Thank you for all the Wedding Gifts!

Magallanes..

I hate dusk…uber-ly depressing.  More so the day I took this photo at NAIA T3 — solo flight Manila to Laoag, last days of single-hood, and heading straight on to the magulo venue of the KARB wedding.

As it is, I get sad whenever I am or someone else is leaving (even if just for days).  Then, 6-ish  pa nga flight ko, na flying alone pa as land travel pa family ko and my friends can’t take naman the long leave of absence I scheduled for Ilocos.

Ganbante!!!

The past two nights, I caught on Hero channel a show I somewhat followed when I was younger.

These words familiar with you too?   Sky Striker; Striker Beam; Laser Blaster; Blue Hawk; Vavilos Formation; Electromagnetic Charge; Power Beam; Shaider Kick; Shaider Punch; Shaider Cutter; Shaider Super Slash; Shaider Scope!; and siempre…Codename: Shaider!

Hahaha, our ol’ favorite Pulis Pangkalawakan — si Shaider nga! And his sidekick, Annie (na still, ‘kita panty’). Plus the three chariot-looking crafts (na lagi namang na-bla-blast away yung isa every episode); Alexis del Mundo and his white pants (why in the world does he wear white eh lagi siyang nasa battle at siguradong madudumihan); and the array of funny looking creatures from the Kaharian ni Lay-ar.

Hmmm, funny how Shaider beats all his kalaban; to think he announces all his battle moves before executing them and lagi naman ganun mga ginagawa nya per episode! I.E. before he kicks, he shouts, Shaider Kick; then before Alexis turns to Shaider, he first shouts, “Codename Shaider” and executes numerous poses.  Ewan ko rin ba sa mga kalaban nya, bakit hindi nila tirahin si Alexis/Shaider while he is doing that sort of “dance-poses” while transforming? Oh well.

Despite the blasting effects, karate moves, and ‘killing’ of monsters, wala pa ring binatbat this show (and the like) compared with many of the cartoons/shows these days na grabe ang gore, blood, sexual innuendos, and violence talaga.  But I still like it that way.  Haha, kaya siguro hindi kasing violent ang generation ko compared with kids these days.

Curious whatever happened to Shaider, sad to find out that the actor who played the character, Hiroshi Tsuburaya, died nung 2001 pa!

According to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uchuu_Keiji_Shaider:

Uchū Keiji Shaider (宇宙刑事シャイダー, Uchū Keiji Shaidā^?), translated into English as Space Sheriff Shaider, is the third part of the Metal Heroes genre, the last of the Space Sheriff Trilogy. It aired on TV Asahi from March 2, 1984 to March 1, 1985. Shaider, along with the Gavan and the Sharivan Space Sheriff series, has its background music extensively used in the 1989 series Kidou Keiji Jiban.  Plot: In college, Dai Sawamura deciphered the figures on the Nazca Plain in Peru. Impressed by this feat, the Galactic Union Police recruited the archaeologist and trained him to be Earth’s third Space Sheriff, after which he was given the code name ‘Shaider’ in memory of an ancient warrior who defeated the villain Emperor Kubilai and brought down the Fuuma Empire 12,000 years ago. The empire, upon knowing the appointment of Dai as the new ‘Shaider’, plotted to annihilate him in order to conquer Earth once again.

If you’re interested to relive your Shaider memories, try to catch the show at Hero Channel.  Daily ata, 930pm.

Quoting Betty regarding the two flat tires of our jeep during Sunday’s tour:

“Ria, ang balat mo sa pwet, hanggang outer space makikita!”

Last night, I drove to Magallanes Village to meet Kris, who was coming from Miriam College, as we planned to dine out.I got there first.Not wanting to enter their house without Kris, I decided to park xwind in front of their house and just stay there ‘til he arrives.

We chatted via SunCell while he was on the way about my great cosmic theory: that Kris is a berby-luck-magnet!Before him, things were all effortless for me; him, vice versa. Then, now he has my easy luck in everything he goes into; me, well that is why we have a move to change murphy’s law to berby’s law. Haha J! I was enumerating incidents to illustrate my theory when two cars of opposite directions suddenly stopped in the middle of Magallanes Avenue parallel to how I parked xwind.

I did mind them ‘coz I thought magkakilala siguro those two cars or nag-aaway, especially with the way how they were previously running fast and how they suddenly stopped to fully block the street.

One car then sped away.The other, which was side-by-side with me, still did not budge.Then the passengers of so went out; one went to the house across; the rest went to xwind; and the car made a U-turn.Still chatting with Kris, when the said passengers (mestizo looking; aged 18-20s; may basketball pang dala yung isa) suddenly started thumping the back of xwind and I noticed the u-turning car is very close to hitting me na.Since marami sila, natakot na ako.

Then they shouted, “bangain mo na, bangain mo na!”

I rolled down my window and shouted what is their problem.Still, they did not stop their “kuyog’ actions.Thus, I started xwind and shot out.The other car suddenly sped out din.

Grabe, takot ko talaga.When I calmed down a bit, I turned and drove round to see if they are still in the area…hoping to get a glimpse of them para ma-jot down ko man lang the plate number.Wasn’t able to see the car or anyone of the guys na. And so, I decided to go back to Kris’ house and parked at the bawal-side-for-their-cars-only na lang — thought to myself, mapagalitan na lang kesa mabalikan nung mga punks na yun where I usually park na side.

However, as I approached the house, the same car is back, now occupying my former parking space. I took a photo of it (plate WJW-259) and since papasok ng car yung isang bumaba kanina na nag-enter ng neighbor’s house, I shouted at him why they were banging my car a while ago.

He nonchalantly replied na the other kids who were walking daw mga yun.I told him, no, those kids were the ones who got off their car (which I noticed hindi kasing puno na ng passengers as kanina). Again, deny siya. And their car sped off.

Kris was mad bakit hindi ko raw tinawag mga drivers nila to come to my aid when the incident began à That time, I could not even think of anything else to do but to shout for those guys to stop ‘hurting’ xwind, and when they didn’t and with their shouts to bump my car, then automatic reaction ko was to start the car and drive away (I cannot even remember how fast I did this; buti in my panic, na-shift ko pa yung shift-stick!).

Kris was mad bakit I did not call their drivers when I saw the car the second time à First, in my mind then, I wanted to go near the car and be able to take down their plate number before they disappear na naman.Besides, how can I call anyone else when I was inside the car, the drivers are a few meters away inside their garage.Second, baka tuluyan pa nila si xwind if iwan ko to call the drivers.Third, I am inside a gated-community where I expect civilized people; thus, why would I need the backing of some brawns to ‘solve’ a problem?

Na-intermission ‘coz dumating si Kris and tinawag na kami for dinner.

Since my phone has a small screen, I cannot see clearly the photos I took – if na-register the plate number.Asked Kris if I can Bluetooth the photos to his phone with wider screen and zooming options.Ayun, napagalitan tuloy sa dining table for tinkering with phones and not eat as they were already eating.

Sigh sigh; nanginginig pa ako sa sinapit ko (delayed onset of trauma), I am still thinking of further actions (go to that neighbor for confrontation; or report to police)…naturally food is the farthest thing in my mind.

Recount recount what happened sa dining table…time ticking away.

Seeing I am still distraught, Kris gave me his phone to speak to the village security personnel.

Security people came a few minutes after. Recount the incident again.

Bottomline nila — baka hindi lang kasi napansin na may tao sa loob kaya they were hitting my car; lalo na medyo dark ang tint ng car ko.

So, kung walang tao ang kotse na nakaparada inside Magallanes Village, people therein can just thump/bump any parked car. Hookay.

Told them to log the incident pa rin. Trace the plate number and let me know if resident or guest yung car…but do not confront the car owner that I asked for a track down.

Kasi, if resident yung car, knowing pumasok yung isang tao sa house ng neighbor, I don’t want to create animosity between that house and house nila Kris; or worse, if they know pinapa-investigate ko sila, as counter reaction, they will make abang na my car and when I leave it there in the future, ‘saktan’ nila.

With the former reasoning, from experience kasi, I know how they value their neighbors more than how they considered how their action/words could affect me (aside, I am still suffering from what they have done to me and my boss that I can never really get past the big mess they created).

With the latter reasoning, with how I take care of our vehicles, how can I ever feel safe to drive and leave them in Magallanes Village, despite parking them properly in front of Kris’ house?

When I was alone na at the end of the day, I can’t help but cry hard.Post-trauma self-pity, feeling how defenseless I was.Nananahimik lang ako, protected my property when being harmed; yet, in the end wala rin naging positive action and ako pa ang mali for being “pasugod” lagi.

Replaying the scenes in my mind, I was wondering, what should I really have done?!The very moment may mali, natural instinct ko talaga is to demand stoppage of the wrong; lalo na’t wala naman ako sa highway where delikado tumigil and makipag-confront-an.

Siguro it would have helped if I created a racket too and honked my horn like there is no tomorrow.I guess pasalamat ako na I wasn’t harmed; and xwind is intact.Blessing din siguro that I did not disconnect the battery pa so I was able to get away (since nadidiskarga battery ni xwind, when I know I will park for a long time, I remove the battery connections). Sana talaga the guards stated my incident in their logbook so if this happens to me again, then, may “history” na and no further questions of proof especially it would just definitely be a case of he-said-she-said.

OMG!  I’ve just been married a little over two months and I found my very first white hair!  Huhuhu, I’ve always taken pride pa man din na all black hair ko…never been bleached nor colored at that!

Hala, married life aged me bad na agad!

Hmm, it may actually have been a by-product of the whole horrific wedpreps.  Okay, okay, not everything was horrific…only some people were. ‘nuf said!

Mighty day for the 0’96, Barnett, Kris, KRA staff, Manong-Joey-the-driver.

MORNING

1. Before the day began, we at Laoag Renzo Hotel first celebrated Mitch’s birthday over breakfast.

1. First stop: the Big house in Laoag to haul the Japanese lanterns to Sta. Monica Garden in Sarrat.

1. Set-up pa rin sa Sta. Monica Garden – Fort Ilocandia group, Municipality of Sarrat group, my florists, and the 096+Barnett

1. We left Riza and Shey to be our thinking people at Sta. Monica Garden.

1. The rest of us went back to the Big House to haul our wedding stuff to Fort Ilocandia Resort and Casino (FIRC).

1. At FIRC: Got the allegedly final list of rooms for our guests; checked-in; prepared some stuff for room-to-room distribution later.

1. Engkwentro sa FIRC Lobby.Sermon uli sa bride! Hay!To get over, apologized na — sigh sigh what a sight siguro, umiiyak na berby sa FIRC Lobby.

1. Then, set-up the welcome tarp sa may entrance ng FIRC.

1. Fetched Shey and Riza at Sarrat.

AFTERNOON

1. Lunch at Chicken Ati-Atihan — “mandated” to eat there.

1. Checked-out and get stuff from Laoag Renzo Hotel.

1. Back at FIRC to distribute items for guests at their rooms — welcome note, map of Ilocos Norte, fans, giveaway, thank you token for members of the entourage and those who did us favors; and thank you cards.

1. A reply to my “Thank You text” for our transpo — a let down alleging I how I neglected people and cause their family pain.Sigh, sigh.The afternoon and night before the wedding, pinagsasabihan pa rin ako ng masasakit na salita.

***Berby sobbing to friends* Uwi na tayo Manila; please, uwi na tayo Manila…

Pagod na pagod na ako, pero ang daming kailangan gawin.Kung sila kasi tumulong ng kusa, hindi maging alagain, at hindi na magpasama pa ng loob; then, nakakagana sana gawin lahat ng ito.***

Naku, pasalamat si Kris mabait mga 0’96 ‘coz I am sure, they would have abided, uwi na talaga kami Manila…if not, we’d just sleep in ng October 11. ha!

NIGHT

1. Big house for merienda-sena and meeting for final tasking.

1. Distribute thank you tokens and emergency kits to nephews and nieces.

1. Bride needs to have nails done daw; although I wanted to go with Shey and the other 0’96 to do final inspection at Sta. Monica Church and Garden.

1. Nephews and nieces preparing for MTV for their uncle; the snacks for tomorrow’s tour; and final touches on the principal sponsors’ gifts (Ilocos products — bagnet, chichacorn, garlic, pasuoquin bread, Zoom-in post cards, map of ilocos norte, thank you card, and sukang Iloco).

1. Paalam…and yes, hiniritan pa rin ng hurtful words.I swear, today is endless sa mga masasakit na salita!

1. Despite eating miki, gutom pa rin kami…drive-through sa Jollibee!Hehe, so what if hindi kakasya sa gowns?Hunger calls.

1. Finally, we’re at FIRC. Kanya-kanyang diskarte na:

1. Shey and I borrowed Ate Abi’s mannequin at her store in FIRC for the bridal gown.Since malayo, my gown maker did not provide one and I have no qualms na flat na lang pi-picture-an my gown.Pero, Shey insisted. Haha, olats ako sa kakikayan ni Shey!

2. Some 0’96ers, Julia, Sten, and Sten’s Mom busied themselves with ironing the gowns.Isuot ang gown sa mannequin, i-lay-out ang veil and bridal thingies.

3. Mildz, Vanny, Faye, and Roy talked about the flow sa church tom and nag-lay-out ng bridal suite for the pictorials.

4. Pam, Majah and I focused on the projected missalette and the flow of music (gasp, hindi ko pa pala na-folderize!)

5. GP and Betty practiced the missalette — bawal ang ma-wrong diction!

6. Everyone was shouting for me to do my ablutions and sleep na!

MIDNIGHT

1. When the rooms settled na, two things still bothered me: vows and the photo slide

1. I know Kris would do an Oath of Office.Ang pangit naman if I will not have any “legal” thing din.And so, I jotted down a simple vow in an affidavit format.

2. I know na-lay-out ko na lahat ng photos namin ni Kris in one folder for the photo slide during the reception. Marami rin yun ah. Sigh, I wonder why I am losing that folder.  Post note:  nasa USB flash drive pala na pinahiram ko kina RB.  They needed video converters kasi for their video presentation for Kris; promised to return my flash drive by 12mn; they took longer, that their mom did not allow them daw to get out of their room na to return so to me when they were done.  Shey tuloy had to re-compile all the photos I have in my laptop in one folder.  Ayusin na lang ni Pam for slide show before the reception.