I know that lately, I’ve been so detached from home because of school work and my other commitments outside of school, but for her birthday, I am planning on getting her something nice.

Because nothing beats the heartwarming feeling of making your mother smile through small gestures and sporadic acts of endearment.

As of now, I am considering getting her western hangbags because I know that now her doctoral degree is in the offing (fingers crossed here), she will be needing more handy bags that she can use to keep all her files and important documents.

I am also contemplating on having an old family picture blown up by one of the local imaging shops here, have the picture framed, and surprise her with that. But I am still thinking hard about what to give her and what to do, because I also need to factor in my availability in the coming days.

What do you guys think is the best gift for a mother during her birthday?

It’s been a long time since I’ve been here, and it’s primarily because of school. Since my last post, I have been doing nothing but chugging down cases after cases in practically all of my subjects. All the hard labor has made me question the career path that I’ve chosen — but I’m certain that this is merely a momentary manifestation of my human frailty. Because in no time, I am sure that I will be back to my old resolute self once again.

A few days back, I was actually thinking of writing about the euphoria that engulfed Cebu the week prior. If you are familiar with Cebu and what it is most popular for, then you must have heard about the Sinulog Festival.

Sinulog is, without a doubt, the Mardi Gras of the Philippines.

For three days straight, the busy city streets are transformed into an expansive area filled with makeshift stalls, with overflowing booze and thunderous speakers in every strategic corner. Everyone, and I mean everyone, is drawn by the celebratory mood that simply permeates through the once busy and bustling streets of Cebu.

When I was taking part in the festivities (this originated as a tribute to the child Jesus by the way, by means of an annual street dancing), I marveled at how simply breathtaking the images of people dancing were.

Then I figured: if only I had a panhead with me, then I could be learning the ropes of being a good photographer in no time. I don’t know about you, but a lot of people have been obsessing about photography lately, and I really can’t blame them.

Nowadays, it’s so easy to get a good camera and start clicking away on beautiful sceneries and cherished moments with friends.

But on a personal level, if ever I will be in photography, I will only settle for the best equipment — because the old saying about photography aptly describes how ‘two photographers may take  picture of the same beautiful flower, but certainly, the photographer with the better equipment will have a more crisp and surreal picture.’

Wish me luck with my new obsession and in parting, take a look at how euphoric the Sinulog festivities had been for this year:

Because it’s the holidays, I opted to go home and bond with ze family. It’s been three days since I last detoxed from law school stuff, but as of late, I’ve been stressing about all the reading materials that I have yet to devour.

Dork Mode on.

I actually need to brush up on my three major subjects, but the mood of the season is conducive to just being sluggish and lethargic. And I’m not even talking about the overflowing food and drinks.

As it is, I need to buy new furniture to accommodate my voluminous papers, documents, and readings. I am thinking of buying a peg board for all that once I get back to Cebu. Whew.

Anyway, the holidays always makes me nostalgic, but I would have to admit that I enjoyed this season more when I was still younger. Back then, there was no delimiting what constituted reality and fantasy — but now, heck, fantasies have taken a back seat to accommodate reality.

Do I sound like a jaded soul?

I probably need to stop, because I sense I am starting to blabber.

Again, happy holidays everyone! I wish all of you the best this 2012!

For those of you who have been detached from the latest political circus that’s wracking the country, here’s what’s been happening: the President (PNoy) has been very vocal about his aversion to the Supreme Court Chief Justice (Renato Corona) — and for the longest time, the latter has been silent in light of the unrelenting tirades of the Chief Executive, but as of late, he has unleashed his own vocal arsenal as well.

The Judiciary’s main man has recently hinted, in a televised press conference conducted outside of the Supreme Court, that he is defiant, and should the antagonism continue from President Noy, he is more than prepared to fend off the bullying and defend the independence of the Judiciary.

I have two takes on this entire ruckus:

First, I perfectly empathize with the President — because every self-respecting citizen of this country knows that Chief Justice Corona was a midnight appointee of the past, shrewd President. He was appointed under dubious circumstances two days before GMA was to relinquish power, and moreover, it was the President herself who determined that it would be Corona who would be the Chief Justice.

It also needs mentioning that he was the Presidential legal counsel during her tenure, and for a couple of months, he also served the past administration as the President’s executive secretary.

If you do not notice anything fishy with this, then I don’t know what else will convince you that double-facedness and shameless political expediency exists, no — subsists, in this country.

However, even when I share Pnoy’s sentiments regarding Corona, I do not think his public tirades against the latter are called for.

For countless times during the past couple of months, he has been very vocal in calling the Chief Justice a puppet of the past government — and so consumed was he with this poison that he did not care whether the man that he maligned was sitting beside him in the Presidential table.

If I were Noy, I would have stuck to underhanded maneuverings, such as initiating impeachment proceedings against Corona, so he can accomplish two things: first, so he can pacify the insinuations of some quarters that he is out to get the Chief Justice; and second, so the separation of powers attribute of our republican democracy will have a semblance of order and tranquility.

Apparently, the President is still inept with making his political actions manifest without the possibility of a backlash. He needs to work on his finesse as a statesman, because even a nincompoop knows that image is everything when it comes to politics in this country.

Second, the executive camp has taken a disadvantageous position when it claimed that the Chief Justice should be sacked because the decisions of the state’s highest tribunal as of late were unconstitutional.

This, for me, is the biggest blunder that they could have made, because last time I checked, the test for constitutionality is still vested in the Supreme Court, and no one, not even the President, can question the mandate of the courts under the Constitution.

The mere insinuation of unconstitutionality of the Supreme Court’s latest decisions constitutes an aggression towards the judicial branch, and in effect, this translates into a minor abrasion unto the judicial bubble of immunity that the Constitution has so explicitly given to the Supreme Court.

Although I personally think the President is in the right track in ridding this country of political con artists and traitors, he needs to improve the methods that he employs in getting his message across.

He needs to be more subtle, implicit, and less vulgar — otherwise, he will perennially be frustrated that his vision for the country will not materialize: not today, not ever.

When I first heard about the unfortunate incident, my mind was arrogantly disbelieving the things that it heard — for how can one be at peace with the fact that a close friend just had a brush with death?

Plus, it doesn’t help that the accident had to happen right after our drinking session, because even if my friend will say that he drove with utmost care prior to the happening of the accident, eyebrows will generally be raised, and the presumption will always be against his being a conscientious driver.

It’s a good thing though that the damage was not that extensive, and I am thankful for the fact that my friend was not seriously injured. He just needs to temporarily use a neck brace for the minor abrasion in his collar bone, and apart from the minor contusions that he sustained, there was nothing serious about the accident that was life-threatening and whatnot.

His car, however, is a different story. It was dented in the front and screeches were numerous in the driver’s door — all in all, it was a pitiful sight to look at.

It’s a good thing though that my friend has an auto estimating software that can help him figure out how much he needs to spend for his automobile’s restoration.

The lesson that we derive from this experience is simple, people: We need to be extra cautious in driving, especially after a night out with friends , because although we need to infuse a lot of fun into our lives, it is equally important for us to take precautions and err on the side of caution.

We only get to live once, so let’s make it memorable by not ending it too soon.

Although he is only my age (27), it was always apparent, even when we were still in high school, that he would later on turn out as a businessman.

Of course, it helps that he is of Chinese descent, and his family has been engaged in a flurry of business ventures for so-so generations now.

Which is why I wasn’t the least surprised when he shared to me that he plans to put up a call center business in Dumaguete. Although I personally think this is a tall order for even the most eager business person there is, I think he has what it takes to make it flourish.

His foreign contact is based in Ft Lauderdale, and his account mainly deals with credit card holders that are in default. His team of customer representatives will be handling first line delinquent customers, so it is of the essence that he has the best customer reps around.

The first thing that I told him was to ensure that he comes up with a short list of the best business phone systems in town — because let’s face it, with the nature of his business establishment, he needs to have the best phone system that can help him streamline his business operations. This is especially helpful, considering how he needs to correspond daily with his contacts abroad.

Our conversation made me a little bit sad, because as my friends are busily venturing out into establishments that will help sustain them in the coming years, I am still enslaved by school.

Le sigh.

In due time, I shall join them and wreak my own damage to the world.

In due time, so I need to be patient.

Brushing this thought aside, I ate my breakfast, brushed my teeth, took a bath, and then changed to casual clothes.

Today, after all, was going to be a memorable day.

See, a close friend of mine in college is planning to ask her girlfriend to marry him, and since we were the most frequent drinking buddies in college, he asked me to help him look for wedding bands for men.

Personally, I think he’s too young to get married, but since he assured me that he has thought this thoroughly through, and notwithstanding the fact that they’ve been in a relationship for four plus years, I figured he actually knows what he’s doing.

Whatever.

Anyway, we scoured the city malls for the best deals, and after much scouting and bargaining, we finally settled for this one fine piece of jewelry that looked exquisite, but was reasonably-priced.

I honestly am curious as to how her girlfriend will take the proposal — I just hope she is receptive to the idea. LOL

Anyway, when I arrived home at around 7 in the evening, I was already burning with fever. I immediately drank paracetamol, and prayed to the heavens for a quick recuperation.

I can’t afford to get sick, especially now that exams are coming up.

Here’s to better health in the coming days, guys!

The sun had barely risen, I was still in deep sleep, but somewhere, I can hear her talking out loud. Because I found this bizarre, since only the two of us would be at home this early in the morning, I peeked at what the source of commotion was.

She was apparently scolding her laptop — yes siree, you read it right. She was talking to her laptop as though it were not an inanimate object.

‘What’s going on there?, I quipped.

With a sheepish smile, she softly replied, ‘My laptop’s acting crazy again‘.

In my mind, I thought this was long overdue. She’s had that laptop since 2006, if my memory serves me right, and it is in such a sorry state.

I remember perennially sensing her frustration when, during numerous instances, it would take more than five minutes for her laptop to start up.

‘Where could I have it repaired? Do you know of any place here in Cebu that will not cost me my arm and leg?‘, the frustration was apparent in her voice.

I told her to just buy a new laptop instead. Besides, I reasoned, the top netbooks in the market right now are not that steeply-priced.

‘You have to think of it as an investment‘, I nonchalantly quipped before I dozed off again.

Crazy mornings.

No, not the intoxicating spirit kind, but I was just so happy that my Mom visited us again in Cebu.

Her timely visit was all the made more special because I was nearing a depressive episode, and I can only surmise that this was brought about by the countless sleepless nights, plus the shifting (and may I say, abnormal) weather conditions.

She was accompanied by my sister-in-law, and for the two days that they were here, I felt the comfort of home once again.

Last weekend was especially memorable — because apart from refilling our sad and empty food pantry, my Mom also treated all of us to dinner in a popular dining place here in Cebu.

The place is called Casa Verde, and this restaurant is frequented by first time Cebu visitors. The main reason why this place is popular is because of its sumptuous main courses, but pegged at really reasonable prices.

My favorite dish in Casa Verde is their house specialty, the Brian’s Ribs.

I don’t even know how to describe this heaven-sent dish. But for starters, and I hope I give it justice, its flavor is so rich that you can almost taste the smokiness. The meat is tenderized to perfection, and it is glazed just right — not too sweet, and not too tangy.

And don’t even get me started on the price. Although it’s a mouthful (I once surmised that it’s the ribs of a T-Rex), it costs less than $5. If ever you find yourself in Cebu and you wish to taste what Cebu offers best, you can never go wrong with this uberly-popular dish.

One thing that I also like with Casa Verde is its modern Restaurant System which streamlines its kitchen processes.

Right after we signaled the waiter for a dish out, they instantaneously gave us the bill — and my mom was quite surprised with how (relatively) cheap our bill was.

Anyway, sad and gloomy days are in the offing once again in the coming days, because pre-midterms is coming up, and I as I write this, I am feeling a little bit under the weather.

Here’s to more happinesses in the coming days, guys.

Yes?

Well, apparently, due to some fortuitous event, he figured in an accident, albeit the damages that the van sustained were not that grave. It just has a few screeches in the driver’s door, but other than that, it is still in tiptop shape.

However, even when the damage was only minimal, his expense for hiding the ugly scar on his vehicle cost him a couple hundred of bucks.

Sucks, right?

That’s why I told him that he should have asked for an rv insurance quote, because this way, he could have saved his money for the repair of his van. Moreover, it isn’t like other auto insurance quotes, because RV’s have specific features that may not be subsumed under the generic auto insurance plan.

Anyway, I hope he learns his lesson after this incident and be more cautious when he’s in traffic — because I know he knows pretty well that the smallest of acts can cost him his hard-earned moolah.