Party Til We Dropped

I do go on holidays quite a lot but I have never been on a proper holiday with Lorraine and Ruzelle.  When I say proper, I mean, no boyfriends, out of town, no wet blanket.  I am usually the wet blanket as I rarely drink plus of course there's my tb case.  Hehe.

Ruzelle arrived on Thursday, I arrived on Friday and Lorraine arrived on Saturday.  

Friday.  Ruzelle and her siblings took me out for drinks.  We went to Epic then to Summer Place.  Nothing blog worthy happened.

Saturday.  We went to Club Summer Place as usual.  We had a bucket of beer then head off to Juice Bar after midnight.  Our trip coincided with Juice Bar's 7th Anniversary.  Drinks were sold for 7 pesos per plastic cup.  We tried Blue Margarita.  It had horrible effect on both Lorraine and Ruzelle and I couldn't stop dancing.  Hahaha!  Lorraine went blank for a bit.  Before we left the bar, this happened:

CASE 1

2 guys approached us.  I was still in my normal coherent condition.  

SPO4 Tan:  Sorry, anak yan ng mayor.  Then SPO4 Tan introduced himself.  We shook hands.  LOL!

The mayor's son asked for Lorraine's number.

Lorraine declined at first but said, sige.  Then added, di ko alam pano gumamit nito, iphone ako!  Dictated someone's number.

Anak ng Mayor:  Di mo yata number to e.  

Lorraine repeated the number again.  I told SPO4 Tan to take his companion.  

CASE 2

Ruzelle went missing.  She said she was only gonna go to the toilet.  When she didn't return after 5 minutes, I went paranoid.  But thankfully, it was only a case of pagkakasalisi.

Sunday.  It was Kuya Ji and Jamie's wedding.  After the reception, most of the bagets went to Club Summer Place for the after party but the trip wasn't as prolific as the previous nights.  To top it off, there are lots of retirees.  Hahaha!  We went to Juice Bar but the scene was too relaxed.  We decided to check Paraw but it's too hip-hop for us so we decided to head to our accommodation.  I went to bed at 2:30AM but everyone else stayed til 7:30AM.  

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One Destination: Jamie + Jill

I don't really know who Jamie is or what she is like.  I only met her twice prior to the wedding.  The first time was in Christmas 2009 and the second time was on her bridal shower, 2 weeks before the wedding.  Jillian or Kuya Ji as we call him, is my cousin.  He is Ruzelle's older brother.  She wanted to be an actress but ended up working in Marketing, he is a fine arts UP graduate and is a freelance director.  Together they make a good story.  Ang cheesy lang.  :)

He proposed in Greenbelt cinema.  He rented the whole place.  Both of their families and friends were there.  She was ecstatic.  It was her dream to see herself in the big screen.  They were hands-on throughout their wedding.  They would fly to Boracay to look for wedding venues and food tasting.  They didn't use a wedding coordinator until the wedding day.  I don't think I can do that to my own wedding.  I am too unorganised..

The wedding is puno ng pasabog!  Both parties siblings participated in the flash mob for their couple's entrance.  I jokingly told Botchok na ituturo ko sha sa end ng performance but that joke's on me.  Di sha nakatingin!  Hahahaha!  To close the program, Kuya and Jamie hired a group of fire dancers.  What we didn't realise is that, they are gonna dance too.  Production number talaga tong wedding.  I super enjoyed it!

Couple's entrance.

  Jamie arrived in a paraw. 

Wedding game.  Yes, we do wedding games here.  I don't know if they have something like this in the UK though.  

Kuya and Jamie with the fire dancers.

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Bits and Pieces

So I haven't blogged in ages so let me write an update about me:

a.  Last December 20, after 54 days(according to my mum's calculation) of battling cancer, my dad passed away.  He was only 54 years old.  The last few days for him was very difficult.  He was vomiting blood and was bony.  Let's pray for his soul.


b.  During my dad's wake, we met his son from another mama.  He is now 17 years old.  Makes him the youngest of his 4 kids.

c.  I am still undermeds.  If everything goes well, I will be okay by mid-April.  If things go our way, I will be in the UK by end of April.  :)  Please pray for my health.

d.  Luke visited me for 12 days.  As per usual, we went on a holiday.  We chose Cebu this time, an unplanned trip.  We stayed in Cebu City for 4 days and 4 days on Malapascua.  It was a much needed trip.  I wanted to get away from everything.  

In Cebu, Luke and I didn't do much apart from half day of walking tour.  We didn't go to the Regency Tower as Luke doesn't like heights.  I don't wanna do everything on my own either.  Ang retarded lang.  At night time, we eat.  We ate and ate that now I'm 57kgs heavy.  My meds aren't helping either.  It's supposed to make me fat.  KILL ME.  

Zubuchon Lechon!  The skin was very crispy and its meat flavourful.  Just looking at the photo makes Luke and I hungry.

Curious what this is?  I was too.  I saw this whilst were doing our impromptu walking tour.  I bought two from the guy selling siomai.  It was only 2.50PHP each.  I thought, what a cheap delicacy.  It wasn't. It was rice wrapped in coconut leaf.

I look like a pregnant matrona here.  Hahaha!

Luke calls this style, sumo head I think.

At first, I told Luke that I hate Malapascua because there aren't much to do and the place was dead by night time.  The real reason was, I was being a bitch because I lost my contacts and I wanted to replaced it straightaway so I can see better.  In reality, I loved it.  There were no filo tourist and noone bothered with any tour.  Luke read somewhere that it's the other way around.  It's the tourist who have to ask the boatmen to take them on a snorkelling trip.  Noone walks around with DSLR in their necks.  There are lots of Italians I feel like I'm in Italy.  When Luke dives, I spent most of my time in his laptop watching Curb your enthusiasm.  It was a perfect holiday for a lazy girl like me.  

On our last day in Cebu, I took Luke to Tabo-an Market.  He hated being dragged in a public market full of dried fishes.  The stench is horrendous and I smelt the whole day!  Before going to bed I asked him if I needed to shower.  He said, you don't need to but your hair smells a bit.  I wonder how he mastered saying things lightly.  

Here are few funny moments from our trip:

a.  In the airplane, Luke was complaining how filos take their seat belts the moment the airplane landed with the seat belt sign on.  Guess what happens?  Luke take his too.

b.  In our hotel room, I was very gassy.  Luke said he need to fart and I said, I need too.  I counted 1, 2, 3 and let out the most loud fart in my life.

c.  In the taxi, I asked the driver what Pit Senyor is.  He said, Pit is alaga ba.  Alaga is pet in English.  In the Visayas Region, they interchange E with I and O with U.  I had to hold my laughter.


Thank you baby for taking me on holiday!  xxx

A much needed break

I'm not dead.  I blame my absence to lack of material.  Since I left work, I've been alternating between hospital, house work and recently, holiday.  My dad was diagnosed with stage 4 Adenocarcinoma about a month ago.  He was hospitalised since 27th of October and hasn't left the hospital since.  He had one operation but it didn't change his condition.  The cancer is so advanced that it spread on his whole stomach, esophagus, large intestine and small intestine.  Basically his whole digestive system.  He doesn't know about his condition, he opted not to.

Having a family member with cancer is so draining especially for me and my brother.  My dad is confined in Sta. Mesa, we live in Novaliches and my brother works in Pasong Tamo.  He works on weekdays and looks after dad on weekends.  I went to visit him whenever I can.  I have tuberculosis and avoid contact with him.  I get tired easily too.  Dad is so lucky he got his siblings, nieces and nephews to take care of him.  Auntie Susie in particular rarely miss a visit day.

I was contemplating on going to Boracay for 6 days as dad was in critical condition prior to this trip.  He almost died and we all said our goodbyes.  We also went to the extreme of buying his burial clothes just to be ready but he was able to cheat death and beat his Pneumonia.

With confused mind, I went ahead and go to Boracay with Luke.  It was my much needed break.  I took the risk being ostrecised for my sanity.  We went to White Beach, Puka Beach and Ariel's Point this time.  We also dropped by Club Balai Isabel for 2 days.  Luke learnt how to say malamig na tubig, chicharon, balot like a vendor.  It's very obvious that we've been commuting a lot. :P  I thought him to say bayad and bayag.  I kept on saying aray too which pissed Luke off.  He learnt so much tagalog on this trip, I'm so proud of him!  I  wish he can fluently speak learn tagalog so I don't have to speak English forever 24/7.  :P


Going back from Boracay is a challenge.  Cebu Pacific cancelled our flight and gave us the 17th of Nov option, we were supposed to leave on the 15th, Roxas the next day or chance passenger on the same day.  We choose Roxas and chance passenger.  Luckily, despite the drama, we arrived at 9PM the 15th.  :) A funny thing happened before we boarded the flight, Luke was weight and an error message appeared.  Now I know that the scales limit is 100kgs.  I love you babe!  xxx

Puka Beach

White Beach

Ariel's Point

Video of Vendor Luke at Club Balai Isabel.  :)

Salamat for the Holiday Lovie Dove.  XXX

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Marikina Day Trip

I phoned work today and was told that I don't have to go to work.  My boss moved my day off from Weds to Monday.  Nice huh?  It feels like I went on a long holiday.  I was planning to visit the Aguinaldo Shrine in Kawit, Cavite but unfortunately, the Shrine is closed for viewing on Mondays.  My second option was Pan de Amerika in Katipunan but Ruzelle hate it so much I had to put off the plans for now.  Marikina Shoe Museum came to mind, I did a little research and off I went.

 Marikina Shoe Museum

Marikina Shoe Museum(Museo ng Sapatos) housed 300 of the shoes generously donated by the former first lady Imelda Marcos.  She had shoes from Ungaro, Christian Dior, Chanel, Charles Jourdan, Rustan's Lady and I'm assuming her made to order shoes.  One thing in common though, they're very classic in design and colourful.  I actually saw Imelda years ago shopping in Glorietta for shoes.  I was on the same boutique as her, a filo brand.  I remember her trying on one sandals and buying the same style in 5 different colours.  Very Imeldific.  :)

Here's how I got to Marikina Shoe Museum:

I got off at Santolan LRT Station, took a jeep to Ligaya and another jeep to Marikina.  Take a trike to Marikina Shoe Museum.  It's across the Our Lady of the Abandoned Parish.  Most trike driver's don't know the place so just say OLA. :)

The bike lane only makes me wanna live in the city.  They have pedestrian crossing everywhere too.

Just across Marikina Shoe Museum is the Our Lady of the Abandoned Parish.

The Marikenos are very magalang and helpful.  I enjoyed my short tour of the city.


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Antipolo Day Trip

I know, it's only been weeks since I last went on an out of town trip but I'm itching to go out again.  I had enough of Manila, I had enough of shopping centers.  I want something different, go somewhere which I haven't been or revisit a place that I've been.  I just wanna be away...

It was very easy to convince Divine to go on a trip.  I told her my plans and when I wanna go and off we went to Antipolo.  

Crescent Moon Cafe:

I don't know where I found this cafe.  I am assuming that I came across this place whilst looking for review on Moon Garden.  I read lots of positive reviews and I was curious about their pottery sold by the kilos.  To put it lightly, I was disappointed with my whole experience.  Lunch is served from 12-2PM, my friend and I arrived at half past(with confirmed booking) and when we walked in into the cafe, everyone looked at us.  We were uncomfortable from the minute we walked in.  We can't find our seats either no scratch that, there weren't any reserved table for us.  The waiter had to borrow seats from neighbouring table.  Although the staffs were very nice, our whole Crescent Moon Cafe experienced was ruined.  Divine and I can't wait to get away from the place.

Two must do things at Crescent Moon Cafe - Eat Suman With Mango and Feed the Fishes.  I screamed the first time the fish touched my hand.  :P

BTW, going to Crescent Moon Cafe by commuting is difficult.  Most of the tricycle drivers that we asked have not heard of the place.  It is handy to bring a printed map or get yourself familiar with the landmarks.  It only cost 40PHP from Antipolo Church to Crescent Moon.  

Callos Spa and Resort:

I had a bad feeling when I asked the driver to take us to Callos Spa and he don't know where it is.  My rationale is, if the place isn't famous then it must not be good.  I was right.  We were supposed to get the affordable massage but Thank God we changed our mind to an hour combination massage instead.  We saved an hour and 250PHP.  My friend and I were completely ripped off.  We were given a 40 minute mediocre massage.  Our attendants left, started chatting and only went back when they heard Divine and I laughing and told us that our time's up.  I can't believe that they had the nerve to gave us their tip envelops.  Divine told me that her massage was so bad she felt like she was gonna die.  Mine's very bitin and minadali. I will not trust the power of DSLR from now on.  :P

 The power of DSLR.  It makes everything pretty.  :P

Antipolo Cathedral:

Going to Antipolo by commuting is easy and cheap.  From North, take the MRT to Cubao and change to LRT to Santolan.  From Santolan LRT take the FX or Jeep to Antipolo Cathedral.  Both ways costed less than 100PHP.


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Moon Garden Tagaytay

I don't know where I got this idea of accommodation hoping.  I didn't realise how stressful and tiring it was until Luke and I actually did it.  I wanted to take Luke to Tagaytay since his last visit.  Tagaytay is the nearest holiday destination from Manila.  You can do a day trip but I had enough of Manila and I wanted to go on a short hols so I dragged him with me.  :P

From T House, Luke and I stopped over at Picnic Grove.  He was disappointed.  The only thing he liked about the place was the view.  I will say this over and over, I hope they hire people to look after the place.  It's falling apart.  They have half demolished accommodations.  Why the hell people would leave things undone?  Isang taon na yun.  It was there when I visited last year.  The weather made it look worse too.

 With Taal Lake on the background.

 Before heading to Moon Garden, I took Luke to Olivarez Plaza.  I was expecting more food shops but instead I found small boutiques.  I am not interested in shopping any longer.  I still haven't sold all my clothes on ebay.

I've been interested to visit Moon Garden since my cousin Ruzelle went with her boyfriend.  I'm all about shabby and rustic.  Luke had a bad feeling about rustic.  He thinks that the place will not be up to his standards but he was wrong.  It was better than T House in my opinion.  The room was very very spacious, the toilet is massive too and we had a very nice view of the garden.  For 2990 plus free breakfast, I think it's good value for money.  

Our view whilst having a meal in our room.  Very very lovely.

Went home knackered that day.  I am back at work again.  :(

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Roundtrip - Manila - Nueva Ecija - Tarlac - Nueva Ecija then Manila

I almost gave up on this trip.  I didn't realise that I had horrible diarrhea that day.  Let's just say that I stood up and stopped the bus to do number 2 on the side of the highway.  If that's not bad enough, I had to do it again after 5 minutes of finishing then again after another 5 minutes.  I will never pretend to have food poisoning just to skip work again.  

My family expected Luke and I to arrive lunch time.  JR informed me that they are actually planning to cook for us.  Thank God they didn't as we arrived a little after 3PM and went straight to Isdaan in Tarlac.  I've seen the photos, I've seen the reviews and I wanted to go myself and check out the place.  I wasn't disappointed.  It reminded me of my trip in the floating market in Thailand.  I was very much relaxed and had an enjoyable meal.  I hope they had a nice time too.

We arrived at Nueva Ecija at 9PM.  It was late.  We expected the oldies to be in bed but they weren't.  I told Luke jokingly that he had to do the filo rights of passage - chopping woods, fetching water, the works.  I just love seeing his reactions to anything stupid that I say.  Oh life's little pleasure(at the expense of Luke).  :P  I expected Nomeng to be talkative but she weren't.  She said she was speechless.  Granny on the other hand asked all the basic questions.  When I say basic I mean, "what's your name?", "how old are you?", "where are you from?" - I am not even kidding.  It was funny.  Luke's visit had her worked up.  Humukay talaga ng Ingles si Lola.  I was making fun of her but she told me that at least she is trying.  She asked Luke if he can speak tagalog.  He said, a little.  He said Oo, Hindi, Bakla.  We all laughed when he said it.  Can't remember teaching him that.  LOL!!!  We were knackered when we got in Manila.  I went to work the next day.

Group Photo.  We had to ask Ate to take this.

This is how much Luke loves me.  :P

Meet the Lolas.

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Company Day at STILTS Calatagan, Batangas

First off, it's not pronounced as STEELTS.  I haven't blogged in a while and I am starting this entry being a bitch.

I haven't been on a company day and to be honest, I don't really get what the fuss was all about.  I still don't feel part of the company as I have been only working there for over a month and to be frank, I will choose sleep over the celebration.  I have been sleep deprived since working and my body needs rest.  My work is very physically draining, something that I didn't factor in when I applied for the position.  

The company day fell on a Monday and I did work til 7:30PM that Sunday.  I was home before 10PM and woke up at 12 midnight.  I couldn't sleep.  I was scared that I might sleep through my alarm.  I met up my colleague at 3AM to get to Buendia before 4AM.  We were scheduled to leave at half past 4AM.  We make it through the deadline and was in Batangas by 8AM.  Arlene and I slept through the trip.  I was still tired when I woke up.

The program was short.  It was started with a prayer followed by the "folk" dance competition, loyalty awards then finally lunch.  My branch lost but I was happy seeing the result of their hardwork.  They did pretty well.  :)

Enjoying the trip wasn't something that I've expected.  My original plan was to sleep and rest but I came prepared with change of clothes and swimsuit.  I knew that my workmates came prepared too.  

The company day coincided with many celebrations.  That week, Miss Nors got married, Arlene and I's SC phase ended and GCC's last day.  It was a day full of emotions.  Mark - GCC cried just before we departed the resort whilst Arlene and I slept through the trip back to Buendia.  :)  It was a tiring but enjoyable day. 

 Love(that's her name).  She seriously looked so exotic.

 Jane and Arlene.  Two of the people that I made friends with at work.

  Jane looked so pretty with or without make up on.

 Head Office Dance Performance

 My branch's dance performance.

 We stayed on one of the houses on stilts.

Mark GCC, Miss Nors and Mark.

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