Makati Mayhem

I went to Makati this morning after my shift at past 7am. Let's just say it's going to be the last time I'll ever go to Makati during rush hour.

I took the MRT at Cubao station and I was deceived by the ticket booths that gives the peaceful [READ: not crowded] impression. The real riot is happening at the platform as people who are south bound are so eager to get in. Trains are arriving every five minutes more or less but it's not enough to cater commuters at all. It took me more than 30 minutes to get inside [the people around me literally will push you to get in] the train.

The fun never stops as when I got out of the train in Buendia station at past 8am [an hour to travel 6 MRT stations?!], there's this dilemma on which public transportation to take so I can get to the office in Ayala to meet the 8:30am appointment. I can take a cab and it should be super easy and fast. But there's no cab for some reason. I can take an FX or jeep but the lines are endless. I tried to take a bus but the crowd is worse than the Cubao MRT station. I decided to request that the appointment be moved to 9:30am instead as I wasn't expecting this kind of armageddon. I was finally able to take a cab at 9:05am and took another 15-20 minutes to get to my destination.

More than 2 hours will take me to Pampanga, Laguna or Batangas. I gotta be thankful I'm a QC person.

McDonald's Shake Shake Fries

Shake Shake Fries & Float Combo

Found this during lunch break at the McDonald's branch across our office building. Almost the same as the seaweed flavored fries that I had a few years ago in Singapore. Their version in the Philippines comes in cheese and barbecue flavors only. I tried the cheese flavor [without the float combo as I'm not really into carbonated drinks] and it's ok, will try the barbecue flavor later today and I hope it tastes better. :)

**UPDATE as of May 29, 2011** Tried the barbecue flavor last Friday and it didn't disappoint! Love ko 'to! ;)

♫You'll Be Lookin' Groovy..♬ - The Mr. Big Hangover

So the Big Day passed and I'm still in this post-concert hangover. You can't blame me. Words can't describe how I felt that day.

Wild World, Wild Crowd.

And the day before that.

Press conference/Meet and greet at the SM North EDSA Skydome.

General Luna and Lip Service did a great job as front acts for Mr. Big. To be handpicked by such a legendary band is a huge deal and I am just so proud. Eric Martin is the most vocal about his fondness for both bands.

General Luna

Lip Service

That was an evening to remember. Spotted in the crowd are some of the local musicians Barbie Almalbis, Aiza Seguerra and Vinci Montaner [of Parokya ni Edgar]. Paul Gilbert, Billy Sheehan, Eric Martin and Pat Torpey gave us all an awesome night.

The Big Dome, The BIG Performance

6th Month [well, almost.]

Vince is about to turn six months this week. At this time, he's already able to push himself up, crawl, rollover and his legs are very strong that it's really tiring to hold him as he tends to do "pseudo-jumps" all the time. Yesterday, mom told me he's able to say the word "Papa" twice and I know Prince is very happy. I'm not in a rush, he'll always be a baby to me no matter how grown up he becomes.

Getting ready for his last shot of 5in1 vaccine.

First taste of Yakimix's chocolate fudge cake. Yum!

The gifts that were given to him for his baptism last month are all very useful. Most of them are toys so I guess we wouldn't need to buy him any more toys until his first birthday. He's a very active baby so play time is crucial. From time to time, he's getting runny nose but we're blessed that he's generally healthy. :)

Be it unto me...

God allows things to happen for a reason. I have faith that He's got great plans. I am praying for things that I want, He knows what my heart desires.

Reunion and Mothers' Day

Few weeks ago, I was browsing Facebook while mom, baby and I are all in bed.

NIX: Ma, do you know anyone named "Charina"? She's got the same last name as ours and she's based in the states.
MOM: I'm not sure but I think your father might know him. Why?
NIX: I've got a friend invite from her few months ago, I never accepted it since I don't know her.
MOM: Accept it. She might be a distant relative.

And so I did. She then added me to a family group and I found this post of another member asking if anyone knows my grandfather. Turns out that a simple "accept friend request" will lead us into finding a long lost aunt that my father and his siblings have been looking for since my grandpa died about six years ago. Last Sunday, at my grandpa's old compound in Kamias, a reunion happened.

[clockwise] Tito Pando, Tita Ruby, Tita Neng, Tita Rodora and Tito Ramon carrying Vince

Too bad dad and their other brother is in Sibuyan [grandpa's province] at that time and couldn't join them but I know this is just a beginning of something new. Happy Mothers' Day and welcome to "Mang Rudy's Family", Tita Rodora! :)

Home Bound on Holy Week

I didn't realize that I've been very busy in the past year's holy week. When I wasn't working yet, holy week was spent in a relative's resort in Limay, Bataan where the pool's waters are super cold as it stream from the mountains or in grandpa's house in Sibuyan, Romblon where we often go to town feasts, swim in the beach or in Cantingas River and sometimes burn our skin by boating in the middle of the afternoon. There used to be a lot of things to do.

When I started working, holy weeks would be spent in the office even when a lot of business would be closed, I enjoyed the holiday's double pay. This year however, I am home bound. Well since Wednesday, that is. Malls are closed and there's nothing much to do except for checking out the tv news and going online. I am about to go to work again in a few hours and I expect a traffic jam-free Metro Manila. A lot of people are out of town and I can just be thankful that I could skip the SLEX/NLEX traffic.

Somehow the idea of going out of town with Prince and baby could mean a little less relaxing trip. I never imagined myself traveling with a baby before but maybe we should do it soon. For now, I'll drag myself back to work.