The funeral is finally over. Now we can all sleep. The services were not that bad. It's more subdued and serene than the ones I witnessed in the Philippines. Here the wake is just a day or two (a rented room costs around $400-$500) -- barely enough to accommodate all the people the deceased person once knew. My uncle rented three rooms for two days and there were a lot of people paying their last respects. //I'm actually surprised that many came considering my aunt's attitude. Oh well, never mind that.// It's a bit frustrating when a lot of people visit the wake/funeral when what we should all be doing is visiting those people we love when they're still alive. Hindi naman malalaman nung namatay kung dinalaw mo sya sa libing nya eh di ba?!?!?! Eh ano ngayon kung present ka during the wake and the funeral when what she needed is your visit nung nabubuhay pa sya?!?!? La lang. Kakainis eh. Kala mo kung sinong namatayan. Paiyak-iyak pa daw kunwari, plastic naman. Hmph. Oh well, dibale, at least they went to the funeral. What more can I ask? Besides, who am I to complain or even to judge them? If not for my mom and Tita M, I wouldn't have stayed over at my (deceased) aunt's house. Then again, at least I did it -- I took care of my aunt for about 2 weeks -- kahit pilit, I did it. And that's the difference.

It's actually my first time to witness a funeral first-hand. Well, not really first-hand since I wasn't the one who died. What I mean is, it's my first time to actually take part in the funeral preparations (although I didn't do that much). Ang hirap pala. The funeral must be probably one of the most stressful events one has to go through. Andyan yung calling up the deceased person's friends/co-workers, finding a good funeral home, scheduling the wake and the funeral, ordering food for the guests and even finding time to cry and grieve.

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Me: Hey can you help me figure this tripod thing so I can get started on the videocam?
Cousin (from NY): It's easy. Oh I forgot, you're from the Philippines.
Me (thinking): Kainis!! Between the two of us, who's the college grad ha?! Who has the initiative to learn things as much as one can? You're a freaking Graphic Design student and you don't even know the software Paint Shop Pro?? You're field is in computers and yet I freaking know more about computers than you do!! I bet I can make better graphics than you do!!!


I really hate it when people undermine Filipinos. Ano kala nyo sa amin bobo?!? FYI, Filipinos are intelligent. We just lack stimuli and a good environment where we can enhance our creativity. Other than that, I know we can do things as good as those people who undermine us, if not better.

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I was downloading the Matrix trailer for about 3 hours already (modem connection, that's why). I was more than halfway through when I got cut off. Download frustration!!! Aaaaarggghh!