• my bro emailed me this link to answer my query about cooking oils.  check it out, very informative: http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/fats.html

• from Des: SSC HS ‘96 class 4H reunion this saturday (february 4) at Bravo restaurant along Adriatico, Malate; 7pm

• creepy. i googled my name just for fun.  and sa ka-unique-an na ng name and family name ko, meron pang lumabas na "Ria XXXXX Bxxxxxx XXXXXXXXXX" pa! Gosh, hindi ako nag-iisa! Hindi man lang "Maria" or "Rhea." "Ria" din talaga! Another ka-family name and most likely kamag-anak whom i do not know. Pero naman, doctor na siya since February 2002!

·         Hectic Sunday and Monday:

a.      frantic driving (marikina,  quezon city,  parañaque,  makati, manila, ortigas);

b.      fuel near empty;

c.      moolah running low;

d.      hyperacidic stomach;

e.      nostalgic;

f.        tired eyes;

g.      occasional friggin’ crazy and red ants passing on my desk (yeeuuck *cringe* I swear, they make it hard to focus on work. *kill, kill*);

h.     a wandering cockroach in Honda (eeww, daaaaaamn);

i.        pending errands and bills to pay.

And the week has just started.

But, as I walked out of our building, a breeze swirled the dry leaves on the ground — making me notice them for the first time today (to think I’ve walked in and out of the building to buy stuff at the nearby mall). Ang happy, crunchy dry leaves to stomp on!!!

·         I heard from numerous feng shui experts interviewed on TV that those born under the year of the Goat do not have good luck this year of the Dog.

Huh?!  What are we talking about again? (said with Chicken Little’s blank expression)

·         Happy birthday, papa!

·         Happy birthday, Julia and Luigi!

Because of the stellar performance of Josh Hutcherson as Gabe in "Little Manhattan," Kris and I are convinced to watch "Zathura" (hahaha, instant Josh fans).

The film was good despite being another version of "Jumanji."  It wasn’t great great; but a G4 movie ticket wasn’t a loss.

The kids were good.  Josh can do drama and was such a cutie! he will definitely break hearts in the future (he’s not even a teenager yet. according to the philippine star, his current ‘girlfriend’ is a Filipina). Jonah Bobo was funny (cute kiddie facial expressions/reactions).  The big sister, Kristen Stewart, though was kinda OA for me. The story/plot, effects, and ending/resolution were good. 

So, yeah, go and watch.

·        Tita Madre emailed me that a brother of her co-nun in Botswana will be going to Africa.  And so, if there is anything we want to send (like medicines and vitamins, etc.), we can course it through him.  Yahoo!  At least no more air freight and again the hassle of explaining to couriers that Botswana is in south of Africa. And so, I dropped our small package for Tita Madre to the said person going to Africa (he’ll be leaving on the 28^th na agad kasi).  Of course that happened with some glitches.  Of all the drop off areas, it had to be in one of the weirdest street in Makati (Florida Street in Palanan)!  I was to look for a “3462” along a three-block short street; and the task took me 20 friggin’ minutes (pabalik-balik ako sa street na yun)! One, the street does not have ample lighting.  Two, the houses/buildings do not have their numerical markers (I literally have to knock and ask, “3462” po ba ito?”). Three, the numbering of the houses/buildings is soooo absurd (not consecutively done). On the one side in the middle of the street, I saw “3479;” on the direct opposite side, I saw “3461.” I thought, oh well, “3462” must be the next house, if not, near it might be already.  But no,  “3462” was not beside nor across or anywhere near “3461!”  “3462,” I was told much later by a passerby, is on the next block of the street.  Next block?! Gawd!

·        Weird, I was not caught in any heavy traffic along service road this morning!  To think I left home late and Pacquiao arrived an hour ago (would be passing by near our area).  I swear, traffic along our area is really sooooo unpredictable!

·        My eyes! My eyes!  Watching TV this morning (local news and CNN) was tough.  Blurred vision from my usual chair across the TV set!  Then, driving was tougher.  Everything was a bit bleary.  These words I’m typing are a bit blurred as well. Either I just have tired eyes due to lack of sleep (went to a wake last night) or prolly my grade must have gone up again.  Incidentally, nanang’s got eye problems as well.  Her eyeglasses conked out on her yesterday.

·        Speaking of nanang, her lab results indicate she’s got a problem with cholesterol too.  Unfortunately, this and her age gave some complication with her aorta.  Let’s see what the doctor has to say. At least her uric acid level is good.  So oatmeal diet for her. The project 2 folks are also problematic with their cholesterol level.  Dang. The stuff we eat are killing us.

·        A query: What are the differences amongst the following cooking oils — olive oil, canola oil, corn oil, soya bean oil, vegetable oil, and coconut oil?  Yes, different source, different prices.  But in terms of nutritional/health value, which are good enough?  I was advised to refrain from vegetable and coconut oil.  But olive oil is expensive.  So that leaves me with canola, corn, or soya bean.  They are priced relatively near with one another.  The websites I’ve visited yet aren’t that informative/helpful. Help!

·        Oh wow, I declare Sinutab NS (nasal spray) as a wonder drug!  Just a few drops into my nostrils…viola my daily sneezing and forever colds just stopped [although my major disinfecting/insecticide and anti-dustmite spraying/vacuuming over the weekend might have also done the trick]!  Although, take caution ‘coz it DOES cause major drowsiness.  Thus, read the instructions carefully and use so when you can just sleep the day off. 

·        No more sniffles, but darn, I’ve been having major headaches this week naman! Must be the eyes; but my neck, the base, and my jaw ache as well.  Wisdom tooth (I haven’t had any of them)? Stress (I have lots)?  Sigh.     

·        Some conversations:

Betty: Wah! Ria, hanapan mo ako ng boyfriend.

Ria: Dapat doctor.

Betty: Sabi ni Nicole, wag nang doctor uli.

Ria: Panget kung agent din. Magbobolahan lang kayo!

Betty: Lawyer kaya?

Ria: Blah, boring and bola din.

Betty: Eh ano pa?

Ria: Hmmmmm….aaah, alam ko na: Artista!

Betty: Artista?

Ria: Artista!

·        Here is a photo of Pudgy Dog I took last week.  Proof that I did not kill him.  As you can see, he still roams the street!

MABUHAY ANG PILIPINAS! MABUHAY ANG FILIPINO!

• congratulations to manny "pacman" pacquiao!
• ang saya naman.  i watched "crossings" at the Discovery Channel — they featured Langhap Sarap…Jollibee! 

saturday cleaning/disinfecting/insecticide-spraying mode.

yeah, just as mel said, nakakapagod nga akong maging ako.

Totally amusing!  Weird and embarrassing for Malacañan; but super funny to me.

Earlier, I mentioned that I got a call from papa’s secretary from PJI.  She said, someone from Malacañan gave a gift for my dad.  A delayed Christmas gift siguro or something. What?!

And so, I drove to PJI yesterday to claim the gift and find out who made the ‘mistake’ so I can properly inform him/her that it’s been over two years since papa went to heaven (secretly, I was hoping the gift was a set of teabags like what Kris’ dad received from PGMA. Hehehe, ang cool kasi: teabags packed with the seal of the President!).

Claimed the gift, had some chit-chat with Ms. Lita, then drove away.  At a stop, I opened the package: a big book about the Malacañan Palace. Huh? Then, I opened the attached letter addressed to my dad.  It reads verbatim:

                                   MALACAñAN PALACE

MANILA

                                                                        January 30, 2006

Mr. Teodoro Berbano

The Journal Group

XXXXX

XXXXX

XXXXX

Dear Mr. Berbano,

            As you spend this special day with your loved ones, know that you are in my thoughts and prayers.  God bless you always with good health and happiness.

            Happy birthday!

                                                         Sincerely,

                                                          GLORIA MACAPAGAL ARROYO

Bwahahahahahahahaha!

My gosh, personalized pa talaga ‘coz the name “Mr. Berbano” has been crossed out and above it is a handwritten word “Teddy.”  And then, the name of the President had also been crossed out and above it is a handwritten sign “Gloria” (The paper and envelope each bore a dry seal of the logo of the Office of the President! Authentic!).

To think, GMA sent a beautiful crown of flowers/orchids during papa’s funeral!

Talaga nga naman ang staff ni PGMA o! Hahahaha.

Hmmm, I think I will write a letter to PGMA thanking her for papa’s advanced 2006 birthday gift…and for the flowers she sent during his funeral in 2003.  What a riot!

Nevertheless, to the people behind the Executive Branch of the Philippine Government: Thank you for remembering my father’s upcoming birthday!  I really mean it.

Side note: if my dad’s name is still at the active birthday list of the Office of the President, where the heck are his 2004 and 2005 gifts? May kababalaghan talaga! Hahahaha.

DATE: 18 JANUARY 2006

MEMO TO   :    THE UNIVERSITY COMMUNITY

FROM   :    THE PRESIDENT

SUBJECT   :    DEATH OF FR. FRANCISCO Z. ARANETA, S.J.

            This is to inform the Ateneo de Manila community of the passing away of FR. FRANCISCO Z. ARANETA, S.J., former President of the Ateneo de Manila University.

            He died of respiratory failure about 10:45 p.m. last night in the Jesuit Residence, Ateneo de Manila University, Quezon City.  He was 87 years of age.  Fr. Araneta entered the Society on 30 May 1936 and was ordained a priest on 20 June 1948.

            He studied Theology at Woodstock College in Maryland, U.S.A. and obtained his M.A. in Economics from Fordham University in 1953.  He was Dean and Professor in the Ateneo de Cagayan, 1953 to 1956, and Rector/President of Ateneo de Cagayan, 1956 to 1959.  It was in his presidency that Ateneo de Cagayan obtained university status and became Xavier University in 1958.

            He was Rector/President of the Ateneo de Manila, 1959 to 1965.  It was in his term that Ateneo de Manila became a university during its centennial in 1959.  He was Regent of the Law School and Dean of the Graduate School of Business, 1965 to 1967.  He returned to the Ateneo de Manila as Rector and President in 1970 to 1972.

            He served as Parish Priest for a number of years in Muntinlupa.  Since 1999, he has been at the Jesuit Residence Infirmary.  We remember him as a great leader who led Xavier University and the Ateneo de Manila University in important years of transition.  He also led the Society of Jesus and the Ateneo de Manila in areas of social concern through the Ateneo Summer Institute for Social Action (ASISA) and through the SPES Institute.

We watched “Little Manhattan” last night. I liked the movie so much that I can say this is my ultimate fave film to date.  I wanna have an original DVD of this to pop and watch whenever I feel bad.

Everything about it was great!  Perfect casting of actors (Gabe was just sooooo cute, funny, and such a natural in his role.  He actually looks like little Chris O’Donnel.  Rosemary looks like a younger sibling of the Olsen Twins); perfect script (snappy, funny, natural, real); perfect way of tackling the issues/emotions/conflicts; and perfect way to end such story.

I won’t say anything more about the film, lest I ruin it for those who haven’t watched it yet.  Basta those who got to read this, go and watch!  Superfantabulously nice (that it deserves a single blog entry to promote and gush over it)!!!