STATUS: Sometime, Somewhere

We speak but the words we say mean nothing.
We smile but the smiles we give are wanting.
We look upon each other's eyes, no spark
No glow, no real signs, but we both know
This is all for show.

Until that sometime, somewhere,
We could show the world we have each other
Sometime, somewhere we need not hide out feelings,
We just keep on believing that we both have the time together
Sometime and somewhere,our lips would be free at last
You say the words we've hungered to say.
And we won't have to worry, we smile we won't say sorry
One look and we have cast our fears aside.
Sometime, that sometime will turn to forever, for all time.
Somewhere, our somewhere would not be just one place,
But everywhere.

Until that sometime, somewhere,
We just have to be content with stealing glances
Somehow, content with saying nothing,
Smiles that are always wanting.
Though deep inside it hurts
Because we know that our love, like love,
Is what it is, it's what we got
Our love, like love will have to wait
Until that sometime, somewhere.

Sometime, Somewhere by Basil Valdez

P.S.: emo before the year ends... Happy New Year everyone... at last I can say I just don't love you anymore, but I'm still in love...

Six Mountains, Two Years

Six Mountains, Two Years.

One Island, Three Regions.

One Goal, To Conquer.

I made a list of the mountains I have summited for the last two years! All of these are from Luzon, and almost all of them are breathtaking. I'm planning to conquer Visayas, or even Mindanao in the coming years! What's on my list? Guiting-Guiting and Dulang-Dulang! For now I'll share a picture and some specs on my climbs and hope to inspire some readers too!

Mt. Pundaquit's summit

Mt. Pundaquit traverse to Anawangin Cove

Date: January 2009

Location: San Antonio, Zambales

Jump-off point: Brgy. Pundaquit, San Antonio, Zambales

Who I'm with: Chase, Fhiley, Welmar, Benjo, Che, Kiko, Julius, Cocoy and Dr. Nick (with 2 of his men)

Days away: 2.5 days and 2 nights

Side trip: None

Remarks: Anawangin Cove is stunning. The trail is not that established. Super hot trek since the mountain slopes are mostly grassland. There's a river part in the trail, try trekking on summer days, it will be dangerous to cross the river since it mimics rapidss on rainy days. There's a pyramid-ish hill you'll see while on the summit towards the cove.

Extra Info.:

LLA (summit): 14 53'59" 129 94'24", 464 MASL

LLA (cove): 14 52 41 120 04'04", 0 MASL

Days required / Hours to cove: 1 day / 4-5 hours

Specs: Minor Climb, Difficulty 3/9, Trail Class 2

Mt. Pinatubo's crater

Mt. Pinatubo

Date: May 30, 2009

Location: Central Luzon

Jump-off point: Brgy. Sta. Juliana, Capas, Tarlac

Who I'm with: Chase, Fhiley, Welmar, Ellaine, Jhim, Sharon, Tyron, Mich, Benjo, Che, Matt, Bong and Dr. Nick

Days away: 1 day

Side trip: None

Remarks: We went there on a bad weather. Foggy as it may seem but the sulfuric water brought the majestic aura of the crater. A very easy trek.

Extra Info.:

LLA: 15°8'35"N, 120°20'54"E, 960 MASL

Days required / Hours to crater: 1 day, 45 min 4x4 + 2 hrs hike

Specs: Minor climb, Difficulty 2/9, Trail class 1

Mt. Pulag's summit

Mt . Pulag (Ambangeg Trail)
Date: August 20 - 23, 2009
Location: Benguet, Ifugao and Nueva Vizcaya

Jump-off point: Ambangeg, Kabayan, Benguet
Who I'm with: Chase, Welmar, Benjo, Che, Kiko, Stephen, Will and Melo
Days Away: 4 days and 3 nights
Side trip: Baguio City
Remarks: Beautiful in a different high. You'll experience being above the clouds, literally. It is super cold, especially at night and super moist! Just look at me, I feel like a New Yorker. The grasslands are vast and charming. you'll experience different floras along the way, mossy forest, grasslands, etc. The almost 5 hour trek from the ranger station is stunning in itself. I almost caught myself lying on the log with no one in front of me or behind me for like 30 mins, in the trek, thinking of retiring.
Extra Info.:

LLA: 16°34'58"N 120°53'15"E, 2922 MASL (#3)

Level and days required: Level 3, 3-5 days

Hours to summit / Days required: 4-5 hours / 2 days

Specs: Major Climb, Difficulty 3/9, Trail class 3

Mt. Daguldol's summit

Mt. Daguldul
Date: January 16 - 17, 2010
Location: San Juan, Batangas
Jump-off point: Brgy. Hugom, San Juan
Who I'm with: Chase,Welmar, Benjo, Che, Hubert, MJ and Julius
Days away: 2 days and 1 night
Side Trip: Laiya Beach
Remarks: A very refreshing trek, you'll start off and end at the Laiya Beach. It was damn foggy! Beware, there are dogs around and they took our rice, yeah, uncooked! What would the dog do with it, unless that dog was trained to get stuffs from campers by someone...
Extra Info.:
LLA: 13°40.380N 121°19.160E, 672 MASL (+ 672 m)
Days required / Hours to summit: 1-2 days / 5 hours
Specs: Minor climb, Difficulty 3/9, Trail class 1-3

Mt. Gulugod-Baboy's campsite view

Mt. Gulugod - Baboy
Date: June 12 - 13, 2010
Location: Anilao, Mabini, Batangas
Jump-off point: Philpan Dive Resort, Anilao, Mabini
Who I'm with: Chase, Fhiley, Welmar, Benjo, Che, Julius, Cocoy, Paul, Brenda and Tats
Days away: 2 days and 3 nights
Side trip: Snorkeling @ Anilao
Remarks: Has a very nice campsite if not for the cow dungs, lolz. The campsites are vast. We trekked this mountain on independence day, hence the Freedom Climb! The trek started of with a concrete road then a trail under a scorching sun. Indeed, a very hot trek that got the best of me, hehe. Don't wander too far, you might get lost in the trail 'coz there are many of them.
Extra Info.:
LLA: 13°42'55"N; 120°53'43"E; 525 MASL
Days required / Hours to summit: Half-day / 1-2 hours
Specs: Minor climb, Difficulty 2/9, Trail class 1-2

Mt. Batulao's summit

Mt. Batulao
Date: November 28 - 29, 2010

Location: Nasugbu, Batangas

Jump-off point: Evercrest Golf Course, Nasugbu

Who I'm with: Chase, Welmar, Dhel, Bong, Rex, Tiff and her sister and friends

Days away: 2 days and 1 night

Side trip: Tagaytay

Remarks: Another refreshing trek. It is super windy once you reach a formidable altitude heightened at the summit! Campsites are everywhere!

Extra Info.:

LLA: 14.0408 N 120.8011 E 811 MASL

Days required / Hours to summit: 1 day / 2-4 hours

Specs: Minor climb, Difficulty 4/9, Trail class 3 with 60-70 degrees assault

Other info from: www.pinoymountaineer.com

Am I that immature?

I was told that my posts are kind of immature, in a sense. Like I am using my raw talent in these petty love posts. Yeah, it was immature and I guess I am till now. I like sharing bits and pieces of me that I want everyone to see, and sometimes I share posts that I myself don't like. I kind of live by the moment, it goes the same as I share or blog by the moment. I sometimes have an idea that don't pass by this website. And, sometimes, too, I post the lamest things and hopes someone pulls it up and actually likes it. I'm not telling that pleasing readers and getting extra hits is my not my sole purpose, 'coz it was and still is, and it instills sharing myself and I like it.

In connection to this immature thing, while I was heading home from work the other day and I thought, am I that afraid to have a commitment? I can't be that person that only likes a one-nighter, I just can't! And I can't be that over-superficial kind of guy, I just can't! Am I still looking for the one? WTF?!? That is just so cheap. And oh that question! Am I even looking? WTH?!? And oh that question too! Just yesterday I bluntly judged someone of being immature and now I'm struggling with my own maturity. The hell.

Am I too critical?

Flower Penchant 2

During our, Cathlab mountaineers, recent exploits in Mt. Batulao, Nasugbu, Batangas (exploits? lol), I've collected several photos of their native flora, and part of these (a very large part!) are their flowers. Several of these are weeds but I came across some which I haven't seen before. But if that does not interest you at all just check the natural beauty. Feast your eyes! (lol)

The Pinkies are climbing up the Rockies

Orange, am I?

Pink me, White you

White me, Pink you

Flower Cones

Hide and Seek

Sun Daisies

Antannegate

Mother and Daughter

My Pad, My Home

Touch me if you can...

Fruits of Lore

I know you know what I am and capable of...

Overlooking the Evercrest Hills

And as they always say, it comes in threes.

Touch me if you can... 2

Oh brother! Is the sun too hot?

An Army standing tall

Date: November 29, 2010.
Location: Mt. Batulao, Nasugbu, Batangas, Philippines

'10 Christmas Wishlist

Here I go again, dreaming. But what's wrong with it when it is so sweet and free. Last year I dreamt big and lost the gadget wars. A recap, I wanted a camera phone, specifically SE C903, but I got Nokia's flagship N95 8GB (which is better by the way), then an iPod touch, the Nikon SLR D60, Technomarine Geneve watches (UF6 Magnum and BlackWatch) and finally Champagne Gold VAIO SR490 by Sony. And what do you expect, I received/ bought none! haha. Like what I've said on that post, it's just a wishlist.

This time I'll be more realistic. And I want these!

1. Since I love blogging, writing and surfing on-the-go, this is a must-have!

Sony VAIO W Series. 19,350 PhP.

2. Our TV is so outdated! High Def in LCD is so in!

Sony BRAVIA EX400 (32in). 21,242 PhP. 

3. This is what I really need right now. My good old Swiss and Fossil is dying.

May it be the classic type...

Kenneth Cole New York Two-Tone Gunmetal Chronograph.  10,105 PhP.

The simple...

Kenneth Cole Reaction Round White Stitched Watch.  2,795 PhP.

Or the bold... smartphones, tablets and cameras aren't the only bunch which are going touch.

Kenneth Cole New York Digital Touch Screen Watch. 7,654 PhP.

4. Who wouldn't want a full-touch smartphone? These things keeps me up at night and sends me to a daydream as well, gotta have one of these!

If it's for the 12-megapixel camera... (preferably the dark grey one)

Nokia N8-00. 23,000 PhP.

If it's for the Apps Galore...

Apple iPhone 3GS 32GB. 26,000 PhP.

5. Lastly, I currently have a thing with speakers. If you know what I mean...

If I do have an iPhone or iPod...

Altec Lansing inMotion Kick. 5,590 Php.

And for our desktop PC, a nice combination I may say.

Altec Lansing Expressionist Plus. 4,300 PhP.

Or this stunner...

Altec Lansing Expressionist Bass. 5,590 PhP.

Whew... I'm so full right now... aren't these gadgets so tasty?

For a full range of specs and other products, see:
Sony Style, Nokia, Apple, Kenneth Cole and Altec Lansing.

I'm a loser baby.

While everyone else is falling in love I was failing to hopelessness. My inclination to finding a great love prevented me from looking for one. Caught myself looking in a wrong place, a time or two. Moreover, it was a bad timing. Over and over again, I doubted longevity.

I'm a loser.

Pier Roxas lost 8 days of his memory.

I came accross this ad in the daily The Philippine Star Fashion and Beauty section about the new Nokia N8 (which I want) with Smart Gold and how you can help bring Pier Roxas' 8 days of lost memory with 8 clues at hand. The contest is called Project Gener8! I love making stories and I love the phone so I said to myself, why not try making and sending one! Right on! So here I just want to share the story I did today! Enjoy!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Pier Roxas lost 8 days of his memory.

Pier was a spy for an underground agency for years now, and is doing a very good job. Definitely an asset. He embarked on a mission, his biggest to date, spying on a Energy business leader based in Manila and eventually to assassinate him.

After slumbering at his agency’s office somewhere in downtown Manila he headed out just like a normal day, but then he received a call from his Boss, giving him information and order to assasinate an Energy business leader. Day 1 started. First thing in the morning he'll drive to Subic and on the 8th day he will kill the Leader.

He immediately gathered logistics as he started his 2nd day of prep, in Subic. His GPS looked good, though it was not his first time there, apart from being tracked by his Headquarters, he needs to know the place very well.

Day 3 marked Pier’s movement. He disguised as an executive for an up-start energy conservation business. He got a quick acquaintance with the Church leader, in the Hotel lobby where the 5-day Sustainable Energy Congress will take place. He marked the leader 'seen' on his Nokia N8 and sent it to the Headquarters and went on to claim his hotel room card.

Pier didn’t waste any moment of his precious time, apart from assassinating the leader he needs to acquire a 'vital' information. Without the government’s knowledge, according to the Headquarter's intelligence report, Manila houses an Organization of underground intelligence on fossil oil reserve export and hoarding, a very, very, profitable venture. The Organization is trying to assume control of this venture and the Church leader is a vital part of this. At the 5th day of the Congress, every seated member of the Congress will vote for a 'upper hand organization' to steer the Energy business up to a so-called 'sustainable energy' for the future, but the Leader will oppose this, since they'll lose control of the business to the Subic counterpart. Subic spearheaded the sustainable energy efforts.

Pier managed to set a business meeting with the leader on the 4th day to get up-close. While conversing with the Leader, he got confused with his advocacies because it doesn't match the profile sent by his Headquarters, but he thought it was just a front. A close encounter is what he needs with the Leader, so he can copy the fingerprint, specifically the thumb mark, of the Leader. Thumb marks of the Energy leaders (members of the Congress) will signify their vote.

Pier had to get the thumb print, send it to the Headquarters for replication and vote for the Subic policy himself then kill the Leader as soon as possible.

He got the thumb print through his secretly installed sensor at the front cover of the binder he handed to the Leader to show his fake proposals for energy conservation.

On the 5th day, he changed his disguise as a tourist to further observe, then he unwind in a cheap bar in downtown Subic later that night.

At the bar, he met Georgina, a tourist, a gorgeous young lady, in floral pink, looking for a good time. They did have a good time.

The sixth day came with a bang, Pier woke up in a motel, sober but with a nagging headache, and found that Georgina had already left. It was already 12 noon and he hurriedly went to his hotel, took a bath and went to the site of the conference for a little familiarization. All the members and delegates are housed in the same hotel. The Leader addressed a speech about the Philippine's future and its Energy conservation participation towards sustainability.

That night he went back to the cheap bar to see if Georgina is around, but to no avail.

On the seventh day, Pier checked-out of the hotel and booked in a nearby hotel, then changed his disguise into a hotel boy and rounded the hotel, where the congress takes place, discretely.

He was all set.

The policy signing can happen anytime from now until 6PM of the 5th day of the Congress (Pier's 8th day). The tablets, where the Leaders will vote, have already been distributed and sent to their respective rooms. The Leaders can decide until 6PM of the next day, if he/ she agrees to the policy. Then at 7PM, the agreement's fate will be announced. It must be unanimous and it is clear that the Leader is a thorn to he treaty according to the intelligence report.

The replicated thumb mark was received by Pier in the afternoon.

8th day, Pier entered the Leader's room using his duplicated electronic key moments after the Leader had left. He looked for the package, took and opened it, but was startled by a figure standing in his peripheral view.

Georgina is standing by the door and said, "They are only using you, Pier. Save him.”

Pier smiled and said, “This is my job.”

“They will get rid of you after this.“she added.

Then the window slided open. Georgina is in an angle wherein no one can see her except Pier. Pier was puzzled because his Boss showed up and said, “Hand me the tablet.”

Georgina went for the tablet. Pier's Boss knocked out Georgina with a jolting device then picked up the tablet and immediately imprinted a thumb mark. The tablet's screen showed the words 'thank you' and immediately went off. Pier tried to ask his Boss about what's happening but his Boss stopped him and asked, "Do I have to take care of job?"

Pier responded, "I'll finish it." But at the back of his mind, he's got hesitations.

The Boss then replied, "Then clean this mess (looking at the woman lying on the floor) and kill." He then left.

Pier picked up Georgina and looked at her face and thought to himself, 'What the fuck am I going to do?'

Immediately, he lied Georgina on the bed and went to the hall where the Congress takes place.

On his way to the hall, he found his Boss targeting the Leader with a silenced revolver. He intercepted him, leaving them in a fist fight, since the revolver was thrown a few meters away. Pier received a good punch on his face, leaving a deep bruise. His Boss hissed, "I knew you weren't able to do it. The system is not perfect. The system is fucked up. You piece of trash."

The Boss then tried to reach for the gun but Georgina came into he scene and kicked the gun to Pier. It ended in a dramatic gun-fire, killing the Boss.

They immediately went to the hall and informed the Leader what happened.

Then they went off to the parking lot of the hotel and found out that his car was missing. They went to Georgina's auto. Pier took the wheel, paid the parking ticket, slid it in the front pocket of his shirt and fled the hotel and drove to Metro Manila. Georgina explained her part in the operation. The Boss was a renegade commander of the underground spy agency. He's been employed by one of the Business leaders of the Manila energy counterpart. Manila wants to maintain control of the energy business and the vote and death of the energy Leader, Pier was supposed to kill, is the key to the maintenance of their power.

At the stoplight, Pier received an SMS, he read it, is says: ‘8RENEG’.

Pier immediately had a seizure and and slept. Georgina picked up the phone and saw the SMS. She somewhat understood what happened. The phone rebooted, cleaning all the traces of Pier's whereabouts during his 8-day mission. Media files, locations, phonebook contacts and logs, etc. are all removed.  Quickly, she removed him from the driver's seat, accidentally dropping Pier's wallet on the car's floor, and drove off.

Georgina was left with no choice. She stopped in a pier along Roxas Boulevard, and thought long and hard. Pier is still in a deep sleep. She kissed Pier on the neck but it landed on his collar leaving a lipistick mark before dropping him off on the street. She left him there on broad daylight with his phone and drove away, fast.

Pier woke up with a painful bruise on his face, he can’t remember what happened, and all he could recall is he was in a bar, partying with friends. He searched for clues, he lost his wallet, got a lipstick smudge on his collar, a parking ticket dated yesterday, an electronic key of a hotel, and his cellphone with a Smart Gold SIM. “Was I mugged after hooking up?” he asked himself.

Pier Roxas lost 8 days of his memory.

He went home, and though he wants to alleviate the worries of his family he can’t, because he couldn’t remember anything.

Later that day, he went to a clinic to have himself checked for the bruise on his face and the unusual lapse in his memory. But then he received a text from an unknown number.

It says, ‘GENER8’.

In an instant, he remembered everything, even the gorgeous woman who is standing across the hall, of the clinic, smiling.

The woman walked towards him and purred, "I think this belongs to you (showing to him his wallet)."

End.

 

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You can join the contest too! Try these links!

www.nokia.com.ph/pierroxas

www.youtube.com/pierroxas

www.facebook.com/pierroxas

www.twitter.com/pierroxas

I still don’t know what to do

I’ve been feeling weird lately.

This thing has been bothering my confused mind, and heart, for quite some time now.

Should I not feel this towards you?

This isn’t surprising at all but it does puzzle me.

‘Till when can I stand this uncanny feeling that consumes half of my idle time?

Is this what I need?

Is this even real?

I can deny this, for all I care, but I’d be fooling myself.

I couldn’t believe time would come I’d come across this, with you.

It’s not far off but it never occurred to me that I’m still able, after all this and that.

It’s even near impossible.

I had my share.

I thought that was it, but no!

I have to connect the dots, collect the pieces, cross the labyrinth.

I must decipher this to clearly set the markers.

I don’t want to cross the border if it’s still blurry on the other side.

Because doing so would make me a fool.

Furthermore, I wouldn’t want to bother you and waste your time.

Testing the waters would be a total disrespect.

It’s unhealthy, not a work of a gentleman.

Ties could be broken no matter how tight they’re sewn.

I don’t want to risk it, for now.

Hope I’ll figure this out soon, ‘coz if I don't I might accidentally send unwanted signals.

Those would be the unsure but clear signs of could be and would be.

Though I’m good at hiding, I’m bad at lying.

So there, I still don’t know what to do.

STATUS: Invisible Man

You can hardly wait to tell all your friends
How his kisses taste sweet like wine
And how he always makes your heart skip a beat
Everytime he walks by

And if you're feeling down
He'll pick you up
He'll hold you close when you're making love
He's everything you been dreaming of, oh baby

I wish you'd look at me that way
Your beautiful eyes looking deep into mine
Telling me more than any words could say
But you don't even know I'm alive
Baby, to you all I am is the invisible man
Oh, you don't see me baby

You probably spend hours on the phone
Talking 'bout nothing at all
It doesn't matter what the conversation
Just as long as he calls

Lost in a love so real, and so sincere
And you'll wipe away other's tears
Your face lights up whenever he appears

I wish you'd look at me that way
Your beautiful eyes looking deep into mine
Telling me more than any words could say
But you don't even know I'm alive
Baby, to you all I am is the invisible man
Oh, you don't see me baby

I see you all the time baby
Huh, the way you look at him
I wish it was me, sweetheart
Boy, I wish it was me
But I guess...

I wish you'd look at me that way
Your beautiful eyes looking deep into mine
Telling me more than any words could say
But you don't even know I'm alive
Baby, to you all I am is the invisible man
Oh, you don't see me baby

Invisible Man performed by 98 Degrees, written by Steve Kipner, Sean Hosein and Dane Deviller.

Flower Penchant

I have a penchant in taking photos of flowers, I dunno they look so good in pictures. They are like models always readily posed for a snapshot. Of course they look so good in Macro mode with the blurred background and all, coinciding with the aperture and white balance, those sort of things that i kind of understand, but not completely. But the thing that catches me about these are the colors. I'm mystified by the variety of reds, yellows and blues. These photos were taken when I had a vacation in Northern Mindanao (CDO/ Iligan/ Bukidnon/ Camiguin). Dig in!

In the Limelight

Race to the Top



Among the Beauties



Yellow Me, Yellow You

Bloody Red



Pink Flora Salad

Soft Beauty Rising Above the Thorns

"My Home" -Black Ant

Sunflower Galore

Purple Frenzy

Scourned Survivor

As Pure As White

The Pink that Bloomed the Best

Almost There

Tres Marias

"C'mon Brother, do the deed!"

Strikingly Gorgeous

You and Me Against the World