Touringkitty

Dear LRT/MRT Passenger,

Ayokong umabot tayo sa ganito!

Sa tagal ko nang sumasakay sa LRT at MRT, di ka pa rin natuto. Sa dami na ng plakard, signage, poster, pati ang paulit-ulit na recorded at live voice sa istasyon at sa mismong tren, pasaway ka pa rin.

Gusto ko lang ipaalala ang mga sumusunod:

No Spitting. Nakatagalog pa yan na Bawal Dumura! huwag mong gagayahin yung guard sa harap ko biglang nagpakawala ng eeeeeekkkkkyyyy saliva sa tracks.

Please do not step on the yellow platform edge. Pula yan pag nasa LRT ka. Siguro naman malinaw yun di ba? Kung ayaw mo magpahagip sa padating na tren, atras lang po ng konti.

Ito ay Female Area.  Eto naman yung tipong obvious na, may mga pasaway na sisingit o nagpapatay-mali. O nagpapanggap.

This lane/train is for the elderly, disabled, pregnant women, with children. Wag mo na ipagpilitang buntis ka (kung di naman talaga, o malaki lang siguro tiyan mo). Wag ka ring magpanggap na may kapansanan ka. Sige liparin ka ng masamang hangin, magkatotoo yan. Lalo na wag ka magpanggap na senior citizen. Ultimate na yan, ha?

Paupuin ang lahat ng nabanggit ko sa taas. Aminado ako, lalo na pag may bitbit akong malaking bag, pagod o maysakit ako, di ako nagbibigay ng upuan ko. Bakit, bawal ba mapagod? Nung sinakay naman namin ng mommy ko ang baby ko, ayaw nila kami paupuin. Fine. E di wag! Para sa mga lalaki, wag nyo na hintayin magpa-cute ang mga babae bago nyo paupuin. Please lang.

Please do not touch the emergency devices found above the door.  Meron din nyan sa isang posteng hawakan malapit sa pinto. May mga makukulit na chikiting na Curious George na pinipindot yun. Magtataka na lang yung driver kung anong nangyayari sa likod nya.

Please do not lean on the doors while the train is in motion.  Tandaan: nasa huli ang pagsisisi.

Upong otso (presyo ng dyipni ride) naman!  May ibang ayaw talagang magpaupo kahit ang luwag luwag pa. Memorize ko na po yan. Yung seats pang-anim, walo, o sampung tao, kaya binibilang ko talaga at makikiupo pag kulang pa. Nung minsan, may umupo sa tabi ko, pilit akong ginitgit hanggang sa nainis ako kaya tumayo na lang ako. Kanya na ang silya!

Wag makipaggitgitan at makipag-unahan sa pagpasok/paglabas ng tren. Common sense siguro na paunahin yung mga lumalabas di ba? Naranasan ko na kasi maiwan sa loob at lumagpas dahil napagsarhan ng pinto.

Dumiretso sa loob ng tren at huwag harangan ang pinto. Heto pa ang isa. Ang luwag naman sa gitna, nagkumpulan ang mga tao sa may pinto. Anong meron?

Mag-ingat sa magnanakaw. Nong isang araw lang, may nadukutan pagpasok nya ng turnstile pa lang. Ginitgit sya ng dalawang lalaki. Ayun, pinahinto nya ang tren kaya ang tagal rin bago kami nakaandar. Mukhang successful naman sya at nabawi nya ang cellphone nya.

Huwag maging flashy. Kung hindi rin lang naman importante, wag na maglabas ng cellphone o anumang gadget. Sandali lang naman ang MRT ride di ba? Enjoy the view of EDSA. *wink*

Huwag magtapon ng kalat kung saan-saan. Ang tracks ay hindi po basurahan. Bow.

Nobela ba? Pasensya naman!

Ika nga ng isang paborito kong kanta ni Ms. Charo Unite: “Kung ano ang di mo gusto, wag gawin sa iba.” Kaya kaunting disiplina lang sana. Para kung itataas man ang singil ng pamasahe, masabi rin nating sulit at masaya ang pagsakay sa LRT/MRT.

Wag kang mag-alala dear passenger. Ang susunod na post ko ay para sa administration ng mga tren na ito. Para di tayo lugi!

Baka may madadagdag kang experiences mo sa pagsakay. Iwan ka naman ng comment sa post na ito!

~ Touringkitty

Aria had a blast during her party. We decided to do it on the Sunday before her birthday, which is a Wednesday. Who would have thought that our dearest President would decide to make it a very loooong weekend?!

Filipinos generally will go for a quick holiday out of town if a long weekend has been declared. But thankfully, even when it was raining that Sunday afternoon, our guests came! Not everyone on the list, though. But a good number made it — almost 80 people, half of them are kids. We even had babies! It was so much fun, especially for Aria, who was both sleepy and playful that time.

The Venue and Food: McDonald’s Greenbelt

It was definitely a worry-free party venue. They had it all — yummy food, themed party complete with all amenities like traymats, party hats, lootbags, and game prizes, even the party host and program were all handled by them. No additional fees on electricity nor permits to be secured for bringing in photobooths and other suppliers. You just can’t eat food from outside, though.

The Photobooth: Click D’Fun Photobooth

My sister availed a photobooth through Ensogo for a good deal of P3,500 for two hours unlimited and gifted it to her favorite and only niece. The guests lined up a couple of times and enjoyed the friendly service of the crew as well.

The Cupcakes: IBake by Joy Alegro

My cousin Joy loves baking that she turned her hobby into something profitable. And Aria’s Birthday is the first time she handled a cupcake decorating session and it was super fun! The cupcakes were super yummy, too. I chose carrot cupcakes so that the kids won’t be too hyper with chocolate and so Aria can eat as well.

The Balloon Decor: Supermommies Parties and Events by Mary Ann Unay

This was gifted to us by Ma’am Me-ann. Too bad The Unays weren’t able to attend the party but she still sent her assistant to set up the balloon decor, and Kuya Tikboy did it for only 10 minutes! Cute balloons which some were taken home by guests.

The Photographer: Eric Tingatinga

You would not believe this photographer is a UP Professor and has a PhD in Civil Engineering! He took really awesome shots and used natural lighting. The room had low ceiling and it was quite dark outside because of the rains but the pictures were still fantastic, especially all the happy faces in the photos.

Our suppliers were all good, and didn’t hurt our budget, some of them offered their services for free! It was indeed a worry-free, budget friendly party for our little one, who herself enjoyed her own party, the way we parents wanted it to be.

~ Touringkitty

Friendship is forever, says Angelina Ballerina.

I don’t know why I believe that cutesy little cartoon mouse, but I think she’s right.

Three’s a company. That’s what we are.

This time three years ago, I started my first office job fresh from college. I had no clue that I’d end up a writer after taking up music for eight years. I stayed at my job for a year and three months, and now, all three of us walked different paths.

The past two days, I did what any normal friend would do — after a long time of being in absentia — catch up with both of them, but in two different occasions.

You see, K just gave birth to a beautiful baby girl,

And A was in the area, specifically at Mall of Asia.

We’re kindred souls, I believe. We always share a good laugh, we graduated from the same school, we eat lunch together in office, we love our families so dearly and we (K and I) now have families of our own. But we never lose touch of each other.

I’m glad I still have friends who are in Manila, as most of my dear friends are already abroad.

Trio pic waiting. See you soon, girls!

~ Touringkitty

6 August 2011

Dear Papa,

Happy Birthday!

It has been nine years since I last saw you. The last day I saw you was probably my happiest, and yours, too. Little did I know that you’d be gone two days after our last meeting, and on your birthday! You really made sure we won’t forget you.

I would have loved to introduce you to your beautiful granddaughter, Ariadne. She’s very smart and very amiable. You would have loved each other. You will surely shower her with much love like you did to us. You should have met my husband, Ton, too. You’d probably have a lot of things to talk about.

Your life may be short, but sweet it was, indeed. You made sure you’ve created enough memories for Mommy, me and Myk to cherish.

I miss you. I know I’ll see you again someday. We love you very much. Please continue guiding us, as you always did.

Your Tres Marias,

Luz, Mary Louise, Myra Lyn