Life Under Construction

In a few hours, I’ll be off to Pampanga for a week.  Kumusta naman at hindi ko pa alam yung exact place in Pampanga - I do know the hospital though.  Balitucan hospital.  Initially, my mom thought they’d be bringing me there.  Wish ko lang!  Well, I could’ve said yes pero may hiya pa naman ako sa katawan.  Jeez, kung bakit kasi masama ang balita tungkol sa sakay papunta dun.  Fatima’s bus is not airconditioned and has no cushion on its seats according to previous batches.  Man, what is pain in the butt?  Haven’t really prepared my stuff yet.  Medyo busy-busyhan ang araw at birthday ni LM - celebrated at Northpark. Before that, I went to Duty Free Fiesta Mall to welcome my two uncles home.  I wasn’t aware that Tito Ome was already back from Kuwait a week ago.  Tapos, si Tito Efren naman kararating lang today.  Instead of buying some toiletries for my journey, tsibog at pasalubong ang inatupag namin.  Now, I’m cramming again to finish my NCP for Sapang Palay.  I’m down to Background Knowledge and I’m stumped.  So while I’m not into it, I blog.  What can I say?  I’m a procrastinator.  Hmm, procrastination, sloth, laziness….  that’s my ultimate sin.  Hmmph, I still don’t feel like finishing the NCP.  What else?  Oh, yeah…  I was searching for something earlier - never did get to find it.  I hid it so well that I can’t remember where i hid it;p  In the course of digging,  I got into old pix from my start at eTel to a solo pic during my start at HDPP.  Never realized that I’ve accumulated quite a lot of them.  Weight changes - I seem to be yoyoing every year.  I have to admit that these days I’m getting heavier again.  Anyway, the pix got me quite sentimental.  Nevermind that I looked harassed in some of them.  Couldn’t believe that I actually looked the way I did before.  Let’s just put it this way:  I’ve improved a lot.  Hmm, that actually feels good.  Back in my short hair days, friends thought I was a lesbian.  When I got my hair at shoulder length, I was at my biggest.  I should’ve put it up in a ponytail more often.  The discovery of rebonding made me reluctant to put it up - sayang, baka di na dumiretso…  Then, the days came when my ’sumpa’ would actually grow back.  Dead hair, pubic hair — arrgh! Of course, vanity is vanity.  Other than my looks, I find a wealth of history behind these pix - my friends, crushes and fun activities that I’ve forgotten over the course of bangag years of juggling.  I’d like to scan ‘em and post them over at my multiply account.  Nevermind if my hair wasn’t perfect or if I looked like a bouncer (a friend actually said I could be her bodyguard - I didn’t get it that time but looking at my pix…  yeah, yeah, I looked like I could wrestle somebody hehehe).  Buti na lang nagising ako at nagbago.  Evolution is a wonderful thing, isn’t it? 

Well there, it’s time to turn in.  I’ll probably just finish the darn NCP when I wake up in… what?  4 hours?  Jeez, I don’t even know when hour departure time is.  Hay, basta… tulugan na muna=)

So what has Eise been doing other than check out Wiseguys?  Actually, may iba rin namang pinagkakaabalahan katulad ng duty.  Right now, our group is assigned at Sapang Palay Emergency Hospital (OR area), Bulacan.  It takes around two hours to get there early morning by bus.  3 hours going back to my place.  Kumusta naman at mas matagal ang travel time sa actual stay namin dun.  Our sked is supposed to be 7am-1pm, but it’s really just 8am-12pm.  We might extend to 1pm in case there’s an operation.  Probinsya talaga ang lugar.  Ang pagkakagawa ng ospital ay parang paaralan. Think elementary school- provincial style.  May directress pa.  I’ve taken pix of the place (check http://eise.multiply.com/).  Except for the episode with two loonies for Day 1 and 2, I thought we were going to expire from boredom the first two days.  Kung kailan ako nagdala ng Scrabble, dun nagkaroon ng operation.  What is?!  Buti na lang at nagka-case kami kundi ang maaalala ko na lang dun e yung busabos na lalakeng nagwawala (even accidentally touched his shoulder) at si Chona (a former teacher who went mad).    Anyway, the operation was supposed to be an exploratory laparotomy.  Jeez, did I get the spelling right?  The first 6 of us got dressed and ready to go.  However, nagka-komplikasyon… Hay, bakit ba ganyan na lang parati?  Mga 11am na nagstart ang anaesthesiologist so talagang malabong matapos namin ang operation. Same thing happened at Fatima Hospital where we got an AP case on our last day (or was it second to the last?) just an hour before we were supposed to go home - I think that was around midnight.  Despite the bad timing, I had the chance to help out the good doctor— she’s really a funny and patient lady.  The surgeon was also cool and didn’t mind me taking pix at a close vantage point.  Sayang lang talaga at nag-empty batt ako just before they took out the ovary w/cyst.  Anyway, it was an eventful day.  Finally, a case… A CASE!!!  Yes, we’re nuts about cases;p

And yes, I’m still nuts about Wiseguys…. Since you’re reading my blog, you might as well check them out through their Yahoo group:

http://launch.groups.yahoo.com/group/wiseguys_online/

According to Mabeth, this was their first hit… 

Artist: WISE GUYS  Song: THE FIRST TIME I SAW YOU

The first time I saw you

You were standing in the rain

There was something about you

That made me look again

The way that you let the rain

Fall down on you

The way that you smile

When your eyes met mine

Ooh,ooh…

    CHORUS

I’ll always remember

I’ll never forget

How you took my breath away

The first time we met

No matter what happens

No matter what you do

I’ll always remember

The first time I saw you

Now we’re together

Said you’d take me by surprise

Little things that you say and do

So new to me each time

The way that you make me feel

Reminds me of the very first time

When your eyes met mine

Man, do I have it bad?  I don’t think so… not so much.   Just typical fan behavior;p  BTW, thanks to my lovely friends: Mabeth, Arnie, Reggie and Mhille for treating me to lunch at Lanai.  Very cool and affordable cafe in Festival Mall;p  I’m sure gonna miss working with you.  Jeez, sana wala akong pasok sa araw ng Enchanted Kingdom ng HDPP. I wanna watch the Bamboo concert with all my chums.  Nevermind if payday is two freaking days from reach by then.  There’s always that P200 food money from the company.  Man, kahit yung concert lang - although I’ve missed going round and round on the Flying Fiesta.  Anyway, I’ve got to sleep.  Tomorrow’s the big day and my mind is pretty much a blank slate again— read: alang laman nanaman hehehe… good luck naman sa O.R. bukas;p

Just got home from Belle’s 1st birthday party and videoke session at Tin’s place with Cha— I swear, ang init!  I’m not much for the rainy season but heat can really get on one’s nerves.  Hit the shower pag-uwi at eto nanaman ang paghihintay na matuyo ang buhok.  In the meantime, I’ve realized again the importance of having friends all over the place.  They’re in different categories: new-old; conservative-liberal; young-mature; village-office; intellectuals-funky fashionistas; deep-shallow….  almost all of them female…   Hmm, I miss all my guy friends at eTel — well, guy friends period.   Hi, there my manly men! hehehe… wonder if they read blogs…  Anyway,  I just can’t help but notice the differences and similarities of my pals.  Their reactions to my newly found muse and attempts on going to different territories.   Yes, there are different facets to me.  I may seem like an open book but there’s still some stuff left to discover.  And yes, my smile goes all the way to my ears & my eyes shine when I’m inspired. Inspiration is different from being in love.  I don’t really believe in love at first sight.  How long I’m going to be in this state?  I dunno.  I have discovered that I can switch interests from new to old just for practice.  Figure that out if you can.  I feel as if I’ve been caught up in a whirlwind for the last week going nowhere.  Just feeling dizzy at the end and now with a mild headache.  A little over three hours from work without any sleep yet, here I am typing out a blog.  Somehow putting my thoughts on the screen get me together - helping me figure out what I should do.  My friends’ opinions on matters of my slightly crazed mind have certainly helped.  In the end, it’s really all up to me to sift through all the suggestions and opinions.  As they say, it’s easier to have a better perspective when you’re not involved - very true.  It’s funny how all whom I’ve told my stories to have given almost the same thoughts.  Goes to show that no matter how different we girls are, we can still have the same mindset… Go girl power! 
In the same line of thought,  I can’t help wondering how my guy friends would react.  Tsk, tsk, tsk… I’ve just realized that I haven’t had that much of male opinion lately.  Boys can really go out of whack when it comes to opinions.  Mostly they’d start out with sleazy/teasing comments then finally get serious (hopefully) when you mean business.  I dunno, I guess I miss my guy friends like say Brian Chua from eTel.  Hey, Bri! All the way to China;p  Didn’t realize how much I’ve told that dude till now.  Of course, there’s all the other dudes - Sorry, I can’t name all of you just now;p Thanks for the ear, guys.  Lately, I haven’t been as ma-chika as before (read pre-HDPP era).   In some ways, I have difficulty trusting people unless I’ve actually spent time with them and formed connections.  With men, there’s always that trace of heterosexuality that can somehow interfere.  Don’t want to appear ditzy.  On the positive side, men tend to be more upfront unlike women.  Unless you have girlfriends who think like men.  I’m fortunate to have those;p  Hmm, my hair’s almost good to go.  What’s my point with all this friend talk?  I guess I’m just trying to say that I can’t live without them despite my need for solitude and my independent streak.  I like having them from different walks of life.  It pays to be open-minded since we’re all connected one way or the other.  What was that word again?  Synchronicity - yes, that’s what Lara said.  Sige na, it’s my last night of work.  Can’t be too bangag.  Baka hindi na ko pabalikin ng HDPP hehehe….

Last blog, I mentioned going to watch Wise Guys as my last hurrah before I dig back into school life.  They were amazing!  It makes me wonder why I haven’t been hearing so much about them when they’re a lot better than a lot of long-staying bands in Philippine show business.  Think ill-fated destiny, lack of support and mismanagement or maybe it was just time to let go.  Of course, the fact that they were appearing most of the time on GMA7.  Self-declared kapamilya kasi akesh.   They had such great harmony that even at my bangag and depressed state, I got to clapping, dancing, yelling and singing along;p  Kakaiba talaga — what is starstruck? You’ve got to hear them to believe it.  They’re comparable to Boyz II Men, Colour Me Badd and the like - the Gary V medley, the acapella pieces.  I was listening to this barrage of wonderful music that I would never get elsewhere. And so, I kept tapping Mabeth’s shoulder during the show telling her how they’re singing all my favorite songs with an extra umph.   Ironic isn’t it?  That I’ll be hearing them sing live for the first and last time last night— i mean two nights ago.  There were five singers - according to Mabeth, there were originally four.   Over the years, they’ve gone through several additions & subtractions.  Anyway, the five were ArtPaul (Mabeth’s bro), Guy (pioneer member turned manager), Jam (lead), Robby (on his way to recording solo) and Jay (model/sportscaster).  I guess the fact that all of them are handsome really added to the star factor.  Except for Robby, I’m thinking all of them were around 5′8 or taller.  Tsk, tsk, tsk…  Kakaiba ang kamandag ng mga ito.  Can’t keep myself from staring at each dude awestruck by their vocal capabilities.  I have a new respect for tenors (not the classical kind).  I was always more for baritones and bass.  This performance turned that mindset around. And this is the tragic/funny part, I got so starstruck - I now have a new crush.  Eeww! Crush?  Hmm, what was the term I used before?  Aha! Muse.  Male muse at mukhang mas malakas ang tama.  Here we go again…  After the longest time, I’ve found someone who’s really good all around or at least seems like a complete package.  Girls, you have to admit there’s this  imaginary checklist that we go through each time we’re scoping out a guy.  Great personality/ Wholesome. Check.  Sense of humor. Check.  Smart. Check.  Into God. Check. Sex Appeal /Handsome. Check.  Talented/Gifted. Check. Just right for my height. Check.   The list goes on.  There are some things that we let go but the first five or so characteristics can be non-negotiable.  I have to admit the last couple of muses were really running short but this one is ….  Perfect?  Nah, not really.  Just.. right.  And yeah, your next question is -  you got this all from watching one gig?  Nah, I’ve been hearing about them from Mabeth almost from the time she rode with me going home from shift. Okay, so I’m a fan… a fan of a dismembered singing sensation - great!  How sad can this get.  I’ll probably never see the guy again…  I woke up yesterday feeling heaviness in my heart - tama ba yun?!  Being the Libran/Mediator that I am, it was time to balance the scales.  Fortunately, I went out with Lars yesterday to buy supplies and the like - something to keep me distracted.  The good thing about this is it’s made me more human.  Lately, I’ve felt I wasn’t relating as much with Lars. Now, I feel a connection again as far as boy talk is concerned.  Still feeling down, I’ve started listing why I should let go of the infatuation.  What won over was the fact that this was going to be the start of another one-sided affair wherein I’ll be obsessing and tiring myself.  Given that thought, I’ve started to build barriers again and it took away some of my misery.  No use obsessing over something pointless, right?  However, I might as well learn something from this event.  It’s time to make the most out of my time.  Make use of the opportunities more accessible to one’s self.  So, I’ve done something out of the ordinary.  I’d rather not go into detail.  Let’s just say that sitting pretty can get really annoying after a while.  The result was not really awesome but more of an eye-opener on how bad things can get when you remain in static.   Darn!  I hate it when I get like that…  It’s time for some practice and stretching. Moving forward, it’s almost 4am and I was planning on going to Sapang Palay in an hour or so.  I’m still thinking whether or not I should go for the ocular inspection or just wait for my group.  Wait and see na nga lang siguro… 

2 Rest Days. 2 Work Days.  Then, boom! Eise turns into a student nurse again.  The regular white uniform, stockings and dirty white shoes with matching cap & pin will reappear.  I’ll even wear a watch!  What a concept for this happy-go-lucky Cinderella callgirl.  Yes, it’s just an LOA for summer duty.  I’ll be back to work AND school once July hits.  I’m just waiting for Fe to get to Manila so I can participate in the medical mission she’s joining.  Why not resign altogether?  Same reasons… Ma still hasn’t offered to support me although she said she can if it’s necessary (Just great=p I’m too shy to shout for help unless I’m really, really sinking).  And I find myself not done with my bills so here I go extending work.  Bugger… I’ll probably be working for HDPP till I fly to the US of A.  Anyway, I try not to plan too far ahead. I don’t want to get too attached.  Just look at what happened with eTelecare.  Now that was heartbreaking.  Four years going down the drain….  Good thing I got to retain friends.  I think that’s the real treasure in any company that we work for.
    And tonight, I’m going to appreciate that treasure by going to a gimmick of sorts with Mama Bear, Reggie and Arnie.  Out to Bagaberde since Mabeth’s bro, ArtPaul, will be singing there as part of Wise Guys.  It’s going to be their last performance after years of singing in that place.  Can’t wait;p  My last hurrah before turning into a clumsy, mature, geeky student.  Jeez…  I should be excited to finally get cases.  I dunno.  Maybe shopping for supplies tomorrow at Bambang would get me back in the mood.  Yeah, I’ll be shopping with Lars.  Then, ocular inspection of Sapang Palay on Friday.  I’ll be going out early morning to see the place.  I hear that it’s a long way off but I’m used to commuting long distances.  What can I say?  I don’t like the idea of paying for a place that’s still within city limits when I can go home to my own bed, books and computer…  I guess it’s all a question of cost-effectiveness.  Alan, our group leader, says the place we’ll be getting is new and costs P70/day.  Very cheap indeed!  But, I haven’t seen what P70 will get me.  I’ll probably need to bring ALL the comforts of home and make it fit into a hole.  That’s me— pessimistic as hell…   Let’s see on Friday.
    Saturday after work - I’m off to another kiddie party.  It’s for my unofficial godchild Belle,  Tin’s niece.  Ninang Tintin is going to give her niece her first birthday party=)  And Ninang Eise will again supply tables and chairs.  We really should go into the rental biz hehehe…  Sunday - last day of work.  Time for beauty rest and speedreading…  Haven’t reviewed the whole summer break - bad, bad girl!  So much for my good intentions two months ago. 
    Happy thoughts, happy thoughts….  May 25 - LM turns 21!  Ha, the youngest in our brood is of legal age to get married.  First step if for her to get a job… then, treat Ate mwahahaha…  In June, there’s enrollment with my former groupmates in 101.  Hopefully, there’d be no reason for us not to be together this time;p  All in God’s grace.  Mid-June…. Surprise, surprise —- The braces go OFF!  Yipee!!! After six long years… I’ll be free;p  Then again, I wonder how retainers feel like… June 29 11pm- Fe’s back!!  June 30 - two weddings!!  Arrgh… It’s one big mess.  Last year, I’ve promised two special girls that I’ll be attending their weddings.  Didn’t have any idea that both of them will happen on the same afternoon.  I’ve known Che since she joined VIP back when I was in college handling the choir. Now we’re both lectors in the same parish. For some strange reason, I had it stuck in my head that Che’s wedding would be in May.  Lars insists that it’s always been June 30 - her mom’s birthday.   I promised to sing with Lara during Che’s wedding at Forbes while Dong plays the organ.   On the other hand, there’s Jenny.  Jen and I have been friends for the longest time - Manresa to Ateneo to the present.   Her wedding’s going to be at San Sebastian.  I’m sure lots of former classmates will be attending.  Arrrrrggggghhhhhh!  Killer decision=P Other than chopping my body into two, I’ve decided to attend both.  Define ‘lagari’.  I’m going to sing at Che’s wedding mass; then go to Jen’s wedding reception.  Mama or somebody else will have to drive from Makati to wherever the reception will be.  It’s no use driving a non-airconditioned van and looking like a rat drowned in her own sweat…. eeeww!  At this point, I’m trying not to be miserable at the fact that I won’t be going to Bato2 with Fe on the same day because I’ll need beauty and vocal rest for the two weddings.  I’m thinking, I have a week of LOA left to spend time with her.   That’s medical mission time.  Sana ala pa kaming hospital duty para mas mahaba oras ko kasama itong si Felesita.  Time to get pix of my own with her;p  Sheesh, that’s still more than a month ahead.  One day at a time…  breathe….  Bagaberde muna….=) 

Thanks to our good friend, Judith Bongo, I have again enjoyed 2 hours of beautiful music.  Last night, Arnie, Jake & I got to listen to Madz Et Al Festival - a weeklong series of concerts consisting of choirs handled by members of the UP Madrigal Singers or those who’ve had seminars under them.  Last Saturday, choirs were Coro Animo (La Salle Taft alumni), Philippine Male Singers (former San Beda Chorale), Ateneo College Glee Club (Yey, go Ateneo!), Novo Concertante (a league of their own; we love you Judith!) and Ateneo Chamber Singers (Wow! Ateneo pa rin yan ah).  The lineup of songs were basically Filipino.  We had our time playing music critics to each performance.  Coro Animo to my surprise had former choirmate and friend, Vim Pelayo, with them.  Cool outfits - modern Filipiniana.  I just can’t remember what material was used but it was clothlike in different wonderful colors. Coro Animo’s performance was a good one.  Given their lineup of songs, you’d think that this group is supposed to be a lot larger.  Their performance would’ve been a lot better if they were complete. Buti na lang sila ang nagsimula kundi nasapawan sobra ng mga sumunod.  ‘Sa May Bintana’ was performed in such romantic tones - just right except that the male soloist’s voice couldn’t carry well enough to be perfectly executed - medyo mahina for the PhilAm life Auditorium.    The Philippine Male Singers - I found okay.  There’s just something about an all-male group serenading.  According to Arnie, masyado daw galawgaw kung kumanta.  I really couldn’t care less.  I actually found it funny and entertaining hehehe…  Arnie wanted to kill after their performance of ‘Pangarap na Bituin’.  Sinira daw nila yung kanta.  I thought it passed  - sabi ko nga okay na basta all-male hahaha… Of course, it helped that one of the them was a cutie;p  In fairness, bumawi sila sa ‘Pamulinawen’.  Especially loved that line with ‘Aguilar’ on it - such conviction.  Reminds me of macho provincianos calling on each other.   Now comes Ateneo College Glee Club.  Ahem, kapwa Atenista yata ito=) Ang galing-galing talaga!  Ala akong masabi sa whole lineup although they have a thing or two to learn from Novo Concertante when it comes to unique pieces like Ako Ang Daigdig.  The song and dance performance in ‘Pobreng Alindahaw’ was a winner.  Pang-CCP ito;p  They’ve raised the bar when it came to entertainment that night.  Break.  Chika about Arnie & Jake’s relationships and office gossip.  Back to the show.  Novo Concertante!  Go Judiiiiith!  As usual, seamless performance… Furrfect=)  There was just that funny moment when their male soloist croaked in Gabaq-an 1&3.  I actually thought it was part of the performance since the song was about natives going out to war and he was their leader.  Haha, he actually got the loudest applause among all soloists=)  Nakakagimbal yung dating nung Gabaq-an with matching ringing sounds.  Can’t believe they only had two weeks to prepare for this song.  I guess it only showed when Judith and the two other girls to the right were going out of time to the swaying which actually didn’t affect the singing.  Basta kakaiba - sends shivers to the spine;p  Last but not least were the Ateneo Chamber Singers (Agen, agen, agen… Sigh! Isn’t it nice to be connected;p) Their getup was quite elegant with the beige flowing long sleeves, wide pants and long gold necklaces for the girls and all black long-sleeved polos and black pants for the guys.  Very world class performance - no exaggerated movements… effortless singing…  Their soloist looked like the Sto. Nino they were singing about in ‘Sinulog’.  Short in stature, curly hair hehehe…  The voice was great - it just sounded a bit short…   I guess he’s too proud to use the mike.  They sing like Novo when it comes to unique pieces.  I’d love to hear them sing more challenging pieces but ‘Gapas’ was a good start=)   To end the concert, all choirs sang ‘Tagumpay Nating Lahat’.  Arnie was a bit disappointed expecting something more spectacular.  I’m thinking they just didn’t have time to practice all together.  All-in-all it was a hit.  I can’t wait to watch Novo’s next concert entitled ‘Almost 10′ on June 10, Sunday. It’s both an anniversary and send-off concert for their trip to Japan.  What is cool?!  So everybody, I’m inviting you - please support this amazing choir! Buti na lang, LOA na ko by then;p  I can watch without getting bangag at work afterwards… finally!