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Rediscovering Old Manila Through Intramuros

2012-02-01T08:34:00.001+08:00

After watching several episodes of Travel Time, I bowed to heed Tita Susan’s advice – Huwag maging dayuhan sa sariling bayan – because after all, it is more fun in the Philippines. So on a moderately hot Saturday morning, my boyfriend and I visited one of Manila’s historical places, the Walled City.

It is a shame that I have studied in Manila for four years and also worked near Intramuros for almost a month but have never stopped to see the gem that is Intramuros. But all that is going to change with my quest to visit more local destinations. When I told my sisters and Mama that I was visiting Intramuros, they just laughed at me. I totally understand this because it doesn’t sound like a ‘special’ destination. Good thing dear boyfriend and I are both into history, vintage things and old architecture.

For hundreds of years, the walled city of Intramuros was Manila: the nerve center of the Spanish occupation in the Philippines, home to several thousand Spanish colonists, their families, and their Filipino servants.

Intramuros was erected on the ruins of a Malay settlement at the mouth of the Pasig River. Its strategic location attracted the attention of the conquistador Miguel Lopez de Legazpi, who took over the area in 1571 and proclaimed it as the Philippine colony's new capital.

For 400 years, Intramuros was the center of Spanish political, religious, and military power in the region. The walled city suffered grievously through World War II; only San Agustin Cathedral was left standing by war's end.

In the 1980s, the government led a major restoration effort that reconstructed Intramuros to its present state. Today, Intramuros is a prominent tourist spot where visitors can experience Spanish-era Manila through the walled city's churches, restaurants, and museums. [About.com]

We originally wanted to follow About.com's suggested itinerary but because I wasn’t feeling well that day, we only visited Fort Santiago and Manila Cathedral. We decided to just finish the itinerary the next time we visit Intramuros.

Disclaimer: The quality of the photos may vary since I used only a cell phone camera. Sorry for the eye sore, guys. But I hope to make it up with the content. :) Also, be warned that this is a photo-heavy post.

We met at Lawton (near Park n’ Ride) and walked towards the Post Office Building where jeeps going to Pier (Port area) pass by. If you don’t mind walking under the heat of Manila, you can walk from Lawton or the Manila City Hall (or any near point) to Intramuros.

If you watched "Ikaw ay Pag-Ibig," you probably saw this place, the Post Office Building, more than twice.

We rode a jeep and went down in front of Casa Rocha and Plaza Roma in A. Soriano Avenue cor. General Luna St. There’s a big sign which says “Fort Santiago.”

You can get this map from the Intramuros Visitors Center.

Pass by Mananzan Handicrafts shop. Ticket booth and entrance to Fort Santiago is along Sta. Clara St.

Clockwise from upper left: Mananzan Handicrafts shop; Casa Rizal in Sta. Clara St.; Fort Santiago marker; Kalesa in front of Fort Santiago ticket booth

Entrance to the Fort Santiago costs Php 75 (for adults) and a little cheaper for students (and senior citizens, I think). Php 75 sounds expensive for some who think that Fort Santiago is nothing special. But I think it’s fair enough. Besides, through this fee, you get to help in the restoration of Intramuros.

Posing at the Plaza Moriones

Fort Santiago map

Once inside, proceed to the Intramuros Visitor’s Center where you can grab some brochures and maps, be amazed at artifacts in the Exhibit Hall, buy some souvenirs, watch some Intramuros documentaries, or just have coffee alfresco style.

We learned a lot from this Exhibit Hall.

The Exhibit Hall currently focuses on education visitors about the Maestranza Site and its Archaelogical Excavation Project. According to my past readings, the excavation is done to expose the foundations of the old walls in order to rebuild it exactly as it stood before it was destroyed by the war. A report said that the restored site will be reopened this year.

Red marks show the Maestranza site on the map. For aspiring archaeologists out there, here’s a bit of knowledge we got from the exhibit. See which kind of materials are used in rebuilding the site.

Clockwise from upper left: Artifacts, including ceramics, gathered from the excavation were placed in glass cases; old cookie jar; coins so old, we could hardly read it

Remains of animals, which either lived in the area or were eaten by our ancestors. This one's a dog skull.

This glass case really attracted me and my boyfriend because we love talking about war history and watching war films. The glass case contains arms and ammunitions. The one on the upper right can surely kill you right away. And oh, the guy on the poster looks a lot like Robert Leckie in The Pacific. Hihi…

Old jars, or as my boyfriend put it, “Mga banga kung saan lumabas ang halimaw.” LOL

Old glass bottles were also on display (hindi pa uso ang plastic noon). The blue one used to hold ink for the pens. The slender ones in the middle are San Miguel Beer bottles. Yes, San Miguel’s that old. And the rounded ones are Tansan bottles. Tansan, I found out in this exhibit, was a softdrink brand.

The Gallery houses various souvenirs (mostly handmade) like keychains with photos of Intramuros landmarks, paintings, accessories, stamps, die-cast jeepney figures and those little cute figurines. Take note that taking pictures of the paintings is not allowed.

Sundries and Sceneries is also a gallery but is displays paintings and old furnitures.

The Teatro shows documentaries about Intramuros and its different landmarks like Fort Santiago, the churches, Baluarte de San Diego, and many more.


Baluartillo De San Francisco Javier

We left the Visitors Center and walked towards the Balluartillo De San Francisco Javier. A lot of foreigners were also checking out Fort Santiago, especially this tunnel, at the time so I thought, hey, foreigners are interested in what this country has to offer. We just need some rehabilitation, improvements here and there, and yes, good promotion, and we’ll drive more tourists here!

As I walked through the tunnel, I imagined our ancestors walking on the same path.

Face-to-face with the tunnel wall

Playing captives at the tunnel gate

Club Intramuros 2000

For golfers out there, there's also a golf club in Intramuros (but outside the walls). It is near the Baluartillo De San Francisco Javier and the Reducto De San Francisco Javier (shrine of our Lady of Guadalupe, which was closed at the time).

At the top of the area where golfers eat is another world of grandeur and vintage elegance. I think they hold events here.

Looking over the golf course and the Reducto

A staircase leads to the roof of the Baluartillo De San Francisco Javier where you can see the golf course and the Our Lady of Guadalupe chapel.

outpost and cannons

There's also an outpost (we're guessing that this was where a "guardia sibil" would look out to check if there were any enemies) and super heavy and old cannon. No chance of moving or even lifting it.

Another cannon; a huge rusty anchor; tall, rusty metal woman and man figures

Ruins (American Barracks)

Elpidio Quirino was once jailed in this old building.

After a long walk, you can sit down and relax at one of the benches around Plaza Moriones which has a fountain in the middle. The park is really charming. :)

signage near Fort Santiago gate; moats; "pag-eemote sa moat"

But everything you've seen is just the introduction! The Fort Santiago proper is inside the gate, that towering stone wall that is hard to miss. It exudes strength and authority that of a fortress. No wonder the Spaniards used it against enemies; it looks so strong and indestructible.

And it is.

Fort Santiago was built by Spanish conquistadors in 1571, replacing the destroyed fortress belonging to the last datu (king) of pre-Hispanic Manila. Over the years, Fort Santiago served as a fortress against marauding Chinese pirates, a prison for Spanish-era political prisoners, and a Japanese torture chamber in World War II. American bombs deployed during the Battle for Manila almost succeeded in destroying the Fort altogether.

A postwar government initiative helped restore Fort Santiago and clean its bad juju away. Today, Fort Santiago is a relaxing place to visit - an enlightening portal into the Philippines' colonial past. [About.com]

Tracing Rizal's footsteps

Under the gate are shiny embossed footsteps tracing the path Rizal walked on from inside the Fort Santiago going to Bagumbayan (Rizal Park) on the day he was executed. The footsteps start from Rizal Shrine and ends under the gate.

Dulaang Rajah Soliman

Looking at the Rizal Shrine from Plaza Armas

Rizal monument at the Plaza Armas

Rizal Shrine marker

Inside Rizal Shrine, visitors can find Rizal's old things and old clothes, the books he wrote, coins/paper bills that had his face on it, and other memorabilia placed inside glass cases with printed poems and quotes around it. "Ang Huling Paalam" is even on Braille display. The shrine is very beautiful and well-maintained. But taking of pictures is not allowed.

Ruins (Spanish Barracks) beside Rizal Shrine

Rizal bust in Baluarte De Santa Barbara

View of Pasig River from Falsabraga De Media Naranja

Dungeon in Casa Del Castellano

It was lunch time and we decided to leave Fort Santiago after more than two hours of exploration. We walked towards Gen. Luna St. again and passed by the Palacio Del Gobernador and Manila Cathedral.

Palacio Del Gobernador which houses the Intramuros Administration and COMELEC

Manila Cathedral

The Manila Cathedral is the ecclesiastical seat of the Archdiocese of Manila. In Spanish colonial times, this was the seat of the Spanish Archbishop of Manila, who had jurisdiction over the entire archipelago.

This structure is actually the sixth church to occupy the site. The first one, built in 1581, was razed to the ground two years after it was built. The present structure was completed in 1958.

The Cathedral's crypts serve as a final resting place for former Archbishops of Manila, just as the crypts of St. Peter's in the Vatican do for the bodies of former Popes. Among those interred in the Cathedral's crypts is Jaime Cardinal Sin, one of the ringleaders of the 1986 Edsa Revolution that ousted the dictator Ferdinand Marcos. [About.com]

Manila Cathedral was busy when we passed by; there was a wedding happening. So we just took pictures of the facade and read the marker. Then we walked towards Ristorante Delle Mitre which is near San Agustin Church.

Ristorante Delle Mitre means "Restaurant of the Miters." Miter or mitre is the headdress of the bishops.

I read about this "Catholic restaurant" from a blog and thought it might be a good way to cap off the day's activities.

We ordered beef salpicao and chicken strips, which were both good. We liked their iced tea (I wonder if it has a special ingredient). But they took so long with giving the bill, I got annoyed.

Bishops looking over you as you eat... Ain't that creepy?!

The placemat tells more about the restaurant.

And so it was time to call it a day. I was tired but over all, it was a good experience. I loved it. If only more people give more attention to Intramuros, maybe we'd be better educated about our past. Books tell us about how life was during the Spanish/American/Japanese era in the Philippines but feeling and seeing it yourself through places such as Intramuros is an experience that every Filipino shouldn't miss. It has been truly fun to rediscover Old Manila. :)

For more photos, check this out.

If you've been in (or planning to visit) Intramuros, share your thoughts!

New Year's Goals, NOT Resolutions

2012-01-18T12:57:00.002+08:00

Half of the month has passed since we all faced the New Year and most bloggers and writers have already posted their New Year's resolutions on their blogs and journals (my favorite post is this). As for me, the lazy blogger that I am, I have written down my resolutions on my old-school journal. And correction, I don't call it resolutions.

Image: Kittikun Atsawintarangkul / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

I call it GOALS.

That's because resolutions usually don't come true. But goals are everywhere. You set goals for your studies, for your career or business, for your finances, for your family. And in most cases, goals are more likely to be attained than the cliché that NY resolutions are.

They say, you need to write it down so there'll be a reminder that you want these things to happen within the year. Or blog about it so the whole world (or at least, your followers) knows about it. I'm doing both for more effectiveness. Hahaha!

It's never too late to blog about it, right? After all, if you really want to make a change, you just do it regardless of the time and day. So here they are, my NEW YEAR GOALS, in no particular order:

*Save more. And I mean, MORE. I have been tasking myself to do this every year since I was in high school and only last year did I become successful. But there's room for improvement. The important thing when you want to save up is not really the constant reminder that you need to save but the targets and desire that comes with it. An article (sorry, I can't remember the link) mentioned, you can picture yourself in your dream destination so you'll be more compelled to save money. And that is what I plan to do. Picture myself in every destination Susan Calo Medina has been and save more!

*Be more emotionally controlled. Ok, I'm not saying I'm an emotional freak but I can be that sometimes, especially when I'm under stress. So I will (doing it already, actually) strive to be more patient and more understanding. I think there are some things that are just beyond my control and I need just let it be, without freaking out.

*Exercise more. This one, I admit, is the hardest. It takes a lot of discipline to get up early and make time for exercise. Plus it also takes a lot of willpower to resist all the good food the world is offering. But I am working on it and I hope in time, I get to fit into all the nice clothes I want.

*Be nicer to everyone. OK, not everyone. But, at the very least, the people who matter. I have gained and lost a few friends last year and though hello's and goodbye's are normal, I don't like being in bad terms with someone. Who does, right?

*Be more efficient and establish a definite career. While I still want to be a lot of things (Social Media specialist, writer, entrepreneur, etc.), I think it's very important to establish a career path to guide me in my decisions.

*Write/blog/read more. No excuses. You can never be too busy (just too lazy) to not write or read something new at least once a week. And if I really want to be a writer (and I mean, writer, not just a so-so blogger) I should practice more. So here, I'm doing that with my first post for the year. With fingers crossed, I plan to write/post another entry.

Cheers to a rockin' 2012!

How to Keep My Love

2011-09-08T12:05:00.002+08:00

Magagandang babae ang nagpapalito sa puso ng mga lalake at nagpapakaba sa mga babae. Pero ang true love, may pananalig, may pagtitiwala. [Beautiful women confuse men’s heart and make other women nervous. But true love has faith, has trust.]

Due to my extended long weekend, I was able to watch How to Keep My Love on ABSCBN Blockbuster Kapamilya. They show tagalized movies every afternoon, sometimes American movies, sometimes Korean.

How to Keep My Love (Nae namjaui romance) is a Korean film, starring Jeong-eun Kim as Kim Hyun-joo (the girl from Lovers in Paris), Sang-kyung Kim as Kim So-hoon, and Seung-hyeon Oh as Eun Da-young.

Hyun-joo is in her late twenties and has been in a relationship with So-hoon for seven years. She waits for him to pop the big question. He doesn’t, and on their seventh year, So-hoon meets Eun Da-young, an actress who’s taller, fairer, skinnier, more beautiful than Hyun-joo. To make matters worse, Da-young falls for him, too and tries to steal him from Hyun-joo. Hyun-joo learns that to fight for her guy, she must be independent first. She must stop waiting for a proposal and start believing in herself, depending on herself rather than him. She begins to love herself more and So-hoon sees it. On the day that Da-young leaves for Hawaii, So-hoon must decide between leaving with Da-young and staying with Hyun-joo. Watch the movie to find out what happened. Hehe…

The quote above speaks the truth. Yes, it is men’s nature to fall for beautiful girls. And by beautiful, we mean, tall, sexy, long-legged, fair-skinned, and with a face to die for. Men are more likely to look at one’s physical features than women are because we (girls) usually have an array of standards (sense of humor, intelligence, thoughtfulness…) and we don’t necessarily put looks on top of our lists. We also look at other girls as competition. That’s just how we’re wired, not generally, but most of us.

When I think about it, How to Keep My Love is a simple Korean film. I wouldn’t normally watch it; it just so happened that mom and sis were watching it. But after seeing it, I realized:
1. that the quote above is TRUE;
2. that self-esteem and love for oneself is a MUST before getting into a relationship; and
3. that love is almost tantamount to trust. Without trust, love is NOTHING.

Not that this is the first time I’ve realized this. No, but there are times, after being in a relationship for quite some time, people tend to forget these things. Yes, we are told that movies are mostly fiction but in this case, I can say that How to Keep My Love reminds us of some values and some truth in life.

And I have to say, Jeong-eun Kim is quite the funny and relatable gal. I like her!

KFC ad: Love is Forever

2011-08-12T09:40:00.003+08:00

This morning, as part of my daily work *ehem* routine, I opened my Facebook account and saw that two of my friends shared a video of a KFC ad called "Love is Forever." If you knew me and my hopeless romantic side, you'd immediately guess that I'd view the video. And I did.

And boy am I glad I did.

It's a life-in-reverse video showing an old couple dancing. They get younger as they danced and went through five stages of life, the last of which was when they turn into children again. The dancing is really cute and so is the guy. Haha! Then the girl says "I'm hungry" and that's where they show KFC's "So Good" tagline.

While some don't like the last part, I'm okay with it. It's advertising, and a good one at that. When you tug at heart strings, it works. Maybe not for the sales, but surely for awareness and brand recall. But never mind that marketing sh*t. What I really liked in this commercial is the soundtrack.

The song is "Your Song," originally performed by Elton John. Ellie Goulding's cover of the song was the one used in this ad. I really love it. Both videos are so good. :)

Love is indeed forever. Happy weekend to all. :)

Papemelroti and my love for vintage

2011-05-03T13:09:00.001+08:00

I recently realized that I am a vintage freak. I visited Papemelroti’s store in Gateway Mall in Cubao. Papemelroti, for those who don’t know, is a chain of specialty gift shops in the Philippines. It stands for Patsy, Peggy, Meldy, Robert, and Tina ⎯ Alejandro siblings behind the store’s concept. They carry a wide variety of gifts and decorative accessories from stuffed toys to stationery to accessories to furniture. Their tagline “Hands to Work, Hearts to God” speaks so much about what they stand for. I’ve always loved Papemelroti but when I saw their vintage pieces, my love for the store has been rekindled.

I fell in love with the long chain necklace with a heart locket pendant I saw at the store. A few days passed by and I still couldn’t get my mind off the vintage items that they have in the store. During one of our dates in Gateway, my boyfriend and I passed by Papemelroti and I showed him the charming vintage pieces they’ve got from necklaces to earrings to brooches. I told him I want the heart-shaped locket pendant. Too bad we couldn’t buy it yet.

But when we went to SM Southmall and saw that there’s a Papemelroti store there, he bought me some nice vintage accessories.

The store in Southmall doesn’t have the locket pendants that I saw in Gateway but they have nice trinkets. Argie gave me this cord necklace with a blue round bead, light blue elongated bead, a rectangular-shaped tile with a picture in it (it shows a colorful house and a tree), and a bronze tassle which makes the necklace look vintage and adds a little more charm to it. It looked so fitting when I wore it with my girly cuffed top.

Then here’s a little pair of earrings that really speaks about my personality. It’s a glaze metal earring with musical notes. When I saw it, I just knew I had to have it. So Argie bought it for me. :)

I also got this glaze clip earring that has Maria Clara in it. Talk about vintage and artsy!

On my other trips to Papemelroti, I bought some stationery (they have artistic and eco-friendly paper crafts there!) and this glaze earring with an edgy yet girly style.

The items are reasonably priced, too. The necklace costs Php 189, the glaze earrings cost Php 49 each pair, while the metal (musical) one’s Php 98. They seem to be a little pricey at first but think about it: these are hand-made crafts done by real artisans. Being the girl who’s very much into making scrapbooks, I know how much effort goes into these kind of stuff.

I am planning to buy more items like these (and thinking of collecting more vintage things, too). If time ermits, I might also visit Papemelroti in Korben Place where they have this vintage line that’s bigger than the ones they have in other branches. Hope this happens soon!

TANGLED

2011-04-25T16:04:00.001+08:00

I wrote this review sometime in February after watching the movie Tangled. I typed it and saved it in our office flash drive. Then the flash drive got corrupted along with the files. I still have my written copy of this review but I just got so disappointed over that defective CDR King flash drive that I didn’t retype the review. Well, until today…


http://apscribbles.blogspot.com

After the advance Valentine date that my boyfriend and I had, we went out again the following weekend for a late V-day date. This time, we had a simple lunch, went to see a movie, and had coffee afterwards. Being the kids-at-heart that we are, we chose to watch Tangled, Disney’s recent animated movie.

After receiving the healing powers from a magical flower, the baby Princess Rapunzel is kidnapped from the palace in the middle of the night by Mother Gothel. Mother Gothel knows that the flower's magical powers are now growing within the golden hair of Rapunzel, and to stay young, she must lock Rapunzel in her hidden tower. Rapunzel is now a teenager and her hair has grown to a length of 70-feet. The beautiful Rapunzel has been in the tower her entire life, and she is curious of the outside world. One day, the bandit Flynn Ryder scales the tower and is taken captive by Rapunzel. Rapunzel strikes a deal with the charming thief to act as her guide to travel to the place where the floating lights come from that she has seen every year on her birthday. Rapunzel is about to have the most exciting and magnificent journey of her life. (Plot from IMDB)

Tangled is your classic fairy tale, modernized by excellent CGI and witty lines from its charming characters. I don’t think Disney’s old fairy tales showed a princess with a frying pan for self-defense or a prince charming who’s also a comedian.

I really love Tangled. The CGI was great. Still looks hand-drawn, which was good, but the movements (especially with Rapunzel’s hair) were gorgeous. And the lights, oh the lights… they’re amazing! I fell in love with that lantern scene where Disney really hit it off!

The characters were also given funny, witty, lines that made the story more believable. Of course, this is still your happily-ever-after story but who cares? Cynics have no right watching a fairy tale, I think.

The emotions felt real: Rapunzels’ curiosity for the outside world, her firmness in watching to reach her dream, Flynn’s slow “warming up” for Rapunzel, Mother Gothel’s selfish desire to stay young… even Pascal (Rapunzel’s lady-in-waiting in the form of a chameleon. Yes, a chameleon.) and Maximus (the horse that had a love-hate relationship with Flynn) felt real.

It was also a sort of a musical as it features the usual sing-and-dance numbers that fairy tales never fail to miss. Mandy Moore (Rapunzel), Zachary Levi (Flynn Ryder), and Donna Murphy (Mother Gothel) did great in voicing the characters and giving life to them. I loved how Zachary completed Flynn’s character as this adventurous, easy going, talkative thief who slowly falls for Rapunzel. And who knew he could sing? The part where the hoodlums sing “I’ve Got a Dream” was a winner.

I give Tangled an A for Amazing. My boyfriend said it was the ultimate V-day movie. I totally agree.

And oh, we had coffee (Caramel Latte and White Chocolate Mocha) and ham and cheese croissant in Seattle’s Best afterwards. Good experience, too. :)

MY COUNTRY STYLE EXPERIENCE

2011-03-15T15:24:00.002+08:00

*I finally have a guest blogger/guest post! The boyfriend finally had the time to write a review. We had merienda in Country Style (in SM Manila) and this is his kinda-delayed but much-appreciated review:

Argie, boyfriend and guest blogger (naks!)

The Triple Choco Boom truly lives up to its name. Chocolate crust, chocolate bread and a super yummy chocolate core filling! It is an in-your-face introduction to the complete chocolate experience. The first bite, the following chew and the final swallow. Every step of the eating process will make you love this chocolatey treat. The long brick-shaped donut will satisfy even the most gluttonous sweet lovers. Its pretty cheap, only P25. Talk about value for money.

Country's Style black coffee

Perfect pair is their hot coffee. The P45 peso concoction will provide for a caffeine rush that is friendly on the budget. Expect nothing fancy though. Served hot and bitter, it is like having a blank canvass. This is where the self service section comes in. It provides condiments such as milk, sugar and cream. Flavor it to your liking. It’s for You, the customer. You are the master of your own brew. Power to the PESO, Power to the People!!!

Spaghetti & garlic bread

My partner had spaghetti and hot choco. The sour Italian flavor was as close to the real thing as you can get. Firm noodles, great sauce and the garlic bread. The spaghetti here is a welcome treat to the taste buds. In a world dominated by fast food (where spaghetti is sadly reduced to the level of instant pancit canton), Country Style’s spaghetti reminds me of the basics. This is how spaghetti is supposed to taste like! Although the serving was a little bitin, its really affordable, only P50.

Hot Choco

Their hot chocolate? Hmm.. I find it similar to those served in local fast food chains. Hot and sweet. Chocolatey? Yes, but not so much. Still, it is the ideal partner for non-sweet bread like muffins and cheesy bagels.

All in all, Country Style offers a cheap alternative for those looking for good food. It’s the coffee shop experience for the price of a school canteen lunch.

FOOD:
Triple choco boom ✩✩✩✩✩
Coffee ✩✩✩✩
Spaghetti ✩✩✩✩✩
Hot Choco ✩✩✩

DINING EXPERINCE:
Ambience ✩✩✩✩
Customer Service ✩✩✩✩✩
Price ✩✩✩✩✩

Valentine’s Day Date Ideas

2011-02-14T16:44:00.009+08:00

So Valentine’s Day falls in probably one of the most inconvenient days of the week – Monday. Besides the usual Monday traffic that we commuters suffer, we can also expect a downpour of people as couples and families go out for V-Day celebration.

From http://www.talidari.net/valentines-day-creative-ideas.html

There are ways to avoid the Monday-Valentine rush. One way would be to go out on a date earlier (like the weekend before). That’s what my boyfriend and I did (or sort of). Since he had to help me with bringing my things home to Cavite, we decided to just do a “homey” date. We watched a movie at home, had lunch and merienda with my mom and sister, and had a laid-back weekend bonding. It was simple but heartwarming because really, in the end, we just wanted to spend time with each other.

And it was also far from the usual Valentine’s dinner date that most couple do. Why stick to a dinner date when you can do other things? Here are some Valentine’s Day date ideas that you can do with your special someone or with your family:

Rom-Com DVD Marathon – Instead of going out to watch a movie, why don’t you stay home, take out your well-kept romantic comedy collection and be mushy with your guy? He may not like this at first but hey, it’s Valentine’s Day! And mushiness is almost always a part of V-Day, right? Of course, you can watch other movie genres. It’s really up to you. (Bf and I watched Fight Club, which is nowhere near rom-com!)

Stargazing/Strolling/Picnic at the park – Whether it’s Ayala Triangle Gardens or Luneta Park, a walk in the park with a loved one is always good. It’s a light activity but it makes you more bonded.

Cook something together – Definitely more unique than going out on a dinner date, cooking or preparing a meal together also saves you more cash. It’s a different experience as you see how your partner is in the kitchen.

Daytrip – How does Tagaytay sound? Or Corregidor? Doing this on a weekend is, of course, better. A weekend get-away can give you lots of kilig moments which you can bring with you when you return to Manila. Haha! A few hours away of fresh air is also a good alternative to the metro’s hustle and bustle.

Valentine’s Day celebrations need not be expensive or extravagant. Remember that this season is meant to celebrate love. Although a little spending won’t hurt, the best way to really live up to the holiday’s meaning is to share more love. :)

New Year Thoughts

2010-12-30T11:42:00.002+08:00

Barely two days before the New Year. Are you excited? I am. With everything that’s happened this year, I look forward to the next year.

Not that 2010 was bad. Actually, this year’s been pretty eventful.

Only a few people knew about the struggles within my family that happened during the earlier part of this year. These problems nearly broke our family apart. Then there was my mild depression, those sad days when I think about how everyone’s getting the job they want and there I was, jobless and running out of cash.

I got a new job by February and I thought the sad days are gone. But in the midst of my family’s slow “damage repair”, my father suffered a heart attack and was hospitalized. This was in July. This has happened a lot of times before and believe me, it’s nothing new. I thought it was just another heart attack. I was wrong.

with Papa, a couple of months before he passed away

He was hospitalized again in August. Papa celebrated his birthday in the ICU of the Philippine General Hospital. His doctors said he needed operation. I remember soliciting money for him because this operation (angioplasty) that he needed costs a lot.

Then he suffered another attack in September. And a stroke in November. This time, he was in comatose. This time, he left us.

Health and finances were not easy this year, if you ask me. But if you knew what happened among us, you’d say we were lucky. Before Papa got hospitalized in July, we were this almost-broken family. But because of his sickness, it felt like we were given a chance to mend those broken ties and be close again. It’s so cliché, but trials really brought us closer to one another. Papa died in peace as he took our love for him with him. And though we miss him, we went on with our lives with gratefulness.

Sole officemate, Ate Reydia, and my boss, Ma'am Ros

This year, because of my new job, I also got to do a lot of new things. My job allows me to have multiple personalities ;) and meet different people. And fortunately, I work with (and for) really great people. :) This job also allowed me to attend different events and experience wonderful things.

with dear boyfriend, Argie

Also this year, I met my boyfriend’s family and he met mine.

I gained new friends, lost some too. Now I have come to see who really are worth keeping.

It looked as if 2010 was a tough year for me. And it is. But it was also a good year. It was difficult but we all know that a good journey is one where you learn a lot. I have losses. But I was also blessed. So as the year ends, I smile, take the memories of 2010, and move on to 2011 with excitement and hope that it’ll be as blessed as this year had been.

Christmas at the cemetery. Take note of the smiles. :)

KOPI ROTI

2010-11-09T12:14:00.001+08:00

I’m not a big fan of coffee shops. But last Saturday, my boyfriend, Argie, and I went out for a coffee date – a first in our relationship because like me, he’s also not big on coffee shops. We went to Kopi Roti in Tomas Morato (186 Tomas Morato Avenue corner Sct. De Guia Quezon City).

The Kopi Roti concept began in Singapore many years ago when Kopi Tiams - the Malay word for coffee shop - started catering to a very demanding clientele, locals who knew how coffee should be blended the Asian way and who demanded nothing but the best at a reasonable cost.

The Tomas Morato branch is kinda small but it offers a good sense of privacy. The place is cozy except for the jologs radio station that the staff are tuned in to.

Kopi Roti’s menu is all about, well, kopi (coffee) and roti (bread). Variety wise, it’s very limited. But very affordable. Prices range from 35 pesos (soft-boiled eggs) to 145 pesos (Set A). Here’s the list of sets they offer:

Set A: 2 pcs. “Roti” French toast, 2 pcs. soft boiled eggs, kopi or tea --- Php 145
Set B: 4 pcs. Home-made “Roti” kaya toast, 2 pcs., soft boiled eggs, kopi or tea --- Php 140
Set C: 2 pcs. “Roti” French toast, kopi or tea --- Php 115
Set D: 4 pcs. “Roti” kaya toast, kopi or tea --- Php 110
Set E: 1 pc. Kopi Bun, kopi or tea --- Php 100
Set F: 1 pc. Kopi Bun, 2 pcs., soft boiled eggs, kopi or tea --- Php 130
Set G: 1 pc. Choco Bun, kopi or tea --- Php 105
Set H: 1 pc. Choco Bun, 2 pcs. soft boiled eggs, kopi or tea --- Php 135
Set I: 1 pc. Peanut butter toast, kopi or tea --- Php 100
Set J: 1 pc. Peanut butter toast, 2 pcs. soft boiled eggs, kopi or tea --- Php 125

Set B and E combined

We ordered Set B and E. The home-made roti kaya toast (thinly sliced brown bread with kaya jam and butter) tasted really good. The kaya was sweet. The soft boiled eggs looked and tasted strange but I liked it. It had soy sauce which was a pretty good thing. Argie didn’t like it so I ended up having the whole thing for myself. Dipping the kaya toast in the eggs is pure bliss.

The Kopi Bun is good as well. It had this sweet crust and delicious butter inside. A single bun is good for sharing if you’re not the selfish type. And then there’s the kopi. It’s the typical brewed coffee. What’s special with this one is the layer of condensed milk at the bottom of the glass which served as the coffee’s sugar. I liked that the coffee remained strong even when it’s mixed with condensed milk.

I recommend the soft boiled eggs if you’re into unusual food. It tastes good though not everyone will enjoy it. Argie, on the other hand, likes the Kopi Bun.

What makes Kopi Roti special is, they serve food and drinks in a way that’s not typical for coffee shops. The pastries are not common and the coffee has that special milk layer. We’ve rated it a 3.5 out of 5 (5 being the highest) for its good food quality and affordable prices. I would have given it an easy 5 but we also looked into the menu variety. While Kopi Roti is surely a good example of value for money, they can still use new additions in their menu, additional flavors, maybe. But over all, we had a wonderful date. Kopi Roti surely has quality coffee for budget conscious early birds.

And may I add? Putting the website in their table napkins is a good move for their online efforts. :)

FOR THE GUYS

2010-10-25T12:15:00.002+08:00

A couple of months back, I saw this really awesome article from
Be Better Guys which enumerates ten things the author thinks he knows about women. For any guy who says he’s clueless about women, 10 is A LOT already. And for us girls, it is frustrating how men misunderstand us. The gap that is caused by gender is often the cause of disagreements so I think this article is really worth reposting.

So here’s those 10 things David Boris (co-founder of Be Better Guys) thinks he know about women. After each item is my response.

1. Women like it if you buy clothes for them. However you need to know their size (check the tags in the closet and drawer before heading out) and you need to buy that size. Don’t buy a size smaller thinking it’ll look tight and cute like the similar blouse you saw on the intern at the office. That will immediately piss your girl off. – Yes, we do love clothes. Who doesn’t? But there are other things as well. Like shoes, bags…

2. Speaking of clothes she will have more shoes than you can even comprehend. It will make no sense at all. Why 3 pair of the same black suede boots? Just let it go man…let it go. – I’m not really the shoe type of girl but men must understand – Imelda Marcos is a woman. ‘Nuff said.

3. Sometimes you will make her cry. Don’t ask “Why can’t you just pull yourself together?” The best thing to say is “Hey I’m sorry.” You can work it out from there after she comes back to Earth and you have acknowledged your screw-up. – This is something that I know men have a hard time comprehending. Men are wired to be the more logical creatures while women tend to be more emotional. Sometimes we cry for reasons that men think unreasonable but like what the author said, the best that a man can do is say he’s sorry. If he’s not at fault, the girl will tell him. Sometimes, crying is just the best outlet.

4. If she cooks the full meal then just do all of the dishes. Don’t “offer” to do them. Just do them. – I remember the movie “The Breakup” and if you’ve watched it, you will take this piece of advice seriously.

5. She always knows when you’re looking at another woman. Even if you try to steal a glance to your left from behind your Ray Bans while you’re driving a car and she’s well off to your right side in the passenger seat. Yes, that’s from personal experience. – Seriously? I don’t know if it’s instinct. Or just paranoia.

6. She doesn’t care about your body nearly as much as you care about hers or as much as you care about yours. – In my case, yes, that’s true. I care about my man’s health, not necessarily his body.

7. Don’t make fun of her driving. Period. Even if it really sucks. By the way my wife’s driving is about average. Though she has had some sucky moments. I however have had none. – I don’t know about this because I don’t and I can’t drive. But I’ve often hear men say that women make the worst drivers.

8. When talking about her friends, it’s a pretty touchy subject and she’s going to be sensitive about it. You really can’t tell her any of them are losers. Even if they are. However she may tell you some of your friends are losers and you can fight it or just go get another beer. Bottom line is you can’t win this one so don’t even try. – Actually, there are a lot of things that you, men, can’t win when you’re against us. So yeah, don’t bother trying.

9. Great affordable gifts that she will probably really dig: the sterling silver jewelry collections at Tiffany & Co. It’s pretty affordable ($100 – $350 for most stuff) and most women I know do backflips over the “blue box.” – My boyfriend gave me earrings for our first anniversary and I liked it very much. Jewelry never fails.

10. You want to fix the situation. She just wants to explain the situation. Work as hard as you ever have in your entire life to squelch your brimming desire to say “Just do ‘x’ and then ‘y’ and then ‘z’ and it’ll all be ok.” She doesn’t want your advice. She just wants to unload. I know. – This can be frustrating for men. But again, we are more emotional than you guys. So we need you to listen. We don’t want you butting in or figuring out how to solve each problem we tell you. Just listen.

This is just to generalize women and make men’s life easier but if you really think about it, things vary from women to women. The best thing to do is to be open with your partner and be more patient. That really works. :)

GIVING CHILDREN THE WINNING EDGE

2010-10-08T11:11:00.001+08:00

Wonderful speakers!

As Online Marketing Assistant for Galileo Enrichment Learning Program, Inc., I was given the privilege to attend another 5E (Excellent, Effective, Educational Enrichment Event) seminar entitled “Giving Children the Winning Edge”. This is the second part of the 5E series. Having attended the first seminar, I looked forward to this one. And why wouldn’t I? The event is filled with expert speakers in the field of education and parenting.

Dr. Queena Lee-Chua

Day 1 started with a keynote address from Dr. Flordeliza R. Magday (Officer-in-Charge, Office of the Regional Director, DepEd). She talked about “The Parent-School Synergy: A Partnership that Creates the Child’s Winning Edge”. It was then followed by Dr. Queena Lee-Chua’s session, which was about “Creating Super Learners”. Dr. Queena Lee-Chua is a teacher, award-winning writer and professor of mathematics and psychology at the Ateneo de Manila University. I’ve listen to her talk at the previous Galileo 5E seminar and just like the first time, I found myself engrossed as she talked. Such great speaker. She made us realize how sad our educational state is BUT she also emphasized that we can still do something. In fact, she, along with some colleagues, is already doing it – they are creating super learners, achievers in Math and Science.

I especially loved it when she said that real intelligent people are humble. “Intelligent” people who are not humble are not really intelligent. She also said that to learn, you have to have the enthusiasm of a child.

Efren Penaflorida

The second talk was from Ms. Maribel Sison-Dionisio of Love Institute. She discussed “Good Study Habits Towards School Success”. What I like about this talk is the part where Ms. Maribel mentioned the importance of a good marital relationship of the child’s parents for the child to develop good study habits, which in turn will lead him to success. Her talk actually focused on the importance of a parent’s love and passion in giving a child the competitiveness he needs to be successful.

Mrs. Matti with Kesz

Session 3 was probably the most memorable because it was from 2009 CNN Hero of the Year, Efren Peñaflorida, Jr. His talk was entitled “Social Awareness Begins with One Child”. He used the Bible story which we are all familiar with: the story of the child who gave his five loaves of bread and two fishes to Jesus to feed a thousand and more people. Efren said, “[Kids] are never too young to help and they are never too young to give back to society.” And indeed no one’s too young! Efren brought with him Kesz, the 11-year old child advocate and youngest volunteer of Dynamic Teen Company. A lot of delegates were teary-eyed after watching the video presentation about Kesz.

Day 1 ended with a panel discussion moderated by Christine Bersola-Babao whose daughter Antonia is enrolled at Galileo’s Math program.

Day 1 panel with Ms. Christine Babao

Day 2 also began with a keynote speech from Edward Garcia of DepEd. He talked about new trends and developments in supplemental education. He showed an inspiring video of a ballet performance from a woman with only one hand and a man with only one leg. This is to show that we need to find someone who can supplement our weaknesses. Translating it to education, supplemental education fills in the “learning gap”.

The first session was from the very lively AIM professor Cecilia Manikan. He discussed “21st Century Trends” in education. At the beginning of her talk, she jokingly said that she would deliver a 1 and a half hour speech about something that she has studied for three years! She enumerated the kinds of minds, the qualities of great teachers, the differences in traditional and progressive education, roles and aims of education, multiple intelligences, the whole-brain function, best practices in teaching, and a lot more. Her talk was truly educational.

Unfortunately, something came up and I had to leave at around lunchtime. I was not able to hear talks from Ms. Maricar de Ocampo and Galileo CEO Rowena Matti.

Overall, the event was a success because even though I am not an educator or a parent, I was able to relate to what the speakers had tried to instill in the delegates. For sure, the attendees gathered a lot of tips that they can use both at home and in the classroom.

Looking forward to another 5E!

THE LAST SONG

2010-09-21T17:44:00.000+08:00

The third movie I watched during the past long weekend was The Last Song.

Plot

Seventeen-year-old Veronica 'Ronnie' Miller's life was turned upside-down when her parents divorced and her father moved from New York City to Tybee Island, Georgia. Three years later, she remains angry and alienated from her parents, especially her father ...until her mother decides it would be in everyone's best interest if she spent the summer on Tybee Island with him. Ronnie's father, a former concert pianist and teacher, is living a quiet life in the beach town, immersed in creating a work of art that will become the centerpiece of a local church. The tale that unfolds is an unforgettable story about love in its myriad forms - first love, the love between parents and children - that demonstrates, as only a Nicholas Sparks novel can, the many ways that deeply felt relationships can break our hearts ...and heal them. (From IMDB)

I say…

With The Last Song, I learned that movie reviews are subjective. Some people will like this movie, some won’t. I’ve always been a Nicholas Sparks fan and when this movie was released, I wanted to watch it. But I am not a Miley Cyrus fan so I was hesitant. I searched for movie reviews and I saw this one. So I didn’t watch it a cinema. It just happened that mom bought a DVD copy.

After watching it though, I realized that the critic felt nothing like I did. Alright, maybe because I’m a hopeless romantic. Maybe because I like Nicholas Sparks. Maybe because I like light, inspirational dramas. Maybe because I tend to see the good things rather than the bad, that’s why I liked the movie. Yes, the movie is good despite the fact that I still don’t like Miley.

It’s a good story because it combines three important things in life, things that matter for me as well --- family, music, and love. These things are fragile, too. We are fragile. We make mistakes, even the people we love make mistakes. But we forgive. Then we move forward. Of course, this is easier said than done. But in the end, this is what we are. This is what we should be.

There is a flaw, of course. Because the story combined two relationships (paternal and romantic), it is sometimes hard to focus and distinguish the main theme of the story.

On the lighter side, can I just say that Liam Hemsworth is handsome? ☺ The first and last kissing scene were also good and I loved it. If you’re in the mood for some tear-jerking love-filled movie, take a moment to watch The Last Song. Don’t compare it to The Notebook and A Walk to Remember though. They are better films. But The Last Song is worth your while.

Photos from gstatic.com, media-file.net, and orlandosentinel.com.

21

2010-09-17T16:39:00.001+08:00

Kevin Spacey and a gifted cast deal a winning hand. - Peter Travers, Rolling Stone

The second film I watched during the weekend was 21. This film is inspired by the true story of MIT students who had penetrated the biggest casinos in Las Vegas by counting cards. In three words, the movie is: clever, inspiring, great.

Plot

Some people are intelligent. But some people are smart. Ben Campbell (Jim Sturgess) is smart. He’s in his senior year in MIT, joins Science competitions, passes the exam and makes it to Harvard Med. But he’s struggling financially. Micky Rosa (Kevin Spacey), his “Nonlinear Equations” professor sees his gift and recruits him to be a part of a team with fellow MIT students who have mastered the art of card counting and made killings in top Vegas casinos. At first, Ben doesn’t want to be involved in such acts. But Jill Taylor (Kate Bosworth), Ben’s long-time crush, is also a part of the team and she convinces him to join. Plus Ben needs $300,000 for Harvard Med. Soon he finds himself counting cards… and counting money. He also finally gets his dream girl. But Ben’s losing friends as well, he lies to his mom and he sees Rosa’s true colors. After a failed night at the casino, Rosa steals Ben’s fund for his tuition and ruins Ben’s MIT grades. But I told you: Ben is smart. Together with Cole Williams (Laurence Fishburne), casino enforcer and Rosa’s once-victim, Ben gathers the team and Rosa for one last night at the casino. Rosa thinks he has outwitted Ben again but it’s actually a trap. Cole catches Rosa and Ben leaves Vegas with no cash. But he’s got his loved ones and his brilliant mind that has dazzled the grantor of the Robinson Scholarship for his Harvard expenses.

My take…

21, story-wise, is really good. The unexpected twists and turns are strategically placed in different parts of the story, making you hang on to your seat. The characters are amazing, very distinct. And the actors gave justice to them. Kevin Spacey, who happens to be the producer of this film, played his role so well that you’ll end up hating him. Jim Sturgess showed great acting prowess. You can really see him in Ben Campbell; you feel as if he is really smart and hardworking. He felt real. And he is so charmingly good-looking! The beautiful Kate Bosworth is equally good. Her disguises are clever.

But what’s special about 21 is its lesson. Money is important. Money is a necessity. Money is a big part of life. Money is everything in Vegas. But the world is bigger than Las Vegas. Cliché as it may sound, love, friends, and family are still more important. And if you’re street-smart like Ben Campbell, you don’t need to count cards to make money.

I loved this movie and I know you will, too. To get more information about the movie, click here.

Photos from about.com, thecia.com.au, and media.canada.com.

THE EXPERIMENT

2010-09-14T16:14:00.000+08:00

Over the long weekend, I was able to watch some DVDs with my family. We watched The Experiment, 21, The Last Song, and Meet Joe Black. Unfortunately, we weren’t able to finish Meet Joe Black due to unexpected circumstances. But I’ve got reviews for the first three films which I will post within the week.

Plot

The Experiment is a psychodrama remake of Oliver Hirschbiegel’s Das Experiment. This indie film which was not released on cinemas (went straight to DVD). It is based on the 1971 Stanford Prison Experiment, a true story of a group of scientists who organized around 20 people to carry out a psychological experiment for a cash reward. These people applied for the “job”, were interviewed and tested. Anyone who had served jail sentence was not allowed to be part of the experiment.

After the scientists have chosen subjects for the experiment, they are brought to a simulated prison and made to play the roles of both prison guards and prisoners for two weeks. The main objective of the experiment was to see how these people will behave in the said situation. The people who will act as guards, one of whom was Barris (played by Forest Whitaker), were to maintain order without the use of violence. The scientists also points out that the subjects won’t have civil rights during the experiment period. Cameras are installed on various parts of the prison to monitor every movement of the subjects.

At first, everything seems organized. But soon, a series of violence happens between the guards and the prisoners. Most of the time, it was between Barris and Travis, a.k.a. Prisoner #77 (played by Adrien Brody). I will not bother mentioning the acts of violence that happened because they are way too many. If you’ve watched other prison-themed films, then you’ll know what I mean.

As days pass by, the subjects slip into their roles a little too much. Power begins to corrupt the guards, especially Barris, while depression and severe stress takes on the prisoners. On day 6, the prisoners finally revolts against the guards and it was complete chaos. That’s the only time the red light blasts. The gates open, a bus comes to fetch the subjects. These happen only after they almost killed one another.

I say…

The film was short, almost less than an hour and a half. But make it longer than that and I wouldn’t be able to take it anymore. The Experiment was violent, very brutal. Kids would need parental guidance when watching this.

I’ve seen other films of Forest Whitaker and he’s always been a good actor. His character here is dark and he’s the one who shows major change among all the subjects. You’d really hate him for bashing the character of Adrien Brody (who by the way is so good, too). Again, making this film longer will make it depressing.

This movie poses the question “What happens when you put good people in an evil place?” Power can do lots of things to a person, even one who is saintly. Oppression can also lead to so many things, too. The scientist behind the 1971 Stanford Prison Experiment calls this “The Lucifer Effect”.

The subjects also employed the concept of “Reap what you sow”. You give me pain, I give you pain. The prison is a jungle.

To know more about what happened to the 1971 Stanford Prison Experiment, you can visit this link.

And if you don’t trust my reviews on this movie, you can try this or this.

Photos from tqn.com, filmofilia.com, i.ytimg.com, and dvdbeaver.com.

LOVE, ACCORDING TO A FORWARDED EMAIL

2010-08-31T15:34:00.002+08:00

I recently opened my seldom-opened email account to check how many unread emails are already piling up on my inbox. As I schemed through the emails, I found a message from my boyfriend. It was a forwarded email. You've probably seen this on other websites but my hopeless romantic self says it's still worth sharing. So here it is. Take a plunge into this passion-filled free verse about love and all its meanings.

Photo courtesy of keturahweathers.theworldrace.org

Love is a slow kiss goodnight
It is anticipation.

Love is an imperfection in yourself not bothering you.
It is acceptance.

Love is passing up an opportunity because the time is not right yet.
It is patience.

Love is a back massage that starts above the hairline and ends around the innersoles.
It is exploration.

Love is not having to say, "Let us make love", because you know what the other person wants.
It is understanding.

Love is being given an honest chance to say no when you thought you were committed.
It is consideration.

Love is saying the perfect phrase to make a solemn embrace dissolve into giggles.
It is humor.

Love is being told, "Stop and I will kill you".
It is desire.

Love is reviewing the damage to your living room and realizing personal effects are strewn in a clockwise pattern from the front door to the bedroom.
It is abandonment.

Love is seeing what your lover really looks like for the first time.
It is truth.

Love is knowing what time it is and not caring.
It is joy.

Love is the arms around you tightening their embrace.
It is ecstasy.

Love is telling a person, if you have to leave, you will let them sleep, and being told they would rather be awakened.
It is tenderness.

Love is waking up to find the subject of the dream you were having asleep on your shoulder.
It is where fantasy meets reality.

Love is being there to wake your lover... slowly.
It is sensuousness.

Love is belatedly knowing why you bought a king size bed three years ago.
It is practicality.

Love is two people only taking up a third of a king size bed.
It is closeness.

Love is knowing you gave the extra set of keys to the right person.
It is trust.

Love is saying goodbye and knowing you will be back by mutual consent.
It is faith.

Love is stretching your arms and discovering the real meaning of the word "sore".
It is a lesson in human frailty.

Love is opening your medicine cabinet and finding your tooth-paste turned into a pretzel.
It is adaptation.

Love is sitting at the window, looking out, and remembering who you were with the night before.
It is reflection.

Love is hearing the weather forecast for a winter storm, and wishing you could spend it in bed with your lover.
It is loneliness.

Love is stories that will never be told.
It is personal.

ICE TOMB (Deborah Jackson)

2010-08-02T16:26:00.000+08:00

A few weeks ago, my boyfriend and I went to BookSale and purchased five books which cost ten pesos each. Pretty cheap right? One of the books we bought was Ice Tomb, a science fiction written by Deborah Jackson.

I am not a sci-fi fan so I didn’t expect that this book would excite me and make me want to read inside a moving vehicle. I don’t normally do that (no-no for our eyes!). But Ice Tomb is just worth all the trouble. It is sooo good.

Ice Tomb is a story about Erica and David, scientists ⎯ rivals and ex-lovers. Erica Daniels is a volcanologist whose dream was to set foot on the moon. She thought she had a chance a this dream when NASA invited her to a conference. Instead, she was sent to Antarctica where a “hotspot” suddenly appeared. Worse, David Marsh was the one who got sent to the moon.

Erica soon discovered that the “hotspot” wasn’t only about the unusual thermal activity in the Antarctic Ice Sheet. There are bodies trapped in ice. David, on the other hand, discovered something equally unusual on the moon.

Ice Tomb, at ten pesos, is a rare find. It is totally gripping. I found myself hooked after the first chapter and as I went on further, I didn’t want to stop reading. It gets exciting with every chapter; it almost felt like I was watching a mystery-slash-suspense-slash-romantic movie. Yes, there’s a romantic element, too. What’s good about this book is that its romantic twist didn’t take the focus off the suspense. It has just the right balance between Erica and David’s love story and their mysterious quest.

I must commend Deborah Jackson for writing a gem. The book is really well-researched. You’d feel as if you’re really in Antarctica or on the moon once you’ve read this. I also love Erica’s character. All that women empowerment fits the story. Plus, this book clearly shows that behind every man’s success is a woman. Literally.

The novel may have weaknesses but I barely noticed them because the good points are just overpowering. I really loved this book and I hope more people gets to read this.

*Photo from alibris.com

REAL FAIRY TALES

2010-07-26T15:00:00.000+08:00

When will I ever stop liking mushy stories? I seriously don’t know. You see, I’m a sucker for romance and I live for happy endings. Then again, maybe, this’ll pass and I’ll be normal and boring in the future. But while I am still at the height of my hopelessness, let me share this uberly romantic story I chanced upon in StumbleUpon.

This girl, Meaghan O'Connell, who works for tumblr, shares how she “harbored the same unrequited crush on a boy from 1994 to 1997. This guy didn’t care for her at all but they eventually became friends. Later they spent hours on the phone just talking and went skating to Leann Rhimes’ How do I live without you and held hands. But Meaghan was in LOVE and the guy just LIKED him. He said they “couldn’t be together because he could never love me as much as I loved him.”

Then, as in all love stories, the guy went out with another girl. Meaghan cried and all but after a while, she just pretended that the girl didn’t exist and she just continued exchanging phone calls with this guy. Ironically, they became more “intimate” even though there’s this other girl. And I forgot to mention that they write notes to each other. And this I gotta quote: Every time he wrote me a note he would write 8 little ‘lines’ before he signed his name. He wouldn’t tell me what they meant and I was never really sure but he wrote them every time. He would come over and write them on my math homework, on the margins of my social studies notes, on the cover of my religion book, in white out on his backpack. I went utterly batshit but he never gave in, just smiled and shrugged and made my heart pine for him to such an extreme it’s a wonder I didn’t pass out half the time.

How does the story end? Well, one day, he told Meaghan that he broke up with his girlfriend. A few days later, he revealed that the 8 lines stood for the 8 letters in “I love you”. Then they made out.

I’ll never know for sure what happened after that, if they’re still together now or what. But if there’s one thing that’s certain, it is this: happy endings do exist. Alright, not the ending that’s ending. Ending here would be like, result. Happy results. See, I know someone who’s had almost the same experience. She fell in love with this guy who was just impossible to be with at the time. Like Meaghan, she kept this unreciprocated feelings for this guy who couldn’t and wouldn’t care. They were friends, alright, but that’s all. After two years, however, he realized that she’s worth a glance. He glanced and never looked elsewhere again.

So I know hopeless romantics are not really hopeless. I know, because I’m that girl I just talked about. :)

I guess I’ll never get tired of all these mushiness.

*Photo from meaghano.com

REFLECTIVE LISTENING: KEY TO A HEALTHIER RELATIONSHIP

2010-07-23T09:56:00.000+08:00

In my past blog posts, I’ve mentioned the importance of communication in every relationship. Next to love itself, I believe communication is VERY essential if you really want a successful relationship. BUT this does not necessarily mean that you just need to constantly talk to your partner. More important than sharing your thoughts with your girl/guy, you need to LISTEN. Sounds pretty simple right? Then why do couples break up just because of misunderstandings?

Someone once told me that hearing and listening are two different things. Sure, you hear your boyfriend/girlfriend when he/she speaks but are you sure that you are listening? Here’s one good article that explains the difference between hearing and listening. Simply put though, hearing is when you sense the sounds while listening is when you comprehend what those sounds mean.

Communication can be a little trickier when it’s between a man and a woman because a man rarely speaks while a woman speaks a lot. Of course, this is not always the case (My boyfriend speaks A LOT --- we compete for the airtime. :D). Either way, we should learn to strike the balance between talking and listening. Talking may be easier. And listening should be taken to a higher level. That’s where reflective listening comes in.

Reflective listening is all about hearing what the other person has said, taking it, understanding it, and responding to it accordingly. Rose Mancinelli suggests this reflective listening exercise to improve your bond with your partner or other loved ones.

• Create some quiet time together with your partner
• Listen to them without interruption or judgment
• When they have finished, reflect back to them what you think you heard them say
• Ask them if you heard them correctly and clarify anything that wasn’t heard correctly
• Repeat the process with them listening and reflecting what you say

Keep practicing this and your relationship will surely prosper. :)

HOW TO OVERCOME WRITER'S BLOCK

2010-07-07T14:36:00.000+08:00

All my life I’ve loved writing. A lot of people know that. It is a shame though that I’ve never been part of any publication in the previous schools I attended in. But now that I’m older, I have come to realize why. I am lazy. When I finally decided to be serious with blogging, i fought off the laziness and I think I won. But then came writer’s block. Hence the lack of updates lately.

Writer’s block. Such a sad phrase. For those who do not know, writer’s block is a condition in
which a writer loses the ability to well, write. It may be short-lived like when a writer experiences anxiety or difficulty in coming up with a new work. Or when you just can’t seem to put a word on the page. It may also stay for a long time (i.e. writers not being able to write for years). I don’t know if my laziness counts but whatever. I am going to overcome this thing and ironically, I am going to do that by writing about… yes, how to overcome writer’s block.

Inspired by articles from Social Media Philippines and About.com, here are some ways to beat that slump:

1. Write regularly. Abbey Yap recommends making it a daily habit. I say, if you can’t do it every day, then set a writing schedule. The more often you write, the more polished you become. Write at the same time of the day and for the same duration (i.e. every morning for 30 minutes).

2. Edit your work. Proofreading does two important things: 1) It allows you to polish your work, and 2) It improves your grammar and writing skills. Nobody’s perfect and we all commit mistakes. Besides, it’s always better to see your own mistake first before others see it.

3. Think of writing as your job and less as leisure. This especially applies to writers who write for a living (i.e. bloggers, SEO writers, etc.). People who have regular jobs go to work regularly, do stuff regularly, and follow deadlines. It’s the same with writing. To avoid writer’s block, you have to do it regularly as if it’s your job. Of course, you still have to think of it as a source of leisure, only less.

4. Find an alternative writing space. Where do you usually write? If you have a writing space where you’ve been writing for the longest time, try spicing it up. Rearrange the place. Or try finding another spot. If you think it won’t work for you, try writing in another venue. A park, perhaps, or a place where you’ll be more inspired to write.

5. Set assignments and deadlines. The Social Media Philippines article suggests jotting down at least two ideas for writing topics every day. I know someone who does this and even makes a schedule of articles to publish on his blog. Give yourself tasks; it can be research or the writing itself. Then set deadlines for each task and be sure to follow the deadlines. Again, do it regularly.

6. Remember why you started to write in the first place. Why are you writing? I think most of us write because we want to. I feel really happy and fulfilled after coming up with a nice article. Continue reminding yourself of what you feel when you write and you will break whatever’s blocking you from that feeling.

While writing this, I am convincing myself to follow these tips and hoping that I overcome the block. It would be terrible if I knew I can write but not do it.

Have you experience writer’s block? Please let me know that I’m not alone on this one!

WHEN YOU BUMP INTO AN EX…

2010-06-21T13:11:00.000+08:00

Something surreal and awkward happened to me last week. I bumped into my ex-boyfriend. This was surreal because the last time I saw him was three years ago and Cubao certainly wasn’t the place where I’d expect to see him. Not that I’d expect to see him; I surely didn’t. This was awkward because well, he’s my ex.

Bumping into your ex-boyfriend or ex-girlfriend is not really extraordinary because we live in a small world. But this sometimes becomes a dilemma when (1) you’re already in a new relationship or (2) you don’t know how to handle the encounter. This scenario is not one that can be solved by science but no matter how awkward the encounter is, there’s definitely a way around it.

Here’s what to do and what not to do when you meet your past lover outside:
(Note: Tips are mainly for the dumpee and for people who’s into a new relationship.)
1. Don’t ignore him/her. At least if you’re at the stage where you’ve already moved on. If you’re only a month past the break-up, it’s natural to go snobbish on the jerk but hey, if you think he/she deserves to be acknowledged, then a simple “hi” will do.
2. Be calm. Don’t be too excited, or nervous, or too friendly if you don’t want to risk looking like you’re not over your ex yet. Don’t be ultraunfriendly too because he/she might take it as a sign that you haven’tmoved on yet. If it’s true that you haven’t, don’t give him/her the satisfaction by showing that you’re still holding a grudge. Just be civil.
3. Don’t give him/her your number. This is a MAJOR rule if you are already in a new relationship. You may be tempted to give your digits away but believe me, there is no need for you to do that. And how will your partner feel about this? I don’t know what the best way is when it comes to refusing to give your number but with me, I just smiled and said, “I can’t.” Fortunately, the guy understood.
4. Make it short and definitely not sweet. You don’t need to update him/her with every single thing that happened to you after you split up. Most people don’t end up being friends with their exes and that’s just the way it is. So unlike long lost friends whom you would gladly trade stories with, exes are just kept in the dark. If you used to be sweet with him/her, after the break-up, drop it. Again, don’t send out the wrong signals.
5. Don’t open up the possibility of another encounter. What happened was an accident and if you are realistic, you will not think of meeting up with him/her again especially if you are with someone else now.

There are also cases where you’re the dumper or you’re still tempted. My tips won’t apply but these will.

It may be surreal and awkward but I did all of these. And when I told my boyfriend, there was no way he couldn’t be proud of me. Keep in mind though that you don’t do these things just because of your new love. You do these because some things that you have already ended are better left that way.

WEDDING INVITATION

2010-06-18T15:24:00.000+08:00

I'm a sucker for romance. I'm mushy, I'm a hopeless romantic, I'm in love with LOVE. So whenever I see something kilig-worthy, it stays on my mind.

A few weeks ago, I saw this wedding invitation from 9gag.com. Very unusual, beautiful, and yes, romantic. It's got LOVE spelled all over it. :)

'Nuff said. Here it is. A beautiful love story in a wedding invitation. :)

5 REASONS BEHIND HAPPY COUPLES

2010-06-10T11:58:00.027+08:00

I often visit relationship sites and I usually chance upon articles that explain factors that make relationships successful. I’ve also written one before. But I decided to give it a try once more, this time with emphasis to "happy" relationships.

To make it personal and more experienced-based, I asked for my boyfriend’s help. And what fun! We came up with five reasons why we are happy with our relationship.

1. We can be ourselves. A relationship that’s based on pretensions is plain SAD and never worth it. The good thing about me and my boyfriend is that we’ve been friends for a long time before we got together. And we finally did, we already knew a lot about each other. There was simply no need to pretend because we have fully accepted who we are and who we’re not. Interestingly enough, a study shows that if you are true to yourself, your relationship will prosper. However, this does not stop us from putting an effort into impressing each other and doing our best for the relationship.

2. We can laugh at ourselves. We are basically two insane people who got together to produce more insanity. Shine advices couples to "laugh a lot" and that’s what we always do simply because it’s our nature. We love to laugh. We laugh at ourselves but we avoid laughing at each other. Instead, we laugh WITH each other. Hey, it has health benefits too!

3. We are the same and yet we’re different. Now, this is tricky. My boyfriend and I share a lot of similarities and for most couples, similarities are what brought them together in the first place. For us, it was music, food, writing, and the insanity. Down the road though, we saw little differences which made us realize that although we are one, we are still two individuals. I like chili, he hates spicy food. He likes brewed coffee; I vowed to never drink it again. Yet this just makes our relationship livelier.

4. We complement each other’s weaknesses. When we talk about money and there’s a need to compute, my boyfriend would pass the duty to me. I won’t refuse, and it has always been like that. On my side of things, if I get disheartened by something, I turn to him because he is the more emotionally stable one between us. That’s just the way it is to us. We don’t insult the weakness; we complement it.

5. We love having fun. That’s it. Not much to be said here. A relationship without fun is well, boring, and who wants something boring? We make it a habit to be as spontaneous as possible. Of course, there are routines but we add spice to it. Plus, like what I said earlier, we are crazy people. Fun comes naturally. BBC came up with a list of fun things to do and you might want to try those.

The factors vary from one relationship to another but this might work for most of us. If you have tips and thoughts that you’d like to share, feel free to comment. :)

CASEY JAMES: EVERY ROSE HAS ITS THORN

2010-06-01T10:16:00.007+08:00

Alright. So I’m hooked. For weeks now, I’ve been drooling over the man who almost made in the latest season of American Idol. So smitten that I cannot take it anymore and I need to share my LSS of the week (or two weeks, I guess). Here is Every Rose Has Its Thorn which Casey James sang with Bret Michaels on the Finale. Enjoy!

And if you're as hooked as I am and wanna know more about Casey James, check this out.

10 THINGS I WISH I’D KNOWN WHEN I WAS 16

2010-05-28T15:41:00.001+08:00

Inspired by the post I found in The Frisky, I decided to come up with my own wish list, except that this is made up of only one wish: that I could have known some things earlier than I have.

At 16, I wish I’d known that…

1. Love is not the only thing that matters in a relationship. Time, trust, and respect are also essential.
2. It’s OK to have only few friends as long as these people are for keeps.
3. Getting the highest points in exams may earn you perks but practical knowledge is still better.
4. When someone says “Friends Forever”, you can’t really count on it.
5. There’s really no need to rush growing up; time is actually fast.
6. Relationships that start wrongly don’t last.
7. Knowing what you want is the first step to getting it.
8. It’s OK to be single because relationships come with responsibilities.
9. Opportunities come only once and if you don’t grab, someone else will.
10. 16 is still too young.

Do you have the same wish list? ;)

GATHERING BLUE (LOIS LOWRY)

2010-05-24T12:01:00.001+08:00

Last weekend, I finished reading the book Gathering Blue written by Lois Lowry . This book is a companion to Lois Lowry’s other book, The Giver which is a Newberry Award Winner. I liked this book and thought of sharing it with you.

Gathering Blue is a story about Kira, a girl who was cursed with a twisted leg but blessed with the ability to weave beautifully.

Her mother had been dead now for four days, and Kira could tell that the last of the spirit was drifting away.

The story started with the death of Kira’s mother, Katrina. In their village, it was customary to burn the cott (house) of someone who died from a sickness. When Kira went back to their cott, it was already burned. Worse, other villagers were driving her away because of her physical disability. When there’s a conflict that may result to death, it is important to let the Council of Guardians whether the accused (Kira) will stay or she will be brought to the Field. The Field is like a graveyard where people are left to die or be taken by beasts.

… it was still midafternoon, still an ordinary day in the existence of the people, and that no one’s life had changed except her own.

The Council of Guardians spared Kira and gave her a task that only she can do — repair and weave the Singer’s robe. The Singer is an important person in their village; he sings the Ruin Song (the village’s history) during the annual Gathering. While Kira went on to weave the robe, she was also in search of the only color that she didn’t know how to make — blue. Along with her task, she was also given the privilege to live in the Council Edifice where she’s well-fed, well-dressed, and well-attended. But soon, Kira realizes that the privileges were actually traps and that the world she’s in is full of mysteries and secrets.

… the new little Singer… Thomas the Carver… she herself, the one who colored that history — they were the artists who could create the future.

There were a lot of revelations in this story, one of which is the truth about Kira’s father. All her life, she was told that her father was taken and killed by beasts. But she began to question the knowledge that she was made to accept for the most part of her life. I don’t want to turn this into a spoiler and I really think you should read this book.

What’s good/interesting about Gathering Blue is…

1. The “syllable names”. I find it really interesting that the villagers were given names depending on their age and wisdom. Infants don’t have names yet but as they get older, they acquire syllables for names. Kira, when she was younger, was named Kir and it’s assumed that later in her life, “Kira” will transform into something made of three syllables. What fun it would be if we were like them, don’t you think?
2. Lois Lowry’s way of writing. She used words that were simple and easy to comprehend yet every word has depth and I can tell that every word was written to function. Every word is important. Every word Lois Lowry has written was made to tell a story. It’s ironic how Gathering Blue is deep, serious, mysterious, and full of suspense yet readers won’t have a hard time grasping its meaning.
3. How Kira emphasized that pain makes you strong. I think everybody can relate with this one, especially those who had been in pain. There are different kinds of pain. There’s physical pain, emotional pain, and others. Some people succumb to pain and allow themselves to lose. But some use the pain to fight and emerge stronger. I know someone who has done exactly this. Like Kira, this person is disabled in some ways but is gifted as well. Yet he has chosen not to be defeated and has learned to fight towards victory ever since.
4. How metaphorical yet realistic it is. The world that Lois Lowry has created is a vision of the future sans the technology. But this novel speaks to the present as well. The world we live in hasn’t fully accepted people with disabilities or people with noticeable weaknesses. We still ridicule people who we think are lesser individuals. We still ignore people who are not good-looking, not famous, not rich or not powerful. What we don’t realize is that we ourselves are not perfect. We will never be. Disabilities, weaknesses, and being different don’t make us less of a person.

Have you read Gathering Blue? Share your comments!

If you haven’t got the book yet, try reading it here .

Then & Now Massive Music Festival

2010-05-18T12:15:00.002+08:00

MANILAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Then & Now Silver tickets!

I didn’t count the number of times the artists of the Then & Now concert screamed the word “Manila”. But since this is really MASSIVE (It featured nine artists!), I went home with “Manilaaa!!!” still ringing in my head.

It’s a Saturday night and my boyfriend and I went to the SM MOA Concert Grounds to witness the concert with tickets courtesy of my boss. It’s supposed to start at 8PM but I guess it was already 9PM when the front act started.

For the opening act, Myrus Ramirez sang. He’s a local R&B guy. It’s the first time I’ve heard of this guy but what do I know? I’m not really that updated with the local music scene. He sang I’m Yours by Jason Mraz, Westlife’s My Love, Love Takes Time of Mariah Carey, Kahit Kailan of South Border, Two Become One of Spice Girls, and Whitney Houston’s All at Once.

Here’s the line up of artists that performed in the Then & Now Massive Music Festival:
1. V Factory. I’m not familiar with this boyband but I’d say they brought back memories of the time I was crazy about Westlife, BSB, and the likes.
2. TQ. A hip-hop/rap guy who I’m not familiar as well. But hey, I loved his energy. Bounce with me, bounce with me.
3. PM Dawn. I was totally far away when Doc Gee performed. So I can’t comment on this one.
4. Diana King. She’s my fave among the bunch. She woke me up! I love her. Her Jamaican energy is great. She sang “Say a Little Prayer” and “Shy Guy” which was really awesome.
5. Frankie J. I’ve heard of the guy before though I’m not a fan. But he was cool and he sang “How to Deal” and “More Than Words”.
6. Babybash. Babybash is WILD! I loved “Cyclone”.
7. Jojo. When she went onstage, everyone finally stood up. Ok, except for the couple behind us who seemed like they were really clueless. Anyway, Jojo’s pretty. She sang a few of the songs in her upcoming album. But she also sang hits like “Baby It’s You”, “A Little Too Late”, and “Touch A Girl”.
8. All-4-One
9. SWV

I wasn’t able to watch the last two acts because it was already 1AM and we finally decided to go home. I heard though that they were great. Too bad I didn’t get to see SWV performing “Weak”.

It was my first time to watch a concert with my boyfriend so this’ll be pretty memorable. And not bad for a first time. Where else will you see nine artists in one concert?

Unfortunately, we weren’t able to bring a cam. But I found some great photos from Azrael Coladilla and you can check it out here.

One tip though for the organizers: do it better next time. There were lots of dead air in between performances.

18 Common Phrases to Avoid in Conversation

2010-05-17T16:23:00.002+08:00

Photo courtesy of realsimple.com

I saw a very useful tip sheet from realsimple.com and I just wanted to repost it. This will really help us in achieving world peace! LOL!

Seriously speaking though, I really believe that communication is very important in any relationship, be it romantic, friendly, or professional. True, frankness and honesty is good but a little tact won't hurt.

So here are the tips and tell me what you think!

What Not to Say About Someone's Appearance

Don’t say: “You look tired.”
Why: It implies she doesn’t look good.
Instead say: “Is everything OK?” We often blurt the “tired” comment when we get the sense that the other person feels out of sorts. So just ask.

Don’t say: “Wow, you’ve lost a ton of weight!”
Why: To a newly trim person, it might give the impression that she used to look unattractive.
Instead say: “You look fantastic.” And leave it at that. If you’re curious about how she got so svelte, add, “What’s your secret?”

Don’t say: “You look good for your age.”
Why: Anything with a caveat like this is rude. It's saying, "You look great―compared with other old people. It's amazing you have all your own teeth."
Instead say: “You look great.”

Don’t say: “I could never wear that.”
Why: It can be misunderstood as a criticism. (“I could never wear that because it’s so ugly.”)
Instead say: “You look so good in skinny jeans.” If you slip, say something like “I could never wear that…because I wasn’t blessed with your long legs.”

What Not to Say in the Workplace

Don’t say: “That’s not my job.”
Why: If your superior asks you to do something, it is your job.
Instead say: “I’m not sure that should be my priority right now.” Then have a conversation with your boss about your responsibilities.

Don’t say: “This might sound stupid, but…”
Why: Never undermine your ideas by prefacing your remarks with wishy-washy language.
Instead say: What’s on your mind. It reinforces your credibility to present your ideas with confidence.

Don’t say: “I don’t have time to talk to you.”
Why: It’s plain rude, in person or on the phone.
Instead say: “I’m just finishing something up right now. Can I come by when I’m done?” Graciously explain why you can’t talk now, and suggest catching up at an appointed time later. Let phone calls go to voice mail until you can give callers your undivided attention.

What Not to Say During a Job Interview

Don’t say: “My current boss is horrendous.”
Why: It’s unprofessional. Your interviewer might wonder when you’d start bad-mouthing her. For all you know, she and your current boss are old pals.
Instead say: “I’m ready for a new challenge” or a similarly positive remark.

Don’t say: “Do you think I’d fit in here?”
Why: You’re the interviewee, not the interviewer.
Instead say: “What do you enjoy about working here?” By all means ask questions, but prepare ones that demonstrate your genuine interest in the company.

Don’t say: “What are the hours like?” or “What’s the vacation policy?”
Why: You want to be seen as someone who focuses on getting the job done.
Instead say: “What’s the day-to-day like here?” Then, if you’ve really jumped through every hoop and time off still hasn’t been mentioned, say, “Can you tell me about the compensation and benefits package?”

What Not to Say About Pregnancy and Babies

Don’t say: “Are you pregnant?”
Why: You ask, she’s not, and you feel totally embarrassed for essentially pointing out that she’s overweight.
Instead say: “Hello” or “Great to see you” or “You look great.” Anything besides “Are you pregnant?” or “What’s the due date?” will do. Save yourself the humiliation and never ask.

Don’t say: “Do you plan on breast-feeding?”
Why: The issue can be controversial, and she may not want to discuss her decision publicly.
Instead say: Nothing. Unless you’re very close, don’t ask. If you slip, make up for the blunder by adding, “And do you feel comfortable telling me?”

Don’t say: “Were your twins natural?” or “It must have been hard for your child’s birth parent to give him up.”
Why: You’re suggesting that natural conception is better than in vitro fertilization (IVF) or adoption.
Instead say: To a parent of multiples, try a light “Wow, you have your hands full!” To an adoptive parent, say the same stuff you would to any other parent: “She’s adorable!” or “How old is he?”

What Not to Say to a Single (or Newly Single) Person

Don’t say: “You were too good for him.”
Why: You are basically saying she has bad taste. And you’ll be embarrassed if they ever patch it up.
Instead say: “His loss!” It gets the same point across without disparaging her judgment.

Don’t say: “I’m glad you got rid of him. I never liked him anyway.”
Why: She’ll wonder about your fake adoration for him while they were together.
Instead say: “I’m confident you’ll find someone who will give you exactly what you want.” It focuses on what’s to come, not on the dud you’re glad she’s done with.

Don’t say: “How could someone as perfect as you still be single?”
Why: A statement like this comes off as a backhanded compliment. What she hears is “What’s wrong with you?”
Instead say: “Seeing anyone?” If she’s tight-lipped about her love life, move on to other topics.

What Not to Say During a Fight with Your Beloved

Don’t say: “You always” or “You never” or “You’re a [slob, jerk]” or “You’re wrong.”
Why: Speaking in absolutes like “you always” and “you’re wrong” is playing the blame game, and resorting to name calling makes your partner feel helpless, which puts him on the defensive and makes a bad fight worse.
Instead say: “I’m upset that you left the dishes in the sink again. What can we do so that this stops happening?” Starting with the pronoun I puts the focus on how you feel, not why he’s in the doghouse, and it will make him more receptive to fixing the problem.

Don’t say: “If you really loved me, you would...”
Why: The more you treat your partner as if he’ll never satisfy you, the less satisfied you’ll be. Controlling your partner by imploring him to do something isn’t a good way to build intimacy.
Instead say: “I feel taken for granted when you don’t help around the house. I would feel better if we could…” The best way to keep a productive fight from becoming a dirty one is to be clear about why you’re upset and then offer a solution.

Paparazzi: The Geeky and Cute Way

2010-05-12T09:46:00.005+08:00

I saw this video on DJ Mo Twister's website this morning. Heard them (Mo, Grace Lee, Angelicopter, and Mojo) talking about this and I got curious so I decided to check it out.

A boy, who looks like he's on the geeky side, goes on to sing Paparazzi by Lady Gaga and plays the piano with it. In the beginning, the girls watching him look like they're bored to death but when he starts showing off his great talent, they looked like they were starstruck. And when the boy finished and smiled and bowed his head, OMG, he's so cute! I don't usually go gaga over guys like this (hint: Justin Bieber-ish) but this boy's really awesome so I got hooked. I hope he gets discovered or something.

This is not to exaggerate but man, I got goosebumps when I watched the kid! Justin Bieber better watch out because this boy is just so good! You have to watch this to know what I'm talking about. Enjoy and let me know if you agree with me. :)

IT’S COMPLICATED

2010-05-11T13:17:00.003+08:00

Thanks to the long weekend, I had the chance to go on DVD marathon again. The movie It’s Complicated is the first movie I watched.

I’m a sucker for romantic comedies. It’s Complicated is not your usual romcom though. It comes with a twist that’s both funny and, well… complicated.

Photo taken from sugod.com.

Meryl Streep stars as Jane Adler, a restaurant-owner, mother of three, and ex-wife of Jake Adler, played by Alec Baldwin. Jake cheated on Jane and left her for Agness who was much younger. Jake and Jane had been divorced for ten years already when they got reunited through their youngest son’s graduation celebration. It would have been an otherwise typical important day in their lives where they’d be forced to get together for the sake of their children but unexpected things happened. After dinner, several drinks, and a dance, the divorced couple went into bed together. A few more of those and it becomes official: Jane becomes the mistress that she used to hate.

To make things even more complicated, Adam (played by Steve Martin), Jane’s architect and a divorcee himself, also develops a “more than professional” relationship with her.

The funniest part of the movie is when Jake finally declares his affair with Jane to their children and Adam, unfortunately, is present to witness the confession (and much more. You have to watch it to find out.) Jane says that no, they’re not going back together.

To check out the complete synopsis, click here.

What I like about this movie

1. It is lightweight. The plot, when you really think about it, is actually a heavy one. Being a mistress is tough enough but to be the mistress of your ex-husband is heavy. But the movie is so light and entertaining. It serves the main purpose of watching movies: to relax.
2. It is funny. The combination of Meryl Streep, Alec Baldwin, and Steve Martin is simply hilarious. Good actors and funny ones. Besides, oldies falling in love is just so cute.
3. It is unique. The story is so twisted and interesting. Not everyday do you see a divorced couple getting into an affair and failing again.
4. It has a lesson. We may get a second chance but it doesn’t really guarantee success. Some things are just not for us. But even if things aren’t meant to be, Jane and Jake had no regrets.

Have you seen this movie? Comments would be very much appreciated. And please do let me know if you know other good romantic comedies. :)

SINGLE VS. IN A RELATIONSHIP

2010-05-05T16:01:00.001+08:00

A friend of mine once asked, in all innocence and curiosity, Masaya kaya maging single? (Does being single feel good?) This person has had a boyfriend since her first year in high school and has never been single since then.

So then I thought, why not ask around? And I did. I asked some Facebook buddies and here is their say.

Question no. 1: What are the things that you used to do when you were still single that you don’t do now because you’re already in a relationship?
1. Go out without the need to inform someone (except your parents).
2. Entertain others. Flirt.
3. Go home late.
4. Drink without having to ask permission from someone.
5. Wear whatever I like to wear (skirts, dresses, etc.)
6. Night outs and out-of-town trips with friends

Question no. 2: What are the things that you do now because you’re in a relationship that you didn’t used to do when you were still single?
1. Ask for permission, or at least inform my boyfriend/girlfriend, when I’m going somewhere.
2. Learn to do things that he/she likes to do or things that I might do in the future (hint: when we get married) like cooking, doing the laundry, etc.
3. Make time for the relationship.
4. Find a job that fits both of our schedules.

Question no. 3: What are the advantages of being single?
1. I have the freedom to make decisions without having to think of someone else.
2. I am free to do whatever you want and nobody will care (except your family).
3. I have no limitations.
4. I get closer to your family and friends because I don’t have to allot time for a boyfriend or girlfriend.
5. I can entertain other guys and be given gifts.
6. I have the time to get to know myself better.

Now, what do I say?

I’ve been with my guy for more than a year now and I can truly say that I am happy. I agree with answers number 1-3 of question no.1 and answers 1-4 of question no.2. Actually, my boyfriend’s not very imposing nor is he demanding. I tell him things that I think he is entitled to know and I don’t see it as a disadvantage. Rather, it is sharing. However, we should avoid constant checking up on our partners because it can get irritating sometimes.

As for learning to do things that he likes, I think it’s fun. And it helps to know these things because even if you don’t end up with this person, you’ll be able to use the knowledge in the future.

Also, making time for the relationship is a must. In every relationship, be it romantic or just friendly, time is important. It is also true that we make certain sacrifices when we enter a relationship but I don’t think you should lose your freedom because of the relationship. Why would one person set up limitations for you? I am fortunate enough to have a boyfriend who is open-minded about these things and has never imposed rules on me. In fact, he’s got me into doing more fun things now. The only thing that I cannot ever do now that I am taken is to flirt with other guys. But it’s fine with me because we can flirt with each other anyway. :)

Final words…

Happiness doesn’t depend on one’s status. You can be happy whether you’re in relationship or not. It just depends on how you look at things. :)

WHAT TO DO WHEN YOU’RE IN LOVE WITH YOUR BEST FRIEND

2010-04-28T15:40:00.002+08:00

If you’re the type of person who’s had best friends from the opposite sex, I’m sure that at one point in that friendship you experienced one of the most frustrating dilemmas of all time: falling in love with your best friend. I know, because this has happened to me twice already. OK, technically, once. The first time was with a close guy friend and the second was with my then-best friend. It was tragic and I must admit, I gave up on my belief that a best friend can be a great boyfriend.

But now that I’m over it, I guess I can fully talk about it. What should you do when you’re in love with your best friend? I gathered tips from other sites and picked the ones that I agree with.

Make sure you’re really in love. This is basic. Every now and then, people mistake love for something else. It might be crush, infatuation, admiration, whatever. I won’t go into the symptoms of being in love as this depends on you, but the point is, you can’t just jump into that idea and get yourself disturbed by the thought. Those who experienced being in love with a best friend had always worried about ruining the friendship and imagining that you’re in love, when you are actually not, won’t do you any good.

Observe if he/she has the same feelings for you. This can be a little tricky as some people are just so good at assuming things. When I fell in love with my best friend, I quickly assumed that he was in love with me, too. But no. I thought I was a good observant but with things like this, you need to be more careful. You can check the way he/she treats you. Is your best friend extra sweet with you or does he/she treat you like a sibling? It’s also important to take your time. The person is not just someone you normally fall in love with --- you’re best friends. Think before you leap.

Right timing matters. If you are indeed sure that you’re in love with your best friend, ask yourself, is it the right time? I liked this guy before but then I just knew it wasn’t the right time because I was in a relationship. If your best friend is in a relationship, do not ever step up and ask for trouble. The same thing goes if you are in a relationship. Stressful times in your best friend’s life also apply as you don’t want to add to his/her burden by confessing your feelings.

Understand what your best friend needs and be there for him/her. My favorite! I’m not sure though if it’s very effective. Still, you can give it a try. Being always there for your best friend will increase your pogi/ganda points if you’re vying for a status level-up. The good thing about this is it won’t be too obvious that you’re making him/her fall for you because after all, friends should be there for each other, right?

Talk to your best friend. You should be able to talk to your buddy about your relationship because after all, you are, well, best friends. Try to talk about the possibilities. Subtly ask if he/she has ever considered you as a boyfriend/girlfriend. You might end up learning that you’re feeling the same… or not. But if you really can’t take it anymore, you will eventually tell him/her.

Don’t be afraid to ruin the friendship. If you told me this in the past, I would have given you a weird look. The point of getting frustrated with this situation is really the worry that we might end up ruining the friendship. But hey, now it makes sense to me. If you really are best friends, then you should know how to patch things up if it doesn’t work out. Falling in love with your best buddy is one of the best tests, and the hardest, but if you want to see how strong your bond is, then take the risk. Who knows? It might turn up the way you want to.

The funny thing with what happened to me was that after giving up on the idea that friends make the best lovers, I ended up with a guy who was my friend for two years already. He was a friend but not a best friend. But now, he is my best friend. So yes, best friends make the best lovers. :)

Comments, suggestions, reactions, and more tips are appreciated!

HOW TO TRAVEL LIGHT

2010-04-26T14:37:00.004+08:00

It’s summer time! Everyone’s rushing to beaches and cold places such as Baguio and Tagaytay. I myself grabbed a weekend trip of two days and one night in Tagaytay just to escape the terrible heat of the metro. And since May is approaching, I know a lot of people will still go on vacation and travel. That is why I’m posting this very useful article that discusses steps on how to travel light. It is best to travel light as it lessens the hassles that huge and heavy baggage may give.

1. Get a small bag. The bag should be lightweight and easy to carry. It is helpful to have a bag that can be carried as a backpack, or as a shoulder bag depending on the circumstances. It is also handy if it has wheels (but these have their pros and cons, which we'll address at the end of this article). It is quite common to have to walk long distances, climb stairs and have to do many things at once, all while you have your bag with you.

2. Determine the climate conditions of your destination. Check the weather report, so that you know what type of clothing to bring with you. For example, if the weather is going to be warm, then there is no need to bring a heavy jacket. If it is going to be sunny, then bring a hat, etc.

3. Plan your wardrobe so that everything matches with everything else. This does not have to be monochromatic or boring. Rather, it suggests a minimalist approach to fashion. One skirt and a single pair of trousers can be matched with a t-shirt, a fancy blouse or a tank top to make six different outfits--plenty of clothes for a week journey. You can get fancy with a scarf, bandanna, hat or other uniquely "you" wardrobe piece. Also, be sure you have appropriate clothing for area you are visiting, and for holy sites if necessary. If done right, you might be able to get away with one load of laundry rather than 'darks' and 'lights'.

4. Bring enough clean underwear so that you can get through at least half of your journey's time without doing laundry, up to 10 days time. After that, you will have to do laundry anyway. This also goes for socks, if you will be wearing those daily. And, bring laundry supplies, if you are planning on doing laundry. (Note: just put enough dry detergent in a ziplock bag for as many loads as you plan to do--don't bring the whole box.). Alternatively, if you are not moving much.

5. Bring at least two pairs of shoes that you can walk in comfortably. In the event that one pair gets wet, or your feet hurt unexpectedly, you will be incredibly grateful that you have that extra pair of shoes. You can wear one and carry the other. I also suggest bringing a fun or fancy pair of shoes, in case you want to go someplace like a club, a fancy dinner, or the opera. You never know who you may meet!

6. Consider your packing space carefully. Put items inside of other items, like those Russian nesting dolls. Roll clothes into small rolls to reduce wrinkling.

7. Pack your dry toiletries in the same bag, and your liquid and gel toiletries in another same bag. If you are going to be flying, then your liquid and gel toiletries must fit into a 1 quart/liter Ziploc bag, and no one of the bottles can be more than 3 ozs.

8. If you have special supplies or equipment that you need to have with you, invest in high quality travel versions that fit into a smaller bag. Another alternative is to have these items sent ahead of you to your hotel or home stay where you can meet them later. This sometimes takes a bit of planning, but it is much easier than carting items around with you.

9. Keep your hand lotion, water, sunglasses, ear plugs, snacks, lipstick (or chapstick), toothbrush, floss, hair brush/comb, a change of underwear, pen, stickee notes, and any special medicines and necessary items you need in the top of your bag or in a separate hand bag, because you never know what may happen when you travel. As well, carry any valuables with you in this bag (e.g., camera, computer, jewelry, etc.)

10. Keep your ID, money, credit cards, in a security pouch. Keep some small currency in your pocket for little purchases (rather than pulling out everything each time). Carry photocopies of your ID, visas, and credit cards with you but in a separate compartment from the real ones (the idea being that if you lose one, you still have the other). Copies can also be scanned and kept on a USB thumb drive (possibly encrypted). Consider 'buddy packing' where your travelt partner keeps your important photocopies and you keep theirs.

• About wheels - they take up lots of precious packing space and add weigh to your bag. But they are also useful at maneuvering through airports and making loads feel lighter. So it's your call.

Happy trips guys! :)

THE FOUR L’S OF A SUCCESSFUL RELATIONSHIP

2010-04-23T09:38:00.001+08:00

Thanks to iBlog6, I have decided to develop my blog and pick a niche that would best represent me and the things that I love. With the time that I spend reading relationship advices and the fact that I am celebrating my first year anniversary today with my boyfriend, why not take on matters of the heart?

I like to believe that my current relationship is successful for so many reasons. But there are really a few things that stand out. Let me now be the love guru that I want to be and discuss to you the four L’s of a successful long-term relationship.

Laughter. An article said that laughter is the secret of love. Women want men who have sense of humor. The first thing that got me hooked with my guy was the way he made me laugh. But it’s not just about that. As you go along the relationship, it’s important to have fun whether you’re doing things together or you’re with other people. Boring was never good. I thank my boyfriend for being so spontaneous and for having that kulit that perks me up.
Listening. I guess it helps that we were both communication graduates. We seldom fight but those times we did, I noticed that those were all misunderstandings. Communication is key, he always say. And I agree. The ability to listen to your partner will strengthen your bond and will allow you to get to know him or her better. Healthy disagreements are okay but the keyword is healthy. Listening is healthy.
Life. Life is different once you get into a relationship. You do things together, you share everything, and you’re now the two-become-one symbol. But having a life outside the relationship never hurts. In fact, it is vital in every relationship. Have your own fun, do the things that you have passion for and it doesn’t always have to be with your partner. Danger starts lurking when you cling too much to one person especially to guys. Men hate it when women do that.
Love. I simply do not believe that a relationship can work without love. Maybe sometimes love just ain’t enough, as the song goes, but what is the point of going into a relationship without love? If you love a person, it’s not so hard to be the best person that you can be. I mean, I am not the perfect girlfriend but I try my best and I put effort into making our relationship work. And it’s all because I love him.

There are a lot of other things that are needed in sustaining a good relationship and I hope to talk about those soon. But for now, I am going my special day with my special one. Happy anniversary to us.:)

THE FUN JOB

2010-04-05T13:23:00.001+08:00

About a year ago, I said in half-drunk half-sober voice, “Marketing is boooring.’ I was with my then-classmates and some schoolmates who belong to different courses, marketing included. Silence engulfed the room after I said those words and even I was thinking, “Oops. I think I said something wrong.” I knew then that it sounded as if I was challenging the marketing dudes to an argument or something. Fortunately, someone came up with an icebreaker and saved me from further embarrassment.

The reason why I said that was pretty simple. A friend and I had our on-the-job training in a production house and part of the job description was to make calls, send company profiles to prospect clients and make status reports at the end of the day. We were told that was marketing. After two weeks of doing just that, I was bored and concluded that marketing is not for me.

Never did it occur to me that eleven months later I would be in the marketing industry. If you ask me now if marketing is boring, I’d say it depends on what kind. If it’s digital marketing you’re talking about, then I’d just smile and let you guess the answer.

My boss once said what people usually do for themselves, we do it for others and we get paid. That is so true. As a digital marketer, I am being paid to use Facebook, Twitter, Plurk, and other social networking sites that are usually blocked in offices. I am being paid to surf and stumble upon interesting and useful sites. I am being paid to be online, learn through the web, and watch the world change. I am being paid to have fun.

Those are mere office perks. Outside our unit I also get to attend seminars and different events where I learn a lot. Meeting great people is also a plus and so far, I already have heroes in the form of businessmen and seminar speakers.
Digital marketing, internet marketing, social media, marketing 2.0 — these terms are powerful. This industry is so intense. The world of social media is not the world I expected to work on but I can proudly say that I have one of the best jobs in the world. And because the marketing world is dynamic, it also pushes me to be more creative and more resilient.

I can go on and on citing how great my job is but I’d rather not. Instead, I will continue discovering and learning. And hopefully, sharing. 

2010-03-17T08:49:00.001+08:00

iBlog6: The 6th Philippine Blogging Summit http://ow.ly/1n92Q Yey!!! Will attend this!

Stress Busters

2010-03-01T14:59:00.001+08:00

In spirit of my de-stressing project, I am now citing down three of my favorite stress busters, the ones I’ve recently used to cool down the nerves.
1. Shopping – It doesn’t really matter what kind of shopping it is. I may be shopping for clothes, or shoes, groceries, or gifts for someone. What I get from this activity is some sort of satisfaction. It feels really good when I’ve bought the things I want or need. Some pips may say that this is only stress-free if you’re cash-loaded. But for me, the challenge lies in sticking to the budget. The best part in shopping is when you’ve got everything you wanted to buy yet you got to stick with your plans. It’s the feeling that you’ve been a wise shopper. I dunno for some people but this totally works for me.
2. Music – One thing I can’t live without is the sound of music. I’m into different kinds of music, depending on my mood. Usually though, I go for male rock (Daughtry, Lifehouse, The Fray, etc.). There was a time that I got really addicted to boybands (Westlife, BSB, N’Sync, etc.) and up to now, when I hear their songs, I feel like I’m in a sort of trance. Some songs bring me back to certain parts of my life. Like if I hear Stolen of Dashboard Confessional, I remember the first time I saw my boyfriend (I was watching the music video of that song in the computer shop where he first saw me). Or if I hear Power of Two by Indigo Girls, I recall the time I sang in front of all my college classmates. I’m instantly carried on another dimension and this makes me forget all my troubles for a while.
3. World Domination: Total War – This, aside from Plants vs. Zombies, is my fave game. I’ve been addicted to this Facebook app for about three months now. The game is all about “conquering the globe and forging the one true empire, your empire!” While conquering the world with your army, you also get to earn money by fighting other players or through availing income-generating weapons. You can even earn money by simply logging in. The game’s male-friendly and all my allies are guys but I do get a lot from this application. I just forget everything else when I play this. The best thing is that I get to dominate the world and be a billionaire. Online, that is.
I am now being more careful in letting stress get to me. It doesn’t do me any good. So I’m sticking with this de-stressing project and am really hoping for good results. Keep posted. 

Getting back my social life

2010-02-26T11:06:00.000+08:00

I'm only 21 and yet I feel that stress has taken the life out of me. So here I am, armed with a brand-new blog, a two-week old job, and a 1st quarter resolution: I vow to get my social life back.
There's that alien phrase --- social life. The only time that I knew what that meant was during my last year in college, when I used to go out with my friends and have the best kind of fun that we knew. Back then I had the wackiest videoke trips, food trips, fun sleepovers, and a few unforgettable drinking sessions. Being with friends has always been fun, fun, fun. And then we graduated. After college I led on a routine kind of life. I wasn't the typical call center agent who has the time to enjoy or party or chill after a stressful shift. I was the zombie who spends the days off and holidays catching up on sleep or out on a date with her boyfriend. That was it. I seldom see my friends and i seldom go out and have fun. Maybe that was why I got so stressed out and frustrated with my job. It wasn't just the job --- it was me. I let it all get to me. I forgot to take breaks that were supposed to replenish me.
Fortunately, I was given a job that so fits me. i know that this is a turning point. Not only do I need to take care of my job but more importantly, I have to take care of myself. I have to enjoy, I have to find ways to secure my sanity. Whatever social life I had before, I need it back.
They say goals become more attainable when they're written so I'm listing my goals/ways to destress:
- Contact old (and new) friends and go out with them.
- Find the time to discover new pleasures (like new food, new resto, new pasyalan, etc.)
- Keep the boyfriend handy (Yeah!)
- watch movies, sing my tonsils out with the ever faithful videoke, give myself a reward/gift at least once a month.
I'm positive that these will all turn out to be good for me. So get ready, world. Joy is back. Yeah! =)

let me begin

2010-02-24T17:38:00.000+08:00

I have written blogs before. But it has been a while since I last wrote. I now feel the need and the desire to write again and something inside of me hopes that through this blog, I'll be able to satisfy the deficiencies of my life. Right now though, I don't really know what to right. So I guess I'll do some thinking first, prepare myself and then I'll write again. Keep posted.