when a teacher goes

To me Ella will always be someone who taught me how to be a better person at work.

Despite the office gossip that she occasionally shrugged off like dandruff on her shoulder, nothing quite stopped her from doing what she does most of the time on her free time -- talk to me.

So this is for her, on her last day in the office. I found this code and am pasting it on my blog to remind me of the song she would sometimes blurt out.

Today I saw her have a heart-to-heart talk with Ruthie. I have no idea what they talked about. Both of them looked serious.

It's a good thing that Deanne wasn't around when she gave me a long hug as I sat on my chair. I almost forgot why Ella did that until I realized what day it was.

When she found me among colleagues, she walked over and sat on my lap. She didn't care what the others would think. She must've intended to do that just to drive them mad with whatever malice they already carried in their minds. Anyway, it was her last day.

Earlier, she waved at me from her workplace. I waited for her to approach me. I thought it was something official but it turned out that she simply wanted to take a snapshot of us together with her phonecam. That was sweet.

And on her way out, she embraced me; and, without letting go, she gave me a very warm 5 second kiss on my cheek. The kind that said, "Goodbye. I'm going to miss you."

This time I felt that she did that, not to spite the office gossipers, but because she totally meant to do so.

And I will treasure.

* * *

kids should know that...

"I Knew I Loved You" is a song by Savage Garden. It was their second number one after Truly Madly Deeply. It reached the top spot of Billboard Hot 100 on the week dated January 29, 2000. It stayed there for three consecutive weeks, before being knocked off by Mariah Carey's "Thank God I Found You" featuring Joe and 98 Degrees, and returned to the top again the following week for its fourth and final week at the top. (wikipedia)

watch your tongue

SHE: Anong sinabi mo sa kanila?

ME: Kanino?

SHE: Sa mga kasama ko?

ME: I asked where you were.

SHE: Pano mo sinabi? Ganyan? In-english mo sila?

ME: Sabi ko, 'Hi! Do you know where I can find xxx?' I also asked if you were coming back.

SHE: Kaya pala.

ME: Why?

SHE: Iba ka kaya magsalita.

ME: Ha?

SHE: Yung accent mo. Nag-slang ka na naman. Syempre nanggulat ka na naman.

ME: Eh ganyan ako magsalita. Di ko naman...

SHE: Di sila sanay.

ME: Why not? Call center agents sila.

SHE: Sa phone yun. Iba yung kaharap na.

ME: Ah kaya pala.

SHE: Kaya pala ano?

ME: Parang na-shock sila. One gurl just stared at me with this awkward smile tapos kinalabit nya yung kasama nya para yun ang mag-answer.

SHE: English din ang sagot sa yo?

ME: Yep. Pero concise lang. Tapos nag-stutter pa. Nakakahiya naman.

SHE: Hindi. Proud nga ako eh. Iba bumaluktot ang dila mo.

* * *

My tongue has its own share of anecdotes, you see.

There was this one gurl who called me up on my cellphone for the very first time after months of exchanging sms (yea, parang textmate) because, according to her, she was desperate to talk to someone who wasn't directly involved in her life.

So she rang me up. I quickly picked it up as soon as I read her name across the LCD.

It was awkward because she was crying, aside from the fact that it was the first time we'd be hearing each other.

She said she was prepared to just bawl her eyes out on me . But when she heard me talk, she was so distracted that she hesitated to unleash herself.

I guess she got more than what she asked for. When she needed distraction, my tongue was in the right place at the right time.

ME: But I did warn you about it. I told you my tagalog is weird.

SHE: I know. But, Wacky, I didn't know you speak that way. Na-intimidate ako.

ME: I wasn't intimidating.

SHE: Well, it's the way you talk.

ME: It was just plain english. Nothing rare about that.

SHE: Meron kasing Filipino way of speaking english. And then, there's the Wacky-way.

ME: Haha! Wacky-way! I like that!

SHE: Have you heard yourself? It has that accent like from the east coast.

ME: Well, you called and harassed me to cheer you up.

SHE: Oh but you did a good job. For a while, I forgot my heart was crushed. You challenged me. Imagine, I'm a UP graduate pero feeling ko di ko kaya to. Mauubusan ako ng ingles dito.

* * *

Yes, I have a couple of convos with different women who will "order" me to speak in tagalog all through out.

That's fine with me.

To them, it's a game to make fun of my weakness.

To me, it's a tongue exercise with them in charge, which is good for a change.

*wink-wink*

* * *

kids should know that...

Sam Chwat, a prominent speech therapist, shares the widely held belief of native New Yorkers that it is possible to make clear distinctions among the accents of different ethnic groups:

"People talk about borough-defined New York accents, but, really, the different types of New York accents are ethnic," Mr. Chwat said. "You have the Jewish accent, as typified by Jackie Mason or Fran Drescher, the Italian accent -- Robert De Niro or Tony Danza. There's the Irish New York accent, like Rosie O'Donnell or Rudy Giuliani. Of course he's not Irish, but he speaks with a New York Irish speech pattern". (wikipedia)

2 months to go

Four people in my office have recently acquired their very first vehicles, one of which is a Honda scooter.

My own intention to buy another car for the house is a snap away. I'm simply counting the weeks. By June, I'll have a new toy in the house.

Here comes a slight dilemma: Which Japanese car should I buy?

Ever since I threw the question into the family ring, someone has always something to suggest.

My mom has been yearning for a Toyota Camry.

*Yawn* I've seen lots of those in Milwaukee. The car looks good and probably efficient there, where it snows a lot, but I'm not sure if it's ready for the tropical and rains-whenever climate.

Dad will go for either a Mitsubishi or Toyota simply because the piyesa isn't hard to find.

My special gurl would love a Mitsubishi Lancer because she knows it can be an econo-car.

Now I have a covert liking for a Nissan Sentra.

I have yet to find someone in the family who went for my idea. They all frowned on the thought of me driving one.

Dad doesn't trust the car. Well, that's understandable. We never had a Nissan before.

My childhood friend Ross who's into buying and selling cars said clearly, "Pangit yun! Matagtag, malakas sa gas, mahal ang spare parts." Like my dad, he suggested to go for a Toyota.

I like looking at the Sentra because it is fat. Parang masarap i-pimp ang ride.

Alright. It's caprice, a misunderstood excess.

They may be right. One day I might face them with their I-told-you-so attitude if I don't listen.

...

Can I just say this for once?

Ayoko ng Toyota. Everywhere I look, there goes one. It's saturating. Irritating.

...

Two months from now, I just might eat my words and drive home a Toyota.

This car would strictly be for city driving so I'm not going to pimp it out. NO extensive modifications to customize the car and vandalize it beautifully to blare that it's my toy.

Right.

*Twiddles thumbs*

* * *

kids should know that...

The Nissan Sentra is a small car made by automaker Nissan Motors and is generally a rebadged export version of the Japanese Nissan Sunny. The name "Sentra" is not used in Japan, where it is currently known as Bluebird Sylphy. In some Asian countries, the Sunny name was used on certain versions of the Nissan Pulsar. The Nissan Sentra was introduced for the 1982 model year as the US export name for the Nissan Sunny. Many other countries in the Americas, including Mexico and Brazil, sell their versions of the Sunny as the Sentra. (wikipedia)

tag-araw

The cable wasn't working in his room so he thought it best to go to the hotel lobby for assistance. In the hallway, however, he met her - the gurl who a couple of years back plotted to humiliate him in his own game because he was an incurable flirt.

This gurl eventually became just a friend, the type who boldly spoke out her mind without necessarily being tactless.

After numerous banters, her shameless crying on his shoulders, exchanges of constant criticism of his being too "sociable" with women and pieces of serious convos about life, she finally branded him as her best friend.

Before long, he knew he was developing a silly crush on her.

And he kept it from her for a long time. The admiration for her was good, as he recognized that it made him stop looking at other women.

It seemed like something from a cornball Filipino teenage movie but that's exactly how it happened.

One night, she found him online. She popped up a message, a question, and he replied by saying he was working late. They chatted a little and the whole time, she urged him to go home so they could talk over the phone - both of them in their jammies.

And because he wanted to please her, that's what he did.

That evening became special because both of them eventually found out that they shared funny feelings for each other. She admitted that behind the "hatred" she felt for him the first time, she found him really "hot."

"Too hot to be dismissed," were her exact words.

He, on the other hand, told her of how he felt for her. But he ended it by saying that he will never court her or disrespect her in anyway because...

"Yes. I know," she completed his sentence.

And now, here they are in a lil resort hotel with a few friends. This is their first R & R together. They've always talked about it - made plans but somehow something would come up on his side and then he would have to back out.

That bump into each other in the hallway led to an invitation to watch the scheduled championship match on cable in her room.

It was going to be a very warm day. Even the a/c in her room couldn't do the work. He didn't comment about it as he wanted to be polite in exchange for letting her watch his game in her room.

He sat on the edge of the bed when she spoke...

SHE: It's warm. I wish we can just go naked.

HE: You're right.

He quickly took off his shirt and looked at her. She was speechless as she looked at him.

Suddenly, he broke into a big smile and wore back his shirt.

HE: I'm kidding!

SHE: Now that... that...

HE: What?

SHE: Don't do that again unless you really want to have some.

HE: Yeah. I'm busy. My game is on.

SHE: Ang sabihin mo hanggang tease ka lang.

HE: Mamaya. Pag nag-commercial.

SHE: I don't like quickies.

HE: Sure you do.

SHE: Remove uli your shirt.

HE: May bayad na.

SHE: Well, you ARE in my room and THAT'S my TV.

HE: (Laughs) Ang cheap naman.

SHE: Take it off...take it off...take it off..

They would talk about sex and sometimes flirt with each other but that never really led them to bed. It was all part of being best friends, he supposed.

The game on TV ended with neither of them taking off their clothes. Although she wasn't into the sport, she stayed with him, watched the game, asked questions and made small cheers for his team.

After supper with friends, she asked him if he would go with the others to drink some alcohol. She knew he stopped drinking and told him that if he chose not to go, she would accompany him.

HE: Nah. Let's go. I'd like to entertain myself by seeing you get drunk.

SHE: You're mean.

HE: Mean machine.

SHE: I'll drink but I won't get drunk.

HE: Why not? Nahihiya ka, no?

SHE: Of course not.

HE: Eh why not nga? Sige na, if you get drunk, I'll take care of you.

SHE: You'll carry me to my room?

HE: Yeah. Tapos I'll put you under the cold shower.

SHE: Ang mean mo talaga!

She did drink a couple of beers that night by the beach that made her only nearly drunk. According to her, she was prone to do embarassing things because she has lost most of her control.

He escorted her back to her room that wee hour of the morning. Both of them were quiet. Perhaps they were thinking.

She was about to insert the key into the knob when she suddenly hesitated and handed it over to him. He took it, opened the door for her and stayed outside.

They were speechless for about 10 seconds when suddenly the mobile phone in his pocket sounded off an sms alert.

SHE: Puta! Galing naman ang timing nyan. Doesn't she sleep at all? Kanina pa yan text ng text a.

HE: (Grins) Call it intuition.

SHE: No. That's not intuition. Call it insecurity or insomnia.

HE: Selos ka na naman.

She didn't respond. Not even a smile.

Slowly, she leaned towards him.

SHE: (Whispers) Palay na ang lumalapit.

HE: You're drunk.

SHE: Not that drunk.

She kissed him. He reciprocated.

And he heard her moan as they kissed.

He pulled back. Gently.

HE: You know I would.

SHE: But not...now. (Exhales deeply) Or maybe ever.

HE: I didn't say that.

SHE: (Shakes her head) I know. I'm just bitching.

HE: I really would.

SHE: I wish you'd stop. Saying. That.

They stared at each other again until she nodded at him and said goodnight.

* * *

kids should know that...

Palawan is considered to be the Philippines' "last frontier". The province boasts of many splendid beaches and has two World Heritage Sites: Tubbataha Reef National Marine Park and the Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park. The Tubbataha Reef Marine Park covers 332 km², including the North and South Reefs. It is a unique example of an atoll reef with a very high density of marine species; the North Islet serving as a nesting site for birds and marine turtles. The site is an excellent example of a pristine coral reef with a spectacular 100 m perpendicular wall, extensive lagoons and two coral islands. (wikipedia)

amour platonique

It would seem like it that Deanne is my current lover. Platonic lover that is.

The situation was engineered perhaps by the fact that we are on the same wavelength on a lot of things especially when pointing out each other's crap while indulging nicotine habits.

Anyhow, I thought she was being cheesy cute when she told me one time that she answered an online quiz about associating particular hues with certain real people.

I am white, she said. And that meant that our souls are bound together.

Deanne is a young widow. She was married to an airport officer who was mortally gunned down by a man who was robbing jeepney passengers.

She is also the mom of a young bright lad named Ethan who, according to her, longs to meet me.

Last week she was cheesy cute again and said that, although she loves me, she has to let me go. She told me this while I was very preoccupied with work. And, despite knowing that I need total focus when working (READS: I turn into a snob.), she went ahead and gave me that disturbing heads up.

Of course, she got my attention. Slightly. I was clueless as to what was going on; what prompted her to be the day's drama queen?

I looked at her for 10 secs, waited for her to explain but she turned away with a large pout on her face. I shrugged off what just happened and went back to my work.

Just when everything was regularly quiet, she striked again. This time, she slammed a piece of folded paper on my desk. It was a note. On the paper, there was a line where she repeated herself. The next line revealed a hint.

Ella.

I laughed it off and got back to my work.

Two minutes later, she slammed another piece of paper again. This note was now half bigger. All's not well, according to her, because ... to make it short...of Ella.

Again, I didn't take it seriously.

My bad.

She slammed a third note. This time, it was written on one bond paper. She drew a crying face and, on the bottom, she crowned herself as possessive.

That finally got my attention. I was still laughing it all off, though.

When I was about to confront her quasi-protests, my walk was intercepted by Ruthie. She stood on my way, placed both hands on her waist and said, "I hate you, Wacky."

She walked off like a little brat while I was left staring at her, the words, this is insane, ran across my mind.

So this is what happened while I was laughing off Deanne's craziness. She told Ruthie that Ella made room for herself so she could stay beside me at work. And she'd be there the entire day.

I don' know why that got her worried when we were simply working. Period.

They accused me of being too entertaining. That it doesn't take a rocket scientist to know that Ella has motives that could set off the fire alarm.

Well, I thought that issue about Ella was so 3 months ago. I was wrong. Not with these ladies who don't fail to give me THAT look whenever Ella approaches and... ah whatever.

I told Deanne that I'm old for this stuff. She shooked her head and said, Wacky, ang tanga-tanga mo! Pero kung di mo pa rin ako pinansin, isang malaking kartolina na ang matatanggap mo.

Despite the jealousy, she remains extra-thoughtful and loving. I still receive surprise gifts from her every now and then.

When I think about my ex-platonic lovers, they exhibit the same behavior. They're all possessive. They also utilize different techniques to tell me that.

I never thought I'd be a possessive-magnet.

And no, it's not fun because I have to do a lot of explaining to defend myself.

* * *

S............U............M............M............E............R

N............A

S............W............I............M

C............A............F............E

(stay indoors)

* * *

kids should know that...

Office affairs may involve a power differential in both heterosexual and same sex liaisons. If the affair ends badly it is almost always the least powerful who gives up their job and the more powerful who stays or gets promoted out of the area as a solution. Increasingly employers will insert office romance disclosure clauses in employment contracts. Where the affair or its non-disclosure is in breach of that contract, the clandestine edge is heightened. Perversely this can increase both the excitement of the affair and the later damage to colleagiate relationships and the company's good name. A witch hunt can ensue. (wikipedia)

tummy of the bunny

How does Malou prepare an easter feast without giving you a happy death at your dining table?

I have no heck of an idea.

Actually, you're not allowed able to think after stuffing yourself with Malou's feast.

You just crash on the bough, rub your tummy and pick your teeth.

If the world was at peace, I could easily adapt to this condition of being spoiled at her turf that is near my own place.

Malou and Richard are the couple who own my fave hang out in BF, Cafe Francaise. When they put out a sign that they were having a buffet, we were just game for it. So game that we were the first to arrive today to enjoy the bites.

The buffet table presented a menu that children cannot play with: Fish al limone, beouf de burgeonne and chicken paupette with pesto sauce.

There were also cream of mushroom soup, thin crust chef's pizza, green salad and carbonara.

Rice was fried mixed with chopped shrimps.

Dessert were leche flan and coffee cake.

"Try mo ito with the pesto kasi yan ang nagpapasarap dyan," Malou said as she poured the sauce on the chicken that was already on my plate. And it really was, especially because I am a pesto lover.

I saw three kinds of pasta noodles: penne, linguini and spaghettini. These are all for the carbonara.

It was also a make-your-own green salad, something dummies would not need a book for. Two choices of dressing were available: chef salad and pesto.

When a large group arrived to add the body count that lined up for the buffet table, Malou whispered to me and said, "Are you through? Balik pa kayo. Baka kayo maubusan."

She laughed at the naughty idea of it .

Richard stayed in the porch. When we got out of the car, he had that big smile and a quick wave at us.

"That's a good car. You don't see cars like that often," he remarked in his French accent. After exchanging brief notes on the Jeep I drove, we entered the resto while he was left outside.

"Tinitingnan nya yung car mo," observed my special gurl.

"Hindi. Binabantayan nya," I kidded in response.

Richard who projects a long night and a day of swigging knows cars, as much as he knows the people who frequent his resto. When we were on our way to the car, he stopped us to shake my hand and wish us well. And even when I was about to drive away, Malou gave a wave.

Friendly folks who are passionate in what they do, both in business and the family, are the kind of bunch you would like to bump into on an easter lunch.

* * *

Hoot will be relocating soon to Florida.

It is worth the change and he's looking forward to it because he's had enough of snow.

Eh di ba kakabili lang nya ng bahay? Pano na yun? my mom asked me.

Madali na yun. Mom, he can always sell his place and move on. I assured her.

When she didn't mention the BMW my brother recently acquired as well, I figured she forgot about that.

Eh yung kotse nya? Dadalin ba nya yun? she remembered (making light of the fact that a mother knows everything, even your thoughts).

Ibebenta din nya. I answered.

I've never been to Florida for a vacation simply because there were no relatives in that state. It would be lovely to travel there as soon as Hoot has settled. This gives me more reason to renew my visa this month.

And no, I won't get off the plane at the Miami International Airport and blurt out The Who's Won't Get Fooled Again.

But it would be something to be picked up by a yellow pimped out Hummer, driven by Horatio Caine who jumps out with gun in hand to secure the kropek pasalubong in my luggage.

* * *

kids should know that...

Most of the state has a humid subtropical climate, except for southern Florida, where the climate borders on tropical and the Florida Keys, which have a tropical climate. It was named by Juan Ponce de Leon, who landed in St. Augustine on April 2, 1513, during Pascua Florida (Spanish for "Flowery Easter," referring to the Easter season). Florida's nickname is the "Sunshine State," but severe weather is a common occurrence in the state. Central Florida is known as the lightning capital of the United States, as it experiences more lightning strikes than anywhere else in the country. (wikipedia)