Old Coffee Talk

So I have decided to postpone completing my tasks that pay the bills and unearth all of  my posts that remained in the Draft status.

First post I chose to unearth? Coffee.

So what do we have here? It's a collection of the 2015 photos that I found lying somewhere under the forgotten lands in my phone.

Back to the coffee cup. Seen in this photo is our effort to make slow-drip coffee thanks to our empty margarita mix from Kirkland. Haha. We tied the plastic bottle and tried to hang it on the handle of the drawer on top. Well. When curiosity strikes and we've got nothing but time on our hands, you'll get this makeshift drip. Don't forget the pressure inside the bottle as it is dripped vertically. Or just don't do this at all. 

I have done a couple of batches of cold brew coffee (12-hour ones) at home and the best way to do it is teach people at home how to do it, too. Haha. I prepare it, leave a note, and my lovable yaya does the rest. I just call her up and she filters it. When I get home from the office, I have one mason jar of pure goodness. *smug face* Here's one small bottle of it, ready to bring anywhere I want. :)

And then we have this. Not sure if I posted it in my Taiwan entry (IF I HAVE ONE), but this sexy baby was purchased in Taipei. We were just walking towards a night market and poof. Something caught our peripheral vision we just had to turn our heads. A freaking coffee shop full of beautiful things. What a pretty sight, this syphon filter is!!! Also pictured below is my friend's manual grinder from Gloria Jean's. What a good day for coffee! Light them up!

When there's an espresso machine, it's always iced latte by the patio while waiting for the sun to kiss the plants. One's served with sugar and the other is just natural goodness. 

More coffee photos with some presence of wine, but not together. I have a regular single-serve pour-over filter but I remember that the old coffee makers (from my mom) made use of paper filters instead of the built in washable/reusable nylon ones they have now. So when I found it again, AHA! There you go. Easier to hand brew for a number of caffeine-regulars!

Coffee. It never gets old. Only we do. Huhu.

2016

Oh sheeeeeeeet! It's 2016! Time do pass by real quick now whether you like what you're doing or not.

Here's some balikbayan box level of fireworks for you and the beauty and madness that will be part of the whole 2016.

This baby can make you cry possibly 2 times. First is when it hits you and second when you see
the way how it lights up the sky so beautifully.

It's a wonderful feeling for a lot of people when they finish their planners, their calendars, and trying to write down all of their resolutions. I'm not all into the new year new life thing but the effect the new year brings to people? The opportunity it gives for people to reflect on their lives (or the "past" year)? It's amazing.

Happy New Year!

Have a Don Perignon and some tofu sisig in the process!

Always remember that "the days are long, but the years are short". Always remember that.

Ngayong Oktubre

Ngayong Oktubre, mangilan-ngilan na ang mga naririnig at nababasa kong kuwento ng pag-iibigang nauuwi sa wala. Ilang taon ng pagsasama at mga ala-alang walang makapapantay, ang ipiniling isantabi na lamang. May naghahangad pa ng kadugtong, may ibang naghihintay pa sa tawag ng bukas. 

Nobyembre na ba? Magtitirik na ba tayo ng kandila para sa mga pusong ang kasalanan lang ay nagmahal nang sobra?

Hindi ko nais sumali. Hindi ko pinangarap makasama rito. Subalit kung sa pagpahinga ay may kapiling na pagluha, mas nanaisin ko ito kaysa mawala nalang ang lahat. 

Pangako. 

Babalik ako. Babalik tayo. 

When you're really down and the other person is happy, do you hide what you feel and ride along the highs of the other?

Or would the other contain one's excitement to uplift the other's misery?

Uy. Sometimes being the bigger person gets tiring. Kudos to those who believe they can always be that person. 

Paano mo malalaman ang borderline ng pagiging pushover at ng "being the bigger person" sa isang relasyon?

Reading Anything This August?

*I have started this entry in English and since I noticed it's the National Language Month (Buwan ng Wika, man!), I feel guilty for continuing this in English instead of retyping everything in Filipino. :( Masahol pa ako sa malansang isda, alam ko. Huhubells.*

Books. They say nothing beats hard copies - printed copies of books that have mystified you, or authors you simply adore. Recently, I have scored Bob Ong's "Si" and yes, you can shame me for not supporting our local authors. I have a history with books, I just got into the whole reading thing late in grade school / early in high school mainly due to the then-influx of Filipino authors who wrote entertaining books full of essays and those that look like a compilation of interrelated thought bubbles. I still have pending Jessica Zafra books to be ordered and Miriam Defensor-Santiago's books which I initially bought as a gift for my friend. I know. I initially intended this post to be my published dirty laundry list of books I haven't flipped through. What an ugly avenue to do so.

Starbucks sample cards are the best, prettiest, and cheapest bookmarks you'll have.
Just accompany your friend, no need to talk like a social climber, and just grab these babies
while she orders her overpriced drink.

How about e-books? I have a Kindle Paperwhite. I have my phone which is still serving as my smaller book reader for times I want to sneak in a few chapters in the office without looking like I'm not working. How about something more tangible? I still have hard copies of books I either bought or borrowed from my friends. I'm lucky I have friends who read books and are generous enough to lend and forget about it.

How do you manage reading through a book despite the internet, the television, and EDM music all over the radio? For me, I usually read 2 books side by side, although okay there are instances I read three books at the same time. The usual scene is that I read the book with most illustrations or fewer pages first a non-fiction alongside one or two fictions. At the moment I am reading "The Art of Thinking Clearly" by Rolf Dobelli while reading Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett's "Good Omens" in my phone and "By the River Piedra I Sat Down and Wept" by Paulo Coehlo in my Kindle. I know, it's not the most advisable way to finish off books but it works for me! Just do the rotation if you feel like your poorly self-diagnosed ADHD kicks and in no time, you'll realize the three books are done and you're looking for the next best thing!

Don't lose the art of reading. I don't mind if you prefer printed ones or just your phone/reader, as long as you read, there is hope for the future. Also, please stop spending all your time watching those viral video you see on social media. If you can't quit it, minimize it at the very least. Grab a book. Start the first chapter today. :)

COMELEC 2015 San Juan City Edition

I wasn't able to vote during the previous election. It said my account has been deactivated due to failure to vote for 2 consecutive times. I haven't missed any other elections and it's not even possible because the time I registered was just on time for the 2010 Presidential Elections. Well, I wasn't the only one who experienced this because there have been other people who posted and complained of the same thing and we'll all just wallow in the fact that we were unable to vote due to some issues. This was probably due to the migration into combined precinct numbers and for some reason, I was the chosen one in our family. I should've gone to the Lotto station that day, it won't hurt to push my luck, eh?

Fast forward to today, 02-August 2015. So we heard that there is a COMELEC branch now near the old San Juan Municipal Hall (the new San Juan City Hall is near the Pinaglabanan Shrine). We looked around and it's difficult to spot. It's on the left side of the old municipal hall if you're looking at it from the street.

There were just 2 windows open and some youngsters who are either volunteers or on-the-job trainees are inside and ready to take your questions. So what do you have to expect when you're there?

- There is no system. Whoever gets to shove their forms or IDs first will get the attention. The "bakit siya kinuha mo na, eh nauna ako dito?" won't work. It's effort wasted. Save your high blood pressure. They don't give out numbers like in banks or other government offices nor even write your name in a logbook when the line is long. Buffet restaurants (even CD-R King!) have a better system.

- Show your ID. Tell them if you're there for reactivation or for biometrics. If you have an ACTIVE status, they will inform you if you need to have your biometrics re-captured or if you can go home now and you just wasted your time.

- In the event that you have a DEACTIVATED status, they will give you a form (or in the worst case, they will give you a form for you to PHOTOCOPY yourself), that's 3 copies of it, and you fill out each and every single item there, Afterwards, you submit it to them and they will call you for the thumbprints on the form and IF you need to have your biometrics re-captured. They will usually just update your photo there.

- Be patient. The kids will not understand your questions or queries the first time. Be straightforward in what you want. Lucky if you get the adult to attend to you. They will NOT issue voters' ID here, they told us to try next year. What they do though, is reactivation of status, recapturing of biometrics, and new application.

NOTE: I have talked to the lady operating the computer when I had my photo updated. She mentioned that there are instances that the active voters still have their biometrics saved while others' biometrics have been lost - so those are the folks who need to have their prints taken again. Sucks though, they should've just allowed everybody to have an updated photo just to ensure that they're still the ones claiming to be the name-bearer.

Some pro-tips:
- Never mind the list of Active and Deactivated voters. I wasn't able to find my name in both printouts but they were able to confirm that I have a deactivated status when they checked inside.
- Bring a pen or two. They won't provide you any extra pen and really, wherever you go, just bring a pen. How many people have held that pen? Can you imagine all the dirt? No?
- You are going to deal with young students who have not been oriented that much. They are not professional employees. Do not expect seamless transactions, painless experience, and just bring in a lot of patience and understanding.
- It's going to be either really warm or on the verge of a rainfall. Bring an umbrella just in case.
- Don't forget your IDs. Actually, one valid ID will do. I'm not sure why people here are not strict. It's identity and names on the line for the election, people!
- In the morning, visit around 9-11am and in the afternoon, be there by 1pm. People start to flock in around 1:30pm. They are also open on weekends!

Overall? The experience was not a walk in the park but there was no line when we got there and just think of the bigger picture. You're doing this not just for yourself but for your country as well. A little effort will go a long way! They are open weekdays and weekends except holidays and will be there until October. So please, there is no way you would miss this. Don't go rambling on social media when you do.

And oh, vote wisely. Please. PLEASE. If you haven't registered for the elections, shame on you. That's a bold statement.

Here's to New Beginnings!

It has been a freaking long time since I have blogged about anything! This is mostly due to not being able to connect to the blogger during office hours. Please also add my laziness to turn on our desktop and type my thoughts and feelings away while my niece runs around and talks to me incessantly.

Last Saturday, there was this MSI-ECS sale wherein they published the available units and the amount they're offering for those. It ranges from 10% to as much as 50% discounts. They listed the specifications, payment terms, and the condition of the item (if it has been opened, or if it has a scratch from a kitten) as well so all you have to do is have some products in mind and rush to their warehouse.

My friend and teammate, Amar, told me that when he went to this sale a few years back, they camped outside the warehouse similar to an iPhone release type and when the store is open, they elbowed each other out to get that shiny laptop/tablet in pure Hunger Games fashion. (There were items there that has "1" as its listed quantity. Making it even more appealing!)

There is no way I'd survive something like that. I'd probably fall asleep on the line, forgetting where I was, or I'd be trampled upon the moment they open the gates. So I just drank (fruit juice) and wondered the night away until I got a call the next day from Amar telling me that there's this laptop which is a perfectly good deal. He wanted it for himself but he still has a working laptop at home. I have wanted to have a laptop for almost 2 years now (ever since I switched employers, I never got to have my own laptop again) and that was the perfect opportunity.

Ending? I have a laptop, I'm broke, and I'm getting fat each day.

And oh, I'll be blogging more now! Woohoo! Good for me, bad for the interweb world!

Wimbledon. It's the reason I will post something. Serena wins her 21st Grand Slam and did a "Serena Slam" as well. 

Truth is, I can't wait to have a laptop and work on posting anything and everything again.