Saturday. June 13. 14:33
As of the moment I am at the balcony of my grandmother’s house at Tarlac. Man it sure is boring here especially when you don’t know the place and you have no internet. I can’t check my Facebook and my Twitter and I cannot update my blog. Oh well. I am typing in advance so when it’s time to post it on my blog I got tons to talk about.
It’s June already and a lot of students are going to have classes on Monday, June 15 2009. Lucky ducks having their time at school already, while me? I am going to have to enjoy a bit of vacation more. July is my time to work already. OJT LOL. Anyway, summer vacation has come and gone. School day is back, along with the endless rain though. I love rain but not this much.
A lot of my friends have been asking me how my summer vacation was. My answer? Non-Productive. LOL. Since April started all I get to do was to take care of my sisters because they arrived a month earlier than my parents. I had to do all the chores and shit. Krizzia, my 2nd sibling enrolled at UST and she is taking up the course Pre-COM. She wanted to take Entrepreneurship as a major. That’s her choice. LOL.
Side note: My uncle just disturbed me. He is such a BIG ASS.
Back to the topic.
That’s what my April consist of. Baby sitting and being a slave to my sisters. LOL. Now may come at last! I thought it was my freedom. BUT NO! My mom and dad arrived and it was much more slavery. LOL. But not much I guess since we cleaned the house as perfectly as we can. *Except for the bathroom because it sucks to clean the bathroom. LOL* having my parents here was a different feel. Since during the past vacations only my Mom was here and everything was a bit light and easy going. No pressure. I guess because I, my mom and my other siblings were all close.
But my dad was here too. Having him around was a big pressure. A lot of screaming and hot tempered answers were a pressure to us, especially me; I hate being screamed at and scornful stares. He never changed everything he says has to be screamed to us like he hates us. No wonder we were never close to him because he never gave us a chance to talk to him like he was a family. I look at him as a person. That’s it. There are times when I don’t want to consider him as a father at all. He was a dictatorial father. A Nazi like leader. We are mere pawns of control in his eyes. But he is still my father. My biological father. I can do nothing but understand him. He sent us to school when we were kids. He earned money to feed our mouth. No matter what kind of person he is. I still love him all because he is our father. The bread winner. Dad, happy father’s day to you.
On to the topic at hand. My vacation.
Enchanted Kingdom. May 30.
Disappointing day indeed. Even before we arrived I was disappointed already. My dad got the wrong directions and we were supposed to go to Taft Avenue then go to Buendia Boulevard to ride the bus to Laguna. BUT NO. He did not listen to me, insisting that we can find a bus at Taft. Ugh. I let him decide and waited for him to call his best friend Uncle Hombre to tell him his mistake. Voila. Pop shot luck, uncle Hombre called and told him. Off to Buendia and we rode the bus to Laguna. Ugh. What a looonnngggg bus ride. It was raining, the road was congested much and I was hungry. I got no choice but to sleep it out. Luckily Lianne was there to comfort me and help me calm down. I got anger issues I got it from my dad. LOL. After the excruciating trip we finally arrived at Balibago; we dropped off at Walter mart and we waited there for Uncle Hombre. My sisters, my mom, my mom’s friend and Lianne went to the bathroom. I went to the other entrance and lit a stick up. Just to ease my anger up. I don’t want my dad to see me smoke. I guess it is much of a shame for me to let him see me smoke even though he knows. After waiting for 6 minutes, Uncle Hombre arrived and we went to his place to eat lunch. Not your typical extravagant lunch. Knowing Uncle lives alone and a bachelor. He cooked fried chicken, hot dog and pork steak. I know how he feels because when I was living alone, I cook the exact same meal. LOL. We had a bit of chat and after eating at his place we took a tricycle ride to Enchanted Kingdom. Finally EK, but the fucking rain won’t stop. After getting our tickets, we immediately went inside and bought 3 umbrellas. Because of the rain some of the rides weren’t working at all. They had to wait for the rain to stop in order for them to activate the rides. The first amusement ride we rode was the Rialto. It sucked beyond words of disappointment. I can’t even describe how disappointing it was. It was a nice ride when you think about it but, the movie sucked. LEGO RACER AND NOT MUCH ACTION! BOOORRIINNNGGG! >.<>
Side note: Turn On WP and now playing P.O.T. – Panaginip.
The rain continued to pour down and I was getting a bit tired from walking around. *having no sleep before a big trip is a bummer* After Rialto, My girlfriend and sisters was insisting on riding Rio Grande. Okay? We went in and left my phone with my parents. LOL. The line was fucking hilarious. There were some kids who looked like they were in the ride for like 50 times. Wet, greasy and smelled like…*zip it*. Honestly. There were some even who went in wearing raincoats. I can’t resist but to laugh at it. LOL. But like any ride, the line was so frickin long. When it was our turn already I immediately saw the green water of Rio Grande. I was stunned *and grossed out* WHO WOULD RIDE THAT!? Then I realized, I was one of the many who thought the same thing. LOL. So in we go. Ride the wave! But lo and behold! I was extremely grossed out by the water. Green, and slimy. After seeing someone spit there, I won’t ride that shit again. >.<
After that ride, I was toughed out. I wanted to shoot something before I leave. But crap. It was already dark. LOL. So I brought out Magnolia *yes my 400d got a name.* and started clicking. It was tough to shoot in the dark when you carried only a kit lens. Not to mention it was raining too. I got the shots I wanted and it was great. *Lianne and my sisters were still at the rides though*
So after the rides and amusement. It was time to go home. I was so effing tired and shit. All I could think of was my bed and my pillows.
During the whole trip I guess the bus trip home was the most fun one. We were watching a movie at the bus *one of my favorite buses by the way* It was an old movie and It was fucking hilarious. It was about a clumsy scientist who studied animal shit to determine their certain traits. And he fell in love with a girl he once picked up for a friend. He picked her up in an old beaten up 4x4. LOL. It shouldn’t stop because if he did, he can’t start it again, it had no brakes, and it was all in all shit. LOL.
That movie made my night. LOL
June 5 American Embassy.
Around April 20 our dad told us that we are scheduled for an interview at the US Embassy for our Visit Visa. I was personally surprised because it was so sudden and I didn’t expect it. Suddenly, I thought “NO MY FUCKING HAIR WILL BE CUT FOR THIS EVENT!” Eventually, yeah it happened. I got a fucking haircut to appear decent. I miss my long hair now. If my dad wasn’t so traditional when it comes to our hairs I would have a chin length hair by now. FUCK. Anyhow that would be compensated because I’ll be getting a piercing on my eyebrow on the 20th. HAHAHA. And no stopping me now! LOL!
The night of June 4, everyone at our home was in a state of excitement or panic. I couldn’t tell. My dad was checking our files and requirements if it was complete. My mom was in the room ironing our clothes. My sisters were chattering, I was on the laptop chatting with my friends.
Side note: my sister disturbed me with one of her stupid tripping. She combed a mannequin head and did its hairstyle.
Anyhow. June 4th I found out that we were not allowed to bring our cell phone, and any electronics. I was stupefied. What the fuck would I be doing at the American Embassy then? Chew on my toenails? UGH! I slept the thought out thinking it’s just going to be a day of total nomad life. I woke up much later than everyone, as expected of me. I took a bath ahead of everyone so I won’t be blamed for being late. Our schedule for our interview was around 1:30 in the afternoon. It was 9:30. After taking a bath, I immediately ate my breakfast. Put on my clothes. A white polo, grey corduroy and my walking shoes. Just your typical look at my clothes. We left around 10:10 and the clock was smiling at us. We took an FX all the way to Kalaw Avenue and took a cab all the way to the US Embassy. If it were me, I’d be walking all the way from Kalaw. Arriving at the Embassy we were confronted by a queue that inspects our papers. After going through that we went in and got our interview number. After getting our interview number we waited a bit and took our turn at the finger printing registry. My dad was up first. Then my mom and finally me. I was asked for my name and birth date. Casual. Gave my name and birth date, then she asked me to put my right hand first. No problem. Left hand next, big problem. My left hand’s pinky was hardly sensed by the damn machine. All because I have no fingerprint there anymore. My pinky got burned badly in an oven freak accident causing my fingerprint to disappear. She even asked me if I got a pinky finger, I said “Yeah?” She was a Filipina and she was in her 40’s. She was very nice to make a joke out of my demise. Yeah. After that we went ahead and waited for our turn at our greatest fear.
Side note: Just took a dump. Kare-Kare, Sisig and Pinaupong Manok is not good for the toilet seat.
Waiting for our turn was excruciating. In the interview area you get to see a lot of the drama up front and live. There was this girl who was crying because she wanted to see her father because he was not able to see him for quite a long time now, she was sitting beside me. Then there was this one old lady, and when I say old, 80’s old. She also wanted to see a relative of hers. Refused. Heartless bastard consul on window 4. Kick his ass when you can. Avoid alert. It was quite a while, we were getting restless. I really didn’t care whatever happened I just wanted to get out of the than place. Then I and my sister noticed 8 more digits before our number. Tension was up, and between me and my sister? You’d know how tense we were. We were making jokes and laughing. There was one time that we were playing a scenario where she’d be the consul and I’d be the interviewee.
Me: “Good afternoon sir! I’m Bernard Exevea”
Sister: “Good afternoon Bernard. I am Joe. What is your purpose of visit to the states?”
Me: “Pleasure sir. I just want to go to Disney land and kick Mickey’s ass.”
Sister: “*Stamp* you will be getting your passport after a week. Approved.”
I know, corny. But I found it funny if the consul doing the interview for us would be named Joe. Unfortunately, SHE wasn’t named Joe.
Then after the laughs, PING! It was our turn now. Tension really is up with my family. Me? I was a bit nervous. It’s not like this is the first interview I have been into. It may be a big interview, but it’s no different from any other interview I have been to.
There was the consul; she was in front of us. First of all she checked who those mentioned on the list was. Then she asked my Dad and Mom what’s the purpose of our visit to the states. Pleasure. To visit our Uncle at California. Then she asked how much they are earning per month. *CENSORED*
Then she called forth for me and my sister Krizzia.
Why did I choose HRM?
Duh.
Obvious answer. I want to open up my own restaurant someday.
If my parents were at Jeddah the whole duration of my college life, who was I living with?
Alone. I did everything and every responsibility on my own.
I have been asked these questions before so they are not new to me. But being the eldest son and the one graduating soon. I was in the hot seat for quite a while.
It was pressure really, but I always think it is just an interview. She asks questions, I give honest answers. That was it.
Finally she was done asking questions. Approved.
10 Years Multiple Entries. Oh how happy my mom and my dad was. This is the ticket to our good life outside this god forsaken country.
June 6 2009. Swimming trip to Laguna.
YES! Afterwards the interview we went to Laguna to swim. I expected it to be a fun swim because Lianne was coming and so do Caesar and his girlfriend Mara. Too bad Jemuel, Tom and Kim was not able to come. It would become a Landas Swimming Party then.
Side note: I miss my Landas family. I miss jamming with the boys and girl. LOL. Next gig is gonna ba a big blast for everyone’s ears. We have prepared some tasty songs and beats for all of you.
8am June 6, I was still sleeping. But Caesar was already there. Way too excited Caesar FTW! LOL. Anyhow, Lianne woke me up to take a bath already and I was up taking a shit ass cold bath. I was shaken by the cold water. Scrap cold, FREEZING water. After that I fixed my clothes up, putted them in a bag along with my ever trusty laptop. Brought my mini conga because Caesar failed to bring my bongo’s which I always leave at our Jam room at their place. After everyone got ready. Off to the Jeepney! Yes, we rode a Jeepney all the way to Laguna from Caloocan.
Before we proceeded, we picked up Kuya Teng and Ate Ody at FCM, Tita Ping and Family, and Mara at Diliman. After picking them up. The game was afoot. But the traffic stopped us dead on our tracks. LOL.
After the excruciating trip to Laguna we arrived around 2:30 pm at the place. It was great! Very secluded, quiet area. After dropping the stuff off to our room, me and Caesar jumped into the pool ahead of everyone. It had a Jacuzzi which kicked ass! But the pool was 8 feet deep. It was really scary to swim knowing I only know basic swimming and I was not even a good swimmer. But what the hell! After hours of swimming with the best people of my life, I had a great time. It is rare where me, Lianne, my best buds Caesar and Mara; even though the rest was not there. We still had a fun time. Swimming all afternoon and enjoying a vodka and a cigarette at the Jacuzzi at night. That was a life. Even if it was temporal.
After our first day at the place, we woke up early and as always I was last to get up. Seldom do I sleep like there was no tomorrow. LOL. We ate breakfast then it was back to the pool! Yey! After the pool me and Caesar enjoyed a hot summer basketball shootout at the court. Yes! I played basketball! I suck at it. LOL. Too bad Lianne had to leave early, and Edwin picked her up. Sad.
It was 3pm in the afternoon and we had to pack up and go back to Manila. Back to the never ending problems in real life. The trip home was VERY CONGESTED with TRAFFIC. Traffic on a fucking Sunday!? Unbelievable. The jeepney driver was temperamental too. Asswipe driver. But he was a kickass driver. Calling a MMDA official “KUPAL!” He won my respect. LOL
After going through with the pasalubong we dropped everyone off to their houses and we went home. Tiring but fun. :D
Landas. All Vacation.
As the summer passed on, I was driven to study percussions. Only for fun, It was a great meditation moment for me whenever I play my percussions. Soon afterwards, Caesar invited me to play for Landas as their percussionist. All summer I was developing skills on my percussion playing, and I am proud to say I have grown from a mere beat making bongocero to a full blown percussionist. I now play percussions for Landas, mainly playing the bongo, djembé and the cowbells. I have never been into their music since I have been into punk bands like Authority and Shuboxx. Even though I miss playing with my previous bandmates, we all have to move on and learn more. I am thankful I met these guys.
Caesar, the lazy bum of the band. I knew him way ahead of the others aside from Jem. He was a curly top and not your usual person. Some may see him as a Kupal or Epal. But for me, it’s just plainly him being him. I pay respects to whatever he is the same as he pay respects to what I am. During times of being alone and depressed he was there for me. He is the Guitarist and Lyrics writer of the band. Kick ass when he is on the guitar.
Jemuel. Jem? I knew him since HS days. He was a bandmate of mine in Authority. He was a friend till death do us part guy for me. I confide most of my problems to him and he willingly listens. One of the few real friends of mine. He plays bass for Landas and slowly he is gaining greatness and fame for it. He is improving slowly but surely. Unlike me who blasts myself with lots of lessons and gaining what I need. He is one of those greatest friends that are rare to come by. I love this virgin. Even though we tease him a lot because of that, I still care for him.
Tom. The hunkachunksweetloverdrummer of Landas. He is the younger brother of Caesar. And we both get along not only because we share the same passion for music and instrument but we also share a lot of same interests. Vic Mercado of the future dude. We both love Horror flicks.
Kim. She’s my neighbor. A kick ass vocalist. Listening to her sing will shake your ears and cause ERLSS. Extremely Redundant Last Song Syndrome. LOL. *I made that up* She is a nice person and very sweet too. She likes Mexicans and Spanish dudes. Not one of the aforementioned? Forget it. RAFA <3
Mara. The groupie? LOL. Back then when I was not a member of the band yet, I was the roadie and Mara was the groupie. Once of the true and nicest friend of mine. She holds firm and true to whatever she says. Fun to be with and VERY FUN to drink with. LOL. Piercings and tattoo? Not a reason to judge this person. True to the bone this person is. *yoda mode* A cum laude of UST CFAD.
That’s Landas for you all. Catch Us on our gigs.
It took me a whole day to type this blog. As I am still at my grandma’s house at Tarlac. I am currently sitting at one of the balconies of this 4 floor house. Enjoying a good stoke and music from Kjwan. Listening to the tricycles moving to and fro on the road. We have been here since yesterday and all we did was stay at my grandma’s house and drink. LOL. It’s fun being with my uncles on my mom’s side. All they care for is a simple life. Drinking and enjoying the company of their brothers and sisters, no matter how hard life is they never fail to smile. That’s how each person should be. Simple and down to earth. Not too materialistic, Not too surrealistic.
Today, June 14 2009. Jem’s 21st birthday. Happy birthday to you Jem. Landas Family loves you no matter what and who you are. You are still the best Jemuel we know. No one will replace you, no one can ever take your place. In times of need you can rest assured that me, Caesar, Kim, Mara, Tom and Lianne will be here to listen to you. No matter what tough phases we go through. Our music will go through every problem you face. Be proud my brother. For you are better than what you think you are. We love you Jem. I personally mean that till the day I lay to my grave. Three cheers to 8 years of friendship and 21 years of age! More gigs to come, hopefully a record and more enjoying times with you.
I am now officially beat. 8 pages worth of blog on my Microsoft Word. Soon to be posted.
Signing out.
Burnz
End. June 14 2009. 00:01
PS. June 14 2009. 11:45
It is our last day at my grandma’s house. As of the moment I have taken my bath and I am ready to go. It has been a fun weekend being here. Sadly we have to go back and face reality in a while. It sucks when times like these happen. Family getting separated by distances. It makes me sad to see my mom cry because she will miss her family. On Friday it might be the same scene. My mom, dad and my youngest sister have to go back to Jeddah. Me and Krizzia will be left at our home to finish our studies. Such saddening times really. I am missing the times when our family still eats together and watches movies together.
Signing out.
Burnz
June 14 2009. 11:46.
