Off with Santa's Head!

Or heads? 

Ninang Claus

#53: Christmas with the Kranks... err.. Kids

And so Christmas is over. (Well, not officially since Pinoy Christmases last till mid-January). I was a day late in giving gifts. Poor shopping planning/strategy coupled with time shortage caused this mess. I was up till 4am wrapping gifts. (Not even "wrapping" in the true sense of the word because all I did was tie red satin ribbons. Easy yet gives some semblance of proper gift presentation.) I'm glad to have survived. (Although I ended up leaving a couple of price tags on. Ack.) Anyway, I'm done with family and church members. That's about 50% of the battle. I still have officemates (30 of them at the last count) I need to prepare gifts for plus very good friends you just can't give M&S Christmas biscuits to. It's okay. Things will all fall into place. They will. They should. Or else.

This afternoon, I took my goddaughter shopping. She's my first goddaughter (out of the 8 or so that I already have now) so I still feel the need to spoil her. (Okay, not spoil but to really make her happy that I'm her ninang. Potato, Potahto.) She's 11 years old and totally over her Barbie & Bratz phase so buying her something that would make her face light up is tougher now. We ended up choosing this pair of white gold earrings with stars. And a matching bracelet. (True Gucci Stardust fashion. Although someone should shoot me if I start wearing jewelry with stars.) She smiled this big smile as she looked at me with adoring eyes. Another score for Ninang Me!

We took her younger brother along. I gave him this Kids'Almanac as a Christmas present and he couldn't stop yapping about his newly-discovered facts.

"Tita Gladys, do you know your birthstone?"
"Yes"
"Tita, do you know how to count in Chinese?"
"Yes."
"Tita, do you know what is the biggest snake?"
"Yes."
"Wow. Galing ni Tita!"
Hah. Yet another score for Tita Me. (Notice that he didn't ask me to tell him the answers. He just trusted me when I said that I knew. Poor kid.)

Over crepes and shakes and salty salty fries with onion bacon dip, they tossed trivia left and right. So this is what it's like to have kids that don't stop talking. Wonder if I'll go crazy if my kids became as talkative as they are. Or as I am. I guess insanity is a small price to pay to be looked at with such adoration. It'll be like winning everyday.

We'll see. Maybe 10 Christmases from now, I'll know.

Catch the Lights

One Makati Night 

Fifteen Seconds

#52: Going Home Alone

I was the second to the last person to leave the office. (So what's new?) I could've left earlier to do some shopping. It's almost Christmas and I haven't made significant progress with it but today just didn't seem to feel right for that. If my room hadn't started getting filled with presents, I wouldn't even feel guilty about not doing something to get the mandatory buying done. (Mandatory buying isn't fun. Random and pure impulse shopping is.)

Entering the elevator, I made a mental note to pass by SMBix, our friendly neighborhood shopping mall, before going home. (We all hate the traffic jam that monstrous mall makes, but we all love it for being there and being open till 10p.m.) The elevator descended smoothly. 15 seconds is all it takes to go from the 22/F to the ground floor. 15 seconds of deathly silence that magnifies aloneness. It stopped at the 19/F. A couple hopped in. He was holding her hand and looking at her with much tenderness. He told her that there was pizza in the car. Hardly the most romantic thing to say but he said it in such a loving way. She shook her head and said that she had just brushed her teeth. (So? You can brush them again. Eat the thing. He bought it for you.) He shrugged. They were both on the heavy side. (On the other hand, maybe both of you should stay away from the pizza. What the heck is that thing doing in your car?)

We got off quickly and headed in separate directions. Crossing the street from our office building to the parking building is also not my favorite part of the day. As with the elevator ride, it has this haunting effect. The solitary set of footsteps echoing throughout the floor populated only by two other cars is hardly the thing you associate with holiday cheer. Not even the stuff of plain old non-holiday cheer, I tell you. I couldn't help but sigh as I loaded my stuff at the back. I dread having to bring home all the other gifts tomorrow. Carrying them alone and wrestling with my car keys, doors and compartments will definitely be a circus act. (Come see me for free.)

There used to be a time when trips to parking lots weren't such sad things. I remember moments in the past when the echoes they produced only heightened giggles or amplified excited rundowns of the day's events. These are harder to remember now.

Have I unknowingly gotten old? Or gotten lonely?

Reviewing all the personal comments & parting wishes my colleagues and superiors gave, I realize that most of them associated me with cheerfulness or vibrancy or zest for life. They are right. I am after all named after a very positive emotion. I can never be sad. Well, not in front of people anyway. Or not in front of me.

But sometimes, when it's almost Christmas and I'm driving home alone, it just makes me wonder if I have to somehow already admit that sometimes, I am. Maybe, despite my previous resistance to it, just maybe, I am actually allowed to feel sad... maybe even for just 15 seconds or so.

Shiny, Sparkly and Splendidly Bright

Like a comet blazing across the evening sky... 

You are my Star...

#51: Ain't this Super?

My teammates surprised me last night with a farewell presentation. Of course, they flashed horrible pics while making me cry with their parting wishes. I didn't know whether to hug them or strangle them. Needless to say, I was touched. I guess the tears said it all.

I'm posting the Hallmark message they chose for me.

"Like a star in the night sky,
you continue to shine...
In times when things did not happen
as you've planned them,
you've held on to your beliefs.
When obstacles have clouded your way,
instead of giving up,
the more you've tried harder.
With the strength you possess,
you have turned hardships into opportunities
to learn and grow.
You strive for the best, always trying
to reach for your dreams.

You are an inspiration--
an image of spirit and determination.
You are someone to look up to--
like a bright star in the sky."

Earlier today, the head of Boots Thailand emailed me and said that he believed I was one of the best marketers the company has had.

I am overwhelmed by both. I wonder if I am actually big enough to fill the space they have so generously given to me in their hearts and minds. I know that if I measure myself against those lines, I will most likely fall short. And so I won't.
We are, after all, not what we think we are nor what others think we are, but what we think others think we are.

Top to Bottom

#50: Quick Wrap-up of a Long Day

About to finish the lovely book, "Interpreter of Maladies." I would've finished it earlier if I didn't end up in the wrong city hall for my NBI clearance. Don't ask. Long story.

And so I failed this aspect of my medical exam again. Yet again. The results always say something's wrong with me. I don't feel anything. (Plus, I've downed a substantial amount of buko juice already. Shouldn't I already be cured? Or at least given a passing grade for trying? I'm starting to hate doctors. And their consultation fees. And the absence of receipts in all transactions.)

More hate-able is the difficulty in having your NBI Clearance renewed. Central office of the National Bureau of Investigations is in Carriedo. Where the heck is Carriedo? I decided to take my chance in one of the satellite offices. With only 500 meters to go before reaching Mandaluyong City Hall, i decided I couldn't stay stuck in traffic any longer. My bladder would burst. (See? These are the things that cause whatever problem it is they say I have.) Quick U-turn, quick stopover, quick decision to go to Pasig City Hall instead. Perhaps there are fewer people there. There must be fewer people there. Where THERE is, I didn't know. The first building I went to wasn't it. But instead of making another quick U-turn to correct the mistake and head towards Mandaluyong City Hall again, I just had to take some clueless person's word for it. "Ma'am, malapit na lang ang Pasig City Hall. Dun na lang kayo. Nasa Pasig na kayo eh." Drat. Took me thrice as long to get there and a longer period to get out. I hate being gullible.

It was a long sweaty day but I guess it's better than getting stuck in a cold office doing nothing. Quick shower at home and I'm off to this Dressy Dinner. Now that's a lovely way to end a a not-so-perfect day.

Top 3 of the Day:
1. Dressy Dinner with wonderful friend to celebrate her success.
2. Finding a way out of Pasig by pure instinct. (Okay, not by pure instinct. I had help from about half a dozen policemen.)
3. Getting the clearance within the day (Learning: I will give my children very unique names to decrease their chances of having to share their names with criminals.)

Bottom 3 of the Day:
1. Yet another urinalysis.
2. Yet another royal runaround courtesy of the Philippine Government.
3. Yet another pointless blog.

Let me log off and finish the book instead.

Fiesta Pics! (Birthday 2004)

Hat from Quezon Province. Smile from the bottom of my Pinoy heart. (Bday 2004) 

So is this what lawyers ride now? (Bday 2004) 

"Caregiver Majel" hits the Jackpot Palayok. Props to Roy for the cool shot. (Bday 2004) 

"No, this is not Super Marioland. You don't get extra points for hitting the bamboo with your head." (Bday 2004) 

"No, Roy. It's not 2am. It's already 3am.Go home." (Bday 2004)  

Island Pinay with a Mainland Chinay? (Bday 2004) 

Tres Marias with their Itay? (Bday 2004) 

Early Birds Catch the Fiesta Pig (Bday2004) 

Supposed Pinoy Gentleman threatens to kill Old Pinoy with Nasty Teeth (Bday2004) 

A Haciendero, A Maria Clara and A Pinoy Cowboy? (Bday2004) 

Maria Clara poses with Sweaty Pinay Farmer for PR Purposes (Bday2004) 

Finoy Fiesta Farty

#49: Gucci turns very Pinoy at 27

Wow! I am still in awe at what a wonderful birthday I had this year! The theme was Pinoy Fiesta Party (or "Finoy Fiesta Farty" as the mangled version goes). Everyone was encouraged to come in true Filipino get-up. Person with the best costume gets a prize. I can't believe how many people showed up wearing barongs and camisos and baro't sayas. There were some very distinct ones like this girl-friend of mine who arrived wearing a Muslim attire to represent the Filipinos in Mindanao. There was one who arrived as a Katipunero. Another one arrived as a farmer... who strangely looked like a Vietcong farmer rather than a Filipino one. (Wrong hat, dude.) There was another one who arrived looking like a Boracay girl and yet another who came as a Filipino caregiver. Very cool. Very cool indeed.

All those who didn't have Filipino effects had to be punished. We made them do the limbo rock. (With just the guests chanting as background.) My friend's boyfriend gamely gave it his best shot. During the last round, he paused midway and held his poise for about 5 seconds. He then fell flat on his back, almost breaking his spine. I was ready to call an ambulance.

There was also a twisted pabitin. Pabitins are actually for kids during fiestas. There is a grid made of kawayan (bamboo) from which toys and candies are hung. Kids would jump at the stuff as the grid is quickly lowered. None of my guests would be interested to jump for plastic jeeps and plastic green toy soldiers so we hung goodies from Watsons instead - gels, scrubs, bath & body stuff plus Clearasil soap, of course. There were also balloons. Anyone who got a balloon would get free prepaid credits for their cellphones. (Speaking of which, I haven't zapped the credits yet to this person who wildly grabbed a yellow one.) To make life harder, I told them that this particular pabitin required them to be blindfolded and that they only had one chance, one swing to grab something. If that swing gets them nothing but air, then they should move on to the Palayok game.

The Palayok Game (for lack of a better term) is also one of the traditional Filipino Fiesta games. It's like the Mexican Pinata except we don't take the time to elaborately decorate a thing that's goig to get bashed to death anyway. Filipinos use clay pots because they shatter well and because huge pieces of it are bound to fly out and hit unsuspecting (or boring) guests. There were Filipino candies there plus the very foreign Clearasil sachets. (Yes, yes, shameless promotion true, but hey, it's my party.)

I also requested a couple of people to play the guitar at one point during the night... Which turned out to be, "for the rest of the night." It was neat the way a dear friend of mine, (Micah, that's you) took charge of the guitar and played our requests. He sings extremely well so he switched from live karaoke machine to entertainer and back from time to time. Everyone loved him to bits.

He also ended up winning the Best in Costume 2004 Award. He entered our house doing a silly walk with his cane. He was wearing a barong, grandpa hat plus grandpa house slippers. And a fake cigar... which he partnered with a set of fake smoker's teeth. Then he went around the house during the party talking to my other guests with those horrible horrible looking teeth. (Micah, you are one weird person. I guess that's why we're friends.)

Fine moments/surprises of the night:
1. A 2-yr old baby dressed in Filipino get-up from head to toe (with a native basket to boot!)
2. A classmate from gradeschool whom I haven't really gotten in touch with for more than 10 years arriving in a very handsome hat and a modern Pinoy look.
3. A friend bringing out his "kris" (is that what you call a Muslim dagger?) because his character possessed him and he totally lost it. (Haha. Lee, don't kill me.)
4. The "caregiver" character mercilessly hitting the palayok.
5. Guests actually diving to get the coins, candies and Clearasil from the palayoks.
6. Singing "Take My Breath Away" (by Tuck & Patti) with Micah again.
7. Seeing Cathy and Gerard embrace! (I have a pic to prove it!)
8. Elna telling everyone about her checklist for potential boyfriends: Must have BSPXXX,000.00, SSS, Pag-ibig Fund, Philhealth, Income Tax Return Form etc.
9. Proudly looking at my "kids" (from church) play the guitar so well.
10. My parents telling my friends from both workplaces that I am weird. (Thanks mom and dad. I love you too.) =)

Fiesta Food:
1. Lechon de Leche (from Dasma)
2. Chopped green mangoes with Bagoong (c/o Mommy)
3. Red Egg and Tomato salad (c/o Mommy)
4. Inihaw na Talong with Vinegar & Red Onions (c/o Mommy)
5. Kilawin na Tanigue (c/o Mommy)
6. Sinigang na Hipon (c/o Mommy)
7. Embutido (c/o Mommy)
8. Bistek Tagalog (c/o Mommy)
9. Caldereta-style Chicken (c/o Mommy)
10. Inihaw na Baboy (Grilled Porkchops c/o Mommy)
11. Buddy's Miki-Bihon Pancit
12. Latik's Sapin-sapin
13. Buko-Pandan Salad (c/o Mommy)
14. Leche Flan (from Mommy's suki in BF)
15. Biko (from Francis)

How much more Filipino Fiesta-ey can you get? (Love you Mom!)

On the three separate occasions that I was asked what my wish was for this particular birthday, I really couldn't think of anything. My brain just couldn't squeeze anything out. I think it's because I had all of my good friends around me, my family behind me and my gracious Lord above. I am greatly blessed. My heart is full.

For those who came, thank you so much for being such dears and making my birthday such a blast. I couldn't ask for more. (Well, I actually could - like, come again next year... AND in costume please.) Thanks to those who arranged the surprise in the office as well. You know I love surprises. (Just don't show up by my bedside at night with fake blood all over your face.)

Love you guys! Love you to bits! Palayok bits!