Masasa Beach

A sky full of stars. 

There is something calming about sleeping at a beach. Whether you're in a hotel, a hammock or a tent. For me and my friends, we opt to sleep in the latter. Aside from the fact that it's cheaper, there is nothing more indulgent and feeling closer to nature when you sleep in a tent. 

Masasa Beach is located in Tingloy, Batangas which is very near the snorkeling spots of Anilao. The island has a very small community of friendly people. We were able to use the bathroom in one of the nearby houses. They have sari-sari stores which sells beer and junk foods (because our load is already heavy, we did not buy beforehand). The people were very accommodating, they even suggested places where we could take pictures. 

Orale! Taqueria Mexicana

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This is the best Mexican Restaurant we've tried so far. Before we decided to go there, we researched about them and checked out some reviews which all points out to how authentic the delicacies are. We went here as our Post Valentines Date because we didn't want to get caught up in traffic with the Friday Madness/Payday and with all the Valentines date going on all over the metro. It's actually the first time we went out for "valentines" because i'm hipster like that yo. I used to tell him I don't even want flowers because I'd feel ashamed dragging it with me. So, this year, he gave me a flower while I'm at home so I wouldn't get shy. Of course, I got so kilig. Kunyari pa ayaw, gusto naman pala! 

Anyway, we've always been a fan of Mexican food. Rommel loves burritos while I'm a fan of quesadillas. And these are the food we ordered: 

Mar Y Tierra Tacos: I like the fact that they're using soft tacos because I'm like a baby who's learning how to eat all the time--a very messy eater indeed. Just when I squeezed the lemon, my goodness the smell of the beef was really oozing with flavor. I know I'm not good with food description probably because I don't cook. But please,try it for yourself and have the food be a testament for itself. Namnam to da max! 

Lengua Burritos: What we love about this burrito is that you don't have to choose which side to bite on because there's flavor everywhere. We've all been there, you know. You only eat the sides you like and leave the rest because it's just not likeable. With this one, it's like there's fiesta inside your mouth. Everytime I bite on it, I could here a strumming of a guitar. It was that joyous to eat! 

Camarones Quesadillas: This was just an additional order we had when we realized, we should not leave the restaurant having tried it. Since we were already full from the tasty burrito, we figured we'll have a taste of it then ask the waiter to pack it for take out. Apparently, it was the tastiest of all. I've tried some quesadilla before where there's too much cheesy-ness in it that I couldn't finish eating it. Well, this made me crave for more and I wish I have more storage capacity in my belly. As you might also know, I am from Palawan. So, I'm very particular when there is a bit of seafood on my meal, I know what fresh tastes like. And I really love shrimp so I'm very happy that it mixed very well with the quesadilla.

Stellina's and Jarritos: The lemonade is proudly Filipino according the label. It's actually good. I ordered the strawberry Jarritos and it tastes like cobra energy drink. It's not that bad though. I just liked the lemonade better. 

Location: 

Órale! Taqueria Mexicana
The Fort Strip, 7th Avenue corner 28th Street,

Bonifacio Global City, Taguig

552-2660

Trainspotter Playlist

Because my average travel time to work is two hours, I make it a point that my playlist soothes my ears. In my previous work, I only have to allot 10 minutes as average travel time or thirty minutes if it's traffic. Ironically, I tend to be more late when I live nearby. Now that I'm a hundred miles away from my workplace, I make sure to leave the house as early as possible because I don't want to get stuck in traffic since my daily routine requires me to have two jeepney rides and LRT. Surprisingly, I'm always the early bird in my department. *fist pump*

I always find myself witnessing something funny or some unusual discoveries. I know it's a bit rude but I really wanna laugh out loud when I see a fellow commuter headbanging her/himself because s/he was too sleepy or maybe that someone is roleplaying something in his/her head that s/he forgots s/he's talking to her/himself. The joys of commuting my dear fellows... Rich kids are missing out a lot in this world.

So anyway, before I could say something out of topic again, here are my top favorites so far:

1. Just a Dream | Jojo

2. Pure Shores | All Saints 

3. Brave | Sarah Barreilles 

4. Say What You Want | Texas

5. As I Lay Me Down to Sleep | Sophie B. Hawkins

6. Don't Dream It's Over | Sixpence None the Richer  

7. Brighter than the Sun | Colbie Caillat 

8. Thrift Shop | Macklemore and Ryan Lewis 

9. Sophia | Nerina Pallot 

10. Energy | Keri Hilson 

Bona's Chaolong Forever

It's sweater weather and it's making me miss home even more! It's also a senti kind of weather but here I am with this craving. 

Growing up in Palawan, my father used to feed me chao long for lunch when he doesn't have time to cook. So when I hear a friend who's going home to Palawan, I would always request to bring me french bread or chao long. But I usually just get the french bread one. When we were in college, I don't even know what its vietnamese name is so imagine my frustration because I don't know where to begin looking for it. I've always known it as "chao long". Till now actually, I haven't tried the authentic pho. But I found one restaurant already I have yet to try which is just outside of Eastwood City near Motoworld.

Sprouts 

Pho 

Banh mi 

In my last christmas vacation, me and my friends frequented Bona's Chao long where Palaweňos claim as the best chao long-an. Caution dear friends, Bona's is not for fine dining. Hashtag MnMs. (Masarap na M***** pa!). We even waited a long time to get our own table and almost an hour to get the food. Good thing, we haven't seen each other in a really long time so we never ran out of stories to tell each other. It was definitely worth the wait! I easily got full from just its soup. In all fairness, the beef was really tender. Oh my gosh! I can hear my stomach growling from just the thought of it. Writing this is suddenly making me feel like I'm torturing myself. I miss Palawan so much. 

I'll probably try that place near Eastwood sometime.

To New Beginnings

This late night rumination is brought to you by this empty cup waiting to be filled with stories of hope.

I just realized this is the last weekend before school starts again and I haven't done anything productive. Well, what's new? I'm the queen of procrastination.

A classmate in one of my MA class asked me if we were to start with the reports on the first day of class. As usual I was surprised because I could not recall having that assignment. And on top of that, I could not find my notes on that last day of class so I don't know what my report is.

When I was young, I used to join every school organization there is because my parents only allow me to go out if it's a school thing. To me, it was just a way to be with my friends. Looking back, I realized how I always put myself in a position where I have to be responsible. I have never handled a major role in the orgs I take part in but I almost always have three to four of them at the same time. Like while I was part of the school paper, I was also a girl scout plus the real academic stuff. I'm overly spontaneous and I've always liked the idea of juggling roles.

It almost feels like I keep challenging myself but I fail every single time. The problem is, I cannot pinpoint where I belong. I even have different barkadas. Like I'm friends with one group who doesn't seem to like the other. I'm always caught in the middle when I just wanna be friends with everybody.

I don't usually make resolutions but this year I think it's mandatory because I'm already drowning in limbo.

Since I graduated from college I've been in entirely different fields of work. Still, I cannot seem to grasp what to do with my life.

Be it as it may, I am perpetually lucky to have several options and chances to do things right. So, I've listed some things I need to work on this year and hopefully accomplish:

1. Focusing on one task before committing to another one.

2. Reconnect with old cliques

3. To be braver in writing and set aside what other people think

4. Keep a healthy lifestyle like running and biking as regularly as possible.

5. Keep my room clean for the next 300+ days of the year

6. Save money and stop resorting to shopping therapy. Clearly I'm not rich so this is so out of the line.

7. Sticking to a regular routine. Stop procrastinating.

8. Drink more water everyday. Saves a lot of time and money when you get sick less.

9. Read the books piled up on my bedside table. Seriously, they're not for display purposes.

10. Balance time more efficiently. Again, stop procrastining.

11. Complain less and be more understanding. Love begets love.

This serves as my contract. Hopefully, I can update this blog for the progress I'm making. 

The Before Series: The Perfect Love Story of All Time

Before Sunrise

After Midnight

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.