Summa time!!!

Enemy approaching... Dive! Dive! Dive!

Showing off my camera (not the best photos, but sometimes the best camera is
the one you can take anywhere, anytime).

Ang sarap ng summer. More here.

Pixel Me Silly: Wag Matakot sa Ulan...

Santa's Little Helper, nakow, bilisan mo ma-late na tayo....


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Uulan ata, tsk-tsk-tsk...



Bat ka matatakot sa ulan kung sa taas ng ulap ka naman papunta. Parang buhay immigrant (Arya! Sugod lang ng sugod!). Reminds me of the line from YGM:

You're daring to march into the unknown armed with... nothing. Have a sandwich.

Tongariro National Park. Me nilalamig (payatot kasi, hehe...)

More here from our Christmas Day '08 Tongariro National Park Roadtrip. My second trip, the first was with Bernard completing the Northern Circuit.

Always a first

Hmmm... masyadong maliit.

....

Perfect! Pssttt... Lagariin na yan.

Our very first Christmas Tree. Yes, totoong puno yan, and ang bango-bango. Worth $35 lang yan (Or P1,000). Para tumagal kailangan sa timbang may tubig nakalagay.

It's Guyyyyy Smiley!!!

Merry Christmas to everyone! At ang regalo ko sa inyo, ladies & gentlemen, isang makatindig-balahibong linedancing to Jackson 5's I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Clause!

Ang galing ni Lola. Bonus points sa makakita kay Lolo High-waist...

Pixel Me Silly: Ambury

Bok-bok-bok-boook!

Clokotokotokotok.....

Moooooo....



..... (Silence of the Lambs). Pag umutot ang mga ito (sheep), lagot tong tatlong ito.

Takbo Tuny, Takbo! (Run to Work Greenlane)

According to SheepWorld.co.nz, the first Sheep were landed in New Zealand in 1773. The sheep population then grew to 70.3 million in 1982. Now its about 43.1 million.

That means about 10 sheep per repapips. Let's test that theory shall we.

My walk to the office everyday. About 2K.

The park is lined by gates with steps. What's interesting is these gates are made to keep livestock in, not people out (people are free to roam).

Free ice yelo plastic, hehe. Plastic para sa pupu ng aso.

I used to run going there.

The tall white building left is where I work.

Ayan na sila.

Look! Black sheep! Mababa kaya self-esteem nya?

Here!

Pag sinisipag, I take the park loop.

Pixel Me Silly: Culture Training

A little culture for the Rolas at the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra Free Family Christmas Sing-along Concert. Friday 5/12/2008.

With "extra" family in the background (Kulet...).

Pixel Me Silly: Muriwai Gannet Colony

Yak, parang bulutong, hehehehe...


Our log cabin (este C.R.) for the day.
















View Larger Map

More here.

My Street View

I love Google... Welcome to our neighborhood.



View Larger Map

Clue: Look for the black car.

Pixel Me Silly: Waiting for the Twins

Have you come from Bangkok?

CX107. Hong Kong. STA 13:05, ETA 12:05. Landed.

Deadly pickup: Miss U Harm.

Ayan na!

Mejo mabigat ata diaper ni Lexi.

Here!

After 20 months and 11 days, the Rolas are finally complete.

Racket

Self portrait ni Julia, tapos prinint ng Kindy nila sa dish towel na binebenta sa parents. Magaling na idea, kasi may captive market ka (pag inde mo binili, parang sinabi mong ang panget ang anak mo, hehehe).

Palit tubig ng fishbowl

This is the very last photo I took from our flat in Wakefield Street. Halos dalawang taon din ako dun (well from room. 707, 103, G6, to this one in 303).

Time to move on. Sabi nga, the fishies are coming home soon, we need a bigger bowl.



Not anthing like Skytower, but this will do piggy, this will do. One Tree Hill at a distance.

Eto ang panalo. B, ang street namin, A, the office. Lalakarin ko na lang (correction: I-tramp ko na lang) papasok sa office. Tamang-tama, kelangan mag-offload ng taba. And I need new shoes (ehem).

Pam busy putting together our DIY bed (60% off kasi display unit sa BedsRus sa Constellation Nshore).

The Garden of Eden. Mabundok at nung una ko nakita natakot ako parang me ahas. Good news sa may snake phobia, alang ahas sa NZ, ever (ay meron pala, yung lintik na naghahawak ng bond ko sa appartment, inde pa sinosoli't nagtatago! Grrrrr).

Alang tanggalan ng plastic.... Julia wawa naman nilalagnat.

Busy kami kakabuon ng furniture. Peste, yung isang upuan lang, 30mins ko ata binuo!(Ano magagawa ko, I'm a lover, not a builder).

Ang tawag ko pala sa lamesa is "the prayer table." Pano naman maski lumuhod ka lang, makaka-kain ka pa rin (napanalo namin sa trademe).

First morning.

Kiwis Vs. Pinoys (sa text)

I seriously doubt it.

Marunong b silang mg txt ng 2 kmay, SBAY?

Kya ba nilang mg multi-task, mg concntrate sa meeting hbang ng-txt ilalm ng mesa(no luk!).
Hgit sa lhat, Mg txt revolusyun?

Or mag-compare na lang tayo ng mga kamay, tignan natin kung sinong lahi ang me "adapted" thumb (flat sa isang side kaka-text).

Mazqi anu gawn nyo, la pa rn tatalo sa Pnoy! (sa text... at ke Pacquiao)!

Photo not mine.

spring.com

flowers in a christchurch sidewalk.

sikat. auckland botanical gardens.

Parnel.

Pixel Me Silly | Kiwi Quirks: Pagbaba sa bus, be polite and shout...

Thank you DRIVER!

[Stagecoach 233 to Owairaka]

Pixel Me Silly: Reflections

Sabi sakin kanina ni Julia "Hey, you're Crazy."
In 3 months Kiwing-Kiwi na siguro ito.

Pixel Me Silly: Winter @ 6

Uwian na...

More here.

Pixel Me Silly: Mumu...

Wag ka sisigaw....

It's a Julianak...

Inilawan na uli ang Skytower last (last) week kasi tapos na sila magtipid ng kuryente. Buti naman, ang boring kasi ng Auckland Skyline pag absent ito.

Pixel Me Silly: Queen St. & Aotea Weekend Market

Pixel Me Silly: Typical Day in Auckland

View from the flat. Can't wait for summer.

The World's Strongest Man: Tamati Paul

It's good to finally meet a real All Black.

Met Gisborne man Tamati Paul during my injury prevention training for SafekidsNZ. Former surf lifesaving and outrigger canoe champion, aspiring international kayaker, soon to be policeman, he's also a hero by putting his baby in a child restraint or car seat in 1998. While driving home they were nearly killed by a repeat drink-driver (drunk driver to Pedro) in 1998.

He literally was put back together during a 16hr operation. Most of the bones in his left side below the hip were broken. His foot was crunched and smashed. He suffered severe haemorrhage, head injuries, and was in a coma for a long time. He now has difficulty speaking and walking, and lost 4 years of his memory. His baby, on the other hand, was saved from grave injuries thanks to the carseat.

Tamati's back on his feet (against the odds), and now a spokesperson against drink driving. Hopefully we can convince him to be a champion in proper chilld restraint use as well.

Sort of felt I shared kinship with him, being another that was given a second chance.

Thank God for the Internet

In photo: Odi, Lexi, Kuya Ommel, Pam, Muwah, Julia, Andre and Taps.

Naalala ko dati, nung grade 1 ako:

Pinsan: Ayan, wag ka maingay, pakinggan mo si Papa (Tito ni Tuny na nasa Saudi)..

Tuny: Tito?

Pinsan: Tanga, cassette tape yan.

These Boots | Sylvia Park

Since good girl si Julia sa school (at maulan na), binili namin sya ng bagong...

Boots!

NZ$11.95

Stagecoach models.

Pixel Me Silly: Auckland Domain Winter Walk

Do you see a rabbit in here?

First Day High!

Pumapasok na si Julia sa school, St. James sa Grey Lyn (wala sila website). So far success, at nag-eenjoy naman sya.

Julia: Daddy, may mga friend na ako sa school, si Stella at si Spiderman.

Daddy: Spiderma... ?

Si Spiderman asa background, kasi yun ang uniform nya sa school everyday.

Nung isang gabi, natulog sya na yakap-yakap ang bag. Naalala ko tuloy nung grade 1 ako natulog akong suot-suot ang bago kong boots (me pinagmanahan, hehehehe).

Pixel Me Silly: New Toy, K800i

Helping Aloha and Terry clear out their office.

Julia.

Officemate birth anniversary party.

The Truckie protest on my way to work.

Maxx helping me get to Sylvia Park.

ADHB & ARHB Building 15 Asian connection having yum char (or yum cha) at Grand Park Resto in Alexandra Park.

While running home, I bumped into All Blacks Rodney So'oialo waiting for the bus. Sorta.

The night it rained hale.

...

The last one is not mine (his) :).

My new K800i.

I had to retire my Siemens M65 as it was faling to pieces (Dear Siemens: we had a great time while it lasted). Got my k800i from Vodafone for just NZ$40 (or $20?) on a two year, $40 bucks a month plan (not bad).

Technically got three cameras now, a D40, Stylus 770sw, and this... I NEED them all to capture my new life in NZ, OKAYYY!!

Fine... I don't... But a boy can never have too many cameras (or sneakers), sigh.

Letitsnowletitsnowletitsnow...

Nyak umuulan!

Pero teka... Inde ako nababasa, and what are these pretty little white things na tumatalbog sa aking... aherm.. winter coat...



OHMYGULAYSYET! Its....

Ok na sana eh, kaso biglang me sumisilip na Bruce Willis. Sung by Vaughn Monroe.

To do before I die # 26: See snow, check!

Actually hail lang sya, at inde pwedeng gumawa ng snowman (but close enough, hehehe).

Pixel Me Silly: Auckland Fish Market

Julia: Ala nang leaves!

While waiting for the free bus.

1 Snapper, almost a kilo smoked snapper bones (yung tinanggalan na ng fillet pero malaman pa din):
NZ$16.57 = Php558.65

Essential Kiwi: Fish & chips

Perfect with...

Forces of Nature: Akl & Manila

View from our flat today at 7:30AM.

Story today at the inquirer. I would be freaking out.

Twilight Zone: Nightmare at 20,000 Feet.

I'll try to get an inside scoop from the boys baka sila ang namamasilya ng butas (maybe me nagtakas ng Boy Bawang sa bagahe at sumabog sa lakas ng pressure sa cargo, hehe).

Sunday Morning

The Inquirer: Ready for the polls.

The Herald: Iraqis killing each other 1.3kms from me.

A good excuse for U2.

Ka-Mate-Ka-Mate!

Forecast tomorrow:

Hooo-humm... Basa, malamig (as in MALAMEEEGGG). Masarap magkulong na lang sa bahay. Sa hapon mag oven na lang ako ng manok. At pag dating ng 8:30...

Ka Mate! Ka Mate!
Ka Ora! Ka Ora!
Tenei te ta ngata puhuru huru
Nana
nei i tiki mai
Whakawhiti te ra
A upane ka upane!
A upane kaupane
whiti te ra!
Hi!!

Wooohoooo!! Go All Blacks!! Kalaban nila ang world champs, Springboks (South Africa).

Well, for the first time, inde ko papasukin ko papasukin ang isport na ito (ano ako, bale? Baka magkabale-bale pa buto ko, hehe). Yung touch siguro, or manunuod na lang ako (or si Lexi paglaki, nasa katawan nya eh).

What I love about The Haka, especially the All Blacks Haka, is that you don't have to be Maori to do it. Many in the team are Pakeha(non-indigenous New Zealanders). You just have to prove to everyone that you're proud and worthy to wear the colours and do dance.

Maybe there should be a migrant Haka (or gasp.. a Pinoy Haka) for those who successfully settled in New Zealand.

Siguro kung ako mag cho-choreograph ang Pinoy Haka ay kumbinasyon ng Maori Haka...




... at nito.




Well, maybe NOT ;).
****

Some variations of the Haka in youtube.

College American Football Team Univ of South Carolina Trojans



Hawaii Warriors



Versus Braveheart



Ginger Breads doing the haka



The Australian haka (ata, hehe)



And.... Haka on Ice!

Tuny.V2 (buhay pa ako't maraming update!)

Buhay pa po! Medyo busy lang, at ang dami-dami kong update...



Welcome to our new fishbowl. Maliit man at masikip, eto't ang saya-saya padin. Ika nga ni L.V.

A room is a still a room, even when there's nothin' there but gloom. But a room is not a house and a house is not a home. When the two of us are far apart. And one of us has a broken heart...~~

###
Ang tagallllll-tagal ko itong inasam-asam. And after endless googling, and sleepless nights waiting, nahaplos na rin ng aking mainit na pisngi ang aking pinakamimithi...

Woo-hooo! Pixelmesilly's back, bebeh. Sample shots with my new models.

Sa zoo... hahaha nakapikit...

Tamaki drive papunta Mission Bay.

Auckland Domain.

Old Ferry Building.

###

Makinis na pala ako't matagal nang walang bulutong. Surprisingly halos wala rin akong marka (salamat kay Dra. Judy).

Pero naknamputsanamannnnn...

Nung isang lingo, habang papunta kami sa simbahan, me sumalubong bigla sakin't sabay matching making-a-cross-symbol with his fingers "Ton!! Kamusta na-naku-baka-mahawa-ako-sa-bulutong-mo-ha!!!" Someone I've never seen for over a year (Buong pinoy community ba ng Auckland alam na ba na nagka-bulutong ako??).

At kanina me pumunta dito building, at naglulundag sa takot nang makita ako. Abah, feeling ko ako ang mamang kumakain ng manok sa circus.

Sa inyo:
#1 basahin ito. I'm not disease, but your ignorance is.
#2 Salamat sa bulutong [deleted].
#3 Sa inyong [deleted].

Inhale... Exhale... Ika nga, write an angry blog entry and throw it away in cyberspace (Get over it and move on).

The sad irony of it all...

... is dadating si Pam & Julia bukas, pero ni hindi ko man lang sila mayayakap or mahahagkan. Ni indi ko mararamdaman ang init na papawi sa lamig na bumabalot sa Auckland (na ang forecast sa Sunday is 3 degrees--aguuu!).

Oh baket.... Bakettt........

BAKET AKO NAGKABULUTONG KUNG KELAN SILA DADATINGGGG....

###

Ready na pala lahat (I think) para sa pagdating nila bukas. Medyo maliit lang ang temporary home namin. Correction: maliit talaga sya. Ni hindi ko alam kung san ilalagay ng mga gamit na dadating by freight.

Pero OK lang kasi mura sya at $220 a week(thanks Aloha), including water and electricity, fully furnished, and the view is to die for.

Para kaming nakatira sa Makati (yey).

###

Niregaluhan ako ni Pam ng gift voucher para spa treatment, and since ang sakitt-sakittt nga katawan ko, nagdecide ako mag-pamasahe (Before ko ito nalaman na me tom-boluts ako, kawawa naman si Paula the masseuse. Sinasabi nya siguro ngayon "Nilalagnat akowww (in english of course)" and after 3 days "Who the f$%k! Am covered with spots!". Inde muna ako dadaan sa Newmarket ng isang buwan, hehe.

First time ko magpa-masahe sa mga Kiwi, at feeling ko alta-de-syudad ako kasi puti ang nagmamasahe. Ang treatment ko is Aromastone massage. Bato lang na panghilod na mainit, pero syet, ang sarapppp....

At inde lang yan, first time ko ring humarap sa tao na ang tanging suot ko lang eh isang disposable t-back.

Syet, buti na lang me natirang blue(lahat ng nasa box kasi eh pink na). Nakaka-ilang pala, para kang fino-floss ka sa pwet, hehehe.

Tuny and Zhang Ziyi are in a Relationship...

Well, more like a one-way relationship. To celebrate my last week as a "bachelor" (dadating na kasi sila Pam this coming Saturday, woo-hoo!!), nag karaoke kami kila Lenny. Syempre, bitbit namin ang projector ni Karl. Grabe ang laki-laki nyaaaa, hehehehe.

Baket ba kasi kelangan me score-score pa, hmp!

Syempre ang finale, Bituing Walang Ningning group performance ala Lavinia, Dorinia and Rosa Mia.

Sunday Fun with The Buena Familia

Hayy. Weekend nanaman. This is the life.

Pakape-kape. Relax. Napakain na kaya ang mga kabayo ko sa kuwadra?

Nakahanap na pala ako ng bahay, at ang laki ng yard (as in). Ano bang balita ngayon (Hmm... Kamusta na kaya ang mga stocks ko?).

Hehehe. The Little Red House in K-Road is Lenny, Armie & Marjen's. Tinulungan lang namin sila magtapon ng sofa.



The Buena Familia living the moderately good life. Ok Karl, cut! Me dumadaang sasakyan, nakakahiya, hehehe.

I Can't Fight the Feeling

Well what do you know. As cliche as it sounds, life is like a box of chocolates.

I left my job last Friday, and today is officially my first day unemployed.

Or was.

At exactly 4:30PM today, I got a call and was offered a job. A HIGHER paying job which I can start a week after Pam & Julia arrive, which is purrrrfecttt (Yes! Yes! Yessszzzzzzz! My Kung Fu eeeeezzzz strong!).

So, what did I learn from this experience?

One. Never, ever quit your job if you still don't have another to replace it with.

Two. If you do, don't worry. Strangely enough it all turns out well. How do I know?

I don't know. It's a mystery (thank you lord!).

Tabi dyan. Napapasayaw ako.

MacArthur Park is melting...

... in the dark
All the sweet, green icing flowing down
Someone left the cake out in the rain
I don't think that I can take it
Cause it took so long to bake it
And I'll never have that recipe again

Oh.... NOOOOOOOOOO!

Once again I've turned gay for a day, but I don't careee (shut up fool!!). Last night was the dress rehearsal of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert (The Musical) and I lurveeee it (lurve it, lurve it, lurve it!). You should see it while its here, medyo mahal lang tickets ($80 cheapest). Hah, suwerte ko talaga, I get paid to see it (I lurvee this job, now only if it can feed the family, hayy).

Performance photos not mine.

Like WWRU, meron ding bonus para sa mga pinoy na manunuod. Inde ko sasabihin, I won't ruin the surprise (See it!). Nice job with the self portrait btw., (nakita ata ang tutsang ko ah). That's co-ushers Kiwinoy Pauline, adopted pinoy Caroline.

And finally, my date for the night...




... Mommy Herma, dyaran! Bonga diba? Hehe. I stayed with Mommy Herma and her daughter's family when I first arrived in NZ. Kung sabaga adopted son (Thank youuu!!!). Hay salamat kay Lord na maski nag iisa ako dito, eh hindi pa rin talaga ako nagiisa (gets?).

I Know My Kung Fu

People say that change is a good thing, but what it really means is that something that you didn't want to happen, has happened. Today I'm officially part of a statistic shared with 3.6% of the population. Good timing, Pam and and Julia are arriving pa naman in two weeks.

I quit out of frustration, and on impulse (which is so un-me). But the weird thing is I'm still. A little bit scared, yes, but maybe after over a year challenging myself, I now know my Kung Fu (and my Kung Fu is strong).

Ika nga, I'm daring to march into the unknown armed with... Nothing. Where's my sandwich?

Bring it on.

***

Ok. I still have a job which pays for next week's grocery and the rent. And excited na akowww kasi we get to see the dress rehearsal for the show. I even have a date (hmmm, intriga, sino kaya sya-- Abangan.).

Pixel Me Silly: Auckland in Black

Two Towers. Kita mo ba si Frodo?

Running home from Mission Bay.

Fishing with Dad.

Auckland City from the War Memorial in Domain.

I'm so happy the magic pixels never left me. Camera: Olympus Stylus M770SW. More here.

Something has to give

click...

Tsaa.. asan an tsaa...

Hi Ants, good morning! How are you?

I'm good, you?

Good, oh can you come here and help me with a presentation?

Ok

Hi guys, hey Ants can you PDF this for me?

ok, but can it wait? I have press releases to write.

Hi guys, good morning. Hey Ants I want you to do this first thing this morning

Sure boss, btw., this needs your signature

Ants! Something's wrong with my PC, can you help me??

Ants I need that PDF can you do it now?

Just a sec please...

Ants, why aren't we at the Herald travel section today????

Ants, how do you minimize a picture in the presentation?

Ants, where's the PDF?????

Ahh....

Ants this is not good enough, when I tell you to do something, DO IT! Btw., I'm giving you a new role. You have to start...

Ants can you come here for a second? My computer froze...

Ants, are you on the reports? Can you please check them???

Ahh....

Look you missed another feature at Eye Magazine, I think you better shape up Ant.

Ants, can you send me the press release for the visitors bureau?

Hey, there are still stuff to be updated on the website, Ants???

AHHHHHHHHHHH....

Ants??

aNTS???

ANTSS??????

AHHHHEYEEE
QUITTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT

I quit my day job last Thursday.

Tuny's Kiwi Dictionary

This is my little contribution para sa mga kapatid na gusto or scheduled nang tumira din dito sa Middle Earth. I'm putting together a Kiwi Dictionary on slangs, phrases and words that are foreign to the Pinoy "American-kuno" lingo. Pasensya na lang kasi I'm not an expert, and defining them as I understand it.

Para sa mga kapatid na nandito na, feel free to add things in the comments section at ipapasok ko na lang sa list.


B
Bloke - A typical guy who is not gay or mahinhin. Kamaganakan ng Jeproks. In a sentence: "Tuny is not your typical bloke kasi minsan lalamya-lamya.

C
Chop-chop - Does not have anything to do with The Chop-Chop Lady. Means Bilisan mo! In a sentence: "Dudong, ano bat nakahilata ka nanaman dyan! Hala, mag-deliver ng gas sa kabilang baranggay! Chop-chop!"

D
Dairy - Sari-sari store sa atin, at inde lang gatas at cheese ang tinda nila. In a sentence: "Akala ko ba nag da-diet si Karl, eh bat asa dairy na naman sya."

F
Full-on - Means sobrang busy, intense or todo-bigay. In a sentence: "Naku day, pila-pila ang job interview mo this week? Full-on."

Full Stop - Does not mean manigas ka sa kinakatayuan mo, or a traffic signal, kundi "period." In a sentence "My email is tuny@pacific FULLSTOP net."

P
Pee - Does not mean i-ihi, kundi Shabu. In a sentence: "Bakit ganyan ang kilos nyan, parang naka-pee."

S
Sweet-azz - Used randomly like "Ok" "Yes" "No problem" "Hataw" or "ayos!" In a sentence: "Pare, ang cute naman ng bracelet mo, sweet-azz."

T
Togs - Bathing suit. "Suot nanaman ni kuya ang kanyang pulang togs, ewww!"

Top-up - To reload a device or item. In a sentence: "Hi, can I top-up $20 worth on Vodaphone?" or "Hay, inde ko ma-text si Dudung kasi wala akong pang top-up."

Tournament Parking - Walang tournament na nangyayari dito. Means paid parking in a building or a lot.

Tramping - Kiwi for hiking. In a sentence: "Dennis & Vic went tramping up Cristobal without any underwear."

Last updated: April 21, 2008

State of tiredness

I'm so tired.

I'm so tired all I can think of is being in a state of tiredness and stare at the screen thinking of....

Nothing.

This week was absolute Hell at the office, with monthly reports at its deadest-deadline. And I've been working shows almost every night. And there's the chores, which I'm proud to say I've developed a system (Like washing clothes before taking a bath, so you can hang them while the chicken's cooking in the oven-- Multi-task!). I barely did chores back home, and thank God man invented the washing machine. Imagine if we had to do those by hand.



I also ushered/worked yesterday and today, which means my work week never ended. And it doesn't help that it's MONDAY in less then 2 hours!! I missed a f&%k$#% good sunny weekend which is expected to become rarer with winter coming.

That must be it. I feel awful because I can feel winter coming and it's getting colder and colder. Bring out your thermals and bonnets boys and girls, Jack Frost is coming. Gaano kalamig dito? Read this.

And he can see no reason

'Cause there are no reasons

What reason do you need to be shown
Tell me why - I don't like Mondays

Tell me why - I don't like Mondays

Tell me why - I don't like Mondays

I want to shoot

The whole day down

This is NZ: Whangarei Heads

I told my boss I was going to Whangarei (Pronounced Fa-nga-rey) for Easter, she said "Whangarei??? There's nothing in Whangarei..."


I beg to differ.


Oh-ah, pwede na ba akong mag mow-del ng shoes? 3 hours from Auckland CBD, on the east coast of New Zealand's Northland region are the Whangarei Heads. “Heads” is a geographic term for a hilly area at the entrance to a harbour. I guess Maculot is a head, and the climb is similar (minus the sari-sari store at the top).


I went with my North Shore buddies Deck, Tess and Marie, and we stayed with our new-found friend Kristy and her super-dooper cute bob, Alyysa. Bob's kiwi for baby.

The schlong-looking rock in the background is the summit. Madali lang ang climb, mga 2 hours para sa mga puti, 3-4 sa pinoys, 5 hours for the Japanese and Chinese (inde dahil malakas sila, kundi dahil mahilig tayong mga asians na mag-pose, hehe). Nothing to see on the way up, pero when you reach the first view point, it's a Vee-U-Teeh, veveh!



Wag kayo malikot (me nangungulangot, shhh, hehehe).




After 2 hours and a thousand photos, we reached the end of the tourist trail which was a viewing deck at the base of the tallest rock. Deck and I saw a path around it and we decided to go exploring. The trail got narrow and narrower.



We saw two trails and decided to split. Below's a photo of Deck I took.




And that's me. Ang ganda ng view noh? We met a couple climbing down, and we asked "Is the view worth the risk?" Usually they'd sa yes, but this one answered "Uh... I can't answer that for you." We soon understood why.




The trail went 30, 50, 80 degrees, then naging wall climbing na sya. Naku pow, nanginginig na tuhod ko't nagfla-flashback na ako sa nerbyos, hehehe. Maori legend says when their chief dies, the body is brought up the summit to prevent it from being desecrated by rival tribes. We never got to the summit (I could have, pero naiihi na ako eh, hehe).




My new friendster and facebook pic (add me!).

"Writing about climbing is boring. I would rather go
climbing."
— Chuck Pratt.

"I love climbing because it feels so good
when I stop..."
— Karl

Filipino English: The Mr. & The Sir

Ok, pagkakataon ko na to make things right. Doing the Samoan play Where We Once Belonged today at the Concert Chamber Town Hall, and I was told manonood nanaman si Auntie PM..

Tuny: [Ayan na sya! Inhale...] Good evening Mister Prime Minister.... [NAKUPO! Tanga!!!! Bumawe ka! Bumawe kahh!!]

MP H. Clark: Oh... Hello good evening, how are you today?

Tuny: [Hay salamat inde ata nakahalata] I'm very good Sirestemam! (Ulk! Wahh!! Kase naman eh!!!)....

MP H. Clark: ???

Tuny: Uhhh [Esep-esep]... You may come in now...

Nak nang puting sheep naman, hahaha, kainezzz. Nataranta ako ehhh. Kung inde matupad ang mga bilateral trade agreements natin with NZ, kasalanan ko na po yun! Huhuhu!

Kase naman kamukha naman talaga eh (di bah??).

***************


Totoo po yan, pero kung inde kayo natawa, listen to this:

Tuny's Day Out: Penitensya Run

Ever wake up in the middle of the night with a uncontrollable urge that made you twist and turn, grumble and mumble? I did, and at 4AM, Biyernes Santo, I opened my eyes and told myself "I'm going to run to 14 churches today."

Nothing holy really, but a result of frustration. Was planning to go to Cape Reinga for the long weekend, but it didn't push through. I didn't want to waste the day, so I slept thinking what I should do Friday.

I thought running was just perfect. I could perform my penitensya, get my excercise, and see parts of Auckland I've never been to. So after getting that out of my system, I slept, woke up at 9AM, took a shower and kumain ang tira-tirang tocino. I went to online to wises.co.nz and typed in "Catholic Churches" under business name.

The reds mark Catholic Churches in Auckland City. After admiring my masterpiece, I was off at 11am.

I decided to start my run at Balmoral and took the bus from the flat. People complain about the bus here, but I love it. It's reliable, clean and inde ka ma-tra-traffic because of bus lanes. Yun nga lang lahat ng suburbs dadaanan (kung from CBD eh 15 mins lang by car to Sylvia Park, sa bus eh 1 hour).

After getting off, my penitensya didn't run as smoothly as I hoped. Spent an hour looking for the first church, asked around, but was pointed to an Anglican, Samoan Church and an Indian temple (They were all in one street). Shows how much tolerant NZ is to religion. Later on in my run that day I even found Tom Cruise's church.

Finally, I found Good Shepherd Church unofficially the bastion of Filipino catholicism in New Zealand. May Filipino Mass (even a pinoy priest) dito every 11am Sunday, and after the mass para kang nasa Divi, kasi me mga nagtitinda kasi ng sisig, laing, igado at bibingka sa parking lot(yu-mmmyyy). No food today, so after my prayers I was off.

It's 3.5Km to St. Francis Friary in Hillborough. Mejo maaraw, so was trying to run under every shade I can find. Good thing I met the Laderas family and they offered me a ride. Formerly from Bulacan, almost 10 years na sila dito. Their daughter can understand Filipino but not speak it. I wonder if the same happens to the girls.


I think this is Assumption Churxh in Onehunga. That's the Laderas family walking in.


Then to Christ the King in Mt. Roskill.


Next was St. Therese Church at Three Kings, and said goodbye to the Laderas. Good people, and I hope to bump into them again.

Naku po, not sure how to get back on track and didn't have a city map. I ran for 20 minutes till I saw the summit of...


... One Tree Hill in Cornwall Park. I could see it in my wises map, and I ran 4.1Km to reach it. Nagbaon ako ng konting tocino at rice, and had lunch under a tree while being serenaded by a Tui. I love Auckland Parks, fresh, cool, clean at pwede ka humilata sa makapal na grass at alang langgam na kakagat sa dragon balls mo, hehe.

Pahinga muna bay, kasi umpisa pa lang ang penitensya. The next leg is a about 8-9K.

Great South Road, Ellerslie Panmure Hway... Nyaks, ang init at parang gusto ko na mag-bus, pero iniisip ko na lang eh "8K na lang... 6k... 4K... 2K..."

Finally, St. Patrick's Church. To find it I had to ask a homeless person. Don't be afraid to ask for directions here in Auckland, mababait naman ang mga tao(halos). Yung tinanong ko nga eh sinamahan pa ako hanggang makita ko ang church. Also saw this nice heritage house.

6 churches down, 8 more to go. The next one should be close, 2.9Km. I felt a sneaking chill rise from my spine while in this leg. Somehow I felt I shouldn't be here. Oh-oh...

Kung me Tundo sa Pinas, me South Auckland naman dito sa NZ. It's a rough urban area with a large Polynesian and Maori community and I was sticking out like a sore thumb. It's known for having large gangs like the Mongrel Mob & Black Power. I asked for directions from a Samoan and all I got is "No!"

Ngeee... After an hour I found the church but it was behind a row of houses and fences. It's a small one at 5 Waddel Avenue, and could only see the cross. Didn't dare go and made a sign of the cross na lang (baka brief na lang suot ko paglabas). I also looked at the clock and it was 5pm. Have run about 20Ks and a bit tired. Really tired.

I tried getting on a bus, but the driver didn't have change, so had to get off and sit on the curb to catch the next one which arrives an hour later. And I didn't feel very safe, with young hoodies driving pass in cars staring, one group shouting and laughing at my direction before racing off. Immature jerk-offs. Happens a lot here.

Should, or rather Can I continue to St. Helier?

(To be continued...)

Updated: St. Paddy's Day in CBD

I love the Irish. The green, leprechauns, and the cool Gaelic accent and slang:

- Top O' The Mornin' (Good Morning!)
- Begosh and Begorrah (Used like "By GOD!")
- How-ar-yah!? (How are you?)
- Shiver-me-timbers...

Errr.. not exactly the lasy one, but they do talk like pirates to my ears.

March 1 was St. Patrick's Day, patron saint of the Ireland. Took some photos of the parade in Queen St. That's just one of the benefits of city living, just walk out of your appartment, and you're right in the middle of the action.

The gray building on the far right (with a tower) is The Mighty Civic where I work part time. If you want to see it from inside, watch King Kong tonight (it's the theatre where Kong was presented and escaped from after he was caught).

To be a good belly dancers must mean having a lot of belly. Ang lalakas ng loob (Mga girls sa Pinas, rejoice! Pagdating nyo dito payat na kayo, hehehe).



I dunno what the Japanese and Chinese have in common with St. Patrick or the Irish that they were in the parade, but they did look pretty. Oh! The clock tower on the background is the Auckland Town Hall, where I also work part time. Go here if you want to see the APO or the NZSO (pronounced N-zed-S-o).

Bag pipers!
Cute Irish girls in traditional dancing garb. The curly hair is actually part of the costume.

Not part of the parade, but saw this Japanese busker doing some serious music. He's really impressive, sounding like a whole orchestra (Hanep!).

Same with this stringed duo doing The Corrs. Kaingit noh, papasa kaya ang banda-rito-banda-doon talents ko dito? Makabuo nga ng sarili kong band (Me kilala ka bang expert sa garapitik and tyan-bol)?

Naalala ko tuloy yung mga tugtugan namin sa Sampaloc 10 years ago nung member pa ako ng Knights Choir sa San Roque Parish Church (We looked shockingly the same like etong mga tambay below. Hay, the life we left behind, ka-miss noh?).

Ang sarap sanang maging bida
Sa sariling kong pelikula
Ninja, kumakain ng bala
Magaling sumayaw parang john travolta
Ka-love team ko ang lahat
Nang magaganda at seksing artista
Kissing scene kay aubrey miles o
Angel locsin

Libre lang mangarap
Walang hanggan na pag-hiling
Libre lang mangarap
Managinip ka

Decisions! Decisions!

Eenie-mini-miney-moe... Which is the best flat where we should go...



That's my Trade Me watchlist. Hopefully one of these will be our first nest in NZ when the family arrives in mid-May. Pam and I decided that we're NOT renting a house in the suburbs, and instead getting a flat(a small apartment) in the city.

It's a decision that actually took a while, but we think we made the right one-- and will surely be met with objections from friends ("No! That's wrong... Mahirap maglipat ng gamit... Mahal parking... Masikip... Mahirap magbyahe... It's not convenient.. Kung ako ikaw, ito ang gagawin ko...").

I appreciate well-meaning comments, pero some people lang just shoot their mouths off with such ignorance. Dati I mentioned flatting will let me walk to work, nasabihan ba naman akong "Eh ang hirap sayo, ang iniisip mo lang eh kung ano ang convenient sayo!"

AsarRRRRR!! How dare he say I'm prioritizing my personal comforts over my family. Kung hindi lang sya kaibigan, na-ultraelectromagnetic-top ko na sya. He's renting a dream, 3-bedroom, $375 a week house kasi on the side of a hill-- Ang ganda talaga (nice neighborhood, a deck, garage, off street parking, etc.). Pero my problem with that is he says he's only saving $5 a week from his salary, so he has to share his dream house, renting out two rooms to make ends meet (ika nga nya, bahala na).

I didn't say anything because I admire his faith, and trust he's doing what's right for his family. But just don't say what's good for his will work for mine. Every family is different, and I can't screw in a screw if you hand me a hammer.

By flatting, we won't get that dream house now (with a lawn, a garden and a white picket fence under beach or bay views), pero we'll enjoy the benefits of city living:
- We can just walk (to work, to the grocerry, to the hospital, etc.).
- Pam & Julia won't get bored, with shops, cafes and parks minutes away.
- Easier for job hunting (for Pam).
- It's a lifestyle we've always wanted to try (Like CBD living in Makati!).

And the biggest benefit in flatting, to us, is the savings.
- We can afford our own place.
- We don't have to buy a car now (it's just a burden).
- Won't have to buy furniture, since most flat are furnished.
- I can keep my part time job in the city.
- We can save for our dream house (Who says your dream house is the one you rent anyway!).
- We can send more money home.

Click here to see my projected weekly expenses.

Why send money home? We'll we've also decided to leave the twins behind muna with their Lola until we get settled (maybe 6 months to a year). It's a decision many people will not understand, and I don't blame them since I thought the same until I had my own family.

Moving is an emotional and difficult decision. And it's not even unique: How many OFWs do you know who have been forced to leave their families temporarily for a better future? Sometimes you just have to make tough decisions, and sacrifice a lot to gain in life.

It's like climbing a scree: One step up feels like two steps down.

But I'm not worried. I know we'll eventually get up there anyway.

I’ll be at the call center
Until something better
Comes along my way
It’s been a long, long day

The future is alright
The future is so bright

Filipino English: Da Pimpol

Yesterday, while waiting for my shift at the Town Hall to start, Danielle, an Indian-Kiwi showed up looking a bit tired.

On her left cheek was a big, red...

Tuny: Oyyyy, hey Danielle, you're In-Love ey, hehehe!!

Danielle: What do you mean?

Tuny: .... [Awkward moment]

Tuny: .... [crickets chirping]

Tuny: Err, never mind.

Sa Pinas nga lang pala me-connect-ment ang pimple at pagiging in-love. Naalala ko tuloy bigla si Vincent Dafalong (~~Nunal sa ulo - Mautak daw... Nunal sa bibig - Chismosa daw!~~) hehehe.


Ahhhhhh! Check this outtttt...

Chinese English: Weshisdatoyle!

Habang nagbabantay sa pintuan ng ASB Theatre working the immigrant's Spring festival, me matandang lumabas ng pinto at lumapit sakin:

Old woman: 廁所在哪裡？

Tuny: Eng??

Hayy, eto nanaman tayo, dahil ba Asian ako eh i-assume bang marunong akong mag-chinese??? Gusto ko sana sabihin ang alam ko lang eh Wo ai ni (I love you) kaso baka bigla naman ako sagutin, yari tayo dyan. Wala pa namang kasamang bata. Kadalasan kasi yung mga apo't anak nilang 5-6 years ang translators nila, dito na kasi nagschooling.

Old woman: (lumapit sa mukha ko at dahan-dahang...) Cèsuǒ zài nǎliiiiii?

Tuny: Ha??? (Ewww.. ang bango hininga) I'm sorry I don't speak Chinese...

Old woman: Weshisdatoyle... (Naiinis na, at parang napapa-jogging ng konti)

Tuny: Esmyuskee???

Old woman: WEH.. SHISDAHH... TOYLETTTTT!!!

Tuny: Ahhh, whaydidntyasaysoh... There oh! (sabay turo)

At papano ba naman kasi ito nakarating dito sa New Zealand, eh inde marunong mag-english?? Eh yung ibang kabayan natin maski magaling, nahihirapan pa rin dahil sa IELTS.

Uy inde ako anti-Chinese ha, infact eh 1/4 blood dahil kay Lolo Pedro +. Inenroll nga ni Pam si Julia sa Chinese school at minsan suspetsa namin kumakanta ng Chinese pag inde namin maintindihan (ayos, pag andito na si Julia isasama ko sa trabaho para silang mga bata na lang magusap, hehehehe).

Basta't tayo'y... Magkasama...

Ray Ann?
Ray Anne?

Errr... Ano nga ba?

Nanood kami last Friday sa Beaumont Center ng concert ni Ray-An Fuentes. Hindi ko matandaan hit mga songs nya, till binanatan nya yung duet nila ni Tillie Moreno (Da who???)...

Senti time...

Halika na
Pumikit... limutin ang problema
Hihintayin ang umaga

Magpahinga
Managinip ng kaliligaya
Darating din ang umaga

Basta't tayo'y magkasama
Laging mayroong umagang kay ganda
Parang sikat ng araw
May dalang liwanag
Sa ating pangarap

Haharapin natin

Gumising na
Araw ng pag-asa'y narito na
Dumating din...

Harapin natin

Pictures from my trip back home Christmas '07

This is New Zealand

I have crossed a thousand bridges
In my search for something real
There were great suspension bridges
Made of spiderwebs of steel

Oo na, it's kinda gay, pero ano magagawa ko, eh that's the song that played on and on (and on) in my head as I soaked up this scene. We went tramping in Waiheke Island two weeks ago and did the Northern Walk. Amazing how 45 minutes from the city you get this. Back home an hour beyond Las Pinas you'd be in Molino Road (Traffic eh)... Or maybe Corregidor, which is pretty but... You know what I mean.

Ahh, these are the days that I really appreciate New Zealand: Te Whenua o Aotearoa, rolling hills, sailboats, the youngest country on Earth, the land of just 5 million people. And it isn't just a pretty face either. Kakalabas lang ng latest Global Peace Index study.
Anyway, tama nang "eh sa NZ ganito, eh sa NZ ganun" griping ko. Honest, para sakin ala pa ring katulad ang Pinas... ang usok ng jeep, ingay ng kalsada, at swimming sa baha... heaven.

Enjoy the pictures and enjoy Waiheke.

We took the Fuller's ferry downtown, arriving at Matiatia wharf at high noon. We followed a hidden (or to be exact, partially submerged) trail behind the port.

That's the Tekateka hill. Inde Maori yun ha (puro tinik kasi ang trail, so pagsumabit ka eh lalabas sa bibig mo eh "tekatekaTEKAAA").

Future house namin. Kawawa naman si Julia pag inutusan kong bumili ng suka sa bayan, tsk-tsk.

Naglabasan ng mga pata (ulk! erase-erase...)

Tess doing her Bb. Pilipinas Pose (or holding invisible trays??).

Shiva po yang ginagawa namin... errr.. never mind.

Ang lambot ng grass maski tuyo... At walang mga anik-anik na nangangagat...

The map took us through secret bays, vineyards and lookout points with 360-degree views. We even found a cave that led to a secret beach. The map said the trail will take max 3 Hours walk. Well, helloooo... Mali ang map, kasi it took us 5 hours... Ay akala namin 3 hours walk AND picture taking

We capped it with a swim near the wharf. Medyo kadiri kasi murky yung ilalim, but a nice way to end a fine, fine day.

There's a bridge made of colors
In the sky high above
And
I'm certain there must be
Bridges made out of love

La, la, la...

The Boxer (Atbp.)

Kanina lang.

Nagluto ako ng adobo para dinner namin, at nakaamoy ang asawang pinay ng building manager namin, si Aloha. Kinatok kami at sa flat daw namin kakain.

"Sure! Pero manlibre ka naman ng coke!" uto ko.

"Ah, oo ba" sabay abot nya ng $10 dollars. Syempre dinakma ko agad sabay takbo sa labas ng building, papunta sa dairy(Kiwi for sar-sari store).

Ladidadida... Pili kung diet coke, coke zero, regular coke... Silip sa mga meatloaf at corned beef kung me maibabaon bukas.... Nang mapansin ko na iba ang tingin sakin ng Chinese na tindera sa counter. Parang natatawa na inde makatingin ng diretso.

???

??

?

Nyak!!!!

Pagkabayad napa-karimpas ako ng takbo pabalik ng flat. Sa Pilipinas nga lang pala acceptable gawing outerwear ang boxer shorts, hehehe.

Actually, ganito talaga hitsura ko kanina noh.

***************

I-update ko nga pala kayo sa mga pinag-gagawa ko recently.

Went back to that Korean Karaoke along Queen St., ang brought Pinoy reinforcements. That's Val, Kiwinoy BBrother na nag voluntary exit, with her lovely GF Kristy (Karl ala sa pic pero andun din sya, tuwang tuwa sa strobe lights sa and tamborine, hehehe).

Cooked baked tahong to celebrate the arrival of our new flatmate, Netzie. Sweet-azz Tahong photo by Karl.

That's Netzie in white. Ang sosyal noh, naka-wine glass pa kami (ang laman nyan eh coke, hehehe). Gene inuupakan ang tahong (dyan ka magaling! Hehehehe), and with her back to the camera is Anna, taga 2nd floor, nakikikain (salamat sa salad!).

Borrowed from another pinoy in the building Ang Cute Ng Ina Mo. Grabe pag napapalayo ka sa Pilipinas, hahanap hanapin mo talaga ang Pinoy humour. Pati kay Aiai natatawa na ako, at pag nagbubukas ako ng TV parang gusto ko ilipat sa Wowowiee.

Look up (Baka Tumulo!)

That below is Jeff Buckley's version of Hallelujah. I love and hate this song. Ang ganda-ganda, pero parang kinukurot ang dibdib ko pag naririnig ko sya, gusto ko tuloy i-pause. Memories kasi, and the song grips loneliness.

Minsan nga napapa-look-up ako, baka kasi tumulo at me makakita ang luha ko. The song feels like eating Christmas dinner alone, or walking in the park (in spring) by yourself.

Or... being alone in a strange country, 8,012 kilometers from home.

Aguy (look-ap! Look-ap!).

Sa Zoo..

A Samoan visiting Auckland Zoo asks the Keeper what the cage around the animals were for.

Zoo Keeper: "They're there so we can protect the people from the wild and dangerous animals."

The Samoan started laughing to pieces. Both puzzled and annoyed, the Zoo Keeper asked why.

Samoan: "Oh, sorry, it's just in Samoa, they put cages around the animals to protect them from the people."

Sino ba naman inde matatakot sa mga ito, eh ang lalaking mga mama nito. Pati mga babae nila para kang kakainin ng buhay. Pero wag kayo maintimidate, kasi despite their size eh gentle and friendly naman sila. They're the my second fave Pacific Island people, next to Nuiens.

I grabbed that joke pala from the Laughing Samoans' Crack Me Off show I did tonight at the ASB Theatre. Ang cu-cute nila, lalo na yung mataba. They reminded me of The Reycards Duet.




Speaking off the Zoo, Kiwi Pinay took me along their company's Christmas party at the Auckland Zoo. Ala eh, libre na pasyal, libre pa pagkain (yahu).

Thanks Kiwi! (Kung me Chinese New Year Party kayo, sama uli ako haaaa..)

Kaululan sa Uruweras (Attack of Giganta)

One day, sa Uruweras...




Si Giganta, surveying her kingdom:

"... ~~Pagka't ikaw ang tanging laman, ng aking mundo, ng aking puso, ng aking buhayYYYY… Ang halik mo... namimiss...~~... ANAK NG!?!

Giganta:

Sinoo ka!! Ano ginagawa nyo sa kaharian kooohh!!!"

Tuny, na-shock (syempre naman, kalyo pa lang kasing laki na ng mukha nya):

"(Ngiii, Giant!!) Sorrrry poooo, naghahanap lang ako ng trabaho pang-convert ng WTR kooo.... Kasi, according to the NZIS, having a Work to Residence category visa allows you to get a temporary work visa and/or permit as a step towards gaining permanent residence, kaso 6 months lang nakuha ko, so before ako i-kickout dito...."

Giganta:

"Hah, shat ap you fool! I bet tourist visa lang dala mo! Inaagaw ninyong mga Pinoy ang mga job opportunities ng mga kapatid kong Indian! Where's my shoe?? I'll kill you like a cigarette(sic)!!!"

Tuny:

"Ahh!!! Pana pala si Giant, amoy curry ang paa, Ahhhhh...."

Syet, pang URIAN. Don't worry, I wasn't harmed during this shoot, kasi nakuha ko na residence ko last September. And if you think maarte na pose ko, check this out...





Famas...

Kaululan sa Uruweras (Noho Marae in Te Kuha)

The New Zealand grasslands.

Ang sabi nila eh eto raw ang isa sa pinaka-maganda sa buong mundo. Malambot, mabango, walang langgam or kung anong anik-anik na nangangagat.

Ika nga sa 300: "We will put its name to the test."

If the video below doesn't work, click here

Armi calls it the Human Zorb. Putris, mga 10 minutes umiikot-ikot ulo ko after.

This was taken at a AUT-sponsored Noho Marae (a Maori immersion program) I attended last November in Te Kuha Urewera, located in south eastern side of Lake Waikaremoana. For 5-days we lovingly talked, slept, ate, sang and played with our new whanau (Family).

Speaking of singing, part of the evening program was asking guests to entertain the hosts as a sign of gratitude to their hospitality. Naku po, expected pa naman nila na dahil Pinoy tayo, kasing galing natin kumanta si Lea Salonga, Mig Ayesa or si Charice Pempengco

Lenny: Uy, ano gagawin natin?
Tuny: Magperform tayo ng traditional Filipino dance... Tinikling...
Maglalatik.. Ah! Sayaw na lang kyo ng Pearly Shells.
Lenny: Anoh??

We ended up doing a Bahay Kubo song and dance number.

Byebye Sir Edmund

I asked my boss today if I could spend a longer than usual teabreak so I could go to a wake at St. Mary's, about 50 metres where I work. She said "Go ahead, it's very important." It was the wake of Edmund Hillary.

She said there has never been a state funeral for a long time, and that she wanted me, as a new Kiwi, to feel how it was. I was tempted to say we had something like that when FPJ died.

I was expecting a long cue that took forever when I got there. But instead there was just a crowd of about a hundred, and a steady cue not longer than 100 metres. People patiently waited for their turn to see the good man. Volunteers walked around passing water bottles and smiles, and seniors huddled with their partners to keep warm(it was drizzling). Mothers and fathers came with children and kept them behaved with stories about Hillary's adventures. His apos would have had the most amazing time listening to his exploits.

Inside were four state guards around the casket, but had their backs turned and heads bowed. It was as if they reflected how the country mourned the loss of a father. No man stood higher than Hillary in his time, yet in the middle of the church was a plain-looking casket under the NZ flag. Maybe it reflected how Hillary was-- A simple bee keeper that knocked-off that bastard.

It was a long casket (he was about 6'5"), and I imagined where his head was, and if he was wearing his hiking boots and crampoons. He captured the imagination of mountaineers and non-mountaineers around the world. To people like me, who could only dream of things he has done, he was a demigod. I wonder when he met St. Peter, he asked: "Hmmm... This place looks familiar, have I climbed this before?"

Before leaving, I wrote on the guest book:

"Thank you sir for making simple people believe
we can conquer mountains...
From Tuny, my family, and from ALL Filipino Mountaineers around the world."

When Fake is Great

What do you do when you find out that you can't be what you want to be, even though you know you're good enough?

Simple. You became an Eagles tribute band.


The Real Eagles


The Fake Eagles

When asked if I'm an Eagles fan, I usually say no. That's until I realized na many of the songs I like are done by by them, like Tequila Sunrise, Desperado and The Best of my Love(Inde eto yung ineesip mo noh, kundi etoh).

That's why I was really excited to work The Eagles Experience-Hotel California concert at the ASB last Saturday, by a tribute band from Australia. Some people actually demanded their money back when they found out they weren't the real ones. Ganun dito eh, konting kibot lang eh refund na (samantalang satin "Eh kasalanan mo yan baket di mo binabasa mabuti poster???"). One even barked at me (as if me kinalaman ako sa kalokohang ito), on how ripped-off he felt. Aysus, di ba niya naisip na nung bumili sila ng NZ$49 front row "orig" Eagles concert, eh para syang nakabili ng Levis sa presyo ng Bunny Jeans.

Pero after the first song, Hotel California, na-impress ang mga tao(pati ako). Napasayaw ang buong venue at meron pa ngang nag o-old man dance (yung tipong isang kendeng sabay palakpak dance, pero huli lagi sa beat). They sang good, played their instruments well, and even took off their wigs at the end, as if mocking us "kala nyo haaaaaa...."

So, I'm an Eagles TRIBUTE Band fan now, but only until I get to see the real one. True Eagles fans may cringe at the thought, but hey, ika nga ng idol nila eh take it easy and enjoy it like a really good karaoke (at least they sing well, not like these fakes).
--------------------------------

Oy! Speaking of fake, kinelangan ko ng costume sa party namin sa Edge last Friday! Meron akong mga idea eh, like ito, ito or ito. Kaso ala tayo nun eh. So nag-improvise na lang ako.

Hinukay ko yung...

Suit na ginamit ko sa kasal sa Tagaytay (na ginamit ko din dati nung me job interview ako dito sa Auckland)...

... baril-barilan fom The Warehouse (NZ$4). Kainis baril ng cowboy lang nakita ko. Pero wag ka, me kasama pang star ng sheriff yan.

At hat (NZ$9). Ano ang objective ko na kakalabasan?

Hopefully ganito. The Las Vegas Mob (oh di ba!). Problem lang eh yung revolver ko eh pang cowboy (at me star na pang Sheriff pa nga eh, hehehe). Effective kaya? See for yourself and let me know.

Da Edge Event Services/Ushering Gang

Medyo napamura ako dito, hehehe

Sino mas guwapo (sige magkamali ka babarilin kita!)

Eddie Peregrina with the girls.

Eddie P. with the REAL girls. Maniwala ka, Duty Operations Manager ko yung asa
kaliwa (na hawak ang security. Sabi sayo eh).

We also went to Karaoke after (look at the weird Filipino with the tamborine!)


Look at the big-ass remote(ga plato!). At ang screen ay hugeee (alang sinabi IO)!

Floating Around.. In Ecstasy...

Uy... May package...





Wo-hooo!!! At ang ganda ng bigote, parang si Rico J.

Dilemma:
- Pano ko kaya magkakasya sa 25 kilos ang maleta kong punong-puno na ng Cabury?
- Pano ko mapapabilis ang next 6 days?
- Ano kayang una kong kakainin pagdating sa Las Pinas (hito, ginataang suso, laing...)?
- Makikilala kaya ako ng kids?

Julia far left, nangongopya...

First Christmas party ni Julia nga pala kanina, at nag-perform (song and dance) ng English AND CHINESE songs. Oh diba, talo pa ako, eh ang alam ko lang eh...

- Qing da jia jiu zuo, yan chu ji jiang kai shi (hurry up the
show is starting!)
- Jin zhi pai zhao (no photos please!)

... na nagagamit ko pag me Chinese shows dito.

We're so proud, kasi nung umalis ako eh ni hindi sya bumibitaw samin sa mga childrens party, at ngayon nagsasayaw na sa stage. Sana paglaki nya, magmana sa akin at maging na total performer din.

Hay super dami ko nang nami-miss. First baby steps and b-day ng twins, first day sa school ni Julia, anniversary namin ni Pam. Pero it's OK, going home nanaman in 7 days, 9 hours, 45 minutes and 11 seconds... 9 seconds... 7 seconds...

Tonight I'm gonna have myself a real good time
I feel alive and the world it's turning inside out
Yeah! I'm floating around in ecstasy
So don't stop me now don't stop me
'Cause I'm having a good time having a good time

Teo torriatte konomama iko...

How do you define a good day?

It starts at 7:45AM, and I realized it's just Thursday.
Didn't sleep well, so had to drag my sorry arse into the shower.
No breakfast today(no leftovers last night).
And outside its pouring.

In my mind I say "Auckland sucks" and zombied off, blending with a sea of black coats of other zombies that had just said the same thing.

40 minutes on, the boss is still there (Heartbreaker! You promised to be in the US today).
She groans about things not getting done (But it was. You just change your mind too often).
Thank God her husband arrived and received all the flack (it could have been me).
And don't forget about the annoying girl behind me, who bitches the WHOLE day (Grrrr, asan ba ang tsinelas ko???).

Burying my head under a new pile of deadlines, I look at the computer clock (it's just 3!). "Today's just never going to end."

But like magic, it's was suddenly time to go.
I switched off and switched into my running gear.
It's cold and wet, but that was the last thing in my mind.
It's this song in my MP3.

Teo torriatte konomama iko
Aisuruhito yo
Shizukana yoi ni
Hikario tomoshi
Itoshiki oshieo idaki...

Thinking: Wow, who ever thought Freddy Mercury sang in Japanese?

20 minutes into the run, the sky opens, and I'm drench to my underwear.
I run harder up the hills, racing the Overlander as it passes by Domain.
I almost forgot how delicious it was to stomp on puddles.
And I meet a man in his drenched suit, at the stoplight before the bridge.

"Fuck an umbrella, nice day for a swim, eh?"

Reaching home, I shower and change into crisp, clean clothes.
I slap the sizzling porkchop that was marinated in vinegar and garlic on the pan (smells sooo good).
And while waiting for the rice cooker to pop, I lounge on the sofa and listened to Apo.
I feel clean, relaxed, and tomorrow's Friday.

Good days aren't defined by how you start it, but how you end it.

Let us cling together as the years go by
Oh my love my love
In the quiet of the night
Let our candle always burn
Let us never lose the lessons we have learned

Full On, Bebeh

This month has just been manic and like a blur. I don't even remember what I did between Mondays and Fridays. I've been keeping myself really busy you see. Time to earn big bucks for the silly season.

I've written down a list of things I've done which you don't know, and might even blog about them in the next few days. :

1. I attended a Marae 3 weeks ago, driving 8 hours down south to Napier Hastings. The best authentic NZ experience I've had so far.
2. Last night was the 14th We Will Rock You show I have worked. I can now say almost every line, like how I did when I was a kid when I memorized everyword of Looney Tunes re-runs on IBC 13. I'll be doing two shows again today, which makes a grand total of 16.
3. Justin Timberlake is here claiming to bring sexy back (And I am NOT going to blog about this). Just FYI. He reminds me of Billy Joe Crawford.
4. I was up for salary review last November 21st at my Clark Kent job. My boss promised me more money(Yahu!).
5. Booked my tickets home. Strange how some numbers just attaches itself to you. I arrived here February 21st, I got my first job May 21st, and arriving home December 21st (I also arrived here on my Birthday).
6. Pam sent me pictures of the kid's wearing their first Holloween costumes.
7. Lit fireworks during Guy Fawkes Day. Panis parang wa-tu-si compared satin

And things to come:

1. Doing Peter Powers, who's claims he's so powerful, he can see dead people, and a Josh Stone concert.
2. Just in case you didn't hear that: I'M DOING A JOSH STONE CONCERT!! :-D
3. Doing Queen of the Whole Universe. A drag show with immense proportions. This one should be fun.
4. Going home next month. I've already made a list of food I want to have when I get home (ginataang suso, Lola's fried and adobong tilapia, Nanay's turbong liempo and pork tapa, Mother's adobo and prok steak, Tito Raul's sugpo, Tito Rudy's laing and ginataang langka... Ohhhh and many more to mention).

Hay, kagutom. Sige kain muna ako almusal (Corn Flakes, ulk... ulk.. Buwark!).

Playing in my head right now:
Well I, believe, its all, coming to an end
Oh well, I guess, we're gonna pretend
Let's see how far we've come
Let's see how far we've come

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!).

I got it!

There's no getting rid of me now, bebeh, nyar-har-har-har!

After seven months and 3 days, over 50 applications (and as many CVs sent), about a dozen interviews, more than 10 rejections, and 3 jobs(one unsuccesful), my visa officer is finally convinced. I just got back my passport today with a residence visa sticker.

Ang dami kong dapat pasalamatan (mga kaibigan dito sa NZ, sa Pinas, mga amo, mga kaopisina, ka-flatmates, ka-blog...), pero ang pinaka eh of course ang pamilya ko(kung wala sila siguro nabuwang na ako dito), at si Lord (ang tunay na Big Brother.. kuuu, pinakaba mo ako ha, kung makurot lang sana kita, hehehe).

Woohoo, parang gusto ko tuloy sumayaw ng...

Running back in time

Indi ako nakakapost recently kasi busy po kasi ang lolo nyo. I've been working hard sa office kasi busy period namin, at tumanggap ako ng maraming shift sa part time job ko during weekends. And with house work filling in my spare time in the evenings, there isn't really much time to write.

And besides, what is there to write?

Ah, nakuha ko na pala residency ko.

Yehey...

Bat maliit lang? Ewan ko ba. Siguro kasi eh nung nakuha ko yung sulat eh magisa lang ako sa flat, at wala akong maka-chest pump man lang. Siguro I reached a plateau dahil na-achieve ko na lahat ng short-term goals na na-set ko when I first arrived (1. get a good paying job 2. get your residency). And with the family arriving in February pa, it's a waiting game from now on.

I'm not good at waiting. I need a new goal.

So today I decided to run.

A jetti(or port?) along Tamaki Drive, on the way to Mission Bay

At JM Savage Memorial. Napalayo ata takbo ku..
(Doon pa ako uwi sa mga building sa malayo, waaaa)

I rediscovered running and why I loved doing it for about 8 years. I loved the rush and the zen, and can't wait to run (and run) again tomorrow and on the weekend. Call me Forrest Gump for all I care but, God, running makes me feel so... alive.

Maybe it's the runner's high, or the getting there, or getting to the finish line. The last two are things I can relate to in a deeper sense. The plan now is to do these and join the Auckland Marathon (well for now a quarter marathon).

And it's such a beautiful country to run. So clean and runner(and bike) friendly. Care to join me?

Halaga

Ang isang bagay na patuloy kong ina-apreciate dito sa Middle Earth eh kung pano nila pahalagahan ang buhay.

Si Kate, officemate ko, kakabili lang ng pusa, at ang halaga ay isang makatindig-balahibong NZ$650(that's +P21K to you, Pedro). Turing nila kay Rex ay para nang sariling anak, na dinadala sa office pag matamlay upang mapatingin sa vet during lunch break, at binibilhan ng masustansyang cat food at inuuwian ng laruan sa gabi. Sa sobrang pagmamahal nga nila kay Rex eh binilihan pa nila ng kapatid, si Ruby. Pansin daw kasi nila eh nalulungkot si Rex pag naiiwan sa bahay magisa.

Si Karine naman (amo ko), daladala ang poodle na si Poppie araw-araw sa opisina. Matanda na si Poppie, at balita ko nga eh pinag-gastusan ng NZ$1,800 para lang moperahan ang kanyang tumatandang hip... Naku po, hip replacement para sa aso! Hindi unique ang eksenang ganito dito. Minsan nga may pulubi sa Queen St. na kahati sa nagiisa nyang hamburger eh ang kanyang maamong aso na mas malinis pa yata sa kanya.

Kung gayon na lang ang pagmamahal nila sa hayop, eh i-imagine nyo na lang kung pano pahalagaan dito ang mga bata. Libre ang edukasyon at panganganak, at subsidized pa ang daycare. Pati nga ang batas eh nasa panig ng bata. Naku, wag mong mapalo-palo at iwan ang Ineng at Tutoy dito magisa sa bahay, kundi malamig na rehas ang yakap-yakap mo sa gabi pag me nakita sayo at isumbong ka sa pulis.

Kaya nga hindi ko matanggap-tanggap na nangyayari sa atin ang mga bagay na katulad neto.

Lord, alagaan mo po ang mga chikiting ko at ilayo mo sa lahat ng kapahamakan, lalo na't nandito ako sa Middle Earth at sila'y nasa Motherland. Ms. Visa Officer, aprubahan mo na residency ko para next year eh madala ko na ang mga bata dito.

Style...

Although maganda ang The Seagull, its an incredibly long play. As in 1.5 hours ang first half, at 1.25 hours ang 2nd. Habang tumatakbo ang eksena, hindi ko maiwasan na antukin. Ang init pa naman sa pwesto ko, so halos mawalan na ko ng malay.

Isip ni Tuny: Ahhconcentratewagkamatulognakakahiya-
sakatabimoogisinggisinggggOOOORRRKKKK!!!
Katabi ni Tuny: ???? [Napatingin]
Tuny: [Naku poooo] Errr.. Ubo-ubo! Singhot!

Nangyari na ba sa inyo yung tipong nakaidlip ka, tapos nagising at nagulat ka sa sarili mong hilik? Kaasar, hehehehe.

Kiwinoy Big Brother: Genuine Pinoy Task (2)

Episode 2

At eto na nga po at mukhang na challenge ang flatmates sa kanilang genuine pinoy task. Magwagi kaya ang mga mokong? Ang sumusunod ay mga eksena ng mga nakalipas na araw sa Kiwinoy Big Brother House.

Syempre po kelangan me sound track

Val & Karl, making balot the lumpia ...

... habang dini-dictate ni Gene ang susunod na steps (and at th same time, chatting
with his gurlz, sweet-azz...)

Pak-tay tayo dyan, kinamay na po! Mej maliliit yata ang nabili nilang lumpia wrapper, hmm...

Since dalawa lang ang kasya sa kitchen sa Kiwinoy Big Brother House,
lumabas muna ang dalawang para magpahangin... at nag-pose(infront of the appartment,
Sky Tower on the background)...

... At nag pose pa. Aba at nakarating pa sa Motorway??? (St. Benedict's Church on the
background, where the flatmates go to mass).

Aba, mukha nagmumukhang lumpia, pero lasang lumpia din kaya?

What the.. me pancit canton pa (out of nowhere!!)

At habang kumakain ang flatmates ng kanilang first ever home made lumpia (Karl: Whooww, sarap! Who needs women! Men rule!Uh-uh-uh-uh!!!)...

Big Brother: Flatmates, announcement...
Tuny: What the fu&%?? Tang-nang bahay na to, bigla-bigla na lang nagsasalita...
Big Brother: Ikinalulungkot ko, you guys failed in your task, I'm sorry...
Gene: Huh? But Big Brother, that's unfair!
Karl: Woahhhh, that's not cool.. (mannerism po nya yan, 8X na nya sinabi today, which is cool, hehehe)
Val: Snorkk... (tulog, kasi puyat na, napagod pa sa kababalot ng lumpia)

Big Brother: Totoo, masarap ang niluto nyo, at nagtulungan kayo, which is important kasi sino pa bang aasahan nyo dito sa Middle Earth? Imagine, hindi kayo magkakakilala 7 months ago, pero here you are, forced to bond by need, yet I feel friendship growing... Uyyy, mga bakla! (Hanep din 'tong Big Brother na 'to ah..ed.)...

Ngunit, subalit, datapwat, bagamat, there's one problem. Ang task nyo kasi ay magluto ng Lumpiang Shanghai at hindi...

... Tempura.

Nyek, kasi naman, sino ba kasi nagsabing wanton wrapper ang gamitin nyo??

Bayan Ni Juan/Mike Hanopol

Bayanihan dito sa bayan ni Juan
Isang daing mo lamang, ikaw ay tutulungan
Bayan ni Juan, uso ang bayanihan
Lahat sila'y kasali
Dyan mo mapupuri

Da-dumdumdumdumdum!

8Am ng umaga, kagigising lang at... Ano kaya gagawin ko today? Wala akong pasok sa Edge, at wala ring pera, which makes going out a bit complicated. Bawat galaw mo kasi dito eh piso ng piso. Piso pa naman dito katumbas ng P33 satin. Ayaw ko rin gaano magkikilos kasi masakit katawan kow.

Hmm...

Nyak! Anak ng! Ahahahahaaha! Anubatu!

Habang pinapanood, pinipigil ko tawa ko kasi tulog pa ang Kiwinoy Big Brother House (at me sakit si flatmate Gene, kawawa naman). Pero eto ako, parang gago na mangiyak-ngiyak sa kapipigil ng tawa, lumabas na tuloy sipon ko sa kakaipit.

At ang galing nila ha! Iba talaga ang Pinoy, we love performing and showing off. Kala mo macho, pino or mahiyain, pero pag pinasayaw or pinakanta mo, aba, pang awards night ang performance or nakapikit ang mata habang humuhuni. Sa party nga eh, sigaw ka lang ng "picture-picture-picture!!" Abah, eh eto na kaming mga macho, nagtatakbuhan at naka-pose na.

Hay, thank you po Cebu Provincial Dentention Center at Byron Garcia, at nabuo nyo ang araw ko. Bilib ako sa mga naiisip nyo para maibsan ang lungkot at problema ng mga kapatid natin dyan. Although me sayad(sino bang wala!), ano nga bang gagawin mo kung preso ka't naghihintay ng kalayaan, kundi aliwin ang sarili-- and in true Pinoy style-- ipagkalat sa buong mundo ang inyong kalokohan(case in point: Helloooo!!). Question: nagkaroon ba ng audition para makuha ang role as Michael Bayckson? Bat inde ako nakakuha ng call slip???

Weird as it may sound, it made a tender beat in my heart. Aside from knowing the dance moves (sinayaw ko po yan nung short pants pa ang suot ko sa school!), aren't we, immigrant fathers, whom have left families, friends and the cheap thrills of our beloved Philippines, like prisoners?

We're all toiling in purgatory with heaven within our sight. All we can do now is keep our sanity in check with simple things (like dancing, or this blog which nobody reads). Hopefully soon we'll get financial freedom and rejoin our families here in heaven.

Aba, bida sila sa BBC, at meron pang Black-Eyed Peas, Hagibis at Dayang-Dayang version. Magising nga ang tatlo. You never know, baka magkaroon din ng version entitled "Kiwinoy Big Brother Special: Thriller in Queen Street"

Perfect...

Ang ganda ng loka... Feeling girl!


Da moves ni...

Michael Bayckson

Filipino English: The Sine

While having lunch with friends after a furious badminton game, discussion turned to the movie playing on the tele, Kung Fu Hustle. We had Leon, a Kiwi, with us, so we had to talk in English para hindi dyahe sa kanya:

Tess: Uy, hahahahaha! Nakakatawa! Ngayon ko lang napanood ito! Leon! Have you seen this?

Leon: Yeah, ain't it hilarious! Hahahahaha.

Tuny: [Nakisabat na naman, as usual] Hay naku Tess! You know what, Leon loves this so much, he bought the VHS, VCD, the DVD and saw the sine of this.

Ulk... Tumahimik na lang, walang nakapansin....

She's Eva Sheng Yi Huang, an actress in China and Stephen Chow's
leading lady.. Sigh...

PR na ako!

Well... Not that PR(Permanent Resident).

Iba talaga ang pasok ng week na ito. The same day, Monday, after the good news ke kumander, eh timing na pagsara ko ng Gmail eh nag-appear sa likod ko ang boss kong Kiwi at... Hmmm, may hawak na Starbuko para sakin. At abot tenga ang ngiti. Katakot, I smell something fishy. Baka may ipapasa nanamang trabaho at i-istyle-an nanaman ako [Kzzkk... Beam me up, Scotty... Ackk.. Transporter... Destroyed... Must... Flee...].

Kiwi Boss: Heyyy Andrew, who's the good boyyyyy???

Tuny: [Andrew?? Saka na, long story...] Errr.... Me??

Abah, ako nga. Yun pala eh naglalabasan na ang mga press release na ginawa ko at dinispatcha para sa isang client namin, at lumabas sa dalawa sa pinakamalalaking dyaryo dito sa NZ!

Sunday Star Times

New Zealand Herald

Wahu! Aba naman, feeling ko talaga parang Public Relations professional na ako dito sa Middle Earth. Nagkalakas loob tuloy akong ipagkalat na ang link na ito, hehehe.

Feeling ko eh, I'm....






Nagpapasalamat ako sa aking pamilya, fans(you know who you are), mga dating amo, sponsors at supporters ko, lalo na sayo (turo sa taas, chest pump)... Kung wala kayo, eh wala din ako (tee-heee...)

Ah, sulit ang hirap..

As usual, pagdating sa office, bago ko pa harapin ang ga-bundok na trabaho na dapat tapusin, open muna ako ng Gmail. Regular routine ito, dahil pagdating ni amo, nakuuuu... Iba talaga ito sa iniwan kong trabaho sa Pinas. Kung doon nakakapetix pa ako, eh dito para akong naghahabol ng oras palagi para lang maisingit ang mga dapat tapusin.

Nagemail nga pala si kumander, with good news. Really good news.

Pre school ni Julia, at Chinese school. Yari tayo dyan, buti na lang at
Grand Lolo nya eh Fil-Chi din (Naku sana gumaling sya s Math, di tulad ni Mami & Dadi)

Hay, sarap. Pag ganitong ba namang mga balita ang matanggap mo, feeling mo kahit anong ibato nila, eh para akong pader na di matinag. Di lang sulit lahat ng pagod at sakripisyo, kundi lumalakas pa ang loob kasi napupunasan ng tuwa ang ang lungkot at homesickness na nararamdaman. Aba naman, 65K daw ang tuition sabi ni Kumander, at saan ako kukuha ng ganoong kalaking pera sa Pinas!

Ika nga, pag may anak ka na, wala nang mas importante pa sa mundong ito kundi maibigay lang ang lahat na para sa kanila.

Dahil dyan, kelangan magcelebrate at makapag-prito na nga ng lumpia (and that's another story, abangan sa susunod, harhar).

Playing in my MP now:

So glad weve almost made it
So sad they had to fade it
Everybody wants to rule the world

Kiwinoy Big Brother: Genuine Pinoy Task

Episode 1

9AM. Habang nagaalmusal ang mga flatmates at nanunuod ng TV...


Big Brother: Flatmates, announcement!
Karl: Huh?
Gene: Si Big Brother!
Val: Zzzzzz.... snork! [puyat gumawa kasi ng school project]
Tuny: What the fu@*! [asa banyo kasi]
Big Brother: Makinig kayong lahat. Ngayon at matagal-tagal na kayo sa Middle Earth at sa bahay ko, ang task nyo ay makagawa ng isang gawain na truly Pinoy.
Tuny: [pasigaw from the CR] Hmmm! Ano kaya yun!?! Magsasarswela!?! Gagawa ng Philippine flag!?!
Gene: Baka magtutumbang preso, or sasayaw ng tinikling...
Val: Di pwede, di kasya kawayan dito. Baka sasayaw ng maglalatik. Yari tayo maninigas tayo sa lamig....
Big Brother: Mali. mas Pinoy pa dyan ang gagawin nyo. Gagawa kayo ng lumpiang shanghai, and it will involve skill, para maghanap ng recipe online. It will take patience, magtadtad ng ingredients. And ingenuity, kasi siguradong di kumpleto recipe dito. At cooperation, kasi isa lang ang kutsilyo nyo. So goodluck house mates... Sweetazz...

Magtatagumpay kaya ang flatmates sa task nila? Abangan...

Wala lang, nakita ko lang online (Photog: Oh, sayaw lang ha.. freeze![click!])

#47 Sun Appartments, along Wakefield St., location of the Kiwinoy Big Brother House. View from SkyTower (more pics soon)

Why wait for the flatmates recipe, baka malason pa kayo. Click here for Sassy Lawyer's Lumpiang Shanghai recipe.

Sent!

Nung Friday sa opisina, nagpadala ako ng email sa client ko, para ipaalam sa kanya na naipadala ko na yung press release na ginawa ko para sa lodge nya:


Ewan ko ba, at biglang napako ang mata ko sa salitang Sent! Aba naman at ang nagregister sa utak ko eh, pag binaligtad mo ang exclamation point, it would read Senti.

Yes. Tinamaan ako bigla ng homesickness. Malamig kasi at naalala ko ang mga masasarap gawin pag malamig sa Pinas, like kumain ng goto pagkatapos ng simbang gabi, magkulong at magbasa ng songhits kasi umuulan at di makapag-basketball, o matulog ulit pagkatapos maligo kasi signal #3. Pati na rin ang walang ka-kwenta-kwentang pagsabit sa jeep ng madaling araw ay nalala ko, with the wind on your hair, at mapadaan sa mabahong creek sa Recto. Ah, ka-miss...

Na-miss ko rin ang mga iniwan ko sa Pinas, like mga magulang, kapatid, kamaganak, barakada, mga tropa sa bundok(ang sarap umakyat pag umuulan!), mga dating opismaytes.

Pero ang hinahanap-hanap ko ngayong eh si kumander, ang twins, at si Julia. Naalala ko tuloy si Dong, at hinanap ko agad ang lyrics nya:

Senti

Inaliw kita, tawa ka nga nang tawa eh
Sinabi mo, wag kitang iwan, ayaw mong mag-isa
O.K. lang sa akin, abutin man ng umaga
Lahat ay gagawin para ka lang mapasaya.
Ako, mahal kita
Mahal na mahal
Natatandaan mo, ang saya-saya natin ano

Sa zoo.

I can't wait for Christmas at makauwi. 137 days to go.

Filipino English: Bukas!

10AM sa office, while having Tea (naks) and checking my personal emails, biglang lumapit Australiano kong officemate, si Kate:

Kate: Hey Eyn-thony! Do you know what dey is todey???

Tuny: Huh? [Processingggg... ano daw? Ah!] Oh yeah! It's Wednesday!

Kate: Yeah! Time goes so fast when you're busy, eh?

Tuny: Zow True! Can you believe it, it's Thursday na bukas!

Kate: Huh?

Kasi naman eh, binibigla ako...

Kate sa background: May sayad din

Kiwinoy Big Brother: Goodbye Edmund

Tatlo lang ang rules namin dito sa flat:

#1 Makisama

#2 Wag makulit

#3 Wag ipasok ang sapatos sa sala

Mahirap ba sundin ito? Well apparently sa ibang tao, Oo. That's why we had to say goodbye to one of our flatmates last week, si Edmund. Ika nga sa PBB, evicted sya ni kuya for too many violations. Malungkot, pero ano magagawa namin? Mahirap na nga mabuhay sa dayuhang bansa, eh nahihirapan pa namin sya makasundo.

So kung nakikinig ka ngayon, nothing personal, bro, gusto ka namin matulungan, but it wasn't working out. Sana maging masaya ka sa bago mong bahay, at sana makasundo mo ang mga bago mong housemates na balita mo sa amin ay mga Chinese (Buti na lang at inde Hapon, kundi baka na-samurai ka sa kapapasok ng sapatos mo sa sala nila, hehe).

In the meantime, nakahanap naman kami ng bagong housemate.

Si Karl.

Eto pala ang iba pang cast ng Kiwinoy Big Brother.

Si Gene

Si Val

Pasensya na ha, tabingi kasi TV namin sa flat kaya tabingi din mga leeg nila. We're also known as Da' Gwapings in cyberspace... Look at our network, hehehehe.

X marks the spot. Ang appartment namin.

Filipino English: The Toktok

Hindi mo talaga maiwasan, maski gaano ka man kagaling mag-english, misan talaga papalpak ka. Hindi kasi natin 1st language eh, at minsan sa sobra nila bilis magsalita, nakakataranta. At ang accent, syet, parang panggalatok na hinaluan ng bisaya kasi ang titigas ng dila(like ang E ginagawang I, so ang seven, sa kanila zi-ven).

Buti na lang kadalasan yung mga kausap namin dito inde naiintindihan mga English boo-boos natin. Case in point, meet Edmund, flatmate ko (dati).

Edmund: Yoshi, go here. When you get to the door, just.. You know... Tok-tok

Translation: Yoshi(his Japanese friend) punta ka naman dito. At pagdating mo sa pinto namin, kumatok ka na lang.

Nyahehehe.

More to come.

Kamukha ni Edmund(Joke, hehe)

What's playing on my Media Player now. Hay, umuulan nanaman, sarap matulog,
pero me pasok pa ako mamya sa Edge.

NZ Film Fest

Last weekend I ushered a number of shows at The Civic, all films featured at the New Zealand/Telecom Film Festival. It's the equivalent of the Manila Filmfest, except na international ang listing, walang awards night sa dulo , at walang parada sa Baywalk.

Click the title for the plot.

Conversations With My Gardner
- My favorite so far. Talky sya, medyo drama, medyo comedy. Its the type of movie you would want to invite your nililigawan(malaki ang chance na sagutin ka nya after), or your best buddies kung medyo nababading kayo sa isa't-isa (hehe). Kidding aside, it has the same effect as the coming of age movie Stand By Me, only you have two guys in their late 40s sharing and learning from life experiences.
Rating: Apat na palakpak (out of 5)

Death at a Funeral
- A typical Brit comedy, light, refreshing, totally amusing. Its the type of film na mapapatawa ka sumigaw ng "Ay ang gago, hehehehe!"... Buti na lang walang nakaintindi sa kin( Which reminds me, is there such a thing as Hehehehe sa mga puti? Hahaha lang ata, diba? Baka akala nila nabubulunan na ako). You should watch this with friends, para makatawa ka ng todo-bigay.
Rating: tatlot-kalahating palakpak(at isang mahabang piggy snort, snorkk...).

Manufactured Landscape
- Inde ko ito masyado napanood, kasi nilagay ako sa pinto (asar, um!). But from what I saw from the door(I left it ajar, enough to see half the screen), its a documentary about the industrial revolution in China. If you're a photographer, you'll love this because of the imagery. Medyo mahaba lang, about 2 hours, to prove his point (And he could have done this in about 45 mins). Then again I only saw "half" the film, so who am I to judge(aruy, sumakit ang ulo ko).
Rating: dalawang palakpak, at isang mahabang hikab.

Golden Door
- I was drawn to this film because of its plot, the fact that I'm an immigrant as well. The imagery reminds mo of the film Frida, with its surreal overtones(naks, maski ako inde ko naintindihan yun ah). OK lang, ika nga, so-so... Ika nga, pang DVD sya.
Rating: tatlong palakpak at kalahating pirated DVD

After the Wedding
- Walanghiya, hinid ko inexpect ito, pinagbabawal dapat ang mga pelikulang ganito kasi masyadong heavy drama. May mga part nga na para akong nakalulon ng bayabas.. nanikip ang dibdib ko at.. aaminin ko... napahikbi ako(aguy, napa-look up nga ako kasi tumutulo luha ko, nakakahiya sa mga guest). Pinagbre-break nga ako ng supervisor ko, kaso sabi ko "noo.. I want to know what happens to Jørgen..". Kung may kasalanan ka sa misis or GF, isama mo. Syento-por-syento, bati na kayo paglabas nyo(uyyy).
Rating: apat na palakpak at isang malakas na hikbi

Rescue Dawn
- Tangna (excuse my French), eto ang pinagbabawal talaga. Para syang B-movie na may konting budget(Na I suspect napunta lahat kay Christian Bale). Napanood nyo ba yung Megiddo: Omega Code 2? Medyo kalinya nya, medyo ka-atin-atin lang ng konti. Maski nga ayaw ko magbreak, napa-tea ako ng 30mins para mabawasan ang parusa. It's a case of bad amateur actors, a bad script, bad cinematography, led by a terrible lead star. Puro cliche'. Akala ko nga sa Pilipinas ginawa at hinihintay ko lumabas si Rez Cortez at si Bembol Rocco (as Henchman #1 and #2), at magkaroon bigla ng dance scene. Nalaman ko lang na hindi dahil, pag may tinatamaan ng granada, hindi sila napapata-tumbling. Bumilib lang ako kay Michale Bale kasi bawat eksena, papayat sya ng papayat!
Rating: Not even kalahating palakpak, at isang eye roll(sosyal).

Well, I worked for a total 12 hours yesterday, and totally knackered. I'm doing it again this weekend, and hope to see good ones like Eagle vs. Shark and I Served the King of England.

Hay, so many films, so little time. Sa next weekend uli!

Scene: After the Wedding

Scene: Death at a Funeral

Dapat iwasan: Rescue Dawn (Check out the bros,
mga Pilipino yan ehhh... aminin)

Speaking of cold...

... view nyo naman yung trip ko last summer dito sa Tongariro National Park, with my guide, photographer, and driver, the photo-master Jedi Bernard Billedo (Thanks talaga pare sa pag pasyal sakin ha, owe you one). Galing nyan, ang bigat na ng backpack, ang laki na ng camera, eh iniiwan pa rin ako sa trail!

Pag pasensyahan nyo na po yung photo set, actually extra lang yung National Park, ang focus talaga nyan eh ako, hehehehe.

That's frost on my pack cover. I was not prepared for the trip, most of my hiking gear are three-season gear, except for my boots that broke down as soon we got down (Pansin nyo, paulit ulit words ko, nauubos na kasi ingles ko dito sa New Zealand eh, hehehe)

Syempre, I had to make pasikat... paguwi ko may sipon na ako (singhot).

See more of Bernard's pics (of me!) from our 2-man Pilipinas Sierra Climb at Tongariro National Park here.

Pumapatak nanaman ang ulan.. at malamiggggg

In my Windows Media Player playlist right now:

Winter na.

First winter experience ko ito dito sa New Zealand. Although walang snow dito sa Auckland, malamig sya men. Gaano kalamig? Its malamig with a capital "G"(ang lamiGGGGGGGGGGGG!!)

Ang forecast kaninang umaga ay 5 degrees pinakamalamig, 15 degrees pinaka mainit.

Ang suot ko kanina papasok:
- Brief
- Thermal pants
- Thermal shirt na long sleeves
- pants na medyo makapal
- long sleeves
- wool sweater
- scarf
- gloves
- kung pwede ko lang lagyan din ng medyas tenga at ilong ko nilagyan ko na rin.

Problem lang eh ang mga medyas kong dala ay pang Pilipinas lang, so naninigas yung paa ko habang naglalakad along Domain papunta sa office ko sa Parnell. Pagdating sa opisina, at madalas ako ang unang dumadating, grabe para kang nasa freezer ng mga kinatay na baka. Ni hindi ko maramdaman ang keyboard at hindi maka-type ng maayos.

Pauwi naman, parang malalaglag na ang ilong mo sa lamig, lalo na kung salbong ang hangin. Kung hindi nga lang mabaho yung homeless person na natutulog sa bus stop, nikisiksik na rin ako sa mga cardboard nya.

Ngayong nasa bahay naman ako, suot ko naman yung bathrobe kong fleece na binili ko sa Warehouse for $30. Pero may problema pa rin kasi wala naman akong protection sa paa pa rin. Pag napapasaok nga ako sa banyo para akong sumasayaw ng tinikling kasi ang lamig ng tiles.

BRRRRRRRRR... miss ko na ang tropical weather satin.

Wala raw nangyayari sa New Zealand?

Wala raw nangyayari sa New Zealand?

Well, tignan natin...

Well.. Wala nga, pero minsan mas maganda pa wala pang nangyayari kesa kung ano-ano ang nangyayari.

My 15 seconds with PM Helen Clark

In my short career here in New Zealand, I have been fortunate enough to meet and talk to some amazing people. One those is none other than the boss herself, Prime Minister Helen Clark.

Below is a transcription of this once in a lifetime, one-on-one interview, which actually happened not longer than two hours ago:

Tuny: Good Evening Madam Prime Minster, how are you tonight?

HC: Good evening, I'm excellent, you?

Tuny: Very well. Well Prime Minister, before anything else, thank you for hosting our president, I hope everything went well during her visit last week.

HC: Of course, she was nothing short of astonishing. I enjoyed her company.

Tuny: Well she is short and astonishing, este, anyway.... Would you like a programme for tonight's event?

HC: Yes, that's wonderful.

Tuny: Would you need anything else? Do you like your seat? Ice cream?

HC: Everything's fine, thank you.

Pagkatapos nun, umupo na sya. Well OK, inde ko actually tinanong sya about the visit, pero binigyan ko nga sya ng programme, and we made eye contact (Kamukha pala nya si Fanny Serrano!). Na-assign kasi ako as usher sa isang violin competition sa VIP section ng Auckland Town Hall, guest of honor sya eh.

Kala nyo noh. I love my ushering job. next week I'll be doing Swan Lake. Who knows who I'll meet next!

Helen Clark


Tita Fanny (Magkamukha sila noh?)

The day I met Eddie Peregrina in NZ

Walang pasok today, Queens b-day(ya-hu!). So after our long trip sa Rotorua, I decided to sleep late and gumising ako ng 9am, nagluto, kumain, then lumabas kami ni Gene after lunch para magpagupit.

Ang tagal ko na pala hindi nagpapagupit, 3 months. Imagine mo kung ano na hitsura ko 5 hours ago, ang haba na ng hair, I wonder kung ano iniisip ng mga sosyal kong officemates(Maybe he's half Korean??).

Well today I decided enough is enough, papagupit na ako. Isa itong right of passage para sa mga pinoy na dumadating dito sa New Zealand. Getting a haircut is like your first drive sa wrong.. este left side of the road, first self service gas pump, or first bayad using eftpos (hindi uso nagdadala ng marami money dito, everyone pays via credit or postpaid ATMs). Ang hirap sa first hairtcut ay mahal sya, as in ang pinaka-mura kong nakita ay $10 (P33=$1). That's a freaking P500++ haircut.

Well, kung bago ka talaga sa New Zealand or any other country, di talaga maiwasang mag-convert, lalo na kung wala ka pang work at ginagastos ay ipon mo sa pinas. Well, like sabi ng ibang mga pinoy na nauna na dito, once na kumikita ka na ng NZ dollar, stop converting kasi talagang di kakayanin ng powers mo at magkakaroon ka ng buhok na mukhang mop na tulad ko. Its just over a month ago na sinabi ko sa sarili ko na ang $10 ay isang oras ko lang na suweldo sa Edge. After that, I'm cured of my peso converting obsession.

Ang una naming pinuntahan ni Gene ay ang barber shop sa baba ng Wakefield. Its the street where our flat is located and at the corner is Queen St., na main street dito sa Auckland. Para ba syang Times Square, nga lang, inde sya square (eng??).

Pinaka-mura na barbershop na yon sa city, pero problem is, yung barbero ay isang 6-footer na Iranina(ata). Ang unang pumasok sa isip ko ay para syang construction worker na kaya akong buhatin gamit t-shirt ko at baliin ako sa dalawa. At ang kapal ng buhok nya sa dibdib at braso. Inde ko tuloy maisip hitsura ng kili-kili nya (yak). We decided against having our hair cut there although mas mura. Maybe its his chest hair, then again maybe its the fear of going back to work tomorrow at mag-sigawan ang mga officemates ko dahil parang gupit ng isang PMA cadet ang mangyari sa ulo ko.

Pumunta kami next sa ni-recommend ni Lenny na Korean na salon. Katabi sya ng McDonalds at, well, mahal sya, $32 at medyo... bading ang parlor. Puro sya korean characters at pictures at posters ng mga babae na naka-pose. Hmmm, hindi yata kaya ng manhood ko maski highly recommended sya ng mga tropa.

So naglakad lakad kami pa sa Queens hanggang pumasok kami sa isang alley, at doon namin sya nakita. Si Eddy Pergrina. Well actually sya si Te-hiro, koreano na "stylist" na naka-70's get-up complete with floral euro-extra-fit na long sleeves, tight pants, at hat na nakapatong sa makapal nyang buhok. Yung hair nya pala parang yung sila Tirso Cruz dati nung sikat pa sila ni Nora. Lumapit kami at nag-inquire. Well, okay na, $20 at at least hindi sya mukhang boy bakal.

The outcome? Well I must say its well worth it. Ang gupit ay kamukha ng cut na tinuro ko sa magazine except the face. Shi-nampoo pa ako at nilagyan ng wax(Boys, hindi na nga uso ang wax, ika nga ni Te-hiro "Shyir, that's es-is zoooo 80s syer").

Maybe hindi ulit ako magpapagupit ng 3 months, at susubukan ko naman ang uso sa Japan at Korea na F4 look.

Or maybe even an afro like this.

Presenting.. Eddie Peregrina, my stylist!

If I were a rich man (Ya ha deedle deedle)

If I were a rich man,
Ya ha deedle deedle, bubba bubba deedle deedle dum.
All day long I'd biddy biddy bum.
If I were a wealthy man.
I wouldn't have to work hard.
Ya ha deedle deedle, bubba bubba deedle deedle dum.
If I were a biddy biddy rich,
Yidle-diddle-didle-didle man.

-- Tevye, singing If I were a rich man in Fiddler on the Roof

***
I have two jobs right now here in Auckland. One is as a Marketing and Communications specialist, which is my 8AM-5PM, bread-and-butter job(It's also a job I need to keep to get my residency). The other is an ushering job for three of the best performing arts venues in New Zealand: the Aotea Center, the Auckland Town Hall, and The Civic.

Yes, ushering, as in showing people in the theatre and seating them. Minsan we also keep the place quiet, like asking people to turn-off phones or not take photos. I love my ushering job, since I get to watch concerts and theatre for free (and I even get paid NZ$12.30 an hour!). It's also a good first job if you're new in New Zealand, since the schedule is flexible (you are asked to work only when you are free, so you can still look for other jobs), and you get a lot of practice talking to the locals.

I never did two regular jobs in Manila since, personally, it wasn't worth it. Here my second job can pay for my weekly rent and groceries(around a hundred). This makes my real job/pay my savings. Cool eh?

In the past weeks, I've ushered the Auckland Symphony Orchestra, The NZ Philharmonic, local and international singers (one of whom reminded me of Martin Nievera), George Benson's farewell tour, and locally produced musicals. Tonight I was rostered to work Fiddler on the Roof, and I'm excited to see it. I heard it starred the original London cast, including Chaim Topol...

Well, to tell you the truth, ma! (That's short for malay ko! Hehehe). I have no idea what the story is about, nor do I know who this Topol is. Apart from hearing that its a good show, I'm totally clueless. They even say I should recognize some of the songs.

Here's also a link to Fiddler in Wikipedia, I should see it before I go tonight.

Welcome back to the light

Hello... Remember me?

So, after a long break, I've finally found time to write again. It's Sunday, 6:38AM here, probably 3-4Am in Manila(?), and its the only time in my week that's not... psychedelic, to say the least. Then again, that's probably not the right word.

Jaded?

Maybe. I'll explain why soon. In the meantime, some updates [enter telegram SFX, dit-didit-didit-tooooootttt....]:

- I left Manila and arrived February 21, 2007, so that about 3 Months here in Auckland
- I have a job, doing PR for a wonderfull Trust organization (I am now qualified to file residency, yipeee!!)
- Tomorrow I'll try to loose that wonderful job (not as wonderful as I first thought). I just accepted a new offer and hopefully I start in a week. I'm not being picky or maarte... Basta...). So now I have to wait 1 paycheck till I file residency(Argh!).
- I have another job, working as an usher for The Edge, which I absolutely love since I get to watch free shows (Theatre, orchestras, opera and other performance arts).
- I live in a small apartment building(emphasis on the “small”), at the corner of Queen Street. That's just like living in Manhattan, with the volume turned down.
- I have flat mates. And I consider them more as flat mates than friends (Yet again, to be explained again soon... or not.).
- We pay NZ$75 each for rent a week, and my weekly expense is around NZ$200 ($1=P33). I can get by fine, but hasn’t been always the case.
- I just found out that I hate "makukulit na tao", so I won't be makulit anymore (yes, expect a long, ranting post on this soon)
- I'm thinner (I can hear "yeah right!" all around-- Aw shut-up!).
- The music playing in my head: The acoustic version of Mr. Brightside by The Killers. More of the rhythm than the lyrics though.
- Current mood: Happy, but not content.

I really don't know how to put in words all that has happened since I first arrived. There's so many, and I'm so new.

So, more to come from the new and improved new Tuny's Fishbowl.

Sweet-azz!

But all ends well?(I don't know. It's a mystery)

Aalis na ako today, 1:30PM flight for Brunei, then the following day to Middle Earth.

And all I can think of is this last bit from Marc Norman & Tom Stoppard's Shakespear In Love.

***
INT. THE CURTAIN THEATRE. STAGE. DAY.

WILL
(heartbroken, testing her
name)
My Lady Wessex?

VIOLA nods, heartbroken too. For a long moment they
cannot say anything to each other. The she holds up
Wessex's purse.

VIOLA
A hired player no longer. Fifty
pounds, Will, for the poet of true
love.

WILL
I am done with theatre. The playhouse
is for dreamers. Look where the dream
has brought us.

VIOLA
It was we ourselves did that. And for
my life to come I would not have it
otherwise.

WILL
I have hurt you and I am sorry for it.

VIOLA
If my hurt is to be that you will
write no more, then I shall be the
sorrier.

WILL looks at her.

VIOLA (CONT'D)
The Queen commands a comedy, Will for
Twelfth Night.

WILL
(harshly)
A comedy! What will my hero be but the
saddest wretch in the kingdom, sick
with love?

VIOLA
An excellent beginning
(a beat)
Let him be…a duke. And your heroine?

WILL
(bitterly)
Sold in marriage and half way to
America.

VIOLA
(adjusting)
At sea, then--a voyage to a new
world?…she lands upon a vast and empty
shore. She is brought to the
duke…Orsino.

WILL
(despite himself)
Orsino…good name

VIOLA
But fearful of her virtue, she comes
to him dressed as a boy

WILL
(Catching it)
and thus unable to declare her love

Pause. They look at each other. Suddenly the conversation
seems to be about them.

VIOLA
But all ends well.

WILL
How does it?

VIOLA
I don't know. It's a mystery

WILL half smiles. Then he's serious. They look deeply at
each other…and rush into each other's arm.

WILL (CONT'D)
You will never age for me, nor fade,
nor die.

VIOLA
Nor you for me.

WILL
Good bye, my love, a thousand times
good bye.

VIOLA
Write me well.

She kisses him with finality. Then turns and runs from
him. WILL watches as she goes.

***
See you all soon.

[Stopping tears.... falling... look up... :)]

Our Dwelling Place

Before anything else, I would just like to share with you an inspirational piece given to me by my officemate, Armind, when she learned I was going to do the big move.

"By faith Abraham obeyed . . . . And he went out, not knowing where he was going." —Hebrews 11:8

It may say very little, but the next few paragraphs by a certain David H. Roper gives this Bible verse loads of sense:

When Abraham was 75 years old, God called him to leave the land of his father. And so, advanced in years, he departed for the land of Canaan. He was rootless, homeless, "not knowing where he was going" (Heb. 11:8). That was the story of Abraham’s life.

Age brings change and uncertainty. It means transition from a familiar past to an uncertain future. It can mean movement from a family home to a smaller place, to a daughter’s home, to a retirement village, to a nursing home—the "final resort." Like Abraham, some of us make our way from one location to another, always traveling and not knowing where we’re going.

Yet we can be at home in any dwelling, for our safekeeping lies not in the place where we live but in God Himself. We can dwell "in the secret place of the Most High" and "abide under the shadow of the Almighty" (Ps. 91:1). There, in His presence, under His wings, we find refuge (v.4). The eternal God becomes our dwelling place (v.9).

Though our dwelling place here on earth may be uncertain, God will be our companion and friend until our traveling days are over and we reach our heart’s true home—heaven. Until that day, let’s shed the light of God’s lovingkindness on other travelers. —David H. Roper

I've yet to leave, but as early as now I already feel homesick. Kaya ko kaya ito?

Tears falling [look up...].

12 days to go till my scheduled flight.

Something New

I've been wanting to write a blog to document something incredible, enormous or life-changing that's about to happen to me.

I would have written about how I got hooked into mountaineering, when every weekend I no lower than 865 meters above sea level (the highest I’ve been to is 2,922 meters, at Mt. Pulog).

I could have also written about getting married, or when I had my first baby. These two events really turned my life around.

There was also when I had a kidney removed, which would have been fantastic considering the photos I could have taken (I have a 9-inch scar that runs from my upper back to about three inches before my navel).

Sayang.

But then again, lo and behold, life is indeed full of surprises. In 16 days, I’m flying to New Zealand. I'm not going for a vacation, or a business trip.
I'm going there to stay. I’m migrating.




Any idea what map this country is?

See me new here.