New Online Home! :)

Diary of a Whiny Kid II

Peeps! I'm moving and I guess this is really it. Though I still have no idea  what will happen to this blog of mine. I'd like to introduce to you my new home.

It's not entirely fixed yet, a little more tweaking and some personal banner and theme and I guess I'm good to go.

Thank you for being with me. Seriously, it's been awesome knowing that as I checked my RSS there are actually subscribers who follow the things I write.

I hope you guys join me as I make new memories in my new online home.

Au Revoir! :)

Maureen invades entertainment online

Five questions I never imagined an editor would EVER ask me, a straight guy editor at that.
1. What's your sign?
2. Do you like entertainment?
3. Who's your favorite celebrity? local and foreign.
4. Do you watch movies? When's the last time you watched one?
5. Do you listen to Justin Bieber? Do you like his music? Are you familiar with him?

Five questions that changed my life.:D

Five questions which ushered my week-long or could be several months-long training in the entertainment online department of Manila Bulletin.

Our office is a bit smaller than my former office but I can say that it was okay, I have my very own and new computer to boot so I should definitely just shut my mouth.

The boss, as with any other, exudes an intimidating aura. But you know, I feel like he's the type you'd eventually get along with as you mingle with him. I figured that while I was looking at him, I mean a guy as an entertainment section editor?? What kind of mockery is that? By the looks of him, you’d know that he takes his job seriously and therefore you too should do the same.

So this is the 'big' surprise, I'm now under the entertainment online department of MB and so far so good. I came in yesterday and already managed to finish one article.

You may find the link here, it's not a major article, but yeah, it served its purpose. hihi

Dear Mama

No amount of words can describe how cool, forgiving, kindhearted, supportive, inane, sympathetic, attentive, amusing, understanding, valuable and dear you are to all of us. Thank you for the love and the words of wisdom which I will surely pass on to my kids. Thank you also for letting me live and learn the harsh reality we call life. If not for your unconventional yet effective ways of raising us, we would not have been as open-minded and ready as we are right now for what the world has to throw upon us.

You are certainly nothing short of awesome!

Happy Mother's Day!!! WE <3 YOU to bits, forever and ever!!!

Bohol 2008

Mother's Day 2010

Now let's get into our eating and to watching Manny Pacquiao's fight :D

Hello followers!

Over the couple of months that I've lurked, posted, reblogged and liked things on Tumblr I was able to reach 102 followers today. HURRAY!! 

Not that it can change the world or it has so much gravity that it can reshape our history but I'm just so glad that 102 folks think that my blog is worth following. It's not too much compared to my officemate's 22k followers but I'm quite satisfied with it. :) Considering that my posts were pretty off my track and somewhat teeny bopper-ish, I get a few likes and reblogs every now and then and that is what matters. 

Meanwhile, my blog, where I increasingly spill my unsaid thoughts has gained another follower. Yay! From 21, my followers now rose to 22. LOL  at least I have readers who think that my blog isn't some crappy site with negligible posts. :) 

In other news, I've noticed an innovation in blogspot's interface. So to my dear blogspot user friends out there, the admin just added a new feature from which we could see and indicate our locations. I don't know what's the need for such but I think it gives a little bragging rights to people who are trotting the globe while writing their posts. Whoever they are. However, it would have been better if it was GPS-configured making it quite authentic as opposed to its current setup wherein you just need to type your location. Oh well, this is just me thinking aloud.

Dear John

The perpetrator of chick flicks that always round up as the ultimate tearjerkers. The guy who pulls on the right heart strings in every girl. Says the right words that create not only ripples but massive waves in the ocean of ever so sensitive emotions of women. Paints heart-wrenching moments as vivid as a picture set in a clear blue sky,only, it's not meant to elate, but to draw to the surface heaps of those deep-seated despair and hopelessness in terms of finding that one true love entrenched in all of us.

When it comes to stories that fulfill the promise of relatability with the matters of the heart, Nicholas Sparks often over delivers and goes beyond run-of-the-mill romance novels.

Last time I read a Nicholas Sparks novel, I wept. No, I wailed!

I wailed till my eyes were fiery red leaving it puffy the next morning. Wondering what I read? It's The Notebook. His first novel which I am quite positive that no one among my readers would contest to not be a phenomenal tearjerker.

In the case of Dear John, as usual the book is always better. But then Amanda Seyfried + Channing Tatum together is simply a feast to the eyes for me to pass on, that I just had to convert my full blast entry into a photo post.

Remember how much I raved about Blue Valentine as a movie depicting reality among married couples who reach their horrid demise? Dear John roughly falls within the same category. Showcasing the very reality of excitement,  dilemma, and hope among couples who embark on a long-distance relationship(LDR).

While LDRs show enough promise that it actually deludes so many youngsters on jumping into it head on, clueless, idealistic and positive that they could emerge from it victoriously conquering the monster that is longing. Truth is, it almost rarely happens in the harsh world called reality. 

Despite the burning passion and pacts of picture-perfect future together, Savannah Curtis' two-week, whirlwind love affair  with military sergeant John Tyree ends bittersweet. As John gave premium to the salvation of his soul in doing what is right, than giving in to the urge of winning Savannah back and ruining a what would have been happy, albeit misfortune-stricken marriage.

The story above all respects showed how distance, whether we agree to it or not, plays a definitive role in every relationship thereby shaping which directions it is bound to go. To go abloom or to wane.

I am absolutely enamored with John Tyree. He's too receptive, not to mention, romantic for words. At the risk of sounding biased, this is perhaps the best movie to have given me a good perspective on how men generally deal with matters of the heart -in a certain level of disquiet and exclusivity that is nearly impossible to sense.

If you're gonna ask whether the book made me cry? The answer would be yes.

If you're gonna follow it up 'how about the movie?' However disappointed I was with the striking changes that they adapted to the film, I still cried on certain scenes. Particularly, when John confronted Savannah about not even bothering to seek his assent on their breakup. It made me weep like a child, for it was too real. Too real that I once did it myself in the past and ended up regretting it until this day.

Catastrophically real, that book was.

Even though a part of me sympathizes with John's searing pain upon the choices made by Savannah for their relationship, another half of my heart goes for Savannah. Understanding why she wished to move on with her life and carve new destinies while in reality, she barely touched her fate nor changed her heart may quite be foolish, mental even. But being in a LDR myself, I can say that sometimes we cannot help but wonder what it was like to not choose the off-beaten path and just go with the flow like everyone else.

It's perfectly human. Wondering, you know.

But the moment that we feel certain that we wanted to break free from the relationship, fear of the unknown washes whatever bravado we boast of and the next thing we know we find ourselves whimpering back to the knees of our beloved. Okay, this part didn't really happen in the story. That's a personal reflection of sorts.  

Ultimately, it's a film for people who's long been seeking for the answer 'what is true love?' if you have watched it and still have no idea what the heck it truly was at the core, then you might wanna pay a visit to the nearest sanitarium; for something IS definitely wrong you.

Shopping Song

Last night was one of the many impetuous shopping nights with my ever-so-impulsive friend Pao. While I've made a personal pact that I won't get my hands on another shopping bag or step in another boutique for the next six months (which we all know is truly next to impossible) after my Bangkok shopping spree, I should have known that a trip to the mall with Pao would mean every bit of restraint going down the drain.

Promises are mere words for Pao. As usual. He sure has this aura capable all the control I've mustered with just one appeal.

To cut the story short, at around 8:30 in the evening we had those "we-must-choose-fast-otherwise-the-boutique-is-gonna-close-down-and-we-might-end-up-not-getting-anything-for-ourselves" type of shopping in mall. And get this, while we're running around the spacious Forever 21 and throwing clothes here and there, we were catching up with the recent events in our lives. That kind of multi-tasking is only made possible by Pao's unvarying time issues. For the longest time, we always end up doing things in a hurry while we're together. A pattern which I suppose is far from having a facelift.

People often pass judgment on us as unmindful of our surroundings when we're together. An ill-founded conclusion, if I may say. Startled as everyone else, we're both more reactive to the environment when placed side-by-side. Regardless of the depth of our conversation, if something caught our attention we would instantly voice it out, thereby soliciting reaction from the other one.

Thirty minutes of scouring Forever 21, a cute song that's been drifting on the background for a couple of minutes already appealed to our 'exacting' music taste. That, we just had to make a side-trip to the cashier to ask for its title. Seeing the look of confusion painted on the face of the person behind the counter after repeated questions led us to agree that she has no idea what the title is nor where where we could find the music player in their store.

Thus, the need for my special googling powers a while ago, which practically took half of my entire work day. But I don't mind. It felt oddly satisfying to have found her song after weeding out a bunch of hubbub singers.

Here's our recently discovered ultimate Forever 21 shopping song. LOL



Browsing through her uploaded videos, I saw the video of her cover to one of the most played songs in my iPod. She's an impressive singer. Save for her slutty outfit and untimely dancing, I think i'm so close into wishing I'd trade places with her.


Meanwhile, the month of May is peeping its tails already. A few more days and we say hello to another month.

As for me, May means I say hello to my training in another department in preps for the online version of the magazine. Until now, I can't categorically say how I feel about that indefinite training period. But I'm sure the word I'm searching for is not aversion. I'll let you know how it goes. A tiny hint though: it's probably one of the few beats that I'm not very much fond of.

The break in

My years and years of honing my critical spy-skills by watching and reading mystery and thriller films actually paid off last night.

Around 8:30 in the evening, everyone of us in our house are on edge. Gaping our mouths, feeling our intense heartbeat and muffling every sound that we can produce, as we watch someone ACTUALLY break into the house of the of our neighbor's home -- directly across ours. Many times I've seen burglar grope in the dark as they force themselves to enter a home --- in movies. But seeing it take place, right before my eyes, was nerve-racking!

It was 3am yesterday when my Mom saw the owners of the house leave for their holy week vacation, which is why it came as a shock when our househelp saw someone jump over their fence and breeze his way into their house. Someone unfamiliar and clearly not part of their family. After a few minutes of spying and arguing whether he is actually a family or an abominable burglar, we came to the conclusion that he is indeed breaking in. So my Dad rang the barangay troops and reported the presence of an unknown persona inside our neighbors house, to which they surprisingly responded quickly.

Long story short, the burglar was caught red-handed. Right inside the gates of the house with the incriminating front door --- ajar. And if you think that was already nail-biting? We were infinitely horrified upon learning that the kid, yes the one who broke in was a 14-year-old boy, was actually the son of someone whose house is just beside ours!!! Can you imagine that?? As my Mom puts it, "Hindi man lang humanap ng ibang lugar para gawin ang kabulastugan nya! talagang sa kapitbahay pa ginawa."


Moral of the story for us was to keep our guards up at all times, especially now that we have a suspect who's just a firewall away from us.

Now to my dear readers, keep safe and stay solemn this holy week. If you could put off your earthly desires, do so, all in the name of Jesus who died for our redemption. :)

Last day

Very up in the air-ish shot of Suvarnabhumi airport, I loved that film by the way.

This photo officially concludes my week-long indulgence in Thailand. Awww. :(

Apart from bullying Marky before we left, we barely did nothing productive during Crae and I's last day. Nothing riveting happened but rather something maddening casted shadow over the thrills of the getaway. For the second time around I was, 'left behind' during our shopping spree. Now who would love that? I certainly hated it!

In the midst of the stinging left portion of my body and the second-scour of the Platinum mall I got tired and walked slower than usual, and before I knew it the two (Crae and Marky) were out of sight. Looking for them in a six-floor mall with smarting feet and back is not what I signed up for, but I did nonetheless -- to no avail.

With less than a hundred baht in my wallet I made up my mind to give looking for them a rest and just head back to the hotel and lie down. It ain't easy being nettled and upset while thinking of back pains you know. Couple of hours later, soon as Marky popped the key to the slot, he went storming for me inside and swamped me with question after question on what happened and why did I took off the mall as he took a shot to explaining how they went around to look for me. Course I didn't bother listening, that's the usual me. I was in the mood to be sensitive bordering to PMS-y while were there and it didn't help that those things actually came to pass.

I gave him one piercing look and got on to one of my most favorite forms of torture: silent treatment. But it didn't last that long though, as we grabbed our last BKK dinner together after a couple of minutes, the usual energy and hype we share went on. That's the good thing about having such crazy friends, you fight, you talk and then you party and in our case, we ate and laughed the night away.

Originally, the trip was designed to be purely professional but you see having them made the whole stay less stressful and more exciting at the same time. There were those instances when it actually felt like we're just three friends who went on an impetuous adventure abroad. A good first, I can say. Quite memorable to jumpstart my seemingly-endless thirst to experience the delight of traveling overseas.

Although I couldn't be anymore but grateful to my boss, most especially, for bringing me to Bangkok. I guess it would be more important to thank these people not only for being the coolest of the cool colleagues, but for giving me the chance to join your company. The trip was awesome. The people were awesome. WE is undeniably, AWESOME!!! :)

PS. While flying back to Manila it came to me that I shouldn't, for the life of me, miss the chance of traveling again on June. So, June 1-5 guys is officially on!

Sawasdee Ka!!

Hi guys!

I'm in Bangkok right now. :) Luckily, we flew in just in time for Songkran, Thai's version of New Year. We're one hour behind from Manila time, so as I write this, our local time here is 1:43 in the morning while it is already 2:43 in Manila.

It's been a great day. We went out the street to party with young Thai's who did nothing but splash water to everyone and wipe talcum powder to each other's face. Good thing Kuya Carlo's baht came in handy as I was able to buy a bag of talcum and rub powder to the cutie Thai's we pass by as we walk. LOL

After walking for nearly an hour, we took the train to Siam Paragon where we had pad thai, mango with sticky rice and satay for dinner.

'twas fun! Looking forward to shopping at Chatujak Market and Platinum mall this weekend, but more importantly, I can't wait to try on the street food that Thailand is truly famous for in Asia.

Sharing a few photos for those who are curious. Sawasdee Ka :)

My flight seat mate, marky doodles!! :)

in-flight fooddidamdams

thai airways, our airline of choice

Landing in Bangkok photo-op

Songkran festival

My boss got me an original Cath Kidston shirt! weeee!! It was included in this entry because she gave it to me just a while ago. :p

She once gave me a Cath Kidston sling bag which I use pretty much all the time that I even brought it here. 

Necessary outburst

While I think this has been a duly productive day, I just can't shake off the thought that I missed one of the most important days for my family because of work. It's not everyday that your only brother finishes college and luckily makes out of the hell hole that is tertiary education with the other 9 successful souls under their course.

I am sincerely proud of him. And it makes me really sad that I wasn't physically there to witness him go over the stage and do the monotonous graduation rites which I have gone through myself almost three years ago. I knew very well that I had to to what I had to do. Being undermanned, I had to be the one to attend the shoot yet still be able to do other things. For there is virtually no one who could complete three simultaneous shoots while meeting MBC deadlines on the side other than yours truly. As usual, I was able to complete everything. Three shoots were polished to the core, MBC deadlines met and I sent out necessary emails and made follows up as well.

My Dad fumed at me over missing this milestone a while ago. Although I wanted to yell back, argue my side and eventually win the argument, I was too exhausted to do so and so I just let his rebuke trail away.

Right now, I'm supposed to be packing my luggage(yet again) but I. am. just. so. drained. And tomorrow, I have to go to Bulletin pa and do some last minute office duties, bring home some magazine and by God's grace, if possible, drop by a nail salon to have my neglected nails pampered before I leave the following day.

Who wants to go and enjoy Songkran with grimy nails? I certainly don't!

Cebu, always a surprise

Got back in Manila about two hours ago and I surprisingly slept during the whole flight, which was a first because I normally read while we're flying. The first minutes after we took off, there's still the presence of mind to read a couple of pages of Deathly Hallows but after that, I felt my eyes getting heavier by the second as my head began to spin uncontrollably from the lack of sleep, that, I just had to give in. 

While I enjoyed last night's party, being hung-over is an absolute bitch! This morning I woke up awfully hung over, weak and woozy with all the booze that Mommy Deb obliged me to down. Here's the proof. Myself flushing scarlet with my ever dearest Ate Kit who got cut out of the picture, unintentionally.

   I can't barely remember the last time I've partied and got drunk as much as I did last night. It was rather liberating and de-stressing, not to mention, so very fun having to let your guard down and just lose yourself with friends who are of the same pace as you are. 

I would love to go back to the penthouse and do a lot of the recently choreographed kitten zapata dance move by my bunnycup Jeffy of Rock Paper Scissors, with the aide of the ever trusty, vodka. :D

If it's spontaneity and unmistakable fun you're after, my last three days in the Cebu could probably rank number 1 and make others pale next to it. Being with people who make you feel at home was just so cool. Thanks to Marriott Cebu City for taking good care of Ate Kit and I and to the creme de la creme of Cebu's wedding suppliers who stripped off their class, risked their career and reputation just so they could let us experience how Cebuanos party. The warm welcome and the evident love for WE is just too powerful that they had to extend it to us, the ones behind it. We are eternally grateful to Cebuanos who continue to see us as a guide not merely for Manileno's but for other people as well, no matter what region you belong to. I love WE!!! :)

Could this really be true? We've been apart for just a few hours but I already miss my folks, I just hate it when my separation anxiety kicks in for I end up regretting having gone back to Manila in the first place. :(

Oh well, after last night I have more reason to love and to yearn to go back to Cebu this May. 

PS. Will be leaving again this Wednesday, so much to do yet so little time. :| But of course whod would dare say no to such a generous offer? 

Not like the movies... at all.

**unedited, must-reveal entry that I have drafted after I got the gift prior to this post. 

Yesterday I got my advance valentine's gifts in the tune of flowers, my favorite chocolate cake as brought by, still, my most favorite guy in the face of the planet.

Because of that, I cried. We cried. A lot.

While sitting on the paved sidewalk, witnessed by the towering street lights and the mute wrought-iron gates of the biggest house in the street following ours, we had our much-awaited confrontation. Took us nearly two-months before we were both given the chance to elaborate on so many matters.

As I type, recalling that moment. I shake my head in disbelief that every part of that moment conclusively and ridiculously fits a movie climax. Wherein the only thing lacking are droplets of rain on the couple's face while tears continuously stream on their cheeks. And voila, you have an unvarying Cathy Garcia-Molina scene.

However, I am not a spectator of the sequence.
Much as I wanted to sit around and just cry with the leading lady, I can't.
For I feel all the pain.
It was I under the spotlight.
I was trapped in a knowable scene that I many times wished to never, ever come into my life.
The crippling pain in the chest followed through.
And I knew, everything was as real as it could be.

I would like to say I am the protagonist in this lone drama of my love life, but next to him I'd rather step aside to become the antagonist. A local melodrama with a twist. For the heartbreaker has an equally shattered heart.

Uber-late valentine's gift

It was supposed to be an 'advanced' valentine's day gift but the post came in a little behind schedule, like a month later. lol So sorry babe, it's just yesterday when I had the chance to fiddle with our SLR. 

I'm pretty sure I clearly voiced out my notion on flowers. I don't actually hate getting them, I would love to. No girl in her right state of mind won't feel appreciated and loved upon receiving one? I haven't I had a horrendous experience involving them in the past either. If you're gonna ask me, I won't be able to reveal any deep-seated reasoning as to the dislike. I just think that having to pick them up from their natural spot is such a waste and an important loss to the nature.

Not to sound bipolar or anything, honestly speaking though, I still get googley-eyed with the sight of these very nice gifts. But more than the lovely flowers and  the idea of coming over with my favorite chocolate cake, it is the effort of sparing some of his precious time to drop by despite his tight schedule.

This guy absolutely, irrefutably loves me. :) 

Thanks babe :)

Mr. Maaanedyer's treat

Been playing this clip from Spongebob Squarepants the movie ad nauseum for my Dad, because he got promoted. Trololol

Catch the clip HERE

When those rare moments of self-appreciation are necessary, I sit and ponder what am I really good at and I end up thoughtless, perplexed and almost hopeless. But then I always recall how I have mastered terrorizing my Dad and it's just so much fun that it leaves me laughing at my dexterity every single time. :D because I'm an obnoxious daughter like that peeps, suck it up. HAHA

So anyway earlier this week, upon Daddy's announcement of his promotion as Senior Assistant Manager (see how the clip is just so fitting? In the film, Spongey was also vying for the managerial post.) Mum asked if I had any recommendations as to where we could grab the traditional after-mass Sunday dine-out. As if coursing naturally in my head, I, without second thought, uttered KANIN CLUB!!

I've been wanting to try their Crispy Dinuguan since I first heard of it. And just by recommending it that day, the satisfaction washed through me as if I've already munched on the crunchiness of the meat. yum! Fast forward to the lunch we had earlier, I was literally having some sort of epiphany. Starting from the gigantic glass of green tea which by the way is house blend and not the powdered ones, I was literally jumping on and off my seat out of joy.

Lemon tea

Green tea

Salmon Belly Sinigang sa Miso

Salt and Pepper squid

Tinapa Rice

Tinapa Rice with Bagoong Rice

Pork Barbecue

Behold, the much savored Crispy Dinuguan

After what to me was a quick lunch at Kanin Club we headed to National Bookstore for another of my retail therapy = book shopping. :)

These were my recent haul: Wicked, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, When Darkness Falls and Last Call.

I can't exactly remember when I last had Razon's halo-halo, good thing my sister suggested we have it for dessert and it was just as good as the first time I tried it. :)

*Photo credit goes to me, save for the second and the group photo which were my sister's and my dad's, respectively. :)