Silencio!

I cannot remember when was the last time i've been tis quiet. Even when I had my tooth extract or when the brace is newly installed in my mouth, where it is really hard to talk, I still find myself engage in conversation even if its just a plain kwentuhan only. When i was in elementary and HS, im always in the noisy list of our class. As in consistent scholar ako in our noisy list! That's how noisy I am. Got also into trouble due to my tactless remarks on people, tsk tsk, sucha bad attitude for a man like me.

If im gonna summarize in hours all my verbal actions in one day siguro I just talked max of 1 hours a day. Let me see:

1. 5 minutes talking while on service bus going to office
2. 10 minutes entertaining phone calls
3. 2 minutes saying good morning in nihonggo, english and arabic
4. 20 minutes when walking from office till house
5. 5 minutes entertaining charlie's phone call

It's not that i've turned hermit here at the office, i still communicate with other people, that is thru emails, ym chats, facebook, twitter, text messages but the actual conversation is almost as nil! Thank god for close-up red hot hindi napapanis ang laway ko :D. My breath is still much more ok than my coutnerparts here (hehehehe! Thanks Doc Mayettes!). It's just that I've nothing else to talk to, except Charlie of course. I believe one of the reason why i survided living in iran for two years is that i have someone to talked to, may sense man o wla ang topic. I love talking to Jasper, who coincidentally is also my officemate at Phils an a very close friend of mine. We talked everything under the sun..showbiz, news, work, lovelife, personal stuff, etc. No topic is mundane to us. I remember i love engaging him into a debate wherein when i know im losing I just put my hands to my ear and say "lalallalala, i dont hear you" or sometimes i jus throw at him our gigantic pillow and in return he'll throw two gigantic pillow at me naman! From work till bedtime we always talk and talk and talk. And of course there is Ka Rene, our venerable master of Piping, he loves to talk as well,same as ours, and i love it when he's talking about the history of our company and our officemates (specially the juicy parts hehehe). And of course there is Charlie again, our 6:00-7:30pm chat time everyday we religiuosly followed, the people at warehouse wherein i spend my 3 hours just to chat (and work also), and the people at construction site where everydya is a chismisan day! In short I never ran out of someone to talk to and thats why I enjoyed every minute of staying there.

Fast forward..Saudi 2009..Now im stuck here with only charlie as constant kausap (bless him napapagtyagaan nya pa ko), and most of the time its all by myself (insert celine dion song here)!
Actually keeping my mouth shut for a while has its benefits naman. At least now before I talk iniisip ko muna ang sasabihin ko :D. It also lessen my unwittingly remarks on people, hahahaha!
Second, having a quiet life makes me think clearly and makes me focus more on important stuff. At least i have time for myself to reflect and discern about certain things in life. LIke for example, i finally realize that its about time to this certain activity while im here at abroad because I know no one will disturb me here. No pressure from the outside world hehehe.

On a sidenote, since this i my officially first time to live alone i gained a number of skills while im here like:

1. I know how to cook adobo, nilaga, spaghetti, sopas, mechado, fried chicken, potato with corned beef. And the list will continue as I stay here. I thank my friend tinerts for the recipe she send me :D.
2. Almost mastered the art of laundry. Still havent got the correct combination of how much powder to put in washing machine or how many hours should it soak and spin. Now i know that it's not right to put your clothes in the dryer for almost 2 hours for it will shrink your clothes! I had to learn this after2 pants and all my sando and office clothes shrunk! Wahahaha!
3. Grocery stuff is so easy now that we have a service that will bring and fetch us from the store.
4. Saving money. It's hard to go around in mall here in Al-Khobar because there are a lot of stores that sells nice stuff, at a reasonably price. But I always remind myself "House @ BF Homes, House @ BF Homes,"....
5. Knowing wher to buy cheap stuff, fresh meat and vegetables and fruits, and where are the SALE items!
6. WAlking fast than usual because its too damn hot to stay outdoors.
7. Eating with bare hands, just like the locals do..And have clean nails all the time.
8. Appreciate wowowee, eat bulaga (esp. the pinoy henyo), tayong dalawa, the wedding, SNN, tv patrol, 24 oras, only you.
9. Super appreciate simple "hi" at text messages, phone calls, emails from family and friends.
10. Pray the rosary everyday.

So as for me, it's 1 month down..5 to go (before vacation) !

Open letter to Mr. Defensor

Dear Mr. Defensor,

Ang tagal din po namin hindi kayo nakita sa TV nor marinig sa radyo, siguro bising bisi kayo sa trabaho nio sa Philippine National Railways. Pero noong isang araw muling nakita namin kayo sa TV at this time ay kasama nio si Presidente Arroyo at VP de Castro na pinasinayanan ang mga bagong tren ng PNR. Aaminin ko sobrang natuwa ako (at maraming Pilipino siguro) dahil binalik ulit ang bagong sigla ng PNR.

Maganda ang naging renovation sa PNR, mula sa pagkakalipat ng mga squatter mula tutuban hanggang alabang (undergoing pa ata ito ngayon) at yung mga pocket parks sa ilalim ng Magallanes flyover (Edsa station). For the first time naging malinis ang riles :D. Minsan napunta rin ako sa school namin sa Sta Mesa (PUP po skul ko) at nakita kong maluwag na ang daanan ng mga estudyante papasok sa skul. Naging mas less ang panganib na nakaabang sa mga estudyante everytime na pumapasok sila sa PUP (at sa tingin ko nabawasan din yung mga mandurukot sa lugar). Mas naging exciting ang pagbabalik ng PNR dahil may balak daw kayong irevive ang linya to Bicol! The last time na narinig ko na may byahe pa na papuntang bicol ay noong 2002 pa! Sana nga maibalik ito para mas maginhawa ang pagbyahe papuntang kabikulan kesa mag bus (at mas enjoy din).

Isang special request lang po sana, kung hindi nio mamasamain. Nakikita nio po ba yung larawan sa itaas ng sulat ko na kinuha ko lang sa skyscraper website (thanks po sa m!)? Yan po ang Paco station ng PNR, kitang kita po sha sa highway pag napadaan kayo sa Paco. Maaari po bang IRENOVATE nio itong napakagandang edipisyo according to its original form. Bigyan ko lang po kayo ng konting background about this station, Pre-War pa po naitayo itong station na ito, at madaming pangyayari napo ang pinagdaanan nitong istasyon na ito. Naging daan ang tren at ang istasyon na ito (at pati narin ang Tutubn) para magpadala ng mga pagkain mula sa mga probinsya papuntang Manila noong panahon ng hapon dahil mahirapa at delikado ang magbyahe sa daan. At noong "Battle of Manila' naging sentro ng labanan ng mga hukbong Hapon at Amerikano ang mismong istasyon. Kung hindi ako nagkakamali halos tatlong araw pinagaagawan ng mga sundalo ang paguukupa sa istasyon dahil maganda ang lokasyon nito para masiwata ng mga Hapon ang mga Amerikano na galing sa bayan ng Makati at para mahawakan parin nila ang Paco, Singalong, at Taft area na kasalukuyan nilang sinusunog noong mga panahon na iyon. Maraming Pilipino ang nagkubli sa istasyon para makatakas sa mga kabahayan nila at tumungo sa La Consolacion (or Assumption ba yun?not sure) para magtago. Ang lugar na rin ito ay malapit sa Pandacan na isa ring strategic point dahil sa mga tangke ng langis na nakaimbak dito (opo, matagal nang panahon na imbakan ng langis ang pandacan). To cut the story short, isang historical building po ang Paco station sa aking pananaw, nagtataka lang po ako kung bakit hindi sha ginawaran as such tulad ng pagpapahalaga natin sa ibang mga Pre-war building sa Manila like the Post Office, Aduana Circle, Manila City Hall, Intramuros, etc.

















Nagulat nalang din ako nang nabalitaan ko dati na gigibain ang Paco station, though di ko alam kung ano ba talaga ang dahilan. Pero everytime na humihinto ang tren sa istasyon ng Paco tanging nakikita ko lamang ay unfinished structure sa katabi nito. Kung hindi ako nagkakamali at kamag-anak ni ex-President ramos ang may-ari daw nito pero hindi naman natuloy ang proyekto. ngayon makikita nating half demolished na ang building. Buti na lamang at hindi pa nila ginigiba ang harapan ng istasyon at makikita parin natin ang magandang art deco nitong disen yo. Sana hindi matulad ang Paco station sa Jai-Alai building na isa ring napakagandang edipisyo na pinagiba ni Mayor Atienza dati at hanggang ngayon ay hindi pa naitatayo ang naipangakong "hall of justice' daw.

In short, sana naman po maisama nio sa inyong proyekto ang pagrenovate sa Paco Station at tiyak ko po, kung may balak kayong tumakbong senador sa 2010 ay ako mismo mangangamoanya sa inyo sa internet hehehe. Hindi ko po maipapangako na maibibgay ko ang boto ng mga internet users katulad ng pagbibigay ng mga Garcia ng boto kay Pangulong Arroyo sa mga taga Cebu pero sa tingin ko po malaki po ang tsansa nio sa mga internet savvy peopleD. Magandang simula napo ang pagbabalik ng PNR, sana po magtuloy-tuloy pa po ito.


lubos na gumagalang,
theonoski

Ang Riles at Ako.

Kagabi naisipan kong manood ng TV Patrol sa TFC instead na makinig sa internet radio and it was a good decision.Binalita ang pagsasabuhay (or should i say renovation) ng PNR, pinakita na pinaandar ang mga bagong train from Tutuban to Buendia. Maganda ang mga bagon train, malayong malayo sa imahe ng tren dati, para kang nakasakay sa MRT/LRT sa itsura, and from the looks of it mukhang mabilis sha tumakbo compare sa luma.Ang sabi sa balita ang pamasahe from tutuban to buendia ay 16 pesos lang daw, ang tipid ha! Pero alam ko na dati pa na super mura ang PNR dahil ang alam ko from Alabang to PUP sta mesa ay 15 pesos lang.Pag nagkukuripot ka at gusto mo mag wantutri e libre pa :D.

(ganda diba??)




















Marami din akong masasayang ala-ala sa PNR, third year noon ako at bagong lipat lang kami sa laspinas. Buti nalang ang mga newly found tropa ko ay taga Bicutan at Alabang kaya kapag umuuwi kami sabay sabay na kami sumasakay sa tren. Kahit madalas "late" or nasisiraan, or sobrang sikip kapag rush hour ay sumasakay parin kami kasi masaya sumakay, tsaka masarap makipagkwentuhan sa mga kaibigan habang nasa byahe. Actually noong nasa 5th year nako sa kolehiyo (5 years po ang engineering ha, baka akalain nio bumagsak ako!) saka lang natigil ang pagsakay namin ng tren dahil late na kami umuuwi (last trip kasi is 6pm, ang labas ko sa skul ay 8pm na) at natuklasan namin na mas mabilis pala mag LRT from D.Jose to Baclaran then pauwi sa laspinas or mag bus sa Sta Cruz. Derecho na mabilis pa =D.

Anyway, sa loob ng 2 taon na pagsakay namin ng tren maraming pagkakaibigan ang namuo, naging isang malaking tropa kami. Shemmpre hindi rin mawawala ang mga "crushes" at mga "ligawan". Aaminin ko may niligawan ako na nakilala ko sa tren, at yung isa naman ay tropa ng kasama ko sa tren (RIP). Pero pareho hindi nagtuloy dahil busy ako sa pag-aaral at wala akong pang date =P. Pero minahal ko naman si "Alabang Girl", yun lang niloko lang pala ako. =(.

Ang isang maituturing kong magandang naidulot sakin ng tren ay naging matibay ang pagkakaibigan namin ni Onin, ang aking bestfriend. Limang beses sa isang linggo ba naman kami magkasama, mula pagpasok at paguwi ay magkasama kami eh ewan ko lang kung hindi pa kami maging close hahaha. Marami kaming mga napagkwentuhan ni Onin like sa buhay namin, mga pangarap, crushes ulet, plano sa buhay, etc. Isa ito sa maituturing kong "treasured moments" namin. Hanggan ngayon ay magkaibigan parin kami (shempre!) at ninong ako ng anak nya at nakatira sila sa Cavite. Kapag naalala ko ang mga moments namin sa tren eh napapangiti nalang ako.

Isang exciting trippings naman namin dati ay nung sumakay kami sa driver coach ng tren at nakita namin kung papano paganahin ang tren. Nabigyan din ako ng pagkakataon na pihitin ang busina ng tren, in short nanggulo kami kay mamang driver =P. Pero sobrang saya namin noon, para kaming mga bata (tho bata pa naman talaga kami kasi 21 lang ako nun!0 na first time nakasakay sa tren!

Sana sa bagong labas na tren, mas maraming pagkakaibigan at pagibig pa ang umusbong para mas masaya lalo ang buhay =D.

The quest for Post Office and the Rice Cooker!

Since I arrived here at Saudi, the first thing that I've asked the people here is "where's the post office?". I only got a hearty laugh from this people, well in the age of cellfone and email why on earth I would like to know where's the post office. My answer is simple: its not of your business..hehehe joke, its because my bestfriend is in the seminary and they are not allowed to use the internet (i doubt if they have one) so the only communication from the outside world would be by snail mail.

First try to find the post office is a trip near in our accomodation. A big sign says POST but when I enter the building the local man told me they are not a post office. WHAT!?!??! Sure?? I asked. Yes, we are only a P.O. box something to that effect kind of post office..I didn't get his explanation because he's english is bad (not as bad as my grammar naman hehehe). Though the local man was kind enough to tell me where's the local Post office. He asid I have to go to the city center, and there I can find the post office. Great! City center is as big as glorietta and greenbelt combined, how on earth should I find it there! Oh well, I'll just rely on my instincts and sense of direction.

Second try was this afternoon, I didn't wait for my friend to arrive and ask him to accompany me to the city center (thank god i did coz now, he's not home yet from qatif!) so I just went there by myself. Btw, its my first time to go to the city center, and being a newbie without any iqama (residence permit0 is really very risky! The walk going to that place took me about 25 minutes under the scorching heat (its 4pm and the temp is 38C).I manage to finish reciting the sorrowful mysteries from our house to the city center (without the litany of course), that's how far the place is.

Eventhough im here at the city center i didn't know where the post office is, frustrated i am i just went to LBC branch at Al Khobar. I was about to go to DHL but my patriotism comes first. The man inside LBC asked me whether im sending a very special documents, and after I said no its only a letter he told me to just go to the Post office. Again, flabbergasted i asked, where is the Post office ba? And since the courier guy is a pinoy he smilingly told me its just besides our store.Hahaha.r Great! And before I leave the place, i asked them how much is sending a mail to Philippines using LBC, he told me its worth 1800 pesos. Afer i learned that I immediately left their premises and proceed to Post Office.

In the post office there is a Pinoy and Indian staff, and after I gave my mail and paid the postal fee (its 48 pesos only here!!!) i've left the office with a happy heart and hoping that my bestfriend would read and reply to my mail.















Next on my action list is to buy rice cooker. Im having a hard time in cooking rice in my non stick pots. Obviously this pots are not used to cooked rice but I have no choice but to use it anyway. I manage to buy the rice cooker with brand name BEAC. I heard its the people's choicee as a rice cooker, but when i visit a couple of electronics store its the ONLY rice cooker in the market. In short no choice again! waaaaaa!

After buying the rice cooker and also food for my dinner, i went home happy and satisfied, while reciting again the rosary. God is good talaga, all the time =D.

Eating "Bitay Meal"

After eating chicken adobo for a couple of days, it was a great relief to finally taste a different food for dinner. My officemates decides to eat the so called "bitay" meal at Khobar area. Why bitay meal you might asked? Well, im curious as well for the term of endearment to the food but i have some ideas floating into my mind on whats the meaning of the bitay in the meal.

We make our journey to "bayan" or so called hte Khobar area, where the tamabayan of pinoys are, to make way to the restaurant at around 6:30. It was quite a walk, long walk actually, then running on the intersection (literally run for your life, no overpass and overspeeding highway here as in!) then walking past some small malls and alleys until we finally reached our destination.

(I made a serious mistake for not knowing the name of the restaurant, but if youre here in Al-Khobar I would love to take you there, that is if i still remember it hehehe).

Upon arrival, first thing to notice of this resto is there's a lot of pinoys here. As in puro pinoys!Great i say to myself, its like in Jolibee lang =D.

While waiting, we help ourselves in washing our hands.Curious why this people wash their hands, I did the same thing. Then I remember watching a Lonely Planet episode where the host travels to Jeddah and arrived in a feast and in that feast eating Arabian style is eating with your own hand. Yikes! Thank God I have clean nails or else I'll get sick by my own fault pala =P.

After good ol 10 minutes the food arrive and viola here it is!

Bitay meal is popularly known as Kabsa or Fried rice with meat (whether chicken, beef, fish) and some vegetables. We ordered barbeque chicken, which in fairness is very tasty. The rice I' ve learned was cooked using the oil from the chicken bbq..or wherever the chicken was cooked the rice was there to cook as well..tipid right!? But what caught really my attention was the vegetable, its like a kangkong or talbos ng camote but very very very juicy. Smelss like mint as well. And the onion is like a bayabas, juicy but not smelly. If i mad a trip to the market anytime soon I'll surely buy 1 kilo of this green and leafy vegetable. Come to think of it, Persians and Arabs have the same tast for food, the like their food served with vegetables. Though Persians are more conservative when it comes to vegetables, they serve with tomato, cucumber, lettuce, repolyo,and so many other vegetables that i dont know what's their name.In arab reso they only serve two type of vegetable (see picture above) hehehe.

Why bitay meal is because the meal is served in big serving. It's lke 5 cups of rice was served and 1/4 chicken. After eating you can die na for kabusugan, hehehe.

I've eaten my part for 20 minutes, without any leftover (sayang kasi!),and the cost was 15 Saudi riyals (or 180 pesos). Expensive yes, but worth it for a monthly dine-out.