A Weekend in Zambales

It was a well-spent weekend (October 26 and 27). Had fun camping at Anawangin and visited the Zoobic Safari for the first time. Plus, I got to meet two new amazing girls. Thank you, Lord, for another opportunity to travel and unwind. :D

Love 'em SHOES!

These are what I scored in the Converse Marikina sale last Saturday:



All three pairs for only 2,150! Now isn't that love, love, love? Go get your own pair. The sale runs until December 23. And FYI, the items here are way cheaper than the ones that will be brought to the Megatrade sale this weekend. :D

Escape to AKLAN

This is a long-overdue post. :D


(L-R) view from Mt. Luho, almost sunset, another great view from Mt. Luho, airport arrival (with Mitch), at the grotto, with Audrey and Mitch on our way to Aklan (via ZestAir), Museo ti Akean, Bakhawan Eco-Park, Sampaguita Gardens

We were there from September 29 to October 2. To say that I had tremendous fun is an understatement. I just wish I've been there years ago. Maybe the Boracay beach would have been cleaner. :D

I'll be in Zambales this weekend. Anawangin plus Zoobic Zafari, yey!

Farewell, STEVE JOBS (February 24, 1955 – October 5, 2011)

Innovator. Visionary. Pure genius.

So long, Apple guy. You made so much difference in this world. Your memories will live on forever.

We'll miss you, Arlene!

And so it happened. We said goodbye to our latest friend to leave the country. Only four of us remain. And it's getting sadder every time someone leaves.



We were supposed to spend the day at La Mesa Ecopark and have our picnic there. But typhoon Mina prevented us from doing so, therefore we ended up at SM Valenzuela (IKR!).

Food, videoke, chats, and lots of bonding moments - enough to leave lasting impressions of Arlene and everything about her. We'll miss you, girl!

Missing the little girl

This is EANA, the little girl I was telling about a few blogs ago. She left for Canada last month (for good, with her Mom and Dad of course) and I'm terribly missing her.

I remember telling how smart this little kid is. She's also 'malambing' in a way that you would often see her hugging people just because she likes to. :) During our last bonding moment, she asked for my phone so she could play with Talking Tom. And then she hugged me after, like forever.

Their leaving the country was a shock to her parents. Her mom was the one who applied, and after a very fast one year, she got a job match that left her with two choices: leave by herself and try her luck in the land of the Canucks, or leave with the entire family and spend their lives together in a foreign country.

I know it wasn't an easy decision for Eana's parents. They both have stable jobs (both are government employees), their own house (beside mine), and their own UV Express van plying the Trinoma-Fairview route. Things are actually pretty for them. But Eana's mom said she wishes good things for her, and our country seem to be getting worse.

I couldn't blame her. Given the chance, I'd do the same. But if I come to that decision, I think I'll just spend a few years there, gain citizenship, save, and then return to my own country and settle here. Yes, you heard me right! Even if I'm a big fan of foreign brands, I do love my country. And there's nothing more noble than spending the last years of your life in a place where you were born and raised. :)

To Eana, Eric, and May, you are missed terribly. No one compares to your goodness and generosity. I pray that the Lord watches over you every day.

Bidding the Walkers goodbye

It is never too late to be what you might have been. - Nora Walker (quoting George Eliot)


There’s always this sad feeling whenever something comes to an end. It might sound cheesy, but sometimes you shed a tear or two whenever you find yourself in situations like saying goodbye.

I’ve been religiously following some US TV shows for years now. Some of these are already off the air and their respective actors have found themselves new shows or are now starring in films already. I’ve cried with the Camdens (7th Heaven), fought warlocks and demons with the Halliwell sisters (Charmed), and laughed my heart out with those guys who drank coffee at Central Perk (FRIENDS).

I wasn’t able to watch the matched airing of my well-loved shows last season. And the downloaded episodes I got were mostly not working when I play them on my computer. As usual, I just decided to buy the DVD and watch the entire season at home.

I finished watching Brothers & Sisters last night. When I found out it was cancelled by ABC, I was devastated. I’ll definitely miss the Walkers! This is one of those dramas beautifully written each episode, amid the bickerings, the lies, and the twists each of the five seasons has given its audience.

If I am to evaluate the last season, as much as I want them to stay, I believe there are no more stories to explore among the characters. And Sarah having found out that her entire life is actually based on lies is definitely a lame attempt to stir the series itself.

However, there are some issues left unanswered. Kitty’s pregnancy, Saul and Jonathon’s wedding, even Justin’s getting back together with Tyler. I’m not really a fan of the Nora and Brody plot so I don’t want to comment on that.

And I wanted to see Paige grow up, together with his brother Coop, and her cousins Evan, Olivia, Daniel, and even Lizzie. The next generation of Walkers.

And I'll miss the never-ending secrets, the overflowing wine, and the three-way calls. :)

So now I am left with Grey’s Anatomy, Private Practice, Glee, Gossip Girl, and Big Bang Theory. You won’t see me crying when the last four of these shows end, that I can assure you. But with the doctors from Seattle Grace, I just might.

Simple joys

My life somehow revolves on small things - things that never fail to put a smile on my face.

My book collection and book sales

I've been a bookworm since I was in grade school. But I've only began collecting when I was in college for the very reason that back then, I had extra money to spare. That from my modest allowance, I am able to save a few bucks to buy myself a good book. I started by collecting the Classics. I remember buying my very first one, Pudd'nhead Wilson by Mark Twain. Since then I now have almost 30, from Louisa May Alcott, Nathaniel Hawthorne, Jane Austen, and others. I also have a few bestsellers (my favorite is Khaled Hosseini's A Thousand Splendid Sun). I also collect novels from Isabel Allende. I am in awe of her writing style, definitely hands down. Moreover, I have a thing for those titles from the Oprah Book Club. I think I have close to 20 now, my recent purchases being Stones from the River and Gap Creek. I am also fond of chicklits. I'm particularly fond of those by Sophie Kinsella (it's a shame I only have her ebooks). But I have tons from Jennifer Weiner (she writes such funny novels) and a few from Cecelia Ahern. And my latest obsession are those from Adriana Trigiani. I am close to completing her novels! And the best thing is that I bought everything on sale (or discounted) from different bookstores here in Metro Manila.

Foreign language film festivals

I've been going to the Shangri-La for their film festivals for four years now. I started with EIGA SAI, the Japanese Embassy's gift to the Filipino moviegoers. I've also been to the French Film Festival, Korean Film Festival, and Cine Europa. The best thing about these festivals is that they're absolutely free. You just have to be patient in securing your ticket for they give it out an hour before screening. And the queue is so long that sometimes you'd just give up your spot and just decide to go malling.

Chocolate cakes

I have a sweet tooth and I'm not gonna deny it ever. Albeit I take everything in moderation. But chocolate cakes I find hard to resist. My most favorite are those from Miss Polly's and Chocolat.

A long walk..at the mall!

Funny, right? Because unlike in other countries, I couldn't say a long walk at the park. Not unless I live in New York and I have a time to spare roaming around the Central Park or something. But a walk at the mall can sometimes be tad depressing. Especially when I see something I really like but I don't have the funds (which is actually often haha!). But I'm not complaining. I love paying bills that matter the most. And my fondest memory of this long walk at the mall was two years ago, when I was so pissed at the office and I decided to go to the mall and ended up buying a nice dress from Folded and Hung and a nice wedge sandals from VNC. Both for only P650. They're such a good steal that I forgot about everything that happened that day. See, therapeutic! :)

Occasional facial/spa/massage

Don't blame me for being a girl. I'm not the vain type. I don't spend too much on cosmetics, skin products, and even nail polish. I just go for the basics. But I do know when to reward myself with much-needed rest and relaxation.


These are the things that brighten up my life. Sure there will be more in the future. Might even be a special someone! I've never given up on that hope. :)

Breathing for now

Disappointed tears.

Yeah, that's what I've been having lately. Sure, there are happy tears. But what I've been having lately are those moments when you just want to get out of that feeling but you can't, even how hard you try to.

I want to get past it. Three freakin' years. And I seem to be back to square one. I don't belong there. I'm at least a decagon, after all those years in the industry. Yeah, forgive me for my attempt to crack a joke. Silly me!

Happy thoughts. Breathe. For now, at least you still got reasons to stay. Hold on to them. For now.

Innocence lost

My Facebook statuses have been full of words on kids these past months. Unfortunately, I’ve been referring to close family members, kids I’ve seen grow up and all of whom I love dearly. But now I really don’t know where life is taking them.

Case 1: “T” is a quiet and a fragile nurse-to-be. She’s supposed to be in her last year of nursing school this school year. But last April, my cousin found out she’s 1 month pregnant with her first boyfriend, a guy she’s been seeing for only a year. All dreams shattered, just like that. All of us were actually clueless on why these two people would be so stupid not to use protection, the soon-to-be health professionals that they are. Ok, I get it, kids nowadays are most often into premarital sex. I don’t condemn them, though in my mind I’d rather see them wait until their wedding night. But things are different than before. And we never can tell what happens when you’re in that moment, right? “T” was supposed to help her family out. Her Dad had a mild stroke a few weeks before her revelation and her Mom was working tirelessly as a laundry lady for foreign students just to help send them to college. I hate “T” really, for being so careless and not thinking of the consequences of her actions. But then again maybe she planned it all along. She wanted to escape responsibility. She would have been a good nurse. Such a pity!

Case 2: “L” just turned 15 last May. She’s the third in a brood of five, all sent to school by my loving aunt. Their parents, both unemployed ever since, have been depending on my aunt in New York. She does odd jobs here and there. Now more than 60, my only wish is that she returns home and just enjoy the remaining years of her life in her home country. But you see, she wouldn’t, even if she can. She wanted to have at least one “apo” finish college, so she could at least have some help. But I doubt that. The eldest didn’t even finish his 2-year course. At 24, he’s now a father to two kids, unemployed, and relies on his wife and my aunt for support. The second one, now a fourth year irregular nursing student, has incomplete grades, no PE classes, dropped no less than three subjects, and failed some, too. I think she just wants the allowance, and if she does finish school, it would take another 2 years from now. That’s 7 years in college, mind you. And then there’s “L”. I actually tried to send her to school last year, and even make her live in my house. But she was such a brat that she ended up returning to her family at the end of the first semester, claiming I didn’t give her enough money to school. The bitch! I even hired a school service for her! And now I heard she’s dating a second cousin, of all people! And her parents can’t do anything about it. Next thing I know this girl is ending up with a stork, too.

Case 3: The handsome “A” is a part-time fashion model and a second year HRM student. He’s probably the most “malambing” among my nephews and nieces. A “chickboy” wherever he went, I found out just last Saturday that he got his ex-girlfriend pregnant, but the girl’s parents aren’t forcing them into marriage. The girl’s got a new love, so is “A”. This is so 21st century! But I honestly admire the girl’s parents; I think that’s the best decision for the both of them. My nephew isn’t the type to deal with responsibility this early, but I know he’ll give the child a name, and that someday he’ll make a good father. And oh, “A” is “T’s” younger brother (just 11 months her junior), so that makes two instant grandchildren for my cousin this year. What a headache!

Case 4: “R” is 21 years old, a college dropout, and works odd jobs. He recently changed his Facebook status to “engaged”. He’s apparently going steady with someone for a few months now, a girl he met when he worked at a big grocery chain late last year. I just think 21 is still too early. He doesn’t even have a stable job and he should have been helping me out with his sister’s school needs. There you go, another one escaping responsibility. He doesn’t realize how big a responsibility is of starting a family.

I’m at a loss now. I’m hurting just as much as the other members of my family. We’ve had big dreams for these kids. But now I don’t know where they are headed. Yes, babies are blessings. But they should have waited for the right time; when they’ve established a career for themselves and they’ve already helped their parents even for a few years. I just pray that they’d be responsible parents. And that someday, they wouldn’t suffer the same fate their parents suffered because of them.

My CEBU Adventure

It’s been 4 years since my last out-of-town travel. That was a month before Daddy died (my good friend Mitch and I went to Baguio). And then so many things happened and changed that I’ve always taken as lessons or mistakes that have somehow made me stronger as a person.

This year, Mitch and I decided that we should at least make one domestic and one international tour every year. Talk about extravagance haha! But thank God for cheap airfares and hotel and restaurant deals via discount sites. We were able to book here and there without too much strain on our budgets.

Last Saturday, we went to the Queen City of the South, CEBU. A late birthday and early birthday treat for the both of us. I was actually almost in tears that morning because the rain seems to not be on our side. But seeing that Cebu Pacific hasn’t cancelled any flight that day, I proceeded to Manila and first went to The Getaway Spa to avail of my voucher which expires today. :)

The body scrub was pure delight. I was surprised (for the attendant actually asked if she could go ahead with my private areas), but then again I guess it was part of the package (or her job) so I let her do her thing. I left the place refreshed and ready to face my long-awaited vacation.

I met with Mitch at Baclaran LRT station and from there we took a cab to NAIA Terminal 3. Our flight is at 930PM and we were supposed to land in Cebu at 1040PM. We landed 20 minutes earlier. I felt okay the rest of the trip, considering it was my first time to ride a plane. When you have faith, nothing could go wrong. :)



We spent the night at Ace Penzionne. For P900/night, the stay was definitely worth it. The room was clean, A/C works perfectly, and the wifi connection was excellent.


We left early in the morning to see the Lapu-Lapu Monument. The place was just OK for me. It was there that we brought our pasalubongs like souvenir shirts, sandals, magnets, and others.




Then we returned to the Inn for breakfast and early checkout. We then proceeded to the City to catch the English Mass at Basilica de Sto. Niño. We also went to the Sto. Niño Cathedral and the Magellan’s Cross. Then off we went to Europa Mansionette where we stayed until Tuesday morning.

















In the evening, we went to Colonnade Mall to buy our food pasalubongs like otap, peanut cookies, dried mangoes, etc. Then along Mango Road for our massage at Nuat Thai.

It was a first time for Mitch. But she enjoyed it she said. I liked it better in Cebu than my Nuat Thai experience in Eastwood. We promised ourselves that we will go back to that specific branch when we return next year for our Bohol trip (will be returning to Cebu again for we failed to go to Bantayan Island due to limited time).

In the morning, we went ahead early for we are supposed to see so many places that day. Off we went to see the Parian Monument, the Colon Marker, and the Yap-Sandiego Ancestral House (Casa Gorordo was closed for Monday was supposed to be their cleaning day).




The ancestral house was AWESOMENESS! Everything there was a sight to behold. The caretaker was also kind enough to answer our questions. The house is now more than 300 years old, and the present owners are actually the eight generation. We were also told that the present owners make it a point to still sleep there every Friday night, hence the room has an aircon and a refrigerator (the only signs of modern times in the house).








After the anncestral house, we went to see the Guadalupe Cave. The image in the cave was said to be hidden there by our forefathers for fear that the Spaniards might take it away with them. It was many years after that it was discovered by a chicken hunter and was turned over to the local church. People in the area believe that the water that drops from the cave has healing properties.



To be able to leave the place, we had to ride the habal-habal. It’s actually a single motorcycle that rides up to 4 people, excluding the rider. We were fortunate enough that we were the only two passengers that time.

Our next stop was at Beverly Hills subdivision, a posh place for the wealthy Chinese in Cebu, which I think could be likened to Forbes Park in Manila. It is there that the Taoist Temple is situated. Public transports are not allowed inside so we walked the many steps to the gate of the Temple, and up the 99 steps to the prayer place. There were three prayer places there and I went to all three. I did that ’stone thing’ and got an answer of ’YES’. I am thankful.




After the Temple, our last itinerary for the day was the Jumalon Butterfly Sanctuary and Arty Gallery. It was home to our country’s unsung artist, the late Prof. Julian Jumalon. Butterflies are taken care of here, both the alive and the dead ones. You see, Professor Jumalon did his artworks using butterfly wings. It is beyond cool really! We saw all his works but we understood why taking photos were not allowed inside the gallery.





After that tiring day, we decided to go back to our hotel to prepare for our last activity in Cebu. Then we went to RedBox in Ayala Mall Cebu for their primetime deal (buffet and videoke).







The long wait was indeed worth it. Thank you Cebu Pacific, Ensogo, and Metrodeal for the amazing deals. You are all a part of our happiness.

The COMEBACK Guy

THIS. IS. WORTH. BLOGGING.

I met "Ryan" 10 years ago. Allow me to call him that way for he honestly looks like Ryan Agoncillo to me, back in the days when he was still not associated with Judy Ann Santos.

We were both trainees for a business magazine. I don't know why, but even if we weren't assigned to the same story, we always ended up seeing each other before or after our respective assignments. Call it crazy, but we adored each other that time. He was in a rocky relationship and a seemingly annoying family. I was searching for a stable career and has just gotten over a previous relationship.

He would call me every night before we go to sleep and we talk about anything and everything. Funny how my family wouldn't even stop me from talking over the phone even way past midnight. I guess in their hearts they knew Ryan was someone special. They knew I had to get over my ex really soon.

A month after the training, all seven of us were called to the office. Only three trainees passed; I passed and Ryan didn't. But he accepted it wholeheartedly; he doesn't like the job anyway. I didn't even last a week in that job for I accepted another offer from a maritime company. Ryan, meanwhile, decided to try his luck in the BPO industry, which at that time was just starting here in the Philippines.

The first month was okay. We didn't see each other that much but he calls me every chance he gets. Then none at all. I tried to muster the courage to call him at home, but I ended up hanging up the phone. I tried his mobile phone, but the fact that he would say he doesn't want me anymore just scared me to death. I just settled on this: HE AND THE GIRL GOT BACK TOGETHER. Plain and simple.

Through the years I tried to find him. The techie that he is, I was surprised that there were no Friendster account of him whatsoever. And then over the weekend, BOOM! A Facebook account of his surfaced! He's alive after all. All this time I prayed just to know he's okay. And now that I know that he's doing okay, I can breathe freely. I do not want to get back together nor do I need closure. After all, we weren't exactly a couple. It's enough that I know he's alive.

PS: He accepted my friend request. What happens next, I don't know. I've no expectations whatsoever. I'm fine living in my own little world now. :)

COULD HAVE BEEN

Could’ve been so beautiful
Could’ve been so right
Could’ve been my lover
Every day of my life...


I’ve always been a fan of the 80s, most especially its sappy songs and catchy tunes. But this song is extra special because most of the time I could very well relate to it.

As read from my Facebook status last week, I found out an ex-crush already passed away a few years ago. In all fairness, I was indeed saddened by this news. I never even had the chance to get to know him better. :(

Let’s call him AJ. He was my greatest crush in college. We were classmates in my first major class during my sophomore year. Truth is he didn’t even finish the class because he dropped out midway. We never had a class together after that. But with LP being a not-so-big school and we both belong to the same college, I still got to see him at least once a week, be it along the hallway, the school canteen, or elsewhere.

What attracted me to him was his being mysterious and shy altogether. He seemed to be always thinking seriously and being in a place other than where he actually is, a drifter you may say.

One time while I was with friends waiting for a class to start, I saw him about to pass in front of us. He was with SOMEONE! That someone was the first girl I became friends with during my freshman year. We were in all classes that year but separated the following year because we have different majors. I was numb, unable to react. But when the girl threw me a smile, I smiled in return.

That wasn’t the last encounter though. While having an early dinner at the canteen one time, I remembered that I left my scientific calculator at home (it was our Trigonometry mid-term examination for heaven’s sake!) so I rushed outside to look for someone to borrow it from. Lo and behold, they were just outside the canteen, and actually walking towards my way. I gathered all the guts I could and asked the girl for the said calculator and luckily she had one at that time. AJ was just beside her that time, carrying some of her things as I noticed. I asked for her room number and proceeded to class. When I returned it, I saw him again, but I can’t remember if he threw me a glance or whatever.

The last memory I had of him was in junior year, at the awarding ceremony for CAS Week. I won a silver medal for a quiz bee that week. When I descended the stage and walked towards my friends who were at the back that time, a girl called my name. That was my friend, congratulating me for my win. He was beside her, smiling.

There were so many times I tried to convince myself to ask my friend what the real score was between them. I was wrong, terribly wrong, to have assumed they were an item that time. Because just last week I found out THEY WERE NOT. I asked her straight (thru FB message last week), and she answered back: close lang kami pro d kami. as in prang kapatid lng. I became more sad. All this time I thought they were a couple.

Things could have been different. If only I asked, this friend of mine might have even rooted for us to be together. Looking at his Friendster account right now, I realized how so much alike we were, how we like the same things and how great it would have been to even be friends with him.

I’m a MANANG by heart. I don’t do the things women of today do (especially being the first one to tell a guy that I am attracted to him). But this thing with AJ, I had control all along, if only I had the courage back then.

I’ll finish this off with a poem I did the first night I saw them together (this is from memory and words might have changed from the original one). I’m going to be all right, that I’m sure of. He’s with our Father above, and that alone makes me happy.

FIFTH NIGHT

I see myself in grief.
Why?
All of a sudden
I felt my knees shaking,
my nerves trembling
As I blame the scene.
It was a fateful evening.
A close friend
and the man I LOVED...
Together!
I don’t know what to do
or how am I to react.
But dear friend,
hold him tight.
Love him the way
I wished to love him.
And to you lucky guy,
take good care of her,
like the way I did before.
I wish you well,
and this really comes from within.
As I try to start over
and cling to the memories
alone.

A Wedding to Remember

I attended Arlene and Glenn’s wedding last Saturday. Arlene is a friend since high school, so we’ve been friends for almost two decades now. :)

I was with Joice, Eve, and the ‘papilit ever’ Jebie. We were actually nine in the group, but three have already settled abroad. Christina is in Canada, Abegaile is in Qatar, and Khristine is in the US. And Raquel, we don’t get to see her that often.

To be honest, the wedding was one of the best I’ve attended so far. It was serene, elegant, and everything a bride could ask for. There were limited guests so it didn’t end up as a carnival event as opposed to the usual Filipino wedding wherein even unattended ones are present. :)

At San Agustin Church, Pachelbel’s Canon in D was played for the entourage march. I’ve always loved that song. If ever I’ll get married someday, I want that to be played, too. For the bridal march, Arlene chose to walk down the aisle with the song ‘Sa Piling Mo’ by Regine Velasquez. I was never a fan of OPM songs for weddings, but this one is just perfect. I was teary-eyed as I saw Arlene walk toward her groom, Glenn.

Let me share a little story about Arlene. Glenn wasn’t her first love. We were certain back then that she will end up with someone from high school, a guy she was in a relationship with for more than a decade. But when that guy broke her heart, she was definitely in bad shape. Even years after their breakup, the guy’s family would even ask her how she was; that’s how close she has become to his family.

Then came Glenn, just when she needed him. Glenn was a classmate (or schoolmate) of her in college. I used to think Glenn was Arlene’s gift but now I know they were each other’s gift all along. We saw Glenn a few minutes before the ceremony and he was already crying with joy; finally Arlene will be his forever.

Theirs wasn’t an easy relationship. Glenn had to leave Arlene for 3 years and work in the US. And now that they’re married already, another one is set to leave the group again. :( But being friends for so long, one’s departure is actually not an issue anymore, especially with the advent of technology (Facebook and Skype).

Back to the wedding, the reception was held at Baluarte de San Diego, a few blocks away from the church. We were the first to reach the place, so we were also the first in the photo booth, haha! We were also seated near the food table and near the bar. I don’t know but maybe it was Arlene’s doing that we ended up in that seat number. :)

Even the reception was awesome. The drinks were good, and the food was way better (courtesy of Tamayo’s catering). I even took home with me the flower arrangement as requested by Arlene’s older sister (we were told that Arlene personally did those lovely arrangements, the artistic one that she is).

Who’s next to get married in the group, that I really don’t know. It could be me or it could be Eve, though we are both single ladies as of the moment. Or it could be Joice, who knows! But I’m hoping it would be Jebie, who’s in a relationship with someone for more or less 10 years now, with three kids already. But if ever I do get married, I want it to be solemn and serene as Arlene’s. Right now, I’m saving up for my groom, haha! I’d probably buy him from Rockwell or from Mall of Asia. :)

My Nuat Thai experience

Not that I’m not a fan of massages. It’s just that I never had the chance to have one (professionally, that is) because most of my family members can do the same for me, minus the fee. :)

My Mom knows how to. She was once a therapist in Jeddah. My sister occasionally does home service massages for some of our neighbors. And my niece, I just have to make kulit to her and she’ll give me a quick massage right way. Talk about a blackmailing aunt, haha!!!

They had no formal lessons whatsoever. Those are innate talents that unfortunately I never had.

Last Saturday, I went to Nuat Thai Libis to use the vouchers I got from Ensogo late last year. I tagged along my eldest sister as a treat for her. To be honest, the amount we spent that day was way beyond the regular amount I would have paid for a massage near my place. But I wouldn’t trade the experience for anything.

The vouchers were for a regular Thai body or foot massage, originally priced at P250 (which I got for only P99 via Ensogo). But we were told that that massage was their basic one and would only cover our backs and would only target pulse points. They wouldn’t even use any oil, just plain touches here and there. Therefore, we decided to upgrade to Swedish massage (an additional P100 for each voucher).

We were presented with three oil selections: lavender, green tea, eucalyptus. I chose eucalyptus for its calming and soothing effects. My Ate, the manang that she is, asked if they have an unscented one. It’s a good thing that they do.

When we entered the actual massage area, we were directed to the washroom. There our feet were washed and scrubbed by our respective therapists. Upon entering our actual massage area, we were asked to remove our shirts (including our brassieres) and we were given our own pair of shorts.

The actual massage was so good that if only my Ate wasn’t giggling beside me I would have slept that entire hour. I opted for the “medium” force just to be safe.

I’ve lost count of how many “shush” we got from the other clients. My Ate was giggling here and there, claiming she’s ticklish and that it was her first time. I decided not to argue and just laughed with her, albeit using my pillow that time so my voice wouldn’t be that audible. :)

We went home happy, though with some body parts actually aching, probably because of the exerted force. But one thing’s for certain. I’ll be waiting for another Ensogo deal like that one. I just hope it would be nearer and more accessible.

Saving COCO

I never had a pet of my own. My elder sister once had a dog named Popsie when I was 3 or 4 years old, and that’s it. I wanted a rabbit when I was in grade school but I never got the chance to own one.

This month is said to be my dog’s birth month, therefore making him exactly 1 year old. I’m not so sure of the exact day for we only rely on what my neighbor told us when this cutie was given to us weeks after he was born.

Coco is not a special breed. He belongs to the ASPIN (short for asong Pinoy) type. His parents were wandering dogs in our neighborhood.

Coco used to be our nightshift dog. I coined that term because he’s only with us in the morning where he just sleeps and eats and then goes out again at night to be with her mom and siblings. But then we trained him to just stay inside the house and just watch from the window while his family roams the village. That actually worked to our advantage because he previously brought fleas whenever he comes home. :(

There were so many times that we already gave up on him. My septuagenarian aunt often says that she’s grown tired of looking after him while I go to work and my niece goes to school. A neighbor once offered P200 so he can have Coco. I almost gave in, mostly because of my aunt’s prodding. But when I found out Coco was to end up as a dish on a table, I said NO. There was also a time that we gave him to another neighbor who’s so fond of him. Eventually he returned home. That was the time I realized that Coco’s real home is with us. Not as a dead meat inside someone’s stomach, not as a guard dog in someone else’s property, and not a nuisance in the surrounding blocks of our subdivision.

Also, this fighter almost died late last year. Based on my research, he suffered from kennel cough. I wanted to bring him to a veterinarian but I know my elder sisters would just laugh at me for spending money on a dog that might die anyway. But thank God for Google! I was able to find home remedies for Coco’s case. But his road to recovery wasn’t easy. I would wake up at dawn just to see if he’s still alive. His breathing wasn’t normal and we had a hard time approaching him for he wouldn’t want to be touched nor fed. Before Christmas time, he was well again. :) But his mom didn’t make it. She got the same disease a week before Coco. She left newborn puppies (the flirt that she was!) who unfortunately died also early this year after being ran over by an unknown type of vehicle. The only family that Coco has is a sibling that lives behind us (there were actually two in that house but my niece told me she only sees one lately so I’m not so sure what happened to the other one). And us. :)

Coco is also your typical dog who damages things when he gets his hands on them. His last victims were four pairs of footwear, including my favorite jelly shoes and Dupé flipflops! Getting mad is out of the question because that wouldn’t bring back the said footwear in their former state. But we now have a stick just to sort of discipline him.

Coco is part of the family, that I can assure him. Let me also add that he’s already left a mark (or marks) in my body (something visual because lately his form of affection would be to jump on me whenever I come home from work). But that doesn’t stop us from loving him and treating him as one of us. He deserves a home, and we’re happy to give him that.

Jamming with the ASAP Sessionistas

I’m a concertgoer and I’m proud to be one. Sometimes my relatives would scold me for spending money on events like these but I don’t care. I want to be treated to live music from time to time. And after all, it’s my money I’m spending, not theirs.

Last Saturday, one of my fervent wishes came true when I finally got to see the ASAP Sessionistas live. I’ve been a fan of Nina and Sitti since their respective careers started. And lately, I’ve been crushing on Richard Poon so you could just imagine how special that night was for me.

I went to the Big Dome with my good friend from college, Mitch. After 10 long years, finally we were able to watch a concert again, the last one being that of The Corrs in 2001. It was way different this time. First because we’re watching local talents (first time for me as I have been to concerts by foreign artists in the past, the last one was John Mayer’s last year), and second because this time, being the career women (ehem!) that we are now, we got to watch everything almost up close. We were even giggling as we watched the crowd from the general admission area and Mitch said that those ‘unruly’ people were once us, haha!

As for photos, well I don’t have any aside from shots before the show. Just like most of the concerts I’ve been to, I decided to just enjoy the show and savor every moment of it.



It was a jampacked event, not a sold out one. There were so many unoccupied seats in the VIP section, which is understandable because of tough times. But it was fun nonetheless. So many artists from ABS-CBN served as front acts, including the Star Power Magic 5.

Celebrities I saw were Erich Gonzales, Jinkee Pacquiao, and Maricar Reyes (who was constantly shown in the giant screens every time Richard Poon performs on stage), who I think is now in a relationship with Richard. I don’t mind (as if I have the right LOL!) for I honestly love Maricar as well. They look good together! But throughout the show, Richard never mentioned Maricar’s presence, a move I really admired. J

As for the members of the ASAP Sessionistas, I could say that they all had their own moments to shine. They actually interacted with the audience by coming down the stage and having some people sing with them. My heart leapt when I saw Richard Poon going up our way and serenaded us. OMG, my heart melted as in! He was right in front of me, and that moment was pure magic!

Songs performed were a mixture of OPM and foreign music. Genres were varied, dating from blues to pop. It was evident everyone had a good time.

I went home happy, really happy! Compared with my complete disappointment the previous night (because I wasn’t able to go to Janet Jackson’s concert), I believe everything turned out fine last Saturday night. I even got to use my Ensogo vouchers for Gloria Jeans Coffee and treated Mitch to a dinner of pasta and submarine sandwich. Not bad for a P600 worth of meal for two that I only paid for P200 (with three banana walnut slices for takeout). :)

Until my next concert adventure!!!

PAPER CUTS: Worth lining up for

I was never a fan of local literature. My book shelf is lined with American and English classics, those from Irish authors, some titles from the Oprah Book Cub, some recent bestsellers, and a few chicklits. Aside from the textbooks that we were obliged as students to read, I can't remember buying a book from a Filipino author, well aside from Ambeth Ocampo's Looking Back during my freshman year in college (which actually ended up as a business venture because my classmates back then were so lazy to do research for our History class so I decided to buy the book and have each story photocopied).

Last Friday, I was fortunate enough to attend the book launch of Paper Cuts, Pam Pastor's (yeah, that girl from PDI) first book. And because I literally ran to National Book Store's Glorietta 5 branch after having auto logged out at 5:30 PM, I even managed to hear her speech, yey!

Characters in the book were there. There's Pam's mom, brother, Jill, Powie, and others. I even ran into a common friend of ours, Joice!

Celebrities present were Raimund Marasigan, Joross Gamboa (or a look-alike maybe), RJ Ledesma, and Tim Yap who came a few minutes after I left.

So many people lined up to get their copies signed. I even saw one carrying five copies!!! That's how good the book is people! The stories were fun and wittingly written.

Pam's famous (hehe!) cupcakes were also present. Oh my, they were so good I ate two. But no worries coz they were mini cupcakes, haha! Other food sponsors were Krispy Kreme and San Mig. Vicki Belo also sent Pam a huge stand-up bouquet of flowers and also gave a few gift certificates for the raffle.

And oh, the raffle! Aside from the Belo certificates, there were toy cameras, Manny Pacquiao-signed chess board, and the "toothbrush" (vibrator to be exact, but was called that way the entire evening for there were kids in the room, LOL!). Surprisingly, the toothbrush was won by a guy. And despite the appeals from so many women in the room, the guy never surrendered the item. :)

I was so bummed that entire day that I didn't have enough powers to take pictures. But I have this:




It was a great night, even if I was on the line for almost two hours. There are only a few things in life that's worth lining up for. And I believe this is one of those things.

Feeling Italian!

I had these for lunch yesterday: spaghetti (with leftover ham from the holidays, corned beef, and mushroom) and ciabatta. And it wasn't a disappointment at all, not only because I personally cooked it, but also because my housemates (my aunt and my niece) liked it. Happy Sunday indeed!

Given the chance, I would love to visit Italy someday. There's Rome, Milan. Naples, and more. Sort of wishful thinking you may say but everything is possible for someone who perseveres and never stops dreaming.

I'd go there for three things: spritual enlightenment (the Vatican), the sights (the museums and everything that has to do with art history), and food (pizza and pasta, of course).

For now, I will have to content myself with films and Italian food (A Veneto Pizzeria Ristorante is love, love, love). :)

REBIRTH

I have decided to blog again this year, hence the title.

I've been on Multiply when I decided to skip posting on this blog site. And then there's Facebook. Need I say more?

This year, I wanted to blog about my thoughts and my everyday battle with the gift we call LIFE.

So many things have happened since my last post. I'm an orphan now, I live in my very own house, I'm loving my job more and more (albeit sometimes less and less), and I'm gaining friends and critics as well. But I'm okay, at least that's how I think I am. :)

I have yet to face severed ties but I've started to include those people in my prayers. Slowly I'm getting there.

For now, I'm living my life the best I could, with the means that allow me to. I am grateful that along the way, I have friends to keep me sane in this journey that I hope to be worthwhile this 2011.

To start with, let me share stories from my pre-Christmas and New Year breaks.

Christmas was spent at home with tons of relatives coming to spend their Christmas at home. Gifts were appreciated and I'm happy to see them while they each open their boxes and smiled thereafter.

On December 26, I was asked to be a godmother for a neighbor's son. As people always misjudge me to be a snob, I've come to terms with the fact that we can't always people.

Let's just say I don't blend well with the neighborhood. First, most of them are married people, families who've decided to buy their own place even at the expense of leaving the comforts of Metro Manila. Second, I have nothing in common with them. These women don't work and are often seen gossiping outside their houses or tending to their little ones.

At the reception, I was seated at a table with the rest of the godmothers who are apparently 'married'. As I quietly eat my lunch that time, one woman said: 'Nol (family nickname), ang tahimik mo naman...ay ikaw lang pala ang single dito!' Being the calm-as-needed person that I am, I just smiled and finished my meal. Thereafter, I went to another table and chatted with a family which is the humblest in the street in my opinion. These people are the only 'true' friends I have at home.

If only my 'mataray' side showed that time, I would have replied: 'Correction lola, si Nol lang pala ang walang anak dito. FYI, may anak kayo lahat pero hindi lahat kayo married. Case in point, look at yourself KABIT!!!' I used to like this girl, tsk tsk! Problem is, most of the members of her family are gossipers, especially her mother.

On New Year's Eve, I've decided to spend it at home with my aunt despite countless invitations from relatives. I'm a firm believer in the saying that you should welcome the new year in your own home. But contrary to our Christmas eve where we cooked all of our meals, I've decided to just buy RTE food and assorted fruits for the table.

The same girl above has planned a New Year's Eve party for our street. I wasn't asked neither for the potluck nor the monetary contribution for the videoke and the game prizes. Not my loss really. And I think it was a great move for her for I was bent on declining whatever invitation from her anyway. Plus, I don't see the rationale in joining. My aunt is 71 years old who wouldn't enjoy a party like that. And I'm not the type to act 'plastic'.

So there, I spent New Year's Eve inside our house, watching the news on TV and savoring the more than enough food for me and my aunt.

But what freaked me out was that at 5AM, the teeners were still belting it out!!! I would have come out of the house to scream at them, but part of me says that their parents should have been the ones to ask them to stop, or at least the party organizer (her sister was the one constantly holding the microphone!).

We were able to sleep around 530AM and skipped breakfast just to catch up with our lost sleep. But lo and behold, the singing started again at 10AM!!! They only stopped past 2PM when the machine was taken, thank goodness! There's even someone who sang like she's having an orgasm and read the lyrics to 'I'VE FALLEN FOR YOU' as 'I've pollen for you...' Iha, you mean pollen grains?

I went to church that afternoon and when I came back my aunt told me that one neighbor asked why we didn't join the party. Nagkukulong daw ba kami? That's it! I officially conclude that my neighbors don't have anything productive to do than meddle with other people's lives. I've never done this people wrong, and our being quiet is like a mortal sin to them. SCREW YOU!!!

Then last night, I attended a BINGO BONANZA, with proceeds going to the completion and expansion of our parish. As expected, I was the only one from our place. Oo nga naman, busy sila sa tsismisan!

I was fortunate to get a seat. Most people just sat on the ground. Even before the games started, my gaze was glued to an elderly woman who stood a few persons in front of me. Darn, no one was giving her a seat! There's this mother with her two 'big' sons (big because they're both on the healthy side and they're not more than 12) who were not actually playing. Talk about being a role model and teaching your kids values huh! One time, the mother and one of her sons left their seats, probably to use the restroom. The old woman saw this and asked the boy who was left behind if she could sit. AYAW NG MOKONG!!! Nakiusap pa yung matanda sa kanya! Afterwards, she was allowed to seat but only for less than 5 minutes because the mom and the other boy returned. That's it! I have to do something. I moved my seat and asked the people on my sides if we could share our seats with the old woman. After we sat her beside us, in a few minutes the mom and the two boys left their seats, for good. BAAAAADDDDD!!!

I hope to blog on positivity next time. But I'm not promising for life is full of cruelty lately. Ciao!