Title: Last Day, 2009
Date: Thursday, December 31 @ 07:05

Good morning! It's such a cold and bright morning! I can't really say bright because the sun is an hour fast, so at 7 AM its like the 8 AM sun in Singapore. (I keep talking about how the sun is an hour fast because after 3 weeks here I'm still not used to it. I don't like how it sets early either. Gets too dark too early!!) I'm so cold, my fingers and toes are starting to get frostbite. Okay exaggeration of the year.. But it totally feels air-conditioned! :( It's a quiet morning, too. From what I remember there are always cocks crowing when the sun comes up.. And I also remember some years back that there was this military band that trooped by our front gate (and side gate too I think?) every morning forcing me awake fast. It was the worst way to wake up ever!!! I like waking up slow.

It's the last day of 2009 and I feel like doing things for the last time again. I realise this is some strange habit that I have when something comes to an end! Anyway, that's partly the reason why I'm up so early. I'm 'accompanying' Abraham on his way to camp like I always do via phone call/sms every morning! Something I haven't done since I arrived here, I realise! (I don't want another $500 phone bill like the last time.) BUT! He's nowhere to be found :(

I think I'll end up spending my last day of 2009 dozing in the Queen sized bed I sleep in alone! So much for doing things for the last time?

Abraham's awake!

Title: TGIF, HONEY!
Date: Monday, December 28 @ 01:13

These pictures are from even before Christmas.. Been quite busy but mostly just lazy! Days pass fast, nights pass slower.. Been getting nightmares lately about being chased, someone wanting to kill my family :( Besides that, I've been taking each day one day at a time.. Thank goodness for activities, outings, relatives, friends, meals, snacks.. Thank goodness for distractions!

Bidding starts on Wednesday and I haven't decided on my 5th module. Considering taking French 1, but my dad thinks it'll be useless :( My mum (the one who took European Languages in Uni) begs to differ and even offers to tutor me! French may come in handy if I apply for exchange in a French-speaking country... But Idk. Anyway that's another story altogether. I haven't been researching on schools enough! (Note to self: PRIORITY ON TO-DO LIST: DECIDE WHERE TO GO ON EXCHANGE!)

Grandparents' 50th Anniversary Celebration! Attendance was less than expected much to our dismay.. Did so many things last minute! The giveaways, the powerpoint, our song/performance!!! My brother and dad only arrived the day before so we had to practice without our beloved Bass and Soprano (haha) the whole time we were here. I was the laziest and learnt my part last.. Was okay in the end though? :P

Daniel and Gibby had individual performances, on the flute and violin! (: Took a ton of pictures and so I've compressed a few into a few collages.. My blogger picture quota is filld to like 75% already! :(

Took ten thousand of these pictures... Varying positions, doing girls only, then boys only, different angles, different poses! My cheek muscles started hurting after some time, but it was a happy occasion so there were lots of reasons to smile (:

When the guests were gone and the more immediate family left, it was so much fun! Haha.. Just talking to everyone, doing crazy things and just.. being a family I guess! Awesomeness.. I've missed it!

Of course there was feasting! The cake was awesome.. That's a BUTTER rose there! Can you imagine how fattening it is?! Heehee.

Lolo and Daniel! (:

When we moved out of the room all packed and ready to leave, my dad and Tito Dave were still talking outside so everyone had to wait. They really seemed to forget about everyone waiting around them! In the meantime we talked about lots of random stuff with Tita Edna and Tita Bong.. LOVE this photo because everybody looks happy!!!

That same night, Daniel slept over! (: He was super high the whole time and it was a laughing trip all night. Daniel loves Sanders!!! Haha.. We slept like past 2 that night talking about Chaaaarlie the Unicorn and the ghost that was making the calendar by the door flap around. And playing Plants Vs Zombies on my laptop. And singing Party In The USA (mosty Daniel.. sometimes I can still hear his voice singing it!). LOL.

Another attempt at Christmas shopping the next day, got gifts for Father, Mother, Grandparents and Daniel! (: Been seeing this poster ALL OVER, so I figured taking a picture with it may quit following me around.. HAHA, just kidding. I haven't seen one since though :P And yes, that's Daniel jumping.

Ate at Taco Bell (I LOVE IT!!!) and relived my syrup-drinking-from-a-shot-glass escapade with Abraham by drinking the chocolate dip for Churros!

They take your name when you order.. Karissa got her name spelled Clarissa, and Daniel (because of his accent, I think) was written KENYO. HAHAHAHA!!! They got mine right! (:

Bowling with cousin and cousin's cousins! It was loads of fun.. Played 4 vs. 4, we split the team evenly by playing scissors paper stone with the person you're most compatible with age-wise and skills-wise.. Then Losers join one team, Winners join the other! The alley was awesome.. the couches were comfy, and the lanes so oily hahaha.

We losers lost in the end! :P

The second N is my score! Highest score I've ever gotten!!!!!!!!!! :D Forget that the lanes were super oiled okay?

Winners scoreboard! Paolo got a turkey! And to think he said he can't play when I asked him -.-

I CAN'T BELIEVE 2009 IS ENDING!

Title: The sun has turned to grey
Date: Tuesday, December 22 @ 20:36

Delayed blog post.. I think I should upload less pictures next time! This was what happened last week, I think. I have no sense of time whatsoever.

On the eve of my grandparents' 50th wedding anniversary! Accompanied grandfather to the flower store to buy flowers for my grandmother :D First time I also "sacrificed" my hand by waving it out of the window into another lane to ask the driver to give way. People ignore signal lights :(

Woke up in the wee hours to cook them breakfast in bed.. And knowing my grandparents they wake up extremely early, so in the end by the time we served breakfast they wre already up and about. At least they hadn't left their rooms yet (:

very bad morning face!

breakfast! :D

found the gold goblets at the flower shop! almost got caught buying it by my grandfather!

dinner at Kenny Rogers. I want pancake house :(

present time!

spot the difference from the previous picture! (:

my mother's drawing of their house!

We visited our alma mater on their last day of school. Christmas programme + parties in every classroom!

First stop was the general office, then got invited into Teacher Mavis house, which is right behind the office! Haha.. It looks AWESOME!!! There were a lot of other teachers there too.! It was so interesting seeing them and talking to them again!

The food was so good! :/

Bumped into oldguards who still knew us.. Awesome!!

In the classrooms:

My 1st grade teacher, who looks exactly the same!

My mother commented that everyone wears long pants. :P

That's easy! (:

They have a drum set in the music room!

I think this was my classroom in Grade 6! :D

We took the Jeepney home because no one could drive us. My mother, who just got her renewed license, refused to. Gosh, it was hot!

Took a candid shot of my mother.. The box in front of her contained a live rooster :/

Went to the mall for some Christmas shopping afterwards (: The crowd was really bad since it was a Friday and the last day of school! Not to mention a week before Christmas!

Tea time at Cinnabon! :DDD

Doesn't it just make your mouth water? (:

My cousin Daniel arrived from America so we took him out for lunch at Burgoo! :D

Crayons for drawing! :D

FOOD FOOD FOOD.

there's 2 patties! :O

Daniel and his Fillet Mignon.

My Chicken and Steak Fajitas (half-eaten) and the Seafood Linguine that we ended up taking home untouched! Too much food!

Crossed the road (and almost died) for dessert! Saw this cigarette stall with the sign "BREAK TIME" on it. Hahahaha.. Only in the Philippines!

Fun-sized shopping carts!

Nuttela crepe :D

Title: You're in ruins
Date: @ 00:28

These days my mind has been so far away from school that I keep forgetting about Exam Results coming out tomorrow, 1100 hrs for me..!

So many things to update about, and Christmas is just a couple days away! I doubt I'll have the time.. :/ Maybe I should do it now since I can't sleep.. My 10 year old cousin (who's sleeping over!) has decided to play 21 Guns on my phone on repeat. I think he's fallen asleep though. Speaking of my phone, it's been lasting like 4 days in a row without being charged! What a stark contrast because in Singapore it only lasts a day and a half at most.

Haha, i just realised that it's kind of early. But my definition of early is late for people in this house! Once it was only 10 something and everyone was asleep except my sister, but she was getting ready for bed already! And to think that I slept at like 6 AM for a couple nights before leaving. Life here is different.

I miss a lot of things about Singapore. One thing constantly coming to mind (aside from people) is the public transport, believe it or not! The efficiency is something I've taken for granted. I actually can't wait to travel from Jelapang LRT to Tampines MRT station again! Or somewhere far.. Suddenly Singapore seems so small and accessible! I MISS THE FRESH AIR. Don't even get me started!! :/ Another thing that I miss is my house and the view of the sky and the height of our flat.. Even watering our plants in the balcony! Weirddd I know but a huge part of me can't wait to fly back!

Title: 23
Date: Friday, December 18 @ 20:29

For some reason I keep thinking I'm coming home to Singapore soon! Then I realise that I haven't even been here a third of the time I'm supposed to! I think most of it is because we always leave from here after Christmas and before New Year.. This time we'll be staying several days after 2010 has begun! What's kinda strange is that I'm more excited for New Year than Christmas!!! I can't wait to light our own fireworks and get all smoke-smelling (okay, maybe not :/) and not being able to sleep through the night because of all the POP BANG BOOM sounds outside!!!

Christmas shopping for the past 2 days. More for myself though, so I guess it's not called Christmas shopping. But the hustle and bustle is definitely there! The malls are crazy full.. Sometimes I wish for human traffic lights, too! Ugh, but knowing the people here they won't be followed.. :P I spent all my Pesos yesterday so had to change some Singapore dollars (with my mother) so I could buy more stuff. Money disappears FAST.

I'm suddenly overcome with the need to lie down on a bed and sleep... Tired from walking. And COMMUTING! :P I still remember the day I learnt what the word meant. It was kinda embarrassing!! Anyway, its not as hard as it seems I guess. To take the Jeep! Just the fear of something bad happening like dropping something or someone stealing something or meeting an accident or getting held up or missing our stop. Thankfully (and unthankfully) there are no bus stops. So you just have to shout "PARA" (meaning stop) forthe driver to pull over and let you down. Oh... Shudder! I just remembered the story of my mum's friend who just alighted from a bus, slipped, and got run over! Oh gosh... No more sad stories! I woke up super happy today!!! :D I vote more mornings like that!

Okay, DMII is showing :P Gonna update more tomorrow, or when I find the time. Daniel's here and my Bro and Dad are coming tomorrow night! YAY!

Title: iMus
Date: Monday, December 14 @ 22:12

My whole of Sunday was spent in Imus, Cavite.. Which is a rather long drive from home, plus with traffic is a SUPERRRRRRRRRRRR long drive!! Both ways I think took us slightly over 5 hours! So I guess I should say that almost half my day was spent in the car :( Long car rides make me extremely restless..... But it also makes me wanna write. Strange, I know.. I probably should remember to bring paper and pen next time though (:

Lunch Table (:

My sister insisted on photographing the fish!

My Grandaunt who turned 94 (: After my grandma mentioned it.. She kinda does look like Queen Elizabeth! Haha!

Didn't sit at the kiddy table this time. :P

Drinks from my Uncle, who was trying to get us to drink stronger stuff right in front of my mother and grandparents. Haha. This is only 4% acohol :D

After being offered coffee 5 times and rejecting each time, i was told it was a tradition to drink it after lunch there! Haha.. Anyway, we watched ASAP '09 on tv and where our cousin performs every week. I wonder how it feels for them to have their son/brother on tv all the time! After that everyone disappeared and we were left with Jordan who was gonna entertain us the rest of the afternoon.. He drove us to Sam's place and his mini house thing in the backyard. It's so awesome! It's like his own house!

The ticklish foot massage!

P10 bill! I'd forgotten that it was faced out and is now a coin.. Because it's value is diminishing :(

Boys' Toys! Note the car keys.. I wanna drive too! And have a car!

More toys.. Though there were several Chick Flicks in the DVD stacks! :P

PLAYED ROCK BAND!!! So it was my first time (n00b i know) and I was pretty bad at it! At the second try I played moderate level and we died in like.. 30 seconds :(

the guys were Uber pro with a capital U!!!

Then we played this game called Cranium, it was kinda fun (:

My drawing of a saddle with my EYES CLOSED (:

My sisters..... Tennis racket. :P

GUESS WHAT THIS IS. First one to tag the answer wins a prize!!! HAHAHA.

The main house at sunset.

Back to another house where the celebration was! Wasn't too hungry for dinner due to snacking (sigh), but ate nonetheless.

CLARKY!!! :D I think I posted pictures of him last time already!

I keep thinking of Clarke Quay! HAHA.

Christmas lights at the doorstep (:

If I live to like 94, I want 94 candles!!! :P

Left for home at around 6:30, and it was already super dark. I keep forgetting that the sun rises and sets an hour earlier (or should i say "earlier") here! I felt so restless in the car, which seemed to be shrinking by the minute. :(((( At least we saw some Christmas lights on the way home... (:

Okay this picture may be a bit deceiving! My grandfather's maximum speed is only like 50 kmph? :P

Title: December
Date: Saturday, December 12 @ 22:24

Departed from Singapore at 12:30 from Terminal 3! It's my first time flying off from there! (: Had starbucks before leaving.. More like sat there. My brother gobbled down a connamon roll (we were supposed to share!) while my mum drank a toffee nut latte, thinking it was supposed to be a cold drink. Haha.

Bye Boys! See you next week! Take care of Vlad! (I decided to name my cute fat dog Vladimir in the end..)

I love Changi Airport because it has sunflowers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :D They're so tall! I want to grow them!

Arrived in Manila to see the usual pollution-filled horizon, congested streets (its worse now!!) and crazily haphazard driving!

Took this from the backseat of our taxi. Mahal Kita means I Love You! (:

Okay so we ended up leaving the camera in the back seat!!!!!!!! And by then I thought our luck would run out (after me and my sis have lost our wallets recently and gotten them back the very next day with all the important stuff still there) but we managed to retreieve it! Haha.. I was extra doubtful and thought we'd never see it again since we were in the Philippines where few people are honest, compared to Singapore. We traced it eventually and had to go back to the airport the next day to pick it up from Lost & Found.

And whilst there we saw our ex-maid, Emily!

I caught a little bit of the sunset too (:

The next morning we had to get up bright and early and went to my dad's ex-office.. Love the super huge parols (pronounced like its spelled but i like calling it PAROLES heehee!). They're AKA lanterns (: