The Bumblebee July 17, 2009

For the past months I have not been able to update my blog as much as I wanted to.  In fact, I am writing this entry in a whiz, since I need to finish 2 1000-word articles on credit cards and mutual funds and 10 250-word articles on apartment rentals all due tomorrow morning.  I’m already on my second cup of coffee, but I think it’s not helping much right now. So I had to take a breather, and write this entry, albeit in haste.

Well, my schedule has been so full lately, that I hardly ever have time to catch a new flick at the theatres or to indulge in lengthy readings. Since the summer, I have been taking belly dancing classes, twice a week. The classes are so much fun, I’m having a grand time doing hip circles and snake arms.

Mondays are reserved for ballroom-bellydance, while Wednesdays are for the sexy striptease bellydancing.  Fridays are my favorite, since we get to dress up with fancy belly dancing belts, for the traditional Indian belly dance. I’ve lost a few pounds just swaying my hips to pulsating music, and best of all, it’s a fun, sexy way to shed off your excess weight! I usually go with Carla to the belly dancing classes, although I have also met some fun and fesity female friends there.

I try to vary my workouts with jogging sessions, although lately the rain has been keeping me indoors most days. The Pelaez jogging oval has been renovated quite impressively, and many yuppies are now venturing out of their air conditioned offices to get fit. My jogging buddies had been Doris and Jessica, two of my closest friends way back in college. Since Jessica has recenetly gotten pregnant and Doris is reviewing for her IELTS exams, I have not been back to the jogging oval again, except maybe once or twice, when my sister dragged me there during 8 o’clock  evenings.

As if all these are not enough, I have also enrolled in a baking and pastries class with Mae, who’s just as enthusiastic as I am when it comes to baking. The classes are held only on Saturdays, although the sessions last for 4 hours each. The smell of butter, vanilla, milk, and sugar are enough to make my Saturday mornings more delicious and my weekend rather extraordinary.

On Sundays afternoons, I am off to sewing classes, which also lasts for about 4 hours or so. I have always dreamed of sewing and designing my own bags, skirts, and dresses so I did not let this opportunity pass me by. This weekend we are tasked to make our own hobo bags, so I’m really thrilled. Soon I’ll buy my own sewing machine and practice, practice, practice. This is sooo Project Runway and I love it!

I’m planning on taking up Mandarin classes, but I can’t see how I’m going to fit it right into my already-hectic schedule. My sister knows someone who handles Chinese language classes, so if I’m lucky, I might find an hour or two from my busy weekdays and squeeze in some time in learning a new language.  I know this will come in handy if I ever I decide to work out of the country one day, particulary in any of the countries in Asia.

So there. Just a few updates on what has been going on with my young and beautiful life. I feel bad that I am not taking care of this online journal and my blogspot account as much as I used to, but I’m hoping I’ll find the time to do so in the following months.  I can’t make promises right now however, since once of my friends is crazy about spur-of-the-moment roadtrips during weekends and another has offered to teach me the basics of oil painting soon (hello Angj! : > ).

More details next time, I promise.

Visit My Blog! May 9, 2009

Hello friends! I have recently gotten serious with my other blog, which mainly talks about my favorite topics: health and food, fashion, budget tips, Hollywood, and books and music. Well, I try to update it as much as I can, and lately have been updating it on a daily basis. Well, almost. *wink wink*

SO if you have some free time and you feel like reading on the long and short of my articles, commentaries, tips, and opinions, just swing by my other portal. Hope to see you at prolificbrains.blogspot.com!

Cheers!

My Delicious Summer: Camiguin Island May 7, 2009

This year, I was finally able to visit Camiguin Island. I have long been putting off traveling to this sleepy island, since riding a barge or a fast craft is never my idea of fun. I always get sea sick each time I travel by boat, especially when the weather is none too placid. This time however, I was talked into going by my brother and his girlfriend, who is also my good friend. Since they work for the same bank, two office mates will be joining them, bringing along their kids.  I did not have any plans on May 1 anyway, which was  a national holiday, so I acquiesced, albeit a bit reluctantly. After shopping for a new tankini and charging the cam, I packed my things and woke up the following morning ready to explore Camiguin.

After boarding the airconditoned bus from Cagayan de Oro to Balingoan port, we finally boarded the barge at around 9:45 am. The ride was unenventful, I was sea sick and dizzy of course, trying hard not to puke all over the place. Luckily, I was able to hold off the contents of my breakfast, and finally arrived on the island at past 12 noon, famished for lunch.

We stayed at the family ancestral home of Ate Candy, one of my brother’s bank mates. The place was beautiful, with wide gardens complete with a hammock and a balcony with comfy reclining chairs. Ate Candy’s ancestors also started the Turrones de Mani business, famous not only in the island but all over Mindanao as well. The property also housed the Turrones factory, which was located at the back of the expansive property.

The lunch waiting for us at the house was yummy, and I especially enjoyed the pako salad greens, topped with sliced hard boiled eggs, the calamansi-ridden beef steak, and the fish fried to crisp perfection. Dessert was the crispy and sweet Turrones. After resting a bit after lunch, the first stop for the trip was the divine Katibawasan Falls. The place was beautiful:  a 250 m water fall cascaded into a cold pool of clear waters. I could not resist stripping down to my suit and swimming in the clear waters! Everyone did the same, and we enjoyed taking photos of the place as well, and feasting on Pringles, chicharon, fish crackers, and sandwiches.

After enjoying Katibawasan, the gang proceeded to have dinner at Bahay Bakasyunan sa Camiguin, a beach-front resort lined with beautiful cabanas. I was already freezing after swimming in the oh-sooo-cold water falls, that I could not just let pass swimming in the warm pool at BBC. So before our dinner of chicken tinola, eggplant salad, lechon kawali, and stewed vegetables were served, we indulged ourselves in the sun-warmed swimming pool and forgot about all the cares in the world.

The next day, we headed to Paras Beach Resort for breakfast, and to board the ferry boat which will take us to White Island, an uninhabited sandbar which offers a fabulous view of Mt. Hibok-Hibok and its foliage. I took pictures all over the place, in between swimming and walking on the fine pebbled sands to take in the beautiful views.

We resumed our tour of the island after swimming and lounging at the White sandbar. After shopping for souvenirs at the Walkway, a popular place during the Holy Week, we visited the huge cross at the Sunken Cemetery. Then we headed to the Guiob Church ruins, which was just magnificent and awe-inspiring, especially since the area afforded us a view of the Camiguin sea. We had lunch of country style steaks, grilled fish, and fragrant rice at Sto. Nino Cold Springs, which was cold by any standard, waayy cooolder than the freezing Katibawasan Falls. It was just perfect for the summer nonetheless, and we enjoyed the springs immensely.

Our last stop was the Hibok-Hibok Ardent Hot Springs. The springs were an unspoiled, natural hot tub, a perfect conclusion to a day filled with swimming, feasting, and happy carousing. I rested my back on a mini water fall at the hot springs, letting the cascading water massage my tired shoulders and back. I almost did not want to leave! Dinner was at Luna restaurant, where they served us fresh salad greens with olives and tuna, and authentic Italian pizzas, brick oven grilled to gooey mozzarella perfection.

At early dawn the following day we left the island, groggy and sleepy, yet wanting to stay for one day more. Just one day more.

Perhaps next summer.

Nobody’s Princess February 18, 2009

~~~~~~~

Girl: Am I still your princess?

Silence…

Boy: Please don’t ask me that.

Girl: Why?

Silence…

Boy: I don’t want to answer. I don’t know.

Silence…

Girl: You only have to answer yes or no. There is no such thing as not knowing.

Silence…

Girl: Goodbye, then.

Day of Hearts February 14, 2009

~~~

“Once in a while, right in the middle of an ordinary life, love gives us a fairytale”.

~~~

After the Heavy Rains February 11, 2009

For the past weeks, the house has been under renovations. Since the day of the flash floods about a month ago, the entire family has been planning on renovating the property. We decided finally to repaint, re-tile, and redecorate the house. It was out of necessity yes, but somehow, we did not want anything to remind us of the horrible ordeal, which had us sleeping in a hotel the first night, as the beds and pillows were all soaked.

Hopefully, by the time the renovations are done, we’ll add a few decorative touches here and there, so nothing of the past nightmare will ever haunt us again. Well, I really hope so. Each time the rain persists for hours, I now find it hard to sleep, silently cursing the clogged drainage systems, deforestation and quarrying activities, and the oh-so-smug city officials who think placing Cagayan de Oro under a state of calamity is going to be enough. Um, excuse me, but there are grave issues here, and we can’t afford to have another deluge drown this city before you all start taking action. Thankfully for us, no major appliance or piece of furniture was damaged. My casualties included a few old handbags, some newly bought fashion magazines, DVD player, a love letter, USB, and other trinkets.

So. I think the repainting will begin this week, and I’m thinking of choosing a shade less predictable than white. Taupe, maybe? Or corn yellow, perhaps?

One thing is for certain, though, I want the house to look sunshiny and bright, happy and resilient- all the things that a home should be, even after the heavy rains.

A Blushing Affair to Remember February 8, 2009

~~~~~

Here are a few snaps of Ella and Bryan’s wedding last February 7, a blissful Saturday. To the newlyweds, may you pepper this world with lots of children, and may all your days be glazed with honeyed love. Cheers!

~~~~~

kisses to the ravishing bride

yes, i think we look polished here, hehe

the hosts: Jet & Ai

with my date

women just can’t say no to pink!

The Crazies February 5, 2009

Meet the crazies. A riot broke when the four of us met up again for dinner, dessert, and lots of spontaneous discussion on the 30th of January. For some reason, we just could not stop laughing, every single time. When you’re with girlfriends you practically grew up with, the stories seem to go on forever.

We could discuss love lives one minute and funny high school prom bloopers the next. Then we would switch to fashion, something we all want to talk about, and then, just as quickly, be steered into topics concerning the recent global financial crunch that has Obama’s hands full, not one minute into his official inauguration.

Because Sora is a lawyer who works in the Senate, she dishes out stories on politicians and their little predilections, and offers us opinions as to who among the senators look better in person than in print ads or TV. She may be the only lawyer among us, but all of us love debates, so we always end up arguing over the most inane things, soap opera stars and Pinoy love teams included.

Marshie makes me roll over with laughter even as she utters the simplest of remarks. She treats everything you say as a joke moreover, so you end up giggling over something or other. She’s overly conscious with her weight, even when she’s already lost a lot of pounds in recent years and has never looked better. And she’s baring a bit of cleavage now! Case in point:

That’s a bra cup right there, or at least a part of it. Haha. She was thrilled to have this picture taken of her, and she insisted I send it to her after having stored it in my trusty digicam. She’s leaving for New Zealand on the 17th and I think more than anything, I shall miss her laughter. She’s the one person who laughs the laugh that makes me want to laugh. Really, it’s that contagious. To describe her as a ray of sunshine would be an understatement.

Okay, all of us are crazy about our weight. And crazy about photos. No, we are not obese, far from that actually, but we know that the camera adds ten pounds, so we practically fight for the best angles, every time.

The only skinny person among us is Estee, who I deduce, weighs only about 90 pounds. She eats a lot and never gets fat. Some people are just blessed with skyrocketing metabolism, and this girl can’t complain.

We were entering the resto just when we spotted this lovely table for four. Nobody wanted to sit with Estee, because we (Sora, Marshie, and I) knew that we would all look corpulent in comparison. The dialogue went like this:

Me (dashing to the table): Marsh, sit with me, quick!

Sora (literally pulling Marsh by the arm): No, I’m not sitting with Estee! Marsh, puhlease!

Estee (laughing): Ouch, you’re hurting my feelings!

Me: Marsh, sit.

After a while Sora gave up, and we all ended up laughing like drunken hyenas. Then we realized the waiter was standing by the table all along. No, he wasn’t smiling. He actually looked pretty mean. If I wasn’t feeling light-headed after the hyena-laughing, I could have told him to go get a life.

Well, maybe the sight of four twenty-somethings acting like crazy schoolgirls was more than he could take.

Ditto, Mr. King, Stephenie Meyer Can’t Write February 4, 2009

Stephenie Meyer will either shrug this off or bawl her eyes over for a fortnight, but Stephen King, the prolific science fiction writer, thinks Ms. Meyer can’t write. According to King, Meyer is a far cry from J.K. Rowling, saying that “Meyer can’t write worth a darn. She’s not very good.”

I think what Mr. King is saying is this: “Ms. Stephenie Meyer’s writing style is forgettable, stale, and often wearisome. You will treasure this book if : you are a teen, you like ALL love stories, or if you have read nothing else.

Oh, and the movie was worse. Not that I finished it.”

For more on Stephen King’s outspoken statement, click
here.

Orbit the Earth January 28, 2009

I don’t want to be trapped!