Overnight at Astoria Plaza

So I got a couple of free overnight stays at Astoria and we used it for a special occasion early December... It was supposed to be a one-bedroom suite but we got upgraded to a two-bedroom suite instead. The lock system was "hi-tech"- first time I saw and used this kind of key-lock system using some sort of laser-light key. And upon entry, to the left was the dining room...To the front is the living room with a small office space...
The kitchen to the right of the main door...
The bathroom in the master's bedroom has a tub!
The second bedroom with two single beds...
And then of course the bigger bed in the master's bedroom...
Great accommodations. Good breakfast selection. Nice courteous service. There's a pool we didn't use but we did use their gym (heavier weights, I thought). All in all, we had a very nice time at Astoria Plaza in Ortigas. It really is like a home already and not just a hotel room! Go try it out!

Signs of the times

I think I was driving along Makati Avenue when I came upon this... So now they have trucks for transportation, huh. The better to haul dozens of them out there. (Sign says: Pretty, cheap too)Speaking of trucks, I've seen trucks carrying live pigs going to the slaughterhouse but I guess now even the insides are sold and go maybe to a factory that produce sausages or those innards some people grill and sell in the streets (i.e. blood, intestines).
A famous show in the 80's produced this dark-skinned comedienne but after a few years in the states, she's come back to endorse a skin-whitening product.
"From ebony to ivory" - quite apt. I wonder if that's really her in the black person image.
So the sign either warns headless children or mutants with tiny heads from stepping on the greenery.
Finally, amid the global crisis, people are now selling sweat(?!?). I don't think it'll turn around well.

34

How was my day? Was playing Fallout 3 til past 1AM so when I woke up at 6AM to get ready for my medical checkup, I still felt groggy. Anyway, I was only able to leave the house at 9:30AM because I needed to have the ahem sample. Arrived at Shangri-la mall past 10. Walked to Healthway and my next hour was spent giving samples and getting an X-ray, ECG (my first time), and pulling my pants down to cough several times. Bought a knitted shirt at Tyler. Bought the latest Gaiman book, The Graveyard Book. Planning to give it to doodiebear to read on the flight to and from L.A. Also got the 9th TPB of Fables so I can read it before the 10th volume which I got last month. At the counter, I was advised to reach P2,000 worth of purchases so I can get the Fully Booked discount card. So I got Maguire's Wicked, the novel the Broadway musical was based on, for my niece Faye. Then went to Megamall to get a new pair of contacts. Bought Krispy Kreme for my training class at work. Went back to Shangri-la mall to buy some medicines, and have lunch (it was already 2PM!). Then went to the office to deliver the donuts to my class. Left around 6PM to go to Market, Market and be at the Fort in case doodiebear, coming from a 3-day conference at Sofitel, wants to ride with me going home. Too bad Bolt wasn't showing at Market, Market so I just bought a ticket to go see Twilight. I had some time to spare so I walked around the mall. Saw Bananapeel and I got a pair of slippers just like my other Bananapeel pair. After the movie screening, I met Desi and had dinner at Pancake House. I gave Desi a complimentary copy of Here Going Lost. He paid for my "breakfast" dinner. Then drove home. There was still some moderate to heavy traffic along Edsa, geez. Tiring day. But good. It could have been better. But that's life - we don't always get what we want, wish for or hope for. But I'm still hopeful for my emerald year :)

here going lost: donors

On behalf of CRIBS Foundation, I would like to thank the following for supporting this charity fund-raising endeavor:

Lisa Taroma
Lesley Espejon
Aisa Pasahol
Cristine Gamayon
Cedrick Uytanlet
Mark Sapasap
JT Guarnes
Glaiza Francisco
Tin Acedera
Marilyn Punzalan
Tin Morales
Camille Salalila
Kelly Jordan
Cindy Panaligan
Vic Realuyo
Mitch Carilo
Joseph Moll
Cris Mendoza
Nina Saligao
Belle Areola
Abby Ramos
Mharu Talicuran
Mickey Almazan
Kelly Jordan
Pee-ay Danila
Carol Salazar
Crissel Mismanos
Cris Mendoza
Mah Punzalan
Winnie Uy
Joanna Estacio
Marian Mangahas
Jennylen Peralta
McRon Villanueva
TJ Moscoso
Elline Buenaventua
Roald Valentino
Nino Estrella
Onatz Odiaz
Lubert Taginod
JC Uy
Daphne Manaloto
Carlo Cabriga
Rox Manlusoc
Izza Edel
Cindy Ong
Migs Silpedes
Pio Torres
Edgard Domingo
Diane Almeda
Richie Chua
Carlo Velasco

here going lost: track 4

I wrote Missin' Missin' You while I was in Boston in 2005. It's about person 1 losing person 2 who can't commit or is used to playing the field. Person 1 is a martyr type and would rather endure the pain just to be with person 2; however, things can still change and for person 1 it was for the better - person 1's eyes opened and the two parted ways. But once in a while, person 1 can't help missing person 2. Person 1 has learned valuable lessons but it can't be helped - love doesn't disappear entirely right away.

This song is more bitter than sweet, listing down characteristics of player 2. And this song is as of this writing still with the arranger, Sam Valdecantos. To be able to include it in the cd, I took the first of two drafts of the arrangement I already dismissed before, the rock arrangement and recorded a study of the song in the studio. So when the February 2009 version of the cd comes out, I hope to have the final arrangement recorded by some other singer. I don't think it will be as rock-styled as this one. You'll just have to wait and hear :)

Charity-CD update: Slow and steady... I'll be using the next entry for all the names of people who have already gotten their own copies of this CD. Thank you very much for your support!

Here's Missin' Missin' You.

You reason you’re not ready
You said you’ll be there
Then you go and find someone
With whom your time you share

What difference with the playin’
Intentions simply bared
You’re out to finding someone who
You care enough to care for

For an unexpected longer time
My deepest wish I wouldn’t miss you in my mind

(But already) I’m missin’ missin’ you
The sweetest words I feel embracin’
Sooner than the pain it’s makin’
Missin’ missin’ you
Out into the distance pining
Later I know I am getting through

When you think you find the reason to
Finally share your life
When you go and find the one
For whom you turn yourself ‘round
When preference has lost its weight
And only love explains

On this same winding path for
For an unexpected longer time
Could I wish for a kiss goodnight?

Through the rain, the pain, the flames
It doesn’t help to hold on tighter
(It) breaks my heart to know that
Letting go might be the wiser, the wiser!
Oh, I’m missin’ you!

-instrumental-

Later, I know, I know, I know, I know, I know I’m
Getting through my missin’ missin’ you

here going lost: launch day

Since I was a bit busy with the boot-camp I was facilitating at work, I have not been able to send out an email announcing the CD's launch yet (I'll do that later tonight and tomorrow) so I took the opportunity of being in front of 30 or so people to talk about the charity project. At the end of the class, I took the microphone and relayed how this CD came about. And then I played the first track from CD version C. The response was generally positive, there were even some inquiries on how to get a copy. I told them to visit this blog first and see which version they wanted to get.

And then I went back to my home building and looked for the manager in charge of our capability group's people-activities-sub-group. We were supposed to meet and talk again about the CD launch yesterday. But she was not at her station again. I'll drop by again tomorrow when I have more time because the boot-camp class will be taking exams.

I also emailed the singers from Accenture that they can get their complimentary copies from me starting tomorrow. Other complimentary copies will be given to the managers who will forward my launch emails. And one copy will go to my Senior Manager who celebrated his birthday last Monday.

Here's a picture of the table where I put all of the produced CD's in my room. There are around 330 copies ready for public (naks, public!) consumption.

here going lost: track 3

I wrote More Than I Let You Know just this June. It's about person 1 and person 2 celebrating their first anniversary last July 2. At first I thought wow after writing so many bitter/bitter-sweet songs, I can write something more sweet than bitter. But sadly, one interpretation was that the song wasn't as positive as I had thought it was. And after listening to it for a couple of months, I understand their point. I had originally intended the song to say that even though i may or can not show how much I love you now, be assured that I really really do. And the most important thing to me right now is having you and making you as happy as possible. But on the glass-is-half-empty side, you can look at it as an unrequited love or loving-from-a-distance type. Oh well... Happy monthsary to person 1 and 2 tomorrow!

Charity-cd update: Posted a couple of bulletins at Multiply and Friendster. Official launch date on December 3. And then a special edition I'll work at to launch by February should include the final versions of Missin' Missin' You, remixes from DJ Drake Pineda and Wrecked Alias, plus additional versions of No Goodbyes from maybe Miguel Naranjilla, Mojo Jojo, and a couple of other guests. So watch out for that too!

How would you interpret More Than I Let You Know?

Love has come my way before
Then it couldn’t stay no more
When least expected- this new chance
You swept in to the rescue

Still amazed at how the stars
Had aligned and then conspired
To gift you to this fool aspiring,
Never tiring just for you

No doubt, I’m not the perfect match for you (but)
No indecision, though times I’ve said it few-
How much I love you so
Much more than I let you know

There were times that I’d be scared
Losing you- may I be spared
My happiness revolves around your happiness delivered

And still I can’t be everything to you (but)
Not one condition so that I’ll be true to
How much I love you so
Much more than I let you know

-instrumental-

No doubt, I’m not the perfect match for you (but)
No indecision, though times I’ve said it few-
How much I love you so
Much more than I let you know