Wednesday, October 22, 2003

Just planed in from Manila VERY EARLY this morning, and I know this has got to be the weirdest -- and shortest -- trip I've ever had. Flew in to Manila just yesterday morning in the haze of rain that's been afflicting Dumaguete of late. My trusty friend Eric met me at the airport, and good thing too since I couldn't have managed the tricky route from airport to Malate.



After a brief rest, I just went around Robinson's, bought some books (Noelle Quintos de Jesus's Fast Food Fiction and J. Neil C. Garcia's Performing the Self: Occasional Prose), had terrible ice tea in San Francisco Coffeeshop, had lunch in this quaintest carinderia with Allen and his Ian (a Manila boy who was sporting a snow cap), and then it was preparation time for the Catholic Mass Media Awards. The invitation said to go to Ateneo's Lee Irwin Theater in Quezon City (Malate to Quezon City!!!) by 5 p.m. Our cab was dexterious, though, and we wheezed and weaved through the traffic in 45 minutes flat. Which was all for naught because the show (which was taped for a TV program for RPN 9) started at around 7 p.m. Grrrr. Donita Rose is a cutie. TJ Manotoc, too. Hehehe. Sat a few feet away from Jaimee Rivera and Korina Sanchez. My column lost to goddamn Nestor U. Torre in the Best Entertainment Column category. Grrrr. And I had my acceptance speech prepared pa naman! Hehehe. I would have said:

Wow. This is totally unexpected. I didn't know one could write about a small city's cultural life, and still land in the CMMA! But I would like to thank first the CMMA for recognizing talent, and to my editor in the Visayan Daily Star Allen del Carmen for taking a chance on me. This one's for family, and for my friends, especially Mark, for the inspiration. And this one's for God whose blessings I am utterly grateful for. Thank you very much, and good evening.

O, cute di ba? Hay naku, next year na lang.



It was such a boring show. TV taping kasi, at ang dami mali and gaffes. Halfway throughout, we thought of going out na lang. Eric and I met Naya Valdellon, Allan Pastrana, and Darryl Delgado in Starbucks just along Katipunan, and later sa 70's Bistro along Anonas, Mark Cayanan and Vincent Coscolluela joined us for a night of Beatles songs. Got a bit drunk, went back to my hotel around 2 a.m., woke up at 3 :30 a.m. for the ride to the airport. My flight home was 5:30 a.m. kasi.



The female flight attendants in Air Philippines are stupid. There, I've said it. Next time, I'm flying Cebu Pacific.



Landed 7:30. Dumaguete from above looked soooo misty and green. Beautiful. The tricycle driver tried to extort P50 for the ride home. I told him I worked for the mayor and could report him, then threw my P5 at him. Went staight to bed. Woke up at 3 p.m.



Jesus.



By the way, my website is mentioned in this month's issue of FHM magazine. Repeat after me: FHM magazine. Why, why, why?
[0] This is Where You Bite the Sandwich

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