Convolutions

may blog pala ako.

wasn't in my usual bubbly-mood-to-post lately. it was the stress of having so much to think ahead of while still being on the move. i haven't realized it until i made this list...

* got to plan on the mountain climbing activity next week
* have to exhaust all my connections in order to come up with the best but cheapest PSP Slim deal
* decide whether iL go with Fluffy for the Melbourne immigrant application OR just aim for a working visa status (both have impartial pros and cons)
* arrangements for the planned Bangkok trip (i.e. plot the vacation leaves, train my team for contingencies when i'm gone, update my passport, la la la)
* work ('nuff said)
* budget my moolah for aaaall the expenses iL sure be hoarding for these activities

...lahat yan kelangan isipin, while i was running around the metro:

* last Saturday: downtime at da Fortress (Greenhills) and at da Shak (QC). hangover of JC's death still on the air.
* last Sunday: Chloe's birthday in San Pedro, Laguna. bought her a doll the day before in Virramall.
* last Monday: tangina. pahinga, at last. painted the whole night at home.
* last Tuesday: met Mike for a hobby deal in McDo-Vallero. got a text from my college friends after that. met them at Blue Wave then we headed to my house. i just passed by to grabe some clothes (alam kong uumagahin kami sigurado) before "racing" (Jul's was at around 130-ish KMH at C5) to Pasig and later, Marikina. Golf session followed... "golf, golf, golf! burp!". slept at Pasig - 4:50am (may pasok pa kami ni Jon the next day... err, that day na pala yun).
Attendance: Jon, Julius, Randell, Pareng Jay, Ayo
* last Wednesday: still not recovered from my hour and some minutes of sleep, i went with Jai and his friends to this bar in Pasong Tamo (too sleepy... brain not working) to celebrate his birthday. happy birdie, Jai! sana happy ang birdie mo. went home at 1am.
* kagahapon: end of our Management Development Workshop. pagdating sa bahay... tangina. pahinga, at last. had my blood pressure checked by my sis and scaled at 110/70 (low blood). worked on some of my miniatures, then slept early... sa wakas.

partida, walang pang lovelife involved sa mga inatupag ko.

Goofing around with Koya Jeff

*****

Two new music playlists on my Multiply account:
Off to Nyu Nyu Land - my favorite "noise" music
Obi Tearjerky - senti songs I dig

One Less Denizen

I was already planning to post some hillarious quotable quotes from our tambay night sessions at da Shak last Saturday. I never thought that I'll have to pass it for a tragic entry.

Yesterday, we were (as usual) hanging out in Virramall when we received the news that JC died. Together with da boyz, we rushed to Medical City to check it out, and there his remains laid in the morgue... da Shak is down one less denizen.

I'm still shaken by the fact and the suddenness of it. We just console ourselves that at least he died in peace. He'll always be remembered by the Shak boyz for his witty remarks and jolly persona. Rest tight, JC.

One of my last photos with him
L-R: Johnny, Jason, JC, Gelo, Me

We will miss you, brother! Sa langit ang susunod na tambayan.

*****

"Men can't live on bread alone, but on siopao and siomai"
- Mark a.k.a. JC

Limang Asterisk

*****
There was this tabletop wargaming tournament in Araneta Ave last Saturday that I was supposed to join but having just got in our house at 5am that day, I already knew I've screwed my sched. I was at da Shak the night before after goofing around at da Fortress in Virramall (as usual). The boyz summoned forth the Great Maw from Antipolo for a round of "A Game of Thrones" boardgame. With Coke afloat, we forgone minding the time and before we knew it, it was already sunset. From North to South, we hitched Bozz Beef a ride to Parañaque before swinging me home along the way.

Gameboard Setup after Turn Four

Attendance: The Great Maw, Bozz Beef, Grot Obi, Hairy Critter, Jumping Johnny, Jep, Pork da Ork, Anito - Champion of Nurgle, Old Sparky, Le Croissant, Katrina Halili

Feat: Pork da Third Ork God arrived at around 3am at da Shak euphoric from Saint Mike's Barley but was still able to drag his green arse to Araneta Ave early that same day and join the tourney fray.

*****
I was practically a veggie the next day. Got an awful headache and my sinus was wrung with slime. I stayed at home the whole afternoon but left for Greenhills before nightfall. Got to check gears for the scheduled mountain climbing activity this October. As of now, I'll need to have the following stuffs:

a bigger backpack
synthetic cargo pants
water shoes (Adidas got this cool Climacool Hellbender 4)
head lamp (not the automotive "headlamp"... but a torch I can wear on my head)

So far, the only thing I bought for the expedition was a UV-protect arm sleeves and a portable flashlight. Sabi ni Flash sabay na lang daw kami bibili ng kung ano.

As of date, there are 14 confirmed members for the climbing team, most are my ex-officemates from HP and tropa from the Justice League-HP. This Thursday, we'll be having a lunch briefing at Chillipepper's to discuss stuffs. The suggested itinerary was also already posted:

DAY ONE
03:00H/03:30H ETD. Robinsons Summit Makati
06:00H ETA. Olongapo City. Breakfast at Chowking or Jabi. Buy pack lunch. Hire jeep going to Cawag Jump-Off
07:00H ETD. Olongapo City to Cawag Jump-Off
08:00H ETA. Cawag Jump-Off. Give courtesy to Aeta's Chieftain. Find two Guides.
08:30H Start Trek.
12:00H Lunch. This is usually the place of last WATER SOURCE
13:00H Continue trekking. After the first assault, rest for a while.
14:15H Continue trekking. Get ready for the next assault. Prepare your ropes if possible.
14:30H ETA. At the top of Pointed Peak. You'll see a small campsite with a nearby WATER SOURCE for a small group of hikers.
17:00H ETA. Big campsite with a nearby WATER SOURCE . Set camp and prepare dinner.
22:00H Lights out.

DAY TWO
05:00H Wake-up call. Prepare breakfast and pack lunch.
07:30H Break camp. Prepare for the summit at around 1100 masl (meters above sea level)
08:30H ETA. Summit of Pointed Peak. Rest for a while. Take pictures.
09:00H Start descend. Trail is steep and rocky.
12:00H Lunch. No water source. The place after the first assault of first day.
13:00H Continue your trekking.
14:00H ETA. Water source. You'll get the next water source to the place where you had your lunch on your first day.
15:30H ETA. Aetas Chieftain's Place. Take a bath in the river. Or you can take a bath and change your clothes at the Jump-Off.
17:00H The rented jeep will arrive to wait the group at Jump-Off.
17:15H ETD. Going to Olongapo City.
18:15H ETA. Olongapo City. Dinner at Chowking. Buy tickets at Victory Station going to Manila.

Kulangoooot Kaaaa!
(Hulk Bust at da Fortress)

*****
Headed to the film house with Skizzy and viewed the Russian film "Day Watch" after having to wait for two hours. I never liked not starting a movie so I'd rather wait it off than sit in there halfway through the showing. I've had a hard time figuring out the plot around the film since I wasn't able to watch the prequel "Night Watch" but I say, the storyline's very interesting and the cinematography's a wild ride of imagination. I dig.

I'll try to write something about it when I'm free.

*****
Fully Booked is having their 2nd Philippine Graphic Fiction Awards this coming November and as co-presentor for the awarding ceremonies, acclaimed writer Neil Gaiman will be attending the event.

Skizzo told me about this and offered a collaborative work with him as entry for the prose fiction writing contest. The idea of writing alongside the "mentor" again is cool and the idea of actually having to write for such a prestigious contest is awesome. So, without doubts, I told him I think we should give it a shot.

Skizzy was the one who introduced me to fiction writing (and reading) waaaay back our highschool years. The first few mystery novels (if you can call it that) that I wrote was made under his mentoring guidance and I can still fondly remember when we wrote (on a spring notebook) a full-length humor book that was a hit back then to the entire la sallian 2nd year wing! I have to admit that my entire reservoir of literary literacy will never be as rich without that point in my existence.

Ethan and Ninong Kyut @ McDo McArthur Highway
(Walang Kinalaman sa Blog Entry)


Just last week I was chatting with Skizzy over the possible plot lines that we could work upon. On the time that he told me about the contest, ideas already sprung into my mind and I envisioned the storyline to induce a vivid play of imagination on a hallucinogenic way (ala "Alice in Wonderland" ba). It was such that if ever Neil Gaiman himself will judge the submissions, I know that works of such nature will sure seize his interest.

So I told Skizzo what I have in mind and we talked it over YM. Mukang trip naman ni Skizzy yung basics ng plot ko so, for starters, we laid out the thoughts on how we could get the idea to work for our story. A couple of hours (and office bandwidths) later, we already have a working storyline. It's preemptive not to write about it here for now but it's basically an amalgam of fantasy-mystery and is druidic in nature.

Excited na ako umpisahan isulat ito. I just wish we could clinch it to completion before the October submissions.

Requirements are:
at least 7000 words
can be a collaborative work but authors must be Pinoy citizens
submissions must be in English
submissions must be original and haven't been awarded anything yet
no adaptations of published and copyrighted materials
submissions can fall under the genres of sci fi, fantasy, and/or horror

Also check: http://www.fullybookedonline.com/

*****
May bago akong crush sa TV... member ng 26K... si Olive! Kasama siyang finalist ni Chloe sa "Game Ka Na Ba" last last last week yata. Basta yung episode na 26K ang sumaling players.

Olive, buksan na yan!!

Chloe and Olive, top two cuties of 26K
(jologs na kung jologs... walang pakelaman!)

Kaso nga lang, magtatapos na daw yung "Deal or No Deal". Olats. Sana magkaron pa ng exposure yung mga 26K. Medyo hawig pa naman siya ni Pouty.

Otokoto

I never was a car junky and I'd still prefer roaming around as a lowly commuter. Maraming nakikita, iba't-iba ang scenario kada araw, merong sense of randomness... may thrill kumbaga. Thing is, with how itinerant I was for the last three years, a more personal way of travelling is becoming more and more compelling, even advantageous.

I used to drive back in college. My dad's former military driver taught me how to, and I can fondly remember how our Honda City jerked on my "primeras". There was this time when my bestfriend, Razel, has stayed too late at night on our house that I have to sneak my dad's military service car (one with a red government plate number) out to drive her home. I was still learning to drive that time and I backed up on a rubbish bin after dropping her. It made a terribly loud bang that rather than continuing on reverse I just took the long road straight ahead before any of her neighbors could check it out. I sucked on reverses.

The longest driving I made was from Dagupan, Pangasinan down to the Pampanga exit of NLEX. It was around midnight and I was with my tropa, having came from the beach, rushing at least a hundred kilometer per hour (KMH) in a Toyota Revo. Natatawa sila kasi bumubusina ako bago tumawid ng mga tulay. Pamahiin siya na hindi naman masama kung susundin. It basically is to serve as a warning for any "lamang lupa" that might have been crossing the bridge. I have to admit though that my horn blaring was a bit exaggerated. I just wanted to keep them sleepyheads awake back then. Ang hirap mag drive ng tulog lahat ng pasahero mo noh. Booooring.

Last Saturday, after my inaanak's kiddy party in McDo, me and my college bros went straight to Bulacan. Julius just bought Jay's car... a Honda Civic VTEC 97 model, lowered to angas-height and furnished to konyo satisfaction: gynormous speakers, indiglo panels, extra-normal dials and tachometers, among others. We were literally racing on the freeway at 180 to near 190 KMH on the clear. Angas ng pakiramdam ng kalayaan sa ganoong tulin ng sasakyan.

I never imagined buying a car decked out as such. Sabi ko sa kanila, basta maangas ang itsura oks na ako dun. Pero sabi naman ni Jon, sinasabi ko lang daw yun dahil wala pa akong oto. Napa-isip ako dahil may punto siya. It's just like my airsoft gun, Laila, when I first bought her. I told myself I'll be contented with her just as she was... "stock" specification. But moving on with the game made me upgrade her with all stuffs new and purty: silencer barrel, red eye targetting, reinforced gears, etc. Now she's one purty purty bitch on the battlefield. I'm afraid I'll bring on the habit when I get myself a car.

Tatlong taon nang expired ang lisensya ko *sumilip pa sa wallet para masigurado*. Yes, tatlong taon na nga. May mga sasakyan sa bahay pero sa loob ng tatlong taon na iyon, hindi ko naisipang gawin itong permanenteng service ko. Ayoko kasi gumamit ng hindi akin. Gusto ko, kung may manggagasgas na "tambay na walang magawa sa buhay" sa kotse ko o kaya may mambasag na "konyong malakas ang trippings" sa headlights ko, ulo ko lang ang sasakit at hindi pati sa tatay ko (syempre pasasakitin ko din ulo ng mga gagawa nun sa oto ko).

With it all, tingin ko kelangan ko na nga makapag-maneho ulit. Iniisip ko kumuha ng sarili kong oto next year, tapusin ko lang lahat ng gastos at luho ko this year. Natatakot ako dahil baka lalo pa akong maging lakwatsador pero iniisip ko na lang na magdadalwang isip din ako mag-gala pag unti unti na akong ginugutom ng presyo ng gasolina.

I'm alloting at least 240K to the car pot. Any more than that would probably hurt my monthly dues. If ever, here are two of my choices (in relation to that budget bracket):

Honda Civic VTEC '97

Mitsubishi Lancer GLXI '97

*sa nanenokan ko ng pic ng oto... sorry, tao lang. pahiram po, koya.

Convolutions

may blog pala ako.

wasn't in my usual bubbly-mood-to-post lately. it was the stress of having so much to think ahead of while still being on the move. i haven't realized it until i made this list...

* got to plan on the mountain climbing activity next week
* have to exhaust all my connections in order to come up with the best but cheapest PSP Slim deal
* decide whether iL go with Fluffy for the Melbourne immigrant application OR just aim for a working visa status (both have impartial pros and cons)
* arrangements for the planned Bangkok trip (i.e. plot the vacation leaves, train my team for contingencies when i'm gone, update my passport, la la la)
* work ('nuff said)
* budget my moolah for aaaall the expenses iL sure be hoarding for these activities

...lahat yan kelangan isipin, while i was running around the metro:

* last Saturday: downtime at da Fortress (Greenhills) and at da Shak (QC). hangover of JC's death still on the air.
* last Sunday: Chloe's birthday in San Pedro, Laguna. bought her a doll the day before in Virramall.
* last Monday: tangina. pahinga, at last. painted the whole night at home.
* last Tuesday: met Mike for a hobby deal in McDo-Vallero. got a text from my college friends after that. met them at Blue Wave then we headed to my house. i just passed by to grabe some clothes (alam kong uumagahin kami sigurado) before "racing" (Jul's was at around 130-ish KMH at C5) to Pasig and later, Marikina. Golf session followed... "golf, golf, golf! burp!". slept at Pasig - 4:50am (may pasok pa kami ni Jon the next day... err, that day na pala yun).
Attendance: Jon, Julius, Randell, Pareng Jay, Ayo
* last Wednesday: still not recovered from my hour and some minutes of sleep, i went with Jai and his friends to this bar in Pasong Tamo (too sleepy... brain not working) to celebrate his birthday. happy birdie, Jai! sana happy ang birdie mo. went home at 1am.
* kagahapon: end of our Management Development Workshop. pagdating sa bahay... tangina. pahinga, at last. had my blood pressure checked by my sis and scaled at 110/70 (low blood). worked on some of my miniatures, then slept early... sa wakas.

partida, walang pang lovelife involved sa mga inatupag ko.

Goofing around with Koya Jeff

*****

Two new music playlists on my Multiply account:
Off to Nyu Nyu Land - my favorite "noise" music
Obi Tearjerky - senti songs I dig

One Less Denizen

I was already planning to post some hillarious quotable quotes from our tambay night sessions at da Shak last Saturday. I never thought that I'll have to pass it for a tragic entry.

Yesterday, we were (as usual) hanging out in Virramall when we received the news that JC died. Together with da boyz, we rushed to Medical City to check it out, and there his remains laid in the morgue... da Shak is down one less denizen.

I'm still shaken by the fact and the suddenness of it. We just console ourselves that at least he died in peace. He'll always be remembered by the Shak boyz for his witty remarks and jolly persona. Rest tight, JC.

One of my last photos with him
L-R: Johnny, Jason, JC, Gelo, Me

We will miss you, brother! Sa langit ang susunod na tambayan.

*****

"Men can't live on bread alone, but on siopao and siomai"
- Mark a.k.a. JC

Limang Asterisk

*****
There was this tabletop wargaming tournament in Araneta Ave last Saturday that I was supposed to join but having just got in our house at 5am that day, I already knew I've screwed my sched. I was at da Shak the night before after goofing around at da Fortress in Virramall (as usual). The boyz summoned forth the Great Maw from Antipolo for a round of "A Game of Thrones" boardgame. With Coke afloat, we forgone minding the time and before we knew it, it was already sunset. From North to South, we hitched Bozz Beef a ride to Parañaque before swinging me home along the way.

Gameboard Setup after Turn Four

Attendance: The Great Maw, Bozz Beef, Grot Obi, Hairy Critter, Jumping Johnny, Jep, Pork da Ork, Anito - Champion of Nurgle, Old Sparky, Le Croissant, Katrina Halili

Feat: Pork da Third Ork God arrived at around 3am at da Shak euphoric from Saint Mike's Barley but was still able to drag his green arse to Araneta Ave early that same day and join the tourney fray.

*****
I was practically a veggie the next day. Got an awful headache and my sinus was wrung with slime. I stayed at home the whole afternoon but left for Greenhills before nightfall. Got to check gears for the scheduled mountain climbing activity this October. As of now, I'll need to have the following stuffs:

a bigger backpack
synthetic cargo pants
water shoes (Adidas got this cool Climacool Hellbender 4)
head lamp (not the automotive "headlamp"... but a torch I can wear on my head)

So far, the only thing I bought for the expedition was a UV-protect arm sleeves and a portable flashlight. Sabi ni Flash sabay na lang daw kami bibili ng kung ano.

As of date, there are 14 confirmed members for the climbing team, most are my ex-officemates from HP and tropa from the Justice League-HP. This Thursday, we'll be having a lunch briefing at Chillipepper's to discuss stuffs. The suggested itinerary was also already posted:

DAY ONE
03:00H/03:30H ETD. Robinsons Summit Makati
06:00H ETA. Olongapo City. Breakfast at Chowking or Jabi. Buy pack lunch. Hire jeep going to Cawag Jump-Off
07:00H ETD. Olongapo City to Cawag Jump-Off
08:00H ETA. Cawag Jump-Off. Give courtesy to Aeta's Chieftain. Find two Guides.
08:30H Start Trek.
12:00H Lunch. This is usually the place of last WATER SOURCE
13:00H Continue trekking. After the first assault, rest for a while.
14:15H Continue trekking. Get ready for the next assault. Prepare your ropes if possible.
14:30H ETA. At the top of Pointed Peak. You'll see a small campsite with a nearby WATER SOURCE for a small group of hikers.
17:00H ETA. Big campsite with a nearby WATER SOURCE . Set camp and prepare dinner.
22:00H Lights out.

DAY TWO
05:00H Wake-up call. Prepare breakfast and pack lunch.
07:30H Break camp. Prepare for the summit at around 1100 masl (meters above sea level)
08:30H ETA. Summit of Pointed Peak. Rest for a while. Take pictures.
09:00H Start descend. Trail is steep and rocky.
12:00H Lunch. No water source. The place after the first assault of first day.
13:00H Continue your trekking.
14:00H ETA. Water source. You'll get the next water source to the place where you had your lunch on your first day.
15:30H ETA. Aetas Chieftain's Place. Take a bath in the river. Or you can take a bath and change your clothes at the Jump-Off.
17:00H The rented jeep will arrive to wait the group at Jump-Off.
17:15H ETD. Going to Olongapo City.
18:15H ETA. Olongapo City. Dinner at Chowking. Buy tickets at Victory Station going to Manila.

Kulangoooot Kaaaa!
(Hulk Bust at da Fortress)

*****
Headed to the film house with Skizzy and viewed the Russian film "Day Watch" after having to wait for two hours. I never liked not starting a movie so I'd rather wait it off than sit in there halfway through the showing. I've had a hard time figuring out the plot around the film since I wasn't able to watch the prequel "Night Watch" but I say, the storyline's very interesting and the cinematography's a wild ride of imagination. I dig.

I'll try to write something about it when I'm free.

*****
Fully Booked is having their 2nd Philippine Graphic Fiction Awards this coming November and as co-presentor for the awarding ceremonies, acclaimed writer Neil Gaiman will be attending the event.

Skizzo told me about this and offered a collaborative work with him as entry for the prose fiction writing contest. The idea of writing alongside the "mentor" again is cool and the idea of actually having to write for such a prestigious contest is awesome. So, without doubts, I told him I think we should give it a shot.

Skizzy was the one who introduced me to fiction writing (and reading) waaaay back our highschool years. The first few mystery novels (if you can call it that) that I wrote was made under his mentoring guidance and I can still fondly remember when we wrote (on a spring notebook) a full-length humor book that was a hit back then to the entire la sallian 2nd year wing! I have to admit that my entire reservoir of literary literacy will never be as rich without that point in my existence.

Ethan and Ninong Kyut @ McDo McArthur Highway
(Walang Kinalaman sa Blog Entry)


Just last week I was chatting with Skizzy over the possible plot lines that we could work upon. On the time that he told me about the contest, ideas already sprung into my mind and I envisioned the storyline to induce a vivid play of imagination on a hallucinogenic way (ala "Alice in Wonderland" ba). It was such that if ever Neil Gaiman himself will judge the submissions, I know that works of such nature will sure seize his interest.

So I told Skizzo what I have in mind and we talked it over YM. Mukang trip naman ni Skizzy yung basics ng plot ko so, for starters, we laid out the thoughts on how we could get the idea to work for our story. A couple of hours (and office bandwidths) later, we already have a working storyline. It's preemptive not to write about it here for now but it's basically an amalgam of fantasy-mystery and is druidic in nature.

Excited na ako umpisahan isulat ito. I just wish we could clinch it to completion before the October submissions.

Requirements are:
at least 7000 words
can be a collaborative work but authors must be Pinoy citizens
submissions must be in English
submissions must be original and haven't been awarded anything yet
no adaptations of published and copyrighted materials
submissions can fall under the genres of sci fi, fantasy, and/or horror

Also check: http://www.fullybookedonline.com/

*****
May bago akong crush sa TV... member ng 26K... si Olive! Kasama siyang finalist ni Chloe sa "Game Ka Na Ba" last last last week yata. Basta yung episode na 26K ang sumaling players.

Olive, buksan na yan!!

Chloe and Olive, top two cuties of 26K
(jologs na kung jologs... walang pakelaman!)

Kaso nga lang, magtatapos na daw yung "Deal or No Deal". Olats. Sana magkaron pa ng exposure yung mga 26K. Medyo hawig pa naman siya ni Pouty.

Otokoto

I never was a car junky and I'd still prefer roaming around as a lowly commuter. Maraming nakikita, iba't-iba ang scenario kada araw, merong sense of randomness... may thrill kumbaga. Thing is, with how itinerant I was for the last three years, a more personal way of travelling is becoming more and more compelling, even advantageous.

I used to drive back in college. My dad's former military driver taught me how to, and I can fondly remember how our Honda City jerked on my "primeras". There was this time when my bestfriend, Razel, has stayed too late at night on our house that I have to sneak my dad's military service car (one with a red government plate number) out to drive her home. I was still learning to drive that time and I backed up on a rubbish bin after dropping her. It made a terribly loud bang that rather than continuing on reverse I just took the long road straight ahead before any of her neighbors could check it out. I sucked on reverses.

The longest driving I made was from Dagupan, Pangasinan down to the Pampanga exit of NLEX. It was around midnight and I was with my tropa, having came from the beach, rushing at least a hundred kilometer per hour (KMH) in a Toyota Revo. Natatawa sila kasi bumubusina ako bago tumawid ng mga tulay. Pamahiin siya na hindi naman masama kung susundin. It basically is to serve as a warning for any "lamang lupa" that might have been crossing the bridge. I have to admit though that my horn blaring was a bit exaggerated. I just wanted to keep them sleepyheads awake back then. Ang hirap mag drive ng tulog lahat ng pasahero mo noh. Booooring.

Last Saturday, after my inaanak's kiddy party in McDo, me and my college bros went straight to Bulacan. Julius just bought Jay's car... a Honda Civic VTEC 97 model, lowered to angas-height and furnished to konyo satisfaction: gynormous speakers, indiglo panels, extra-normal dials and tachometers, among others. We were literally racing on the freeway at 180 to near 190 KMH on the clear. Angas ng pakiramdam ng kalayaan sa ganoong tulin ng sasakyan.

I never imagined buying a car decked out as such. Sabi ko sa kanila, basta maangas ang itsura oks na ako dun. Pero sabi naman ni Jon, sinasabi ko lang daw yun dahil wala pa akong oto. Napa-isip ako dahil may punto siya. It's just like my airsoft gun, Laila, when I first bought her. I told myself I'll be contented with her just as she was... "stock" specification. But moving on with the game made me upgrade her with all stuffs new and purty: silencer barrel, red eye targetting, reinforced gears, etc. Now she's one purty purty bitch on the battlefield. I'm afraid I'll bring on the habit when I get myself a car.

Tatlong taon nang expired ang lisensya ko *sumilip pa sa wallet para masigurado*. Yes, tatlong taon na nga. May mga sasakyan sa bahay pero sa loob ng tatlong taon na iyon, hindi ko naisipang gawin itong permanenteng service ko. Ayoko kasi gumamit ng hindi akin. Gusto ko, kung may manggagasgas na "tambay na walang magawa sa buhay" sa kotse ko o kaya may mambasag na "konyong malakas ang trippings" sa headlights ko, ulo ko lang ang sasakit at hindi pati sa tatay ko (syempre pasasakitin ko din ulo ng mga gagawa nun sa oto ko).

With it all, tingin ko kelangan ko na nga makapag-maneho ulit. Iniisip ko kumuha ng sarili kong oto next year, tapusin ko lang lahat ng gastos at luho ko this year. Natatakot ako dahil baka lalo pa akong maging lakwatsador pero iniisip ko na lang na magdadalwang isip din ako mag-gala pag unti unti na akong ginugutom ng presyo ng gasolina.

I'm alloting at least 240K to the car pot. Any more than that would probably hurt my monthly dues. If ever, here are two of my choices (in relation to that budget bracket):

Honda Civic VTEC '97

Mitsubishi Lancer GLXI '97

*sa nanenokan ko ng pic ng oto... sorry, tao lang. pahiram po, koya.