mariev.cjb.net

Received an anonymous text message a few days ago, and it read:

"Pued po b akong humingi ng 2long sa inyo? I'm marie, 21yo freshgrad po from Bacolod City. Ggawin ko po ang lahat ngkpalit na gusto nio, ma2lungan nyo lng po akong mkpunta sa mynila. My job hiring na po kc sna ako jan sa san mig- ortigas, syang po kc kung madissolve lng... Im willing to take the risks ng kpalit na hhngin nio. Un nlng tlga pgasa ko na mkluwas kgd pra mhbol deadline ko po. My pic and supporting docs po ako sa www.mariev.cjb.net"

Since I was using Globe (office phone kasi) I've been getting spam (Chinatrust loans, discount offers, etc) and scammers ("hon... naubusan ako ng load, dito mo padala sa number na ito..), I just let this one go. However, I received another message this afternoon..:

"Name: Marie Velasco
Age: 21
Birthdate: Feb. 15, 1987
Height: 5'7"
Complexion: Fair
Vital Stats: 35-25-36
Hair: Long and Straight
Other: Joined some provincial pageants for allowance.
Course: BS Information Management (Computer & Accountancy)
School: DOST Scholar in University of St. La Salle - Bacolod
Parents: Anna & Mario Velasco (both deceased)
Picture: www.mariev.cjb.net"

Wha the F?! Pati ba naman vital stats? Ang kulit nito ah. Texted back.."Why are you texting me?". Her answer:

"Ahm..Marie Velasco po name ko, 21 yo, from Mandalagan, Bacolod City. Graduate po ng BS Information Management (DOST Scholarship). Living alone sa isang boarding haus po d2 sa Purok Sambag. 5'7" and hardworking province girl po. May pic po ako sa www.mariev.cjb.net. Nagtetext lng po ako ng random numbers starting with 09178 and really hoping na may makita lng ako kht maliit na 2long para makaluwas ng mynila. Wala po akong idea kung babae po o lalaki tinitext ko...But im really willing to give any favorable exchange in your part para sa tulong na makapunta sa mynila... Un lng po sana.. - marie"

I was in the middle of a luncheon celebration in Antipolo with mama when I got this message. I answered back to her. If I'm not mistaken, there are call centers now in Bacolod (?) sayang lang kung pupunta siya dito and sa San Mig ang work niya. Told her I admire her courage and determination BUT what she is doing is very dangerous, and wished her luck. Got her response when we got home--

"Hindi naman po ako mapapahamak, my 22luyan naman po ako pansamantala sa novaliches, sa 1 malaung kamag anak. Tapos my trbho na rn naman po akong papasukan..Sana bigyan nio po ako ng chance na magkaroon ng career.. Naghhnayang lng ako sa lumilipas na araw na dapat, sumisweldo nko at nagtratrbho.."

And another one at around 4pm...

"Gud day po, si marie po to, ung humihingi ng 2long makapunta ng maynila.. M22lungan nio po b ako? Gagawin ko po ung kapalit na hhngin nio, para lang makapunta npo ako ng mynila..Parang awa nio na po.."

This girl is desperate. If only I had the means to help her out. I just hope na may makita nga siyang tutulong with all sincerity and not take advantage of her...

Sun-Fun-Tan at Camayan Resort

It's fun-sun-tan at the Camayan Beach Resort in Subic for our team's nth team building activity yesterday after shift. Left the office at around 8:15am and arrived noontime. Subic on a Saturday was like a ghost town. The only vehicles noticeable are those en route to the beaches. It was soo tempting to visit Zoobic, since we passed by their signboard, as well as Ocean Adventure, just near Camayan.
The resort is clean and the water, cool and clear. The sand is fine with a few pebbles and shells. We started off firing the grill to cook our baon-- liempo and barbque. Food can be brought in but make sure to bring enough ice for your drinks. Charcoal grills are for rent and they have uling also. We stayed until around 6pm before we headed of to Duty Free. The picture below was taken using my beloved SE W810i -- a panoramic view from the cottage we rented:-)

A Crescent Moon Cafe birthday

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It's like a mini Sonya's Garden experience. That's how I'd be able to describe the ambiance and the way food is served. Celebrated a post-birthday lunch at the Crescent Moon Cafe in Antipolo. The place is easy to find if you are coming from Sumulong Highway. I've read in several blogs na medyo frustrating daw hanapin but then it's fairly easy pala.

In front of the cafe is a koi pond, and what a sight to see. I never saw kois as big as those before! The cafe is cool and quaint, country-like feel-at-home almost similar to Sonya's. Their food is unique as well. For starters, an ala prepare-it-yourself-fresh-lumpia, sans the lumpia wrapper and ubod, or veggies. They use alagao leaves as wrappers. You'll mix and whiff up your own conconction with the following: minced ginger, minced red onions, jalapenos, kamias, sweet arnibal-like peanut paste, dessicated coconut and crunchy alamang. You'll find an interesting blend and medley of flavors there. Soup followed and this was my winner. Hands down. Thick cream of pumpkin soup with coconut meat. Yummy. You can taste kalabasa in there and a hint of coconut too! The main course included crunchy noodles with chicken curry, grilled fish (tanigue ata yun) and chopsuey. Dessert is riped mango and their delicious suman! Wonderful place for just talking and eating especially if you prefer garden-like settings. Like I do. At Php350/person, swack na swack!

Directions: From Marcos Highway, you turn right at Sumulong Highway when you get to the Masinag Market intersection. Just go straight up Antipolo, passing Dencio's; etc. etc. You'll be passing Assumption Antipolo signboard to the left, and Banker's Village to the right. Watch out for those fruit stands at the left side of the road -- you'll get to an intersection with a signboard-- (arrow going straight: To church; Arrow right: To Hinulugang TakTak; and Arrow left: To Teresa). Turn left to Teresa. Here you'll take probably 15-20 minutes drive. You'll be passing the Antipolo National Police at the right. At the end of the road you'll get a rotonda with a Flying V gasoline station at the left. You'll be doing a left here, halos parang u-turn at the Flying V. The road is now smaller. This is Brg. Dalig. Watch out for the corner Barugan hardware to your right. You will see the Crescent Moon signage there. (You'll know you've missed it if you reached Robinson's Homes na) Turn right here. Crescent Moon is about 1-2 minutes to your left. Hehe sorry, not familiar with meters or kilometers eh.

Oh, and it's better also if you call for reservations 630-5854 so that food can be prepared. If not daw, you'll be waiting 30-45 minutes.

Diego's Crossing-Over ceremony

It was goodbye to KOF (Kids On Focus) as we attended Diego's Crossing-Over ceremony at the Water Nymph Resort in Marikina. 'Most Improved Student' was the citation he received this year. Haay.... and I remembered again when he took his 1st Grade entrance exams at the San Benildo Integrated School (Marcos Hi-way, Antipolo) on how a nervous wreck I was that time knowing how seemingly 'lazy' and reklamador he is with studying!Anyway, this year he has an itsy bitsy role as an emcee together with this classmate, Fonzo. A lot a coaching from his Ti'Angge paid off as we were (finally) able to understand what he was saying. He and his classmates presented "A Whole New World", and it was something he reminded me to watch because he is partnered with his crush, Pams.

 Last year, Pams was in another class and has been calling Diego's attention eversince. Ayaw lang nitong isa at iba daw and crush niya. This year since classmates na sila, nag-iba ang ihip ng hangin. He likes her na rin daw. He'd make kwento na magka-holding hands sila during their practice for their presentation, etc. What is extremely funny is this picture I hurriedly took while the kids are getting ready on stage for their group song when I spotted Diego's reaction when Pams gave him a hug! Hehehe!

March again

Time really flies. March na! In a few days, I'll be adding a year to my age. Since last week the family has been greeting me (or singing rather..) "Haaappy birthday to you!..!" to which cousin Angge would exclaim "Tanda mo na!" and Andee would follow it up with "Forty*** ka na!!!". Cak joins in with "di bale at mukha ka namang thirty something-something tapos panay mas bata pa ang nanliligaw sa yo, leche!" Hehehe! And that was over lunch.

Andee wrote me a song and sang it. I could have swore I was listening to a Camp Rock-alike tune there! Sweet :-)