Bisaya Blogger in Roxas City

Blogging in the Seafood Capital of the Philippines! Beat that for 'coolness'! So what the blazes am I doing here?

Do you remember the Bora trip with The Tamblot? It happens this weekend. We agreed to meet up in Iloilo and then drive our way to Bora. We had to come here first though, because he has to finish some cabling works. It took us about three hours to get here and I think it's going to take four more hours of driving to get to our destination. Poor Tamblot. It's a good thing I don't know how to drive.

We had sizzling tangigue, garlic shrimp (panalo), and kansi (pochero-like) for lunch. Yummy! I cannot recall the restaurant's name but it's definitely worth another visit.

Everybody is speaking in Hiligaynon! Waaaaaaaa! Nosebleed!

Pork Chop Thursdays

What: Pork Chop with Pesto Butter Sauce Day

When: Thursday Production, 12:00 AM MNL (technically Friday morning)

Where: Brown Cup, Skyrise Bldg. 1, Asiatown IT Park

Who: Dhon Crackling, Jabbered Onion, Sher Butter, Yona (The Gang)
Guests are welcome. Just please make sure your tasks are covered.

If you happen to come by Brown Cup on the first hour of Friday mornings, you'd most likely see four (or more) people talking and laughing as if they own not just the place but the entire building. That's us having barkada lunch and enjoying the best hour of the entire work week. It's the time wherein we share ideas and talk about events, work, the people we work with (chismis!), and each other's love life. We never fail to find wholesome things to laugh at and it's fun and very relaxing.

Pork Chop Thursday is something we always look forward to each week because more than great conversation and good food, it's a celebration of friendship.

PETA

I don't like cats. They're dirty, they're smelly, and most of all, they're sneaky little beasts. (Those that I've encountered, that is.) Also, it's kind of creepy the way they stare at you with those oddly-colored eyes. My heart went out to this particular feline, though. Look at the poor thing! Having nine lives in this lowly condition is a curse. I wonder what she could've done to deserve such a cruel fate.

I think I'll be bringing a pair of scissors the next time I come around.

Simple Pleasures

October 8 was so great a day that it could have been my birthday. Let me tell you why.

I got to finally watch the first episode of the fourth season. What a relief! The suspense was a killer!

I had a sumptuous dinner at Krua Thai with friends courtesy of Birthday Boy Kid A.

I received an SMS from The Tamblot in which he asked: "Would you like to go to Bora?" (Are you kidding me?!) I replied: "Weee! Sure! When?" There was no way I could hide my excitement.

In6Words posted my contribution. Go check it out!

Firewall was down. Freedom from bondage that's SurfControl! Non-work-related websites what?

Ahhh... The simple joys of living..

911

September was a good month. I spent a week with my family and I got to visit a new place. Aside from these, September also marked my first-ever minor PC operation.

When I got back from my week-long homecoming, the first thing I did after putting my bags down was to turn on my PC. I was excited to view the pictures we took. I had plans of resizing them that night so I could post them online right away. To my sheer disappointment though, I heard three long and agonizing screams coming from the CPU. That time of the month again, eh?

Every two months or so, I'd hear these screams and cleaning up the CPU has proven to be the cure. I even bought special tools from Handyman just for this task. Despite being tired from travel, I screwed open the CPU and freed the inside of dust. It didn't work. That's OK, I thought. It happened before. I'm just going to clean it up again when I'm well-rested.

I cleaned the CPU again and again but still I hear the screams. Oh-oh. After the third clean-up, I was already in panic mode. I swallowed my pride and sought the advice of my techie friend Kid A. He said: Try removing the RAM chip and installing it back again. And because he knows I have no idea what a RAM chip looked like, he added: It's the one that looks like a wafer and there could be one or two of them. (Do you now understand why I waited that long to ask for his help?)

Kid A has proven yet again that age does bring forth wisdom. Hahaha!

It worked! Now I know exactly what to do the next time I hear those painful screams.

The procedure was exhilarating! So, this must be how doctors feel after every successful operation.

Nardong Putik

Let's go outside
Stand by my side
Say forever
I'm always there
The one who cares
Say forever

-Say Forever, Rico Blanco

Indeed, the tie isn't one from China. Say forever, Mudboy! Here's a toast to a lifetime of friendship! Happy Birthday!

Orange Crush

I went to great lengths to have this picture taken. It was his last day at work and I couldn't just let him go without a souvenir.

A silly smile was plastered on my face for the rest of the day.

Anak ng Pasil

Pasil's notorious reputation gives me the creeps. Yesterday, however, I found myself volunteering to accompany Big J to buy ingredients for our October Feast. I couldn't bear letting her go there on her own especially since she's been mugged in Colon just recently.

Pasil's fish market is definitely not the place to be for the unwary and the sleep-deprived. The stench was overwhelming. Chaos ruled. I struggled to maintain a clear mind as we walked around looking for the things we needed.

As Big J was busy deciding on what fish to buy, I was also busy observing various fish vendors conducting their businesses. I couldn't help but be emotional as I stared at them.

My Pa used to be a fish vendor that's why I have a soft spot for them. Unlike the ones you find inside a wet market though, Pa was a mobile fish vendor. He went around from place to place asking people to buy from the buckets he carried.

I cannot imagine how hard those two years must be for my father. Thinking of all his sacrifices makes me love him all the more. He will always be a source of inspiration and I'll always be proud to tell the story of how he was able to provide for his family.