A Break-up Letter


I never expected I'd be writing you this letter. We've had six years of wonderful memories but I'm afraid it had come to the Read more

Welcome to the New Yoshke.com


New look. New attitude. New experiences. Honestly, I had been neglecting this blog the past few weeks because of my awfully hectic schedule. Work had Read more

Sometimes We Burn to Live


Whenever I meet people for the first time, it always happens. When they start their sentence with "I hope you don't mind me asking but," Read more

Judging By the Cover


Our office is just a stone's throw from where I live. In fact, all I have to do is cross EDSA and voila, hello Read more

Fireworks, Hormones, and this Blog Post


You remember last week when I told you I found it difficult to blog since I met you? Since we became a couple officially, Read more

Do They Read Blogs in Heaven?


Whenever I say that the earliest memory I have is the accident wherein I had my left arm somewhat toasted, I lie. My earliest Read more

Unusual Breakfast


Here we are again. In the usual corner. Usual table. Usual diner. Usual time. And most probably, usual meal. I'm getting tired of this Read more

Top 10 National Stereotypes


Heaven is where the cooks are French, the police are British, the mechanics are German, the lovers are Italian and everything is organized by Read more

EDSA


It could have been a horrible Saturday. I was in the passenger seat. It was a bit raining. Normally, EDSA gets on my nerves. That's why Read more

Why Nursery Rhymes Are So Violent


A few months ago, I was teaching my 4-year old nephew some nursery rhymes with a DVD. After a lot of singing, he slowly Read more

Top 10 Worst Things to Say During Sex


Sex is the art of love. It must be done in the most enjoyable and most satisfying manner. This act of love of two Read more

The Promil Kid Drops the Bomb


Of all the living things created by God, I love my nephew the most. I call him the Promil Kid. He’s the cutest thing. Read more

Euphoria

Congrats, UP Pep Squad!

Posted on by Yoshke in Blurts, Euphoria, Sports, University |

Yes, this is the part where I try to squeeze in some school pride. Hehehe.

UP Pep Squad grabs the 2008 Samsung UAAP Samsung Cheerdance Competition trophy. Happy, happy. “Matatapang… matatalino… walang takot kahit kanino…”

image courtesy of Teresa Barrozo

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Define Euphoria

Posted on by Yoshke in Blurts, Career, Dictionary, Emo, Euphoria |

National List of Passers
2007 FOREIGN SERVICE OFFICER WRITTEN EXAMINATIONS
Held 19-21 December 2007 (Released: 29 August 2008)
Department of Foreign Affairs – Philippines

Gaaawd. Just when I start envying my friends (especially Bebs) for reaching new heights in their careers, something like this comes my way.

From a thousand examinees, now we’re down to 58. (Yeah, the mortality rate in FSO Exam makes us all go suicidal.) I didn’t expect this. I absolutely hoped for it but not expected. I mean, come on, the questions were like:

  • Formulate an ECONOMIC policy for the Philippine Embassy in Paris and back it up with a theoretical framework. (I didn’t have any Economics classes in college, thank you very much.)
  • Trace the history of the Middle East from the Mesopotamian Era up to the present. (What?! Are you frakkin’ serious? I’m a FILM graduate!)

And there were almost 30 questions. Maybe what they needed was a thesis dissertation prepared within half a day. It was the craziest three days of my life. And knowing I failed to follow some test instructions, I really did not expect anything. In fact, I ALMOST GAVE UP ON IT.

Now, there’s just one more round left. Another 3-day exam. Just one more. I’m gonna need a tuxedo. Haha.

Dahil dyan, magpapa-cheeseburger ako! Burger! Burger!

I am sooo gonna become a diplomat.

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Someone’s Happy Today

Posted on by Yoshke in Euphoria, Friends, Vanities |

Status: All right now.
Music: You’re So Vain – Brooke White, All Right Now – David Cook


Me with my cousins. Second pic: Yep, that’s me, leftmost. Gawd, I’ve just noticed that I was holding a green sausage-shaped balloon. Was that a sign? A foreshadowing? Haha.

Exactly a year ago, my family had a little dinner party. We invited some relatives and friends and had some fun. But that’s about it. Nothing really special.

Two years ago, I was so sick. But I was able to travel from Batangas to Manila, and meet some of my friends at the university. I planned to watch Pride and Prejudice with Josh, but I backed out the last minute because my body couldn’t withstand my aching joints and terrible fever. When I felt a little better hours later, I decided to just push through with the movie thing but because Josh couldn’t make it that night, Andre joined me instead. We spent the rest of the night at Figaro.

Three years ago, Josh gave me a Kitchie Nadal album, and we had lunch at Oz Cafe — my treat. We stayed there longer than we intended to. That night, I had dinner with Ayn. I can’t remember where, but I know I gave her a treat.

Six years ago, I saw a movie in a theatre in Lemery with my girlfriend back then, Michi, and some of my friends. Again, I can’t remember what movie we watched that day. But I know I was really, really happy. (It was Pearl Harbor pala.)

Twelve years ago, my mum threw a very lavish party for me at our place in Batangas. Most of my classmates and teachers were present. It was one of the most expensive parties my mum had ever thrown.

Twenty-two years ago, a midwife was pulling me out of my mother’s womb as my Daddy watched. It was a very bloody day.

Yep! Today I turned 22! Happy Birthday to ME!

Honestly, this is the first time since High School that I really anticipated my birthday.

Read more

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Maging Sino Ka Man 2 (Full Trailer)

Posted on by Yoshke in Blurts, Euphoria, TV |

Uber-excited nako! Goosebumps. What say you?

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Man, Am I Proud!

Posted on by Yoshke in Blurts, Euphoria, Sports, University |

Status: In Euphoria
Music: What Goes Around – Justin Timberlake

…What goes around, goes around, goes around
Comes all the way back around…”

I interrupt my regular blogging updates with a great, great news. The UP Pep Squad finally wins back the UAAP Samsung Cheerdance Competition championship. Just when I decided not to go to the Araneta Coliseum to see it live because not the slightest expectation that this would happen entered my mind. But come on, after an embarrassing men’s basketball record, my university turned out to be still full of surprises. So much for balance of nature. I love’t. Congratulations to the UP Pep Squad! At sa lahat ng mga iskolar ng bayan! Yebah. And for that, I shall get drunk tonight. After all, there’s a dinner party at home to celebrate the memory of my dad.

“…Matatapang, matatalino.
Walang takot, kahit kanino,
Hinding-hinde magpapahuli,
Ganyan kaming mga taga-UP!!!”
— UP Default Cheer

Yey. Finally.

pic courtesy of ubelt.com, will change it soon. hehe.

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Christina Aguilera: Back to Basics Tour Live in Manila

Posted on by Yoshke in Euphoria, Music |

Status: What a humid day. Whew.
Music: Candyman
- Christina Aguilera

When they said that they’d be bringing the greatest show to be staged in the country in years, they weren’t exaggerating. The concert was fantastic. I know this post is a bit late, and a lot has already been written about the concert, but I still want to blog it. You know, to remember, in the future.

Weeks before the big night, I was desperately looking for someone who could go with me to that concert but it was tough. Everyone wished to go, and would go had the tickets been not that costly. Until I finally brainwashed a high school friend, Isa, into going with me. We met up in Makati and planned to just take a cab to The Fort (Bonifacio Open Field) in Taguig. Before we left, she was “warned” by a colleague of hers that Christina gets tired easily and her singing suffers after a short while. I just shook the comment off.

Christina opened the show with Ain’t No Other Man. And I just couldn’t believe I was already seeing her perform live. I knew she was great, but I never expected she was DIVINE. I had several goosebumps attack. The first was when she performed Slow Down Baby, one of my two most loved tracks in the album. The other one was Understand. But it didn’t have any massive effect on me that night for she sang it so soon. I was also hoping she would perform some of her old songs from her teeny-bopper days to her bitchy ones. And I wasn’t disappointed.

The theme of the concert was 1930s-60s (?), of course, and it was nice how they were still able to perform Come On Over Baby (tango-like, jazzy, whatever) and What A Girl Wants (no idea what arrangement that was, but it was great and funny) without breaking the theme.

But there was a sudden change of theme halfway. The first part was the vintage theme and all she wore were all white. The second part was very wild, colourful, and grandiose: circus. And man, did I adore the production. It was magnificent. She was handcuffed on a target board, then she was riding a carousel horse, yadda yadda. It was crazy! She was really having a great time, and we were, too.

When drunk navy guys (dancers) emerged chanting “Tarzan and Jane swingin’ on a vine,” the place was almost destroyed with the fans’ tremendous hollering. For starters, those male dancers were oh-so-sexy. To be honest, before that concert, Candyman was not one of my favourites. But after her performance, I realised it was an incredibly fun song. She also performed Dirrty to which everyone was singing along, and as she was dancing there, I noticed someone in the background setting up a couch, and I knew right then that the next one was gonna be Lady Marmalade. It was one of the best parts of the show.

And the best part of the evening? Beautiful. The most beautiful moment was when she performed Beautiful and everyone was singing with her, raising and swaying our arms together. It was sooo moving. I almost cried. Not because I could relate to the song (but maybe I did or do) but because I just couldn’t believe that my most favourite female artist was singing my most favourite record of hers. Gawd.

I laughed everytime the crowd went crazy each time Christina belts out something. But damn, she really deserved all those cheers and applause. Although I was a little disappointed that she didn’t perform her songs which are her biggest hits in the country Genie in a Bottle, I Turn to You, and A Voice Within, I just said to Isa, “My night’d be complete if she would just sing ‘Fighter.’” She did. It was her last song. I was the happiest fan in the world. And then she shouted, “Mahal Namin Kayo!” (“We love you!”) Wow. I swore I could see angels coming down from heaven — NOT. But it was close. Hehehe. Man, I love her.

After the show, I told Isa, “Whoever said she gets tired easily.”

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Define Happiness

Posted on by Yoshke in Blurts, Career, Dictionary, Euphoria |

NATIONAL LIST OF QUALIFIERS
Foreign Service Examination Qualifying Test
Department of Foreign Affairs
06 May 2007


Source: Civil Service Commission. Click here to see the full list of qualifiers.

Now, I have a pretty good reason to smile for the rest of the week. One step closer to becoming an ambassador, er, diplomat. Ehehehe.

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Civilisation at Last

Posted on by Yoshke in Career, Euphoria |

Status: Freezing and Starving.
Music:
Irreplaceable – Beyonce

Yeeha! I’m back in the civilised world at last! I terribly missed the polluted air, the congested streets, the irritating noise, and the violent jolt of cosmopolitan Manila. Whew. I’m back! But not for long. Tomorrow morning, off to Matabungkay Beach Resort in Batangas again. In case you didn’t know, I didn’t spend my entire January at a resort just to have fun. It’s work, baby. Work.

Damn. I missed Manila so much. Sooo much. And of course, what did I do the moment I arrived? I met up with my college friends. Gosh! Some people just don’t change. Hehe. And then, I went online, and geeked out. Do you know how awful it felt when I hadn’t touched a mouse for a month? Awful. Awful! Last night, we went to Sidebar Cafe and had a few rounds of booze. Damn. Zombie tasted really good! In Matabungkay, I only had beer every other night. It was nice to drink every other night but I needed to taste something else. And God knows how that glass of zombie quenched that thirst last night. Uhmmm. I just got home from an afternoon of shopping and coffee drinking, and watching a film. It was also my first time to enter a movie theatre in a month. I watched Babel. I like it but I really think that 21 Grams is way, way better than this. I will publish a decent review later.

I missed Manila. But it’s funny that I want to go back to Matabungkay asap, because believe it or not, I miss that place now. I miss the free meals, billiards, tennis, the beach, the sunsets, and my hotel room. And I miss the kids.

I’ll be back on the 16th to take care of the documents I would be needing for the Foreign Service Exam. And I will not work until June.

See you guys, soon.

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Merry Christmas, Everyone!!!

Posted on by Yoshke in Blurts, Euphoria |

Status: Happy.
Music:
All I Want for Christmas is You – Olivia Olson

Because I don’t think I would be able to go online on the 25th, let me greet you now. HAPPY CHRISTMAS, EVERYONE!!!

Er… Uhmm… my Jewish friends not included, of course. Hehe. To all my Jewish friends, good afternoon! ;)

Off to Batangas now. I’ll be celebrating Christmas (or Yoshmas, again for my Jewish friends) there. Also, my work requires me to stay in Batangas until February 13, cos the English camp I’m heading will be in Matabungkay. So, I guess I’ll just see you all on Valentine’s Day next year. Seriously.

Bye, everyone. And Merry Christmas. :)

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JOACHIM LÖW, I’m Sooo Gonna Marry You

Posted on by Yoshke in Blurts, Euphoria, Sports |

Status: 13-0! 13-0! 13-0!
Music: If I Keep My Heart Out of Sight - Nikki Gil

Who is Joachim Löw, you ask? He is the new German National Football Team coach. He replaced the most animated coach in the recent World Cup Jürgen Klinsmann. And why wouldn’t I want to marry this guy? My God! A very impressive 13-0 win against San Marino. Again, 13-0! One more time, 13-0! That’s a record in European history!!! Four Podolski goals, and a couple each from Klose and Schweinsteiger. Wooh! And my points in Fantasy Football League is going up, up, up! Time to celebrate. Go Euro 2008! Go Deutschland! I’m gonna have my breakfast at Schwarzwalder or Treffpunkt Jedermann (German restaurants in Makati) tomorrow!!! That is, if I wake up early.

But I am a little sad because although David Villa managed to score two goals in their Euro2008 qualifying match against Northern Ireland (the hell, of all teams, why lose to Northern Ireland?), it was still not enough to send Spain to triumph. Northern Ireland 3-2 Spain. Tsk, tsk.

And oh, congrats to Team England. Go, go, go Terry and Gerrard! And yeah, because Zenedine Zidane already retired, my top three teams are: (1) Germany, (2) Spain and (3) England. Yeah, yeah, yeah.

13-0! 13-0! 13-0! I just can’t get over it.

*Pic: Joachim Low (L) and Juergen Klinsmann (R); courtesy of football.co.uk

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