Gimmick Amerika

I really want to blog in Filipino right now, but then my friends here in the US wouldn't be able to appreciate what I'm writing about. I've been here long enough to adjust a bit to the new time zone (gimme a break, it's a 15-hour time difference and someone just told me it takes a day to adjust to an hour!).

Anyway, I had a whole lot of fun - in and out of work (save for a few mishaps as usual). It's a really different world out here and here are just some differences, silly and otherwise:

1. I'm short here! Take a look at the photos. I remember last year I was so scared of getting run over or stomped on by people.

2. Culture. The Pinoys here, of course, grew up differently, but they are still very hospitable and maalaga. I've also been exposed to culture from other nations and it's really fun to experience that, plus free lodging in any part of the world. Yey!

3. Food. I miss my favorite Pinoy food, especially the breakfasts! I tried going on without rice for a couple of days, but I just really couldn't live without it. I've regained all the weight I lost already. Fat. Fat. Fat. That's me!

4. Gimmick. Well, of course, hanging out here is totally different from hanging out back home. No tsismis! But it's very much masaya.

Oh well, I've to run to a meeting now... so here are just some photos:

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On Eskinitas, 80s Music and Love

Listening to music from the 80s while blogging offline here at the International Food Expo, World Trade Center.

Must keep awake. Must keep awake.

Last night at Markku’s invitation I attended the RockEd Radio-Pisay Keep Your Promises event was held Bigsky in E. Rodriguez, Quezon City. I thought it was really cool and productive for these individuals to hold such events. A few weeks ago they had a coastal clean-up at the Hundred Islands, Pangasinan. They are definitely having fun and helping other people as well.

After the event we were off to Eskinita. Eskinata is an alley full of bars and restos across the ABS-CBN compound. We went to a videoke bar owned by Joey Boy’s kumpare. What was interesting about the place was the “college” feel and uh the wannabes all dressed up waiting to be discovered. Sasha said that they should just go to Greenbelt or The Fort if they wanted to dress-up. LOL. Well, overall, it was still quite a fun place, most especially since the Pisay people were really down-to-earth.

Crazy for You. Now playing my dear friend. LOL. (Pun intended, sorry just being pilya).

Which brings me to some questions that have been brought to my attention from conversations I’ve had the past week with some friends:

1. In a relationship, who should you please more? Your partner or yourself? They all say that it should be a give-and-take relationship. Methinks it’s all about managing expectations and not being bratty. I don’t believe in “noisy” relationships. I don’t need that kind of stress.
2. If your partner has a very colorful past (or plainly, a past), how should you go about accepting that? Methinks that if you love someone you should accept his past, present and future. No judgments.
3. If you suffered a badly, beaten, broken heart, how should you go about mending it? Should you seek revenge by breaking each and every heart who comes across you? Should you stay single, not pursue a person even though it’s quite obvious you like her? I believe in taking the risk for the right person. If he’s worth it, why not? If you don’t then it’s either you’re a sissy or just plain selfish.

Well, what’s the hullabaloo about love anyway? Gawd, it’s been really a long time! LOL.

Thanks to Mum and Dad for being always being there.

Tambay

One of the things I enjoy in my work is being exposed to other cultures. I remember a few weeks ago I was on break with the other CCs and we were all on the phone. One was talking in Thai, the other Urdu, then Vietnamese, Malay and I was wailing to my best friend in Filipino. A few months ago we used to put our calls on loudspeaker and we'd try to decipher what the conversation is about. I usually understood Francisco's LQ with his girlfriend in Spanish.

One of the things we talked about is "gimmicking". In Thailand, Vietnam and Malaysia it's basically the same with what we do. Friday night after office drinking sprees or weekend dinners with friends at a resto or home.

I wonder though if they have the tabing kalye chill. The band of bloggers were at Markku's birthday bash last night. It was a typical Pinoy birthday bash with Markku's friends, Markku's brother's and and sister's friends, friends of his parents, relatives, neighbors etc. There were many, many guests so Abe, Jayvee, Sasha, Rico, Marc, Sharms, Gail and husband Marc, and I took over the frontage for some very Pinoy tambay gimmick.

Photo taken by Rico using Abe's cam: