Belated Happy Blogday to Me

I thought this blog's birthday was this month so I was supposed to write on its birthday here. But checking on my first post, this blog's birthday is in fact on the 16th of August!!! I missed its birthday. Boohoo. (FYI, Aug 16 is also my friend Nhut's birthday. :P)

So I'll blog about my own anniversary in blogging instead. It was September 22, 2005 when I first entered the blogosphere through Friendster. (And I'm surprised in visiting my first blog because I didn't know that WordPress hosted Friendster blogs now. I'm so outdated. Hehehe. Well, good for them.)

As what happened last year, I didn't know that I was turning 3 years in blogging.

I celebrated my second year of blogging last September 22 without me knowing it transpired already. My, my. I thought I'd be able to post on the same day that I first spoke up in the blogosphere. I came a little late.

I first blogged at Friendster when I had no knowledge whatsoever of blogging.

So belated happy blogday to me! ^^

Wishing myself more readers, blog posts and blogs to come for the next year. Thanks for being a part of my 3rd year! Lemme see if I can cook something as a token of my appreciation to my loyal readers. (How many they may be.) I think I got my domain on my first day for my 4th year. Yay, what a start! ^^

Cheers! :)

Is TV Your Life?

I left this question in this conversation: Does TV have an influence in your life?

Well for me, it definitely has. It may not be my primary influence (thank God I'm not a TV addict) but it still does touch my life. (Naks.)


I was a full-pledged couch potato when I was a kid that it seemed I was the personification of a TV guide. Back then I can tell you what program will show on what channel at what time. Part of my ABCs was watching Batibot and Sesame Street then grew up with the kids at Ang TV and 5 and Up. (Chynna Ortaleza was a host there with my long-time crush Atom Araullo. ^^) Eventually my teenage years were colorized with TGIS and Click. (At that time, our TV can't receive Channel 2's signal.) And of course, who can't escape the animania from Voltes V to Dragon Ball Z to Ghost Fighter to Flame of Recca and many more.

So let me ask you again, does TV have an influence in your life?

P.S. It's the first tribal council later at Survivor Philippines. ;)

Hello, World

I remember the golden days of Internet in my high school days when Internet was a luxury and almost all Filipinos were noobs. I was in third year high school when our school opened an Internet laboratory and students were filing in to get their hands on a PC and while away their time without knowing what to do with the Internet. Upon getting in, we’d just click the IE link and stare at it for a time then go: “Ok, let’s chat instead.”

So it’s really funny when I came into this Interracial Chat because of remembering my teen years in the Internet. The site is simple enough to use and no frilly stuff that confuses users on features. Just chat and go! You can also use webcams and microphones just like in YM. There’s also a guest account for trial use though it’s really short-lived. Still, membership is free so there’s no big deal with that. So if you want to chat with different people from different races, try it out.

The Ninth 9/11

Seven years ago, when I came home for lunch after classes, I looked at the calendar and checked the date: September 11. Ninang's (Filipino term for godmother) second death anniversary. As I was mulling over Ninang's death, Mama told me to watch the news because of a devastating event in the US.

A video clip showed two huge towers exploding and crumbling down. They replayed the clip and I saw a jet plunging into the towers, causing the explosion. I thought it was a very good exhibition. Yet afterwards I came to know that it was a terrorist attack. It was horrific seeing those falling debris, thinking there are people that might be falling as well. It was truly an agonizing tragedy for the whole world.

The world shared my pain. And I to the world.

Picture taken from 911Review.org

Tech Tags: Twin Towers, 9/11 Tragedy, death anniversary, terrorism, Al Qaeda

100 Blessings

It's my 100th post here in NER! Woohoo! *fireworks and trumpets please* ^^

In line with my blessed 100th, it rained all of a sudden this afternoon. So I totally enjoyed my strawberry jam-filled crackers and warm milk tea. Yum yum ^^

For all the other 99 posts, this blog has gone through a lot of my rants, idiosyncrasies and meditations. And of course, a different layout and theme once in a while. (Once in a while daw oh :P)

Looking back at all those previous 99, I came up with my favorite 7 posts. It's nice that my favorites came out with my favorite number. (If you notice, my name has 7 letters also in it: N-E-R-I-S-S-A.) So here's my fave 7, in no particular order:

1. Yakult Litro. May kwentong Yakult ka rin ba? For me this was the most fun post I've ever made in this blog. It was real fun because me and my officemates were laughing while reminiscing our Yakult moments. It was funny and endearing at the same time. Yakult is an integral part of my childhood, I tell you. Haha. XD

2. The Dash by Linda Ellis. Among all the inspiring stories I shared, The Dash sticks out most because of the simplicity and profoundness of the poem. I wish I can do masterpieces like this kind.

3. Silang Lihim (Them Secrets). I haven't done any poem recently and this is by far my latest reflective poem on humanity for which I'm kinda proud of.

4. City of Sorrow. Since we came upon my former passion of poetry, this poem is also one of my latest works that delved into bleak sadness. I liked how it came about because this is a new style compared to my other poems.

5. Loneliness is a Friend. Perhaps I was really sulking in sorrow at this point of time, since both City of Sorrow and this reflection (my most emo post ever) were posted at the same month. Don't worry, I'm not depressed anymore. :)

6. When I Die. This poem is not as morbid as you may think. If you've read it, it's actually contrary to #4 and #5 because it sees death in a more optimistic perspective. I've done this poem when I was in college and only posted it in line with the coming All Saints last year. I'm touched that a lot of people appreciated its meaning.

7. Pabaon. This is just a short post that wasn't meant to be blogged. I was chatting with Chen then when she left ASC and I gave this piece of advice, which I thought was really good. Thus I posted it so I won't forget my little gem of truth. The post is in Filipino and in my haste, I haven't injected the translation so I'll put it here.

Wherever you may go, whomever you may be with, whatever happens...
the decision of who you will be in the end still lies in your hands.

I still have some things to write but it seems that my post is already long. Reflecting on my whole journey in this blog, it seems that I haven't fully given you a worthwhile stay here. So my resolution will be to give more sensible posts. Or if not sensible, at least, more of me. :)

Thanks, my dear readers, for dipping your eyes into my life. I know that this blog's public audience isn't much but I'm happy to have shared myself to you. Cheers to more blessings! ^^

Ei, do you have favorite posts here as well? Wouldn't mind if you let me know. :D

The 90s Show

I'm currently listening to Always by Erasure. Still remember this? Of course, when you hear this, the UMD (Universal Motion Dancers) comes to mind. That is if you're like me who grew up in the 90's. (I'm in my early twenties, okay.)

Dance icons then were the UMD, Streetboys, Maneuvers and Abstract dancers. Aside from Always, dance numbers in school were composed of Macarena, Ragamuffin Girl, Dying Inside, Short Short Man, Lick It, Boombastic, Howie Gee (I dunno its spelling) and the like. However, I did not dance in school. People then think of me as a nerd. (As if. Hehe.)

Eraserheads topped off the OPM charts with Magasin, Toyang, Ang Huling El Bimbo and With a Smile. Meanwhile, boybands started emerging like mushrooms after Backstreet Boys, Boyzone, 911, Westlife, The Moffatts, Five, Savage Garden... the list goes on. I'm sure more than one of my girlfriends know this boyband history because they were into the craze. I still remember girls buying posters outside the school grounds or singing boyband choruses at the top of their lungs while lurking the corridors.

But more than the music, I grew up as a couch potato. My defective eyesight might be because of watching too close at our television that had no remote control. Not that the RC has to do with it.

This was the era of dubbed cartoons and telenovelas. Who did not cry with Princess Sarah, Cedie, Nelo (in Dog of Flanders), Remi and the other morning/afternoon cartoon children? Who did not go home early to watch Marimar at 6 PM in Channel 9? Or Ang TV at 4:30 PM in Channel 2?

As a child, I had a crush on Alexis (Shaider). I was shattered a year ago when I learned he died already due to cancer. Too late I was. Meanwhile, Annie became a porn star. Perhaps she's retired by now.

Aside from Shaider, there's Maskman, Mask Rider Black, Turbo Rangers, Jetman, Machine Man and all other mechanical men out there. Of course, it was also the era of the Anime infiltration through Channel 5, 9 and 13: Ghost Fighter, Dragon Ball Z, Time Quest, Sailor Moon, Daimos. (I won't consider Voltes V and Mazinger Z here 'coz they came in the Philippines in the 70s originally.)

I got hold of puppy love with Peachy and Wacks. (I was a TGIS fan, not Gimik. Sorry.) I was entertained by Kwarta o Kahon, That's Entertainment and GMA Supershow. I could go on and on and on. But I need to stop for a drink. The memories are too overpowering. Hehe.

Overall the 90s was a good decade for me. It was my childhood and teenage life.

Well, this was my bit of the 90s. What's yours?

Tech Tags: Philippines, 1990, Always, Erasure, Universal Motion Dancers UMD, Streetboys, Maneuvers, Abstract, dancers, Macarena, Ragamuffin Girl, Short Short Man, Lick It, Boombastic, Erasure, Eraserheads, Toyang, Huling El Bimbo, With a Smile, boybands, Backstreet Boys, Boyzone, Westlife, Moffatts, Savage Garden, high school, cartoons, telenovelas, Princess Sarah, Cedie, Nelo, Dog of Flanders, Marimar, Shaider, Maskman, Mask Rider Black, Turbo Rangers, Jetman, Machine Man, Anime, Ghost Fighter, Dragon Ball Z, Sailor Moon, Daimos, TGIS, Gimik, Kwarta o Kahon

The 2-Year-Old Blogger

I celebrated my second year of blogging last September 22 without me knowing it transpired already. My, my. I thought I'd be able to post on the same day that I first spoke up in the blogosphere. I came a little late.

I first blogged at Friendster when I had no knowledge whatsoever of blogging. Browsing through my first blog posts there, which didn't constitute much sense (hehe), my very first post was a "review" of The Alchemist. To quote myself:

The Alchemist by Paulo Coehlo
I was expecting a better plot for this inspirational. I agree with my officemate, "The Little Prince" still is better. I guess the exact poeticism wasn't interpreted through since this is originally Portuguese. Sayang, I bought it pa naman. Oh, well...

Darn, now I feel that I should have made my first post more dramatic than raving negatively on The Alchemist, don't you think? But that's life.

I never thought that I'd last this long blasting my thoughts to nothing in particular. Hopefully, I'll be a successful blogger someday. (There goes my dreams swishing by.)

Happy second birthday to me! ^_^

Bangkang Papel

Matindi ang buhos ng ulan. Kumulog nang malakas. Nawalan ng kuryente. Tinanggal ko ang saksakan ng TV at lumabas ng bahay.

Muling nabasa ang mga nakatabing sinampay dahil sa ubod nang lakas ng ulan. Pati mga nakatiwangwang na batya ay napuno ng tubig-ulan. Ni hindi ko maaninag ang kalangitan dahil sa hagulgol ng kalikasan. Tumambad sa akin ang namumuong bangka sa aming bakuran. Hinanap ko ang pinanggalingan ng agos at nabaling ako sa maliit na eskinitang pagitan ng aming bahay at ng pader ng kapitbahay. Animo'y naging ilog ang eskinita dahil sa bilis at lakas ng daloy ng tubig. Kasabay ng pag-agos ng tubig-baha, may namuong ideya sa aking isipan --- bangkang papel.

Pumasok ako sa bahay. Ikinuwento ko kay Mama ang mga basang sinampay. Lumabas siya upang tingnan ang mga ito at napansin din ang baha. Naibahagi ko ang pagnanasang maglaro ng bangkang papel. Ngunit nasambit ko rin ang panghihinayang dahil masisira lang din naman ang papel bandang huli. Hindi inalintana ni Mama ang aking pag-aalinlangan at inudyok pa ako upang ituloy ang paglalaro. Masaya kaming bumalik sa loob ng bahay at naghanap ng gamit na papel.

Ang tagal ko na rin palang hindi gumagawa ng bangkang papel. Ni hindi ko na maalala kung paano. Tinuruan akong muli ni Mama. Tulad nang ako'y musmos pa, ginaya at sinundan ko ang bawat tuping ginawa niya sa hawak na papel. Galak na galak ako nang natapos namin ang aming mga bangka. Simula na nang laro!

Lumabas kaming muli ng bahay. Pinag-aralan ko kung saan magandang ibaba ang bangka upang matagal-tagal ang kanilang paglalakbay. Buong kasabikan kong ibinaba ang aking bangka. Gayundin si Mama. Inanod ng baha ang mga bangka subalit hindi pa nangalahati sa kanilang kurso ay naharang sila ng uka sa semento.

Natawang nalungkot ako. Gusto kong makita ang matagumpay nilang paglalayag. Nang una'y pinilit kong sundutin ang bangka sa may kalayuan ngunit hindi umabot. Sa aking masidhing hangarin, kumuha na ako ng payong at nilapitan ang mga bangka. Inabot ng aking mga nanlalamig at basang paa ang aking bangka upang ilihis at ipagpatuloy ang kanyang layag. Subalit huli na ang lahat. Masyado nang nabasa ang papel kaya hindi na kinayang maglayag pa.

Mabuti pa noong bata ako, walang sawa akong gumagawa ng bangkang papel kahit lulunurin lang ng tubig.

Dumikit na lang ang papel sa semento at bumalik na ako sa tarangkahan.

Setyembre 2007

Yakult Litro. May kwentong Yakult ka rin ba?

Sa letrang B ng Yakult.
"Sa letrang B ng Yakult! Sa letrang Y ng Bacilli!" sigaw ni Ross, aking ka-opisina, habang pilit niyang iniintindi ang code niya. Tapos idadagdag niya pa ang kanta mula sa Kuwarta o Kahon --- Tan-tan-tan-tan-tan-tan-tan-tan-tan --- na pinapatugtog noon habang iniikot ang roleta ng Yakult. (Pasensya na kung walang sound effects dahil wala pa namang upload ng music dito sa Blogger. May makulit kaming recording ni Nhut tungkol sa kantang iyan.)

Yakult Fanatics.
Dahil dyan sa sigaw ni Ross ay aking naalala ang pangarap na magkaroon ng Yakult Litro. Nasambit ko ito kay Lochi at ipinagmalaki niyang mas gusto niya ang 1.5 liter na Yakult kesa isang litro lang. Masaya niyang inalala ang kanyang kabataan (matagal na pag-alala siguro) nang nasusugat pa raw ang kanyang labi habang umiinom ng Yakult. Umoo naman ako dahil noong bata rin ako (ilang taon lang ang nakalipas), nagsusugat paminsan-minsan ang aking labi dahil medyo matalim ang rim ng Yakult. Hindi pala ganito ang dahilan nang sugat-labi ni Lochi. Winawarak (ang galing!) niya ang bote ng Yakult gamit ang kanyang mga ngipin para lang makuha ang kung anumang likidong naiiwan sa bote (tawagin na lang nating leklek) matapos mong tunggain ito. Tapos ay susungkitin daw niya ito at nanamnamin. O di ba, sino pang mas aadik sa Yakult kesa sa kanya?

Karagdagang gawaing adik: Nasubukan mo na rin bang inumin ang Yakult na nakaipit o nakasalaksak (nice word) ang upper lip mo sa bote? Tapos inaangat-angat mo ang bote para makainom. At kahit na ubos na ang laman ay feel na feel mong nakasaksak ang labi mo sa bote at pinaglalaruan pa. Kung oo ang sagot mo, huwag kang mag-alala, di ka nag-iisa! Marami tayo! XD

Yakult Tips and Tricks.
Naibulalas ko itong kamanghamazing na kwento kay Nhut sa aking pag-uwi. Naibahagi niya tuloy ang kanyang mga tips para sa pag-inom ng Yakult. Kung gusto kong tawagin ang sarili kong Yakult Baby, siguro si Nhut ang Yakult Master. Si Lochi, Yakult Addict.

Paanong di mabitin sa pag-inom ng isang (maliit na) bote ng Yakult:
1. Tanggalin ang wrapper.
2. Uminom lamang ng kaunti. Tantyahin ang mga lunok, parang pinapadaan lang ang lasa sa lalamunan.
3. Pagkatapos malasahan ang Yakult sa lalamunan, tunggaing buo ang natitirang laman. Siguraduhing isang lunok lang ang pag-inom para mabusog.

Paanong walang matirang leklek sa Yakult matapos inumin (na hindi masusugatan ang labi):
1. Aluging mabuti (shake well) ang Yakult.
2. Aluging muli. Pakaalog nang mabuti.
3. Tanggalin ang wrapper.
4. Inumin ang kalahating parte ng Yakult. (Pero ok din kung 1/3 o 1/4, basta huwag tunggaing buo.)
5. Aluging muli. (Ingat lang para huwag matapon ang napakahalagang mga patak ng Yakult.)
6. Inumin ang natirang Yakult. (Maaaring hindi ubusin. Kung gayon, ulitin lang ang ika-5 at ika-6 na hakbang hanggang maubos ang Yakult.)

Paalala: Maaari ring pagsamahin ang dalawang nasabing paraan upang ma-enjoy nang mabuti ang Yakult.

Marky Cielo & Tyra Banks (kuno)

[Video taken through an XDA O2 Phone]

Posted this vid to test the Upload Video of Blogger. However, as of this writing, despite the fact that the video was uploaded successfully, I cannot play the file. Therefore, you could just see Lisa waving in static mode. Hehe XD

Edit as of September 5: Well the video can now be watched completely. Sorry if this vid seems so "kulit". Excuse my sprinkled laughter, Lisa's modeling and the overall chaos of the vid. As mentioned above, I was just trying the Upload Video Feature of Blogger. It works! After 24 hours perhaps? Hehe.