the girl of the barefoot chronicles

I haven’t had a lot of free time on my hands. My job has been keeping me real busy and unable to write anything other than Internal Reprimands, progress reports, productivity reports, evaluations and feedbacks.

Real life has such a way of tiring you out sometimes.

On to better things,

A good friend of mine (I’m proud to say that), recently wrote something that moved me. It made me long for the company of the people I worked with before this job. That was the best thing about my former job as TL – the people.

I miss the ‘gym’ where we used to have our after lunch gatherings, the ym conferences we used to have, the night outs and dinners and lunches and the parties we used to have, the rolling of the wheels of bryan’s chair behind me so he could get to debbie’s cube, arnel watching friends and being oblivious to the fact that he’s laughing out loud, meetings with rian, pet and aika, one on one consultations in my cube, having lunch with ES and Bry at the mall just to get a glimpse of the guy ES had the hots for,  korean songs with bridget, olivers with elaine, aila, chemae and rian, dells with the same people, and just about everything about my old team.

Anyway, this good friend of mine wrote something on her blog that moved me. And I am seldom moved. You can read it here.

The part I liked most goes like this:

“Jie- for also being honest. But most especially, for bearing with me on my walk-out episode.”

Uh oh! Not that part though. This one I mean:

“Thank you Anne, I’ve learned so much from you, like how to love with an iron hand. But sometimes you remind me of my current boss. haha.”

That leaves the question, who is her current boss? Wouldn’t you just like to know…

Of Ja’s Thesis on Vegetable Cruelty

I have been very busy lately. What with the presence of our senior execs in Manila. But something a good friend of mine wrote today made me laugh. I have never looked at chicken and vegetables this way. Read an excerpt or better yet, click this link Jared Amoroso – Uncensored.

“jared amoroso: It would be illegal for KFC to abuse dogs, cats, pigs, or cows in these ways. – tingin ko dogs and cats lang ang subject to prohibition on cruelty
jared amoroso: pero ang pigs cows and chickens… watdahell.
jared amoroso: let’s eat them in whatever way possible

Zyra Eve Lee: gusto ko na tuloy maging vegetarian!
Zyra Eve Lee: hehehe

jared amoroso: what?!
jared amoroso: kawawa kaya yang mga vegetables na yan

Zyra Eve Lee: nakakatawa ka!
Zyra Eve Lee: kawawa ang vegetables??

jared amoroso: they are uprooted from land on which they’ve spent their childhoods…”

If you read the whole conversation, you will be enlightened just like I was!

JARED! congratulations on Japan! Godspeed. And bring me my panda bears.

In this situation, he said

Marco has this to say about being in between two people who are unsure about where they are in a certain relationship, whether its friendly or romantic or familial – “Because you love them and they’re your friends, you lay the shit out on the table for them to see it. But you let them sort the shit out themselves.”

And because I think he’s right, I’m not going to meddle. I might have prompted where you two began and I might have opened up awareness and acknowledgment between you two, but that’s it. You guys have to figure this out on your own.

And I honest to God hope you can work this out to both your satisfaction. Because if you don’t, well then, that’s just sad.

Just like this song that always reminds me of the two of you.

Calling You

On second thought, I think TRAGIC would be a better word.

Of Precocious Little Boys and Words

There’s a little kid in the house. His name is Ivan and he’s turning 3 soon. He is a most amazing little boy who has made life more colorful for me. No he’s not my son nor is he blood related to any person in my family. But he, together with my little brother (who is not so little anymore at 15 years of age) is the center of our world. He called me Mama even before he started calling his real mother “Nanay”. He used to call her “An Gina”, a shortcut for Ate Gina (which no doubt, he got from all of us at the house).

the little man

Sometimes I want to tell him, don’t grow up too fast or too soon. But he has to, there’s so much in the world for him to experience. He has begun his last toddler year and will be going to school next year. He is precocious and funny without even intending to be funny. I can tell he’s going to be very much a smart ass like me. Here’s why:

Last weekend:

Ivan was shaking me, trying to get me to wake up. He started singing in this loud, boisterous way of his.

“We wi we wi pak you, pak you”

I sat upright! And another one.

“We wi we wi pak you, pak you”

Jeez I heard it right. That’s it. I am never going to allow Queen anywhere near that boy.

Last night:

Me: Ivan what do you want for pasalubong?

Ivan: Luto pak-shit!

Me: What?

Ivan: Luto pak-shit! Pak-shit!

Me: Ivan don’t say that.

Ate Gina: Pancit. Gusto niya magluto ka ng pancit. (He wants you to cook pancit)

gotcha!

Wiseass! You just like to rile me up don’t you? I’m too young for a heart attack! And you’re too young to know these words. Hehehe.

isn't he cute?

Never mind. Mama / Ninang still loves and adores you.

Bridget Ke-isms

Perhaps you’ve read about Jit – in my earlier post or in one of Yoshke’s rants and anecdotes sent to our mobile phones.

Bridget Ke is a legend. She is the sweetest friend I have. I think. (But then again I don’t have a lot of friends, so -.) But sometimes, Jit has bouts of nastiness. I don’t know if it’s Aika’s influence on her or the fact that she was with ES for quite some time. Maybe because I talk to her too much and she just happened to absorb some of the bitchiness I had. You wouldn’t believe her comments sometimes, out of the blue and during the most inopportune of times. (Hehehe Jit wag ka na magkaila).

But all in all, Jit is still a friend I know I can trust and depend on. She’s always so gentle and always has an innocent approach to the world. When I say innocent, as in wide eyed, without a trace of cynicism innocence – too much sometimes.

In August Jit and I are going to HongKong and sharing one of the interests we have – travel. I’m so excited. Jit, even if you say I’m the best singer in the world, I still have to share the reason why you really are adorable, for most part.

6 weeks ago

Jit: Anne grabe dito sa new office ko. May CCTV para imonitor yung bawat pagtayo namin for CR and breaks. Bawal din matulog.

Anne: What? Sino me sabi sayo niyan? Sure ka?

Jit: Yep. Yung isang kasama ko sa team.

Anne: Oh no. Magkakamemo ka niyan.

Jit: Oo nga grabe.

3 weeks ago

Anne: So nagkamemo ka na ba?

Jit: Ay feeling ko oo. Ako na yung pinakamadami na pagtayo sa floor ata.

Yesterday

Jit: Ay Anne, hindi pala CCTV yun. Smoke detector pala yun with panels. Nagbilang pa naman ako ng pagtayo ko.

Anne: At kelan mo nalaman yan?

Jit: Kahapon lang.

Anne: Seriously.

~~~~~~~~~

Bridget, you know I love you right? But I did say I was going to blog about it.

because you just don’t get it…

Don’t be fooled. I only act like I care. You may think I care. But I don’t. Really.

where the Bitch found friends

I’ve never been good with friendships or relationships. I either give too much or too little. I demand too much or have low expectations. I make one group happy and I hurt another. Until I decided that I didn’t want to give a shit about it all.

I realized I thought too much about meeting the expectations of other people. And in this world, you can’t make everyone happy. That would drive you nuts. So I stopped investing in relationships or friendships. It worked for me. I had a demanding job and I didn’t have a lot of free time. I’m not the friendliest person around. I hated having to make small talk with people I don’t really know. People have always been intimidated by me. So in short, it was perfect.

Then Qool Media happened. It was crazy. They were crazy. But I loved them that way. Each unique person in that group touched my life in many distinct ways.

Rian – my driver, kidding! Seriously I think he’s the nicest person I know (disclaimer: I don’t know a lot). He’s a really awesome friend, good manager, dependable, all around nice guy. Even if we don’t always agree, he’s got my back. I can depend on him for anything (well except maybe to watch SATC hehehe). I hope he knows I always have his back too.

Debbie and Cielo – one is quirky, one is serious. One is really friendly and the other one is a bitch in training. I have gone through so many issues with them. I think these girls are the only ones who have seen my tears fall (except maybe Bry and Bansil) and my strong personality falter. They know me so well and yet they’re still my friends. Now that’s loyalty. Both are talented. This I can attest to. Debbie’s poems are reflections of who she is, genuine mirrors of her reality and they are beautiful and heart warming – because she is. Cielo is the mistress of the sea, she and her skimboard on the shore create art in brief interludes. The moments are quick but they are pictures of honesty and freedom – both of which she treasures dearly.

Bry and Bansil – now these two are harder to describe but are equally loved. I have always described them as fire and ice. Bry is impulsive, passionate and all fire. Bansil is cool, laid back and all ice. Bry is the son of a bitch, my own. Hahaha. He is like me in many ways and he and I understand each other on almost all levels. Bansil, (his real name is Arnel but to me, Bansil is better. I say it with affection and I remember only him when Bansil is said. Of course, he’s the only one I know – haha) is a most intriguing writer. His subjects are common but his stories are not. What he lacks in relational skills, he makes up with talent. I just know that he will publish stories in the near future, stories that will change lives – I can’t wait. (Hehe Big Chill pa din) It is because of him that I met

Isay – who is like the sunshine. She perfectly complements Bansil’s brooding, James Deanesque aura. She makes me laugh with random quips, I have also seen her at her lowest and for that I am honored. She will always be treasured in my heart.

Aika and Jit – these two girls are the closest to girlfriends I will ever have. Aika is smart, strong willed and possibly one of the fiercest girls I know (there are only 2 others that I know – Aila and Chemae). Of course I meant that in a good way! Jit is smart, gentle and innocent, maybe a little too innocent. But Jit has perfected the balance of nice and naughty – don’t think she doesn’t have claws! She does, it just takes a little time for them to come out. Both are funny, Aika in a sarcastic way and Jit in a “Bridget Ke” sort of way.

ES – merits a space all his own. If I were to have a spawn, I’d want it to be like ES. Incredibly talented, honest and smart but still hungry to learn so much more. (I sure hope this spawn of mine doesn’t get tonsillitis that often though and merits a visit to a cute doctor). He’s one of the best writers I have ever had the pleasure of training and managing. Being trained and managed by me, isn’t the easiest thing. But he persevered and improved and I know he will always keep challenging himself. This is why I will always be proud of him.

Aila, Elaine and Chemae – the Jewel sisters! All three are sweethearts, each unforgettable in her own way. I sometimes think of them as Rian’s posse, hehehe! Where they go, Rian can be found! They have to be incredibly patient to bear with him. Elaine is a wonderful artist with a heart of gold. Aila is fierce and speaks her mind but she can also be sugar and spice! Chemae is gifted with a voice that soothes, she’s usually quiet but her silence belies her depth and strength.

Alfred – is my ideal guy but you will never be privy to the details of that! Hahaha.

Jon – is wonderful. Jon Mactal ha! Hehehe. I will always be grateful to him for helping my friend with “software and hardware”! Hahaha! Many years to you and your girlfriend. Inuman na tayo soon ha!

Paul – is not afraid to learn and experiment. He is possibly the most persevering of all the writers I had. He has grown in so many ways. I believe in you, Paul and I believe in your talent.

Staci – it’s funny how people can grow close despite their physical distance. You are my friend. Be well dear and congratulations on the residence permit!

Marck – the only guy who had the guts to call me “Girl”. GRRR! hahaha!

The bottom line – I miss you all. It’s not the same without you guys. I’ll see you all soon.

Hello world!

With much trepidation, I have finally decided to put up my thoughts in public! I was hesitant in the past, not because I cared so much what other people might think or say if they read my thoughts. It was because I am selfish. I don’t want to share parts of me with people, whether they know me or not. I’ve never been on good terms with vulnerability and opening myself to others.

But look what I’m doing. It’s because the compulsion to put down what goes through my head on something concrete and tangible, is too great to ignore. So finally, here I am. The Bitch has arrived in blogosphere.