2010 Christmas Wishlist

It's that time of the year again guys, when our materialistic genes are alive and well and demanding for expensive items.

Junkyardkid's Best Songs of 2010

It has been a pretty interesting year in finding new music. Here are my 10 favorite songs from 2010 - the year Sufjan Stevens decided to use auto-tune.

Graffiti Manila Style

I passed by Intramuros this weekend and discovered that they already painted over the walls with new graffiti.

Bobblehead

Our Most Brilliant Friends

A Day Without May Kasahara

Sometimes life forces us to learn lessons the hard way.

It was more than my face dripping with blood, a part of me wanted to completely give up on humanity. Cruelty in exchange for trivial things, that's how low some people are willing to go. I felt so betrayed.

I'd rather die than have another human being suffer for my wellness. How these people go through life guilt-free is beyond me.

Your hometown is not necessarily a home. It's literally a dog-eat-dog world out there. No one is safe.

Stick To The List, Kid

I've decided to put a stop to my impulsive shopping habit so I came up with a list of things I'm allowed to buy. I figured it's time to save up for bigger things like a car, or a nose job.

(1) Baseball Jacket. I had an obsession with jackets and hoodies ever since I started earning money, which is ridiculous 'cause it's practically summer all year round in this city. I've been looking for baseball/letterman jackets ever since I saw Jones on Life Unexpected wearing it.

(2) Check Shirts. I really should start investing on dress shirts since all my clothes are too casual. I'd like to get those two gingham shirts and the hooded black and white.

(3) Topman Carrot Jeans. Dying to get a pair ever since it came out last year.

(4) 23:23 Black Hoop Jox. I grew up during the late 90s-early 2000s MTV era so I have this tendency to dress a bit boyband music video-ish. Those are actually sweatpants.

(5) Paul Frank Earphones. I'm currently using this in-ear Phillips which I admit I bought solely because of the color, and it has this weird noise isolation thing where sound from your surroundings are actually reduced but I hear things (like my footsteps or my heartbeat when it's really quiet) as if it's a stethoscope. I don't think we have these here so I'll probably ask friends or cousins from HK or SG to buy and ship it for me.

(6) Style Impact Buckled Laced-up Boots. Literally drooled when I saw these on YesStyle, but I'm not sure if I'm willing to pay $200 for it. Why are men's shoes so expensive? It's so unfair.

(7) High-Top Sneakers. I'd love to get a pair of these as alternative to those laced-up boots. I'm choosing between the Black Supra Society or ISNOM White High-Tops.

(8) Union Jack Wall Decor. Just 'cause.

I need to stick to this list and avoid unnecessary shopping*. Self-control, fighting!

* Sale items not included.

Random Stuff #003

Trying not to make this week's Random Stuff post a list of new things I bought. Here goes:

(1) New shoes! This one's from Aldo, I was seduced by the humongous I Heart Sale banner in front of their store. I paid P1200 (50% off) for this pair, and it gave me blisters. Wore this during Manila Design Week. Horrified to see another guy wearing the same pair at Cubao X (Yeye pointed the guy out to me) so I just said, lamang naman ako sa kanya naka-RRJ lang sya na t-shirt. Hee~

(2) New shoes, part two. Fell in love with the color. Zara, P2,990. I just had to get it before Marvin Alejandro sees it. We have this I saw it first thing going on.

(3) Charcoal Black Vest Hoodie. 21 Men, P1,200. Thought it was a bit expensive for a vest.

(4) Spent the weekend playing Megaman X8 on Playstation! Some enemy stages were frustrating, especially Man-o-War's. Had fun using Zero and his Sigma Sword. LOL that sounded dirty.

(5) Been watching a lot of tvN lately and got hooked with Bad Girls' Diary, a reality series similar to The Simple Life. I love Amy's hair! It's in Korean so I rely heavily on the subtitles to find out what's happening. At first I thought Amy was suffering from amnesia but then she went to a sleeping clinic. LOL turns out it's just insomnia. Subtitle fail.

(6) Great ukay finds this week. Got this bright orange Cat hoodie and (7) Doodle Hearts hoodie for only P150!

The Bananadrew Project

The first edition of The Bananadrew Project went to the Manila Design Week event at Cubao X! Sadly, I got drunk on my first hour and lost the banana's face. Not to mention the spare banana I had in my bag got mashed all over my things.

I hope we made bananadrew proud. xoxo, junkyardkid and marbelous

What We Learn In School

What's In My Bag

Going later to Manila Design Week's What's In Your Bag presented by Bratpack and decided to make my own what's in my bag post.

(1) Rayban Wayfakers, P50 from Carriedo. I know some people are like, your eyes are fine stop wearing glasses you're just trying to look hipster-y cool, and I'm like, whatever I have the right to accessorize get over it.
(2) Sunglasses from 21 Men
(3) Coin Purse / Condom Holder from Team Manila. loljk
(4) House key. And yes, that's a Lego keychain.
(5) Pen and a Sharpie. So I can write my enemy's phone number on bathroom stalls.
(6) Nokia E75. I love the sliding QWERTY keypad.
(7) Striped wallet from Topman. It's anorexic thin right now 'cause I just bought new shoes. Hee~
(8) Umm a phone charger.
(9) iPod and earphones. Probably the only item in my bag I cannot live without. Also, a splitter in case I accidentally meet my future <3 so we can listen to my iPod together~
(10) Conan the Canon 1000D! I really should get that infrared thing + remote and 50mm lens before the year ends.
(11) Nivea Soft Intensive Moisturizing Cream. The rules of skin care are simple and finite!
(12) Bench Fix Clay-Doh. It's cheap and it does the job. I used to buy this hair wax from Beauty Bar that makes my hair smell citrus-y, but it costs around Php400.
(13) Pills Container. That's where I keep my Vitamin E gel capsules.
(14) Office ID. I started wearing them 'cause the new guard started harrassing me again. So annoying.
(15) Latest book I bought 'cause it was on sale and the cover is pretty!
(16) Cheap notebook. Not gonna waste my money on a Moleskine, just so I can repeatedly write John Foster wants to hurt Effy all over it.

In The Hood

I borrowed my sister's bike (mine needs tire replacement) last saturday and pedaled myself around Manila. I was aimlessly biking around Luneta when I thought of looking for the graffiti walls inside Intramuros.

Luckily the skaterboys were on the other side. Self-portrait time!

(Larger Photos on Flickr)

I don't know where to go next weekend. Any suggestions?

Sunday Morning

Lazing around all day, watching reruns of random Gilmore Girls episodes while in bed. Perfect weekend.

Random Stuff #002

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Postcards From Galera

My weekend: a quick two day trip at Puerto Galera with my friend Anthony. Took the bus going to Batangas Port at 3 in the morning to catch the first trip of the Blue Penguin going to White Beach.

Upon reaching the shore, we were greeted by locals waving welcome signs just like in airports! I love how people from our provinces are so warm and hospitable, although I find it annoying when they approach you every five minutes offering you things. A group of women with the words "massuese" on their shirts kept on walking around asking people to avail of their massage service. Lola, I'm sorry but you're ruining my lying-in-the-sand moment here.

Like in Manila, we also had the sunny one minute, raining the next unpredictable kind of weather, so I couldn't bring my camera out of the cottage. Ninety-eight percent of the crowd were Koreans, so I didn't get to experience the stories I hear about Galera.

This trip was pretty quick to plan, and not to mention cheap (around Php2k) so I'm probably going back in a few months. I just wish they start to strictly implement safety measures on the boat. They didn't even distribute the life vests to everyone.

Fun weekend! Crossing my fingers I get to visit Coron (sans jellyfishes) this August.

Quick notes:

• Hot abs on the fire poi guy!
• Friendster pose on the last photo on the third set LOL I'm sorry~

My Favorite Covers

Here's a compilation of my favorite cover songs. I skipped the punk covers and the flashy Britney / Lady Gaga covers. Okay, so maybe I included one Britney cover, heehee~

Didn't have time to edit the cover more. I was trying to copy an Arctic Monkeys album cover. Darn. Anyway, here are the songs:

1. Goldspot - Float On (Modest Mouse)

2. Clem Snide - Beautiful (Christina Aguilera)

3. Sugababes - I  Bet You Look Good On The Dancefloor (Arctic Monkeys)

4. Jon Auer - Beautiful Stranger (Madonna)

5. Florence and the Machine - Postcards From Italy (Beirut)

6. Lucid Evening Sky - The Fox In The Snow (Belle and Sebastian)

7. The Twilight Singers - Hyperballad (Bjork)

8. David Usher - Fast Car (Tracy Chapman)

9. Norman Palm - Girls Just Wanna Have Fun (Cyndi Lauper)

10. Anya Marina - Whatever You Like (TI)

11. Timo Raisanen - Creep (Radiohead)

12. Jonsi - Time To Pretend (MGMT)

13. Athlete - With Every Heartbeat (Robyn)

14. Feist - Secret Heart (Ron Sexsmith)

15. Blue Fringe - Do You Realize (The Flaming Lips)

16. The Frames - Everytime (Britney Spears)

17. Quincy Coleman - Bridge Over Troubled Water (Simon and Garfunkel)

Download (82MB)

Uy, So Galeng!

New people, new experiences: photowalk with Bonnapart Galeng, Stanley So And Ryan Uy. Funny how you can make a (slightly conyo) sentence from their surnames.

I was late (I remember texting Ryan at around 9AM and then fell asleep) so I missed their Intramuros trip. I've been wanting to go to that street with the awesome wall graffiti. Also, we tried the sampaguita ice cream at Illustrado. Well, it tastes exactly like sampaguita, so I'm recommending you just buy the flower and put it in your mouth if you want to save ninety pesos.

Also, I got lost in Binondo. LOL

Anyway, just took random photos outside the restaurant, and shot some textures for possible future use. Looking forward to more photowalks (and sidewalk shopping) with these guys.

Curl Up In Bed

Here's my If I lay here, would you lie with me and just forget the world playlist. (for Elisa @kissmybleep)

Random Stuff #001

(1) I wore a bowtie to work last monday and my boss laughed at me. What's with the bowtie, said the guy who wears flourescent orange dri-fit shirts to department meetings.

Please forgive the pouting. That's the only decent photo I took that day.

(2) How our building's security guards greet me based on what I'm wearing:

• Formal long sleeves: Good Morning sir!
• Basic shirt, jeans, sneakers: Dedma
• Low V-Neck, rolled sleeves, skinny jeans, Supra: Boy, san ka pupunta? ID mo?

I could just wear my ID everyday if I want to put an end to this, but nah. Although it's a little offensive when they think I look like a thug.

(3) I finally own a camera bag! My sister bought it last Christmas but she ended up using a larger bag for her SLR so she gave it to me. So stoked to have this bag 'cause before I just wrap my camera with a scarf or stick it inside a hat. Conan has found a new home.

(4) I normally hate cab drivers making small talk (commute is iPod time - hello!), but last monday's cab creeped me out.  It was almost midnight and it was drizzling, the driver was awfully silent (not even coughing or grunting, I had to check on him twice if he's still breathing) and wearing gloves, and his radio was tuned in to a station playing music for the sixty year olds. The atmosphere was very Murder Mystery Special on the CI channel. I felt like at any moment the driver will pull out a knife and stab me. I suddenly realized weather-conversation-crazy cab drivers are better than the Boo Radley ones. Larger tip if they don't start talking about politics.

(5) Am I the only one cringing at the new Tim Yap Greenwich ad?

The Future Freaks Me Out

The first minutes of Cougartown's pilot (horrible TV show title, if you ask me, as horrible as my post title) included Jules (Courteney Cox) inspecting her naked body in front of the mirror for signs of aging. I was laughing initially, but when she started squeezing her 40 year old belly I realized I spend five minutes in front of my mirror everyday doing the same thing. I actually had a pretty decent midsection during the mid-2000s (the sole product of 2005's gym days when I actually worked out and refrained from seducing gymbunnies at the locker room), but it has gotten out of shape over the years. I can't even get myself to post an after shot to go with the photo I posted above. Anyway, I tuned out the rest of the pilot, and started wondering how it feels like to be forty.

Sadly I can't predict my own future, but at least I can tell you the things I'm planning to exclude from it. For starters, this guy ain't getting married. Na-ah. I was hoping to have a kid, though it's a little tricky to execute - it includes a drunk girl and a turkey baster. Oh, and come to think of it, something to blackmail her for the entire duration of her pregnancy.

Also, I realized I am not a firm believer of a "life partner." I mean, if someone comes along then I might go for it, but I've been too jaded (this is also why I rarely reblogged those wordarts) to even try to date someone seriously. It's kind of preparing for the worst, although I don't find eternal singlehood awful at all - I mean that's what urban family is for. Just last week, a kitten chased me for a full block, and when I stopped walking (fearing I might step on him - or her, for some reason little girls tend to miss the gay vibe, who says kittens are exempted from faulty gaydars) he proceeds to rub his face against my shoe. Plus, an entire family of cats camp out on our doorstep every night, and I'm the only single resident in our house. Those are probably signs, right?

You might think I'm crazy for worrying about how my forties will turn out when I'm only 26, but I already spent most of my life not worrying about things. Last night on our drive back from a family reunion, my sister and her husband were arguing about how some dreams are unattainable and that we should all start being realistic. I kind of agreed with my sister's Don't-Stop-Believing attitude, but I didn't want to butt in so I just closed my eyes and pretended I was asleep. I'm a big dreamer just like my sister, and I feel like I need to rally for the next few years to make up for all the lost years I kept telling myself I'm finding out who I am when in reality I'm just too lazy to move forward.

The world spins madly on.

Old Parking Lots

Something To Yahoo! About

I rarely check my Yahoo! Mail nowadays. I switched to Gmail four years ago and for some reason I forgot (well, more like never bothered) to send a generic Hey-I-changed-emails-update-your-address-books message to everyone. The only important emails I get there are from my aunts and uncle residing in California asking for help with their computers, and when they email they usually call too. It kind of defeats the purpose of email, but at least I get to hear their voices once in a while.

This morning I got a call from my Tita Leng, asking me to upload something on her Facebook. Then my dad asked me why I haven't checked my email, and he was like, did you know your cousin won $50 dollars from your Tito Tom? And I was like, wait, what?

Apparently, they started this Name Our Grandson contest. They even give out clues and there's a deadline. The only thing missing is Vanna White flipping letters. Who knew our family was this fun?

No one won the grandson name round. There were a bunch of questions about some gemstones that I also missed. Damn, I could've easily beaten my cousins if only I knew about it. I obviously have far superior Googling powers than them. And who are we kidding, that's $50! I recently paid P4500 for a non-refundable, non-transferable round trip plane ticket to Hongkong that I can't use because DFA won't renew my passport until September. Hard times!

So cousins better bring their A-game. A new challenger just entered the competition. Fight!

Weekend Round-up

My three-day weekend (Pasig Day, Yay) in bullets.

Friday

• Topman Galleria Private Sale with Dave
• Greenbelt with Drew and Marvin
• Froyo at Qoola - we never go out without hitting a froyo store. Never thought I'd be one of those froyo people, 'cause when it hit Manila last year I was like, what's the big deal it's just like ice cream right?
• Timezone - Air Hockey, Gogo Balls, Videoke! Wanted to sing Wannabe with Drew but the songbank didn't have it so we settled for M2M's The Day You Went Away. Creepy guy opened our booth, but when we saw his face it was elephantonadiet! LOL
• More shopping, talking, making plans. We're planning to hit Greenhills / Cubao / Anonas next month, and watch the UAAP-CDC together: UST (Marvin) VS UP (Drew, me) haha I know right? It's gonna be a bloodbath.

Saturday

• Sorted out my closet. That included lining up my shirts in a ROYGBIV manner. Realized I have way too many clothes I think I can last three months without doing the laundry. I shop when I'm upset, so if you put all my clothes in a bag and weigh it, that's how heavy my emotional baggage is.
• Finished the last few episodes of Brothers and Sisters.
• Decided to watch Heathers (copy from Drew) but fell asleep halfway through, partly because I can't get rid of the German subtitle that came with the copy. Or probably because it was already four in the morning.

Sunday

• Woke up to the sound of glasses breaking. Our neighbor's cat managed to sneak in our kitchen and accidentally knocked the glasses off the counter.
• Mom was so furious 'cause the glasses were those Coca-Cola one from McDonald's (IDK why she's so obsessed with them) so my dad was like, okay let's all go out and eat at McDonald's so we can replace those glasses. :| Insanity is a daily staple in our family.
• Played Gradius V for hours. I was able to get through five stages and managed to get past that asteroids stage my brother couldn't finish 'cause "its too damn hard." Hah, finally beat you brother.

So it was a pretty dull weekend, I admit, but huge improvement compared to last week's moping around in bed for two days listening to Antony and the Johnsons (and Spice Girls' Viva Forever). That prompted me to make a curl-up-in-bed playlist but it's quickly turning into a suicide soundtrack. Eeep.

Good Boys Go Shop

Went to the Topman Galleria private sale today with LookBook guy David Guison. He got a navy blue blazer for only P999! Indiebon was also there, looking for striped shirts. Long crazy line at the dressing rooms. The vintage slim jeans I bought felt a little skinny.

Totally stole the middle photo from Dave's tweetpics LOL. After the sale, I went to Greenbelt to hangout with Drew and Marvin. Finally saw Drew's crazy model haircut, I am so envious. Did the usual things: froyo, Timezone, a lot of walking around.

Notice anything? Haha. Had fun today! Love these guys!

GPOYW: Punch My Face Edition

Last night I was wondering if I can still do GPOYW (Gratuitous Photo of Yourself Wednesdays) even if I already left Tumblr, and people (and by people I mean @bestintensions) were like Anong paki ng Tumblr. Hahaha. @aeios where's your GPOYW?

Those glasses are so Sam Sparro, I wish they were rounder though. This was shot inside the office bathroom - I had to sneak in my tripod and my camera while no one was looking. Hahaha.

Cycling Trivialities

So friends lang tayo pag may lakad? Lol sad but true

When I first read that tweet I didn't think it was for me, I even retweeted it and added This better not be us. It was later that day when I saw him replying to everyone's tweets except mine when I realized he was referring to me.

One big slap in the face.

Friendships naturally bloom in time, and it revolves around the concept of selflessly being there and not questioning one's intentions just because of some unreplied text messages that said "Hi" or "Good afternoon." I've done favors for him too, possibly more laborious than the favors he's claiming I asked him to do,  but I never asked for anything particular in return and I never thought he was using me or anything. A simple thank you is enough.

Ending a connection with someone wasn't an easy decision but I figured it was probably for the best. For me it was being tired of putting up with unnecessary drama between friends. And I don't think I can be friends again with someone who thinks of me that way.

Sometimes, you get to choose the friendships you keep - this time I choose the ones that thrive without complications.

TV Shows Checklist Part Two

• Grey’s Anatomy (6 episodes)
• Gossip Girl (2 episodes)
• Ugly Betty (11 episodes)
• Desperate Housewives (21 episodes)
• Modern Family (7 episodes)
• Life Unexpected (2 episodes)
• Community (season 1)
• The Office (season 6)
• 30 Rock (season 4)
• Brothers and Sisters (12 episodes)
• Parenthood (season 1)

Look who's been diligently doing his TV homework. Doing the Brothers and Sisters marathon this week, I'm almost done torrenting the remaining episodes. I'll get The Office and 30 Rock on DVD. I've been meaning to watch Parenthood 'cause I'm a big fan of Lauren Graham.

I find it odd that most of the shows i watch are family-themed. Unlike most American viewers, I'm not really a big fan of forensic science.

Manbots

Bought robot earrings today from Topman! So cute.

Introductions

Hello Blogger, we meet again. A lot has changed since we parted ways four years ago. For instance, I no longer smell like a highschool boy.

My sudden relocation is a direct result of a conflict with someone I considered a close friend. Our friendship basically revolved around Tumblr, and now that we're not even speaking to each other I've decided to move out of the community.

 I can't rewrite the past, but I can always explore new stories and write them on fresh pages.

Hi, I'm Claren and welcome to my junkyard.