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Mel and Niño's first dance. They got married in the Church on the Hill in Batulao, Batangas last December 21, 2007, with the reception held at the Taal Vista Resort. Among Batch Ninety-Eight, Sherlyn, Nan (with Jasper in tow), Angelico, Joni, Grace and I were able to make it. Seven of us, so quorum! Nandon rin si Rey, Mica and Nonie.
Mel and Niño were actually first wed in New York. They lived there for a few years before coming back here to celebrate their marriage with their Pinoy friends and relatives. Now, they're based in California. In fact, they're back in Cali as of press time.
Mel is my first Mistah, my first Broad Ass batchmate, to get married. When we made their wedding video, we referred to their story as a fairytale. High school crush kase ni Mel si Niño, and since getting together, di na naghiwalay yang dalawa. Parang nowadays, that's a rarity na e, yung relationships na ganon katagal, na sinu-survive ang long distance, at nagkakatuluyan. Seeing the two of them together, you wouldn't doubt that they're in it for the long haul. You'd think they're polar opposites, but you can feel that they were meant for each other. In an uncanny way, they even look alike.
Congrats and best wishes to my beloved batchmate and our first batchmate-in-law! :-)
My salubong entourage - cousins Jane and Meanne, and Mistahs Sherlyn and Nan. Happy 27th! Soon after this, we picked up Melody, my other cousin, and traveled all the way to Cavinti, Laguna to go to Mass (as per tradition, sa December 16 lang ako nagsi-simbang gabi, ang opening salvo ng Misa de Gallo).
A far cry from the humdrum reception last year (which spawned a melodramatic blog entry).
The party followed the night after :-)
One of my favorite things to do. Reading in bookstores. Usually, I actually bring my own book and read it there. Usually isn't that often though. I get to do it only when I'm window shopping in malls, or waiting for a movie screening.
There's something about the atmosphere inside bookstores that just inspires me. I think it's because I get encouraged by the people's shared desire to read. They're there because they want to read, or they want to find a book they'd want to read. Thus, the usually solitary act of reading becomes a communal one. One of the few times I get to feel social without having to say anything to the people around me.
This picture was taken in Fully Booked at the Mall of Asia.
Si Manny Pacquiao ang tumapos!
I was not a big boxing fan until I caught Manny's first fight with Morales. Prior to that, all I knew of Manny was that he defeated Barreira and that it was a major surprise, and a major upset at that. I remember he won an HBO poll declaring him the 'upset of the year' (or something like that).
When the first installment of this legendary trilogy with Morales was shown, we were in the farthest corner of Zambales making an occular inspection of a resort. Sa channel 9 pa nga palabas non. Everyone was enjoying the beach, but I was inside, watching the fight intently. I remember cringing at every punch he received, his face drenched with blood oozing from the cut on his brow. Manny finished all twelve rounds despite the injury resulting from their headbutt, but he lost the match.
By his second fight, I've become a bona fide Pacquiao fan. I stayed home and watched it on TV. I remember being upset by a text message that preempted the result, but Manny's victory was still as sweet as it could be. He did not disappoint. I kept telling my friend why it was such a momentous occasion for me. Sabi ko, I'm so proud to have found the boxing idol for my generation. While our parents had the likes of Ilorde, or Espinosa, kami, tayo, may Pacquiao. And what an idol he is. He is an icon not only of the sport, but more importantly of patriotism, faith and humility.
Larios then came over and was sideswept. Nadagdagan lang lalo ang paghanga ko, at pag-idolo kay Manny.
And finally, this. The grand finale of one of the greatest boxing trilogies ever.
Pacquiao versus Morales.
The people's champ made early progress, dominating the first round with both power and speed.
By the second, Pacquiao had Morales on his knee. The Pinoy worked up and down, to the body and to the head, choosing his punches and executing them beautifully. The Mexican put up a good fight, but with punches that came in clumps, the round was definitely ours.
Manny was obviously pumped up, starting the third round with seemingly unstoppable momentum. Morales bravely tried to make it up, throwing great punches of his own, but paling in comparison to Pacquiao's powerful attacks. It was total carnage. After being downed the first time in the round, Morales looked hopeless. Less than twenty seconds before the bell, Manny concluded the match, not only winning the fight, but winning it by TKO... on the third round! The Pacman floored El Terrible. The only fighter to do so, and he did it twice.
Ang sarap ng pakiramdam. Pacquiao graciously shared the victory with all of us, and indeed, it was ours. Panahong ganito, ang sarap maging Pilipino.
Sana hindi lang ngayon. Sana, laging alalahanin ng bawat Pinoy ang dangal ng lahing kayumanggi.
Mabuhay ka Manny! Mabuhay ang Pilipinas! Mabuhay ang Pilipino!
My favorite dessert drink is back! :-) Coffee Bean's Dulce de Leche. I remember, last year ata, the Morato crew took a polaroid shot of me para sa "Customer of the Week" pin up nila. I had to fill out an info card about myself, and I wrote this as my favorite drink.
Shortly after that, they pulled out the drink from the menu na.
No hard feelings :-) Basta it's back. I just hope it's back for good!
I was a few meters from home when a friend of mine called me up to tell me they got into an accident somewhere along EDSA. This was last Wednesday ng madaling araw, after we watched the taping of Rockista at Music Museum. I dropped off my driver at home, changed cars, then went straight to where my friends were at. Sherlyn, who was sleeping over at Tierra that night, was kind enough to accompany me.
Eto yung naabutan namen.
Buti na lang, yung dalawang friends ko, dun nakasakay sa upright na kotse. No one was injured, not even the guy whose car was upturned.
This happened at around 3A on Wednesday, on the Pasay bound lane a little after the Buendia MRT station. We jammed the traffic nga e cause they had to squeeze through the 2 remaining fenced bus lanes. News reporters for ABS and GMA arrived to cover the accident. At yung ABS reporter pa, orgmate namen nung college.
It turns out, the guy who was driving the upturned car hit the concrete divisions along EDSA, flipped over, then hit my friend's car from behind. I'm just glad my friends are okay. And hopefully, the guy will pay for all the damages.
To show support for Princess in the Colt45 Rockista search, Sherlyn thought up this brilliant gimmick of wearing tiaras. She bought them in Divisoria. Aakalain mo nga na customized cause it says 'Princess' on it :-) I got one myself, pero I wore it on my arm.
Sadly though, bottom three na naman si Ces this week.
That's Rey and Adrian "Disaster Diva" Ayalin in the picture, by the way. Taken at Grilla in Greenhills Promenade.
The view from the full glass window of our room in Astoria's quite impressive. Somehow, it helps in relieving the stress of writing. The last time I was here, it was to rush a script for the Piolo-Regine project. After numerous drafts, the project was shelved (it's back in development again, but with another team).
Now, I'm rushing another script, and it's even tighter than the Piolo-Reg and my last project.
Iniisip ko na lang, 'At least, may project!' :-)
The Assers came in full force (at least compared to the rest) during the first taping of the Rockista search held at Teatrino in Greenhills. All for our bet, fellow Asser, Princess. We obviously set the trend cause the other contestants started bringing in their own pàla in the succeeding episodes. Ces was undeniably the best that night. She's been at the bottom three since then, but the judges themselves say that she's totally redeemed herself.
Sherlyn, trying to outdo Pinoy Dream Academy's Joan with her own version of the Whitney Houston original, "All At Once." At Music Match Morato, with my cousins ulet.
