F!

Last week, I joined the FUJITSU Fitness Club.

They have this huge building composed of 3 floors, all with workout equipments. They also have courts, and a swimming pool in the first floor.

On my first night, I joined new gymmates jay ang glenn. Unfortunately for me, all they do is lift and lift weights. So I was forced to lift weights too! OOps. I forgot to mention, when they rest, they watch the cheerleading practice on the first floor (sshhh). What a men what a men!

That, was my highlight for that evening. I saw the real action. Real Cheerleaders in their practice! They cheer for the FUJITSU Frontiers, FUJITSU's football team. And that night, I was soo greeen with envy. Damn. I love their dance! And I bet I can also do it! Their projection, no problem as well! Waah. I wanna dance really.

Anyhow, good thing I got to be a member, at least I could use the sporty attires I brought. I brought almost all my uniforms - chess, basketball, volleyball, badminton, and even swimming (yeah i brought a swimsuit… swimsuits.. one piece and two pairs of bikinis hehehehe). Yeah, but most of them, nowadays, I just wear as pambahay clothes, or pantulog. That's why I got no other pambahay clothes but uniforms.

Yesterday, despite the coldness, I took a dip at their pool. Heheheh. 10++ laps of unknown swimming stroke. I was the only woman swimming there. And I look so amateur. Coz most of them are doing the freestyle, butterfly, breast stroke. OMG. I know swimming but it's not the swimming you see in the olympics. Hay. Actually, I am researching how tos here. Good luck for me! At least I don't have to settle for lifting weights. Next time I visit the fitness center, I'll be swimming. And who knows, I might end up cheerleading! GOoD LucK!

i wAnnA be A cheerLeader!!!

The FUJITSU Cheering Squad awaits! Tomorrow I'll be applying for membership in the FUJITSU gym. Shempre, somebody as powerful and as gym addict as the muscleman, convinced me. hehehe. He told me there's a cheering squad there, who constantly practices for the FUJITSU Football Team, (and he and glenn lurrrveees to watch these sexey ladies. poor mi ladies). And.. I WANT TO JOIN THE CHEERLEADERS. Sana pwede. Muscleman tells me, it's probably ok. My only problem would just be communication. Coz, I think, most of them do not speak english. HUHUHUHUHUHU…

I really wanna join. With all the crazy things going on around me, all I wanna do right now.. is…  DANCE!

photo courtesy of shinyai

tabEHodai paRt 2

Super thanks to Nila-San, who hosted a party at her place at Yokohama. Grabe sobrang saya. Paos na ko ngayon. (you guessed it right, videoke sessions). Hehehe. Sobrang kulit ng mga tao. At ang daming pagkain. Wait lang muna sa pics mga friends.

LoNg wEekEnd nA nAman!

For this long weekend:

Friday Night - Saturday Morning (ngayon): Inuman at Mike's place.

Sabado - Pear Picker's Perfume shopping. Then Ropongi for Mass. (hehehe. dapat ropongi talaga e!)

Sunday - Tabehodai (ulit) at Mam Nila's. That is so fabulous.

Monday - Uhhhm…? Tulog..? Laundry? Ahhh. Magluluto ulit ako!

uPdAteS! yiPee!

Finalley! After being shungaers for a long time, I now know how to upload pictures from flickr.

Some sabista party, as eric says. We had a "Tabehodai" fest at Mike's place. That was 3 saturdays ago I think, before the long weekend post down there.

 Nakakain ulit ako ng sisig! Mike and Michelle's (cute name combination, perfect couple hehehe) sisig was the best. It was no instant thing, they cooked it the hard way, as in making tadtad the pig's ear (sorry for the conyo-trying hard language thing). Very delicious. I love the pinoy sisig in Japan!

I brought MY guitar (I grabbed the guitar's ownership in the mean time). And sang for the crowd. totoy bibo ang dating ko. Hindi.. I just missed singing. It was actually eric, who played most songs so everyone could sing along. COz I forgot my chords. And besides, I am STILL learning guitar playing, and being separated from my dear donjon for 2 months(?), or any guitar (as you now, I got this guitar, no name yet, just recently), made me forgot some.

Anyway, more pics at THE photographer's site (ay. multiply site pala sha).

LoNg wEekEnds aLso hAppEn

Ropongi Saturday Nights

The club capital! One day I'm gonna go gimmick there! Rampage Galore!

Hehehe what a shame.. We went there just to attend an anticipated mass. The priest tells us, "why are there so many people at Ropongi? Why are the nights very flashy? What are these people looking for at Ropongi???" … And still I ended up DESIRING to go gimmick there. All I need is a gimmick partner. I want to wear the same flashy and sexy outfits. I wanna dance without drinking. I just wanna have fun. Haay. The party animal unleashes. 

Akihabara Sunday

And this, as the old elephants say, is the Techie Capital, where we'll find suppper cheap laptops and other gadget stuffs. There's a fujitsu laptop for 10000 yen only! (approx5000php). Oh dear. My techie expert friend says that that one was already ok, while talking about specs and all. And he bought that thing. Sabi nga ni another friend, "baka malula ka sa sobrang kamurahan ng mga laptop dun". And I was indeed. Oh, not to mention the cutie japanese "maids" there. Hahaha, malulula ka rin.

Nakahara Monday

Wala. Tulog the whole day.

thE peAR picKeRs cLub

Five Crazy Women.

One goal.

Wait for the heaven's heavy rainfall..

Watch the farms bloom..

Pick the Perfect "Pear".

iT’s.. a sMaLL woRLd aaFteR aLL

It's true that when you want to see a lot of Filipinos in Japan, you should go to the Church on a Sunday (the ones that most pinoys recommend). And, you'll be surprised coz about 95% of the people in there, are all pinoys. Oh I am surprised, especially when the entrance hymn was "Purihin". Really surprising. I never went to a Sunday mass since I got here last July, and every bit of detail that I found in the Church was truly a surprise for me. That was the first time I attended a Mass in Japan, after 10 years (again, another exaggeration).

So this sunday, I went to mass with the rest of the fujitsu friends. And while waiting for the pedestrian "go" signal, oh look who I found - Kuya Ryan and his wife, Ate sheila. He was my "choir-mate" back in my choir days at soldiers. I was the youngest in the choir back then, a "raw" alto-2, who really needs pampering and spoon feeding to get the notes, and blend with everyone. Oh, it was really pressure for me before. We had a strict MD (musical director), when it comes to music, he was so strict. But when it comes to others, he cools down a little bit. This MD of ours (aka Edwin Marollano), used to create beautiful arrangements and of course compose songs for the church. Before I joined the choir, they say that all sundays are like a PERFORMANCE to them. And that, exactly, was my driving force for me to join them. So I seized up the opportunity when they were finding new ones. It was really a great privilege on joining that choir.

Such a coincidence. Last Sunday was the Feast of San Lorenzo Ruiz. The name of our group was called, "San Lorenzo Ruiz Chorale Ensemble", named after our first Filipino Saint. So that's why, I was reminded of my good old choir days.

LJ told me that I could join the choir there, I think she knows a lot. I said, maybe I can. It's a good thing, not that time consuming coz you just have to be at the church a little early, like 12:00 so I could join the practice.

I found myself singing in the mass. So I might join. Maybe I could pull Kuya Ryan and his wife along, and reminisce. Si Kuya Ryan, magaling na bass yan. <low tone> super baba ng boses.

By the way, you know Nina's new song, "Collide", it was made by Kuya Edwin (Marollano), vote for it in any of the countdowns!

sAtuRdAy giMiKs

The party at Mike's house was a blast. I am really feelin good today.

tenTEneNEne NEnnnn!!!

And that.. is my perfect CHICKEN ADOBO.

Rea-san’s first taste test resulted to a still “hilaw” flavor (like the vinegar and soy sauce combo are not yet fully cooked). The 2nd test, oh, there’s the perfect comment – “magaling ka na magluto ah..”

Wait till you taste it.. you’ll have a quick flashback of the past wherein you’ll see yourself eating your mother’s adobo for the first time..

So indulge.. enjoy DROOLing at my perfect adobo. CRAVE. Go home and tell your mommas to cook for you. Hehehe.

Let me be your dream date..

I’ll cook and charm the foods you love.
Then we'll float together on the clouds above!

tHesE dReAMs

Unbelievably without the snoozing alarm sound, I woke up so early today from a dream. The dream that I had was so beautiful, so perfect that I really went back to sleep right away. I guess I was successful on my sleeping attempt that I was able to continue the dream. Then I woke up again, still a little early.. and then slept again to go on with the dream. It happened 4 times this morning - you know, wake up, sleep, wake up, sleep again - all for the sake of continuing the beautiful dream. I was almost late this morning in the office.

Isn't it fascinating? Waking up from a beautiful dream, then sleeping back again in the hopes of continuing the dream. It does have similarities with real life. Something happens to you that's just like a dream come true, then when someone tries to wake you up a couple of times, you always force yourself to "sleep" again just to prolong the wonderful feeling that the dream gives you?

Anyways, I am so happy today. I think the dream has something to do with it, though I don't want to make any presumptions yet. I just feel oh so good.

*** 

Despite my efforts on producing good food (aka cooking ala joane style) and of course eating (ala joane style as well), I still find myself losing weight everyday. Last time I checked, this morning, I lost 6 pounds. Truly disturbing.. but it's just fine.. I am still ok.. 

By the way I'll be cooking CHICKEN ADOBO again later. This time I chose the RIGHT CHICKEN MEAT. Not Chicken pwets anymore! I'm so excited.

oNe LAzy suNdAy aFteRnoOn

Waking up a little early on a Sunday, at the safety of my dormitory, I realized it was a little different. I didn't get to spend the weekend at my tita's house since they have some plans with the whole family (it's summer vacation for the kids). The fujitsu friends have no plans as well. So this weekend is a little lazy weekend for me.

After a few hours of tearjerking with the movie the Notebook (I watched it a couple of times already before, sometimes it's just nice to watch feel good movies again), and after a sausage-rice combo for lunch, I, being used to standing up after meals, found myself just standing with my back leaning on my closet door.. staring at the ceiling, walls, window/balcony, aircon.. and just anything in my room.

I thought, would it be like this for every weekend here? If I have no plans at all? Can I handle it? I was always wondering why some of my fujitsu colleagues refuse long-term assignments here. Would I always feel this sadness and homesickness for as long as I am here? I have no phone, no television, no internet yet, no textmates.. Would I get bored watching the same feel good movies over and over again? (I watched Music and Lyrics, Wedding Singer and Cute ng Ina Mo a thousand times since I got it from Mam Rea).

Then I realized I should get going and make my stay here not so boring. I took out my guitar and played a few tunes. When my fingers got numbed, I stood up again, stared at the mirror, and said to the reflection, "ang ganda mo". (the mirror did not break, hehehe). Then I moved, turned around, and danced like no one's watching. It's weird coz the song being played that time was "Each Day with You". As I move, I lifted my arms up, swayed and realized that..

I.should.take.a.bath. I smell. Harharhar! Sweat was a little recognizable since I set the aircon to the more tolerable (much hotter) temperature coz the temp outside is a little cold now.

So I took a bath. I went out just to buy some facial wash. But I ended up buying another pair of shoes (oh men!) on sale in Kawasaki. And a few blouses! My oh MY! I spent.. 9000 yen just to divert myself from ultimate boredom.

Then I was, outside, taking a walk in the busy city of Kawasaki, with the mood of Philippine December around me.. Watching people pass me by, watching the freestyle bands and symphony orchestras doing their thing in the streets.. Walking ala teeny bopper star in her music video. It's pretty relaxing. On the contrary, it's nice to be alone sometimes.

When I got tired, there's subway and starbucks..

(additional comment) soshal na kung soshal. pero mukhang last na tong starbucks+subway combo na ito dito. ang mahaal. napilitan lang ako hehehe.

tHe gReAt coOKing bLundeRs (part I)

Since I have been constantly in the “cooking business” already, here’s a summary of what I’ve got so far..

Numbah 1: << Adobo >>

Original (Intentional) Recipe: Chicken Adobo
What it turned out: Still adobo, still chicken (just a little different, hehe..)

Taste Test: PM says its masarap. Jess says it tastes like adobo. So no matter what it looks like, no matter how many chicken pwets are in there, no matter how stupid I was in choosing the right chicken meat, it still tastes like adobo! Hehehehe.

Numbah 2:

Original (Intentional) Recipe: Menudo

What it turned out: (pinagandang term) Mechado

The real truth: An OVERCOOKED Pork drowned in Tomato Sauce

Taste Test: Rhea-san, says that it tastes like tomato sauce. Ariel-san (new lunchmate), says that it tastes like mechado.. yun na daw yung pinakamalapit na pwedeng i-identify sa dish ko.

Numbah 3: << Chili Beef >>

Original (Intentional) Recipe: Chili Beef with no Chili
What it turned out: TRASH!

Taste Test: Never mind.

And now.. the blunder saviors..

These are the perfect ones. Just the way I like it.

Bacons

Sadyang sunog yan. I want it that way when it comes to bacons, sausages, hotdogs, hams.. la lang, I want it crispy fried.

 Tuna Omelet

Ayan. Sila yung masarap. This post is part one coz I feel that there’ll be more blunders to come. Waah. I hope not. The fried ones are my most perfected ones don’t you think? Hehehe.

It’s nice to cook. I have been bringing baon for a week now. Aside from the money that I got to save on bringing baon for lunch, it opens up a big window for me to learn cooking. And I am kinda enjoying it.

aUtuMn iN jApAn

The heat's over.
The temperature's becoming colder..
Reminds me of the cool chilly breeze of Philippine December..
They say autumn's coming nearer..

Now i welcome september
As i let my heart fully recover
Embracing its cold and chilly weather
And still dreaming of a happy ever after!

(wow it rhymes!)

Hindi ko man gustuhing mag emote. Pero namimiss ko Pinas.

Summer has come and passed..