Things I Don't Miss from the Office

Just thinking these over the top of my head.

1. Incessant whining of Big Mama from the Wanna Care? Office. Dami niyang reklamo everyday!

2. All the paperwork which seem to multiply every minute I am gone from my desk.

3. The "CLUELESS" looks and Dumb answers of Ballerina girl from the corporate school.

4. The feeling of being wrong ALL the time.

5. The endless planning meetings that takes up ultra precious time in my paperwork.

6. The stupidity of a security personnel I know.

7. The pressure of being Multi-tasking me.

8. The late-night phone calls of things to do, and things I did not do, and things I am reprimanded because I forgot to them when it wasn't my responsibility.

9. Days Off not being respected as REST DAYS

10. The ultra low financial compensation.

NSO is Getting ON MY NERVES

This morning has been scheduled for me to get the NSO copy of my birth certificate. It has been planned for a week now and I had asked Cez to accompany me to the municipal office.

But!!!! When we got there 10 minutes before 8 AM, the officer releasing the forms cordially announced that "THEY DONT HAVE FORMS" available for filling up. There was about a thousand people in line at that time, waiting for their names to be verified.

I am at the edge of my financial bankrupcy and if I don't get my birth certificate soon, heaven knows what will happen next.

Another try tomorrow at 6:30 am. If they run out yet again of forms, I'm going to the next NSO office where there are less people. What is with Muntinlupa that people flock there for their copies? Pisses me off big time!

David Cook Manila Concert EPIC

I have waited for months for May 16, 2009 to happen... And it came and surprised me in a way I would never have expected! The Lord is good!



I bought a SILVER section ticket. This is the first standing section in the Mall of Asia Open Grounds. Out of 40 thousand people, you'd have guessed that this section is relatively far away from the stage. LCD screen were the only way to keep track of ant sized artists moving onstage. Nevertheless, I didn't watch the concert from the SILVER section. I watched it from the side line of the PLATINUM, the 2nd most expensive section FOR FREE! (Com'n people.. Let me hear a WOW!)



At 3:00 pm I asked a friend if he was going to continue on the volunteering stint for the David Cook concert. He said not. Too bad, I replied. It's a once in a lifetime event. David Cook, in the Philippines, in his FIRST international gig! And it's with David Archuleta! No wonder fans from Asia and the Middle east flew all the way to our country just to SEE him in the flesh!


So me and four other friends travelled to the venue, enduring the temperature of the van we rode in. The MOA cooperative van was airier even though it didn't have an aircon unit. (My make up was starting to melt off even before the concert started. Arrrg!)

When we reached MOA, I opened my phone and saw that the friend I was telling about was trying to call me. So I called him back. And amazing is the news he told me, the organizer gave him not one but TWO all access passes for the concert. In my excitement, I said take me instead of Zarah. She's not a fan. Hahaha! It was settled then! I went with him to the area near the stage.

Okay concert proper mode. Archuleta started of with TOUCH MY HAND. In all fairness, I like his song list that night. Back when I visited Singapore I bought both Cookie and Archie's album. So I relatively was in the know of the songs he sang. I loed his rendition of Zero Gravity. Whew! That song was so full of energy@! The crowd was with him all throughout. BUT...

Even before Archie's last song ended, David Cook appeared in the sidelines. I saw him grabbing the post with his two hands... I guess releasing some pre-concert butterflies. Darn my mobile phone died on me during Archie 3rd song. So I wasn't able to get much of Cookie's appearance and actual performance. Good thing my friend had a digital camera, and he was able to get shots of the performances.

So they had a 20 minute break where the sound check re-did the stage set-up and the tech guys were line-checking all the guitars and other equipment that will be used by the band. After which Skibby was up and was playing a slow instrumental intro for THE WORLD I KNOW while Cookie was under the platform, entering the stage via an elevator floor panel. With guitar in hand, he started singing, and the crowds were cheering and howling and hooting for his grand entrance.. I wasn't expecting anything like this at all.

Just the sight of Cook was taking my breath away. I was practically drooling over every song especially when he sang off-album tracks like MAKE ME, ALWAYS BE MY BABY, LITTLE LIES, STRAIGHT AHEAD... I mean, I know all these songs. Craziest thing David did for me was his guitar dance for the extro of KISS ON THE NECK! I mean, those were some hot moves! I said, "David Cook, ang landi mo! Bumababa ka nga dito at umuwi na tayo!" Hot hot hot!

I couldn't remember which part that was but there was a portion where Joey and Neal were flying onstage with their guitars! I mean, lead vocals was already a hot item on the menu but add on 4 guys equally hot as the first one, Jalapeño special is what you get!



It was all after the concert where i felt all energy drain from me. We met up with my friends and had dinner at Carlos Pizza, the last shop open in the Mall. It was an enchanted night for me. Sad that it ended with me having no picture of David or any of the band. When I get to the States next year, I'll go see him everyday! But really, thank you OEDIE for sharing your passes with me! You are one blessed guy!

Midnight Revelations (entry # 2)

The David Cook concert was a blast for me! Especially when I could see him at a distance and see him perform live. But as a follow up to MR#1, sila talaga ang dikit eh. Napansin ko lang. Thank you's overflowing from me, mega bonding na sila agad ni ***. For me ayos lang kasi I am officially over him. The concert was a great was to be friends again with someone I felt uncomfy for sometime. :-D Makikilala ko din si David Cook soon!

Blogging Resumes

My blogging time is now back on track... More time to think, more time to post, no more stuff to worry about (like events, et al.)! No more work in the morning! Will keep you up to date on the latest development on my job hunt. Ha life is GOOD! God is GOOD!

Officially FREE

Shocking news! As of May 18, 2009, I, Rachel Mercado, has rendered her resignation and was given a graceful exit to a better life! Job hunt here I come!

Lost World of Batad

When I prepared for this trip, I read a blog, assuming that what they wrote there was accurate. I planned according to that blog and alas, my expectations did a double dive! The blog said nothing about certain aspects of the trip. So, here is my share in helping you reader plan a better trip for Batad.

THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT BATAD

1. Book your trip to Banaue in advance. You can book via Auto Bus or Florida Bus Lines. They have their terminals in Quezon City. It is a 12-hour drive from Manila to Banaue.

2. When you get to Banaue, contact Jun Binalit for an advance booking to Ramon's Homestay. They will coordinate a vehicle for your 1-hour drive to Saddle Point. They will make sure that you safely get to your destination. 09082554657

If you decide to go to Saddle point via commute, you have to catch the daily Batad jeepney at 2:00 pm at the town proper. Fare is 150 pesos per person. If you come in a group of 6 to 8 persons, it is easier to hire an van at 2500 pesos. Of course the public transport will always be cheaper. The only positive thing to look forward to a hired van is that you are not time constricted to meet transport schedules.

3. Saddle Point is where all the vehicle stop and the visitors trek down to Batad. When you contact Jun Binalit, he will also coordinate a guide for your trek to and from Batad. A guide will cost you from 300 to 500 pesos for inexperienced ones. 800 to 1200 pesos for experienced guides. DON'T GET GUIDES FROM BANAUE. They will greet you when you get off the bus and tail you until you see your contacts. They will have triple the amount of the guide fee from Batad. And they don't guide you in Batad. They guide you until Saddle Point only.

4. Get your knees and legs ready for a 1-hour plus trek down to Batad. The trail is very a bit narrow. but it's of a comfortable width with the cliff on the other side, the mountain face on the other. Always get the most out of the huts on the side of the road. They are there so that you can catch your breath and wipe away all the sweat you may have produced. Take advantage of them.

5. When you get to Ramon's homestay, rest until the following day before you decide to go to Tapiya Falls. Tapiya Falls is another hour trek down the mountain side. It's good to start early the following day like around 8 am. Order something from Irene (the Binalit House cook) for your lunch and enjoy the water until 2:00 pm so you can start your trek back to base before rainfall or sundown. (Keep in mind that IT ALWAYS RAINS IN BATAD) It's okay to bring an umbrella.

6. Rest another night in Ramon's Homestay and rest your limbs. You have to have prime energy when you start your trek up to Saddle Point again in the morning. If you want public transport back to Banaue, you have to be at Saddle Point by 9 am. The jeepney leaves when it is full or if not, leaves at 9:30 am.

7. Upon reaching Banaue, you can have several options:
a. Have lunch in one of the local stores or CHOWKING - Banaue
b. Go up to ViewPoint and get photos of the 1000-peso bill shot of the Rice Terraces
c. Whatever else you may think of doing

Batad is a wonderful place, a magical place you can say. It never grows old, it leaves an everlasting imprint in your mind. The people are so gentle and accommodating. I think the legendary Filipino hospitality was preserved in Banaue and Batad. I want to go back