Straight From the Heart (I bet ye can hear Bryan Adams in yer head!)

It's times like these you learn to live again
It's times like these you give and give again
It's times like these you learn to love again

-Foo Fighters, "Times Like These"

In the darkest hours of my life by far, I wouldn't have pulled through unscathed if it weren't for you. I'm forever grateful.

Franzel
You could've just stood there to watch but you chose to help knowing that I was alone and desperately hysterical. You're my understated hero.

Annie
There's more to you than meets the eye. Who could've known you'd be so good at rescue? You were amazing.

Clarence
I called you up only to let you know that I couldn't report for work. I didn't ask for nor expect your help but you gave it nonetheless. After Thursday, I'll put up with you on anything, and I mean anything. :)

Glenn
You spurred me into action and got me out of the stupor I was initially in. I've always known you could be relied upon and that's why I called you first. Thank you for not letting me down and for not letting distance get in the way.

Christie
Again, you have shown that we're not bestfriends for nothing. You always know what to do.Thank you for taking care of me.

Gina and Paul
You're my most favorite couple in the world (after my parents).Thank you for coming to my rescue. Knowing that you were near put me at ease.

Malaya and Maniya (Kambal sa Uma)
Unexpected but much appreciated help that came in double. Thank you for staying with me and for getting my mind off what was happening.

Sonny Boy
You came late but you came and that's what's important. I appreciate you helping me carry my things back to the house. Bug-at ang dresser sah? =D

Jun and Martin
We do not know each other yet you were willing to come to my aid for your friend. Thank you. Never doubt that Glenn will do the same.

Mae Ann
Thank you for heeding my request of not letting our parents know what was going on. You know how our mother can be. I must have had you worried out of your wits. I'll take care of myself better. :)

Uncle Efren
Thank you for reminding me that I have a family here.

Debbie, Nina, Kirk, Borj, Sher, Dana, Dhon, Jenny
Thank you for checking how I was doing and for asking how you could be of help. Your concern warmed my heart. I'm fortunate to call you friends.

Kissan and Man2
Your joint efforts were instrumental in having the twins contact me. Thank you.

Team RuBu: Pink October Run 2009

Team RuBu: Pink October Run '09

With all of it’s founding members (Yogi Hen, Baller Coyote, and Raymond St. John) already not connected with the company, it took almost a year for the Running Buddies to get together again and to continue the goal of making a mark in the world of fun runs. I didn’t mean that in the competitive sense, let me make myself clear. I did say fun runs, right? I'm not discounting our abilities but I'd like to think of us as avid supporters only. Although we do have colleagues who can compete with Cebu’s top runners, most of us, including yours truly, join for the fun, the cause, and the activity itself. Fun runs make for great pictures and you get to rub elbows with local celebrities plus, you get to run side-by-side with a lot of eye candies. That's fun with a capital F!

Cool singlet

Pink October Run, organized by the Philippine College of Surgeons - Cebu Eastern Visayas Chapter with the help of Rotary Club of Cebu Fuente and Cebu Gloria Maris was held yesterday with the start and finish lines at The Terraces, Ayala Center. This was the first event in a series of sports activities lined up for the month of October to celebrate Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

RuBu with Donna Cruz-Larrazabal

I was slightly hesitant to join due to lack of practice but Pink October Run was so worthy a cause to support. If we waste money on a pointless drinking spree which leaves us with fewer brain cells, then surely, we can spare just Php150 to support the Breast Cancer Movement. With only four days before the run, I was able to convince 13 people to join. Apparently, I haven't lost my touch. Not everyody made an appearance but 11 participants from our group (including 3 friends from Stream Global Services, formerly, Etelecare) is quite a good turnout.

RuBu with lawyer and broadcaster Heidi Acuña

Half a kilometer and we were already gasping for air due to lack of practice. But none gave up, of course. After the race, dead tired and standing on wobbly legs, we somehow found the energy to pose for pictures. That's fulfillment for you. A hundred pictures, one peach mango pie, one Julie's bread, and a bottled water after, it was unanimously agreed upon that we'll join more fun runs (and we'll make sure to do practice runs).

Cheers to pink health!

Sunburn

You're as sweet as nutty sans rival;
relaxing like a Thai massage.

You're funnier than Rakugo;
more sinful than Balamban liempo.

You're my supreme escape;
my favorite mistake.

You're my greatest release,
always, a bliss.

You're my bane
and my sweetest pain.

Image courtesy of Google images.

In My Life

I don't often watch Filipino movies, more so in theaters but I gave in this time. My office mates raved about it and one let slip that there was a scene wherein John Lloyd Cruz slapped Vilma Santos. Hmmm, that's something I should see for myself.

The movie does not disappoint. Actually, I'll go as far as to say I loved it. I found myself alternately laughing and crying. I didn't know if there would be a kissing scene between JL and Luis (I was quite sure there would be but none confirmed) and I kept myself alert because if there would be, then I didn't want to see it to spare myself a heart attack. I love JL and seeing him kiss another man is more than I could take. Fortunately, I closed my eyes just in time for the smack. Ha ha!

In My Life is a must see for mothers. I'll be sure to bring a copy the next time I'm home.

Image from http://www.pep.ph/index.html

Cancelled

I've had my first taste of the horrors accompanying a canceled flight a week ago. I went home to Mati for my Nic's 8th birthday (which was a blast even if I had quite a scare when more children came than expected. I had visions of them wailing, kicking, and screaming because they didn't have balloons and loot bags. Fortunately for me, I had just the exact number.) and I was scheduled to go back to work by Sept 13 at 7pm. What was supposed to be an uneventful flight turned out to be a series of looong waits and then finally, my first cancellation. I was halfway through Ribblestrop when I started waiting for my flight and by the time I was done, they still haven't confirmed that it would be canceled . When they finally did, my head's pounding because of too much reading and my stomach's rumbling because the last food intake was during lunch. To top everything off, my new LG FM phone went dead on me because I forgot to recharge the blasted thing, just when I needed it most.

The immediate concerns were who'll work on my behalf and where I will stay for the night. Despite the short notice, GI Joe agreed to work for me so the only problem left was a place to stay while I wait for the new schedule. Cebu Pac offered no free lodging for their stranded passengers because as what I heard from another passenger "it wasn't their fault." Mati is 3 hours north of Davao so going home is not an option. I briefly considered doing a "Tom Hanks" in the movie The Terminal. I ended up being the Luy family's "house pest" for the night. As is expected, they were very welcoming; Xtie's dad offered me everything he could find in the fridge ("Jon naay durian sa ref", "Jon naay ice cream sa ref", "Jon naay biskwit sa ref", "Jon naay hotdog sa ref", "Jon pag-inom ug Milo"), and her mom entertained me with amusing tales of her stint as a realtor. The entire family made me feel as if my stay was planned and I cannot be thankful enough. I've resolved to treat them for dinner the next time they're in Cebu.

Flights were canceled due to NAIA blackout. Dada, my manager, said "it makes you feel ashamed you were born in the Philippines". Strong words but I didn't argue because, really, airports should have power all the time. I was at NB yesterday and I came across Ted Lerner's Hey,Joe. I read briefly the part where his mom visited the country for the first time. He wrote that in the Philippines the unexpected happens. (To quote Ribblestrop: Anything could happen and anything does.) But it's part of the charm, he said, and I quite agree with him.

Image courtesy of http://www.allposters.com/.

Open what?

Federer in the dark
Image from http://msn.foxsports.com/

It's the US Open and I'm home. Home means access to ESPN and Star Sports. But home also means retiring as early as 9PM so there will be no live matches for me. Do you happen to know what time replays air? Today, I've had my younger brothers, masters of the remote control depending on which time of the day we're talking about, check hourly for replays but there were none. This is getting frustrating.

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Read Zafra's hilarious post about the US Open final between The Fed and DelPo: Kapre o Tikbalang?