• Kill the damn cigarette’s light when you throw it on the sidewalk. Better yet, use a damn ashtray!
• Do not smoke before a meeting, interview or any business related engagement that requires a good first impression.
• Scrimp on everything but food.
• It’s always good to fake a call when trying to get away from something or someone.
• Choose your battles. Anger management 101.
• If you like to eat, learn how to cook.
• There’s always something cheaper than that.
• No amount of make-up can give you class if you don’t really have it.
• A cockroach is a cockroach whether dead or alive, crawling or flying, moving or still.

The key to succeeding in a Relationship is not finding the right person; it’s learning to love the Person you found.

Are you with the right partner?
During an open forum, a woman asked,” How do I know if I am with the right person?”

The speaker then noticed that there was a large man sitting next to her so he said, “It depends. Is that your partner?” In all seriousness, she answered “How do you know?” Let me answer this question because the chances are good that it’s weighing on your mind replied the speaker.

Here’s the answer.

Every relationship has a cycle… In the beginning; you fall in love with your partner. You anticipate their calls, want their touch, and like their individual or unique characteristics­ . Falling in love wasn’t hard. In fact, it was a completely natural and spontaneous experience. You didn’t have to DO anything. That’s why it’s called “falling” in love.

People in love sometimes say, “I was swept of my feet.”Picture the expression. It implies that you were just standing there; doing nothing, and then something happened TO YOU.

Falling in love is a passive and spontaneous experience. But after a few months or years of being together, the euphoria of love fades. It’s a natural cycle of EVERY relationship.

Slowly but surely, phone calls become a bother (if they come at all), touch is not always welcome (when it happens), and your spouse’s individual or unique characteristics­ , instead of being cute, it’ll drive you nuts. The symptoms of this stage vary with every relationship; you will notice a dramatic difference between the initial stage when you were in love and a much duller or even angry subsequent stage.

At this point, you and/or your partner might start asking, “Am I with the right person?” And as you reflect on the euphoria of the love you once had, you may begin to desire that experience with someone else. This is when relationships breakdown.

The key to succeeding in a relationship is not finding the right person; it’s learning to love the person you found.

People blame their partners for their unhappiness and look outside for fulfillment. Extramarital fulfillment comes in all shapes and sizes.

Infidelity is the most common. But sometimes people turn to work, a hobby, friendship, excessive TV, or abusive substances. But the answer to this dilemma does NOT lie outside your relationship. It lies within it.

I’m not saying that you couldn’t fall in love with someone else. You could. And TEMPORARILY you’d feel better. But you’d be in the same situation a few years later.

Because (listen carefully to this):

The key to succeeding in a Relationship is not finding the right person; it’s learning to love the Person you found.

SUSTAINING love is not a passive or spontaneous experience. You have to work on it day in and day out. It takes time, effort, and energy. And most importantly, it demands WISDOM. You have to know WHAT ( TO DO to make it work. Make no mistake about it.

Love is NOT a mystery. There are specific things you can do (with or without your partner), Just as there are physical laws Of the universe (such as gravity), there are also laws for relationships. If you know how to apply these laws, the results are predictable.

Love is therefore a “decision”. Not just a feeling.

Remember this always: It’s not pre-determined who walks into your life. It is up to you to decide who you let walk away, who you let stay, and who you refuse to let GO.

This is a repost I found on Facebook. Nothing is mine.

WRAP 2012
My 2012 wasn’t a blast. I didn’t reach my goals, I went through a lot of life-changing-decision-making challenges. Fortunately I learned from it all, met new people, made new connections, traveled a bit and gained weight. The last bit is not at all “fortunate”, though. It was a life and death year. Before 2012 ended I became an official godmother to 10 kids, went to at least three wakes, left a beloved brand, fell out of love and broke at least 3 pairs of shoes. Nothing so interesting really happened.

PROMISE 2013
I took the time to research on my feng shui, horoscope and moon sign fortune for 2013. Lo and behold all of them are saying positive fortune. I feel truly optimistic this year, relaxed, calm, and assertive. So I proudly list here my 2013 promises:

• Be a girl who combs her hair and owns a hair brush.
• Live healthier ;]
• Really save money
• Travel to 3 *new* local destinations
• Write again
• Do better work
• Really save money
• Choose my battles
• Be more patient

There, that simple! This should serve as a reminder to myself that I have goals I can’t delay no more. You shouldn’t, too! So let’s get this 2013 crackin, yeah!

Have some class.

We all dream of going somewhere, having something and being someone. Even before we finish school we already have this grand life plan. Things are bright and happy as we walk up that stage, shake their hands, and grab that diploma.

Somewhere along the way, the painful reality of life hits us. Our dreams seem to be so hazy and impossible. We look around, everybody seems fine but yourself. Friends are going places, buying things, laughing, enjoying, carefree. Desperation grows and it eats you from inside.

It is a gift to experience being lost during your youth. If taken positively, it will make you a stronger person. Do not measure success by looking at your friends who travel every month, buy the latest gadget as soon as available and earning much more than you do. If you’re doing what you love with the people that you like and look up to, learning a lot along the way, making mistakes and growing your experiences then you are as success as everybody else.

I had grands dreams for my life thee years ago. Some part of it had come true, some are still waiting in line. I grew desperate and impatient but I learned and matured. I dream of flight, not just to places but in all aspects of life in general. My flight is just taking time to board, maybe giving me more time to prepare so that anytime we take off, I am ready to go along.

bracelet from Papemelroti P229 only :]

It’s not the first time somebody told me that I’m a boring person, and it wasn’t a shock the first time. Although I am sure to be a highly animated person when telling my stories, I have theories of how I am a boring person on the side :]

1. Coffee shops. I can spend almost a full day in a coffee shop drinking tea while either doing something on the computer or reading a book. I drink tea instead of coffee or those excitingly flavorful blended drinks.
2. Shopping. Yeah I like clothes and shoes and bags and whatevers but given the money to shop, I’d rather buy home and kitchen stuff instead of clothes. My friends wonder why I always have to visit the Home section of malls/ stores  when shopping. Oh and if I have to shop for clothes, I enjoy “boring” stores like Marks & Spencer, Debenhams and the likes. I guess I’m more of a department store person :]
3. Movies. I do not watch nor do I appreciate horror movies. I just don’t get it.
4. Party. Although I used to party harder than anything else I did in college, there is a very high possibility of me wanting to go home after 3 drinks or less. It’s not because I am drunk but because of my parents. I mean, curfew. Yes at 24 I still have curfew. My parents would go ballistic if we go home past 9pm. Unless I am set to sleep over some poor friend’s house, the latest I can stay out is 11pm to be sure to get home my 12 midnight. Oh, and I can also be very still and quiet when I’m out drinking :]
5. Food. I can eat pasta without sauce. Not a problem. I eat pancit canton without the oil. And there should always be tea. I am not a fan of rice meals. This is a huge issue as a Filipino.

These are the simplest reasons why I am classified as a boring person. What makes a boring person anyway?

Weekday dinners are usually about school, their school life and not ours. My parents are both teachers-public school teachers. You see, we didn’t grow up rich but we were comfortable. Despite the known low compensation of being public school teachers, I’m glad that my parents were able to send us to good schools and guided us well. And it’s sad to know that there are kids who are not getting good education and guidance from their parents and their school.

Earlier tonight my parents were discussing the new education system. If you haven’t heard of it, Google it. I learned that they now give modules for the kids to study and then teachers are supposed to discuss it with them in class expecting that they read it and somehow understood it. I don’t know if this is the same system in other countries but I know of a school here in the Philippines who does that system and it works. Unfortunately, it is not working in some public schools. My father was complaining about this system.

“How can that work if they don’t even know how to read!”, he said.
I wouldn’t be shocked if he was teaching Kindergartens but my dad teaches in high school! I choked on my tea. A high school student who couldn’t read?? I didn’t believe and thought he was exaggerating as he always does, but he confirmed it to be true and happening. There is really something wrong.

It was my mother’s turn to tell her experience. She said she was supposed to give a pop quiz or something on woodworking so she gave them a reviewer (basically what the quiz will be), asked them to read it and memorize. I know that’s lame, but she knows from her 20+ years of teaching that it is what works. So on the day of her “quiz” her first question was What is woodworking?. She waited for an answer. No one. She threw an easier question and still nothing. Of course she got mad, I think, and reminded them that she already gave them the reviewer and all they have to do was to read it. And her students said,

“Ma’am, pwede niyo po bang Tagalog-in?” (Ma’am can you translate it in Tagalog?)
She had a comment about this which I will not share. Just like my dad, mother teaches high school students. There must really be something wrong. High school kids can’t read and they don’t understand English. Oh what I’d like to do about it.

My parents kept expressing their frustrations on “kids today”. They said it’s so different, they feel like they’re going crazy. The new teacher my mom’s school recently hired wants to quit teaching because she can’t believe how kids are today. Mom also said that their youngest and prettiest teachers now look losyang. 

I really don’t know what is going on with Philippines education but I do hope the government stops adopting other countries’ method and study what will really work for our students and still hone them to be globally competitive. I honestly didn’t mind before when they first slashed my school’s budget, but now I am so worried more than ever. One of my dreams is to become financially able and go to far-flung communities to share what little I have. Yes I probably got my parents’ teaching blood but I’d to do it differently and give it more meaning.

I’d like for my parents to stop working and just relax but I can’t give them that comfort now. But I’m glad they are still trying their best to help these kids in school. Yes they break rules sometimes but I’m sure they do more good than harm.

I salute all teachers, specially the good and patient ones. May there be more budget for you so you’d be more inspired to do great job. Yes teaching is not about money but it will help. A lot. May the government recover from its longtime hang-over and get it through their thick skulls that something is wrong, and that whatever it is they’re doing is not working.

My friend Cami, and I have been living in utmost poor-dom. There had been times when we have to make do with what little money we have. We were both used to meeting at Coffeebean at least 3 times a week and just spend a work night there, sometimes do a little shopping as well since we’re in the mall. We’d just swipe and swipe our credit cards, buy clothes and stuff we don’t need, buy make up and try things. Now our money burning days are over. Our dates are now usually once a month, we’d eat fishballs or isaw, or we’ll just text each other :] I have literally survived on P500 for a week!

I’ve learned to get rid of my old senseless habits that involve spending valuable cash. Now that I have more bills to pay, a brother in college and a crazy mother, I really need to cut my expenses. Cami would be better at giving advice on how to do this since she’s more controlled when it comes to spend. As for me, well, I have low EQ and you know the rest of my faults. So here’s some tips on how you can stretch your money to the very limit.

1. Avoid malls. This was a challenge for me since I pass by at least 2 malls on my way home. If it’s really unavoidable, at least have that self control to not spend a peso. Window shopping can be fun. If there’s that cute dress you’ve been dying to buy, try it on and stay inside the fitting room for more than 5 minutes. Enjoy the dress and put it back in the rack!
2. Bring water. This is essentially helpful during hot days. You might not mind spending little money on drinks each time you get thirsty but if you add up all the money you spent on drinks, you might be surprised how much money you’ve used!
3. Don’t go to the grocery hungry. When you need to shop for supplies in the supermarket, eat something first because if you go there in an empty tummy there’s a higher chance that you’ll end up buying food that you really do not need. The various food choices in the store might appeal to you more than usual when you are hungry.
4. Go out 20 nights less. If you’re used to going out every single night of your life, you better stop. We all know it’s not a necessary thing to do. But if yo must, make sure you have a friend who is more than willing to treat you or pay for everything. If you don’t have that friend, don’t go out. And if you still must, why not invite your friends over to your house instead or sleep over at a friend’s house and have a little house party. Beer is cheaper in the grocery store and so are the chips. This way you wouldn’t also have to worry about cab fare or getting raped on your way home and meeting a maniac in the bar.
5. Use the right ATM. If you need to withdraw money, do it in your bank’s ATM. If you withdraw in another bank’s machine, you will be charged at least P11 per transaction. You might not mind that small fee for now, but just like in buying drinks every day, the small amount will be a huge amount in time.
6. Eat in. Yes it is fun to eat out most of the time. Sometimes it’s our way to treat ourselves or to relieve or reward us after a shitty day. Why not just give yourself a nice smile and a pat at the back instead and eat at home. Surely that is a cheap and lame reward but hey, it’ll go a long way :]
7. Commute. And I mean ride the bus, jeepney, or train. I’m an every day commuter but I do enjoy riding the cab. It’s relatively hassle-free and cooler than all other PUVs, but it’s also the most expensive. If you really need to cab every day, at least have another person with you to split the fare. If you are driving, well I suppose you have the money to pay for your own gas and car insurance. If you don’t, then you know what to do.
8. Weekend at home. Stay at home on most weekends, specially if it’s a payday weekend. Mall sales are crazy on payday weekends, so temptations. Grab some chips or cook whatever is in your fridge. Drink champagne or something. Just stay at home.

Well I guess that’s it. Or that’s all I have experienced in my save-some-money days. And I’m still doing these things now. I haven’t been back up yet, but I am on my way. If you have other suggestions to add to the list, please tell me about them!

Good night for now :)

x

Click for photo source.

There are only 2 out 12 months when I panic and fear for my existence; it’s December and May. December simply because it’s Christmas and last year was not a good Christmas season for me financially. And May, because it is my birth month.  Birthdays come only once a year, like every holiday. But this birthday is our day. More than any other celebration, this is what I always want to be the happiest. Although I usually share my birthday with either Election Day or Mothers’ Day, I always see to it that we have a mini celebration for me :)

So May has arrived and I am panicking. I have very little money and so many debts. My birthday is 5 days before payday. Imagine the torture that brings. I welcomed May with hard labor, little money and optimism :) What else can you do, right?
And May greeted us with an orange sky yesterday. Did you see it? Everything was yellow-orange-ish, I though I have Hepatitis.

So my plans for May is to have a nice and simple birthday merienda with some friends and the family at home. I also aim to spend less since I’ll be helping with my brother’s college dues. I am also open to whatever raket there is and/or a higher paying job, maybe :)

The sad part is that I feel that I am not living anymore. I go to work, do things and not be able to finish everything, eat, work, go home, work, sleep. I literally can’t afford to go on leave or do anything like that. While most of people at my age are buying their new gadgets and enjoying the beach, I am sulking. The only thrill I did was to watch The Avengers twice. Yeah.

So hello, May! Give me moolah, damn it!

I came up with my own conclusion of why Filipinos don’t buy local. This might not be true for FMCG, but it somehow applies to retail merchandise such as clothing, footwear and similar stuff.

“…have class A taste but have C purchasing power.”

I first heard that from a friend during college. Yes we all want the best product for the lowest possible price but I noticed that more than our choice of corned beef or peanut butter brand, Filipinos choose foreign brands for most of the things they own. Most apparels and footwear available in the market are either made in USA or China. If you are a local brand, it is not acceptable that your shoes are priced more than P1,000 or shirts more than P400. It is true that China made things are way cheaper simply because they have the ability to mass produce everything and they have a lot of materials. In the Philippines, we do not have the materials, maybe manpower as well and people do not really buy any more.

What most people do not understand is that locally produced goods are not usually made in huge quantities. Also, in some cases, you also pay for the artists, design and uniqueness. I know some brands who share the same sentiment of people not appreciating the value of art in a shoe or shirt. Another thing is that I think locally made products are more durable and have really good quality. That is also part of what you pay for, by the way. I have this local flat shoes which survived several flooded streets and my mom’s constant washing.

I am lucky to have experienced production of footwear. It helped me appreciate a brand’s struggle just to come out with a really cool product. Believe me it’s not just leather or canvas and rubber. It’s also blood, sweat and tears. You make gazillion prototypes before you perfect a single pair. You make twenty million adjustments in design before you make it fit the pattern properly. You get ten thousand rejects out of the ten thousand one pairs you ordered. It is not easy, even if it’s a reorder.

One simple thing a Filipino can do to help the country is to buy local. You might not see the good you bring after purchasing but it helps a lot. Thanks to you a shoe maker’s family had a decent meal, an artist got more inspired to produce more masterpiece, and an entrepreneur realized he is not making garbage. If you are in doubt, ask the salesperson more about the product. They’d be more than willing to share with you how Filipino craftsmen, artists, and entrepreneur worked together to give you a sensible and useful 100% Filipino product.

Be proud. Buy Pinoy, buy local :)

With the smallest investment in the right places, you can radically transform the quality of your relationships and the quality of your life.

Work-Life balance is not about having the biggest lot of money, rather it’s having a life well lived. I had goals for myself when I reach 23-24 but I am certainly not anywhere near it. At this point of my life, I am disappointed at myself, really. I am not sure if I am doing the right, always sacrificing.

Yes it is not about money but when you’ve lived most of your life being somehow poor, it will always be about money. Some people might say I am so greedy always thinking about money. I am not ashamed. It is my priority right now. I remember my mom asking me before if I really want to transfer to company X even though it means demoting my salary to half. I said yes, I wouldn’t need the money anyway. Now I know it’s the stupidest thought and decision I have made.

Having a balanced work-life situation is probably about doing what you have to do at work as a productive employee, get paid right, spend your day offs as a productive individual and enjoy. That is somehow my problem. It is a struggle for me not to check my email at night, during weekends/holidays, and even while traveling to and from work. I work at least 8 hours a day, commute for at least 2, sleep for at least 5,  and the rest is divided for food, emails, bath, drink, wait, rant, and think.

Definitely the sacrifices I made in my life are not the right ones. I think I can only start balancing life and work when I already find that little place that I really want to be in. I should have a life after six!  Why am I stuck while everyone is having fun. You can’t follow your dreams while crushing mine!

Last week I was thinking of having a simple lunch with my most significant acquaintances to date plus the family. I thought my raket with my sister will cover it but with all the dues I have to pay, I would not make it. My birthday is on the 10th and my payday is only once a month, every 15th. So imagine my struggle every 9th-14th of every month. I never thought I’d be living from pay check to pay check but maybe this is a test. A very difficult test. The most difficult I’ve had so far.

So tonight I’ve decided to just have a simple merienda celebration with fewer guests. It will still be fun as long as there is alcohol and red velvet cupcakes :) I was actually “designing” my invitation this afternoon. I am really excited. A celebration is not necessary but with all that I am going through right now, I just want positive days and happy energies around. It’s no secret that my life plan is not playing out as I hoped it would. There’s sacrifices to make and it greatly affects my pocket :) But, I am still going to have this birthday. And as always, I will share my birthday with Mothers’ Day and our 24th anniversary living in our home.

I am so looking forward to May!

This past week, I’ve had these really random rants is my head mostly about life and the government. You might not enjoy this but let’s go through it anyway.

• Why are we so dependent on gas? And I don’t just mean gas for our cars. I wish the government will finally invest on technology which create energy not dependent on gas. Why not use the sun and water? They’ve been around since I don’t know when.
• When will corruption go down by at least 50%. Well you know how much better it will be if our officials have conscience.
• Why do I have low EQ? The biggest impact of this is that my face will be forever fat and I won’t be able to maintain a slimming diet.
• Why don’t I have the luxury to do things I want to do?
• Why is God roasting the Philippines?
• Why do we have moles?? And why do I keep having new ones!

Today I just learned to stop chasing after something because it will keep running away from you. So does it mean I should stop going after money, independence and iPad? But they say chase your dreams. Yes I need more money just enough to close my credit card account, regain my “held-up” saving and pay off something. Yes it’s a need, not simply a want. I want independence from my parents and heaven knows I want an iPad.

After this you might say, Work for it, you stupid breech! 
I answer you, I am, you farting grassbowl!

There you go.
Goodnight, star bright :)

We celebrated life and death holiday. Found out my ninang’s mom died do we went to her wake and funeral. It was the lightest wake and funeral I’ve been to. There weren’t tears. It was like a get-together of family and friends. She died of colon cancer, and although it’s really sad to lose a loved one, they are just happy that her long suffering has ended and that she is in a happy place now.

We also went to my lolo. He died on the 6th and his birthday was on the 8th. I still remember how I found out about it. I was turning 11 that year, came home from a camping trip and the news got to me in a really bad way.

We also did the usual Visita Iglesia. I wish I can do this in a province next year. I prayed hard, reflected and did a lot of thinking again. I am more spiritual than religious, I think. I used to regularly visit a church and do some thinking in the adoration chapel. So yeah I did some sorting of life. I still don’t know how to earn extra money to settle all my debts but I’ll get to that in the right time. At least now I somehow know which direction to take and what to do :] I wish it sticks!

So help me, God :)

It could be anything but I think having so many sugary foods contribute, don’t you think?
But whatever, we should just always:

• Drink a lot of water
• Exercise and sleep
• Drink a lot of water

But my stay in LB was much safer. It was more fun. We weren’t in the news almost every month. The city didn’t have to pass a liquor ban of some sort, they only shut us up when the music gets too loud. We were able to roam in the campus til 2am without worrying for our lives. Deaths and dangers around/ within campus are now in headlines. Alcohol ban, curfew and whatnots are now passed.

All I want to say to you is please be more protective of our beloved campus and its surroundings. Look out for one another. Send a strong sense to all evil spirits that are not welcome there. Make LB a simple and happy place. You don’t need to flash your riches. Make your stay worthwhile, meaningful and unforgettable. Do good, students. Love UPLB.

Hello to shorter hair! It’s not really short, but it’s shorter then usual. I trim my own own up to 2 inches and I think I only get a real haircut once a year max :]

I made the photo smaller so you won’t be shocked with my huge face! :]

Next is my blog overhaul. I upgraded my DUSTER theme to TWENTY ELEVEN. I didn’t really know what to expect but it looks the same. I lost my header though so I had to recreate it. I added 3 ugly face shots, made my links green because it’s my favorite color, switched to dark theme, transferred the side bar on the left, and with the help of my friend Jonver I finally learned how to add a menu on the top bar! Browsing is now easier :] Hooray! I feel so blog-techy now. Haha.

Lastly, I’ve thought of a March project already! Thanks to Jen and Jonver for introducing red velvet cupcakes to me. I didn’t really appreciate whatever is special with that certain cupcake until I joined their red velvet craze. So for March, I will review different red velvet cupcakes from different brands. I’ve already started and I know I’ll be gaining some pounds because of this :] I’m ready!

That’s all for now! Happy Sunday!

The following day I got a call from Joyce around 2pm. She interviewed me, asked about the basic details, how and when I started my milk tea fanaticism and if I know other people who love milk tea as well. After some minutes of talking, she thanked me for my time and told me to expect another call soon. It was a happy moment for me. The next day she called me again around 9.30 -10pm. At first I didn’t mind that it was really late at night for such call. I know that their work can really get too tedious and that 9 hours a day is not enough to finish all your tasks. But then she called me again the following day, and the day after. We talked a lot and texted a lot. And she kept asking me for contact numbers of friends or colleagues who share the same love for milk tea or even more. She needs someone who drinks at least 4-6 cups a day. I also told her over and over that no I don’t know anyone.

Finally on January 27 she called me for my final interview. It was basically a repeat of all the interviews we did days before. I also told her before that I won’t be in Manila on the show’s airing date (Jan 28 pm) so if I will taped for an interview, it has to be before January 28 am. I was actually sad that they might not interview me anymore since it was already January 27. But on her last call (Jan 27 @ 4:50 pm), Joyce said that they will finally shoot me :) I was really excited. They asked if we can do it in my house. I politely said no since our house is not a nice place to to such interviews in. In the end we agreed that they will just pick me up in Trinoma (where I was at the time of her call) and we’ll shoot in some milk tea cafe. Joyce said she isn’t sure of the exact time and place but “Sure po tuloy tonight” were her exact words.

I was really giddy and didn’t mind that I look like crap already. I decided to buy my groceries while waiting for them. By the way, I was scheduled to go to Sagada on the following day. I haven’t packed yet but since it sounded like a really important interview, I ditched my packing sched instead. Around 6.30pm I was done with my groceries. I went window shopping, store-hopping, and had dinner to kill time. I texted Joyce to ask if they already have a time and place for the interview ‘cos I’ve things to do also. No reply. Good thing I saw my high school friends having coffee in CBTL! I joined them and told about my supposed interview that night.

I waited in Trinoma from 5.30pm to 9:45pm. I didn’t hear from Joyce. I had to spend money for dinner while waiting for them. I was really disappointed. I expected a call from her the following day. Nothing.

In Sagada I was glad our room has TV with cable service. Despite being really tired, I stayed up to watch Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho. The feature on milk tea was the last. I watched it and got really mad. Mad not because my face is not in the show, but mad because my time was really wasted.

I was once in the same industry and I have friends who are show researchers but none of them are like that. She called me every day to interview me and ask for contacts of possible interviewees but she didn’t call me to cancel our scheduled interview. Four hours of my day was wasted. It was very rude of her as a person to do that to me or to anybody. Very rude! There is no excuse for that behaviour and even if it was a friend who did that, I’d probably be as mad.

To Joyce and to other ill-mannered journalists, I hope you’ll be more responsible. Other people’s time are as precious as yours. We also have work to do and life to live. I hope someday you’ll remember to call me and apologize no matter how sarcastic you may sound saying it.

Last December 17, Northern Mindanao experienced flood like they never did in past decades. Unfortunately, typhoon Sendong hit them and caused more than 1,000 people to die. It was a shocker for us in Punchdrunk Panda, that is why we thought of the best way we can help our kababayans in Mindanao. So we tied up with Moonleaf again and held a mini bazaar, along with some bloggers from Bloggers United.

Now it’s time to get me some gifts! Since I have a tight budget, I made sure not to splurge. So, I got me three important and useful stuff. I got me a lazy shirt and sunglasses from Charlie and a new mascara from Maybelline- all were on sale!

Then I got my two favorite gifts:

I almost cried when I saw this. I never really got a super gift for Christmas. Whatever ‘super gift’ means, I dunno. I am soooo happy! Who gave me this? My super bossing Jen :]

Another one is my Yellow Witch Hazel toner:

The special thing about this gift is that I finally found out where to buy aside from ebay. My friend JB gave it to me during our barkada Christmas party . This made me really happy! It’s just a toner but it’s my super essential facial care.

Although 2011 is not and will never be my favorite year, at least it’s filled with kindness and happy surprises and firsts. Not so bad after all :)

Have a blast this 2012!

“If death meant just leaving the stage long enough to change costume and come back as a new character…Would you slow down? Or speed up?” -Chuck Palahniuk

I was in Starbucks when I found out that we lost a very dear friend last November 19. Her death made me think why good people are taken away in such manner. Tin was a very good person. I believe that compared to most of us, she lived an honest, clean, and meaningful life.

Tin and I weren’t really that tight like best buddies, but I have a lot of memories with her. Being such a friendly person, I’m sure there are lots more like me who are really saddened by her passing. My fondest memory of her is that during our theatre days in college. We’d always rant about the daily training we undergo every night, all the crazy dance routines, our costume and even about our director.

That’s her in yellow. Tinay was a happy soul. Although I question God why He took her so early, I believe that Tinay has a higher purpose in life. It’s just her body that we lost, but her happy soul is still with us. Maybe she’s just doing a costume change and will be back after a break. I still don’t know what to say, what to write or what to think. Pardon my un-cohesiveness here.

Tinay, you know we all appreciate you even before your death. In simple ways you have touched each one of us. It is a happier place that you are in now. Watch over us and also bring peace to Benji. May you be happier and peaceful wherever you are now.

Tuesday. I woke up to a text message from my boss saying the I should work from home (WFH) because the weather is so bad. There’s another typhoon set to destroy our country. It’s kinda cold and no matter what I do, I just can’t make my body leave my bed. So I slept for another hour.

After that I decided to work an hour early. Opened my laptop, answered some emails, checked my Facebook, tweet a little and poof! I lost my internet connection. This is not a shocker, as it normally happens that our connection gets crappy during bad weather conditions. Ah, it’ll be back. Surely it did but lost it again, and again and then to my horror, the lights started blinking. The electricity is fluctuating, said my mom. And there you go, all was lost. Darkness remained. Yes it was that dark in the morning.

This lasted the entire day. No electricity. No internet connection. No cellphone signal. No dial tone. No funkin’ nothing! So what did I do the whole day? Well, while the typhoon took its time lashing our neighbourhood, I grabbed a book and attempted to read. I was only successful for 5 minutes. So I went downstairs and opened a pack of Chips Ahoy. Such joy. And I finished the entire bag. Guilty I got on our stationary bike and pedalled some calories off. Then went upstairs, played with the iPod until the battery was drained. Played with my sister’s phone til she scolded me for draining the battery, too.

With nothing else to do, I slept again hoping that when I wake up the electricity will be up. Woke up. Nothing. Slept again. Woke up. Nothing. Time for lunch. Ate. Slept. Nothing. Drank a pack of Yakult. Still nothing.

You might be thinking that there’s a good ending to this entry, but I’m sorry, there’s nothing to expect. Haha! It was a damn day. Nothing happened.

So I end this entry here.