Okay...
So I've been absent for quite awhile, neglecting this virtual notebook of mine (plus my other notebook which I keep somewhere in our house.HEHE!). I'm kind of pissed off with my blog in Friendster because I couldn't update it at all, it's gone and I still haven't got an answer from the technical team why it's like that. My fingers were wanting to blog that day, and it was really frustrating because my thoughts were practically pouring out my brain and I couldn't write. I have this page here, yes, but my Friendster blog's about as old as my son, hence my loyalty to it. But right now I'm so friggin' annoyed with it I just want to cancel the whole thing... my account there even.
It's kind of crazy-stupid that I didn't update here instead... I sort of forgot that I have this... *sheepish grin* I've forgotten what I'm supposed to write about...Oh, yeah, I remember. :) Although I think I'll keep this to myself, it's kind of soap-opera-ish, if you know how soaps go. ;) My thoughts, to say the least, are pretty much chagrinned, as Stephenie Meyer would probably described it if she had the chance to nitpick my mind. *Sigh* If only my Psych professor were here, I can unload, have a Carl Rogers session (look up on his style of therapy) so I can get this off my chest. I'm screaming for therapy!
Hmm... I'm probably going to make this my primary blog for now. If things don't improve in FS, then I'm going to say bye-bye to my blog there. *sobs*
Better get some sleep... The sun's come up. I wouldn't want people to see my skin glisten in the sunlight. ;)
Thursday, October 16, 2008
October 16, 2008; 5:43am
Sunday, October 12, 2008
You've Never Been Anywhere If You've Never Gone To...
QUIAPO.
Haha. That’s an exaggeration right there. But there’s truth to it, at least.
In my thirty years of existence, I have never been to Quiapo. Jesting? No. I’d be lost if someone dumped me in the streets of Manila, particularly Quiapo. Don’t get me wrong, I know Manila, and I know where Quiapo is… only that I’ve never actually set foot there. So one early sunny Thursday, I tagged alongside mom to visit the wonders of the streets of that busy, busy place.
I put the cell phone’s alarm clock on for seven in the morning as my mom and I had agreed in the evening they would pick me up the following hour. We were just going to hitch a ride with dad who takes the España route to his office, and he’s very punctual (he does not like to wait, super hates tardiness!), so I had to do everything I needed to do before they come by the house (and not ruin dad’s day).
As if I really needed the alarm clock, I woke up a little before seven, which I was also thankful for, because I am never, was never, and probably will be never be a morning person. But I woke up early because I guess I was pretty excited with the mini field-trip. The comfort of the cool room and bed were serenading me though. I got up with about an hour and a half of sleep and trudged to the bathroom. No breakfast for me, we were still fasting then. I was all right with that… I wasn’t hungry, I don’t eat breakfast and I did not have any intention of breaking fast. At exactly eight, I heard dad’s vehicle honking outside the house. I kissed goodbye my husband and kid who were happily snoozing in our room and ran outside.
Quezon Avenue was already a bit heavy with traffic at that hour. All sorts of vehicles were snaking down the polluted road; jeepney, fx and bus drivers all trying to outdo one another hoping to fill in the seats of their transport. I was quite amused when we slowed down a bit near the island and dad’s driver honked the Hilux–I thought he was warning a driver who was driving too close, I never thought it was meant for the woman selling newspapers sitting on the island a couple of meters from us. She got up from her stool with a bunch of newspapers in her hand and waited for us to roll by near her makeshift stand. Dad’s driver already rolled down the window and had a twenty and some change in his left hand–he shoved the money on the woman’s free hand and then got the papers, then drove away. It was a quick transaction. As if I asked, dad said, “Suki nya ako.” Laughtrip. Wow. And I thought online shopping was fast. 
Dad dropped us off by the church, and so mom and I began our journey to the busy, busy streets of Quiapo. We went downstairs through the Quiapo Underpass, a tunnel for pedestrians. I only see the tunnel on tv when watching Pinoy movies. I’m now actually in it. I was a bit excited with the flurry of activity going on, I kept looking around but I made pretty sure that I didn’t look like an idiot because mom would have left me standing there by myself if I did. LoL. We turned right and then went up the stairs and sure enough, I have arrived.
Just outside the church that was still full of people (I think there was a service going on), were dozens of vendors selling fresh herbs and homemade medicines. There were the fortune tellers wooing customers, and sellers of colored candles (where a color corresponds to a prayer or wish), and what have-yous. Pretty ironic that they be selling stuff like that right outside a church.
I was amused at how affordable everything was in that store alone. The Chinoy merchant asked me if I shopped at Multiply, because most of her bulk buyers get their stuff from her. Yeah, it did look like so, because while we were there, there was this girl with a list of orders for ODM watches, (must be pre-order from her site). 
The clothes and all the other trinkets they sell there are the same ones sold in the classier bazaars and tiangges, the only difference is that the prices here are far lower than those of say, Greenhills and Tiendesitas.
We didn’t stay long there… I knew we were only able to cover a small portion of the commercial area, but we wanted to be home before Luhor and we didn’t want to get caught in traffic–we were going home via public transport–marunong po kami mag-commute.
It was a fun experience albeit a short one. Security-wise, it was pretty peaceful even if it was crowded. I don’t know, I guess we were there pretty early. But we did see two vendors in a shoutfest over a plastic stool. Shopping-wise, I’d have to say that you have to really look around if you want to get your money’s worth, because while there are a lot of really affordable items around, you can never be too sure about the quality. I mean, we scored some really cool finds, but it was pretty much hit-or-miss. Mom got duped with this so-called Corrales bracelet. The saleslady said the stones turn pale when you’re sick… It turns out that the stones will turn pale anyway. We were laughing so hard in the bus when I noticed her wrist turn a bit coral-ish pink. Turning pale when you’re sick… yeah right, we were almost dying from laughter! Good thing we were the only ones in the bus then. 
Hmm… I don’t know when I’m going back there. I did promise my son’s nanny we’d go there one time…She hasn’t been there herself, and I’d like to experience that busy-busy place again.
Ah. Quiapo. Quiapo kayo diyan!
(photos borrowed from Flickr courtesy of _gem_ , deadcenter , jdj92088 , ourawesomeplanet , manfrommanila)
Friday, September 19, 2008
Happy Birthday, Mommy!
Mother. Motherhood. Mudra. Madir. Mommy. Ma. Yasmin. (*Peace* about the last one. hehe!)
Thank you for everything.
Words cannot measure up to what I, we, feel.
To say that “we are blessed to have you in our lives” is an understatement.
But we are so.
And it is just that you, and the rest of the world knows.
I LOVE YOU!
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- Friendster blog post, published September 17, 2008
http://pattycake.blog.friendster.com/2008/09/happy-birthday-mommy/45 Random Facts About Jodi
1. My name is Johannah.
2. My nickname is Jodi, derived from the first syllables of my name JOhannah and my (former/maiden) surname, DIron. It still applies though, my family name now is DImaporo. How about that?! 
3. I am thirty years old. — I think it’s hilarious at times when people think I’m in my teens. But I also find it utterly annoying at times when people think I’m in my teens. Haha. Repetitive, much? Baby faced? I think. Vertically challenged? Blame it on the genes. Bwahahaha.
4. I am Muslim. Technically, I am three-fourths Muslim, and a quarter Christian. My maternal grandmother, Esther hails from Narvacan, Ilocos Sur, and Lolo Lindy is full-blooded Maranao, so my mom’s a mestiza. Lola’s reverted to Islam though (her Muslim name is Mariam), and we’ve never thought of ourselves as anything but Muslim. So there.
5. I am a wife and a mother of one. Our neighbors here in Manila initially thought that Hamza was my older brother and Raja, our bunso. Harhar!
6. I should have been a mother of two, but things happen for a reason…
7. I love family gatherings. ‘Nuff said.
8. I wished I had continued playing the piano. Maybe if I did so I would’ve been really good with it by now. I can still widow, though.
9. I am trying to get over my obsession with Havaianas. Maybe I’ll stop when I get my last batch of orders from abroad. Have to stay away from Multiply more often! Hmm… Anyone wanna buy them? 
10. I’d like to start collecting cameras now. Not digicams. They’re too generic.
11. I started writing when I was in the sixth grade. I had journals and wrote essays, articles in the school paper in high school and college. I’m still so into writing.
12. I used to be a text addict.
13. Texting in StIcKy CAps is not and never was my style.
14. I don’t text using short cut either.
15. I love sweets. I love pastries. It’s a tie for me between chocolate bars and cakes. But I’m not so much into ice cream.
16. I used to feel nauseated with the aroma of coffee. But I’m starting to like it now; I’ve even gone as far as to drinking it. My husband is ecstatic with that development. HAHAHA!
17. I don’t like it when bands change their sound to make their music more mainstream just so they could have more fans. That’s artistic suicide.
18. I get really irritated with people who copy other people’s stuff. Plagiarism is punishable by law.
19. I want to have a pet… maybe some fish or a pair of African love birds. I had a cat with “odd eyes” (one blue, one yellow), but he ran away (found a mate).
20. I can live without a cellphone. I’ve tried it… it’s quite liberating, actually.
21. I put my thoughts to words in ink better than in speech. Obvious much?
22. My hair is long and straight…and past my waist already.
23. I don’t scare easily, nor do I get irked by yucky stuff right away.
24. I have a habit of walking around the house at ungodly hours (told you I can’t sleep).
25. I also like it a lot when I have the house to myself.
26. I am unofficially obsessive-compulsive.
27. I procrastinate. I like playing things crunch. It gives me an adrenaline rush.
28. I graduated with a degree in Psychology.
29. I love giving out Psychological tests and analyzing their answers.
30. I miss taking REAL Psychology exams myself.
31. I want to learn Rorschach. Calling the attention of Ma’am Agda, I believe you owe us a couple of sessions?
32. Sleep is something that is a bit alien to me. Maybe I was a vampire in a past life. HAHAHAHA!
33. When I do get to sleep, I do not move–I sleep and wake up in the same position. Hamza and my family can attest to that. I can probably sleep in a four-inch wide bench and not fall.LOL
34. I like having the comforter cover me from my head down to my feet. Yes, including my face. Weird. I know, I know.LOL
35. I’m a movie freak.My family and I love watching movies on the big screen. I love movie channels also. Tune me in to any movie channel and throw away the remote, I won’t mind. I can name which movies the actors/actresses acted in in their past films.
36. I have high tolerance for physical and emotional pain.
37. I definitely detest rodents! YUCK!
38. Lifestyle Network is one of my favorite channels.
39. I wish Ina Garten could adopt me. I just love her and her show.
40. I am absolutely looking forward to the dates November 17, 21 and 30.
41. I have regretted the times when I stopped school. I could have been a doctor by now. Blech.
42. I splurge a lot buying stuff online. Another habit I have to break.
43. Currently thinking if I should go home to the province or to Las Piñas for Qutba.
44. I’d really like to go back to school. But there are also other things I want to do… I’m still weighing my options.
45. I fear death and the afterlife. What we have here right now is very temporary. If you are getting everything that you want now… do you think you’ll still be in the same predicament in the akhira? I think not.------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- Friendster blog post, published September 16, 2008
http://pattycake.blog.friendster.com/2008/09/45-random-facts-about-jodi/
PUNny Indeed!
I know with all the hype that has been building around the Twilight Saga and the movie, there was bound to be a spoof made about the movie’s trailer. Sure enough, last month, while I was browsing through YouTube’s search engine, I came up with this video from Evil Iguana Productions, a company founded by bored high schoolers that has grown through the years along with its fans (I myself included… squeeze me, but I’ve been subscribing to their vids since last year, so puhlease, spare me the bull that you learned about it first before I did. :p).
It’s really funny and even Stephenie Meyer has this on her MS site. It’s all in good fun, please dear TS fanatics, don’t get hurt.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, BELLA!
Enjoy.
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Friendster blog post, published September 13, 2008
http://pattycake.blog.friendster.com/2008/09/punny-indeed/Monday, September 15, 2008
Breaking Dawn (Stephenie Meyer)
The last of the Twilight Saga, I finished Breaking Dawn in about two and a half days. Huh. I had to slow my self down because I was devouring the book again (meaning I’m reading too fast again.hehe).
BD is divided into three books, book One and Three are Bella’s and Book Two is Jacob’s. It’s my second favorite, with Twilight as first. I’m not going to divulge on the details anymore, it’s too good a read for me to make a review.
Eclipse (Stephenie Meyer)
I was supposed to post this and the last installment of the saga earlier, but I got too engrossed with my other blogs that I forgot to put these on Blogger.
Thursday, September 4, 2008
Random Thoughts *I'm Missing Mode*
It's been almost a week since I got home from my eventful trip in Marawi and Cagayan de Oro. I'm now back in the boring conundrum I call "life". Haha. No, I'm not being sarcastic. I'm more homesick than anything else right now.
Hmm.. what do I miss about the city with a lake? It's not like I go out there to meet up with my friends, to make 'tambay' at CommCen (although I'm not sure if that's still the 'in' thing to do, and I never had that much of a chance hanging out there even then). I think it's more of the feeling that I'm with family--being with the people I know, and those whom I know as well. It's catching up with your aunts who've seen you during your awkward years when the chilly climate of Marawi turned me into some sort of burnt-looking marshmallow (yeah, nakakaitim talaga ang climate ng Marawi, at least for me), and they knew everything that went on with everyone who lived in the city. I miss the food! Pyaren. Randang. Pisasaten. Bakas.HAHA! All the yellow spicy food, where everything is yellow, even the rice..it's kyuning, right? I miss seeing relatives come over the house to hang out and exchange stories and opinions on various topics. I miss their loud voices, the laughter, the banter. The never-ending coffee refills. The broa that goes along with the coffee (or brua? Not bruha, ha!). And the one and a half hour long good-byes. Haha.
I miss the company of my friends, basically my batchmates, whom I hadn't had the chance to see for such a long, long time. I thought that coming home would equate to some sort of informal reunion, but amidst the buzz of activity, unfortunately there was no time to get to it. Well, I did Khuna, in all her pregnant-but-still-beautiful glory, who came to my place in spite of her condition and the chaotic atmosphere, to show support and make chismis as well. I don't think I was able to thank you properly my dear sister... I hope I can return the favor to you in the future, Inshaallah.
I also miss the chilly foggy mornings, and the way you see air come out when you talk..feeling abroad-ish.*snickers* I miss the view of MSU from the terrace of our home, the lush green meadow (meadow daw..ok, basak!) spread before your eyes, and the trees, that line up the road going to Marantao on one side, and to Tuca on the other. Especially that humongous one where the elders say is home to some 'people' we can't see.
I miss Ramadhan in Marawi. That's when I learned to drive.LOL! I was fifteen then, and my classmate would come to our place and help me with the mechanics of driving. But we didn't practice there. I practiced outside the house, picking up our classmates from their homes as I learned how to drive. But it wasn't just about that. It was bonding with them. I miss how we're welcomed by our classmate's family to his/her home to share with us their spread. I miss the colorfully lit houses, seeing people coming out from the mosque after Tarawih, with the women garbed in their colorful muqnas, and the men in their kimon or malongs.
Oh, I did get the chance to see my alma mater, Dansalan College, now called Dansalan College Foundation, Inc. (I don't know exactly when "FI" was formally added to the name). It has changed a lot since. Well, I fathom it would, the last time I was there was during my high school graduation.*smiles at the thought* Seeing the school brought me into a nostalgic mood. I remembered the funny and sad things that went on between me and my batchmates and other schoolmates, our teachers who were our strict mentors inside the classrooms but warm friends outside. I remembered standing on the soccer field during practices for the city-wide silent drill competition (which we won, by the way), the never-ending band practices and school activities and our "wholesome" after-school (weekend) adventures, which sometimes meant unscheduled trips outside Marawi (translation: takas sa magulang, going to Iligan or Timoga or Tinago or anywhere else to de-stress from the pressures of school). It was all for fun. Seeing the school and looking back at all those memories made me feel just one thing. OLD.
CDO is a different story. I only spent two years there unlike Marawi where I spent four. It wasn't as exciting of a life, but it was exciting nevertheless. We were what Maranao people would describe as masamok. But we were actually harmless folk; we're just plain masamok. I miss those times I was with my friends in XU. To the administration there, we were like an itch that wouldn't go away, because we made our presence felt and they didn't like it, considering the fact that we didn't even reach seventy; they very much preferred we were just on the side..the very far side. But now, they can't ignore the number of Muslim students in that place. And I'm happy with the way things had come about. You kids have it easy now, be glad you weren't around during our time! But more so I miss being with my family who is based there. My mom, my four other brothers, Ina, and everyone else who lives in that spacious bungalow I call home. I'm going to miss the banter by the porch where we laugh louder than the tambays by the store across the street.LOL Halim, no one's gonna make macaroni for you now.Bleh! Hamsa, make up your mind, ok? Weigh your options, but your option A is a No-No. And mom, better learn how to tinker with the pc and the net so you won't have to bother us again when the arrow on the screen's not moving 'coz the mouse is stuck by the wrist pad.LOL Kisses to Halil who's looking more gwapo as he gets older and Ina who's always startled with Raja's constant slamming of the door. As to Hamid. I'll miss you "Jimmy" ways, but not just yet coz you're here in the Metro.Hehe!
Hmm...it would be good to go back there now... I miss how life in the south is so laid back. It's not that I mind being in the metro.. I love it here! Most of my life was spent here. But it's just stressful. With the traffic. And the noise pollution (although I'd choose to live here in the Scout area than go back to the subdivision where it's too damn quiet..sorry lolo & lola.hehe!). And the never-ending expenses. And you're so far away from family. Hmm... It would really be good to go home. But I'm not ready yet. I'mma miss the malls here. And Raja's gonna look for his Gardenia bread.Hehe!
Hmm... Home. Where're those ruby red shoes?
