[18:10] The Meric Chronicles™

I try to blindly justify the means that keep you smiling, the feelings that equate to happy.
You try to convince me that the bliss entitles us ignorance, the fantasy decommissions our reality.

With it, we question the confines of our own morality.
As we stand up to a rather grayed sense of adversity.

A blessing and a curse. A master key and a shackle.
So wrong, yet so right.. So timeless, yet so fleeting.




.. But this pace is too fast, it just won't.. it just can't last.

Twenty. fucking. six.

I'm not supposed to care for these numbers and shit.. But apparently, I have to. Quarter-life crisis.. in the middle of the year (useless fact: July 2 happens to be commonly the median of a year, 182 days in, 182 days before it ends).

Just like that, I'm in my late 20's. Just like that. I don't know where I'm at, I don't know where I'll be.. So what was in the silver year? I gained friends, and lost some. Maintained the weight, the lifestyle, but lost a fucking phone. I've seen heartbreaks, even got my own. I thought the past year was a fast, transitory one for me.. 

Kindness

Naomi Shihab Nye


Before you know what kindness really is
you must lose things,
feel the future dissolve in a moment
like salt in a weakened broth.

What you held in your hand,
what you counted and carefully saved,
all this must go so you know
how desolate the landscape can be
between the regions of kindness.

How you ride and ride
thinking the bus will never stop,
the passengers eating maize and chicken
will stare out the window forever.

Before you learn the tender gravity of kindness,
you must travel where the Indian in a white poncho
lies dead by the side of the road.
You must see how this could be you,
how he too was someone
who journeyed through the night with plans
and the simple breath that kept him alive.

Before you know kindness as the deepest thing inside,
you must know sorrow as the other deepest thing.
You must wake up with sorrow.
You must speak to it till your voice
catches the thread of all sorrows
and you see the size of the cloth.

Then it is only kindness that makes sense anymore,
only kindness that ties your shoes
and sends you out into the day to mail letters and
purchase bread,

only kindness that raises its head
from the crowd of the world to say
it is I you have been looking for,
and then goes with you every where
like a shadow or a friend.

So, friendster is apparently dying.. from a social network standpoint at least. I've since imported my friendster content when the news (or their email) came out.. I didn't have much content here really.. Not so many photos, and so much comments either..

But then, the comments (TESTIMONIALS) for me is what really made friendster a hit, and the part I loved the most.. It made us feel good because your friends would share to the public who they think you are.. and most often they'd nitpick in such a way that you won't feel bad.

Great for self-esteem. LOL.

And so, my testis are here! ah.. reminisce the jeje days. :)

For Meric Manalastas Richael Sta Ana Dec 22, 2009 06:39 PM hi meric? musta kna? remember mo pba ako? itz me richael sta.ana nga pala ung clasm8 mo nung elementary sa gscs? remember? isang dekada na ang dumaan mula nung huli nating pagkikita!!! my work knb? san kna po nakatira? advance merry xmas nga pla sana lagi klang masaya and ok!!! my balita kapa ba sa mga classm8s ntin dati? pumupunta kba sa mga reunion nila? geh poh hnggang dito nlang poh!!!! yngat lagi!!!! aseng carlos Jul 01, 2009 06:45 PM ***happy bday KUYA MERIC*** aseng carlos Jun 29, 2009 08:51 AM hehe thanks din po kuya meric =D kimihime fontanilla Feb 13, 2009 09:24 PM Myspace Graphic Codes kimihime fontanilla Jan 26, 2009 02:27 AM tenchu sa pagbati meric di mo pa talga ko nakakalimutan huhuhu tats nama ako イザ Ooki Sep 15, 2008 12:10 PM sankyuu ets! ^^ mishoOo... allyn famini Sep 12, 2008 02:54 AM hay naku.. e hndi nyo nga ako sinama.. sa metro bar.. sige lang..kala nyo... isla Isla Aug 25, 2008 07:23 AM galing ng pagkakagawa mo sa picture natin! the necromancer is very convincing!! bwahahahahhaha! kimihime fontanilla Jul 22, 2008 02:21 AM meric sowee nakalimutan ktang batiin sa araw ng iyong kaarawan pero hey its not too late diba?! happy birthday manuel enrico manalastas!!! o diba kabisado ko pa name mo...!!! miss na kita =p ♥ derrick_ Sibug Jul 01, 2008 11:06 AM Happy Birthday Boy... Tumatanda na tayo... Lalo na ako, dami ko ng white hairs... ahahaha Bakit wala ako sa Featured Friends mo? Krissanto none Jun 30, 2008 11:12 AM ahahahah yan n ung isa pang ninja....lapit n bday mo ahaha kaso my pasok,.....san mo kmi treat? AHAHAHAHA kimihime fontanilla Feb 13, 2008 11:26 PM Myspace Valentine's Day Graphics Krissanto none Jan 06, 2008 07:30 AM grabe panalo!!!! wala akong masabi pwede ng backstreet boys!!!! cessa esguerra Jul 02, 2007 10:15 PM belated happy birthday smiley!=) kimihime fontanilla Jun 23, 2007 03:10 AM manuel enrico manalastas... how can i forget you! binigay mo pa nga yung ID mo saken to remind me that i always have you. miss na kita meric! nu na balita sayo?! ninja ka na pala ngaun! Goodluck sa bagong job mo! miss na kita hehehe. Love you po -shinigami- (//.-)\m/ Mark Junio May 08, 2007 07:20 AM Deadly Poison Addict..I'll show you..just waithttp://eighteenten.multiply.com/gg イザ Ooki Apr 04, 2007 07:50 PM waaah!!!!!!!!!!!! miss na kita tae! ingat lagi at balitaan mo nman ako! • Karlo • Dawang Mar 03, 2007 09:27 PM waw... lakas talga ah... pautang naman... yaman mo na eh... /sob イザ Ooki Oct 10, 2006 06:58 PM ets....., napakamiss na kita....hehehe.... wala lng,eh kasi nakita kita.. kung sabagay matagal na rin tayong... di nagkausap...hek hek hek.. sige na nga usapang matino na... musta naman? etong si manuel enrico manalastas(tama dba).. merrick... yan ang lagi kong katxt nung di pa uso ang celfon... napakagaling mag advice pag problemado ako... lagi nilang inaasar kay vange.... malakas mang-asar pero mahina boses kya kala mo mabait... harhar.... basta miss ko na to, khit anong problem na kelangan ko ng advice andito lagi to.... naalala ko pa nga pala yan ang mahilig mang-pahid ng eraser na puro dust ng chalk...magugulat ka nlng may puti ka na sa katawan... pasaway na silent type.... thanx 4 evrything and miss yah ets... take care lagi... >>>>>RACKISTA UNLIMITED DYEYBI Impreso Sep 13, 2006 10:18 PM naaalala mo pa pala un! hahah... we're innocent! hahaha.. taimtim pa ang pagawit natin nun nang bigla taung sinita at kinurot! hahaha...just reminiscing chong! hahah...God Bless... allyn famini Jul 02, 2006 02:11 AM ets,,,, maligayang kaarawan sayo!! debut mo na,,hehehehe wishing you more bdays to come... luv yah!! derrick_ Sibug Jul 01, 2006 09:29 PM Happoy Birthday Pare..... San ang tagayan?? hehehe... Ces -DOS Jun 27, 2006 01:23 AM advance happy bday!! aga ba? hehehe.. la akong magawa d2 sa office eh. un lang. :) Elizabeth Go Jun 23, 2006 01:03 AM Hello! Nice profile! =) kakalito...npunta tuloy ako d2 *sweatdrop* aniwei since dito n din why not say "HELLO!" /swt Keep it up and God bless! =) allyn famini May 07, 2006 09:42 PM hoy!!!! musta?? cessa esguerra Mar 28, 2006 04:39 AM Ginulat mo naman ako..tnx ah..^_^ Si Meric..**huuuu..meric ka jan..mas bagay kaya ang smiley..^_^** Hehe..nakilala ko sya dhil kela Maui nung hs pa kmi..Ang bait nya pti ang saya nya kasama..Sila ng 3D..Walang dull moment pag anjan sila..^_^ "SMILEY" ang tawag ko sa knya kasi kahit anong mangyari, nakangiti xa..parang walang problema..di ko nga maimagine ang muka nya pag malungkot.. Pano kaya ang reaction nya pag nanonood ng horror movies? Mm..kapansin-pansin nmn n yng mga kaibigan nya sobrang love xa eh..kasi nga wla kang mapipintas tlga sa knya..lalo na pag dating sa ugali.. Ingat lagi..KEep smiling Meric..kng katulad mo lang sana lahat ng tao sa mundo, di na siguro kailangan pa ng heaven.^_^ God BLess! Mark Junio Oct 01, 2005 01:11 AM ei...hehe sa wakas nkapag testinrn!! wakekek..una sa lahat thanks sa lahat ha lalo n ung pag "train" mokay kyuubi /gg kumag stay d same ha? hehe tsaka wag kna mag quit!! coo-off ka nlng muna sa ragnarok hehe.. cge d2 nlng muna hehe...Rok on! big boy! hehe cHaRiSmA ReYeS Sep 18, 2005 08:52 PM Manuel un ang nata2ndaan ko na tawag ko sa kanya!! Schoolmate, shy type??? hehehe oo kaya sobrang tahimik at mahiyain, seryoso, matalino, at cute pa!! hehehe...I remember lagi pa me pumupunta sa kanila dati wag nyo na tanong kung bakit??!! Basta Manuel is one of the most friendly people i've known. Though we're not dat close astig makisama at galante, sbi ng honey ko, hehehe..Kip it up men!! Gudluck and God Bless.. ciao :) allyn famini Aug 31, 2005 03:48 AM ei.. sensya na at d akoh nakasama ha..^_^ sa city star na lang.. miss koh na kau.. '-AKATSUIKEN-' TUMBADOR Aug 30, 2005 05:40 AM -=CERTIFIED AKATSUIKEN SON!=- "Blessed be you're father for he hath blesseth You" MariO delos Angeles Aug 09, 2005 07:46 PM isa sa kaibigan ng anak ko na may big ang bulky appearance........anak ng ama at ina nya....na nakilala ko dahil sa asawa ng pinsan ng asawa ko..........gulo noh?! dating adik sa pokemon sa napunta sa counter-strike na napunta sa diablo..........pati na rin ang starcraft to yuris revenge to battle realms to warcraft 3.......hanggang mauwi sa endless battles nya sa on-line gaming lalo na sa RAGNAROK..........puro evolution....... well, 'RoK On and hail the anti-KAREN movement!.............na-inlove ka din sa kanya aminin mo nah! -Three D- Dalton Jan 09, 2005 10:10 AM -=CERTIFIED [3D]=- A.K.A: [3d]PokeManiac/ [3d] Black_Howling One of the Pioneer members of [3d].. Also heralded as the Official Financer (and lives up to it!) Just check us out at http://freewebs.com/3d_2nd2n1 ayt!? 3D.. Second to none!! pikay bulaño Jan 09, 2005 01:49 AM c meric... 1 sa mga batang adik sa computer nun... da BEST 'tong gumawa ng poem... GRABE!!!! maiinspire ka tlga... totoong kaibigan to... di rin ngiiwan sa ere.. tgnan mo mgkksama pa rin cla ng mga friendship nia ngeon... gusto ko magpasalamat nga pala seo... ciempre lam mo na un.. nung tym na kami pa ni rey mambo.. sa concern... ... ahihi.. so un... sana kahit ndi na tau mgkklase... consider mo pa rin ako as one of ur thousand frends...nd continue ka pa rin sa pagawa ng mga mgganda mong poems and facts... at pag ngkta tau isa ka na sa mga sikat na manunulat! wheew!! grabe na to ung tipong di na kita mareach.... ingat ka lageh!!! mis ko na keong lahat!!! god bless po!!! Likarius MonetheO Dec 20, 2004 03:27 AM It started when we were younger You were mine my boo Now another brother's taking over But its still in your eyes my boo Even though we used to argue it's alright I know we[khutzmeOw] haven't seen each other In awhile but you will always be my boo Your face lights up the sky on the highway. Someday, you'll share your world with me someday. You mesmerize me with diamond eyes; I try to fool [khutzmeOw] myself to think I'll be alright. But I am losing all control - My mind, my heart, my body and my soul oh oh oh oh wag na wag mong sasabihin sa hindi mo nadama itong.........pag-ibig kong hanang ibigay kht pa kalayaan mo At sa gabi, sinong duduyan sayo? At sa umaga, ang hangin na hahaplos sayo ~khutzmeOw allyn famini Dec 13, 2004 08:10 PM ayan matapos ang isang dekada may testi na rin ako sau,ayan ha di ka na magtatampo...c meric ng buhay ko?,ano b?pinaka-luving na tao na nakilala ko,lam nyo ba kung bakit ganyan sya kalaki?kasi his heart fits well ganun din kalaki yung puso nya... (ewan ko lang ung turing nya kina krissanto a, iba un!)....bale nung 4th yir ko lang talga ko lang sya talaga naging super close,dahil nga sa kasama sya sa 3d which is na kasama din si benjie kaya siguro ganun...grabe talaga sobrang pasalamat po ako at nakilala ko sya(naiiyak na ako!)...naalala ko dati nung may ponkan ako tapos nasa harap natin si jogs,sau ko natutunan ung sa ballpen tinitira natin si jogs,saya nun!...na-mi-miss ko na nga pang-aasar ko sau kay **tooooot*** (ayan h d ko na binanggit)...those were the days...oo nga pala masarap maki-share ng lunch dito kay meric kasi pang-mayaman ung mga baon nito silang dalawa ni krissanto ang binuburautan ko ng lunch nun e..meric nag-aaply p rn ako mgng maid nyo h!!..mis u n po..luv yah!..mwah Cis ii Montecillo Sep 19, 2004 03:38 PM yeah! aSteEg..meric is d "baby shaq" of team engineering..dat was b4, kc ngaun he transferred to flip-flops pero galing pa din til now..simple lng cya..minsan tahimik pero pag-humirit kkaiba..hehe! itz gud, bsta dude gudluck sa studs..oo nga pla gwan mo din ako testi gmit c mamang_gard..hehe! para kewl! cge imma bounce.. ninetyeight gscs Sep 04, 2004 08:12 PM _00000_____________________000 00_____ __0000000___________________00 00000____ __0000000___________________00 00000____ __0000000___________________00 00000____ __0000000___________________00 00000____ __0000000___________________00 00000____ __0000000_00000000_00000000_00 00000____ __0000000_00000000_00000000_00 00000____ __0000000_00000000_00000000_00 00000____ __0000000_00000000_00000000_00 00000____ __0000000_000000______________ _________ __0000000000000__0000000000000 000000___ __000000000000__00000000000000 0000000__ __0000000000__0000000000000000 0000000__ __000000000__00000000000000000 00000000_ ____00000000000000000__0000000 0000000__ _____0000000000000000_00000000 000000___ _____0000000000000000_00000000 000000___ ____________certified___________ ***BATCH 98*** Jhoana Falguera Aug 19, 2004 03:27 AM merrick..ang official #8220;bizkit#8221; ng buhay ko..he#8217;s our bodyguard..well not the literal meaning of bodyguard huh!?..kc mlaking tao kc sya..it#8217;s lyk u#8217;re protected pg ksma mo sya..hehe..mayaman to eh, bkit magba-bodyguard to?! =).. tahimik pro super kulit and sobrang lakas mag trip..kung baga mhilig mang-victim..di lng basta basta victim ha..to the extreme pa..lalo na kay sibug, krissanto and slight lng sa friends nya..pro mdalas yta c rei marco.hehe#8230;minsan din kmi.. we used to write letters to each other..mdalas nya ako hinahamon ng bantumi.. nakarma tuloy kc twice n yta nwalan ng c.p#8230;hahaha..suplado to sa personal..pro super mabait din.. (well,most of the 3d#8217;s are mabait) pro I wud count him in, in one of those #8220;super Bait#8221;.. super sweet, malambing and caring din. Though ndi nya pinapahalata, I know how much he value his friends..(hope I#8217;m one of those! =)). Ivan Marcelo Jul 16, 2004 08:40 AM hoy merick habaan m naman ung maganda mong testi..tong si merick ung una kong nakilala sa mand. sci. kasi sknya koh nanghihiram ng eraser nung entrance exam di ba..un lang po.. Raquel Bautista Jun 09, 2004 06:18 PM Meric, I really dont know much bout this guy, pero masasabi ko, tangkad at laki xa...haha, hndi nmn kc kmi close, clasm8s nga pero d madalas mag-usap, Mabait yan, nkikita ko kasi lagi xa thimik, minsan nmn, nangungulit sa iba nming clasm8, matalino din, pero one thing for sure, isa ito sa pnakamgaling mag-counterstrike sa class nmin, at certified computer addict nga ba? wla n me masabi eh...un lang.... Arvy Teodoro Jun 04, 2004 11:01 AM Manuel...is one of the most talented people i ever met. He is good at poetry, acting and many other things. He is also a good and reliable friend, ready to help those in need. Bro, thanks for the company you share with me. Stay cool! Take care always! Krissanto none May 31, 2004 05:39 AM o toits n bagong testimonial ko syo: meric is a big bulk of guy... wat i mean is a big guy with a big heart.. that is if you happen to know him very well.. kasi masyado syang kalog and malakas magtrip kaya hindi pansin.. lalo n ni sibug.. pero ito ang taong malakas magpautang sabihin n nating napakabait nyan sa pera at hindi sya madamot noh; unlike others dyan sa tabi.. some might not know this pero mahilig syang magsulat ng poems and other journals and articles.. medyo pareho kami don.. and don't ever misjudge this guy kasi marami din yang alam sa buhay.. kaya kayo kaibiganin nyo tohng kumag n toh.. mabait at mapagkakatiwalaan?.. d nga.. joke! hahaha.. basta atleast hindi sya plastik and as i said mabait sa money Penny Mercado May 22, 2004 06:31 AM hMmm.. Mr. Manalastas.. Hehe. I don't even know much bout this BIG GUY.. Hehe. Oh well.. were on the same school from gradeschool up to now.. Hehe. He's so quiet.. and very mysterious.. Hehe. U can oweiz see him just walkin around d campus wit his friends.. And his a good poetic too! I've seen his works on his notebook way back in HS I think.. talented guy.. Hehe. TeECee! =) April Boy Regino May 19, 2004 12:02 PM >>You're a CERTIFIED BIG FAN of IDOL APRIL BOY,IDOL!! Jake Flores May 16, 2004 04:03 AM ___00000_____________________00000_____ __0000000___________________0000000____ __0000000___________________0000000____ __0000000___________________0000000____ __0000000___________________0000000____ __0000000___________________0000000____ __0000000_00000000_00000000_0000000____ __0000000_00000000_00000000_0000000____ __0000000_00000000_00000000_0000000____ __0000000_00000000_00000000_0000000____ __0000000_000000_______________________ __0000000000000__0000000000000000000___ __000000000000__000000000000000000000__ __0000000000__00000000000000000000000__ __000000000__0000000000000000000000000_ ____00000000000000000__00000000000000__ _____0000000000000000_00000000000000___ _____0000000000000000_00000000000000___ Keep rockin' dude! Peace out* Likarius MonetheO May 07, 2004 07:03 AM ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| |||---||||||||---||||---|||---||||---|||| |||---||||||||---||||---|||---||||---|||| |||---||||||||---||||---|||---||||---|||| |||---||||||||---||||---|||---||||---|||| |||--------|||----||----||||---||---||||| |||--------||||--------||||||------|||||| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| |||---||||---|||||-----||||||||-----||||| |||---|||---|||||-------||||||-------|||| |||----|---|||||---|||---||||---|||---||| |||-------||||||---|||---||||---|||---||| |||----|---|||||---|||---||||||||---||||| |||---|||---|||||-------|||||||---||||||| |||---||||---|||||-----||||||---------||| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| __[_k_y_deathLemon@yahoo.com_]_[_meOw_]__ |||[I]||||[LovE]||||[YoU]||||[frienD]|||| EauJ Corpuz Apr 21, 2004 08:48 AM i remember one time when somebody mistook me as this guy's brother. magkamukha daw kame. layooo. :) meric's also a GSCS, CMSHS, APC(soon to be.) alumni, just like me. teka. di ko napansin yon, a. sinusundan mo ba ako?? hehe. biru lang. he's also a baller. he's part of the 2nd batch Quasars team. tama ba? o 3rd? i was w/ the 1st batch and i think we did get to play a few times w/ each other. i'd say he's got a strong presence inside. tough to defend whenever he's near the basket. naks. ok na ba to? hehe. alright. sana ay makalaya ka na rin diyan sa apc. hehehe. derrick_ Sibug Apr 14, 2004 06:17 AM Etong si Meric, codename: Pokemaniac, ay isa sa mga sumisimbulo sa [3d].. he's an icon.. nyahaha!! the best yan!! Idol ko nga yan sa Pokemon eh, alam ang lahat... Salamat kung na-appreciate nyo ang aking monay-milo.. Lupit ba!! Meron nga akong bago eh!! Isa lang masasabi ko kay manuel, the best yan!! umasa na alng ang magtatangkang pabagsakin siya, kung meron man.. nyahaha!! meeekoLeT Alcasid Apr 12, 2004 06:46 AM the biggest asset of sse11 batch 2002 is none other than... manoy, the baby whale... the first seatmate a had after i graduated in highschool... at first, this guy is quiet... maybe because we havent known each other so well... i found out that this person could write, not just write, but could go deep into a soul of a person... such a meaningful writer which would definitely touch a moment of your life... a good basketball player, baby shaq as he was known on our court in APC... i wish that i would hear this person sing coz he look alike brian mcknight... hehehe... well, basically, he is good person.. someone who would never hesitate to do something for somebody (unless of course...)... ingatz lagi! :) Jona Alcantara Mar 28, 2004 08:21 PM c manuel.... hmmmm...actually tahimik tlga sa klase yan dati pero he makes a lot of sense when he talks. mahilig yan sa PC games at mgaling gumawa ng poems at kung anu-ano pa. at kapag wala na ciang masabi.... smile na lang cia! Maui Magalong Mar 26, 2004 06:38 PM i2 ang daddy whale ko.. spoiled ako jan,, lagi nakasmile.. kaya lam mo pagmalungkot sha.. sa kanya din ako ngmana ng kahalangan.. matagal ko ng friend to.. marami na kaming napagdaanan (galit, bati)pero ngaun magkasama pa din kami.. madalas din magkatampuhan pero nagkakabati din.. mabuting tao, naks! hehehe.. galing din nito sa english, idol ko nga toh kasi boplaks ako dun.. hehehe.. tama na ang kaseryosohan,, di ko sha hahalangin kasi baka gantihan nya ko.. pro isa lng lgi nyang knbabanas saakin, late kasi ako lagi magreply sa mga sulat ko.. sa lahat ng tao ito ang pnakanakakaintindi saakin.. thanx! i2 din ang taong full support sa lahat ng ginagawa ko kahit mali na.. pero syempre pagmali na eh pinapagalitan nya ako.. dami ng chance na binigay saakin nito.. ano pa ba? ah milkshake.. hehehe.. busta ingat lagi.. "i wish you look at me that song.." ; "2 friends that cannot see each other are blind.. friendship!" teecee.. c",) kimihime fontanilla Mar 05, 2004 10:51 PM hello meric. thanks for adding me as your friend. yan si meric sobrang quiet and minsan lang magsalita pero kapag nagsalita may sense naman. magaling gumawa ng poems and all that stuff that he writes na di ko alam. basta yun!! magaling na writer and very very very sweeeeet! miz yah zErAh-' Flores RPh Feb 21, 2004 07:52 AM haluuuu!!! bato!!! yan ang tawag namin dati kay manuel. actually once ko lang cia naging clsm8, and we were not that close pa. naging chatmate ko lang xia nowadays, so un lang. hehehe. c manuel kc natutuwa ako jan dati kc ang laki laki nia taps sobrang tahimik. bato tlaga! kulit nga tumwa nian dti e, tahimik din, ewan ko lang ngyn. for now, nakakachat ko xia pag online ako at nyt time. mmm... la na ko msabi e. un lang po. basta mbait yan c bato. cge po... un lang ulit... God bless! JoY arceo Feb 09, 2004 10:10 PM ang naaalala ko lng kay manuel is sya yung leader nmin sa english noong 4th yr nmin...hekhekhek sya lng yung gumagawa kaya pagtinatanong n kmi ni maam briones wla kmimng msagot...c manuel super, laging nkangiti and parang may sarilng mundo...cool yeah tama yon cool sya...mabait and matalino...kung ano- ano ang pumapasok sa isip kaya kung ano- ano ang pinagggwa...c",) isla Isla Feb 05, 2004 07:36 AM si meric, hmmn..mabait yan, tahimik, misteryoso nga yan eh, hindi mo alam kung ano iniisip..kahit anong computer game ata ituro mo dito eh gumagaling siya. matalino! lalo na pag English.. yan ata ang forte nya. kapag nakita mo notebook nyan, ay nako puro drawing o kaya naman puro tula.. magaling makisama yan, sya pa nga ang aming financier sa 3d eh. basta meric, keep up the good work and God bless!! Alexis Aaron Tarcena Jan 30, 2004 09:49 PM c manuel ang pnkathmik s [3d]...cia rin ang pnkasira ulo...minsan akla mo thmik lang pro my binblak n plang karumal dumal...mgling ding sumulat 2ng taong 2...lalo n pag in luv...i remmber nung na in luv 2 ky k...sbrang na in luv cia...un n ata ang gust2 nya mksma hbang buhay e...hehe...di ko tlga mka2lmutan 2ng taong 2...bro mo ipngplit nya ung pagi2ng escort sa deut ng pnkama2hal nya pra sa birthdy ko...c manuel nga rin pla ang financer sa grupo...cge tsong pa ighin mo pa ang pag-aaral tska konting practice p sa bsketball,ha?...hehe Kuya Perez Jan 28, 2004 08:10 AM Aba.. si Manuel Enrico Manalastas, mabait yan parang ako!!! napakamasunurin nyan!! lging sumusunod sa dress code, lging nkasabit ang ID! mababait rin mga kasama nyan: sila Ray, Allen at Jon, si Miguel din minsan (hehe!,, di kasi tayo masyado close eh, kaya wala na akong sasabihin.. cge sir, pagbutihin niyo ang pag-aaral!! mabuhay ang APC!!! /gg Mak Machine Junio Jan 15, 2004 06:52 PM wlalang kwentang ka oparty yan!!! pinabayaan ako patay tuloy me.... (huhuhu... =( Ruby Aldave Dec 12, 2003 07:02 AM c kuya meric.. ay cute. (whaaaaaaaaatttt????).. shige na nga. skulmate ko po cya nung first yr aq.. mgaleng pla magbasketball.... hehehe. chka ka-email ko po cya dti nung tinanong po nya c manlu (haaaaayyyy...).. chka huli ko po cya nkta nung intrams.. (sya d ba..?) :p.. at chubby.. pero cute.. bwahahaha. '- ALLEN -' Labasog Dec 09, 2003 07:20 AM manoy, manoy, manoy... isang mabait na nilalang. mabuting kaibigan at tlagng maaasahan... isang taong sobrang takaw na halos mahigitan na c miguel.. madalas kong kasama kung san san... magaling cya magbasket kya tinaguriang Gori ng APC.Ksma sa grupo ng mga halang na wala ng ibang ginawa kundi manglait ng ibang tao...hehe.. la na ako masabi, tsaka na ung iba...:p Erick Bajao Dec 08, 2003 09:31 AM si MANOY??? aba! mabait yan e.. pagkakaalam ko... halang yan pero kunwari di halata... kumbaga asssassin yan sa panghahalang... balyena to e... kaya madalas malate sa mathlog kasi madalas mahagip ng lambat sa manila bay.. bwahaha.. seriously po, mabuting kaibigan tlga tong c manoy... matino pero halang...=) ingatz tsong! 05 简妮 เจนนี่ Jhen O. Maniquis Dec 08, 2003 02:27 AM Manuel Enrico Manalastas... si Manwhale? di kami close pero okei to.. ang deep nitong tao na to.. a poet, an essayist, walking dictionary, noBelist?? hahaha! smiling face.. pero nakaka deceive looks nito, ang bait kasi pero deep inside, halang to.. sabi nga nila, isa sa mga nag pioneer ng kahalangan sa block namin.. Ayos din to kasama sa inuman.. hahahaha! till next time. im out .. ---> tc Rick Manzano Nov 21, 2003 07:12 AM Manuel's this person with so much potential in him. He's seems shy, but I know that behind that guise is SSE21's best actor, and I don't question that, because we've already proved it. He's patient and responsible, and I know he will go a long way because he has the will to learn. Continue being a better person, and don't ever remove that smile on your face, because it really makes a diffwerence. It was such an honor working with you, Paeng. Sana magkakasama pa rin tayo next term because my academic life has never been this fun and meaningful until I worked with you guys! God bless! :) SaJ Carrillo Nov 19, 2003 12:57 PM I liked Meric's maturity even when he was still in high school. He is a certified PS Addict... Haha! I don't know if he's still into PS, though. So Ragnarok it is this time huh? Anyway, Meric's also among the most hardworking players I've ever handled in CMSHS. His height and width and his weight are the biggest reasons why I included him in my line- up. Damn, talk about a Robert "Tractor" Traylor in my team! DYEYBI Impreso Oct 27, 2003 09:23 PM si manuel mukhang senator. diba bullet? musta na sunshine? (silence...) Rick Manzano Oct 22, 2003 09:37 PM Si Paeng? Ah best actor yan sa play namin! Mala-Mike Enriquez ang dating! :D But seriously, he's nice. We don't talk much but he's reliable :)

 

Stop. Look. Not in a magnifying glass, because it's not as bad, really.

I..
May have failed.. But has since got up.
Was hurt.. But no longer in pain.
Was deceived.. But no longer confused.
Was clueless.. But no longer seeking answers.
Because yes, I was lost. But now I am profound.

We all have lives to live.. and not lies to live by.
And for some, still, love to find.. and not love to go blind with.
As others, keep dreams to chase, and not dreams to waste.

So, let's move along now..
And give it a fuckin' break.

Truth be told, I'm done letting the wound dry. I need no binge.
No, I don't feel empty. Just don't have the need to fill, whatever.

Truth be told, I'm out the door. Witnessed by the rusty hinge.
No, I don't need this, to know how I even got out here, however..

Truth be told, I'm somehow still seething. I still feel like the victim.
But, it's no longer desperation, no longer regret. Never was hatred.

But then I still feel, in every flash of your existence, your presence, and I don't know for how long..

But I still cringe.

You could stay still, and just go where currents flow.
Or move against it, explore because you'd dare to know.

You could curb yourself of curiosity, consume life minus all uncertainty and fears.
Or you could break these chains, work the sweat, bleed the blood, glorify the tears.

You could let faith dictate your path, feel assured, then just go blind.
Or you could challenge fate, carve your own, and pay the man up, in kind.

You could use your own account of pain to explain your scars, sometimes hopelessly, often needlessly.
Or you could just forget about it.. heedlessly, like a boss..

Life is shit.
Love is the candy sprinkles on top.
Karma? It's the bitch that make it so.
Friends? They're the ones who (could, heck, should!) pick it up when you can't.
Sad but true, but quite the fun if you are willing to do the same.. Right?

There.. I'm feeling better already! :)

"I'm tough as shit. That's the medicine I'm on."- Kobe Bryant

I stood my ground.. and mindlessly waited.
I would deny the obvious.. defy the simplest logic in a pinch.

I left every doubt behind.. word? fixated.
I've taken the obvious path. One bit, but the other didn't flinch.

This is the battle of love: Through the fire, down the wire. Gut kicks and sucker punches.
This is the lesson of love: First a test of valiance, then acceptance.

This is the revelation of love: You cannot ask for it to be fair. You can only ask for it to be truthful. Pain from it is never short of legendary.

These scars, I shall bring with me as I go. But whatever I bled, I'll make sure it's left behind.
I gave what I could, what my heart has asked of me, what I felt your heart would need from mine.

But I should know when it's enough that I have to stop, and this time it is. But..

It's not quitting, when the other didn't try.

In this sober sight, I still feel mindless more than anything.
In this somber light, I still feel illuminated beyond comfort.

Facing front this much-reveled name, I refuse to hold the door and push open.
I go sideways, just so I can move forward in some other way.

Yet I cannot run back to normality, it's just chaotic history repeating.
And in all of this so-called reality, it's us that need more than just pitting.

For now I shall burn the clock, like there exists 'forever'.
And by then, our faint light, I will no longer block..
I shall stand and deliver.

It's weak, it's selfish, and a stupid way to escape pain.
Were all of these too much of a burden? Did others just had it too easy for too long?
I say look around, others would have had much worse.

It's feeble, it's greedy, and a moronic path to extinction.
Does it no longer merit our resilience? Did they give up easily when you've held on tight?
I say look around, some have fought for, and lost to even bigger battles.

We all look for reasons to push, to keep going, to live. All of us do.
No pain should ever cause us to completely turn against that train of thought. Never.
But reality bites, some would and some do think of it.

All returns to nothing, as it is. That would hold true, until we choose otherwise.
Love hurts, yes. But never kills. The latter defies the essence of the former.
Love could be a four-letter lie, But never a killing truth.

We often end up looking down on ourselves, looking up to the pain.
But really, what is pain? It's not a prelude to our end, nor a bridge to apathy.
It is proof that we live, a scar to show that we are not frail,
that we can still challenge, and change the fate that lies ahead.

So endure.

How sad that it has become the fate of many.
To not want to die, anymore. To just want to live it up. Didn't they know?
There's no better feeling.

Weight loss is a such struggle for a typical office professional. It takes tremendous will to keep at it. If not done properly you will constantly border from starving yourself, to getting frustrated, depressed and ultimately stressed with it.. and quit.

This is an email I sent to a friend asking for a diet plan.. Thing is, I didn't have any, nor a trip to the gym even once. I worked my way from 230 lbs to 168 lbs in 6 months.. So I am sort of a testament of it can be done. As the cliche goes: If I can do it, so can you.

But before that, I also created a facebook photo album as some sort of a timeline, and a feeble attempt to visually document my supposed progress. [ clickity here.]








The message, in its entirety:

Eto ang typical daily menu options ko:

I. Breakfast:
- Oatmeal
- Wheat Bread (tuna or chicken spread, occassional cheese, deli)
- Pwedeng samahan ng eggs ang bread basta 1 lang.
- Fruits (Banana, Apple, Papaya, Pineapple)

II. Lunch:
-Sandwich (Tuna/Veggies/Chicken. Kung wheat bread mas ok)
-Kung rice meal. Half rice lang. Ang typical na ulam:
- Veggies (Pork,Chicken, Beef w/ veggies)
- Tofu
- Toge
* Watch the quantity. Kung sanay ka na ng half-rice pede mo gawing 3 kutsara na lang. :)

III. Merienda
- Skyflakes
- Mais
- Wheat bread (sandwich)
- Nuts

IV. Typical Snacks:
- Nova, Oheya
-Skyflakes Fit (Flax or Oat Fiber)
- Nagaraya

V. Dinner:
- Wheat Bread, Veggies, Fish
- Same sa lunch, pero mas maganda in lesser quantity
- Sushi. Magastos to para sa kin.. Pero kung kaya, ok to.
- Half-rice or less.

Ganyan ata (haha) madalas ung kinakain ko. Actually hanggang ngayon gnyan pa rin naman.

VI. Drinks
- Oo, nagfi-fit n ryt ako.. I can't really say kung talagang nakakatulong sya, nadala lang ako ng commercial at marketing nito.. So parang faith buyer lang ako ng mga L-Carnitine drinks tulad ng Water Plus, C2 Envidia (No sugar daw), Fab, Nestea Fit, atbp. Ngayon nasanay na ko na yan ang iniinom ko palagi (3 bottles a day, or around 900 mg ng L-Carnitine). Keep watch of the sugar though.

VII. Ang mga iniiwasan.
- Bale ang naging mantra ko: Low-cholesterol (fat), low-calorie, low-carb, high-fiber diet.
So sa mga label yan ang tinitignan ko.
- Iwas sa: masarsang luto ng karne
- Fried chicken (nag-withdrawal ako sa KFC. haha)
- Anything fried and oily.
- Sugar. Sweets. Ice cream. Chocolate.
- Carbs. Kanin. Pasta. mahirap iwasan totally.. so ang ina-apply ko ay 5-spoonfuls-max rule.
- Soda. Coke.
- Alak? hindi. mahirap iwasan yan. haha.

VIII. Pisikalan
- I take pride that I lost around 60 lbs (230 -> 164lbs, 103KGs -> 75 KGs) without hitting the gym.. Pero syempre kung diet, di pwedeng walang workout para maburn ang mga taba.
- Cardio: May Air Climber kami (pa-google na lang..) at un ang ginagamit ko 10~20 mins a day.. Na-laspag sya sa kin kaya ngayon sira na. haha
- Calisthenics will do. Mga simpleng streching. Push-ups, sit-ups. Basta pinapawisan ka.
- Dumb bells din. pampapawis. pang-tanggal ng man-boobs.
- At kung pede at may oras mag-jogging, much much better.
- Run!
- Maintain an active lifestyle. Sports. Badminton, Volleyball. Trekking.
- May trip akong kakaiba na ginagawa. After work. naglalakad ako from Ortigas Center hanggang A. Bonifacio para pag-pawisan. ginagawa ko sya dati 2-3 times a week for 2 months.

* May tinry din ako para ma-motivate ako lalo: Bumili ng damit na maliit sa kin.. Syempre ayoko masayang ung pinambili ko kaya pipilitin kong maging fit para dun. hehe.

IX. Eto ung tantsa ko sa timeline ko:
April 2009: 225 lbs.
October 2009: 192 lbs.
End of November 2009: 172 lbs.
January 2010: 168 lbs.
as of July 2010: 164 lbs.

Ayan. Sana makatulong ito. Disiplina, determinasyon at self-control lang. :)