My Greenbelt Weekend

For three straight days, I found myself hanging out and strolling around the Greenbelt area and what makes it special is that each day was spent differently and that each day had something to tell about the so-called "growing up" phenomenon.

Friday Night:

It's our celebration - the GBS All Stars Champion! We had our dinner in National Sports Grill where we just ordered anything we want, from main dish to dessert, to drinks and beers, absolutely free. Expenses are covered by the Ayala Mall gift certificates that we received as our prize. Next stop? Red Box Videoke! As people were singing, I'll always remember how Eric and Denise made the most out of their acting talents using the wall telephone and the sofa lights. I'll always remember the one when you held the phone while slowly leaning ang going down the wall, the kind of scene you see in teleseryes when the girl is crying to her boyfriend over the phone. Plus the scene of widows talking to their husbands in the coffin. Again, was that supposed to be a drama or a comedy act? Really very funny!

I spent the whole Friday night till 3am in Greenbelt. It was really a night of celebration and indulgence without experiencing much of its cost.  Lesson learned?  I'm growing older! Celebrations are now intended for great accomplishments, like the recognitions in the company for example, and I felt the ambience of working people as we took our dinner. Yes, it's fun but really different to celebrations experienced before. 

Saturday Night:

It's 6pm and I just came out from a shower in Mandarin Gym when I received a text from Doryll inviting me to hang-out tonight in Greenbelt. Ros, Doryll and Ka were in Mcdo Cafe and Nina just had a dinner in Cyma, Greenbelt 2.  They're inviting me and Jekki to just come over and spend Saturday nights outside. As I was thinking of a nice work-life balance (yes, I'm thinking about it), I immediately replied yes even if I was only wearing slippers coming from workout that night.

The whole night of conversations and sharing stories and again, drinking beers (ei, I just realized it's Octoberfest), can be compared to one of those movies, the one that we can entitle as, "We All Have Problems" or "Life Sucks". :)  The setting started when I came in Mcdo Cafe and I met these 3 ladies talking about work life. And as each one was telling stories, you'll then see a flashback or a scene where you can visualize their daily work encounters - of how it can be stressful and unfulfilling at the same time.  And so the rants went on - about 'why are we again working like this?' or 'is this the price of my Ateneo education' or 'where now is the passion?'. Good thing Jekki arrived for enlightenment because he's the one who's fulfilled by following his passion and interests in ANC.  We were also talking about dreams and future plans, like setting up a business which entertained the possbility of setting up taxi cabs and restaurants, or some ways for work-life balance like doing yoga and all sorts.  Lesson learned? Life! Oh well, life.

Tonight, I went home late again around 4 in the morning. From Greenbelt, we went to a small bar in Ortigas, the name goes like Stir Crazy and from there, we headed towards the area of Metro Walk where we ate sisig in Jay n Jay's. Yummy sisig!

Sunday Afternoon:

After hearing mass in the Greenbelt chapel, I went on to my first facial treatment together with my hugmate in 'Let's Face It' located in Greenbelt 1. Actually, it was my first time to be in Greenbelt 1 and unlike Greenbelt 3, the stores there were less high-end and also the place contains less people. Going for a facial is actually one of my birthday treats to myself since I wanted to try out stuff I haven't yet done.

The first 30 minutes was totally relaxing! I was lying down beside hugmate as our heads and faces were massaged. The music was also calming and the ambience was truly destressing.  But the comfort began to veer away the moment they began removing blackheads! I didn't imagine it would be that painful to the point that tears appear in your eyes. I couldn't remember how many times the facial lady wiped the tears off my eyes. Lesson learned? Growing up is like having a facial massage. The early stage is exciting until you reach the point where you want to pursue your dreams.  You'll experience pain and tears before you attain the prize.  Connect the dots? Haha!

The whole facial experience was new and it was fun especially that I did it with hugmate. Afterwards, we took a yummy and cheesy beef-filled pastry in a Jamaican store nearby. We really enjoyed our day.

3 days in Greenbelt..  3 hangouts to be remembered… In less than 12 hours, I'm turning 22!  What a pretty good treat!