Found a new reason to love Thursday's

I thought I was over that place in Valero. There is a stage in a person's life where you grow out of the places you liked to hang out with before. A few hours ago, I gave Ponti a second thought. I stopped going there just because I felt I graduated from it already. And back in the day, I was there for a few times to begin with, anyway. M reintroduced me to Thursday's at Ponti where they play alternative rock. Mostly covers. Songs that I definitley grew up liking and it was love love love. Thursday's there are unlike Friday's or Saturday's when most of the younger ones hang out. Not that I'm stressing my age, Thursday's there was just right. Still the gorgeous people who continue to go there there never fade, that's all I can say. Can't wait till the next Thursday night we go there.

Google Apps

I'm currently setting up the Google Apps for my company. Hats down to Google for making it easier for companies to collaborate with each other. Specially for small companies and groups who don't need a super complex collaboration system, Google makes it so convenient and without much costs. For us, we only bought the domain name for around 500 PHP/Year. And since our company is less than 100 people, the service is free. Google apps come with GMail interfaced emails, internal GTalk, Google Docs, Google Calendar, and my favorite Google Sites. I'm still figuring out how we can utilize these features best but I'm sure its going to be real useful. Check out Google Apps Website

USA 2008

I cant believe that my trip is finally coming to a close. Yes, I've stayed here for a month now, but it doesn't seems that long. Although, I'm ready to go home. I think that I was able to do the things that I planned on doing -- and more. This trip exceeded my expectations and I recommend that everyone should at least try going on a trip like this once in their life. This trip not only got me traveling but also allowed me to reconnect with friends, family and myself. A big chuck of the things I'll treasure throughout this trip are the bonds formed -- old and new. Something significant to put on the books.

Yes, I've fulfilled my dream of going to New York but what's special is that I got more than just that. It's a bit cheesy but I wanted to know myself more throughout this trip. Challenge my independence and be comfortable being alone and being with others too. I did. I got to realize some things I wouldn't even think of because of life got in the way.

The possibility of studying here and taking up an M.A. came up too. An unexpected opportunity that I'll grab and work on once I get back in Manila.

When you reach a certain age, really, we're all the same. Enough of the awkwardness of meeting people older or younger than you. Even people I hardly new. It's surprising how you can make something memorable out of the conversations you have over a dinner or breakfast.

Now was that chance to deepen friendships. No regrets. I am so thankful to God for blessing me with a life that allows me take this trip. Everyone I met here will forever be part of this quarter life adventure chapter of my life.

P J D Ma Me O T C S Pe B L Jo Jh E Ja... Thanks for making this trip the best! I love you all!

Obama '08

I'm not an avid follower of Philippine more so American politics but I feel so lucky to have witnessed American history unfold while I was here. His victory has won not only American minorities such us Blacks, Asian, Latinos but also opened doors for people like us in Asia to not be afraid to dream. Yes we can make a difference. It's nice to be able to be part of this era and to have lived to wintess this unfold during our time.

Roller coasters and good friendships

Spent a day with P at Magic Mountain today. It was fun. We got to ride almost all the rides they have. Exag. More than that, it's fun because we got to talk a lot. We had a lot of time to talk about different things, actually -- despite the many rides we've ridden. It's nice how better a conversation is when there's only two of you. As Philo would go, mas matinag at mas may talab kung dalawa lang ang nag-uusap. I like how we were able to catch up on things and realize how much I can know more about him after all the years we've been magkabarkada. Specially now that we're older and been living separate lives (He being based here while I stay back home). It's true, from my previous post, to say that no matter how much we've changed as persons, our friendship will never change. He's a real friend and I'm glad we are.

Halloween at Simi Valley

I joined my nephew out for trick or treating today. Was able to get a feel of the Americana culture of this holiday. My nephew is 7 years old. He's falls on the lower bracket of the Halloween franchise, so the trick or treating is G rated. It didn't last long. I joined them, along with the other parents, go to around just a block of houses. After that, everyone went back to the 'host's' house where the adults socialized drank some alcohol and ate some chili while the kids played with each other in one of the rooms there.

My cousin introduced me to the folks there and they were very accommodating. They don't get a lot of Asian visitors around that predominantly white neighborhood. It's funny how one of them remarked how good my English was. Just goes to show how less she knows about Filipinos. There was another lady who figured out that I was Filipino, because of how I speak. Her sister in law is a Filipina and she can only say nice things of her. And there was this guy too who was embarrassed to tell me that he hasn't traveled as far over to the east.

I remember this book about the 10 Things you can do to help the Philippines and one of the things there was to speak highly of our country to other nationalities. I'm a proud Filipino and the world should know that people from our country are well educated and good natured. I'm glad I did my motherland proud a while ago.