So last Friday I went to the Microwarehouse Midyear Sale 2008 at a familiar, former haunting grounds called Eastwood (where my former employer is based; worked there 2005-2006). The sale was scheduled to start at 12 noon Friday, and I spent the majority of the morning at a certain clinic in Makati for my medical examination. And since a complete blood count was part of the exam, I was on fasting mode Thursday night. So immediately after the exam, ate at Chowking at SM Makati. I had hoped that it would be enough to last me on that day.

Well, I was assuming that it would be fast. I was wrong.

I arrived there a few minutes after 12 noon. There was already a queue, and the tail end was at the door already. Registration was required, and it took more than 30 minutes from the time I got there. My number was 212, and to my chagrin, they were only allowing 20 persons to get in at a time; after I got my number, the number was 90.

While there was a price list posted online, some came in with no particular item in mind. Well I had a shopping list of sorts, and here they are:

* Linksys NAS200 Network Attached Storage – priced at Php 5500.00; at Villman, the price is Php 6498.00
* Linksys WRT54G Broadband Wireless-G Router – priced at Php 1500 (refurbished); they were also selling brand new units for Php 2200.
* Linksys WRT54GC Compact Broadband Wireless-G Router – priced at Php 2000 (refurbished); brand new at Villman is Php 2288.
* Linksys WUSB54GS Wireless G USB Network Adapter with SpeedBooster – refurbished was priced at Php 1000, brand new at Php 1500; at Villman, this cost Php 2688.

Failed at getting the network attached storage (there was only one item available for sale). I got the compact router (I hope it is working; haven’t set up the home network yet) and a brand new USB network adapter. I also managed to get a Belkin iPod Canvas Holster for Php 250, and an Exo Black Skin for Php 10 (yep, ten pesos).

And then there was another queue for paying. Yeah, another queue. Took more than 30 minutes. So I got in at around 12 noon, and checked out at 4:30pm.

Now on to get a broadband Internet provider. And that’s another story.