Bad, bad humans.

Please don't watch the dolphin show at SM Mall of Asia. Please. Don't even go to Ocean Adventure in Subic either. Read why you shouldn't support these kinds of businesses here and here.

I don't even agree with the tiger "sanctuary" (oh please...) in Zoobic. It's just plain horrible and exploitative. Anuba. >:(

Manic Monday.

Yesterday started in a panic with several domestic errands and the frantic effort to get to a PLDT business center before my landline gets disconnected because I completely forgot to pay the bill before the due date. By the time I finished with house stuff, the Marcos Highway branch was already closed for 15 minutes. The only PLDT offices open were the ones in SM Megamall, SM Centerpoint, SM North and other SM branches my geographically challenged mind couldn't place. I chose the lesser of (commute) evils: Megamall.

On my way I called Joey to ask if he was in the area. We agreed to meet at the mall after our respective errands were done.

I was done paying for my bill in less than 10 minutes so I decided to hang out in Book Wagon while I waited for Joey to arrive. After some time looking through several nicely illustrated children's books, I heard the shopkeeper exclaim, "Ay, natumba 'yung ale!" I turned around and saw a woman in her early 50s (I'm guessing her age) sprawled on the floor right in front of the book store, and a man who was helping her get back up on her feet. Old woman was in pain and remained lying on her side on the floor. I rushed out of the store to ask her what was wrong.

Apparently the man was wandering around the 5th floor lost and confused, and he had just asked directions from a security guard when he turned around and bumped into the woman who was coming from the opposite direction. She landed on her hip and couldn't sit, much less stand up.

The nice Book Wagon shopkeeper brought out three wooden footstools and we had the woman lie across them on her back while I cradled her head in my lap. I asked the security guard to have emergency mall staff bring a stretcher. He mumbled a bunch of instructions into his two-way radio, then asked the man for an ID and took notes.

After waiting for several minutes and feeling the beginnings of severe thigh cramps, I asked the guard again when help would arrive. All this time the woman was clutching my arm and moaning in pain. The guy then took over the head-cradling part while I talked to the woman. I was beginning to worry she might have broken her hip or any of her bones.

Several more minutes passed and a staff arrived with a wheelchair. I was getting really annoyed. "Bakit wheelchair??? Dapat stretcher!"

The guards insisted in transferring her to the chair. The woman already felt the excruciating pain just lying flat on her back, and she yelped even louder when they tried placing her in a sitting position. I reiterated my request for a stretcher ("We can't move her in that! Baka makadagdag pa sa injury niya!") and an additional pillow to support her pelvic area while she half-sat-half-laid down on the wheelchair.

We waited some more. Her daughter arrived with several shopping bags and her little girl who was already crabby and tired. The son arrived after a fashion. Still no stretcher. For the nth time, I asked the guard, "Nasaan na ang emergency staff ninyo? Di ba dapat ang mga mall meron nun? Wala ba kayong stretcher? Plywood na makapal? 'Yung mga ginagamit sa mga stage-stage ninyo? Paano kung life and death situation ito? Wala na? Ganun na lang???" He blabbed more instructions into the radio.

Finally (after what must have been an hour or more after the incident), real help arrived, courtesy of a clinic tenant on the 2nd or 3rd floor. (Clinica Manila? I can't remember the name.) The guards gently lifted the woman onto the gurney. She was still holding onto my arm. I told the daughter that she should have her mom get an x-ray. She nodded and gave her thanks. Then they wheeled her off.

I went back inside Book Wagon and resumed browsing. Joey had already missed all the action by the time he arrived. I bought a Jon J. Muth-painted children's book then we went to Cavana for slightly late dinner.

As soon as we had our fill of yummy Cavana chicken we headed for 70s Bistro where Marie and the Worms were celebrating three birthdays and three Rock Awards wins with lots of free beer and good music.

FUN!!! Saw lots of people I didn't know I missed, and caught up with a few tidbits here and there. And I found out that one of the best ways to unwind is to witness the Worms perform "Napakasakit, Kuya Eddie" in front of an audience with varying levels of inebriety. Hahaha. ;-D

I had a long chat with Marie who was as funny and loud as she can get when drunk. Ü I went home some time after 2:30 a.m. with a few cocktails in my gut and a warm fuzzy feeling all over. (It must be the alcohol, eh? Heheh.)

Labor of love.

Things I did for a couple of girlfriends and their bridal shower/weddings. (n_n)

What's in a name?

Does your name say who you are?
Hmmm... I have a couple of Es, Ns and Os... Go figure. Bwahahaha.

KEY:
A: Likes to drink.
B: Likes people
C: Is wild and crazy.
D: Has one of the best personalities ever
E: A Good Kisser.
F: People adore you.
G & H: Have a very good personality and looks.
I: Loves everyone.
J: Lives life for fun.
K: Really silly.
L: Loved by everyone
M: Makes dating fun
N: Dead sexy.
O: Best in bed.
P: Popular with all types of people.
Q: A hypocrite.
R. Fuckin crazy.
S: Easy to fall in love with
T: Loyal to those you love.
U: Really like to chill.
V: Not judgemental.
W: Very broad minded.
X: Never let people tell you what to do.
Y: One of the best damn bf's/gf's anyone could ask for.
Z: Always ready.

Wafu!

Ang I.n.K. illustrated a dozen of stories written by children, commissioned by the publisher, Papica Foundation. The May Kuwento Po Ako book launch cum benefit concert was held at Aliw Theater and we were given a bunch of tickets to see this guy perform:

Heh heh heh.

I'm not a fan, pero in fairness, wafu talaga siya.

(I'm posting these for the benefit of friends who are secret fans of Piolo Pascual. Hehe.)

Really.

Ako raw 'yung Miss Universe ng buhay niya. Whatever that means. Hahah.

I'm still not a fan, but he sings well live ha.

You don't believe me, do you?

(Sige kayo, I'll name names.)

Actually it wasn't just Piolo who read poetry and performed a bunch of songs. Jay-R, Erik Santos and Pops Fernandez were there, too. (Pro-bono gig, I heard.)

Young authors signed books after the show.

Aside from winning the writing contest sponsored by the foundation, they also received college scholarships. How cool is that?

Schmoozing with Francis J. Papica, the foundation head honcho. (Loki making faces in the background.)

Thanks to jedi_remus for some of the pics and for the use of his trusty camera. (n_n)

Happy Feet and the Order of the Phoenix.

Earlier this afternoon Beejay messaged me asking if I wanted to go to the Happy Feet premiere at Rockwell and I said yes. (Which Potterhead wouldn't? I wanted to see that movie primarily for the bundled Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix teaser trailer. Heheh.) ;-Þ

As soon as the familiar 3d-WB-logo-against-dark-skies image flashed onscreen we squealed giddily like schoolgirls. Hahah. Pero nakakabitin.

Happy Feet is such a fun (and funny) movie! Robin Williams is golden, as usual. I want a penguin.

And despite my aversions towards mascots (or unrecognizable people in product-endorsing costumes), we all went crazy over Baby Mumble waddling outside the theater after the movie. Heehee!

Homaygaz I can hardly wait for this! Ang skeery!

July 13! But I hear the Philippine premiere is two days earlier. Wheee!

Congratulations!

I survived a nice wedding in a slightly torn entourage dress. Heheh! Congratulations to Ayoy and Daniel! Finally. (n_n)

[Ick. Crappy pics, I know. I don't have a proper camera at the moment.] :-(

Here's Thor and I fooling around with two camera phones at Wilmer's place:

Stuck in traffic:

Nibbling on the sugar flower on the wedding cupcake:

Oh, and I had my highlights dyed purple for the ocassion. I'm liking it now. Hee. (n_n) Can't wait to see better pics. It sux not to have a camera on hand.