Rush Hour

"Too many people miss the silver lining because they're expecting gold.” -Maurice Setter

It’s been a very hectic month of April for me but I have no reason to complain. On the contrary I love every minute of it. I wake up with the sound of beautiful music in my head and feel so light these days. Though there was a brief awkward moment and this happened when the boss asked for my passport for work permit re-chap and I had to tell them that it’s not with me at the time. I was supposed to give my notice letter on the same day but naunahan. So of course, they were caught in surprise and were aghast that I want to stay until 15^th May only. Discussions ensued but not for long. They decided they will wait for my passport which was supposed to arrive that same week before finalizing everything. And sure enough, it came (with a hefty collect payment price). So it was decided that my last day in Brunei will be on the 30^th April, earlier than I anticipated but I’m okay since I still have time to meet Jojo in PH, I can stretch my vacation until after May 18. Now I’ve finished all document deliverables and just waiting for my last project meeting. My garage sale is complete and my luggage is ready.

Since last week, I have been occupied with meeting up with friends. Thank goodness for internet we can still keep in touch and see each other’s adventures through the web. I just had open house with very tasty caldereta, Mimi’s mom’s specialty – chicken pandan and a humongous chocolate cake.



Saturday was shabu-shabu dinner at Fratinnis in Kampong Ayer - good food and ambiance that is uniquely Malay and Bruneian.

Sunday was late meryenda with a few gym friends.

Monday was delivery of last of my sale and sauna time for me. Carol is back in Brunei so we had late dinner with my fave Mango Fish. House guest was Mark, sitting in for the couple. Too bad Lucas is sick. Today and tommorow are last stretch for work hand-over. After that, its Manila baby! Hello traffic jam, noise pollution and air pollution but still, there’s no gimik life like Manila’s.

Importing Filipino Time

“Math tells us 3 of the saddest love stories. Tangent lines who had 1 chance to meet and then parted forever. Parallel lines who were never meant to meet. And asymptotes who can get closer and closer but will never be together.”

Les Mills Class Launch, my last launch class from FZ. And it had to be ruin by bad time management. They just could not agree on what time to start it. 6PM was the announcement but the first 2 classes started past 6:30PM and the third class started way before 6:20PM. That is such a bad customer service for me. It’s such a simple matter to organize a gym class event that I cannot fathom why they blundered on this one. So many members complain and I even heard some didn’t join the class because of this conflicting time schedule but I don’t think they really expressed it to management – it was all locker talk. For all the mishaps I witnessed during several events at the gym, I verbally relay it to the managers, instructors and receptionists. Most of these are Filipinos, in fact the gym is like 80% Pinoy staffed. So it was so heartbreaking to experience the repeated mistake amid the feedbacks I’ve already expressed to them. Trigger factor of my rant was when they did not want me to join a particular class because the dress code was red or/and white and I was wearing read & black. Why would I wear a gear that is far from the color code? Simply because the poster had the model wore my color and there was no announcement about the attire. Of course, they denied this saying they texted everyone. Well, clearly not everyone. And isn’t it a shame to refuse me to join the class when other guests – none paying participants (because the launch was for public and not restricted to members only) to join because of some attire code that I, a paying member of almost a year now, was not informed about? A Filipina receptionist lent me a white shirt which I wore and yes, I still joined the class though I was late. But I was steaming with anger. This should be the last of this mistake. I cannot take bad management sitting down and doing nothing especially if it affects me dreadfully. I wrote the management a very long email and they were kind enough to reply the following day. Now I’m at peace and have high hopes this will never happen again as the reply promised. It might reflect immediately to the Filipina manager but this has nothing to do with her personally. I like her as a kababayan, she’s fun to be with and is always the life of the party. But this is constructive criticism and I want to correct obvious mistakes. After all, it is a gym club and only positive energy is nurtured and welcome. No grudge please.

Eye Candy

“No pessimist ever discovered the secret of the stars or sailed to an uncharted land or opened a new heaven to the human spirit.” -Helen Keller

Bukit Shah Bandar is Brunei’s remarkable nature trail. And it’s free for public use and yet, very well maintained. How cool is that? It’s also just about 20minutes drive from the city and is just beside Empire Golf and Country Club should you wish to spend a lavish afternoon tea break after climbing the hills of Shah Bandar. Thank you very much Mimi for taking time and inviting me to see this place. Nakahabol pa before I leave and it was worth it. The whole experience was so unforgettable because it was mixed with so many ‘lost’ moments. First, I got in the wrong lane and ended in Trader’s Inn hotel and back to Gadong. It was my first time to drive there alone and the sign was put after the road separates and is hidden in the bushes. But that was a minor ‘lost incident’ compared to what was awaiting us on top of the hills. We started a bit late coz Mimi came from work and I got ‘lost’ on my way there so it was already 5:40ish when our walk started. By 6:30, we were exhausted and can only finish 1 trail. We reached the 4^th hut though and on our way back, Mimi decided to be more adventurous and try the other trail going down the hill. The sky was getting dark and with all the trees in the woods, it was even darker in the ground. After all, I read somewhere that only 5% of the sun’s ray reaches the forest ground. It was exciting though since it felt like we were in some adventure movie – ala Narnia, Lord of the Rings, you get the drift. After about 10 minutes and we cannot see any sign of parking area or highway and just trees abound us, Mimi confirmed that we were indeed lost. We decided to run back from where we came from and just use the trail we used going up. We had to run because it was already dark and the park closes at 6:30PM and it was way passed that time. Lost count how many times we said careful to each other because of the steep road, some paved, some rocky but all very narrow. By 7:20ish, were out of the jungle and were so glad to see the highway. Only 4 cars were left and there were 3 guys chatting there. Apparently, they were about to find the owners of the 2 cars – my and Mimi’s, and were sure we were lost. Told them our story and thanked them profusely.

To reward our hard work and triumph – coz we sure felt like amazing race winners, we had buko juice! Sure trench our thirst.

And final ‘lost’ moment for me as I can’t seem to reach Bandar. It was dark and again my first time to drive on that rode alone and at night. After so many turns, I finally got it. I could have enjoyed the ride it is was daytime and was not exhausted from walking and running. I missed Cel’s birthday party and I’m sure there were lots of goodie food – she’s a good cook, but I’m still happy over the whole event. Unforgettable indeed!

Singleness

“Too many people miss the silver lining because they're expecting gold.” - Maurice Setter

Four years after I submitted the documents for immigration (yes, I have long decided to be a citizen of another country), I finally got a reply. Talk about backlogs! I have heard so many people tell me that I should have gone through an agency so it will be faster and I’ll be guaranteed positive results. I at times almost believed them as I’ve heard a lot of people whose documents were approved before mine. Good thing I was/still am busy living life and enjoying the journey that I never felt bad that it’s taking too long. Well, maybe on bad days but I try to bounce back to the happy side asap, hehe. So, here I was trying to be a diligent OFW when out of the blue, the papers came. And the correspondence never stops. Updated documents here and there were requested. Kkapagod nga coz I have to process them in PH. Thank goodness for family and friends who helped but I still have to send authorization letters. One new requirement document baffles me and even made me snigger – Certificate of No Marriage or Singleness. It was the first time I’ve heard of it. Apparently, it’s a new certificate issued by NSO and is now a major paper requirement for my application. Panalo di ba? I have no qualms about it and when push comes to shove, I might consider laminating it for display on my office desk or facebook, might increase my chances of getting more dates… or I’m counting that people might simply think of me as looney, lol. Maybe it’s the government’s way of making sure Filipinos will have second thoughts about polygamy but I doubt if it’ll stop them from having kulasisi. Now nobody in PH can cry foul that their lover lied to them about their marital status. I just hope the immigration does not extend this requirement and make it like the police clearance they asked me for – 1 for each country that I lived in for a minimum of 6 months. That’ll be tough to gather and expensive. But I’m through submitting papers and my dear spring, here I go.

Ano Daw?! Part 2

"How far you go in life depends on your being tender with the young, compassionate with the aged, sympathetic with the striving and tolerant of the weak and the strong. Because someday in life you will have been all of these." - George Washington Carver

Well, I didn’t know that you can actually buy air should you opt to. Neither am I aware that you can actually but air for a price of a dozen bathroom tissue. But this is what I thought the first time I read this tag line from this tissue brand. Oh well, never fails to make me smile in that shitty part of my room, lol..

Couldn’t Be Anymore Chinese than Here

"Do not ask the Lord to guide your footsteps, if you are not willing to move your feet." -Anonymous

It took me to be located in a Muslim country to experience Chinese New Year full blast – open house lunches, afternoon snacks or pika-pika and dinner invitations from Chinese boss and acquaintances, and of course the most exiting part, am pao. The latter makes me feel like a young girl back in our streets knocking on neighbors doors on Christmas day asking for pamasko. Good old times. CNY is the only occasion that I’m actually on the receiving end of money. And it’s been a long time since that happens, $1:PHP25 pesos pa! LOL. I often see news about CNY celebration on TV and newspaper and back in Eastwood, it’s a week long celebration complete with all sorts of psychic reading – from tarot to palm reading and etc. But that’s the closest I was able to get. Not even when I was in college and one third of the class were Chinese. Not even that my Auntie’s husband is Chinese (he’s so Pinoy that he cannot speak Chinese anymore). Not even when I stayed in Penang where only a quarter my officemates were not Chinese and the fact that the island’s main inhabitants are Chinese. Not even when my ex is Chinese (well, that’s another story, hehe). In short, walang nag invite sken, lol (sounds bitter pero nde naman, reality lang).

So I’m glad I experienced CNY here and to personally witness how a big deal it was. My gym even closed on 7^th February, the 1^st day of the year of the Rat. It compensates for the almost non-existence of 31st December eve celebration here.

Muslim Weddings

"When love beckons you, follow him, Though his ways are hard and steep, And when his wings enfold you, yield to him, Though the sword hidden among his pinions may wound you. And when he speaks to you, believe him, Though his voice may shatter your dreams as the north wind lays waste in the garden. " - Kahlil Gibran

Another noteworthy experience is going to local weddings. Firstly, I have to thank Jocy and Mimi for lending me their baju kurung. It’s the local dress worn during formal occasions and as office formal attire for girls particularly with government employees. Our equivalent to Baro’t saya. But who wears them now, really? For local guys here, office attire is your regular Makati yuppie. They wear their traditional dress or Baju Melayu for formal occasions and prayer time.

You have to give kudos to the people here for having such true loyalty to their local attire. The more expensive Bajus are adorned with hand woven embroideries. During Hari Raya which is celebrated after fasting season and runs for one month, families usually wore dresses of the same garment. Super terno talaga, hehe.

In the picture is our client dressed in a majestic baju. It’s a week long celebration and we were invited by the groom, hence we were at his residence. The bride-to-be is in her own residence having a feast with her own guests. The groom will go to her place and his less than 6 steps walk from their doorway to the car must be covered under an umbrella.

Though the celebration stretches from 4 to 5 days, the days do not last long. Unlike in the Philippines where it could last for at least 3 hours (yan ay kung walang karaoke session to follow, lol). Each guest was handed a souvenir gift once they arrive. The female relatives will walk from table to table to shake hands or Salam with each female guest. The male relatives will go to the male guests and shake hands as well. Yes, females and males are seated separately. There will never be an opportunity to mingle and eye for single girls and guys here, too bad huh? After that, a prayer will start the celebration and the feast begins. As soon as the guests have eaten, all leftovers are up to grabs. Take-out or Tapao plastics are available and everyone dugs in. Everything usually takes less than 45 minutes and guests starts to go back home.

As for the newly weds, the celebration is ended with a honeymoon. Now that part is universal and no color or religion makes any difference. ^_^

Brain Meat

"One of the most valuable things we can do to heal one another is to listen to each other's stories." - Rebecca Falls

Another brilliant marketing strategy brought to you by a famous hotel (not just here I’m sure). I love meat but how can I lust for having a piece if it shows a picture of a whole cow? Cowabangga! He looks so cute and innocent that this ad actually forces me to go on fish and veggie diet. Nice job Sheraton.

Ano Daw?!

"Nothing in this world that's worth having comes easy." - Dr. Cox

Fitness Zone is promoting its café and is giving away free mugs for renewals and new members. But how can they possibly entice members like me to try their drinks when I get this feeling that it may somehow deteriorate my brain and my sense of spelling. What’s with the drink? Lead? Or maybe it’s a marketing strategy – pa shock effect. Well, if it’s the latter, they got me there, hehehe. I’m still not buying it though.

Oh Sweet Liberty!

Today's Thought: "It is not impossibilities which fill us with the deepest despair, but possibilities which we have failed to realize." - Robert Mallet

Mineral Water delivery does not exist here. You have to buy bottles in boxes or those containers that goes with a hot & cold dispenser. It's arms exercise and endurance everytime I buy a box and carry at most 3 bottles at 1 go. I live on the 3rd floor and there's no elevator. I might be a gym rat but the body's not build to carry boxes (even a guy would complain!).

It's just interesting and never fails to make me smile every time I got to read the box. I never thought this country is under siege and crying of liberation, hehehe.

In sickness and in health....There's Always a Medicine You Can Take

Today's Thought: “I'm so ugly - My mother had morning sickness - After I was born” - Rodney Dangerfield


I had slight flu and cold just last month, my first time to get sick while I'm based here. I went to our company doctor and was given these meds, 1 sachet for cold and 1 sachet for fever. I think the plastics' pretty cool, hehe. It's not a practice here to hand out any prescription paper so you can go buy them yourself. Instead, the meds are covered under sick leave (provided it was approved and signed by the boss) and are provided by government hospitals. All details are written in 3 languages - English, Malay and Chinese. The picture's a little blurd but these two just say that I should take 2 paracetamol tablets 4x a day & when necessary & before meals and 1 fedar(?) 3x a day & when necessary. If you ask me, the 'x a day' conflicts with 'when necessary' but who am I to question the doc? The result? I was sick for 1 more week and finally felt good after taking Neozep from a Pinoy friend. Pati ba naman sakit, brand concious?