have a thing for foreigners, which is perfect, since jaipur is 40% tourists. We got drinks and she started loosening up. haha, oh man, all the guys could not stop staring at her, even my friend G was asking about her. BUTT.. as always, the White guy got to her first! Boy was she smitten! She slept over last night and was talking all about him! She wants to go back next week!! HAHAH!!! i can only imagine what the people at work are going to say about that.. she's not like that at all according to everyone there!

In other news, i can't find some of my clothes. I think the laundry people lost them. Oh well, excuse to buy more!other then that, i still sort of feel like i'm not here. It's weird, my body is here, but my head is STILL somewhere else. it's the wierdest feeling...

K, i'm off to go to another flippin mall, then going to watch some live bands in Makati!

Happy Birthday Mommy!! I miss you!!

I had a dream about mom last night(don't cry rachel. in my dream Mom was with me taking care of me here, just like the way she did the last time i was here. that dream let me know that she's watching over me while i'm living on my own. I miss mom.

Other then then, i made my own breakfast this morning!
I think i have the worst roomate ever... i can't cook in that kitchen! i tried making eggs, but he doesn't even own a spatula or a decent pan (let alone the fact that there are no papertowels or things to wipe spills with!!!) ugh.. another 7 weeks living with anthony

=S

There's a saying that claims that the difference between a tourist and a traveller is a camera. I never bothered to bring camera's around with me, if you ever noticed. Hence why there is no photo's up on here. There are probably some floating around somewhere, hence why you can randomly see pics here and there from a few events.

Anyways, i'm sitting in the Philuscan office right now, sitting back as dad, ma-rose, tito rick, anthony, lorena and christine are getting ready to have a little seminar about the Website.. this is my cue to start heading home =P

but before i do that, let me just say i think i messed up my wrist again. That re-occuring softball injury from my "little League" elbow is acting up, this is the first time it's doing this in probably a year. i developed a strain in my arm tendons after years of fast-pitching, bah. Anyways, i should go get it massaged or something...

In other news, dad is leaving tomorrow. It's not like it really makes a difference if he was here or not.. he was actually always at meetings and stuff. but he did give me some money, which is GREAT, i'm using it for groceries. I'm getting sick of McDo, as odd as it sounds, here i want to get rid of seafood in my diet. We went to this seafood restaurant, and damn, i just got completely turned off of that too!! the Philippines really screws up my diet, this is the place that made me want to go Veggie in 2000!!


... and just to clarify. I have been on almost every means of public transportation the phils could offer, for the exception of the tricycle (but i did that in 2000). Therefore i've gone on the MRT, the F/X, the Jeepney, the bus and the taxi! whoohoo! sigh.. i gotta get used to it, i'm still here for another 7 weeks..

so me an RJ went to the movies yesterday. Instead of taking the cab, i wanted to take the MRT (their subway transit line). Anyways, if there's anything that there is to learn about the filipino's here, it's that they aren't very courteous to you unless they are paid! so me and Ma. rose (the receptionist at philuscan) were waiting on the platform while the next train was coming; when it arrived the train was packed. So stepped back to let the people out of the car, when i was pushed forward by some teenagehick that was 3 inches shorter then me! Out of habit, i said a little loud "Geeze you dont have to push me to get on" lol! you could only imagine all the stunned looks and whispering i got. Ma. Rose was laughing, not at me, but the fact that i didnt care that they were whispering.
Anyways, me and RJ went to the movies, but i really wanted to visit the globe theatre. for P350 (about $8) you could watch movie in a private theatre, on a lazy boy recliner, with unlimited popcorn and coke!! so i treated RJ to watch "Deja Vu", he drove me and jill around the first week i was here, so i owed him!
Anyways, all i could think was that in a country such as the philippines, they can afford to create shopping centres in every corner complete with lazyboy chairs in the theatres and high end retailers; but still struggle to implement programs to help those homeless in the streets. i'm confused.

anyways, other then that, today i actually got the initiative to buy a tagalog conversational dictionary as well as a pocket tagalog dictionary. I went with my co-worker Melvin who insisted i only speak tagalog when asking directions. haha.. that went pretty bad... haha. so i'm going to be studying those books for a little while.. i'll let you know how it goes!