RESTRIP

I read quite a number of '25 Random Things' in different personal blogs and i think it is fun to write something like that plus it is a great way to let the people learn more about you. So, here are 25 random things about me.

1. I am my mother's favorite. And I'm quite sure of that. Maybe because i did helped her a lot babysitting my siblings and guarding our sari-sari store before. Most of the times, I have to skipped playing with my neighbors 'coz i have to look after my brothers and sister. I think being the eldest, i was already designated to do that. Now, that i am working and living here in Makati and every time i would go home to Bulacan (at least once a month) she would prepare my favorite ulam for me. We are not brought up to be affectionate to each other, but i can feel that Nanay favors me more.

2. I sleep with six pillows and a 'maligasgas or magaspang na kumot' (thermal blanket) on my feet. There is no way i can sleep with one or two pillows. I have to have 2 on my head, another 1 on each sides, 1 under my feet and another one i can hug. When i have to sleep in a hotel, i would always ask for extra pillows.

The 'maligasgas na kumot' is a must. No silk blanket please. Mas magaspang, mas ok. When i travelled abroad, i have to bring my own kumot. Last February, when i went to Singapore, there's no more space for my 'maligasgas na kumot' in my luggage. Buti na lang that the undercover of the bed is exactly the same as my thermal blanket back home. So i removed it and used it for my feet. The housekeeping lady in Fort canning probably wonders kung bakit ang gulo-gulo ng bed ko everyday. Hehehe!

3. I don't eat exotic food. I always believe that God created different animals for different purposes. Surely enough, He didn't create dogs for pulutan or bayawak and snakes for ulam. As long as there are pork, beef, chicken and vegetables, i don't see the need to include exotic animals in my menu.

4. I don't eat chocolates too. Ewan ko ba, pero i am not just fond of chocolates. My friends and my boss finds it weird pero i just don't like the taste. I can live without them. A supplier once brought me a pasalubong of different chocolate goodies from abroad and he just made my office mates very happy.

5. I love Nike shoes. I only buy Nike rubber shoes. I just find them so comfortable. But i'm quite picky with the design. Yung iba kasi, baduy talaga ang design kahit Nike pa. I own about six pairs.

6. I like bags - backpacks, sports bags, etc. But my current favorite is my green "Salary Sacrifice" model Crumpler bag. It's a backpack with special case for a laptop. Quite expensive at 6K plus but it's all worth it. Made from Australia - sobrang tibay at comfortable gamitin. I now have 2 Crumpler bags. The other one is a laptop bag. I also bought this nice orange Nike bag from Macau. Not my favorite though, ayun naka-tago na sa Bulacan. I now regret not buying that huge National Geographic bag from Singapore. Mahal kasi. hehehe!

7. I drink so much water. If we are to follow the advise to drink 8 glasses of water daily, then i am way advance the quota. I drink about 16-20 glasses a day and i want my water ice-cold.

8. I am not organized. "Salaula" sabi nga. Ewan ko ba. Ang gulo-gulo ko sa gamit. Even sa office, burara ako. I tried many times to organize my stuff but it's not working.

9. I am always (almost) on-time. I value being punctual. Siguro in 100 appointments, isang beses pa lang ako na-late. Nahihiya kasi ako magpa-hintay ng tao even if ako ang hinihingan ng pabor. Whenever we watch plays, shows, etc. you can count that i'll be at the venue before the show starts. I once gave a sermon to my former boss when she arrived 30 minutes late to an appointment. I forgot that time na boss ko nga pala sya. Just imagine the look on her face and my face after. Hahaha!

10. I am not fond of video games. I actually don't play video games. When i was in in highschool, some friends would invite me to play Atari after school but i would just end up watching them or i'll just do something else. The only game i engaged myself playing with is the infamous "brick game" where you'll just stack those bricks together as they fall. Meron pa ba 'non ngayon?

11. I grew up reading Komiks. Name it - Hiwaga, Funny, Pinoy, Wakasan, etc. That is my Tita's influence on me. I got so addicted to Komiks from elementary 'till highschool that I would save my P50.00 daily baon then just to buy the latest Komiks from the suking tindera sa palengke ng Balagtas. There was a time i have so much Komiks that i rented them out to neighbors so that i can buy more komiks from the rent money. That also influenced my limited ability to draw.

12. Ayoko ng mga ulam na matatamis. Hamonado, tocino, paksiw na lechon, sweet and sour pork/fish. For me kasi dapat dessert lang ang sweet.

13. I almost drowned when i was 10 or 11. 'Di alam ng parents ko 'to. Tumakas lang ako no'n to join my cousin Leo and Tito Penchot na mag-swimming sa rampa (a river-like irrigation system sa lugar namin). Both of them are good swimmers. I was trying to learn how to swim at langoy aso lang alam ko. I didn't realize na malalim na pala yung napuntahan ko. When i tried to stand up, i couldn't reach the bottom. I panicked. I think i yelled for help. Biglang sugod si Leo at Tito Penchot sa 'kin. They both grabbed me and pulled me to safety. Will never ever forget that.

14. I am claustrophobic and the worst experience was when I got stuck in the elevator thrice. These three incidents happened in Cityland Pasong Tamo Tower where we have an office at the 32nd floor. The elevator suddenly stopped in between 31st and 32nd floor. I was hyperventilating already. The other 2 people with me are worried as well. Two days ago kasi may news na elevator na bumagsak sa isang office sa Ortigas. No cellphone signal but we managed to advice the building administrator through the emergency call button. Pero 15 minutes pa rin kami trapped inside. They forcibly open the door and literally pulled us out. The picture under exactly replicates our situation then.

15. I don't like slow people or people with no sense of urgency.

16. I have TMJD or Temporomandibular Joint Disorder (TMJD). I was diagnosed to have this about 4 years ago after i noticed some pain and cracking in my jaw. TMJD is a disorder that affects the functioning of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ), more commonly referred to as the jawbone. It attacks the muscles and cartilage throughout the face, head, and neck. I believe that it is one reason why i always have a migraine. The illustration below shows the difference between a normal TMJ and the 'abnormal' one.

17. I love Zamzar and Limewire for my iPod downloads.

18. I started wearing blacks when i started gaining weight. Almost all my t-shirts are black. Despite working out at the gym and several diets, i hardly lose weight. That's why i gave up already and just enjoy life as it is. However, after consulting a feng shui master, i started introducing colors to my wardrobe - at least sa mga damit ko pang pasok sa office.

19. I love sili, patis and all spicy food! I am so fond of sili and patis, i literally eat it with any ulam. I guess that was my father's influenced on me. For me, it's not just right to eat breakfast, lunch or dinner without sili and patis. and the spicier the sili, the better! Yum! Yum!!!

20. My most embarrassing moment was when i ate in this restaurant (Mr. Choi's Kitchen) and when i asked for the bill, i realized i don't have my wallet with me. Buti na lang the resto is just a stone-throw away from my place. I immediately called my friend/housemate and requested (read: begged) him to bring me my wallet.

21. I hate math and all mathematical applications. This hate-relationship between us started in elementary and it never changed. The only thing i like about math is counting money and only if it's MY money.

22. I know how to make Rellenong Bangus from scratch. Yup! that includes cleaning and deboning the fish, preparation of stuffing and stuffing the fish itself. Since i'm a food lover, i have learned to prepare and cook a lot of different dishes. I started cooking when i was very young. Back then, my mother would always ask me to cook lunch or dinner while she is busy running some errands.

At first, i don't like it. I hate chopping onions and garlic. But since my mother gave me no choice, i have successfully mastered the art of sauteing. I started experimenting now and then and i was able to concoct my own dishes. It was fun cooking. I like going to the market and buy the freshest ingredients and impressing everyone with my cooking. I am now the designated cook during special occasions in the family. But what i hate most is doing the dishes. I'll cook but someone should clean after.

23. I believe in ghosts. I have my own ghost story to tell. Year 2000. Glenn (a housemate and a very good friend) and I just transferred from our old boarding house to our new apartment in Makati. The house is about 50 years old and is completely vacant. We have no furniture nor appliances. All i have is just an electric fan and a mattress.

Glenn went home to Isabela for a vacation so i was left all alone. I slept at around 10pm at my room at the second floor. It was December and a bit cold. I covered myself up with my kumot. Suddenly i was awaken by some noise. I heard someone dragging himself up to the stairs. I think fast. Was it Glenn? How can that be possible? I double-locked the main door. There's no way he can get himself in.

Then, i just felt a sudden gush of cold wind. I peeked at the room. My electric fan is turned off and all the windows are closed. I panicked and immediately covered myself again. Then, the door to my room creaks open. I was totally awake and muttering some prayers. I heard and felt the wooden floor creaks as well. Whoever that person is... he is heading towards me. I peeked from my kumot again and saw a very pale, wet and covered with mud set of feet. I dare not look up. I am so afraid of what i might see. I crawled into a fetal position and prayed. After 30 minutes or so, i felt the weird coldness is gone. I peeked again and the feet is no longer there... and it's already half past three am. I will never ever forget that experience.

24. I like removing my shoes at the office. I don't wear tsinelas though. But i am more comfortable just wearing my socks under my desk.

25. I like commuting. The company paid for my driving lessons at A1. My brother, Rex, thought me how to drive using our jeep back home. I know how to drive. But i am just more comfortable to commute than to drive. Parking will never be a problem. I can sleep or do something else while traveling. There are plus and minus to it but i am a commuter at heart.

We have a new dog and it's a rottweiler. I was hesitant at first to have a dog which is known for its aggressiveness. I heard rottweilers are commonly used for dog fights. Some say that they are more aggressive than pitbull and doberman dogs. But when i first saw this cute little puppy, i instantly had a changed of heart and mind. He would just follow you and never leaves you whenever you put him out of his cage. He is so shy and naive and even more tamed than Spock and Teacup - our 2 mixed-breed chihuahuas/mini-pinscher. I named him Boxer.

Anyway, i still did some research about rottweilers and according to Wikipedia:

The Rottweiler is a breed of domestic dog known for its medium to large size and its strength. They originate from Rottweil, Germany and were known as "Rottweil Butcher's Dogs" (German: Rottweil Metzgerhund) because they were used to herd livestock as well as pull cartsladen with butchered meat and other products to market.^[1] Some records indicate that earlier Rottweilers may have also been used for hunting although the modern Rottweiler has a relatively low hunting instinct. It is a hearty and very intelligent breed.

The Rottweiler was employed in these traditional roles until the mid-19th century when railroads replaced droving for getting livestock to market. While still used in herding, Rottweilers are now also used in search and rescue, as guide dogs for the blind, as guard or police dogs, and in other roles.^[2]