philippines

Bye Coron!

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(Please note that all of the photos for the next few posts are taken by me and my brother Ted.  Anyone who would like to use these photos, please shoot an email to let us know where you’ll be using them.  Courtesy please.  Thanks! *grin*)

It is always hard to end a vacation.  Even though this place is not as technologically advanced as I thought it should be, I have to admit that it was the perfect escape from our usual busy days.


This is our last sunrise (moonset?) in Busuanga.  I will definitely  miss the place, mainly because it made me like sea water.  To be honest, I never really liked it before, but when I saw what it has to offer me, I am not ashamed to admit that it has completely whopped me in the ass.  I have been missing out on a lot.

I never really got to show where we stayed at in Concepcion, Busuanga.


We had to wake up again at the crack of dawn because there is only one jeepney that goes from Concepcion to Coron town proper.  It was literally just one jeepney.  We crammed ourselves in it and the driver did something I will never forget.

He must have went back and forth three times all over Concepcion, just scouring for people who need a ride to Coron.  Along the way, he would stop and greet people who, in turn, will hand him cash and a list wrapped in plastic and a few containers.  It didn’t take long for us to realize that he’s going to run errands for these people.  We think it’s because some of them can’t afford to go to Coron — either they can’t leave their houses/tasks or they just literally can’t.

The ride took about 3 hours, but when we got to Coron we’re still too early to check in.  We went to the airport nonetheless.

Being a weekend, the place was jampacked.

So my brothers and I went back to our usual stuff to do.

It’s amazing how different we are from each other, and to be honest, I didn’t really think I will enjoy this break as much as I did.  For a moment, I forgot how cool and funny and amazing my brothers were.  Coron reminded me of that.

Our next goal is to have everyone in the clan to come and visit this place.  I promised myself before that day comes, I will be a certified scuba diver.

MEH GANON?!

And here are some parting shots from the beautiful town of Coron!  Till next time!


2011 Filipiniana Day

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I have to admit today is the day I missed the NCR Circle the most.  Last year’s Filipiniana portrait looked like this:

This year, we had to have someone else take it.  And it turned out to be blurred beyond aesthetics that I do not have the heart to post it here.  But this year proved to be our most creative yet.  I mean, of course, the men wore the usual barong and us girls went wardrobe hunting for our costumes.

Ranna had the most interesting accessories:  the fan earrings and the noisiest headpiece ever made by man.


Moks made sure that his lapel is fasyon too.

I would like to thank the Salazars for sponsoring  my Filipiniana this year.  FARFOL!

Anj, having too many things to do in the day, decided to put a modern twist to her Filipiniana (and her curls are ever present).

And who would have thought Jerome has smeyes!?

Though we are not as complete as we were last year, I believe we managed to make it memorable enough.

Especially when Allan shied away from us just to escape this photo shoot.

Happy Independence Day, everyone.

Day 8: A bad habit

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I’m quite pleased to announce I have kicked this bad habit. And I’m quite happy to have a friend who’s willing to exhibit it for me for this day’s challenge, even though he’s already exerting efforts in quitting.

Thanks, Allan. :)

So the day’s challenge comes at a time when the Philippine government is trying to ban smoking in all public places. It’s quite sad since our President smokes, and some of our legislators too. I heard Chiz Escudero say that the law should also respect the personal space of smokers, not just the non-smokers. I think what he’s trying to say is, the law should not require everyone to just stop smoking because for some, it is a compulsion, if not an addiction that they’re still in the process getting rid of.

I quite agree with that. I mean, quitting smoking is quite hard. There is a component in cigarettes that makes it addictive to the user. And it’s really a process. Some people say just go cold turkey, but let’s admit it; some are made of harder stuff. So there. I like the designated smoking spaces rule. At least they’re just confined to one space and non-smokers will just have to avoid that area.

Anyway, good luck to quitting. You’ll notice the difference when you quit. :)

Two pounds and something to be madly passionate about

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It is no secret that I recently took more aggressive steps in losing the unwanted weight gain through Plana Forma.  So far, I’ve been having a ball, though I am still thoroughly upset that I wasn’t able to go to the weekend classes.  Hopefully, I can make up for it this week.  The goal would be four classes at least this week.  Now I just have to teach Ted how to get there so he can pick me up after the workout.

I hopped on the scale this morning.  I do this every week just to check if there’s any additional items I should be worried about (aka pounds).  Much to my surprise, I lost 2 pounds!  I don’t know where else to attribute it to because all I did this week was the Plana Forma classes.  I didn’t run (much to my dismay) and I am sure as hell I didn’t make any alterations to my eating, so there.  Let’s see what my weight will be should I reach my four-class target this week.

Lately, I’ve been so crazy about Pinterest.  It’s basically a virtual inspiration board of everything and anything you can think of.  The faux artiste in me has been pinning like crazy; I wouldn’t be surprised if I’d be pegged as less than productive this week.  But here are some of the cool finds I got from Pinterest.  You’ll have to request an invite, but I think I still have some referrals up my sleeve.  Should you be interested, just let me know and leave a comment below!

The good thing about Pinterest is the fact that you can customize your inspiration boards.  I have cute stuff, food, places to visit and fashion as some of my boards.  You can create as many as you want!  There are even DIY pins, images of DIY project that come with a link to DIY!  Hahahaha.  DIY DIY DIY.  I guess I’m encouraging you to make 2011 a crafty one.  As of the moment, I am going crazy with all these quotes.  I mean, who wouldn’t?

Well, without further ado, go crazy for my pins!

 

Plana Forma Day 2

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As scheduled, I made my way to Jecoprime Building yet again yesterday to catch the 11:30 class.  I knew it was somehow going to be a light day at work, though it held very little promise to remain light.  Grabbed a cab and had him drive to McKinley Hill, and this time, I downloaded Google Maps.  Ha!  I outsmarted myself.  Though by not much coz I should have done that in the first day.

Because of the map, I am once again presented with a reason why I do not like Global City (that much).  The first one was the amazingly depressing exit to C-5.  Have you tried that?  Fucking awful traffic!  Went that way with Anj one time, got stuck for 30 minutes.  That’s a trip back to QC along EDSA right there!  The second one is the stoplight.  Correction:  STOPLIGHTS.  Every single corner has one!  I left the office at 11, grabbed a cab at 11:02, and I should have been there in say 15 minutes.  I got there 11:27.  Not.  Fun.

I hate rushing.  Really.  Especially rushing dressing up.  I was in a dainty dress and had to slip into my leggings and top real quick.  And when I did manage to do that, I remembered I’m wearing the wrong bra.  So went in and changed that too.  Then the class started and I had to hop out while putting on socks.  UGH.

The class instructor Mae Evangelista is really interactive.  I guess because there are only four of us there, she managed to memorize all our names (and I think she also met us one by one before class).  This is the part I really like, the small class.  She was able to call us out when our form wasn’t good, boosted our spirits when we no longer want to continue, and well, she was exceptionally chipper.  I swear she hops.  She doesn’t walk.  She really literally hops.

It’s much much much much much less painful.  I did quiver 50% of the time, but Mae was quick to praise and say “shaking is good” coz apparently, that’s the burn.  Funny how my body can’t seem to be used to it.  They were right when they said the first time will always be hell.  The second was far breezier than I expected.

I liked the mat exercises a lot.  Mae really made us work for it, and I regretted just eating a power bar before heading to the studio.  But I felt it all in my ass, the movement I mean.  It was like a workout for my but and my big butt cannot lie.  Midway through the exercise, the movement started to feel more natural… until the thigh exercise.  Hahahahaha.

Plana Forma never fails to surprise me.  I mean, I still hate the thigh stuff, but Mae was quick to point out if I want to lose the weight I want to lose, and be toned the way I want to be, I should do them.  And do them I did.  For a moment it felt like I’d be more familiar with the routine, but different instructors seem to be the spice here.  I can never expect the same exercise.

I ended up signing up for their Newcomer Monthly Unlimited.  For P3,000, I get to join as many classes as I want.  It’ll expire 30 days from the first day I use it.

Let’s just say I can cope better now.  I managed to come back to the office, nibble on my fish lunch and hold two more meetings in the afternoon.  I was supposed to have Day 3 today, but yeah, the late movie made me wake up late.

So there.  Let’s see…. hmmm… Lost a couple of pounds already, and I’m surprised.  Maybe if I tweak my eating…