5 CITIES IN 14 DAYS (Part 1)

I started a wonderful journey 2 weeks ago upon learning that I will be undergoing a forced vacation from my office ('wag niyo nang tanungin kung bakit). Instead of taking it as a punishment, I took it as an opportunity to take a vacation and see other places that I haven't been into.

Sure, I was born and lived my first 16 years in Iloilo City and Guimaras. The next 4 years I saw myself studying college in Bacolod with sidetrips in Manila, Baguio, Dumaguete, Batangas, Subic, Aklan, Capiz and Cebu during my first 20 years of existence on earth. After a year of graduation, I decided to work in Manila where I was able to go to Bulacan, Pampanga and Laguna. It has been 4 years since I flew back to Iloilo to work, got married to a Cebuana and raised them in Cebu and worked in Bacolod. And it has been my dream eversince to go down South in Mindanao and witness the places and taste local culture.

That dream came true last January 20, 2009. I decided to start my journey down south.

I started my journey in Silay City, Negros Occidental where the new Bacolod-Silay Airport is located. From Silay, I took a flight to Cebu where I stayed for a night in a hotel near Mactan Airport. I opted to rest and planned my trip to Davao with a lot of itineraries for 3 days. I also took part in world history via CNN where Barack Obama became the 44th US president and the first African-American to govern the most powerful nation in the world. I was able to witness the oath-taking (which was a blunder) and his rousing speech also.

January 21, 2009 I took a flight from Cebu to Zamboanga. From the sky I was able to feel the excitement as the plane was about to touch down at the Zamboanga Airport. Although I only spent an hour in Zambo, I was enthralled by the fact that their airport reminds me of the old Iloilo Airport in Mandurriao. How I wish I could have spent the night in Dapitan or in Dakak and catch a beautiful girl there! Heheheh.. just kidding baka magalit asawa ko.... After an hour in Zamboanga, I boarded a plane to Davao where I was able to spend the next three days relaxing, eating out and.... finding myself.

(To be continued)

AIR TRIP

Ever remember the movie "Road Trip"?

It's about a group of guys going out of town to another state just to save their friend from being busted by his girlfriend over a piece of tape containing his not-so-sexy shenanigan, porking another girl. They go thru a lot of adventures and misadventures while the whole trip goes on.

Actually, that's just part of the synopsis that I saw on the DVD and I have not watched it ever.... but it's actually one of the surprise hits of the new millenium. Since then, movies with a road trip theme have caught my fancy. Too many to mention, but all of them have the same theme: Protagonist gets involved in a conflict, gets his friend to accompany him on a road trip, they get into mishaps along the way and upon reaching their destination, a lot of realizations were met.

Currently, I am starting on an adventure, where no one has ever dared. Thanks to R.E. who got me into it, I have decided to go on a 5-city tour starting from Bacolod to Cebu (1 day) to Zamboanga (1 hour) to Davao (3 days) and Iloilo (3 days). Sounds goofy ayt? But don't worry, once I have completed the trip, a lot of stories will unfold.

Stay tuned.

Lucky '09 na kaya?

Hi everyone!

First of all, I would like to apologize if it's only now that I have decided to post an entry. I was suppose to write my last entry for 2008 but due to time constraints, my thoughts went down the drain and I opted to join my friend Paul instead in his radio work and the recent Matt Monro, Jr. concert in Bacolod.

I would like to thank the Lord for giving me a chance to turn a new leaf last year. 2008 was a special year because this is the year that I became a father to Horizon Shane Gamboa who by the way is already turning 8 months old next week. How time flies! I also had the opportunity to work in Bacolod City and enjoy the fruits of my labor while I'm working... hehehe!

However this does not stop here. Like an eagle, I intend to spread my wings and move on to other things. I have been in the call center for 5 years but I am itching to work on a different environment. I am a Mass Communications graduate but this time I want to work in line with my course.

Maybe a radio stint or TV or movies? Hope I get lucky!

A MOMENT OF SILENCE FOR MARKY CIELO.....

STAY AWAKE

I could fall in love with you

But it's not my fault

'Cause you are the prettiest thing I've seen

When you're fallen asleep in my arms

Oh my, oh my, oh my

So just stay awake for me

'Cause I can't fall asleep

So just stay awake for me

I'll give you anything

To just stay awake, make love to me

So maybe all you'll ever need

Is right inside these arms

Whole and you're so damn tired and conditional

As you're fallen asleep in the dark

Oh I, oh my, oh my

So just stay awake for me

'Cause I can't fall asleep

So just stay awake for me

I'll give you anything

To just stay awake, make love to me

There's nothing I won't try

To keep your body close to mine

And baby hold on tight

It's a wil open ride

Give me all you got tonight

And stay awake with me, stay awake

Give it all you got

So just stay awake for me

'Cause I can't fall asleep

So just stay awake for me

I'll give you anything

To just stay awake, make love to me

Oh, just stay awake make love to me

Make love to me

Make love to me

Make love to me

JUST TELL ME WHERE TO START

When worse comes to worst...

I really can't comprehend why change comes all of a sudden. First, I was yanked out of the billing department along with 14 of my wavemates because the account where we belonged closed. Then I suddenly found solace in the two of them because we belonged in the technical account. The rest were assigned to another billing account.

Just as when I was about to create a new set of friends my wife was suddenly attacked with post-partum depression and vented her ire on my set of friends. No matter how I defended my case before my friends they just left me in a huff... without even giving me piece of advice or whatever form of support. In short I was left out in the cold.

The good thing about this is that although I don't have close friends at the office, it has made me more careful about choosing the people to socialize with, and share my problems with. I also would like to thank my true friend... Paul Moles for sticking with me through thick and thin. And I also would like to thank myself for being strong. Talagang nakakatawa ang buhay...

For now, I leave you guys with this song by the Backstreet Boys....

FORCES OF NATURE

Opposites attract, chemicals react
When I look at you
Deserts need the rain,
Fires feed the flame
Can't deny what's true
Can't help the way I feel(Cuz you got me, yeah)
All these elements are real
They come from deep within me

I would move heaven and earth for this fire
For this ocean I'll fight for you
Let this emotional wind take us higher
Where there's nothing we can do
I love youYes, I love you
This power is greater
Than the forces of nature

We don't have no walls
The beauty of it all
Is waiting in your eyes
Breathing on my skin
Just let me take it in
Under an open sky
Can't help the way I feel
(Cuz you got me, yeah)you know i cant
All these elements are real
They come from deep within me

I would move heaven and earth for this fire
For this ocean I'll fight for you
Let this emotional wind take us higher
Where there's nothing we can do
I love youYes, I love you
This power is greater
Than the forces of nature

Nothing is greater than the energy I get from loving you
Sooner or later
It'll take us to forever

I would move heaven and earth for this fire
For this ocean I'll fight for you
Let this emotional wind takes u higher
Where there's nothing we can do

I would move heaven and earth for this fire
For this ocean I'll fight for you
Let this emotional wind take us higher
Where there's nothing we can do
I love you

Yes, I love you baby
I love you baby,
This power is greater
Than the forces of nature

WHEN GREAT ACTORS GO

I was shocked when Michael de Mesa has decided to go on showbiz sabbatical starting next year and take a regular job instead in the US as a marketing executive for a reputable company. When asked why he had to go, he said he was simply frustrated with the way local showbiz is being run by people nowadays. There's no more growth for him as an actor since his creativity was being stifled by mediocrity. That was the reason why he had metamorphosed into a theater actor/indie actor who garnered good reviews in different indie/theater offerings among them "Rent", "Tick Tick Boom", "Bigtime", "Ataul for Rent" and many more.

According to him though he got great accolades in that field, the financial benefit was not within reach. So he continued acting in the mainstream (mostly in telenovelas) until he had enough of the showbiz charade.

It's not only Michael de Mesa whom we're going to miss on the big screen. Joaquin Phoenix, the younger brother of deceased heartthrob River Phoenix, has also decided to quit acting in the movies. What made Joaquin quit was the fact that he had fallen in love with music and would rather sing than act. Deja vu? Jericho Rosales had made that statement first, so it's nothing new.

If I recall it right, Jericho released an album with his band called Jeans but their music failed to garner audiences even if Echo had a wide fanbase. The question right now is... will Joaquin Phoenix be able to successfully convince his audience that he can be taken seriously as a musician?

Whatever may be the result of their sabbaticals, may Michael de Mesa and Joaquin Phoenix always remember the age-old saying: "Once an actor always an actor."

If they don't come back there will be other people who can fill in their shoes... and I'm one of them! Ngak!