Joke time:Tayo na lang

True-to-life story ito, pwamis.

Kuwento ni kumander about her officemate one or two years ago. Asa Cebu Airport sila, booking a ticket for Manila that leaves right away. They just came from the Ad Congress na kakatapos lang, so ang daming pauwi:

Ticketing agent: I'm sorry Mr. [officemate], but there are no more seats. Bukas na lang po kayo lumipad.

Officemate: Naku po, hindi pwede, wala na ba talaga? Kelangan ko na umuwi
today...

Ticketing agent: I'm really sorry. The waiting list is very long too...

Officemate: Sige na miss, please-please.. Maski tumayo na lang ako...

Errr. Ano yun, bus sa edsa??? Hehehehe...

Hayyy, miss ko na ang usok sa EDSA

The day the geeks got the chicks

Naku po! Nagkalat ang mga geeks sa Queen St. Normally nagtatago sila sa kanilang mga kuwarto nilalaro ang kanilang mga Thundercats, Batman, Star Trek or Transformers na laruan, or nangongolekta ng anime or X-men comics. Pero that weekend, it was cool to be a geek.

Ket? Kasi it was the Armageddon weekend.

Pero wag ka, pag sinabi mong "geeks" eh hindi lang yung mga stereotype dudes na overweight na nakasalamin, or yung nakatrak-suit na napapanood ko noon sa Revenge of the Nerds. Me nakita rin akong mga cro-cross over Marilyn Manson disciples, complete with eyeliner, stud belts at creepers (nagpagawa ako nun sa recto eh, hehe )

And since ginawa sya sa Aotea Square, where I do part time work, libre entrance ko. Abah, mahal sya ah, $15 a ticket. So kasama ang aking asian posse, ni-raid namin ang Armageddon. Syempre hindi ako papatalo, nag-costume din ako. Gusto ko sanang dumating as my favourite pinoy heroes, like Jovit Moya, Jojo Alejar, Ed Broson or JC Bonin, kaso baka hindi nila makilala.

Me dressed as my favourite pinoy super hero, complete with pang-taga ng lechin

Goldilocks? Grettel? Mary had a little lamb? Malay, pero katakot sha ha...

Watching the cosplay competition (The Joker & Harlequin), at the Maori Princess Leah

Naku po, Mang Tomas-Man, hari ng mga sarsa, caught eating smelly Filipino food.. Hups!!

Mang Tomas-Man uses his greesy reflexes to turn the tables... Anak ng..
The Chinese guy is my friend Jack (Jack??? Anu ba namang pose na yan??? Pang That's?? Hehehe)

Zombie: Arrrrrr, you smell like liver sauce, bangu-banguuuu (Of course jack posing again).


Pillow fight at the ASB Theatre stage! Andyan po ako s gitna nakikipagbakbakan (Hahahaha, kayang kaya ko pala upakan ang mga Maori "Sige! Magsumbong na kayo sa mga tatay nyo! Umm! Harharhar)

Ulo ng mga katrabaho ko pang ushers (Tsk-tsk-tsk.. Are all Filipinos like himm???)

HBD Pam!

Birthday ng kumander ko ngayon.

I can't believe it's been 15 years since we first met. Sa school, although hindi ko pa sya pinapansin noon. Wala eh, busy ako sa studies ko at iwas sa chicks, alam mo naman...

Then again, I do remember the first time I saw her. It was the first day at uni, she walked towards me, turned around, and sat right in front of me. She was with her friend abby (and a gay guy called manuel which I thought for a minute was her papa). She had short hair, just cut below her chin, at medyo me pimple breakout pa sya(hehe). She was already wearing the school uniform which I though was odd (baka sipsip sa teacher, hmp).

And I remember her eyes.

Among all the people I know, she's the only person I know that I remember the very first moment I laid my eyes on her. It's like that fleeting--but significant--moment when you say "Hmmm...."

Who knew that that would eventually mean:

"Hmmmmhoneytamanaaaaaaaaamekilitiakudyannnhihihihi..."

Which then became:

"HmmmmanganganaknaakooooooooooooOOOOO"

And less than a year later:

"Hmmmmanganganaknaakoooooooooooongkamballllllllll"

And finally:

"HmmmmangokanasakamapumasokkanasaopisparamekakaininkameeeeeeEEE"

Kaya tuloy andito na ako sa NZ, sila na Pinas, at nagiipon para mapalaki ang munti ngunit masaya naming pamilya, hehehe.

Kidding aside, Pam, mami, my love, my among tunay, happy-happy birthday.

See you and the kids on December.



Playing in my mind right now:

I'm a little bit of crazy

I'm a little bit of a fool

I'm a little bit of lonely

I'm a little bit of all

Oh, I need a cure

Just a little bit of you

And I will fall

Are you smarter than a 10 year old?

Me, apparently not. While in Western Springs, feeding the birds with the Laserna family:

Tuny: Maymay! Sa palagay mo ba eh pag pinagtabi mo yang manok
na yan, at isang manok sa Pilipinas, eh magkakaintindihan
sila???

Maymay: Eh syempre inde ninong nohhhh!!!!

Tuny: Owzzzz... Bakit mo naman nasabi???

Maymay: Syempre, ang mga manok sa Pilipinas ang tunog eh Tik-tilaoooook!!! Eh dito ang tunog ng mga manok Coooocka-doodle-doooo!!!

Oo nga naman.

Sinong magaakalang si May-may ang makakasagot ng katanungang ito.

Brought to you by the #2

Alam nyo bang sa kultura ng mga Koreano, eh napaka-importante ng number 2?

Ket kamo?

Eh kasi naman sa tuwing nag papa-kuha sila ng picture, eh parang inde nila mapigilan ang sarili nilang itaas ang daliri nila. As in isa, if not all, naka V.

Meron nga akong kilalang Samoan, nababanas na minsan, "if I see another V sign, I'll break their fingers..." Taray...

Dito pa naman sa Auckland, ang daaaammmiii nila. Usually makikita mo sila nakabaon ang mga mukha sa mga monitor ng gaming stations dito.

Well, sa aking lang eh, ika nga ni Yosimite Sam sa Looney Tunes, if you can't beat them, join them.

Me trying to prove a point.
Sino sila? Malay. Nakita ko lang mga yan sa Lion Rock nung
tramping namin sa Piha.

Ozkar Delahoyyyyahhh

Salamat to Meimei & Bakeks for leading me to this photo.

Sabi nung mama na naka blue: Oscar, dako ka falaaaaaaa!!

Zo kaka ang dalawang ito(Kakatuwa ha). Check out their Baduy site at When Baduy Happens.

Happy Feet: Soundtrack of my life

I own an MP3 player, and personally think its the best thing that happened to running since the invention of the water bottle.

It wakes you up. It motivates you.

All your dreams are made

When you're chained to your mirror with your razor blade

Today's the day that all the world will see

Need a little time to wake up

Need a little time to rest your mind

What's the story morning glory

[Morning Glory, Oasis]

It pumps you up.

Im the trouble starter, punkin instigator
Im the fear addicted, danger illustrated
Im a firestarter, twisted firestarter
[Firestarter, Prodigy]

Keeps you company.

I tried to give you up
But I'm addicted
Now that you know
I'm trapped sense of elation
Breaking this fixation
You will squeeze the life out of me
[Time Is Running Out, Muse]

It paces you.

Messin with my mind, I wake up
Chase down an empty street
Blindly snap the broken beats
Said it's gone with the dirty trick
It's taken all these days to find ya
I tell you I want you
[Club Foot, Kasabian]

It keeps you going...

Go write your message on the pavement
Burnin' so bright I wonder what the wave meant
White heat is screaming in the jungle
Complete the motion if you stumble
The world I love, The tears I drop
To be part of, The wave can't stop
Ever wonder if it's all for you
[Can't Stop, Red Hot Chili Peppers]

And keeps you going...

Life goin nowhere. Somebody help me.
Life goin nowhere.
Somebody help me, yeah.
stayin alive.
Youre stayin alive,
stayin alive.
[Stayin Alive, Beegees]

Nagtatanong lang po: What's running in your MP3 today?

Happy Feet: New toys | Domain Forest Walks

Look at my feet. Naka-smile.

Ket?



New toys! Ala eh, kaming mga boys pag na-ho-homesick, dinadaan sa pag sho-shopping ng mga hobbies namin. Naalala ko tuloy mga Tito kong nag-Saudi dati, na pag nagpapadala ng pics, laging katabi ang bago rin nilang laruan(component, TV, betamax, or while hawak-hawak ang micropono ng kanilang bagong karaoke).

Sale sa Kathmandu Queen St., and I bought (at 50% off):
- Polycarbonate active bottle (NZ$6.95)
- Headtorch dual light (NZ$39.95)
- Polycarbonate cuttlery (NZ$3.95)
Total: NZ$50.85

Papicture sana ako katabi mga eto, kaso wa-class (ano ako, mag-pose para ipagyabang plastic na tinidor at bote? Hehe). Luma na pala yung MP3(Creative Zen V+), yung Philips sports earphones ang bago. Nalalaglag kasi plugs ko pag pinapawisan tenga ko, so asked Val to get me one with earhooks (discounted, he works at Dick Smith kasi).

Tamang-tama ito dito...

New trails!

Green dots mark the trail.



Click here for more photos of the trail.

The Auckland Domain Forest Walk is a 2K trail lined by thick vegetation(silver ferns!), old trees, and a stream that flows from Auckland's first water source. It's a trail that runs parallel my running route home. A portion is near a railway, na pwede mo karerahin ang metro tren when it passes(tapunan ko kaya ng basura sa bubong). It's also alive with birds. Today I saw a flock of parrots beside the trail. Kainis ala akong net, sarap ibenta sa Cartimar, hehe.

My feet trying to spell "L". Playing in my mind now:
Johnnys always running around
Trying to find certainty
He needs all the world to confirm
That he aint lonely
Mary counts the walls
Knows he tires easily

Filipino English: Huy!

While ushering Cinderella, by the Royal New Zealand Ballet, I was asked by the Front of House supervisor of the ASB Theatre to usher Hellen Clark to her seat. Instructions were she will be sitting on row R, and her security behind her on row S.

Usher Tuny: Good evening Prime Minister...
HC: [Inde nakikinig, chumi-chika. Malapit na kasi election eh].
Usher Tuny: Prime Minister, this way please...
HC: [Not listening, at pumasok na lang bigla sa row S]

Usher Tuny: HUYYY!!!!!
HC: [Napalingon]

Usher Tuny: Err.... Hi Madame Prime Minister, the next row
please.

Buti na lang inde naintindihan, baka ipatapon ako nito sa kangkungan, hehehe.

Homer, kilala mo ba yung usher na na Huy sakin? How rude...

My new idol. Yu Tamayaka, principal dancer of the Royal New Zealand Ballet, and

plays Cinderella in the latest production.

Nagtatanong lang po: ang kalapati ba..

Nagtatanong lang po.

At ang tanong ko ay: Pag isang kalapati sa Pinas, at isang kalapati dito sa NZ, eh pinagtabi mo....

Magkakaintindihan kaya sila?

Kung oo, eh ibig sabihin ba noon ay mas matalino sila satin? Eh tayo kelangan pang mag-aral ng English para maintindihan ang mga Kiwi't Americano.

Isa pang tanong.

May accent din kaya ang Pigeon Kiwi-English nila? (Instead of Koooo...koooo... eh Kiiii... kiii...)

Oh mga bastos ang isip, tsk-tsk...

Nagkaballet-ballet

I've started enjoying the ballet.

What?????

Sabi ni kuya "Akin kah, boy"

I did two shows this week. The Festival of Russian Ballet, featuring the Imperial Russian Ballet Company, and Cinderella, featuring the Royal New Zealand Ballet.

Watching them you saw they were two entirely different animals. The Russians exuded arrogance and umph. Para bang "Um, p-ina nyo tumabi kayo dyan, iikot ako dyan." They did a combination of the world's best programmes such as Don Quixote, The Dying Swan, Giselle, and my favourite, Bolero.

Ang Royal New Zealand Balet naman eh parang "Weeeee, umiikot ako!" Then again it was Cinderella. They did some changes to the Disney story I know, such as instead of rats and horses, they used crickets and butterflies. I guess its hard to imagine a rat and a horse dancing.

So how did they compare? The Russians were way better. And sexier (Grrrr). Shocking Asia nga lang pag yung mga lalaki na naglulundag(nasa harap pa na naman ako). It was just out there, and kita mo kung baluktot ang pagka-tuck in (nasusuka ako...).

My Weird Manilyn Reynes Dream

My gulay, I had the weirdest dream last night. It was so weird ang unang nabangit ko pag gising eh "Bakeeetttt.."

Let me explain.

In my dream, I was watching a show, I'm not sure kung sa TV or nasa loob ako ng theatre. Then suddenly, out comes dancing and singing on stage were...

The Triplets....

The Maynard Triplets from American Idol

Err.. Sorry, inde pala yang triplets na yan(Edi inde na sana ako nagising, hehe).

Ang Triplets na tinitukoy ko eh no other than Manilyn Reynes, Tina Paner at Sheryl Cruz. THE Triplets. Sa panaginip ko, syempre like before, si Manilyn Reynes ang bumabangka, at nagsasayaw sya't nag-twist-twist pa, even though medyo lumobo na sya. At they were dancing ang singing to an oddly familiar song that goes ~~Almost married in Juneee...~~. I asked certified Triplets fan, my friend Tita Juz, and she confirms that there's no such song.

Could not find a Triplets image of Manilyn, Sheryl and Tina, so opted for this one

Ang tanong ko lang eh... Whyyy? What's the point??? At of all things and people, baket si Manilyn Reynes ang napanaginipan ko???

Dahil kaya mabubuhay na uli career ni Manilyn Reynes sa Pinas? Or magkakasalubong kami sa Queen St. at tulad na MTV niya, kakanta kami "Bakit Ba Ganyan" with me being Dingdong Avanzado??? Inde naman ako fan nila, at wala naman kami Filipino channel sa flat namin.

Nasisira na ata ulo ko dito sa NZ. Baka may magaling mag interpret ng dreams sa inyo (helppppppp).

Ewan ko, bakit ba ganyan

Damdamin ay di maintindihan?

Kailangan ang pag-ibig mo

Dahil sa ako'y nagmamahal sa 'yo

Magmulaaaaa

nang kita'yyyyyy
makilalaaaaaaaAAAAAHHHH

[Ok boys, you can kill me now]

Kaululan at KFC

Pagdilat ng mata ko kanina, tatlong salita ang agad na bumagabag sa isip ko:

Comfort food ko ang KFC. Ewan ko ba, pag kumakain ako nito eh sumasaya ako. Ang malutong at gold na balat, ang maalat-alat na gravy, tapos sasabayan ng dalawang mainit-init na cup of rice... Ahhhhhhhh...

So I laced up my shoes, and ran down lower CBD to buy KFC.

Larger, Better
Blue dots starting route
Maroon dots return route
A= start point,
Red block w/white spot=KFC store

I now name this as The KFC Running Route, hehehe. It's about 15Km from our flat to the jetty and back, and features the beautiful bay area, lined by yachts and Rangitoto island watching beyond the coast. Its a favourite running and cycling spot, with a beach where you can stretch and meditate. I started my run at 11PM, was sunny, but the air was so fresh and cool, it was alright. Click here to see photos of my earlier runs at the bay.

OK, I lied. Hindi KFC ang unang naisip ko when I woke up. But passing by it was soooo irresistable, I could almost smell the gravy. Para bang tinatawag ako ng manok na mascot at sinasabi "Tuny, kainan naaaaaa....."

New playground: Mt. Eden, CBD

I felt motivated enough this morning to run a route I've been aching to do since last week, the Maungawhau volcanic challenge, an 8.5 kilometres dash from Symonds St. to Mt. Eden.

Click here to read the route

Maungawhau is the Maori name of Mt. Eden, is an extinct volcano(I hope) that juts out of the Auckland CBD. The plan was to start from Wakefield, Symonds, turn left to Park Road, then up to Mountain Road. When I saw the map, I expected a straight forward and leisurely urban run, leading to a killer uphill to Mt. Eden. Ho-hum.

Until...

Trails!! Woo-hoo!!

Aysus, lumawit dila ko doon ah.

The entrance to the park was an asphalt walking path but immediately turning to single track trails (with roots, ruts and all) and leads all the was up to the highest point. I walked a good part up with my achilles(tama ba spelling? Hehe) starting to ache. After stretching and taking in the sights and fresh air, I ran around the crater and went through beautiful gardens that led to look-out points.

This is perfect training for the 21st. And the view ain't bad either.

Sabi ng cow "Balang araw makaka-akyat din ako sa Skycity..."

That's the creater. With lava (joke, gravel ata yun)

I went down via Mt. Eden Road, passed by St. Benedict, down Queen St., and up Wakefield. Started at about 8Am and ended around 10AM. I'll time this properly next time, feeling tourist kasi ako kanina eh.

Ayus na Tuny Day this week, bring it on!

**Btw, photos ain't mine, right click to check where they're from.

Tuny's Day: Went Tramping

I need a break.

Working 7 days a week for the last 5 months, including some dragging as much as 13 hours a day, has taken its toll in me. Some days I just felt I was falling into depression, and here in New Zealand, that's actually classified as a serious mental sickness. We don't want that happening with about 77 days, 2 hours and 19 minutes to go till my return home.

So I created Tuny Day. It's one day of the week that I do something I like, or something new, or something crazy(or weird). Something all for myself.

Me, me, me, me.

My first Tuny Day last week(Sept 29), I organized a tramping trip with friends, including ones from Auckland Pinoys I met just on that day. We went to the Waitakere Ranges and did the McKenzie-Maungaroa Ridge track.

Started at 10am, and finished the circuit at about 2PM. We had two hours and enjoyed Piha, Auckland's surfing destination(Nakow! Ang mga mata ng mga girls napako sa mga lawlaw na shorts ng surfing dudes nagkalat, hehe) , and even climbed the Lion Rock.

It's amazing how 35 minutes away from where I live you can find a place like this. And this was just one trail from Waitakere's many. Tramping btw is New Zealand english for hiking. Good weather, light hiking, lots of posing, good company, it was great. I came back home fresh, ready for another grind.

Wonder what I'll do next week (excited!).

Manson & Bernstein

What do Marilyn Manson & Leonard Bernstein have in common?

Absolutely nothing :)

Trinabaho ko last night ang concert ni Marilyn Manson at the Town Hall. Yes, ang bahay ng Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra at ng Opera ay sinugod ng mga punk, bogans, head-bangers at kung ano-ano pang mga strange creatures na naglabasan sa kanilang mga butas. Ika nga ng mga Kiwi, they came out of the woodwork!

Nagkakandarapa nga ang mga gunggong sa harap ng pinto ko, nagmamaka-awang makapasok para makapwesto sa harap. Akala naman nila matatakot nila ako sa mga mowhawk, eyeliner, facial piercings at mga tatoo nila (Ang lalaki kaya ng mga Maori security sa tabi ko, hehe).

Well hindi ko sila masisisi. Andyan kasi ang panginoon nila eh.

Images from Stuff.co.nz

Naku po! Pak-syet! Yeahhhh! Um! Um! Um! Naalala ko tuloy yung NU107 days ko. Pero in fairness, mababait sila at masunurin ha, maski kalahati sa kanila sabog at lasing. Kapagod nga lang at twice nagka-evacuation kasi tumunog ang fire alarm.

Today naman I just came from the Aotea Center and worked the Auckland Philharmonia's Vero Series, one of their lighter shows, featuring popular works like Webber and and Bernstein. No Beethoven and Vivaldi tonight. Kung mukhang mga demonio ang nanood kahapon, ngayon naman eh mga mukhang zombie.

Ket? Kasi po mukhang ang pinakabatang nanood eh 134 years old.

Inantok ako sa 1st half, pero after the interval they played Bernstein's West Side Story and Khachaturian's Sabre dance. Exciting (A-choo! Totoo po, hehehe). I'm sure ma-re-recognize nyo yung last. Palagi kasi itong nalalagay sa soundtrack (Yung tipong pag nagkakagulo na ang mga bida sa pelikula).

Filipino English: The Teka

Si Mariz. Isa sa mga close friendship ko dito sa Middle Earth, at nagtratrabaho as marketing executive/receptionsit sa Constellation:

Kiwi Boss: Mariz, I need you to call this person now...
Mariz: [Me kausap sa phone na client] Yes... Ok.... And...
Kiwi Boss: I'll just write a note ok? I need to go. It's easy, you just have to
call....
Mariz: [Me kausap pa rin sa phone, minamadali...] Alright... I
have...
Kiwi Boss: Mariz do you understand, I have to...
Mariz: TEKA-TEKA-TEKAAAAA!!

Boss: Huh?
Mariz: I mean, teka... Just... Teka... Minute... Teka minute sir!

Ehehe...