a slice of chocolate caKE with everything on it

because life's like chocolate cake: it's only either very sweet or bittersweet

Sunday, September 24, 2006

Halfway Home

Actually, three-fourths way home would be more appropriate.

Currently in Changi Airport, waiting for 5:10 pm connecting flight to Manila. Also currently loving the said airport's facilities and consequently feeling sorry about old NAIA's.

I've been exposed to the gap between developed and developing for more than a week... and it really is quite sad. How come a country as beautiful and as rich in natural resources such as ours remains so backward? Well, I've known the answer to that for a long time and it sucks that it hasn't been remedied. But what sucks even more is that other countries with much less made the most of what they had and have so much more. Very good for them, of course. But what that does say of us, as a nation? Are we not talented enough to dig gold out of a gold mine? Again, it is not the lack of skill that hinders us to grow for I believe that we are indeed a very talented people. It is the lack of a THE RIGHT MINDSET.

Case in point: Singapore. In the 1950's, then prime minister Lee Kuan Yew tasked his staff to travel to the neighboring ASEAN countries to see what these countries didn't have. When they got back, the ministers reported: "They have a lot of natural resources and beautiful places there but they lacked DISCIPLINE." And so Lee Kuan Yew decided to capitalize on his neighbors' weakness and made it his country's competitive advantage. What Singapore lacked in resource it compensated for in discipline. It took years but their discipline paid off. They made the best out of the little that was given them. They made lemonade out of lemons... and even all the other stuff that could be made out of lemons!

I could just imagine how far we'd go if only there'd be enough Filipinos responsible enough to care about the welfare of the country in general... And if there were leaders committed enough to bring this country of ours towards its full potential. It surely will not be easy, with traditional politics at its dirtiest and the majority of the nation, sadly, trapped in a cramp societal outlook, a big stumbling block, an anvil that weighs us down and keeps us down. Add the typical Dela Cruz's lack of understanding of what is actually happening (though they are not at fault for this and I do not intend to judge) and the resulting inadequacy or inability of supplying the right solutions to different problems and we are just at the tip of a swelling iceberg.

I have fortunately been acquainted to and am good friends with a number of young people who, despite all the disappointments and the let-downs and the crap that they have been exposed to, still believe in making an indelible difference to this country and are on their way to doing so. I would like to do that as well, in my own way. As for you guys, you know who you are. Good luck! I hope that your, our idealism doesn't wane in the long run, that it stands all the tests that it will go through along the way... It has to be kept alive if we want to see a prosperous Philippines in our iifetime.

Tuesday, September 12, 2006

Kindred Spirits

It is a relief to know that you are not alone in thinking some not-so happy thoughts. And that it is okay to think them still, even if they're not-so happy.

*****

Watched The Devil Wears Prada yesterday with newfound New York buddies but long-time friends. Honestly, the movie was just so-so. But the clothes and the shoes were FABULOUS!!! I was literally ogling at the all the beautiful, beautiful shoes and bags and dresses... Can't wait for the time that I can afford Manolos! And to our New York trip in five years' time! :D

Sunday, September 10, 2006

In a place that's not-so good

There's this certain "place" I'm currently in, a place in the psyche that I had sort of mapped out inside my head. It may be compared to limbo, only that in limbo there is only uncertainty. But in this place I'm talking about, there is also discontent.

On relatively good days, I just go on about them, doing the things that I have to do, minding them ever so happily even. But when bad days strike, I feel like gutting myself inside out. A bit too harsh, isn't it? But that's exactly how I feel.

A mental debate has been going on in my mind for the longest time, with the motion of to accept or not to accept? It's kinda weird because I'm the only person running the tournament. I give out the pros and cons for the government; I give out the pros and cons for the opposition. And I even end up adjudicating -- URGH. And so you get why the mental debate has been going on and on and on...

Cryptic, tsk, tsk... It's unintentional. It's just how I think. In similes and metaphors and allusions... jumping from one idea to another like a small green frog leaping from one waterlily to another, splashing water while doing so. That's why I'm glad to have friends who know me well... who know me better than myself at times even. Because it's hard to explain things coming from a though structure like mine.

And so another blog entry comes to an end... and as most of my blog entries go, they end unresolved. That's why I go for abrupt endings.

THE END

Sunday, September 03, 2006

Iba na talaga pag in-love ang kausap, pati post ko naiiba ang laman eh...

Okay, I was supposed to post about a very high EQ thing that happened to me today but that high EQ event was overshadowed by what is currently happening at this very moment. I am in a YM conversation with someone who is sharing with me the current status of his lovelife... but that's not the point. The point is THE PERSON sharing his lovelife stuff with me. As in WHOA. Out of the blue, we don't even really talk, then you tell me about your lovelife? Well, I'm always open to listening to other people of course... I'm still just.... SO SURPRISED that this person is telling me about all this. As in WHOA talaga. Although, like I said, I don't mind... I'm actually kinda flattered, hehe. Nakakatuwa ren, di ko inakalang malalaman ko na nagkakaganyan na sha... at na SIYA PA MISMO ANG NAGSASABI SAKEN! Hahaha! Kewl.

Oh, you're so, so, so cute!!! In fairness, I'm really flattered. :D And yes, I'm still listening so kwento ka lang. :D

*****

I super missed ecosoc! And taskforce! Galing akong MUSIKAPELLA at ang saya-saya! Grabe, I missed the people talaga.... Hanggang ngayon at home na at home pa ren ako kapag sila-sila ang kasama ko... Like I'm amidst friends... family. :D Buti na lang pumunta ako. At, sold out, standing room only ito! Ang galing-galing! Congrats Jules! Congrats ECOSOC Taskforce! Yay!

*****

This has been an up-up day on the EQ scale. But when you realize that what made you FEEL the most about the day is a just a certain look and brief physical contact, it's just ironic. And anti-climatic. From an outsider's perspective, true. But from where I'm standing, it makes a lot of sense.

The moments. They're what really count. Thank you for that one, overwhelming moment. It's subdued quality beat the hell out of all the ecstatic hugs and hurrahs.

Friday, September 01, 2006

A Stilleto Story

I WANT THOSE THREE-INCH STILLETOS!!! :O

There, I've vented it out. Just came from the much-awaited (by me) Glorietta Midnight Madness Sale. I already alloted part of my salary (yessss, sweldo ito. hahaha.) to shop for shoes and yet I come home empty-handed. It is just so difficult for me to find shoes that fit me perfectly. And by the perfect fit I not only pertain to shoe size but to my budget line as well. Locally-made shoes' biggest sizes don't fit me (the ones that do aren't pretty so nevermind). The imported ones on the other hand are way over the budget of a probationary employee. Thus, I end up with nothing. NOTHING. And to think that shopping in the evening was enough to keep me energetic the entire day. Tsk, tsk.

But then again I told myself (and the sales lady who assisted me) that I'll pass by again tomorrow... and if they're still there, we're meant to be. As it turns out, those were the last pair of my size. So in the end, fate shall be the one to decide...

I am quite torn actually. I WANT those black, sling-back, killer shoe stilletos but I know that they're not what you could call "sensible" shoes. But I want them. I SHOULD buy sensible shoes, since I commute all the time. But sensible shoes have a tendency to be BORING (and in my case, a bit too pricey) whereas this certain pair of stilletos come at a premium yet still fairly reasonable price (since it's very pretty)... And that is why I'm letting fate have the final say on this one.