Paying the Price of Yearning to be Home...

Journal of a Weekend Traveler… I wrote this last Saturday and was posted on Facebook.

Typhoon Santi is raging Manila and nearby provinces since yesterday with not so heavy rains but gusty winds. Oh yes, adding to that is the observance of All Saints Day that falls on a Sunday and All Souls Day on Monday… as usual a long weekend, but unfortunately not for me.

With the typhoon and a long weekend, I already expected it would be a bit chaotic and with bigger chances that I would be standing on the bus on my way home. Hay ang kulit kasi ng lahi! I don’t know, just really want to be at Los Banos and have a real good rest.

I was already thinking twice if I would go home in Laguna since last week, actually went on to decide not to go home when I got a text message from my sister that the typhoon has hit Laguna. Marketing peeps were already even planning to go look for a Videoke place, but seem unfortunate and I must say I was a bit choosy too! Haha sorry, I felt I wouldn’t be much enjoying it with my voice still cracking up due to colds and cough. Later, some felt lazy about the plan including me and I finally decided to pursue with my weekend travel back home since it was already sunny before I left the office.

11AM. Going with my usual routine, traveled to Robinsons Galleria where I would wait for the bus. Had lunch first and bought English muffin and water, back up food just in case travel time takes too long. Waited for already 20 minutes but no bus going to Sta. Cruz and even other provincial bus going to South is showing up. Bad, bad, bad… really not a good idea to wait. Usual routine FAIL.

Almost 12NN, rode on bus going to Buendia to then proceed to the bus terminal. Hay, another FAIL! When I arrived at the terminal, I think there’s more than a hundred people lined-up waiting. Hala, no available bus yet! I didn’t have the patience to wait. I turned back and started to comprehend of either an alternative route or go back to Pasig instead. No! I really wanted to be in Elbi this weekend.

12:30PM. There is another bus terminal just beside the first terminal I've checked, but they don’t have a bus going to Sta Cruz. An alternative is available though. VOILA! Hmmmm, when I’ve learned that there are no people lined-up and certainly would be comfortably seated, sige go to Balibago, Sta. Rosa!

No traffic, already at Sta. Rosa by 1:30PM. Now time for a jeepney ride to Calamba via SLEX. It started to rain again and got bored. Naman! What a slow jeepney ride, there was no instance the entire travel that it has overtaken another car! Zzzzzzzzz… let’s add another boring moment. Got stuck on traffic near the tollgate for almost 30 minutes.

2:30PM finally in Calamba. Ok, one last bus or jeepney ride and I’m finally home. Chose to ride on a bus even if I would be standing, just to be safer from flood just in case. Good thing it wasn’t traffic and Pansol area is not flooded.

By 3PM, finally Home Sweet Home! I have to pay the price for yearning to be home and literally, that ride going home was a bit more expensive than the usual. Though tired, but I guess it’s worth it after all. Now I can relax and have a good rest, TV time, cook… name it all! Simply, nothing beats the coziness and calm sanctuary of our own home.

Facebook vs. Friendster

My Facebook account is about to equal and for sure overtake the 700 friend connections I have in Friendster... Poor Friendster, losing my attention... It's just too old school and can't cope with the interactive platform of Facebook...

10 Years na.. May Get Together ba?!

10 years... Last July 1, SEMPHIL 3rd Batch turned 10! We haven't had a celebration yet, but hopefully one of this days...

It all started 1999, July 1st to be exact,with 22 innocent (not sure of this one, hahaha!) Engineers all excitedly accepted the call of the SEMPHIL workforce. A week after, all clad in RED, with a "Let me fly to Korea" drama for a life changing experience. Technical training on weekdays, Korean Language class, an almost weekly trips to Everland, drinking spree at Temahof to name a few.

Last 2004 was the last time that majority of us have met for a small reunion... that time there were 10, after 5 more years 5 remains...

What's up with the gang... Ei let me go Taglish on this section... hahaha... just wanna put some inserts here at para comedy na rin...

Vena, Mona, Dyoks, Mike and French - Kudos to these guys! Wow, solid 10 years! Who will be the ultimate survivor?! Ang Institusyon ng SEMPHIL... Meron na bang rebulto to recognize your achievements?! We hope to see one of these days :) Managers na lahat kayo di ba? Ang balita ko e nagkukuripot sila... whehehe, as per Mona, na kahit sila daw e di pa nagcelebrate ng 10 years nila sa company. Kasi daw mga pamilyado na sila at si Mona na lang ang single. Hay, kayo pa naman inaasahan namin na manlibre sa amin... hehehe... Ei, respond naman kayo sa invite na inoorganize ko na get together, KKB po yun ok?! So who's in and who's out?

Meet the Global Pinoys... hehehe, haven't got much update as to what your fields are right now... give us updates, ayan puro location lang halos nalagay ko, tried to squeeze my memory as to what fields you are, sorry kung may mali.... balitaan nyo kami... Maann - enjoying being a housewife in Austria or meron ka bang sideline dyan? Clark - He's in Dubai any update, what's keeping you busy? Edward - After ko mabalitaan na nanlimas ng ginto sa Saudi, e sa Malaysia naman siya naka-assign ngayon. Bryan - in Kuwait working for a Telecoms Company. Ferdee - currently in Spain hay, etong taong to e ginagawang bus ang eroplano, minsan makasalubong ko na lang sa Shangrila at MegaMall at minsan e mabalitaan ko na kung nasaang lupalop na. Jaz - I don't have any other details ang alam ko nasa New Zealand. Ruby - Ay tagal na niya sa Singapore ang recent na balita ko e nastart na maadik sa Facebook, hehehe. Kakachat ko lang sa kanya, at aside sa work niya e busy rin siya sa kung ano ano activities, di yata nauubusan ng energy. AJ - Not much news as well, Singapore pa rin ba? - Dapat magsabay-sabay kayo umuwi at ilibre kami... whehehe

As for the rest of the guys, here's the last update I've got from them. Cheche - working sa SLEX, este sa Amkor pa rin di ba at payat na daw?! Girlee - the last time I saw her was more than a year ago at MegaMall, still on Manufacturing and she already has twins. Juanito - just got the info on the yahoogroups email that he's looking for a job. Any available job for Wato guys? Rica, bumped into her last month in MegaMall as well with her son. She's a Financial Adviser for Pioneer Life. Francis - the frequent traveller, hehe sa MegaMall ko rin last nakita - he has an office in Ortigas. Ferdie - eto mahaba pa rin ang hair, whehehe, usual din na makasalubong ko sa MegaMall working for Telus at king of OT na yata to, balita ko kasi lagi siyang late nakakauwi. Rex - Haciendero ng Zambales, hehehe. He just got married last May at opppps... di ako nakapunta... peace! Busy rin siya sa family business at sa kanyang Mac. Joel - Working for Lufthansa at busy sa pagpapalipad ng airplanes... hehehe. Isa sa mga purdisigido sa reunion natin... wala naman ako halos maibigay na-update kasi nga parang 5 pa lang kami sa sigurado. Charlie - Siyempre ako ang last, hehehe. Hay halos 4 years nang panggabi, kasi support ako for PC Mall a US reseller of computer parts - I work as Marketing Manager for Software Category. Ayun, adik sa facebook, twittter, linkedin at kung ano-ano pang social media sites na sikat sa US kasi part din siya ng work, busy sa kakokontak sa vendors at web development projects, pero wag ka di pa ganun kataas ang sahod... May alam ba kayong opening? hahaha... Recession season, tiis-tiis muna...

Pasensya na sa pictures na posted dito, di pa ko nakapagscan ng mga classic pics natin e... Sana matuloy ang mini get together... kung kelan di ko pa alam... Happy 10 year of friendship and kakulitan... At dahil dyan, hope you enjoy these videos from Uhm Jung Hwa, for sure naaalala niyo to! Keep in touch guys! :)

Lola Funny Commercials

Yikes it's been more than a year since my last update! Let's make it a little different this time... It would not be all about me but more of the things that's happening around us...

For a comeback blog, I just wanted to feature two (2) funny commercials recently... absolutely creative... hope you enjoy as I did... :) Mabuhay si Lola Techie!

Meet Techie Lola... Better poke her back!

Lola, Gaming Addict! Flash Bang, Flash Bang!

Video Credit: youtube