Me and my bestfriend, Tatang (Jabi) made a detour at Gaisano Mall before going home. Since it was still 2pm and pretty much sure that the commute on our way home will be long, uncomfortable and exasperating, I convinced him to come with me to Gaisano, so I could buy feeds for my hamsters. Gladly, he agreed without complaining. There is a van terminal at the Gaisano grounds so it would also be much convenient than waiting for our ride at the highway infront our school.

He said that it is also about time that we come window shopping for books at National Bookstore. When we arrived Gaisano though, first things supposed to be first -- my hamster feeds, was overlapped by a bypass to the toys section. He said that he'd like to look at the stuffed toys. I looked at him mischievously and teased "That a peace offering for someone?" I asked slyly. Of course, he denied it. Oh well. Might as well take a look.


I was quite surprised to see Naruto plush toys there. I used to see Pikachu and Goku, but it was my first to actually see Naruto ones. My, I was holding my cellphone that time and I ended up using my poor 2megapixel Motorola V3x to take shots of Naruto and his gang. Okay, I'm stubborn, so I ignored the rule: No pictures allowed. I'm not a Naruto Fan, nor did the want to have them came to my mind. But I still checked the price: P249.XX each. PlaH`~

At the other end of the stuffed toys section, were wigs. Jabi first caugh sight of weird wigs. I encouraged him to try them on, and lol, it was crazy. My poor cameraphone became an instrument to capture the spotlight. Of course, I didn't try any of the wigs. I was not so much in to it. Until I saw a long straight colorful wig (purple, blonde, red, etc.) And my eyes just sparkled I almost felt that I was drooling. It was still in plastic, so I forced myself to behave and not try to tear the protective cover. Phew~ and it cost only P99, the rest were around P200 or P300 something, too bad I did not pay attention when Jabi said the price.

I was eating Nestle's Choco Java Chips Drumstick one day, indulging in its heavenly taste, I suddenly remembered the Caramel Frappe I had at Coffee Club 101 with my best friend two days before.

Then I just knew I was already craving for an ice cold coffee with icecream -- if such delight even exists. I craved for it, I could almost feel my tastebuds' imaginary tasting the coffee and icecream.

My plurkmates said they've never heard of such kind of coffee, some even suggested I make my one for my own. Too bad we do not have coffe maker at home. Well, I just have to try searching for it. So with my savings, and while waiting for our appointment for our researchpapers, I had to go to Coffee Dream at KCC. Too bad they don't have what I've been looking for, so I ended up ordering Berry Chocolate. The name sounded like it's too sweet, so I requested it to be less sweet. Too bad, it tasted much like cocoa and I wasn't able to appreciate my drink anymore. So much for altering the original recipe.

Whatever. When I came home to Davao, I made an errand for Ate Sheng and Kyaws to claim their camera lens at Canon. I had another mission on mind: to convince my mother to come to a coffee shop (so I could continue my search for that coffee with ice cream). Lucky that my father gave the two of us allowance. So we were able to eat out at Tata Benito's, just in the grounds of Robinson's Davao. My, of course they don't have coffee with icecream. So I ended up ordering their bestseller, Nutty Mocha Cream Freeze. Mmm. Tasted close to heaven. The whipped cream was like a consolation for me. Tata Benito's seemed like it was still on its soft openning, everything was new, and on the next table we suppose, were the owners, discussing plans about the coffee shop. Well, I had fun with my date with mom too. It had been long that we last had dated, so I talked a lot too.

But of course, I won't give up on my quest for: Coffee with IceCream.

Three Plurk Fiestas in a row, I would then say it has become a habit. I've never been comfortable with new acquaintances as i had with my plurk friends, now I call as my Plurkadas. A new face every meeting never seemed to be too aloof but instead, I just find myself being able to blend in with the crowd.

We were indeed people brought together by the same interests and views, no matter the age differences. Last March 16th, the beautiful Miss Donna Mae Congson, has welcomed us plurkers to her bouyant salon at Pioneer Avenue, the Envy Me Salon. Bloggers and Plurkers alike were given 50% discount on any services. Miss Dawn (as I now call here) is too vibrant as she is generous too.

Her salon was the perfect spot for our plurk fiestas too because it's a wi-fi hotspot. And so, those plurk addicts just had fun plurking about our gathering and making their other plurkmates who weren't able to come, green with envy. And of course, those who were present also replied to the plurks of others even when they were meters away. Ahhh, the glory of plurk, it's even more fun than texting.

It was also best that on that day, Sir Gilbert made me adopt Hamiya, his female hamster. She was so cute and energetic even with her closed eyes! Also, on the same day, Mommy Chiq has lent me her Shoppaholic pocketbook. I just so love them.

Sir Avel had availed the salon's facial treatment, and if I remember correctly, Sir Gilbert, Sir Lito, and Sir Ayel had their feet treatment too. Tammy and Chiq had their hair treatment. Oh, they were so lucky to only pay half of their bill!


The rest of us kept ourselves busy with chatting. Tanchi was busy on the laptop, with Rami-sensei and Donna talking about their tutorials about applications or something. Donna has served us Doritos and I and Leonard were feasting on it. The others had their share too, but we took dominance over the plate. They were just too busy on their feat while the two of us were just enjoying on our Doritos and joining the random conversations.

Like every Plurk Fiestas, we were all dynamic. We were like bees moving from flower to flower, we were joining every conversation that we were able to relate to.

When everyone were finished with their beauty sessions, Miss Dawn then invited us to the rooftop to have our dinner. She had invited us there and shared to us that she might open the rooftop as a bar and we were also there to share what we could help about our plans. It was also lucky that Jes was able to catch up after us at the taaz bar. Also present in the gathering was Miss Dawn's bestfriend, Roxanne whom she's been trying to influence on blogging.


The food served was cooked by Miss Dawn's boyfriend, Eman and the tuna was courtesy of Chic. One of the dishes was also a baboy ramo meat, I didn't hear it first, so when I ate it, I never knew that it was what it was, it just tasted weird on my tongue. But then, one very important lesson I learned on that night was: to never lose appetite. It was such a pity that I only ate a few of the dishes since my stomach was full of doritos and other meal I ate earlier that day. The food was delicious and I really wanted to eat more, too bad, my stomach just won't cooperate.

We talked over the long table on random things, and too often, our conversations fall over what was happening around PlurkLand. The night was so long and enjoyable that I also don't wish for it to end. But all events do, so at the end of the day, before we said our goodnights and goodbyes, Miss Dawn had given us a small vessel of hair treatment as a complimentary gift.

It's my second Plurk Fiesta. March 6th, as a furtherance to my expanding horizon, I meet with my plurkadas again at the coffee shop that serves the world's most expensive coffe, Kape Alamid, from the droppings of the Philippine civet, a mammal found in the forests and coffee plantations of South Cotabato.

This time, the group has grown that my head has spun more rapidly than how it did previously at Blugre. Arnel, Millet, Myla, Rosilie, Tammy, and Donna were the new faces I had to try to remember in the future.

I arrived at the brew straight from school and on my uniform too. Hungry, I ordered my meal and I was surprised by their affordable menu that range from P60-90. While everyone were busy chitchatting, I also tried to enjoy my meal while Sir Hecky was sharing me his views about the city, politics, management and business. It seemed more like a lecture to me but I had so many new things learned with his widespread talk. Sir Gilbert and Ma'm Jinky also joined our conversation as well. But I was more the one listening and asking too, just like the classic student.

I then also took my time getting along with my seatmates, Jes and Tanchi. Rami-sensei was way at the middle enjoying a boisterous chat with Donna. The photographers Leonard, Kyawster, Arnel, Hecky, Avel and Donna herself were also kept busy taking photos around the cozy interiors of the coffee shop. The daring photographers also did not let off the GenBrew's exteriors.

Seemingly like a mocha lover, I ordered Mocha Mudslide together with Jes. And I was taken aback by the sweetness of the iced drink. I have little tolerance to extremely sweet things so I tried my best to drink up as much as I could to give justice to my order. Nevertheless, my sip was rewarding as it was delightful.

The whole coffee shop was beaming with life. It was more like the group of 12 bloggers and plurkers had dominated the General's Brew.

February 26th was the day where I first met face to face my new-found blogger friends from Plurk.

It was just like any normal day for school, the only thing was, after school, I won't be coming home straight afterwards, but would be having a detour instead. Well, as if I don't usually do that. But nevertheless, that time should be the first mark for me to have finally extended my horizons.

It was not my first time to meet my cyber friends. It was all too long ago already, the time when I first met-up with Manoy Avel and company during the MBS2 planning stages (where I even have eventually left off). Wearing my school uniform, I gathered my strength to walk towards entrance of Blugre which was also new to my sight. So much for firsts, I was expecting that a large group has already gathered but to my relief, there were only Sir Avel and Sir Gilbert comfortably sitting on the couches. I was so awed with the interior that I almost drooled as my head kept spinning. I thought to myself, thank goodness, I was not that late.

I tried to make myself comfortable with my new surroundings, I'm not an outgoing person so I had those extreme awkwardness which I also think that any normal person should feel when they are new to a place. Then next to join the company of three was Leonard. There comes Smigol whom I'm sure will always be engraved on my head as Leonard's alter-ego. He bites butts. Or as he used to do at plurk. But that had to happen few weeks later after this plurk fiesta.

I lost track of time as I was slowly adjusting to the climate when the company started to grow in numbers. There was Ate Sheng and Kyawster, Cidy, and Ate Jinky. Then my fellow Notre Dameans finally arrived. I don't know their faces personally, but I'm sure I have bumped into them in the hallways at school. I was pleased that I finally met Rami-sensei, Tanchi-kun, and Jes (I had first known her as Miss G at plurk).

I was literally, a pulubi that time. I thought I should at least order when I come to a coffee shop, so I managed to convince myself that my P100 should keep me alive for the whole night. I know Manoy Avel to be generous, but yeah, I do have money in hand so I didn't ask him to treat me. Well, I still ended up being treated by Rami-sensei to commemorate our meeting. How sweet. Okay, since he insisted, I let him treat me with the Mocha Larcepuccino. OMG. Did I get the name of my coffee right? My Bad. Haha. Rami-sensei, thanks for the treat. And whooo~ I experienced tasting iced coffee that's one more step closer to heaven. Just remembering the thought of it makes me want to come back to Blugre again. Well, I just hope I would be able to save up so I could also enjoy other meals the coffee shop offers.

I had to drag myself to school. I just had to. March 7th was the day before our Masquerade Ball. And we had to work double since it would only be the day where we could prepare and finalize every detail for the big event the next day.

I arrived at school 2 hours late. My guilt was lessened when I was able to e-mail my backdrop design earlier in the morning, Flabert would have needed to have a look at it to buy the things he needed to work on. I was late, but when I arrived, there was much more idle time. Work started only after lunch which at the back of my mind, was such a waste. But I didn't really complain since I appreciated the time so I could relax. I slept at 2:30am that morning so I thought I need to take some nap. Though I never really did.

When the supplies were finally bought and the artists had started sketching the design on the styrofoam, I was not of much help yet so I left them be. I also asked Flabert to let me do the silver dust details instead, just a menial task that would keep my skin shining for the rest of the day. I was also quite intrigued at the styrofoam cutting so I even volunteered to try doing it. Of course, my first tries were so jagged, but as I worked on, the learning curve got better.

Supposed to be, the design committee should be made up of the whole class. But because it was a Saturday, many had their excuses as alibis. Oh well. It's them. There were only a number of hands to help and majority of them were the errand people. So what was left of the free hands were just four. The two artists, and the two assistants, including me, the sampid. It was more like I volunteered to help because I thought it would be a waste doing nothing productive for the day and yeah, they need hands, and it's something to do with creativity, so I was quite interested with the job.

I had fun spending the whole afternoon working on our backdrop. My tasks were menial but I was glad I was of some help.

When everyday becomes a habit, each day becomes recurring. When standards are set, these rules are what applies. When you are who you think you are, then you should be who you shall be. Well, not all the time, but it is true when you know what you use to do and what you do not.

It's hard to make a routine, but it's harder to break a habit. But when the thought of doing something trivial is not given the second thought, these deviations might just turn out to become something remarkable apart from inconceivable.

When the walls break down and standards are ignored, when allowed to roam free and extend my horizons, I discover an unprecedented persona in me where for once, I never even considered would have been a possibility.

At the onset of March, I've done a couple of things which were my firsts and as divergence to what I was used to do:

1. Swim with the Fishes. I've experienced my first scuba dive on the first of March. With just the basics briefing in scuba, I let myself fall into the water for the first time with my complete scuba equipment. In trusting my guide, I was able to see first hand the splendor of the coral reefs in the Coral Garden of Talikud Island, Davao.
2. Say I Love You to my Dad. The words I love you were used to be reserved for special occassions only. But somehow, being left here in Polomolok with the rest of my family now residing in Davao, I've felt myself even closer to my family even with the distance. I'd miss them and always wish to come home with them. Even with just the limited gestures of saying that I care, I felt that the bond is still there, strong and supporting. So, when I'd greet my father to say I'm home (or welcome him home) I'd feel the urge to give him my daughterly "beso-beso". When he'd call me to check up on me, I knew I had to say I love him before I'd drop the line. Intimate words seldomly spoken are hard to utter. But it felt good when I knew I have delivered the message to him.
   
3. Textmate/Chatmate with my Mom and Brother. We don't really spend the whole night conversing on regular nights, but the thought of talking with them casually of the random things that happened in our everyday life gave me the assurance of them being near me. A few words exchange of words fills the longing I'd feel for them when I miss them. I love my family.
4. Talk to a Stranger. Don't talk to strangers, that's our parents' rule since we were young. But somehow, I just tried to break the rule. On my way home after our Generals Brew Plurk Fiesta, I've noticed that the person near me had a big luggage in her front. I really wanted to go home quick, but since I had to wait for the van to be full, I fought my conscience and just tried to open a casual conversation with her. I asked her about her luggage and discovered what was inside were her pillows, the rest of her clothes were hand carried on her hand bag. I was quite surprised, it seemed almost impossible, but plausible since I believed her words.
5. Fit a Wedding Dress. No! I'm not engaged and I'm not to be married soon. I don't even have a fiance! It was a shock when my seamstress called after me not to change back yet to my uniformafter fitting my gown for the upcoming masquerade ball. She had one small favor to request of me: fit the wedding dress she sewed for her niece in Pampanga, who's just about my size. Her manequin was too big for the gown. Without thinking twice, and since I haven't really changed back yet, I said I could try it on. And I did. The dress was beautiful. It was almost a perfect fit too! She pinned the needed adjustments as well as the flower adornments while complimenting her own work, while, was feeling exhilarated and with thoughts randomly coming in and out of my head. "I fitted a wedding gown! And it's not mine! Would I never be married, ever?", "I'm just fitting a gown, then why does it feel wierd? Because it's a wedding dress?", "Oh my, she's telling me that I should have my own wedding gown sewn by her when the time comes..."


6. "Sell" my Gowns-for-Rent. I'm not good at salestalk. So basically, when I offered my classmates to see my gowns that were for rent, I merely asked for luck, and that they would love them. I had them rented for a very low price, half the price it is on the market. They were beautiful gowns too and if I had to come to three occassions, I would have worn those gowns on the three occassions myself! Right now, I had them take the gowns home so they could fit it on, and hopefully, they'll take it and I can have my extra allawonce.
7. Shop for Ukay-Ukay. The only image I knew of ukay-ukays were that of a talipapa, crowded and disorganized place where clothes are piled and shoppers could dig their hands on the mountains of clothings. But the place me and my mother went to was an arcade, full of boutiques of selected ukays. I never expected that there would be many good dresses there. It's much better than chinatown I should say. And really, I was very astounded to hear that the dresses were only 300-500 pesos! To think that the dresses were much beautiful than those that I see in Mall Stalls and in ChinaTown! We were actually hunting for gowns. I never expected to see a LOT of selections. And when I say a LOT, it means VERY MANY selections. And the prices only ranged from 300-900 pesos! My Golly. So cheap! And the beadworks were so intricate, yet it only cost a few. There was even an original Guess gown which was sold for P500. My mouth just watered. Selected Ukays are really gift from the heavens for people like me, who just had limited budgets.
8. Not wear a lotion. Honest! I ran out of lotion and I don't even have the budget to buy my Skinwhite Powerwhitening Hand and Body Lotion SPF 20! The sun! It burns! The warm air! It dries my skin! No more, 5 days without lotion and just relying on my moisturizing soap, I really feel pitiful. I should go buy my lotion tomorrow, even if I do not eat snacks for 3 days. I'll just save enough for lunch.
9. Ride the Motorcycle. I used to ride my father's motorcycle during my childhood days, and I am sure I enjoyed riding it. But when I have grown, I barely rode the motorcycle. When I say barely, that's just 4-5 times a year. So when I rode the motor on my way home tonight (sinundo ako ni Pinsan kasi gabi na nakauwi). I could feel my whole body stiffen and my eyes teary as the wind slapped on my face. It's not that I do not trust my cousin, but it just scares me every time I've ridden the motor. Even during those times when I'd hitch my father on my way to the terminal, I feel scared too. But this time, I couldn't prevent myself getting paranoid. Thoughts like my guts flying out or getting toppled down by a large truck, or get hit and my body flying on the air came rushing on my mind. I have the ability to ignore thoughts, but somehow, scary things just leaked out. Thankfully, we arrived safe at home. It's a relief I didn't pass out on our way, or my thoughts could really have become real if I did.

10. Brag about my Results in the NDEA Mock Board Exams. When I excel on something, I'd feel honored; when praised, I'd be flattered. But I do not brag. When people ask how things went, I'd answer. If they don't, then they don't have to know. Except with my mother though. Yeah, I'm proud to announce to her my achievements. So just today, Sir S announced our test results in Auditing Theory and Auditing Problems. He challenged us to get at least 55% in Auditing Theory and 60% in Auditing Problems. Too bad the class' average was only 49.8% and 59% respectively but the privileges would be open for negotiation, so even if we did not reach the target, we might still avail of the privilege. Now, back to my bragging. I got 69% in Auditing Theory (the highest in class was 75%) and 68% in Auditing Problems (I am one of the three highest)! To think, I did not really pass the Mock Board Exam (97% of the class), but since our teacher said it was satisfactory and not really disappointing, then our test results might just be acceptable. He just affirmed us, that once we review seriously, another 20% would be added for us, so that would make us pass the CPA board exam, hopefully.

The clouds were up in the sky, almost gray, but it looked like it was not threatening to burst into heavy rain. It was the day we were anticipating for, the epoch of my life that set my soul afire. The whole family was off to Carabao Dive headquarters to wrap up our expedition towards Talikud Island, our drive destination, the isle adjacent to Samal.

We were running late but we had to make a detour to Jollibee to take out our bucket meal for lunch. It was the first family excursion that we didn't bother to prepare home-cooked meals. It was too bothersome, considering the limited time we had.

We did arrive at the headquarters late, but seemingly, everyone present were still getting ready for the day trip. It was not like we were the only people they were waiting before they could move on the go. Thankfully.

When everything was all set, we boarded the Banca, Flying Squid, and we were off to an hour journey towards Talikud Island. On our way, we got lucky to have encountered a pod of dolphins skipping through the waves. Our crowd was in uproar, our cheers evident that we were still naive to the sight of them.

Angels Cove was the first dive stop. The intro divers (first time divers) would have to stay put or snorkel if we please since the site was for the professional divers. We took the stretch eating our lunch and taking pictures. I had imagined that we would stop by the beach, but it was the contrary. We remained anchored below a cliff while the clear deep sea reflected the hints of rich coral reefs below.



As the divers resurfaced, we were relieved from our 1 hour wait and we moved on to Babu Santa Beach to drop the divers off as we proceed to our diving site, the Coral Garden. On our route, we were first briefed by our dive instructor on the fundamentals of diving, the equipment, and the rules while in the water. I had to strain my focus and pay attention to his tutorial. My heart was full of exhilaration but I was scared at the same time, fear of panicking, forgetting how to breath and swim perplexed my brain. But I knew I had to remain calm. So when I got on my diving suit, I tried my hardest to remain calm.

The Intro divers were divided into two groups, to accommodate the 1:1 ratio of beginners and guides. Me, my younger brother, and my father were the ones who'd have to dive on that day, and we were the last batch. So while on my diving gear, we tried to warm up and get familiar with our flippers in the water. I was a bit edgy and the water was so cold on my skin that after a few minutes, I climbed back to the boat.

More than 30 minutes have passed and the first batch of intro divers were floating up. It was finally our turn. We were assisted as our Self Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCUBA) was secured on us while I, internally, was fighting with calming my breathing down.


Our drop to the water was dramatic. From the edge of the platform of the boat, we were to take two steps. One to steel my weight, and the second, to fall to the water. Not jump, nor lunge to the water, but drop. It felt like I was letting myself fall from a 5 storey building. But of course, the platform was only 2 and a half feet low.

Then we were floating in the water. My guide, Kuya Richard was securing me beside him and giving me his final coaches before we sink into the deep. I was still fighting with my breath. And then, as I got accustomed to breathing with my mouth from the compressed air, and the moment I gave my "Ok" signal, he started pulling me down. The feeling was terrifying but I was more thrilled than being controlled by my fear. I constantly checked the change in my pressure and equalized, keeping in mind our coach's cue.

Our dive group was of six, the three of us and our own guides. We closely swam together as we slowly absorbed our new setting. The reef was breathtaking. The fishes swam with us, contrary to my belief that they would swim away. I was close to the corals that I could almost touch them. When I was invited by kuya to do so, I did, and I could feel the corals cling to my skin, like living rocks sticking on me. And as I released it, it left a slimy feeling on my hands.

There was once, a large maroon clown fish which swam in front of my goggles. It kept looking at me as it frantically swam, like it was confused. I thought it would swim away when I tried to touch it by my hands, but it did not. It still kept on swimming towards me, like it was trying to get across me, the huge figure before it. It was only later that I realized that it was being threatened. Sir Claver explained to us that we were in its territory and it was trying to shun us away. I was impressed with the courage of the small fish. It gave me a new perception on the small things.

Breathing underwater was a labor. Like apart from trying to enjoy the fishes and the corals that surround me, trying to breathe has also kept me preoccupied. I had seen a walo-walo (sea snake) swim leisurely meters below me in between the coral ridges. A lion fish also lingered in a crack under the 10 feet wall of corals. School of fishes swam above our heads, and on the corals lived the several hued fishes which I thought I would only see through a medium.

The thirty minutes dive underwater seemed long enough for me to feel the achievement and douse of my worthwhile dive. When we were finally instructed to halt, and our guides positioned us vertically, I knew our time was up and we shall be resurfacing soon. As our jackets were inflated and we floated up, I felt my heart full of accomplishment and knew to myself, that this first dive is going to be a part of my memory that I would never forget.

I should also give my compliments to Carabao Dive Center for taking care of us on our first dive, and I am really looking forward to dive with them again soon. Davao's number one dive center really did live up to their name. And I shall salute them for a job done well, and that is, making us comfortable in the water and let us enjoy every moment we spent as we swam with the current.