I'm a very bad influence : O

= = = = =

1. smoked.
2. consumed alcohol.
5. kissed someone of the same sex.
6. had sex.
7. had someone in your room other than family.
8. watched porn.
9. bought porn.
10. tried drugs.


= = = = =

1. taken painkillers.
2. taken someone else's prescription medicine.
3. lied to your parents.
4. lied to a friend.
5. snuck out of the house.
6. done something illegal.
7. felt hurt.
8. hurt someone.
9. wished someone to die.
10. seen someone die.


= = = = =

1. missed curfew.
2. stayed out all night.
3. eaten a carton of ice cream by yourself.
4. been to a therapist.
5. received a ticket.
6. been to rehab.
7. dyed your hair.
8. been in an accident.
9. been to a club.
10. been to a bar.


= = = = =

1. been to a wild party.
2. been to a Mardi Gras parade.
3. drank more than three alcoholic beverages in a night.
4. had a spring break in Florida.
5. sniffed anything.
6. wore black nail polish.
7. wore arm bands.
8. wore t-shirts with band names.
9. listened to rap.
10. owned a 50 Cent CD.


= = = = =

1. dressed gothic.
2. dressed girly.
3. dressed punk.
4. dressed grunge.
5. stole something.
6. been too drunk to remember anything.
7. blacked out.
8. fainted.
9. had a crush on a neighbor.


= = = = =

1. had a crush on a friend.
2. been to a concert.
3. dry-humped someone.
4. been called a slut.
5. called someone a slut.
6. installed speakers in your car.
7. broken a mirror.
8. showered at someone of the opposites sex's house.
9. brushed your teeth with someone else's toothbrush.


= = = = =

1. consider/considered Ludacris your favorite rapper.
2. seen an R-rated movie in theater.
3. cruised the mall.
4. skipped school.
5. had surgery.
6. had an injury.
7. gone to court.
8. walked out of a restaurant without paying/tipping.
9. caught something on fire.
10. lied about your age.


= = = = =

1. owned/rented an apartment/house.
2. broke the law in the police's presence.
3. made out with someone who had a gf/bf.
4. got in trouble with the police.
5. talked to a stranger.
6. hugged a stranger.
7. kissed a stranger.
8. rode in the car with a stranger.
9. been harassed.
10.been verbally harassed.


= = = = =

2. stayed online for 5+ hours straight.
4. watched TV for 5 hours straight.
5. been to a fair.
6. been called a bad influence.
7. drink and drive.
8. prank-called someone.
10. cheated on a test.


= = = = =


= = = = =

If you have less than 10, write [I'm a goody goody]
If you have more than 10, write [I'm still a goody goody]
If you have more than 20, write [I'm average]
If you have more than 30, write [I'm a bad kid]
If you have more than 40, write [I'm a very bad influence]
If you have more than 50, write [I'm a horrible person]
If you have more than 60, write [I should be in jail]
If you have more than 70, write [I should be dead]

= = = = =

charity begins at home

i noticed this just now while browsing today's newspaper.  the headlines of two major *philippine* dailies yesterday, august 28, 2011, were worlds apart...

the philippine star had:

     'Mina' weakens after landfall

the philippine daily inquirer:

     New York City is closed


i must say i'm guilty of the same, too...  i posted about hurricane irene in facebook but not about mina...  : (

the first letter of my name


It's harder than it looks!


You cannot use any word twice.

You cannot use your name for the boy/girl name question.

Have Fun!

1. What is your name?

2. A four letter word

3. A boy's name

4. A girl's name

5. An occupation

6. A colour
hmmm...  this one stumped me...
hmmm...  hmmm...  hmmm...
would cobalt blue count?

7. Something you wear
clothes...  hahaha...  ; p

8. Food

9. Something found in the bathroom

10. A place

11. A reason for being late
cold  ->  what entered my mind was cold as in opposite of hot...  not colds as in cold and cough...  : }

12. Something you shout

13. A movie title

14. Something you drink

15. A musical group/artist
calla lily

16. An animal

17. A street name

18. A type of car

19. The title of a song
change the world

a material void

yesterday, i was talking to someone whose name maybe i should have known but instead had the nerve to ask...  : }

so i was at their store supposed to pick up something when he arrived...  his son pointed me out to him...  he asked for my name and hearing it, asked how i am related to so-and-so...  i said the guy is my father...  well, he knew my dad...  i therefore asked for his name, too, so i could tell my dad...

his name sounded familiar so when he left, i asked his son whose nickname, at least until that time, was all i knew...  well, it turns out he's supposed to be a well-known military figure...  ugh!  i did not know!

reminds me of a similar situation...  in college yearsssss (!) back, i figured in a collision (very, very minor, ok) along katipunan ave.  the other driver came out of her vehicle and greeted me with, "hi...  i'm bingo lacson."

i went, "i'm cynthia <surname>."

so we talked about the damage and how it would be settled and then went our separate ways.

guess what, when i was relating the story, everyone was like, 'you hit bingo lacson?!'

me:  'uh-huh...  who's she?'

it turns out she's a well-known radio personality...  uh-oh...  i don't listen to that station...  : }

just recently i was talking to someone who was giving me a rundown of the names of the supposed attendees to this eucharistic celebration.  the names did not at all ring a bell.

the guy kept on going, 'you don't know him?!  he composed this and that religious hymn!'

uhm, the hymns i know.  but i must admit the composers i haven't really heard about.  (we're not talking handel's messiah here, ok.  just popular hymns the composers of which are living priests.)

anyway, i'm thinking now i've lived my life without really knowing these people and i'd say i'm none the worse for it.   i guess it's because they are not really relevant to my existence.

i know larry ellison and scott mcnealy and carly fiorina and ron gula.  i don't really expect everyone to know them.  but certain people working in certain fields i definitely would be surprised, dismayed even, if i found out they don't know certain personalities.  let's just say that some knowledge are supposed to go with certain territory.  if you're in that field and you lack that knowledge then something is not quite right.

in addition, i think certain knowledge would be essential and universal  ->  not necessarily the terms but the concepts.  regardless of who you are, what you do, where you are, you have to know God and love and hope and tears and joy.  without such knowledge, there will be a material void in your life.

no shortchanging

steve jobs has resigned as CEO of apple. he's been named chairman of the board.

his resignation letter:


i admire the guy.

i've seen people, obviously unqualified, dangerously unprepared, clearly falling short and yet still accepting and holding on to positions of responsibility.

you'd think they'd at least have the initiative to work on equipping themselves to eventually be worthy of their titles but no, they're content with how they are, oblivious to the avoidable risks they are bringing to their organization.

they have reason to lay back. they are tolerated and condoned, defended even, by those who should be telling them to get up to speed.

people are being shortchanged and no one is bothering to correct the situation. sad... pathetic... risky. thank heavens for luck.

you'll have to hand it to jobs. the guy will not shortchange. he is able to look, not just after, but beyond himself.

good health, steve... thank you... all the best... God bless...

my love is free

i was in this dreamy state when i somehow still dreamily heard the ringing of my phone. so i pick it up and drowsily talk to the guy on the other end.

i was half-awake half-asleep when i was suddenly jolted when the guy went, 'i'm going to give you five thousand...'

'huh?! whyyyy????'

'i just want to give you.'

'what for?'

it turns out he has found a renter for his place and the tenant has given him a check. he's giving me a share for posting his ads online.

'oh, no need. that was nothing.'

the guy was insisting. i was declining.

then he goes, 'i'm buying your love...'

me: 'nyeh! five thousand?! cheap, huh! my love is priceless,,, it is not for sale...'


reference check

i just got a call from someone doing a reference check on one of my former subordinates. well, i had nothing but the best of words for the girl.

the questions focused on work performance but i had to add that as far as this person is concerned, it's not just the technical / professional side that is good, the personal aspect as well. you don't always get such a package. sometimes, technically you're great but personally, you're off. other times, personally you're ok, but technically you suck. supposedly in the office, if push comes to shove, you'd prefer the former.it's a work environment anyway, not a social gathering. you need professionally competent people more than you do socially adept ones. laughter and smiles lighten but don't solve technical issues, knowledge and skill do.

anyway, i wish this subordinate all the best. she has come a loooong way and deservedly so. she's hardworking, highly-competent, resourceful and adaptable -> definitely an asset to any company.

continue your rise, girl. reach higher; go farther; journey to the top. you're one good proof that merit has its rewards... : )

sugarbabe ; )

a friend purchased some vouchers online through me.

so this afternoon, he called: 'i've deposited the payment to your account, azucarera de mama...'

me: 'eh?! you're the one who deposited money to my account so you're the azucarera de papa...'

<chuckles> ; )

i could not imagine being a guy's sugarmom... tacky... yucky!

i, however, don't think i'd mind being a loved ones sugarbaby... bring it on, hun... dazzle me with brilliance... shower me with gifts... smother me with love... : )

free cake : D

last august 8, i saw a facebook post from Cheesecake, etc. about their '2nd Me and My Cheesecake, etc. Photo Contest.'  they'll give you a cake of your choice if you win...  : D

i remembered i had a photo taken at their store just a few weeks back (july 16 to be exact).  it was a snapshot i asked their guard to take as i was about to leave the place  ->  very ordinary but i figured i had nothing to lose submitting it so i did.  guess what,  it's now among the 17 finalists, hahaha.  i think they approved all submissions, toinks!

anyway, it's a most-likes-by-august-31st contest.  if you can spare some time then log in to facebook and like my pic, please (click here).

i'm a sucker for freebies...  : } / (":

thanks...  : )

my lolo

today, august 21, is the 28th anniversary of senator ninoy aquino's assassination.  it also marks what would have been my late grandfather's 112th birthday.

my grandfather, Juan R. Rarela, passed away at 91.

i was his favorite granddaughter.  i pulled out his gray hair.  i was often by his side, listening to his lofty adult discourse.  a lot of times, my young, shallow mind could not really relate to his topics.  but i stayed on, displaying more interest than i really had, nodding my head, dropping some smart(-alecky) statements which led to more animated stories i again had to feign interest in, hehe.

my grandfather was a bright and witty man, very meticulous.  i remember his dismay and frustrated remarks about missing 's' and misplaced apostrophes (yup, grammar and punctuation).

he was a noble politician, mayor of pakil, laguna from 1968 to 1971.

he had an eye for beautiful women but remained faithful to my beautiful grandmother.

though not much for physical displays of affection, he definitely was a loving family man.

HAPPY birthday, tata...  ♥

Juan Regalado Rarela
August 21, 1899 - September 12, 1990

not just in my sleep

i dreamt about someone yesterday morn (yup, not nighttime...  i slept around 3 a.m. yesterday...  : }).  i've been trying to but i could not recall what the dream was about.  all i remember is waking up from the dream and thinking, 'ei, i dreamt about him!'

this is not the first time i dreamt about this guy.  the last time, i told him.  guess what, every once in a while after that he'd ask me whether he was again in my dreams.  ooops...  hahaha...  :")

uhm...  if only i could say:  even in my waking hours, actually...  even in my waking hours...  ♥

excused  ; )

a friend was inviting me to a dental mission this weekend.  i declined saying my face has not quite cleared up yet  ->  i had warts removed last weekend so now i look like i have a bit too many moles on my face  : }

she was assuring me it's okay relating that one time she herself went out with a dotted face.  so she was sleeping and without her knowledge her son got a pentel pen and put dots all over her face.  what the...?!  hahaha...  prankster!!!  : O

anyway, i told her mine are definitely not pentel-point-size but still i'd rather not show myself too publicly at this point.

she was telling me she'd like me to take pictures.  hmmm...  i said i'm sure there'll be others with cameras there.

this is a dental mission.  i am not a dentist.  my absence would not be a big loss.

there are times when one's presence is important.  there are times when they're merely nice-to-have.  in the latter case, it is ok to beg off.

what a wife is like...

some guy ended a text message he sent me with the following line:

"life without wife is like a kitchen without knife"

at first blush i liked it...  then just as quickly disliked it as well...  a knife cuts...  a knife wounds...  i wonder what a sweeter and gentler analogy would be...

final goodbye

you got me...  you lost me...
you got me again...  you lost me again...

well, i'm gonna make sure you don't lose me again
because i'm gonna make sure you don't get me again.

don't waste it

i send a message to my sister's three numbers (different networks).

she chides me for wasting my load.

i tell her my subscription gives me free text messages.  unused allocations do not really get rolled over to the following period.

regardless, she says.  it's a waste of load.

hmmm...  a waste of technical resources maybe, network, storage, etc.,  but not of load.  i forfeit them if i don't use them.

the value of certain things is in their usage.  a free text is for sending...  shows are for watching...  love is for sharing...  

my brother's keeper

domestic violence...  woman reportedly crying out for help but no one came to the rescue...  heartbreaking...

honestly, i'm not sure whether i would have the courage to personally and physically meddle in such a situation... but i definitely would have called the barangay and the police...  things like that you don't let pass...  such cries for help you don't ignore...

nagai aida

at a mcdonald's past midnight a couple of months back, someone sang to me in japanese.

now, there was a time when i understood basic, just the most basic, japanese.  i took japanese lessons in college, just hiragana and katakana, but that was sooooo long ago not a trace of the knowledge remained...  ooops, yup, there is:  neko and kirei and oishi and arigato gozaimasu.

anyway, so we were in the middle of a bittersweet conversation when this guy sang to me lines in japanese interspersed with their english translation.  i must say i did not really appreciate the message that time.

then a couple of days ago, the guy again offered to sing to me, this time over the phone.  my immediate reaction was to say i may not understand his song again.  we talked, talked, talked and singing was forgotten somehow.  he did manage to tell me to check out his mcdonald's song on the web, giving me the title nagai aida.

well, today i searched the song, checked out its translation and felt a pain in my heart.  the opening lines hit home.  there's a part though that's not quite applicable  ->  the guy did say, 'i love you.'

i didn't understand it then.  i understand it now.  but i guess it is too late...



i've been trying to empty my place for the longest time now.  phone calls:

me:  'mamu, you need a rice cooker?'

sister-in-law:  'ay, nope.  ours is still good.'

me:  'how 'bout a coffee maker?'

sister-in-law:  'thanks but there's one here...'

ok.  call mom.

me:  'muts, you need a rice cooker?'

mom:  'actually i'm thinking of replacing the one here.'

me:  'ok...  i'll give you mine... unused...  yours not good anymore?'

mom:  'it's ok...  but the design has faded...'