Positive Bank and Negative Salon

Today, I went to Bank of The Philippine Islands or BPI and was amazed of their upgrade. They removed the use of those paper you have to fill-up for transaction. Instead, they put a computer where you could input the account number, transaction and amount. Then, you will be given a number.

Though it was a good upgrade, still BPI needs to work on having their agent speed up the transactions. Earlier, the number of people builds up and almost filled the bank due to slow processing. Maybe it is just because of the new upgrade and people are still adjusting.

Anyway, I got a haircut. I now have a bangs.

I don’t like my bangs

I have a bad experience at Salon de Rose;I waited for an hour before I was attended, the one who cut my hair doesn’t know how to follow instruction – I said, “straight and thick” bangs (Obviously, as you could see it is not), and they didn’t care if there are still hair on my face after the haircut, no one brush it off. Also, no shampoo before the cut, so my hair is dry when the haircut was done. Because of such traumatic experience, I immediately went to my car and looked for a water and washed my face. I hope my hair grows longer fast.

An Encounter With Scrooge

Yes, I meant Ebenezer Scrooge or at least that was his personality. You might be confused, so let me tell you a story that happened yesterday.

I just fetched my son from his classroom and we planned on going to a store to buy gifts and ham for Christmas. As, I moved my car going out of the parking-lot, I noticed a building traffic on the road and because of that I couldn’t get out to the main road.

To have a better picture of the situation, here’s an image I have created:

Legends:

• Yellow – my car
• Black – Scrooge’s car
• Green – Cars on traffic
• Tan – School
• Red Blue Stripes – parking spaces
• Light Grey – School Road
• Dark Grey – Main Road
• Orange – blocking

The parking spaces are filled with cars and in a hurry to get out, I tried to check what the problem is because it is not a usual scene to have this huge traffic in front of my son’s school. Upon seeing the root of the traffic, I approached the driver which is an old man and asked him a favor,

“Sir, could you move your car forward just a small space.”

I felt relieved when he did move, but indeed a small space. I checked the situation again and the first green car still could not move from its position, so I again asked a favor to the old man in the black car,

“Sir, if you want to park, could you move your car near the blocking, so that those at your back could go forward if they want to.”

The old man seems pissed and he said,

“I do not want to move any further.”

I then answered him calmly,

“Sir, you are blocking them and you are creating traffic.”

Angry old man argued,

“What do you want? Me going near the blocking and then later when its time for me to go out I would have a hard time backing out because there would be cars coming in? NO!”

The old man is obviously not in a good mood and because of his attitude I raised my voice,

“Sir, you are not in a parking space and you are creating traffic. I can’t get out of the road because of the traffic you caused!”

Old man Scrooge will not back down and he asked me,

“Where are you parked?”

I pointed to him where my car is situated. He then answered with a smirk,

“So, what do I have to do with it?”

This moment, I was confused why he said that. Can’t he see that he is causing the traffic and that is why I can’t pass? I answered him,

“Sir, you are not in a parking area and you are blocking the way for other cars to pass.”

He keeps on moving his head left and right as if saying NO, I am not going anywhere. Just in time, a car left its parking space nearby. This moment, I am already angry and when the car left its parking space fully, I shouted to old man Scrooge,

“There! Go and park your car in a proper place!”

The old man Scrooge moved its car to parking and the other cars passed without a problem and I was at last out of the school parking-lot.

After that incident, I was so angry and I asked my Mom,

“How could an old man be so selfish like that?”

Until now I wonder, how could someone grow old and be selfish like that; He doesn’t want to have a small problem in backing out when cars are coming in but he could swallow the idea that he could stop in the middle of the road and create traffic – THAT’S STUPID!

Lesson I learned this day: If this situation happens again, I would not hesitate to call a traffic officer and have them take the license of the driver causing the traffic specially those who are not in a proper parking space for “Illegal parking.” If the officer is hesitant to do his job, I would file a case against him for “Negligence of duty.”

My Cousin Bevelyn: The Closest I have for a Sister

I was born two years ahead of you
Our Mothers think that it was true
A Maternity dress my Mom worn
Would follow a girl and then you were born

Whatever I do
You follow it too
From course to work
You have pushed through

If during our childhood
You remember, you were tortured
Now, that we’re old
You know you are nurtured

Hello Leone Christov Relota

Yesterday, I have a new nephew – Leone Christov Armentia Relota.

Rest in Peace, Wildy

Yesterday, as my family excitedly waiting for the Pacquiao fight, I searched the net for ways to watch it live. Someone posted on twitter, “Pacman won on round 9 by K.O.” and that message was shared to my family. However, my cousin in Manila who is also awaiting, knew it was not true because she is already watching live and the fight has not started yet. Then she mentioned that her guy best friend in college died. I was sad to hear such bad news, especially her batch was like my friends as well – and I was known to them as “Babsy.” She mentioned the name Wildy, but I have forgotten who he was, until I saw the news this afternoon of a teacher, robbed and killed. It was Wildy! I remembered him now, a good man and one of the few male batch-mates of my cousin whom I could remember the name, back during college days.

I am sad that there are heartless people in this world, who could do such a thing to a good person like Wildy. JUSTICE FOR WILDY!

Rest in Peace, Good Man. You’ll surely be missed.

Ballet and Birthday Pictures

Saturday was a ballet presentation of my daughter at SM City here in Iloilo, then yesterday was the birthday of my nephew. I took pictures of both events, most importantly the only remembrance of my nephews birthday are those pics. So, I uploaded it on my computer and deleted it after. Due to my multitasking, I received an error in doing so, but I didn’t even read the error message, I just clicked to close the window. Hours after, I was putting watermark on my pictures, when I noticed that there are things missing; I could not see the birthday pictures! Then, I remembered the error message. It was those images, but I already deleted and formatted my SD card.

I prayed that I could find solution to my problem, because it is the only remembrance of my nephew of his 3rd birthday. So I searched for programs that could retrieve those images. I have seen a lot of free programs for windows, but I can’t find any free ones for Mac (currently using MacBook). Here goes the advantages of having different OS available – after I got tired of searching for free retrieval software for Mac, I just opened my Windows notebook. On my MacBook, I already eyed a free program for windows, so that I won’t have a hard time searching. I just typed the URL of the program and installed it on my Windows notebook. The program is SoftPerfect File Recovery, which I got from the referral of GeckoandFly. It was SO PERFECT for me, because it worked flawlessly and recovered the batch of pictures that I deleted hours ago.

WARNING: After accidentally formatting or deleting pictures, DO NOT take pictures with the same memory card because it will lessen your chances to recover your pics. Luckily, I have not taken any pictures after I have reformatted it. Amazing how those pictures are still recovered after I deleted it on my MacBook and then Formatted it on the Cam.

So, here are the ballet pics:

Created with Admarket’s flickrSLiDR.

What I Did Last November 1

I just want to share what I did last November 1, that is a month ago.

So the morning, my family went to the Oton cemetery in where relatives of my Mom are being laid to rest.

When we arrived, there are still a few who are doing some cleaning and repairs which was supposed to be done days ago. This was the first time that my family went there morning, usually it would be afternoon or evening.

We have relatives that I don’t know where their place is, so I just lit a candle for them at the “Campo Santo.”

My son and daughter is really not aware what cemetery is for, so whenever they see me, they wanted me to take their pictures.

In Oton cemetery, this is where we usually visit;

My grandfather who I love and loves me so dearly. A known manghihilot in our area while he still have the energy to do so. With him is his 2nd wife, a sister or my real grandma.

My tito and cousin.

They are my relatives on my mother side.

Right after we lit candles and said our prayers for our dearly departed in Oton, we went home to leave my children and immediately go to Guimaras.

In Guimaras, this is where we usually visit;

This are my relatives on my father side.

My Lolo, who is the brother of my grandma and my Tito who is the brother of my dad who usually cooks fried chicken for me.

My great grandfather.

My cousin.

My great grandmother and her siblings.

My great grandmother is one of the few relatives of my Dad that is close to my Mom’s heart.

After that we went back home to Oton. It was a tiring day, but fulfilling one.

Things that runs into my mind at about 3 in the morning

Even before I watch Paranormal Activity, I’ve already been imagining thing, but now it is worst.

As mentioned, I am aware that my family is not alone in our house, there are unseen entities and luckily we have the good ones. However, it is inevitable that the idea of those unseen entities is quite scary.

• My cousin had experienced seeing a shadow figure in my room, and at the moment she was having a hard time moving and she can’t even shout. When she finally did, she ran as fast as she could to the next room where me and my Mom were watching the launching of PBB first season (if I recall it right).
• A few of my friends would inform me they feel something strange in the house, at least those ones that are sensitive to these kind of things.
• My Mom told me she had experience with those entities.

They don’t bother anyone. I think we are more of a bother to them, than they to us, because most of the time, my house is just too noisy. I guess those new to the house, specially new helpers would experience hearing footsteps coming from the masters bedroom when no-one is in the room or upstairs for that matter. These happens when my family would have our usual family day and we will all go out leaving one helper in the house.

I’ve learned a lot from the stories of old folks. One of which is that when your name is called by those unseen entities, “DO NOT ANSWER.” They say that if you do, that is the start of them, bringing you into their world. Also, if ever you visit their world, “DO NOT EAT.” If you do, then you will be with them forever or you will have a hard time returning to this world.

OKAY, so what runs into my mind at 3 AM?

• Often, when I feel like urinating and I see it is about those time, I would have a hard time building courage to go out of my room and go to the CR.
• I feel that when I put my feet on the floor, something under the bed will drag me.
• The stairs is just next to my door, so when going in after urinating, I would see the stairs and would imagine things.

They say our mind is a powerful thing, and I am scared that even if things are not there my imagination would let me see something there because I have already build an image on my mind about it. SO HELP ME GOD, PLEASE DON’T!

Different Ways of Dealing With Things

My Mom and I have a very different attitude. She’s been with me for the 27 years of my life and we haven’t been apart for more than a week, but still we see things differently. Maybe that is because she let me live a life that she hasn’t and this is the same thing I am doing with my children, with a thing in mind: That they grow up to be a better person than I am or the best person that they could be.

So, from a meeting with Iloilo Bloggers at Kopi Roti, I went home and found out that my necklace and my Mom’s watch were missing on where I usually put it. I was cleaning my face when my Mom entered the room. I asked her if she had kept it, and she said no. She then panicked and go shouting and checking it everywhere in a chaotic way. I was scared that it might be gone forever or someone took it, but still I was relaxed. I just told her don’t worry about it, I will be checking every corner of the house to look for it tomorrow.

I hope I would find it.

Green Mango Restaurant in Iloilo

Last September 29, 2009, Iloilo Bloggers had a meeting with Janette Toral, Aileen Apolo and Jay De Jesus at Green Mango.

We chose to meet on this particular restaurant because they have a space for special meetings such as the ones we (Iloilo Bloggers) had. The main restaurant area is well planned and I just can’t resist to admire the decorations. The different seat designs made for different kinds of people which surely made this restaurant comfortable for me.

We enjoyed the food we ordered and had a great time interacting with each other. I remembered my first time visiting this place was with my family and my Mom just loved it immediately; with a delicious meal that fits into the budget, it would be a restaurant that surely Moms would love.

The Green Mango is located at Valeria street, near SM Delgado, in front of Ace Hardware and Max Restaurant. On its side is Coffee Break, where we went after our meeting. Bloggers introduced Coffee Break to the Luzon bloggers as “The Starbucks of Iloilo,” which Aileen had mentioned on her talk that same day for IT Week 2009 celebration at Robinsons Iloilo.