For the love of peanut butter

For more than a month now I spent at least two hours on the road driving to work. During my first two weeks I was without license (I only had this expired student's license I kept for more than a year already). Lucky I did not get into trouble otherwise I could have ended behind bars. But I did get my license, not after that old lady at the LTO Office failed me in the practical drive test that required me to move the car backward a little bit, then forward. The car was old and crappy anyway, and I am not used to driving an aged manual car... Okay, okay, I was a lame driver.

When I used to take public transport everyday, how I wished I would get a car to save me from the throngs of people in the MRT station. Now that I am driving I always long of times when I can just walk through the traffic and take any mode of transport that brings me to where I want to go ahora mismo. Talk about pros and cons. And oh, I am a strong advocate of LTFRB's plan to reduce the number of jeepneys and buses in our highways. EDSA, Taft, Buendia - everywhere - are just cramped with half-full buses and jeepneys. The government's next steps should be to improve the train system, fix the puddled roads, and regulate and monitor all modes of public transport. Let us put our bus stops and pedestrian lanes into use.

After having watched the anime series called 'The Avatar' (watch out for the movie showing next year), I thought which power I would like to have: earth, fire, water, or air? Becoming the avatar himself is way too powerful - and I am just a plankton. I am not a monk, so wind power is not an option. Fire? Uhh. Earth sounds cool, but I'm more comfortable with water. And so I thought that becoming a water bender is awesome. I could surf, dive, paddle, walk on water, save whale sharks, and clean up Manila Bay by doing those water-bending moves. These are things really I wanted to do. But then again, the real world is not anime.

In 2007, the security personnel at the Sydney airport confiscated six bottles of Vegemite I placed inside my hand-carried bag. Aside from bombs and guns, carrying fluids or anything viscous that is more than 100 grams inside the plane is not allowed. Dang. That was worth 6 months of yeasty (for lack of better word to describe its taste) toasted bread for breakfast. Thank heavens when I got home in Manila, I had one bottle of peanut butter to munch on.
Now, back to my work. Who says making soaps is not rocket science?

Finally, a Silver Lining

There is a good reason for UPDT to celebrate after SAVA Sprints V: a Silver in the 200m International Freestyle Category, and a Third Place standing in the 200m International Men's Open Plate Finals.

Several international teams participated in the event, including those of expatriates based in Singapore. Five teams were from the Philippines - CamSur (powerhouse!), Philippine National Women's Team (simply unbeatable!), Triton, Drago Pilipinas, and of course the UP Dragonboat Team.

The Malaysians and university-based Singaporean teams were the line-ups to beat. The had all the advantages: experience, training, physique, funding. My team, after a long hiatus from international races, only brought one thing to Singapore - fighting spirit.

And this did not fail us. After the two-day race, we won a Silver in the 200m International Freestyle and was Third Place in the 200m International Men's Open Plate Finals. Overall, we ranked 8th out of the 35 teams competing in the men's open. No doubt, a srong come-back by the UP Dragonboat Team.

The other Filipino teams were winners as well, with CamSur winning the Gold in the men's open and the Philippine National Team topping the Women's Nation Cup. Drago Pilipinas, Triton, and the Singapore-based Filipino Dragons did not go home empty-handed as well. SAVA, I should say, was ruled by Filipinos.


To the UP Dragonboat Team, welcome back to the league!

21-km run in 2:08:27

Today was my second 21-km run at the Fort for Ayala's Eco Dash. The rains poured heavily, puddles dotted the streets, at one point there was very low visibility, and there were no markers that tell how many more kilometers to go.

The 21-km route started from High Street, then to Ayala Center via Buendia overpass and Paseo de Roxas, then to McKinley Hill and Libingan ng mga Bayani via The Fort and back to High Street for the finish line. It took me 2 hours, 8 minutes, and 27 seconds. This is a 20-minute improvement from my first one last May, and for me a really big one considering I was not truly prepared for the run at all. True enough, it is very helpful to have a running buddy so you set the pace together or outpace each other when needed. This way, mas bibilis ka at nakakahiyang bumagal.

And as always, my legs are hurting big time again. Good thing my knees did not fail me this time lest my training for the dragon boat race in Singapore which happens in four weeks will be hit. Running 21 kilometers is already a big ordeal, how much worse if I run 42 kilometers? I will soon find out.

In a different note, my baby was finally home yesterday. Thanks to Armi, Chester, and Magoo for the all help. Let's go to Tagaytay for dinner when I master my parking skills. Haha.

Two months past mid-year and counting

It is officially the start of Christmas as the -ber months have arrived. Just this morning on my way to office, I heard that song that goes "Chestnuts roasting on an open fire..." It reminded me of the excitement which, as a child, I used to feel whenever I hanged socks in the Christmas tree and eagerly awaited for 'Santa' to leave his presents. My yaya of course would bring me to bed for afternoon siesta so my mom could put her sweets inside my socks. Those were the days of innocence.

Now that I am working and 20+ years old, Christmas for me means two different things. On the fun side, lots of parties are in line and a long holiday is slated at the end of the year. That's a welcome break to chill-out and go home. On the not-so-fun side are the expenses I will have to incur for presents. Talk about give-and-take relationship with friends. Will a simple Christmas greeting and my prayers suffice? Haha.

Two months past midyear, i got regularized. This means I am now a fully-fledged P&Ger. That was fast! What's ahead of me are months and years of an exciting career. Bring it on!

Next week, I am adopting a baby. He is white and I am yet to name him. Vroooooom!