2008 in retrospect

2008 was a blur..a great mind-boggling year with lots of thrill and drama. Been to the North a couple of times, been soo stressed about bigger responsibilities, "with talent comes less time" hahaha..

I've completed Simbang Gabi for the first time. Met Don Moen and Bo Sanchez - two major spiritual influences in my life. Reconciled with my bestfriend. Went back to Manila. "Iksperience" year.

If I were a garment, I'm super-stretched - at work and in church. Been doing stuff that I don't normally do and couldn't imagine handling. But it's good. God is good. He knows how I resist grown up stuff and yet they still happen.

My Dear Ilocos Region

I have conquered Hundred Islands and Pagudpud! Yahoo..

My Lakbayan grade is C-!

How much of the Philippines have you visited? Find out at Lakbayan!

Created by Eugene Villar.

up, up and away

rye and his purple chick


shoot with Gino of Chillspot


Thelma and Maro's home in Lipa, Batangas

what?!! it's been a month since my last blog? hay, been really busy with the marketing plan for 2009 and finally it's approved..yahoo! glory to God. now the fun part is the implementation..

the month has been crazy - tv shooting, gift shopping, party preparations and wow - a trip to the North again this loong weekend. Has it been a year since that fateful day...whopee..

I'm super excited for December..lots of social stuff happening and bonding with family. It's been awhile since we're all gathered together.

Weekend that Was

Casa Manila Museum

Plaza Fountain

Mass Wedding Music Team


Went to Intramuros with Jensky to check out the wedding reception venue of Mojo and the string quartet at San Agustin Church. We watched "Nights in Rodanthe" and had tuna pesto..yum yum..

Attended the mass wedding of our head office as singer..awoooh!

My ideal scene

"The Notebook" is my ultimate favorite scene..


Lindsay in "Georgia Rule"

I have a fascination for boats and a body of water - river or lake..Ewan ko ba. It's just so romantic and isolated.

swimming with the tide

rye and gab at the museo pambata

rye and how shopping is hard work

how Eid is masarap in tagalog

I have been so accepting of all the things and I mean ALL the things that are happening to me everyday. Letting go and letting God. I'm not resisting grace anymore. And it's soo grand.

Gossip Girl's Bad Hot Boy

Ok, so I think my crush on Chuck Bass, the ultimate scheming bad boy of "Gossip Girl" confirmed that I have this penchant for mayabang types. Boy next doors are just too blah for me..

When Chuck looks at Blair, hay..wanna faint..

Busy weekend

The past weekend was crazy! We had an exhibit at Megamall and a kiddie party for my inaanak. So I had Monday off and we went to Dinoland. Rye was dino happy!

1st weekend of Sept

the family gathered to mark Mama's 9th year death anniversary, to celebrate Ayla's 1st honor award and to sing EHeads hits..

the Sex and the City version of me, thelma, jenny and yen went to Makati and Pasig for a night out..to laugh, to rant, to get sad with, to celebrate friendship..

Rye plays the piano now, with drums and guitar on the side..I'm not sure if this because of "Camp Rock"..

Radio Tour

Last Friday, we had a radio studio visit - Love Radio, Yes FM, Radyo Natin and DZRH. I saw Tia Dely (who had a stroke the next day and passed away Monday - I wanted to have a photo taken with her but she was on air recording a drama), Joe Taruc and Ruth Abao who plugged our property.

Tuesday, we met Arnold Clavio, Susan Enriquez and Arnel Ignacio at DZBB radio station. It was my first time to visit GMA 7 compound. It was huge and had a great view of the city at 17th floor.

In college, during our Radio Production class, we produced a drama and I was tasked to bring some of the props. It was so much fun!

How I Spent my Weekend

Long weekend last week..

Saturday was mall time with Rye - Greenwich and Bicho Bicho binge

Sunday was G-Anne's Bday party surprise - mali pa spelling ng banner na ginawa ko and I got teased about that hehehe..blame it on the nail polish that we used to design it..na high ako!

Monday was Ukay day in Carriedo, got some great finds - dress, shirts..I thought I lost my magic when I didn't buy anything in Baguio..But nope, it's still working! It was also a surprise visit from Thelma and Jen over Mediterranean cuisine left overs which I ate at Wendy's..

Where Was I When..

Inspired by Jessica Zafra's entry, Where Were you when these events took place..

Ninoy Aquino Burial
I remember my parents waiting for Ninoy's coffin to passed by Roxas Boulevard. We were in the 8th floor with our yellow confetti out of old directory pages. Everyone was crying and angry. I used to watch Ninoy's speeches and at an early age I got exposed to politics. That's why my second college course choice was Political Science.

EDSA People Power 1
Tora tora planes flying by US Embassy..I wanted to go with Mama and aTe Elma to Camp Crame but Dad didn't allow me so I just watched tv.

July 16 Earthquake
Mama and I were in a jeepney going home from school when the driver suddenly stopped and people were running. I thought a sniper was shooting at someone, everyone was looking up. Yun pala the ground was shaking already. Mama was in panic mode since G Anne and Dad were the only ones sa house in Belair, old building and all.

Mount Pinatubo Eruption
It was scary, daytime but the sky was super dark and ash fall in the whole Manila.

World Trade Center 9/11
I just got home from work when Yen called and said a plane crashed into WTC. When I checked CNN, the second plane was about to hit the other building. Super horrific, it's like world war. I had a feeling this will change America and it did. I didn't sleep that night and just tuned in watching New York cope with disaster.

EDSA 2
Winwin and I trooped to EDSA shrine and joined the rally. It was like a big party and I got a shirt which says "FED UP, Erap Resign".
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What's happening in Mindanao right now makes me soo mad. I'm tired of politics. I'm just praying for help. More on justice than mercy for the politicians. They are all crap. And that's putting it mildly. I refused to give them space in my blog.

Baguio and Me

1987
My first trip to Baguio with Mama to visit Ate Elma who's having her practicum there. It was also my first loong bus ride but I didn't get bored. I remembered we got lost looking for Ate's dorm so we just roamed Burnham Park and Mine's View. It was also my first taste of strawberry with condensed milk. Yum!

1994
This time with Kuya Bong, Ate Susan and G-Anne. We went to the Pet cemetery at Camp John Hay and boat ride at Burnham plus other tourist sites.

1999
Same group and this time with Ayla. We stayed at the spooky Department of Justice compound..

2001
With the whole family since Ate Elma went home with her kids. Spent time ukay ukay for hours and hours..rode horses at Wright Park..

2003
With the Tagumpay group to attend the Panagbenga festival which was a huge headache since ang daming tao and super traffic! Buti na lang makulet sila Rommel and Ate Mayeth kasi tawa kami ng tawa the entire time. Ate Lydia twisted her ankle but still went ukay shopping!

2006
With the family and just had dinner at Pizza Hut since we got home from Our Lady of Manaoag church. Dumayo pa ng Baguio para lang kumain ng pizza at di na nakalibot kasi gabi na..pauwi to Sta Maria, Pangasinan we got spooked coz naligaw kami and napunta sa talahiban na bukid..the driver was trying to follow a headless biker and para kaming hypnotized coz everyone was silent except for Dad who was the only person to say we were going the wrong way..Till now freaky pa rin pag naiisip ko!

2008
It's my first time at Teachers' Camp which is 100 years old already since it was built. Hindi naman spooky but I still didnt want to pee at midnight. We had our planning session for the Tagumpay ng Panginoon charismatic community. Punta kami ng Grotto, SM baguio for lunch, ukay ukay but I didn't buy anything! And the Baguio market of course for the obligatory pasalubongs..

mowdel in the making

Ermita Heritage

This is my favorite blog topic - that I stayed in a prewar building in Ermita, the Forbes Park of the Spanish period. And so when I have time to search images and what not, I always google Belair Apartments or Lopez Apartments. So far I've learned that it was done by National Artist Pablo Antonio and that Americans used to live here.

This link is the postwar image of Ermita which was 85% destroyed. And yet it was a miracle that Belair wasn't bombed by the Japanese or it missed its mark..

http://www.pacificwrecks.com/provinces/philippines/manila/ermita/ermita-district-feb45.html

My dream is still to buy it from the Santoses / Lopezes and restore to its former glory. But that's just me..Hehehe..

My Old Manila

A month ago, Thelma and I went to Escolta and Chinatown for a food trip in Ambos Mundos, the country's oldest restaurant since it is founded in 1888. We ordered paksiw na lechon, ambo's fried rice and talong with bagoong, tomatoes, onions - yummy! The resto looks like a time-warped 1970's place. Soo cool.

We also had to chase the Pasig River ferry - we were supposed to board at the Escolta station but as usual naiwan kami since ang sarap nga ng fud sa Ambo's and the chika chika. So we went to the next dock in Guadalupe but naiwan ulet so nag Powerplant Mall muna kami. Then finally we got to ride the ferry which brought us to Mexico - Intramuros!

Of course when we're there, we have to go to Our Lady of Guadalupe chapel but it's closed na. Same with Ang Bahay na Tsinoy. So ayun, we visited San Agustin Church again, and mall ulet sa Robinson's Place with Jenny at the Spaghetti House.

My eyes were sated, my stomach full and my heart is happy. Thank You Lord.

Parties

8 years ago, my soul sister Thelma gave me a surprise birthday party. I was still mourning the death of Mama (barely 4 months pa lang), brokenhearted from my 1st boyfriend, fat and in deep, deep shit. So when my friends got food and gathered in our house, the tears continued to flow the entire night.

Fast forward to this year..It's payback time. It was 3 weeks of planning with Maro (her hubby) and Yen (no show). 1 party for 2 celebrants - Thelms and Jenny. And we need to outwit them. And we did! For Thelma..But for Jenny, it got ruined since she doesn't want to meet us kasi baha daw sa kanila. So we had to tell her that we have a party for her.

Rye attended a birthday celebration of my boss' twin boys and girl. He had fun with a face paint of Dory and the goodies.