From Boracay to Bingo... (Eh...?)

I’m supposed to be done packing by now for my ultimate getaway to B-O-R-A-C-A-Y with my girlfriends you’ve met them, Hazel and Em. It’s almost a whole year preparation we did for the escape. And last month I have completed buying, shorts, tube tops, maxi and sun dresses, a few pairs of two-piece swimsuits, a bag with matching slippers; making sure everything is within the same colour spectrum so it’s easy to mix and match, and so everything is colour coordinated. I’ve worked out for several months too, aiming for no less than a Boracay worthy body. And then the same week I completed my purchase; an officemate delivered dreadful news to me. We have an event on the same day I’m flying out of Manila. Apparently, the event which I thought will be scheduled at the end of the month was scheduled earlier falling on the same day my Boracay vacay start; just my luck. Ohh, I can’t breathe….

All the colours from my face disappeared. The announcement was heartless. I wanted to die that instant. I wanted to protest; but instead I managed to say “alright” flash a blank smile and I sulk in silence. There’s nothing I can do about it, doing events is my job and no one in the office can or should do it but me. Until now the girl in my head still feels she’s a receiver of an unfair treatment, again she’s acting on me. With her arms on her waist stamping her feet on me determined to break the yellow slippers she’s wearing, her yellow and blue two-piece bikini reflecting her fury, her anger now more intensed as the hour gets closer. She presses her unending tirade at me every time she gets the chance; blaming me for not filing a leave early enough.

It’s not easy being away from home and being able to have family visits and friends meet-up really helps me get my balance. And these girls; these girls really are my sunshine, my angels, and my anchor. And with our getaway being cancelled means I’ll have to go through the rest of the year going crazy when I’m going crazy. It’s a good thing I’m done with my lunacy phase. Otherwise, I would be giving everyone a hard time. Dealing with me would be like dealing with someone from another planet. Ohh, well that’s the closest I can describe it. hahaMaybe Boracay is not for us for now. Hazel and Em couldn’t make it either. For whatever reason, all three of us had to suddenly deal with work schedule we can’t compromise with. But, how can we complain when it’s our job that makes us capable in spending for all these vacation and out of town trips. Sometimes, you just have to choose to give-up leisure for work, we have long resigned it’s the better way of seeing our tragic case; though, we still often say “I still want to go…”.sigh. Well, maybe next time. With better weather condition and with a work schedule that cooperates with our vacation schedule.So, it’s a long weekend, and with the Boracay vacay called off. I had to call for Ms. Spontaneous in me. I can’t just sit and sulk forever. Besides, after the tension we had to face the previous week, all the raining and typhoon, the no weekend rest,  the difficulty of going to and from work every day after the flooding causing heavier traffic that takes away longer resting time for commuters — I just feel that I need to have a well deserved physical, mental and emotional rest. And no I don’t mean sleep. I can have enough of it anytime but it’s not what I want at the moment.I was thinking, fun and excitement without having to leave Manila and without spending too much. Then, light bulb moment. BINGO!=)

I’ve been wanting to play Bingo for a long time. There’s a thrill in it that I can’t describe, though the only time I played bingo was during school events. So, I talked some friends to it and everyone who heard my silly idea actually liked it and wanted to join and jump with me and in my craziness. Haha. And then my friend Jem, a smart girl;  no, not at all as crazy as I am, but was equally as eager as I am to play bingo and really followed through with my crazy thought agreed to go on a bingo girl-bonding-date with me. So, we scheduled our bingo date. I’m not surprised though for her to be as eager since she is also as outgoing as I am. It’s just that the idea is just unlikely for the both of us to explore. We usually go out to have dinner or coffee or watch a movie or go for a food trip; but bingo...?

                                  

            

No matter how absurd it is, we went ahead to Mega Mall on the assigned date, to do what? Shopping? No, of course not! The mall runs a sale for the long weekend but we were not interested we never even bothered to even check what’s on sale. We intentionally went to go bingo! Initially, I wanted for us to try at Resorts World but then decided against it as we were both inexperienced. We didn’t really want us both to look ridiculously dumb; though we already are, as it is. hehe

So, after we had our late lunch and little chit-chat. We went ahead to Bingo Bonanza. I talked to the officer at the counter informing him it’s our first time to play, asking him to orient us how it’s done. And then the moment he gave us our bingo cards Jem and I looked at each other and we begin to laugh uncontrollably as if we were possessed by some lunatic, unable to put into words why we’re so excited, giddy in fact; aware that what we are doing is not very Jem and Mai thing but we’re doing it and we’re letting ourselves loose to this bizarre choice of “fun”.

Once we were seated, I observed we looked incongruous with most of the people inside the room. Most of them old people, but I think they are those who are still in search and who still wants to participate in the enjoyment and whatever excitement life can offer to them. And then there’s another group of friends, I think they’re a little older than Jem and I; and I suspect, just like us they are also trying it out for kicks.

My reverie was interrupted by a staff who attended to us to explain the mechanics of the game further. During the entire time he’s explaining I’d interrupt him by raising both my hands announcing Bingo!!! Then, Jem and I would laugh all excited. haha, Then when he’s almost done explaining he said “Ma’am pag malapit na po kayong bomingo, sumigaw po kayo ng Bingo! kase di po kayo mapapansin pagtinaas nyo lang yung kamay nyo, ma si-slipper kayo”(Slipper meaning, unable to call “bingo!!!” at the last announced number disqualifying your winnings. O, ha! May natutunan ako.hahahaha ). And I answered, “sige kuya yan lang naman po ang gusto kong gawin, yung sumigaw ng Bingo!!!”, then we laughed again.

My supportive girl, Jem.=)

The closest Jem and I got to winning was 2 numbers away from exclaiming bingo!!!But we both think I gave all the Bingo Bonanza staff a headache as I kept raising my hand announcing bingo, though intended for just the two of us to hear. haha (I think I’m the only makulet guest they ever had in there). To add to my rowdy enthusiasm, Jem and I excitedly played a special game which we’re not supposed to play with the cards we purchased making all two or three staff to jump at their feet and rush to our table saying “Ma’am, maghunusdili kayo, mamaya pa po yang nilalaro nyo.”, Ohh my!, can it be more embarrassing. But, still we ended up laughing at ourselves, obviously we don’t really know what we’re doing. Haha. Ohh, by the way forgive our photos it's not allowed to take photos inside so we went sneaking with taking photos via Jem's phone.So hush, hush alright? Pinky promise?*wink*hihi 

We ended the day exhausted. I never thought playing bingo can be very tiring. We were very competitive the whole time concentrating on our cards, we were laughing, we were noisy to think there were only just the two of us; other people were looking at us amazed at how bingo can make us very happy. And it never helped that our adrenaline wouldn’t come down and sit with us, they decidedly stayed above the ceiling the whole time. Whooo!!!, it felt like we went back and forth several times on a 800meter zipline ride(remembering my Cebu getaway last year) or being suspended in the air in a parasail ride(ß----- insert thoughts of Boracay here)  for 30mins(this is of course beyond average for a flight) I couldn’t decide which.

                          

Beginners luck wasn’t on our side that night, so we have decided to cancel our promises of buying each other a pair of shoes should one of us win P10, 000 or taking me to Hong Kong should Jem win a P100, 000 or me sponsoring an overnight stay of us and her other guests in a hotel on her planned out of town beach wedding. But we vowed to use the marker we bought to the last ink drop to experience the same silly, absurd, crazy fun that only Bingo can give. Join us on our next bingo date! RSVP to me.hahaha, ohh, I’m not yet back to my less crazy self, pagbigyan nyo na. Hahaha.

That’s all for today. And hey! I’m not promoting gambling, we are just having fun.=)

So, stay happy. Let loose and be crazy! 

Live LiFe

Mai

P.S. Below are pictures of me and my College Barkada, I just miss them suddenly.