Category: flashback

Back from home.

My sanity has been reborn during my few days visit back home. At first I thought I was dreaming, I felt like kissing the ground soon after I stepped out of the airplane but I didn’t…it would be quite unusual and hilarious. Tacloban changed just quite a bit with new establishments and some improvements. What interestingly bedazzled me was to see the faces of some close friends and family, faces I have not seen for almost a year. Almost everywhere I go, I see familiar faces of people I have known for quite a while or briefly. Most of them asking, “hi! where have you been?” or smiling back with a hello gesture. Yes, the city is so small, that almost everyone knows everyone, that gossips are deadly and contagious, that getting from one point to another doesn’t take more than an hour.

The Pintados grand parade looked the same as usual. The streets filled with people and mostly looked like a mess. I walked under the scorching heat of the sun from the People’s center to the downtown area. Beads of sweat trickled on my face while I scurried against the traffic of people on the sidewalks. It was quite a hassle moving about, but I was extremely happy to know I was home again.

Spent the nights with either beer or coffee. Sleep was almost impossible due to restlessness and my newfound habit of being up all night and being asleep all day.

I was also able to spend time with my little princess Andrea. She has grown quite a bit since I last saw her in March. It was quality time. The poor kid doesn’t see me or her mom everyday. A guilt that burdens my heart everytime.

Meeting up with friends was something I looked forward to during my stay, catching up on what has transpired during my absence. Laughs here and then, and stories about nonsense.

My four day visit back home seemed so fast. There were still a lot of things I wanted to do, places I wanted to go, people I wanted to see. But then, time isn’t just enough nowadays.

I took the bus going back home, that way I could have enough money to buy some pasalubong and waste time on thinking and planning what to do next. I also had so much baggage going back, had to bring some stuff that I left behind with Simon. So it was ideal to just take a bus.

Right now, its raining cats and dogs here in my home in Moonwalk. Feeling a bit groggy after almost a day of sleeping. A cup of coffee in one hand, a stick of cigarette in another. My eyes stare blankly into nothingness as the sound of raindrops splatter against the tiled floor. My mind reminisces about those few days back home. My conscience feels fulfilled yet bothered… there is something missing…

…Oh shit, I left P200 worth of Binagol in the bus.

Argh.

{ Currently listening to: } those damn airplanes again

{ I Feel: } sad

Written by domz at 08:37 PM.

I was able to get out of the smoke and dust in Makati and take a breath of fresh air, aroma of green leaves and other forms of vegetation in Fontana leisure park, in Clark Pampanga. The company I work for had set up a big and expensive overnight party for almost all its employees. It was fun and exciting to all those who attended, villas to stay in, catered food, free entrance to the water rides and pool, Parokya ni Edgar performing, but for chrissakes, just two glasses of free beer.

However, I wasn’t able to catch the band perform nor had taken a dip in their pool. I was too ignorant for that and just stupidly went with Macky my teammate, and headed directly to our villa.

Hard.

Man, the guys and gals of our account began drinking hard liquor. I started to drown myself with rhum, then gin-pomelo, then some brandy, then some beer, then more gin-pomelo then lastly more beer, until I fucked up…. passed out.

I have no idea what happened after that. All I remembered was shouting cheers and talking nonsense. A lot of us were out in the middle of the street drinking like there was no tomorrow, I passed out and lay my head on Elaine’s shoulder. Minutes after that, I remembered getting up and running to the front entrance of our villa and barfing like hell. I literally threw up my dinner.

Then falling on my bed.

Blackout.

I woke up this morning wearing shorts. They took off my pants while I was dead drunk. Spent the morning at the back of the villa, underneath a mangrove with Macky and Atty, talking about ridiculous stuff like the “Sound of Music.” It was warm and sunny with the cool breeze blowing at our faces. Macky and I took silent breaks in between our conversations just to listen to the rustling of the leaves and chirping and singing of the birds. Something we rarely experience nowadays. It was absolutely beautiful.

Someday. I’ll be back.

{ Currently listening to: } Sounds of Nature

{ I am reading: } Dummy’s guide to consuming large quantities of diff alchohol

{ I Feel: } wasted

Written by domz at 06:13 PM.

Nuno Bettencourt is a God. A Guitar God.  No question about it. He made a spectacular performance with his band the “Near Death Experience” in a Washburn guitar clinic held in the Yupangco main office, which luckily turned out to be a mini-concert. I have known the existence of this guitar icon since high school, he’s the long haired dude with black polished fingernails playing the guitar and singing with Gary Cherone

in the music video of “More than Words” back in their “Extreme” days. He’s not that known to common folks but to musicians in the world over, he is rather notoriously known for playing fast progressive arpeggios thru his guitar solos. Listen to old Extreme albums and you’ll get what I mean. The guitar solos I love most is in Extreme’s “Hip Today” and his single “Midnight Express.”

Before the clinic started, we (Jeanpaul, Bebs, Chip and I) had to wait for at least 3 hours standing infront of the back entrance (we had to be early so we can get seats near the stage), our legs were aching and we began craving to go outside for a smoke but unable to because of the risk of losing our places. The waiting area suddenly became jampacked, then people and musicians of all sorts popped out of nowhere. Amongst us were some musicians of famed pinoy bands, some music ethusiasts, some guests and some fans, all there just to see Nuno perform…for free.

Yes it was free. It made our legs ache, but it was worth it. It could be the last chance to see Nuno up close and in person…and see him show his licks.

After the show, we became exhausted but fulfilled. Nuno never did let us down that night.

Nuno is a God. A guitar god.

{ Currently listening to: } Nuno Bettencourt

{ I Feel: } rejuvenated

Written by domz at 06:38 AM.

Jeanpaul arrived from Tacloban yesterday and luckily in perfect timing it was my dayoff so I was able to go along with him. After a grueling afternoon in Megamall and later in Cubao, hopping from one music shop to another, we had a few beers in his cousin Cliff’s place, then later on headed to see what was going on in Mayrics around 10:30pm. The place was jampacked, oozing with cigarette smoke everywhere, heavily stenched with alcohol, and in some instances funked with human sweat. But it was cool. Better than the hostile crowds we have been in other places. In order to get in we had to shoulder a hundred-fifty bucks each for a bottle of beer inclusive, so we could watch a band called Spongecoke or cola something, and in a few minutes later realizing that we began sweating as though we were in the Sahara, having nothing to sit on, no table to put our bottles atop on, and even no space at all just to have a good look at the performers on stage. Dang. We shoulda been early. So we went

outside for “some” fresh air. We only spent an hour, mostly outside, and later on decided to head home. So much for the hundred-fifty bucks.

{ Currently listening to: } nothing

{ I am reading: } nothing

{ Currently watching: } nothing

{ I Feel: } blank
Written by domz at 12:13 PM.

Tempus fugit.

Time flies…whether you like it or not, time will never wait. Time has a sibling called Age, both are created by Man. Time is for measuring the day, Age is for measuring one’s time of existence. The big difference between both of them is that time is infinite, while an age exists only for a time being, whether be it a moment or a billion of centuries. Take for example, my age. 26 seems to be a small number but if you look at my perspective, it looks like it took a year to consume five years of time. My age has a limit. And I am worried that I may not be able to accomplish what I want in a specific age. Because time does not wait. It actually disorients me from reality, its either time’s pace seems slow or fast. So psychologically, I am confused whether I am young or old. I may be young (?) but I feel old, but same goes vice versa. It sucks and this whole whining on time and age of mine is pathetically fruitless. I am only wasting my time even just pondering about it.

So why the ranting on time and age? As I mentioned earlier, 26 seems to be a small number but I was not using that number a few days ago. Oh yes I remember, it was my birthday yesterday. Was I happy?

Maybe.

So what did I do yesterday? After work, I spontaneously treated myself to watch a movie alone. “Sin City” it was called. A roster of great actors, an action film based on a semi black & white comic novel series by Frank Miller, directed by Rob Rodriguez of El Mariachi and Desperado fame, and Miller himself. It was a good movie, very well produced and somewhat gory because of no red blood. White or Yellow blood seemed weird but of course, this movie was based on comics. The theme had to be there. If you’re reading right now, let me spoil your interest on it by saying that Bruce Willis’ character “Hartigan” killed himself at the end to save the girl he rescued. Haha.

Anyway, that was it. Not so much for a birthday, grateful though to the friends and family who greeted me thru my cell and friendster and email. The day before, I was able to celebrate with Genieve after she accompanied me to the Parañaque city hall. Ate Pizza and somekind of green oily spaghetti whatchamacallit. Too bad Chip wasn’t able to join. It was Good food and talk about sense or nonsense.

Every year when my birthday comes up, I feel depressed. Whether there is a party or not, I don’t feel good.

It makes me feel old.

It makes me rotten.

{ Currently listening to: } dripping blood

{ Currently watching: } Sin City

{ I Feel: } cynical

Written by domz at 01:07 PM.

Goodbye Dian. Hello Moonwalk.

Its been two days since I left Dian. Right now I am in Parañaque, trying to get accustomed to the slow paced lifestyle, the silent moments and the hours of solitude. Well every once in a while there would be the constant blasting lift-offs of commercial jet planes that annoys me but in just a few hours I got used to it.

Anyway. The place is relaxing and peaceful, no more noisy neighbhors, no more noisy traffic…but the boredom will kill me, worse, the fare from here to work will finish me off completely. Imagine, I spend at least P84 bucks a day just for transportation, thats four friggin rides back and forth. Hell! Good thing I secured a place to stay in Makati. It’s money out of my pockets though. Arghh.

Overall, this place in Parañaque is a good rest house. The peacefulness of the place reminds me of my apartment with Simon in Anibong. It’ll be a nice place to keep me sane.

Work has never been better, most of our team has just finished our PMP. Yipee! This means a raise. Well not a big one though but a just enough for my daily expenses. At last my request for a leave was approved but for only 3 days. Our team will be going to Puerto Galera for being the number one team in April. Good Job. Wtf.

As for now. I’m still trying to live.

Two more days till the worst day of the year

{ Currently listening to: } Jet planes lifting off

{ Currently watching: } jet planes lifting off

{ I Feel: } relaxed

Written by domz at 09:21 PM.

Whew, going online is pretty hard to do these days. Just early last week, our phones were disconnected in preparation for our transfer to Parañaque. So no dial tone..no internet for me at home. Argh. I’m gonna miss the stupid ironic and mixed up life in Dian. The nasty and noisy neighbors, the stupid night club just across the street, my walks to the store just to buy a lousy cigarette, the ugly disastrously dressed up japayukis lining up along the street for an audition steadily gaining a crowd and traffic. Damn. Moving sucks. It changes my routine.

Macky, my friend from work agreed to find and share a room-for-board with me anywhere in Makati. We found a quaint little place near Makati Ave, nearby bars and a few blocks from Rockwell. A bit steep for my budget, but at least it could be a nice place to crash in during tiring weekdays. A place to live near work will keep me sane, but if I have to go to Parañaque everyday, I’d rather kill myself.

I dunno. Everything seems fast nowadays. Money seems to go out faster than time. But everytime I try to think about going back to Tacloban in June, it seems that time slows down on me… extending my eagerness to go home, playing tricks on my mind…giving me a headache.

Right now I’m in an internet cafe and its 3:30pm…I haven’t slept yet.

Now I know why I’m having a headache.

{ Currently listening to: } my farting
{ I Feel: } uncomfortable

Written by domz at 03:35 PM.

At long last I will be able to get enough sleep. I was too busy working day and night and getting only 3-4 hours of sleep everyday. Simon came over from Tacloban so that we could work on Brainstorm‘s event legworks. Going around the metropolis to meet up with prospective clients at daytime was tiring, the long commutes and walks stressed us out to the max, late in the afternoon I take a short rest then proceed with my regular 8-hour nightshift job, after that I go home and wake up Simon so we could continue our work. A cycle of stressful sleeplessness…continously pressuring myself to work.

In between our long stressful errands, we managed to power up by taking a breather in Starbucks with a tall and cold mocha frappucino…what happened to our usual caffe latte? Obviously the hot summer sun dehydrated us to thirst and smacked our heads with heat and beaded us with sweat on our backs. So we needed something else to cool ourselves.

Then just yesterday, Simon took off for Cebu. I felt relieved that most of my work was done, but saddened because I’ll miss the company of my closest buddy from back home. We used to share an apartment and live like kings in our own way, helping out each other, watching tv, cleaning up the pad, cooking and eating on our small dinner table. His constant knocking on my bedroom door in the middle of the night just to wake me up to have coffee with him. It was also excitingly trivial, for he likes to leave our little so-called “home” in a mess and I had to clean up after him. It was fun and was a sweet taste of our own independence, until I had to leave Tacloban for a change in career.
How time flies. And back to my normal boring daily routine. But its okay, a few more weeks then I’ll be going home for the Pintados festival for a week.

How I can’t wait.

{ I Feel: } sleepy

Written by domz at 07:23 AM.

For the past few days I’ve been so busy working on the proposals for Brainstorm‘s projects for the upcoming Tacloban city Fiesta. It really is difficult to think creatively for sponsor’s gimmicks and ideas for designing the posters and all because of my lack of sleep due to worries on time contraints. Yesterday, as I was working on pre-production legworks, I walked and walked from one office to another under the scorching heat of the summer sun, and felt nauseated and dizzy…I realized that I only slept for 3 hours. My senses were weak and my mind drifted into deep thoughts, even while crossing the street…I looked up and glanced at the sun…the bright light blinded me into a moment of reminiscence…

Bright light.

The spotlight glared in my sight. I was onstage, infront of a young crowd composed mostly of men. They were shouting and cursing not because of anger but excitement. They were eager to see their favorite band play… and I was the delay. I had to acknowledge the sponsors first before introducing the main act. I was wasting their time. Then the lights went dim, and smoke from the smoke machine started flooding the stage…it was time…

Back.

I was in the middle of the street…in between opposite lanes… covered with smoke emissions from passing vehicles…

…feeling tired…

…feverish…

…nauseated…

…sleepy…

…sweaty…

…but most of all feeling…

…busy?

{ Currently listening to: } horns honking

{ I am reading: } road signs

{ Currently watching: } myself crossing the road

{ I Feel: } tired

Written by domz at 07:13 AM.

It’s confirmed. We’ll be moving to Parañaque in June. Boohoo. Goodbye Makati. It’ll be farther away from work. That’ll mean long commutes, stuck in traffic, and even worse, late for work. Well, it isn’t my choice…I’m not the one paying the rent. But this will be hard. Not only will it affect my work, it will also affect my attachment with this city, for I have been a resident here ever since I arrived.

I became fond of this city because of it being so organized, clean and prosperous. And so strict that you can’t just get on or off a bus anywhere along Ayala Avenue and Makati’s own yellow policemen called MAPSA were even glad to catch me smoking in the Ayala MRT station’s premises and confiscate my ID for a “first offense” fine of P1000…how expensively luxurious for a fine. Well, I never showed up to get my ID, and I bet I’m in their wanted list right now. Oh come on, a thousand bucks fine for a joint? That’s ridiculous!

But anyway, I learned my lesson. It shows that this city is well developed, urbanized and civilized. Low crime rate, I mean so low that I was robbed only once last year! Going around the city is convinient because even if it takes 30 minutes waiting in a bus just to pass through Ayala Ave. at rush hour, you can always walk through the city’s pedestrian underpasses and overpass going straight to Glorietta in 15 minutes.

In short, Makati is a beautiful city and I hate moving elsewhere yet. So I decided that I am going to rent a place for myself. I know this will half-empty my pockets, but I rather be less than 2 kilometers away from where I work. Well, at least a small place where I can crash during weekdays can do, and I can spend my restdays in Paranaque.

Another change in routine again.

Well as always, the only constant thing in life is change…

{ Currently listening to: } rush hour traffic

{ Currently watching: } the calendar

{ I Feel: } uncomfortable

Written by domz at 06:53 PM.