Hiatus Ends Here

Yikes, sorry it took me so long to update this blog. (cue: Emma Bunton – What Took You So Long?) Haha.

I’ve been extremely busy. Trust me when I say “extremely.” Gaaaah. I’m one pinch away from having a nervous breakdown. I’m this close — THIS close.

The longest week everrrrr. Darn.

• My uncle passed away over the weekend.
• My two jobs seem to rape me every day and every night.
• I’ve been sick since Sunday.
• In the last 72 hours, I’ve only had 6 hours of sleep.

April is not my month. Sooo not my month.

And now, I shall sleep.

Top 15 Philippine Destinations
I Have Yet to Visit (Part 1)

image courtesy of travel.nationalgeographic.com

Hmm, last week was Holy Week. Well I’m not a Christian so the Holy Week must have been a regular week for me. And yeah, it was a pretty ordinary week except no work. And God knows how “no work” makes my ordinary week heavenly. I stayed at my mum’s house in Batangas. I usually go with my entire family on the road for our annual Visita Iglesia but sloth got the better of me; I decided to do nothing. And nothing was FUN! Wahaaha.

Then I remembered what a friend told me last year: “If a tsunami hits Puerto Galera anytime during the Holy Week, it will wipe out 80% of the country’s gay population.” Haha.

Funny, I haven’t set foot on the sands of Puerto Galera when it is just around P300 away from Batangas. And it’s not just Gale, I haven’t experienced Boracay either! Whenever my friends would invite me to join them to Boracay or Gale, I always end up staying with my relatives in Palawan. Not that I’m complaining. It’s cheaper, since food and lodging won’t be a concern. And besides, Palawan is beyond awesome.

I consider myself a well-traveled person if we’re talking about within the Philippine borders. I’ve been to Benguet to Aurora to Sorsogon to Leyte to General Santos. But the Philippines has just too many must-see places that gaaaah, there are also too many I haven’t been to. Here are 15 famous places in the country that I have yet to conquer.

15. Bukidnon

image courtesy of Star Cinema

Even before Piolo Pascual and Angel Locsin made Bukidnon a romantic setting in “Love Me Again,” I had always wanted to experience this pineapple-happy province. I remember when I was in grade school, Bukidnon really grabbed my curiosity. Grade school textbooks then had good things to say about Bukidnon, its terrain, industries and unusual climate. Bukidnon is the first thing that comes to mind whenever our teacher would ask us for an example of a plateau. Haha.

I really don’t know why but I won’t die without visiting Bukidnon.

14. Cebu

image courtesy of Tourism.gov.ph

My sister used to work in Cebu and she always urged me to come visit because there was just too much to see. But time was a bitch then. When I decided to finally pay the Queen City of the South a go-see, my sister was assigned somewhere else — Ilocos Norte. And then she completely forgot about Cebu and pimped Ilocos. Crazy sister.

One thing that makes me wanna see Cebu — history. It’s the oldest city in the country, right? So it should take me to the past and indulge me with things ancient. That’s what I’m expecting — more than the beaches, more than the culture. It’s really history. And dried mangoes.

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Two Tags

Hey guys, work-related lang. Please post your own top 3 things by commenting on this post. Please, please, please. Or you may also post it on your own blog. 

Just write down the Top 3 stuff that the category asks. Thanks. Heto saken.

TOP 3 FEEL-GOOD MOVIES (HOLLYWOOD)

1. Love Actually
2. Slumdog Millionaire
3. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
OR The Devil Wears Prada
OR My Best Friend’s Wedding (andami, ahaha)

TOP 3 FEEL-GOOD MOVIES (ANIMATION)

1. Finding Nemo
2. Monsters Inc.
3. Wall E!

TOP 3 FEEL-GOOD MOVIES (PINOY)

1. Crying Ladies
2. Got 2 Believe
3. Jologs / You Changed My Life

TOP 3 FEEL-GOOD MOVIES (FOREIGN LANGUAGE)

1. Amelie
2. My Sassy Girl
3. Love of Siam — hindi masyado happy ending pero eeeh, feel good pa rin

TOP 3 BEACHES YOU’VE BEEN TO AND WHY

1. Puerto Princesa, Palawan — clear water, awesome place. not crowded
2. Matabungkay, Batangas – Mababaw lang ang tubig sa ibang parts, tas ok mag snorkel sa iba
3. Sorsogon – may butanding! ahihihi

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Typical Andre

A TYPICAL TEXT MESSAGE FROM ANDRE

Just when I thought I had escaped the z00-reminiscent insanity of my friends for the holidays, I received a message like this:

“Waaa. Kumusta naman yung nagdeliver ako ng ham. Sabi nung customer ‘Thank you.‘ Ang sinagot ko ‘Good luck.’ Wahaha. Ang tanga ko lang.”

Wahaha, agree, agree.

A TYPICAL YAHOO! MESSENGER CHAT WITH ANDRE (December 22, 2008)

Andre: Youre not going anywhere naman tonight di ba?
Yoshke: Nope
Andre: Raincheck daw
Yoshke: Huwaaaaat?  si Jerwin?
Andre: Yeah. May sakit
Yoshke: I invited Patti pa naman
Andre: Sa Saturday nalang
Yoshke: Ah aright, kayo na lang
Andre: EEEEEH!!!! Anubaa?
Yoshke: Batangas na ko nun
Andre: Kelan ka balik?
Yoshke:  January 2
Andre: Eeeeeeeeeh
Andre: Yoshke naman ehhhhhhhhhhhh
Andre: YOSHKEEEEEE
Andre: Balik ka dali naaaaaaaaaaa
Andre: Pls plsplspls pls puhleeeeeez
Yoshke: Hindi pede, alangan namang lumuwas ako ng Maynila para lang mag-Sidebar. kumusta yun?
Andre: NO! babalik ka ng maynila to spend the holiday with your friends! it just so happened that the friends are at Sidebar!
Yoshke: I have a family to give a little lovin-lovin to.
Andre:  But we are also your familyyy. Isang araw lang naman ang hinihingi namin sayo.
Yoshke: Oo nga, isang araw lang.  isang maling araw.
Andre: Ah sige. Gusto mo dalawa? Eh di dalawang araw!
Yoshke: Dalawang maling araw, mas hindi pede, bakla kaaa.
Andre: I’ll make you a good deal… Punta ka dito sa sabado. Sidebar tayo. Then the next day, dalhin mo kami sa Tagaytay.
Yoshke. Wahahahahaha….  NO!
Andre: O, maganda yan ha
Yoshke: Hindi ah, dehado ako dun
Andre : Parang hinatid ka na rin namin sa lemery nun
Yoshke: TOMORROW na lang kasi!
Andre: Eeeeeeeh Saturdaaaaaay na lang
Yoshke: Eeeeeh. Dont Saturday me
Andre: Please please please. I’m down on my knees. Begging you please.  Wait, anong kanta yun?
Yoshke: “On Bended Knee” ng Boys 2 Men.
Andre: Haha corek! Ang galing mo talaga. Dahil dyan, balik ka sa Saturday
Yoshke: Andre, stop me! Tigilan ako. wahaha
Andre: Yoshke, Saturday. Kahit yun nalang yung gift mo sakin. Balik kang Saturday.
Yoshke: May gift na ko sayo eh
Andre: SEE? All the more na kelangan mong bumalik sa saturday. para mabigay mo sakin
Yoshke: Andre, malabo yung saturday. sobrang labo nun
Andre: YOSHKE AKO TO!!!
Andre: SI ANDRE!!!
Andre: YOU CANT SAY NO TO ME!!!
Yoshke: NO!
Andre: Sige na nga, tomorrow na lang.

Bibigay din pala. Pinahirapan pa ako.

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Top 9 Ways to Come Out to Your Parents

Note: I originally wrote this for crunkish.com, a superduper fun website that features top 10 whatever things. If you wanna check it out, knock yourself out.

The most difficult part of being gay is coming out. We can’t deny the fact that homosexuals are still being looked down to no matter how good they have been all their lives. Every homosexual hiding in his/her closet is afraid of the horror, betrayal, disgust or ridicule that their loved ones could feel once they revealed their true sexuality. That’s why many choose to keep their true colors to themselves, away from excruciating scrutiny of the people around them.

On the other hand, many decide to stand up, assert their rights as individuals and face the world as their true selves — no insecurities, no pretensions, and no regrets. But coming out is really not the easiest thing to do. If you think telling your close friend that every single cell in your body longs for the same sex, imagine confessing to the people who brought you up and supported you since birth — your parents.

Yes, difficulty is doubled when it comes to family members especially to parents. It is for this reason that many choose to come out once they have moved out of their parents house to avoid conflict and confrontation. Others, however, opt to walk the brave path and strive to be loved for what they are right here, right now.

If you’re one of these people and you desperately need a good way to tell your parents you’re gay, here are nine suggestions that may want to consider.

WARNING: Some are stereotypical while others must NOT be taken seriously. And oh, I haven’t come out to my parents myself. There goes my credibility. Haha.

9. “I’m coming out!”

No, you won’t say that out of the blue while attending a church service. Choose a time when your family are having the time of their lives. For example, while you are having a little karaoke party, surprise them with this song. All you need is to sing that title line and let your melody speak for itself. This way, you do not just reveal your sexuality, you also had fun in the process.

…

8. “Dad, have you seen ‘Brokeback Mountain?’”

If music isn’t your thing, try movies. Films are an excellent instrument to come out. Invite your family to enjoy a movie marathon with you at home. The movies you should choose are those with “coming out” scenes. Every time this scene appears, make a provocative comment. If in the scene, the great revelation leads to a happy ending, say, “I wish it ends up that way with me.” Otherwise, mumble, “I hope that doesn’t happen to me.”

If that’s too much of a shocker for you, watch “The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe” instead. Of course, it’s not a gay film but it can be an good tool in performing your stint. Just when the characters in the movie are coming out of the closet, say something like, “It must feel good to come out of the closet.” Don’t forget to release a heavy, deep sigh after that statement.

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