| Twilight |
[30 Nov 2008|06:24pm] |
| [ |
music |
| |
Touch My Body (Mariah C) |
] |
Almost everybody has the idea that Twilight is an adaptation of Stephenie Meyer's four-series book.
Haven't read any of her books (as I never had the time to do that) so I couldn't really compare in full detail about the difference of the film from the novel.
Twilight has that interesting appeal for more female than male audiences. It's not your typical action-slash-violent vampire film (ala Van Helsing, Underworld) instead, it quietly unfolds the romance of regular high school introverted Bella Swan and the mysterious vampire Edward Collins.
Audience would have to sit for the next couple of minutes waiting for something climactic to happen as the movie would focus on the girl-meets-boy drama. Until Edward first demonstrates his supernatural abilities to save Bella from a vehicular accident.
From then on, Bella would realize the complications of knowing who Edward really is and the decision of accepting it all (cliche as this would sound) against all odds.
All main characters in the movie were made to interest the movie-goers, them with the fashionista wardrobe and the projected cool demeanor. In terms of acting, more is needed from Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson. Couldn't really feel her emotions and I am kind of hoping that Pattinson's going to be lethally-intimidating as Edward Collins ...if you know what I mean.
There were good picturesque scenes, clever modern cum witty dialogues.
Not that bad for the first movie ...they could do better with the second one.
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| All Ears ... . |
[27 Nov 2008|06:12pm] |
Website 611 Connect is still up and it's about to end come December 2009. So I am exerting extra eff' promoting, enticing people to dwop by ...just to take a peek or save a little comment or two (daily clicks on the site / visits will significantly help). Eeps.
Yep I accomplished three RAVE-iews:
1.) Nokia 6120
Phone which I really have hahaha. Nice phone to own. Given a chance to own any other touch screen babies, I'd still keep a classic such as this.
Seriously, given the moolah, I'd buy all old phones which I previously owned (Nokia 6101 *the fliptop*, N70, etc). I never really got tired of using them.
2.) HTC Touch
Special thanks to Abimelex TAMS Boy for letting me keep his phone for one full day. It was worth it. All the secrets in his Pandora's Box (hahahaha. jowk. he sent me an SMS the same night saying 'hmmm mukhang malaman ang inbox ko'. hahahaha. wasn't able to read it though. ahh heck.)
3.) Nokia E65
Nice sliding phone. I find small ones cute though but feature-wise, es excelente! =)
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| Merry, Merry Un- UnBirthday |
[25 Nov 2008|08:57am] |
Belated happy birthday to me last November 20 (Thursday).
I celebrated my birthday more steps happier this year ...with friends than family. I have to admit that a few years back, all I have to do on my big day was work, eat a little with a friend or two and then arrive home later than usual.
This year I woke up with smiles greeting my face. Then Jim and Brad prepared me a bowl of hot, tasty champorado.
I don't believe in good signs but there was a rainbow in sight as I head the whole SSH to work. It wasn't a partial fading rainbow (which we often get to see every now and then), the whole arch is visible ...and extremely subliminal!
Friends and colleagues greeted me at work. My boss is celebrating her birthday too. I was supposed to file for a leave of absence but we were having this major school event so I had to postpone it the day after.
Met with a dear friend for lunch at Shakey's.
Upon dismissal, we shopped for more grocery items (plus I bought myself a whole Red Ribbon chocolate mousse cake -- my most favorite sweet treat).
~*~*~*~*~*~
Night ended with a birthday greeting from long time blog friend Carlo / Br0wn_c0w who excerpted this from an Alice in Wonderland lit (FYI, I am a huge fan of Alice in Wonderland and has even studied most parts of the actual literature):
"But then." thought Alice. "shall I never get any older than I am now? That'll be a comfort - one way - never to be an old woman - but then - always to have lessons to learn!"
::Alice in Wonderland::
You may not be like Alice by age but you are surely like her by heart. Belated happy birthday, ganda. Ü
~*~*~*~*~*~
Yes, I couldn't ask for anything more
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| My Step to Peace |
[12 Nov 2008|06:53am] |
| [ |
mood |
| |
 calm |
] |
It’s a whole new different life for me now after having moved to a farther location with Nuts. It was a planned yet unplanned thing because we initially set the date come May 2009. Impatient with the set-up, we found ourselves canvassing for a cheaper place to stay.
It was hilarious. The house hunting, grocery / appliance shopping, and yeah, cooking real meals (as I could merely deal with instant noodle cooking and she, with plain frying).
My officemate Brad (and Jim) referred us to our current place as they’ve stayed in the same building for four months now.
Rent is cheap. It’s a two-storey, semi-furnished unit with a veranda, kitchen / sala and two bedrooms and an aircon. The only major items we bought were iron (there’s an ironing board in one of their cabinets), microwave and rice cooker. Bedroom looked fairly ordinary so we added a clean-looking comforter to give it a little personality.
We’re still adjusting. Happy to be together, living independently from our families, all comfy in the confines of the unit but I have to admit that we still have to fix certain things (PLDT-DSL application, re-paintings, more purchases). It’s all good though.
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| Bayad Ho |
[02 Nov 2008|02:11am] |
| [ |
music |
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Limang Dipang Tao (Lea Salonga) |
] |
"Don't forget to remember that your pay give directly to the driver"
I've had my shares of hilarious jeepney anecdotes both witnessed and heard from interesting peeps.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Mrs. Bean
Let's call her Mrs. Bean. Because every scene from her life is cute and funny at the same time.
Being the last passenger who boarded, she pushed herself hard in this unbelievably cramped space and held on tight on the steel bar on top of her. Getting all sweaty she pushed herself again. And again. Because her butt's closed to falling down.
Just when she's getting comfortable to getting more space, she felt a tap on her shoulder and a guy leaned close to her, "Miss, naiipit na ho ako". That was the time she realized that she's occupying the space in between the guy's opened legs.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Party Line
I overheard this while I was aboard LRT.
A girl was chatting non-stop on her mobile phone the entire jeepney ride. She was annoying most of the other commuters because she was so loud and laughing hysterically. In the middle of her conversation, her cellphone rang.
Her face bloody red, she managed a meek, "Ay sandali lang ha? Me call waiting ako hehehe."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Ever experienced doing an innocent 1-2-3? I had my chances of gripping my fare the entire ride ...and then calling out PARA ...then making my exit prior to realizing that I failed to give manong his valuable "salary".
Then there was that time when I left my wallet in my workplace and the only reason why I was able to reach Monumento was because I kept my MRT/LRT stored value cards in my pocket. The whole time I was aboard this jeep to home, I was leaning back hoping that the driver keeps his gaze away from me.
Heck. I am not an expert 1-2-3 artist in terms of PUJs.
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| Home Away from Home |
[01 Nov 2008|12:43am] |
I could go for a leave of vacay, not in some marvelous, to-rave-for Philippine hot spot (but don't get me wrong, I'm all for a tinge of that scenario) but in a comfy hotel.
Since Wednesday last week, I went out with Nut because she couldn't get any internet access in their province and she has to have that darn network connection to work (yeah, to hell with that so-called Smart Bro-ken who gave her a couple of headaches since July this year). Yeah, we stayed all tucked and comfy in Great Eastern Hotel - a three-star, low-priced hotel in QC.
...Me, nanggugulo as she efforts a smile while working hard.
For a Manila resident, I don't have that luck living my life in a hotel room. But I had my chances in most hotels with my family then friends. I could give a rundown ... .
1.) Westin Philippine Plaza / Sofitel
All I know is that, my family and I spent a night enjoying our posh stay. It's an all expense paid stay so there were no financial worries. And yeah, I was just a college student then. And do I have to mention, suffering from a hang over. I am not a carefree, party-hearty soul kulasa, but my friends and I partied the night before because we celebrated somebody's debut. I thought I could hit the bed as soon as I arrive home but my brother approached me and said that we have to go to Westin. So there. Haha. The whole time I felt like I was floating.
2.) Century Park Hotel
If I could just step in and pick any room ...I would. But I learned. Good hotels situated in the heart of the city couldn't be inexpensive. Their breakfast buffet is good. Very, very good. They serve a whole lot of clean tuna sashimis wheee. Located just across Harisson Plaza, you could just cross and do your shopping.
3.) Pan Pacific Hotel
This one's near Robinson's Manila. Mom has to work before the millenium so her company gave her that privilege to stay there on the last day of December 1999.
I could remember me spending two hours in a tub because a mini television is comfortably situated just a few steps from the bathing area. =) Then of course there was that moment when I spent the night as merry as I could (for tomorrow's going to be the millenium ...and they're saying, it's going to be the end of the world).
4.) Veniz Hotel
Hotel in Baguio City. It's located near Session Road so there's good access to regular restaurants, convenient shops and drug stores.
Made reservations via their website but had a hard time doing it. Then I sent them an email with inquiries. I received no replies. Sent an SMS message. I received a reply two weeks after, when we were on the way to the City of Pines. I wrote about it on their Feedbacks Form. I made another reservation last September via SMS. Received an immediate reply. Hurrah.
5.) Great Eastern Hotel - Quezon City
Eto lang. Cheap hotel (I couldn't find another three-star hotel that is cheaper), rooms are okay (adorned with maroon carpets, dimmed room and basic snacks in their mini bar), has lan connection per room (with nice internet speed).
Reservations staff, average rank and file employees aren't that pleasant (couldn't even smile or say thank you) and those who attended to me when I dialled local 1 (Room Service) and 2 (Housekeeping) to order hot drinking water kept pointing their fingers before they could ever get somebody to serve my request.
Roomboys are more courteous ...they respect their customers' need even if requests are made verbally along corridors (o di ba nasubukan ko na yun hahaha).
BTW, I am a huuuuge addict of that small dimsum place outside the hotel. Their siomai is worth the price (at P38) and their Jumbo Siopao is very tasty. Confession. I am an obsessed consumer of their hot sauce. So distinct.
Tip. Same dimsum can be ordered from the hotel. I'd rather go out though because it costs lower and tastes fresher.
6.) Great Eastern Hotel Makati
Another GEH branch but here's the comparison between GEH QC and Makati.
Advantages over GEH QC: Has more courteous staff, restaurants are located just near the place (in GEH QC you have to walk a little and then cross the flyover to get to Jollibee/Crossings/National Bookstore)
Disadvantages: Unlike GEH QC, Makati has no room internet connections (they only have it in the lobby), has smaller rooms and you have to ride two elevators just to get to the room (from ground to lobby and then lobby to the rooms).
Obviously I'd still pick GEH QC hehehe.
7.) Kabayan Hotel
Kabayan Hotel used to be Wise Motel ...until the day it closed and hung a signage, "Closed for the Glory of God". So from the old infamous hide out for intimate couples, it suddenly accomodated the needs of any Filipino family. This is the only hotel which I stayed in that has a bunk bed, a comfortable desk with several Catholic reading materials, another single regular bed, an available bottle of fresh cold water for new guests.
It's a three-star hotel and it surprisingly costs a little expensive because they provide their guests with free lunch and free breakfast. They're aiming Filipino families so they have different rooms to pick ...from the balikbayan pinoy who has to stay for a few days to a big family with other relatives in tow.
So far I also stayed in: Diamond Hotel (good buffet servings), Manila Pavillion (my favorite because of its rooms' simple layout), Mandarin Oriental Hotel (priced higher than the rest, I am not going to complain because their rooms have more than the basics: ironing bed, iron, coffee maker ...and actually hair iron hahahaha). Haven't tried any Ortigas room but I'd love to. =)
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| I Miss |
[21 Oct 2008|06:19pm] |
...those early morning wake-ups
... which we dreaded because we spent the previous night just plain having a good laugh and conversation
...those quick showers ...because we need to get out of our place by 5:00 am.
...the long lrt ride
...breakfasts at Krispy Kreme
...and that eager desire of making it until 4pm just to get home at start the day again.
We're going to find a way prolly in the next few weeks to come. =)
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| Globe Goes Pacman |
[16 Oct 2008|08:29am] |
| [ |
music |
| |
Crazy (Aerosmith) |
] |
What's up with Globe???
I've been a Globe user for how many years now and I actually enjoyed their service. Sad to say, I couldn't express the same thing anymore because for the past few weeks, I experienced delays in terms of receiving SMS plus I really had a hard time sending messages.
It was weird when Nuts and I were having this (usual) long conversation via SMS. It was fine until I received one of her messages but with a different number. I asked her if she used another Globe simcard. She denied it and said that the other card she has is a Smart Buddy sim. After sometime I received another message from her having a different Globe number. It went on until it reverted back to her original Globe number.
On top of that, she's been receiving some other "wrong sent" messages from random numbers.
Then she complained that she's been having trouble with her account balance. After loading a hundred bucks, it went down to 69. I got her phone and checked. In a matter of minutes, it decreased to 63. Then I re-checked, it went up to 68 and stayed for a while. This morning I suffered the same thing in my own prepaid account. I never really used it yesterday but was surprised when I tried sending another message only to find out that I have zero balance. I asked her via YM to check her account. From the previous P68, it's down to P6.
I received (wrong sent) SMS from anonymous senders ...which I ignored. However this one number was asking to be my textmate. She thinks my name is Raneil ...and her name is Patricia. So the whole night I had to practically endure the desperate pleas of Patricia because Raneil is ignoring her.
Life is beautiful to insanely swoon over some guy you are crazy about. If it's not working, move on (as for me, I'm moving on to Smart Bud if Globe continues with their bad service).
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| Pulling the Long Locks |
[12 Oct 2008|11:13pm] |
Shortest 'do after sporting long straight (then wavy locks) for three years straight. Had to maintain this one instead of eventually running after rebond. No problem with rebond ...but I'd rather not don super "dapa" hair ...plus I don't want to endure five hours at the salon:
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|
[11 Oct 2008|03:51pm] |
| [ |
music |
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Lumidee - Imagine Me and You |
] |
As November approaches, everybody's getting a little ecstatic ...what with the much awaited 13th month pay. Ü
Year 2008 presented me with newer things. New relationship, new problems to worry about, new friends, new experiences. My previous years were never this unusual. I can only be grateful (yes, even with the problems which almost made me pull my hair off).
I decided to go for the housing loan. I just realized that I had to give in to mudra's wish since anyway, her wish is certainly for a good cause (hindi nga lang sa akin). But I thought, she's getting old and even if she was totally mean to me, I'd feel guilty suppose she feels kawawa.
Then yes, there's the other plan. =) It's not going to be easy but ...we'll probably make it.
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| Mag Ingat Ka Sa ...Kulam |
[07 Oct 2008|11:52am] |
| [ |
mood |
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 blah |
] |
| [ |
music |
| |
Beat It (Michael Jackson) |
] |
Mag ingat ka sa ...Kulam is a pre-Halloween 2008 big flick by Regal which stars Judy Ann Santos as Mira.
First scene captures the tragedy of Mira, who emerges from her crashed car, all bloody and barefooted. She loses consciousness and awakens in a hospital beside her husband Paul (played by Dennis Trillo), to find out that she has traumatic amnesia as a result of the accident. From then on, Mira has experienced hauntings of Mira's ghastly version in white, of bloodied walls, of wails and threatening nightmares. She struggles to regain her memory of the past, strongly attempting to fill in her role as mother to her blind child Sophia (Sharlene San Pedro) and reverse her portrayal of a former adulteress to Dave (TJ Trinidad) who knows all about her history.
Kulam is not your typical witchcraft film. There's an unexpected twist near the end part of the film. Unexpected twist because every horror film has its own twist (if you know what I mean) . You sort of expect that there's going to be a twist along the way but this one is quite different.
Judy Ann's role is still excellent. So is Dennis Trillo's. TJ Trinidad's okay sana as Dave but he could have acted better as a supporting character. There's often that blank emotionless look in his eyes that's so prominent in the film.
Storyline is very satisfying. Fear and shriek factor rates high on the scale. Don't buy the pirated DVD copy, go out, buy your popcorn and lemonade (the more sour the better) and scream it out in the theater. It's a good entertainment.
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| Review Number 2 |
[04 Oct 2008|03:02pm] |
Okayy, I know this would seem desperate but I'm making this as another plug and plea to vote for my review in 611connect.com . It's a contest where we recently joined. Tough love, analyzing HTC Touch since I had to borrow the said unit from a friend of mine. I can only be grateful since he never gave me a hard time in freely browsing his phone. Anyway, here goes:
HTC Touch review
Oh well, had to make this one last Nokia review. I hope to submit it before this coming October 8.
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| Nokia 6120 |
[30 Sep 2008|03:35pm] |
| [ |
mood |
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 bouncy |
] |
| [ |
music |
| |
Gimme Gimme Gimme (Mamma Mia - OST) |
] |
Review I made. Please, if you have any helpful comments on Nokia 6120, feel free to write in the comments part. And if you find my comment useful and sensical, I'd be grateful for another vote. Thanks!!!! =)
Enter Review Page
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| Unlichix |
[26 Sep 2008|03:55pm] |
| [ |
mood |
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 silly |
] |
| [ |
music |
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Norwegian Wood (The Beatles) |
] |
Globe is currently running a trial period of their latest application, Unlichat. It functions as a Yahoo Messenger for mobile phones and supported phones can avail of it for free until October 4, 2008.
Online users could download it from their website.
Now, for my comments:
1. Installation is easy.
2. I've been using myGlobe Connect as access point and had some successful connections.
3. Experienced disconnection problems but there was this one full day when I was able to utilize this service without any concerns.
4. We noticed how hard it is to send and receive SMS from other Globe / non-Globe users upon logging out from Unlichat. Couldn't explain why.
5. Unlichat can easily drain phone batteries, hence the need to recharge.
6. A buddy and I tried using Unlichat while we're together. As I was looking at my friend's phone, an online status appeared beside my name while I was trying to connect. After successfully logging in, my mode finally changed to offline. Lol.
I don't know how much Globe is going to charge for this come October 5, but Unlichat has rooms for improvement.
I won't probably utilize this application (see item 5) unless I'm overly desperate to chat with someone from my YM friends list. Unlitxt is still the next best thing since slice bread. =)
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| Oro Plata Mata |
[22 Sep 2008|06:44pm] |
| [ |
mood |
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 pleased |
] |
Inquirer photojournalist Ernie Sarmiento is currently holding an exhibit, "Oro Plata Mata: A Photo Exhibit Celebrating 50 Years of Life and 25 Years of Professional Journalism" at the 4th Level of Trinoma Mall, Quezon City.
Relieve the most historical moments, get transported back during the 1986 period, the Ramos era, the numerous rallies which the country had.
Envision the lives of the other Filipino citizens in class and in poverty, as depicted in Mr. Sarmiento's well-captured portraits.
It is an exhibit that is definitely worth the visit. Enjoy it while it lasts from September 17 - 24, 2008. =)
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| Unhappily Ever After |
[19 Sep 2008|01:26pm] |
I don't usually browse Yahoo news but a certain report on Megan Fox caught my attention. The whole news article aside, this one (unrelated) statement of Fox regarding her dislike of Disney caught my attention:
"they (Disney) take these little girls (Cyrus / Hudgens), and they put them through entertainment school and teach them to sing and dance, and make them wear belly shirts, but they won't allow them to be their own people. It makes me sick."
So, so true.
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|
[15 Sep 2008|04:02pm] |
I was gone for three days spending time with Nuts in an inexpensive but quality hotel (not motel mind you). Three days worth of bliss!
Naturally, not one member of my family knows about it and since I am not on speaking terms with mudra, I SMSed Panda about it at around 10pm last Friday. I told him that I'll be spending the night at a friend's place with my colleagues.
I returned to our place come Sunday night.
And mudra, being her usual snotty self never asked me where I was, if I was doing okay, or if I've downed a dinner plate. She asked me, all haggard and frowning, "bukas tanungin mo ang accounting office niyo tungkol sa requirements ng pag-ibig housing loan!"
Then on top of that performance, she SMSed me about all pag-ibig housing requirements while I was doing my laundry in my room.
Wow.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
She was asking me about that loan a few months ago. She has this ridiculous plan of me getting a pag-ibig housing loan to purchase, of course, a new place for us. She assured me that she's going to pay for it every month and that the house is going to be placed under my name as her "pamana".
The house we are currently in belongs to mudra's three brothers. Since we have encountered several flood problems, she'd rather move to another place.
Our old-slash-original house on the other hand, is currently being rented by some tenants. Pamana raw ke Panda yung bahay na yun.
So gusto niya, bagong bahay talaga.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
I am ranting because if I'm going to move into a new place, I'd rather have Nuts with me. It's either Nuts or nada.
Ayoko silang kasama kasi maingay sila masyado and they could mess up any room. And obviously, ayoko silang kasama because I am not getting along with mudra na konting bagay, ang init init agad ng ulo.
I have no complaints about Panda. Saklay siya ng mudra so they go together hand in hand.
I don't want any negative vibes in my life.
I am ranting because all my life, I struggled for their affection. Still I gained nothing but experienced extreme favoritism.
Now that I am old enough, I'd rather live to support myself. I'd rather let myself have, the kind of life which they weren't able to let me experience.
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| Dough and Doh |
[11 Sep 2008|11:05am] |
| [ |
mood |
| |
 determined |
] |
| [ |
music |
| |
Outta My Head (Ay Ya Ya) - Ashlee Simpson |
] |
Read in one article from way back that being in a job is almost the same as being married. And if you're tired of it, there will always be several options of "resuscitating" it. The whole article is clever ...and idealistic. I wish I could go back to my dumpsite and make a dive for that feature but that would be pretty tough since I've collected three types of glossy mags for more than four years now.
I started my stint in my workplace as a happy person. Fast forward to now, it's not that I am a disappointed, unhappy employee but rather, I'm becoming more contemplative and practical. I mean, I couldn't always eat the same dough and live the same old life. I really have to LIVE. I wasn't hell bent on this until I found the answer last June. All I have in my head are plans ...and making that big switch in terms of my career life is going to be the ultimate solution.
I wouldn't be leaving suppose they provided me with sufficient career growth. I couldn't blame them entirely. Being in an educational setting is far different from being in an industrial place ...promotion is intended for educators, not for administrative professionals.
It's time to grow up.
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| Trip to Baguio |
[18 Aug 2008|08:02pm] |
In celebrating my gf's birthday and our __-month anniv (I am so petrified in producing that 'monthsary' term for that), we hopped on a Victory Liner bus and headed to Baguio for a three day stay.
Of course it will always be impossible to come out in the public. If it's hard to go out with another boyfriend for a couple of days, how much more if you've threaded the road to same sex relationships?
But well, how was it like right now? I am loving every minute with her. She's never given me serious headaches, she's tougher than any guy I know, is more humane than the metrosexual dude, is hell determined in life, has more balls than the macho man. Above all, I never had any heartaches to whine about.
We couldn't come out. Yet. Still we could walk side by side, hands clasped and laugh about it because nobody could ever guess that we're a couple.
I filed for a leave of absence, not indicating any reason but vacation leave. Then talked with an immediate head about going out with friends to Baguio. Partially true hahaha.
So anyway, we stayed in Hotel Veniz. As for my verdict:
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
I've had this Hotel Veniz leaflet, given to me by mom prior to my barkada Baguio getaway last May. We never stayed in Hotel Veniz because we opted for a small house which could accomodate all eight of us.
So when gf and I talked about plans of going there, I made online reservations to Veniz (Veniz is way cheaper than some small hotels in Baguio). After a week, I sent another e-mail to them. Then an SMS. We received a response from them two hours before reaching Baguio.
Hmm. Lesson number 1. They could have checked their mail and sent us a reply.
The hotel is located in Abanao Street. Session Road (ahh, my favorite Baguio part) is very accessible, and so is Baguio City Market.
The lobby is okay, the room itself very comfortable, well-lighted, oh so clean. They have a spacious closet (with a security box which we found very useful), a regular dresser, one full body mirror, a two-person dining set. The bathroom has the usual complete grooming kit plus a hair blow dryer (yey!). Two thumbs down though. One, there's no bath tub. Second, their heater is malfunctioning (we'll switch it to the right warm temperature then in a few seconds, it'll turn ice cold).
We never had any problems with their staff ...they're very accomodating and courteous. We were served with free breakfasts. It's always best to try their longganisa servings (plus spicy vinegar). Night time, we requested for two hot chocolates ...sweet and tasty.
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