BoobooStrider

I was about to blog about the issue being over but a few seconds ago, he just posted this entry. He says he hasn't been paid yet and he will re-open the blog when the issue persists. So what happened?

Frankly, I became addicted to his blog thanks to BryanBoy who posted the URL on his website. I was curious. Plus, I didn't really like Celine so I figured it would be just an a-la Perez Hilton bashing. I didn't know the story was more than Celine's clothes and writing abilities.

I'm glad he disabled the comments page. I'm glad the World Wide Web will be at peace... at least for now.

Not very proud of this one. The article was edited that it looked like chopped stories which were forced into a tiny space. But still, I'm thankful it was published.

As seen on today's PDI and this link: http://showbizandstyle.inquirer.net/you/2bu/view/20080311-124082/Boracay-take-two

Boracay, take two

By Brian Keith Santos
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Last updated 16:46:00 03/11/2008

MY first trip to Boracay was quick and tiring. I spent only 24 hours on the island-a terribly uneventful trip.

Last week's visit was different. For starters, it was my first time to fly with Cebu Pacific and experience landing in Kalibo airport instead of Caticlan.

We checked into the Boracay Tropics Resort Hotel, a resort with Triple A rating from the Department of Tourism. Many of the guest rooms, including mine, overlooked the pool and lush gardens.

Our little Boracay adventure started with a rough ride aboard an all-terrain vehicle through various trails leading to Mount Luho, said to be the highest peak in Boracay. Unfortunately, the sky was cloudy, preventing us from seeing the spectacular view from the top.

The next day we tried one of the newest fun water activities in Boracay. Reef-walking entailed putting on these heavy metal headgear, diving to about 20 feet, and walking around a fascinating reef. The others had fun feeding the fishes while I tried my best to get away from them!

Something that I had always wanted to do in Boracay was to parasail, and this time I got to do it. Before that, however, I checked and double-checked the straps to see if they were locked properly.

It was very windy so ascending was not really a problem for the three of us. Next thing we knew, we were flying. The sensation was great-the longest 15 minutes I'd experienced. It was the next best thing to skydiving.

Cebu Pacific now flies five times daily to and from Caticlan airport. With new 72-seater planes, the airline offers Boracay tourists the option to fly directly to Caticlan at cheaper rates, or go through Kalibo airport aboard slightly bigger aircraft.

If you also want to experience the Boracay Adventure Package, call 6673942 or visit www.BoracayTropics.com. For Cebu Pacific flights to Caticlan, visit www.cebupacificair.com.

Ladies and Gentlemen: Here's our Binibining Pilipinas 2008. Be stunned!

Earlier, I wrote about my problem of going back to Manila. Since our program has been transitioned to our provincial counterpart here in Naga, some people have been moved to different departments and some were simply staring blankly on the wall, waiting for someone to ‘adopt’ them. Now this isn’t a typical scenario in the company. I struggled for a while to believe that this could happen. Now that I know more about the situation, I know anything could happen.

So imagine my dismay when some of my friends are still left in the dark in Manila. Three of them just got hired by one program, while the others are still waiting in line. I figured if I will go back, the same thing will happen to me. Worse, I will just add to the list of employees who are in need of a program.

So here comes the Naga dilemma.

Since I have convinced myself that I like it here in CamSur, I have been thinking of staying here for a long time. I’m thinking two months but only as a visitor. I think I haven’t spent enough time to decide on a permanent relocation. I am just preventing history from repeating itself – when I spent one week in Clark, fell in love with the place and later moved back to the city because of several reasons.

Of course, those reasons were valid: my former manager needed me. My best friend was then migrating to Australia. I want to carefully think about moving here so I am going to test the waters first.

Earlier I texted Mon, telling him that I am starting to like it here in Camarines Sur. He replied by saying he'll tell my boss to ask me to stay behind. I quickly replied saying I only said I like it here. I didn't say I'd like to continue working here. Two different things. It's only my second day but I could already feel the difference between the city's corporate culture and CamSur's. Right now, I can't decide which one I prefer. I guess I'm just gonna have to find out in the next few days.

Yesterday, a funny think happened. Mon was complaining about not being able to find the 'hot ones' here in CamSur. When I looked around, I agreed right away. I'm not saying that this city has no beautiful faces at all. It's just that they're not pretty enough to make our heads turn or make us drool over someone.

We went to Avenue Square for lunch and was surprised to see Lene... with two goodlooking European guys having pizza with her. I asked her how she got her big fishes and she said she caught them at the CamSur Watersports Club. Something tells me a lot of people will be going there this weekend.

I didn't mean to do it, but I sort of eavesdropped and heard the curly guy speak French. So I asked:

'Tu es Francais?'
'O, parlez francais?'
'Oui, un peu.'

The bald one praised my pronunciation. The other was surprised to see a Pinoy speaking their language. Before I knew it, I ran out of words.

Damn. I miss my French teacher.

I am writing this entry from a small, lifestyle park in Naga, Camarines Sur. When I learned a few weeks ago that I will be working here for two weeks, I worried that it might jeopardize my Bora trip and that I might sooner die. But then, I thought the thrill of being able to travel to different locations in the country is exciting. My pal Mon called me a jet setter. Not quite. The trip from Manila to Naga was an excruciating, 9-hour bus ride. And though the bus had lazy boy seats, I barely slept the entire trip, thinking of my mom's stories about the NPA stopping buses and killing people for no reason.

Luckily, I arrived in Naga in one piece. I was happy that the company van was already there about an hour before my arrival. What a trip! I can't imagine how people slept the whole time when we went through roads that resemble a chicken's intestine. What's worse is that they're not paved and the potholes are best described as craters from an unknown universe.

When we had to stop somewhere in Quezon, I asked myself: Did I just endure a 5 hour bus ride? It's pretty hard to believe. The bus has an unusual smell that made me a bit woozy. And though my mind was telling me I should get some sleep, my eyes were wide open yet all I could see is a big blurred picture of lights, sleeping passengers, and big trees.

The place where I am currently staying is somehow okay. Each room is air conditioned. I almost went berserk when the admin folks told me I had to share a queen size bed with someone from a different department. Then they told me the other guy was leaving so the room's all mine. Thank goodness.

As a mallrat, my instinct told me to rush to the malls of the city. You should have seen the look on my eyes when the driver gave me a few information about the city. He pointed me to a pile of rubble which almost looked like ground zero, which is supposed to be (get this) the first SM mall in the province of Camarines Sur a year from now.

When I asked him what other malls are in the city, he recommended the E-Mall and LLC. Mon and I went there this morning only to find out that the E-Mall holds the record of being the smallest mall in the world. If you think Waltermart in Makati and Robinsons Pioneer are too small for your taste, then you have to see this one. I'm not complaining though. At least it has the usual stalls like Bench/Human/Penshoppe/Robinsons Supermarket, etc. At least I feel a bit at home.

And now, I am writing this entry from a place called Avenue Square which is kind of the mini Greenbelt of Naga. It's kind of posh and has some fancy restausrants, some are the same as the ones in the city. I wanted to write more but my battery is kind of low. Ugh!

Oh, the best part? They have free Wi-Fi in two locations which are about 5 minutes away from our staffhouse. GREAT!

I was fortunate enough to represent 2bu! Inquirer in the recent Lifestyle Fam Tour hosted by Boracay Tropics Resort Hotel and Cebu Pacific. I was initially scared to go to this tour because I noticed that the list of participants includes Managing Editors and Section Editors of different publications.

A few years ago, I was asked to attend a presscon for a new jeans company. Upon arrival at the venue, I was 'greeted' by the PR guy with the question, 'They sent you and not Tim Yap?' I thought that was pretty stupid of him to do. Although I am not a big writer like Tim, he shouldn't have asked that stupid question.

Anyway, I was happy to see people who, as Samantha Jones would put it, are 'in my box'. I met some incredible people (Vanessa from Expat, Terrie from Travelife and a few other members of prestigious publications).






More photos will follow shortly. Actually I'm waiting for the article to come out so I can link it to my blog so we'll have to wait.