I Was There

Football in the Philippines has become immensely popular, if I would say, because of the Phil-foreigners who have come back to play for the national team. Girls can't help get giddy over the Younghusbands, Etheridge, Shrock, the Greatwiches, Guirado and more. Their names are foreign sounding. Not a hint of Filipino even when they speak and how they look. However, there will always be a few exception of die-hard fans of the sport. Whether they're rooting for Phil or Chieffy.

So when news broke that Philippines will be rehabilitating Rizal Memorial Stadium to host the FIFA 2014 qualifiers against Sri Lanka, the boyfriend and I were ecstatic. We were counting the days and discussing ways to get good seats. We were absolutely correct when I finally rushed to the ticket outlet only two hours after the selling opened and found out most seats have been taken already! In just a day, all tickets were sold out. I knew from his face that he was disheartened when I only got the seats near the goal end.

July 3, 2011. I was there. Yes, with 13,000 more fans, we were cheering wildly. The boyfriend was explaining a lot of rules before the match: offside, penalty, yellow and red cards. Outside the stadium, Azkals shirts were sold like pancakes. Inside, we endured the scorching heat. In just thirty minutes, I got tan lines!

The Game. Just as the game was about to start, rain poured very heavily. People didn't budge. Nobody cared except for a few who used the tarpaulins and banners to cover themselves with. The boyfriend asked for some guy's raincoat wrapper to secure our phones. We were dripping wet when Chieffy scored the first goal and everyone went wild! The boyfriend was exchanging high fives with people we didn't know. Three more goals and the Philippines definitely made history that day. It was our first time to qualify and get to the next round. I was in tears and was keeping my emotions. I was very proud to be Pinoy. I was very proud to have witnessed the event.

Dried-up tickets

Soaking wet. The cashier at the LRT looked at us with disbelief when we handed her a wet 100 peso bill.

I initially signed up as a Kaholero member but gave up my seat since I already have my ticket. These guys were awesome and definitely rocked the stadium.

The crowd showed off the wave and the flag passed around the stadium.

After the game, Chieffy and the rest of the half-naked team rounded up the stadium to share their victory. The boyfriend was able to catch a baller.

Proud to be Pinoy.

10 Things I Love About Living Here in Manila

Almost 20 long years, I have never lived anywhere else but Cagayan de Oro. Except for my up-to-a-month long summer vacations to several provincial regions in Mindanao, this has been my first time to have lived in a place far from home.

Dress-down Friday in the office

I didn't have to ask my parents to allow me to work in Manila. They knew this kind of decision would come. They knew me so well that by the time I let them read my job offer, they did not bother asking me if I'm sure about going away from home. They knew that after graduation I had plans of my own and that I will have to fulfill my plans, dreams and goals somewhere else.

It was never easy during my first month in Manila. I stayed with used-to-be-schoolmates-now-colleagues in an expensive dormitory in Ortigas (which was of course paid by Bayantrade). It was like a life and death situation in my life that if I didn't handle my time and money well, I'd have to go back home, hear the awful words "I told you so" and become a loser.

Now, I'm very proud that I've been able to adjust to the lifestyle and pace of living in the country's capital. I know that I will become better here - that I can go back home with pride.

Here is a countdown of the things, people, places, etc. which give me a reason to love staying in Manila.

10
Booze and grilled food on Friday and Saturday evenings with colleagues from the South - my Manila family.

at Trellis in Market! Market!

9
Working with people from UP, Ateneo and La Salle.
8
Seeing a lot of celebs - actors and models I only used to see in the magazines.
7
Going to unfamiliar shops and dining places.

at Nike Park in High Street

6
Internet access. If ever it gets boring at home, all I have to do is take a jeepney-ride to the office to surf the net and watch movies and series from surfthechannel.com.
5

Cooking, eating and sleeping. These are the most stress-relieving hobbies I do at home. I can do trial cooking (pasta, vegetables and grilled food), eating either at Manang's carinderia in the neighborhood or at the nearest mall, and also food deliveries!

at Tamayo's

4
Being able to buy almost anything I want. Shopping spree on weekends or just to window shop won't hurt. It also feels good being able to dress up at work. ^_^
3
Nice job in BayanTrade. Big opportunity for career development. Great work environment. Count in Bonifacio High Street and Serendra.

A Saturday with Sigi in High Street

2

Being able to go places - been to Bohol, Tagaytay and Laguna in just two months.

chillin' in Laguna and Tagaytay

1

Independence. Being able to live alone, discover more about myself and the world!

the Panglao, Bohol dreamers..

In a Strange Place

I wasn't really sure about coming to Manila for work. I never thought that I'd leave my hometown for a great job offer in a place where I had always seen on TV as crowded and filthy.

Manila isn't that bad at all. It's been a month since my first day, and I sort of like the place already. Yes, some places here smell bad. The traffic is very bad. My worst complain about here is that everything necessary is expensive! A hundred pesos is not enough for the whole day. I have asked myself how can I survive in a place like this.

I used to walk home from school. I used to go home for lunch so that I could save some amount of money. I used to go to malls without a peso in my pocket. I would hang out with my barkada and not worry about spending too much. Because back at home, spending too much meant spending my money's worth.

Here in Manila, I always worry - what to eat, where to go and how to make use of my time. All those worries with another thought of how to get over those with spending only less.

Now, somehow I have gotten over those worries. I have learned how to struggle and survive from those struggles. I just wish that soon, I will have him with me here in this strange place.