Period of Adjustment

I had a feeling this would happen, that’s why I delayed it for one week. I controlled my excitement on the arrival of the G5 here in the office which Kuya Andres (salamat kuya) brought all the way from Malaybalay.

Honestly, I’ve adjusted pretty well with the Compaq I was using. It was decent enough to allow me to work on the proposals I needed to do, finance work that ate most of my first 2 months at work (and still eats some of my time every now and then). I also was able to condition my mind into using and working with Photoshop 5 edition and Pagemaker 5 edition. I’ve finished a couple of communication works in the old computer and I’ve actually reaped a few thousand pesos in the work that I did there. I admit to having my share of complaints when it took forever to render the pictures I was editing and when it hanged a few times. It’s worst sickness was not printing files – it had moments when it just didn’t want to print. And it often did it on the times I needed to rush things, worst, since Sylvia and I share printers, Sylvia could print and I couldn’t. I often had to restart the computer so I can print.

I scheduled last Friday afternoon for computer transition. I was going to save all files to the server so I could easily access them later. I prepared all the wires to be used, prepared my arms for some heavy lifting (G5’s a bit big and my old desktop is as heavy-not to mention its jar-jar binx monitor). The European plug didn’t have an adaptor so had to do a quick run to PC Express to get 2, because Margo will also be needing one eventually when she gets Sylvia’s older powerbook. The monitor didn’t have it’s power wire so had to ask for extra wires from Kuya Bai, which we had. The actual, physical installation of the 2 computers was actually easy. It was just a matter of plugging in cords where they ought to be.

This was my Old Computer I aptly called "JarJar Binx" because of the Speakers

I didn’t have to move them too far so it wasn’t really tiring. I easily accessed my files through the server and since mac and pc are already compatible in terms of Microsoft office programs, there really wasn’t an issue. My adobe files were done in a lower version so the higher version could easily open it. But the EMAIL, my official Email… It was such a sad, unfortunate one hour that I couldn’t completely figure out Chuck’s (my certified mac user friend) instructions on how to extract my mail. Good thing he was very patient to me. Sadly though, our internet provider was down so I couldn’t download the program I needed.

This is the G5 and the LCD monitor. If you can only see the Keyboard. Yikes!

Today, our provider was still down. I got the program I needed but still couldn’t fix my email because I wanted to get all my mails first before extracting. I have to completely move on to this new computer. Soon I hope, soon.  

772.63 (Phil.Govt not Working)

Do you see it?That's 3 Balloons! The entrance stamp at LTO Main Office in East Ave had 3 balloons. Seriously?! Seriously?! I mean, Seriously?!

How do they seriously expect me to give them a sense of respect and trust when they can't even atleast make a more formal stamp, simple letters L.T.O. would do you know?! But that's not the only reason why I'm screaming INEFFICIENT at them.

So I lost my license and was determined to finish getting a new one in an hour, an hour a half tops. Got to LTO P.Tuazon, Cubao at 820. Not much people yet, just as I expected. I pass my requirements at WIndow 2. After a few minutes, they call me and tell me there's no record of me in their system. I say - Impossibe, I've been renewing at Farmer's Cubao since my license first expired. Farmer's is not online til 10AM so that's most probably the reason why my record isn't showing. He says better to go to LTO Main at East Ave. Dang! But I go, coz it's too early to just wait for 10AM.

9ish i'm at LTO Main where I get the "balloon" stamp. I pass it at Window10 as instructed and was further asked to go inside the office and pass my forms to a certain Ms.Delay. I pass and wait..20mins, 30mins (ang tagal ha, there were only about 20people, what is taking so long), 40mins. I get called again..still No Freaking Record! Seriously?!

I go in, saying that's impossible, I've been driving for 7YEARS, Renewed my license 2x already. Ms.Delay (in a mataray way) tells me, "we don't have you on record.Two computers." "san ka ba originally nag apply?" I answer - "sa Davao po." She answers back - "Ah dun ka sa Davao humingi ng Records mo. Punta ka dun." Major Thought Balloon - ANAK KA NG TIPAKLONG! Nakapunta ka na bang Davao?! Di yun one MRT ride away gaya ng MAKATI! AT ANG TARAY MO HA, TADYAKAN KITA DYAN. But was calm, can you check with Davao, coz I'm pretty sure I have record? "Hindi, dun ka mag-apply kung gusto mo. Di ka pwedeng bigyan ng new record kasi may record ka na." I go out her office and whispered "Fuck!" I'm pretty sure she heard it, i hope she did, especially the very low "you" that followed after. I was really pissed already.

But I'm smart and promised myself last July I'll try to be positive amidst all failures. It's almost 10, i'm going to Farmer's and they better have my record! Or else! I arrive, true enough they actually have it. Diyos ko po! Let me Analyze this.. A small, mall-based LTO has my record, but the MAIN LTO doesn't have it? Can somebody Justify that to me? Seriously?!

And because LTO Farmer's didn't exactly feel I suffered enough it tells me I can't renew in the tricycle ride away LTO but back to P.Tuazon which is a cab away. Fine! Just so I finish this, fine!

I go back to P. Tuazon and I see the same guy on Window 2. I tell him - "Kuya walang record ang MAIN. sa Farmer's ko yan nakuha!" He smiles - "Ganun ba, baka nga kasi 10AM pa nago Online ang Farmer's." Putsa naman! I seriously wanted to squeeze myself inside the window to hit him. Thought Balloon - Hello?! MAIN LTO yun? Sila ang dependent sa Farmer's di ang smaller ones sa kanila? duh?!

1135  - I got my TEMP License, finally. I get the card in 90 days, I have to go back there in 90 days. Grrrr... Renewees get better service and they get their permanent license in minutes.I've never ridden so many cabs in 3 hours. And in that 3 hours I spent 772.63 pesos, 75% of which was spent on transportation alone. Damn! And balloons as entrance stamp?! Damn! No wonder my cousins and friends are migrating.

Lost License

I lost my driver's license last Sunday. I was still in denial, was very hopeful to just find it in Tetet's car or that someone from Rustan's Fresh, Corinthian calls me that they found it. It was in Rustan's that I last opened my wallet before realizing I lost my license.

Tomorrow I face reality. I have my affidavit of loss already and hitting LTO P. Tuazon (the nearest to my house and office) to apply for a new license. I hope it'll be kind day tomorrow, no rain and no lines in LTO.

I've never really lost my license before so this is a sad event for me.

But gotta do it already... I mean what if I win a car tomorrow and I still don't have my license? Sayang naman

Yellow Hauz Coffee

Rating:	★★
Category:	Restaurants
Cuisine:	Other
Location:	MapaSt.,Davao City

Went there with my Best HS Friends (Renee, Ella, Janille) and one of my Best College Friends(Raya) after grabbing dinner at Venue Compound. Raya suggested the place.

I have to say that ambiance wise, it's one of the best ones in Davao. The color is pleasing to the eyes and the interiors were well made. The outdoor area looked nice at night too. The comfort room was clean and at 11PM, it still had ample toilet paper which is good. For the space alone, I would have given them 4 stars.

Yellow Hauz is not very friendly to commuters though as it is situated in the inner part of Mapa. But the main street is a short walk, where one can find cabs. And it's in Davao, where walking is not dangerous (takot lang nila kay Tito Digs).

Why 2 STARS Only? - Because first and foremost, Yellow Hauz claims to be a coffee place and I'm a coffee person. I wasn't up for coffee that night but had to drink so I can be a good judge and frankly, their coffee was bad. Homebrewed Monks Blend is way better. It's so not work your 50-60 bucks. The cold coffee aren't exactly good as well, they were ok.

So if wanna have coffee, I will not suggest you go there - BluGre is still on top of the Davao Coffee List (they are just too pricy, overpricing jud!). But if you just want the ambiance and have a pretty decent dessert (the mud pie is not bad and not too expensive either), it'll be worth a visit.

*photo from peter go

FieldWork(Bendum,July2007)

Some pictures during my field work in my area in Sitio Bendum, Bukidnon. This is where the first formal indigenous people, culture-based/community-based school for IPs in the Philippines is located..This is Apu Palamguwan Cultural Education Center.

The sitio still doesn't have electricity. So studying at night is very hard. Our scholars are lucky, we have enough supply of kerosene. But majority of the children don't, studying at night is impossible.

Email me for Donations and Support. hehehe (Paging Kuya Rey, Kuya Rey)

I’ll Have Bad Hair Day Instead

515PM – I decide I’ll check on Margo, officemate next door, to ask her opinion if I should just go home because I feel I’m merely pretending to work. Her door’s locked, she already went home. I go to Mila, 4 doors away, she’s getting ready to go home. Everybody’s on their way home, I ought to go home myself.

530-545PM – Out in Katipunan, waiting for a cab. It’s drizzling a bit, I decide to walk from the overpass near National toward KFC looking for a cab. Luckily I get one. Wow, I’ll be home before the sun sets

555PM – I’m home! Key’s not in my pocket. I check my bag pockets, it’s not there. Shit! I’m realizing, I took it out earlier when I gave Sylvia her change for the lunch I bought for her. But no, it should be here, I think I threw it in my bag… It’s not there. Pencil case? – it’s not there; Coin purse-not there. I sit down on the doorstep, I check again. It’s still not there. Oh no! I was the last one who left the office and I don’t have office keys so that means I have to go to Margo or Sylvia.

610PM – Margo doesn’t have key to her office as well. Sylvia is at a friend’s house, must go to UP Village now. But first, my self pity gets in, I cry a few tears of sadness. I’m so tired. (If you’re a 90’s kid, think Carmina Villaroel super sad in that Jollibee ad). I was excited to get home early so I can unpack – I haven’t unpacked.

625ish – I walk slowly looking for a cab. Hard to find a cab. Found one, but refused to take me to UP Village. Found another, same thing. I continue to walk, almost 7 and I’m almost at Eastwood. I’m at eastwood. I call my sister Tetet, she’ll be on her way own shortly. I think I”ll just wait. That’ll mean waiting 1hour and a half.

710PM – I go around eastwood. Too bad “ratatouille” screening was at 6ish. Books at A Different Bookstore are too expensive. Found a gift for Loleng’s housewarming, it’ll match his kitchen. What do I do next?

740PM – I’ll just grab a bite at Pasto. I love their raspberry iced tea anyway, and it’s bottomless. Shit, their prices increased. This man in front of me looks so much like Tristan. Parallel to me is Jan Nieto of Philippine Idol – he wasn’t my bet it was Gian Magdangal.
- There’s a mirror infront of where I’m siting. Wow, PERFECT HAIR DAY! Even with all the walk and dust, my hair looks oh so perfect, straight out of a commercial ad… I’d Take Bad Hair Day any day if it’ll mean better travel day.