Christmas Parties Turned Reunions

I know Christmas isn't supposed to be about the parties, the gifts and boozes, and that it's all about the birth of Jesus Christ... but, I have to admit that I really look forward to all the parties because I get to see most of my families and friends. Catching up has to be the best part.

December 13, 2012

First Christmas party of the year with my favorite college buddies: Marion Bugay, Bianca Perez, Charie Hernandez, Angel Aba

Dinner at The Burger Project at Taft Avenue, Manila. Got the chance to make my own burger!

Exchanged gifts with the ladies. Thank you for all of these! :)

Beerpong at Timeout right after dinner. Get your beerpong on!

 December 21, 2012

It's funny how everyone waited for this "end of the world" day, yet nothing happened.
Anyway, this was definitely a good vibes day. My parents and their high school batchmates are still friends nowadays, and their kids (meaning, us) are closer than ever. Every year, the inner circle families do this annual Christmas party despite the distance of the others who lives way up North, while most of us stay in the South.

Meet the parents. (There's my mom and dad at the right side.)

And the kids. Everybody loves children, who doesn't?

Christmas Caffeine Rush at Starbucks

Every year, we await for the Yuletide Season kick-off of Starbucks wherein the company brings back their famous Christmas frappuccino blended drinks.

As for me, a self-confesssed coffee person, I am very excited every November for these three fabulous drinks of Starbucks. What makes it more exciting is that every year, Starbucks comes up with a newly designed planner for everyone who gets to accumulate 17 stickers (8 classic blended drinks, 9 Christmas special drinks). If I remember it right, they lessened the number of stickers this year. A few years back, I think I had to collect 24 stickers just to get their amazing planners.

This year’s planner design comes in three different colors: balck, green, white. According to one follower of Starbucks Philippines, Heidi Donasco (photo below was also taken from her post) she said that this year’s planner has good quality paper, the case is similar to iPad smartcovers. It also comes with a magnetic bookmark. 

I definitely cannot wait to have all 17 stickers and purchase my own Starbucks planner! ♥ (As of now, three stickers for me then I'm done. Yay!)

10 Things Women Do When They Get Depressed

I had a realization over the past few days that women do have a depression habit. Yes, it’s a UNIVERSAL habit. So, I’ve listed 10 common activities of sad, suicidal (kidding) women.

1. EAT A LOT.

It must be the comfort they get from eating, but I don’t know why these set of food has always been the depressing menu:

A. Ice cream

B. Junk food

C. Big fat fried chicken. HAHA (Or this is only me.)

2. CUT THEIR HAIRS, MAKE A STATEMENT.

This is one of the most stupid things we, women, do after a break-up or even just because we’re sad things didn’t go well.

Let’s admit it, our hair is our prized possession. So cutting it short, or going bald (if you’re going insane) is not the best way to handle heartaches. I’ve known a lot of friends who’ve done it, including me, and I regret it after a week or so. 

3. WATCH THIS-IS-TOO-CHEESY-BUT-IT’S-OKAY-COZ-I’M-DEALING-WITH-A-HEARTBREAK MAINSTREAM ROMANTIC FILMS.

Spend the whole day inside the room, lock yourself, lie down, watch romantic, I-wanna-die-now films, feel like a useless piece of scrap, then what? Women just end up having huge puffy bags under their eyes, look miserable, get fat because they prefer to be like a mummy living under their bedsheets, and feel worse because they never get over what just happened. Sad.

4. MAKE LITTLE JOHNNY THEIR BEST FRIEND, GET WASTED.

Let me introduce you to Little Johnny, Johnny Walker. He has a few more friends too, there’s Mr. Jose and Tinkerbell (Absinthe fairy). 

Nothing’s better than forgetting things for the night, well… Remember it the moment you wake up with puke all over your bed, and repeat it everyday. Haha.

5. DOWNLOAD THE SADDEST PLAYLIST AND CRY THEIR HEARTS OUT.

Is that you, Taylor Swift? HAHA! Just kidding, but seriously. There’s something about music that keeps us, girls too emotional. Perfect songs for the perfect heartbreaking moment.

SEM BREAK 2012: Series Craze

Yes, I officially declare my sem break despite my hanging paper in PA 104. I don’t care, I wanna enjoy already. And because of thiiis, I’ve made up a list of series that are lined up for me to watch. I DEFINITELY CANNOT WAIT!!! My copies are ready, pillows are now here, food is also prepared and it’s all set.

1. THE BIG BANG THEORY

Starting it now with Season 1, yes I know I’m so late. But, ugh. I have to watch this!! 

2. NEW GIRL

Must-watch. Reason: Zooey Deschanel. ‘Nuff said.

3. AMERICAN HORROR STORY

4. GREY’S ANATOMY

5. THE VAMPIRE DIARIES

On my 4th season already, I’m so pumped up with its latest season!! Damon and Elena forever. <3

6. HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER

My favorite series ever. Season 8 is its second to the last, so I can’t wait to know who really is the mother.

PS. I love you, Ted Mosby. :)

So basically, this is how my sem break will pass. It’s all about me and my list of series. <3 Kudos!

Plastic Balloons

(I wanna write this post in Tagalog so that I could really show how happy this day was. I’ll try to be fluent, but if I can’t, pardon me. HAHA)

So ayun, naranasan niyo ba nung bata kayo na humihingi kayo parati ng dalawang piso sa parents niyo para lang makabili sa sari-sari store ng plastic balloons? Well, I did. As in naalala ko dati, tinitipid ko ung nag-iisang plastic balloon para lang makagawa ako ng three balloons out of it (since hindi naman ako binibilhan nila Mom and Dad ng marami. Huhu.). 

Last Friday (October 04, 2012), I went to Divisoria with my college friends to make a documentary for our Bonifacio trail. Ayoko na ikwento ‘yan kasi out of the main story. :)) Anyway, so went to 168 Shopping Mall to ahve lunch and roam around after. 

Nung nag-iikot kami, napunta kami sa isang floor na puro kiddie stuffs ung binebenta. There were stamps, stickers, balloons, and anything with cartoon characters na super mura lang. What caught our attention was the ever-famous plastic balloons, then we all had this are-you-thinking-what-I’m-thinking look. We planned on buying atleast three pieces each pero sabi nung ale, di daw pwede na tingi lang. Sooo, we ended up buying one “banig” of plastic balloons (which had 48 pieces). HAHA! My friend Bianca said, “Sige, ready na ko magka-beke mamaya.” :)))

So nung nakabili na kami, we went back to UP Manila since we had theater rehearsals from 4-7pm. We were earlier than the call time so nag-decide kami na magstart na with the plastic balloons. SOBRANG SAYA NAMIN, WITH MATCHING TEARS OF JOY. Haha! Parang blast to your childhood days ulit ung feeling, nakakawala ng stress. We can see the faces of people passing by, and making statements like, “Uy oh, plastic balloons! Kakainggit!” or “Aww. Bili nga din tayo mamaya nun!”

The art of making plastic balloons.

In short, naubos namin ung 48 pcs. of plastic balloons. HAHA. I repeat, 48 pieces. Tapos, gumawa kami ng balloon tower, out of kabaliwan lang. :)) Here are pictures. :p

With our giant balloon masterpiece. Haha!

Pictures with Yvette, Bianca and Angel. :-)

Sometimes, it is necessary to feed the kid in you.

Classic Final Four Aftermath

Devastating... But no, it was a great match between the rivals, De La Salle University Green Archers and the Ateneo De Manila University Blue Eagles. The mere fact that the Archers were able to enter the final four match was a big accomplishment for a team with mostly rookies.

Expectations weren't high for the Lasallians, but I must say, the Ateneans had tough grips on their seats during the intense game. With the Archers making an 11-pt lead on the 4th quarter, that was definitely the ONE BIG FIGHT the blue crowd was looking for.

Unfortunately, we had a great run but ADMU led by Kiefer Ravena had a better hold on the game. 69-66 was the final score. Despite that, Araneta Coliseum had a proud Lasallian community after. Something bright is on our future.

Photos below courtesy of Go Archers.

Jeron Teng going through an Atenean with the help of Norbert Torres' screen.

Oda Tampus and Yutien Andrada

AN1MO spirit (Spot: Alumni Rico Maierhofer, Jerwin Gaco, Joseph Yeo and Randy Santiago)

NorBEARt Torres

Joshua Webb on his last game for the DLSU. Thank you for the amazing 5 years, Webb!

Another graduating player, Jovit Mendoza on his last UAAP game. 

Wanderlust: Bataan 2012

I've always wanted to go to places and make a travel blog in the future. It's a dream that I plan to start now.

"The world is a book and those who do not travel read only one page." - St. Augustine  

September 01, 2012
Bataan, Philippines

Three hours away from Manila, I went to Bataan along with my college blockmates for a major class, Philippine Arts 198 (Introduction to Cultural Heritage) outing. We had to take the Bataan Transit bus from Doroteo Jose station in Manila at around 6 in the morning and arrived at Bataan at exactly 8AM.

Upon our arrival, the jeepney we rented was already there and the driver brought us to Jollibee for a quick breakfast stopover before the whole trip starts. We met our professor at the terminal and drove our way to Mt. Samat.

9AM: Mt. Samat, Bataan

Mount Samat is the location of the historical marker for the Bataan Death March. Also found here is the Shrine of Valor or Dambana ng Kagitingan which is found near its summit.
From the terminal, we drove our way through the zig-zag roads around the mountain to reach almost the top of Mt. Samat. There we found the Holy Cross/Shrine of Valor which was really a great view up close. We also found ourselves inside the museum that showcases artifacts (Japanese soldier uniforms, bullets, grenades, rifles, pictures, flags, etc.). Unfortunately, picture taking wasn't allowed inside the museum. My professor was also able to buy a framed bullet which only costed Php 2000. Other historical collectibles are sold for a great price (in case anyone is interested, do visit because items are really a great addition to a historical collection).

Shrine of Valor/Dambana ng Kagitingan

 All the while, I thought we could view the Shrine of Valor only by standing from afar. What I didn't know is that we could still hike up going to where the cross actually stands. It took us 400+ steps before reaching the summit of Mt. Samat, and we were able to ride an elevator all the way to the TOP OF THE CROSS. Yes, the view was really breath-taking. The cross showed carvings of the lives and struggles of Filipinos who took part during the Bataan Death March.

Captivating view from the top of the Shrine of Valor.

 1PM: Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar

It was a very wise decision for us to push through our trip by going to the "living museum of Philippine customs and traditions" (www.lascasasfilipinas.com). At first, we had second thoughts because of the price rates they implement. But since we were already in Bataan, me and my blockmates decided that visiting Acuzar would be a first for all of us and it would be nice to have that first experience altogether.

Back to Paradise

If there's one place I want to go back all the time, it has to be Universal Studios Singapore. My perfect getaway place. :-)

Giant Hershey's syrup. <3

Extreme @ Universal Studios (FREAKING LEGIT AWESOME)

Nostalgia: Goodbye, Multiply

Have you ever made a blog or opened an account where you almost put everything that happens in your life in it? Well, I did and Multiply has been the perfect site for all the pictures, blogs, and videos of my high school life. 

THE SAD REVELATION

The heartbreaking news is that Multiply will no longer exist by December. :( The moment  I heard about this, I was left with no choice but to open my account, recover everything, and reminisce.

NOSTALGIC EPISODE

How can you not laugh with pictures and videos of you and your friends when you look so silly, "jeje" and young? Oh, the memories.

Senior year // Foundation week

Junior year with my classmates from Perseverance class 

Oh no. The ever famous baboy picture with my classmate, Joseph. 

My favorite ladies. <3 We don't act like ladies. HAHA

THIZZ FACE.

Prom night at Bellevue Hotel, Alabang

Cheering days. I miss dancing. :(