Even Google Just Greeted Me!

Thank you so much, Google!  This means a lot to me.
Woot!

I am now Thirty Six.

Thank you everyone for your greetings.  Thank you Rocky Sunico for reminding me to look past the stress of the day and celebrate the night as my birthday comes along.  Thank you Prince Poi Heinz Angeles for making me feel even more special today, with all the fan signs, and the beautiful wonderful flowers.  Sad you couldn't join us, but I guess life has such moments.  Here's hoping you'll be able to next time we go to O bar, or next time you have free time.   Thank you to Kyle Sy for bringing his friends to O bar and baking me such a delicious chocolate cake! YUM!  Thank you to MicioNero HijoLuna for surprising me and joining us! Thank you to Ramon Papa and Rupert Acuna for letting me have such a wonderful night at O bar.    Thank you to the O Divas for such a wonderful show and making me smile.  To Zymon de Guzman for the awesome Kylie mixes and lots of my favorite songs.  And to the staff for making sure I felt comfortable and got the stuff I needed with ease.

Thank you also to all the friends and family who sent in their greetings.  It feels very good to be remembered and to be appreciated.  Thank you and my apologies to the Geeks (especially Niki Yarte) who showed up at Home Depot, hoping to greet me but I arrived too late to see them.

Thank you to my parents and family for being part of my life.
I am now thirty six years old.

God.  I'm four years away from forty.

(photos to follow)

Happy Birthday to you Yoshi!

Once upon a time, Tobie was terribly afraid of dogs.
A dog named Poy-poy helped him fight his fear.
But eventually, Poy-poy had to go and Tobie realized it was time to stop living a life without a dog in his heart.

Yoshi came in and he has never been the same ever since.

Happy 1st Birthday Yoshi!
I hope I make you the happiest dog in the entire world.

 

And yes, my doggie loves Bananas!
:-)

Happy Birthday, Rocky!

Happy Birthday to you, Rocky.

Here's to many more years ahead for you to celebrate the wonderful unique geekiness that is you.
The world needs more people like you.

Happy Birthday!
And as they say, HABA BIRDIE... BULATE!

Okay I lied...

Tee hee.
Happy Birthday to me.

I'm now 34.

Lyrics | Maria Mena lyrics - Just A Little Bit lyrics

Thank you to everyone who greeted me.
Thank you to Rocky and Prince for always inspiring me to be a better man.
Thank you to my parents, Lito and Dulce, who never gave up on me.
Thank you to Tracy and Mike, my siblings, who always respected me.
Thank you to Poy-poy for changing me and showing me how much more love the world has to offer.
and thank you to my exes, friends, relatives, enemies, and acquaintances who gave me a chance to introduce myself and took the time to get to know me.  Whether you love me or hate me, I still appreciate the fact you allowed me to be part of your life.  Even if it was just for a short while.

Happy Birthday to me.
Life goes on with all its beauty, its madness, its joys and its learnings.
I love you all.

Sharing the touching words

A friend of mine sent me a message via Facebook.
Given the upcoming birthday, and the recent loss of our beloved dog, Poy-poy, I've been an emotional wreck of a roller coaster all day.    My friend Geoff sent me two private messages which I found to be very touching and uplifting and I wanted to share it with everyone out there.  So here they are with his permission:

I may not have a tangible gift for you, but I impart on you a blessing that on your B-Day & all your days be filled w/ wondrous love; true happiness; a greater sense of fulfillment in life; an ease of communication w/ those you love; a sense of satisfaction in all that you have accomplished; for confidence & enjoyment in all that makes you special to others; & for a deep & abiding peace within. May God keep you in touch w/ all that you are & all that you are meant to become. Buon Compleanno!




Today we celebrate Life ... The life of a faithful Dog who has changed your life and the commemoration of your birth. The cycle of life continues as change is the only thing constant in the world. Our life, the way we lived it, the way we perceived it, the way we progress in it, has an effect to each person, each fauna, each flora that we get interact with that ultimately propels change at one way or the other. Life, it may not be all sweet and blissful living, but it's beautiful for each experience it has brought to our lives that mold us and made us to who we are now. May we continue living life always in love. Blessed be.


Thank you so much again!

And yes, cheers to life.

Happy Wheelie Day!

Rocky and I spent most of today just staying at the Sietch.  The weather was a tad warm at first, but quickly grew cooler as night crept in.  Rocky surprised me by bringing home Chicken Empanadas and a Red Ribbon Fudge Cake! Sadly, Mango Cream Pie wasn't available but even that barely dampened the joy and excitement of today.

Right now, I am still finishing some last few ABBA-related work, but later tonight we are heading to Yale for a friend's birthday party.  We have gaming to look forward to tomorrow night and another birthday (Happy Birthday Anak!) to attend after that.  Quite busy, but very happy!  If we're lucky, we will be able to squeeze in some massage time.

I always find myself getting all mushy when I recall that fateful night when Rocky pretty much proposed to me with Wheelie in his hands.  And how we both realized how strong the connection we shared really was.  That night will always be a night we will celebrate.

Happy Wheelie Day!

I love you, Rocky!

I am now 34.

"If it exists, there is porn of it. No exceptions."

Happy Birthday to me.

I am tempted to list what made this day fantastic

and strange but I think some things are best kept

for me alone to enjoy.

Or hate.

:-)

Shai-Hulud in the Sietch!

After a quick bank trip, Rocky and I decided to check out SM Cubao which was having its 5-day sale today.  This was actually the first time ever that Rocky and I ever went to such a sale.  We usually avoid such events like the plague knowing how hideously huge the crowds can get.    We started with  a pair of  free DQ Ice Cream Sandwiches thanks to BPI's Real Thrills.

We opted as well for a delicious brunch at Cafe Bola and enjoyed a hearty meal (we shared three dishes, sssh!)   Afterwards, we ducked into the toy section, found a nice toy gift for my inaanak who is celebrating her birthday soon (and yes, Rocky I will give it to her.  I won't keep it for myself!), failed to see any Transformers worth adding to our home, and then headed downstairs away from the crowds for DataBlitz.

I should have realized it was all a plot for Rocky to get me a birthday gift.  Me being as unaccustomed to gifts as I am, it took a long amount of time before I finally gave in and accepted the gift.  It felt a tad costly, but as Rocky threw the very words I just told him earlier back to me, "Some things are worth it."

So without further delay, allow me to introduce you all to the newest addition to the Sietch Creare.

Shai-hulud.

Our turquoise PSP.

In addition, Rocky insisted myself a role-playing game to play.  I've been wanting to find a game I could play even when Rocky isn't around to join me.  I found myself struggling between Final Fantasy Tactics: The War of the Lions and Crisis Core: Final Fantasy 7.  One offered a chance to relive and once again enjoy a game I truly love.  The other was a chance to explore a fun franchise I love and know more about the story behind it all.  I was in a mental blue screen of death, unable to decide which one I wanted more.  Both were just so compelling options.  Thankfully, Rocky picked up on that and opted to get Crisis Core instead for me.

Already in my head I can see the games that will follow:

Tactics Ogre: Let Us Cling Together

Patapon 1, 2, and 3

Lunar: Silver Star Harmony

And so much more...

(And yes I insist this is STILL our Anniversary gift)

Welcome home, Shai-hulud.

(Can you see my smile?)

Rocky, you are the BESTEST EVER!
I love you.

Day 257 of 365 Days of Geeky Happiness

Happy Birthday Mom!  And yes, don't worry, we still don't know your actual age!

Happy Read-a-Comic-in-Public Day!

Today is Read-a-Comic-in-Public Day.

While more importantly today is the birthday of my partner, Rocky, it turns out today is also a new geeky holiday that we hope will gain momentum in time.

Read more about the event here.

My partner and I opted to read comics in a mall food center.  He went for Transformers while I opted for a local gem called "Ang Kagila-gilalas na Pakikipagsapalaran ni Zsazsa Zaturnnah" (The Spectacular Adventures of Zsazsa Zaturnnah) created by Carlo Vergara.

Location:  Gateway Mall food court
Cubao, Philippines

Comics:
Tranformers Volume 1, Issue 5 (Dreamwave)Ang Kagila-gilalas na Pakikipagsapalaran ni Zsazsa Zaturnnah

So what did you read in public today?

Finally had a Puerto Galera Experience.

I'm finally back from a trip to Galera with Rocky and our "anak" Nico.  It was my first trip ever to Puerto Galera, after years of hearing people talk about how fantastic things are over there.  With so much fun stuff having happened while we were there, I am still struggling to find a way to compose an entry that would capture the excitement and fun we experienced.

Day one began with a long trip to the beach itself.  It was Wheelie Day and in many ways, the idea that Wheelie Day would mark this day felt more special for me.  I guess Jayson was sort of giving us a "go for it" message.  Rocky and I decided it was best we got haircuts and a light breakfast before taking the cab ride to the bus terminal.  Nico was waiting for us when we arrived, and in many ways, the trip being just us felt somehow special since for the longest time we have referred to Nico as our "anak" and this being a trip for his birthday kinda made it feel even more special.   The bus ride was a long one.  While zipping down south super highway was a breeze, things went much slower and trying when the bus entered Laguna and crept its way to the Batangas Pier.  The rain suddenly came down hard at one point, making me worried if the beach trip was going to be marred by rain.

I should have realized by now I  shouldn't really worry.
In my life with Rocky, everything happens for a reason.

The rain gave Nico enough time to get a good nap before we arrived at the pier.  Once there, the three of us made our way to the waiting ferry that was to take us to the beach itself.  After hearing about the horror stories of having to wait nearly an hour for other passengers to show up, we got on board and found the crew already prepping to cast off.  The ride itself was great save for the annoying foreigners who seemed to think they had a right to throw their garbage overboard (and I won't even hold against them the fact they were laughing at how Rocky and I were obviously a gay couple.  Lack of gender sensitivity is their loss.  Being litterbugs just shows they have no respect for the Philippines).  We docked at another port and had to take a shuttle to the beach.

The beach was beautiful.  The white sands and the nice smooth stones gave the whole place a wonderful allure which of course had me thinking of Lost (too often!)  It wasn't long before the three of us settled at a nearby restaurant for some coffee, before moving to the ever popular Hiyas for a taste of the Mindoro 5ling and the famous Peter's Kebabs.  The sun was already setting before we finished the pitcher.  Night could only bring more fun.  Fire dancers.  Campy gay lipsynching drag queens.  Dried pusit.  More drinking.  More dancing.  At one point, I was starting to think it was getting way too late and discovered it hadn't even hit midnight yet!

I woke up to the second day already hungry and anxious to experience the beach more.  Rocky was still fast asleep and Nico clearly was knocked out.  Still, being in air conditioned room with Rocky sleeping very comfortably in my arms, I decided to just wait it out and let him nuzzle deeper against my warm skin.  It was only when Nico finally cried out from a dream that I left the bed to check on him if everything was okay.  He had crept into the room in a few minutes after we had headed for bed earlier that night and there was sand all over his bed!   We tidied up and headed out for another beautiful day at the beach.  Coffee and porkchops then lead to banana choc shakes before leading to a few fruity cocktails and a massage.  The massage was a godsend.  I've been having this aching pain in my left buttock for the last few days (a pain I suspect that grew from the long hours of driving through traffic and the daily grind of working at the laptop).  After the massage, there was some rain, more alcohol, new friends, eventually followed by swimming, yummy fish and pusit, more alcohol, and mangoes, videoke singing, henna tattoos and chicken cordon bleu.

The tattoos were one of my favorite moments at Galera! While looking for a suitable design, I was at first looking for a nice phrase to have written on my skin with Alibata.  But for some reason, they only had the original alibata characters and none of the extended consonants on the list.  I couldn't make the phrase I wanted.  I overheard Rocky ask for a dragon design with tribal touches to be placed on his right arm and that moment I realized I knew what I should get.  Asking the same henna artist (his friends were calling him Wolverine) to design mine, I asked for a Tiger design to adorn my left arm, so that our tattoos would work as a pair:  A crouching Tiger, and a hidden Dragon.  

Night soon came and to our surprise, all there of us were already feeling a tad tired.   Ana, a friend of Nico's who joined us had already retired to the room earlier and we decided to call it a night earlier than usual.  Sleep came quickly, having spent the day happy and satisfied on all fronts.

The third day started with Rocky and I finally waking up in the wee hours to find Nico and Ana still out.  They had headed out in the much earlier hours of the morning to drink and were not done.  Rocky and I joined them at the beach front and had a hearty breakfast (yes we again chose the same thing.  darned wavelength!) followed by a nice morning enjoying the sand.  While Nico napped on the sarong I brought and laid out on the sand, Rocky and I indulged with our inner children and made sandcastles.  A dog happened to like one of mine and marked it as its own, while all these tiny crabs tried to escape our notice and crawl away.   Nico retired to the room to catch up on some sleep while Rocky and I decided go around and look for possible pasalubongs after one last necessary trip: a visit to the ever infamous "Cave" of Galera.  The long walk was a delight, with the water chasing after our toes and the sun shining in the clear blue sky.  I only spotted two used condom wrappers though, which suggested either most couples decided to indulge in the privacy of their own rooms, or fewer people used protection now.  (Tee hee!)  We headed back to Hiyas and grabbed a few drinks.  Fake bacon chips.   Free rhum.  Beach mice.  Lots of meh people.  Alejandro.  Alejandro.  Alejandro.  Weird crazy guy with toy gun.  And the sudden surge of beach urchins who seemed to be up to some mischief.  It wasn't until we headed back to the room that I realized what that mischief was:  someone had stolen my gray bench sando.

We returned to the room to wake the two sleepy heads and reminded them that we needed to make preparations for heading home.  Quick showers were followed by bill settling and soon I found myself craving for something to eat.  Alas, there wouldn't be time for that so we boarded the ferry and once again I found myself hoping that dolphins would be kind enough to make an appearance on our trip home.  Sadly, no dolphins came.

The long bus ride was pretty uneventful save for Rocky admittedly getting hooked on my iphone's tower defense game, us both groaning to a movie called Mr. Bones 2, and making fun of a stupidly horrible testosterone action flick about another prisoner who becomes part of a secret fighting thing.   I busied myself reading Dune while Rocky learned to master which towers worked best against which enemies.  The ride eventually dropped us off at Santolan and we decided to grab some sausages at Treffpunkt and make our way home.

There were plans of heading out later in the evening to join Nico and our friends for the birthday bash at O bar, but sadly I was just too tired to wake up and found myself knocked out til the coming of Monday's morning.

That, however, remains to be one long deserved vacation weekend.  After working practically non-stop for years at the family business, I had longed for a chance to stop working for a bit and just enjoy a few days off. I guess it is just a plain and simple fact that ever since Rocky has become a part of my life, things just really do fall into place.

Some things are just meant to be.

Happy Birthday Jason Mraz

Thank you.  Thank you. Thank you.  You, through your music and your honest and very expressive blog, have been an inspiration to me and my partner in many ways.  Here's to having many more years ahead of you.

48 Hours in 30 Pictures

Thank you everyone for making the last two days extremely special.
And thank you, Rocky, for always reminding me how much I am loved.

I guess turning 33 ain't as bad as I thought.