What's the Fun? In Fun Run

I don’t get it at first what’s the fun in running.  If it’s all fun, then everybody should be whooshing their way on to their route than being a slow poke and walk. I never thought I’m going to try this one because I am an advocate of sedendary lifestyle Lol. But my friends had registered me, and for me it’s all okay for as long as I don’t have to shell out money just to tire myself.

The fun of joining the Hyundai Fun Run held last Saturday at Roxas Blvd. is not just to increase your blood flow and work those muscles, but for a good cause as well. It will benefit the Haribon Foundation. In my case, the fun doubles running together with these fun people.

As it turns out, I am chasing them to take their photo and not doing the supposedly duty.

Some celebrities participated, Goma and Lucy were there. Security was all over the place.

From local to foreign, Chao Yun Fat. I hope you enjoyed your stay here!

The portalet is at the back girls.

Finally we finished the race...

and it's time to refresh, rejuvenate and revitalize again.

And the fun never stops, till our next fun run!

Cheers!

Jack

Friends from all Time and Ages

Whew, been busy these past few days because of the deadline I am working on. This post is late. I haven’t got a chance to have time for myself, even on weekends I work. Anyway, thanks to the following people who have invited me to take some of my time off to breathe for a while, and cool down my burnt out self.

Two weeks ago Saturday, I met-up with two of our Bloggers Club member at MSE to talk about the club we are forming. We are around 30 in the group but only the 3 of us came.

They are good-looking noh? We should have form a star circle club instead Lol. I felt little around these two. Ms. Kulayful, a former model, is as height as me and Mr. Irresponsible is tall he’s 6’3.  I feel at ease with these people maybe it has something to do with our likeness in physical aspect Lol. We’ve talked as if we’ve known each other before. I am looking forward to meeting you again.

The next saturday, I met with my barkada which I haven’t met since December of last year. I organized the meet –up and decided to try MSE again. I am over-eager with this meeting and flooded my friends with messages that we should be complete but as usual, the 4 kaladkarins were only present.

Being the organizer, I made it a point that everything is put in order. For that reason, I arrived 1 and half hour late and did not make any reservations Lol. We waited for a while until our turn to calm down our already growling stomach.

I’ve known them for more than 8 years. I like their company because we share the common behaviour. We don’t party and we are all crazy.

I'm a vegetarian and soon to be a PETA model

All of my barkadas are injected and safe. If you just knew, we have lots of crazy photos taken kept encrypted and better not shown off to the normal world. Lol, I am so bad. These people are great! We will be travelling the world together even when that dentures epoch came and winter follicles. There’s no moment of silence being with them. Love you love you! We should go out more!

The day after this event Sunday, I experienced to time travel for a while. I was invited by a friend from circa 70’s to join her and her friend to watch and hear the performance of the Madrigal singers and to observe as well how leisure are spent on their generation. I also got interested because I’ve been waiting for the Madrigal choir to discover my God-given talent ehem.

We seated in the lawn, we are at Boni high btw, while listening to this choir. 

Beside this cute dog.

The two girls with one of the heartthrob member.

As I was there listening to the choirs' soulful voices, and observing the surroundings of different kind and ages; of smelling of the fresh cut grass and earthly soil, whilst watching the time passes by. I felt kinda sad. So this is the feeling when you’ve been neglected and sent to the home for the aged. Lol.

The girl with the correction glass, is an officemate. She’s from a different team and had been a friend of mine for more than three years. I don’t have any choice as she’s seating right next to me Lol. And I don’t mingle that much with my team-mate because they are my competition Lol. Kidding aside, she’s a friend who you should have and very rare to find. There had been several times I’ve asked her of her talent, and was told nothing but an “I don’t know” answer. You know Esperanza, you have this wonderful gift of wisdom to share relevant advises to people. No wonder you have plenty of friends with whom made you feel complete even you have NBSB. Lol. Please let me still ride your car on my way to home. Nice meeting you again Joy!

I didn’t spend that much on our gimik. Thank you Pachuchay and Esperanza for the treat!

That’s the price you get from social climbing Lol. 

Cheers!

Jack

Creepy Yaya

I’ll tell you this story I have. If most makes fun of yaya, my story is different.

I grew up with a family of conservative type. I grew up wearing pyjamas at night, praying before meals and having a 2X3 hairstyle. Prior to our migration to Manila, my family resides at a town far from the barrio center. It will take us almost an hour and a half jeepney drive to get us to the barrio. Hence, due to accessibility, my yaya whom we called “Nana Bambay” had learned hair cutting and became our resident Barbero. She cut our hair exactly every two weeks to keep me and my brother’s hair short. To make us look neat and notable as what my strict Mom intend us to become at school.

From left-to-right: Lolo Fred, My Mom, Great Grand Lolo Prosing, Nana Bambay (Yaya)

This yaya of mine practices similar routine a regular barbero does. Like prior to cutting, she wraps this “Good Morning” towel around my neck. After the cut, she then brushes off the fallen hair with a powder. Then, ended patting my head down with green colored liquid, that I find the smell nice and addicting. She had proven herself good and better than the male barbero who had cut my hair before. This had become a custom.

My brother moved to Manila; and alongside another heartbreak occurred causing my Mom and Dad to get separated. I saw my Mom rushing, with a scissor on her hand. Mom pitched the scissor like bowing an arrow, the core target is my Dad. The scissors did not reach in full length as my Mom got distracted of my yaya screaming all her heart out, NO!!! The scissors got covered by blood of an innocent chicken flying off her way to escape the screaming. I dashed and pulled out the scissors off the poor chicken. My yaya took it from me, she was shaking and I was nervous. I haven’t slept peacefully that night. The chicken’s hatchlings are all chirping the entire night seeking for their mom’s comfort. I do need it as well, I can speak about the same feeling they are feeling. The feeling of losing somebody.

Mom and I stayed in the house with our yaya. From that day on, we lived a quiet life unparalleled to what we used to have before. The tradition of cutting my hair remains still. My yaya had been sweet as ever that in some ways I felt she is filling in the love I am longing that I felt somehow my Mom is lacking. My Mom seldom smile since that tragic moment.

My yaya cut my hair again, that time I was 16 and graduating. Yaya is already on her mid-60s. I noticed the scissors are now rusty. She garbed the handle with white cloth that is already yellowish with red stain in it. It might have been done to prevent hurting her bony hardworking hands. Cutting my hair with it creates a tingling feeling and it is becoming unbearable already. I asked her to stop, my hair is almost done. Upon leaving, I look back to say goodbye and received nothing but a blank stare. Was she mad? I didn't care. I left to go to the barrio to find a substitute. 

A week after, after Mom and I came back from my commencement exercise; my motherly yaya – Nana Bambay, we found  her unconscious, and not breathing.  We found a scissors couple of inches afar from her hand, where she is lying. Her mouth was foaming it seems like she had been poisoned. The first thing I did upon seeing her is to search her room to grab her medicine.  She has history of epilepsy.

What surprises me is the bucket of hair strands scattered all over her room. On the floor, on her pillows and sticking up the ceiling. I opened her bible, a bunch of hair tied with strings was there. I was crying all the while then I got goose bumps. I phoned our relatives to seek some help, rushed in the toilet to wash my face and to slot in a deep breath. I flushed the basin. Countless hair strands appears as it was stopping the water from draining down the drain.

A week after yaya’s interment, mom was looking for her replacement. The house has been quiet as before, the only difference is the quietness gives me the creeps which I haven’t previously felt. The debut was two weeks after yaya’s death. I smell the smell of this green liquid fuming around our dining area where my yaya used to cut my hair in front of this tall mirror. This occurs recurrently every two weeks - exactly the same time yaya schedule to cut my hair. At night, sleeping time, a chirping scissors sound sometimes blows to my ear which I keep on trying to believe that it was just the hatchling outside chirping, begging for food. I also got paranoid of flushing the toilet imagining that hairs will flow instead of water. Was this a continuance of her service to us? I can’t thank her more than enough.

I and my mom had decided to move to Manila for a new beginning. When we got in to Manila to my brother’s house, we bought a cat and named her after yaya. We called her Bombay. This cat has excessive hairfall, is that normal? Or it has something to do with this ghost story I made up. Hmm. I can see the connection. Lol.

This is the actual photo of my Mom and our actual Yaya (we treat her as part of the family, we don't call her yaya. She looks creepy noh?)

Mama & Yaya

Oops. Sorry Mama. I used you as the yaya in my made-up story again. The girl in the first photo, the one in the right-most,  is actually my Mom on her twenties not Nana Bambay of this story. The little girl is my cousin and ninang as well.

Cheers!

Jack

Thief!!!

It was nice meeting you again yesterday. We seldom bump into each other; the last time was I think more than a year ago?. You haven’t changed a lot from the last time we’ve met, I mean physically. You still look strained. Have you slept? I am happy you can spare little of your money now for the line of job you do; as what you said - it’s an investment.  A 15 pesos end-to-end MRT ride is no guarantee of returns, but you gamble. I am proud of you. Sometimes you really need to put money at stake in hope that it will double in the future. You are right there, millionaires aint afraid to gamble. It's one of the secrets of getting rich.

The mobile phone you took from me, yes you can sell it half of the original price. Sorry if it has little scratches in it, I am not careful handling things. But, I bought it just June of last year. That phone didn’t reach anniversary at my hand. I am glad the bill does – it will be fully paid by June this year. Anyhow, you can have it. I am doing this for charity you know. Please do acknowledge me, I need it for publicity. Lol.

God be with you, until we meet again.

Cheers!

Jack

Don't Worry Be Happy

I was billed Php 1,500 annual fee for my HSBC credit card, whoah! I am not paying for that as I usually do. So I called HSBC hotline yesterday to waive it. They have new policy now compared last year. You need to purchase at least Php 5K worth of anything to get waived; last year you just have to swipe/use your card 5 times. Wise decision, Php 5K is too much to some they will earn interest.

So I called 85-800, a lady attended my call and then left her goodbye and thank you. After the call I shouted “Oh no, I have to go shopping!”, then sang out loud this song in my mind – Don’t Worry Be Happy (Bobby McFerrin). I sang it with full emotion while flicking my fingers. It took me around 10 seconds until I realized somebody was laughing. It was the agent’s voice coming from the phone’s loud speaker. She told me I can hang the phone now and I said I’m sorry. I mistakenly pressed the loud speaker!!! I was ashamed of myself.

That what happens when LSS attacks (Last Song Syndrome). Too bad, it wasn’t a talent manager who I called up. If it was, I should have had my Araneta concert next month.

Cheers!

Jack

Job Hunting

Presently, I’ve been actively searching for a new job. Primary reason is financial, second is career growth. I am pretty much enjoying my present company, the people and compensations they endowed me. I’ve been staying with them for more than three years now, I felt like it’s about time finding a new one. As the saying goes “Man cannot discover new oceans unless he has the courage to lose sight of the shore.” I am learning a lot from my current job, but so lacking opportunity. And I want a job that will land me to different places; I want to travel the world!!!

I prepared a neat CV and attached a deceiving photo; you know the HR once they receive your CV it is the photo they first look at. It normally goes from top-right, top-left to bottom: Photo > Name > Credentials. If the photo is good-looking, the recruiter will allot more time staring at it; then take note of the applicant’s contact number, stalk applicant’s facebook account, getting obsessed a little forgetting reading applicant’s credentials, yearning to meet the applicant in person resulting to a face-to-face interview hahaha. On the other hand, if the photo is Shrek looking, hmm I don’t want to comment. I don’t want to sound discriminatory hihihi. But more often than not, they’re intellectual ha. God showered his blessings evenly. :o)

When my phone rings, kring kring, expect it’s a call from an employer. I rarely receive calls (less than 15 a year?), my friends doesn’t call me at all although I do have lots of friends. I rarely text too, my friends knows that. But I reply a lot, I want the last word to come from me.

When I answer calls from recruiter, I answer it discreetly as I possibly can. I don’t want my boss to know of my plan of leaving the company. They will lose a wish bone if I did! I’m an asset hihihi.

So I came up with a master plan.

My office is like a church, so still you can hear a pin drop. Your voice echoes the entire room. I will not answer my phone in my workstation no no, not unless a name appears in the mobile screen hihihi. From my workstation (it’s beside this hard-working lady browsing facebook), it's 4 meters walk from the exit. The caller needs to wait 15 seconds before I answer it. I keep my phone on silent mode, and when I see it ringing, I hurdle to the exit.

I say the sweetest hello when answering calls. It makes good impression. And I try to smile answering calls, your mood reflects in some way on how you sounded on the phone. I don’t want to sound stressed, companies don’t like that. They want someone who can deal with stress, someone who reacts positively to difficult situations, someone who enjoys working in a challenging environment, someone like me Lol.

I already got a job offer from a company with fun environment, which could provide trainings and certifications. A company that can transform me to become the very best that I can become. A company that is virus-free hihihi (hint). Sadly, I declined. The salary was higher but the package itself can't compete with the current one I have (I have HMO for myself and parents, Group Insurance, Transpo and Medical allowances). I made the right decision I believe. But I really want to get in this company they have pretty lot of good looking people there Lol. I even stalked my future officemates if ever, through my friend’s facebook account hahaha. The HR was so accommodating too I commend her, she offered me fresh juice.

I am hoping this company I applied recently - which I really like, would call me. I am crossing my fingers, and locking my jaws too.

Cheers!

Jack 

Virtual Haircut

I have my hair cut done at Bench Fix, and never thought I could have a home service.

For those lazydoodles out there, I hereby proud to present to you, the first of its kind - Virtual Haircut.

• Plug your earphones,
• Maximize your volume,
• Spare 4 minutes of your time,
• Listen, you'll get your new hairdo in no time.

Cool isn’t it. I felt like I received a barber's massage too - relaxing.

So how they were able to come out with this? An ordinary MP3 doesn’t offer alike virtual sound.

This has been recorded through Binaural recording. It is the principle of replicating the way our ears capture sounds, and when played the sounds felt like real and occurring.  

So how will you be able to produce such sound? You will need the following:

1. A dummy head
2. Omnidirectional Microphones. A special type of microphone that capture sounds in all angles.
3. Electricity (Lol)

Recording is done in 3 simple steps:

1. Attach the microphone on both ears of the dummy head. We will imitate how human transmits sound to the brain. If your eardrum is in your nose, then place it there.
2. Plug the microphone to your recorder.
3. Make that crazy sound, the sound that comes naturally.
   

* Dummy head photo not mine


Wohoo! I love my new haircut today. 

Cheers!

Jack

To The One Who Hurt Me So

Today – February 02, 2011. Exactly three years after you broke up with me; and exactly three days I have seen you again. I thought that three years was enough, but it wasn’t. I couldn’t manage to not think of you. I couldn’t manage to let go.

But why I have this thought in me, that you still love me?. Three days ago our bodies collided, and I again felt the feeling I have for you three years back. All the aches this life brought me had flushed; and staring at you made my day out of the ordinary. Your smile is still the same. You still have that bogus smile that I know is true, and uniquely yours. We talked and laughed again.

I am hoping you will come back to me at that very moment, but not until a kid – a miniature version of you had rushed to you and said Mama.

I am broken hearted again and I will be for the last time – that I promised. The sad feeling I felt three years ago is exactly the feeling I am having right now. For the last time I am composing  a tagalog poem – which you love me doing. I had already burned the poems I’ve kept and written for you. But this poem, I am keeping to remind me not to love you – no more.


Kahapon, nag-laong kay tamis


Hinanakit, pinagdaanan.
Nilimot ng pilit, panaho’y binilang.
Ngunit, ng iyong ngiti, muling  nasilip.
Oras ko’y biglang, bumalik sa’ting nagdaan.


Masaya ba ko?, iyan ba’y tanong mo.
Di ako iimik, sagot di masambit. 
Payo ng kaibigan - lubos, di kulang.
Pero, ‘tong puso gana’y tuluyang nawalan.


Maging  sa pagtulog, ikaw ang sa isip.
Pinapaniginip, ikaw at ako’y
masaya’t magkapiling.
Ganito lang ba, mapapasaiyo mahal ko.


Kahapon, nag-laong
kay tamis.


Lisanin mo ko, wala na tayo.
Minsa’y sapat na.
Huwag ng ulitin pa.
Labis, na ang gabi’y ika’y inalala. 
Hangad yakap mo -
dati, ngayon tama na.


Di ka masisi, na gaya ng rati.
Naunawaan ko, pag-ibig natin ay hilaw, di seryoso.
Paalam sa ‘yo, dating giliw ko, paalam.


Kahapon, nag-laong
kay tamis.



Goodbye,
Jack



Nah, I just made this all up. I am not heart broken and never see myself being one hehehe. yabang. The poem I wrote above is actually the tagalog translation I made for this Japanese song sang by one my favorite singer Olivia Ong-  entitled Sweet Memories. Using my tagalog translation, try to sing it along with the Japanese version in the video. I tried hard to make the translation rhyme and sound closely as the original.

Sweet Memories (Olivia Ong)

Natsukashii itami da wa

(Hinanakit, pinagdaanan.)

Zutto mae ni wasurete ita

(Nilimot ng pilit, panaho’y binilang.)

Demo anata wo mita toki

(Ngunit, ng iyong ngiti, muling  nasilip.)

Jikan dake atomodori shita no

(Oras ko’y biglang, bumalik sa’ting nagdaan.)

"Shiawase?" to kikanaide

(Masaya ba ko?, iyan ba’y tanong mo.)

Uso tsuku no wa jouzu ja nai

(Di ako iimik, sagot di masambit.) 

Tomodachi nara iru kedo

(Payo ng kaibigan - lubos, di kulang.)

Anna ni wa moeagarenakute

(Pero, ‘tong puso gana’y tuluyang nawalan.)

Ushinatta yume dake ga

(Maging  sa pagtulog, ikaw ang sa isip.)

Utsukushiku mieru no wa naze kashira

(Pinapaniginip, ikaw at ako’y masaya’t magkapiling.)

Sugisatta yasashisa mo ima wa

(Ganito lang ba, mapapasaiyo mahal ko.)

Amai kioku 

(Kahapon, nag-laong)

Sweet Memories

(kay tamis.)

Don't kiss me baby we can never be

(Lisanin mo ko, wala na tayo.)

So don't add more pain

(Minsa’y sapat na.)

Please don't hurt me again

(Huwag ng ulitin pa.)

I have spent so many nights

(Labis, na ang gabi’y ika’y inalala.)

Thinking of you longing for your touch

(Hangad yakap mo -)

I have once loved you so much

(dati, ngayon tama na.)

Ano koro wa wakasugite

(Di ka masisi, na gaya ng rati.)

Itazura ni kizutsukeatta futari

(Naunawaan ko, pag-ibig natin ay hilaw, di seryoso.)

Iroaseta kanashimi mo ima wa

(Paalam sa ‘yo, dating giliw ko, paalam.)

Tooi kioku 

(Kahapon, nag-laong)

Sweet Memories

(kay tamis.)

I just hope a girl would sing this tagalog translation I’ve made. I just hope. But please, don’t let me experience the suffering of this crazy man I made up a while ago. 

There's an english translation of this song here.

Cheers!

Jack

Biking / Cycling / Bicycling

Feeling the breeze of the air whispering at both side of your ears, and seeing moving clouds are considerably one of simple pleasures of life. I knew some of you would prefer their car’s window open while driving just to let the air tap your cheeks. It gives soothing feeling right?

That’s what I love about biking. Biking will make you enjoy these, as well as the both benefits of exercise and relaxation. If you are like me whose fats got stock at most on the legs rather than having evenly distributed fats, then you try biking – to tighten that legs and get in shape. Charge that to a FITNESS expert (wishful thinking).

I like it better than any form of exercise; it does not keep me off my sedentary lifestyle. Hehehe.

The bike I am using above is a portable folding bike. How cool can that be?

It can fit in your car’s back compartment.

However, you will feel awkward using it if your body built is colossal like our model (colossal is huge in other term hehehe, I just made it sound muscular).  

Though you will find the wheels small compared to most bikes; you’ll go distant with it. In fact, I circled the entire UP. It’s actually easy to pedal; it doesn’t tire out my leg that much even when pedalling on leaning path. But it caused contusion on my right knee, the handlebar was low and keeps banging my knee when pedaling. Well, I didn't mind. I didn't notice it not until I stopped.

It is just right for women.

Being a pro-environment, I convince you use environmentally sustainable form of transport such as bike. Yes you can live an active at the same time environmental-friendly lifestyle!

I am really enjoying this bike. I am going to buy one for myself soon.

FYI: The bike is made of Dahon, este by Dahon. You can check their site http://www.dahon.com/

Cheers!

Jack

Live Healthy! Jog at UP

This year started really really good. I had a good feeling this year will be a very good year for me. I have achieved so much in the first three weeks of this year:

Week 1 – Met new people/friends 

Week 2 – Passed a certification.

Week 3 – Started weekly exercise, which will be a weekly routine from now.

Meeting new friends, taking certifications are 2010 resolution of mine that I haven’t met. Exercising I met it so so by doing my daily 30 count sit-up. I think I need more it doesn't show any improvements on my body.

Exercising is still a goal of me that I want to carry out the entire year. And so for the third week of this year, I and my office friend tried out to jog at UP (University of the Philippines).

What I like about jogging here is it’s free and you engage with mother nature too which I like. The full grown trees serves as your natural umbrella from the sun’s burning heat. When we went there, the weather was just right, not that hot and you don’t need sunblock.  

And what’s even more motivating to exercise at UP is that, food is available anywhere!

You can eat at food stall

Call Manong mang- tataho

Sweet corn

Pichi pichi

So if you are the type who want to exercise but want to retain that fats you have been taking care of, then UP is just perfect for you.

I’ll give an example. FYI, the calorie you burn in a kilometre run varies depending on your age, sex and weight. Let’s say you are an average size (assuming you are cause you are not, if not then what made you interested reading this?). For an average sized person you may burn approximately 166 calories in a kilometre run (source). To make up the 166 calories you burned in a kilometre run (which roughly the size of the entire UP running lane, or a one lap run), here are the options:

Option 1: Buy sweet corn, make it three. A cup of corn kernels contains 165 calories

Option 2: Drink taho, make it five. 100 grams of soya drink (1 taho cup) contains 35 calories

Option 3: Drive thru at McDo and buy their medium sized French fries. It contains 380 calories (source). So double your laps,  run 2.5 kilometers, before choosing this option.

Hehehe.

Imagine? You need to run 2 kilometers to burn the calories you gained from eating French fries! No wonder Jollibee is plump, and why Ronald McDonald is slim? 

I hope my Week 4 would be a lot better. I'm waiting for a job offer. Hihihi. 


Cheers!

Jack