i remember receiving a pair of roller blades from santa claus when i was in grade 1. yes, it was number one in my wish list that time. i never had any idea of  ‘answered prayers’ before; all i knew was that, I had to write the christmas gift that i wanted and hope for santa’s kindness so that it may be granted.

until grade 5, i still believed in santa claus. had i not seen my mother wrapping the surprise gift for me, probably i am still making my materialistic wish lists up to now. but the picture didn’t change my desire to receive gifts every christmas. i still enjoy christmas and i still receive gifts from my parents.

i am now 20 but this season always brings out the child in me. i still hope for material things but could not write them all down on a piece of paper anymore. i cannot even hand that piece of paper to my parents because i am mindful that the santa claus could not be anybody else but me.

i am my own santa claus now. and along with this shift  are the changes in my desires for christmas. i believe some things are just worth listing and this time, i pray BIGTIME for them to happen.

1. the success of the alternative treatment of my adviser. i will always be one with you in your prayers for this, maam.

2. the reconciliation reunion of the BT! i know there will never be a complete attendance in a year’s time but i hope, at least, everybody will be humbled by the things we’ve been through for the past months.

3. a good job for me.

now, you may bring down your eyebrow (i know the other one’s been raised while reading the 3 wishes).

all set for christmas!

for the past 19  christmas celebrations, much has been given to me. this year, i can only hope and pray so much. one thing’s for sure, i will be the happiest person if all these things take place on christmas… the best christmas will be mine.

merry christmas everyone! cheers!

i cannot upload the original music video of broken strings by james morrison,. the owner doesn’t allow any repost. so i have this video from youtube, though it’s not as engaging as the original, it’s still the same song. (pwede pa ka mag sing-along!)

i am just so into this song lately. so i’m sharing this to you. to you!

because you can’t play our broken strings and you know that i love you a little less than before. :p

it’s when i’m alone (and smoking) that i get myself the chance to open my memory box. this moment makes me linger with the past (and so i continue sipping) and toy with the thoughts behind.

rather than count the sticks i had sipped, it might be better if i count my remaining days because of doing it. i am not blaming anyone for this addiction. i am thanking them for making this addiction less worrisome. don’t call them bad influences… they’re not.

more to this memory-lane moment, i can’t help but recall some important beings who shared the puffing sessions with me since the great ashtray was introduced to me.

rea and me and the cigars we love!

elton, the man who doesn’t end the night without stealing a stick from me (and everybody else)

ram: the one who shares capri, black devil, and other slims with me! i miss you!

krisha: the girl who eventually learned the proper puffing, angelie: the girl who smokes through her nose, alpha: the die-hard Philip Morris girl!

i know who to talk to when i decide to QUIT smoking. it's GOLD!

kristel, the banker (na nagresign na daw): yes, she said i taught her how to do it. i never did!

of course, si honey! she was the best puff-buddy last semester.

ron and krisjohn! the sessions we had are worth-reminiscing. we can have it back too soon... in cebu! i know, we share the same stick. and we are loving it.

i will always look forward to sipping sticks with you again, very soon!

earlier this afternoon, i applied for a job in a university in GenSan. obviously, i hope to teach there next semester. i got a call 3 hours after i submitted my application letter and was scheduled for an interview tomorrow morning.

wait.

relax.

you read it right. i can have a ‘real job’ now. finally, i am over my college years. *confetti*

and yeah, what better way to treat myself after a hellish semester loaded with thesis, photography class, analysis of Rizal’s works, researches in anthropology, etcetera?

beach!

thanks to biboy for inviting me to a stress-free night. for the sake of this blog, i’m using his nickname since i don’t want him get famous. magiging feeler lang. :p

the night of first times, i’d like to call it. and because the night was worth-sharing (vaguely), here are some tips i’d like to share for a totally stress-free night:

1. before going to the beach, you may chug beers first at piyesta ktv and restobar.

piyesta --- where people get overdressed!

2. when you go for an outing, be firm with your decisions. don’t be fickle-minded, at least for that moment. decide when you have to decide what to eat. after all, the driver gets tired too though he would expectedly say he’s ok. *laughs*

3. if you can’t decide what to eat for the rest of the night, here are some best buys in gensan: chips, san miglight and gilbeys premium at a convenience store along osmena st., take-out any meal from jollibee (preferrably chickenjoy for breakfast. make sure you secure the change after paying. ), water and yosi at a convenience store near YBL terminal.

parang ipamimigay lang sa victims ng ondoy

4. When you have all that, you’re sure to have a food-full and beer-full night. but wait, the tent should be set-up. and it helps when you’re with a boy scout.

this is the tent. biboy did most of the setting-up. :p

5. when you’re stepping on the sand already, make sure to take off your shoes. wear flip flops or get barefooted! then sit. relax. wear comfy shorts and shirt. don’t change clothes from time to time either especially if you don’t do the laundry. haha.

ang itim na flip flops at ang inuming hindi naman talaga nakakalasing.

6. look for eye-candies. look around you. who knows they might be on the same page as you are. (and you don’t need to decipher this thing.)

7. you do the talking… big time! share. laugh. stare. puff! yes, sip and puff! it keeps the night warm. eat apple. but don’t imagine you’re eating an apple from manila. :p

hanapin ang apple from manila!

8. when you see the day coming, maybe it’s a good idea to sleep. yes, there’s a reason it’s called night swimming. you have to keep yourself awake at night. and when the dawn breaks, have yourself laid inside the tent.

9. WHEN YOU’RE ABOUT TO SLEEP, PLEASE DO SLEEP! don’t do the things you do outside of the tent. REST! :p

10. another reason it’s called night swimming is that you only have to stay there the whole night and a quarter of the first hours of the day. so even if you don’t get yourself enough sleep, you wake up and fix the tent. again, leave the job to the boy scout.

11. swim! have fun in the water. after all, you’re supposed to unload the stress. the best way to do it is leave the problems in the water. let the fishes carry them.

12. eat breakfast. then,  reset your mind  — the real world is waiting as soon as you step out of the resort. yes. harsh but true. there are a lot of things we have to deal with in the outside world.

but at least, at some point, you made the right choice to unwind, unload, and relax. let the sea, the sand, and the tent remain the witnesses…

of the stories shared.

of the beers drank.

of the cigarette butts thrown.

of the laughters.

of the priceless moments…

adios!

bang! bang!

“kuya, wala pa lagi kay ginaligawan?”

i was waiting for any of my siblings say that line even before. and my bratty sister really did a week ago. i wanted to say something about it right after that moment  but because of loads of paper works and other stuff, i had to delay this post.

the brat

the scene’s still vivid in my mind. i was infront of the mirror, fixing my hair as i was about to go somewhere, when she confronted me that. anyway my sister is only 4. i laughed. and i guess, everybody who heard it laughed — my mama and my two younger brothers. good thing they never uttered a word.

i couldn’t stop myself from smiling keeping in mind my sister’s thought.

should i answer her question? i don’t think i need to.

*i am still not in the mood to blog. i’ll wait for the week after next for more self-indulgence here.*

gabi nang nilisan namin ang davao papuntang camiguin. sampung oras ang binyahe namin kaya naman mood-setter agad ang magandang tanawin na naabutan namin sa port pa lang ng lugar. mahaba-habang lakwacha ito.

iba ang camiguin. iba sya sa poland, sa davao, sa marikina.  una dahil walang signal ang sun. meron ang smart at globe pero sa piling lugar lang. pangalawa, tahimik ang lugar. walang taxi at kung anu-ano pang kaek-ekan –- tricycle at jeepneys lang. pangatlo, maganda talaga ang paligid — o baka overwhelmed lang ako sa dami ng lanzones. haha.

una naming pinuntahan ang sto nino cold spring. malamig talaga sya. sobrang lamig. hindi ka makakalangoy ng todo-todo sa cold spring. walang waves. nalungkot ako dun,  hindi ako nakapag-exhibition. pero ayos lang. mas mabuti na ‘yon kasi nga may iba akong kasama na hiyang sa ganung takbo ng tubig. gaya na lamang ni sonny na halatang takot na takot sa malalim na tubig. patunay ang larawan sa baba (photo from shane).

sunod naming pinuntahan ang soda swimming pool. kung bakit ganon ang pangalan ay hindi ko alam. sandali lang akong nagbabad sa lugar na ‘to dahil sobrang init na ng sikat ng araw. cold spring din dito. pero hindi umubra ang init sa balat ng mga kasama ko dahil nagpose pa rin ang lahat sa malaking bato, gilid ng pool.

dumaan kami sa isang nasirang simbahan na hindi ko naman masyadong feel kaya hindi ko na idedetalye ang nangyari doon. duniretso na tayo sa sikat na sikat na sunken cemtery. sa mga hindi masyadong pamilyar sa lugar, nakapunta na rin dito si jolens at juday dahil dito sila nagshoot for their horror movie, ouija. dito natuklaw ng ahas ang kapatid ni jolens (?).

sunod na pinuntahan ay ang katibawasan falls kung saan isang papansin na unggoy ang sasalubong sa inyo. at dahil nga kaagaw ko ang mga unggoy sa mga saging sa mundo, hindi ako masyadong natuwa sa presensya nya sa entrance. pero maraming hakbang pa mula sa falls ay dinig ko na ang tubig. exciting. at lalo akong namangha nang nakita ko na talaga ang mataas na falls at ang mejo maputik na tubig sa baba. masaya, perstaym kong makakita ng falls e. weh.

maraming spots na nga kaming napuntahan. kaya naman sureball napagod kaming lahat. pero napawi ‘yon nung tinungo namin ang white island. tinanggal ang pagod namin. dabest. kasama ko si paru-paru at val sa larawan sa baba.

huling tinungo namin ang ardent hibok-hibok spring. bilib na ako kung iisipin nyo pang cold spring din yan. haha. what a warm way to end the day ang drama namin. dito ako pinaka-hindi masyadong masaya.. pano ba naman kasi, ako ata ang pinakahuling tao na naligo dito. kasi, takot ako sa mainit na tubig. kaya naman kailangan pa nila akong i-drag to the max. mabuti na lang, may mga eye-candies sa paligid. e di lalong uminit diba? )

ayan na. natapos ang lakwacha sa loob ng isang araw. nakakapagod pero sobrang saya. pramis.

nga pala, may isang pagkakapareho ang camiguin sa ibang lugar na pinupuntahan ko — natatapos ang gabi ng may nalalasing. weh.

babalik at babalik ako sa camiguin. sana nga makasama din ako sa pinaplanong trip to camiguin ng iba ko pang mga kaibigan.

p.s. ang ibang larawan ay nasa aking facebook.

camiguin port

soon.

CHANGE TOPIC!

7 weeks to go na lang daw before this semester ends. panic kung panic. ready na ang thesis ko. revised draft na ang nasa larawan, ipapasa sa adviser at sa panelists ko. ready na… kung ready ang pag-uusapan. ayokong maniwala sa adviser ko pero sabi nya ok na daw ang lahat.

sana lang, hindi ko marinig sa araw ng defense ko (September 11) ang linyang:

p.s.: ipagdasal nyo naman ako o. please? thanks.

please skip this blog if you despise mushiness. :p but if you decide to continue reading please click play to the embedded video below. para may drama ang pagbasa. hahaha

___________________________________________________

dear you,

just this afternoon, i bought a pack of brownies from red ribbon. i didn’t know what brought me to the store and moved me to buy it. still sweet. still gratifying. it’s never changed since the time you first gave me the same thing.

:)

for months, i have never heard any updates from you. really no means of communication, right? well maybe a friend told me you changed the style of your hair. otherwise there’s none.

until one midnight, we finally met somewhere online — ym..

(note: ‘g’ is used for security purposes. it’s not the original yahoo i.d. and before the conversation shown here, may mga nauna ng kamustahan and all.)

vincentamorio: wait, ikaw ni g?
g: yep,pretty much twinkletoes
vincentamorio: haha. i never thought patulan nimo akong pangamusta
g: ngno dli man pud nko patulan?
vincentamorio: dugay na kaya ta wala nagcommunicate. jurassic years na.
g: months guro.haha
vincentamorio: months, 4-5 months na ata. haha.
g: unya asa n man ka karon?
vincentamorio: naa poland.
vincentamorio: gensan ka?
g: yup, unsa ang ginabusyhan nimo?
vincentamorio: acads. acing for the final sem. kapuy na skwela
g: maayo eh
vincentamorio: lagi. ikaw?
vincentamorio: somebody looks like you in school.
vincentamorio: 1st year

vincentamorio: hahahahha

g: akwali in our school 2.haha kambal nko.

—-some parts of the conversation kept confidential—-

vincentamorio: that sounds cool. murag exciting na a. tyrrany na. haha
twinkletoes: kbalo jud ka ba,haha.

vincentamorio: of course. sige, tulog na. keep safe
twinkletoes: keep safe pud. gudnyt!

—–end—–

finally, i’m relieved. you called me twinkletoes again. we’re back to being ‘friends.’ we’re back to the terms we used when we were still good friends. we’re ok, i hope. )

cheers,

your then twinkletoes

p.s.: i know you’ve been reading my blogs. i know. :p

krisha, anj, joan, corinne, gold, beans

kamusta na nga ba ang barkadahang tunay?

kaming anim na lamang ang nagkikita-kita. minsan nga, hindi pa talaga kumpleto ang anim. kami lang kasi ang natitira dito sa davao.

ang mga nasa larawan:

krisha – callcenter agent siya and at the same time student. going strong pa rin sila ni simon. ang masaklap nga lang, medyo humina na ang powers niya sa tagayan.

angelie - sa larawan, pulang-pula sya. ibig sabihin nun, hindi pa rin sya nagbabago. mestisa pa rin, nagiging parang mansanas kapag nakainom — parang si gold din. si anj, thesis ang libangan. masaya yun, diba? p.s. may blogsite na pala si anj. yahoo

joan – our baby is now a mommy. joke lang. hindi sya mommy, pramis, virgin pa rin sya. purong-puro. may bagong shuta na naman sya. si pappy.. pappy thirdie. maganda raw boses, pero parang kaya ko namang gayahin e. haha. si joan, responsableng student pa rin. thesis and all ang pinagkakaabalahan.

corinne – si corinne ang nakiki-wifi sa kanilang kapitbahay. haha. aside sa thesis, libangan nya rin ang pagku-comment ng hahaha sa facebook. ewan ko kung bakit. best in sorority pa rin sya. higit sa lahat, turtle neck pa rin ang trip nya.

gold – si gold ay virgin. period. haha. hindi, masipag pa rin sya gaya ng dati. mommy pa rin ng grupo. nung isang gabi nga, nilibre pa kami ng gilberys premium, mani at binigyan pa ako ng pangtaxi pauwi. ang bago lang naman, naka-havaianas high na sya. haha.

beans – ako yun. walang latest.

ang wala sa larawan ay sina rea, stella at elton.

rea – lumalablayp din. at aktib sa lahat ng bagay. again, sa lahat ng bagay. mayaman na sya. sobra. kaya lang, wala pang pinapadala sa amin dito sa davao. haha. balik ka na dito rai!

stella – ok na daw ang kundisyon nya. in fairness, dehins namin alam ang sakit nya pero ok na rin at magaling na sya. lumilevel din sya sa pagiging content writer. naalala ko nung bumisita sya sa skul, nilibre nya lahat ng mga bumubugang bibig kina te ling. ang saya.

elton – sila pa rin ni ridge. ang saya. syempre, isa pa yun. active sa lahat. haha. malapit na daw syang malay-off sa trabaho. kawawa naman. pero ok lang yun, may rarejob naman e. haha

————————-

kelan kaya makukumpleto uli ang larawan?

*nanukod ko sa ka-oa nako*