Maybe it’s because I’m getting older. Recently, I’ve been looking at a lot of properties that I can invest in. Some time last year, I started renting my own place and it wasn’t until my father passed away did I realize I’ve been throwing away my money. I know. For people who thought I was that smart, think again. Haha.
I’ve been browsing Freshome a lot, and it’s actually one of my favorite websites. It’s filled with interior design ideas, modern architecture and bits of inspiration for those who was to DIY stylize their home.
Remember that egg bathtub I mentioned a while back? Well, I still want it soooo bad. Then I looked at Freshome again, and saw more things I want.
I seem to want too much. But hey, a girl can dream right? :)
Take for example this small Swedish apartment featured in Alvhem. Its fantastic design made 37.5 square meters matter so much.
Everything is so white and quaint; perfect for a little lady like me. I like the fact that it looks good enough for a couple to be in. It does need a handful of manly touches but the way the space was utilized, it looks very easy to maintain.
Did I tell you I love gray? I just love gray tones. They’re very relaxing and cozy. The pops of color are just the right amount to make this small space very homey.
Even the dining area is cute! I’m now thinking of other seating alternatives to make dining more comfortable. Steel legs may spell out sleek and minimalist, but they don’t really say “stay here and eat slowly.” For those who know me well, eating for me is always a long activity. That’s where conversations are at their best.
I wonder if there will ever be smartly-utilized and chic stylized apartments in the Philippines like this one. Like I said, a girl can dream right?
For more design inspirations, head to Freshome. Trust me, you won’t be disappointed.
I have not written for quite some time but now that I have found the energy, here’s something that I’ve been thinking for quite a while now.
The Senator and his people
Photo from Filipino Freethinkers
With the much awaited passing of the RH Bill in the Senate, Sen. Tito Sotto, a staunch anti-RH Bill advocate, delivered his turno en contra speeches the past weeks. It generated much buzz mainly because of the facts stated. Some question the truth behind them – Sotto claimed wife Helen Gamboa used the pill Diane and cause the death of their son – but most questioned the sources of the esteemed senator.
We’ve all read the stories. In fact, Filipino Freethinkers took the liberty to document the events that transpired in the past few weeks. It has been indeed a roller coaster month for the RH Bill, but the worse can be said of the Senator’s position.
It has become a big deal because it’s plagiarism. It was direct, simple, plain and crystal clear; the speech contained huge portions of someone else’s work and was delivered without any acknowledgment of the source. When a crass apology is given out by people apparently assuming to be in the position to issue one and arrogance shines through, it fails to meet its purpose. Apologies are given out with humility and utmost sincerity, not an out-loud rhetoric of whom to crucify for the error.
Netizens have clamored all over virtual space not because of a bandwagon mentality. As people who write and live virtual lives, it is important for us to verify and be clear about everything. It is a public pool of information indeed, but it doesn’t equate to public belonging. Ownership – of words, images, opinions, sounds – still applies in this side of the sphere, and we do our best to give credit where it is due. Evidently, with Sotto’s refusal to issue an apology, the Senator exudes the impression that he is above common courtesy.
I wish he just took the example of Manny Pangilinan, whose commencement speech was discovered to be plagiarized as well. Humbled, he admitted his mistakes as his own (even if he has his staff to blame for sloppy researching), stepped down the board and showed everyone how sincerity should be expressed.
Take a knee, Mr. Senator. You’re no better than anyone else; you err just as much as we do. The only difference is everyone else has owned up to it, but you.
Day 1,000 of the greatest political killing in Philippine history
Photo from ifex.org
I wonder if people still remember that August 19, 2012 marks the 1000th day since the massacre that shocked the nation. 58 bodies, 32 of which are members of the media, marked what was dubbed as the greatest political killing in Philippine history. And it wasn’t even Martial Law.
To say that greed will imprison us all is an understatement, as justice has yet to be served to the families of the victims. Zaldy Ampatuan hasn’t even been tried and already numerous witnesses have been slain and literally chopped to pieces.
Do you remember that day? Do you remember how the press united for this cause? The death of so many people removed all identities in the press. There was no Kapamilya, no Kapuso. Everyone was just in mourning and thirsty for justice. It seems to be taking its time to get there though.
I feel bad for having forgotten about Jonas Burgos. Upon catching up with the news on the Ampatuan massacre, I just told myself I will do what I can to not forget.
My former college professor is one of the prosecutors on this case. I should really touch bases with her.
58 bodies. Ampatuan not arraigned. Witnesses slain. Do not forget about them. Do not let them disappear from your sights.
http://www.interaksyon.com/1000-days-without-justice
RIP Jesse Robredo
Photo from Inquirer.net
It was like Magsaysay’s plane crashed by the side of the mountains again as we lost another honest man to fate. DILG Secretary Jesse Robredo passed away when his plane en route to an emergency landing in Masbate crashed in sea. It took some time but his body was retrieved Monday, August 20, 180 ft. under water. The two pilots are yet to be recovered (as of writing), and already the nation is in mourning.
I will not pretend to be well versed about this man, but from what I’ve heard in the past, he is one of the few good ones. Words that had come up when describing him were simple and humble. I feel quite unfortunate to have not witnessed his miracles while in office.
My heart joins the nation in mourning for him, but mostly, it mourns for the loss of the likes of Jesse Robredo, when already we have so few.
http://www.rappler.com/thought-leaders/10926-jesse-robredo,-a-man-for-others
August tears
Rolex Dela Pena/European Pressphoto Agency
Although the month of August promises a good back-to-back of long weekends, it has also given what seem to be the worst rains of the year. The monsoon exceeded Ondoy levels, and Igme left the northern tip of the country somber.
But, like Ondoy, it has brought out the spirit of the Filipino. It has even caught the attention of the New York Times blog. I felt pretty good about that.
However, after a good mulling over, you kind of want to ask yourself: does a tragedy have to happen before we rally together? A friend commented that the Filipino race could use a do over. I can’t really disagree; we have failed each other more times than we have impressed each other. I just hope we won’t need a deluge to bond. Or a good government official’s death. Or a massacre.
I hope the Filipino race can rise without the need for a tragedy to rise from. The current state of the nation is enough tragedy in itself. Death and loss need not be such a big factor to be a motivated people.
That’s all.
Yeah yeah yeah. If you’re following me on Twitter, you would’ve known about this already.
After months and months of procrastinating, I’ve finally started my own photoblog. I called it “Captured and Cropped” coz basically that’s all I do with my photos.
Not even crop. More like resize.
Oh and a little bit of sharpening and deepening color levels and that’s it.
What’s with the photoblog? Just feeding the amateur potty mouth photographer in me. I plan to relearn the craft, refresh my memory, the moment I save up and buy my own decent equipment. I’ve been spending so much on shoes and lingerie, I completely forgot about camera equipment.
Anyway, I hope you guys will like the new blog. I’m leaving a little little badge on the sidebar to get you there. Please do visit and subscribe! I do my best to not be a waste of space. :)
Thanks!
Image from FFFFound
It’s not really a surprise if you see a 9-year-old strolling Eastwood and she’s holding an iPad in her hand, trying desperately to slice all the fruits in Fruit Ninja. I get it; this is a privileged generation. Kids born in the last decade have seen the rapidly progressing technology. Some are even born right next to it. So it should come as no surprise that my niece Chuchi is also growing to be one.
I mean, don’t get me wrong. Marga doesn’t like exposing her to these things. Most of the time, she turns her away from television and most of her instructional materials — both for work and for Chuchi — are traditional ones. And I totally get it. Seeing how dependent Miko was on technology when it comes to playtime, I have grown even more appreciative of building blocks, playing mats, and the like.
But that doesn’t mean Chuchi can’t get far from technology.
I made sure that the lock screen was lit so she can see she's my wallpaper.
I think she couldn't believe what she was seeing. Notice the unmistakable shock grip on the phone?
She kept looking at me, then the phone, then back at me, as if saying, "This is me! Why do you have me in this box?!"
I believe this is when the Susi Vanity kicked in. This could easily be dubbed as the I love me moment. Hahahaha.
I am trying to not laugh, but by this time, she won't let go of the phone. She keeps looking in it.
Yes, I believe this is the self-love moment. She tried to KISS the phone. Hahahaha! Sweetie, I love your face too! :)
So I end this post with another photo exhibiting Chuchi's growing fascination for phones. I love my niece and her curious mind. :) Look at how she cranes her neck to peek at what her mom's doing! Hahahahaha. (And that's ube ice cream on Bianca's face)
the salt of your skin 