Life's A Wonderful Chorus

According to a report I read online, "Moscow is the world's most expensive city for expats, while Tokyo has pipped London to move into second place."

"The study takes New York as the base measure for prices, comparing over 200 items, in 143 cities across the globe."
And while some Asian cities figured in the top 20--Seoul was in fifth and Hong Kong in 6th and Osaka in 11th--Manila wasn't on it. Should we celebrate? It's still relatively cheap to live in Manila! If you measure it against New York, that is. Then again, it isn't cheap for most Pinoys who live in the city.

Ask the common Juan dela Cruz and I bet my year's salary he'd say the quality of living in Manila is fast going down the drain. Proof of that is Pulse Asia's survey that says 75% of Filipinos say quality of life has worsened in last 12 months. Blame it on the rising food and fuel crisis the country is eternally affected with.

Further according to the study, "84 percent of Filipinos believe that most of their countrymen are worse off now than last year, higher than the 71 percent recorded in March. Only seven percent consider their situation to have improved in the past 12 months, while a meager three percent feel the national quality of life is better now than last year".

I faithfully watched GMA's SONA last Monday. I say "faithfully" because I stayed on despite the urge to throw up the entire time, despite my wanting to smack GMA so hard it would knock her annoying "nunal" off of her sinister-looking face. I was asking myself then, how could she stomach reporting the supposed good things happening in the country when she knows there's an increasing case of hunger all around her? And she had the nerve to justify the soaring food and fuel prices as a global phenomenon! Tell me, who wouldn't want to get a chance to smack her in the face?

Earlier today I was planning on treating myself out to a good dinner and a movie. It's "sweldo" day anyway. But I'm deciding against it now. I'd trade a good dinner and a movie to get a chance to smack GMA in her face, anytime. Just one smack. One for her and one for her equally sinister-looking husband. Just one.

I came across self-proclaimed "eventologist" Tim Yap earlier today. I don't think there's really something special about this guy except I noticed he looked so much like Tweety Bird with the glasses he had on when I saw him.

I'm just perplexed as to where he gets this certain aura--as if the world is blessed to have him around.
And can somebody please tell this guy that the thick foundation his face is eternally painted with isn't at all flattering!

I swear I had the urge (I don't know where it came from. honest!) to trip him earlier but that would've been too inhuman of me. So my not doing so was my good deed for the day. Ha!

I've nothing personal against this Tim Yap really. He didn't do anything bad to me. Heck, he doesn't even know me!
I just have this aversion towards men who rival women with their make-up.

I remember whenever I was asked this customary question when I was child (uhugin pero gwapo pa din sabi ng nanay ko), I never said I'd want to become a nurse. I know I'd say I'd want to be lawyer, a doctor, a policeman, a soldier, a teacher, all because "gusto ko makatulong sa mahihirap".

I don't recall ever saying gusto ko maging nurse. Never. Bakit? Di ko alam. Di pa ata ganun kasikat ang Nursing nung bata ako. Kahit sa pamilya namin, isa lang ang Nurse.

Pero ngayon, naglalaro sa isipan ko ang mag-Nursing. Siguro dahil sa uso at dahil na din sa alam kong in-demand ang Pinoy Nurses abroad at malaki ang posibilidad na kumita ng limpak-limpak na salapi. Tsaka gusto ko uniform ng mga nurse. Puti. Ang linis. Ang sarap dumihan. Parang polo ko nung elementary at high school na laging me sulat ng ballpen. Pero di naman sadya. Ang tanga ko naman kung pati polo ko susulatan ko.

Pero di nga. Parang gusto ko maging nurse. Parang yung high school classmate ko na kahit me degree na sa Communications e nag-Nurse at pumasa sa pangalawang attempt niya sa board exams at aalis na papuntang US. Parang yung barkada ko nung college na kahit lesinsyado na sa ibang field e kapapasa pa lang sa Nursing board ngayong buwan. Parang mga pinsan at pamangkin ko. Parang halos lahat na yata ng tao sa Pilipinas.

Parang gusto ko maging nurse. Kahit takot ako sa dugo, sa injection at ang pinaka-ayokong lugar sa mundo ay ang mga ER ng mga ospital. Kahit tapos na kong mag-aral at me trabaho na ko kahit papano. Kahit dadagdag pa ko sa libu-libong nursing students sa Pilipinas ngayon.

Parang gusto ko maging nurse. Parang.

***para sa mga magigiting na Pinoy nurses sa buong mundo na gusto o ginusto na lang ang kanilang trabaho para makatulong sa kanilang pamilya. Para makatulong sa mahihirap.

They beauty of Friendster is that anyone can find anyone. Well, almost.
For lack of nothing better to do, I browsed through my friends' accounts, silently laughing at botched pictures brazenly posted online for all the world to see. Kidding. And I browsed some more.

As I was doing so I couldn't help but feel this familiar longing for friends I haven't seen in a long time. Call me dramatic but looking at old photos (yes, even the botched ones) gave me chills while I looked back at events that these friends and I shared way, way back. And so I asked, where have they all gone? Where have I gone?

So to you my friends who I miss, wherever you are, this post is for you.
And I promise I'll try not to laugh at your pictures. So help me.

........., .......

A friend called me today asking why I didn't greet her on her birthday. In my hopes of pretending I didn't forget, I said "E di pa naman tapos birthday mo e!"

She shouted and said "Kahapon kaya ang birthday ko!"
I nearly dropped my phone. In embarrassment.

Don't you just hate it when you innocently forget important days? Especially those that concern your loved ones.
So to make up for my forgetfulness, I now owe this friend a dinner.
It's okay. It's actually the least I can do for a friend who's always been there for, and with me all these years.

To this dear friend, I hope though that you had a meaningful birthday!
And don't get back at me by forgetting mine.

iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii lllllllllllooooooooovvvvvvvvvedddddddd the movie!
freaking looooooooooovvvvvvveeeeeeeeeedddddd the movie!
I just loved it. Loved it.

Pardon me while I compose myself.
A more sensible entry about the movie will be posted soon.