Yes, this is Cecile van Straten’s newest line, Heather Miss Grey. It’s available at Bleach Catastrophe, Greenbelt 5 and TriNoma.
So for Christmas, this is included in my list. Hint Hint People!!!
Photo credits to Chuvaness.
Event
The accident that was October 17th
We received the invites around two weeks in advance, so it was not a surprise when October 17th came and we all packed in the car to get to Pampanga for Madison Sophia’s first birthday.
The Virays were riding with us, so that’s five of them, plus the three lolas. Father knew we won’t fit in the van so he commissioned a relative’s car so the couples — namely Ted and Connie, Daniel, and Dylan and I — can ride in that one, since we have to pick up Connie and Dylan still.
And we picked them up. We — Antipolo crew in the Vios, the couples in the Altis, and the big group in the van — all met up at Shell in NLEX. After a quick break, we trekked the long ride to Pampanga.
The men never got tired pushing, but it just kept stalling.
The van kept stalling. The moment we left the gas station, the van never stopped stalling. Father had to stop numerous times to fix this and that, and eventually, Mother decided to move the lolas in the car. Ted drove the Altis and Connie and I squeezed in front, and the kids rode the Vios.
The van was left behind. Passengers were Dylan, Daniel, Father, Mother, Tita Carol, Tito Sonny, Rex and Justin.
The last photo of the van when it's still whole. No, we're not getting it back anymore.
I kept bugging them to hurry, because the party was starting and it was perfect. Then Dylan texted.
5:23 PM October 17, 2010
Naaksidente kami
Everything went haywire from that point forward. I grabbed Kuya Jun (Ate Monet’s brother), Ted and Tito Rod to drive out near the San Fernando exit, north bound, where they were hit by a wheeler truck.
There was no other way. We had to take the Manila exit, then exit San Simon, then go back to NLEX north just to find them on the other side of the road.
They were at the shoulder, and the only person left by the time I was there was Dylan. He was with Tito Rod, who I have no idea how he got there faster than we did, and he was getting pretty upset with the driver.
Dylan wanted to stay with him and accompany him to the precinct, mainly because Dylan felt his blood pressure is getting too high.
I failed to get a picture of the van, but here’s what happened:
They were running at 30 kmph when the truck hit them from behind, running at approximately 120 kmph. They spun a full 360, the front hitting the railing.
RED: The front bumper was gone. Headlights were shoved in.
YELLOW: No door can be opened. The sliding door was forced just for them to squeeze out. Dylan was the first to get out of the van. He got out from the window. The driver’s door squeezed Father’s leg, straining the muscle.
GREEN: All windows were shattered. Dylan said, they were shattered upon impact, which would explain why he spat shards of glass and why the rest were bathing in shrapnel.
BLUE: The back was gone. It was pushed so far in, the back row was almost touching the middle row seats. That was where Tita Carol was seated.
Tito Rod was quick to file a case against the driver, the assistant and the operator. They showed no remorse.
Dylan almost got out unscathed. Rex said Daniel hugged him when he saw Dylan turning to look at the truck who was about to hit them. Daniel said if he didn’t do that, the impact would have made his hips snap and dislocate. Which would might as well be equivalent to months of pain. Dylan had whiplash and x-rays were normal.
Daniel was topless because he was drying off sweat. But the glass got too embedded in his skin. He had the worst scratches.
Rex, almost scott free too. Grazed arms.
Mother had fractured skull. Was confined for a day to reduce the hematoma. All clear now.
Father has strained muscles. To date, he’s still doing pain management.
Justin needed 3 stitches from the back of the head, and lacerations on top of the head. Stitches are out now and we’re still convincing him to shave his hair.
Tito Sony had a subdural hematoma. Hand swollen like a pumpkin. Released now but the hand still requires pain management.
Tita Carol had her 7th and 8th rib broken, and the doctor said it will take two months to fully heal.
So there. Approximately 80,000 in medical fees (all eight of them), 225,000 in damages in private property, 45,000 for salaries and wages lost due to the injuries, and psychological damages yet to be accounted for.
The hearing is set for November 2.
Hap Chan, TOSH and Shakey’s
We’ve been trying very hard to be an interesting family again. And by interesting, I mean rediscover the beauty of dining out. It was quite fun, convincing my mother to dine out one evening. To be honest, if there won’t be an event, I highly doubt we’d ever eat out. That’s the price you pay for having parents that cook like chefs and are satisfied with the usual dishes.
So yeah, I elbowed them to get me my fix of dining out. First stop was Hap Chan, about a couple of weeks ago. :)
They have pretty good house tea. We had about two refills of this.
Their shark's fin dumpling is soooo good.
It was May in July
Jerome invited me and Anj for some cultural bathing at the 6th Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival in Cultural Center of the Philippines. I remember the first time I went there and digested my first load of indie films. It was quite exhilarating to see everything five years after. It was almost like a commencement of sorts. Like coming to full circle.
And of course, I met the two people who ignited my love for films, Johnathan Rondina (whom I ran into at Mocha Blends by Harbor Square) and our thesis adviser, Flordeliz Abanto, who is know the president of PACE (Philippine Association of Communication Educators). We had quite a chat and she was exactly the same, the passionate teacher who knows the arts can change the way you see the world. It was great to feel the passion I know I’ve lost.
Aldrich was able to join in. We miss the Chinaman what can we say. Adah, having nothing to do, tagged along too. It was quite a spontaneous afternoon. We were dejected though when we didn’t get to see the short films Jerome wanted to see. But we did get to see Mayohan by Dan Villegas, screenplay by Paul Sta. Ana.
Mayohan is led by Lovi Poe and Elijah Castillo and the setting is Infanta, Quezon. Lilibeth (Poe) is a 19-year-old lass of the province, coordinating the May-End Dance. Niño (Castillo) is a 15-year-old binatilyo from Cubao, coming for a visit to his grandmother with his aunt. Amidst the festivities, he becomes the focal point of the town’s Dance.
The film was a good tickler. It had the right mix of comedy and melancholy love affair that happens only to teenagers and only during summer. Even the rain had a sweet, loving touch to the film. It reminded me of Red Shoes, with the sincerity of the boy’s admiration exhibited silently and loudly at the same time till the very last minute.
Poe’s acting is what surprised me the most. It’s not that it was compelling and moving; it was the fact that it was just right. She played the lovely lady in the barrio who didn’t really know or care that she’s the prettiest of them all. She was strong and delicate at the same time, which is why Castillo’s charming young gentleman demeanor always felt the need to protect her and look after her. And Ping Medina?! Let’s just say he coined the next best catch phrase after Joey Tribiani’s “How you doin’?” So, “hel-lo.” :)
The last I’ve heard of Infanta was when it was struck by tragedy. The cinematography managed to capture the beauty of that deluge. The lush greens, the refreshing water… even the brown murky sand seemed to play a vital role in courting Lilibeth. It was almost like the entire production staff coordinated the entire locality to look ordinary and verbose all at the same time.
For the first time in 11 months, I didn’t like the fact that I lived in Quezon City. The festival will run till July 18, and I really want to watch the gala nights for the other films. I guess a part of me want to see if the people we interviewed five years ago are still the same people inspiring the newest breed of writers and directors to change the Philippine film industry standard.
And of course, to see if I made a big enough impact to their lives (like they did in mine) and they remember me too.
For a complete schedule of the festivities, click here.
Photo credits:
Mayohan Facebook page
Finally, it’s over and done with.
January 8 was the last day of Module 300. I had a hard time believing that I was the last person to present, but then again, I am the one with the meekest ability to hold my tongue. These lessons and presentations are constantly testing my emotional quotient. I can’t say I am enjoying it, but I can definitely feel the improvement.
My outfit for the day
The happy hour started around 8 when we arrived in the Training Center for the hats off party.
With Anj and her feather headband
With the NCR crew (L-R: Neil, Jerome, Allan, Moi, Moksy with the fab fedora, Rayrand, Anj and Ranna)
Missing in picture: Aldrich and Patrick
It was game night, and we competed with HR. And we kicked their ass. YES.
All in all, it was allllll good. But the best part was when they all decided to stick around and wait for my birthday (January 9). I am so blessed to have made such good friends with these people. I can never forget them.My birthday would have to be one of my longest days. And quietest. I enjoyed my alone time, and my time with my family.
It is always the simplest days that turn out to be one of the greatest. Tonight, I will sleep with a full heart.I wish you the same.
the salt of your skin 