Happy Halloween

(Happy Birthday to Karen Laderas, btw)

As I was looking at the Boy Bawang wrapper, I suddenly realized that I do not have a clear-cut idea of what an aswang is. I was sure that vampires hate garlic, but vampires are bampiras not aswangs. So what is an aswang? For starters, what is the english term for it?

I consulted Ms. Ateneo Cum Laude and her answer was that the aswang is a creature that appears as human during the day. At dusk, the creature grows wings and splits its body into two. The top part goes around to eat children while the body from the waist down remains in the ground until dawn when the two halves of the body are once again joint and the wings shrink back into nothing.

When I inquired if this meant that the aswang and the manananggal are the same, she grew quite unsure of her answer.

I then talked to Ms. UP Cum Laude #1, I confirmed my theory. There is no american counterpart for aswang. It is our (the filipino's) very own. However, she was not able to answer my question. What is an aswang?

Ms. UP Cum Laude #2 was able to shed some light on the topic. She says that it does not refer to a specific creature. If is in fact, a collective noun, if you may, which refers to horrible monsters.

After a long discussion with Ms. UP Cumm Laude #2, we have established (for the meantime) that aswang is a "class" and manananggals, tik-tiks, werewolves, tikbalangs, etc are examples of the corresponding "orders" under the aswang class. Also, that the aswang class have somewhat human-like physical characteristics.

I looked up aswang online the first chance I had and sure enough, Ms. UP Cum Laude #2 was right on target, proving once again that she is a certified Wikipedian.

Gimme 5

I used to think that the best thing $5 could buy in Singapore is a meal consisting of laksa and teh.

Last Saturday, at a booksale, I realized that I was wrong. The best thing that $5 could buy in Singapore is a hard bound George RR Martin new realease in mint condition.

Miracles happen everyday.

Dumbledore

I have no issues about Dumbledore's sexual preference.

However, there is no denying that JK Rowling could have been more appropriate. She easily could have incorporated a line into the last book as simple as Albus Dumbledore and Gellert Grindelwald had a very special relationship that went beyond friendship or maybe to this day, there had not been anyone who meant more to Albus Dumbledore than Gellert Grindelwald.

WRITING would have been an excellent way to inform her more mature readers. It is of utmost inconvenience that it came out the way it did. There was something very hollywood about the occurrence, which just really turned me off.

EOD

As we were looking at the sunset through the window, we had the same thing in mind. We kept our silence until a few seconds before dusk.

T: Pag nagkakataon na nakikita mo yan, nalulungkot ka ba?
O: Oo
T: Parang kahit nasan ka, nasa kotse, out of town, nasa bahay...pareho lang yung nararamdaman mo no?
O: Iba nga din, parang kahit nangyayari araw araw, naapektuhan ka parin
T: Hindi ko ma-explain... parang gusto ko tumigil na dun, ayokong mag-gabi
O: Naiintindihan ko, parang, alamo yon? parang talagang merong natatapos

Then I thought, he got it. Completely. That is the feeling. You feel like something great is ending. And I have yet to meet someone who faces that with whole-hearted enthusiasm.

Teh for Tricky

After almost three years in Singapore, I still don't know how to buy tea. What I want is the one with condensed milk. In Killiney I could easily get it as teh tarik, but if I try to get from other stores (or hawker places) it is a completely different story. Stall owners would tell me they don't have it, but when I look around, I'd see locals enjoying theirs.

Today, I went to Coffee & Toast to once again, try my luck. I was asking the person taking my order which one had the condensed milk, if it was the Teh O, Teh C or the Teh. She said she doesn't understand. I repeated my question--twice, but I still did not get the answer I wanted.

I played the guessing game. Hoping "C" stands for Condensed milk, I asked for a Teh C.

After my first sip, I realized that I picked the wrong one.

My Singaporean officemate was kind enough to differentiate the teas when I told her about my story.

To aid those who have had been in a situation similar to mine, I am documenting what I learned today.

Teh O - tea with sugar
Teh C - tea with evaporated milk
Teh - tea with condensed milk

Time heals all wounds

As I was applying hand cream, I noticed that the burns I had endured from the spaghetti incident had completely healed. In fact, even upon close inspection, I can't tell exactly where the burns used to be. This happenstance, once again proves the age old saying set as the title of this entry. Although, I don't think my story was quite what the wiseman had in mind when he uttered those words. You think?

Mediums please

I have switched to Marlboro Ultra Lights since I moved to Singapore almost three years ago. Yesterday, while I was in front of the 7-eleven counter, I saw a Marlboro Mediums pack and decided to get it instead of my usual.

It reminded me of that time when I was starting my college education, it was a time when Php 500 would be enough to buy dinner for two at T.G.I. Friday's and TGIS meant a very popular show in channel 7. It also meant carpool, quarter pounders and caramel sundaes, that gold bracelet with a heart charm, my giant piggy bank, Baskin-Robbins in Town Center, "happy berday" cakes and banana breads.

Scents, feelings, specific weather, and as I recently discovered, cigarettes remind me of spefic moments, or even a period of time. While I am not one to dwell on the past, I find myself feeling extra happy to have a flashback--even for a just split second and surrender to the nostalgia attack.

Is it on yet? Is it on yet? Is it on yet? Is it on yet?

I have been waiting for Stardust for months! I can't believe it is not even in the COMING SOON list!

sweets and sweat

I recently bought myself a 55cm exercise ball and it just so happens to be pink. It is the only color they have. Whenever I use it, I feel funny because it looks as though I am on top of a giant jawbreaker.

Not Tonight

I want to write about something, but I still don't know how it is going to end. I'm not sure it is a great idea to just type on and on about what I know now and just follow it up with a Part II entry. Like most stories, this one is best told when you know the beginning, the middle and the end. I'm not sure when I'd be able to tell the story, maybe tomorrow, maybe next week, maybe the day after the postman comes. Come to think of it, I'm not sure if I'd be able to tell it at all. I was hoping to play storyteller tonight, but no such luck.

Shoot 'em Up

I saw a very funny movie with some friends yesterday, Shoot 'em Up. It stars Clive Owen, Paul Giamatti and Monica Bellucci. What was the movie about? Well, the title pretty much says it all. It featured scene after scene of Clive shooting 'em up in exaggerated precision despite impossible conditions. It is not a comedy but it got us laughing the whole time. If you want to see a non-thinking, pure errr action flick, this is the one for you. Enjoy!

It's telling me...

Something is happening. I know. I hope we talk about it soon, real soon. I don't think I could stand being in the state for more than a few days.