Video birthday greeting from Jonalyn Viray: chichi or not chichi?

Jonalyn Viray wishing Poli a happy birthday.

OMG, I think I just died.

A writer friend of mine, Allan Policarpio, is celebrating his birthday today, August 15th. Poli, as we fondly call him, writes for the Philippine Daily Inquirer's Entertainment section. And guess who is her celebrity well-wisher!

Poli and I, together with Glai, met at the press junket for some local reality-variety talent competition show. Since then, we have become friends.

For an entertainment writer, Poli is quite reserved, I don't usually see him talk much; but when he does, he talks non-stop. He writes in a formal yet fun manner; entertaining without being crass. I guess, Poli is the future of entertainment journalism. He earned his journalism degree from UST, by the way.

Some time, Poli mentioned that he likes Jonalyn Viray. He would usually make remarks or references to Jonalyn whenever we had conversations. As to the sincerity of his fondness of Jonalyn Viray, that I cannot ascertain. We cannot be too sure if he is just being sarcastic, randomly illogical, or he really adores Jonalyn Viray.

For those asking me who Jonalyn Viray is, please don't ask me. I don't know either. I guess you should direct you question to Glai or Neri, who interviewed her in a press junket in Bicol. I heard she is a singer who appears in an ensemble cast in weekly musical variety show in local free TV channel. I think she sings well, too.

Glai and Neri thought that they'd surprise Poli with a birthday greeting from Jonalyn. Yesterday, Jonalyn greeted Poli on Twitter. I thought that was the surprise. Until... I saw THIS! 

Assaulting an MMDA enforcer: Not chichi!

Blair Carabuena while assaulting an MMDA enforcer
 Screencap/photo from Interaksyon.com

A video of a motorist mauling an MMDA [Metro Manila Development Authority] traffic enforcer went viral on social networking sites this afternoon. The video was uploaded on YouTube by News5, TV5's news department.

Ateneo alumnus and Philip Morris manager Robert Blair Carabuena was caught on video while assaulting an MMDA officer who accosted him for traffic violations. 

Perhaps this Blair, whose name wreaks of chichi-ness - think of Gossip Girl lead character Blair Waldorf - thinks that he is chichi enough to assault a traffic officer. 

Granted that he is chichi, which by the way does not reflect on his rather (excessively) plump structure, not even the chichi-est of persons has the right to assault anyone! See the video below!

I should learn how to clip my nails + struggling to stay chichi

About to get a pedicure

Darn. My fingernails are growing too fast. I want to beg them to stop growing because otherwise, I would have to squeeze in a manicure appointment to my ever-busy schedule. But lack of time, however, should be the least of my concerns. You'll know in a while, and it is a sad reality.

Just to give you a brief backgrounder, I don't cut clip my own nails. I don't know, but ever since I was young, I'd have a manicurist clip them for me. There were times that I'd rather endure the sight of long, ill-shaped nails than have myself clip them.

However, sometime in the last month, I had to, and I sincerely wish I never had to, clip my own nails, since I can't spare five hundred to get a mani-pedi. The result was a total disaster! To say it was beyond imagination would be an understatement! 

***That was how poor I was - I had to clip my own nails. (insert sad face with puffy dog eyes)

Good thing, my mother sent me extra cash last week; perhaps harvest was good in the province, so I was able to get a mani-pedi. FINALLY!

For my manicure, I'd usually go to

Hong Kong on a whim? Girls are crazy!

Hong Kong. Photo from Conde Nast.

I don't get girls.

My girlfriend, Kelly, just went on an HK trip on a whim. I've seen her shop on a whim, go to Tagaytay on a whim, but this is the first time she went overseas on a whim. What is the matter with girls?

Kelly came from a family of means; so, money is not really a much of a consideration. (Insert my bestfriend here lecturing me that in legalese, money is a consideration). And admittedly, she trumps me on chichi-ness in all levels.

Apparently, her all-female barkada has decided to go on a shopping spree in Hong Kong. I didn't hear of any sale though. So, my girlfriend, being the "joiner" that she is, decided to go with them. They left this afternoon.

Traveling is such a chichi activity. If you want to earn more chichi point, you should do traveling a lot! While I love exploring new places, I'd rather stay in my hotel room and sleep. I don't know, maybe I am perpetually sleep-deprived that's why I just want to sleep when I have the chance.

Here's a tip, if you want to appear chichi to your social climbing friends on Facebook, below is a list of the places you ought to have a picture taken at when you travel, (in order):

North Park: chichi or not chichi? + a preview of what chichi is

A steamy bowl of Nanking Beef noodle soup from North Park

I skipped breakfast and lunch, as usual. I honestly do not know what I am doing. I want lose some weight but I am too lazy to exercise. Maybe I am too lazy to eat as well. I don't know, I've always been lazy.

Around three in the afternoon, I woke up to the sun peeping through the window. Well, at last, the sun did come out. Maybe the Annie sing-along I did yesterday worked. Anyway, I felt a bit of discomfort in my tummy; I was hungry. Yes, kids, chichi kids do get hungry, too - either by choice, by circumstance, or by plain stupidity. I'd like to believe it is due to circumstance because I just woke up.

I was craving for something light, and something hot. Soup, perhaps. I easily thought of getting a steamy bowl of noodles. I live in a place I want to call as the Chinese ghetto. I don't live in Binondo, I live in the outskirts of Binondo. I guess the Chinese people whom Binondo cannot accommodate settled in our area. I am not racist, by the way, I am part Chinese.

Since, I do not have money, I decided to go to North Park instead. There are other Chinese restaurants near my place - the long stretch of Banawe houses some of the best Chinese restaurants. But I am confined by the allowance I get from my parents, so I cannot take 600-peso daily lunches anymore, like I used to do.

North Park is far from being a Chinese restaurant, though. It's like a fastfood. A glorified Chowking, maybe? It is the epitome of Chinese fastfood. Chowking is the epitome of fake Chinese food.

I already have a staple order at North Park. I always get the Naking Beef Noodle soup with Hongkong Noodles and a glass of cold chrysanthemum juice. If I have money to spare, I order an additional tai pao. My order would cost me a little over P200.

There are only few people in North Park earlier, presumably, from the Chinoy middle class - the usual Chinese looking people that roam around Banawe, and of course, hwanas who enjoy having food trips in Banawe. Admittedly, North Park is far from being classy; nowhere near it. But it does not mean it is not chichi.

Friends have been asking me what chichi is. Chichi is not exactly classy; well, a bit. Chichi is actually a way of life. It is the constant struggle for culture and class; for pomp, prim, and propriety. Oh well, the previous statement is a bit of a stretch.

In layman's terms, being chichi is knowing that it is more chichi to eat in Burger King than in Jollibee; to go to Starbucks 6750 than go to Starbucks People Support; and to eat in North Park than spend almost the same amount in Chowking.