Happy SATS Fiesta!

verabear Ramblings and Brain farts 2 Comments

I grew up in a Seminary – the St. Andrew’s Theological Seminary of the Episcopal Church in the Philippines. Every year at November 30th, we celebrate the feast of St. Andrew.

It was always a happy time for kids, teens, and the adults too. There was always something for everyone.

The significance of the event did not diminish or change when the Lord chose to take my aunt’s life on Fiesta day four years ago. In fact, I think it gave it more meaning. The SATS Fiesta was always a reason to come home for many of us who grew up and/or lived in the compound at one time or another. Being my aunt’s heaven date, I think this has assured that she will always be in her friend’s hearts and thoughts on Fiesta day.

This year, Fiesta is being celebrated a day early. And I hope to be out there with the rest of the community as they celebrate.

You see, I have not always been around during fiesta in the past ten years. The last one I remember being really visible at, was before Auntie and Lola died. It was probably in 2002 or 2003. That was a time when my baking business was hyperactive, and my Mom, Aunt and I were beading. We put up a stall at the court grounds and had our products on display the whole day, even until the evening program. Our cookies and brownies were a big hit. We sold some pieces of beaded jewelry too.

Today, I am taking Alfred and Frankie out there with me. And we’ll hopefully have a blast!

Perfume Sale at ELJ

verabear Ramblings and Brain farts 0 Comments

Since I rendered some overtime at work today, I decided to visit the bazaar space in our office building to find out what is featured there this week. Several weeks ago, they housed the Havaianas mega sale, then an Adidas sale. Last week there was an Appliance showcase there. This week it’s all about luxury fragrance. When I went inside the big room, it smelled really nice. Better than the perfume stations at the mall. Haha 🙂

There were Mariah Carey perfume and lotion sets, ones from J.Lo too. CK and Estee Lauder were there too. I saw many of the known perfume brands. There were makeups too.

It was still quite early but there were already a lot of folks in going through the merchandise and making purchases. The prizes are comparable to those in the Duty Free shops.

I’ve just recently bought two Body and Bath bottles and my mom got a David Beckham Women and Esprit scents. I still have some left on my Esprit and Body Shop bottles, so I really wasn’t interested in getting another even with the sale and all. I didn’t stay too long in there.

Somehow I couldn’t bring myself to inquire.

At the smaller stalls in the hallway, I saw the kimono style dresses and blouses. I really like how they look. I wonder if any of them would fit me? I’m also not too sure if it will fit, you know? In the sense that it will look good?

Boo you PLDT DSL!

verabear Ramblings and Brain farts 3 Comments

We are PLDT DSL subscribers. I don’t know exactly how fast our connection should be. I just know that since switching to their service, I have not gone a whole week of blissful Internet surfing.

I used to subscribe with Zpdee Cable Internet. I rarely had problems with that service. There was a time that they replaced my modem when I started having problems with the connection.

With PLDT? No matter how many times we call to complain, they say the same things over and over. They will have us run tests. Power cycle the modem. Directly connect the modem to the PC, rather than through the router. Check the IP. How many lights on the modem?

Then they will say that the issue will be escalated, and a callback will be made. By the time we get a callback, sometimes a week later, the problem, of course, would have corrected itself.

In the past, the problem would consistently crop up every Saturday around lunch time. Lately, it’s everyday at around lunch time. EVERY eff-ing DAY.

I’ve come to the point where I refuse to call them. Because they don’t really do anything. Alfred was insistent though, so he called today. Only to be asked to run the same things that we already do anyway. 

And to be told the same old thing: we will escalate, and have you called back.

Alfred has insisted they send someone to check our phone lines, the phone box, and the modem itself. No one has done that in the time we have been with PLDT. I don’t know if they will ever come. 

I’d love to say I don’t care, but I do. Because I cannot live without connectivity.

Meanwhile, I have about two thousand unread emails in one email account alone. I just haven’t had the patience to wade through them in the slowness that is my highspeed Internet.

Bleh. PLDT DSL sucks!