Festive HK 2010

Our HK getaway was planned November last year. We bought our tickets from today's popular no-frills airline - Cebu Pacific - with our new travel buddies, spouses Jay & Weng. The couple are my good ole buddies and our friendship started in Veritas et Fortitudo institution in the heart of Intramuros more than a decade ago. Our HK trip is our first travel abroad as a couple and it coincides with our 8th monthsary. Do couples still celebrate monthsaries today? LOL!

Travelling abroad isn't cheap nowadays; methinks an indirect extortion happens right inside NAIA-3. Travellers have to pay the travel tax worth Php 1,620 and the customary terminal fee of Php 750. Tsk. Good thing we availed promo tickets for Php 3,700 round trip. We arrived at 4:30 a.m.which is one & a half hours away from our scheduled flight, and after all the mandatory procedures (i.e. check-in, security and immigration), we arrived just in the nick of time for boarding.

We arrived in Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) at almost 8 a.m. We breezed through at the HK immigration. No communication problems at all. My friend Weng's aunt (an OFW based in HK) volunteered as our personal tour guide. With fully loaded Octopus cards (HK$ 150), we rode a double-decker bus going to Tuen Mun in Kowloon Island and rode the light rail going to Ferry Terminal in Tuen Mun. From there, we walked to Miami Beach Towers, our official sleeping quarters courtesy of Aunt Suzie.

One remarkable thing about Hong Kong is its highly developed transportation network - from double-decker bus, MTR, LRT to trams. Simply impressive. Plus, the Octopus card is such a genius. My research tells me that the Octopus card system was the first contactless smart card system in the world and has since grown into a widely used payment system for virtually all public transport in Hong Kong.

Here's the list of tourist spots we visited in the City of Lights in a stress-free manner which, I think, is due to the systematic transportation, cold yet nice weather and good friends:

1) The Hong Kong Disneyland Resort. As the world's smallest Disneyland resort, it consists of the Hong Kong Disneyland theme park, two hotels (Disneyland Hotel and Disney's Hollywood Hotel), and retail, dining and entertainment facilities on Lantau Island. Due to limited time, we decided not to buy park tickets and just took pictures of the gate and the fountain featuring Mickey Mouse in the Park Promenade. From there, we rode the Disneyland Resort Line of the HK MTR which bears faces of Mickey Mouse all over.

2) Ngong Ping 360. I had no idea that the cable car ride is a  5.7 km long bi-cable gondola lift system (referred to by its operators as a "cable car") linking between Tung Chung (where it connects the MTR Tung Chung station) and Ngong Ping (where the Po Lin Monastery and Tian Tan Buddha are located). One will be rewarded with an amazing 360 degree-view of the HKIA, clean aquamarine waters surrounding the islands and the forest trails. I consider the cable car ride as my most extreme adventure so far. The uplifting experience was worth every cent of the $107 as round trip fare. A walk-a-thon ensued in the Ngong Ping Village, which contains an assortment of shopping and dining experiences, including Walking with Buddha, Monkey's Tale Theatre and the Ngong Ping Tea House. We also caught sight of the large bronze statue of a Buddha known as Tian Tan Buddha or the Big Buddha, but the idea of adding pain to our already tired legs prevented us from climbing the steps. It is a major centre of Buddhism in Hong Kong, and is also a popular tourist attraction.

3) Avenue of Stars. We rode the famous Star Ferry from Central to Tsim Sha Tsui. We passed through Nathan Road, the main thoroughfare in Kowloon and the centre of Tsim Sha Tsui's shopping district, and we saw the Clock Tower and the Hongkong Space Museum going to the Avenue of Stars. The 4.5-metre-tall replica of the statuette was a tell-tale sign that we have reached the HK's version of the Hollywood Walk of Fame in Victoria Harbour. The Victoria Harbour is world-famous for its stunning panoramic night view and skyline, particularly in the direction towards Hong Kong Island where the skyline of skyscrapers is superimposed over the ridges behind. A traditional Chinese junk full of tourists passed by and we were able to catch the stunning multimedia show featuring more than 40 Hong Kong skyscrapers in a dazzling extravaganza called the Symphony of Lights.

4) Mong Kok. We spent two nights strolling in this popular shopping district and I must say that the animated neon and LED signs reminded me of Times Square of NYC. No biggie though. The merchandise are almost the same in our very own republic, thanks to free trade policy.

5) Victoria Peak. We went to this famous mountain, locally known as The Peak, via the Peak Tram on our last day. Among all other tourist spots, this is my favorite for two apparent reasons: riding the Peak Tram and seeing the Madame Toussauds wax museum's entrance. LOL! We didn't get to appreciate the panoramic daytime view of Victoria Harbour due to thick fog. We had fun strolling in Peak Tower, a shopping complex located at The Peak. Cool, fresh air.

Amid the hustle and bustle of a city and some minor language barriers, HK is as festive as the travel brochures and word of mouth marketing. That said, I'm looking forward to my second HK trip in June with law school friends. Woohoo!!!

St. Pio de Pietrelcina Chapel

[N.B. This was written last March 1, 2010 but I chose not to publish it for fear of preempting one of my requests. Today, I find it proper to publish it as a sign of gratitude to the intercession of Padre Pio. My brother passed his board exam. ~ The Authoress.]

It was one of those days when I felt I had to purge myself of moral errors and to pray for a thousand beautiful things. Yes, I have been contemplating so much about my spiritual health (apart from body health - thanks to Yoh-gurt Froz poster).

Then I remembered my friend Victoria's suggestion to visit St. Pio de Pietrelcina Chapel in Libis.* I have also been curious about the chapel as it was featured in Korina Sanchez's Rated K where Julius Babao revealed that he and his wife Christine Bersola-Babao are devotees of the Italian saint. It was shown in the show segment that the initial shape of Christine's fetus was the same as that of Padre Pio's wound due to stigmata. For more information about St. Pio of Pietrelcina, just click here.

The chapel was a stone's throw away from Citibank-Eastwood. It seems to be a solemn haven for miracle seekers and faithful devotees. I felt an overwhelming feeling of peace and solemnity all over the place. "Silence" markers were plastered all over the chapel, prayer room, candle room and an outdoor area where you can kneel in front of a life-sized Padre Pio statue. Since we arrived an hour late for the mass, we opted to offer prayers instead.

I had this very positive feeling about one particular request to Padre Pio. Such request pertains to the success of my brother Jobo in his board exam which he took last Saturday and Sunday. Yes, the same day I went to the chapel. My brother's real name is Giovanni and I found out that Padre Pio's hometown is San Giovanni Rotondo, a city in southern Italy. In fact, the Padre Pio Pilgrimage Church can be found in said city. Wikipedia tells us: "Built in devotion to Saint Pio of Pietrelcina, it can accommodate 6,500 people seated at worship, with standing room for 30,000 people outside." Wow. I don't know whether this may be considered preemptive stuff but my gut feel tells me that my visit to this chapel was very timely.

The whole worship center is way above the normal thing. Inside the chapel, a wall was entirely devoted for the devotees' testimonials of Padre Pio's intercession in their lives. Majority wrote about their miraculous healings from the killer Big C. In the garden area, a statue of Padre Pio was found to have tints of red liquid trickling down its nape and neck, resembling blood. Apart from its innate peace and quiet, there are alcohol pumps outside their comfort rooms and a vendo machine. Their petition form carries a logo upon which you can write all the desires of your heart and drop the same at the petition boxes. Aside from prayer room where you can contemplate on Padre Pio's images while writing petitions and a televised image of an altar, there is also a candle room where candles are neatly arranged. A handy lighter was there too. I do not intend to compare this chapel to others but the desire of the devotees to keep it holy, clean and organized is quite impressive. 

I think I found a new haven for Sunday worship at the St. Pio de Pietrelcina Chapel in Libis.


*Directions: From Ali Mall in Cubao, board a jeepney going to Rosario Pasig. Tell the driver to drop you off at Citibank in Libis. Use the footbridge to go to the other side. Walk till you see Honda Cars-Libis and the chapel's right beside it. Jeepney fare from Ali Mall to Citibank-Libis is Php 9.

Miss You Like Crazy

One thing's for sure: John Lloyd-Bea's newest cheesy flick is another open invitation to travel to Kuala Lumpur (the first was the heist film Entrapment in 1999) and stare at the Petronas Towers. The rest is a hodge-podge of typical Pinoy cheesy flick with a happy ending. And in Pinoy love stories, the ending is quite predictable from the first few minutes.

I watched it because I'm a fan of the love team. They look good together and the chemistry is remarkable. Years ago, the Bea-John Lloyd was another option for Kristine-Echo, except that the former proves to be more credible during TV interviews. Before the Bea-John Lloyd love team was launched in the movies, their chemistry was already tried and tested in daily soaps such as Kay Tagal Kang Hinintay and Betty La Fea. This is what I know right now: the female is a meztisa while the guy is tall, dark and handsome. Throw in a cheesy plot and, voila, a box-office hit!

In my opinion, the story of MYLC can hardly be possible in real life. I'm pretty sure others share the same opinion too. Imagine, a four-year-old relationship versus a week-old series of double entendres. Then the guy would profess that he loved the object of his flirting, which, to me, is truly impossible. In historical romance paperbacks, yes, but never in cold reality. It's a feel-good movie nonetheless. If there's one good thing about Bea-John Lloyd movies and soaps, then it's the presence of "kilig" in large doses. Kilig to the bones. The love team guarantees us that.

As always, John Lloyd is an eye candy all throughout the movie and he can act as well. He's the Christopher de Leon of our era. Bea, on the other hand, has proven herself once again that acting is her domain. She doesn't have to venture in singing and launching an album because she sings poorly.

Now, I remember. It's not just the Petronas Towers and Lake Titiwangsa Park (Malay can be funny) I'm curious of. I'm also curious of our very own Pasig River Ferry Service. I wonder if I can really leave a stone with imprints in the ferry seats.

Something New at Go Nuts Donuts & Krispy Kreme

So I've kind of decided that I will blog about anything new or something that caught my attention in this universe. Fat chance, don't you think?

First: Aside from the usual cheese popcorn whilst watching a movie, we* bought doughnuts. Yes, something new, sweet and not the usual toroidal ring doughnut** but Disney donuts from Go Nuts Donuts. Before Krispy Kreme invaded the top spot among donut lovers of this country, Go Nuts Donuts was there. Little did I know that it is known as the "Manny Pacquiao of the Donut World". Check out here.  Anyway, GND came up with Delicious Magical Treats - Disney donuts! Imagine yourself munching Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Donald Duck and Daisy Duck donuts. The child in me got very satisfied. Ah childhood!

 

Clockwise from top: Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Daisy Duck & Donald Duck

Second: Krispy Kreme introduces its Baked Creations (Always Bakery Fresh) with Kruffins and Pull Aparts. Just to educate my own self a bit, I consulted Google about these new treats. Zero. Nada. Zilch. Obviously, a kruffin is KK's version of the well-loved muffin. Here: Krispy Kreme + muffin = kruffin. Got it. I can't find pull aparts too. For a much clearer info about KK's Baked Creations, click here.

 

 

 Blueberry kruffin & bacon and cheese pull apart

Looking forward to another batch of something new.

*BF & me

**Doughnuts/donuts= no diff.

Rent: No Day But Today

If only money will keep rolling in and notwithstanding the story lines, I would prefer watching theater performances/musicals than movies. I strongly think that stage actors are much more impressive than film actors since the former have no room for errors while on stage. Raw, God-given talent at its best.

Then I heard the buzz that Broadway musical RENT is making a comeback in Manila. I was warned that balcony tickets are seriously running out at Ticketnet branches, hence I had my moment of panic. The available balcony tickets will be for the closing night, February 28. Three weeks before the date, I got hold of the precious tickets from an agent of 9 Works Theatrical, the theater company responsible for RENT production.

RENT was really worth waiting for. The story is nothing but ordinary. But what makes RENT extraordinary is the superb cast. Aside from the fact that the setting is New York, one of my favorite places so far, most of the stage actors/actresses performed well to the audience delight. Overall, I appreciate the songs maybe because they have been playing in my playlist for a month. "Seasons of Love" has been the target of my LSS lately. 

First off, I love Carla Guevara-Laforteza's performance as Maureen Johnson in "Over The Moon" and "Take Me or Leave Me" duet with Jenny Villegas as Joanne Jefferson. Truth to tell, I'm a bit disappointed that she was replaced by Rachel Alejandro in the upcoming musical "Avenue Q". Carla was simply amazing.

Second, I think Roger and Mimi (played by Gian Magdangal and Nicole Asensio, respectively) did justice to the song "Light My Candle", but the pair failed to exude a convincing chemistry to the audience. Oh well. We saw Gian's wife, former Viva Hot Babe Sheree, in the audience and she has a striking resemblance to Nicole's character Mimi. You know, petite, colored curly hair, sexy make-up. So there.

Third, Job Bautista did an excellent performance as drag queen Angel with HIV.

Last but not the least, I commend Ring Antonio's powerful voice in "Seasons of Love". She reminds me of Chaka Khan and Frenchie Dy.

Kudos to the whole cast for superb performance overall, for making us aware of the struggles of LGBT under the scare of HIV/AIDS and, most of all, for making the audience realize that life is meant to be lived to the fullest. Carpe diem! No day but today!

Yummy Bulalo at Myrna's Bulalo Haus

Bulalo is considered by many Pinoys as their comfort food, and I proudly belong to the bulalo-eating crowd of our republic. During law school days, my friends and I frequent the bulalo spot popularly referred to as Bulalohan sa Ramirez after gossip and booze. I can never forget one so-so day in law school when my classmates and I went to Tagaytay just to savor the hot broth of bulalo even before our evening classes started.  Hmmm yeah, we're all guilty of truancy that day. Those were the days.

According to Wikipedia, comfort foods are familiar, simple foods that are usually home-cooked or eaten at informal restaurants. So my boyfriend and I went to Myrna's Bulalo Haus along Tomas Morato for its rumored delicious bulalo. The place was relatively small and cozy, but what caught our attention were the autographed white plates displayed in the walls. Guess who? Celebrities who had tasted Myrna's bulalo and fell in love with the dish. I have read somewhere along my research that the owner is a talent manager of homegrown singers (e.g. Josh Santana, OJ Mariano). Reading the short messages of appreciation by celebrities is a fun thing to do while waiting for your bulalo.

Bulalo family size, complete with bone marrow (utak), laman, litid and corn and good for 2-3 persons, costs Php 250 only. Their Bulalo Special, which can feed 5 persons (depending on your appetite), comes with tofu and quail eggs. Interesting, right?

 

See? Bulalo has brains. Dig in!

 

The remaining bulalo in the caldero after one cup of rice each. It's the tastiest bulalo I have tried, imagine that.  Huge servings too.

Myrna's beef mami. Really, we didn't order this. For some weird "huh?" moment or a case of poor hearing on the part of the food attendant, this mami ended on our table. LOL! It's yummy nonetheless.

 

Simot-plato gang. And yeah, in case you've noticed, we also ordered ginataang puso ng saging, one of my favorite veggie dishes.

  

The autographed plates on the walls of Myrna's

  

I had to take a close-up shot of Charice Pempengco's and Lito Camo's plates. Reason? I simply love raw Pinoy talent.

  

Punto por punto guy's plate for y'all!

After our sumptous yet sinful bulalo dinner, we decided to cross the famous traffic street of Tomas Morato to Thompson Square where Yoh-gurt Froz is located. Time for healthy dessert, yes.

Do your health a flavor! Plain frozen yogurt with New York cheesecake, kiwi and mango as toppings.

Why yogurt is good for health? This interesting poster seems to know all the healthy answers. Read if you wish. LOL!

Cheap Thrills in Life Series: Red Ribbon's Chocolate Heaven

First and foremost, I thank my BF for giving me this surprise treat on a Sunday lunch. Sunday lunch means eating home-cooked meals with people with whom I share the same genes. Everytime I ride the metro's only answer to speedy travel (read: MRT), I salivate at the sight of Red Ribbon's billboard showing its newest cake - Chocolate Heaven - near Robinson's Galleria Ortigas. I guess I raved too much about this cake so much so that my BF surprised me with it.

Just to complete my entry, I quoted below a quick info about Chocolate Heaven.

The new Chocolate Heaven promises a taste of heaven with its combination of four kinds of chocolate goodness. It is made with a layer of creamy chocolate mousse on a bed of moist fudgy brownie, enrobed with rich chocolate icing and topped with a generous serving of chocolate curls. This combination of chocolate brownie, chocolate mousse, chocolate icing and chocolate curls makes it Red Ribbon’s most chocolate-full and most yummy-full.

 Life's great!

Rafael Dave's 9th Birthday

Who would have thought that the little boy who brought instant joy to our family a few months ago just turned nine? Does this mean I'm already borderline in the birthing of a bundle of joy vis-a-vis mandatory age for prepping up a bun in the human oven? Beats me. All I know is, the little boy sprung from my brother Ivan who is two years younger (whew) than I am. And the little boy is fondly called "batang attorney" by my folks due to his opinionated character.

  

A late call to Estrel's Caramel Cake proved to be a blessing. They were fully booked and I have to find a child-friendly cake under time pressure. Two hours away from the birthday lunch made me decide to enter Red Ribbon. Tiramisu Meltdown didn't disappoint us. It was too good and the kid loved it to the last smudge of icing.

 

Photo courtesy: BF. Gracias!

 

Gracias to Ang Tunay na Pansit Malabon (Timog branch) and CCME Homemade Stuff (Dr. Lazcano corner Tomas Morato Streets). And thanks to our ref in which our favorite fruit salad sought shelter.

 

Happy, happy birthday to our future pilot!

Dear John

"Dear John," the letter read. And with those two words, a heart was broken and two lives changed forever.

A friend once told me that Nicholas Sparks' novels are inclined to be very emotional and tear-jerking. And so I absent-mindedly followed the advice since I don't want to deal with heavy dramas. This was sometime in law school when my thick books were considered priority above others. I have watched, however, two films adaptations of Nicholas Sparks' novel of the same name: Message in a Bottle & A Walk To Remember. The guy must be filthy rich for having six of his novels turned into films, namely, Message in a Bottle, A Walk to Remember, The Notebook, Nights in Rodanthe, Dear John (gotcha) and The Last Song (expected to be released in March 2010). My research also tells me that two more books are already in the process of being made into movies: True Believer (2011) and The Lucky One (2012).

First things first.

According to Wikipedia, a "Dear John letter" is a letter written to a husband or boyfriend to inform him their relationship is over, usually because the author has found another lover. Dear John Letters are often written out of an inability or unwillingness to inform the man in person. The reverse situation, in which someone writes to his wife or girlfriend to break off the relationship, is referred to as a "Dear Jane letter."

The definition itself is suggestive of a weepy tale. Sigh. But still, I prodded my boyfriend that we should watch it. After all, the movie was reported to topple off the gigantic Avatar after reigning in the cinemas for seven weeks. 

At first, I really expected that the movie will make me cry. Unfortunately or fortunately, it did not. Maybe I was holding on too much to be swept away with the breakup scene and how the lovers' lives have changed. The movie speaks of the most basic consideration in a relationship - communication - and the very importance of the same. It can make or break a relationship, needless to say. Keeping in touch across the miles is the most crucial part in an LDR.

It's basically a soldier-meets-true-love story. John Tyree and Savannah Curtis* were a lovely pair from the start. They both fell in love in a short period in what seems to be a laid-back town in South Carolina. John was on leave from the Special Forces while Savannah was on a spring break from college. Their happy moments were cut short and LDR came into play. Sending letters to each other was the only cure for loneliness. Then the most controversial Dear John letter fell in the hands of John. Complications set in and a surprising twist happened. Hearts of moviegoers were wretched. Okay, mine was slightly wretched too. However, true love seemed to prevail after all. The last scene shows John and Savannah locked in an embrace, a scene which makes the "Dear John letter" vanished into the wind.

*Amanda Seyfried also stars in an upcoming movie Letters to Juliet. Hmmm, I see a trend here.

Nancy Drew: America's Favorite Sleuth & Mine Too!

If there's one thing I'm candidly pleased about my younger years, then it's my being a big Nancy Drew fan. Oh yes, I have read all the 56 volumes of  The Nancy Drew Mysteries Classic Hardcover Series - from The Secret of the Old Clock to The Thirteenth Pearl. I started sometime in Grade 4, patiently asking the school librarian when will the next hardcover be available. I was that persistent to ask and wait back then. When I reached sophomore high, I checked off all the titles in the list! Then the Nancy Drew Case Files paperbacks became more popular.

 As a pre-teen, I looked up to Nancy Drew as my role model. This daring heroine is ever brave in every face of danger and unafraid to be both feminine and smart. And now, I find this very nostalgic to write an entry about my favorite sleuth. When I was looking for some worthy reads in Booksale, I found this book and bought the same off the bat. The illustrations of the book and the sprinkles of  trivia throughout were more than enough to bring me back to the childhood days spent reading Nancy books.

I dreamed about this so many times, knowing in the back of my mind that I would probably never actually make a big deal out of it, because the great value of being a bookworm instilled in me by my mother pulses through me too prominently. With this, I thank Nancy Drew for all the values she had managed to instill in my young mind back then, save for my very own blunders. LOL!

Do You Find This Sexy?

In Pinoyspeak, I guess this is a runaway winner for nosebleed category. I got this from my law school buddy/ex- housemate's notes in Facebook. It's said to be written by Thomas Urquhart (or Urchard, 1611-c. 1660).

Thus for a while their eloquence was mute, and all they spoke was but with the eye and hand, yet so persuasively, by vertue of the intermutual unlimitedness of their visotactil sensation, that each part and portion of the persons of either was obvious to the sight and touch of the persons of both; the visuriency of either, by ushering the tacturiency of both, made the attrectation of both consequent to the inspection of either. Here it was that passion was active, and action passive, they both being overcome by other, and each the conquerour. To speak of her hirquitalliency at the elevation of the pole of his microcosme, or of his luxuriousness to erect a gnomon on her horizontal dyal, will perhaps be held by some to be expressions full of obscoeness, and offensive to the purity of chaste ears; yet seeing she was to be his wife, and that she could not be such without consummation of marriage, which signifieth the same thing in effect, it may be thought, as definitiones logicae verificantur in rebus, if the exerced act be lawful, that the diction which suppones it, can be of no greater transgression, unless you would call it a solaecisme, or that vice in grammar which imports the copulating of the masculine with the feminine gender.

Some Scottish eh? I wonder how people back then would find this arousing. LOL!

I'm Blogging About: Animal Crackers

Blame this and, yeah, this. I am now fascinated with shapes and any interesting likeness of palate pleasers. And more weirdly though, I think I'm now more inclined to browse supermarket shelves. Why? I think it's part of my life rewind and to pay tribute to the simple little joys that showered my life. So there.

Animal crackers for now. And these ain't Barnum's. I hope to see Barnum's next time, so I'll just settle with  Ginbis Party Animals from Japan, folks.

  

Wikipedia tells us that "Animal crackers are crackers in the shapes of animals, some brands of which are sweetened. These are usually animals one would see at the zoo or circus, including lions, tigers, bears, and elephants. There is debate about whether or not animal crackers are actually crackers or cookies. They resemble crackers due to the way they are made, with layered dough, but the use of sweetened dough gives them the cookie taste and consistency." Wow!

Trivial pursuit: According to the Chinese Zodiac, the Year of 2010 is the Year of a Golden Tiger, which begins on February 14, 2010 and ends on February 2, 2011. 

 

 

I'm gonna shape up for the next batch of shapes! LOL!

Off to the Eighth Wonder of the World

Yesterday, a law school buddy called to inform me of our friend's wedding. The wedding will be held in Ifugao on March 14, 2010, and it will be a traditional Ifugao wedding of some sort. Of course, I made an imaginary bull's eye on my calendar. Know what? I'm *insert any adjective pertaining to extreme excitement*!!!

Aside from Mayon Volcano of Bicol and Chocolate Hills of Bohol (check), the Banaue Rice Terraces of Ifugao is one of our country's tourists spots which I really want to take a good view of. Way back in grade school, these rice terraces were a familiar spot in Sibika at Kultura textbooks. Or was it Heograpiya? OMG, am I that ancient?

To keep my excitement burning, I want to post a snap shot of the Eighth Wonder of the World here. I'm a bit surprised to know that the Statue of Liberty in the Big Apple is also an Eighth Wonder of the World.

According to Wikipedia, "Eighth Wonder of the World is a term sometimes used to describe things in comparison to the Seven Wonders of the World, the widely-known list of seven remarkable constructions of classical antiquity." For a complete list, click here.

I am extraordinarily excited!

Need I Say More?

This blog was born out of my boredom stage in the corporate world, and as I continue to document my daily musings in my personal space, challenges from left and right came to disturb my peace.

We all know that the corporate world is a diverse community. We all came from diferent backgrounds, grew up in different households, ate different kinds of food, experienced different struggles and problems. All these molded us to be our own unique and distinct selves co-mingling with all types of personalities. An individual's personality is not without imperfections or quirks. One popular personality quirk known as superiority complex can be evident in some people. Some know how to hide it, control it or simply forget about it. Some, however, choose to cling to this annoying quirk as if their worth depends on it. My opinion? They are downright pathetic to the core.

Let's be definite on this through Wikipedia's help.

"The term 'superiority complex', in everyday usage, refers to an overly high opinion of oneself; in psychology, it refers to the unrealistic and exaggerated belief that one is better than others."

I know several individuals who "fit to a tee" to the definition. They have an overly high opinion of themselves, and that characteristic can really be annoying if done repeatedly. Yes, you may think that you're bright enough but please, do not be too vain about it. Instead, keep it to yourself. Do not ever, ever, ever think that you will always be on the top of the heap; otherwise, I will just reecho my first opinion. You are downright pathetic. Think again, for Christ's sakes!

"Those exhibiting the superiority complex have a self-image of supremacy versus those with inferiority complexes; who may project their feelings of inferiority onto others who threaten their facade of superiority."

Again, it will only appear as a rehash of my first observation if I blabber some more. I stand by what I previously said.

"Those with superiority complexes may garner a negative image in those around them, as they are not concerned with the opinions of others about themselves."

I am a ringside witness to this. Inasmuch as I try to tolerate this kind of people and try to understand them as well, my tolerance has limits. Most often than not, other people's observations and my first impression would match. I think I should try paying attention to my gut feel. Negativity is such a heavy emotion. Besides, who would want to mingle with people who suddenly weigh heavy in your eyes and mind, people who think less of you and belittle your capacity without them knowing you first? No one.

"Those with a superiority complex may speak as if they are all-knowing and better than others. But ultimately they do not care if others think so or not, and will not care if others tell them so. They simply won't listen to, and don't care about, those who disagree."

"Know-It-All" type of people is such a pain in the ass. As often discussed in self-help books, these people had actually experienced some hang-ups in life and, as a result, they have low regard of themselves. In order to escape from reality, these people will assert themselves so strongly to others to the point of being a "know-it-all" just to keep their hang-ups under wraps. Yes, most of us experienced some lowest point, but again, it is a matter of seeing the big picture. I therefore conclude that superiority complex sufferers are close-minded, if not horrendously insensitive.

"Behaviors related to this in a superiority complex may include an exaggerated opinion of one’s worth and abilities, unrealistically high expectations in goals and achievements for oneself and others, persistent attempts to correct others (regardless of whether or not they are actually correct), a tendency to discredit others' opinions and over-forcefulness aimed at dominating those considered as weaker or less important."

Bingo! Need I say more?

 

Actually, when I encounter superiority complex sufferers, I try my very best to really, really, really understand them and know where they are coming from. Instead of hating them and adding to the negative energy which already envelops their whole being, I pray. I pray that they will simply shut the H-E-double-hockey-sticks up as a favor to themselves.

Affirmations for Good Luck

Below is a very timely piece I found in my 2001 diary, and I think this is pretty much appropriate for these trying times. I think I imported this from Art Borjal's column in The Philippine Star.

Every day in every way, I am getting luckier and luckier.

Every day in every way, I am getting more and more blessed.

Every day in every way, I am getting more and more fortunate.

Every day in every way, I am getting more and more favored.

Every day in every way, I am getting more and better chances and prospects.

Every day in every way, I am getting better and better at recognizing good opportunities.

Every day in every way, Lady Luck smiles at me.

Every day in every way, good fortune comes my way.

Every day in every way, I am getting better and better at creating my own good luck, realizing that only I can help myself build my own fortune and fulfill my own destiny.

The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd

I never thought I would find this novel an interesting read. For one, I bought this on sale which made me doubt the quality of its plot. But I was never the type who would judge a novel by how a writer moves within the plot. Everytime I read a book, I have two grand expectations:

1. I expect the writer to write in an interesting manner (crisp and smart writing, that is) without compromising the main goal of the plot; and 
2. I expect the writer to eventually inspire me via his/her writing style and the superbness of the novel's message.

With her bestseller novel The Secret Life of Bees, Sue Monk Kidd fulfilled my parameters.

Her writing style is admirable I was inspired until the last page of the novel. As I leaf  through the pages, the element of surprise was constantly there. The story was set in South Carolina in 1964, but Kidd managed to strike a balance between country style writing* and the contemporary stuff. And of course, the bees! It was very creative of Kidd to let these honey makers contribute so much to the story. I have not seen the film version but, come hell or high water, I will.

And with # 2, the message was crystal clear. No matter where or how you search for or understand your own biological mother, you can always find one in strangers. The sense of belonging respects no color or race. I think the classic issue of racial discrimination only plays a supporting role in this novel. Plus, the fact that Lilly Owens (14-year-old strong girl) is undergoing the usual enemies of adolescence only makes the novel a page-turner.

*If there's country music, then let there be country style writing too. LOL!

Tuesday Meme Express: Pacman's Vitwater Line

Every Tuesday, The Daily Meme suggests the readers to write a thought provoking meme in honor of the Meme express. On my way to work, I chanced upon a thought-provoking albeit amusing line of our Pambansang Kamao in his Vitwater billboard. Funny, right?

Vitwater and I share a somewhat memorable moment. You know, Vitwater was part of my four (4) Sunday kits last September 2008. Despite the fact that its color made me hesitant to go "bottom's up", I willingly brought a bottle to face the biggest mental battle in my life. So that's the amusing part. And now let's tackle the thought-provoking part. For a few enchanting seconds, I became challenged. With Pacman's face plastered on it and some parallelism*, I think this is part of my baby steps to box** all the imaginary demons along my way and pursue my dream. 

*I dunno what it is really. Peace!

**With the right attitude serving as my gloves

I'm Blogging About: Fruit Shaped Jelly Drink!

 Banana, strawberry, orange, grape and mango shaped jelly drinks

One of the best things about blogging is the freedom from any form of constraint. With this blog, I get to ramble anything about my life especially my cheap thrills. It might be something that is only funny or amusing  to me or simply mundane. 

On my way home, I found this Easy Open Fruit Shape Jelly Jelly (yup, this word was repeated!) Drink at a local drugstore slash convenience store. My original plan was to look for the generic-shaped Jellyace but, for some weird reason, they seemed to be elusive nowadays. Was it just me or it's not that popular anymore? Hahaha! Anyway, these cute fruit-shaped jelly drinks really amused my infantile self. 

As always, I'm looking forward to more fruit inspired shapes from Knotsberry Farm.*

* Oh no, not the theme park and the fruit jam maker. Check the spelling.

Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief

I had the chance of watching this movie last Saturday in Gateway Mall with my brothers Jobo & Popo and nephew Dave.

But before that, allow me to rave about something lucky. In line with the celebration of  HVD, the Gateway Cinemas came up with some pick-a-prize promo. Two (2) tickets will entitle the ticket holder to pick a prize. Since we have four (4) tickets, we're entitled to pick two prizes. Popo, who proudly claimed that he's a lucky guy, volunteered to fish whatever prize in the bowl. (Fact: He was born on March 8, 1988, and "8" is said to be a lucky number in the Chinese domain.) It was also the eve of KHFC last Saturday, so after a unanimous vote, we let him pick the prize in bowl # 1. True enough, he was able to win two (2) Dairy Queen GCs for (cue suspense music) two Dilly Bars! He's a lucky guy indeed!

Okay, back to the main premise. The film completely reminds me of the famous Harry Potter. You know, a seemingly outcast kid who had an absentee father (HP, however, is orphaned on both sides.) got the biggest surprise when he learned he possessed magical powers. Fantasy stuff in the big screen. Plus, a great reference to Greek mythology was there, and it was enough to keep me wide awake all throughout. And Percy Jackson (PJ for brevity) lived in the Big Apple - a bonus  for me! PJ has Poseidon as his father, so that makes him a demi-god. He can control anything H20. Poor innocent PJ was tagged as the lightning thief by the great Zeus. Zeus told Poseidon that the lightning bolt must be returned to Mount Olympus before the summer solstice (10 days if I'm not mistaken), otherwise a great war will happen.

And boom! The next thing I saw, Pierce Brosnan (the handsomest James Bond I ever know) was on a wheelchair (posing as PJ's Latin teacher) and later a centaur* named Chiron (Camp Half-Blood's resident trainer). It got me thinking, "What have they done to my Pierce?" So PJ was sent to Camp Half-Blood after he witnessed his mother vanished in the hands of a minotaur** which, I think, was portrayed in a substandard animation. And a series of adventure ensued with his two companions Grover (PJ's protector/satyr***) and Annabeth (daughter of Athena). Goal: To get the three pearls which will be their return ticket from the scary underworld to reality. Said pearls are scattered in three states in the US of A.

The trio went on three major adventures for the, yes, pearls. Childhood adventure/ fantasy for y'all!

1. A trip to a statue (?!) garden somewhere in New Jersey. Here, they encountered the evil Medusa. Uma Thurman was so convincing with all the almost real snakes in her head. I love the part where PJ used his iPod as his rear view mirror to escape Medusa's spell. Yes, they got the first pearl.
2. Trip to Parthenon in Nashville, Tennessee. The music capital of the world. I suddenly remember my Uncle Jimmy who is based there. The trio is supposed to get the pearl from the crown of the giant statue of Athena. After battling with some multiple-headed monster (I forgot the Greek name. Sorry.), they got the pearl.
3. Trip to a hotel casino in, where else but, Las Vegas, Nevada. After munching lotus flowers, the trio was left in a trance and were trapped in the casino for five days. A fatherly whisper from Poseidon brought PJ to reality and the trio successfully got the last pearl.

Then off to the underworld where Hades reigns supreme. The underworld was creepy, just like I had imagined in Greek mythology lessons in high school. PJ finally saw his mother. They used the three pearls as return tickets to reality. Grover, however, chose to stay in favor of PJ's mother. He had some flirty moments with Persephone who was being held captive as Hades' wife.

And so on and so forth. PJ battled with Luke, son of Hermes, who turned out to be the true lightning thief. Then PJ and Annabeth (she looks more like a goddess than her mom Athena) went to Mount Olympus. Here's the amusing part: So Mount Olympus is just way above the Empire State Building? PJ finally met his father and had a talk with the latter.

Then it's back to Camp Half-Blood where PJ and Annabeth will further undergo more training as demi-gods. PJ is now more confident to approach Annabeth. A hesitant loveteam at first.

The end.

And I better end this rambling. Despite some forgivable lapses, I'm looking forward to a sequel, actually.

*part human and part horse 

**a creature with the head of a bull on the body of a man

***a troop of male companions of Pan and Dionysus that roamed the woods and mountains. In mythology they are often associated with sex drive and vase-painters often portrayed them with perpetual erections.