ohkay.

DRAFT: 4-7-2013

i accepted this work with the expectation that i'll get constantly pissed off by people who can't even understand a simple sentence. i'm usually careful not to blog about things like this, because i didn't want to offend anyone. but seriously! some people deserve uhm, an offense. pero joke lang yon. alam ko namang deep inside mabait akong tao and the best i can do is be "impolite" without directly hitting on their lack of.. ano ba... comprehension?! osige na, kayo na ang soooobrang busy na hindi kaya magbasa ng 5 lines ng announcement. pinaganda na nga with photoshop and all, echepwera parin. my talent is insulted. arg.

no seriously. i wish i had ludie's patience, tolerance, whatever! she's the only person i can imagine who can handle ANY type of question without getting mad or judging the person overall, for life! hahaha

argh. Lord sorry. my labor of love for this project is limited only to whatever is related to the arts. anything beyond that i do with great contempt.

-------

UPDATE: 1-20-2013

yearbook drama

hate letter

DRAFT: 4-13-2013

an open letter to the one i'm hating right now. i wonder if you are aware of the adverse effects you have on the people around you. you turn everyone bad. you made someone leave. you made someone lose her identity. you make someone uncomfortable. and me? you make me look down on myself. every single effing day. nothing is ever good enough for you, because you're all smart and powerful and your opinion will always emerge as the best one. you don't need to listen to anyone cos you think you're good enough on your own. heck, you do everything right the first time. isn't that what this place needs? plus, you compete in everything! in making friends, in delivering punchlines, in being the all around smartypants with enough social life to boot. you'd like to have them all. you want to be there, on the top, looking down, acting good.

and well, you are good. 

and i'm the evil queen(ster). and what do evil queens do for a start?

they play nice.

so there, i'm sorry. i really am. for judging you right when you only have good intentions at hand. 

-------------------

UPDATE: 1-20-2013

i guess i remember you now! but this is so old na, i know we've indirectly made up HAHAHA, i also know you've already forgiven me in your heart for being so intimidated by you. it's a relief i left knowing we're friends. yehey. all patched up. :)

some people, really.

DRAFT: 5-2-2013

i don't remember how and when it started but recently whenever i see you, i'm just filled with hate. or something more subtle than that, but nonetheless as bad. there are times when i want to work it out, be nice, engage in conversation like before, and be social, but every time i do, i feel like i'm being pushed away. tossed in a curb with a placard that says, "don't talk to us. you're not part of MY circle". i'd be damned why.

i don't understand why some people are so competitive even with being social. like it's so important to be the first to make friends with someone. to be the first one to crack the wittiest jokes. to be the first to create a social circle. and rule out anyone you didn't want in. i just don't understand why some people want to be QUEEN so much. 

i also don't understand some people who overthinks things too much. one small gesture and they exaggerate it as being oppressive. one snide look and they think they're being bullied. they always feel like the underdog whose job is to overthrow the queen. and most of the time they can't be taken seriously cos they blab too much fiction. like i do now.

some people, really.

----------------------------

UPDATE: 1-20-2014

ang sama ko. hindi ko na maalala kung sino to. -___-

best place to get your NBI clearance in metro manila

UPDATE 01-23-2014: 

Online NBI Clearance Application is back! Starting January 24, 2014 you may now register via http://www.doj.gov.ph/nbi

i have written a post about this announcement: check it out here!


ORIGINAL POST 01-16-2014:

i've done a bit of research online and found that the best and least crowded place to get your NBI clearance in metro manila is at ROBINSONS OTIS which is just a tricycle away from the NBI main office. so far ha, so far. who knows now that its gaining popularity, one day it'll be like those satellite centers where you have to line up at least 9pm the day before just to get a number! i get the feeling that people are pulling over at the main office more kaya naman nane-neglect yung fact na may mas maluwag na NBI center nearby hehe

the first quarter of each year is said to be the peak season for applying/renewing NBI clearances, and i think it's also because it's the peak season for getting a job (or a new one)! why?
- for some people, new year = new job! (like me!)
- octoberians are probably done job hunting and are in the 'requirements' stage already hehe
- some employees usually resign after they get their christmas bonuses, which mean they probably get new jobs within the first months of the year
- december means end-of-contract period for contractuals, so yeah, more job hunters to consider

GENERALLY, it's job hunting season and and we all know how a NBI clearance is always part of the pre-employment requirements list, so you could only imagine how busy this season is for everyone! >XD hehe

anyway, since the e-clearance and e-payment services are still offline (and it's already 4 months as per their website announcement, NBI what the heck are you doing ba?!) here's your best chance if you don't want to set camp and stay overnight just to ensure you'll reach the quota number of people served per day.

how to go to Robinsons Otis:
- ride a bus going to Quiapo and get down at NBI Main Office at UN Ave. (or take the LRT and get off at UN Ave. Station)
- cross to where mcdonalds and jollibee is
- ride an ORDINARY yellow tricycle (Php 10) at the corner of UCBP near jolibee, punuan po ito. you can opt for the SPECIAL tryke pero that's Php 60 already hehe
- get off at Robinsons Otis

what to bring:
- valid ID
- black ballpen
- php 120 pesos (php 115 clearance fee, php 5 envelope)
- snacks while waiting
- anything to keep you entertained for long hours. bring a book, or load your phone/tab with movies/series, load games, bring a powerbank too in case you run out of bat, etc.

here's a timeline:
4am - left home (fairview qc)
5am - arrived at robinsons otis, was among the first 50 people. there are chairs lined at the entrance for NBI applicants.
8am - by this time i believe the headcount has already reached 300 which is the maximum number of people nbi otis can accommodate for that day
9am - guard started distributing numbers

10am - finally ushered people inside the mall and kept them in a holding area

holding area with free mags :)

12nn - finally got my clearance! 

so you see, the process took a lengthy 2 hours still, and that's because they lack machines. 

they only have 1 cashier (which is enough b/c payment is usually a breeze), 2 encoding/biometric counters (which caused the long queue for steps 2 and 3), and only 1 printer.

so there, arrived at 5am, waited for 5hrs to get inside, then waited another 2hrs for the processing. sucks right? but that's already the best you have in the metro. if you want to be #1 in line you have to be there as early as 3am. :)

good luck!

SMART sign off :)

last monday (jan 13), i spent my last day at the office organizing stuff for the turnover, attending to my clearance requirements, packing up, and treating my officemates to pizza! hahaha

in fairness, it was a hard decision for me to treat everyone pizza being that i'm going to be poorita until my first payday at pointwest (which sadly got moved again! argh!) haha. nevertheless, it's gonna be the last time naman eh so no regrets. :)

mon, myka, sheila, me, mich, donita, and tina :)

with my farewell pizza haha

i will certainly miss smart for all the things it has taught me and most specially for the friends i've earned along the way! i will miss janine! naks ang sweet ko! hahaha i never thought i'd grow really close to this girl! she's my closest friend and teammate and i'll miss our harutans, asarans, lunchsss, and tawanans over random stuff! >X')

w/ janine

i will also miss mela and michael and all the lunches we spent tolerating each others' kacornyhan. hahaha

w/ mela 

i will miss my first boss and supervisor, sir ken, who patiently taught me perl and gave me pep talks and trivias. he's one of those higher-ups i don't mind being corny with and i treasure all the laughter we shared together! >XD he gave me a very thoughtful parting gift (the time keeper by mitch albom), now i'm thinking of attending albom's book signing at glorietta this feb! >XD

i will miss sir arian, my fateful second sup haha, the OCest boss i've ever served. now i can assure him no one's gonna mess with his magnets anymore! hahaha also sir rio, my manager whom i look up to a freakin lot, someday i'll be like him, perceptive and reliable! >XD

and of course, sa lahat ng nakatawanan ko, mamimiss ko silang lahat specially yung mga ka-area ko. yung mga nakakatawanan ko lang talaga mamimiss ko sorry. chaka pala yung mga suki ko sa load, at sa makeup! HAHA

to my ROC and FMS team mates! i will never forget them for being so fun! >XD

teryo, sir arian, layt, fred, ben, mela, feli, ronald, me :)

 in the next picture i specifically asked them to look sad kunyari kaso si feli ano eh! grar haha

aside from the people, i will also miss the pride that goes along with being a smart employee and a makati-girl naks haha, the many many employee perks, the lobby events, promos, freebies, the CR with bidet and kitchen-towel-quality tissue, my private cr at 23rd floor haha (seryoso! i'll miss the cr! esp during the many times my stomach has waged war on me, the cr for handicapped at the 23rd proved a silent refuge HAHA), and lastly, ate's chichaken, crinkles, and sweet corn! >XD

aw. haha ang dami kong mamimiss sana may makamiss din sakin hahahaha

Ally's All-Day Breakfast Place

i've been meaning to blog about my Ally's experience pero tinatamad ako haha anyway, here it is! all-day breakfast places are becoming a trend right now, but Ally's here became known for its DIY pancakes! it's basically like ordering at BRGR Project, but pancake/waffle edition this time hehe.

when i first visited Ally's they gave out small forms with a checklist of how you want your pancake served (selections at the right part of pic below). but recently they only give out list order forms where your WRITE your orders instead. hehe mejo messy but anyway. haha

my first pancake at ally's! my all time favorite as well, blueberry creamcheeese!

classic, pancake, blueberry, cream cheese, crushed graham and maple syrup - Php 170

 my sister's order, pretty much like mine but with more toppings and sausages at the side hehe:

classic pancake, blueberry, cream cheese, nutella, crushed graham, walnuts, maple syrup - Php 240

breakfast sausages on the sides - add Php 55

 in fairness, the pancakes were big, heavy and not too sweet, allowing you to really savor your selection of toppings.


on my second visit, i tried out their Adobo Flakes for Php 120

twin sunny side up, adobo flakes, tomato salsa, rice with toasted garlic on top

the pork adobo flakes were really tasty and flavorful however it wasn't as crispy as the other adobo flakes i've tried, in fact it wasn't crispy at all, but it's still good. i love the tomato salsa but the serving was too small! anyway it's just salted chopped tomatoes and green bell pepper, very easy to make. hehe for Php 120 this is super sulit and very heavy as well! Actually, i also ordered a blueberry cream cheese pancake along with this and i wasn't able to finish it! haha

on the other side of the table, jeckie ordered banana waffle with additional sides :)

waffle, bananas, maple syrup - Php 125

scrambled eggs (php 35) and bacon (php 55) on the sides 

 in fairness to the waffles they were really big! taller than the 2 pcs pancake. i tried it at bit and it tastes just like the classic pancake hehe.

that's all we've tried so far, and YES i want you to try it out as well! Ally's main selling point is their DIY pancakes so it's must that you try them out if it's your first time. As for their set meals, they do have a large selection you can try.

the only downside with eating at Ally's is that their place is really small. The inside can probably only accommodate 20 guests (assuming all tables are full), and outside they only have 4 tables. if you're coming in groups you may want to reserve. yup, good thing they accept reservations free of charge! otherwise, you may have to wait to be seated coming in on peak lunch and dinner times. :)

here are photos of some parts of menu for your reference hehe

Ally's All-day Breakfast Place
50 Malingap st., Sikatuna Village, QC
Monday-Sunday
7am - 10pm
0906 444 3878
https://www.facebook.com/AllysAllDay

lenovo L1VE concert

in celebration of being the #1 pc vendor worldwide, lenovo (in cooperation with microsoft) threw in a concert for those who  purchased select lenovo products during their promo period last year. since i bought a flex 14 last december, i was able to get 2 vip tickets. i was planning on selling it pero matumal eh so i just went with a friend para di sayang! hahaha

we weren't able to catch the free shuttle at paseo center makati (yes, RWM offers free shuttle to members and membership is free! click here for more details), and we'd be running late if we took our chances at mcdo valero (loooong walk!) so we decided to hail a cab instead. from paseo center to resorts world manila, the fare cost  around 130 pesos. but since we took the skyway, we added 20 pesos. keri na diba? haha

with my colleague tina, thanks for coming!

the newport performing arts theater opened at 8pm so while waiting at the lobby, kate torralba entertained us with her awesome singing! i know right? kate torralba the stockings designer? i was surprised to hear that she has a musical prowess din pala! ayos!

designer, singer, musician kate torralba serenaded us with classics and audience requests!

it was really refreshing to hear her sing. her voice has some kindof norah jones quality to it, and her playing is really good as well. frustrated pianist here! and look at the piano, see something? think it's a grand piano? haha natuwa ako nung napansin ko how it's just an electric organ cased in a grand-piano housing. hahaha >XD

the entire concert was accompanied by the manila philharmonic orchestra so you could only imagine how epic that was. super duper bow.

pic spam below!

nina with her opening song

thanks to the LED stream haha

since the event was exclusive, it's quite acceptable there's not a full house. but the energy went really high specially when rico blanco went off stage to rock with the audience! sayang he didn't come our way, photo op sana. hahaha

lastly, the ukelele ensemble philippines also graced the concert with a number. it was really cool! and their pack is so diverse ah! kudos! hahaha >XD

overall it was great concert! rico blanco was crazy and grabe ampogi nya hahahaha instant crush! at kahit sobrang paos ako non keribels lang sa pagtili! >XD

thank you lenovo!