5/12 & 6/12

4/12

:)

Singapore Weekend

Early this year, I went to Singapore for the first time, and I fell in love with it in a blink. For a small island (or two), probably just a tad bigger than our own Mactan, Singapore would easily pass as a happy destination that I don't mind visiting over and over and all over again. So when I chanced upon a promo fare a few months ago, I booked myself and some of my dearest friends to this little paradise for an epic walking/commuting/squatting-on-the-walkalator tour.

Somewhere in between getting lost, finding our way, helplessly fishing for the last 20 cents in the depths of our pockets and backpacks just so we could take the bus and carrying Ikea lamps all across the town, I got to take snapshots of a few of my favorite places in Singapore... just to remind myself of what I'm going back to someday soon.

Duxton Hill

Ann Siang Hill

Marina Bay Sands

Rommelle's tourist pose, Marina Bay Sands

Universal Studios

3/12

Pinch and Punch for the First Day of the Month

Dear June,

I know you feel bad as people curse you inside their heads for putting an end to their summer. Because of you, they have to say goodbye to late night beach parties and adjust their body clocks for boring 7:30 am classes. On the contrary, though, I think it's cool that you give us the chance for a new beginning because you know exactly how we've messed up our new year's resolutions just as January ended. We promised we would be more careful with whom we open our hearts to, but February came and suddenly we were in love. And then, March broke our two month sober streak. You know we all have that one friend who finally finished college after a gazillion years, and we just had to celebrate with one drink... and then two... and well, we lost count after a few more. And here comes April. I cannot even comprehend why she wouldn't take "no" for an answer. She brought out the wild side in practically every one of us. May had no mercy, either; she and April shouldn't be next to each other. I know it's crazy, but I think they spiked our drinks on that first summer party, and now we couldn't stop craving for them. But you gate crashed our last hurrah, and then ended it when the clock struck midnight. No offense, but I wouldn't be surprised if people will remember you as the lame party pooper. I think you came at the right time, though. Everything was becoming too good to be true, someone just had to snap us back to reality. Don't worry, people will start accepting you soon. Once the hangover subsides, it's about time to realign our goals and resolutions before December comes laughing at our faces for wasting another year. So in behalf of everyone who are probably still in denial that summer 2012 has ended, I thank you, June, for this fresh start.

Cheers! xxx

That one night

Tiwi Trees along Abatan River, Bohol

I can picture every detail of it in my mind--fireflies illuminating the silhouette of trees that stood almighty. This is the closest I could get to perpetuate that one moment of bliss before it blurs into a mere memory of God's perfection exemplified.

2/12

second day of the month. :)

DREAM HOME

Ladies and gentlemen, may I present to you my dream house. I do not have a bank account to finance it nor am I eligible for a housing loan, but let it be known to all mankind that it will look like this (if not better).

It's nothing grand. I just want something that I would look forward to going home to at the end of the day.

It would have a homey living room... I'm thinking white walls accented with vibrant colors like in the picture above. I love posting random things on the wall. It shows people what you love and what inspires you, altogether giving them a glimpse of your character.

It SHOULD also have a sunroom... or at least a small lanai to save space. It would have huge windows and pretty furniture where I can enjoy the warmth of the weekend sun and a breath of fresh air. I shall name it my place of peace and quiet. A pool in the backyard for a view isn't a bad idea, either. ;)

(LEFT) My own house calls for my own rules; therefore, I can and will paint my stairs. hihi <3 (CENTER) There's something about yellow lights that makes me feel at home. I don't know what it is, but I'll sure have a series of light bulbs somewhere in my house or in the garden. (RIGHT) With kitchen utensils like those, I might just gain inspiration to learn how to cook. And when I say "cook", I mean yummy food. Not just hotdogs and scrambled egg.

Finally, a perfect home wouldn't be MY perfect home if it didn't have space for my workplace. I have no idea how to fit all the things I want to put in it, so yes, it will be in total chaos of all things pretty. I have yet to figure out how that's possible but I promise it would be a beautiful mess. :)

celebrate the little things

Here's to 1/12 of the first of countless years to infinity!:)

...crossing my fingers for more first times and every time right after.

What's better than a long-awaited package?

...a long-awaited package that comes in a day early, specially delivered to your room. ;)

My sleepy eyes twinkled when I saw my special delivery boy with a huge box for a late night surprise. Suddenly, I was...let's just say I was alive alert awake enthusiastic! Yes, with the tune.=D It wasn't supposed to arrive 'til today, but tenenen (surprise sound)! The universe decided to be extra nice last night. ;) I knew I couldn't sleep without having tried my new baby out, so I just had to. Right away. No more time for pakipots!

isn't she lovely?

Our first attempt!

well, mostly John's, but I'd like to believe I was his inspiration. ;)

We obviously need more practice, but I say it wasn't a bad start. Except for the fact that he (almost) destroyed it, it went well. I'm giving us an A for effort, whoopeedoo! Now I can't wait to buy more printing plates and ink and cutting dies and pretty papers!!!

Oh the things that make me poor and happy!

oh so wicked!

Last Christmas, part of my wishlist (or I think my only wish) was to watch the broadway musical Wicked. So the Wongmom agreed to book me and my pseudo-Wong sister/tita Cattski tickets to the play since the Australian cast was in Singapore. It was my first trip for 2012, and I have to say, that trip set the bars high. The rest of my travels in the next months might just find it hard to compete with. ;)

I think I spent weeks recalling my favorite scenes and singing their songs in my head before I finally moved on with my life (i have letting go issues haha). Eventually, things went back to the usual--my daydreams went back to random stuff I find in the blogs that I read, and the songs I sang in my head were either of Pheonix, Adele or Jason Mraz. Yep, the usual.

Just recently, though, Wongmom and a few others went to Singapore to watch the same musical. And get this, they met the person who played Elphaba, Jemma Rix! I could feel myself turn green just by looking at their pictures on facebook. Homaaay! At the very least, I found an autographed booklet and a CD on my bed today. Consolation prize, but I'll take what I can get. :P

Best pasalubong I got today. It was a close fight between these and the Reese's peanut butter topping, but the latter didn't come with ice cream hihi. Finally, I have new music to listen to in the car. I think I should start memorizing the lyrics, so I could sing along on my way to work. Haha! Thanks Wongmom!

And to end this day of relived Wicked fever, here's to the wickedly awesome duo that is Elphaba and Glinda! my letting go issues immortalized on paper.

Because I knew you, I have been changed for good.

(For Good, Wicked)

On Chasing Your Dreams Today

Yes, because it's time you stop looking for lame excuses why not.

Imagine the infinite possibilities if you took every chance that came along. Never mind the mistakes and failures, they are bound to happen anyway. You might as well make them count. Knowing that there is risk in every step to realizing your dreams makes everything worth it when you get there. Just you wait and see.

So, yes. To dreams. To well-deserved happiness. To life.

***I had this random idea of painting this blog post in water color. The original plan was to just post a picture of the whole thing para dramatic, kunwari you're reading a handwritten love letter, but it didn't turn out as easy as I thought it would be. So to save you from the hassle of deciphering the modern day hieroglyph that is my handwriting, next time nalang. :P

No Regrets

What could have been

wouldn't have made you who you are right now.

And who you are is beautiful.

<3

1 year and counting

Today marks my first anniversary as a packaging researcher. We have a love-hate relationship, my job and I, but I'd like to believe it's mostly love and just a dash of the other every so often.

I'd be lying if I tell you I'm exactly what my 10-year old self pictured me to be right now. I'm not a cool artist or writer at 22. Creating mock-ups of our products and making sure they look pretty enough for people to buy is as far as I can get to being one. Things turned out to be quite different, but it's the kind of different that I chose and have learned to embrace.

Thankfully, I have a boss whom I learn a lot from and colleagues who lighten up the mood in the office. And some days when I feel like my body just wants to shut down from the clutter of work that has to be done, I just look at my desk as a final refuge to tuck a smile on my face.

I've compiled pictures of people and places that hold an important part of my life and put them on my desk to remind me that beneath the piles of paperwork that make me go bananas are the reasons why I've never given up. I have my family, my friends and this crazy dream to travel the world. ;)

On Finding Angels in Strangers

I met an angel yesterday. Her name was Min Kyeong.

She sat beside me as I was waiting for my friend, Kim, by the exit of the Logos Hope Book Fair. There was an exchange of hellos followed by a good 5 minutes of awkward small talk before I figured that she didn't have plans of leaving me be. Eventually, I learned that she was part of the ship's crew. Aside from helping out in the book fair, she was what the crew called an "Angel"-- one who does the laundry and cleans the bathrooms of the ship. She offered to take me to a tour inside the ship; I declined, thinking it might take a while for Kim to come out. But she insisted to wait with me and tour us afterwards.

In a span of 20 minutes, I learned that she and I were quite alike despite our different nationalities--she being Korean. She was a person of few words; yet, she tried so hard to keep the conversation less awkward as it was. She had the same job of 5 years in a pharmaceutical company in Korea as mine now before she quit and joined the ship. I was intrigued as to what made her leave such a stable job, but before I could ask her, Kim arrived. So she took both of us around, and told us about Logos Hope.

Logos Hope is a ship that sails around the world with 400 Christian missionaries from different countries on board. These people left the comfort of their homes to serve God through the mission of the organization. Among others, Logos Hope is known for the book fair that's found right inside the ship, which they open to the public as they dock in countries all over the world. Their aim is to bring knowledge, help and hope to others.

Hearing about Logos Hope, I thought to myself what a difficult decision it must have been for these people to turn their backs on the lives they had in their own countries to serve strangers along their journey. I remember the many times I ignored or drove away beggars on the streets; yet, there I was, standing next to someone who left her family to serve and make friends with the same people I try so hard to avoid. Listening to her story has been both humbling and moving at the same time.

In this world where we witness bad things here and there, God sends us angels to remind us that there is still good left around and within us. Min Kyeong is an angel, indeed--not only to her crew, but to everyone she has met and will meet through the path that she chose.

And to the 400 people on board Logos Hope, I pray that I would have a heart as good as yours.

And so it took me around a year to decide to make a comeback, a few weeks longer to finally walk the talk, and a few more minutes of staring at a blinking cursor on my screen (did you know that it blinks 50 times a minute?) before I actually pressed a key to revisit what I—until now—could not believe had left. This is harder than I thought it would be.

No, I have not been too busy with work nor has my life turned too exciting for words to describe. In fact, ever since I started embracing what I have come to accept would be my fate for the next 50 years, I gradually lost my zest for life. My days have become predictable and routinary.

While it is true that we outgrow a lot of things in time, I do believe it is hard to “unlove” what have once been closest to our hearts. In my case, it only takes a little nagging from some islands away to remind me of that.

That I should live my life constantly doing what I love. That the world isn’t to blame for a life gone bland. That there is no use pointing fingers, not even towards oneself. That now is the best time to do something about it.

So this is how it used to feel. ☺

In Your Time

Hangzhou, China 2010

Remind me again to believe,

that things will fall into place.

The lost will be found,

the unwanted, loved.

If not today, then tomorrow.

Or in time only You can tell.

a late 1-1-11 post

some say that you get a glimpse of what you'd be doing the whole year by how you spend new year's day. well, i spent mine eating cereals in my pajamas while watching castaway in my dorm room... alone. oh. my. god. help me. HAHA!

it was new year's day until around 20 minutes ago. i'm not sure if this would pass as a glimpse of my 2011 even though i'm 20 minutes too late, but i'd take the chance anyway. i don't want to spend the whole year being the bummest of bums, so here goes...

THANK YOU.

to those who stood by my side, i would do anything to be by yours.
to those who had to leave, you made me stronger.
to those who believed in me, you're the reason why i'm on my feet.
to those who doubted, you made me believe in myself more than ever.

God, if you allow it, i'd like to spend the rest of the year being thankful... for everything. for what i've become. for what is to become of me.

新年快乐！

P.S. i'm coming home this year :)

BRB in 5 months ;)

blogspot has been ALMOST impossible to access since i reached shanghai. for those who want to check if i'm still alive, do visit my temporary blog, My Daily Dose of Shanghai, at http://sweetpatatas.wordpress.com. i do daily updates, so if i'm gone for quite a while, i might have gotten lost somewhere in china or they just banned the site like they did with a thousand others. :P

BS in the bukid

one taboo session...

(the word is "bottled water")

judith: a beverage with no sugar

darlene: water

judith: yes, two words.

marie: tap water?

judith: no! you order it in the restaurant.

marie: ICE WATER!

cheapipay much? hahaha!

my idea of a perfect weekend: chicharon and a sinful chocolate cake for afternoon snack, abusing my laptop's photobooth, stalking pretty college boys in facebook, yummy shrimps and adobo for dinner, playing taboo and the most absurd pinoy henyo, early midnight snack, making secret lists to bet on after a decade and a lot of peeing in between... all with 'em people who remind me why i love cebu. :)

what a way to spend my last saturday home. i can't wait to see them again in january!