When Friendship Ends.

People come and go in our lives. Some leave a lasting imprint on our hearts while others leave a bitter taste in our mouth. In my 24 years of existence, I must have acquainted with more than a thousand of people in my life. I must admit, very few of them stayed. And they are who you call FRIENDS.

Recently, I gave a shout out to my dearest friends who stood by me through my worst (READ) and I am very grateful that I have a wonderful set of people with me. However, I can’t deny the fact that there are certain people who have hurt me in the past, friends who betrayed me, walked away from me, and used me. Anyone who experienced this must know that it was the worst feeling in the world to lose a friend, especially if you gave your trust 100%.

Few days ago, someone cried to me asking me to forgive someone who betrayed me. Now, I am not the type of person who keeps grudges for so long. But a betrayal from someone you consider your best friend is indescribable. I guess what made it more painful at that time is that the friendship was torn apart for the most shameful reason ever. From then on, I became very picky with the people I trust. That’s why even though I have lots of good friends, I usually keep most of my problems to myself. Until now I find it hard to forgive that person, but I know time heals all wounds. A simple sorry from her can be a start though.

Then there’s another one who promised to not let go of me, but he did. I guess the reason for the fall-out is that the words thrown upon me were too painful to take. How would you feel when you care for someone so deeply and the person did nothing but literally take you for granted? I knew I had to walk away because I have to keep what’s left of my self-respect. I guess I just pressed the exhausted button. I still feel sad until now, but what can I do? As they say: People change and so do feelings. Accept that.

It’s never easy to heal a wound triggered by a friend. But it’s part of life and we all go through it. What is important is we take time to nurture those who never left us, find ways to mend broken friendships, and find acceptance for the those who chose to leave us forever.

TTYL!

“I Need to Find Myself. K’bye!”

“Hey listen, things went too fast between us. I am not ready yet, I just need to find myself.”

Oh, I see. We can’t date right now because the timing is off for you. Okay, I’ll take the bait on this one, chief.

Send me a postcard from, you know.. wherever you’re going.

Wait, you’re not going anywhere??

I had a long talk with a friend who is going through with this hell-we-are-all-familiar-with dilemma. It has always wondered me why some men tend to be uber-dramatic and tend to give reasons no one really have a decent answer to. It then got me thinking, what actually happens when you “find yourself?”

Is there place where a box is hidden that contains your entire personality and the secret to unveiling true happiness?

No? No box?

Then you must be waiting for some sort of confirmation email. Something like “Congratulations! You have finally found yourself. Feel free to end your selfishness and start considering others feelings again.”

Hmmm… Still no?

Then by any chance you’d want to tell me what’s going on around here? Because you and I both know that you’re BS-ing me.

Oh, what’s that? You’re seeing someone else?

That’s what I thought.

“I just need to find myself.”

Talk about broadness and non-specificity. I myself have heard that one too many times so I know that that’s the most cliché line there is. People use it despite the fact that we all know that we never truly know who we really are on a permanent level. Isn’t it that human beings were thought to spend their entire lives searching for their self-purpose and worth? So why would a lifelong search keep us from committing with someone?

Though I get it that not all the time cheating happens, it’s pretty straightforward that something else is going on that is driving them away – prompting them to give the lamest excuse known to mankind. People who use this are cowards and a-holes who can’t think of a legit reason to walk away on someone. What a shame.

Finding yourself you say? Well, I hope you never do. K’bye!

Text Fights: 5 Reasons Why They Suck.

Texts start off fine: “Hi babe! I just woke up. Love you!”

You start exchanging chitchats for a bit, and then for whatever reason, something someone says triggers the fight.. “You went WHERE last night??”

…and then it begins.

Since the era of text messaging began, I have been in one too many text fights – either with my then-boyfriend, my mom, my brother, my best friend, the list is endless. One good thing about text fights is that you can stop and think about what you are about to say to the other person without having the pressure of them impatiently waiting for you to answer back. But, even though I sometimes engage myself into one, I do understand how they’re wrong and not helpful for the fight:

1. It’s more hurtful than intended. There are just some people who are bad in putting their words together on paper (or text). When we email, text or write to someone, we tend to exaggerate things – as compared when we were talking in person wherein we try to be nice as we watch the other person’s reaction. But since in texting we don’t see them, we might not realize how much our statement hurt them.

2. Too much hassle. Since we bring our phone with us ALL the time, text fights can be a real pain in the ass. I remember having to work and get all distracted because I keep glancing at my phone for new messages. That’s why I seriously support companies who forbid their cellphones at work. Replying during a text fight just consumes 5 minutes of your productivity each and every time.

3. Miscommunication. Let’s face it. Sometimes someone says something and we can’t figure out what the hell they meant by that. Is he angry? Was that sarcasm? Without hearing the tone of voice and seeing their body language, it’s so much easier to misconstrue what the other person is trying to say.

4. No take-backs. When fighting, we sometimes get caught up in the moment and say things we don’t mean. When you are fighting in person, those harsh words are sometimes forgotten in the frenzy of all that’s said. But in text fights, you or the other person can go back to the previous messages on the phone and be reminded of all the messed up things you guys said to one another. And you may end up fighting all over again.

5. It’s plain & blunt useless. After a long exchange of harsh words to each other, one usually just ends up calling the other person or going to the person to fight face to face. What happened to working out our issues in person?? Have we really become that impersonal to hide behind our phones in cases of conflict? It’s just too emotionless.

I hate it, and yet I still do it. Ugh.

Friends Are the Family We Choose.

With every trial that each one of us is going through, having trusted friends around is the greatest blessing one could ever think of. This entry is my way of appreciation to the best people around me who stuck with me through thick and thin. I have lots of friends SOBRA, some have disappointed and hurt me, but these people stand out among the rest because I have done the worst in the land and they still embrace me with so much respect. They are the people I know will never turn their backs on me the moment I tap them. I am so so proud and grateful for them. :)

Here we go!

Marie Katherine Anne Navarro – Kathy is my very first friend in the land. We’ve known each since I was four and she was three. As a kid I’m a really shy person and she’s the outgoing one. I can’t imagine my childhood without her! We went through a lot of hard times together, partly because we are somehow related (her brother and my cousin are married) and she’s practically a sister to me. She used to be immature (she admits that), but now we’ve taken our friendship to the next level and I just know that she’s that one person who’ll stand by me no matter what.

Dunn Hill Malait – I met Dhan back in eTelecare more than 3 1/2 years ago. I admit I’m a snob when I joined our team back then but Dhan was the one who made me feel welcome along with Roselle, our kikay friend. Since then we’ve become inseparable; he’s one of those friends you would totally love to have because he never fails to make you laugh every single day you’re with him! We rarely see each other now because both of us have different careers already but it never stopped us from communicating every once in a while to check how each one is doing. Our friendship is really EPIC. I love him to the bone.

Ann Borbolla – She’s the epitome of what you call a TRUSTED FRIEND. She is never plastic, tells you right as it is, and a really really bubbly person too. I love talking to her all the time because she always makes me feel good about myself even though I have done something awful. Ann knows most of the trials that have come my way this year and she never gets tired listening to my woes. She’s the one I miss the most when I left eTelecare, because our working relationship plus the friendship is really great and is something that I will not trade for anything else in the world.

Marvin Legayo – We got close more than two years ago when we found out that we shared the same birthday, and we were inseparable ever since. Marv went through a lot of trials during the first few months of us being close, and I served as his Safeguard conscience to put it simply. Hehe. We might not talk that much this year, but I know he will always be my “kakampi.” To be honest I sometimes don’t like talking to him because he always makes me feel guilty about myself – he can see right through me and it can get freaky sometimes. Still, I trust him and he’s the best berdey ever.

Jevriel Baes – This is Jev, and I’m so grateful that we are close. He’s the type of friend who has complete balance over his friends. Some people might get stressed that their friends are not okay with each other, but Jev is not. He respects every one as a person and does not makes things worse by spilling each one’s secrets. Trusting someone is by gut-feel, and with Jev, I know I made the right choice. His simple “Hi friend, how are you?” at least twice or thrice a week means a lot to me, because I feel that I am never alone. He has this weird vibe going on wherein he always knows that I’m not okay and then suddenly texts me with feel-good quotes. If I have to grant total nirvana to one friend for a lifetime, it’s gonna be him.

Alain Guinmapang – He’s everybody’s friend. And I’m not exaggerating. I guess he’s the most liked person I know because he’s sincere with everything he say or do. I will never forget our one on one drinking session before and I just poured everything to him – and he listened like an older brother. What I like about him is how everyone thinks that he’s a role model, but he just laughs and tells me his flaws – making me feel that it’s alright to make mistakes. I idolize him as person – Alain has a good heart.

Jann Benedict Ty – Meet my most complicated best friend in the world. Jibay (or Bene) is one of the oldest friends I have, knowing him since fourth grade. We just got close few years ago and we share a lot of kabaliwan together. He must have known the MOST STUPID and UNACCEPTABLE things I did and he always just laughs at me like it was the most normal thing in the world. He goofs around a lot, but when he’s serious, he has the most sensible advice to give each and every time. I admire his maturity in life (even though people think otherwise) and his ability to treat the girl he loves like a princess. His happiness is addicting.

Marie France Castillo – Neng and I have a looong history together as friends. What I love about her is that she’s probably the most thoughtful friend I have. When she moved to France back in 6th grade, she would snail mail letters to all her friends and tell us how sad she were being away with us. She’s the type who’d rather listen to you than talk about herself. Our friendship has moved up a notch especially that she’s now carrying my godson. Through my best times and worst times, Neng never left the picture – and I know she never will.

Mhia Malang – Mhia is a loyal friend. When she say that she’s your friend, trust me – she will stay true to that. The word friendship really means a lot to her, and she is never plastic. She’s really makulit and can get irritating at times LOL, but I’d rather have a makulit but honest friend rather than miss tahimik but talks trash behind your back. One single text to her that I am depressed and she’s on my way to my house to bring me my happy food. It sucks though that her good intention over the people she care about sometimes get misinterpreted. I’m lucky that I am one of the very few people who saw the best in her.

Kristian Joyce Antonio-Jaraplasan – And lastly, here’s Nene. She’s my sister, my confidante, my personal shopper, my best friend. We used to fight like crazy but I guess our maturity knew better than that now. I can’t imagine my life without her – she knows me to the bone. I am grateful to God that she is my sister, but more so, I am grateful that she is the mother of my most beloved godson Kiann. She looks out for me because she knows that I have the most unfortunate love life in the world, LOL. Every friend of mine can vanish BUT her.

Having these guys around is enough reason for me to feel truly blessed. Do you have friends whom you’re confident that will never turn your back on you too? Feels so good right? :)

TTYL!

Back to Memory Lane in #SentiSabado.

Last Saturday, Sept. 4, Pinoy tweeps recalled their childhood yesteryears over Twitter via hashtag #sentisabado (Sentimental Saturday). Pinoys all over the world enjoyed reminiscing their grade school days so much that #sentisabado even become a trending topic that day.

I don’t have Internet the entire Saturday and I am mostly asleep in the afternoon until midnight since I went out for a drink early morning so I wasn’t able to participate; but backtracking the tweets of the people that I follow made me smile since I can relate so well! This sort of trip down to memory lane was first made by Bob Ong in his book “ABNKKBSNPLAKo?!” – and now, it looks like it’s gonna be a trend every Saturdays for Pinoys in Twitterverse.

Let’s take a look at some of the posts by celebs that I follow on Twitter:

Don’t you just love Twitter? It’s my one and only source of NEWS, CHISMIS, QUOTES, and now…CHILDHOOD MEMORY REMINDER. I guess what made this event such a hit is because it all made us smile on how simple life were ten to fifteen years ago. I’ll do a detailed trip to memory lane next week on my next post once I join in the fun this Saturday.

Till next Saturday’s episode of #SentiSabado!!

TTYL!

The Curious Case of the Jocks Addicted.

It’s a modern day anti-romance: Boy meets girl, boy hooks up with girl, girl falls for the boy, boy leaves and moves on to other girls, girl cries and becomes obsessed with the boy. Pretty classic right? On scenarios like this, who hasn’t heard of the saying excuse “Don’t hate the player, hate the game?” It made me think, “why the hell not??”

Truth be told, when a guy is unattainable or uninterested, girls go gaga and makes us want him even more. Taken or uninterested men appeal desirable to us more than they actually are simply because are brains are wired to want things that are hard to get. As they say, IT’S THE THRILL OF THE CHASE, baby!

Case in point: Ever wanted a sold-out handbag? Say, a limited edition LV Takashi Murakami Neverfull? You buy tickets to the only event that will sell that right? I believe it’s what they call “frustration-attraction.” The fact that the guy is an insensitive jock and the belief that he can change all because of your undying love just amplifies your lust. Well, guess what honey – he can, but he won’t.

But of course, persistent the lil critter that you are – despite the sudden silent treatment, you still text, call & email. After a couple of ignored texts, you still give reasoning for their failure to respond: “No load?” “Maybe he’s sleeping..” “He’s prolly at work.” ..and this goes on and on until you get tired and finally admit it to yourself: you’re expired my dear – GAME OVER. It hits you with the realization that if you are important to him, he will make the time (READ). But he didn’t. Ouch. It’s like the end of a wrestling match: Total smack down.

Why do we keep on thinking about the one who isn’t thinking about us? Have we noticed that we may be losing our self-esteem and in the long run, our self-respect too? Is it really that important to be validated and liked by the person who didn’t appreciate us the first time around? “Maybe he misses me and will change na coz he doesn’t wanna lose me..” Will we ever stop trying to figure out why he’s suddenly hot-and-cold (aside from the obvious reason that he’s a slut)?

Instead of blaming the game, yes – blame him. Tell yourself that it’s his loss, not the other way around. And instead of envying the “flavor of the night,” feel bad for her because people don’t change overnight. Insensitive jocks and players have a loooooooong history to go (READ). Why? Because they are the masters of their own game – and you are just a “saling pusa.”

Never forget that women are made to be confident and intelligent. Confident enough to believe that you deserve better; and intelligent enough not to repeat the same mistake twice.

GO GIRL POWER!

 

TTYL!

Parang Kayo, Pero Hindi.

PSEUDO-RELATIONSHIP: Others call it MU or mutual understanding, flings, harmless flirting, or even FUBU (if there are sexual encounters involved). A stage wherein the people involved are obviously more than friends, but not quite lovers. No courtship, you just let the gestures do the talking for you. You don’t even consider it as exclusively dating. You go out, text sweet nothings every single day, hold hands, make out, even have sex. Pero bawal magselos, bawal magdemand. In short, parang kayo -- pero hindi.

Recently, someone emailed me an article on pseudo-relationships (which gave me an idea for this blog entry) and it enlightened me because finally – I found just the exact right term for what I know is existing and yet very confusing for most. So now we know what’s it called -- why do people settle in this kind of setup? Well, based from my observation from people I know (and yeah, personal experiences as well), pseudo-relationships happen for several reasons.

First obvious reason is the refusal to commit. Either one or both of them. They want to play around and “enjoy” being single. Both are single, but usually one or both don’t wanna go through the drama of being in-love and change their relationship status on facebook. This normally happens when one of them just got out of a pretty messy relationship and wants to have fun. Classic.

Second, when one is committed to someone else and the other is the “alternate.” In short, third party. This is kinda hard core (in my opinion), especially since may mga naaargabyadong tao: the legit one and the third party. Most of the time, it’s the boys (I refuse to call them “men”) who usually enter in this kind of cheating setup but I’ve heard stories on girls too. Either way, having a “part-time partner” is a little too pathetic. How sad.

Third, the feeling of being accepted and loved. You refuse to be alone. For some, being single for quite some time equates to not being loved. “Buti na yun, kesa wala..” Meaning, you settle for a playtime while waiting for the real thing. You want to experience the kilig feeling again, excluding the tremendous responsibility of commitment. Who doesn’t want to feel being important? It is fun – until you get to question yourself if you wanna be just a stop-over or eventually be his/her destination.

Pseudo-relationships are indeed fun – in the beginning. It feels good to have someone asking you how your day was, constant movie-buddy, ka-call and text till wee hours of the night. But eventually, reality hits you when you start falling for that person and he or she is, well..not feeling the same thing. What if you already invested all your emotions and refuse to entertain other people – pero siya, out there and flirting with other people too? Ouch diba? You can’t demand nor even ask, kasi – reality check: HINDI NGA KAYO EH.

Buti sana kung pseudo-pain din lang ang mararanasan mo. Kaso hindi eh. The relationship is false, but the pain is real. And somehow, you hope that everything will go back to the way it was. You begin to rethink what went wrong, blame yourself and act all miserable. You try to win back that person, only to find out that that person is already in another pseudo-relationship with someone else.

As cliché as it may sound, but time really heals all wounds. It’s all about mind-setting. It will come to a point that you will have to choose how you want to live your life. Do you want to be happy and live for the moment even if it’s just a game? Or do you want to stop settling for pseudo-boyfriends/girlfriends and wait for the real thing?

For those who are into pseudo-relationships, brace yourselves as you are about to break one’s heart – either your partner or yourself. You know why? Kasi ang “parang kayo, pero hindi” stage ay bihirang nagiging totoo. Usually, hanggang dun lang siya – almost, but not quite.

 

TTYL!

How Do You Stop Yourself From Crying?

Each of one of us go through some tough times every once in a while and sometimes, all we wanna do is just cry. Bato ang taong hindi pa umiiyak sa buong buhay niya. I admit I am such a cry baby, I cry over the simplest things. Sabi nga ng bestfriend ko, parang sirang gripo daw yung mata ko. Crying allows us to express our sadness, or in my case, even happiness (as in kahit simpleng tawa naluluha nako). But what do you do when you felt the sudden urge to cry at the most inappropriate places? Say for instance, you are in the middle of work, or surrounded by people you hardly know? How do you hold it in?

A simple Google search will lead you to a Wiki-How article on a step-by-step guide if you need to prevent yourself from crying. Some of the items listed worked for me – like inhaling through your nose and exhaling through your mouth, and swallowing saliva; some doesn’t work – smiling, laughing, rolling your eyes; and some I haven’t tried yet – like fixing math problems.

There are several items listed on the article, you just gotta choose which one works for you. Though of course, that only works on that specific moment. Eventually, it is still best if you let it out. Iyakin lang naman ako when it comes to matters of the heart, and my mom constantly knocking on my room made me practice impulse crying prevention. And after a few heartbreaks, I know how to prevent myself from crying when the need calls for it.

1. Loud RnB songs on iTunes. Make sure your songs are properly grouped as you don't wanna stumble upon a "Stolen" or an "I Love You Goodbye" song after the entire Lady Gaga album.
2. Sheldon Cooper of "The Big Bang Theory." He's a no-fail upper, only he reminded me of the very reason why I felt the need to cry.
3. Gossip about someone else's love life and act all joe-the-mango and give your unsolicited two cents.
4. Call a trusted friend and tell him/her: "Humor me, now." I did it and I eventually stopped sobbing, I'm lucky I have a friend who just knows what to do to make me stop crying w/o even asking why.
5. BLOG BLOG BLOG. And this is precisely why I am typing and typing and typing and typing.

We all have our own ways of coping – though let’s admit, some of us kind of “enjoy” lingering through the pain – causing us to cry and cry even more. In my case though, I prefer to go through it and cry my heart out. But I set a deadline. A friend also told me: “It’s all about mind-setting.” It’s like, “Sige I’m gonna cry all I want – pero 7 days from now I should not turn back anymore. Dapat I’m busy doing something else na.” The length of time depends on the gravity of one’s pain, and only you can tell when you’re ready to stop dehydrating yourself and do something useful.

I still have 5 days.

What's In My Bag?

Hey guys, time to play "What's In My Bag." This is inspired by Cosmo's Style & Beauty segment of the same name. Now, just like other girls -- the contents of my bag changes every so often, and the one I will be showing you is my usual "work-mode bag."

My Trusty Handbag:

My favorite bag ever. It's a Ralph Lauren Houndstooth Handbag I bought about a year and a half ago. I love this bag bec it's very roomy and formal enough for work but decent enough to bring in spontaneous night-outs.

Girbaud Wallet - I don't really like using wallets bec I like to just stuff in money in my pocket and my bag pocket. But I had to bring cards with me recently so I had to use a wallet. This is the only wallet that I have which I bought more than two years ago I think.

Cigarettes - Yes I do smoke but really, this pack has been with me for more than 5 days now bec I only smoke when I felt the need to -- which is not so often. This one goes to the trash after this blog.

Avon Refined White Foundation - I don't shop for make-up and this was just given to me by my mom. I like how it can be used just as a plain face powder and a lasting foundation in one.

Hairbrush - Who in the world doesn't have a hairbrush? I'd die without it.

Alcohol - I just had to had to one.

Eyeglasses - 200/200 eye grade ain't a joke honey. Sucks.

Avon Ultra Moisture Rich Lipstick in Knockout Pink & Heaven - I am allergic to almost ALL lipsticks except for three brands (based from what I have tried so far): Avon, Maybelline & MAC. I am afraid to try something new bec my lips really gets chapped at first then it would swell until it gets cuts just like I ate blade. It's that serious. Up to now I don't know what ingredient in most lipsticks I am allergic to that is not present in Avon, Maybelline and MAC. Last Christmas I got a Makeup For Ever lipstick from a friend and I just looooove the color -- but since I am allergic to it I had to give it to my sister. Haaay.

Work ID - Yes, I work at Ingram Micro as a tech slave. Kidding. I love the laid-back environment here. :)

iPod Classic 120gb & Western Digital's My Passport 320gb Hard Drive - I had to debate with myself before whether I should buy an iTouch or a Classic. At that time I was so addicted to watching a lot of tv series (GG, One Tree Hill, HIMYM) that I settled for a Classic since I want those tv series with me during those bored moments. It functions as a backup drive for my pictures too. The USB hard drive was given by my kuya from Guam, I carry it with me most of the time because I love downloading and installing and copying stuff online.

Blackberry Bold 9000 - I just LOVE my Blackberry. I have been a BB user for a year and a half now and I couldn't imagine having any other phone aside from this. It's true when they say: Once you got a BB, you will NEVER turn your back on it. It's a must-have gadget for getting things done. Seriously.

Samsung U900 Soul - I sold my initial BB phone (which is a Pearl 8220 Flip) and got this a few months back as a spare phone for my Sun SIM. You won't see this in the main pic above bec this is what I used to take a picture of it. I love the 5 megapix and the flash, main reason why I don't bring my digicam anymore bec this can do the work already. This image then was taken using my BB.

So there you go! Now if you'll excuse me..I have to throw away my old cigs to the trash.

TTYL,

Like, OMG Baby–DJ Earworm

I super love this mashup! My friend showed this to me and I keep playing it on and on. I suddenly miss partying!! Gotta hit the clubs soon. :D

DJ Earworm– “Tiktok,” “OMG,” “Baby” mashup. :)

The Dream Is Real. ~ Inception

WARNING: May contain spoilers!

I am the type of movie-goer who doesn’t like action films, and before watching anything I’m not familiar with, I usually watch the trailer first online so I have a good idea of the storyline. Anyway, a good friend of mine was raving about Inception since last week and asked me to watch it with him. So I googled it and watched the trailer. I also read a few notes on the movie, and a lot of times it mentioned that “You really gotta pay attention to get a full grasp of it.” Pretty intrigued on why reviews said that “it can be confusing for the weak-minded,” I was suddenly pretty hyped to watch it!

The film, directed by Christopher Nolan of “The Dark Knight,” is massively original (I would never thought of that kind of story ever!), engrossing, complex, and wildly entertaining. Headlining the movie is none other than Leonardo DiCaprio who plays the role of Dom Cobb, an extractor who specializes in reading people’s minds by lurking in their dreams. In the world of Inception, technology has been developed that allows dream-sharing or extraction – a technique through which several people can inhabit one’s dream world. This ability of Cobb made him the most wanted man in the world of corporate espionage. However, things took a turn when businessman Saito (played by Ken Watanabe) offered him to do the reverse of extraction: Inception – which plants a completely foreign idea into someone’s dream that could change the target’s personality forever. The real heart of the film is its emotional core (with all the sci-fi elements that came with it), as the protagonist is both a professional thief as well as a heartbroken man on the inside. I think the only reason the audience care about the conclusion is because we empathize with Cobb.

Several reviews compared Inception to Matrix, and I can understand why mainly bec of the killer fight scenes – the zero-gravity action is like nothing I have ever seen before!

Inception works on so many levels – although on most times you will find yourself asking what is real and what is imaginary. The line between those two is blurred, causing not only the characters in the movie, but the audience themselves to question such (“OMG dream lang pala ulit yun!”). The story goes as deep as 4 levels (a dream within a dream, within a dream, within a dream) and could at first render you confused (I did! Hehe). As the movie concludes though, this intricate setup pays off as each layer is unpeeled perfectly. So you really gotta pay attention!

Admittedly, Inception is not the easiest film to watch but Nolan did an AMAZING job in making it as understandable as possible. I think a psych major would best appreciate it as it deals with mind-reading and dreams. I am an IT by profession so pardon me if I had to watch it twice (hurriedly watched it again as soon as I got home) to fully understand some of the events. And when you do get a full grasp of the movie, trust me it’s truly worth it! The entire story is so perfectly written that each and every piece fits perfectly together to provide for a very satisfying tale. This will surely bag several Oscar’s – best movie of the year!!

Pro: Truly amazing storyline, fight scenes are a must-see!
Con: Can be confusing and may prompt you to watch it several times to fully understand each and every piece.

TTYL!

The BRO Code–Decoded!

I recently finished reading the book "The Bro Code," by Barney Stinson (How I Met Your Mother) and I find it generally amusing. The bond between men (or BRO's) has always been an interest to me, and this book laid out point by point the unwritten rules (now obviously written, lol) which each BRO need to honor as a tribute to their "brotherhood." I found most of these rules funny, and some I've already heard of. So here.. I handpicked a few never-before-written-rules from the book which had me re-think if Barney is indeed straight or not. LOL

 

Article 5: Whether he cares about sports or not, a Bro cares about sports.
* Come to think of it, I have never met a STRAIGHT guy who isn't interested in ANY sport. Or at least pretends to be interested, in the case of a closet guy.

Article 14: If a chick inquires about another Bro's sexual history, a Bro shall honor the 'Brode of silence' and play dumb. Better to have women think all men are stupid than tell the truth.
* Hear hear, trust us guys..we chicks (yes, I consider myself a chick, got a problem w/ that?) could tell whenever your exaggerating. Most of the guys I know (those I never dated, at least) are really bad liars.

Article 16: A Bro should be able, at any time, to recite the following reigning champions: Super Bowl, World Series, and Playmate of the Year.
* Hahaha! Well in our case here in the Philippines, NBA champ, UAAP champ and FHM's #1 Sexiest Woman of the Year.

Article 19: A Bro shall not sleep with another Bro's sister. However, a Bro shall not get angry if another Bro says, "Dude, your sisters hot!"
* This is one of the classics. Somehow, your Bro's family up to the second degree is part of the group called "The Untouchables." Not unless you're willing to get ousted in the brotherhood. lol

Article 22: There is no law that prohibits a woman from being a Bro.
* Thank you Barney for realizing that! We make excellent Bros. Why? Because we can translate and decode the confusing and contradictory rules that comprise "The Chick Code." So admit it guys, you freakin' need girl friends.

Article 27: A Bro never removes his shirt in front of other Bros, unless at a resort pool or the beach.
* (In slow motion, guy on the bench takes off his shirt -- while a bro on the pool side drooling over the chiseled body right in front of him) Hahahaha!

Article 34: Bros cannot make eye-contact during a Devil's Three-way.
* Oh my, that could turn ugly. LOL

Article 35: A Bro never rents a chick flick.
* That's because everything now can be downloaded via torrent; and the risk of being caught red-handed of a chick flick DVD is a social suicide.

Article 41: A Bro never cries (Exceptions- Watching Field of Dreams, ET or a sports legend right (only first time he retires)).
* And I'm sure we all disagree to this. But ET?? Crying over ET?? I am really starting to doubt your sexuality Barney... LOL

Article 44: A Bro never applies sunscreen to another Bro.
* Hahaha! 'Nuff said.

Article 45: A Bro never wears jeans to a strip club.
* Okay, this seriously puzzled me -- so what do guys wear on a strip club? Can a Bro reader enlighten me on this please?

Article 47: A Bro never wears pink. Not even in Europe.
* I have a close friend who likes pink gadgets, not pink shirts..so he's still in compliance w/ this article. LOL

Article 48: A Bro never publicly reveals how many chicks he's banged.
* Anyone who does that is not a Bro but a freakin’ ELF.

Article 60: A Bro shall honor they father and mother, for they were once Bro and chick. However, a Bro never thinks of them in that capacity.
* Totally agree. Just imagining that my parents were once a bro and a chick is just wrrrooooooong on so many levels.

Article 66: If a Bro suffers pain due to the permanent dissolution of a relationship with a lady friend, a Bro shall offer nothing more than a 'that sucks, man' and copious quantities of beer. A Bro will also refrain from pejorative commentary – desired or not - regarding said lady friend for a period of three months, when the requisite BACKSLIDE WINDOW has closed.
* This is also known as: (Read) The Three-Month Rule.

Article 75: A Bro automatically enhances another Bro's job description when introducing him to a chick.
* A Technical Support Agent = IT Consultant; Service Crew = Marketing Assistant; BUM = "Taking a Break." (Give us a break, if a chick is really into your Bro, she wouldn't care.)

Article 76: If a Bro is on the phone with a chick while in front of his Bros and, for whatever reason, desires to say "I love you" he shall first excuse himself from the room or employ a subsonic barry white-esque tone.
* Apparently, for some reason, saying "I love you" on the phone in front of other bros is humiliating. Whatever.

Article 77: Bros don't cuddle.
* Sure you do!

Article 83: A Bro shall, at all costs, honor the Platinum Rule: Never, ever, ever, ever "love" thy neighbor. In particular, a Bro shall never mix it up romantically with a co-worker.
* Ha! As  they say.. The workplace is a place for well..work! If you wanna play, do it in a place at least 500 kilometers away from your office. If your professional image is important to you that is.

Article 86: When a Bro meets a chick he shall endeavor to find out where she fits on the Hot/Crazy Scale before pursuing her.
* I knew it! Guys have a mentally-programmed numbering scale whenever they meet chicks. E.g. "Hey man I met this chick named Kat and she's a 9/10! 9 for being hot and 10 for being crazy." LOL

Article 88: If a Bro, for whatever reason must drive another Bro's car, he shall not adjust the preprogrammed radio stations, the mirrors, or the seat position, even if this last requirement results in the Bro trying to drive the vehicle as a giant praying mantis would.
* From my experience, about 70% of guys are obsessed with their cars. And I understand them because they treat it as an extension of their bedroom -- everything should remain untouched no matter what.

Article 89: A Bro shall always say yes in support of a Bro.
* In short: Walang laglagan!

Article 92: A Bro keeps his booty calls at a safe distance.
* To be safe, especially if one is committed, a guy should not exploit his sexcapades and spare his bro the responsibility to answer phone calls from another bro's girlfriends in wee hours of the night.

Article 99: A Bro never asks for directions when lost.
* Especially if you had to ask from a chick. Afraid of hurting your ego sweetie? As Rico Yan once said from the movie "Got to Believe" -- You can suggest but never direct! (Fine!)

Exception: A Bro may ask for directions for a hot chick who seems to know the area.
Exception: A Bro may ask for directions from a hot chick even if she also appears lost.
Exception: A Bro may ask for directions from a hot chick even if he is not lost at all.
-- Ayan diyan kayo magaling!! Tsk tsk!

Article 101: If a Bro asks another Bro to keep a secret, he shall take that secret to his grave. This is what makes them Bros, not chicks.
* I agree with this. That is why I have more bros than chick friends.

Article 113: A Bro abides by the accepted age-difference formula when pursuing a young chick:
Acceptable age difference formula
Chick's age = Guy's age divided by 2, + 7
(Shall add chart shortly)
* Interesting, isn't it?

Article 120: A Bro always calls another Bro by his last name.
* This has always been the norm especially in high school and I find it cute. Too bad though if your last name is too common like, Delos Reyes, or Antonio, or Dela Cruz.

Article 133: A Bro only claims a fart after first accusing at least one other Bro.
* Revelation: Chicks do it too. LOL

Article 136: When interrogated by a girlfriend about a bachelor party, a Bro shall offer nothing more than an uninterested "It was okay."
* Sounding bored just doesn't work anymore folks. Try a different approach like "Twas one hell of a night! I should've taken a video so I could have showed it to you."

Article 150: No sex with your Bro's ex.
* AHHHHH… THE RULE OF ALL RULES. We've seen a lot of failed brotherhood because of non-compliance to this article. And why is this considered the Golden Rule? Well, for some brotherhood (which I have no comment on) it's like uummm...tasting your bro too. And if you're really a bro not in a million years would you ever consider that.

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So there! I have an e-book of this so if any of you are interested in getting a copy, please post a comment so I can send it to you via email. If you are a chick, you may find some of the entries a little boring because it’s not something that we can relate to; but if you’re a bro – then this is a must-read! Keep in mind that, this set of rules is supposed to be UNWRITTEN so better have a good sense of humor before you start reading it.

TTYL!

Kat Antonio is in a relationship with NO ONE.

I joined Facebook more than three years ago, and back then the features are still pretty basic – the “relationship status” is already there just like in Friendster but I don’t edit it since my then-boyfriend doesn’t have an account yet and I only have less than 20 friends who doesn’t even care what I publish on my wall. This social networking site boomed in the Philippines just middle of last year and me and my then-boyfriend have long broken up for me to put an “In A Relationship” status in my profile.

The first time I set it to “In A Relationship” was back in late October and alas – less than a minute after and I think I got about 6-8 comments. And after an hour? I got 36 freakin comments and likes! Wow. Same thing happens to my other friends, who – whenever they change their relationship status, will get tons of reactions from people, some they’re not even close to.

That got me thinking: Why is it important to label our relationships and using sites like Facebook to tell the world whether you’re “In A Relationship” or “It’s Complicated?” What happened to JUST LIVING? Sure, we are proud of being in-love and shouting to every person we care about that we are happily taken is normal; but what about for failed relationships? Do you really want everyone to know that you’re going through a rough road? Are you willing to explain to every single commenter about what went wrong?

..Why do we feel more secured when things are labeled, is it plainly for everyone to know what your relationship status is, or is it because this is our way of knowing that we are both on the SAME PAGE with the other person?

Guess I’ll have to change mine to “Widowed.”

 

TTYL!

Good Riddance and Bye-Bye!! (Easier said than done)

After a break-up (or in my case, a fall-out), I like to do two things – 1. go the salon for a haircut and get my nails done; 2. flush the sucker out of my system and my life. The first one is easy. A single trip to Tony & Jackey is all I need and I come out feeling really pretty and ready to party. The second thing, however, is FAR from being easy. Especially with Facebook, Twitter, Yahoo Messenger, BBM, etc.

I remember back in highschool when I could just rip off a few pictures and delete a phone number, and my ex would be BYE-BYE-BYE faster than Britney Spears’ marriage. But now, with all these social networking sites and instant messengers, I actually have to debate with myself whether or not I should go through ALL of my pictures and DE-TAG his face next to mine. And with the number of albums that I have plus tagged pics? That could seriously take hours. Hours that I’m not sure I’m willing to spend on him, at least not anymore.

Now, it might get you confused when I say that I haven’t been in a relationship in a while, say a year and a half. (ALL TOGETHER NOW: “Then why the hell are you talking about ex’es?!”) HOWEVER, I have been in-love in that span of time, twice. And yeah, both are epic fails (lol). But even though it didn’t work, I’m not the type who hold grudges – at least not for so long. It didn’t work out for a reason so leave it at that. I mean, yeah there was a point in time when I absolutely hated someone for lying. But you can only hate someone for so long that it gets tiring.

So now, yeah I’m kinda tired hating people – especially if that someone used to be really important to me and the reasons for not staying is reeeeaallly mothafucking plausible. I got no choice right? But still, it leaves me a big question on how do I get rid of him from my life when reminders of that person are everywhere and on SOOOO MANY FREAKIN’ MEDIUMS? Do I delete all of our past YM msgs and old emails?? Do I de-friend his family and bestfriends on Facebook?

How far should I go to remove someone from my life? Do I really have to dig into ALL of my web sites, IM’s and emails and delete his SOAB face out of my web page just to get closure?

Mid-year syndrome.

Okay, it’s the middle of the year and i haven’t accomplished anything yet. This blog has been empty for months now mainly because, well, there’s nothing worth writing. To be honest I am a bit disconnected with my friends for the first quarter of this year due to insanity (again) that I am still trying to cope up with. Very very few of my bestfriends knew what I have been up to and now that it’s done and over with, I am trying to go back to my old ways of emotional detachment and bringing back the social life that I’ve lost for quite some time.

I am thinking of taking a turn on the kind of blog entries to put here. Now that many people have taken an interest in reading this little rant page of mine, I think it would not be appropriate to document my emotions anymore especially if it will satisfy the craving of my beloved haters (pun intended). And since I am into tech stuff and school is coming up, I “might” use this as a portal of my thoughts on various subjects excluding my not-so-perfect lovelife (lol).

Welcome to the emotionless side of me. Ü

PS. Writing via Windows Live Writer, and I so love it!! Made my life so much easier!! Ü

school hunt!

most of my spare time recently is being spent online searching for reputable schools in the south. i have been planning to study this semester and looking for schools alone can be such a drag. here the following points i am considering:

- distance education or traditional?
- budget?
- full degree or a diploma IT course?
- nearest Cisco learning center?

for several months i have seriously considered enrolling in UPOU (www.upou.edu.ph) but never got the chance to inquire due to my very busy work schedule back in my previous company, until it was too late and the registration ended. i like the idea of self-studying since i only need a diploma for me to broaden my career options -- as being an undergrad is the only thing that hinders me from getting this job i have been wanting all along.


TTYL,

most screwed valentines day ever

been ranting to my Twitter account (http://twitter.com/katantonio) on what had just happened. been messing up a lot recently and my friends joined in on my stress too on vday.

in the past 48 hours i have learned that: my love instincts are unparalleled. never been wrong once. and in this case, yes i am deeply disappointed. friendship, when mixed with love complications -- can really make or break a group. and it sucks that your stress relievers suddenly became the cause of stress that you don't wanna be a part of them "in the mean time."

i guess i need to cool things up first.


TTYL,

till we meet again, maki.

i remember the first time i met my good friend maki when he transferred to our team in etel, he was this super perky guy that i was really annoyed at first. i used to say "ano ba to feeling close naman to," until his perkiness dragged me into being a happy person too. we talk a lot, chat a lot and text a lot -- i enjoy his company because despite being constantly sick -- you will never hear any negativity in him. he is hands down one of the most jolly person i have ever met.

he's a regular in hospitals ever since, and it would amaze me how was he able to chat with me and send me his dextrose pics while he's confined. he used to tell us, "sakit ng mayaman to no!" and then we would laugh and the guys in our team would tell him to shut up.

i will never forget this one time when i had problems of the heart. he sat beside my workstation and started to chat about this new girl he's seeing. it took him one look at me to know that i am not okay and won't stop asking me to spill what's wrong. after telling him briefly what happened, he just hugged me and joked -- "sige para sayo magbbrowse ako sa adult friend finder at ihahanap kita ng the best guy in town! kaw kasi ayaw mo sakin e!" then i laughed and felt better afterwards.

i cannot remember any incident wherein he did not hug me whenever he sees me in the hallway or along northgate. he's line is always "katsu!!!" then he would open his arms really wide until i go the other way to avoid his hug. when he left etel, it hadn't stopped him from staying in touch with me. he's one of my daily quote senders and would always text me when he's around northgate so we could meet up.

we went home together twice last november, he's already in hsbc and he would text me telling me that he's along the waiting shed waiting for me. i told him my plans of leaving the company and he was bragging to me the cool discount card from Victoria Court that he got from his friend. i laughed at him and told him "eh wala ka naman paggagamitan nyan e!" and then he said, "display lang baket!"

he would force me to go on early break just so i could go down and smoke with him during his break time at hsbc. and during ondoy days he was at the office and waited for me so he could share my umbrella, "masisira getup ko!" -- when all he's wearing is his familiar blue jacket.

my last memory of him was last month, it was my last day at etel and i was walking around northgate -- he's at his usual spot smoking. he called me and asked me if i can wait for him so we can go home again together. i was pretty tired then and i wanted to go home asap so i said i couldn't wait for him. few steps forward, he called me again and walked toward me and whispered, "ayusin mo shirt mo sa likod nakikitaan ka na, ikaw talaga." .. and i never even remembered to say thank you. then a month after, he's gone.

i could go on and on about all the happy and sad moments i had with him, but i know our friendship remains in my heart. i didn't know it was this painful losing someone, he is not just a colleague -- he is one hell of a good friend.

 

thanks for being a part of my life maki, i love you my friend -- i will miss you forever.

TTYL,