atis

Tell me. Who would buy a 5-dollar atis (sugar-apple, as known internationally)? Maybe someone who has lots of money and simply wants to eat one. Or maybe someone who considers atis as the most delicious fruit ever that has grown on earth. Or maybe someone who considers eating atis as to having sex - it takes him to another dimension. I hardly fit on the first description. But the last two would more or less describe my craving for this fruit. I can certainly finish a cartoon-full of this groovy sugar-filled delight in one day even if my tonsils would cry out for help for sweetness sake. And even if I know for sure that the next day my tonsils would grow twice its size making me really sick and have to pay bucketfull of money for expensive antibiotics.

And there I was, inside the grocery store, standing in front of the basket where huge atis are neatly stacked on top of each other, forming a pyramid. To buy or not to buy? That is the question. Damn! These fruits grow everywhere from where I came. Here it's priced almost 200 pesos a piece!!! I contemplated for a minute. As I am only human and therefore weak, I quickly picked one and headed straight to the counter before raising any doubt.

So, it all leads me now at my table writing this entry while happily savoring every pulp of sweetness from my 5-dollar atis. And just like sex, I'm in heaven.

P.S.

Please bear with my pic. I don't have any kick-ass DSLR yet or even a decent point-and-shoot for that matter.

say what?

I have these funny experiences that I just have to write here or risk losing it with dementia.

I was waiting for my items at Rose Pharmacy in SM Cebu when a girl stood beside me and asked the sales lady, "Naa moy temperature?". To which the sales lady politely replied, "Thermometer imo ganahan paliton?".

In a profile of a famous picture sharing website, a boy posted a queston about a sexy photo of a pretty girl, "Are you a model, aren't you?".

Two of my friends and I were talking about our common friend and her excapades in a far away country. It was a serious discussion until my other friend tried to defend her and said, "Dili pod ta mo-judge diretso uy. Let's look at the sides of the two coins.".

things to know - childhood and early teens

We have the culminating event for our Excellence Week today. I'm assigned to man the booth for the grave yard session: 9PM - 12AM!!!! I don't feel like working now so I compiled these.

20 Things to Know About Me.

01. Although, I have lots of playmates during early childhood, there are times that I wanted to play all by myself.

02. I'm a music fanatic. My grandpa had this huge collection of vinyl albums stored in boxes. When i was 5, I would pull out grandpa's monophone on a table and those boxes of vinyl albums, sit in front and enjoy listening to those classics - local and foreign artists alike.

03. When I was 7, my sister convinced me to collect stationeries. Not knowing what they're for, I collected a lot until my next door neighbor stole everything away.

04. I'm a big tennis fan since I was 7. There's a tennis court a minute away from my house. Sadly, my mom can't afford to buy me a racket and would not allow me to 'ballboy'. I still wanted to learn right now but can't summon much energy to go to a tennis court and lift a racket.

05. I'm a nature lover. I've known that since I was 8. I felt very guilty cutting down tree branches for our games.

06. When I was 8, I got my first watch as a birthday gift from my godfather. I became a "watch lover" since then but don't have money to buy and collect.

07. When I was 9, I once saw an evil spirit or more like an ugly spirit walking beside me.

08. I'm a collector. When I was 9, I have a huge collection of local comics, mostly horror and comedy. But friends and neighbors borrowed and lost most of it.

09. Aside from rubber bands, marbles and cigarette packs, I also started collecting stickers since I was 8. I would put those stickers at the back of my notebooks and at the end of the school year, cut out and kept the covers. I continued this until 5th grade. Until now, I still have those stickers.

10. I also have a few collections of trump cards since I was 9. And yes, I still have those collections with me.

11. I get easily addicted to anything - computer games, video games, manga, anime, tv shows, books, photography, etc. One time when I was 9, Mom asked me for an errand for her dish. Well after lunch time, I still didn't return. Mom had to pick me up at the video game arcade and spank the hell out of me after.

12. I kept a box full of memories. During elementary and high school years, we usually have those silly retreats and some activites would require us to give something to a person. I kept what I received and have it with me til now.

13. At 12, I wanted to know social sciences. Before elementary graduation, I sneaked out a book from the library and never returned it. The book is all about human behaviour. Unfortunately, I only finished chapter 1.

14. Before going to high school, I memorized how to pray the rosary. I was afraid the nuns wouldn't let me enroll if I don't know how to pray.

15. I became a devout catholic the whole high school period. Mostly because, I studied in a catholic school.

16. After high school, I wanted to know more about religion and started reading about Hinduism, Buddhism, Islam, etc.

17. I first saw MTV when I was 14 and immediately became a big fan. I would waste hours and hours sitting in front of the boob-tube and watching those videos.

18. At 16, I saw Rage Against The Machine on MTV and became a metal lover since then.

19. I once like local movies but after high school, I found them to be a waste of time.

20. I received 13 medals during high school graduation. Half for the academe and the other half for extra-curricular activities. I was student council president and an SK chairman at the same time.

leaving

I know I have to go but it's like I don't wanna leave. Family, friends, love one/s, travels with friends and love one/s, and all the comforts Cebu has offered me - these all came playing on my mind as I stroll my luggage towards the airport check-in counter. But unlike Hollywood movies, I stepped into the plane without somebody shouting from behind to have my plane stopped, while struggling with security guards professed her undying love to me. No. This is real life though it didn't stop me to pause and look behind just to see if somebody familiar was there. But all I see are faces of strangers minding their own businesss and minding others as well. This is it.

I've been away from the country a few times but the feeling of going away for good is different. All of those trips I was excited to leave but this time I feel sad. Sad and anxious at the same time.

Geez! I never expected I can be this deep.

I've always known that I'll be leaving Cebu this year. I've known that since last year. On the last quarter of 2007, opportunities started to come in - USA, Europe and Asia. Obviously, opportunities in Asia were last on my list. I'm almost certain I'll go to Europe. I passed all the interviews. Then, the long wait. For more than 2 months, I didn't hear any word from them. 1st quarter of this year, I was invited to come to this country for the interview. All expenses paid. That was my first time to visit here and there's something in the place that intrigued me.

It's been more than a month since I left Cebu and all I can say is "okei-lah".