Ditch the cigars and save innocent lives!

Today, May 31, is World No Tobacco Day. It's just recently that I found out about such special day.

I have long been an advocate of non-smoking. I abominate smoking!!! It's one of the primary reasons of lung diseases in our country, aside from the ambient pollution that smothers every citizen especially in highly urban and commercialized areas such as Metro Manila. The poor non-smokers, most expecially the innocent children, are so much exposed to this life-threatening vice. Furthermore, the sad reality of smoking is present in mere family houses. Parents casually and irresponsibly puff their cigars amidst the presence of their young children (I myself have experienced such from my parents and aunties).

This year's theme is about Smoke-Free Environment. Read on the link provided to be aware of what World No Tobacco Day is about.

To smokers out there, have a second thought on your next cigar whiff. It might be the means to the end of your child, or one of your household members, maybe your spouse, your loved-one, anybody can be a victim. Be aware of second-hand smoking and what it can do to others. Quit smoking even if it's just for your own good. Do yourself a favor!

An emotional outburst of the passionate sort

Yesterday was a very emotional day - a disturbing and debilitating one; I was feeling weak and a bit out of control and I wasn't in my full strength to handle my senses. Hence, I was experiencing another painful catharsis.

The culprit was my so steadfast and stubborn... passionate love for Shane (Damn! I just can't seem to move one!). This feeling of yearning for his company and time was just so terribly excruciating; I just couldn't seem to detach this love from my system merely because I still didn't want to... (Absurd it was...). And so, my mind was floating in thin air as I was doing my office tasks on my desk; Half of my attention was on Shane and on the melodramatic and heart-impaling lines of songs that unsuspectedly played from my shuffled iTunes. One of these songs was Only a Friend by Gary Valenciano and it went...

Will it matter if I told you just how much I long to be more to you
Coz only a friend can mend a heart that’s torn and broke in two
And only a friend can keep your trust and love you just for just being you
Only a fool can overlook the way I look at you
But it doesn’t really matter after all
Coz I’m only a friend to you

It's pathetic to think that after two months of telling the truth to Shane, nothing has significantly changed from my perspective. He still is the one. I am so stubbornly bridled to him. I can get loose but I simply don't want to... I just simply can't! This is ridiculous 'cause I obviously know the solution to my problem. The only question is when and how to deal with the solution...

I told my best friend about my emotional crisis yesterday. Too bad we were not able to have another SB session. Nevertheless, she surprised me for being present despite the heavy downpour (Thanks bestfriend! I appreciate the gesture.). She even got me a Raspberry Frapp (my favorite)!
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Quote of the day

"It's not the years in your life that count; It's the life in years."

All of a sudden I was transported to South Korea!

After my swim last Saturday at the ULTRA, I saw these Korean footballers on the loose in the track and field arena of the famous (and incidentally infamous) Sports Complex. Anyong ha se yo!!! (LOLz!)

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Jack Sparrow's a bit lame... and so was everybody else!

As I have told in my May 24 post, my friends and I were to watch Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End yesterday. And so we did... But before that, we had short repasts from Wendy's.

my college friend's Bacon Cheeseburger

my bestfriend's classic burger

and mine too (that doesn't look appetizing to me)

(My bad, I ordered the wrong item (ludicrous me!). I should had gotten a Chicken Breast Fillet Sandwich instead... drool...)

As soon as we got in the movie house, the film was all set in a tad of 5 minutes. Then it rolled in....

Placement-wise, we were not fortunate to have the best seats. We were on the third row from the screen. Ergo, my field of vision was so engrossed by the projection (After the movie, I was a bit queasy and my migraine attacked).

After almost three butt-sticking hours, the movie was through... And what did I get? A headache! Harhar! Well, aside from that mishap, I barely appreciated and enjoyed the film. It was partially dragging to me despite its quick pacing of events. I think what bothered me a lot in the movie were the number of sub-plots that did quite build-up a main story plot. I did not feel that there was a main goal in this Pirates sequel. A lot of "mini-chapters" (and so there were "mini-climaces") of each significant character were shown yet they were not able to support each other well enough to develop a main plot (and so I felt there wasn't a main climax) - something that a movie-goer like me would want to see. It was a bit perplexing to me what was the "real" main goal of the story as a lot of personal motives transpired but most were not complementary to each other as each motive meant betrayal and selfishness (I surmise it's because of the nature of being pirates).

All in all, the movie wasn't very pleasing to me. Despite it's long run, I felt no significant achievement in the story and there was little character development. Below are some more comments:
1. Chow Yun-Fat's character was a waste. He died soon in the duration of the movie and didn't build an impact to the story.
2. Cutler Beckett's "pre-death" scene was so corny. His being a villain was not well emphasized in this last serving of the trilogy. And so was his death - a pitiful death from his blown ship.
3. What were the strangulations in the first scene for? I did not seem to connect those in the storyline... [Sigh]
4. Calypso's accent was a mess. I think I needed a hearing aid then just to understand all her vocal nuances! (Or was it just the fault of the cinema acoustics?)

I am not totally disappointed, only a tad and a half though... Hehe. I still enjoyed Jack Sparrow's corny but still funny antics; And his eldritch solutions to seem-to-be-already-answered problems.

Given this, I am still tentative about this movie so I am giving it also a tentative rating (Hahaha!). My perception of the movie may have been affected by my headache and not so good mood then in the cinema. Perhaps if I'll get to watch it again, I'll have a better look at the scenes and consequently a better judgment (That is, if I'd really want to see it again.. Hahaha!). For now, that's all that I can say. c",)
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I'm a mug for Clay Aiken

I'd been puzzled by who sang the revival of Without You (a.k.a. I Can't Live (If living is without you)) in the radio. Hearing it lately, I was always set aback by the vocal fluency of the male singer. Until I got a copy of it in my laptop, then was the only time I discovered that the man behind the voice was Clay Aiken.

Clay Aiken? I did not know him. So, the ever dependable Google helped me check him out. Then I found out he was a runner-up in the hit show American Idol Season 2 (Just a runner-up for that voice is a diminution for such skill).

His voice is so great. It's so high yet so chesty. He is definitely one of my crushes now. I don't care if he looks gay (and even if he is, it's zilch). His voice captivates me so much that I'm compelled to like his whole persona. Not to mention his altruism for being a UNICEF ambassador of goodwill, he is such an admiration.

To meet Jack Sparrow for the last time

Wee! I got my ticket for the screening of Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End last evening. I, my bestfriend, and one of my male college friends are going to watch it tomorrow at Shangri-La Cinema (just to avoid the crowd filling the ubiquitous SM cinemas). It'll be a 2-hour-and-40-minute movie so it better be worth watching. I bet my best friend is excited to see it.

See you soon Jack Sparrow!

Quote of the day

"Experience is a hard teacher because she gives the test first, the lesson afterwards."

by Vernon Sanders Law

My camera's home!

Yehey! Finally, I got my newly repaired digicam from the service center yesterday. I hope to experience no more glitches in the future with you. :D

A sample shot

Another coffee treat and a dose of heartfelt talk

Yesterday, my bestfriend and I finally had our first time "together" at San Francisco Coffee. We had a nice tete-a-tete as we weren't able to meet in the past week (which was not so usual.. hehe). Dining-in, I bought her a Regular Extreme Mocha; I got a Regular Extreme Latte. Just to say I "treated" her, she was saved to pay for the drink since SanFo Coffee had a Buy-1-Take-1 promo (Knavish me... hehe). Aside from the cold drinks, we ordered a plate of ready-made lasagna. The taste was fine for us - meaty and tomato-tangy - but it was not at par with my expectations. Nevertheless, we enjoyed it together with the frapps.


We talked a lot, one topic segued to another. More of the conversation went mostly about my recent experiences. One of these was my late sojourn at Puerto Galera for our company outing.

As per our convention of telling past stories, I detailed out in chronology the two days I spent at the resort - The long land and water travel from Ortigas Center to the resort; The hearty lunch I had; Swimming during "free time" before the game activities commenced; Actively participated in the charades game and ultimate Amazing-Race-like relay I and my fellow officemates won (Yes, we won!); The dinner and booze session alongside the beach with an acoustic band; The return-to-resort gift certificate I won for guessing the right song in "Name that Tune"; Snorkling (without snorkling set... err) on the next day and saw a number of mature sea urchins hiding partly beneath colorful corals....

Telling all of that, we got into talking about the ubiquitous topic of love. I didn't know where it came from (probably from the caffeine in my glass); I just spilled in the thoughts of a not yet moved-on person in love.

In a blatant manner, I told her nothing has changed with my feelings toward Shane (not his real name); I am still straddled on the starting lane. Moving on, in my case, would take a long time especially from a person whom I have invested so much emotions. It would be a lie to pretend I have moved on yet I haven't gone a lap towards my goal. It's sickening... yet I am accepting it. Small steps are what I make... at least I am stepping away.

Aside from those two unrelated topics, we had a few ramblings and thinking-out-louds. Until the next coffee session....
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