Unwritten

A MUSIC REVIEW

This song first got me when it was used in the PANTENE Ad with Kris Aquino in it. I don't like Kris Aquino much but she was pretty there and lines "Feel the rain on your skin!" just really got me.

Aside from the fact that this song seems to be the most fitting description of my life right now, I do think the lyrics has been well written and the melody is catchy thus making it one of the best songs I've ever heard. My ate tet was the one who has really listened to the whole song first but I claim that this song became my favorite first. Isang linya pa nga lang eh, it got me na so I liked it na last year pa.

- -
"Unwritten"
by: Natasha Bedingfield

I am unwritten, can't read my mind,
I'm undefinedI'm just beginning, the pen's in my hand, ending unplanned

Staring at the blank page before you
Open up the dirty window
Let the sun illuminate the words that you could not find

Reaching for something in the distance
So close you can almost taste it
Release your inhibitions

Feel the rain on your skin
No one else can feel it for youOnly you can let it in
No one else, no one else
Can speak the words on your lips
Drench yourself in words unspoken
Live your life with arms wide open
Today is where your book begins
The rest is still unwritten

I break tradition, sometimes my tries, are outside the lines
We've been conditioned to not make mistakes, but I can't live that way

Staring at the blank page before you
Open up the dirty window
Let the sun illuminate the words that you could not find

Reaching for something in the distance
So close you can almost taste it
Release your inhibitions
Feel the rain on your skin
No one else can feel it for you
Only you can let it in
No one else, no one else
Can speak the words on your lips
Drench yourself in words unspoken
Live your life with arms wide open
Today is where your book begins

(My net is kinda slow so I can't really upload the video. But for those interested to view it in youtube, here's the link - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ysnUVEUMBEs).

Why I hate driving in Metro Manila

Written January 8, 2007

Wasn’t even back in Manila for 24 hours and I was already cursing darn C5 Road and EDSA and was missing Davao so much. It took me 3 freaking hours - 3 hours to get to Makati from the Katipunan area last January 5! I understand that Fridays can be so busy for the Makati area but to me 3 hours wasted just can’t be justified by anything.

this was my darn view for like 2hours!

Agot’s Bossa CD accompanied me during the ordeal of having to see mere cars in my midst. Christina Aguilera was there too but I didn’t really enjoy her new CD that much. I didn’t try to listen to any FM radio as I might hear traffic advisory and would just end up cursing the radio because I’ve always believed that those advisories are useless. The traffic situation in the metro hasn’t really changed. I know for a fact that during rush hours traffic is terrible in Cubao, in the bottleneck of Kamuning and also in the areas of EDSA-Buendia-Ayala roads. I know that public transportation is difficult in Espana and there is slow movement of cars in Quiapo and the Manila-Quezon City rotonda. Those traffic correspondents are useless; we really don’t need to hear over and over again that it’ll take us forever to get to our desired destination. Do they know that they don’t exactly help our already irritated and tired feet? Just play the darn song already so we can forget we are stuck in traffic. We’d really rather hear some cheesy song by an unknown band than hear your traffic advisory delivered in your fake American accent (The fake accent is a different story, I shall talk about that some other time).

This traffic situation in metro manila is one of the biggest reasons why I’m having doubts reconsidering working here again. I mean, I’m technically jobless, trying to assess what I really want to do in my life and this whole taking hours to get to a certain destination in manila is such a negative thing in my list of pros and cons of working in Manila.

Somebody help me think! Somebody help me get a good job in Davao with good medical benefits! What’s a good job for me? Oh, I have to answer that question right. Shit! I don’t have an answer. Can we just stick to helping me find a job in Davao with good medical benefits, that will enough for me for now?... I think.

Riding PAL

Travel Journal Entry: January 4, 2007

On board PAL flight Dvo-Manila

I believe it’s been a year or more than a year since I last rode PAL (Philippine Airlines). Main reason is, PAL is way more expensive than Cebu Pacific. It just doesn’t feel like it’s worth it, especially since most of my recent travels have been paid for personally.

But why is riding PAL still better that taking Cebu even though you know it will cost you more? Here are some of my reasons:

1) Flight Attendants, as I have observed are much friendlier in PAL. They seem to act more professionally. I couldn’t blame Cebu Pacific flight attendants for not having much pride in their craft; I mean will you really be confident if you are asked to sell giveaways and other unnecessary products on board? Plus where is the pride is serving only mere C2 (bottled iced tea) on board? Aside from that, PAL flight attendants are more courteous, I believe they’ve been trained well.

2) The aircraft is bigger and cleaner. I don’t think I need to explain this one; PAL just has bigger and cleaner aircrafts.

3) The food is better – it doesn’t mean it doesn’t suck, it just is better. Cebu Pacific doesn’t even serve food anymore, as I’ve mentioned earlier, they just serve bottled Iced Tea. And I love it that in PAL we can still choose the drink we want. I love my coffee on board. It’s not special coffee but the caffeine and heat just really makes one feel comfortable.

4) Reading my Paper – does Cebu even have newspaper for passengers to read? I can’t quite remember because I’m pretty sure I usually take out my book to read. But this last flight has allowed me to read the paper of the day.

This plane ticket is 1,000+ more expensive than if I flew via Cebu. Did it mainly out of convenience since my sister is taking the same flight back. Thank God PAL is not letting me down - giving me a good flight, making me feel as if this trip is worth every penny.

There's No Place Like Home (especially during the Holidays)

I've said this before, that DAVAO is the best place in the world! And I'm going to say it again, Davao is the Best Place in the World!

It was great to be home once again during the holidays. Having family and friends around is what Christmas is all about. The great thing about being home for the holidays is the good food! I arrived in Davao on November 12 weighing roughly around 137lbs., I weighed yesterday and I'm already 142lbs! (Darn! Tumaba ako grabe!) With great homecooked meals and lechon for Christmas parties who wouldn't gain weight?

Movies are Cheap! At 60-70 pesos one can watch a good movie on the big screen. Add a few pesos for the popcorn and softdrinks, it's a party. Sadly though, I didn't enjoy the 2movies I most recently watched. It wasn't a total waste of money, afterall it only cost me half of what I usually spend for movies in Manila, but it was disappointing. Kasal, Kasali,Kasalo - Judy Ann starred movie had a usual plot and a way uncomplicated storyline. And it didn't exactly have good underlying messages. I mean the 2 stars got into a relationship quite easily and got married after only 4 months of being together with the main reason that the guy was about to leave for the US?! And must we really demean the lowest form of government leaders, our Baranggay Captains? That's why their constituents continue to look down on them and have no major expectations from them because we continue to tell people that they are more or less of no value. If they are, why not just abolish the position? (This is going to be long so let's change the topic) Thank you to Gina Pareno and Judy Ann for their acting abilities that saved the movie! Zsa Zsa Zaturnah! - I knew I was going to be disappointed with this one early on when they casted Zsa Zsa Padilla and Pops Fernadez to play major roles so this isn't a shock. Enjoyed and Loved the Komiks and the Musical, just didn't love the movie. But we love the editor (Halili!) so we watch it. And in fairness to Jay, the editing was really good. Except for some musical/sound technical problems. I just have to take note that Alfred Vargas should have prepared more for the movie, or atleast for one shooting day when they did the "BUONG-BUO ang NOODLES" line, because he didn't even have Noodles with that shot! Vina Morales beats him easily with her perfect noodles! hahaha!

Home for the Holidays meant hitting the beach with friends. I usually go in December with JVP friends but this time, I went with my HS friends. It was the best! We also celebrated having 2 doctors and a nurse in the barkada. We missed our other doctor, Beauty, though as she was in the states for a well-deserved vacation!

enjoying the shore of samal island!

Garden of Chemas!

(Ella, me, Renee and Jang!)

new look!

para maiba lang for 2007!

madaming maiiba, sana malapit na! (parang tagline sa isang trailer ng pelikula?!)