On Monday, I met Laida Magtalas and Miggy Montenegro from the film A Very Special Love. It was a hoot! Alfred and I found so many reasons to laugh, and just enjoy the kilig moments the movie offered.
Laida’s character reminds me of Jane, played by Katherine Heigl in 27 dresses. Like Jane, Laida is selfless, and is head over heels for her boss. Laida is not obsessed with weddings though, but she is in perpetual good mood.
In college, Laida and her classmates had an interview with Miggy, a young scion of a prominent family. She was captivated by the man and has had a crush ever since. His pictures adorn her bedroom wall and she sought out to apply as an Editorial Assistant in his small publishing firm. As fate would have it, the publishing firm, Flippage, would be needing new people ASAP as the EIC and other staff had just resigned due to conflicts with the big boss. Laida gets hired on the spot, without so much as an interview.
Though I did not get much sleep, I am so happy with how we spent our day. Alfred finally took me for some retail therapy where all the bargain hunters go – Divisoria! (Check other posts about Divi – the place to be! – here, here and here.
So this edition of Thursday Thirteen is all about my July 2 2008 trip to Divi!
This was the earliest I’ve ever been to Divi – we were there before 9am. I got off work at around 730 and we went there right after breakfast. We were able to beat the traffic because we passed through North rather than traverse the length of Quezon Avenue and España. Early is the best time at Divi!
We hopped on a jeepney from Divi to Morayta on our way home. Why is this worth mentioning? Because I do not commute (public transport) on a daily basis. I take a cab to and from work not because I’m rich or maarte but because it’s the fastest, and actually the most practical way for me. If I were to go by public transport, it would take 2 rides and about 4 blocks on foot to get to work. I do take the jeepney if I only have to go somewhere “near.” The ride reminded me that I should commute more often – ditch the cabs!
We set out to find these, and we did! All I need is magnets and can turn them into those. They were so cheap!
We also got two pairs of pants for myself with some embroidered embellishments on the pockets (not too attention grabbing, don’t worry). (PhP 250 each)
I also grabbed a pair for my mom!
There are 2 shirts for dad too! (at PhP 250 for both!)
A black jacket for Alfred which really made his shoulders look broader than usual (I likey). This would hopefully curb his craving for an Adidas jacket. 🙂
Anime DVDs! (for Alfred too)
It rained so we had to purchase two big umbrellas (for 90 pesos or 2 US dollars each)
We used only 50% of plastic bags than we would normally have because I had my funky Envirosax tote!
Oh, and I got cheap fabrics for a project I’ll be making this weekend. I’m not sure but I got the feeling that these were scraps or rejects or something. But the prints are awesome. No pictures for now because I’d rather post the finished product.
I got a muumuu for myself, and one for Alfred’s mom. Okay, we don’t call them muumuus here, we refer to them as dusters but that’s the closest English equivalent I could find. And these ‘dresses’ I got are house-dresses, not what one would normally wear when going out. 🙂
Aside from the assault we did on Divisoria Mall itself, we were only able to look around the two streets leading to DM but there are so many other shops and sidewalk stalls in that area that we will have to scour next time we’re there. If things go the way I want them to in terms of projects, we’d probably go there at least once every month. Yay!
Read my past TTs here and here. Oh, Thank you for taking me there Babe!
Alfred was supposed to take me to the market today. I wanted to look for materials for a project I want to work on, including materials to make my own glass bead magnets. It didn’t happen.
One of my former agents who happens to be his drinking buddy rendered his last day at work last night and so they and a bunch of other guys went out for booze after shift. I understand that and all, but he was the one who promised we’d go today. And it isn’t as if he’d have time tomorrow either. He has a family thing to go to since his brother’s leaving to work abroad in a few days. I wouldn’t bet on Monday either.
Sometimes even when I feel like ranting about things like this (him not following through on something) I want to kick myself in the butt. After all, I don’t have to let him ruin my plans. I should be capable of going my own way if I really have to. I mean, he doesn’t always have to be around to escort me. There are also several other people I can ask to go with on outings like what I had intended earlier.
But, he’s the only one I feel comfortable with for what I had planned out for today. I’m out on a specific mission and I would need his input.
Still. It’s not as if I couldn’t do it on my own.
I hate that I’m not really as independent as I believe myself to me. It’s like I’m all talk, but when it comes right down to it, I can’t do it. I can’t do anything.
That’s it. Whether anyone’s going with me or not, I will go out tomorrow.
Okay, I won’t exactly be going to Divisoria or Binondo on my own, but I will go somewhere else that I can navigate on my own.
P.S. I Love You – It’s been a while since I watched this movie and yet I can’t stop thinking about it. I am also bummed that boyf has not made an effort to watch it.
The first 13 minutes of the movie is definitely the best scene of all. The opening music sets the mood, not for the explosive scene, but for the overall tone of the movie. It has all the tendencies of becoming very emotionally heavy, and yet there are so many light moments too that make up for it.
I love how Holly is so worried and so serious and Gerry always has a joke to throw back.
I’ve got to warn you though, this isn’t much of a movie review but more a comparison to my own love life.
What if this is it, Gerry?
There were times when I thought that way too. What it this is all there is to it? What if nothing else is ever going to happen in my life?
I know what I want because I have it in my hands right now.
I think I’ve heard Alfred say something like this before. Or at least he used to. And I swear I didn’t like that facet of him, because I’ve always felt that he should always aspire for something more, to let himself dream and want to achieve something else. I mean, yes, be happy with what you have and accept your circumstances, but there’s nothing wrong with striving to get more in life too. But now? I can honestly say that too. I have what I want and I am not asking for anyone else. I am no longer looking beyond or wishing that I fell in love with a more accomplished and career-oriented person. With all sincerity, I am happy with who I have.
And towards the end of their fight, how Gerry left, and then came back and asked:
Are we finished now Love? Can I come back?
And then Holly ran towards him and they made out. So hot! Alfred and I are so like that!
We’re not a mistake just because we don’t have any money.
So true of us too. We might not have the money to have our wedding now. But heck, I’ll probably agree to forgo my dream wedding if I really had to. All that really matters is that our families and friends can be there and be witness as we say our vows in front of God. We also don’t have money to do all the things I wish we would be able to do, but… So what?
And we are gonna last. You know how I know? Because I still wake up every morning and the first thing I want to do is see your face.
Aaaahhhh…
I get so afraid sometimes our life’s never gonna start.
We’re already in our life, it’s already started. This is it. You have to stop waiting.
I have stopped waiting. We may not be married yet, and not officially living together, but I know we’ve already started living the lives we both wanted for ourselves. If we haven’t yet, then we definitely are starting. We are so done with waiting.
You’ve got to have a plan Gerry.
Haven’t I said that countless times too? We do have a plan, and we’ve set it in motion. But as I also mentioned, we are no longer just waiting for things to happen. You can’t let happiness take a backseat because it isn’t in the plan yet.
Apart from the opening, Gerry’s funeral is also something. And the planning that went into all the letters and the trip to Ireland. Gerry did take care of Holly, even if it meant that it was his last act. Oh and Holly’s karaoke stunt, that was something. I wonder when Alfred would take the mic and sing out loud too? He never does.
Holly had issues that needed sorting out even while Gerry was alive. I have my own issues too. I just hope it doesn’t take a death of a loved one to overcome those issues.
I know I’ve found my Gerry.
I really did relate to the story in more ways than one. I am definitely going to look for a copy of Ahern’s book. And the soundtrack too.
Oh, I know I said it before, someone get me an Irish man! Wahahaha, peace babe! 🙂
This is Alfred’s Photo Mosaic. He gave me his answers to the questions and I ran the search and picked the photos from Flickr.
He turned 29 yesterday – Happy Birthday babe! 🙂
We spent the entire day with his family yesterday, something that we’ve never done before ever. So his birthday was also the day I got to meet his entire family (including cousins and nephews and nieces).
On my way to their home in Pasay, I bought a cake (ube, by their request) and my dad was kind enough to drive me to the store and then to the train station. Alfred was supposed to pick me up at the Taft station and we would walk to their house but he wasn’t there yet when I arrived. I called him and I got the feeling there was going to be an entourage coming to pick me up. I wasn’t wrong.
His two nieces, Ena and Pauline were there, plus his nephew Lance whom I’ve met and spent some time with before. So I met the two giggly girls and they were really nice sweet ones. At their home, I met his two older brothers and the girls’ mom. They were all really warm and welcoming.
So we had lunch (his mom cooked Bulalo, Dinuguan, Hamonado and Pancit – all were very very yummy, no wonder he has a tummy like that). The plan was to have lunch there, and then go our own way after. But since I felt like they went out of their way to spend time with their Uncle Dodong and to meet me, why not spend more time with the kids? I asked if they wanted to come with us and see a movie – they did! We went to SM Mall of Asia and saw Kung Fu Panda. It’s a hilarious movie, comparable to Shrek! Haha 🙂
After the movie, we headed back to their house because a cousin was there waiting. I met him before but that was the first time I met his girlfriend. Later on, this cousin’s older sister, her husband and two teenage kids (boys) came along too. It was a full house, literally.
There were lots of laughter and cases of beer. I drank with them too though I’m not a real beer drinker. There were lots of stories to share and to catch up on. We ended up staying until midnight.
Sometimes even when I feel like ranting about things like this (him not following through on something) I want to kick myself in the butt. After all, I don’t have to let him ruin my plans. I should be capable of going my own way if I really have to. I mean, he doesn’t always have to be around to escort me. There are also several other people I can ask to go with on outings like what I had intended earlier.
