my paper bag has a butterfly wand then i was a wallflower

we won the Ambassador's Cup for this year's best skit after years and years of drought. it's been a tradition of the U.S. mission in Manila to maximize the potential of all Mission employess via performances where their foreign service life's integrity can be at stake.

to say that we won because past winners have decided not to participate could be true. at any rate, even if they vied this year, we would have given a good fight, to say the least. our skit was harry potterish, in that all four departments of the consular section were "houses" where muggles seek to apply for wizard visas. it was simple, and a bit funny. frankly, the main goal when we were conceptualizing was to make the judges laugh and we did. anything that could make the top Embassy honchos feel alluded to, the better :) close to home, i played a wizard in the non-muggle citizen house where my applicant was harry potter himself who, after i asked that he look in the mirror of truth, i found out that he doesn't plan to go on a "wizard visit" because he sees himself settling permanently abroad. the highlight was when harry was made to drink the truth potion and he transformed into VISAmort :) Jim was simply awesome as "the lord of the dark arts himself" :)

some pics:

Alex as the applicant to work for the Haunted House of Retired Witches and Warlocks in Syracuse! Rachel tries to keep him from harming everyone through his careless wand movements.

Harry stating his case in front of the officer moi

It's VISAmort!

The finale scene. We closed it with V-I-S-A to the tune of YMCA. Hehe. Bumenta naman eh.

The victory moment! Andrea and Alex showing off the formerly elusive Ambassador's Cup then us with the Chargé.

The Veterans' Affairs Department, which has been consistent in the winners' circle every year. There have been rumors of last-minute walkouts and other malicious speculations but it doesn't change the fact that whenever they participate, kina-career talaga nila!!!

Last year's winner, USAID. Their theme was quite funny but it was too political in nature.

Every year, the committee gets Filipino cultural performers for the benefit esp. of our American colleagues. This year we had the kids of Pasay City West highschool and they were really talented young boys and girls. Epal lang yung isang trainor nila but the kids were really awesome :)

Pwargh. There were whispers that these girls are gonna come but it was only confirmed when they went out from the Ballroom. ALL the men were drooling. It was the Sex Bomb Girls. Doi.

Hehe, savoring THE Cup! Typical red carpet pose, di pa nakatingin sa camera, hehe :) Then it's E, my photographer for the day and myself fooling around before leaving the CG's office where the trophy would be in the meantime.

Some of my unitmates with the Chief. Si Tatay talaga parang hindi connect sa mood.


win or lose, Alex invited us long before for a cast party at his place which was just beside the gym i go to (eerr, i used to go to, hehe). The cast was not complete but there were interesting people, too. good food, good music, good talk. a little after dinner, i kept myself busy reading Ian Rankin in one corner of Alex's pad. "this is what i usually do in parties when i see that the host has bookshelves," i muttered when they asked. i chatted with them for an hour before saying goodnight around 10.

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i had a hard time going to Alex's place because the traffic in Roxas was so bad. i was in Buendia (near the famous "hole" hehe) waiting for a cab when i chanced upon a Tamaraw fx which i thought was a passenger fx bound to MRT-Bel Air. I hailed it and that annoying asshole of a driver stopped, rolled down the window and asked, "Miss naman mukha bang pampasahero yung sasakyan ko?" Then natawa yung mga sakay nya. I shot back, "Hindi naman, pero ikaw mukha ka kasing driver na namamasada ng fx!" Sabay irap. Ang gago talaga. Grrr.

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Rayan's leaving tomorrow morning! Aww, we're supposed to meet today but I got so tamad. I slept the whole day lang naman, I dunno, I get really so tired on weekends. I'll miss him but he's gonna have a great time naman with his family in Canada and of course when he gets to New York. Alam ko natetense ka friend, pero I'll just pray that everything works out for the best for you. For both of you. That holiday can make or break your (let's wait till he gets comfy telling everyone about it!). Pero tulong na lang tayo magdasal. You deserve it naman, ang tanda mo na 'no. Nakailang biyahe na ang naiwan ka, bwahahaha :)