Discoveries

I learned some pretty useful, pathetic and disgusting things today.

Useful- Uniwide is the overruns central when it comes to U2 and G2000 clothing. The prices there are about a third of the selling price in the mall. Admittedly, it's still not ukay standard (tops are around 570p and sweaters from 800p up) but they have a pretty good selection of warm weather clothing.

Pathetic- This and this. Enough said.

Disgusting- hearing that a man could rape an 8 month old baby and twice pa at that! TV Patrol reported this evening how this Japanese national was convicted for raping a baby and how a videotape of the act was presented as evidence of his dastardly deed. According to the news report, one girl saw the man committing the lascivious acts and screamed in surprise, thus causing the man to stop. The girl then secretly planted a videocamera near the baby, so the next time it happened, it was all caught on tape.

But now that I think about it, I don't know what disgusts me more, the fact that a person could be so debased as to take advantage of an infant or the fact that the people obligated to look over the infant allowed the same thing to happen again just so that they'd have evidence to pin the criminal with.

If you know that someone raped a baby, you take the baby away from the rapist. Any sane person can tell you that. You do not put a videocam near a baby with the hope that the same crime would be committed. What's wrong with you people?!

But for all we know, there might still be some reason behind this madness. Although what that may be still eludes me at present.

Dashed

I just found a few minutes ago that kuya Oliver is definitely bringing us all to Boracay. He says that it is five years' worth of Christmas presents for all of us. Yey!

The plan was to stay in the island for four days, from January 1-4. However, a quick look at the academic calendar revealed that classes would resume on January 2, a Monday, meaning PRIL day. Any Malcolm inhabitant will know the significance of that so will more or less understand why I had to beg off.

Anyway, (sour grapes alert!) I already spent a few days in Boracay this summer so it's not like I'll be missing out on anything... :)

But if the invitation had been to go to Batanes, I would throw all thoughts of Mam Beth aside and just go. That's definitely topmost on my list of things to do before I die. I mean to go to Batanes, and not to throw things at Mam Beth.

Careful, the walls have ears...

Sloth

I finally gave out the last of my Christmas presents yesterday, a few minutes after I bought them. I'm sorry but as much as I love my family, I'm not gonna risk life and limb to join the throng of deranged people scrambling for last minute shopping. Christmas shopping is already strenuous enough without the added stress of a wading through a mass of bodies just to peruse knick-knacks.

So with the last present distributed and the last calendar and polvoron combo handed out to their intended recipients, I now have license to morph into a sloth. But I exaggerate because I've been "slothing" it out for the past few days, even before finishing the holiday "obligations". Turning into a houseplant is so much fun!

I'm rereading "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix" which I'm positive I've already read when it first came out, but for one reason or another, it seems as if I'm only reading it for the first time now! It's weird but I can't seem to remember huge chunks of the story, only just a few bits and pieces here and there (like the Weasly twins turning the hallway into a swamp and the cursing portrait) but I really can't recall anymore how it will end and whether or not there will be another Harry and Voldemort face-off. I must be suffering from the onset of early alzheimers.

On a very ditzy note, I bought a new blouse and miniskirt yesterday when I was supposed to be exclusively shopping for Christmas presents. The pink blouse is for school and OLA so not really blog-worthy but the miniskirt isn't. That's why I'm excited to strut in wear the latter. I've been looking for some time now for the perfect miniskirt and I do believe, ladies and gentlemen, that I've finally found it. It was pure magic I tell you, with fireworks and everything.

Every day, for the past week or so, I've been psyching myself to finally clean my desk, bathroom counter and the war room (where I stash all my law school readings). If you've seen what I've seen and if you know what I know, then you'll get the idea that it's not an easy task. But it must be done and I'm doing it soon. "Soon" meaning in the near future. "Near future" meaning when the time and occassion permit. Good luck to me.

*****

postscript at 6:15pm

I'm too tamad to go out, even if it is to Ella's new house in Southwoods. I don't know what it is with me these days. Just feel so blah and duh. It's the traffic and the prospect of another evening of small talk that makes me want to just stay home and finish the stack of Sweet 18 vcds lent me.

Yeah I know. Party girl central right here.

So to my highschool classmates, I'm sorry to miss this year's party. But with my current mood, a wet rag would be more interesting.

And my skin is getting all weird again, I'm chalking that one up to missing my daily requisite of 2 liters of water.

Bored, bored, bored.

The best of the holidays from my family to yours.

Wedding Bells

I am at that stage in my life where weddings and baptisms are a dime a dozen. I've played ninang 3 times this year alone, with a 4th one tomorrow for my super cute, future soccer superstar, rocket scientist niece Madison.

But this isn't about baptisms and ninang "obligations", although I am itching to write something about that, it's about the wedding I attended last night.

It's just funny how it's finally over, seeing that we've been preparing for it for the past couple of months. Glenn is now married! Waaaah! While he was walking down the aisle, I had the urge to grab the mike and belt out "Ikakasal ka na....Iiwan mo akong nag-iisa...." hehehehehe

Seriously though, I'm happy for the couple. They're both such sweet and unassuming people. Although I will miss our impromptu midnight munchies and the what-have-you trips.

A typical exchange, about a year or two ago:

Glenn: Jill! Samahan mo naman ako at si Sykes (his dog) magpaayos ng kotse!
Jill: Wala ba si Randy?
Glenn: Wala, nag-gym.
Jill: E si kuya Raymund?
Glenn: Kasama si Shalaine.
Jill: Joni?
Glenn: May trabaho.
Jill: John?
Glenn: May gimik yata.
Jill: Sige na nga. Pero libre mo ako ng hamburger ha?
Glenn: May kasama pang softdrinks!
Jill: Alright!

Best wishes to Daddy Groovy and Ena!

********

Chick News:

The chick has been with us for four days and has made a miraculous recovery :)

It now hops, runs and jumps as well as any of its peers, albeit with a slight limp. In fact, we've transferred her residence to a bigger box because she has the annoying tendency of jumping out of regular shoeboxes. Her new trick becomes a little too scary for me because I place the box on top of a pile of stuff (about two feet high) so that it can reach the incandescent bulb and keep her warm when she goes to sleep. And then she inconsiderately jumps off. I think she likes scaring me.

Anyway, my nephew Mick-Mick has named her Chick-Chick (I wonder why?) but I like calling her Ceecee, because I think it gives her an air of elan :)



Ceecee marvelling at my buttery soft Havaianas.

Mother and Chick

I never knew I'd be this enamored with an animal (kids excluded of course), I'm just so not animal friendly. But yesterday at the clinic, when these kids came in manhandling an innocent chick, I had to do something.

At first, I tried to teach them that the chick was a living creature and not a tennis ball so it won't bounce when you drop it on the floor. But nothing registered with them, I guess they were just plain cruel or imbeciles. So I shamed them into giving me the chick (saying something along the lines of "Tsk-tsk-tsk you're sure not getting anything from Santa this Christmas") when I saw that they were about to dump it into the trashcan because they thought it was dead.

Kids can be so cruel at times. It just about broke my heart to see them toss the chick around like it was just a piece of rag. I so wanted to kick their tiny butts into pet-lovers' heaven, where animal abusers like themselves will be the ones tossed about by vengeful abused chicks.

Anyway, it was a tough afternoon as the chickie had to be fed with a medicine dropper and placed under a lamp. But it managed to pull through. As of press time, it still walks with a limp (I think its right leg is broken, but I'm still crossing my fingers that it's just a sprain and will heal in due time) but is now pecking away like crazy at the starter feed scattered across its box, so there's reason to rejoice. However, I haven't seen it drink from its water bowl, so I won't put away the medicine dropper just yet.

Somehow, after everything that transpired, I really don't feel like eating Chickenjoy anymore.

Gobbledygook

Sometimes I wonder if lawyers, or even law students for that matter, are still capable of conversing in everyday language. It seems to me that we have become so trained (brainwashed?) into the way of the profession that a simple Yes or No question becomes a: Yes, but take not of the exception in x situation, however, this exception is also susceptible of several interpretations one of which must be seen in light of the recent jurisprudential advances such as so and so. In short, no.

But that's just the way it is. The law has become a technical tool only to be wielded by learned artisans. However, I still don't think that that's any excuse to further add confusion to an already convoluted situation.

For example, my latest internet addiction now is going through the Girltalk forum. Most of the time, I just browse the beauty and fashion threads but today I clicked on the Legal Rights thread. There was this one question about a will and the corresponding rights therein. Admittedly, it lacked a lot of factual details and I was itching to paraphrase it because it was quite confusing, to say the least. But the corresponding answer from a law student just added to the melee, IMHO.

QUESTIONS:

"1.Would it be possible to INCLUDE in the parents' will that the siblings' wife or husband will have any legal capacity or entitlement to the property except for the siblings' children? What family code or law will constitute for this?

2.If the owner of the property did not leave any will in the future..and one of the sibling got hold of the document pertainning to the property..wht are the chances that it might be forged or renamed?

3.Will a Special power of Attorney be enough to safeguard the property from forgery or any unlawful acts to obtain the said property."

ANSWERS:

"Wills, in General

1. Yes. A will is an act whereby a person is permitted, with the formalities prescribed by law, to control to a certain degree the disposition of his estate to take effect after his death (Art. 783, Civil Code; see Rivera vs. Palmaroli, 40 Phil. 105). Thus, a document that does not purport or is not intended to dispose of one's estate, either directly by the institution of heirs or designation of devisees or legatees and the property or share they are to receive or, indirectly, by validly disinheriting those who would otherwise inherit by operation of law, is not to be governed by the law on testamentary succession but some other applicable laws that might be pertinent. The Law presumes that every person is of sound mind, in the absence of proof to the contrary. The burden of proof that the testator was not of sound mind at the time of making his dispositions is on the person who opposes the probate of the will; but if the testator, one month, or less, before making his will was publicly known to be insane , the person who maintains the validity of the will must prove that the testator made it during a lucid interval.

2. The sibling cannot, in no way, alineate the property without the permission of the real and lawful owner of such property, or co-owners as the case may be, there are compulsory heirs which has a greater right over such sibling,it can even subjected in the probate of the will.

3. If such a case is bound to hapen, u can protest such alineation of property, since it took effect without the consent of the co-owners, since their signature was forged to effect the transaction such as conveying it to third persons by way of SAle.

Special power of attorney is being executed to constitute/appoint someone to be his attorney-in-fact, to enter and consumate transactions for and in behalf of the principal.

For instance there are 5 siblings wherein their parents left no will with respect to the partition of the estate of the deceased, as children to their parents they are the compulsary heirs. Now if they decided to sell a parcel of land owned by their parents, they can appoint one of their sibling to be their Attorney in Fact by way of executing a special power of attorney. Hence No need for them to appear in the transaction, their sibling can do it by himself by virtue of the SPA . . ."

Jillsabs says:

1. What do you mean by this? Please rephrase your question.

2. A lot. Human nature is human nature and there's always the need to have more. There's a big chance that it will be forged or that there will be at the very least, an attempt to transfer the property title to the sibling who has the property documents. Surprise, surprise.

3. No, an SPA only authorizes a person to act in another's behalf. For example, you signed a document allowing your brother to sell your property for you. An SPA cannot act as a safeguard because, in the first place, it is not meant to be a safeguard.

Let's keep it short and simple peeps. The name of the game is communication and no matter how brilliant your arguments may be, if no one can understand you, then you ain't in the game.

Unsolicited Advice

As the only unmarried person working in the clinic, I get all sorts of advice thrown at me by well-meaning and sometimes meddling people. So far, the memorable bits of advice are:

Getting married is fun because you eventually have babies. Babies are fun.

Never marry a man much younger than you. He'll just tire you out. I have to invent aches and pains now just to sleep undisturbed.

I'm having our third baby because he begged me for it.

I don't pay attention to my husband when he starts whining. See? That's why we get along so well.

You're so young. Get a boyfriend.

You're so young. Stay single.

You're not getting any younger. Get married.

You're very lucky to have birthing hips. You'll have no problem at all.

Ooopss...the last one wasn't a piece of advice but I always get that among medical practitioners. The way they talk about my hips, it's as if all I have to do is wiggle them for the baby to automatically fall out.

But for all the diverse and sometimes contradicting things I hear from the people at work, one commonality runs through them. They are all in love with Neil Buchanan. They all can't get enough of Art Attack and hold Mr.Buchanan in the highest regard.

So from the hodge-podge of unsolicited advice that I have to go through every time I log in at work, another one is added: Marry someone like Mr. Art Attack or marry Mr. Art Attack himself.

Medical practitioners are weird.

Finally!

The regulars of this blog are familiar with my accidental debut in Abante magazine earlier this month. If you haven't the foggiest, please click here for enlightenment.

Anyway, I finally heard from the good senator, or at least someone who works for or with him. Here you go, attribution at last.

Dear Jill:

We are calling the attention of a certain Gil Collantes regarding his claims that he wrote it, or something to that effect.

We saw your blogspot and as you said, the story originated from you.

We shall be making necessary erratum or proper attribution in our next saturday's column.

We apologize for the inadvertent mistake.

And by the way, we would like you to reply to a query from abroad regarding the veracity of your story. All right with you?

You're a good writer and blogger... can you probably contribute to our advocacies for the Inang Bansa?

Please tell us more about yourself.

God bless,
On behalf of Mr Honasan...

by
Marc Guerrero
Advocacy Journalist

I really do hope that this post will be the end of the NAIA scam topic. I don't think I can summon up the gumption and the strength to appear in a senate hearing, and besides, whatever will I wear?! :p

But to accommodate Mr. Guerrero's request, here's a little something about myself:

My name is Jill. I like the color pink. I'm a girl (Although some friends still think of me as a little boy. Hello Glenn!). I have a baby niece named Maddie and a very malambing nephew named Mick. I like Christmas decorations. And I'm still torn between Havaianas or Nine West pumps as Christmas presents.

So there. I can finally lay this issue to rest.

Maddie!

Today, at around 5am, I officially met my niece Madison Alexi.

So this is how love at first sight feels like :)

Godzilla Country

I've always been fascinated with Japan. It's such a small country but it needs a batallion of defenders. They have the Biomen, Mask Rider Black, Shaider and Annie, Astroboy, Daimos, Voltes V etc. to save them from tyrannical world dominator wannabes. But why do these megalomaniacs inevitably flock to Japan? And why aren't they aware of each other? Does Prince Ulrich know Ida? Maybe they've even gone on a candle-lit dinner where they discussed strategies over a bottle of wine. Who knows? Not everything is shown on television you know.

But I digress. Perhaps it's the sushi. That's it. These overlords just love their sushi so much that they want to corner the market thus the necessity of taking over the country. Nothing like sushi and sashimi to brighten up an evil-doer's day.

But kidding aside, there is a new threat plaguing Japan. It's not as destructive as Godzilla but the potential for a box-office hit is also there and the scare factor is tenfold because they're real. Check out these giant jellyfishes.



Japan definitely needs another superhero now. Perhaps Aquaman is available?

Maxi!

I played hooky today to watch "Ang Pagdadalaga ni Maximo Oliveros" with G at the Gateway Mall. And even if I was constantly besieged with Catholic guilt for cutting class(es), I'm glad I did what I did.

I've heard nothing but praises for this movie and being the bandwagon jumping kind of person that I am, I had to see for myself what the fuss was all about. The movie was admittedly a bit choppy but I was very pleased with the way it refrained from spoonfeeding its audience. For once, the viewing public was encouraged (forced?) to think for themselves and I personally found that refreshing.

Another plus was that Nathan Lopez a.k.a. Maxi made a surprise appearance at the theater! So of course, I had to have my picture taken with him :) He's such a sweet looking boy, he reminds me of a much younger and a baby-faced Jomari Yllana.

I predict success, triumph and all the good things in life for this young man :)

Huwat?!

Guess who appeared in Abante last December 3? ME! Or rather, one of my blogposts did. Check this out.

It's in Gringo Honasan's column and he credits it to one Gil R. Collantes. Maybe it's really supposed to be JILL R. Collantes. But my middle initial isn't "R" and my last name isn't "Collantes", so it's definitely not me.

Sigh. The first time one of my works appear on a national paper and I don't get credited. What's up with that?!

Just for this, I think, nay, I insist that I should appear on the cover of Abante, with a picture... :)

So, does anyone have a spare December 3, 2005 issue of Abante? I'd like a copy for my scrapbook :)

Preview

To prepare for their upcoming wedding, Glenn and Ena brought the troop over to the future scene of the crime, Tagaytay. Michelle, Ryna and Menchu were there to survey the church and reception area and check if everything was up to par. While I tagged along and played photographer, seeing that that was the only way I could be useful since I know nothing of wedding preparations and couldn't bluff my way through it to save my life.

First stop was the church. A quick check revealed that the choir section was adequately equipped and everything seemed fine. Then off we went to Taalena for a late lunch. It was a beautiful place. Heck, with such a spectacular view even a shack will seem fit for a king!



Glenn and Ena inside Taalena restaurant




Look! My bag matches my shirt :)




The boys. Check out Randy's biceps.



Menchu, Mich and Ryna's wind-swept looks.


Next stop was Nurture Spa, where the reception would be held. It was a very cozy and tranquil place which promised beauty and relaxation for all those who entered it's bowered gates. Although I seriously doubt how they will be able to deliver since their next door neighbors seemed intent on winning the karaoke challenge thus destroying the relaxation angle of the whole experience.

Someone should definitely address that problem. I suggest that the spa owners call on their friendly, neighborhood goons to talk to the pasaway neighbors. Talking is always good :)



These signs were all over the place, reminding the visitors what they were there for.




Pretty, pretty place





Once again, Mr. and Mrs. Glenn Alegre





Randy-worshipping



Can you feel the energy?


Just a little over two weeks left before the big day. Congratulations to Glenn and Ena! Mwah!

The Fan

I saw Jay Manalo in Topshop today. He was trying on some gloves and flirting with the sales ladies at the same time (how's that for multi-tasking?). G had his camera with him and I could have easily donned my kapalmuks mask and asked for a photo-op, but I didn't. I guess I just wasn't starstruck enough to go through all that trouble.

I got starstruck over Yul Servo and Dion Ignacio, so I half expected that I'd get at least giddy over Jay Manalo who's more popular and established than either Yul or Dion (uy! feeling close!). But there were no fireworks, no butterflies, no magic. It just wasn't meant to be.

My ultimate starstruck fantasy would be to have my picture taken with the Megastar. I'm sure a lot of people will roll their eyes but I've always been and forever will be a Sharonian. Blame it on Pinoy Box Office and Star Cinema. I watched with patience as Tita Shaui got bigger and bigger as Georgia in "Kahit Konting Pagtingin Parts I and II" and I swallowed the whole Sharon-and-Aga-as-lovers storyline just so that I could also belt: Kung ako na lang sana ang yong minahal, di ka na muling luluha paaaaaaa! But not that I could relate to the story. Not at all :p

Aside from Tita Shaui, it would also be great to have my picture taken with Doc Aga, Vhong Navarro and Claudine Barretto. Archie Alemania used to have a special place in my heart but not anymore. I have purposely stricken him off my consciousness and affections after he shacked up with that Mickey Ferriols person. He's no longer my man. Even if he came crawling back to me with his liver in his hands begging for mercy, I would still have none of him. No siree, he had his chance and he blew it.

Anyway, morbid fantasies aside, it would be fantastic to have a whole scrapbook filled with photo-ops with different celebritites, just like Bobbie's collection. But rest assured that that scrapbook will have no trace whatsoever of Jay Manalo. He's just too creepy.

Musings

A quick mental rundown of all the things that have to be done during the holidays have led me to conclude that it's gonna be fairly busy. Good. I hate being idle.

If the plans push through, we might be going to Boracay or Palawan with our cousin for the New Year. Palawan would be great but Boracay would be ho-hum. I don't know, I don't think I can take another consumer-driven, party-people infested island any time soon. I guess I'm just a regular bore, give me a relaxing and quiet night anytime than boom boxes throbbing away until the wee hours of the morning. Yikes! My age is showing :)

But that's still not definite so might as well just push that thought aside. Relegate it to the back burner. Bury it in the inner recesses of my consciousness yadda-yadda-yadda.

I'm really anxious about doing my first ever "serious" piece. Actually, it's just for the college paper but it's on the Kyoto Emissions Protocol, something I know nada about! Well that's what research is for right? I knew I should have thought it over first before the Ed in Chief asked if I could write for the paper. But how was I to know that it would be something as "relevant" as that?! Last piece I wrote for the Lex was a food review and a collection of anecdotes from our professors. Writing about kebabs is definitely a far, far leap from dissecting an International Convention. It would probably be as fun as an afternoon of having your teeth pulled out.

Oh well, whatever doesn't kill you will make you stronger right? I guess I have to put on my serious researcher's hat soon enough and actually do something. "Soon enough" meaning in a few days time since the deadline is still next week. Hooray for procrastination!

Two more weeks until Char and the kids come back to the Philippines! Yey!