Gift Certificates (GCs) from GLOBE

Few days ago, a Globe representative contacted and informed me of the Globe Loyalty Program, wherein Globe grants rewards, discounts, and privileges to its subscribers. In my case, she offered to give me three Sodexo GCs worth P500 each BUT in one condition: I should agree to extend my Globe WiMax subscription for another two years. Since I have no plans on having our internet connection at home cut anyway, not to mention that doing so would make my Mom and younger brother very very sad (Hello, internet junkies!), I agreed.

And guess what I received in the mail today!

P1,500 worth of Sodexo GCs from Globe!

Hmmm. I'm currently thinking on where to spend these. :D

Update:

I gave two of the three GCs to my Mom (as additional birthday and Christmas gift) and the last GC to my Ninong. :)

Happy Birthday Mom!

Who would think that she is 49 years old already?

Our favorite Mernel's cake for Mom. :)

Casa Cecilia Hotel and Restaurant in Taal, Batangas

One sunny afternoon, Mom unexpectedly decided to treat me and my younger brother to pizza at Casa Cecilia.

I intentionally left my DSLR at home due to laziness, which I regretted when I later found out that the place was nicer than I expected. Good thing I have my phone with me. Hence, I decided to challenge myself.

Breakables

Top: All Meat (my favorite!), Bottom: All Seafood

My blueberry cheesecake

Protecting my iced tea from the sun

Frothy

Gumamelas

Curtains

Aside from the resto, Casa Cecilia also has a hotel...

... and is along Diversion Road, Taal, Batangas,

All photos were post-processed via Instagram. :)

Happy Birthday Daddy Mayo!

The greatest Grandfather in the whole wide world! <3

Dear Daddy,

I know you would be so much delighted if I tell you that Pacquiao won two more fights since the second half of 2010.

It has been a Christmas and a New Year already. And today will be the second time that we will be celebrating your birthday with candles on the cake left unblown.

If the left side of my brain serves me right, it would be a total of 429 mornings already that I would wake up and check my phone hoping that there is a text message from you. I know it is silly of me to still send text messages to your mobile number sometimes and hope that I would get a response.

I am sorry if I had to interrupt your watching Pacquiao’s fight last time because you had to drop me off somewhere. You are the most selfless man I have ever been blessed with and I will always be thankful for that. God must be pleased to have you around.

I know for sure that there will be a wonderful feast laid out for you in heaven today, together with Mommy Enchang and the rest of the angels. I am just hoping that Youtube is not banned there so you could watch Pacquiao’s fight replays whenever you want to. If it is banned, please let me know in any way you can, so I could download and burn them in DVDs for you. I hope it is not considered piracy though, so it could pass through the custom officers standing at the gates of Heaven. :)

We love and miss you so much. And in all the Christmases, New Years, and birthdays to come.

For now, I would have to settle with blowing the candles myself on your behalf.

If I could just send this to Heaven
through LBC, I would.

Happy birthday Dad.

Missing you,
Jess

Eargasm: "Bahaghari" by Rommel Juico

Yes, I still use the old school discman, yo!

I first heard the song “Bahaghari” in the animated movie RPG Metanoia and instantly fell in love with it. Right there and then that I have decided that it will be the official song at my funeral. Although the lyrics are kinda off for a funeral song, I still love its melody. Rommel Juico sounds like Noel Cabangon to me. And I love Noel Cabangon! <3

I couldn’t get the song out of my head after watching the movie that’s why as soon as I got home, I searched for it in the internet. Alas. Nobody has uploaded it yet. I was even willing to download it for a fee of P30 at Star Records but the website said they couldn’t process my transaction right away since it was a weekend and the weekday following it was a holiday. Sucks! The only remaining option was to go to the nearest record bar but since I am living in a sleepy town near Taal Lake, nearest means I have to travel an hour or so.

But finally, after the agony of almost 48 long hours of waiting to get back to Manila, I now own an original copy of the album of the RPG Metanoia soundtracks. A day after though, a friend emailed me a copy of the song which he was able to download online. I guess it was uploaded the same day I bought the album. Oh well, my only consolation is that at least, I was able to support our local artists. :D

Viva Señor Nazareno!

Today marks the 404th celebration of the Feast of the Black Nazarene. I was able to witness the procession last year and I could say that it was so intense. You would really admire the devotion of the Black Nazarene’s devotees who wouldn’t mind the heat, hunger, thirst and possible danger of being squeezed and stepped on by the sea of other sweaty men (and some women) trying their luck to touch the image of Jesus Christ or at least be able to hold the ropes tied to the carriage carrying it. Even the sidewalks could also be dangerous. I was lucky enough to be able to get behind the gates just before the crowd has gotten rowdy when the procession passed by our street. From therein that I have taken these pictures.