Weekend Highs and Lows

Since I cocooned myself for two days, was able to relax and munch a lot. Didn't go to the mall and shop (yay for my CC!) but it was a productive weekend nevertheless.

Highs:
1. Finished reading Confessions of a Shopaholic by Sophie Kinsella. I've got one word for this novel: HILARIOUS! Can't wait for the movie next year. This is the first installment of the national best selling Shopaholic Series and I am definitely reading the second book.
2. Watched P.S. I love you, Atonement and Hairspray on DVD. (Hairspray is my fave among the three).
3. I am cleared from UTI. See my Annual Physical Exam's (APE) result told me otherwise and I don't believe it so I have it checked from a much reliable clinic.

Lows:
1. Get myslef out of the bed Saturday morning to have my CBC+Platelet checked and to also have a urinalysis and it's confirmed, I have joined the wagon of Iron Deficient/ Anemic zombies like my age! And am now taking Iron supplements to cover that up.
2. Two weeks has passed from my last purchase (a flip flops) and I am half happy/half distressed about it.

It pays to be a "whiner" sometimes...

And this involves a complaint I had with Meralco, surprisingly.

About three weeks ago, I left a message on Meralco's Customer Service website and complained about the sudden increase on our electric bill (more or less a thousand pesos more compared with the previous months' consumption). Quite unbelievable considering we are still using the same old appliances and even lessen our consumption because the summer has just ended.
So after hitting "send" button on the complaint form, I received a call from their CSR after two hours. The CSR was very polite, informing me that we weren't able to avail of the "discount" since we used more than the 100kw alloted to avail the discount (which is also not clear to me on how much the discount is). He even asked on how many electrical appliances were using. After all the questions and explanations, he told me that they will be sending an electrician to check on our meter within the wee and told me that they will forward the report to me ASAP. Fine, I thought. I knew that my complaint won't go anywhere since this is Meralco I'm dealing with and they must be receiving hundreds of complaints every hour because of over billing.
An electrician came over the house after two days and they emailed me a report that somebody has checked on our place. Hmm...mukhang may chance, i thought. I even received an email from the head of Cust Svc Dept of the company acknowledging my complaint and promising immediate action. She also asked me not to settle the account since it's still under "investigation".
A week after I received a mail, this time snail mail from their office telling me that there was an over billing in our account and slashed more than a thousand pesos from our current bill. One thousand plus pesosesoses plus appology on the "inconvenience" the incident it caused me. (Well, aside from the online form I filled up and the phone call from them, that's all there is).
Then I thought how many consumers must've experienced this scenario and most of us will pay (especially if with little discrepancy in amount) just the same to avoid the inconvenience of filing a complaint plus the fact that not all complaints had taken an action? These companies just get away with it, and that shouldn't be the case.
So ang moral lesson, complain lang ng complain basta nasa lugar. And hey, complaining is electronic nowadays-totally hassle free. :)

Kite Runner

"There is a way to be good again."

Yet another Academy nominated film which I watched last weekend. The Kite Runner is based on the international best selling novel of the same title by Kahled Hosseini. I almost bought the book last March but ended up getting Life of Pi instead (which I haven't finished up to now, my bad) - sayang, I should've bought this book.

The Kite Runner tells the story of Amir, a boy from Kabul, who is haunted by the guilt of betraying his childhood friend, Hassan, the son of his father's servant. The story is set against a backdrop of tumultuous events, from the fall of the monarchy in Afghanistan through the Soviet invasion, the mass exodus of refugees to Pakistan and the United States, and the Taliban regime.

It's an emotional movie for me (again). I finally got the whole picture of what it's like to be in war-torn place like Taliban, their culture and their struggles. Another must-see movie that I highly recommend.

Side note: The Afghan gov't has banned the film from movie theaters and DVD shops because of the rape scene and the ethnic tensions that the film highlights.

Yes, I'm still feeling pressure right now!

Times like these, THANK YOU for a good laugh from this one.





I think I need a break.



Meanwhile, how come PEP hasn't picked up the story on Claudine - Angel word war at a Salon early this week? Even ABS has a news black-out on this. I spent the whole day reading on forums on this topic, and man, it's JUICY!

We are not alone :)

"Wala nang atrasan 'to!!!!"

Meanwhile, please watch and listen to Yael Naim's New Soul..another feel-good-fave. ;)

August Rush

I can't believe I watched this movie just now..after a year from it's playdate. Made me realized that if it garnered a nomination from the Oscar's, it must be good and a must-see.

The movie tells about the journey of an orphaned musical prodigy (August Rush) who uses his gift as a clue in finding his parents. The boy genius (played by Freddie Highmore) is simply adorable, he's so cute. There were parts in the movie that I cried which made me think that I must've shed buckets had I catched this on the big screen ( just watched this on the laptop). Musicality is excellent so it's best to watch it with your headsets to feel the movie all the more.

The movie also stars Kerri Russel (of Felicity!) and Jonathan Rhys Meyer.

Homecoming:The Other Side of Me

Yesterday was MUKHA A.D.'s (Masiglang Ugnayan ng mga Kabataang Hinubog sa Anyo ng Anak ng Diyos) Grand Homecoming. I was part of this group which was started (and still being handled) by the Dominican Brothers of Sto. Domingo Church 5 years ago (fresh grad pa lang ako nun). I was very active then on my First Level, attending every Sunday's sessions, outreach, trips and programs but went out of the limelight after the graduation. Hehehe :)

It was my friend Allan who took me, Archie and Love to join the group (my cousin Karen was once a member but didn't graduate). I was able to meet and make friends with brothers (aspiring dominican priests) and treating them like my Kuya's. I am not the spiritual type of person, I don't regulary hear mass. In fact this is my ONLY spiritual group. And it really feels different and good in the same way when I attended the Homecoming. That was the first time I enetered the MAD office after graduating 5 years ago! I thought i'd feel odd and uneasy but hey, it's HOME, felt it big time.

Members of MAD Batch 14 (who were able to attend)

Mudrakels Conquers SD

Another one here





Having good time much? I'm turning green with envy!

Meet Jalen

Jalen is my cousin's (my Kuya Jimmy) 3 year old apo (from his eldest, Daryl) based in the US. I haven't met this cute baby but he's one talented kid that reads at 3! His slang is sooo cute too.



What an adorable gifted child. :)

I.Can't.Wait.

To see these enchanting islands called Siquijor....

..and Camiguin

To finally experience white water rafting in CDO...

To bask the Boracay sunset once again and this time to celebrate my birthday there. (excuse my hair in this photo ;p)

..to swim and lounge by this Infinity pool in Batangas (once a dream).

Oh, I just can't wait!

MRT Scene Stealer No.4: Ang Mahaderang Mama

Quoted from my friend's MRT experience not so long ago:

One morning inside the train, a girl is standing by the door with her "kili-kili" bag (a handbag used as a shoulderbag) on her shoulder. The guy who's at her back suddenly pushed her bag so hard and the conversation went on like this:

Mahaderang Mama: (Pushing the kili-kili bag) "Miss yang bag mo nakakasakit na!"
Kili-kili Girl: "What are you talking about?!" (shushal ang ate mo..)
MM: "Kung magsalita ka kala mo naman maganda ka."
KG: " What are you talking about?!" (sabay irap)

...buti nalang di na humirit pa ang mama, kundi baka nagsabunutan na sila. ;)