uh huh…six years!  ang happy and even happier!

oh yeah, meron din nga palang ice skating rink sa SM Mall of Asia.  hehehe, parang promoter na kami ni kris ng mall na ‘to ah :o)

• The earthquake in Indonesia has claimed 3,000+ lives already.  Super kawawa naman sila.  Let’s help the relief efforts via donations and prayers!

• The civil unrest in East Timor is escalating as well.  Super gulo and useless persecutions, deaths, destructions.

• happy birthday, mane!

• In re American Idol: With Mcphee’s performance the night prior, Hicks deserved to win the finals.  Yes, I am a fan of Mcphee, but her voice/facial expressions/reflected emotions/actions were not finale-caliber; whereas, Hicks really cranked it up big time.  Sigh, with the show’s conclusion, there is nothing anymore to look forward on the tube every week.

• Why oh why was I not warned that DLSU and CSB started their academic year last Monday?! Man, traffic was horrible along Taft from Remedios to Vito Cruz!  Vehicles fetching college (!) students from DLSU made the avenue their parking area — AAAAaaaarrrgg, the vehicles’ blinkers do not legitimize  their ‘temporary’ stay nor their swerving from the side of DLSU towards the island! Halos mapaos busina ko sa kanila!

• With the horrible road manners of Filipinos, driving for me has become my bitchfest,  and yes, actually resorting to dirty-finger flashing.  I swear, I told myself to lessen stress and all, but how can I not scream in frustration over buses that literally park in the middle of the street to load passengers?  over trucks/delivery vans that push me off my lane?  over tricycles/slow moving vehicles that do not yield/jump to my lane only for me to just resort to overtaking them (bakit kasi nakikipag-unahan kung hindi naman kayang panindigang mauna?); over pedestrians whom you allow to cross the road but does so leisurely to my consternation?  over vehicles that counterflows and make singit back to my lane while I patiently waited my lane to move accordingly? 

• Aside from the roads, I’ve also already lost my patience to rude and ill-disciplined people. Every lunch hour, the entrance of robplace gets so crowded with people trying to get in the mall.  I don’t get it why people would not properly queue so we can all orderly enter.  Singitan ng singitan sa gilid just to get ahead of those who had been there earlier than them!  I often tell the singit-people to fall in line behind us who got there ahead of them (I tell them off usually more than once).  Deadma.  Sometimes I would even get shoved in return (by people pretending to be in adamant conversation with those they are with or over their mobile phones).  Hello?! Boarding the elevators is another thing.  The mall already installed demarcation poles for those entering and exiting the elevators.  There are even signs saying “Please enter here.”  So how come nobody follows?  Often, being the first person in front of the elevator (or the last as the elevator has left me already, whichever way you view it), I thought I would set the norm of queuing in motion.  But no.  People would make singit at the other lane (designated for those alighting the elevator), my side, and even in front of me.  Grabe, bad manners!  Then, when the elevator opens and the operator asks “down to basement?” (where I am headed), a number of people will enter along, but will not go out with me at the basement.  They just had a ‘joyride’ going down so they would stay ahead of other people in going up the mall floor levels.  What’s with that?!  The elevator operator is often miffed, but what can she do…customers are always right.  As for me, no more miss-goody-two-shoes of just fielding dagger looks their way in the hopes they get hiya or the realization of proper manners/procedure they conveniently ignored (the looks they ignore just the same).  I now actually tell people off that I’m in queue and they should fall in line behind me.  However, people have the gall to just pretend I don’t exist.  Left with nothing else to do, I just make loud snide remarks (and tame cuss words) to them na lang to point out their bad manners and let out my steam.  Still, deadma to me.  What else can/should I do?  Or baka nga naman I don’t really exist anymore ha (paraphrasing allan’s quip)?!

• It’s been almost a week since I was able to check my email and friendster account — so swarmed with junk mail (100+) and became so out of circulation with what has been happening with my friends.  Gosh!

• Belated happy birthday, bets!  So happy, you were happy with your celebrations J.

• Two new things at work:  (1) we are transferring offices and I will be occupying a new baby blue cubicle; (2) I got a very unexpected sort-of promotion, considering it’s just my 6^th month at work and I did not pass the bar! Ang happy!

• Blasted Hi5 — useless and filling up my email.  Ayan, i deleted my account na. Yehey!
• GMA7’s Extra Challenge signed off yesterday after three years on air.  I actually like this show due to its amazing ideas and location shoots.  I am not an avid watcher, but I do watch when I chance upon it on TV.  Sayang, one good local show less on primetime TV.

• SM Mall of Asia formally opened yesterday.  Yes, Kris and I checked it out the hour they allowed customers in.  We literally toured the entire place “Kris-style” (all levels, alleys systematically covered).  We saw many mascots (Mc Donald’s characters, Jollibee, Pizzahut Dog, etc).  I was even bold enough to have touched one (and immediately ran away from it, hehehe J), bought some items from our checklists (Kris even got a 10% discount for being the first customer in one of the shops), and ate junk.  A large number of people were just as excited to visit the mall yesterday  — super dami tao talaga; add the factor that SOP of GMA7 held their show there.  Overall, I am impressed with the mall:  it was indeed big; it does not give you a ‘claustrophobic’ feeling because of the open areas (not like SM Megamall or even Sentosa at that); there is an area where you have a good wide view of Manila Bay; and the stores (already open and soon-to-open) are ‘grouped’ in accordance to their specialty (computer stuff, medical, clothes, cinemas, etc).  Kris compares it to the Great Mall of America in the US; I think it’s like the mall in Sacramento where Jill brought us before.  Rosanne said it’s like SM Baguio.  Parking though is like Shangri-La or Robinson’s — steep climb before reaching the level area where they allow you to park (that’s the third level already).  I hope when things normalize: 1) people would be disciplined enough to park properly and not just leave their vehicles along the road, thereby leaving only 1-2 of the usual 3-4 passable lanes; 2) people would have proper mall culture of picking up after themselves, be courteous to others, and walk in a way that would not cause ‘traffic.’

• Kris said Aling Nene (famous for their barbeques) will soon open a branch at Magallanes commercial complex.

• Despite passing the area everyday, I did not notice that they are adding another lane to Sales bridge (Kris, the side is completely covered and believe me, maneuvering through that congested bridge takes a lot of concentration). 

• Dang, we found out from April that she knows someone who already got interviewed for Amazing Race Asia (in Kuala Lumpur).   Since nobody contacted us, there goes our hope!

• Globe Handyphone struck again.  I received before an official SMS telling me save the WAP settings they will be sending.  Thinking they are updating their systems and reconfiguring the existing WAP settings of subscribers, I did as instructed.  Since then, I cannot send and receive MMS.  For a time, I thought maybe there is some error between Nokia and Sony Ericsson.  But after failing to send an MMS to myself, I am convinced the problem is with the new settings Globe sent.  And so, I called Globe Customer Service:

Call 1 (Mr. Liam) – “Ma’am, there are too many settings saved in your WAP profile; please erase the others (myGlobe CSD, myGlobe Connect, and myGlobe Internet) and just leave myGlobe MMS and myGlobe GPRS.”  Hoookay.  I asked him, if I do not need and if the other settings would have just result to a conflict, why were they sent to me?  I did not ask for them nor was I properly informed as to the effect of saving them to my phone (said as a request to rectify my concerns and for him to note that such is a complaint).  After doing some tweaking with my mobile phone; still, no MMS.

Call 2 (Ms. Len) – “Ma’am, please erase all your settings and I will send you new MMS/GPRS settings.”  I did so, then I received myGlobe Internet settings.  After saving the same, still no MMS.

Call 3 – I asked to be connected with either Mr. Liam or Ms. Len so I would not repeat my concerns and troubleshooting history.  On hold for 12 minutes, nobody got back with me.

Call 4 (Ms. Elaine) – After repeating all that has happened and done, “Ma’am, according to your records, you just had been sent myGlobe Internet.”  You should have myGlobe MMS and GPRS.  Hoookay, weren’t those what I was supposed to be sent?  Finally, after saving the settings for myGlobe MMS, my mobile phone worked already!

• Globe trouble being solved, our PLDT landline na lang.  Ever since we had the typhoon two weeks ago, our line became soooo static.  Grrr.  I hope the repairmen can fix the line na today.

Lainie and I had an SMS conversation the other day.  We were wailing about the lack of direction in our lives:  she, going about her way aimlessly; me, having super planned goals but encountering troubles fulfilling them.  And so we made a pact:  2007 will be OUR YEAR!!!

Despite all odds, I am super psyching myself that nothing can stop Berby’s World from flourishing next year!  With butt-balat and all, everything will be great for me then. 

You hear that, hexers and bad luck?!  I WILL NO LONGER BE DEFEATED BY YOU!   Whatever feng shui experts, astrologers, or religions say: 2007 will be great to me!

Thus, the change from “RESISTANCE IS FUTILE” to “Boldly Go” (still borrowed from Star Trek: The Next Generation).

Boldly Go…BERBY 2007.

Feel the excitement??? J

Yes, nagpapakabibo lang ako, Lains! Wondertwin powers, activate! Hehehe, might just work, y’know? J

• I heard from the news this morning that the portion between Pedro Gil and Quirino Avenue along Roxas Boulevard will be closed at 4pm-6pm today.  Gosh, that’s near the office.  I’m sure my route going home (parallel, near the said area) will be sooooo congested.  Let this be a warning to those going to this area today…
• Wow, a new cleaning agent: Clorox Disinfectant Spray (I bought at RobPlace Supermarket).  Hahaha, funny, the can states: no bleach included (as the brand has been associated with so).   I have yet to test said product.  Wow, aggressive sa cleaning agents ang Clorox ah.  Two years ago, Clorox Wipes naman.  This one is good.
• Betty: I do not know why paulit-ulit mga problema natin despite our efforts.  Sana, soon, we’d totally overcome them.
• Me-ann and Allan: I’m still super hiya with LMers!  Greatful sobra, but super hiya talaga…
• Wow, Hicks and Mcphee on American Idols finals!
• Wow, the Hippies won at the Amazing Race 9. 
• A friend got in touch with me yesterday stating her emotions about failing the 2005 bar.  In the middle of our talk, I kinda realized, “ngek, aren’t I the wrong person to giver her advice or motivate her?”  Sobrang hindi credible!  Gosh. 
• Father Bernas column compilation: http://law.ateneo.edu/Inquirer%20Index.html

• Ay, correction.  AirPhilippines pala ang nasa Centennial Airportna rin.  The news regarding Cebu Pacific is that they now have flights to Laoag, Ilocos Norte.
• Hmmmm. Both my hands ache (area between the thumb and the forefinger); the left actually is more painful.  Uric na naman ba ito?
• Wow, SM Mall of Asia will open this weekend (May 21)!  Sige nga, mas malaki nga ba sa Sentosa (Singapore)?
• Ngekkers, Emata and Oracion of the FPMEE and ABS-CBN overtook Garduce of GMA7 in being the first Filipinos to reach the summit of Mt. Everest.  What has happened?!
• Lea Salonga gave birth to a baby girl; she’s 35 years old.  See, girls my age should not yet a panic about their biological clocks J!
• One of my routes going home is passing by Adriatico Street towards Quirino Avenue.  Man, the squatters there are a-plenty. So many kids begging along the street.  What irks me is these kids are so rough and no longer behave like children.  Girls and boys alike (with baby siblings in tow) would knock at car windows, peep inside the car, and point to a specific thing which they would beg for (“ate, akin na lang yung P20” etc).  They would not take “patawad” for an answer.  They would continue knocking, marking your window, and even shout at you.  Grabe!  All these, while you see their parents playing cards or just making tambay along the sidewalks! Kapikon!
• Recently, there have been many policemen along main thoroughfares. One time, I thought they were flagging me down (and I know I am not violating any traffic rule/regulation); ayun pala, mga motorcycles.  Mind you, these guys are brandishing their armalites while they do so (kaya super natakot ako, considering i was driving xwind that time — my thought was, carnap blues haunting me again?!).  Oh well, tama nga lang that they regulate and check motorcycles plying the roads especially since a lot of robberies use this mode of transportation.  Pero, I hope they go easy on the guns.
• Speaking of the xwind, that’s what I’ve been using most days of the week.  Cheaper kasi ang diesel…but then again, it seems xwind is always more uhaw than wudju.  The bulk din kasi eh. Hay.
• Gosh, Mt. Merapi in Java, Indonesia is still hurling volcanic materials.
• American Idol: My bet is still Ms. McPhee.  I hope her rendition of “somewhere over the rainbow” last night will bring her to the finals.  Her other songs were kinda weak compared with the two boys eh.
• Amazing Race: The 2-hour season finale is on tonight.  Exciting.  Speaking of AR, at the end of the month daw malalaman who qualified for the semi-final interviews for the Amazing Race Asia.  Kris and I (yes we also joined — pinagpaguran talaga ang 3-minute video and questionnaire) are still hoping to be selected — at most that — ma-select man lang ‘coz my bar failure forced me to re-write my life goal/plans for the coming year.  Sigh. 
• Yehey, the free 4 hours of voicecalls from suncell’s P150 text unlimited card is here to stay!

·        The new Comprehensive Reviewer of Father B. (no longer called ‘primer’) is good, very updated (until December 2005).  However, there are quite a number of typo errors and some repeated paragraphs that editors/proofreaders missed.

·        Super thank you, Allan/Faye/Kris, for the new books!!!  Super happy with my advanced birthday gifts! Owe you much!

·        Kris’ thanksgiving party was actually quite fun with april, allan, jing, and tina.  Our conversations were really funny (!) and full of insights.  Not bad for my sssstriiiiike three!

·        I made some rearrangements at home.  Kuya’s ‘blue room’ is now my intellectual sanctuary for the coming months, besides, it is breezier than my ‘airport room.’

·        April told me that some adversities in life are given for us to learn from them.  Repeated adversities may mean that the lessons therein may not have yet been learned.  Now, if only I can decipher what is it that I have to learn… I cannot afford to miss the elusive lesson anymore…

·        Incidentally, I got my 2005 bar exam grade — 74.25%; slightly lower than my 2004 bar, 74.80% [thank you, cousin jove, for following-up and accompanying me kanina]. But just the same, not even a whole point separating me from the successful person obtaining a 75%.  Why, oh, why?!  A friend says maybe my character is still being tested.  Another friend says maybe in my former life I had things easy and took so for granted; thus now, I am having harder time in life.  I heard many other outstanding theories; but none satisfactorily quelled nor answered my question.  My only consolation is, at least my grades affirm that I’m not that dumb to understand Philippine law!

·        In connection with bar grades, the office of the bar confidant said I cannot get my exam booklets in both years I failed (haynaku, I will never know kung hindi talaga sa akin yung mga booklets checked under my name or kung na-check-an nga talaga mga booklets ko).  Only those who passed can get theirs a year after they’ve taken their oaths.  So, 2004 batchmates, you can claim yours na.

·        Consequent to getting my grades and my recent life’s hardships, my mind has been spewing existential questions.  Goodness, now is not the time to be having them; but they just boggle my mind endlessly.  Sigh, my spirit and being kasi are so confused na rin of my place in God’s greater scheme of things. 

·        As I’ve mentioned before, I’ve done some decisions already.  But with my existential questions, I am now more afraid of their outcome; thus, I want additional affirmation and confirmation.  JM says it’s just me who can verify…I would know and feel that what I am doing is right and is for really for me.  To which I counter that something within me is silent and tired to ultimately determine the rightfulness of my decisions/plans.  Maybe because one vital source of my energy (needed to completely know the veracity of the decisions/paths i intend to take) has been snuffed and transformed into another form that I haven’t realized nor recognized yet.  Where and what is this energy now na ba…I want to know na!  It’s been so long already…