Skin test

My sister told me recently that she went to this derma in Fort that does a pretty good facial at below Belo prices so i gave it a try yesterday. While it was flooding all over Manila, I drove to Nu U Asia. It's in the same building as Aubergine, Zhu, and Secret Recipe. They led me to a dorm-like room which totally turned me off. Three rows of beds = three patients having treatments. Luckily I was the only one there but could you imagine getting a facial with other people in the room? The procedure was pretty basic and very P600 - a lame facial scrub, a prick here and there using what seemed like a dull needle, and that was it. What I hated was that there were nurses going in and out of the room, one even reaching out to my side since the iPod dock was there and another who came inside just to tell the girl mercilessly pricking me that the kids outside were "cute". The music they played was The Beyonce, Mariah, and Whitney Houston Collection which wasn't very relaxing if you're laying there being punctured. What I liked though was this minty wax they lather on your face to "cool" and "whiten" it. They leave it plastered on your face for a good ten minutes (or maybe they forgot about me). When I paid, the girl at the counter asked if I had change. "No I don't." If I did, I would have given it, riiiiiggggghhhhhtttt? "Ok, sir," she replied. The she stood up and went out. 10 years later, she came back with a grande drink from Starbucks and fries from McDonald's. She stopped in front of me and handed me my change straight from her bundle of crumpled change. At least she didn't give me old P20 bills. When I got home that night, I realized a blemish emerged - one that wasn't there pre-Nu U so I'm blaming them for making it peep to say hello and annoy me. Now I have to drag myself to Belo to have it injected.

SMS

The universe has a funny way of testing my patience with (stupid) people. An office staff of this talent manager called me up yesterday to follow up on the payment for three of their talents we used in one of our PR campaigns. Me: "Your check is ready but I can't release it until you give me a copy of the signed contract and your billing, which I've been requesting for weeks." I was tempted to tell her she could send it via snail mail/email/fax/homing pigeon/morse code/singing telegram/mental telepathy/smoke signals just so it could be over and done with. Stupid lady: "Ok, sir. Kailan po pwede kunin yung check?" Me: "You can get it anytime just as long as you give me the contract and billing." Stupid lady: "Sa Friday po, pwede?" Me: "Yes, just as long as you have what I asked for." Stupid lady: "Okay, Tenk you po." This morning, Stupid lady texted me. Someone oughta teach this woman about the proper use of punctuation marks. Annoyed, this is what I replied to her:

Argh

Patience is a virtue. And I definitely do not have an ounce of it. Especially when it involves people who can get stupid. A couple of weeks ago, I asked newbie about an email. Me: "Do you have the figures for the presentation?" Newbie: "No. Do you?" Grrr. I was itching to be my sarcastic self but instead, I inhaled, exhaled, and counted to ten. Had I not done that, I would have said any of the following: "If I had it, would I be asking you, you toad?" "Are you stupid or are you really stupid? Why would I ask for something if I had it already?" "Are you from (insert name of alien planet)? Do you understand English?" "Would I waste my time talking to you if I had the figures?" Yesterday afternoon some items that were supposed to be part of a giveaway at an event two weeks ago but were not given because they never arrived were delivered to the office. Many, many hours later, the supplier said they needed some of it back tomorrow for the client. Me: "Sorry, office is closed tomorrow and I don't have a key." Tonta: "Naku, need your powers. Client is requesting for it. Please help." Again I wanted to be really sarcastic. In the first place, they should have been more organized and set aside what they would think the client might need. And does she actually think that I'll go to the office on a weekend? Just like the other instance, I did not respond. Again I would have said any of the following: "Okay. Let me look for a rock, head back to the office, throw it at the door, so I can get 4 pieces of your precious items for the client." "I do not have the power to open locked doors or conjure keys to unlock them." "Will you pay for my gas, restore lost mileage, and somehow make sure my car does not get depreciated in the process so I could experience traffic and the one hour drive all the way down south from Makati, get the key from the office manager and get 4 items you need, which, by the way, you should have thought of setting aside awhile ago?" "Let me go through my imaginary platinum Vertu and have the 24-hour concierge search for a locksmith for me." "Let me concentrate. The door just might unlock if I think of it real hard." "Wait, let me focus The Secret style. The door just might be open by the time I get to the office!" "I'll help you pray you find your brain." Now close your eyes, count to ten, and breathe.

Why??

Aside from that really scandalous blog that's been going around like the black plague, this video of the recent Bb. Pilipinas is making the rounds too.

Paolo Bediones: Janina, how are you? Janina San Miguel: I'm fine. Paolo Bediones: Alright, so you won two of the major awards - Best in Long Gown, Best in Swimsuit, do you feel any pressure right now? Janina San Miguel: No, I don't feel any pressure right now. Paolo Bediones: Confident! Alright! Please choose a name of the judge.... We have Miss Vivienne Tan.

Vivienne Tan: Good Evening. Janina San Miguel: Good Evening. Vivienne Tan: The question is, what role did your family play to you as candidate to Binibining Pilinas? Janina San Miguel: Well, my family's role for me is so important b'coz there was the wa- they're, they was the one who's... very... Hahahaha... Oh I'm so sorry, Ahhmm... My pamily... My family... Oh my god... I'm... Ok, I'm so sorry... I... I told you that I'm so confident... Eto, Ahhmm, Wait... Hahahaha, Ahmmm, Sorry guys because this was really my first pageant ever b'coz I'm only 17 years old and ahahaha I, I did not expect that I came from, I came from one of the toff 10. Hmmm, so... but I said dot my family is the most important persons in my life. Thank you.

(leeched from McVie) Apparently, she bagged the crown for Miss something something. After watching the video, I wondered... why?!? Are Filipinos really that stupid? Is their judgment limited to how funny or amusing or how white their teeth are? Why would you want someone who's all beauty and no brains to compete in a pageant? Then if that person wins Miss Photogenic, they'll go on and on about the Filipino making a mark in the international scene. Pffftt. Pretty soon, she'll be a TV host, an MMK bio flick, leading lady to a B-movie, and celebrity just like almost every (if not all) beauty pageant title holder. I, thank you.