2013 In A Nutshell

I couldn't be any more thankful for this year. Sure there were a few bumps here and there but I'm thankful I have wonderful friends to help me out along the way. This year, I was able to cross out a few things on my bucket list. I met a lot of cool people from different cultures. I learned a lot in school and at work. I swam some waters over the summer and trekked a mountain. Rommel never fails to spoil me with love and sweetness. Biking became a part of our lives this year and if ever I included fitness in my last year's resolution, I'm sure it's a double check on that area.

Going home this Christmas, I realized how long I have not seen some of my high school friends. Some of them are still surprised how much weight I lost. I know I used to be really fat but I lost those humps gradually over the years of laziness. I still don't know what to tell them when they ask me how I actually did it. I think the best and honest to goodness answer is probably because my laziness got the better of me. I only go biking on weekends because it's been a ritual for me and Rommel. But during weekdays, when I'm usually just by myself and while I try to balance work and my academics, sometimes I just get lazy to eat and prefer sleeping instead. Also, my two previous jobs involved a lot of talking wherein during those times, a number of doctors told me I could potentially develop nodes on my vocal cords. So, I started making a habit of laughing without a sound (corny right?) and managed to take care of my sweet tooth. I reduced how much I eat chocolates which I've gotten used to eventually because I was trying to avoid having sore throat. Funny how laziness and procrastination may be the reason how I actually lost weight.

Quarter Life Shiznit

It's 2010 all over again. I know what they say about life being round and cyclical but i never imagined I would be going through the same phase this way again. I didn't know how I stopped worrying about it when it first happened. I guess I never really solved it. I knew I was happy and contented but somehow it resurfaced again and I realized I just managed to shove it off to the side and paved way for a little happiness. Happiness which are actually just fleeting and ephemeral.
I know I did a lot of bullshit in the past. And I have this really weird habbit of making a spontaneous life changing decision. I became too ambitious. I wanted to do a lot of things all at the same time. I wanted to accomplish them all but end up failing because my body literally couldn't handle the exhaustion. I was all over the place. Despite my effort to stay away from alcohol and smoking, I physically couldn't handle the stress. I couldn't count how many times I got sick in one semester. From simple colds, flu to even anemia. I guess my body is telling me also to stop, take a deep breath and focus.
People tell us to do something you really love and you'd never have to work a day in your life. Well, I'm weird. I work for an entirely opposite field because I'm afraid to end up hating what I love. Cowardice is such a bitch.
Nonetheless, I think I know better this time and I'm glad I have a solid support group I can lean on.

Pico de Loro Conquered

Before the year ends, I just wanted to cross out one thing in my bucket list. When we signed up for this, we underestimated the power required for the challenge because the description for this escapade says "for beginners". I have tried hiking Mt. Banahaw in college so i thought it would be something like that. I was really excited the day before that I haven't really slept. 

Trying to take a panoramic shot. 

You can mount on one of these rocks for a better view but I wasn't brave enough. 

And it was a lovely day. 

There were 10 of us in the group including the guide EJ with eight of us as beginners. For the first thirty minutes of the climb, we were happily walking on the trail. After we reached the second log book, the trail started becoming more of rocks. The farther we go, the longer we had to stretch our legs because the trail has gone steeper. 

OST: Post Grad

One thing I particularly like about rom coms is how musical score compliment to the overall feel of the movie. When the movie has a good soundtrack, I search them all on the internet and for sure it will be endlessly repeated on my playlist. 

Here's one of the movies I just recently watched because I felt I could relate to it.

1. Wake the Sun – The Matches

2. The Queen and I – Gym Class Heroes

3. Try It Again – The Hives

4. Turn Back Around – Lucy Schwartz

5. Brand New Day – Joshua Radin

6. One Day – Jack Savoretti

7. Always Where I Need To Be – The Kooks

8. I Say I Go – Kevin Drew

9. Pony (It’s OK) – Erin McCarley

10. Sweet – Pacifika

11. Pop Goes the Weasel – Traditional

12. Take What You Take – Lily Allen

13. Far Far – Yael Naim

14. Don’t Give Me a Hard Time – The Locarnos

Coco Loco

My bundle of joy, my cutipie, my honeypie--Coco. 

I remember this one time during a typhoon when coco and i were left inside the room because the first floor was already flooded. He was crying to me because he wanted to go downstairs with the rest of the people at home who are busy lifting things around. I felt so helpless! In that moment, i kinda' felt motherly. I wanted to comfort him. But all i could do is hug him and put him on the window side deviate his attention. I was soooo bad at it. mleh!I like it when he squeezes himself in bed beside us which also means he wants to have his belly rubbed. He's so adorable. *Gigil levels*

Thankful for October!

It's October! The semester is almost over. I still have a few more projects to finish though but that's not a problem. Chos! I'm just so thankful for all the blessings I've been given. We've been told as a kid to count our blessings. As grateful as I am, let me share with you a random list of the things I'm thankful for.

• I'm thankful for the wonderful family that i am blessed with. I know we are not perfect but at my age now and looking back to my childhood, I am just glad of what my parents taught me. Now I can honestly say, they were indeed right. I know I am stubborn most of the time, I still am, but without their guidance, I would be a mess. So I'm thankful that my parents are both well especially with their health now that they're getting old. Tatay just reached sixty. Honestly, I'm feeling homesick already. I miss our home so much! 
• I' happy to have met a few people at work who share the same kind of sick joke as I do. There's something weird about getting old. Jokes become oldies too. I'm just happy I get to laugh every single day with these people. 
• I'm thankful that I am healthy and living a clean life. There's nothing much to say about it. It's a matter of discipline. 
• I'm thankful for all the little things i experience everyday like getting the job done, finding the perfect bag, savoring a good meal, getting to work safe before it rains... 
• I'm glad I can share all this happiness with my love--Rommel who supports me in all my craziness. He's been a kind spongebob for me--listening to me rant and complain about my stressful days in school and at work. I'm just glad he listens. 

 

Give me some credit here! I'm competing against a national athlete of Portugal--Joao (in green).

Music Monday: My Femme Fatale Playlist

A friend of mine once told me I must be a radio in my previous life for knowing a lot of songs. Why thank you dear Shiva for making me a human being this time around. Then silly me starts wondering, how the hell did I stop being a radio? Oh heavens forbid, I'm such a crazy person (most of the time).
Music is probably one of the reason how i became friends with most people i know because i have a number of favorites in pretty much every genre. So, i get to relate to them somehow. Most people who knew me well would identify me with super sad, heartbreaking songs. I'm emo like that. But i don't get to listen to them much anymore or at least not with much intent and angst because doing so makes me feel like i'm betraying my peace of mind. Anti-bad-vibes ako ngayon eh. But since it's rainy season, i feel like its apt to feel somber for no apparent reason. Emote-emote lang.
I've collated some songs here which i think had been very significant to my well being at some point in my life. Everytime I put these songs together in a playlist, I would call it "femme fatale" because i just love the irony of it all.

So here's the TOP TEN playlist:

1. Everybody Hurts - The Corrs

2. Reason Why - Rachael Yamagata

3. How Can You Mend a Broken Heart - Al Green

4. Ashes and Wine - A Fine Frenzy

because i don't have the guts to say them out loud

Cinemalaya 2013

It's that time of the year again! Let's go!

It's called growing up.

At some point in your life, you will eventually realize how things have changed, how people around you have changed, and how much you've changed as a person. And sometimes you just have to accept the fact that that's the way things are from now on. There are things you can never bring back, things you cannot fix and should not fix. You look back and see, things are better this way.

Fenk.

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Oh July, you fly by so fast

1. After having a cough for three weeks, finally I'm free. Ever since I got sick, I've been religiously taking multivitamins and iron supplement to boot. I have changed meds twice before i finally went to the doctor. Tough times, baby, tough times. I just had the courage to go to Medical City because there was this one time, my cough was so unending that everybody was already asking me if I needed water which is unnecessary because I have been hydrating every two minutes or so. I hurriedly went to the bathroom because i realized i was making a scene already. I tried hard to cough out the phlegm but I couldn't get it out and I end up vomiting what I ate. sorry for the yuckiness. But after that day, I just said, what the heck I have medicard anyway. What is it to be scared about? So the next day, I bravely went to the doctor. The doctor said he couldn't hear any obstruction from my lungs. I had chest xray which turned out to be normal. He advised me to take anti-histamine instead of my usual cough meds. Surprisingly, after two days, my cough is gone. I can breathe clearly now. It was just an allergy. I couldn't be any happier now. 

After several weeks of that tormenting cough, honestly I got to a point where it was so frustrating already because I know I have been living a healthier lifestyle unlike before. An officemate advised me weeks ago to ask the doctor about it because  I had the cough even after a week of taking antibiotics. And she told me about her former officemate who just learned about his illness during their APE because he was not minding his cough and lost of weight. Well, thanks for the pep talk my friend. That got me more scared than ever. I swear I was convinced, I have a serious illness and that I would die soon.  So I got scared of going to the doctor because I don't know how I could act and live normally knowing the fact that I'm dying. I told myself, if I were really dying, I would like to live as normal as possible. I'd rather die not knowing the truth. I was scared because I know I would be really really sad and my loved ones would be sad too. So I'd rather have the unknown than having people get pity about my condition. Well, what was i thinking right? Soooooo dramatic. Too much of being a literature major. Blah! 
Lesson: It's better to know the truth. 

2. I'm juggling things as of the moment. I have classes for my MA and another for learning Spanish. It feels nice knowing you're being productive and making use of your youth wisely. Last weekend, Rommel was asking me what do I really want in life because it seems like I am tiring myself too much. Sweet baby, don't worry because I am really having the time of my life. I'm happy learning! He said something like, (in translation) Yeah, if you weren't enjoying it I know you'd be complaining right now. But I'm not hearing any complains and I can see you working really hard for it. *wink* True, I'm a bit whiny sometimes. 
Lesson: Do something you enjoy. Enjoy what you do. 

Pototoy. In the name of good vibes and cuteness overload. Can't help but smile. 

This girl is on fire

One of the best things in life

is to accomplish 

what others say 

you cannot do. 

So go out and do it. 

Annual Eiga Sai

Back in 2008, our professor in Humanities, Sir Laya forwarded an email to me about a Japanese Film Festival. It says free, so I told my classmates we should go ahead and try it. They even used to hold their screening in CCP. This has been a yearly thing for me since then. 

This year, The Japan Foundation  will be holding this annual festival open to more cinemas including Davao, Cebu and here in Manila. So, go ahead and clear your schedules now! 

The Schedule

A Fangirling Kind of Moment with The Walkie Talkies

I haven't seen myself fangirling in such a long time. It's only because of this song  which I can't help but repeat in the office and now I'd like to share it again and again to the world. 

I discovered Rizza Cabrera when someone reblogged her song "Signal Fire" on tumblr. I immediately liked her voice and I've been a fan since then. This got me wondering if this girl has  something on youtube. I started typing her name on youtube. From there, I learned she has a very pretty sister Raleene. I follow their blogs, I share their videos, I like their post every single chance I get. I know right? I'm such a stalker. I wanted to write more but i don't wanna sound creepy. 0__o 

Point is, sobrang kinikilig ako sa boses nilang dalawa. It makes me wish I could sing like them!

Here are the Top 5 Favorite Covers of the Walkie Talkies
1. Almost lover - A Fine Frenzy
2. Cater to you - Destiny's Child
3. The way I am - Ingrid Michaelson
4. Us - Regina Spektor
5. Hatin' On the Club - Rihanna

*Top 5 lang muna. I'll leave it to the rest of the world to discover these two lovely voice. Wala talaga kong masabi. Gusto ko lang share tong kilig na to. 

Those Bump and Bounce

1. I have been sick for weeks because the freakin' flu vaccine triggered a bunch of bacteria hanging out in my system. It was a struggle because it happened just in time when my focus and attention is greatly needed at work. Honestly, I want to pat myself on the back for the good fight. I used to be very stubborn with my medicine but this time, I had to follow the timeline. I even use alarm to make sure i take my meds every four hours. i'm becoming a grown up woman. cheers! 

2. finally, it's back to school program kids! i am so excited to be coming back. i hope everything works out just fine this year. I might still have a problem with my schedule for the second semester but for now, I'll enjoy this sem mingling with the undergrads, feeling like an undergrad myself. Haha! can't wait to pay the jeepney saying "estudyante po!". AND IF someone ever begs to disagree, i have an ID to back it up. (etong sayo, bitch!)

3. Everyday is a hectic day at work. I'm finally done being a trainee. I am now a full-fledged process expert. chos! My shift sucks. the pay sucks. but i like it here and most of the people. 

4. Remember when you were younger and you always tell yourself that once you grow up, you wanted to do this and that. And then one day, you wake up and you're already a grown up. But then you realize you don't really want the things you thought you like. Like what they always say, change is inevitable. But i'm happy with this kind of change. 

5. And just for fun! Here we are in a sort-of-a-family-dinner. 

Mi Casa Su Casa

One of the things I secretly wanted to become someday, if heaven forbids, is to be an "interior decorator." I have always been fascinated with furniture, colors, and house design. 

Probably, a huge influence comes from my father because he teaches industrial arts in high school. That is sort of like engineering, drafting, estimation and etc. I used to play with the house models (projects of his students) as my doll house. It's so cool because I have so plenty of them i can just choose whatever house i want. 

And when we were just starting to have our humble abode built, I was my father's assistant in checking out home depots for the lowest price of construction materials. I  would always accompany them in choosing the tiles, color of paint and the likes. I would always give an input as to what i think suits better. Of course, at that time, i was particularly interested in how my room would look like. 

I used to always rearrange my bed and post stuff on the wall like how I see it in movies where kids put posters and their favorite artist. When I sort of moved out when I studied here in Manila, I never think i somehow lost that urge to decorate my room since I was only home for the summer which last for about three weeks as the longest. 

Now that I'm working, I look forward to having my own place. And here are some of the few things I always check out for in Stumbleupon and Tumblr. And maybe someday, things I would like to include in my own home. 

Gumbo

Yay for the FREE porkchop! 

Just because it's too hot at home, we couldn't help but go to the mall to relax. I'm not into window shopping anymore because i always end up feeling bad when i see something i really like and i can't afford it. So, the next best thing to do inside the mall is to eat. 

In selecting a restaurant:

Rule #1: It must be somewhere I haven't tried yet (which is plenty). 
Rule #2: It has to be yummy! 

Rule #3: It must be light on the budget. 

So, just when we strolling from one resto to another, a young girl handed me a stub for FREE porkchop. Yay! Of course, it's not entirely free, we had to order a minimum purchase P30+ worth of the main entree. And it's a deal! It's not a problem if the first one we order is a little expensive since we're getting the second one for free. 

They have plenty of staff to accomodate the guests and they are all amiable. I appreciate the fact that if you ask for anything, it wouldn't take too long to get what you asked for. When you don't worry about your meal or it's not taking too long to wait for your water, you get to enjoy the food more.

Yay! for the FREE  Grilled Porkchop + Mixed vegetables + Cajun rice. 

As for the taste, it's super YUMMY! The steak was very juicy and the porkchop was saucy. I like the right amount of yumminess in your mouth. Hindi nakakasawa. Even the veggies are awesome. Tamang luto lang. Hindi hilaw, hindi rin overcooked. It's sweet and buttery. Yung tipong wala ka talagang ititira sa plate mo. 

Well done! Here is the Steak and Grilled Chicken. Super Yummy! 

Located at: 
Robinsons Manila Midtown
3/L Midtown Wing , 
Robinsons Place Ermita
Manila Philippines
(+632) 567-1820
(+632) 567-1925

Fuerza de Santa Isabel

View from Tatay Fort. 

Before we went back to Puerto Princesa, we passed by nanay's office in taytay because their officemate has prepared a meal for us. Lucky, we know somebody there because our van just bumped a big rock which sort of dislocated something underneath. Haha! I don't know anything about cars. Well, in short, we have a place to stay in for a few hours eating pineapples while waiting for the van get fixed. And of course, we sure couldn't miss this spot in Taytay called "Kuta". 

Going up! 

The aerial view of the site taken from a picture inside kuta. 

Si mayor. 

Sugod mga kapatid! 

Wala naman palang bala! 

Best view to cap off this trip. 

The Perks of Being a Palaweño

As much as i want to be helpful to other travelers especially those who really wants to visit El Nido, I'm sorry but i cannot provide you the budget details. Being a Palaweño, I am lucky enough to have resources and people who gives free lodging and people who cooked for us. And yes, I am making you envious right now.

It's actually my second time in El Nido. The first visit I had was with my father and his colleagues. My father only bought 12 shots for the camera and I was trigger happy with it that I took two shots of the church and the municipal hall. I don't even know where those copies are. hehe! :)

I will never forget that five-hour drive going there when the cement road was not yet constructed. Literally, another one bites the dust. It was that thick. But honestly, after seeing all the islands, it was all worth it!

Just imagine seeing these for real.

Tour A & C

The shoreline from the city proper of El Nido.

Going to our first stop-- Helicopter Island. I couldn't get a good angle for you to see its resemblance to a helicopter, sorry.

Hidden Beach. That's where boats stop by because bigger boats are not allowed inside.

That is, to prevent damage on coral reefs. We also had to wear our slippers here.

I can't remember where exactly this is. It's just so refreshing to look at. Relax mode: ON.

Birds-eye-view from Matinloc Island. We had to climb rocks to get this shot. Chos! Such an amazing view, isn't it? Look at how clear the water is. One of the tourist guide told us that there was galleon that sunk deep into these waters.

El Nido

Patikim pa lang yan. 

Conquering Zambales

Nagsasa. Capones. Potipot.

Why We Love Biking

I wish I could express eloquently the bliss brought by biking to my lifestyle and to my beloved. At first, we just wanted to have some recreational activity where we can bond. We have tried mixed martial arts which only lasted for several weeks. I even bought my own boxing gloves. It was a bit expensive for me. My budget cannot give me the luxurious lifestyle i wanted. So after that, we tried doing fun run. But it was also a failure because I really suck at it and my beau cannot enjoy it because he had to wait for me all the time.

Finally, we found the love of our lives (aside from coco, of course); the activity that would suit our personality.

Here are the top reasons why we love it so much as a couple:
1. It's a good exercise;
2. We get to reach farther distance;
3. We get to talk, laugh and sing while biking;
4. We get to be on the same pace;
5. We learn new things (i.e. changing the tire);
6. We meet a lot of new people;
7. We don't feel haggard or pressured;
8. We're always excited to get new things for our bike;
9. We just couldn't help ourselves but be happy;
10. Great endorphin booster that's why we're happy all the time.

At Moa Complex near Solaire. 

Luneta Park at around 5am-6am. 

Manila Cathedral. Intramuros, Manila. 

Mall of Asia Parking Lot.