Entries for March, 2005
March 7th, 2005
Greetings!
Posted by special_child at 07:52 PM on March 7, 2005.
We are live from the
Changi International Airport in Singapore!
It's been a while since I posted an entry, and for those people looking for a Top Ten List... well, I don't have one for this entry.
As of now, I am eating a Chicken McNuggets Meal from McDonald's (imagine... no change in food hahahaha) which is like 50% more expensive than its Philippine counterpart. Tsk tsk tsk... and there is no barbecue sauce! Truly terrible if i dip it in ketchup. Hahahaha...
Anyways, I am still in a dilemma where to stay and what my itinerary tomorrow would be after I go to the US Embassy. Tsk tsk tsk... please pray for me and my success in getting a visa.
Blogger's Note: Due to stress (hahahaha), the Top Ten List stowaway-ed in Changi. I'll just have to get it before departing.
There is no time difference between Singapore and the Philippines, so I feel normal.
But too much McDonald's can make you fat. Hahahaha.
Marvin the Martian, jaz thinking aloud (I can't get alt-0153 to work here)
P.S. How is roaming activated? I brought my mom's cellphone here and it's pretty useless.
Currently enjoying "Attention, all passengers...".
Currently deciphering Free Internet Surfing @ McDonald's Changi Airport.
Currently checking National Geographic, still @ McDonald's.
Currently feeling okay.
March 8th, 2005
Greetings! (part 2)
Posted by special_child at 03:51 PM on March 8, 2005 as a favorite post.
I am now at
Raffles City Shopping Center, and it's really tiring, considering I have been walking around and jumping trains since 12.
It's the first time I saw an internet café since the one I saw near the US Embassy. Gosh! Supposedly Singaporeans are immersed in the Internet, but there are so few cafés here. Tsk tsk tsk...
Oh by the way, I didn't get the visa. You know why? The consul said that "me and my colleagues are not familiar with your documents in the Philippines." Well that's okay... I knew it was mentioned in the website that being unfamiliar with the local documents might be one reason for a non-Singaporean to be denied a visa, but God give us some consideration!
Well... I just have to go to that 15 March appointment. Darn it. I just hope I get the visa by that time. Now I remember the post of
Kars. At least I got to explore Singapore in a short span of time! (If any of my thesis mates are reading, I will be coming back to help by tomorrow.)
Later, I plan to go to the Night Safari... I hope I still have money. For those people who want giveaways, I'll try to get them. Hahahaha...
Top Ten Realizations: Singapore Style
10. There are still people jaywalking the streets.
9. There are also people singing, dancing, and/or playing instruments in the underpasses.
8. MRT (Mass Rail Transit) in Singapore prohibits: eating and drinking (fine of S$500 if caught), smoking (fine of S$1000 if caught), bringing flammable liquids (fine of S$5000 if caught), and... durian (no fine... just the bad smell).
7. The Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf has more branches than Starbucks. It's like 7-Eleven... it's just around the corner! Literally!
6. There are a lot of nationalities! From Indians to Chinese to Australians and Americans and everyone else! It's hard to pinpoint who's really Singaporean!
5. Everything's more expensive here... well, compared to their economy and salaries, it's cheap. But comparing to Philippine prices, you're like shopping in Rustan's plus 20%.
4. You can explore the city by walking and train-ing in a day.
3. Burger King in Singapore employs (I guess, by their faces) 50+ year-old employees. Very nice.
Considering that in the Philippines, if you're 40 and you leave the company, it's a 75% chance you can't get another job.
2. I can't get to the Game Developers Conference! Ouch!
-and... (drum roll please)-
1. I'm going home tomorrow! It's just like a mini-vacation!
Next time, you people just save money! Really easy to go to Singapore... best if you have a companion!
Marvin the Martian™, jaz thinking aloud
P.S. Thanks to all who advised that roaming is activated before leaving. Waaaaaaaaaaaah.
Currently enjoying (insert doorbell sound here) "Door closing...".
Currently deciphering SBS Transit Guide.
Currently checking the LCD monitor in this internet café.
Currently feeling broke but happy.
March 14th, 2005
Greetings! (part 3)
Posted by special_child at 05:17 AM on March 14, 2005.
I am now here at... home!
Yes, I am. And this post is four days delayed. I have come back to the Philippines... and I must say, it has been a wonderful experience having to go out of the country after nineteen years of existence. And come to think of it... I am on hold! Hahaha...
I really want to go back now. As in. I promised to myself that I will go back by Chinese New Year 2006, since it is well celebrated in a predominantly-Chinese country as Singapore. I will plan my trip carefully, and I will make sure that I won't miss whatever things I missed during my 48-hour stint in getting to charter unknown territory.
Some things I forgot to add to my previous Top Ten list: almost all signs in Singapore are written four times: one in English, one in Chinese, one in Bahasa (language of Malaysia), and one in Hindi; Singaporean English is a fusion of British and Chinese English... with the accent and the speed, it's really difficult to catch whatever they are saying; they call the handicapped as "These Abled People"... nice, right?
There is one thing that's stuck in my mind ever since high school.
I am devoid of pictures. Ever since my uncle left the Philippines when I was an incoming high school student and took his camera with him, I only stored my memories inside my head. If I didn't force my mom to buy one cheap film camera, I wouldn't have any pictures from graduation and the prom and graduation ball.
How did this affect me? Well... just imagine, while I was walking towards the entrance of the Night Safari, I saw someone getting a picture near the big sign. It's actually very fun to have pictures as supplements of your adventures (even
Tina agrees with this). As one popular quote says, "A picture paints a thousand words." You can't go on just spreading the word and describing every place and adventure you've been to; eventually you'll get tangled with adjectives or you'll end up describing everything as "nice".
Well... it's back to being the same old cheerful student that I am. Singapore was such fun, I'm longing to do it again with a friend. Care to join me? Go save money now!
Top Ten Things I Want To Get For Myself (as of 13 March 2005)
10. a cue stick, whether cheap or expensive
9. a shopping spree to any department store, so long as it contains major clothing brands
8. a roundtrip ticket to Singapore
7. a weekend in Amanpulo (this is expensive!)
6. a shopping spree to any bookstore (preferably Barnes and Noble)
5. a digital/SLR camera, plus memory sticks
4. an iPod
3. a Centrino-powered, game-ready laptop
2. a condo unit in Residences Greenbelt
-and... (drum roll please)-
1. a brand new BMW X5!
I think that with my money now, I can only get number 10, provided that its price range is within four digits only.
Marvin the Martian™, jaz thinking aloud
P.S. If you haven't received any chocolates from me lately, it's either we haven't crossed paths lately, or I don't like you.
Currently enjoying "Waiting In Vain", performed by M.Y.M.P.
Currently deciphering a list of schedules for next term.
Currently checking letters barging in my screen.
Currently feeling sleepy.
March 16th, 2005
Ironic... Don't You Think?
Posted by special_child at 05:15 AM on March 16, 2005.
So as Alanis Morrissette sang, "it's a death row pardon... two minutes too late."
Thank God it's a lot better in my situation, where it isn't do-or-die. But it's kinda disappointing. After my disappointment in Singapore, I still pushed through my actual appointment for the US Embassy in Manila (it's scheduled a few hours ago, and since I don't want my US$100 application fee to go to waste, I still went). There were a lot of people... as in a
lot. My appointment was supposedly at 12 and I was planning to get to school in time for the quiz, but my turn finished at 3:30.
It was fun though. I got the visa, but it's two days too late. The conference already ended. Waaaaaaaaaaaaah.
I am thinking of what to do. I might attend another conference. Or I might take a vacation. I don't know. But then again I was thinking, had I been a week early, I would have caught up with the conference. That really gets me sad in thinking. It's over now, there's no use crying over spilled... uh... C2.
Whoo! I am starting my life as a well-traveled person. I hope this continues (and so should my sources of income, to equally finance me anywhere hahaha).
Top Ten "Ku-" Words Befitting The Detergent Commercial Contest
10. ku-ndol (
patola, upo't kalabasa...)
9. ku-bo (From the start!
Bahay...)
8. ku-kakula (
Sana'y masabi...)
7. ku-kaburra (from one commercial to the next)
6. ku-sina (
gutom na yung bata, kaya nalaglag)
5. ku-la (
mahina na ang sabon, so kelangang...)
4. ku-tsero (
para sa kabayo)
3. ku-rek! (a less annoying version of Kris)
2. ku-ryente (
ang nanay ang ilaw ng tahanan, kaya kuryente)
-and... (drum roll please)-
1. ku-pas (
Salamat sa'yo, nanay... at tinanggal mo ang mantsa!)
More
pasalubong? I think so. When do I leave? I have no idea.
Marvin the Martian™, jaz thinking aloud
P.S. I haven't watched a movie in a long time! *shock*
Currently enjoying "Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah", performed by Aaron Carter (nooooooooooo).
Currently deciphering "The Dante Club", written by Matthew Pearl.
Currently checking "Pipol", shown on ABS-CBN.
Currently feeling like I'm having CTS.
March 22nd, 2005
Two Episodes' Stint @ Pilipinas: Game KNB?
Posted by special_child at 04:53 AM on March 22, 2005 as a favorite post.
CORRECT!
Yes, you read the title correctly. Pun intended. But before I delve into the details, I would like to endorse the details of the program. It is scheduled to air on 28 March. If you want to watch the episode on 29 March, it's fine with me. I will, too. I will see for myself how I answer stupidly on national TV. Hahahahaha...
It all started on a fateful Saturday afternoon. I was busy strolling Glorietta after my internship exam at IBM, when a landline popped in my cellphone, apparently contacting me. I answered, and then the female was looking for me. All things said and done, she said that she was from the show, and after a simple 10-question yes-or-no quiz, she said that I'm in and my taping will be on 21 March. Imagine me in the middle of the stairs at the Edsa Mall wing of Glorietta saying "Yes", "No", and "What should I wear?" (surprisingly, the lady was telling me to wear "bright colors or pastel" while thinking that it's Kris Aquino's decision all along... semi-formal, no jeans allowed) To think that the mall was holding a sale (the volume of people around... haha), at least I kept discreet. After the call, I was just thanking the Lord, and I even remembered one line I included in my prayers. It mentioned, "Lord,
masyado mo po ata akong binibiyayaan."
Monday came. Call time was before 5PM, so I had to miss my classes once again (done that plenty of times this dismal term). When I arrived, briefing and filling forms commenced. Before 6, we were done. We were scheduled for the second taping; the first taping was already starting. The tapings are done every Monday and Wednesday nights, with three episodes each. The first episode is the current week's celebrity edition (the one shot before our taping will be played this Black Saturday). It features celebrity babies, I guess.
We waited for a long long long time. Eventually, they gave out food stubs and we ate in the cafeteria. Technical problems still bugged the set, so our taping started not until 9. As we were waiting in the hallway, journalists and celebrities alike passed by and greeted us well, among them Miranda de Quiroz, Paul Henson, Timi Nubla, Aga Muhlach, Edu Manzano, John Estrada, Maricel Soriano, Ms. Gloria Romero, Tado (an OK Fine taping, I suppose), and the stage moms and dads supporting their children in the show, namely Gary Lising, William Martinez and Yayo Aguila, Melissa Mendez, and Ma. Isabel Lopez, whose daughter won in the first episode.
After the whole waiting, we were admitted to the studios. It was fairly small, considering it looks big on TV. We practiced our blockings and swiping (Swiper swipe! Swiper swipe!), and then we were left in the Tarantarium. In the 30 minutes, only 10 minutes or less were left in exploring (Ola! Soy Dora!) the field, which was also small.
God, I had some tough competition. One of them was a CE graduate of UPD, one AB Philo from dear La Salle, one teacher, one UPLB grad, one nervous lady (to my left in the Elimination Round), one never-say-die person (that's according to Kris Aquino) and one who loves pasta.
Hmmm... what can I say? Just watch what happens. I'll give some preview in my Top Ten list for today. But this one I had to give in to saying. The question given to me during the elimination round goes, "In science, what's the study of life: biology or chemistry?" Naturally, I answered biology... and then suddenly Kris makes a sad face. I was thinking, "No way in hell can I be wrong!!!" She was dumbstruck for a moment; it turns out that her plasma screen was reading that chemistry was the correct answer, and the writers were telling that the plasma was just wrong. Whew. Damn them for giving me jitters. And why does Kris not know the answer to the question? I don't know.
Top Ten Things That Lingered In My Mind After The Taping
10. I can reimburse my fare, and they even wanted me to stay in a nearby hotel. But we left the answering machine open, and mom's worried that it might burn the house down. So we went home.
9. I was thankful I did not get the elimination question of the person to my right.
8. I was more concerned with speed rather than accuracy.
7. The first time I swiped in for an answer, the buzzer did not work. Mademoiselle Aquino had to butt in, "You have to swipe it" or something. Tsk tsk tsk...
6. I was the first one to answer after the commercial break, and my answer is wrong.
5. My mistakes totalled to four (that includes the last question). Either that, or I'm completely hallucinating with my ego.
4. I look bad on TV. I think my canines were showing, and/or I have a dark complexion.
3. Sam = scooter.
2. I HATE EGGS.
-and... (drum roll please)-
1. I hope I can get a piece of the action again time come October.
As we left a few minutes before 12, I was sure to think that I'll be the butt of almost everyone's joke by Tuesday afternoon. Tsk tsk tsk.
Marvin the Martian™, jaz thinking aloud
P.S. There is a limit to one's knowledge, you know.
And oh, just hush about this info for now. Just watch (or encourage others to watch).
Currently enjoying "Music Of The Night", performed by Gerard Butler.
Currently deciphering Singapore - New Asia brochure.
Currently checking my mom talking to our relatives in Dubai.
Currently feeling happy but irritated.
