december memories..

ATTENTION!! yes, i'm going to repeat this until i've achieved my aim.. I WANT YOUR OLD STUFF!! OLD CLOTHES, OLD TOYS, OLD BOOKS FOR THE KIDS! usable stationery are welcome too!! really, your help would be greatly appreciated..

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usually, by now i would be enjoying the sun and the beach in Philippines.. =(

oh well, sacrifices have to be made, and we can't keep on hanging on to what we used to have.. and i mean the freedom during school days.. yes, oh well, for the sake of better tomorrow, for the sake of fulfilling my wish of travelling round the world, i need to work.. sigh..

for the past 3 years, decembers are never dull and boring.. despite being in a country where everything is not as convenient as in here, its beauty is mesmerizing.. i like its rustic feel, although i would rejoice whenever i get my dose of surfing the internet.. hehe..

and because christmas is so much being celebrated over there (parties throughout the month!), you would really wanna stay there and spend a splendid christmas there.. you may not see the whole street lighted up like Orchard Road (hello, i stay in rural areas there), but the festive mood would definitely light up your christmas.. =) and of course, i'll never forget the time spent with all my wonderful friends there.. =)

and because these decembers are so special, hence the playlist for the month - december memories.. =)

all the songs hold special meanings to me.. some would make me remember the fun times i had, some would make me cry, some are just songs that i heard when i was there.. to friends in my YEP group, some songs may also ring a bell to you.. hehe..

my favourites: Leaving on a Jetplane, Hawak Kamay (Hold our hands together)..

so, enjoy.. while it's time for me to get some sleep..

aline and waipeng's wedding..

ATTENTION!! calling for old stuff - clothes, books, toys, usable stationery for children! please please please, be good boys and girls for the christmas, and donate! the needy kids in Bago City, Philippines need you!

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i've spent more than half of the day in bed, but i still feel tired and my eye is still twitching (for a week already!!).. the busy period is not going to end, because the kids are back for tuition, and i still need to complete my donation drive.. sigh.. oh well..

anyway, photos are up.. pictures from aline and waipeng's wedding.. i'm not going to upload pictures taken during the examination, because all of us looked super shagged and ugly.. haa.. and because it's work-related, i don't wanna get into trouble.. haha..

aline, waipeng and i knew each other through our first Philippines trip to Bago City and from there their love blossomed..


for some of you, you may be able to recognise where this is.. haha..

i witnessed their entire love journey, and being one of their mutual friends, i'm real happy for the both of them.. too bad the rest of the gang are not in Singapore, huijie in London and ryan in Korea.. and not mentioning all of our friends in Philippines.. =(


our favourite pastime: good food, good coffee.. =)

and this being the first time as a bridesmaid, it was an exciting experience.. it was fun to make new friends too, planning evil plots together to torture the guys..


the girls =D

another first time for me at their wedding - dinner at Fullerton Hotel! hee.. seeing their hotel suite is also another first for me.. haha.. the room is alright, but i love their bathroom! so spacious! hahah..

check out the nice scenic view of the river..

actually i think that the food there was only so-so.. but the atmosphere was not bad.. and speaking about that, those decor on the Fullerton lobby level, and i'm referring to those flowers in the super big pots and on the walls, they are REAL!! 5-star hotel indeed.. i wonder how much money is spent on these flowers.. manz..

best friends forever! yeah!

and the tables in the restaurant were also well-decorated.. scattered with rose petals, and glasses with roses floating in there.. wow..

nice flowers with nice chocolates.. hee..

although i was being super evil to waipeng and his guys that day, i really hope that they will live together, happily ever after.. =) love you guys.. muacks!

it's not the end of the madness..

two weeks of craziness, and it has all been overwhelming.. the lack of sleep has made me gone near insane, hopefully i didn't inflict any violence or hurt to people around me.. haa..

it has been fun to work with the examiners, although it was tough entertaining them, making sure that they were well taken care of.. nice and interesting people i would say, and i've learnt a lot from each of them.. and there are so many things i don't know of, what an ignorant fella i am.. haha..

and amidst of all the madness, there was aline and waipeng's wedding.. seeing them from being mere team mates (i still remember how she said, "i don't like him".. haha) to getting together as a couple, and now, walking down the aisle, making vows to love each other till death do them part.. i'm really happy for the both of them.. =)

there were many things that happened during these two weeks, and there were some which i would love to share, but i've not gotten any good sleep, so i shall leave it until when i've the mood.. haa..

i'm also developing withdrawal symptoms from working late during these two weeks.. it felt so odd to leave the office "early" at 6pm.. haha..

but the craziness is only turning mild, not about to end yet.. many paperwork for me to clear, and meetings to attend.. and i shall bear with it until i get to step onto the plane.. grr..

and finally, calling for old stuff!! if you have any old stuff to donate to needy kids in Philippines, please don't hesitate to contact me!! old toys, old books, old clothes, usable stationery.. i want them!!

ok ok, photos to be uploaded when i've more free time on hand.. hee..

examinations suck..

it's not easy being a kid in Singapore.. the pressure and expections from everybody, the comparison, and the stress they have to go through every time they sit for examinations.. it can be overwhelming sometimes..

i thought my kid would do well for his PSLE.. but it didn't turn out the way we expected.. he must be feeling very down right now, for not being able to achieve his goals, for not being able to enter the school of his choice..

i feel bad for not being good enough to push him beyond his limits, but at the same time i didn't want him to become a slave of education.. he's a bright kid.. he reads a lot and dares to voice out his opinions for what is accurate, and sometimes i can be amazed by what he knows..

he was confident that he could do well, and felt that the questions were relatively easy, as compared to those in his prelims.. he said that the English paper was ok, but he didn't do well.. in contrary, he scored better for the Maths paper which he complained was difficult..

but i really don't understand.. based on the grades he got, even if he scored just enough to achieve those grades, he would have gotten a higher overall score.. i really don't understand..

i don't know how many times i've said this, but yes, i never like the idea of having examinations.. it doesn't prove how smart a person is, but how rigid the entire system is, and how good at memorising a person is.. examinations are never a good guage of a person's ability and knowledge..

now it seems hard to make any appeals to get into the schools of his initial choices.. i've seen how kids change when they enter a school they don't like, and i don't want him to end up the same way..

arghh.. so frustrated now..

rejection..

i got rejected.. by a potential sponsor.. =(

i should have gotten used to such rejections.. but every time i tell myself i should continue to hold on to even the thinnest ray of hope.. then again, when there's a hope, there would be disappointment..

well, i don't mind treating the trip as a getaway, for me to relax, to reward myself for working hard during the busy period.. perhaps i could even get to see my white-sand beach this time round.. but like i've said, i wanna do something, i don't wanna disappoint people.. and i know there are friends and people out there who have been helping me, willing to donate items to the children.. i even have an entire set of encyclopedia (supposed to worth at least $2000) under my office desk.. i can't possibly reject them just because i couldn't manage to secure a sponsor..

i could only blame myself for not starting the planning early, for messing up and changing all my initial plans, for procrasinating everything..

i think it's time for plan B..

a big *ouch* for the wallet..

overwhelming november

the 2nd half of November is going to be an overwhelming period.. with 1 week to the exam, there'll be more things to rush out, more plannings to do, more OTs.. although i'm not the one going through the whole exam hoo-ha, i'm no better, and in fact, maybe worse, because there are many things to clear up after the exam period..

and then aline and waipeng's wedding at the end of the month.. i've yet got the time to go shopping for the proper clothing..

and i hate to say this, but i don't know how long i'll have to wait for the potential sponsors' replies.. i don't want to give up, but time is not on my side (i sound like i'm dying.. *CHOY*).. i didn't get to secure any sponsors this year, and i hate to disappoint people, i still wanna do something for this trip..

now it seems impossible..

unless i be the sponsor..

oh well..

anyway, more pictures up this time round.. =) i still haven't got to know who were the masterminds behind the pink birthday surprise, but nevertheless, thanks for making it memorable.. =)

even the announcement was in pink.. i was kept totally in the dark..


everything was in pink.. even my blue puncher became pink..


i put up a notice a day before for the fun of it (because i was sick until i wasn't in the right mind.. hah) and it was "pinkified" too..


too shocked..


wonderful colleagues (and they were all in pink too)


once again, thank you all.. =)

my 22nd..

thank you guys and gals.. everything was such a pleasant surprise.. from a simple birthday wish, to making my office cubicle pink.. hahaha..

it's not a good idea to let people know your dislikes.. you never know what kind of wacky ideas they can come up with.. haha..

when i reached the office in the morning, i could sense something weird going on.. the door was closed and locked, lights were out, and i spotted 'suspicious people'.. hahah..

the moment i walked into the office, and was about to walk into my work cubicle.. this was what i've got..



OH MY GOD!!

everything was wrapped in pink!! ok, this was taken at the end of the day.. i had to remove those wrapping over the computer and the phone in order to do my job.. but yesh.. everything was covered in freaking pink!! i was overwhelmed and speechless, and nearly fainted.. haha..

even the walls and ceilings were glowing in pink.. my goodness.. the 'pink aura'..

i almost refused to walk into the cubicle covered in my most dreaded colour.. and wanted to apply for emergency leave.. haha..

and everybody, including boss, came in pink.. *gasped*

the wall was not spared..



i was not supposed to remove a single piece of pink paper until after office hours.. so i had to pretend that my work area was 'perfectly normal' everytime people or students walked into the office.. they too, got a shock themselves.. so paiseh..

but really, thank you so much.. for making it memorable.. =) you guys spent so much effort putting this up, i really appreciate it.. just don't scare me with pink stuff again.. haha..



and also many thanks for all the birthday wishes and little gifts.. really thankful that i've friends like you guys.. =)

the November babies! =D


thank you all for brightening up my day.. happy people recover from flus and coughs faster.. haha..

and happy birthday to tita bambie too!! miss you! =)

more pictures coming up, after i've gotten them from office mate.. =)

happy friday..

today's my first time on leave.. muahaha.. i've never stepped into Orchard before lunch-time on a weekday for a very loooooong time.. something to call for joy.. haha..

and yesh! i've watched Lust, Caution!! haha.. and i'm referring to the uncut, R21 version.. haha.. but no, i'm not going to tell you what's going on in the movie, go pay $8 and watch it yourself.. =P

but i was not happy that there were so many inconsiderate people who didn't switch off their phones, or switch them to silent mode.. grrr...

oh, Tony Leung does indeed has the charm and charisma.. haha..

while walking around in the malls with biyun, we started hearing christmas jingles playing, and lamented over the fact that time really flies past damn quickly.. and without us realising, it's near the end of another year.. and i still can't get over the fact that i can't have my filipino christmas.. boohoo..

but thank you, my dear friend, for walking through all the ups and downs with me.. thank you for being there when i need help, when i need someone to rant on.. haha.. and many many thanks for the production of the video!! =)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, BIYUN!! =)

another broken necklace, and many sad songs..

i am very sad.. i broke another one of my favourite necklaces.. =(

first it was the one tita bambie made for me.. and now i broke another one.. although it was cheap, it was versatile that it can go with anything.. and now it's gone.. boohoo..

and i shall not start ranting on my job.. it's getting nowhere, and there's no end to it..

ok, it's not because of all these that made me chose the theme for the playlist for this month.. haa.. so, here you go..

the theme for the playlist: sad sad songs..

well sad songs may not be just all about failed relationships, breaking up or whatsoever.. they could be about pains one may have to go through, about missing somebody, something.. listen to Corrinne May's 'Fly Away' and Michael Buble's 'Home', and you'll know..

some new/foreign songs that are worth your listening ear.. Gary Valenciano's 'In Another Lifetime', 'Break It To Me Gently' by Mark Bautista, Jimmy Bondoc's 'Let Me Be The One'.. when i first heard Gary's song, i cried.. really.. i don't know why, but i cried.. haa.. yes i'm a real crybaby..

anyway i think there are some glitches with my imeem.. somehow some songs are not completed.. hmm.. will do my best to rectify the problem.. =)

but anyway, enjoy.. while i go get my sleep.. ciaoz..

i miss the sunset..

it seems like there's no break afterall.. even if all my tuition lessons are over, i still don't get to be home before 8.. have been working overtime since monday.. and my lunchtime has been reduced to less than half-an-hour.. or rather, i've been chomping down my food while doing my work at the same time.. haa.. workaholic? nah, i'm not that hardworking.. i just don't like to see shit being piled up.. haa..

i think i don't get to see daylight for more than 4 hours a day.. i miss seeing the sunset.. not that i'm that free to sit down by the beach or whatsoever, seeing the sun slowly sets down below the horizon.. at least sometimes when i'm on the bus to the kids' house, i still do enjoy moments looking up to the evening sky.. the only time i'm not doing anything but staring out of the window..

but at least i've sent out the VCDs and reports to the sponsors for my expedition trip last year.. one task down.. =) hopefully i can still gather their support again for this year.. if not, i can always treat the trip as a getaway.. haha..

2 more months to a new year.. time really flies real fast manz..

my awaited break is here..

finally... no more kids! wahahah.. give them a month's break.. and i badly need my break too..

people have been asking me why am i still teaching when i've already got a job.. why not give them up, since i've been ranting about them, and complaining that i've no time for myself..

kids are always kids.. they always have silly nonsense to annoy people, especially their teachers (which perhaps explain the high stress levels of local teachers).. but then again, it's all these nonsense that make lessons not so boring.. imagine both the teacher and the students yawning.. haha..

i'm not giving them up, because one of them is my cousin, the other two kids i've been teaching them for almost two years.. it may be easy on my part to say, "i'm busy with my work, i'm not teaching anymore".. but to the kids and the parents, they will have to search for a new tutor, and having to spend time again to re-adjust to the teaching methods of the new tutor..

being surrounded by kids is not a bad thing either.. at least they make you feel younger.. not saying that i'm old either.. haa..

oh well, good luck kids, just don't come and scare me with your exam results..

sick and silly kid..

i think my nose may manage to come in first when competing in the F-1 race.. it has been running at a speed of 150km/hr since morning, with only a few breakdowns.. and my throat, it's like a piece of sandpaper.. arghh..

anyway, no more silly kid, until i see her again in december.. i almost went bonkers when she said "dunno" every 5 seconds.. and my throat wasn't allowing me to raise my voice.. but now i feel despaired, after teaching her for the past few days.. and her mum just told me that 18 students in her class failed maths.. great.. that's like more than 50% chance of her being one of the 18 students.. i really don't know what to do..

oh well, as promised, the answers to her spelling words.. i wonder if anybody got any questions right.. haa..

1. participate
2. causing
3. terrify
4. cupboard
5. wonderful

so did you manage to get them right? =)

kids' horror..

let's see if you can decipher what my kid had written for her spelling..

1. partycter
2. crossze
3. carryfight
4. cardbored
5. onethefoot

answers on my next post.. haha..

kermit has a duet with kylie..

this is soooo cute!! =P

what do i want..

i kinda hate it when people ask about my job, and what has it got to do with the 3 years i've spent in university.. and yes, i don't like it when salary is mentioned.. and worse, how long am i intending to work in my current job, and what am i going to do next, in the future..

i know that i'm not that far-sighted, and i'm really taking things one step at a time.. to put it bluntly, you can say that i don't seem to plan for the future..

but there are times when i have to ask myself, what is it that i want of myself.. who doesn't wish to be successful, earning a high income, enjoying life when they want to? the society is a pragmatic one, everybody is fighting to survive, and somehow money and status is one way to determine how successful a person is.. go ahead if you want to say that i'm shallow, but that's what i think i'm being conformed to, although i'm trying very hard to break away from this set of mentality..

i always hear people saying, do what you think it's best, do what you like.. honestly, i don't think i really like what i'm doing right now.. this is far from what i want for myself.. i'm trying to convince myself that i'm still young, and i'm working for the experience first.. ha, and i hope it's a convincing one..

i know there are people who have been helping and guiding me all along, and i'm thankful for that.. and i know where my main source of motivation is coming from.. =)

the start of Christmas celebration..

this is a bit insane.. Philippines has already started their celebration for Christmas.. this is waaaay too early.. ha..

i'm foreseeing that there will be another 'national' song whereby the entire country sings and dances to its catchy tune, just like how 'Boom Tarat Tarat' leaves an unforgettable impression.. =D

but then again, i can't get to celebrate my Christmas the way i want it to be.. *sad* i cannot imagine what i'm going to do on that day.. no more ice-box cake, no more caroling, no more late-night walks to the brightly-lid coliseum.. =(

'Single-Handed Brilliance'

i've never seen a person who plays a piano concerto entirely with his left hand.. which is why this concert was titled 'Single-Handed Brilliance'.. technically, he was flawless.. it seemed like his hand was just floating and sliding along the keys.. and he was totally immersed in the music, and the audience could feel that.. bravo to this young pianist, Alexandre Tharaud..

and kudos to Singapore Symphony Orchestra.. as an amateur orchestra player, i know how hard it is to really concentrate and play well for the entire concert, let alone an entire symphony that lasted near 1 hour.. i admitted that at some point of time, i did drift off for a while, but the whole concert was really good.. and of course, i can't complain much, because the tickets were free.. haha..

along the walkway from the Esplanade to City Hall, there was a series of artwork done by kids, and damn, they are creative.. initially, i thought those were some usual drawings and models, until i realised that they used Crocs to make some of their models.. that was my first time seeing rubber shoes being made into animals..


Croc-rhino!


can you spot the Croc?



and some of their drawings really amazed me.. i doubt i can draw/paint like them.. the only thing i can do is to anyhow doodle and scribble.. haha..

and then this one, to all Patrick-the-starfish fans.. haha..

and after a supposedly-relaxing night, it will be hell after that.. kids on weekends, and another hell-week at work.. and i'm not kidding.. bless me..

一个盲人与导盲犬的故事

here's a story to share, after reading it from the Chinese exam paper which my friend has set.. haha.. i find it very interesting, and it leaves us something to think about.. =)

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一天，一个盲人带着他的导盲犬过街时，一辆大卡车失去控制，直冲过来，盲人当场被撞死，他的导盲犬为了守卫主人，也一起惨死在车轮底下。

主人和狗一起到了天堂门前。

一个天使拦住他俩，为难地说："对不起，现在天堂只剩下一个名额，你们两个中必须有一个去地狱。"

主人一听，连忙问："我的狗又不知道什么是天堂，什么是地狱，能不能让我来决定谁去天堂呢？"

天使鄙视地看了这个主人一样，皱起了眉头，她想了想，说："很抱歉，先生，每一个灵魂都是平等的，你们要通过比赛决定由谁上天堂。"

主人失望地问："哦，什么比赛呢？"

天使说："这个比赛很简单，就是赛跑，从这里跑到天堂的大门，谁先到达目的地，谁就可以上天堂。不过，你也别担心，因为你已经死了，所以不再是瞎子，而且灵魂的速度跟肉体无关，越单纯善良的人速度越快。"主人想了想，同意了。

天使让主人和狗准备好，就宣布赛跑开始。她满心以为主人为了进天堂，会拼命往前奔，谁知道主人一点也不忙，慢吞吞地往前走着。更令天使吃惊的是，那条导盲犬也没有奔跑，它配合着主人的步调在旁边慢慢跟着，一步都不肯离开主人。天使恍然大悟：原来，多年来这条导盲犬已经养成了习惯，永远跟着主人行动，在主人的前方守护着他。可恶的主人，正是利用了这一点，才胸有成竹，稳操胜券，他只要在天堂门口叫他的狗停下，就能轻轻松松赢得比赛。

天使看着这条忠心耿耿的狗，心里很难过，她大声对狗说："你已经为主人献出了生命，现在，你这个主人不再是瞎子，你也不用领着他走路了，你快跑进天堂吧！"

可是，无论是主人还是他的狗，都像是没有听到天使的话一样，仍然慢吞吞地地往前走，好像在街上散步似的。

果然，离终点还有几步的时候，主人发出一声口令，狗听话地坐下了，天使用鄙视的眼神看着主人。

这时，主人笑了，他扭过头对天使说："我终于把我的狗送到天堂了，我最担心的就是它根本不想上天堂，只想跟我在一起……所以我才想帮它决定，请你照顾好它。"

天使愣住了。

主人留恋地看着自己的狗，又说："能够用比赛的方式决定真是太好了，只要我再让它往前走几步，它就可以上天堂了。不过它陪伴了我那么多年，这是我第一次可以用自己的眼睛看着它，所以我忍不住想要慢慢地走，多看它一会儿。如果可以的话，我真希望永远看着它走下去。不过天堂到了，那才是它该去的地方，请你照顾好它。"

说完这些话，主人向狗发出了前进的命令，就在狗到达终点的一刹那，主人像一片羽毛似的落向了地狱的方向。他的狗见了，急忙掉转头，追着主人狂奔。满心懊悔的天使张开翅膀追过去，想要抓住导盲犬，不过那是世界上最纯洁善良的灵魂，速度远比天堂所有的天使都快。

所以导盲犬又跟主人在一起了，即使是在地狱，导盲犬也永远守护着它的主人。

天使久久地站在那里，喃喃说道："我一开始就错了，这两个灵魂是一体的，他们不能分开……"

这个世界上，真相只有一个，可是在不同人眼中，却会看出不同的是非曲直。这是为什么呢？其实，道理很简单，因为每个人看待事物，都不可能站在绝对客观公正的立场上，而是或多或少地戴上有色眼镜，用自己的经验、好恶和道德标准来进行评判，结果就是--我们看到了假象。

kid is having his major exams..

boy: teacher! my maths paper, last 5 questions i dunno how to do leh!
me: wah! like that, die liao lor..
boy: yar lor! haha..

*tsk tsk.. still have the mood to laugh..*

now i'm starting to worry.. if this happens for the rest of his papers, there goes the hope of him getting into his dream school..

boy: teacher! i know you got superpowers right? can you become invisible and sit beside me during my exams?
me: yar right.. you wait long long..

silly kid.. haa..

September's playlist..

playlist for September - Filipino teleserye soundtracks..

yup, don't laugh.. i do watch filipino dramas (they termed it teleseryes) one ok.. although some of their storylines are a bit exaggerating and ridiculous, but my main motive is to learn the language k.. haha..

that's beside the point..

every music has a story to tell, so do these soundtracks.. they add meanings and feelings to the shows.. and some of them do have special meanings to me as well.. =)

i'll highlight some songs here, but do try to listen to all of them.. haha..

1. Para Lang Sa Yo (Only For You)
this song is really very recent, and the teleserye is still ongoing.. basically the song is inspired by the love story between the two main characters in the show (who also happens to be real-life couple).. what i like about this song is the voice.. Aiza Seguerra.. she really has a very very nice voice.. =)

2. Makita Kang Muli (I'll See You Again)
ok, this is special for me.. the very first pinoy song i tried learning.. i remembered my friend was playing this song the entire afternoon.. non-stop.. and i started to sing along to the first few lines of the chorus.. and after that all my other friends started requesting me to sing (because i'll sound weird singing Tagalog? haha).. it will make me remember my Bago December 2006.. =)

3. Maybe
heard this song while watching my first teleserye.. at least it's in English and i understand it.. haha.. or at least that's the only thing i could understand out of the whole show, when i was still grasping the basic "i-me-you-they-we" Tagalog words.. haha..

yup, till then, enjoy the music! hehe..