Post-Milenyo, Pre-Neneng (?)
Woke up still without electricity. Thus, decided to go spend time at the mall. While preparing to leave, learned that there is another low pressure area brewing that can become a typhoon. If Milenyo packs 110 KPH, the supposed new typhoon packs 140 KPH. This means, have to try to buy again candles and batteries while at the mall, just in case.
While strolling around the mall, received an SMS from one of my nieces that they are also in the mall. According to her, her sister is having a haircut. Then, received another message that I join them for lunch at
Super Bowl with their dad, my brother. Hehehe! Good excuse to see how my other niece looks with her new haircut.
Was able to buy candles and batteries after checking several stores. Candles at
SM Department Store and size "D" batteries at
Anson's.
Attended the anticipated Mass and had dinner at
Italianni's.
Milenyo (a.k.a Xangsane) Hits!
September 28. Was still deciding whether I'd be reporting for work or not. Based on the map showing the path of the typhoon "Milenyo" in the newspaper, it would be hitting Metro Manila around 2PM today. Exchange of SMS among friends and officemates, until, finally, received a message that there was announcement that only branches and Head Office units with direct contact with clients would be open. Yes!
It was a good call and good decision not to go to the office. Around 8:30AM, there was no more power. Nearing 12 noon, one can already hear the humming of the wind. You can see galvanized irons ("
yero"), which serve as roofs, flying everywhere. That was about two hours of strong winds. If it would take much longer, I think even our house's roof would be lifted off.
Received an SMS from a friend who was still in the office. She mentioned that a lot of trees along Paseo de Roxas, Makati City, has been uprooted. Those still standing have their leaves gone. Tsk! Tsk!
After 2PM, the winds begin to subside. Slowly, people went out of their homes to clean up the streets of debris and try to retrieve their galvanized irons...
Spent the day at home with ears stucked to the radio listening to the news.
September 29. Woke up still without power. Heard from the radio that it would be until Sunday for the whole of Luzon to have power. That means, I have to go to the office to charge my mobile phone! LOL
On the way to the office, one can see trees uprooted. In fact, the parking lot near our office has been destroyed as trees fell on them. Good thing, the flood has already subsided.
While nearing day's end, my niece called me at the office and reported that there is still no power at home. Thus, decided that we meet at the
Ayala Center to try to get some cool air.
Meeting place is at
The Landmark where I bought first a gift. While my niece is waiting for the gift to be wrapped, I went to the supermarket to buy some candles and batteries. There are a lot of shoppers, mostly buying mineral water, canned goods, food, etc. Obviously, there is no more candles and batteries available!
Our next stop is the movies. We went to Glorietta 4 to watch
Zoom.
Zoom is about a retired superhero who was tapped to train a group of kids and transform them into a superhero material. It is funny and cute, definitely a movie for kids.
Leaving the theater, we see lots of people falling in line trying to get into one of the 7 theaters of Glorietta 4. Looks like they are also there to enjoy the air-conditioning. (LOL)
We then had dinner at
heaven 'n eggs as it is the only restaurant whose air-conditioning is working. Wanted first to try
Pancake, but doing so, we will have to eat by candlelight! Hehehe! Next choice is
Shakey's, but boy, the heat!
My nephew was supposed to be picked up by Manong around 10PM (Manong is with us at the movie and the dinner). Since it is already 9:30PM, asked my nephew if we would wait for him. He, too, is in the theater. Hmmm.. I wonder how many movies he watched that day?
So Gets U R D 1
As promised to my niece, we would be watching the movie
You Are The One, starring Toni Gonzaga and Sam Milby. Normally, I would have slept all the way through lunch. She (my niece) woke me up so there would be no excuses not to go this time. hehehe!
First stop is lunch at
Chef 'd Angelo. We ordered a pasta, a pizza and a waffle. Guess we ordered too many as we have to bring home a "doggy bag".
While waiting for the movie to start, we strolled around the mall. At the Glorietta 4, there is a display of flower arrangement. The style is called
Sogetsu Ikebana. Simple and classy.
"You Are The One" is a drama, comedy, romance movie all rolled into one. Toni is Sally Malasmas, who is forced to apply for a US Visa in order to go to the States to take care of her sick mother. At the US Embassy, the consular who would be interviewing her is Will Derby (Sam Milby) who denies her Visa as he feels that she would be going to the States to be another TNT. And that's where the story begins. There are funny moments. There are also moments that would tug your heart (the scene between Sally and her sister). Did shed a tear. Shhhhh..... There are also scenes you would say "Pinoy na Pinoy". Hehehe! Considering that it is already in its four week run, something can be said about the movie.
Monster Breed
It's a movie marathon!
Started with
Monster House. It is an animation comedy.
Friends DJ, Chowder and Jenny are suspecting the house across DJ's to be alive and hungry. Their worst fears are confirmed as they witnessed stray dogs, items, etc. "eaten" by the house. Obviously, the adults they report about it would scratch it off as kid's tales. Thus, they are left to their own devices to stop the house from destroying the neighborhood.
Next, it's Wes Craven's
The Breed. An action thriller, it's about a group of friends who plan a trip to their weird uncle's estate who left them his property. When they arrive there, they find dogs all over the place, as if claiming the island to themselves. The movie is exciting as the audience can't help but react as "man" tries to outwit the "beasts".
After the movies, attended the anticipated Mass and had dinner at
The Pancake.
Office Sound
Bought it last Monday. For a small box, it provides a reasonably detailed treble. Relatively good sound quality, but would be great if bass is improved. The Edifier MP210 has RMS 3 watts per speaker.
Buying it is just in time, I think. Given the load of work I would be facing with the reorganization in my department, good music playing while dealing with the tasks at hand, hopefully, would be a breeze. Just like today, I have ticked off a lot of my "to dos" and still not feel tired at the end of the day.
If I listen to music, I attach it to my MP3 player. Else, its cable gets connected to the back of my computer. c",) Oh! It also has dual source for power--from the computer's USB or AC power.
What I noticed about rechargeable batteries (in relation to my MP3 player), the more you use them, the more their charge lasts. Last week, I have to recharge everyday the two batteries (one battery is a back-up). Today, I'm still using the first battery and it still does not need recharging. Oh, well!
Scoop
Am lagging behind in my list of movies to watch. Decided to watch a movie which just opened this week...
Scoop is a comedy/mystery film starring Woody Allen, Hugh Jackman, Scarlett Johannson and Ian McShane. A scoop of a lifetime, even already in his grave, Joe Strombel, a famed UK journalist, keeps on "cheating" Death to give tips to Sondra Pransky, an American journalism student, to pursue the story. Sondra listens to him and follow his leads. But when she fell for the charming aristocrat Peter Lyman, a conflict of interest arises as he is her scoop.
Some jokes may fall flat to Filipinos but there are chuckle-moments. Of the four characters. I like Joe Strombel, even if he just keeps popping in and out of the scene. c",)
After the movie, attended the anticipated Mass and had dinner at
Italianni's. Of course, we had our usual... Sicilian Chicken Salad, Penne Verdure and bottomless Dalandan.
The Devil Wears Prada
Already on its second week,
The Devil Wears Prada is still packing in an audience.
Andy Sachs, a new graduate who brings her college drab fashion sense into Runway Magazine, as an assistant to Miranda Priestley, the most powerful name in fashion. Andy soon realizes that it takes much sacrifice to be a great success. How much would she be willing take?
Meryl Streep as Miranda is so natural. Whenever she is on a scene, you can really feel Miranda's "presence".
After the movie, attended the anticipated Mass.
My Home Theater... LOL!
Cute... hehehe! Cool sound, too.
Stay Alive
Unlike last week, there are movies currently shown in the theaters that I would like to watch...
The Devil Wears Prada,
Stay Alive, and
You Are The One.
From stayalive.movies.go.com
Since there is a long queue for "The Devil Wears Prada" and I am sure that it will still be shown next week, I'll start first with "Stay Alive".
A group of friends were able to get their hands on an underground videogame, touted to be the next generation horror survival videogame based on the true story of a 17th century noblewoman known as "The Blood Countess". As the saying goes, curiousity kills the cat, these group of gamers are dying to know the game and dies playing it.
There are lots of twists in the story, not as gory but will still shock you. I enjoyed it as the movie led me to every nook and cranny, as the line between the game world and the real world ultimately disappears.
After the movie, attended the anticipated Mass and had dinner at the
Super Bowl of China.
