My Kind of Life

Archufied: I dreamt therefore I am.

Arrogant.Assuming.Conceited.What else? Describe me with whatever adjective that is in negative form when you read this and I am more than willing to accept it wholeheartedly.  But honestly, I really do have the BEST David Archuleta experience prior to his third visit here in the Philippines. Yes, self-proclaimed as it may seem to everyone but I am confident enough to attest this acquisition of mine is purely based on what I think is true and real. And why would I choose to invent or make up some stories when I already got more than what I truly deserve?

Almost around two months ago before his concert, it was then announced that David Archuleta’s coming back to the Philippines for the third time for a major concert as part of his Asian tour in line with the promotion of his latest album, The Other Side of Down. Initially I was shocked and then became nostalgic about my unforgettable experiences during the past visits of David in Manila. My memories became more vivid as I get excited and excited and very excited. At last, the anticipation of him coming back once more to perform before us his Filipino fans has finally ended. During this time, all we had to deal with anymore was how we would contain our emotions as we wait for it to happen again and the prolonged fatal excitement! Yes, it can kill.

David’s first stop for his Asian Tour was Indonesia. It’s his first time in there and his visit was a great success. Indonesian fans were amazing and David was so happy for the warm welcome he had from them. His next stop was the Philippines! First I thought he was not so much excited to be back in our country (judging him based on his video blog about his Asian Tour). I was very stupid to think about it that way. I hate myself for that. I deserve one big slap on the cheeks for that. Why do I think such thing when I know that Manila is the David Archuleta Capital of Asia? I’m such a douchebag, I know. I’m very apologetic for this.

Time is really in full speed ahead. It always tricks me! Imagine, just last November, he was here to promote his newly released album then and now after eight months, he’s here again causing us to celebrate the time of our lives with his songs as the soundtrack! And this time, three more special songs are added because these three are exclusive for the The Other Side of Down: Asian Tour Edition album. Fantastic.Pinoy fans are really in the heart of the one and only David Archuleta. No doubt.

In the afternoon of July 17, David was geared up to set foot on the very soil of the Philippines, particularly in Manila. At the airport all of us went towards to welcome him again, just like what we always do when he’s arriving at NAIA. No one can top how we welcome David and that’s a fact. Even David himself can prove it, I guess. Haha But it really is the truth! We greet him with love like no other and let him feel that we are very happy that he is in country again. We want him to feel too that he is always welcome and appreciated here from the moment he comes up to the time he’ll leave again and until forever! It’s around 2:00pm when he got outside the terminal and we knew that was him already because the press started to do their jobs. We took it as a signal so we started screaming and shouting and cheering for David. I’m sure other people were thinking what the screaming and shouting were all about. When we caught David’s attention, he let us knew that we were heard and I think as a sign of thankfulness, he stepped up on the car and waved to us for few seconds. It was nice of him to do that and we were really surprised! Last time we welcomed him we had garlands for him (which I personally give to him), this time we had confettis dancing in the air as his car passed by us.

From the airport, we headed to SM Megamall where he would have a CD signing at 6:00pm. There were a lot who came out not just to see him but to support him and his album. In fact, as early as 7:00am, there were already fans outside the mall lining up to get an entry to the album signing which by the are limited only to a few. When he came out, we were all screaming to death! Why not? Before us was the guy named David Archuleta; moving, smiling, laughing, and waving. It was really him LIVE! We were really happy during the first time we set eyes on him again after eight months. During the signing, I was able to talk to Jeff Archuleta, David’s father, and said to him that I was sure that he was very proud of his son. He replied, “Absoulutely! Thanks for you guys. You should be proud of him too though. We appreciate all the love from here. You guys have been awesome.” And then we shook hands again. Haha It’s my first time to see Jeff in person but then again I feel honored because I happened to talk to him already. And then when it’s my turn to have my CD signed, I shook hands with David and said, “Welcome back, David! See you tomorrow (on his concert).” He said, “Thanks!” That was an awesome 10 second with him! But I wonder if he gets sick and tired of saying “thanks” to us or there are other things he tells his fans. I usually just get “thank you!” Haha No complains though. After that grand few seconds encounter with him, at the end of the stage, I met an angel sent to be an instrument for helping me to make my dream come true.

The next day, the 18^th, it was Monday, the day of his concert. How much excitement did I feel? It’s immeasurable! I’m not the type of student who always absents himself from class for no good reason. This time, just like the last time, I skipped classes for David and I have no regrets. Haha At first I planned attending two of my classes but I ended up attending only one. Again, no regrets I have. Before I started preparing to leave, I gave my angel a call and made a special request if he could help me to have a picture taken with David. It was so good of him to respond to me that he would look into it if it’s possible and he would just let me know what he could do. After few moments, he sent me a text message that has a contact number of another angel! I called this angel too and made a special request and she told me that she (this time my other angel is a girl) would just call me and tell the details but there was no confirmation made yet about that. All I did was to keep my fingers crossed and stayed positive and had faith.

And then I started gearing up. While I was preparing and fixing myself, it just sank into me that it was as if I was going to a date and not to a usual concert. In fairness, it wasn’t really a usual one because hey, it was David’s concert! I took my second bathe of the day and brushed my teeth once more; I was dressed well;and I was perfumed all over! HahaWhile I was at the FX on my way to Araneta Coliseum, I received a text message from my girl angel that I should be at the venue at 6:30pm for a freaking meet-and-greet with David Archuleta! If I wasn’t that shy to shout inside the FX, I would not just shout. I would dance to joy! Haha By the way, before I was granted with this “special” meet-and-greet, I already had one together with some of my friends. Yes, I got two friggin’ M&Gs! You might be thinking that I’m such a discontented man but so what if I am? I could be happy with a picture with David along with my other friends but my ultimate dream is to have a picture taken with just the two of us in it! I’m not as selfish as you think I am. How? Because I gave my other slot to another fellow fan so he could have his dream fulfilled. Am not I an angel for doing that? Haha I’m just kidding. But seriously, I really made him happy, I guess.

Because of my two angels, I became the luckiest fan of David Archuleta during that day of his concert! No, probably all throughout his stay here! Why not? I just didn’t have a group picture with David in it! We have a picture together, only the two of us! I took advantage of the opportunity because it might be the last time so I put my left arm around his shoulders. Haha We were like the best buddies in real life in the picture! At last, my greatest dream as a fanboy, it finally came true! By the way, this wouldn’t be possible if he didn’t look for me. Yes, you read it right. He looked for me before signing my copy of his book called Chord of Strength. But how?

Securities and his bouncers were really so strict that almost no one can come near to him but David’s team members and the producers of the concert. During the M&G, no autograph signing was allowed. I asked myself, “What’s the purpose of bringing his book if won’t be able to sign it?” Actually, I stole a quick time to give him my pen and have my book signed after the group picture taking. During this time, I witnessed that David is really so good that he doesn’t want to disappoint his fans and refuse our requests. He attempted to sign the cover of my book although his bouncer and body guard was trying to stop him to do so. He really did sign my book although his autograph looked like just scribbles.  But the thing is he tried to grant my request even though he was not allowed. How good of a man is he to do such, right? Forbidden yet trying to make his fans to be happy. A real evidence of how great he is, showing that we made the right choice of choosing him. And then we were asked to leave the room for the M&G. That was when I asked the help of my female angel. I met her and gave her the book so David could sign it. She asked me to wait for her at the exit after David had signed it. And from the exit, I saw her coming, thinking that finally there was a more decent autograph written on it dedicated to me. And to my surprise, she asked me to come with her at David’s dressing room! “OMG!” was all that I said and then started walking with my angel heading to where David was. And there was David outside his dressing room and I said hi. He said, “Oh. It’s you.” My angel said that I was Paolo and David asked me its spelling. I told him, “It’s P-A-O-L-O.” I used my second name instead of Aldrin because I was thinking that he might not understand me when I told him my first name. (Isn’t Aldrin an American name? How much stupid can I get?) After he signed my COS, that’s when I asked for a picture with him and he allowed it. The bouncer couldn’t try to stop it to happen because if he did, it would be him against DAVID ARCHULETA and my angel and me. Haha My angel took our picture together using my OWN camera. I’m proud to say that because only the official photographers could take pictures of him with the others. How special can I get when I got to use my digicam when having a picture with my IDOL? Epic! Unforgettable! Treasurable! Awesome! And all! Ha And before we departed ways, I told him once more that I was the one who gave him the flowers at the airport during the last time he visited us! He said, “Really? Thank you!” We shook hands again and I bid goodbye to him by saying “see you later” and “good luck” and as usual he replied, “Thank you!” I’m not so sure about this but I know he said too about me having fun that night at the show. And then David got inside his dressing room and I hugged my angel and thanked her as well for being able to help making my dream come true. I had a lot of small talks with David, I saw him personally a lot of times already, and there were a lot of shake hands, and few knuckle bumps by the way! Haha I told you, we were like the best buddies that time. LOL And at the exit, I bumped into Jeff and had a photo with him too and talked again to him quickly.

Having said all of that, I was so envied by a lot. Some of my friends and fellow fans got jealous of me big time, wanting to experience the same or replace me and wishing that it should have been them because they think they were more deserving. Haha Who wouldn’t? Hello, it’s David Archuleta! But I totally understand them and I am sure they are really happy for me. It only goes to show that good things really come to those who wait. I can therefore say that it can the best experience one David Archie fan can ever have, at least for me. Let’s just put it this way. If it’s meant to happen, it will happen. Just wait for the perfect time.

Another addition to the happiest moments in my life was the concert itself. Julie Ann San Jose was the front act that night and she was amazing! I enjoyed most while she was singing The Edge of Glory by Lady GaGa and Super Bass by Nicki Minaj. Everyone was looking at me while I was singing and rapping with her! HahaAnd few minutes after her set, it was David’s turn. He came out wearing a gray shirt with a red jacket and black pants. I never stopped singing along with him, singing the songs off his debut album and songs from the new album called The Other Side of Down. While he was performing, I was still half convinced that this was really happening, witnessing by my two eyes. David was singing live in front of me but because he was so good, it was as if I was listening to the album itself! All was impeccably sang with full of emotions and dedications. David managed to hit the highest of the notes of his songs and he never failed to entertain us very much! Not to mention he did some covers of songs of other artists. All of us in Araneta were having the time of our lives and fully enjoying it big time. What surprised us the most was when we heard from him that he prepared a very special song that he chose to sing just for us his Pinoyfans. He dedicated the song Heaven to us. That’s how special we are to him. He would never have done this if he never felt our love for him so much. He had tested us for how many times already about our love for him and we know he’s aware that he’s really loved by the Filipino fans, that he is so dear in our hearts. While he was singing, tears were falling down his cheeks. It wasn’t so obvious because he was sweating a lot. But we in nearest spot to the stage noticed that he was crying a bit while singing Heaven. He was very emotional that time. We could see it in his eyes. I guess it’s his one way of saying thank you to us Filipinos.

Because I was so thrilled and all, I had no sense of time that time. I didn’t know what time he came out the stage and what time his concert ended. I also didn’t know the duration of the show. I was really just having fun dancing, singing, screaming, cheering and all that. It was as if it was only me and David inside the Araneta and I never think of time or anything else. I was really focused and was feeling happy not only for myself but also for David because he’s really awesome. But my experience never ended to that. There’s more.

On Tuesday, the day before his concert, David will be at SM Southmall for another album signing and at Greenbelt 4 for a COS signing. I didn’t go to any of his appearances that day because I had to catch up on school. But I heard that both of the malls were packed with fans. In the morning, he went at a Mormon church somewhere near Guadalupe, I think. I’m not so sure of the place but I’m happy that David found time to spend some time with God during his stay here in Manila.  For dinner, he tried lots of Filipino cuisine at a local fast food chain somewhere in Manila. I feel sorry for myself because even though I’m an authentic Filipino, I haven’t tried eating Papaitan yet! But David, because he loves trying different cultures, he tried eating that! Other dishes he tried were Tokwa’tBaboy, Bistek, and Sizzling Gambas and more. Little by little, he’s getting Filipinonized! Haha

On Wednesday, it’s his last mall show already and it was at SM San Lazaro. In the morning, he put a blog up to update his other fans around the world about what’s happening to him and keeping them posted about his Asian tour. It’s his third time in the Philippines and it’s also the third video blog he made in here. Filipino Archu video blogs FTW! Haha During this day, before he headed to his signing, he finally tried riding a jeepney! I was happy because before he already told that he wanted to try riding one and finally he was given the chance to do it. Again, I have regular classes on this day and I skipped only two of my classes just to see him for the last time prior to his third visit. I had to be there early to get a great spot because I was sure there would be a lot of people in San Lazaro. During the signing, I talked to Jeff and asked if he also rode a jeepney and he said yes and it was good. For the last time, I shook hands with him. And when it’s my turn to have my CD signed, instead of my giving my CD, I gave our picture together so he could sign it. I told him, “It’s me and you!” He said “oh” and signed our picture. When I asked him how the jeepney ride was, he said that it was fun.  We shook hand for the nth time and as I walked away, I was saying “Please keep on coming back’ and he was smiling.

As I’m making this very long blog, David’s probably in Vietnam already for another stop of his tour. Although I spent a lot of money for this, I won’t regret it. It’s just some money. I can earn a lot more while I am waiting for him to be back again. Or, I could go abroad to watch him! We can never tell how luckier I can get. All I know is I can sacrifice a lot for David. He makes the music of my life. He’s a great man. I’m really looking forward to seeing him again perform live because watching him perform makes me forget about the thing I’m worried about in life for an hour or so. I’ll never get tired of following things in his life because they are inspiring. And, the most unique thing about David is he never let his fans down. I proved it and experienced personally. He so attached to us that is why every day that passes by, we love him more and more. All for David Archuleta! David for the win!

When in Subic

My high school brothers and sisters and I went at Zambales last April 14, 2011 until the 15th. It’s our first time to travel together away from our hometown for a beach party to officially start the summer. We have done this every year since we graduated from high school as form of reunion. We’re only used to settle to any resort out here in our province but this time, we took it to the next level - more exciting, more fun, and more good times! :)

Those ain’t enough!

Who can say no to hotdogs?

They are excited to swim, aren’t they?

According to them, Jack is like a Badjao. Haha

Billy might not be with us but he’s there in spirit. :)

Bonfire’s all set!

Aside from the light coming from the moon, this was the only source of light that helped us see smiles on each face.

Playing with the bonfire by jumping over it!

Grilling some hot hotdogs! Where are the marshmallows?

Keith and Roma are one of the boys!

Getting a little tipsy. LOL

Oops. They aren’t drunken so much yet!

Running out of things to do!

Everyone’s tired to get up from last night’s affair.

Waiting for the sun to come out!

It’s always a blue sky out there.

Finally, you’ve come out. Beautiful!

Pre-breakfast. After that, time to prepare the real breakfast!

Yes! Forever grilling. Haha

After finishing our breakfast, we went island hopping!

First island that we saw was Richard Gomez’ Snake Island. I’m sure Lucy is a mermaid in it.

It’s fun to ride a boat especially when you don’t do it on a regular basis.

Next stop was the White Castle where we played around the most!

Striking poses before go swimming

I was afraid to go a little further from the rocks at first. But after building quite confidence…

My dream of jumping into the sea without knowing how deep it is has finally come true!

JP was poked by a sea urchin. They said you’d get a fever when this happened.

Jack here was afraid to jump into the sea so we pulled him into the sea! LOL Photo: (c) Keith

The next island we set our feet on was this where this old light house stands. We explored the island and went swimming, of course.

Oh look! I just found a baby jelly fish. I decided to keep it but I dropped it. :D Photo: (c) Keith

Who said Snake Island is off limits from the public? Ha We went there, at the back part, and swam ‘til we lost our energy! That’s the fourth island that we visited. Haha Photo: (c) Keith

When we got back to the resort, we started preparing our lunch. After eating, rested a bit, then prepared to leave the place.

And we’re set to leave the lovely island with the unforgettable experience in our hearts.

On the trip, everyone fell asleep. I just woke up accidentally so I got them taken pictures of. Haha

For dinner, we dined in KFC in SM Pampanga.

At last, we’re finally home!

My David Archuleta Experience

David Archuleta is beyond awesome! :)

Before I begin my blog today, let me change some information on my previous blog. He did say thank you to me not only once but twice! Haha It’s so cool.

Anyways, let me talk about now about what my Archie experience was today. It was Epic!

I woke up at 6:00am, November 17, 2010, today thinking of I would be there at the venue just in time to be one of the early birds and to be first in the line. Yes, I needed to rush because they said that only the first 400 persons who would buy the CD at SM Skydome would only get the chance to have the CDs signed by David Archie. When got there at 7:30am, there were lots of people already, around 30, in the line. It’s clear that it’s sure that I was able to make it and had a chance of meeting David again. Luckily, there are friends from AP who made it first in the line. Yes, although it wasn’t right, I skipped the line. Haha I was number 4! I was thankful that not a lot of people noticed it and the few fellow fans in the front line too were considerate. But it was nothing to them, I guess. :D Well anyways, at around 10:00am, the start letting people to get upstairs to get to the dorm and to buy CDs. After I and some of my AP friends bought our own copies of the album, we ate our early lunch first so we could finish everything else early then line again for the entrance at dome. Other AP friends who weren’t with us and got the front spots of the line helped us to be in their line. Again, we were all at the beginning of the line! Haha It was around 1:00pm when we got in the line. As we kill the time lining, some media people interviews some of us from AP and took videos of us expressing how much we love David. Past 4:00pm it was already when the security and the organizers let us get in the dome. All of the people were so excited! Who wouldn’t be anyways? It’s David Archuleta. right? Haha So when we got in, we were at the front row, in front of the piano/organ. Sorry, I don’t know which is which whenever I see them. Haha But never mind about that. So, as we were there, of course, all we had to do was to wait for the show to start for like two more hours. The show already started past 6:00pm already. A MYX VJ opened the show but I forgot her name. The opening act was the Sakto, a boy group of three from TV5. They sang and dance to prolong our excitement in seeing Archie. Haha So when they were finished, the MYX VJ came back on stage, then she talked to all of us about random things about David and asked questions too about him as David’s team set the stage. After a few moments, the show started! When the VJ shouted David’s name, all screamed to death! And the moment David show himself, personally I went so gaga. Haha It’s because it’s my first time to see him perform that close to me! Wish I had a photographic memory! So. the show went on and he sang three songs. His opening song was an acoustic version of Elevator. After he sang with the audience or us fans, he talked a bit to everyone and he he sang randomly “feeling hot, hot, hot!” Of course, the whole skydome vibrated of the shout and scream and stamp and jump of everyone! Haha That moment was so cool and it happened in the Philippines! Woot. The next song was on the piano, Crush, off from his first album. When he’s on the piano, he’s very near to me, so I took a lot of pictures of him! I had good shots. :D I should say I enjoy as he sang piano because of he changed few notes and made t his own as if it wasn’t originally his. Haha The third and final song was of course, Something ‘Bout Love from his sophomore album, The Other Side Of Down. As he sang, everyone sang with him with so much passion and dedication. Haha When he finished singing it, he had to leave the stage and us fans, as much as we want to hear him singing more songs to us and to stare at him even longer, it’s not allowed anymore. But, it didn’t there. Of course, there was still an album signing after the show! Some AP friends let the people to go first and when there where only few people left, we got in line. As I was on stage, I talked to his bodyguard if he still remembered me. I said to him that I was the one who he tapped the hand when he was trying to guard David then he looked away. Aw. Haha As I was near the table, Melinda asked me to choose among the two albums and Chords Of Strength, his book, which David would sign. I chose the fan edition album, of course. Haha Then I talked to him again for the second time! I said, “Hi, David! I was the one who gave you the flowers yesterday.” You know what he replied? “Oh, thank you!” Haha It’s always what he say to me. But it’s OK because I know he always means it and he’s happy. He’s really thankful of and to his fans. He’s such a great person! And, I hand him over my gift, a white scarf which I bought at Bench! I saw him he touched it, I think. Haha What I regret is I forgot to have a a hand shake with him! But’s it’s OK. Haha So after the signing, we went out the dome. We heard that we could still see him again and have an autograph again if we would buy another CD. A friend and I bought CDs again! Haha I bought the Christmas From The Heart album. When we were up the stage, we were pushed off the stage stage by the bouncers. I think there was some sort of miscommunication among the organizers about that. I don’t want to talk about this anymore but after all of the compalins and stuff, we had our CDs signed but we didn’t saw David face to face anymore. It’s like that we bought his autograph for price. AFterall, I’m still thankful.

Well, I don’t know what to say anymore. All I can say is David Archuleta is amazing! No, he’s beyond that. :)

David Archuleta To Me: “Oh, thank you!”

I can’t believe how close I was to David Archuleta today! And, the most amazing part is he said “Oh, thank you!” to me. :)

Today, November 16, 2010, one of my greatest dreams had happened. As early as 7:00am, though I had a choppy sleep last night, I woke up just to see one of my idols, David Archuleta, at the airport! I was so pumped up that I hate how the time was moving so slow. I went at Dangwa first to pick up the leis I ordered for David that I and some of my fellow fans would give him when he arrived.

With so much excitement, I left the dorm at exactly 10:15am to get to a meeting place where us fans would meet to see the van that would bring us all at the airport. It was at McDonald’s at EDSA Taft. There I saw a lot of Archie fans and I got the chance to meet a few of them. I can’t remember anymore what time we reached the airport but probably it was around 1:00pm. The group stood for hours at Bay 16 of NAIA Terminal 2 just to see our idol. David’s flight was an hour delayed but us fans didn’t mind it because we knew that before the day ended, we would set eyes on David again, finally!

It was around 4:00pm when David got outside the airport. Even all of us promised that we would be prim and proper, we broke that promise. Haha But we didn’t do anything that scared David off. Aside from Melinda’s tweet that Philippines is a great country and there are crazy people at the airport, we didn’t mind anything else anymore. Haha Before he came out, we already formed a line where David could pass by and might approach us. We lost our line when the media rushed towards David because they were blocking our view of our idol. That’s I myself made a move where I could see him so close. Even if the marshals kept blocking us, I didn’t mind them just to fulfill my dream of going close to David. As David walked towards his van, I was in front of him with the media people who were interviewing him. It was I who gave him the lei. When I gave him the lei, I said “Welcome back!” and, unexpectedly, he replied, “Oh, thank you!”. For me, it was unbelievable! What happened was beyond my expectations. It’s another experience of a lifetime.  Now that makes me want to have a photographic memory! Anyways, after giving him the the first lei, I didn’t leave to give way to the “well-behaved” media people. As he walked towards, I walked backwards so I couldn’t lose track. Then, before he jumped into his van, I gave him again the other three leis. “Yes!” I said to myself when that moment happened. I don’t want to sound that I’m bragging about this but a lot of my fellow fans are envious of me about that. That also makes me feel proud and lucky. Haha And then, as I was saying, I got the chance to take close-up pictures of him also. Haha And, by the way, if I wasn’t pulled away the van, I could have been a scene stealer that time because I really wanted to jumped into David’s van. Haha Thanks to the marshal who pulled me. LOL

So after David left, we just waited for our own van then we followed him as he got to his hotel, Manila Peninsula. There were also fans there and they got the chance to have their Chords of Strength and CDs signed by our very own David Archuleta. Personally, I was envious of them at first because they had an autograph. But when I realized what I experienced earlier, I just smiled and felt very contented and satisfied with what I had as an experience. But I couldn’t take it off my mind that if our driver was just a little faster than David’s, I could also had my book and Cd signed! Haha

So, after a quick stay at the hotel, we went at the nearest SM. There I met other new friends and we talked about everything about our day which was also all about David. Haha I left the mall at 5:30pm and rushed to the dorm to catch the news, thinking that I would see myself on TV. To my surprise, I saw myself on TV, giving the lei to David, but off YouTube.

So, I don’t want to end this blog yet as much as I didn’t want to end my day yet a while ago. Haha But, I know that there’s still tomorrow - more exciting, more fun-filled. :)

David, if you happened to read this, please remember that I’m one of your loyal fans and I’m really happy that you’re in the Philippines once again. Thank you for how amazing your music is and how it unites different sorts of people like your fans in here.

PS

Please sign my fan edition CD and my COS tomorrow eve if it’s not allowed. Haha See you, buddy! :)

(BTW, I here’s the link of the news on TV Patrol about David’s arrival. Try to find me! Haha)

TimPusit Goes To Tagaytay

How am I gonna tell my story of my experience going back to Tagaytay after few years?

Aha! Let me begin it with telling you whom I was with - TimPusit. Yes, Mhay, Eric, Jsutine, and I formed a group and we call ourselves TimPusit. So random, right? Our title was derived from a shirt which has a squid print on it which all of us have one each. Yeah, it’s like our uniform! Haha Do you want to know why we got one? Read my story, OK?

It was on October 23, 2010 when I traveled from Gapan to Manila to meet up with Mhay, Eric, and Justine. Though we all knew that we’re going to Tagaytay, we didn’t have any other plans aside from going there to eat Bulalo. We had already talked about it since we were on our way going to Nueva Ecija. So, we just needed a matter of agreement to go through that plan. Luckily, we pushed through with Eric as our driver. His car named Dave was where we were on. I met up with him and Mhay at my dorm and then we picked up Justine, my Twin, at SM Manila. Justine had to go there to buy some groceries for his Tito who was just involved in a motorcycle accident. So before going straight to Tagaytay, we dropped by the hospital where his Tito was confined. The hospital was in Cavite so we also dropped by SM Bacoor to buy some food and things we would be needing for an overnight stay in Tagaytay. Yes, we just decided to have an overnight stay as we we were on our way. Haha At SM, we had a light dinner first then we bought some chips and chocolates and other toiletries like disposable underwear, toothbrush, and a shirt! Yes, for fun, we bought a shirt with the same style and design. It was Justine’s idea, by the way. The shirt from Artwork costs only PHP 169, very cheap for a nice shirt. After buying, we left the mall and went our way to our destination. It was raining then and it was already nighttime so it was cold. As we get there, we talked a lot of different things that we’re not noticing that we were getting nearer and nearer. I can’t remember anymore what the exact time was when we finally reached Tagaytay. The very first thing we did in there was to look for the cheapest inn or apartelle or a hotel or a room where we would stay. There’s a lot of such everywhere. Most were already taken and fully booked and others were quite expensive for students like us whose budget was really budgeted. LOL So after looking and found nothing to got yet, we decided to have our dinner first. We searched the place for the best restaurant in town and after a long time of discussion where we would eat, we ended up eating at Mile Hi Diner, an American restaurant where we only thought to be found in Tagaytay and later on we found out that it has a branch in Manila, in SM The Block. But it was OK. Eric ordered a burger, Mhay had nachos, Justine asked for a Cordon Bleau, and I ate pork chop with rice. Haha After eating, we searched for a place for us to stay. We turned to a lot of dangerous curves, we suspected a lot of people as bad guys that would kill us anytime like the tricycle driver who followed us just to endorse an inn and scared Justine and Mhay so much, the dark corners we passed through and by, the figures that scared Justine to death and forgot that Mhay was with him each time he ran away to “save his life,” and commanded Eric to stop and go and stop and go a lot of times. Haha That’s the hardest part of being a driver, right? JK

Finally, we found one, Days Hotel. Each room costs PHP 800 for non-aircon and PHP 1200 if we want an aircon. Since we didn’t have a lot of money with us, we went for the PHP 800. Before checking in, we went at Starbucks first for coffees and hot choco and to make the most out of our night in the city. Haha We stayed there until around 3:00am and after that, we went for a quick joy ride around the windy city. It was already 4:00am when we checked in Days Hotel. The room was not so bad. The space was enough for the four of us and the bathroom was also fine. Mhay and Justine slept together on a softer bed while Eric and I slept on just a soft bed on the floor. Yes, we are all fair in our group. LOL

The next day, we woke up at 8:00am. We just prepared ourselves to have more fun the whole day. We left Days Hotel at 10:00am. On this day, we were like tourists. Haha Perhaps, almost. We went at Picnic Grove and in a restaurant there, Agimat Restaurant, was were we had a huge breakfast. They asked me to buy two orders of Tilapia, one order of Tawilis, and four cups of rice for all of us. Justine treated us a whole chicken and buko juice. Mhay ordered Bulalo, the house specialty of Agimat, and Eric ordered the never-ending crispy pata. Obviously, what we ordered was too much for the four us so we decided all the left overs to be taken out. Haha We still can eat it later on the trip so why not bring those along with us, right? Haha We explored the Picnic Grove for few hours. We almost tried to try zip lining but we didn’t. Haha We walked, talked, and took a lot of pictures! Before leaving the place, Justine and I bought souvenirs, bracelets. Mine has my printed on it. Justine’s? Ask him about it.

From there, we decided to visit the Taal volcano. Yes, we were up in the hill and we dared to go down to see the volcano. On our way there, we bumped into a man who has a boat for rent that would bring us to the island where the volcano stands. We bought the offer of the man for PHP 1000. Haha Then, we went down the mountain/hill. Again, we passed through the most dangerous curves we saw in Tagaytay. When we got to the resort, we just parked our car and paid the boat ride fee. We hopped into the boat and passed through the lake of Taal. It was my first time to ride a boat so the first thing I did was to wear a life vest. Haha It takes 25 minutes to get to the island where the volcano stands. When we reached it, we were kinda disappointed because we just told that to get to the crater, we had to ride a horse for PHP 500. We weren’t told beforehand that there’s something like that. We were unprepared. So what we did was we walked up to the crater. Haha Yes, who will imagine that we will pull the three and a half kilometer walk off? Yay! When we reached the top, all the sweat and tiredness paid off. The view was amazing and unbelievable! It was so relaxing for all of us up there. It’s really unforgettable. Then, this time, to get down, we employed a horse because it was getting dark already and it looked like it would rain anytime. And, we only payed PHP 200. Haha

It was our last stop in Tagaytay. Before we left the city, we went at 7 Eleven to buy some drinks. We had our dinner at the house of Twin’s grandmother. His Tita prepared food for us. There we saw his Tito who was just dismissed from the hospital too. His family was so accommodating. After eating, Mhay continued watching Letters To Juliet on TV. Eric had fallen asleep beside her. Haha Justine borrowed the key for the motorcycle that his Tito was using when his Tito got accident. He called for my attention to ride at the back and I didn’t reuse. Haha We had a quick stroll around the subdivision and after that, we decided to leave so we could already rest as soon as we all got home. I slept at Justine’s house over the night because it was a;ready late for me if I’d go back home to Gapan. The next day, I woke up at 10:00am, and waited fir Justine to get up off bed. We had our brunch together at Kinirog at past 2:00pm. After eating, it was almost 3:00pm, I decided to leave to get home.

All in all, this experience is just one of the fews that TimPusit will experience altogether. Next stop, Bicol! Woot. :)

Photos:

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2090908&id=1485513804&l=975d8159f0

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2090908&id=1485513804&l=975d8159f0

A Taste of Nueva Ecija

What a way to start my sembreak!

I never imagined that someday, I’d bring my friends from Manila to my hometown. That perception of mine was changed in just a snap of a finger. Haha

First, it was only my friend Charmnain Orejola who’d come with me back to Gapan for a quick vacation for three days. When we were talking about it in the last few days before the semester ended, I thought it was some kind of a joke and a not-so-serious conversation. On Saturday afternoon, 16th of October, Mhay confirmed that she’ll be going with me. I didn’t know what to feel as I read her text message but I knew that both of us were excited for it! I asked her to invite few of our friends more so we could enjoy more. She thought of Eric Ferriols and Justine Navato then I said OK. She invited Eric on my behalf because I don’t have a contact of Eric. Mhay and I also invited Justine who during that time was still asleep. Haha Eric was sure to come with us the nest day but Justine wasn’t still replying until he confirmed that night that he liked to come along with us too. Yes, there were four of us who traveled from Manila to Gapan City on the 17th!

I was like a tour guide to them, an amateur one. LOL As soon as we got to Gapan, I brought Mhay, Eric, and Justine at a kid’s party. It was Matthew’s first birthday on that Sunday. Matt is Wela’s younger brother. We stayed at the party for few hours and got back at our house for dinner and to prepare for another night out. As we wait for the clock to hit at 9:00pm, we killed time by looking for a store that was still opened at that time to buy some food from. We walked through our street and as we headed back home, there was a black out. We thought that the supply was cut because of the storm that’s coming our place that day. We sat in front of our house for a bit and talked about random things that were really hilarious. When the supply of the electricity was back, we prepared ourselves again to get to Patio de Liz. We ordered a lot of food sagain even though we just had our dinner at home before we left. We enjoyed the night talking to each other, taking pictures, laughing, ordering more foods, and listening to and singing with the band performing for us guests, and drinking! Haha Eric, Justine, and I had one bottle each of Red Horse, 500 mL. :)) It was past 2:00am when we all decided to get home. I can say, that night was fantastic for them to start enjoying their stay to our hometown. It was unforgettable, I must say!

On the next day, the 18th of the month, I couldn’t remember what the time we woke up was. It was kinda late since we slept very late the night before that day, plus the gloomy weather because of the typhoon Juan. While eating our breakfast, we agreed that we’d just take an hour of rest before preparing for Cabanatuan. We were at my room, lying on the bed, waiting for the clock to strike at 11:30am, and the the three of them fell asleep! If I had fallen asleep too, maybe we’d never get to Cabanatuan. Yeah, we were already late for that day’s itinerary. Haha But nonetheless, we pulled it off. We left our house at past 1:00pm, even if it’s quite raining already, and rode a bus. We walked around NE Pacific Mall as we figure out what we should do there. Haha We ate pizza, went in different stores, and we even tried to play with the machines at World of Fun. Haha We exchanged all of the tickets we won with the hair pins and a ring for Mhay. After that, we looked for a bar where we will stay and eat our dinner in outside the mall. After we found one, we rode a tricycle to go to Cakeland, a pastry shop that satisfies the sweet tooth of each Novo Ecijano. I introduced them the breads and cakes that seem ordinary but really far more delicious. I thought they liked ‘em! Haha Justine and Mhay bought also boxes of pastries to bring with them when they get back to Manila. We stayed there until 7:00pm and did some random things, one was when Justine poop at the CR’s. That was funny because he was scared to the CR alone. He asked me to come with him but I only stayed OUTSIDE, of course. Haha I think, it took him 10 minutes to discharge what he needed to discharge. Another was when Mhay bought a Justin Bieber magazine as a gift for Justine! Haha That was cool. LOL Anyways, when we got back to the mall, we walked around a bit and played at Tom’s World at Robinson’s. That’s another fun thing we did there! Haha I think our pictures will speak for the excitement we had as we play around like kids again. Haha Then, after going there, we went at Zapp’s, a bar and restaurant in Cabanatuan. We ordered a lot of food and had our dinner there. We also had two buckets of beer, which I think were responsible for making me decide to tell to Mhay a BIG secret of mine, my latest addition to my long list of crushes. Haha They thought I got tipsy and very drunk. Little did they knew that I was acting that way on purpose. Haha I mean, I intended to look like that and be like that because I couldn’t tell them of something that ruined my mood for that night. I wouldn’t tell what it was. It’s case sensitive. LOL So as I was saying, we were there until past 1:00am, I think. I’m not sure of the time anymore though. When we reached home, I was still behaving “bad,” only lesser than I was earlier. Haha And, unluckily for me, I did something wrong that I upset my twin, Justine. I threw the heaviest pillow in my bed and accidentally, he was hit. :( He lost his mood, and I felt very guilty. I said sorry to him through text and he replied that it was just OK. But still I knew that there’s something behind that OK so I felt really sad and disappointed with myself. We slept and woke up at between 8:00am and 9:00am and ate our breakfast the next day, Justine’s 19th birthday!

Woot! My twin turned 19 on the 19th in my hometown! Yay. It (the celebration) was a first time to both of us. Or, at least, for me. Haha It’s not important anymore though. Haha So, just few minutes after we finished our breakfast, we were off to Walter Mart to buy food and snack that we would bring on our swimming. Chips, drinks, candies, marshmallows, cakes, chocolates and a lot more were what we bought! Justine actually spent for most of our food as a treat to us. Then, we went at our town’s plaza where we bought grilled chicken and grilled fish for our lunch. My mother cooked Caldereta for us but my Twin doesn’t eat such food so he did not had a taste of my favorite viand. We rode a jeepney as we go to Almon’s. It was already around 1:00pm that time. I was worried becasue the resort might not be opened to public because it was storm signal number two in Nueva Ecija. But Typhoon Juan was kind to us! He was about to leave the country by the time we’re going to swim to celebrate Justin’s birthday. It was quite dark around because of the weather so I thought we would be the only people who’ll be there when the resort was on operation. Luckily, it was but there were few who were already there before us. When we got a cottage, we just arranged our things a bit and started eating. Before we started to eat, we sang a happy birthday song to Justine. After that, we started eating and drinking then we went off into the pool. Haha All of them were amazed with the “killer slides.” Haha Justine said he’d definitely try to slide but he did not. He was afraid! LOL That made him the chance to over come his fear, even if just for that day. Haha We swam and swam and swam foe hours even if the sun was not out o warm us! The wind chilled most of us. Some stayed in the pool a little longer than the others until at night. But, it was an unforgettable experience to all of us. Not to mention that the storm signal was two and we still managed to celebrate Twin’s birthday swimming! Yes, we swim it all the way to the bones! LOL We stayed at the resort until 7:00pm and reached home before 8:00pm. Since it was early for us to sleep and we want to spend every minute of Justine’s birthday enjoying, we planned to have a DVD marathon and partnered it eating pancit canton. As one wait for one to get up from bed to go buy pancit canton, one fell asleep and the other one too. Yes, we ended up sleeping instead of watching movies due to tiredness, I think. That was how we ended the birthday of my Twin - sleeping. Haha

Everyone woke up the next day at past 8:00am then ate our breakfast afterward. 20th, the day when everyone was all set to leave for Manila and go back to their normal lives. :( Even if I wanted them to stay longer, they couldn’t because they had other businesses to finish. This day was the saddest part because there’s no way I could stop them to leave. Nevertheless, I’m thankful still that this unexpected event in our lives remains not only in pictures and in thoughts but in our hearts most of all. I’m hoping that sooner or later, they will come back to here and do everything all over again. I’m looking forward to it and am praying for it to happen. I loved it big time.

P.S.

I’ll miss sleeping with them at night with twisted positions just for all of us fit on my bed. Epic! Haha :))

Couldn’t Hate Facebook More

I just found out that the fan page of Iv Macedonia 2008 which is administered by me is missing! I don’t don’t know if Facebook deleted it or something. It really disappeared with unknown reasons! Honestly, managing the page is the only thing that makes me visit Facebook often. Seriously, I hate Facebook not that it’s so famous here in the Philippines that it’s becoming a candidate to be the next Friendster. I can’t explain. It’s so overrated. Now that my page is gone, I don’t know how I can retrieve it. I think I was able to send a report to the developers but I’m not sure if they will be able to read it. I also did a small research and found out, to my surprise, that it really happens to some people too. And, as I read their comments, they’re telling that their pages are very important to them. How important is my page to me by the way? The answer is very important because that page is where I posts announcements about our batch. It’s where our pictures of the past events and activities in our lives are stored. There are also comments, suggestions, and everything on that page. That’s why I got kinda upset and frustrated at the same time. I spent a lot of hours waiting for all of our pictures to be uploaded using their poor uploader system. And, it’s not easy to blog also wherein every detail is crucially indicated in the blogs. I know I’m overreacting but I can’t really help it. Maybe the best thing that I can do is to wait for my complaint to be heard and to be given actions. I want my page back. It’s the playhouse of my high school batch. If you know some ways to help me, can you suggest? Thank you. I’d appreciate it very much.