My Dizzy Thoughts

Thank You For The Music!

2012-02-14T23:15:00.000+08:00

Last Saturday, I went to see the musical Mamma Mia! in CCP together with my mom and sister, and we had a blast! First of all, I love the theater and especially musicals. I also love lighthearted and feel-good stories. And then you add the songs of ABBA to the equation, yun na!

Like in the movie version, the story is about Sophie who tries to find out who her father is so she invited 3 guys from her mother's past to Greece on the eve of her wedding, and it's one big riot when everyone meets. It's been a while since I've seen the movie so I had a vague idea of what it's about, but it didn't matter because the story's simple enough to follow. The set's really cool and simple, just two wall-like structures (where the actors hide when it's not their scene) which they just turn and rearrange every scene change. The whole cast is awesome- great voices and dancing abilities, but the crowd favorite that night was the lady who played Rosie. Bentang-benta lahat ng jokes nya, haha!

But of course, the whole musical would be nothing without the music of ABBA. I love, love, love their songs and I know the lyrics to most of them by heart! Thanks to the invention of videoke and the real Dancing Queen, my mom. I couldn't help but sing along to Honey, Honey, Chiquitita, Thank You For The Music and Take A Chance On Me. It was so cool when they sang Dancing Queen for the finale and everyone was clapping and singing along, some even stood up and danced to their hearts' content. My mom and I almost did, nagpipigil lang na sumayaw hehe.

Overall, Mamma Mia is definitely the ultimate feel-good show and I'm glad they were able to bring the musical to Manila for all of us pinoy ABBA fans to enjoy.

The Complete Ilocos Itinerary

2012-02-07T23:36:00.001+08:00

For those who want to follow our ala Amazing Race tour of Ilocos, here's a complete rundown of all our activities and equivalent cost (if any) in those 3 days.

But just to warn you, this type of traveling isn't for everybody. I think one of the reasons why it worked for us is that there were only 2 of us. If we were in a big group, we'd probably be all cranky or we won't be able to visit as many places.

DAY ZERO:

930pm - left Manila for Vigan via GV Bus Line (Php550)

DAY ONE:

530am - arrived in Bantay, Vigan and took a tricycle to Calle Crisologo (Php15)
Photo-ops for a couple of hours in Calle Crisologo (with a Php10 drink of taho on the side)
Went around the plaza and visited the Vigan Cathedral
Headed to Bantay Church via tricycle (Php15)
Picture taking inside and by the Bantay Bell Tower (Php10 donation)
Went to Cafe Uno for brunch (Php10 for tricycle)
Vigan longganisa and native tsokolate lunch in Cafe Uno (Php155 with tip)
Walked to Crisologo Museum and Simbaan a Bassit
130pm - we decided to head on to Laoag via Partas Bus Line (Php125)
330pm - arrived in Laoag, quick check-in at Isabel Suites and started the tricycle tour (Php800 for the whole trip, so Php400 each)
First stop of the tour: Malacanang of the North (Php30 entrance fee)
Tour of the Marcos Mausoleum, Marcos museum and photo gallery (Php50 entrance fee to the museum)
Walked over to Batac Church for a couple of pictures
Went to Paoay Church
Then proceeded to the Paoay Sand Dunes (we didn't do any sand surfing, though)
Sunset visit to Fort Ilocandia
630pm - Dinner and coffee at Saramsam Ylocano Restaurant (Php305)
Headed to Isabel Suites and called it a night (Php15 tricycle)

DAY TWO:

500am - started the day with Jollibee breakfast (Php68 meal)
630am - left for Pagudpud via GMW Bus (Php70 non-aircon bus fare)
830am - arrived in Baduang, Pagudpud and hired our 'tourcycle' (Php1200 for both North and South tours max 3 people; so we paid Php600 each)
First destination for the tour: Patapat Viaduct
Quick stop at Agua Grande River Park
Went to Blue Lagoon, Bantay Abot Cave and Timmangtang Rock (Php20 entrance fee for all 3)
Visited Saud Beach
Had sumptous lunch of bulalo and nilagang baka at Mika's carinderia (Php220 good for 3)
Detoured to the giant shell monument
Proceeded to Kabigan Falls (Php10 entrance fee, plus Php100 for the tour guide)
Quick buko juice refreshment on the way back from the falls (Php15)
Went to see the Bangui Windmills
Adventure at the Kapurpurawan Rock Formation
Sunset photo session at Cape Boreador Lighthouse
530pm - waited along the National Highway for a bus ride back to Laoag
700pm - caught GV Bus (Php50 fare)
800pm - arrived in Laoag Bus Station and ate Ilocos empanada for dinner (Php30 for the special kind)
Coffee at Saramsam (Php50 including tip)
Late night tour of the town plaza, then headed back to hotel

DAY THREE:

530am - headed off to the Sinking Bell Tower and Church of Laoag for early morning photography
Morning shots of the plaza
Quick breakfast at McDonald's (Php89)
830am - checked out from Isabel Suites (Php1400 per day for a Standard Twin room)
Took a tricycle to GV Bus Station (Php11 fare)
Ate miki at Christine Marie's Miki Hauz while waiting for our bus (Php35 for special miki)
930am - bus left for Manila (Php650 fare)
Ate arroz caldo for dinner at one of the stops (Php45)
1030pm - arrived in Manila after 13 hours (!) of travel time

Although this was one of the most action-packed trips I've been in, it energized me more than it tired me. I guess it's the adrenaline and excitement of being in a new place again and feeling like we need to make the most out of our short time there.

Try it and let's trade stories! =)

The Amazing Tour of Ilocos - Part Four

2012-02-06T23:29:00.001+08:00

Something must be said about our hotel in Laoag.

We stayed at the Isabel Suites, which was just walking distance from the plaza and most of the establishments. (Actually, everything's just walking distance from anywhere but whenever we ask for directions to a certain place, people kept insisting we just ride a tricycle. I guess they're not very fond of walking here.) The place is clean, they have friendly staff, our room is cozy and I even like their sheets. But the bathroom is really tiny! The shower area specifically. As in! I am not picky at all when it comes to hotel rooms but this one's bathroom is laughably small. I think the area was about half a meter in diameter, so shampooing my hair is always an acrobatic event. Good thing we weren't on the huge side or else it would really be a problem.

Anyway, for our last day in Laoag, we still decided to wake up before sunrise to try and get some good pictures of the Sinking Bell Tower and the plaza. Here are some of the pictures I was able to take:

Church of Laoag

Sinking Bell Tower

Around the Plaza

After a couple of hours, we decided to head on out and catch the 930am bus back to Manila. We figured it was better to leave a bit early so that we'll be in Manila by around 730pm, given that estimated travel time is 10 hours. Boy, were we so wrong! The 10-hour trip turned out to be a 13-hour one. Yes we wished that the trip would never end, but we didn't mean it to happen literally! By the time we arrived in the Manila terminal, we were both tired from the trip so we quickly went our separate ways and head on home as we had work tomorrow morning.

But despite the long rides and jam-packed itinerary, this is one of the out of trips I really enjoyed. I still feel relaxed and rested despite the numerous activities. After the mad rush around Ilocos, I'm now confident that I can hack the Amazing Race! Naks, hehe.

The Amazing Tour of Ilocos - Part Three

2012-02-05T23:11:00.002+08:00

We woke up early morning on Sunday so we could start our trip to Pagudpud. We caught the 630am trip of GMW Bus Line, and even if it wasn't an air-conditioned bus, the early morning breeze was enough to leave us freezing.

At around 8:30am, the bus driver dropped us off at the town of Baduang, Pagudpud and we already found several 'tourcycle' drivers gathered in the area. Apparently their group's organized in such a way that tourists can choose which tour they want to take and a tricycle driver will show them around. The Pagudpud North tour will go to the following destinations:

Kabigan Falls
Patapat Viaduct
Paraiso ni Anton
Agua Grande
Bantay Abot Cave
Timmangtang Rock
Blue Lagoon Beach

While the South Pagudpud tour will cover the following:

Burgos Lighthouse
Kapurpurawan Rock Formation
Bangui Windmills
Saud Beach

Since we traveled a long way, we decided to do both tours. Each tour costs Php600 (good for up to 3 people), so that's Php1200 for the whole thing but we were able to negotiate the price down to Php1000 (but we still paid Php1200 in the end).

Our first destination was the Patapat Viaduct. I don't really know what a viaduct is, but the place is basically a winding road which is overlooking the South China Sea. Correction, it's called West Philippine Sea, pala. So we just stopped in the middle of the road, and took pictures.

Next was a quick trip to Agua Grande River Park. I'm not really sure why it's called grande, when it doesn't look that great to me. It has a river that leads to the sea, I guess that's it.

After a couple of pictures at Agua Grande, we headed next to Blue Lagoon. I was a bit underwhelmed when I saw the beach. I was expecting, well, the Blue Lagoon that I saw in the movie. It wasn't ugly or anything, I was just expecting more based on the blogs I read. Although I saw that it's a more popular spot for the surfers.

Then, we left Blue Lagoon and headed back to where we came from. Actually, the small road leading to Blue Lagoon passes by Bantay Abot Cave and Timmangtang Rock so we were surprised when we already reached the main road and our driver didn't stop at the places. So we told him to go back because we want to see both and they were part of the tour.

We stopped first to Bantay Abot cave, and we discovered that it really didn't look like a cave but more of a donut because of the whole in the middle. It was very relaxing staying there and just looking out into the sea. It was also a great location for taking pictures.

Afterwards, we headed to Timmangtang Rock and the driver almost missed it again. At that point we were already a bit irritated with him because he doesn't seem to know where to go. Anyway, the Timmangtang Rock isn't much of an eye-catcher because it's just that, a big rock. From here, though, you could also see the Bantay Abot cave.

We headed next to Saud Beach. This one I really liked! The beach had white sands, the weather was perfect and the water was really inviting. It's just too bad we didn't bring our bathing suits with us or else we would've taken a swim.

We decided right there and then that we wanted to go back to Pagudpud, if only for Saud beach. But I heard that the waves could get really crazy there and that the sea floor is really uneven, that sometimes one step can immediately bring you to the deep end.

Before heading to our next destination, we stopped for lunch at Mika's carenderia through the recommendation of our driver, where we had inexpensive but very delicious meal of bulalo and nilagang baka. That's where our driver told us that we're his buena mano and it's first tour ever since he just got his registration recently. So that's when we jokingly advised him to memorize his tour destinations for his succeeding batch of tourists.

After lunch, we made a quick detour to the giant kabibe or shell. I think this is the monument which lets you know that you've entered the town of Pagudpud.

Then we were off to Kabigan Falls. I must say that I am really not fond of this body of water so I wasn't that excited to see it. It was quite a long trek from the main road to the falls, around 30 minutes, but you get a scenic view of trees, a brook, and fields.

So far, the waterfall is the highest I've seen ever. Not that I've seen a lot, in fact this is only the 3rd I've ever visited in my life hehe. Although it's the highest, it has the smallest base that I've seen, so there's just a small area where visitors can swim.

Our next destination was the Bangui Windmills. As we get nearer the area, we couldn't help but get excited as we see the structures get bigger and bigger. This is really one of our must-sees for this trip and it's exhilarating to see the windmills up close.

We spent quite some time here because the afternoon breeze was very relaxing and it was just lovely looking out at sea and watching the windmills turn.

Our next destination was the Kapurpurawan Rock Formation. At first our driver was hesitant in going there because it was a bit far and his tricycle might have a hard time going there, because of the dirt road, blah, blah, blah. But of course we protested and 'requested' him to drive us there anyway and we'll just see
when we get there. Hello! It was part of the tour we paid for, diba?The place really was a bit far but the road wasn't as bad as he thought it tobe. Feeling ko he hasn't really been there and just didn't want to makethat effort.

When we got to Kapurpurawan, I didn't expect that we would have to make abit of trekking over boulders and a rocky shore to get to the famous whiterock. But it was all worth it!

Funny story. For the entire trip, we kept whining andbitching about the crowds and the fact that we can't take decent pictureswithout people in them. So it's the same thing when we got to Kapurpurawan. Butafter a few minutes of reaching the rock, the last group (aside from us)started leaving which made us the only two people there. Being the only peoplethere was pretty scary even if it was for just 20 minutes, as in the 127Hours calibre, seriously! It was approaching sunset and the tide was alsorising, which would make our way back more wet and slippery, so we had to rushtaking pictures and head back. But we were already laughing at ourselves whenwe found out that there were more people on their way to the rock.

Our last stop was the Cape Boreadorlighthouse. The structure was interesting, too bad they've already restrictedthe entrance to the lighthouse. The view up there would have been breathtaking.

We really intended to reach the lighthouse by sunset for the view. And wewere not disappointed.

Our driver asked us to hurry up so we can catch a bus back to Laoag.Apparently, the highway gets really dark (no street lights) and not too manybuses pass by that way until much later. Anyway, Shalu and I just relaxed andtook more photos in the dark, and after about an hour we finally found our ride.

When we got to Laoag, after a quick dinner of empanada and coffee, wethought it was still too early to sleep so we went to the plaza and take morepictures given that it's our last night there.

We went back to the hotel and slept at around 10pm, for another early day.

The Amazing Tour of Ilocos - Part Two

2012-01-30T00:19:00.002+08:00

So around 1:30pm we decided to leave Vigan and head to Laoag to maximize our time. Counting the number of things we did and the places we visited that day, you'd really think we were in the Amazing Race. Parang mauubusan kami ng mapupuntahan!

The bus ride from Vigan to Laoag took 2 hours, so I was able to squeeze in some nap time. The moment we got to Laoag station, we immediately made arrangements with a tricycle driver to drive us around the city and visit all our must-sees. We agreed to a Php 800 fee for the entire afternoon, so after checking in to the hotel, we were off to complete the Laoag leg of the trip.

Our first destination was the Malacanang of the North, which was built when Ferdinand Marcos (an Ilocano) was President. I initially didn't include this in our itinerary, but I'm glad we visited it because it was so beautiful. I kept thinking 'I wouldn't mind living here.', haha feeling!

Anyway, we loved everything inside the Palace. It was simple but very elegant. All Marcos memorabilia was also well-preserved. Both of us kept thinking, Imelda definitely has taste.

When more and more started coming in, we decided it's time to move on to the next destination: the Marcos Museum and Mausoleum.

Cameras are not allowed inside the Mausoleum, so I'll just describe the creepiness. It's dark and cold inside (duh!), and there were fake flowers along the path visitors are supposed to walk on. And in the middle of the room lay Marcos' preserved corpse. Lots of people say it's not the real thing but that it's a wax figure. No comment.

After a quick peek in the mausoleum, we went inside the museum beside it. The museum housed more Marcos memorabilia from his childhood to his lawyer days to his days in politics and until his death. There was also a room showing 'Iginuhit ng Tadhana' the late President's propaganda biopic shown in the 60s.

Although it wasn't part of the itinerary, we saw the Batac Church across the museum so we decided to take a quick visit there as well.

We went back to our trike, and after a very short ride, our driver dropped us off the photo gallery which has lots of Marcos photographs. I loved the place!

Next stop: Paoay Church. This was one of the sites I was excited to see and photograph because of its interesting structure. Too bad they were doing some construction on the facade.

Then we headed off to Paoay Sand Dunes. We didn't really get in the sand dunes area where you get to sandboard because you had to ride in one of their jeeps and the price was too steep for us cheapskates. So we had to content ourselves with these sand dunes:

Afterwards, we headed to our last destination: Fort Ilocandia. We didn't even enter the place (I think it's because Shalu's scared of old places and it's already getting dark hehe) as we were content taking pictures of its surrounding during sunset.

We were already very tired and hungry so we asked our driver to drop us off at a restaurant with good food at a reasonable price. He brought us to Saramsam Ylocano Restaurant, and we really loved everything we orded. It's either the food's really good or we were just really hungry. Nonetheless, we were very satisfied and the place had a nice ambience as well.

After that satisfying meal, we trudged back to the hotel for our much-needed shower and rest. We had a very early day ahead of us so we fell asleep right after getting cleaned up.

The Amazing Tour of Ilocos - Part One

2012-01-29T22:00:00.000+08:00

As if the Boracay trip wasn't enough, Shalu and I decided to take another trip a couple of weeks after. We have both been planning to go to Ilocos and since there's a long weekend coming up in two weeks, we decided to just go. And this time, this vacation is more action-packed (read: tiresome) and more adventure-filled, which was perfect!

For the next two weeks, we've been very busy researching on places to visit and planning on our itinerary and I was also occupied with picking our hotel and fixing travel arrangements. I was definitely a useless employee in those two weeks, hehe!

We left Manila Friday night at 9:30pm via GV Florida Bus. Too bad we didn't get to ride the their sleeper bus because when I went to their station the day before (that was another adventure in itself!) they only had 1 more available seat, so we settled for the regular bus, which by the way was kinda sucky because the seats un-recline (is there such a word?) when you sit up and the aircon vent doesn't close so you had to cover it with the curtain (so hi-tech!).

Anyway, we had to make do with what we had and get as much sleep as we can because we had a very long day ahead. We were hoping to get to Vigan before sunrise to take pictures of Calle Crisologo in the dark, so we're glad to have reached Bantay, Vigan at 5:30am. Upon alighting, we took a tricycle ride straight to Calle Crisologo and clicked away until way past sunrise!

It was a pretty short street but we took our sweet time taking pictures. By daylight, we decided to roam around the plaza and visit the Vigan Cathedral as well.

Then we took a tricycle ride to Bantay Church, which was actually very near where we alighted the bus but it was still closed when we arrived (it opens at 6am). And another long round of photo ops begins!

Funny thing, I even met someone I used to work with while inside the tower, and we would meet again the next day while trekking the Kabigan Falls in Laoag.

Anyway, since it's already getting really hot and I'm feeling really sticky (I've been wearing the same clothes since 7am the previous day! Yuck.), we decided to go to Cafe Uno near the Calle Crisologo area for brunch and for a quick wash-up.

I must say I was really disappointed with Cafe Uno, I had high expectations of the place based on the blog reviews I read. We both ordered the Vigan longganisa meal and I upgraded my drink to the native tsokolate (which was a good decision because Shalu initially ordered coffee but we were surprised that it was the instant kind, so she changed it to tea). The food was okay at best- it was overpriced for the tiny serving.

After lunch, we decided to walk to Syquia Mansion which was 2 blocks away from Cafe Uno based on the map we got from the Heritage Center. (Since I'm the one who likes maps, I was made the official navigator.) But we couldn't find the entrance to the house (thanks to heat-induced confusion) and we weren't that excited to see it anyway, so we headed straight to the Crisologo Museum.

It was very chaotic inside the museum! There was a huge group of students and lots of other visitors, that the place really felt claustrophobic. There was a couple of caretakers at the ground floor but no one's keeping watch in the other rooms where people kept touching, sitting on/in stuff that are supposed to be off limits. I guess they really should charge an entrance fee instead of making it voluntary for them to hire more staff and keep all the memorabilia intact.

We left the museum and decided to head on off to the Partas bus station for our two-hour ride to Laoag. But we made a quick side trip to Simbaan a Bassit, which was on the way to the station.

Simbaan a Bassit is actually a cemetery chapel and it's most distinctive feature to me (aside from the cemetery right beside it) is it's bright red door.

So this was our last stop in Vigan, as we had to rush to Laoag for the next leg of our adventure.

Bookworm Log #1 and #2: Stieg Larsson

2012-01-28T23:09:00.001+08:00

One of my goals this year is to get more brain food and so I resolved to read at least 20 books this year.

My first two for the year were both penned by Stieg Larsson, The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo and The Girl Who Played With Fire, the first two books of his trilogy.

For Dragon Tattoo, I found it a bit too hard to read in the beginning because it started really slow. (Side story, I brought this book with me to Boracay and apparently my friend did too. He never got past 20 pages, hehe) There were a few characters introduced in the beginning whose significance to the story I couldn't seem to understand right away, and it also kept me wondering until the middle of the book when the 2 main characters, Mikael Blomkvist and Lisbeth Salander, would finally meet.

But when I got to Chapter 3, when all the action started, I found it hard to put the book down. It has a good mix of action, suspense, mystery, gore and even humor, that I found very addictive. Larsson has the ability to tease the readers' logical reasoning and imagination, and he will keep you guessing who did what and, more importantly, what the hell is going on??

However, one big downside to Dragon Tattoo, is that it has very anti-climactic ending which somehow felt like an afterthought. Coming from action-packed events, I was left with 'That's it??' I felt that the ending should have happened 2 chapters earlier. But I'm not an author, so whatever. Anyway, I'm still excited to see the movie version and find out how the story is translated to film. I think Daniel Craig and Rooney Mara fit the roles perfectly.

The Girl Who Played With Fire is also very thrilling and still had the theme about violence against women. Here, the pace is a bit faster and if the story's not confusing enough, Larsson introduced concepts about Math and Algebra. But again, the ending was torture! You'd have to read the third book to know what happens to Salander and Blomkvist. So, you bet that Bookworm Log #3 would have to be about The Girl Who Kicked The Hornet's Nest. Now I have to run to the bookstore and go get my copy.

Boracay Fun 2012!

2012-01-11T21:32:00.000+08:00

Who goes on vacation after coming back from a vacation?

I DO!

Last January 6, after coming back from my 3-week Christmas vacation, two friends and I decided to go to Boracay and get some much-deserved R & R! I haven't been to this island since 2001 and I was excited to go back.

We thought we would have the island to ourselves, but apparently lot of people thought the same thing. It was kind of irritating at first because I hate crowds when I'm at the beach and all I want to do is bum, swim and be left in peace. But the moderate people traffic turned out great for our guy-watching hobby, haha!

Anyway, here's our itinerary and the cost associated with this trip (from what I can still remember):

Jan 6 - 1-hour delayed flight from Manila to Kalibo via Airphil Express (Php 4000 roundtrip airfare and Php 200 terminal fee)
   - 2-hour van ride from Kalibo to Caticlan (Php 200, I think)
         - 30-min boat ride from Caticlan port to Boracay (my memory is already failing me but probably around Php100)
         - 20-min tricycle ride to hotel (Php 25 for the 3 of us)
         - check-in at Casa Fiesta (Php 7500 total for 4D3N, so Php2500 per person)
         - pork barbeque dinner in Gasthof (couldn't be more than Php 200) and start of people-watching
   - traditional drinking of Jonas shake (Php 95) and late-night photo ops

Jan 7 - French toast breakfast at Real Coffee (Php200 something)
- swimming the whole day, we stayed at some hotel's area so we had to order drinks (Php100 something)

         - lunch at some Thai resto
   - Happy Hour at 6pm in Nigi Nigi (P25 San Mig Light)
         - back to Casa Fiesta to wash up
         - pasta dinner at Aria (P250, I think) and more people-watching

Jan 8 - long walk to Station 3 to find The English Bakery, but we found out that they already moved near Station 2 where we were staying
- stayed in Station 3 and ate American breakfast at Bei Kurtz Und Magz (Php 100 something)

- Swimming time!

- Happy Hour at 1pm at Arwana just right beside Bei Kurtz (2 rum cokes for Php 130)
- afternoon merienda of lovely fluffy pancakes at Arwana (not sure, basta less than Php100)

- trek back to Station 2
- yummy burrito dinner at Manana (less than Php100 since a friend and I shared a plate)

- night stroll and people watching at D' Mall

Jan 9 - breakfast at The (new) English Bakery

- final fruit shake stop at Jonas (Php 95) and enjoyed our last morning stroll in Boracay

         - tricycle ride to port (Php 10)
         - boat ride to Caticlan (Php300 which includes boat, terminal fees and van fare)
         - van ride to Kalibo
         - plane ride back to Manila (terminal fee was Php25 and flight's delayed again)
         - my shuttle ride from NAIA T3 to MRT Station (Php 20)
         - MRT Train ride to Cubao (Php 12)
         - jeepney ride from Cubao to our place (Php 18)

I'm so sorry that I have such a lousy memory when it comes to keeping track of my expenses! So if you were looking to depend on this post as reference for your Boracay budgeting plans, then forget it. I suggest you turn to other bloggers for that, hehe.

Anyway, I loved that short trip to Boracay. Although, I still have a problem with the seawater (like in my first visit, I get itchy right after swimming) I will definitely go back to the island when I get the chance!

Things I've Really Missed

2011-12-28T23:57:00.000+08:00

As they say, you never know how much something means to you unless you lose them. Here are some of those everyday-ordinary-things I have really missed this year:

1. Singing while driving.

2. Driving a car.

3. Being in an air-conditioned car on the way to work (and not smelling like Manila traffic).

4. Reading in a coffee shop.

5. Malling.

6. People-watching.

7. Ukay-ukay shopping.

8. Jogging. Or any physical activity for that matter.

9. Home-cooked meals.

10. Writing.

11. Getting a massage.

12. Going to the spa.

13. Salon pampering.

14. Not doing household chores.

15. Travelling.

A Little Piece of Tsokolate Heaven

2011-12-28T22:13:00.000+08:00

One of my fondest childhood memories is waking up to a hot cup of sikwati or bowlful of champorado, on a Sunday morning. The rich taste of the tableya (cacao chocolate) immediately sends me to a very happy place.

That's why I was so happy to discover Tablea Chocolate Cafe while on Christmas holiday. All of their desserts and drinks are made from tablea! Lovely!

I've tried their Sipping Dark Chocolate (twice! I love love love it!), Champorado (of course!), Chocolate Con Churros, Choco Banana Frio, Silvanas and Tablea Custard Cake. You can really taste the delicious tablea in all of them. And the best part is, they are not too sweet, so you'll be able to finish one serving.

I love the place so much that I was able to visit 3 of their branches in a span of a week! I suggest that you visit them, too!

No Coffee For You!

2011-10-22T23:22:00.001+08:00

I swear, I just love these kids! Especially Sophia Grace, she cracks me up! I wouldn't mind having kids around the house if they're as charming and chatty as these two.The first time I saw them on Ellen, I just fell in love with them. Their shopping spree video was oh so hilarious.Sophia Grace kind of reminds me of my younger self. Although definitely with less energy, I would sing or dance in front of people without too much prodding. If we had Youtube back in the day, I would've caused my parents a bigger headache!

Move

2011-09-28T14:36:00.003+08:00

I've been itching to travel again. It's been two years since I've been out of the country and I am in dire need of a trip.

And then I find this video.

MOVE from Rick Mereki on Vimeo.

Argh, I really miss travelling! If only I could get paid travelling, my life would be complete.

Missing Home

2011-09-27T21:12:00.003+08:00

I just saw this TV commercial and it made me miss my Papa.

Just like the girl in the TVC, my Papa stayed home more than my Mama did due to work. And at home, it's my Papa who cooks not my Mama. So basically, a reversal of roles.

Although this seems an odd setup, it works for my family. Who said that it's the woman who should stay at home while the man earns a living anyway?

I am just very grateful that I lucked out in the parents game. I got the best parents ever! =)

P.S. The storm's still raging and I am missing home more than ever.

Talking Cheap

2011-09-17T18:38:00.003+08:00

I went home to Cebu last weekend for a friend's wedding. I almost didn't, because I was on a really tight budget and the quick trip would definitely cause some damage to my bruised wallet. But I'm really glad I did!

Anyway, as I said I was on a tight budget, so the P700 something I shelled out just going to Cebu (for the 2 taxicab rides and the airport terminal fee) bore quite a big hole in my pockets.

That's why I was quite anxious about my return trip. Firstly, I hate riding taxicabs in Manila. Some drivers are choosy, they ask you where you're going before they even let you get in. They can refuse a passenger or try to negotiate a fixed price with you, depending on the distance or how heavy the traffic is going to your destination. And I really hate this about cab drivers.

Secondly, I live quite far from the airport and I'm not very familiar with my way going home. And again, one of the many taxicab horror stories is that at the first sign that you're not sure where you're going, the driver intentionally takes a longer route so you end up paying a lot more.

And thirdly, because of the distance, I would definitely be paying a lot for my cab ride home. I wanted nothing of that nonsense on a very early, sleep-deprived Sunday morning.

Good thing I discovered the NAIA Terminal 3 Bus Loop! You just need to go to the south side of the Arrivals area and you'll see the cue for the buses. I lined up for Route 2, which ends up in a bus terminal in Pasay Rotunda, right beside the MRT/LRT station (MRT Taft Station and LRT EDSA station), so you can easily take the MRT or LRT afterwards. And the best thing is that they only charge you a good P20 flat fee for the ride! Neat, huh? So in all, I only spent a total of P50 for my way home.

I'm so happy with this discovery, that I've been telling my friends about it. You should, too!

Etiquette For Tourists

2011-08-04T21:21:00.003+08:00

Just chanced upon this article awhile ago and I agree to pretty much everything Jessica wrote about how we are that welcoming towards foreigners, it's somewhat funny. And I totally agree that etiquette should be followed by anyone who's a guest in another country.

Jessica Zafra: Etiquette for Expats, Tourists and Other Visitors to the Philippines

Welcome to the Philippines! You’ve probably noticed that Filipinos are friendly, accommodating, and nice all around. For starters we are always smiling. It is not true that we are always smiling, but it is likely we do it more than your people. This is because it is so much more pleasant than frowning or scowling.

And people generally look better when they’re smiling, no? Here in Manila there is so much aggravation to put up with. It’s sweltering even when it’s rainy, the traffic is horrendous, it’s noisy and poverty is widespread. Smiling is the last thing one feels like doing under these circumstances. If you think about it, smiling in these conditions is a form of protest. It is a way of rising above the situation. It is not, as you might think, a vapid reflex.

Your people probably have a lot more to smile about than we do. They should smile more, it would make them look younger.

Right now we’re smiling at you because we are curious as to what you, a foreigner, are doing in our country. Are you a corporate executive, a chef, a diplomat? A retired soldier fetching your fiancée whom you met online, or a Brazilian model? A Peace Corps volunteer or an NGO worker? A tourist drawn by our famous beaches, or just looking to get laid? Filipino curiosity is insatiable. We have to be in the know. We don’t even have to do anything with the knowledge, we just have to know.

No doubt you have been told that we pride ourselves on our hospitality. Our hospitality is not a PR thing; it is genuine. We are glad that you’ve come all the way here—we like having guests. You are someone new to talk about. Entertaining others entertains us. And since you’ve taken the trouble to come all this way, we figured the least we could do is prepare this basic guide to help you get acclimatized.

1. Our beaches are renowned the world over for their powdery white sands, brilliant sunshine, and the spectacular biodiversity in the water. Beaches, as far as we know, are on the seashore. When you are more than ten kilometers from the sea, say, in the shopping and office complexes of Makati and Mandaluyong, don’t feel compelled to dress for the beach.

We assure you that we natives won’t feel ill at ease if you don’t wear your loosest tank top, ratty board shorts and crumbling flip-flips while walking around the mall. Don’t dress down on our behalf; we do like to dress up. We think it is a way of showing respect not just for the occasion and the setting, but for yourself.

2. It is hot and humid in Manila so we sweat a lot. In order to stay cool and refreshed we take baths or showers every day, if not two or three times a day. If those of us who were born and raised here find it hot, it must be positively infernal for those of you from America, Europe, Australia-NZ and the temperate zone!

You must shower every day, if not several times a day. For maximum refreshment we recommend generous applications of soap, shampoo, and antiperspirants. Just dousing yourself in cologne is not enough to cool you down. Take a shower every day, you’ll feel so much better.

We insist.

3. The Philippines is a former colony of the United States, and English is taught in our schools. We watch Hollywood movies and American television programs, sing popular songs in English, and visit websites in English. Plus millions of us have relatives in English-speaking countries, and we are the world number one in voice-based call centers.

So there is no need to express profound surprise when we speak to you in English. Please don’t tell us, “But your English is so good!” Yes, we have English. And indoor plumbing, electricity and wi-fi, and we don’t actually live in that treehouse, it’s decorative.

4. From childhood we have been trained to do things for each other. We do this without thinking—our programming is so thorough. For instance if the friend of a friend is looking for a particular type of bread that is not available in stores, and we know someone who lives near a baker who produces that bread and sells it at an organic market, we will obtain that bread for the one who’s looking. It’s no big deal, it’s the way we were brought up. We are not currying favor, we are not sucking up, we are just being helpful. It’s our culture.

So if we go out of our way for you, it’s not because we think you are the Big Kahuna or because we want something from you or we think you are wonderful. We do it because we were brought up to be caring and considerate, and it is considered selfish and unfriendly for us not to do it. Plus if our mothers find out that we did not help when we could have, we’ll never hear the end of it. If you are suspicious about accepting our generosity, know that we’re really doing it for ourselves. It is not a sign of weakness; it is one of our strengths.

5. If you consider the Philippines a shithole cesspit backwater, please do not feel compelled to grace us with your presence. Certainly we will miss the pleasure of your company, but we will manage somehow. We were born here and have lived here all our lives; this is our home. We presume your homeland is not a shithole cesspit backwater, so we are mystified as to why you would choose to be here when you could be there. Surely someone of your magnificent qualities and impressive qualifications would be appreciated and rewarded in your own country?

6. It is true that lots of Filipina women prefer foreigners over their own countrymen. For some it is a matter of true love triumphing over ethnic and cultural differences. For others it is a matter of economic necessity. It may be useful to remember this when you are swarmed in red-light districts by exotic women cooing at your manliness. We are bound by very strong family ties—children are duty-bound to give financial support not just to their parents but to entire villages of relatives.

7. Your dollar/pound/euro/other foreign currency goes a long way in the Philippines, allowing you to enjoy a higher standard of living than what you would have back home. You can afford a lifestyle that is luxurious compared to the average Filipino’s. We hope you will not confuse the foreign exchange rate with personal merit. Unfortunately the Philippines is not a meritocracy.

I had to laugh at one of the readers' comment. He said the writer should surround herself with positive people to make her happy so she can write happier articles. Or something like that. Obviously, he doesn't know Jessica Zafra.

A New Discovery

2011-08-02T16:52:00.003+08:00

I have proven that it is true that you learn something new everyday.

These incessant rains (thanks to the back-to-back typhoons hitting the country the past 3 weeks) not only caused havoc to my shoes, but it also brought to my attention a new discovery.

I just got home from work and coming up our apartment stairs, when I heard a very strange sound. At first I thought it was of several cows mooing. Lotsa cows. But that was impossible because one, it sounded a bit high-pitched and two, there couldn't be cows near the area because we're in a residential village and nowhere near any grazing field.

So when I brought it up with my brother, he said that we were actually listening to the melodious mating call of frogs/toads. What?!?! At first I couldn't believe him because I thought he was making it up. I mean I've heard frogs croak before and it and didn't sound like that. Anyway, I decided to research to satisfy my highly inquisitive mind and I found out that he's right.

To those who haven't heard a horny toad's (pun intended) call yet, it sounds very much like this:

Now multiply that by a hundred. Yup, disturbing.

I'm just glad I never saw any of those frogs as I kinda don't like their kind. They make me squirm. Good thing I wasn't that girl in the story, or else the prince would have remained a frog forever.

Agosto

2011-08-01T23:55:00.003+08:00

It's August 1 today and I can't believe almost a year (in 4 days) has passed since I moved back here in Manila.

To say that the past year has been very challenging is putting it mildly. But I think, despite all the hardships, I've learned the lessons I needed to learn. Kung hindi pa naman ay ewan ko na lang.

Now, I'm just looking forward to some happiness for the rest of year. Pang-Christmas gift na lang.

P.S. Sorry to be such a Debby Downer, but the nonstop raining (8 days and counting) has made my usual crappy mood crappier.

Modern Family

2011-07-30T23:01:00.005+08:00

They are definitely my current favorite TV family. Everyone's so funny and the situations they find themselves in are hilarious. Phil Dunphy's 'peerenting' style and his endearing ways make him my favorite! He and Claire make such a perfect pair (oy, nag-rhyme). I love Cam too, for his flamboyant gay ways. And to think he's the straight one in real life. Manny's such an adorable kid, acting beyond his years and being the voice of reason among them.

They're such a great cast and they make my Saturday afternoons light and filled with laughter.

A Traveler's Lost Faith

2011-07-29T22:43:00.003+08:00

Such a tragic experience. I would never wish for this to happen to anyone.

Read on.

30 Day Song Challenge - Day 30

2011-07-25T22:23:00.002+08:00

Day 30 - Your Favorite Song At This Time Last Year

Okay, finally made it to the 30th day.

I have a lot of favorites last year and this was (and still is) one of them.

Special shout out to my brother who celebrates his birthday today!

30 Day Song Challenge - Day 29

2011-07-24T00:01:00.003+08:00

Day 29 - A Song From Your Childhood

On my way home from work today, I heard this blasting from a sari-sari store's radio. Nice to hear it again after decades! Although I'm not so sure what it means to 'sing and romance on my cha'...

30 Day Song Challenge - Day 28

2011-07-23T00:12:00.004+08:00

Day 28 - A Song That Makes You Feel Guilty

OK, I can't think of any so I'll just post this one. I love Barbra, though!

30 Day Song Challenge - Day 27

2011-07-22T12:00:00.003+08:00

Day 27 - A Song That You Wish You Could Play

Like most people, I went to piano lessons when I was really young. But because we didn't have a piano at home, my dreams of becoming a concert pianist died a natural death.

I'd be ecstatic if I can play and sing this:

30 Day Song Challenge - Day 26

2011-07-21T22:39:00.004+08:00

Day 26 - A Song That You Can Play On An Instrument

In high school, I used to play for the school's drum and lyre corps. I really wanted to play the snare drum but a friend convinced me to audition for the lyre instead. (This friend switched to the drums, and I got stuck with the wimpy lyre. But that's another story.)

To the uninitiated, this is how a lyre looks like. But technically speaking, a lyre is a stringed musical instrument and this one's apparently called a glockenspiel. It's probably called a lyre here because it's mounted in a lyre-shaped frame.

So, going back to the theme. I learned to play a few songs with it such as the Lupang Hinirang (our National anthem, which we play every morning during the flag ceremony), the Top Gun theme (somebody uploaded a video tutorial in Youtube on how to play it on the piano, which is basically the same as playing it on the lyre.), the Indiana Jones theme, and Head Over Heels by the Go-Go's.

This never fails to get people groovin'.

30 Day Song Challenge - Day 25

2011-07-20T23:26:00.002+08:00

Day 25 - A Song That Makes You Laugh

This never fails to get a laugh out of me!

30 Day Song Challenge - Day 24

2011-07-19T23:11:00.003+08:00

Day 24 - A Song That You Want To Play At Your Funeral

Wala lang. Let's see ano'ng magiging reaction nila.

30 Day Song Challenge - Day 23

2011-07-18T22:57:00.003+08:00

Day 23 - A Song That You Want To Play At Your Wedding

I will definitely have these two songs played at my wedding:

As I'm walking down the aisle, a string quartet plays Pachelbel's Canon in D Major...

And then for our first dance, Etta James will be crooning in the background.

Obviously, I haven't given much thought to this!

30 Day Song Challenge - Day 22

2011-07-17T22:37:00.001+08:00

Day 22 - A Song That You Listen To When You’re Sad

The last time I felt sad, I was listening to this. Total self-pity.

But I guess I should've been scared, since this song was used in that 70s horror flick, Carrie.

30 Day Song Challenge - Day 21

2011-07-16T22:05:00.003+08:00

Day 21 - A Song That You Listen To When You’re Happy

When I'm happy or want to be happy, I just listen to some dance songs. Especially those with dance steps (which I know by heart, of course)!

30 Day Song Challenge - Day 20

2011-07-15T21:46:00.004+08:00

Day 20 - A Song That You Listen To When You’re Angry

I just listen to some Jack Johnson para ma-relax. Ahh, chillaxin' in the beach...

30 Day Song Challenge - Day 19

2011-07-14T23:26:00.003+08:00

Day 19 - A Song From Your Favorite Album

I bought a cassette tape of Eraserheads' album Circus when I was 15. I saved up my lunch money because I really love Eraserheads and they're one of the best bands ever!

I remember a classmate borrowed it, and never returned it to me.

Heartbreak.

30 Day Song Challenge - Day 18

2011-07-13T23:17:00.000+08:00

Day 18 - A Song That You Wish You Heard On The Radio

It'd be nice to have heard this song on the radio this morning on the way to work. Just to 'wake me up'.

30 Day Song Challenge - Day 17

2011-07-12T23:10:00.001+08:00

Day 17 - A Song That You Hear Often On The Radio

This is such a fun video! I couldn't stop laughing at Katy Perry as Kathy Beth Terry! It's such a riot seeing 80s icons Kenny G, Debbie Gibson and Corey Feldman make a guest appearance. I also can't get over how big the Hanson brothers are now.

30 Day Song Challenge - Day 16

2011-07-11T22:47:00.003+08:00

Day 16 - A Song That You Used To Love But Now Hate

I liked this song back when I was in college and in ultra emo mode. Now, I just find it super gasgas.

30 Day Song Challenge - Day 15

2011-07-10T16:30:00.002+08:00

Day 15 - A Song That Describes You

I was torn between this and this. Although, I can also be described as this.

But I decided to settle for this because this song says it best.

30 Day Song Challenge - Day 14

2011-07-09T15:58:00.003+08:00

Day 14 - A Song That No One Would Expect You To Love

I'm sure not many people know that I just love Edith Piaf! And other foreign songs for that matter. Yes, even Korean songs.

30 Day Song Challenge - Day 13

2011-07-08T15:32:00.002+08:00

Day 13 - A Song That Is A Guilty Pleasure

I know you might think I'm a bit old for some Miley Cyrus. But I don't!

So I put my hands up, they're playing my song, the butterflies fly away...

30 Day Song Challenge - Day 12

2011-07-07T14:41:00.002+08:00

Day 12 - A Song From A Band You Hate

I don't really hate Aegis, but you won't hear me playing their music on my iPod. But their songs are definitely fun to sing on videoke night.

This particular song gets my sister especially when I bust out my dance moves while singing along.

30 Day Song Challenge - Day 11

2011-07-06T23:31:00.006+08:00

Day 11 - A Song From Your Favorite Band

The Beatles is definitely one of the all-time best bands in human history. Even after more than 40 years, their words and music are still very much alive today.

30 Day Song Challenge - Day 10

2011-07-05T23:13:00.000+08:00

Day 10 - A Song That Makes You Fall Asleep

When I come home late from work and want to listen to some music before dozing off, one of the songs I listen to is With You I'm Born Again. The fact that it's in my iPod's Playlist titled 'Sleepy', just proves how effective it is in... zzzz....

30 Day Song Challenge - Day 9

2011-07-04T23:43:00.003+08:00

Day 9 - A Song That You Can Dance To

Another hard one!!! How can you choose just one song from a childhood filled with dance icons such as Madonna, Kylie and Beyonce?? Not to mention the Spice Girls, N'Sync and the Backstreet Boys?? (Sorry about the multiple punctuations.)

But in the spirit of fun and ka-baduyan, I am sharing with you Stars by Simply Red. And yes, I'll be dancing along ala Universal Motion Dancers!

All In A Day's Work

2011-07-04T23:05:00.003+08:00

I was going through some old pics in my Multiply and I found this video clip, it's from the farewell video we shot for a boss. Back then, we used to create videos for colleagues who were resigning or celebrating a milestone. But when more and more people started leaving, I guess we just couldn't keep up so we stopped doing them altogether, haha!

After watching, I suddenly missed the old team. Sure we were all stressed out, working until late in the evening, but we still managed to keep it fun. It's always a blessing to find people you get along with in the workplace. And an even bigger blessing to call them your friends. =)

30 Day Song Challenge - Day 8

2011-07-03T23:34:00.002+08:00

Day 8 - A Song That You Know All The Words To

This one's a toughie! Growing up in the era of song hits, videoke and MTV, it's hard NOT to know all the words to a song. (Whether those words are correct or not, is irrelevant hehe.) And of course, putting a song on loop in your iPod makes it much easier for one to memorize the lyrics.

But for today's feature, I'll go against my usual pop choices and pick a song from one of my favorite plays, 'Miss Saigon'. I really love the part when Kim and Ellen sing I Still Believe. I get goosebumps listening to the duet of Lea Salonga and Claire Moore!

30 Day Song Challenge - Day 7

2011-07-02T22:49:00.003+08:00

Day 7 - A Song That Reminds You Of A Certain Event

Okay, what I'm about to tell you is the perfect pang-blackmail story. So if you think you will hate me in the future, better pay attention.

It was the early 90s and the music group Smokey Mountain was at their peak of popularity. (O, Smokey Mountain pa lang giveaway embarrassing moment na!) Their songs Kailan, Can This Be Love and Mama in their first album were all chart-toppers. (I bought a cassette tape of this album, haha!) Then they released their second album, Paraiso (Paradise), which had their catchiest and most masa song: Da Coconut Nut.

One Saturday afternoon, I was home just chillin' and listening to the radio. The DJ then announced that they're giving away prizes to the first person to call the station and sing Da Coconut Nut on air. I don't know what possessed me to ring them up and croak out "It's the coco fruit, of the coco tree, from the coco palm family!" for all the city to hear.

Just so you know, the 'prize' consisted of canned goods and packs of noodles. Parang feeding lang, haha!

30 Day Song Challenge - Day 6

2011-07-01T22:01:00.003+08:00

Day 6 - A Song That Reminds You Of Somewhere

Bantayan Island, 2009. It was Independence Day weekend so some friends and I decided to head off to the beach and get some deserved R&R. And the song for that trip was Nobody But You by the Korean girl group Wondergirls. At that time, the country was just beginning to catch on the Korean pop fever, so you still won't hear it playing on every corner store's radio. That's why when I heard its catchy tunes, my gay friends and I had to learn the dance steps, thereby making it our official summer dance soundtrack.

30 Day Song Challenge - Day 5

2011-06-30T22:11:00.008+08:00

Day 5 - A Song That Reminds You Of Someone

When I was around 7 or 8 years old, we had a yaya named Berta who had a cleft palate. She was a big girl with extraordinary strength. Now that I think about it, she's somewhat like Coach Beast in Glee. Despite her speech impediment, she's very confident and liked to sing a lot. And one of her favorite songs was Eternal Flame by The Bangles.

30 Day Song Challenge - Day 4

2011-06-29T23:13:00.001+08:00

Day 4 - A Song That Makes You Sad

I'm basically not a person who easily gets sad. I like lots of sad songs like Adele's, but they don't necessarily make me sad. Anyway, if I'm in the mood for some 'emo' time, then I listen to the soundtrack of the movie Il Postino. Most specifically the album where artists read Pablo Neruda poems with the songs as background. Oh, so heartbreaking!

30 Day Song Challenge - Day 3

2011-06-28T16:08:00.000+08:00

Day 3 - A Song That Makes You Happy

Everybody needs a little Ke$ha to start their day. I don't know, but as soon as I hear the opening line "Wake up in the morning feeling like P. Diddy" my body just starts moving to the beat. Singing and dancing to Tik Tok drives the blues away!

30 Day Song Challenge - Day 2

2011-06-27T15:21:00.001+08:00

Day 2 - Your Least Favorite Song

Okay, one song that really makes me cringe is Aking Awitin. It was originally sung by Bong Gabriel, then re-released by Side A. I mean, the song itself is ok. The lyrics talk about a guy who can't profess his love for a girl so he puts it in a song. Pretty decent, right? But when you get to the chorus, you get a stanza-full of 'Lala lala la, lala lala'. Seems like the songwriter ran out of words.

And I guess the embarrassing event of how I came to know of the song, is what really made it cringe-worthy!

30 Day Song Challenge - Day 1

2011-06-26T14:07:00.003+08:00

So I saw this challenge on Facebook, and decided to jump in on the craze. It's a great way to reminisce about stuff =)

Day 1- Your Favorite Song

I don't have just one favorite song, I have lots and lots and it depends on my current mood or state of mind. So right now, my favorite is Bruno Mars' Count On Me. I just love the song's message and I dedicate this to my one and only sister, who more often than not acts like she's older than me.

Products I Totally Swear By

2011-06-25T18:29:00.000+08:00

I was recently looking for a good salon to have my hair colored and a colleague recommended her friend's salon. I asked her if she had her hair done there, and she sheepishly said she's never been there because the place is a bit pricey. O...kay.

I'm a bit choosy in the salons that I go to, especially when it involves cutting or coloring the hair, a manicure and pedicure. I rarely speak up when the salon person starts hurting me or cutting my hair way too short. That's why I always depend on friends' referrals before I try any new salon or any new product for that matter.

That's why I thought of listing down some of the stuff I have been using and really believe in. But let me make this clear: No, I did not hit my head and started thinking of myself as a celebrity endorser. On the contrary, because I'm just your average Jane, you know that I have not been paid to write about them. I am and have been using these products for years, and I would like to share them with you because they really work!

1. Eskinol Facial Cleanser
This has been part of my daily routine since I was probably 12.
PLUS: I have never been pimply (thank goodness!), but I noticed that whenever I get pimples, Eskinol helps get rid of them right away and even pimple scars disappear. I use it after washing my face, and with all the pollution I have to face everyday, I really feel much cleaner.
MINUS: It tends to dry the skin so I think using it once or twice a day is enough. And as usual, you need to apply moisturizer. Speaking of moisturizer...

2. Celeteque Moisturizer
I've been using this for more than 3 years now.
PLUS: I love this because it's water-based so it's not at all sticky. I hate the oil-based ones cos it feels like my skin can't breathe. I also use Celeteque's facial wash and toner, so I buy their travel pack which includes the miniature-sized trio.
MINUS: Um, can't think of any.

3. Contractubex
When I had my freaky bike accident 4 years ago, which left my face and legs scarred for life, I used this magical gel religiously until the scars are barely visible.
PLUS: It really, really works! People don't notice the scars near my eyebrow until I point them out.
MINUS: The small tube's way more expensive than a tub of Sebo de Macho.

4. Max Factor Second Skin Foundation
This was introduced to me by my gay friend, who uses more facial products than I do and spends more time in the bathroom than I do.
PLUS: It is a great cover-up for any blemish or pimple scar. It's a liquid foundation but it's not oily so your face gets that perfect matte finish. Just a few drops, you will achieve that fresh-faced look.
MINUS: The only downside, I think, is the price. A bottle costs almost a thousand bucks, so if you're the type who liberally applies stuff in your face then it will be hard on your pocket. But if you're a cheapskate like me, a bottle could last you a few months or so.

5. Dimetapp Decongestant
I use the syrup kind, and not the tablet one. Until just recently, I can't swallow medicine tablets or capsules because I feel like I'm gonna choke or something. So I still drink my medicine using a spoon. =)
PLUS: Kiss your sniffles away after just a few hours of drinking. You will really feel your nasal cavity slowly clear up.
MINUS: It makes you really drowsy. Which is good, because you need to have that restful sleep. But if you were planning for an all-nighter then forget it cos this will really knock you out. Good thing though, is you will feel very much refreshed when you wake up.

These are just some of the products I really believe in. Will post more as I remember them. But for now, maybe you can share with me some of yours?

The 5 People You Meet in Commuter Hell

2011-06-25T16:50:00.000+08:00

One of the things I hate most in the world is taking the public transportation. I mean, what's to love about pollution and absence of personal space? But ever since I got here, I had no choice but join the rest of the commuting public. To make my daily sacrifice bearable, I've resorted to (if not daydreaming) observing the people around me and I've noticed that almost everyone belongs to these 5 types:

1. Noddy

Noddy is that toy with springy neck so he looks like he's always nodding. If you don't know him, think animal toy with a wiggly head propped on a taxicab's dashboard.

Noddy's that passenger who immediately nods off to sleep as soon as he settles in his seat oblivious to everything that's going around him. But the amazing thing is, Noddys exactly know when to wake up. I think they have developed this sensor that alerts them when their stop is near.

There are worse kinds- the Leaning Towers and the Droolers- but thank goodness I've never sat beside them!

2. The Juicer

The jeepney or tricycle's full. The Juicer comes in, inserts between you and another passenger, and squeezes the life out of you. You try to scoot a few more inches lest he/she sits on your lap, and you're forced to sit half-assed in a very awkward position.

I mean c'mon, it's bad enough that you're sharing a cramped space with strangers early in the morning, and someone decides to squeeze in and leave you breathless, hanging onto dear life.

3. Mad Max

Dance or rock music's blaring from the speakers way too early in the morning. It's chest-thumpingly loud that I'm afraid that my heart might get confused with the different rhythm and it literally skips a beat.

And bad news for you if the jeepney doesn't have that string or button to signal the driver to stop and pull over. Then you'd have to resort to wild waving, beating your chest and shouting "Para!" at the top of your lungs just like Tarzan.

Worse yet, if the driver thinks he's in the Indy 500 and feels like racing against any vehicle on the road. It's particularly infuriating when they start driving off (at a maddening pace, mind you) before your ass even touches the seat or before you've properly alighted.

4. Deadma

Originating from the term 'patay (dead) malisya', the word means ignoring someone or something. These are the rude people who pretend they're busy or deaf or whatever, that won't even make an effort to turn around and reach out to pass your fare to the driver. I mean, how hard is it to raise your arm a bit and do something nice for a fellow human being? Those flabby arms need a little exercise every now and then, you know.

5. The Bulldozer

Or you can also call them bump cars. Whether you're walking on the right side of the walkway or just standing aside, they have no qualms in ramming down anyone blocking their crooked path.

Suffice to say, all these people have not made commuting for me any easier. But they definitely make my daily trips more 'interesting'.

Rain, Rain, Go Away!

2011-06-24T20:30:00.001+08:00

I'm writing this at home, on the third day of crappy stormy weather. Our village has been flooded- submerged in at least 12 inches of murky water.

I called in sick today but I couldn't really relax and get some rest because the non-stop raining is making me nervous. I get up every few minutes and check the water level outside. Good thing we're staying on the third floor so we're basically safe. But the images of destruction that Typhoon Ondoy caused two years ago, keep me feeling restless. And worse, that typhoon pretty much had the area I'm living in now, looking like the ancient city of Atlantis.

Although I was not yet here when it happened, but the horror stories of the victims and images in the news are enough to leave one scared of unrelenting heavy rains. The government's weather bureau kept reassuring everyone that Typhoon Falcon won't be another Ondoy. Still, one can't help but be praning.

The news reports that a lot of families have already evacuated their homes to seek higher (and safer) ground and more are still stranded in the streets. I just hope everyone keeps safe and that this God-awful rain goes away real soon and never to come back again.

Soundtrack Sunday - Adele

2011-06-12T21:06:00.003+08:00

I first heard Adele singing "Chasing Pavements" and I have loved her since then. There's a certain sadness to her lyrics, and the way she sings them conveys that sadness very well. Her voice has that quality that grips at the heart and reminds you of past hurts.

Or maybe that's just me. Anyway...

Her album 21 was definitely not a letdown. If anything, it showcased her talent even more and you can hear that her voice has matured a lot, making the songs even more heart-breaking.

Of course, the most popular song there is "Rolling In The Deep" but my current favorite is "Someone Like You". Relate much? Haha, not really.

Lazy Sunday

2011-05-29T12:33:00.000+08:00

Gosh! Another month is about to end, and I've not written anything decent at all. Been both busy and lazy at the same time, if that makes any sense. The start of the rainy season is not making thing any better.

Speaking of lazy, I've found another song for bed weathers like this. I'm currently drumming my fingers (too lazy to bop my head) to Bruno Mars' The Lazy Song.

I say 'another' because my ultimate lazy song's Jason Mraz's Sleep All Day.

Ahh, to be young and lazy...

Proud of My Filipino-English Diction

2011-05-03T20:55:00.003+08:00

It's already May, four months have passed and I haven't done much writing. A lot of things came up lately so I haven't been really able to sit long enough to come up with anything decent.

So, in the tradition of 'copy and paste', I'd like to share with you an article I got from a forwarded email. It's of a speech delivered by Rico Hizon, a Filipino anchor for BBC World News.

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Being Proud of our own Filipino-English Diction
by Rico Hizon
(Delivered during Toastmaster International's District 75 Annual Conference in Manila)

Every single day for the past 10 years on BBC World News, over 350 million people from all over the world wake up to the sound of my voice.

What I say can make or break their business. How I say it, however, will affect how they will react - whether to stay calm or panic.

DELIVERING THE NEWS

Delivery is key.

Apart from having complete, accurate and relevant information, the news must be read clearly to ensure that it is easily understood.

And for that, I am grateful for my education from the Philippines. Tubong Maynila po ako! I was born, raised and educated here in Manila. Hindi po ako nag-aral sa Amerika o sa UK.

Hindi po ako nag Cambridge o Harvard.

I learned to speak well and clearly thanks to the patience of my parents, siblings and my teachers at La Salle Green Hills and De La Salle University. My looks and my diction often leave people wondering about my nationality.

On many occasions, I've been asked if I'm a western-educated Chinese, Singaporean, Malaysian or even Indonesian.

They wonder because of my eyes, skin color, and the way I speak English. I guess you can say its Pinoy super power.

We have the gift of languages. But what sets us apart is how, with any language we use, we are able to speak it clearly.

PAN-ASIAN DICTION

The Filipino diction is - clear, simple, neutral, easy to understand.

The Filipino enunciates clearly, pronounces every syllable in a pleasant --- even --- and non-threatening tone modulated for every ear to capture its essence….

And when we speak English, for instance, it is neither American nor British English.

It is a Pan-Asian diction. It does not pretend to sound western but both Asians and non-Asians can easily comprehend what is being said.

There are a variety of accents speaking the English language and there is no need for the Filipino to imitate … the American, British or whatever accent just to say its proper English.

We have our very own, and that is what makes us a cut above the rest. And that's why I am where I am. It's because of the Filipino English diction.

People often mistake the American accent for good diction. And yet, there is no real American accent because there is the Southern drawl, the Texas twang, and a host of so many others ….

It is too, difficult to keep track….

But that's beside the point.

Someone pointed out, we are Filipinos. We don't have to speak good English.

But don't you think it's amazing that we do, despite the fact that we're not? (Think about it)

EDUCATION

During my time, English was the medium of instruction.

When I graduated Grade School in 1980, High School in 1984 and University in 1988, majority of students could carry a very decent English conversation, because during my generation we had very good teachers who encouraged us to speak the language fluently.

We either spoke in English or we spoke in Tagalog.

Mixing them up into Taglish was unacceptable. Even earlier, during my parents' and grandparents' time, the country had citizens that were very good in English regardless of their educational attainment because English was widely and strictly used.

But today when I look around me and speak with the youth, I think we are dwindling race. English as a second language of Filipinos is fast deteriorating.

In fact, it has become a third language after Filipino and the more widely spoken Taglish. Not many can speak at least two or three sentences of straight English.

Worse, the diction is twisted to favor a twang often taken as a sign of being sosyal or wealthy.

And believe me, nothing could be further from the truth.

MEDIA

The media has played a major role in the inability of many Filipinos to speak English well.

TV programs these days are all in Taglish.

Even the news is no exception. What do we do? How do we stop the spread of "Here na me, where na you?" and "Yes, op kors, dats rayt"

And it also does not help, that when people text or sms, the language and the writing is inappropriate.

And thus their inability to learn correct spelling, impacting their ability to communicate clearly and correctly - whether it be in English or Tagalog.

The key lies in recognizing that proficiency in communicating in English is indispensable.

Speaking in English is not unpatriotic.

We are not less Filipinos for mastering another language.

We are only making good use of our gift for languages to forge ahead. English should be the medium of instruction in schools.

Spoken in the presence of trained teachers, children will learn to speak fluently and clearly, because when we master one language, whether it be English or Tagalog, we prepare our youth to challenge themselves to stretch and excel in their language skills, and basically, setting the foundation from an educational perspective.

There should be more English television programs such as documentaries and talk shows on commercial/terrestrial television with at least one dedicated English newscast.

Such shows these days are all on cable channels and are beyond the reach of the less privileged. It is also equally important that we Filipinos read English text more often. Doing so further improves the grasp of the language. Nowadays less Filipinos read and enrich the mind through books, editorials or websites.

And because of this, poor reading skills translate into poor writing and poor diction.

Indeed, sometimes the answer truly lies in reading between the lines, as well as from cover to cover.

GLOBALIZATION

In this age of globalization, it is inevitable that the Filipino will interact with peers and colleagues in the international community.

We can rightfully expect to hear even more accents, even more variations of the English language.

As such, this should spur our youth to even greater heights, to cement our place in the international scene as the most skilled, in communicating in the English language.

You have to give it to the Pinoy, we are still the best English speakers on this side of the planet.

So I believe, it is time to stand up, stand out, speak proudly as a Filipino and be heard across the globe loud and clear.

I know I did! Live from the Toastmasters International Conference this is Rico Hizon reporting. Proud to be Filipino! Proud of our Filipino-English Diction! Mabuhay ang Pinoy! Mabuhay ang Pilipinas!

Countdown to The Script

2011-04-12T22:01:00.004+08:00

Three more days until The Script's concert here in Manila! I can't wait to see them and sing along to their songs.

I gotta problem, though. The Man Who Can't Be Moved is the only song of theirs that I had memorized. I guess I'd have to resort to humming along.

No To Animal Cruelty!

2011-04-11T22:18:00.004+08:00

I've always been an animal lover and I can't believe there are people who could be this cruel! No living thing deserves to be treated this way.

I've only watched a couple of minutes into the video and I couldn't bear to see more. I hope Sushi takes a bite off that ugly hand. Makabawi lang.

Hello April!

2011-04-01T22:00:00.007+08:00

It's April 1 and I'm so excited that a new month has started!

Firstly, today officially marks the start of summer. It's just a bummer that I'm not in Cebu right now so I can go hit the beach every weekend. Such a shameful waste of perfect sunny days.

And I've got a couple of events lined up for the month! (For a change.)

On April 10, I'll be watching U.P. Samaskom's annual LIVE A.I.D.S. production again, after more than 10 years. I know that it'll be a good one, after getting a sneak peek last February during the org's fund-raising event and! It's the first time they're doing a musical! Exciting!

Then, my most-awaited concert event of the year happens on the 16th-- I'll finally get to listen to The Script live! Yipee! Can't wait to sway and sing along to their songs at the top of my lungs!

Holy Week's also coming up on the third week, so I'm looking forward to a couple of days' break from work. And there's a possibility that the 'rents are coming over and we all go to Bicol for a quick visit. Great!

So it seems that I've got a happening month ahead of me, and I just love it! =)

Last 3 Firsts

2011-03-28T20:08:00.000+08:00

Finally!!! I was able to finish my list but barely meeting the deadline.

First Thing # 28 - Attend a Ting Hun

Last month, I got a text from my friend, Ailee, inviting me to her and Jon's ting hun. I didn't have any idea what a ting hun was, but I said yes to the invitation. I later learned that it's basically a formal Chinese engagement party.

However, due to tradition, lots of preparation goes into it. According to Kasal.com, both families prepare traditional gifts for each other such as jewelry, cake, fruits, etc. Then the bride has to serve tea to the groom's family in order of seniority.

So what was our role in all of this? Nothing, really. (The guests were seated at one side of the room, while the formal ceremony was going on.) Main requirement is that we enjoy ourselves and celebrate this wonderful event with the couple.

First Thing # 29 - Contribute to a Daily or Magazine

I've written articles before for the school paper, but this is the first time I've tried submitting something for a widely-read magazine, such as Reader's Digest.

It's nothing major and I'm not even sure I'll get published, but here's what I submitted:

It was our father's birthday, so we all went out for lunch. Except for a brother who was not able to come home for the holidays, all of us children were with him in the car.

He then got a text message, which read: "Happy Birthday, Pa." He wondered out loud, "Who could have sent this?"

Told you nothing major, haha! But it'd be really cool to read my name in the magazine one of these days.

First Thing # 30 - Take a Walking Tour of Binondo

For my birthday, I decided to do something different: roam the city streets. I'm really not a fan of going to unfamiliar parts of the city, much less using public transport to get there. However, I promised myself that I will try to see as many places in my own country this year.

So my brother and I decided to go to Binondo and walk around Manila's Chinatown. It's the first time I've been there so we went on a food trip and also visited some of the old churches in the area. I was a bit tempted to ride in one of the horse-drawn carriages, but I had to take pity on the horse who'd feel the full force of my weight.

To me though, walking around the area also felt like walking back to history. Back in the Spanish times, it's the place where the Spanish permitted the Chinese mestizos to stay and it also used to be the center of financial community. I just love going to a place where history meets the present.

Visiting Binondo is not just the only First Thing I did today. It was also my first time to ride the LRT-2 from end to end, and it was also the first time I rode in LRT-1.

The best thing I've learned from this whole experiment/experience is never to fear going out of your comfort zone as it opens yourself up to more learning opportunities and expands your horizon. Life is short and we really need to live it to the fullest.

Here's to more new and exciting things in the coming years! =)

Going Beyond Earth Hour

2011-03-27T21:30:00.006+08:00

I've been a staunch supporter of Earth Hour since 2009. Many people think that it's a fruitless exercise because it's just an hour in a year. But I feel that's better than nothing. However, now I think it's time that I go beyond the hour if I really want to help save Mother Earth.

So here are small acts I promise to do (or continue doing):

1. When eating take-outs, I will not use plastic utensils and drinking straws unnecessarily.

2. I will continue to throw garbage in its rightful place. I will keep my trash until I find a trash can.

3. Use more scratch paper and envelopes at work.

4. Keep walking.

5. Bring my own bags when shopping/doing groceries.

Hope everybody comes up with their own lists. These may be little things, but they add up to a great thing if we all do it together.

Soundtrack Sunday - Rocketeer

2011-03-20T21:54:00.002+08:00

I'm sorry if I've been too lazy to write something more meaningful lately, but I guess I'm just in a phase where I'm too lazy to do anything and at the same time too listless waiting for something to happen. Not sure if I make sense, but that's how I'm feeling now.

Anyway, here's a song I've been into lately. I just love the lyrics:

"Here we go, come with me
There's a world out there that we should see
Take my hand, close your eyes
With you right here, I'm a rocketeer"

It tugs at my adventurous, wanderer heart. I guess that's it. I've been hit by the wanderlust fever again.

Tara Nang Mag-lakbayan!

2011-03-03T21:06:00.004+08:00

Oh gosh, I just took this 'quiz' to test how much of the Philippines I have visited. And I got a dismal grade of C!

I can already hear the disapproving voice of Susan Calo-Medina: "Huwag maging dayuhan sa sariling bayan!"

Yes, I know it's really embarrassing to have only visited a few places in my own country. But compared to the rest of the Filipino population, I think I kinda fared well. I mean, most of them don't even know their basic Philippine geography. Sheesh.

Anyway, I promise to do better. I'll take it one city/province at a time. Stay tuned!

Full of (Hot) Air

2011-02-13T21:10:00.014+08:00

OK, so this wasn't my 2nd to the last installment after all. But I wanted to post this lest I forget to do so. Besides, a post with the last 3 First Things seems a better idea.

First Thing #27 - See hot air balloons in person.

So we woke up really early on a Sunday to watch these hot air balloons take flight. Wait, scratch that. We didn't wake up early, we didn't sleep at all.

Since they were scheduled to take flight around 5:30am, my friend and I decided to watch a late night movie at 11:30 the previous night (we watched 127 Hours. Major eew!), pick up our other friends at 3am then head off to Clark.

Well, the Hot Air Balloon Festival didn't start promptly. Shocker! I think it's because it's still too dark and cloudy for them to fly the balloons? But that's just my theory. We were getting sleepy and hungry (the cool, early morning breeze didn't help), so when we heard the National Anthem blasting from the speakers, signaling the start of the fest, I felt a rush of excitement!

We didn't get to see the balloons up close since we're not too keen on squeezing our way through the huge crowd that showed up that day. But they looked good anyhow, from where we were standing. It's just a shame that for one to ride in one, you have to pay $150! Gosh.

Anyway, all in all it was a good way to spend a pre-Valentine weekend. Who wouldn't want to see Darth Vader up in the air?

2nd To The Last Installment

2011-02-04T21:16:00.011+08:00

I hate that I've been really sluggish in completing this list. I've less than a month to go, and I need four more to reach the finish line!

First Thing #24 - (Willingly) sport bangs.

I say willingly because I've had bangs before, back when I was still a toddler and could be bullied into any hairstyle my parents feel like. I'm sure all girls (and some boys?) my age have had the 'apple' haircut at one time or the other. It was all the rage amongst us 80s kids.

Anyway, so last December, I decided to have my long-overdue haircut and instructed the Korean stylist to give me bangs. A new look for the new year, ika nga. I felt really queasy while he was cutting away my precious hair, because I was afraid to look like an ensaymada. Thankfully, I didn't and I thought it kinda looked good.

But now I've grown tired of the bangs and couldn't wait for my hair to grow back. I remember now why I didn't want one in the first place: my hair covering my face. A face like this needs to be seen! Harhar.

First Thing #25 - Codename: Pepino.

This one's sorta X-rated, so I won't expound. Let's just say this had something to do with a bridal shower. Eew.

First Thing #26 - Eat tempura.

Well, ebi (shrimp) tempura, that is. Since I'm allergic to seafood- shrimp, squid, crab- I've never tried eating it. People have always commented that I'm missing half of my life because the allergy, especially being born in a country with overflowing bounty of the sea. But I've never really felt that way because I've eaten seafood before (how'd you think I found out I was allergic?) and I don't recall going gaga over its taste.

However, when we tried this new Japanese restaurant last Monday, I decided to finally try the tempura. I was armed and ready with my Claritin and Coke Zero. I didn't expect much from it, but I was pleasantly surprised with the taste. It was very delicious, the shrimp meat was ultra soft that it kind of melted in my mouth.

After that wonderful experience, I will definitely eat tempura now. But probably only in that restaurant. For now. =)

Just My Luck

2011-02-01T20:23:00.007+08:00

Q: What's worse than a jejemon?
A: A jejemon working in the government.

It's not a secret that government employees are not my favorite people. Let's just say that all of my experiences dealing with government offices have been downright nasty. They've all been very consistent in giving incredibly bad service, that the one time I sorta had an uneventful-bordering-on-pleasant experience, I nearly died of a heart attack.

Anyway, so today I had another memorable conversation with one of our esteemed civil servants. As a backgrounder, I asked a messenger to send some documents to this 3-lettered office. I addressed the envelope to an officer who previously received documents similar to the ones I was sending, a couple of days ago. The messenger returned in the afternoon, with an unopened envelope and a scribbled mobile number. He said that the guy was asking why I addressed the envelope to him, if I knew him, and that I should call him instead. So at this point, I was already somehow pissed because it was really important that the documents be processed today.

I dial the number, and the honorable officer answered, 'Eyo powz?' WTF!?! If I had someone read my blood pressure that very second, I probably would have made the medical journals.

So I tried my hardest to compose myself and ask him in perfect English if I could speak with Mr. So and So. He immediately reverted to a professional manner and I just continued to speak to him in English. I asked him why he had me call and if there was anything wrong with the documents I sent. He just said that he wondered why I addressed the envelope to him, and how come I knew his name. So I told him and also repeated my question about the documents. This is the killer answer: he doesn't know because he didn't check them. Before I could stop myself, I retorted, 'So you didn't open the envelope??'

I won't write here the rest of the conversation but you can already guess that I was fighting a losing battle. It's bad enough that he works for the government, he had to be a jeje too. So fun.

P.S. For those wondering who or what is a jejemon, here is a Wikipedia definition. I can't believe they made it to Wikipedia. Sheesh.

Reading the Stars

2011-01-29T16:33:00.006+08:00

I'm fond of reading horoscopes just for the simple fun of it. I love reading descriptions of my Aries/Monkey personality and learning who I'm compatible with. Like everyone else I guess, I like knowing what the future holds for me. I mean I don't consult it before I make any big decisions, I'm more of a 'selective' believer. I only believe it when it gives me good news. =)

So just for the heck of it, I'm posting here what will happen to me this year. Let's see if they will come true.

Here's what the Western horoscope has in store for me in 2011:

Year 2011 Overview
Out with the old matrix and in with something totally different -- with trailblazing Rams leading the way as usual. It's all about the new in 2011. Others will take their cues from you especially when Uranus follows Jupiter into Aries in March. You won't have a second to forget that you're the consummate pioneer of the zodiac. With Jupiter and Uranus tag teaming it in your constellation, much new ground needs breaking in 2011. You'll barely have a second to rest and process all the brand spanking newness that has become part and parcel of your everyday life. Long-distance travel, philosophy, higher learning and experimentation are all par for a very exciting course as this mighty year unfolds.

Expect a birthday season to remember with lucky Jupiter and life-changing Uranus working wonders in your fiery stars. Your innate go-getter instincts are off the charts. As the spring season gets underway, life hits maximum speed (sleep, what's that?) May Day alert: Circle May 1 on your calendar with a big red sharpie, Rams! An explosive amount of Aries planetary energy abounds as six -- count 'em, six -- planets traverse your incendiary corner of the zodiac simultaneously. This includes Moon, Mars, Venus, Jupiter and Uranus all rallying for your cause. Age of Aquarius themes pop up as Jupiter in fact does align with Mars on this very powerful day. Every second counts and actions speak infinitely larger than words.

Summertime brings Jupiter's jackpot in your money sector. Expect a nice fattening of the piggy between June and December with incredible opportunities to make the big bank. Love, pleasure and romance hit a high note in late September. Venus brings the beauty and love to your partnership sector while Mars simultaneously brings the sparks to your romance sector. Long-distance travel and adventures galore take precedence in November. While in December professional responsibilities will demand the majority of time and energy. But if you're willing to go the extra mile, your status could easily skyrocket.

And here's what the Chinese have to say:

Monkey Overview
If last year was a whirlwind, you might need to hang on for another wild ride. In the Year of the Metal Rabbit, things will probably ebb and flow without much warning. You'll have to buckle down and do some serious planning in order to get the most out of 2011, and you might be in for a challenge. You have plenty of ingenuity and flexibility, so call on those strengths when things get sticky. The Rabbit favors peace and order, which could clash with your love of fun and games. Use your favorable months to get ahead and lay low during the unfavorable ones. You might not have a blockbuster year, but there are lessons to be learned. Seek out the moral of the story and try to live by it.

Monkey Career
If other things are shaky this year, work might be a solid foundation to stand on. While I wouldn't recommend rocking the boat, stay proactive at the office and offer to take on more. You might have to put in overtime, but your dedication won't go unnoticed. Try to stay put for now, even if you're restless. Can you make your cubicle more entertaining? Bring some headphones to work and get inspired by some tunes. Buy donuts and bagels for your co-workers. Chummy up with your colleagues at office outings. Anything you can do to make work more fun will probably help you stay productive.

Monkey Relationships
The land of love may be rife with conflict this year. The Rabbit loves to be adored and indulged, while you think such things are a bit frivolous. Your partner might have a laundry list of demands that seem ridiculous. Are you just going through a rough patch or are your differences too much to handle? Consider compromise before you go making any rash decisions. It could be you need to be more sensitive this year. Your jokes and Monkey antics aren't understood by all. If you're single, someone might feel like getting serious with you. Are you ready? Make a pros and cons list before you go signing any marriage licenses or mortgage papers.

Monkey Health
Remember that children's song about monkeys jumping on the bed? You might be the first one to fall off this year, so make sure you don't bonk your head. Take care of your health so you don't end up missing out on play time. Are you putting off a doctor's visit? Do you need a teeth cleaning? Better to get it out of the way now rather than wait until it gets worse. The Rabbit's fondness for staying home might not sit well with your active nature. Make sure you get outdoors enough. Stale indoor air can be ridden with germs, so open plenty of windows and clean your surroundings with eco-friendly products. Take up tap dancing or salsa lessons to spice things up when you're in a funk.

Monkey Wealth
Money matters might look brighter than other areas of your life in 2011. Your sign's element is Metal, which bodes well for you in a Metal year. There will be a lot of Triple Metal days to look forward to, which means the element of our year, month and day all align. Mark those on your calendar. While you might not see the tangible rewards yet, your efforts now will bear fruit later. Make sure you're saving a percentage of each paycheck. You could meet with some unexpected expenses this year. Try not to spend on frivolous things. Create a working budget and do your best to stick to it.

By the way, both were taken from the Yahoo! astrology page to get a good comparison. But it seems that the only common denominator is that I'll get loads of money in 2011. I can't complain to that. Bring it on! =)

Mind Your Manners

2011-01-26T00:04:00.000+08:00

I'm sure most of us have known these things since we were little kids. But apparently, some people grew up in the jungle together with Tarzan, that they need to be taught these few basic rules:

1. When you cough, sneeze, or burp, please learn to say 'Excuse me' and always cover your mouth! It's bad enough that you're making those disgusting noises. Don't shower us with your germs, too.

2. Always say 'Thank you'. And this should be replied with, 'You're welcome'. Say 'I'm sorry' when you bump into someone or accidentally step on their foot. Don't pretend like nothing happened. 'Thank you', 'You're welcome', and 'I'm sorry' -- Learn these words by heart.

3. Don't talk when your mouth is full. No, that's not multi-tasking when you chew and speak at the same time. We really don't want to see how efficient your incisors and molars are in grinding food.

4. Don't be a litterbug. If you throw something on the street, a housekeeping fairy won't clean up after you and make your trash magically disappear. The world is not your own personal garbage can, so stop acting like it is.

5. Practice some elevator courtesy. Let those getting off the elevator (or lift, if you want to be all British) pass first before you go barging in. There's nothing scarier than being met by a mob in a tiny, enclosed space.

6. If you can help it, never be late for anything. Who wants to be a lady-in-waiting? No one.

That's all for now. But you bet I'll add more to this list in case I bump into those people who have either been raised by wolves or grew up in a bomb shelter.

And They're Back!

2011-01-20T00:59:00.000+08:00

I have always been a Jamiroquai fan, from the moment I heard (and saw the MTV of) Virtual Insanity. Love Foolosophy, You Give Me Something and Alright are just some of my favorite songs of theirs. Their music is just so cool! You just can't help but groove to the beat.

And now, just a couple of hours ago, I read in the airline magazine that they've released a new album. Two of the songs are White Knuckle Ride and Blue Skies.

So I listened to White Knuckle Ride first, and I go 'Yup, this is them alright.' It's unmistakably Jamiroquai but a bit more mature. And it's a good thing, like catching up with an old friend you haven't seen in a long time.

Then I listen to Blue Skies. Now, this one really surprised me because it sounded more pop and ballad. Ish. A little different than what we're used to hearing from them, but still very nice.

I'm just so happy they're back and hopefully they're here to stay.

01-01-11

2011-01-01T17:58:00.009+08:00

As this is the first day of the year, I will start it right by writing my 2011 year-end goals:

1. Weighed X lbs lighter. It's a yearly promise but I intend to keep it this time as I'm not getting any younger or healthier.

2. Saved at least PhpX,000. This is for my future studies and European tour. Of course this would also mean I've already zeroed out any outstanding credit.

3. Read more. Books, magazines, newspapers- anything to prevent brain atrophy.

4. Wear more make-up. Or more specifically give more attention to my appearance. I've never been a girly girl or been really fussy about how I look, but I guess it's time that I start becoming one. I refuse to sport the 'Stressed Out Spinster' look this year. Or ever.

5. Be more adventurous. In my career and in love. I suppose I've always been a passive spectator to my own life, but not anymore. I need to grow up and take charge of my own life if I want anything great to happen this year.

That's all. I won't promise more than I can keep. I'll go back to this list at the end of the year and see if I was able to do all of them. =)

Hope this year brings everyone much love, peace and happiness that they deserve!

Farewell 2010, Hello 2011!

2010-12-31T23:46:00.000+08:00

My 2010 was very eventful and memorable, to say the least. In the last few moments of the year, I find myself wistful recounting those memories and looking back to the year that was. So, here is my Best in 2010 list in pictures:

Best ka-bonding: My brother, Carlo. Manila would've been much more unbearable without him.

Best vacation: Bohol! Got to do lots of crazy things with the best travel buddies.

Best day: My 30th birthday. Together with my 18th, this year's the best celebration ever!

Best healthy addiction: Running. Too bad I wasn't able to join any fun runs in the latter part of the year.

Best thing about my new job: Traveling around the country. I'd never have gone to these places in the last 4 months if not for my job. There really is a silver lining. Always.

Best place to relax and unwind: The beach. Hearing the sound of waves and seeing the blue waters immediately brings me to a good place.

Best Eureka! moment: Coming up with the First Things List. It made me get off my ass and try new things everyday.

Best discovery: New friends. They make the daily grind tolerable, and the boring days interesting.

Best scrapbook moment/s: Cementing old friendships. Like wine, friendships only get better in time.

Best fearless decision: Taking the FSO exam for the first time. Although I didn't make it past the 3rd stage, I'm proud to have made it that far.

Best 'Dear Diary' moment: Good to note that this year, I met someone I really like after a long, long time. Let's just leave it at that. =)

Best returning habit: Blogging. Old habits die hard, and I'm glad to be back writing about stuff here. This is one habit I'll definitely won't let go of next year.

That's just a few of the great (and not so great) things that happened to me this year. Here's to more wonderful and greater adventures in 2011! Cheers! =)

So Not Worth It

2010-12-30T00:04:00.000+08:00

I can't believe it was absolute crap. I had my hopes up for this one, waiting for its release for a couple of months now, but it was such an absolute let-down. It was trying so hard to be an art film, and failing miserably.

The plot was pretty basic, but the (inexperienced) director dragged it on to an hour or so of snoozefest. They took a lot of artsy and close-up shots but the cast (especially the lead) didn't have the depth to be able to get away with scenes like this.

The costume design looks a bit off and they could do with a bit more research. And don't let me get started on the dialogues. I don't think people in the 20s uttered sentences like this: "Ang galing mo pala'ng mag-piano." Maybe, they said something like this? "Mahusay ka pala'ng tumugtog ng piano." But what should I know, I never lived in the 20s.

In short, I was sorely disappointed (and to think I have not seen the entire movie). I'm not so sure why the ratings board gave it an A.

If you're going to watch any movie for the Metro Manila Film Festival, just watch Tanging Ina. It's mindless entertainment and it doesn't pretend to be something more than that.

A Christmas Post

2010-12-25T23:45:00.002+08:00

They say that Christmas is for kids, and I'd have to agree. Everything seems to be brighter and more joyful at Christmastime when you're a kid. Personally, most, if not all, of my best Christmas memories were from my childhood:

Hanging out with the gang. When we were very little and still living in Manila, we would go house-hopping during Christmas Eve. Our friends would come over our house and eat, then we would go to theirs and eat more food. That's at least 4 houses in one night, so it's one big food fest for us on Christmas Eve. After stuffing our faces, we would all hang out on the street and play with firecrackers. Oh yes, those were the days when we don't worry about getting our fingers blown off. Good times!

Go caroling with friends. We would make our own instruments- drums out of milk cans, and tambourines out of flattened bottle caps- and practice our Christmas repertoire days before our series of performances start. Of course, our 'repertoire' was limited to Ang Pasko Ay Sumapit, Joy To The World, We Wish You A Merry Christmas, Santa Clause Is Coming To Town and then our grand finale: "Thank You, Thank You, ambabait ninyo, thank you!". We would go from house to house in our village, and torture our neighbors until they give us the much-desired coins...er, cash. I don't remember now what we did with our loot, but probably these were spent on candies and more fattening junk.

Writing our Christmas wish list for Santa. I remember my sister and I writing letters to Santa and placing them in our socks (we didn't have Christmas stockings, sob sob) hung by our door. Although I believed in Santa then, I recall wondering how he'd give us our gifts when our house didn't have a chimney!

Getting lots of presents. Of course, Christmas gotta be about the presents when you're a kid! I loved going from one godparent to another, looking oh-so-cute and angelic, to collect my gifts: Rainbow Brite bag, Sailor Barbie, snazzy pencil box with lots of buttons and compartments, and most importantly, cold hard cash!
We've also made it very hard for our parents to keep our Christmas gifts a surprise. Whenever they leave for work, we would search all over the house to check if they got us the gift we wanted. Yes, early manifestation of our low EQs.
One year, when the small battery-operated piano (and piano pencil boxes, for that matter) were all the rage, we found 2 of these (colored pink and blue) hidden inside the closet. My sis and I asked our mom if these are for us, but she said these were for her goddaughters. We were disappointed so we did what any normal jealous kid would do, we secretly played with the pianos when my parents were away. Oh how we envied them, so lucky to be receiving this wonderful toy. And then we got caught red-handed, so my mom just 'fessed up out of frustration and said that they were really for us. We didn't play much with the piano after that. What with the danger and excitement now lost.

Watching the Christmas display at C.O.D. Every December in the 80s, C.O.D., a now-defunct department store in Cubao, would mount a moving mannequin presentation about the birth of Jesus Christ. I remember sitting on my dad's shoulders looking up at the store's facade and watch the show with wonder and amazement.
I wish someone could bring this tradition back as it's not only a good way for kids to learn the lesson of Christmas, but it also brings families together even for just a while.

Christmas has somehow changed for me now. It isn't as magical as it used to be, but I guess that's okay. It's not about having fun and getting lots of presents anymore, but instead it means celebrating with loved ones and remembering the true reason for the season- Christ.

A blessed Christmas, everyone!

Still on The List

2010-12-23T02:51:00.004+08:00

It's almost a year since I made the resolution to come up with a First Things list. I initially thought of doing 30 new things before I celebrate the big 3-0, but then I realized it's somewhat impossible. So I made it a year-long project. And, until now I haven't completed the list! Am I that boring that I can't even do 30 new things in a year? Sheesh!

Anyway, I still got a few days to go and less than 10 things to do. Who knows, I might get the chance to do new stuff while enjoying my Christmas holiday.

First Thing #21 - Go on a business trip.

Fortunately for someone like me who loves traveling, I've had the utter good fortune of landing jobs that required me to be stuck to a desk and computer.

But as luck would have it, I got moved to a different department that allowed me to travel to different places for work. For a couple of weeks, I basically lived out of a suitcase, moved from airport to airport, and stayed in different hotels. Sounds like hell? Nah! I remember thinking, "Ahhh, I can get used to this!"

One, I love packing. I've mastered the art of traveling light and have already developed a system that would put any packaging company to shame. Two, I love airports. I like watching people head off to some destination or come home from a long trip. And three, who doesn't like staying in a hotel??

So after that experience, I made up my mind that I will definitely have to get me job that involves lots of traveling. My goal now is to become a Travel Blogger. Can anyone hire me please?

First Thing #22 - Visit Davao, Cagayan de Oro, Bacolod and Dagupan.
I was able to go to these places because of the business trips mentioned above. Being Filipino and living here in the Philippines all my life, I can't believe I've never been to these places before.

So when I had the chance to go there, I felt like being an ambassador of the Pilipinas Kay Ganda campaign, taking note of the unique qualities in each so that I may spread the word and encourage everyone to visit these cities.

Downside though, is that I was only able to stay a day or two in each, so my my observations were limited and basically...irrelevant hehe. But I promised myself to go back very soon and experience everything these places have to offer.

First Thing #23 - See a Hedgehog.
OK, I know this has nothing to do with the first two, but then it's my first time seeing a hedgehog. I never thought I'd see one here in the Philippines, much less three.

They were small, cute and cuddly but I hesitated in touching them cos I'm afraid their "bristles" might hurt. They really look much like a toilet bowl brush.

So I still have 7 things to add on my list before I can say that this project is completed. If anyone has ideas on what else I can do, or if you can tag me along to one of your adventures, please let me know. You'll make one miserable old maid's Christmas and New Year, very happy.

The Best Game Show Ever!

2010-11-14T22:54:00.002+08:00

I'm not sure if you folks are familiar with The Crystal Maze. It's a British game show that was popular in the '90s. I must say it's the most awesome gameshow ever invented!

Unlike the usual game shows, there's no audience to cheer the participants on. It's just the 6 players and the host, the crazy and witty Richard O 'Brien (he usually goes into a monologue when a player sucks and his outfits are the craziest!), who guides them through the 4 zones- Medieval, Aztec, Futuristic and Industrial- of the maze. They have to play Skill, Physical, Mystery and Mental games inside these zones to collect cystals that would give them more time inside the Crystal dome. The Crystal dome is like our local game where a player gets in a fanned cage and he has to 'catch' as much money as he can. But in the Crystal Maze, there are gold and silver foils. You have to catch at least 100 gold foils and if ever you catch silver ones, those will be deducted from the gold count.

And the amazing thing is, the contestants aren't really playing for the coolest prizes. Even Richard himself says that they might win great or not-so-great prizes. So it's really fun seeing them go through these challenges with the possibility of going home with nothing but souvenir cystals!

Here's one of the 'interesting' players they've had on the show, and I'm sure all of you would say you'd do a better job than he did.

You Know You're Old When...

2010-11-01T23:00:00.002+08:00

1. You look for fish and vegetables for your meals.
I'm sure we all went through childhood being force-fed our greens. I remember I hated eating ampalaya or bitter melon, because it's, well, bitter. I would eat it with lots of rice until I couldn't even taste it. But after years of being shoved down my throat, I got used to it and eventually loved it.

And now living on our own, eating fast food and unhealthy stuff, has made me long for home-cooked fish and veggies. I don't remember feeling this way 10 years ago. I guess the older your body gets, the more it will look for nutritious food that will nourish its old bones and joints.

2. You meet up with friends and all you talk about is politics and current events.
When have weekend get-togethers with friends turned from all-night partying in a club to all-night gab fest in a coffee shop? Worse, topics have turned into old people stuff- news, politics, the economy. But the weird thing is I have begun to really enjoy discussing them. I think some invisible line has been crossed here.

3. You find teenagers very annoying.
They're the group of kids who try to dress and act as if they're older. Wanting to look cool, but end up looking like fools. They come in groups and 'talk' boisterously like they own the place.

I'm so mean, as if I've never been a teenager myself. Sure, I had my baduy moments as a teenager but of course, I was never this rude and annoying.

4. You know what the Dewey Decimal System is.
For those who don't know (young or old) the Dewey Decimal System is what's used in libraries to oganize books accodring to category: General References, Religion, etc. I just miss hanging out in the library, browsing through dusty bookshelves, searching for a good read. If you want to do research, you'd have to browse through all those books before you find what you were looking for. Now there's the Internet and Wikipedia, and it has made things much easier for the plagiarists. Tsk tsk.

5. You start hanging out with your parents
Lazy weekend afternoons are now spent malling with the folks, or just hanging out in the backyard. You now have conversations instead of arguments. You swap stories and talk about anything under the sun.

And that's when you begin to see them as who they are and not as your parents.

6. You turn on the radio and hear noise instead of music.
You don't care for Justin Bieber nor his girlish looks. You start looking for 80s and 90s songs, and say, "Now that's music!"

7. You are home on a Friday night.
'Nuff said.

P.S. This post was more than a month in the making. Gosh, the new job and environment is really affecting my creativity! Haha, yeah right.

Soundtrack Sunday: With A Smile

2010-09-26T19:13:00.005+08:00

After talking about songs of artists from different countries, I think it's right about time to feature something from my own.

The Eraserheads became cult favorites when I was in high school (I remember critics were describing them as the Pinoy Beatles). They were the epitome of cool and everything angsty in our generation.

It was election time for our student council board, and one student running for office sang this song as part of her platform! I can't recall now if she won, haha!

Soundtrack Sunday: Sweet Soul Revue

2010-09-19T14:06:00.005+08:00

From K-Pop, let's go to J-Pop this week.

Pizzicato Five's Sweet Soul Revue hit the charts around the 90s. I remember I used to practice the dance moves non-stop. Even if I don't understand a single word in the song (except for 1, 2, 3...), it's very catchy that you want to get up and dance, and just make up your own lyrics!

Wakarimasen! Just dance along :)

Trike

2010-09-17T23:10:00.000+08:00

Yesterday, after at least 10 years, I got to ride a tricycle-- not in the side car, but on the bike behind the driver. What an experience! I was scared of falling off during the entire trip, that my knuckles have turned white from gripping the handles very tightly.

It was different when I was younger because I used to enjoy it. It's more fun and dangerous that way-- in short it was kinda cool, for a girl to sit that way. And I've also always found sitting in the side car very suffocating.

But now, it's the opposite. I prefer to sit inside because I feel it's safer and it's more comfortable. (Yes, I know very lola-ish.)

And yet, last night's ride was nothing compared to what happened earlier. I had to ride behind the driver again, AND I was wearing a friggin' shirt dress! AND, the driver's side didn't have a roof over it (see picture) so I had to grip real tight on the side of the side car. If you can't picture me out in this scenario, it's because of the sheer awkwardness of this position. I had to hang on for dear life while making sure that my dress doesn't reveal anything the public doesn't want to see.

Aside from the very bumpy road, what made this a very pleasant ride was the fact that the driver was driving too close to cars who were moving on the opposite direction! I had to keep my legs and feet real close to me (not too close or my I might lose my feet to the motor's wheel. Yikes!). All this time I was praying to the Lord that I don't die yet.

Not this way, at least. It's just too embarrassing.

Raj Raj Raj ah ah

2010-09-17T22:24:00.004+08:00

I'm not gonna talk about Venus' major major almost-win, but instead, I'm going to talk about her fans (who I think are more popular than her now).

They rose to fame because of the very funny video they took of themselves while watching the Miss Universe pageant. They're gayer than gay, which is very entertaining to say the least. To those who have never seen it, here it is...

After becoming overnight Youtube sensations, they got invited to a local TV show!

And as if this was not enough, they now have their own commercial!

Goes to show how easy it is now to get your 15 mins of fame. Lucky bastards. Hmph.

And The List Gets Longer

2010-09-12T18:47:00.001+08:00

First Thing #18- Pay my own rent
Yes, after 30 years, this is the first time I've paid for my own rent. Up until now I have always lived with my parents, basically living a free loader's life. Although I left home for college, I still lived with relatives so that's still not counted as living on my own.

When we (my brothers and I) first moved in to the apartment last week, I felt a sudden rush of pride, for doing something as mature as this. And yet when I handed the rent money to the landlady, I almost didn't let go haha! Well, I thought of it but I didn't really do it :) I guess it's just the newness and the reality of it all that scares me. Will I still be able to pay the rent next month?

I pray to God, yes!

First Thing #19- Do some housekeeping stuff
Connected to moving to my own place, I also had to buy home stuff like pillows, pails, broom, etc. These are the things I don't usually think about when I'm at home because they're just there. Now, I have to scour for these things and even have to go to stores where I can buy them cheap. (That's also a first time for me, budgeting) I have also learned to take my time in shopping, making the most practical and cost-efficient choice.

I also had to learn to do regular house-cleaning chores (but most of it I delegate to my brother, hehe), and be obsessive-compulsive when it comes to making sure that all our doors and gate have been securely locked.

Since we don't have a fridge and working stove yet, one chore I utterly dread would have to be learned much later. Whew! (If you must know, it's cooking)

First Thing #20- Repair an umbrella by myself
Sorry, I know this is kinda weird and somehow un-related to the first two.

Living and commuting here in Manila, it's mandatory that one should be armed with an umbrella always, since the weather is unpredictable- terribly hot now, then terribly wet the next. As such, the daily rigors of weather-changing has taken its toll on my poor umbrella. After only a month, it's been un-stitched at the ribs and tips.

So instead of bringing it to the repair shop and spend a couple of hundred bucks, I just decided to fix it myself. All I needed was thread and needle, and voila! It's now good as new!

Soundtrack Sunday: Nobody But You

2010-09-11T22:17:00.002+08:00

Ok. Now that its popularity/notoriety has finally died down, I think I can finally post this.

Yes, I admit I've been one of those who went crazy over the Wonder Girls' Nobody But You. Crazy to the point of knowing the dance steps. And I blame this on my gay friends!

I first heard the song early last year, on our way to our Bantayan Island trip. Needless to say, it became the theme song for the whole trip and we looked like a bad Pinoy movie-- bursting into song and dance on the beach. So gay! Haha!

Next thing I know, you hear it playing in every street corner with kids and adults alike dancing to it's catchy (almost maddeningly irritating) tune.

So what's your memory of this song? :)

Love In The Strangest of Places

2010-09-11T18:02:00.003+08:00

I'm wondering if things like this really do happen in real life. And if they do, how come it hasn't happened to people I know? Or even me?

But who knows? A friend said, lightning could strike. And I hope it does ;)

Soundtrack Sunday: Love Is All Around

2010-09-07T21:44:00.004+08:00

I know it's not a Sunday, but since I've been behind my Soundtrack Sunday updates, I figured now's as good a time as, well Sunday.

Earlier today, while I was going home from work, it started raining really hard. Under my flimsy umbrella and trudging along a muddy street, I was soaking wet. That's when I remembered the 90s band Wet Wet Wet (what a connection!)

Then of course I started singing in my head their most famous hit, Love Is All Around. I think this was part of the movie soundtrack for Four Weddings & A Funeral, but I'm not so sure. (Of course, it was more recently used in another High Grant movie, Love Actually, where it was used as a Christmas song for the comeback of a rock has-been) All I remember was this was such a hit when I was in high school that I still remember the lyrics to the song. Sing with me!

What's your memory of this song? :)

White, Not Pink

2010-09-06T21:10:00.001+08:00

Last Thursday night, I was in a mall waiting for my brother, when I saw this booth for a skin whitening product. I began reading its poster, which boasts of the wonders it will do to your normal problem areas:

* Underarms
* Inner Thighs
* Knees
* Elbows
* Areola
* Other dark spo...

Whoa! Did I just read Areola?! There is actually a demand for this?! When has this become a problem area?! I mean, why the hell would someone want to whiten their areola? Nobody would be able to know the difference! (Of course, I’m assuming that the user is not in the habit of showing off her bosom in public. But I may be wrong.)

I know Filipinos are very much into these products to get that fairer skin they’ve been dreaming of. But this? Madness!

And to think a very popular local actress is endorsing this product, and her face is all over the promo materials. Has she really used it on her so-called problem areas? I’m guessing she probably doesn’t know what areola means.

More First Things

2010-08-15T20:49:00.005+08:00

This past week, I'm happy to report that I have done 3 more First Things. Er, note that I'm not really proud of most of these, but at least my First Things list is getting longer hehe.

First Thing #15 - See a male stripper in a bridal shower.
Scratch that. I think he was more of a male dancer than a stripper. He was merely gyrating to dance music in his tighty-whities. And he was even texting while dancing. Talk about multi-tasking! He had a well-toned body (of course), was tall, dark but not at all handsome. No amount of booze made him any more good-looking in my drunken eyes. I also don't get why he had to wear sunglasses at night ('80s babies, does the song sound familiar? Hehe.) My theory is, either he's cross-eyed or he's just ashamed of what he's doing. I'm so mean. In short, it's not what I expected of a stripper. (Do I hear a tone of disappointment there?)

How I got to this age without even seeing a male stripper is beyond me. I mean I've had lots of friends who already got married but I guess the shower parties I've been to were always wholesome. And I think I've also somehow avoided going to the parties where they hired strippers. I've always been somehow prudish in that sense. But after this, I realized it really was no big deal. If you know what I mean.. *wink wink*

First Thing #16 - Get puking drunk.
Ugh. It's disgusting, I know. I will never drink tequila again. EVER.
I mean I was doing fine during the party. I drank my usual tolerable amount of alcohol- 7 shots (at least) of tequila, and 8 or more shots of that gin/vodka combo. The actual count is still vague. I didn't have dinner, just some finger food, and I was also tired from the house-hunting during the day. I guess that did it for me.
When I got home, I was still able to change clothes, watch a bit of TV and then I decided to go to bed. After a few minutes of lying down, it felt like the room started to spin and that's when it happened. I was able to reach the kitchen sink though, so I didn't really make a mess. When I woke up the next morning, my stomach still felt queasy and it happened again a couple more times.
That really was a first for me and I promise that that would be the last. But it's just so embarrassing that I can't even maintain my drinking average now. Another downside to getting old.

First Thing #17- Work in Manila
Finally, something very mature! As mentioned in my previous posts, I have already moved here in Manila for work. I've lived here before but after staying in Cebu for quite some time, I'm finding it a bit hard getting back to the ultra fast-paced life here. Aside from being away from my parents and friends, I also had to let go of the comfortable lifestyle that I was used to. No more househelp, no more home-cooked meal, no more car, no more Wifi. I'm proud to say though that in one week, I've learned to commute to and from work by riding a jeepney, cooked breakfast for myself (just bacon and eggs, hehe), did my laundry, and did some house-hunting. That's a big feat for someone like me.

I hope to be making more First Things in the next few months, given that I'm in a new environment and surrounded by new people. Hopefully these will be more grown-up things and more age-appropriate. I'm certain too, that I'll have other (mis)adventures here in Manila, and for sure I'll share them all with you.

The Harrowing Experience That Was The FSO Exams

2010-08-08T22:03:00.002+08:00

It's been more than three weeks since I took the panel interview and written exam portions of the FSO exam in Manila. Just goes to show how nerve-wracking and stressful the whole experience was, that I needed lots of time to rest and recuperate. I also needed time to look for my brain and regain the IQ points I lost in a span of one week, so I can come up with coherent sentences to tell you all about it. (That, and I was also busy preparing for my move to Manila.)

Since I passed the preliminary exam I took on my birthday, I was qualified to move on to the next stage, which was the panel interview. I was really anxious about this given that my last interview was for the UP LAE, which was very traumatic (not an exaggeration, but that's another story). Although, I was kinda hoping it's just for formalities' sake where they would only ask questions about what I do and why I wanted to become a foreign service officer. But what I was about to face was nothing short of paralyzing (yes, still not an exaggeration).

I was called in to a room (looked like a classroom) and was asked to sit in front of the panel- composed of an ambassador and two foreign service officers. I was like the new teacher facing my bad-ass students. For my work, I was asked these questions:

- What are the good ROP bonds right now?
- How about corporate bonds? (I was made to enumerate specific bonds for the first 2 questions)
- What's the difference between a UITF and a Common Trust Fund?
- If you were to invest the funds of the Foreign Service, will you invest them here in the Phils. or abroad?

Intense questions, but manageable. I mean, I'm supposed to know these things because they're part of my job. But the next phase of the interview was the piece de resistance of that wonderful day. I can't even remember how we got to this type of questioning:

- Do you think the presence of American troops in Iraq is justified? Do you think the war is justified?
- Do you think the war in Afghanistan is justified?
- How about the Ampatuans? Can the Americans just come in our country and fight them?
- In Saudi Arabia, you can go to mosques. In Abu Dhabi (Pardon me, but I can't recall if I'm naming the correct country) you can't go to church. Is that fair?

Sheeesh. I mean I expected the interview to be hard. But not this hard! Here's some of our memorable exchanges:

Amb: "If you file a complaint to the UN against Saudi Arabia, what do you think will happen?"
Me: "Sir, me personally?" (Hahaha! Dumb blonde moment happens to me when I'm stressed out)
Amb: "I mean the Philippines. What will happen if the Phils. files a complaint?"
Me: "Sir, there would be a strained relationship between the 2 countries"
Amb: "What do you think will be the immediate effect?"
Me: "Armed conflict?" (Hahaha, you gotta laugh at yourself sometimes!)
Amb: "Not yet. What do you think will be the effect?"
Me: "Safety of our OFWs in Saudi..."
Amb: "Correct. A Foreign Service officer must always think about his fellow Filipinos first and foremost. That's what you call prudence. What is prudence?"
Me: (jaw drops) "Um, right judgment?"
Amb: "Foresight, blah blah blah" (He was rattling off the synonyms of Prudence.)

Amb: "Compare the reign of Charlemagne with the current European Union."
Me: (I'm thinking Can I just die now?) "I'm sorry Sir, I'm not that familiar with Charlemagne."
Amb: "You mean you don't know who Charlemagne is?? Where'd you go to high school?"
Me: "At the Colegio de la Inmaculada Concepcion, Sir."
Amb: "CIC. You mean the Daughters of Charity didn't teach you about Charlemagne?"
Me: "I'm sure they did, Sir. But I just can't recall right now."

FSO: "How much do you earn?"
Me: "Gross?" (Hahaha! I'm such a comedian.)
FSO: "Sure."
Me: "Blah blah a month, Sir." (To this they all looked at one another and sort of gestured that it's a good figure. I totally disagree, BTW.
FSO: "Are you aware that you'll be earning less than that if you become an FSO? Are you ok with that?"
Me: "I believe, Sir, that if you really like what you do then the monetary benefits are not that important."
To this, they all gave me a standing ovation and presented me with the Hero of the Year award. Joke.
Amb: "I'm touched by what you said..." (Char!)

Anyway, that's basically the 'highlights' of the interview. I'm really not sure how I survived, or even passed. It was such an out-of-body experience, and I remember I just kept smiling the whole time but in my mind I was praying for the ability to Apparate. Even my co-examinees told me that my questions were really harder than theirs.

For the written exams, let's just say it was the most stressful 3 days I've had in a long time. My mind turned to mush after all that essay-writing. Every time I read my test paper, I mentally kick myself and bang my head for subjecting myself to this kind of torture. I won't be writing the questions here because this entry's getting really long. But if any one out there plans to take the FSO exams soon, let me know and I'll share them with you.

Alright, so that's about it. The results for the written exams are supposed to be out by October or November, but I'm really not banking on passing. However, miracles do happen and they might happen to me again :) By the way, this is my First Thing #14- Taking the FSO exams.

This Is It!

2010-08-05T01:10:00.001+08:00

The time has come. By tomorrow, I will be living (again) and working in Manila. I'm excited as hell, but I am also (if not more) scared as hell.

It has been 8 years since I've lived in Manila last and I'm getting really anxious just thinking about how I'll manage living in all that chaos again. The traffic, pollution, stress, high cost of living -- are all giving me lots of sleepless nights.

I know that in the first few years I've stayed here in Cebu after school, I have always wished of going back to the hustle and bustle of the capital. I've felt that the Cebu lifestyle's too laid-back (read: slow and boring) and that I needed to get out.

But now, looking back, I've realized that being here in Cebu did me lots of good. Aside from being able to spend more time with my family, I was able to do things here that I never thought I would, and I have also met some of the most wonderful people I now call friends. I have become a true-blue Bisdak and Cebu has definitely become home.

And now that I'm leaving home, I'm saddened by the fact that I'm leaving lots of people and memories behind. I'm fearful of the unknown challenges ahead of me, but I am also hopeful of the new chapter in my life. As they say, no success or reward is achieved without any risk. But I know that He'll always be with me and will guide me to where I ought to be.

The PEN Story

2010-07-31T22:57:00.002+08:00

The PEN Story from PENStory on Vimeo.

Very nice stop motion technique! I especially like the hot air balloon and parachuting part.

I wish I can come up with something as creative as this...

Soundtrack Sunday: (I've) Had The Time of My Life

2010-07-27T00:02:00.006+08:00

I know that I've been gone for almost two weeks, but I had to be away and do some heavy-duty stuff related to this and this. I'll write a separate and more detailed entry on my very tiring vacation last week, but for now let's talk about Soundtrack Sunday on a Monday shall we? :)

I first watched Dirty Dancing when I was 13 or 14, and boy did I love that movie! School was out, I was home on a summer day and the movie was being shown on cable. It had the perfect formula for a summer movie- dancing, singing, and of course romance. Oh how I wished I was Jennifer Grey at that moment, dancing and romancing with Patrick Swayze... sigh. Nothing gets to me more than a guy who knows his way on the dance floor. Goosebumps!

Dirty Dancing defined a generation and I think people will remember this movie for a long, long time. Anyhoo, that's my memory of the song/movie. What's yours?

P.S. I wanted to post the last scene in the movie where they danced (I've) Had The Time of My Life. But I couldn't find a version which allowed video embedding. Also, I apologize if my ramblings don't make any sense (exactly why they're called ramblings, right?), that's because I left my brain in the auditorium of the DFA building last week. Can somebody pick it up and return to the owner please?

Soundtrack Sunday: Invisible Man

2010-07-11T23:09:00.006+08:00

Warning: The next scene might make you puke.

I'm seventeen years old, sitting inside a VW Beetle, late on a school night. We just came from a play rehearsal and a friend (who also happens to be my crush) is driving me home.

We're talking about our current favorite songs and I bring up Invisible Man by 98 Degrees. He said he's never heard it and so I sing it to him. And I mean I sing it to him because I felt that I was the invisible woman... Yuck. Blech. Really cheesy, I know. You can't say I didn't warn you.

So that was my embarrassing memory of that song. What's yours?

Soundtrack Sunday: As Long As It Matters

2010-07-04T01:53:00.001+08:00

Okay, after getting over the high from Germany winning the game against Argentina 4-0, (disclaimer: I don't watch football, I just want to know who wins hehe) the featured song for this Sunday is Gin Blossoms' As Long As It Matters.

Summer of 1995, when guitar playing was coolest thing, I decided to teach myself to play one. So I grabbed my guitar and a songbook and strummed my fingers off all summer long. As Long As It Matters was one of the first songs I learned to play, not only because it was popular, but also because it just had 4 chords: G D Em C. Imagine this: playing the guitar while singing like a rock star... how cool is that??

Don't ask me to play it now because I don't remember a single chord anymore. Like many of my artistic endeavors (playing the piano, ballet, drawing, etc.), this is another thing I have not followed through and finished til the end. Just goes to show how fickle-minded I am and how easily get bored with something. Maybe I have ADHD?

Anyhoo, that was my memory of this song. What's yours?

P.S. Happy Fourth of July!

Soundtrack Sunday: You Get What You Give

2010-06-27T00:28:00.006+08:00

Sunday is here once again, and you know what that means- another episode of Soundtrack Sundays.

Our featured song for today is You Get What You Give by the New Radicals.

Rewind to 10 years ago. I'm still in college. It was a Saturday night (or Sunday morning already to be exact), I am in bed watching TV. I couldn't sleep yet and nothing's on except... (Baduy alert!) Walang Tulugan by Kuya Germs himself. Haha! Too bad if you're not Filipino because you wouldn't know this multicolored-tuxedo-wearing-starmaker-slash-TV host. He's been in show business for like a thousand years, and the time slot of his TV show (usually starts at midnight, I think) is an indication of where he is in the popularity meter.

Anyway, one segment of the show featured a music video (complete with lyrics ala karaoke) and that night it was You Get What You Give. I like this song because I think it gives out a very practical message. Nothing will happen to you unless you get up and do something. I remember feeling that the first 2 lines, 'Wake up kids, We got the dreamers' disease', were being sung to me. As usual, I was wishing and dreaming of great things happening in my life but have not necessarily taken concrete steps in achieving them. What's new?

So that was my memory of this song. What's yours?

P.S. I don't make a habit of watching Kuya Germs' show, ok. Just to make it clear.

Introducing: Soundtrack Sundays

2010-06-20T01:27:00.000+08:00

For lack of anything new to do and write about, I've decided to start Soundtrack Sunday. Every Sunday, I'll post songs we've not heard for the longest time, and I'm hoping you guys share your memory of it.

I came up with this because I noticed that every moment of my life has a particular song associated with it. Whenever I hear a song, I remember where I was (literally and figuratively) when I first heard it and all the fond memories associated with it. So I thought, why not reminisce and write about old times through song?

Ok, so to start off, I'm posting here Solveig Sandnes' Marie. I remember I was 13 or 14 when I saw her video on MTV. It was the 90s and at that time MTV was the biggest thing. I remember I watched MTV for almost the entire day and I knew all the Top 10 songs by heart. Anyhoo, Marie was one of them and I remember hearing it always made me smile. It was, and still is, my song for my sister.

I tried to look for the original video, but apparently not a lot of people remember this song, so I couldn't find one.

So if you're one of the cool people who have heard Marie, 'Where were you when this
song was famous?'

The Great Procrastinator

2010-06-14T23:41:00.004+08:00

Here I am at quarter to midnight, with the laptop on my bed, trying to compose an essay on why I want to become a Foreign Service Officer and why I should be one. And as usual, when presented with an all-important task, I get stuck and I procrastinate.

This always happens to me. In college, when we were required to turn in term papers, I usually spend hours and hours in front of the computer just to finish a one-page essay. Why? Because after every few sentences, I stop to play Solitaire. My excuse was that I need to take a break in order for my creative juices to start flowing. Whatever. I knew I was only kidding myself.

So now, I find myself in the same predicament, but with an all-new diversion: the Internet (well, more specifically Facebook). My excuse now is that I need inspiration. Total Lame-o, I know. But not totally un-true as I'm trying to dig deep and find the real reason why I'm doing this.

Anyhoo, so in my mindless FB browsing, I came across an old message a friend sent me. I think re-reading this brought me more distraction than inspiration. Just read on.

If A Man Wants You
If a man wants you, nothing can keep him away.
If he doesn't want you, nothing can make him stay.

Stop making excuses for a man & his behavior.
Allow your intuition to save you from heartache.
Stop trying to change yourself for a relationship that's not meant to be.

Slow is better.
Never live your life for a man before you find what makes you truly happy.

If a relationship ends because the man was not treating you as you deserve, then heck no, you can't be "friends."
A friend wouldn't mistreat a friend.

Don't settle.
If you feel like he is stringing you along, then he probably is.
Don't stay because you think it will get better.
You'll be mad at yourself a year later for staying when things are not better.
The only person you can control in a relationship is you.

Avoid men who've got a bunch of children by a bunch of different women.
He didn't marry them when he got them pregnant, why would he treat you any differently?

Always have your own friends separate from his.

Maintain boundaries in how a guy treats you.
If something bothers you, speak up.

Never let a man know everything.
He will use it against you later.

You can not change a man's behavior.
Change comes from within.

Don't ever make him feel he is more important than you are... even if he has more education or in a better job.
Don't make him into a quasi-god.
He is man, nothing more nothing less.

Never let a man define who you are.

Never borrow someone else's man.
If he cheated with you, he'll cheat on you.

A man will only treat you the way you ALLOW him to treat you.
All men are not dogs.
You should not be the one doing all the bending.
Compromise is a two way street.

You need time to heal between relationships.
There is nothing cute about baggage.
Deal with your issues before pursuing a new relationship.

You should never look for someone to COMPLETE you.
A relationship consists of two WHOLE individuals.
Look for someone complimentary... not supplementary.

Dating is fun... even if he doesn't turn out to be Mr. Right.

Make him miss you sometimes.
When a man always knows where you are, and you're always readily available to him-- he takes it for granted.

Never move into his mother's house.
Never co-sign for a man.

Don't fully commit to a man who doesn't give you everything that you need.
Keep him in your radar but get to know others...

---------
Just an update. I have not finished what I was supposed to write until now, and it's already past 12:30am on my watch. See? Even this post took me almost an hour to write. Sheesh.

Fave Song of the Moment

2010-06-12T18:55:00.003+08:00

This song makes me smile in the mornings and want to skip along on my way to work. Imagine that!

Sinking Feeling

2010-06-10T00:01:00.005+08:00

Lately, I've realized that I've been looking at the world through rose-colored glasses. I've always thought that everything's fine with the world and nothing could go wrong. Call it naivete or plain stupidity, but I thought that if you don't think of or face a problem, it doesn't exist.

So when reality bit me, it bit me hard in the ass. This rude awakening felt like I was helplessly falling into this sinkhole...

I really don't know how I'm going to get out of this mess, but I'm praying I get out of it soon. Hopefully unscathed and much stronger.

Why May 27 Was a Good Day

2010-06-01T21:45:00.003+08:00

This is one of the reasons why my 30th is officially the best birthday ever!

Now, off to an intense 2-month review session...

Simple Joys

2010-05-26T23:04:00.004+08:00

- Laughing so hard it makes me cry
- Making people laugh
- The smell of coffee
- Long comfortable silences
- Waking up Sunday morning to sikwati, champorado or taho
- Sleeping in
- My pet dog welcoming me home after a long and tiring day at work
- Finding extra money in my pocket
- Bookstore air
- Popping bubble wrap
- Singing out loud while driving
- Watching Friends reruns
- Hearing my favorite song being played on the radio
- Listening to the waves of the sea
- Receiving handwritten letters
- The sound and smell of rain

Zip. Zilch. Nada.

2010-05-23T22:52:00.004+08:00

I'm having a literary dry spell. I can't seem to think of any thing to write about. Just goes to show how boring my life has been lately. No happy/exciting things, no life-changing news (there is actually, but I choose not to busy myself with it yet as it has not fully sunk in. I still have 2 months to go anyway.), and no First Thing too.

I hope things pick up in the next week before another month ends. Sigh.