Tuesday, December 14, 2010

SARTORIALIST

...don't you just love the word?
Check out  one of my favorite blogs, The Sartorialist.
Beautiful!=)


Photo from The Sartorialist.=)

Sunday, December 12, 2010

MANILA

Bought this at Fully Booked.
Just because.=)
Can't wait to try the restaurants. Very interesting.

Sunday, December 5, 2010

2011

I hope to have a reason to wear this jacket in January!
Fingers crossed.=)


December 5, 2010 FB status:
To my godparents, tito's, tita's, relatives, extremely succesful friends and most especially to my dear lola lucing and lola asion (hehe), i'm saving up for a mountain trek sometime next year and you have the honor to sponsor my climb. haha! Shameless. Merry Christmas!=)

HOME

See you in December Cagayan Valley!=)
I miss home. I miss my family.
Pictures were taken last Christmas 2009.

Kabukiran. We usually spend Christmas and New Year at the farm.
One Big Happy family. Kulang pa yan!=)
Mga Batang Bukid.
Jess and Ikay. Happiness! This is the only place where I feel like a kid again.

Saturday, December 4, 2010

SMILE!

... and just like that, the world will be a much better place!
Pang toothpaste commercial!=) 

At Kuya Bo's 6th Birthday Party!=)

Thursday, December 2, 2010

BAGUIO

...not so Brrr-guio any more!



My insecure teenage self (one hundred years ago) vowed to never set foot in Baguio city ng walang ka-holding hands. You couldn’t blame my insecure teenage self. After all, the ex-puppy love (the first one at that) found his dream girl in this romantic city of pines and that ended my role in his life. Breakups, whether relationships are worth saving or not at all, are indescribably devastating. Even to an insecure teenage girl. Especially if it’s her first. Aside from the hindi-babalik-ng-walang-ka-holding-hands vow, I promised that when I get myself an extremely Derek Ramsey/Ryan Reynolds-hot husband, we shall make Baguio City one of our honeymoon stop-over’s. Get that? One of the. Kasi marami kaming honeymoon destinations. In your face.



Ang loser ko talaga. Haha!=)


But the vow, like my many many vows, never got fulfilled. Because 4 years ago, I had to be in Baguio for an academic research. And last week, I had to be in Baguio because my sister bullied me into going there. Both occasions, walang ka-holding hands status still. The company multiplied to cousins, friends of cousins, classmates of cousins and other friends. Exciting. The more the merrier.


But I think Baguio City is determined to eternally break my heart.


Heart-break Point #1: A friend of mine who I know is a very seasoned traveler tagged along at the thought that we’re going to Baler. It’s a very long story but the point is I couldn’t bear the thought of ruining somebody else’s very precious long weekend. I, for one, am very madamot of my free time just because working in the corporate gives one so little of it. So, I am pretty certain how disappointed he must have felt and I joked about carrying the guilt of dragging him to the mountains when he could have an easily relaxing time at the beach until the day I die. The joke, like most jokes is more than half-meant. It’s three-fourth’s meant. Or 98% meant. Or close to truth. But to close this chapter, to you my dear friend, I am really sorry.


Heart-break Point #2: We did not have an itinerary. We’re adventurous souls and we go with the flow. But you see, planning is part of common-sense travel and we were researching at the same time exploring the place. It’s nice because I like surprises. It’s not nice because surprises are most of the time stressful. So we missed the PMA silent drill. So we did not see strawberries in the strawberry farm because it was not strawberry picking-season. So we failed the plan to stroll along session road at night because we had no idea where to go and what to do. But at the end of the day I think, these epic fail events made my Baguio story more interesting. The next day, we broke up into different groups, each group doing his own version of making the most of our last day in Baguio.


Heart-break Point #3: As a backgrounder, our group was a mix of rowdy college kids and carefree in-their-late-20’s yuppies. So I was sort of in-between. Not so college. Not so late 20’s. The kids had their own thing. The yuppies had their own plan. The in-between me had a different trip, so on the last day of our stay in Baguio, I went around the city solo. Alone. So much for may ka-holding hands na dapat vow.

After eating lunch at Burnham Park with the yuppies, they proceeded to Mines View Park while I stayed for a while to observe Session Road (Baguio’s most famous avenue) and take pictures of the Pink Chapel (see, I even forgot the name and I’m so lazy to even google it). I got myself a free map of Baguio City courtesy of some government institution right across the Pink Church and hailed a taxi to Bencab Museum. Baguio’s salvation is its taxi drivers whose honesty and goodness I bow down to.

I am a failure at putting into words the description of places and my experiences in being at those places, so I am posting pictures so you’ll appreciate them more.=) After Bencab, I proceeded to Casa Vallejo to attend an “Author’s talk” in Mt. Cloud Bookshop, by far my most favorite Baguio find. I found out about the bookstore in a poster in Cafe by the Ruins where we had a great dinner the night before. Robin Lim, the author of the Butterfly People was there to talk about her book and I was feeling all artsy and smart so I found myself a corner where I can listen to her. Even if I do not have any idea who she was. Or what her book is all about. But I am always in awe of people who gets published, so I am in awe of her. She’s an American based in Indonesia but has roots in Baguio and is an advocate of water birthing. But since writing about her makes me feel like writing a college term paper, please do your share of research nalang, all I can say is, I have her to thank for my fulfilling Baguio trip. She misspelled my name when she signed my book but it’s alright, I loved her message: “For Christina, Thank you for coming and for being a shining light of beauty. Love, Ibu Rehlim” (her Indonesian name, I guess).

My first Baguio kilig moment. Even if I know, she has written that same message on every book she signed on that day.

Heart-break Point #4: Our last day was a Sunday – the first Sunday of Advent. I thought to make my Christmas more meaningful by celebrating mass in Baguio City. Since we were billeted in an apartelle near Sta. Catalina, I thought of making it my last stopover. So 3 hours before our trip back to Manila, I prepared myself for a Baguio-encounter with God, and went over to Sta. Catalina, only to find out that it is a convent and not a church. Is this a sign, Lord? Kaya ba ako walang ka-holding hands kasi magma-madre pala ako? Please do not confuse me. Peace. =)

Heart-break Point #5: Before heading back to Manila (the college kids extended their stay until the next day while the yuppies and me left Sunday night), we decided to eat dinner together as a group. We went to Good Taste, a long drive away from our apartelle, but the place was jampacked so we had to look for another one. My cousin read about this cozy place with fireplace called Forest Grill but we were told to wait for at least an hour. So we scratched that one out since our trip was only two hours away. We tried another restaurant and they were so willing to accommodate us, only our budget can not accommodate them. This restaurant-hopping happened while 4 of us were camped at the back of the FX taxi with all the luggages pinning us down - we were seated on the floor as there were no seats in the back. The taxi driver was kind enough to let us all 10 in his cab and won't accept a tip when we finally settled on a restaurant. I love Baguio taxi drivers!=) We wnded up in Barrio Fiesta and I think that was the only time our group bonded. I had a great time having dinner with the kids and the yuppies so much so that I was tempted to suggest to extend our stay. Better late bonding time than never.

Baguio, you have given me so much heart aches.
But at least you have given me a story.
Please, the next time I visit you, make your strawberry farm bear strawberries.
You may dislike me, but boy, when I think about my stay, I had a really great time.

P.S.

You're still going to be one of our (my Derek Ramsey/Ryan Reynolds-hot husband and I) honeymoon stop-over's. Get that? One of the. Kasi mga one million honeymoon destinations yan.

In your face.=)

PICTURES!

Yummy dinner at Cafe by the Ruins
UP BAGUIO OBLATION
Me: Manong, sa UP Baguio po.
Taxi Driver: Ne, isa lang UP dito.
Ang sweet ni kuya. grrr.=)
The College Kids, the Yuppies and the In-between!=)

Mt. Cloud Bookshop with Robin Lim's note!=)

Monday, November 22, 2010

MULAN

Sweet.=)

JOLLIBEE


Big Eyes.
Wide Smile.
Cheekbones that would not go unnoticed.

My friend Bernard, who I swear look like Hamburglar (Ronald McDonald's friend), told me several years ago I look like Jollibee.

I don't mind.
Jollibee is a bigtime Pinoy brand.
And a huge part of Pinoy culture.

My Destiny.=)

Sunday, November 21, 2010

SHAKIRA

Though there is so much that I want to write about and post here, I anguish over the time spent/lost before the computer screen.

So, I'll keep this one short and simple. I invented a term, ang genius ko talaga, inventor na'ko ngayon!=) My high school teachers will be proud.

Hold your breath Webster.
Here it goes: SHAKIRA SEXY.

I want to be Shakira Sexy!=)
I want abs. All I've got is an ab - one big happily fed ab. I think all the food I eat goes right in there and stays there forever. My tummy is a nurturing mommy to go,grow,glow and most especially, junk food.

I can't wait to be your royal sexiness and all the world will bow down before me! (cue thunder then evil laughter then play Waka Waka).

This is what one gets when she reaches her 'payatot' satiation point.=)
My apologies.

THEO

Anti-aging creams will soon become a part of my shopping list. 
The sun speeds up the aging process.
Even our little Superman is afraid of the sun.=p

Theo Bacud. 2 Years Old.

Sunday, November 7, 2010

MADZ

Sielyn shared this link with me by the wonderful Philippine Madrigal Singers. 
I can't get over it. Ang galing. I'm officially a fan!♥ 



Update! The group's having a concert on the first week of December. Early Christmas treat.=)

Thursday, November 4, 2010

VANITY

I refuse to think that the world is unfair because we are all equal in His eyes.
I refuse to complain because the gift of life is precious enough to live each of my (and our) day in gratitude.
But sometimes, I pause and reflect and question Him...

Dear Mister Jesus naman,

Bakit ang hot pa rin po ni Vanessa Hudgens pag nagsa-surf at mukha pa rin siyang artista?

Eh pag ako kung hinde si Sadako...


...Si Olive Oyl naman kamukha ko. =D


Peace! Advance Happy Birthday nalang po!=)

Love,

Tina

La Union stories soon!=)

Wednesday, November 3, 2010

A+

I watched Easy A's trailer, it seemed fun and interesting. Be my movie date? haha!=)

Tuesday, November 2, 2010

LOMO

Dear Santa, 

Are you making your list? Better check it twice!
Ask my friends, I haven't been naughty but extremely nice! =)

Hint hint ;D

I have been salivating on this lomo ever since a friend posted it on facebook.
It would be nice to have this for Christmas.


It claims to produce these effects:




Nice noh?

Problem is, I think I have better things to spend my money on (or save my money for, like my tuition fee.)
Now, does my father have better things to spend his money on?
Matanong nga.=)

Monday, October 25, 2010

MEN

Two of my favorite fictional men.=)


MICHAEL CORLEONE of The Godfather. This happens to be one of my favorite scenes in the trilogy.
Cute Cappie of the series Greek. <3
The world deserves real-life versions of them (except for the violence part for Don Corleone).

Saturday, October 16, 2010

HALLO..

..win! Happy Halloween!=)

I know it's too early for this greeting but hello, everybody is excited with Christmas already! Before we deck the halls with boughs of holly and go fa la la la la, la la la la, let us not forget other colorful occasions which give us an excuse to wear silly costumes.

My previous Alabang job is so full of crazy yet happy events and I miss skipping the daily desk job for that once-a-month event when we can be whoever we want to be.

This was halloween a year ago:

Miss Jaycee, the trooper aswang and our pseudo scared faces.
 
More kilig than spooked.=)

My PG3 family is love.=)

Last night, my friends and I went to Malugay street and found a shop where I can fulfill my Disneyland dreams with lovely costumes, I hope to wear this one in one of the future costume parties (kahit anong klase!)/trigger happy pictrial session I hope to attend:

SNOW WHITE COSTUME. Kahit di ako kasing white ng snow. haha!=)

Be excited always kids!=) Yay!

Sunday, October 10, 2010

HELLO BATAAN!

travel back in time...=)


The talented Alan David took all of the photos here but one (the pic with me and Aica by the Jai ho door..=p)
Jai ho because it looked Indian to me..=)








Thanks Travel Factor!=)

Saturday, October 9, 2010

UP OPTICS

...we don't just click, we also develop - UP OPTICS


written on: April 17, 2009
source: my now inactive multiply account


I was an active applicant of the UP Photography Society not because I have so much interest in their form of art but the org has the most colorful group of people in Diliman.

Future film makers.
Professional Photographers.
Summit Media Magazine Editors.
Beauty Queens.
Kapitbahay ni Ronnie Ricketts.
Masscom Students.
Athlete.
Dreadlocked kid in a McDo Print ad.

The kind of personalities I daydream for myself but which I never had the guts to be. I regret my inactivity to the org after my formal acceptance because of stressful Dr. Edita Tan-related events (Dr. Tan was my thesis adviser) and my, uhum, katamaran.

Kung maibabalik ko lang.

Anyway, here are my few attempts to taking photos ala master Dan Cercado albeit the really amateur version. Unlike the Canon and Nikon DSLR shooting Optics kids, I took these photos with a point and shoot 3.2 megapixel, AA battery-powered, lowtech canon camera straight from the land of Hello Kitty courtesy of Tito Jeng.

Good thing the UP Econ sidhi editors thought they were still worthy of space in their lit folio. *wink*


PULANG-PULA. Dave, Neris and I went to Liliw, Laguna for our Anthro class assignment
and filled our bellies with these 'rambutan's'. Ano ba sa english ng rambutan?=)
DOE EYED. My little sister, Patis. Big eyes run in the family.
BIG BROTHER: This photo was taken during one of UP OPTICS workshop on the "rule of thirds".
Yun lang yata yung naalala ko pa hanggang ngayon!=) Sorry teachers!

SPIRAL

I want to eat all I can as much as I can!


See the happy faces made 'busog' by happy food!




Sometime in August last year, Spiral announced 50% off for their buffet for a minimum group of 4 people and who can resist their invitation to "tour the entire world through food" in one buffet?=)

This was the time of our lives when we still had a lot of free time and climbing up the corporate ladder was not our immediate plan so it was easy to just call on anyone for a weekend of lunch. I am importing something I wrote from my multiply account (which I don't use anymore) about our Spiral date:
"Before we drank our champagne, we each made a toast. Myrella for love. Bernard for more sex, err, love din pala (haha!).  Tin for love din. Me for money and the chance to see the world beyond the 4 walls of my office (it was a subtle work-related ranting..hehe). Abby for money din. Oh diba? Grabe sa values! But Paul had the best and most selfless toast of all: for friendship. Aaaaawwww."

I so miss my college friends.

HELLO SUBIC!




Subic happened last year when I got so excited with my new camera, I thought it had to take photos of the many places I wanted to see. My ate Ay's best friend Ate Joanne (now based in Singapore) was working in SBMA before and we got in the many must-see places for free. Our old desktop crashed and here's a collage I made which I was able to salvage to immortalize our Subic 2009 trip.=D I especially enjoyed the tree drop (free fall from a 70 ft tree) from the Tree Top Adventure, I want to try Bohol's version, the Danao plunge.

Bohol, anyone?=)

Thursday, October 7, 2010

WORDS

Found this copycat of UP Architecture's first ever building in Manila - IN BATAAN.
Thank you Mr. Alan David for this picture with my fellow iska, Miriam!=)
 




...I am a proud Econ major!



Prof. Winnie Monsod quoted Edward Everett Hale in her last lecture in UPSE Audi this semester. No, I am no longer a student in the School of Economics and though until now I can not believe I have taken and actually finished the course, I am a proud alumna.Always and forever.=)

I am only one, but I AM ONE.
I can't do everything, but I can do SOMETHING.
The something I ought to do, I CAN DO.
And by the grace of God, I WILL.

-Hale

...I am a Hollywood reject!

Since, we're in the business of quotes, let me share with you the words Hillary Swank of Million Dollar Baby fame uttered which made me fall in love with her:

I don't believe in boundaries for people.
I think we live one life and it is so short and fleeting.
So if you are not pursuing whatever it is that makes you happy, then what's the point?
It's our birthright to come into the world and experience life in whatever  way we feel best suits us.

Can't Hillary get anymore swanky?=)


I am a sucker for words which touch the heart. Thus, these quotes.

Whatever happened to love letters? =p

Monday, October 4, 2010

PILAK

...young enough to believe that anything is possible, old enough to make that belief a reality - Niequist

In one of our sleepovers (so high school di ba?), my friends and I found ourselves discussing about our generation’s favorite subject: AGE. Those born in the same year as us will be turning 25 years old next year and though some might think of that as still young, especially our parents who will forever consider us as pre-schoolers on a leash, for us 1986-born-people-power babies, we look back at our childhood days and think of them as part of the Jurassic era.


It’s kind of scary, especially for me, because I have moving on issues. I haven’t moved on from my uncombed-not-fit-for-corporate UP college hair. FYI, I love Meg Ryan because of her crazy hair in forever disarray and just-got-out-of-bed look which make her oh-so adorable. My hair is as crazy and is forever in disarray that I need to constantly remind myself that I am not Meg Ryan and I’m not really oh-so adorable.


I haven’t moved on from my Paulinian way of speaking.  The nuns who looked after my 11 years of Catholic education made sure that I won’t forget bamboo is pronounced as ‘beymbooh’, cocoa as ‘kokeyo’ and ‘the’, ‘these’ and ‘that’ are articulated with the‘t’ sounding like ‘z’.

I haven’t moved on from the glorious feeling of being the youngest and yet, am entrusted to play a significant role in an organization. I get thrilled when I am mentored because in the near future, I want to be the mentor. It’s my not so secret dream to become a teacher. =D

So moving on from this inability to move on, Bes (our barkada’s resident genius), brought up the concept of time lines – that stressful chart which dictates that one should have been a rock star by 26, with master’s degree or PhD by 27, married by 28, with kids by 30, millionaire by 32 and a lot more deadlines to becoming a responsible and fulfilled member of society. I told my friends I refuse to make such time line as I’d rather go with the flow and not stress myself so with these deadlines. Spontaneous is not one of my 5 favorite words for nothing (the other 4 are wanderlust, serendipity, thoroughbred, and kindred). But really, though I hate to admit it, at the back of my mind, I refuse to lay down a timeline because I am afraid – scared that by 27, I’m still not Mrs. Brad Pitt or by 28, I’m still not the number 1 in FHM’s list of the sexiest women in the world. I am afraid that I will not be that someone I set myself to become at some certain age and that might (and I know it will) frustrate me.  I know myself so well; I am so protective of me.

Bes retorted that drawing a time line is a person’s way of saying, “oh hey mister universe and mister destiny and mister fate, I will rock the world on the 25th year of my existence because I said so and no amount of your intervention will stop me from doing that”. It is sort of announcing and conditioning all elements in this world that something needs to be achieved by me at a specific time and these forces better help or if not, keep out of the way.

So I am turning 25 next year. Big deal. I still refuse to make a time line, but sooner or later, I know I will. But for now, I am making a list. A list of things to do before I turn 25. My Before-I-turn-25 resolutions. Because I want to announce to the entire universe that though I have not figured out my big-time plans in life yet (and I apologize for my cluelessness), at least I have goals, no matter how plain and simple they may be:

Before I turn 25:

1) I should have been to Batanes.

2) I should have worn my two-piece bikini in Boracay. weh.

Batanes is my ultimate travel destination in the Philippines. I think it is the purest place in this country and it would make a lovely escape from the city. I want to experience Filipino culture in its most unadulterated and most unpretentious form (whatever that means).

As for Boracay, while I would rather be somewhere I can surf, I want to see the Philippine’s most popular  beach because it would suck to be the only 25-year old who has not been there.

3) I should have learned the basics of surfing. I could stand easily on the surf board but that’s just about it. I don’t know how to paddle nor know when the next wave is coming. I am so dependent on my instructor, I’m helpless.

4) I should have done something with my hair.

5) I should have gone diving. I don't care which site. As long as it is under the sea. hehe. =p

Under the sea happens to be the only Disney song saved in my phone and Ariel, the little mermaid, is my favorite Disney princess. (pambata!=D) Gusto ko lang isingit.

6) I should have started saving up for my retirement fund.

7) I should have finished a semester in the Language and Literacy Education course I will enroll in this semester and have at least written an appeal that I be directly admitted to the university’s Master’s program.

8) I should have gained a few more pounds to put the ‘ter’ in hot – hotter, gets? Haha!

9) I should have at least tried belly dancing/strip tease lesson. =p

10) I should have started learning how to drive. I’m pathetic, I can’t drive. My 12-year old cousin zooms past EDSA behind the wheel, while I stay on the sidewalk waiting for a taxi to take me wherever.

11) I should have made someone genuinely happy.

Good luck to me!=D