rissee's mailbox

ohmygawsh...!!!

2012-02-01T02:53:00.000+08:00

i am reading ria's email.

mapag-iiwanan na ako!!!

more polka lovin'

2012-01-19T11:33:00.000+08:00

Someone puked polka on Chet's bedspread.

See you in March.

my accounting teacher says...

2012-01-14T11:15:00.000+08:00

"That is the advantage of democracy: Abuse!"

the daniel smith theory

2012-01-09T18:26:00.004+08:00

The images of disgraced Daniel Smith's release only reinforced one thing: Don't start exercising if you can't keep up with the program. When he was still a soldier, I can imagine, he never let up on those push-ups and squats and all that running around. But when he got stuck at the embassy, with nothing to do but breathe, all hell broke loose. Grabe naman! Look at the cheekbones! The before-and-after says it all!

I say this because I think I'm eating more ever since I started Kinecting. My body is saying, "Calories! Calories! You know you wanna!" Nooooooooo!!!

To counter this, I must remember the Daniel Smith theory and not fall victim to it.

polka love and "pets"

2012-01-08T15:51:00.006+08:00

I'm a putty for polka. I'm so glad that it's so hot right now, and not just reserved for 80s night or the eighty year-olds. And it was hot even before the new year. And even if it is the new year, and wearing it leaves me vulnerable to the holiday cliche, I will still endeavor to wear as much polka I can. As soon as my polka shirt gets laundered and I have an opportunity to wear it, I'm a go. I love polka.

So I was super jealous of Kim Ha Neul rocking polka outfits in You're My Pet... and yeah, so jealous of her svelte figure...

I so love this blue too. And the plus polka? It's love and lust.

I can do without the ruffles. And the face. Just the body please.

A variation on the polka: Not exactly dots but apples. And yeah, she's sitting next to a guy!

I love polka. The movie, not so much. Even though I love JGS, the hair is beyond me. And the aegyo.

And grabe naman, JGS--don't swallow her naman!!!

pastry showdown: posh or plebeian?

2012-01-07T15:01:00.009+08:00

In true TMZ fashion, which one would you rather...?

Sonja's Red Velvet Cupcake

Over the holidays, I developed a strong craving for red velvet cake, which The Sweet Life by Ange's version did not satisfy (too much cream cheese). So I asked my brother to get some from Sonja's. When I opened the box, at first, I was overwhelmed by how pretty the cupcakes looked!

... then, I realized, it reminded me of something...

Kalihim a.k.a. Labi ni Rodman by Tenorio's Bakery

Pa-red velvet-red velvet pa, may kalihim naman.

the day before my birthday

2011-12-17T22:33:00.005+08:00

As Ria pointed out to me during dinner last night, one's birthday is less important than the day before his birthday simply because it's the last day he'll be that age. Ever.

Of course, when I was seventeen, I couldn't wait to be eighteen and be legally an adult. Oh! How naive was I back then. So now the paradigm shifts when I want to stop counting the years... still single. Anyway---

Today is like Christmas Eve for me, in the birthday sense. We went to church--Mom, Kuya, Chet and me. Then we had a very pleasant surprise. Just before the sermon--and mom was assigned today--Ate Chingkee sneaked into church. Of course, Mom cried a bit. We were complete. Finally. And all in one church at the same time.

We went back home. We had our usual magulo lunch. The food was not necessarily extraordinary but having everyone around the table made it a feast.

Then Ate and I spent most of the afternoon Just Dancing. I hope this is a good sign of the year to come--MORE EXERCISE FOR ME! Yey! And several Kinect dates!!! Wohoo!!!

Chettie refrained from joining because the last time she did that, the first time I tested Kinect, she suffered indigestion for two days.

Ate was able to convince Kuya to join her for one round--a duet, I forget the title--and he was really dancing until our cook, Lemmers, accidentally saw him and Kuya totally quit because, he said, his employees might lose respect for him.

Mom--she was so funny! For some reason, she paraded around the house in her long chemise, which is equivalent to a guy walking about in his boxers. She joined Kuya and Ate in the abovementioned round, and the sensor detected her, doing all these funny moves. She was "Crazy" to Ate and Kuya's "Happy" and "Jazzy."

For dinner, we had take out because the balikbayan was craving for Jollibee.

Then after a family prayer and after everyone has cleaned up, we sat around the bed, gossiping--with Chettie leaving stinkbombs all over the place.

Ate just left and I miss her already.

But this is probably one of the best birthdays yet. Well, as Ria pointed out, best pre-birthday yet--which, really, is the one that counts.

funny korean window

2011-11-30T21:34:00.000+08:00

mabs meets doc shelly

2011-11-30T21:20:00.000+08:00

I have to record this.

We went to Sta. Rosa yesterday and I left my phone in the car. So it wasn't until three AM (my mother's social life is a killer!) that I saw Mabs' message (received around 10ish PM the previous night): "Ei any chance n nsa condo ka?"

So I thought, Woah! Is Mabs so drunk she needed to crash? So I asked her why.

She replied, "Yeah, naisip kta kse m nt sure pero i thnk ur bro s at starbux kgabi."

Bwahahahaha!!! The world works wonderfully sometimes!!! Iloveit. So of course I shift to kilig-hyperventilate mode because Mabs caught Kuya on a date with the Doc Shelly. Mabs said upon my prodding, "Yeah! Nakta ko! Kasunod ko sila s pila. Pretty sya!"

I'm so jealous because I haven't seen in her person and have only resorted to online searches... with my mom, older sis and brother-in-law!!! My brother's lovelife is the whole family's affair.

So I called Mabs for more deets and she told me Doc was in a maxi dress. (And she further revealed that Ate Joy has just recently left the singles club! My heart can only take so much at 11 AM!)

So when Kuya finally emerged from the house around lunchtime (obviously he came home "late"; he arrived around six AM according to my ma), I said, "So nasa Starbucks ka daw and naka-maxi dress daw si Doc." Snicker, snicker!!!

And confeeeermed! Bwahahaha. Over lunch, he shifts and smiles, "Nagtataka nga ako kung paano mo nalaman naka-maxi dress siya."

To which I respond, "Nagugulat ako--bakit alam mo mung ano ang maxi dress?"

Buti na lang he said, "Ano ba ang maxi dress? Yun ang sabi mo, di ba?"

Anyway, as the Filipino proverb says, "May tenga ang lupa, may pakpak ang balita..." at may Mabelle sa Starbucks!!! Bwahahaha!!!

Mabs, sabi ni Kuya he's so sorry he didn't recognize you. I'm not sorry at all!!! You are the best accidental spy evah!!! We'll keep you undercover just in case.

I want just you

2011-11-30T12:00:00.001+08:00

A great alternative to calamari and tempura: Soft shelled crabs fried Thai style at Simply Thai, Greenbelt. I want just you. I wonder if the place will outlast its predecessor whose name eludes me and was only identified as so because they had the same rattan-weave-inspired tabletop paper cover (the owner didn't even bother to change those); can a house be built on fried soft shell crab?

korean kountdown: a walk down seoul memory lane

2011-11-26T08:00:00.004+08:00

It's now a year since the last time North Korea bombed South Korea... and the Korean adventure Daene and I shared with couples Jon and Jona (for real), and J-Anne and Bom.

In memory and celebration of that momentous weekend, I'll be posting a series of snapshots from our trip... in memory of, and for inspiration for a trip that may happen sometime in the near future. Promo gods, help us. Visa gods, help me.

For the first night... Let's just say Daene has a better handle on the events that transpired. And better pictures too since I left my camera back at Jon's place, so I'm grabbing most pictures for this day... actually, the rest of the night...! from Daene. All pictures from Daene's camera. Memories picked from my mind. Some might be real. Some might be fabricated.

Our couple boots! We both couldn't resist the ones from Muji, and both wanted the chocolate brown one. And they were a lot cheaper than real Uggs. Having cute and comfortable boots was a initially a cool idea, but probably not when they're two of you with the exactly same pair, in the same group, composed mostly of couples. Hahaha!!!

Walking along Hongdae was surreal. Especially after downing a tall can of Cass beer, which probably made the walk along the busy street more dreamlike. Hahaha!

Daene's post reminded me we had Hoegaarden at Jon's before we departed for our Hongdae adventure; I think that's what started the whole "dreamlike" sequence of the night's events.

One of the highlights of this epic night was that blasted skewered chicken in one of those ubiquitous stalls lining up Hongdae. Where are you? I love you, even though I wouldn't know how to pronounce your name.

I remember walking along Hongdae--the air has a bite to it, but it was so exciting and new. And then this girl walked towards me in short shorts and all I could think was, "You're not cold?"

At some point, I looked up, and there were doraebangs or karaoke rooms exposed to the crowd below--a karaoke version of the hooker streets in Amsterdam. It was so cool.

Telltale signs...

Then we had deokbokki and soup and whatever (better for me not to know) at those Korean tents. That soup was great, not because it was phenomenal but because the soup was hot and perfect for getting sobered up, and hot and perfect for a chilly night for our first night in Korea. I thought the adventure would pause at that new experience, but then I was in for a surprise:

Crazy, awesome club music. Enough said. No pictures needed. Bring that DJ down here.

After that, we sobered up some more at Caffe Bene and I was still drunk enough to smile.

Cute naman, right? Anyway, that was our first and last sighting! Hahaha! Other men to conquer.

So all of those pictures are from Daene. And would have only used all of Daene's except for this one, which is one of my favorites from our trip.

This was on our bus going into the city from the airport. We were so excited: Finally, Korea!!! We are officially here! There was just so much to look forward to.

And if my faulty memory serves me right, there were only four people on this bus. The bus driver, me, Daene, and a totally hot guy that Daene wished sat behind us so we--cough! she! cough!--could flirt with him. (If there weren't four, I would rephrase that as "there were only four people who mattered on this bus." Hehehe!)

upgrading to iOS 5...

2011-11-24T11:11:00.001+08:00

... with a jailbroken iPhone 3something is the worst possible idea. And even the iMessage function doesn't make up for the other upgrade benefits (which are?). It doesn't help that all other apps are also updating to sync with the changes.

Now, my iBook doesn't work. And that just ain't right.

Worst of all, I can't turn off the phone or let it run out of battery because I have to jumpstart it again through redsn0w. Apparently, the glorious hackers have yet to conjure a fix that will allow untethered booting for the jailbroken market.

This isn't exactly a threat to world peace... only to my peace of mind. More like that proverbial pea under the mattress. It doesn't make me sleep well at night.

And now Daene would tell me, "I told you so," which roughly translates to, "Get a Samsung."

caught in slo-mo: baby snail

2011-11-21T22:55:00.000+08:00

I would like to think our place in the province makes for a rich and healthy ecosystem. We have birds, dogs, cats, snakes, frogs, and snails. But it wasn't until a few weeks ago that I saw my first baby snail, live.

I thought it was a cocoon, and how awesome that there's something sticking out--Butterfly emerging??! But no, that wasn't the case; but seeing a baby snail was equally impressive.

cellphone laundry

2011-11-21T22:51:00.001+08:00

I was inspired to clean my stuff today, including washing my cellphone holders or socks. Based on the color of the wash water, I should've done this a looOoong timd ago.

CarAzie wedding

2011-11-13T07:43:00.000+08:00

Arthur and me at Carlo and Mazie's wedding, November 12, 2011. Good times.

Happy carazie wedding, Carlo and Mazie!!! I wish you an even carazier marriage!!! Wohoo!!!

happy peppero day 11.11.11

2011-11-11T16:36:00.000+08:00

Thank you, Mabs, for your perseverance!!! Can't wait, girlies. (Eds, he's mine!!!)

remarkably unremarkable

2011-11-10T21:11:00.005+08:00

I have to get that out or else I will always be thinking of how this book sucks.

The last series dealt with weddings. I think Nora had a psychotic obsession over wedding planning. Probably forty percent of the book would droll on and on about photography, flowers, cakes, or insane clients and Crackberries, and another forty on how a wedding could possibly go wrong and how the quartet would pull it off and celebrate with yet another bottle of champagne as though they hadn't done that the last time. Halfway through the book, who cares??? Only twenty percent would be allotted to the reason why I bought the book in the first place. (Boo!)

It's the same with this book except that it's about this "super awesome" bed and breakfast. Nora, I have no plans of becoming a carpenter and I didn't get your book to read about a bed and breakfast IN CONSTRUCTION... inhabited by a very badly written ghost.

If the first book of the Boonsboro series is any indication of what to expect with the next two--Ugh. Time is better spent on re-reading one of her old novels, even her Harlequins... or better yet watching and re-watching Kung Fu Panda 2... than cracking this book. I can't find it again, but somewhere, online, someone likened it to an infomercial (for her own B and B). Sheesh, I would probably enjoy watching one rather than reading this.

But, truth be told, I also know I'll read the second installment just to see if she's redeemed herself, and probably the third as well, for closure. Hahahaha!!! Curse of the trilogies!

Why Nora??? This wasn't worth the wait at all. Bring back the glory!!! I feel so bad because I know you're so much better than this.

I love the cover though.

job opening...

2011-11-04T23:25:00.002+08:00

in Greenhills?

No, thanks! I've been trying to fix the iPhone after I upgraded it to iOS 5. I shouldn't have, but the new Message feature was really convincing. Again, in hindsight, I shouldn't have, and hindsight is always clearer.

After installing and reinstalling ten thousand things, now it won't boot up.

Urrrrggghhh!!!

joe's, los baños

2011-11-02T10:00:00.000+08:00

I think I'm the last person to know that Joe's has been in Los Baños for the past ten thousand years. Case in point: My brother brought his dates there back in college. (Bro, you're only telling me this now? And you actually dated?)

So when Ria came back home, we decided to be each other's date at Joe's. And we should indeed, because it was her last night in town before jetsetting to Singapore, Kuala Lumpur and various states in Europe.

I really loved Joe's hole-in-the-wall feel, which perversely lends it some authenticity. Red, polka-dotted tabletops. Cheap, plastic and easy-to-clean table mats. Not exactly bella Italia, but still. I am sharply reminded of days when Amici was still run by the Don Bosco priests and the place looked like a regular, non-assuming cafeteria, belying the fact that it served great gelato and pasta.

The menu, for all its craftiness (and honesty! Read: "As a health precaution, we do not serve tap water"), was a bit intimidating and overwhelming. I think it took a while for me to choose a pasta. They don't serve pizza--which might be a sin for any Italian inspired eatery (but why would you need to when there's Auntie Pearl's a few blocks away?)--but they do serve steaks, which Auntie Pearl doesn't, and which Ria ordered. Hungry much? I didn't take a picture of Ria's steak na, because it might cause her some embarrassment. Hahaha! JK!

Joe's also has a decently varied menu for appetizers, which I thought was a really nice touch because great appetizers just add depth to the overall dining experience. (Whut?!) I forgot what I ordered, but since I couldn't choose between two, I got both.

Appetizer No. 1. Mozza on foccacia. What more can you ask for?

Appetizer No. 2. Button mushrooms in red sauce and herbs, served with bread. Kulang na lang noodles, ulam na. Hahaha.

And suffered because of it. The portions were more than enough for two to share. And I still had a pasta dish to devour. Ria finished her steak just fine but I could only put a dent into my Cheesy Bacon Linguine "due formaggi" because it was too cheesy and I my stomach could not accommodate anything more.

The lady behind the desk who took our orders said this was the house bestseller but the Cheesy Bacon Linguine was just too cheesy for my taste.

I'll probably try something lighter in flavor when I go back. And order just one appetizer.

But I will definitely get another glass of their granita iced tea, which is just probably ice blended house tea, but I really loved, loved, loved the frothy top layer of deliciousness. It beckons me. Regardless of the additional calories. Writing about it makes me miss it, actually.

Between Ria and I, we spent around XXX (one never treats and tells) but between the two of us--two appetizers, a steak, a pasta, two rounds of granita iced tea, and coffee--I don't feel like we've been robbed.

jason mraz take 2

2011-11-01T21:54:00.008+08:00

An acoustic night with Jason Mraz and Toca Rivera at the (now) Smart Araneta Center, October 30 2011

No front act. Just straight out Mraz music. Jason said something about being awed at the size of the venue because he was more used to playing in cafes; Jason, honey, they're just making the most out of you. :)

Better pictures with the others.

I tried to immerse myself in Jason Mraz's music the day before and I was really surprised at how different his sound has evolved. Yup, the day before--not exactly the best strategy; I thought taking a fresh audio-perspective on Jason's music will make me like it, but I thought wrong. I still consider myself a big fan of vintage Mraz. (The fact that he has "classic" songs makes me feel really old.) Throw me some "Wordplay", "Clockwatching", "The Remedy" and sige na nga, "I'm Yours" anytime of the day and I will just melt into a puddle of love. (I can't believe how mainstream "I'm Yours" went almost a year after Jason's concert back in 2006. Thanks for the memories, Daene!)

He didn't play the only two songs I dug from his new (but always changing) setlist: "God Rests in Reason" and "You F***in' Did It," the latter sounding the closest to his old hits.

But when he played "The Remedy" and segued to two lines of Oasis' "Wonderwall"--FREAK OUT!!! I was on my feet. And so was Mabs!!! Hahahaha! (Buti na lang! I will never forget how you looked, Mabs!) I loved what Mabs said to me after we realized we were the only ones who shot off our seats when Jason went Oasis; she said, "Mukhang walang naka-appreciate ng epic-ness ng moment na 'yun!" Hahahaha! And thus, we conclude, we should've been watching a different concert altogether.

Daene will probably want to cut off my head when we see each other next, but I think I prefer Jason's narcissist era ("I'm all about the wordplay" and "geek in the pink") to the beatnik, peace-lovin' dude I saw and heard last Sunday, hairstyle and facial hair included. (Mr. Rivera, you cleaned up nice but I think I miss the long dreads! And the gnome, which we hazard to guess was stuck back in Customs.)

Thanks for a Mrazzy night, Sam, Kate, Doti, Daene, Mabs, Eds and Boyfriend!

to the best woman in the world, today...

2011-10-19T01:01:00.000+08:00

october seventeenth...

2011-10-17T08:00:00.004+08:00

... happens to be my maternal grandmother's birthday and my parents' wedding anniversary.
They were married in seventy-nine. Dad barely had a dime, so to speak, to his name. They were married at my Tita Ebbie's house. I'm assuming she did most of the catering as well. The wedding car was lent to them by Tito Aser. In other words, the wedding was only made possible due to many kind sponsors.

And my mom has, upon inquiry, since lost her wedding dress somewhere.

Last year, we held a joint celebration for Dad and Mom's birthdays, which were less than a month apart, and figured since their wedding anniversary fell between the dates, added that as another reason why we were throwing a party.

There wasn't a special reason. Dad was 57. Mom, 56. It was their 31st wedding anniversary. All odd or off numbers that do not warrant an unusual celebration of such occasions.

It was such a hit that Mom wanted to do it again the following year. I can only think God allowed us to do that last year because it was the last.

why mom's singing super bass

2011-10-16T22:41:00.005+08:00

I barely knew Nicki Minaj but had a rather recent encounter with her in a videoke booth with two girls *snicker, snicker* who want to rap and bust a move. Let's just say that was an exercise (period) and an exercise in futility. Hahaha!!! Nicki Minaj is just too fast.

So I was super piqued when the local news featured two English cuties, Sophie Grace and Rosie. Even Mom was curious. YouTube and Ellen chronicles it as...

It started with this...

... which led to a flight across the Atlantic to Ellen's studio...

... and meeting Nicki for real...

... and culminated to the funniest and cutest shopping spree ever.

I just love watching the clips over and over again. Can't help but laugh. And now, even Mom knows Nicki Minaj.

with sam at simply thai, greenbelt

2011-10-07T13:55:00.000+08:00

love the soft shell crab and starbucks' chai... but love sam's chick flick material better. who would like to buy the rights?

...

i will fight you for it. haha!!!

with ria at joe's los banos

2011-10-07T13:52:00.000+08:00

Have coffee in Germany. And then tell me about it!!!

analyze this

2011-10-02T21:22:00.000+08:00

I've been wanting to draw a fly for some time now. This is my first attempt.

what i love about korean night

2011-09-20T19:09:00.004+08:00

Korean Night was long in the making. (Insert here that the heavens really did rain on MY parade.) What was supposed to be an August event finally took place on the first Saturday of September. The gods of Korean night seemed to finally have pity on us as at promptly six o'clock, we converged and the night was officially on!

We had dinner at Yedang--sorry, no pictures because I was hungry. Parking was sweet and we got there just in time before the dinner rush. There were a lot of Koreans in the house so off the bat, I thought, this place must be good. We ordered pork and beef, dokkbokki (I hope I spelled that right), and some noodles to take the edge off (yeah, right!). I'm not an expert or anything, but the pork and beef were sharp reminders of what we had in Korea. (They even had the same flora for the samgyupsal, including the much-loathed bitter leaf you can bet no one on our table touched, hehe.) I was pretty glad that we can truly have a slice of Korea locally.

And still the night was young. Beforehand, we decided to visit Subspace Coffee, a visually intriguing coffeeshop inspired by interior design and Korean pop culture. It's easily hot on the blogosphere, and its purple potato latte is duly noted. We arrived at Subspace with virtually no people around, giving us prime choice for seating. We decided to hang in front of the pastries, with a good view of improvised screen playing a silent "My Boyfriend's Type B."

And it was certainly one of the best things about Korean night. Even though Carly, Mabs and I let out our k-drama obsessions over email, there's something more satisfying discussing it over coffee, while the silent movie ran to the credits and Carly's computer transferred precious files. Hehe. And seeing Carly zone out because she was checking out a guy was extremely priceless. Price. Less.

At some fifteen minutes before ten, we had to go back to retrieve Carly's car lest forcing her to get it back six... am the following day. (Ate'ng parking attendant, panalo ka!) But not before stopping at the Korea grocery at the corner to get Korean popsicles.

Because quitting at ten seemed pathetic, we went back to Makati and took the party upstairs. Who said you can't have your own quiz night? Mabs, you are the ultimate OST queen. Sobrang na-challenge ako sa pagma-match to the right drama. Siyempre, I love Carly that has to "feel the groove" before she answers.

While Bugsy's bustled downstairs (we single ladies promise to mingle on our next adventure), we partied with our own set of alcopops and Carly introduced us to Monopoly Deal... and I have a niggling feeling that she did so so that she could win at every round!!! Grabe, I thought I was going to win THAT round!!! How easily the wheels of fate turn!!!

Carly left around one and that left Mabs and me to finish off the alcohol (now love that new Gilbey's on ice!) and to eventually talk about our non-existent lovelives (again??! Si Mabs kasi, dapat iba na ang slant ng conversation.) Funny that Mabs and I are so alike in that regard... And that is why we needed--erm, NEED a devil's advocate. Hahaha!!!

I love Korean night, which spilled over to a slow Sunday morning with coffee and Mabs. (My alcohol tolerance is so pathetic now, it's embarrassing. I had hoped coffee would help, but I think my mom still guessed I was nursing a hangover.)

I love Korean night and the girls! Thanks, Mabs and Carly!!!

just like in the movies...

2011-09-14T13:39:00.009+08:00

Yesterday, as I sat in the car to wait for the brother to finish his bike window shopping, it finally dawned on me the hopelessness of my situation. As though the skies heard me, it released a hard shower of rain. As the blinkers of the car flashed hazard, I thought, the weather reflected my mood... just like in the movies.

Since yesterday and until this morning, I've been trying to make sense of what happened. (Was it a stupid mistake on my part? Did I misread it? Was I treated unfairly? Is this an act of God?) Actually, on the way to Lata's service center in San Pablo, Mom gave me the pep talk I needed to hear and told me that God has a plan for me (it doesn't have the same ring to it when you tell it to yourself over and over again; and I can't keep myself from crying when the Big Sis texted, "Dudesie, we love you. Everything will be okay. Pinag-pray naman natin euro mo di ba? Si Lord will help you."), and that I should read the Bible.

As I waited for my car's turn, I opened my email and the message that flashed was from the Berean, featuring Ecclesiasted 7:8, "The end of a thing is better than its beginning; the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit." We can now therefore conclude that my mom was right and that this verse totally applied to me. God, You're timing is amazing!!!

I am--was, now--sad about what happened but I know my family and friends prayed for this. My family tells me that no matter how disappointing things turned out, God is telling me, whether He is teaching me a lesson or whether He is saving me from harm, that there is a plan.

This would have probably been a much more depressing post, but I think things are starting to sink in and the only option is to move forward. As Dad said, Act normally. I would add, Yes, it's not the end of the world.

I would just like to say a few things.

To the French Embassy, "For tourists: Hotel vouchers" does not automatically mean just hotel vouchers for France for XXdateXX when you're applying for a Schengen Visa. (So to you, reader and potential applicant at the French Embassy, obtain and print out hotel bookings for your complete itinerary. Don't make the same mistake that I did. I just wish I knew it in time.) Please clarify your instructions and post them where people can actually read them which means NOT in your mysterious minds. Don't announce them unexpectedly when one's in front of the visa officer--I refuse to call him a consul, and I hope he sleeps well at night and his so-called conscience is intact; same goes to his boss. End rant, forever. But I sincerely hope that someone will type "French Embassy in the Philippines" and read this and know how rotten you guys are, objectively speaking. End rant, forever, for real. :)

To Ligs and Justin, I'm sorry, I really tried. To Ria, I was supposed to surprise you but I guess it's ruined now. Have fun, the three of you, and please record your adventures for me.

After this post, I will no longer hold any resentment, bitterness, or sadness. On to the next big thing.

Mom told me to reflect on what I learned, and she even said it out loud. When I pray, "Your will be done, not mine," do I really mean it? It was high time to walk the talk, I guess.

Lord, Your will be done, not mine.

pucker up, fish!

2011-09-06T17:33:00.004+08:00

I was browsing through some pictures and saw this:

Just when I thought Mabs would be kissing a real person--- Oh, well. Mabs, welcome back to the club. :)

faith, cancer, and friends

2011-09-03T13:28:00.003+08:00

I feel compelled to share this exchange with my friend, Ligs.

From me to Ligs:

Hey, Ligs.

I remember you asking about your friend who's battling with cancer, and about a verse that helped us. Unfortunately, there wasn't a single verse or one that particularly inspired us in our fight against cancer.

Dad's battle against cancer and his turning to God was an inspiration unto itself. And that is why the verse in Psalms was and is meaningful to us because our personal refuge, Dad, turned to the Ultimate Refuge, God, when it most mattered. That is why we are planning to inscribe Dad's urn or final resting place with Psalm 94:22 (or a version of it), "But the LORD has become my fortress, and my God the rock in whom I take refuge." (For example, when he'd experience shooting pains, he used to say, "Oh, shit," but he changed that to "Oh, God.")

However, if I may, I'd like to share one of my favorite stories in the Bible in Matthew 9:27-30 -- As Jesus went on from there, two blind men followed him, calling out, "Have mercy on us, Son of David!" When he had gone indoors, the blind men came to him, and he asked them, "Do you believe that I am able to do this?" "Yes, Lord," they replied. Then he touched their eyes and said, "According to your faith will it be done to you," and their sight was restored.

I love this story because it reminds us that Jesus hears and heals and all He asks is for our complete faith in Him. Imagine if He had said so and the blind men's faith were only half measure, then would they have been completely healed?

For a person who loves someone who had cancer, the battle seems futile. (What more for the person who had/has cancer?) But miracles can happen because we have faith in a God that hears and loves. Dad may have not survived cancer, but the miracle is not having a prolonged life but a changed life, just in time before he met his Maker. (I sometimes ask why God took Dad too soon, why Dad had to suffer cancer, but seeing as how Dad turned to God in the last months of his life, I have faith that God used cancer to bring Dad closer to Him.) Dad also prayed that God help him in dealing with his pain; and though we would have loved for Dad to be with us longer, he did not suffer for so long. And I wish I had taken a picture--I sorely do--but Dad literally died with a smile on his face.

Your friend might be asking for something else, praying for something else; your friend might be dealing with cancer differently, but one thing is the same: We should put our faith in God and He will give us the answer that is the best for us. According to our faith, it will be done unto us.

From Ligs to me:

Hey Girl!

Here is an update on the friend I was talking about. So at our bible studies, we usually bring up a friend to pray for, someone in our lives who doesn't know the Lord and our whole bible study group prays for them. Now yung isang member ng group nmin, si Ian, has been praying for one of his colleagues, I think his name is Kim. Si Kim yung may lung cancer and has been battling it for a long time. Ian has been talking to him about the gospel for a while now. A couple of weeks ago Kim accepted the Lord as his personal Lord and Saviour, Praise God! and Ian asked us for verses that he could give to Kim to read from the Bible. At this point kasi, nasa palliative care na si Kim. That's why I asked you, kasi I know you guys went through this. Kim passed away last week. Although Ian was really sad because of the loss of his friend, he was also really joyful kasi his friend is with the Lord. Initially kasi he was really struggling with how to share the gospel with Kim, what if he said the wrong thing etc.... we were praying for him for wisdom and the right words and that God soften Kim's heart. Prayers do work!!!!

I think ultimately God has taught me that only He can soften peoples hearts and no matter what I say or do unless its Gods time, I can't force someone to believe. All I can do is try my best to share the gospel and pray for those people in my life who do not know him. Yan kasi minsan yung nag-hinder sa akin mag-share ng gospel. I sometimes feel inadequate, what if I say the wrong thing? what if I don't portray God in the right way? what if I dont get results? What if I accidentally turn people off? etc...I guess it all goes back to putting our FAITH in Him, just like you said :-)

* * *

Dear Liggy-- Happy Birthday! You are such a blessing to everyone around you... and even those that are thousands of miles away, like me. I love you, dude! :) xoxo

dad and his strawberry juice

2011-07-09T08:00:00.004+08:00

I was cleaning up one of the cameras and came across this one:

Dad just had his second biopsy and he had to suffer a tube sticking out of his side to get the fluids out of his chest. Here, we accompanied him to the radiology department for his x-ray and fooled around with the camera.

I personally liked to collectively call that tube and bottle his "pet" because it "had a leash" and needed some TLC. But on other times, we call it his strawberry juice because of the bright red liquid. On other days, the liquid changed color, from strawberry to pineapple orange. Hahaha! May flavors.

Love you, Dad. Miss you so much!

3am financial meltdown

2011-07-08T03:52:00.004+08:00

Stressful past hour!

I logged onto my online banking account just to check my balance. It was waaaAAaay below than what I was expecting and did not match the amount on my Excel daily balance sheet. The only thing that came to mind was, Dang! I just issued a check this afternoon! Tatalbog yun!

I called customer service and the lady on the other end of line confirmed the balance because meron daw pumasok na _______. She sounded so sure of herself and so I ended the call and traced and re-traced my records. Things didn't look right but I couldn't put my finger on it!

Grabe, napalaban ako sa Excel. I really re-traced my transactions and called customer service again. This time a guy answered. I told him, "This is my last balance. These were the amounts withdrawn and the total is like this. Did you get same amount?..."

And I had to ask (just to check!), "Am I crazy?"

He told me he arrived at the same amount and that no, I wasn't crazy, but to just re-log in the morning because the system might be updating.

@_@

i don't mind, dad

2011-07-08T00:31:00.001+08:00

I confessed to Chet, sometime during the time when dad was in the ER, a pathetic thought entered my mind, "Does this mean I can go to Europe?" I thought the thought and I'm disgusted at myself. How can I be so selfish at such a time?

Today, I went back to the hospital to settle our bills. The doctors graciously and generously forwent our bills. I went to our churchmate who tremendously helped us with settling our bills. She showed me the list of billable items such as the room and the medicine used for dad. I couldn't help myself when I saw the list of medicine that went into dad because no matter how much they were and how much they cost, the medicine and the technology couldn't save my dad.

Up until the end, dad couldn't help but be a dad. I was surprised that we paid what we paid because I was expecting the bill to hit the roof. But I can imagine dad saying, "Okay lang 'yan, ayokong gumastos kayo sa akin." I remember, when he was confined for his second biopsy and his operation, he wanted to leave the hospital immediately because he didn't want to spend so much. When he was back home after his first chemotherapy, he didn't want to call the physical therapist because he'd shell out another thousand for each session. We couldn't pull the plug, even if he said that if such a case warrants it, do so.

Today, when I rode the elevator from Basement 3 to the ground floor, a pregnant lady joined us and chatted with the elevator lady. I overheard that it was her "kabuwanan," and that she's due to give birth this month. I couldn't help but feel a tinge of envy; here is a woman looking forward to a future with promise and life, while my dad...

Again, when I rode the elevator from Basement 3 to the ground floor (I forgot the chocolates in the car), a mother assisted her handicapped daughter into the elevator. The daughter was obviously mentally... I don't know the right term... retarded, or perhaps battling with Down Syndrome. The daughter wanted to press the elevator button, but the mother gently restrained her. It looked like the daughter could be a handful sometimes. But still, I couldn't help feeling a little bit jealous because the daughter was alive for the mother to take care of.

I don't mind if we had to spend, even take out loans if it meant dad would be alive. I don't mind if dad became a handful to take care of as long as he's alive.

But dad is dad. He never made it hard on us. And he was one of the kindest patients ever: always smiling, always patient, and even apologetic sometimes. When we would turn him on his bed, he would say, "Sorry." Why? He never wanted to be a burden.

But he was never a burden. If he was, then we would be more than willing to take him on. But dad was never a burden.

I love you and I miss you, Pops. Please, magparamdam ka!!!

dad, can you hear us?

2011-07-04T08:00:00.000+08:00

When I arrived at the hospital on June 25, 2011 (we left Sta. Cruz at some 12.40am and arrived at Makati Med 1.50am with sidetrips to the gas station and McDo), Dad was already unconscious. I thought he would wake up, bounce back, get transferred to a regular room, and we would just spend another few days in the hospital, eating ice cream and getting bored.

But Dad never woke up. We were transferred to MICU19. And Dad left.

In the ER, wee hours, I told Dad to come back, to fight for us. But I didn't know if he could hear us. I saw tears, but I'm not sure if they were just bodily functions that were consequences of having a cardiac arrest, of having difficulty breathing.

It was one of my regrets. To not know if Dad could hear us. Because I did not want to say all the things I wanted to say before because he might think I was saying all those things because he was dying. So I postponed it. Up until the time in the ER, I didn't want to say anything because I wanted him to survive.

But in the ICU, things weren't looking as optimistic. Buti na lang, the door leading the outside corridor of MICU19 was unlocked and we were able to sneak in Kuya first... and then Chet. And we were all there for one moment. And we each took turns telling Dad what we wanted to say, what we could.

There were tears in Dad's eyes. But I couldn't be sure. I'm not sure.

We went home for a bit, thinking we can wait for three more days for Dad's condition to improve and Mom and Chet needed their rest because they've been up since the previous night. But at 1.00pm, Kuya called to tell us to go back to the hospital. At 1.10pm, Dad expired. With a beautiful smile on his face--as though he was enjoying a private joke: "Hehe, nauna na ako sa inyo."

It wasn't until the wake that I learned that Ate, seeing Dad's breathing became more labored, said, "Dad, you can rest now. We'll take care of mom." That was around lunchtime daw. When Kuya came back to room after a quick lunch, in only ten minutes, Dad's vitals declined; he flatlined and breathed his last.

Ate did not want to tell us that she told Dad what she said, afraid that we might blame her for letting Dad go. But after experiencing the signs and hearing about this, I'm happy... that Dad was able to hear us.

signs

2011-07-03T20:00:00.001+08:00

I was going home Sunday night because I had to close a bank account come Monday morning. I actually went home Monday morning, around two in the wee hours.

I approached Dad's casket to say goodbye. I told him something like, "I'll be back, okay?" and gave him a thumbs up. Chet was beside me and said, "That's the seconds thumbs up." She explained, she wanted to know if Dad was in a good place, and asked Dad to give her a sign: Two thumbs up if the answer is yes. My cousin, Ate Bong, was the first thumbs up. I was the second thumbs up. (Actually, when Chet went to the car to see us off, my brother sat up from the back of Dad's car from where he was sleeping, looked at Chet, and gave Chet another thumbs up (and a wink!), which Chet said was so like Dad. I didn't know this until I came back Monday afternoon at Dad's wake.)

Driving home, somewhere in Los Baños I think, I asked Dad, Dad bakit ako walang sign? Then I realized, I haven't put it in a request, what sign to look for. Naisip ko, Ano ba 'yung pwede?

As it was very early in the morning, on the road, I said, "Okay, Dad. Ang susunod na sasakyan na makakasalubong ko, isa lang headlight." In fairness to Daddy, he was very quick. As soon as I asked for it, the next vehicle that passed had one headlight. I thought it just might be a coincidence. That vehicle had probably been on the road even before I asked for a sign. I didn't even specify kung three-wheels (a.k.a tricycle) or four-wheels like a jeepney. But just before it passed my peripheral view, the vehicle turned on the other headlight. It was really a jeepney.

Still, I thought it could be just a coincidence.

I was running at a very slow speed because I was really sleepy, probably around 60kph. I am even tempted to say 50kph. But for some reason, the car I was following turned to the side, as though giving way to me even though I was really slow. I thought it was weird and said, "Sige nga, Dad, bigyan mo akong tatlong ganoon, maniniwala ako."

And he did. Three times that happened. Not two. Not four. All in the span of ten minutes because all of this happened before I hit Pila. Still, I thought, it could still be a coincidence.

But in Pila, I was so sleepy. I stopped asking for signs because I am even annoyed by my doubtful self and requested instead, "Dad, please bring me home. Guide me home." And I soon found myself behind a massive carrier truck. I was immediately struck by the image of a sexy lady in a bikini pasted on the back panel of the truck. I saw the cases loaded on the truck and could only induce that this truck bore alcoholic beverages. I was not able to see the name or the brand of the drink. All I knew was this was what Dad sent me.

The truck was so high, its top brushed the branches of the acacias lining Pila highway. Shining against Daddy's car's high-def headlights, the leaves looked like and felt like confetti. It was as though Dad was saying, "Here, follow me."

When I went home, almost half-past three, I turned on the computer because I needed to send Dad's picture and birthdate to my cousin, who would be making the program for Dad's service. I had left the computer on hibernate mode and it usually turns on without problem, but in this case, for a long time, the monitor remained black except for the mouse cursor. Again, it could easily be said that, "The computer's just acting up," but it has never behaved like this before. Dati black lang, bakit kita 'yung mouse cursor?--Dad is that you? Do you want to me rest na? Or talaga lang weird 'yung computer?

The following day, I was looking for the passbook for which I had to close the account. I then remembered that it was with the forms that I had filled up before na nawawala rin. I wanted to panic because I needed to close that account ASAP and wanted to be back in Manila with Dad and the family.

I stood in front of the small ref in Mom and Dad's room and said, "Dad, ito maniniwala na talaga ako. Please show me where I left the passbook." Then I remembered, I put it in the filing cabinet below that very refrigerator.

I knew then that Dad could hear us. And that Dad heard us when we were talking to him at his bedside. Because one my regrets were that I wasn't able to catch him when he was conscious. He was already unconscious when Kuya and I arrived at the emergency room, and he had already had his first cardiac arrest.

Chet asked for a sign to know if Dad was in a good place because she saw Dad suffer. I asked for a sign if he heard us when he was unconscious because I needed to know he heard us say we love him, we love him, and we are so thankful to have him as a father, and for fighting for the family even when he was so tired.

Ate asked for a sign also. She was the only one left behind at the wake. Sitting in front of Dad's casket, she asked, "Dad can you hear us?" If so, move the grass (there were blades of grass for Dad's wake). He did, in the far corner where there was no draft whatsoever. After that, Ate stopped asking. Hehe.

Kuya was given a sign. As I was scanning Dad's pictures, he hollered, "Maris, nasaan mga pantalon ko?" Huh? I told him I didn't know and was sure they were in his room. Ang nakita lang niya pantalon ni Daddy. He wore it and it fit... as though Daddy was saying, "I am truly passing on the reins to you, Boy-1."

My mom didn't ask for a sign. She's sure Dad's in a good place.

On the last day of his wake, Ate Cha, Ciannon's mom, told Ciannon about our signs. Ciannon also asked for a sign. En route home, habang hinahatid namin si Papa pauwi, Ciannon asked for a flock of birds. What he got was a massive (really massive) bird poop on his side of the car. And we know, that is just so like Daddy to send a naughty reply.

Mom told our Pastor about our signs and he said, that is the "Espiritu ng Mang-aaliw." The signs were probably not from Dad per se because he can no longer do those things... because he is already in heaven. But we know that even if Dad is no longer with us on earth, he is still being a dad elsewhere, and making things happen.

Daddy, I love you.

daddy and marty

2011-07-03T08:00:00.002+08:00

Just last year, Dad and Kuya took a trip to Cebu with Ding and someone called Marty to look at boats and take inspiration for the ones he was building.

Marty came to the wake and told my mom, "Iba talaga po si Sir." Hindi daw papasok sa hotel room si Papa para matulog hangga't hindi pa nauuna sina Ding at Marty.

At isa pa:

Noong pauwi na sila ng Manila, sila ay nasa airport, tumayo si Marty upang bumili ng pasalubong para sa kanyang mga anak. Nang binabayaran na niya ang kanyang mga napamili, kinuha ni Daddy 'yung mga 'yun at siya na ang nagbayad.

Nagulat daw si Marty at hindi na niya iyon makakalimutan. Doon lang daw siya nakakita ng kliyente--sapagkat madalas ang supplier daw ang gumagawa noon, hindi ang kliyente--na nagbayad para sa supplier.

And we know, Dad did that with no ulterior motives. No hidden agenda. Ganoon lang kasi talaga siya.

ang mga kliyenteng naka-tsinelas

2011-07-02T20:00:00.001+08:00

One night during Dad's wake, one of his suppliers from Power Systems, Joey, told me, "Ang mga taong naka-t-shirt lang at naka-tsinelas, dapat alagaan." I knew he was talking about Dad so took it as is, and thanked him.

When he heard dad was sick, he visited Dad at our place in Makati. I saw him earlier during Dad's wake, bringing food for the gods, which he had planned to give Dad on Father's Day, June 18, but thought that we would want to make that day exclusive for the family and decided to postpone his visit, only to learn that Dad passed just a week later.

I didn't know that he had a special... connection with Dad. Mom told me the story the morning after we brought Dad home, while we were in the shower together.

Sabi ni Joey may tao daw pumasok sa opisina nila na naka-t-shirt lang at naka-tsinelas. Sa halip na siya, isang ahente, ang sumalubong, inutusan niya ang boy niya na i-entertain 'yung pumasok. Nagtuturo si Daddy doon ng mga makina, "Gusto ko nito. Gusto ko nito. Gusto ko nito." I-deliver daw sa Sta. Cruz.

Akala nila nagbibiro si Dad. Pero noong dinala sa planta, binayaran ni Papa. Pagbalik daw sa opisina, pinalakpakan daw nila si Joey dahil they all thought it was a joke.

In another instance, pumunta daw sina Joey sa isang opisina. May nakasabay lang sila sa elevator na naka-sando at naka-tsinelas. Tinanong sila, "Saan kayo pupunta?" Sabi nga daw nila, imi-meet 'yung may-ari. Pagdating nila sa opisina ng may-ari, ang nasumpungan nila ay 'yung mismong mama na 'yun.

Tinandaan na daw ni Joey na ang kliyenteng naka-t-shirt at naka-tsinelas, dapat alagaan.

Apparently, it was when Dad bought from them that business boomed. They would say daw, Kami nag-supply sa planta sa Sta. Cruz.

... nothing surfaces in my memory.

2011-06-25T10:00:00.002+08:00

He disappeared through the crowd of people braving the terrible weather. And I soon turned my attention back to the matter at hand: my tamarinds--when a masculine voice directed towards my person asked, "Saan na po kayo nagtuturo?"

Hahahahahahaha!!! Estudyante ko pala dati sa Union.

Ria, I just want to tease you! Just before you think I have plans of cradle-snatching, think again!!!

What struck me funny--ironic?--is that this happened to be one my terror students back when I harbored a delusion that I'm some sort of Robin Williams ala-Dead Poet's Society. ('Yun pala, the stint turned out to be more like Michelle Pfeiffer in Dangerous Minds (cue soundtrack: Gangster's Paradise).)

Anyway, I asked him how he was doing and he told me had already graduated high school. I was surprised, Had it been THAT long already? He added he even stopped for a year, when he left Union; he was a hell-raising (and I mean, hell-raising) sophomore then. (I feel older by the minute.)

I asked him what his plans were for college. He'll be taking up architecture, he said, (the voice inside my head went: OWS???!), for two years (double OWS????!). He'll also take up some electronic courses--a mash-up of sorts that will allow him to migrate to Korea where his dad was. That explained the "two-year architecture" remark and I really felt a glimmer of hope for this--I can't say man--boy... on the brink of manhood (that's the best I can do!).

Seriously, I was kinda glad about what happened with this young... man, whose name up until now eludes me. I just know he's from the Hebrew class, and he liked to cut my classes and not even try participate whenever I was "honored" with his presence. He's lost all his front teeth since the last time I saw him, but it's so good to see him having some sort of direction in his life.

I'd like some of that, too.

a funny thing...

2011-06-24T14:38:00.002+08:00

happened at the market today.

It was the worst time to go to the wet market today, with the rain and all, but I went anyway. As I was waiting for the manang to find me two more kilos of sampaloc, a young, male stranger passed by me and said, "Ma'am."

He was walking away from me, but he had his head turned to me, waiting for an acknowledgment. He was looking at me as though I knew him...

and i have this because...???

2011-06-24T14:21:00.003+08:00

look what i unearthed after much-delayed spring cleaning?

i find it odd to have one by one pictures of people.

oh, and guess who has the most pics. :)

mini never changed!

more wedding shots

2011-06-23T23:10:00.007+08:00

Some of my favorite shots from Kuya Rob and Ate Chingkee's wedding.

Photos courtesy of Dino Lara and Team. Editing, entirely my fault.

roundabout roadtrip!!!

2011-05-20T16:04:00.003+08:00

Makati, Metro Manila
Sto. Tomas, Batangas
Alaminos, Laguna
San Pablo, Laguna
Tiaong, Quezon
Candelaria, Quezon
Sariaya, Quezon
Lucena, Quezon
Tayabas, Quezon
Lucban, Quezon
Luisiana, Laguna
Cavinti, Laguna
Pagsanjan, Laguna
Home sweet home

miracles--

2011-05-14T20:47:00.002+08:00

--come in different sizes and forms.

When we pray for dad, we pray for his recovery. Things didn't happen as planned. And we can only hope that God has a different plan for him and our family.

I was so confident before, that when I fasted some one month ago, it seemed so easy. I felt like God was telling me, everything will be alright. But things didn't turn out as I had wished.

I have to remind myself now and again that miracles come in different packages.

bali one year ago

2011-05-12T22:01:00.000+08:00

seems like ten thousand years ago... or yesterday.

money shot: ate's wedding

2011-05-12T21:49:00.000+08:00

Yey!!!

walking for dessert

2011-05-08T01:35:00.004+08:00

sometimes, the best way to wrap up dinner is to walk with a friend.

we had a slice of apple pie to start the meal, anyway. hehe--walk off the pizza calories!

March 31 2011, LB

snapshots: ate's wedding

2011-05-08T01:12:00.005+08:00

The morning of Ate's wedding. This is officially our first family portrait of the day. We weren't sure if Dad would be able to attend the wedding so we took a picture early on... in our PJs!

Doy and Rob chillax before the big event! Doy flew in the night before to be part of the celebration! So happy!!! Looks like they're about to have lunch at the hotel, Picasso, which is a totally awesome hotel. Love the art and fancy digs!

So I stupidly forgot my camera at home. And I've yet to grab those from Ate's friends and our relatives, not to mention the official photos. These are the only photos I (or Chettie or Doy or Ate Michelle) was able to take:

The party had wrapped up and gone were the pink and orange lights to be replaced with normal lighting--and it showed off the fancy burloloy much, much better.

I'm so in love with those green carnations.
I even took them home.

One of the ideas was to create a paper-flower board to create a dramatic backdrop for vanity shots. Hehehe. Wala nang tao nito kaya pwede na akong gumanito! Bwahahaha!

With Ate and Chettie as the party wrapped up! Medyo lasing na siya nito! Grabe, I wasn't able to take advantage of the booze! So out of character. But Ate did! Bwahahaha!!!

a public announcement for gong yoo

2011-03-20T18:56:00.001+08:00

Kiss me! Kiss me senseless, I say! I demand that you take advantage of my virgin lips!!!

I just watched Finding Mr. Destiny and I just need to hormone-rave about how awesome a kisser Gong Yoo is and could he please please please plant one on me too?

What are the chances???

I knew it since She's on Duty. (How dare Kim Sun Ah! She's locked lips with Gong Yoo ten freaking thousand times, with S diaries pa. Gong Yoo, what's up with the ahjumma love?)

Totally convinced me when he got it on with Yoon Eun something in Coffee Prince. Hot hot hot!

And now this? With the cyborg girl with the crazy top lip??? I'm so jealous.

Only Gong Yoo can make India sexy.

disaster brings out the best...

2011-03-17T17:51:00.004+08:00

in people and in dogs.

I saw this video via Tina. It's an amazing reminder of compassion and loyalty.

Sending prayers to Japan and New Zealand.

you know you're distracted when...

2011-03-17T10:53:00.001+08:00

you're about to put facial wash with microscrubbers onto your toothbrush.

good save, that one.

tron?

2011-03-15T07:46:00.000+08:00

I tried to watch Tron last night and I didn't get anything aside from "the grid". It's like Pirates of the Carribeans 3 and/or The Dark Night all over again: I need subtitles but I wonder if I have the will to watch it again.

i got the (beethoven) virus

2011-03-14T20:52:00.001+08:00

... beats me why and how, too.

I need kisses, unnatural displays of affection, and icky gooey lovesick scenes to buy into a drama. Why spend sixteen plus plus hours on something that will not alleviate the lack of romance in my life? Still, I was compelled to watch and finish Beethoven Virus without fastforwarding (although I had to skip episode 16 because I couldn't get a copy).

I am so drawn to Kim Myung Min. He ain't no Brad Pitt but his character sure makes for one bad, bad boy good girls wanna tame! Hahaha! The Lee girl isn't bad as well; she's so subtle and careful not to overdo her role. (If there had been more tears and wailing and mixed signals in this drama, I would have died! Isn't it enough that it's about classical music?) Jang Geun Suk isn't in his You're Beautiful mode so... but he held up his part of the bargain.

Prolly worth taking note of is that this drama has one of the best non-kiss moments evah between the two romantic leads. Episode 18. Beside the lake. A scene set up for a bittersweet farewell. A cold man finds that he can actually feel for a woman. And she--well, she can only accept her fate and take as much as she can get, truly understanding the man she was ill-fated to love. They both know he has to leave and she can only stay. Never a touch of lips but only of hands to pass on a ring that would remind her of him.

Hahaha! So glad to get that out of my system!

testing

2011-03-13T23:26:00.000+08:00

mobile blogging

good news!

2011-03-09T19:55:00.002+08:00

Good news! Mass on dad's left lung is located on the outer lining and might be operable! His prostate has been ruled out for source of illness. His prognosis has made a turn for the better. We think! :)

There's still so much ahead but meeting our doctors today has given us so much hope. Before, we were looking at six months. Today--we can look forward to so much.

Thank you thank you thank you thank you everybody for your prayers! This is nothing short of a miracle! You are part of our miracle. Thank you so much.

2011-03-09T09:02:00.003+08:00

Sat with dad this morning, talking about anything. We literally sat at the garage, with the sun hidden in the darkness until it finally revealed itself.

At one point, he talked about his dad who was diagnosed with liver cancer back in the seventies. Just before my grandfather died in a vehicular accident (ironic, no?), his doctor had already prescribed him with pain medication that included heroin. My dad was trying to make a point, The pain'll be so bad that--you get the idea.

This is probably the first time I saw my dad cry. Not bawling, or anything like that. His eyes watered up. And he asked, Why me?

Now I believe that however strong a man--and I believe my dad is made of strong stuff--human beings really go through that stage of numb shock, denial, grief, and acceptance.

I am writing this down to remind myself that my father is human, and for that he is even a better person. He is far greater in my eyes as we all face this challenge.

I told him, as I have no better answer and no other answer in my mind: Why him? Because he can do it! We can do it as a family. Because God does not give His children problems that they cannot overcome. Kaya namin ito dahil sabi ng Panginoon hindi Niya kami bibigyan ng problemang hindi namin kayang buhatin.

It's one thing to think this, but another to say it. And still another thing to live it. But so far, God has supported us in all these.

He asked me to fetch him a towel, and when I got back, he had already composed himself. But he said, Kaya natin ito dahil binigay ni God. We can do it as a family.

2011-03-07T20:53:00.004+08:00

It might be lung cancer. And one of the doctors let slip that it might only take six months.

But I might be--I hope I am--getting ahead of myself. He will be having a biopsy to determine what's that thing on the outer lining of his lung.

It is a confusing mix of emotions: To feel sadness and dread, but still have faith that this is all in God's plans and that my dad is in God's merciful hands.

Today, the last doctor we saw, the pulmonologist told him categorically to quit smoking. Just after dinner, before seven PM, he smoked his last cigarette. There were two sticks still in the pack, but he handed those over to me, along with his new, swanky butane lighter. I can't blame Marlboro for killing my dad; but I'd like to think those two cigs were the last two that he didn't smoke for us.

Just let me write this down before I forget. As we were walking home from the hospital, and the news started to sink in, we were talking about my dad going cold turkey. He told me, he'll give me his lighter; ipapamana na niya 'yun sa akin.

He told my mom, I'm dying. And, Tanggapin na natin nang maluwag.

And he said, He was happy. And when in my mind I was thinking, Dad I haven't done anything to make you proud, he said, May magtutuloy na ng planta.

Please keep praying for my dad. We really appreciate it.

2011-03-04T19:48:00.003+08:00

We've been in and out of Makati Med this past week to have my dad checked up. He's been suffering pain in his chest and side. We got the results today and we're not exactly sure what they mean so we are going to the doctor again tomorrow.

Please pray for my dad and his health. I pray it is not fatal.

is it me--

2011-03-03T11:42:00.002+08:00

or is it me? Am I the only one left watching American Idol??? Even my teenage niece couldn't relate.

peace is--

2011-03-03T11:37:00.002+08:00

not the absence of adversity (or clients) but having an anchor in times of trouble. I'm so thankful there's a God all of us can talk to and ask for help and guidance! Love love love love!

to beethoven or not to beethoven

2011-02-26T21:37:00.005+08:00

I've caught up with My Princess episodes and am just waiting for the subs for the last two episodes. I'm trying to explore other series and thought of Kim someone who starred in Closer to Heaven and The Man from Nowhere. I've heard of awesome reviews about his drama Beethoven Virus. (Not to mention that Jang Geun Suk of You're Beautiful completes the somewhat-non-existent "love triangle".)

So I watched the first episode... and the next. What a character! -- And I say that with mixed feelings. Can I take eighteen (or is it twenty?) episodes of an angry man? Can I keep on watching this drama, knowing--because I had a feeling and decided to look it up at dramabean's blog--that there'll be no kissing scene? At all?

Am I so shallow that that's the only thing I want in a drama???

best nora review

2011-02-17T11:03:00.003+08:00

This was a long time ago but I remembered it today and cheered me up.

Ligs told me, Nora "isn't scandalous enough." Bwahahahaha!!!

I can't wait for Nora's newest trilogy, Inn Boonsboro. Yey! Hurry November!!!

find the funny 3: ano DAW???

2011-02-11T00:33:00.002+08:00

I cleaned my wallet and literally unearthed this old receipt:

I know I'm not perfect pero---

BWAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!

leni-kam kee

2011-02-09T19:45:00.010+08:00

This is why we're not big fans of Wee Nam Kee:

It's the complete meal! I hardly have space for anything other than my mom's homecooked Haiananese chicken and rice.

For starters, you've got soup for some serious warm-up before even more serious chow.

There's a sauce for the chicken...

... but I like mixing it with my soup. To each his own!

There's the real deal pandan rice...

... na mas masarap ang tutong na part! It's a family contest who gets to get the good part.

And of course, there's the glorious chicken, fresh from the oven!!! Wooo!!!

And you can probably guess which part the family favors.

Poor chicken! My mom asked us if we prefer to have the chicken pre-sliced, and she got a resounding, unanimous NO around the sacred table.

It'd be pure heaven if we get to eat like this every Sunday brunch, but then that'd wreak havoc on our diets. Talk about cholesterol failure!

my favorite korean movies

2011-02-09T19:34:00.020+08:00

This post has been brewing, rolling, stuck, fermenting inside my head, ever since Mabs asked me for movies and Daene for me to come up with my favorites. (Stuck prolly because I know if I start writing it, I need to exert some effort on it.) Nobody'll care but I need to let it out:

Here are my favorite Korean movies ever!

Someone will probably tell me that this is an unfair observation but I think that Korean cinema has heart and delivers in very subtle ways. (I mean, who gets away with lines such as, "Please greet our movie with warm feelings"?) Well, at least as far as their romantic flicks are concerned. American rom-coms are tiring and predictable in that most are so straightforward and more often than not, always about sex. (We get it, you're sex-hungry fiends, let's move on!)Filipino movies--as of late, nothing has been hitting the mark. Not since Close to You for me... Well, that first installment with John Lloyd and Sarah wasn't bad. (But now I can't help but notice John Lloyd's ego next to him whenever he's on the silverscreen.)

I digress! Here are my favorites:

A Moment to Remember. Certified top of the list! If somebody asks me, What Korean movie she should watch, I'd answer in a heartbeat: A Moment to Remember. There are so many things to love about this movie. First is the story itself; the underlying conflict: If a person loses her memory, does she forget her love as well? Whoever thought of this stuff?

It's an ironically unforgettable love story beautifully played by (and played out between) leads Jung Woo-sung and my favorite actress, Sohn Ye-jin. I wonder if I'd consider Jung Woo-sung a favorite since his name on the movie encourages me to watch it? And I realize he likes to play the role of super sweet guys, i.e. in Daisy (Ohmygosh, how can you not love him when he learned to read lips when the woman of his dreams lost her voice???! For real???), in Season of Good Rain (blech movie save for Jung Woo-sung's heartflipping moves), and of course, this one.

Favorite scene: Oh, don't ask me! Don't! I'll ruin the movie for you because I'd say, EVERYTHANG! I love the whole movie, although Jung Woo-sung's non-cry at the end is so heartbreaking... which makes me love the movie even more!

The Classic. Another Sohn Ye-jin classic, and which is why I think she's the bestest. I think this is the second Korean movie I ever saw and probably sold me solid to the Korean brand.

Maruja, ikaw ba 'yan? It's a tale of two couples from different times but connected by history... and a diary. Bwahahaha! So back then, I thought the male leads (Jo Seung-woo and Jo In-seung ---how confusing can this get???) were the hottest things on earth, I'd be glad to be scorched. This propelled me to watch more of their movies: Jo Seung-woo, not so bad because Marathon was noteworthy. Jo In-seung, on the other hand, what epic fail! First movie after The Classic, Madeleine--kill me now! I had to suffer the movie watching him with blonde hair, blonde as in parang naligo sa posong may kalawang! And then there's that movie not worth mentioning that just plain ruined him for me forever. Or at least, it'll take a lot of convincing and his pretty face will no longer be enough.

But what I'll always remember about this movie is the Rain Scene. Sobrang laki ng impact nito sa akin, it's the only Korean song I had to have on my playlist.

Thirst. I have a post on this because I simply couldn't sleep without philosophizing this movie. I, for one (like several billions of people out there--admit it!), don't like to think when I sit down to watch a movie, but it can't be helped. I have no plans to rehash that whole thesis but what I do love about this movie is that for all its convoluted-ness, there is heart to it. Heart! In spite of the gore and nudity, there is love. He wants to save her. And in the end, she understands what is the most important. Because of the shoes. Wonderful literary medium!

Seducing Mr. Perfect. Don't let Daniel Henney's one-note acting discourage you! Uhm Jung-hwa, the female lead, will more than make up for all the acting in the movie. It's okay, Danny, you can be content to be eye-candy; we are.

Storyline: A woman fresh from a break-up is hellbent on finding the love of her life. A man--this hardly matters though--scarred from his past thinks he can teach this woman the ways of love. Only to end up falling for her instead.

Pretty standard plot but hellooOo! This is one hilarious ride--from Uhm Jung-hwa's lipstick face to getting drunk and telling her boss (Danny boy) to "shut the f*** up" in straight English, to her desperate attempt to retrieve her ill-conceived lunchbox, to the necessary finale kiss. What a riot. Definitely, Uhm Jung-hwa for the win!

This is probably my favorite Korean rom-com. Yeah, I think it is. I can watch it over and over again.

The Actresses. This is one of my recent favorites. Whatever! Rephrase. Actually, it's the only one of recent date at 2009.

Yiiick, I shy away from Korean movies that aren't rom-coms, even some romantic flicks because they tend to be weepy. (How would you feel about watching a movie, A Story Sadder than Sadness? How about Sad Movie?) HellooOoo--I don't want to sit through an hour and forty minutes (if I'm lucky it's only an hour and forty) just to discover someone--worse, everyone died! (Which is why I have yet to hear someone say Something Happened in Bali is a favorite. Whutt?)

The Actresses is a mock documentary about six actresses from different generations, coming together for a Vogue shoot on the day before Christmas. The movie was hyped because the actresses played a "fictionalized" version of themselves.

But what I really loved about this movie is that it's a wonderful movie about girlfriends. There's a part where they all sat down for Christmas Eve dinner and just talked. Just talked. (I can hear the men of this world groan--yes, this is definitely, inarguably a chick flick.) And I remember thinking, as I was watching it, this is just like me and my own girlfriends. I totally felt this movie!
Okay, my energy is running low. Just let me touch on the other movies so that I can finally say, "Wrote it, done," move on, and not have this rotting in my head.

My Little Bride. Seriously, this should have been the movie that everyone saw first... not My Sassy Girlfriend (which is a waste of time--and the American version is even worse). How cute is Moon Geun Young? She is officially the first leading lady with VIRGIN EYEBROWS! Bwahahaha! Whaatt???

This movie initially poked at my boundaries. If you've seen the poster, you'd be icked out too: How can a man that old romance that kid? But the story played out well. Kim Rae Won, a twenty-something something, is set up with high schooler Moon Geun Young in marriage. Freaky in poster. Better in movie. Sweeter.

...ing. Because I loved Kim Rae Won in My Little Bride, I had more of him in ...ing. Beautiful movie about making the most of the time we have. I'll probably spoil it for you but here's the story: A mom sets up a man to woo her dying daughter so that the daughter can experience love--living and being--before death takes her away. Bad blurb. Better movie.

200 Pound Beauty. Mariaaaa? Need I say more?

But I will. A butt-ugly, fat ghost singer decides she wants to be front and centerstage, and to get the man of her dreams, the handsome producer, so she undergoes a WHOLE BODY surgery and transforms her self unrecognizable. And so the story unfolds.

Innocent Steps. My personal guilty pleasure. I've always wanted to ballroom dance. Enough said.

It's a little sad that I am not as enthusiastic about the rom-coms Korea's recently coming out with. Please kill me now if I ever have to watch Cyrano Dating Agency again. Once was torturous enough.

I'm finding that I'm scouring for the good ole movies. I want to re-watch Marathon. I remember that movie made me cry. I must re-see Miss Gold Digger too, which was a breakthrough role for the lead actress. I should get around to watching My Mighty Princess, because I remember liking it for its twist. And I should check if My Girlfriend has Two Faces deserves the space on my hard drive.

What's on your list?

lesson

2011-02-07T10:47:00.001+08:00

learned: Widen your horizon. Take multiple perspectives. If I can dish it, then I should be able to eat it too. (And no, that isn't referring to food.) I'm so happy I have family.

Dad's lessons

2011-01-27T20:21:00.003+08:00

On Piers Morgan Tonight, Piers asked the "rockstar pastor" what the latter's dad, also a pastor, taught him. My mind zoned out from interview and zeroed in on my dad's life lessons.

These are what I'll remember my dad taught me:
1. Always think of the family first.
2. God is in every man.
3. The world is not black and white. It's mostly gray.
4. Accept the consequences of your decisions.

And my favorite:
5. It's okay to make mistakes. As long as you have money.

pasalubong from...

2011-01-11T13:00:00.002+08:00

I love it! (Amoy Juniper pa!)

Thank you so muuccchh!!!

nora roberts' homeport

2010-12-10T01:42:00.005+08:00

Some books really must be read in their own time.

I've had Homeport on my reader for a long time. I tried to read it but after just a few pages into the book, in the first chapter, I decided I wasn't feeling the book. Boring heroine getting attacked and held at knife-point. ooOookay!

Just read this blurb from Fantastic Fiction: For Dr Miranda Jones - after having been mugged outside her own home in the USA - the summons to Italy, in order to authenticate a Renaissance bronze, comes as a welcome distraction. Unfortunately, that mugging was only the beginning of her troubles.

(Someone please fire that blurb writer.) So I went on to wait for and finish the Bride Quartet, and then re-read the Quinn and the Garden trilogies (skipped Chesapeake).

I don't know why I did, but sitting on the bathroom throne at one point just this past week, I decided to make another go at this unfinished read. And having no expectations but simply motivated to pass the time, I found myself staying late at night to finish as many chapters until my eyes could take no more and my system crashed.

Take an uptight heroine, a charming thief and a snarky plot. (Sidney-Sheldon-of-If-Tomorrow-Comes isdatchu?) I am sold.

Definitely a good read.

Sidenote: I tried looking for a blurb that would do the novel justice but I don't think there is one out there. A good one would spoil all the fun. So yeah, give that blurb writer his job back. He he he.

yongpyong skiing, korea

2010-12-08T14:56:00.016+08:00

Right off the bat: Skiing and me don't mix. (I have lots of poser pictures.) I have two dead nails on my feet to prove it; a reminder of my failure to ski.

Getting our tickets for ski lessons for the following day

Day after: instructors getting ready for a day! of! skiing! Really a nice sight to greet you on the day of reckoning

When Daene told me about the proposed skiing trip in Yongpyong (not the island North Korea bombed the Tuesday prior to our trip), my initial reaction was, "Okay, never tried that before. Sige, try." That is an ignorant's reaction. (Well, the fat, ignorant me that is, as you will read on later.)

When the idea of skiing was still romantic and dreamy

When we arrived in Yongpyong after a sedate three-hour busride from Seoul, I was... amazed, for lack of a better term, at the snowy white slopes where others skiers and snowboarders glided like a dream. And even for a non-enthusiast like me, I kinda felt, Okay, let's do this! It looked so easy. And yes, dreamy and romantic. Swiss Alps, here I come!

En route to our 9.30am skiing lessons with Mr. Kim,
filled with dreams and bravado

It was not until fifteen minutes into the ski lessons that I realized--no wait, five minutes! (when the instructor, Mr. Kim, taught me how to stand up with my skis on the event that I wipeout (which was, I found out, often))--that I was--am desperately out of shape. (A lightbulb moment for Daene too. Although she pulled it off.) For the life of me, I could not lift my skis. I couldn't even clean my own boots (so I could click them into the skis); Mr. Kim had to whack, ice-pick my boots about ninety-percent of the time.

It is at this point that I'd like to give a shoutout to my ski instructor, Mr. Kim, who did not give up on me. I was the worst student ever. I couldn't stop skiing on command, couldn't turn left or right (I did turn left though, on one occasion; problem is, the instructions were to turn right). I couldn't control my skis, period. I could barely drag myself up the slope (not even all the way up, but just at a designated spot prolly a third up the slope). I wanted to give up. But he kept urging me on. He told me, "Trust me." I forgot why he said that, but he was just so nice and generally made the whole hellish experience bearable.

Class picture with classmates and instructor. L-R: Daene who had a great run on her first day, ending it with a noteworthy wipeout; the fantastic Mr. Kim; Bom; the other group's instructor who's just a college student and doing this just for the heck of it; and finally me, on my ass, because my feet were useless

Lesson learned: I love adventure like every other adrenalin junkie, but I should seriously reconsider if there's physical exertion included. I will bungee, but I don't think I'll ever ski again.

Of course, this is me and my experience with skiing. All the other people in the group had an awesome, explosive time.

Mr. Kim said in his Hangul accent, "Practicepracticepractice." Yeah, it is only my first attempt at skiing. Let me think about it. The sight of my dead nails makes the painful memory too fresh.

changing of the guards, korea

2010-12-06T23:11:00.014+08:00

Daene and me at the Main Palace, Korea

November 27 2010

We had a late start after a snowy/rainy morning (and I missed the snow fall!) and a quick pastry breakfast before heading on out to (... Googling it...) Gyeokbong Palace in the heart of Seoul.

We only caught the tail end of the parade but it was a treat for the eyes! The Koreans never hesitate about color; the guards' aquas and reds just pop against the backdrop of Gyeokbong's romantic gate and snow-powdered grounds.

I wish I had taken a video. It's definitely a transporting experience; and having just left the heat of the Philippines and with the threat of a Korean war at the periphery of our minds--yeah, it's also surreal. This, on our first full day in Korea, made me realize I was in a different world. In retrospect, it was a nice way of being welcomed into Seoul.

auntie pearl's pizza

2010-12-06T21:45:00.017+08:00

No fancy intro. Just that Kuya brought the sisters and me to a pizza place in LB last Sunday for dinner. I just need to write about food again! :)

Talk about hole in the wall, Auntie Pearl's Pizza is a small eatery at the junction of Lemon Grass and Oregano Streets. Probably no one in LB will know where that is if you tell them that way; I just found out 'yun pala ang pangalan ng streets na 'yun and I took piano lessons there ten thousand years ago. (Ask for Demarses, or the site of Ellen's Fried Chicken instead for directions.)

Auntie Pearl took our orders.

She is married to Frank, who kneads his own dough and strictly insists that the oven should always be 500 degrees perfect.
I guess, this is what really made me like this place. There's a story behind it. Real people behind it. I don't know the veracity of this story, it being shared by Frank with my brother when they shared a drink (or two?), but Frank experimented with his dough and recipes for three years until he deemed it worthy of our pesos.

Trust the brother and the sisters to order to our greedy hearts' content. We got:

A large serving of Lasagna (Php 109) with three cheeses and spinach.

An eight-inch Plain Cheese Pizza (Php 99), a unanimous hit all around the table. It was one of the earliest things served and was gone in a blink of an eye.

A ten-inch Sausage, Garlic and Hot Peppers Pizza (Php 219), truthfully hot and spicy.

A(nother) ten-inch Loaded Veggies and Meat Pizza (Php 309), which really looks more loaded than Greenwich's poser version.

(I found the Hot Pepper Pizza too hot for my liking; my sisters took out some of the peppers on their slices, to my brother's delight and put it on his own. My way of taking off the heat? Make a pizza sandwich: Combine the Loaded Pizza with the hot one and we've got sublime perfection. Sometimes we have to find our happiness.)Chettie insisted on a plate of Nachos (Php 89), but this isn't really what you should come to this place for. It looks great though. We also indulged on an order of Fish and Chips (Php 199), described on the menu as "breaded fish deep-fried (served with french fries and tartar sauce)". I think it's a bit on the pricey side considering we're in the student-budget market, but according to Auntie Pearl it's one of the best-sellers. My brother shares that according to Frank (on their very memorable drinking session), the batter is one of a kind, especially imported from the United States. It's this batter or not at all. Quite frankly, I'm not sure where the raves are coming from about this version of fish 'n chips and whether they hit the mark. What I can say about it is more than the batter, the fish is juicy.

But what takes the cake is this beautiful monstrosity:

It is aptly named the Jerry Belly Buster (Php 109).

Just look at how it dwarfs my hand:

And if you haven't noticed, can you please take a moment of silence to appreciate and pay homage to the beautiful, rosy pink of the patty?

No fancy-schmancy color-editing on this photo. Straight from the camera to the blog.

Oh yeah! Oh yeah! (I am now doing my chicken dance in honor of this suh-weet patty!) For a little more than hundred bucks, this is a steal! And this hunk of love is worth remembering and thinking about. And it pretty much sealed the deal that we're bringing our dad to try it out.

For four bottomless pits (i.e. the siblings and me), our total bill came down to Php 1197. Add in two bottles of one-liter Cokes.

Must. Have. Coke. With. Pizza.
Wow! I haven't seen those bottles in a looong time! Classic.

I say that's not a bad deal! Next time, we'll be looking into getting the more traditional pizzas: Pepperoni, Italian Sausage, and yeah, more Cheese please. I'd also like to try their spaghetti and hotdogs.

So if you ever happen to pass by UPLB, take a detour to:

the closest i'll get to lee min ho

2010-12-01T17:04:00.005+08:00

With a tight schedule in Korea, I've given hope of finding famous spots where dramas were shot. So I was so surprised (to say the least) that the Number 5 Photo Spot in the Discover Bukchon PDF pamphlet was none other than the site of Personal Taste's Sanggojae.

Disclaimer: This video is pure crazy and documents my loss of dignity. I have since returned to normal.

greekified manny

2010-11-17T02:34:00.003+08:00

Made for Chettie's Christmas party teaser.

I dunno if it'll pass muster. Pero nakakatawa.

Go, Manny!

my drama roll

2010-11-16T11:58:00.002+08:00

On the day I woke up early to run my errands--consequently showered and dressed up early--I realized too late that the bank was closed because--yippeeyay-ay-ay-ay!--it's a holiday. Irony of ironies, when I feel like working, I forgot it's a holiday.

To make use of my unused energies, I will make a list of Korean dramas I have yet to get around to watching. (Yes, I am back to my famous lists because I'm such a slob I need a checklist. The sense of achievement per tick in the list doesn't hurt.)

Oh! My Lady
Fugitive Plan B
My Girlfriend is a Gumiho
Sungkyuwan Scandal
Still, Marry Me
City Hall

The usual series will last 16 episodes. (I think City Hall is 20.) Each episode will last one hour without fast forwarding. Sixteen episodes times six series times one hour is... bring out the calculator... five hundred seventy six hours. Divvy this by five hours (presumed hours I can allocate to my viewing pleasure per day) and voila! Looks like I will be able to complete my drama list in a little over 115 days, i.e. almost four months. Then again, City Hall is 20 eps. And come to think of it, Sungkyuwan is too.

I should take note of this because I like to horde my dramas and almost never get around to watch them. I must. Kailangan mag-internalize!!!

sobering sight

2010-11-12T13:33:00.004+08:00

Early morning of January 17th 2010. Just got back from the family vacay and just just woke up from a night of partying to celebrate Aspe's birthday. I was on my way home. As I crossed the overpass along Buendia to the bus station, I saw this:

anemic

2010-11-12T13:26:00.004+08:00

When I got my camera last year, I decided to test my skills on my parrot fish. I switched to Color Picker mode and realized that there might be something wrong with my pet.

chet versus the burger

2010-11-11T20:40:00.001+08:00

grabbing a quick lunch at Knott's Berry Farm, sometime January 2010

brush up on my english... accent

2010-11-05T14:22:00.012+08:00

With nothing to do, I am surfing the net and came across the issue about Lee Da Hae and her now infamous accent copies. To see video, click this link, because the powers-that-be have deleted it on YouTube. Hahahaha! (Insert sarcasm) I wonder why? :)

If I saw it on my own, I would've been miffed. But the rest of the country is doing it for me. I can only pity the girl.

But really--whose accent can she otherwise make fun of? China? Japan? Taiwan? They're gonna lose tons of money when those power-countries cry foul. So I think, from a producer's point of view, they put the Philippines there instead. (How can she even deny she wasn't doing a Philippine accent when the host clearly said "Philippine"?) Not saying it's right, but I'm saying, we're a logical choice in the scheme of things. You'd probably ask, Why not Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Thailand? Hindi ko alam. Baka hindi na makaka-relate ang Korean audience.

After what happened with Desperate Housewives, BBC, and now this, has the world yet to realize that Rex Navarrate is the only one who could get away with it?

Watch it, it's really funny. Makes me miss Rex.

Khen I get a glass of watuh pleezz?

fair trade

2010-11-03T19:11:00.003+08:00

So unfortunately, it was D-Day today for the book I've been dying in anticipation for. Until a few days ago, I haven't logged on to the computer in so many times a day. And now---

I swear to get around to responding to your emails. So sorry, Ligs! And Tiff and Daene and Jen! I am saving up energy for when I let loose on the keyboard. When.

I also swore I'd exercise but I'm weak and pathetic. So instead of exercising (and duh, it was just a re-run of Glee today), I just decided to forgo Coke and chocolates.

And I'm thinking if I can stick to a third cup of rice during mealtimes...

... still thinking.

And thinking's too much of a job when I've still yet to finish HEA. Yippey!!!

it's here!

2010-11-03T10:54:00.004+08:00

MABELLE!!! I WAS TRYING TO CALL YOU! I'M SENDING IT TO YOU VIA EMAIL TOO!!!

one pound down

2010-11-03T10:51:00.003+08:00

I told my mother, "Mom, 130 pounds na ako!"
And she said, "Maabutan mo na ako. 134 ako."
Huhuhu. And I haven't even had babies yet!!!

So I told my brother, "Kuya, 130 pounds na ako!"
And my brother said, "Magpagupit ka na."
Hmmm. One pound din yun!!! Hahaha!
... considering...

que horror! 130?

2010-11-02T19:36:00.004+08:00

I have officially hit the 130 pound mark on the weighing scale. Gaano kabigat ba 'yung pig intestines na 'yun?

I am hoping some of that is contributed by the jeans, shirt and underwear I was wearing.

I have to exercise. I promise to run tomorrow. For at least thirty minutes!!!

Please send me your positive energy!

dinner at yakki mix

2010-11-01T23:04:00.003+08:00

Awesome dinner at Yakki Mix:

Mabs reveals the inner griller in her. Pume-perfect ang beef and bacon!

As we wait for Daene to arrive from work and finally emerge from traffic, Mabs and I reminisce about our career horror stories. Yes, I was only worth sixteen thousand a month. And Mabs needs a job that doesn't induce her to ask, "What's your category? What's your category?!" in her sleep.

After X rounds of Happy Birthday songs on an otherwise unremarkable Thursday night, Daene arrives and scurries for the buffet. She later shows us that her multi-tasking/ADHD ways are detrimental to her culinary skills, which in turn brings out Mabelle's inner, inner nurturing skills.

We toast to fat-laden food, foremost of which is the pig intestine which has added another layer to the fat coating my arteries--Mabs' accidental fortunate/unfortunate discovery on the buffet table (now I know why they prefer to not label the meats).

Then Daene and I try our hand in psychoanalysis.

And Daene becomes my chauffer for the night. (Ask her to switch to Taxi Mode, and her accent changes too. Pwede! Galeeeeng!)

Definitely a night of great food and even better company!

Thanks, Mabs and Daene!

hurry, november, hurry!

2010-11-01T23:00:00.001+08:00

Mystery still surrounds why Powerbooks has this already!

belly buster dinner

2010-10-12T20:12:00.005+08:00

Threw away my measuring cup and gave in to the call of the gut---

Yangchow and bacon-slice fried liempo for appetizer.
Hot home-cooked mami for entree.
Excellente ham pandesal for dessert.

(No pictures because my hands were occupied elsewhere. And no food to take pictures of, anyway.)

Swear, I felt a creeping pain at the back of my neck, reminiscent of a long-ago Tong Yang family showdown. Took an Advil right after dinner just in case.

If I die tonight in my sleep due to the fats clogging my arteries, let it be known I would have died happy.

go mi nam in 100 ways

2010-10-11T00:13:00.006+08:00

No infringement intended. Please allow my compulsive need to hear his voice over and over again and to fantasize.

There is a pathetic loser in me for doing this but I swear, I couldn't help myself. If a guy can look like a girl and still have a voice like that----sigh! Honey, get me a piece of that!

I swear, the voice--! I can't even finish my sentences. Can I just say--If a guy could say my name like that, I would gladly be his pleasure slave! I love!

Audio O, my friend. Audio O.

find the funny 2

2010-10-08T17:22:00.003+08:00

So my brother and I were on an errand trip into the city. We were cruising along the street behind Makati Med. The red was on the stoplight when this caught our attention.

Hope the driver drives carefully! Hahaha! Find what's wrong in this picture!

find the funny 1

2010-10-05T19:24:00.003+08:00

I had been stuck in traffic for more than two hours. I was only fifteen minutes away from my destination had it just been any other day but the traffic gods--or should I say, mere mortals?--decided otherwise.

Sitting on the driver's seat, dancing and "singing" along to the radio, I was on the edge of my sanity. And I saw this:

Find what's wrong in the picture!

puto bongbong time!

2010-10-05T18:59:00.007+08:00

I CAN ALREADY TASTE CHRISTMAS!!! Doesn't this look just divine?

Puto bongbong bought along the roadside near Pagsanjan's town square

Talk about a four-layer, gut-busting calorific fest:

Malagkit.
Butter.
Muscovado sugar.
And gumaan (which is buko halfway to being niyog--slimy goodness! I didn't realize that there was more to the buko-niyog dichotomy!).

Here's a close-up shot to get those glands working! Hahaha!

Yuuummmmyyyy!!!!

I would also recommend the puto bongbong found in Rustans' Supermarket Makati right beside the Vargas pastry/bakery kiosk (I forget the name). At fifty bucks a pop, it's comparatively pricey but hey!--it's sure to satisfy your bongbong cravings. And it wouldn't hurt to get Vargas' BRAZO BOMBS. They are literally THE BOMB! Will take a pic and post when I get to buy another batch.

balinspiration

2010-09-30T00:13:00.009+08:00

With life pretty much at a standstill and with an exciting adventure in the horizon (omo!), I couldn't help but go back memory lane.

For much needed inspiration.

one of the gi-i-i-irls...?

2010-09-29T22:46:00.003+08:00

Got bitten by the OC bug tonight and I unearthed Doy's card for my birthday/Christmas gift:

It was a throwback to when I was so into Katy Perry (getting into concert mode). I was sitting at the back of Doy's car--Chettie sits shot gun--and was so into singing Katy's One of the Boys when Doy joined in. Bwahahaha!!! It was so weird to hear him singing to Katy's lyrics. Bwahahaha!!!

Crazy.

ladies who lunch

2010-09-16T19:20:00.003+08:00

Had a late lunch with my brother today at Brothers Burger, just in time to catch the deadline for the Hot Bites meal. Behind him, I saw a very quaint scene. I couldn't help but sneak a pic.

I hope I get to do this one day with my girlfriends too. One day.

bring on the Rain!!!

2010-09-09T20:20:00.001+08:00

I CAN'T WAIT!!!
FANGIRL MODE OFFICIALLY ON!!!

the liggy project

2010-09-02T23:34:00.003+08:00

Happy 25th, Ligs!!! Ria and I met up for a movie date and we thought we'd take you along for your birthday!

THE LIGGY PROJECT

Happy Birthday!!!

not so mani

2010-08-25T19:23:00.005+08:00

Question: How wrong can one get when it comes to frying peanuts?

Answer: If that "one" is me, then the answer is two... so far. It's just so ironic that "mani" should mean easy. It's not the case at all.

My first attempt at cooking THE BEST ADOBONG MANI EVER started with golden promise.

I even chopped the garlic nicely, so they can also be eaten as garlic chips. I was supposed to wait for the popping sound. I eventually heard it, but did not know whether I should wait until the pot sounded like a popcorn machine. (Note to self: Not.) I got impatient so I turned up the heat and this is what came of it:

(Hoped the salt and secret something could hide the bitterness)

Obviously not what I was aiming for. It tastes the way it looks like, FYI. Went directly to trash.

So I attempted my second. This time around, I just whacked the garlic till kingdom come and threw that into the pot. Who cares? But I had to restrain myself with the heat and reminded myself to be patient.

The second attempt came out like this:

My initial reaction was: Waaaah!!! (Angels singing in the background.) Finally, golden nuts! Added salt and a little secret something--and voila!!!

But I still can't sell it. I asked Kuya Boyet's opinion. Masyadong fried pala. (And I wonder why I can't make it a nice mahogany color.) Which means I should cut back on fry time. So frustrating. But it is just my second attempt. There will be another one! Or two, depends.

So until my third attempt, here are some notes:

1. Wait for first few pops and then quit.

2. Peanut popping does not mean popcorn popping.

3. Add garlic a bit later. If we set cooking time at 15 minutes, throw into the pot on the fifth minute.

4. Just wash nuts thoroughly. Need not boil.

5. Look for longer or bigger nuts. Seriously.

vancouver love

2010-08-23T16:04:00.003+08:00

I do wish I was there! May the VISA GODS hear you and me! Hahaha!

Miss you back heaps and heaps, Aya, Ligs, and My Fellow New York-New York Coaster Screamer (btw---Belated Happy Birthday!!!)!

christmas in august

2010-08-19T21:39:00.003+08:00

August 18, boring afternoon. Mabs texts me out of nowhere, asking about my mailing address. She tells me she is about to send something to me. I love! A letter? A cryptic note? Nothing like a dose of mystery and a drizzle of anticipation to spice things up in the quiet countryside.

Totally felt like a hot spy. (Yes, Mabs, hotness is part of the fantasy.)

Fast forward to August 19, jam-packed day, culminating in the cleaning of the aquarium. My mom comes up with a bright red package. Could only mean one thing! Am surprised the package is thicker and heavier. Was expecting something more like an envelope. And a list of Mabs' favorite romance novels she can't admit in public.

I run my hands across the package, pressing the shiny cellophane against the surface underneath. Letters apparent: O. R. A. R. O. B. E. ...in a font I know so well!

My heart swells and my jaw slackens! I can't say the F word so I say WHATTHE--???

This is SO not what I was expecting! There are no words! Mabs includes a note---

Kahit fifty pesos ang nakalagay sa bar code nito, at mas mahal pa ang pagpapadala, sobrang priceless 'to. Highlight of August! You are definitely a Santa. And it's Christmas five months early. Christmas and birthday combined. Throw in V-day pa!

I'm already thinking of writing down my thoughts on the books I've read. There are lots of white space for doodling! I'll leave space for you, Mabs. (And for you, too, Ligs, if you get hooked!)

Seriously, thanks, Mabs! These--the book and the OVERALL EXPERIENCE (naks!)--are just priceless! Definitely one for the books. And for the blog!

Rissee's Romantic Must-Reads

2010-08-12T22:54:00.007+08:00

I don't think I've ever touched a "serious" book--the type that gets you thinking about what your life is worth and world peace--not one since I cracked Tuesdays with Morrie and that was because I felt pressured to up the ante on my literary menu and Tuesdays was thin enough for my attention span.

If a person came up to me and asked, "What would you recommend me to read?" I'd be stumped for... a considerable while.

... Processing, please stand by!

I've read the same formula over and over again and consequently, most of the time I have trouble recollecting characters and plots. (... and I wouldn't exactly want to reveal that my taste in reading is limited to chick flick on paper.)

So when you asked me, Ligs, I was stumped. And was stumped for a considerable while. And had to regroup and think.

I'm afraid my list would just turn out to be a Nora Roberts fanfest. And had to consider our new way of categorizing stories: "too scandalous!" or "not scandalous enough!" Hahaha!

After several thoughtful showers, I came up with a list: Rissee's Romantic Must-Reads. (Mabs, I wonder what yours would look like!) No criteria used whatsoever. Just thought of books that made an impression!

Hope you enjoy, Ligs! :)

Disclaimer: I reserve the right to modify said list based on changing hormone levels and/or significant realizations made upon second, third, fourth, xth consumption of the book.

Rissee's Romantic Must-Reads
arranged by author, but no hierarchical preference even in that

Judith McNaught's Paradise -- just an all around classic and keeper (can't believe this book was written almost twenty years ago!)
Judith McNaught's Until You -- literally the first ever, full-on romance book I read. Made me realize that I don't need to stick to Mary Higgins Clark (talk about "not scandalous enough") and Sidney Sheldon (who has the tendency to tip the scales towards "too scandalous"). Might be putting this on the list for sentimental reasons, but what the heck? Couldn't hurt!
Judith McNaught's Once and Always -- there's something about men realizing that they were wrong and that their women were right all along (Freaky Geek, this is for you!)
Judith McNaught's Something Wonderful -- one of the most awkwardly titled novels (How generic can that get? Come to think it, so is Once and Always.) but the story shouldn't let you down. Formula amnesia-story, but great scenarios written in, e.g. fencing in flower-filled fields with a puppy... Trust me, Judith writes it better than me. In the spirit of full disclosure, I think this one made me cry. Back in high school. I'm more jaded now.
Meg Cabot's Heather Wells series: Size 12 is not Fat, Size 14 is not Fat Either, and Big Boned -- I can't imagine how I was able to survive Meg's yakky narrative but I had good memories with this series.
Meg Cabot's The Boy series: The Boy Next Door, Boy Meets Girl, and Every Boy's Got One -- In retrospect, may be the best books or most consumable reads written by Meg. Also had interesting exchanges using email.
Nora Roberts' Chesapeake Bay Trilogy + 1: Sea Swept, Rising Tides, Inner Harbor, and Chesapeake Blue -- must be read as a set... Don't worry, once you start reading, you'll just have to finish it almost by sheer compulsion. (Ligs, raid your in-law's library! Mabs, you got me into this rut!)
Nora Roberts' In the Garden series: Blue Dahlia, Black Rose... but feel free to skip Red Lily unless you're compelled to find out how Nora closes the series.
Nora Roberts' Endings & Beginnings -- just read this one recently; couldn't help but be reminded of Michelle Pfeiffer and Robert Redford in Up Close and Personal (cue in Celine Dion singing Because You Loved Me) but there's something to be said about a guy who grabs you in throes of jealousy and tells you straight on: I'll marry you. Bwahahaha! Whatever! Generic title, bad book cover, but worth sitting down to read--if you like men grabbing you and... stuff. :)

Am throwing out Julie Garwood out of the list. Reading those again made me gag. Hindi ko na ma-take ang men in skirts and lairds.

Shucks, I didn't expect my list to be so short! Considering other writers--

Julia Quinn? One note.

Susan Mallery--great plots but too scandalous. Same goes for Donna Kauffman. Seriously, too scandalous.

Jude Deveraux--there's something about the way she writes that makes me impatient.

Stephenie Meyer--don't even get me started on this one. What was I thinking?

I would've thought that with the number of novels (including Sweet Valley and countless and forgettable Harlequins) I've sifted through my literary life, I'd've made a more mind-blowing list. But if you want to read rom, then these are sure-fires. Well, probably except for Meg's Heather Wells series which isn't hardcore but a fun read--I'll leave that up to you to decide.

Ligs, tell me if you've raided your in-law's lib yet. And I'd like to know whatchuthink!

Mabs--no pressure, but if you've got time to spare. Come up with a list, too. I'd like to know what's on your fave list.

was at mt. fuji...

2010-08-12T22:41:00.002+08:00

... in spirit.

Thanks, Ri. I got your postcard this morning and had to laugh at your message.

Hehehe--don't worry, I understand! :)

restlessness leads to...

2010-08-03T17:31:00.005+08:00

an uninspired pot of tomato pasta and limp, overly salty baked potato wedges. I am not at my culinary best, which even if I were, is just enough to get by.

I'm sitting here thinking that it seems like January was just a week ago. Because it's difficult to believe that it's already August. Way past the halfway mark of the year. And in less than six months, it'll be Christmas again. Then New Year. And before I know it, August again.

The days run into each other. I think back--really hard--and try to think what's happened in the year so far and my mind blanks out. US. Bali. Sister getting married. What else? Where has all the time gone?

Am I being sucked into routine now? I used to be happy with routine; a refreshing change from the uncertain. And now--?