at eleven

so the things that clamour my head bugging me like a child for more sweets are the pictures I promised you about the lights and decors I awed at every night...apparently I still manage to go over my regular hours at work that the huge, decorated tree I was so infatuated with would turn its lights off at around 11 p.m. leaving me disappointed and still hoping for it to come alive even after I've known it's really, really OFF by eleven, you know they might just turn it up just this time because I have my camera with me... but no such miracle ever ocurred in two succeeding nights that I stood at its base, mesmerized at how plenty the handmade stars were on that tree. Well maybe by December they will extend its "lit" hours...and oh what's that? ... my head talking to itself... another HUGE decorated tree across the road, whoa! equally tall and marvelous! Equally disappointing me at eleven! I should really call the Mayor about these things affecting my being patriotic and all that promotion I'm giving my BIG city to the world! tsk. tsk. it's so wrong to disappoint a tax paying citizen! Anyway, the hubby goes by saying "you can take photos of the ribbon wrapped tree-trunks along the road." It's lit overnight and not a tree is spared...hmmn.. yeah...those sparkly christmas balls too, remember those? you can't pluck them out so easily, you have to uproot the whole tree to get one! Plus, the police keeps a roving night patrol, so no luck on that either.

I have to maximize my time out everynight, that's the only time I breathe in natural air... as you know my life is tied to a project in India that just wont give me a bit of space to see the sun shine and do my rounds at the mall, I really need new shoes now. It's AC air day in and day out...*sigh* You know how thick my make-up is in the morning? ^^ It's enough to last the whole day so I don't need to re-touch! That's how tough the "battle field is" you have to wear long lasting make-up. Our Design Manager had just gotten a Doctor's certificate advising him to take a leave of absence for 2-3 weeks...he's got heart palpitations, yup! the project is winning us over...I mean winning over us! One by one our white flags are up in surrender, YOU WIN. My knees are bruised in prayer...please take your airport out of our hands because you don't like us anyway. I'm so looking forward to the day when we can all look back and laugh at this... haha. when.when.when. I try looking back ever so often, I don't want to miss the moment when the laughing starts! But for the instances that I turned around to see... we weren't laughing still.
Anyway, pay tribute to my efforts and the nights I spent missing the happily lit Christmas tree. I advise you to visit INDIA, once that beautiful new airport is built, I want you to run your palms to every glass window and metal claddings you see and be reminded of the person who whines about it on your shoulders almost everyday and that you gave comfort.

power

*wink*wink*
This is Paramore Live in Nashville.

loud.

...and in between work I gather my thoughts on things I could write about, I'm full of thoughts that hasn't been written in those times that I drowned myself with work...If you happen to want to visit India next year and land on the New Delhi International Airport, (Indira Gandhi International Airport) just think of the times I missed writing my life out! I swear this beautiful project wants to kill me by taking most of my time in a day just trying to make every square and lines, right. *sigh* It is trying to put me down and is winning actually...It's a very jealous project, it wont make me do grocery, laundry and quality time with the hubby. I'm stucked with a beautiful project that wont let me breathe, it even comes into my dream at night...India, i love you! You will get your airport on time and we wont charge you with our medical bills, stay put and relax! i love curry and the Taj Majal.
ack! I need a Paramore music to get me going, I need those loud, loud, loudness! Where's my metallica, I'm sure to have it somewhere! I'm dead tired. I aged in 2 weeks that I'm with the project! haha... yup, just two weeks and it's enough to make me want to re-think my life choices and career path! I love you, I hate you and I love you over again... but oftentimes, it's just hating the schedule but loving the project. Time is so cruel, why wont it drag itself when you need more of it?! I have "NEW MOON" to watch tomorrow at a semi-private theater where it is cozy and only 30-50 people are to watch... where are my tickets!!!! I don't have them yet and the premiere is tomorrow, my life is officially not happening for me at the moment...I'm running on auto-pilot mode again. Not thinking, just doing. I'm here but I'm really gone. I don't even know what the city looks like when there's still sun, I come to work in a sweater and slippers! No one cares, no one sees me anymore...but the good thing is: The GIANT Christmas tree down the road has been lit and I have it all to myself to enjoy, being out at the wee hours! No one else is there to stare up at it like it's the first time I've seen a decorated tree! It's a tree full of little colorful stars and a choir of angels at the bottom... it's Christmas! darn it, I don't have my camera with me but I will take photos for you, promise! ... and I wont, wont fail to mention that when you walk around, all tree trunks are wrapped in green and red ribbon. Big trees, small trees they are all wrapped-and I mean FULLY wrapped at the trunk while sparkly gold ribbons with shiny red and gold christmas balls droop on their branches. It's magical, it's like an enchanted forest when you walk into a section of landscaped trees and the Christmas balls where like teasing you to pluck them out! I don't know if others think of it that way, but I do want to pluck them out, it's too cute!

I'll let you know if I have any success plucking one out without getting arrested.

seventeen

yes.yes. work, love it. hate it. love it. I do wish I never dropped my rockstar dream and just do fun gigs for a living! Like Paramore...I don't know when exactly I started liking them but it's definitely not because of Twilight when their song Decode became O.S.T. I just happen to like them on my own, in my time...haha. I'm nearing 30 and I'm giggling at the posibilities of Hayley, the lead singer and Josh on guitars being together and inlove! It's like I'm 17 all over again, madly inlove with my overly protective drummer boyfriend! *sigh* crazy, free teen spirit days when you don't have bills to worry about...hmmnn??? where did the good times went? I still love my life now, but those days became just memories, when we hardly thought it would ever end! The nights and dawns of rehearsing and playing for the crowd...where oh where did it all go??? >< ...well, 3 of us went into architecture, one into the medical field and 2 are now engineers...how fun...what happened to their mad talent on guitars and drums? Do they still play? Ever again? ...How sad that we all just drifted apart, some came to my wedding but...my former drummer boyfriend, who's so artistic and moody and crazy is rumoured now to be gay. ^0^ Well, not that I protest I mean... he was obsessed with his looks and was very artistic, he drew me pictures everyday... he could be gay and I ... so what?! If he's happy!

Well, aren't we all just wishing time will be discriminating in favor of the best times and go slower than it does?

happy-nings

I've been out of the circuit for like god knows when and I haven't written anything in those times...sigh...yes, it's work. That's all I do with my time if I'm not blogging I'm at work!

Anyway, here's some good news...though I had missed it, The Katy Perry - "all for charity" concert, I still wanna share with you what this lovely lady and the band "Journey" did for my countrymen...(sounding very patriotic...eherm...) They did a concert with their entire net profit going to the Philippine National Red Cross for the typhoon victims! Brilliant, she is such a sweetheart, I never thought she'd care like that...knowing that she has that "diva-ish" flair about her in Hollywood, but she did and it was a hush.hush. she didn't gave that much interview about what she did and just showed up in a very dressed-down, ready to get to work attitude! But who can escape the press when you're someone like Katy Perry, so at least she got to promote the concert she was doing for charity by having that kind of exposure at the relief centers, where she handed down some supplies for the people. I like HERRRRR!^^ That's so nice of her...and after the concert she went clubbing and my friends were there to party with her while I....with my stupid schedule, was at WORK.

here are some clips:



^^ Thanks for dropping by, I swear I missed you!

xoxo
Sassy.

halloween newbie

We don't celebrate Halloween ever! I mean never as of yet. I don't call a few isolated celebrations to be a real Halloween season...but we're getting there, don't worry kids we will have Halloween within your lifetime!^^ What we have is "Todos Los Santos" or All Saints Day on Nov. 1 and All Souls Day on Nov. 2, where people spend time going to cemeteries, lighting candles, and bringing flowers for our beloved dead, usually just a quiet time for prayer and family reunion. I don't have anything against these things that I wanted to have a halloween ball or anything loud and rid of the solemn tradition, but what I want is to make these holidays less SPOOKY. It's a holiday for our beloved dead and not for the evil things that lurk in the dark or the paranormal things that give me chills. Maybe a "Halloween Party" could at least make the celebration light and less scary... even if the whole idea of Halloween is to scare, the stillness and smell of burning wax- from the candles scare me more ...and you can add the tales of ghosts and the unseen forces being told on TV documentaries! great. I now feel very uncomfortable, I don't like the dark and scary stuff, BUT maybe... if there'll be a hundred Edward Cullens out there in the dark and I'm Bella, I'd be happy to have Halloween all year round! har.har.har.

====
'Good thing, it's beginning...the whole Halloween Trick or Treat-ing is happening, little by little we will have our kids be doing this, instead of being outrightly spooked without the drama... at least they will be observing the old tradition while adopting a new one and wont be treating these holidays as "plain" scary as I do!

====
Anyway, here are some photos of my hubby's FIRST Halloween ever! Lucky him, he went to the US just in time for the Halloween last two-oh-oh-seven (2007!) yikes. Oh sshh... no one's too old for Halloween! I'm so jealous!






boo!
Sassy.

sassy dining.

A weddingggg!^^ We're going to a wedding this coming Saturday, me, the hubby and some friends. A formal dinner one, where you'd sit stiff and eat quarter of a meal served in a large white plate while sipping on red wine and chardonay...gulp. It's been a while since we've attended something like this, my own wedding was not too formal yet "elegant" and "fun", I can say that it was, yes I was there.^^ Well, I'm really summoning all forces to recall what good dining etiquette I've reserved for events like this. I've always been sassy with everything, everywhere...I have no problem laughing at myself if I drop a utensil or something but yes, I do remember to NEVER pick it up incase you drop one, even if you don't intend to use it again just don't duck under the table to pick it up... I kick it away from me though and ask for a new one...I don't understand why they keep handing me pairs of utensils when I drop only one? pfft.

Anyway the bride has been announcing that it's ok if we come as we are and have rowdy-fun! oh I bet she does! I'm not really sure if she wants to see her guests to be too quiet and uncomfortable, you know those tight dresses and heels could really itch!^^

...and what dinner etiquette are you talking about? I come from the 3rd world, I eat with my hands and it's proper!haha You can burp out loud in Japan and it's proper!... somebody invented this fuss, you know that etiquette thing...not fun at all!^^ haha no, seriously...From time to time we need this. We need to experience things like this so our lives wont be a cliche! You know what I mean? So we're not running around in circles where everything is a chosen, familiar path. So yes, we're giving this a try... be stiff, sit still and eat quarter of a meal...

...and have Mc Donalds after.

xoxo
Sassy.

age of consequence

You know, when it's not better it's good. We don't want to think the worst though it is the worst this morning ever to hit the northern provinces of the Philippines. It's not over yet, Parma the typhoon that went away came back to stay for days...that's so weird for a typhoon to do but yes it did happen and it wanted to sweep off whatever is on its path very "thoroughly" leaving more than the damages Typhoon Ketsana caused. Yup, our miracle was short lived, but people are not losing hope. God is with us in this most difficult times, as people have not lost initiative in helping each other.

Manila and the nearby provinces are recovering good, it's the Northern Provinces this time that's been badly damaged and is submerged in deep, murky waters. WE ARE ONCE AGAIN APPEALING for your PRAYERS. That there'll be no more casualties adding up to statistics, we have accepted our fate that properties and land doesn't belong to us but borrowed from nature. Everyone is accountable for mother nature's wrath, small island countries like ours are the most vulnerable to Earth's abnormal rising of water levels brought about by too much heat in the atmosphere.

This isn't a WARNING...

"We are at the age of consequence"

===
Some beautiful photos of Philippines' Provinces of the North.

Ilocos Norte

Ilocos Norte

Laoag, Ilocos Norte

Baguio (Bag-yo)

Baguio
Pangasinan (Pan-ga-si-nan)
Pangasinan
Baguio
Vigan, Ilocos Norte
Banaue Rice Terraces (Ba-na-we)

We don't want all these to perish with bad, crazy weathers.

'Love each other, plant more trees!

xoxo,

Sassy.

=============================

my BIG happy City.

Hello bloggie world! It's been a tough, tough week for me but I'm fine now...I think everyone here is keeping their spirits up and is very positive to be moving on from what the Typhoons have brought the country. Help is flooding in, that's the kind of flood we want, HELP. ^^ Everyone's been very generous with helping in kind and in prayers. Thank you all.

Meanwhile, I'm sharing you photos of Manila I took 4 days before the flood happened. Aerial shots I took while on board a plane back to the "BIG CITY", you can see the greens and the buildings and the colorful rooftops...several places there have submerged in water, but we are hopeful in restoring everything to it's beauty.

So here goes Manila's Cityscape.

greens and buildings

colorful rooftops

manila bay on view

city by the river.

This is still my BIG happy city, despite the crazy weathers!

Have a good week ahead!

Love,

Sassy

and yet another one

Please continue to pray for the Philippines as SUPER typhoon Parma/"Pepeng" is on its course to make landfall by noon tomorrow, Oct. 3. As you know we have not fully recovered from Typhoon Ketsana/"Ondoy's" onslaught last Saturday where many towns and cities are still submerged in murky waters. Typhoon Parma is said to be stronger than Typhoon Ketsana and already, Ketsana had brought an amount of rainfall that doubled the amount that Hurricane Katrina brought to New Orleans.

It's a disturbing prediction that Parma will be stronger than the two, our land is already saturated in water, it wont be able to hold as much rainfall.

BUT, we are bracing ourselves for the worst, staying positive and holding on to prayers. People are evacuated to safer grounds while most are already staying at the evacuation centers citing that there's nothing "Typhoon Parma" could take anymore, since they've already lost their belongings to Ketsana. (and need I still say, they were chuckling while making that statement?) ^^ ahhh, the Filipino spirit,

"we always smile at things despite whatever things."


For the latest Philippine news stories and videos, visit GMANews.TV

bad yesterday.

We were struck by a typhoon yesterday here in Manila among nearby cities and provinces, the worst in 42 years! We all thought that it's going to be OK, at least as far as I know, we just let typhoons come and go without it affecting our "busy" work life in the BIG city. We never cancel a day on the job just because there's typhoon. Our buildings could withstand them besides the occasional flood that happens on expected below sea level areas, the city goes on with it's life.

We thought that the rain will eventually stop by the afternoon in time when everyone from work gets home, but it didn't, the rain came from dawn yesterday till the morning of today, worst is rising above 12-ft. in some locations. People got stucked in traffic in raging flood, some in their balconies waving curtains and bedsheets for the rescuers to spot them, some climbed up their rooftop drenched in cold rain with no food and without their belongings, some helplessly looking for their relatives, for kids especially whom they left when they'd gone to work.


-----------------
My husband and I are safe and dry. We got no work on Saturdays and our apartment building is located at one of the highest points in the City though our address brings a lot of panic to our families in the province since Pasig City is one of those cities that's been badly hit, the city is mostly submerged in water but our location is one of the few spared. We thank God a lot, almost in tears! We were supposed to transfer to a bigger place and looked in one of those homes that were unfortunately submerged up to the second floor! Our would've been neighbors perched onto their rooftops awaiting rescue.

We had no electricity though, our cellphone batteries were running out, we were eating canned food, our small apartment is lit by just one candle ... and we find humor in that amidst the calamity, that our apartment is indeed tiny to realize that we could brighten the surroundings by just one candle. ^^ WE texted our friends and relatives, relayed numbers that could help people in need like the numbers for the RED CROSS and TV networks that went on patrol. My parents texted me that I have relatives in different location that were stranded in their homes and might need rescuing, of course I feel bad that I couldn't do anything but pray for their safety. Well, that's all what we are unless we're RED CROSS or the Marines, we cannot go out and save the day. Our mortality smacked us in the face.


-------------------
Everyone is equal.

No one is rich or poor, celebrity or ordinary ... a famous actress was being interviewed on top of her mansion, ridiculous! How could they? Why don't they just airlift her, she's lost plenty for sure. MY rich cousin, had all of her Ford SUVs underwater and god knows whatever things she had swimming away with the flood... doesn't matter anymore. This is the worst that has ever befallen them and their properties but, she didn't care. All of her family are safe and that's what matters.

I'd rather go live simple you know and be happy with life from now on. Although I never did live large, I think I'd better not wish for more than what I can carry up my roof! BE grateful that we survived... I know we did for a purpose.

Stay safe everyone.
--------
Repost:For Offshore Typhoon "Ondoy" donation:BANK DEPOSIT Acct Name: The Phil. Nat’l. Red Cross METROBANK Port Area Dollar Acct.: 151-2-151-00218-2 Type of Acct.: SAVINGS Swift Code: MBTC PH MM BANK OF THE PHIL. ISLANDS UN Branch Dollar Acct.: 8114-0030-94 Type of Acct: SAVINGS Swift Code: BOPI PH MM For donations to be acknowledged, fax bank transaction slip at nos.+632.5270575 or +632.4040979 w/ ur name, address & number.Read More.

mabuhay

the small city we left for the BIG one.

We're up north once again to the BIG city where my husband and I created a life away from everything we knew, grew up with and fond of. Everything is just the way we expected, busy streets, ongoing traffic, gigantic billboards, the buzz of a busy CITY life, 24-hours non stop.

WE arrived yesterday to a happy warm weather at 10:16 am exactly as the Pilot says we'd land. How convenient, 45 minutes of flight from my province to Manila. You know we used to take an overnight travel by bus for almost 13 hours with just two 20 minute break to stretch and eat at stop overs, we like the old fashioned way of coming and going by the BUS... but! that was when we were 'younger' - energetic and crazy for long road trips, especially when sitting side by side and cuddling all throughout the 13-hour ride not feeling any bigger hassle than just lining up for the comfort rooms. Well, at 28 we are past that phase if there's an easier way to anything, we'd be using that regardless how much we pay for comfort! Indeed it was worth it, I felt super nothing like when we take the bus that I felt like I had a 12-round boxing match with Pacquiao the next day, we even went to work minutes after we arrived! ... ^^ haha well...Sorry if I'm sounding like a person from Mars who hasn't heard of the Wright Brothers ever inventing this bulky, winged vehicle that flies. Actually, it's not my first time to travel by air, I've been to some parts of the world and back aboard the biggest aircraft there is... but my experience of leaving my hometown to the BIG city that took only 45 minutes by flight means a lot to me more than any of those other flights I took...it means that I am just that close to my roots and that I didn't get emotional of leaving the neighborhood I grew up with compared to how I'd be able to think and wallow for the rest of the 13 hour ride...the quick flight wont even let me gather my thoughts! It was too fast of a ride that I'm still beaming with happiness as my parents drove us to the airport and kissed us both goodbye and 'till we meet again.^^

A reckoning, that we must take this fast flight off the soil that makes us weaker ... maybe not weaker but SOFTER. You know, it's a different world out here in the BIG city.

Snapshots: Tokyo - Part 2- people and places

wedding march

bride

wedding guests

wedding procession around the temple

don't mind the camera guy!

glimpse


temple

wine for the gods

Spiderman's view

tombstones

obviously Japanese!

Tokyo lights

Cityscape Tokyo Tower ^^

===========

credits:

Husband

Japan

I never liked him anyway.

Jeez, he's such an A** that Kanye West.



============================================
oh well!!! Nevermind the video doesn't work anymore, it's gone on Youtube, I guess such rude attitude doesn't even deserve publicity for Kanye West.

new and improved

Had my hair done. Treatment, shine, trim ... more of a haircut actually! Ever wonder what you say first to your stylist before she chops a chunk of your hair??? I said make
it shorter, I did'nt say 2-3 inches fringed short! I like it, I hate it, I like it...it's a struggle within a day, when in the morning after shower and conditioning it looks fab, but right
after work and is ready to chill at home and get to bed, I look like I had a head transplant ... OK, a huge mound of follicle transplant from Steve Tyler! I had to put a clip over
my bangs so my husband wouldn't think he's beside a stranger incase he wakes up in the middle of the night, or even think he's with Steve Tyler ... or Tina Turner or the
likes of a person with wild fringed hair and wilder fringed bangs, it moves crazy with the wind too!

BUT in the morning while getting ready for work or when at work, it's so tamed... glorious soft locks of chestnut brown *breaks* ....chestnut brown??? *wink* I had some
color, but it's a natural dye, it wears off after many washings... I got quite bored of having jet black hair all my life! Born with it, almost everyone here is with it, so I want to
be chestnut brown for a while to stand out when the sun shines, giving luster and radiance *as promised* to my hair.

'Problem is: There hasn't been any SUNshine lately, the clouds are dark, drizzling cold rain, there's even a storm coming!!! ... I can't understand why it had to be so, I need
that SUNLIGHT!!! I need that moment of radiance!!! ... oh well, I have moved my chair in the office, closest to where the lighting hits ... it's the second best thing, awaiting for
someone to take notice...still waitiiiinnngggg...

---------

PS. Matthew of the Resurrected Ramblings and

Luke of Bath Artist's Blog, click here! :)

politics 2010

Election fever for 2010 is revving up! How odd are these scenarios, it seem to have happened before ... in history, NOT! the election itself as it happens every 6 years since 1986. I'm referring to Manuel "Mar" Roxas II , a senator who opted to decline from the Presidential race to give way to his fellow party aspirant Benigno Simeon "Noynoy" Aquino III , also a senator adhering to the "call of the masses". I know, Noynoy is still in some sort of a religious retreat, asking for guidance and confidence through fervent prayer as being the strongest, possible standard bearer for the Liberal Party and if he wins, Presidency is a much daunting task.

He needs that discernment to decide whether to run or not, as this opportunity is being brought to him through people's initiative. Signature campaigns are being held in support of him, he is the "people's" choice for a candidate. If he lack funds, he need not worry ... a large blue bin is brought in front of his home where people drop their "love" letters, some with small bag of coins. Whatever amount is donated, it is a "GIFT" for his campaign to push through whenever he's decided to run.

Campaign all over the Philippines is estimated to reach 1 Billion pesos, people are willing to help if Noynoy doesn't have enough ... who has 1 Billion pesos anyway?!!! Oh I know one ... ^^ another Presidentiable, who has invested loads of cash for infomercials which air on TV for months now, he is the self-made man/senator Manuel "Manny" Villar Jr. who wont stop at nothing, he has an outstanding background in business and is a viable candidate too. However, having spent Millions of pesos for his media promotions, somehow intimidates the viewers *slash* the voting public rather than impressing them. It is quite "scary" to realize that he has spent Millions already when the campaign period hasn't started yet! It might be sending the wrong message that he "desperately" wants the POWER rather than being a true public SERVANT.

Anyway, no one knows what drives someone to RUN for the Presidency, it's the WEIGHT of the whole nation on your shoulders!!! From the Country's loan to the World Bank down to the earnings of the common Filipino is YOUR problem. I don't need to become a President or a Politician to help my country, but yes! we do need a leader. A good one. One that will LEAD the country with a clean conscience. I do believe that those whom the people entrusted their votes to are really the good and deserving ones, but we JUST don't know what goes on while being seated at the Congress or the Senate or at the Palace that eventually, you'll notice that some will purely enjoy basking into POWER's will. POWER, it deceives without control.

Now, where is the odd part between Mar Roxas and Noynoy Aquino?

Aaahh...Mar Roxas is the son of a former senator who also poised for the Presidency in the 70's but gave way to the more popular and highly publicized Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino Jr. for his attacks on the tyrannies of the government then, he is the father of Noynoy.

So you see? How history repeated itself not only in Political moves but also for the people involved. They were the sons of the men who's done this decision before. But hopefully now, this decision will succeed, as the election of the 70's that supposedly put Noynoy's father into Presidency did not happen. He was assassinated before he could see Democracy again.

On a "light" note, these two men (the sons) have one common denominator... TV news anchor/broadcast journalist, Korina Sanchez. She is now the fiance of Mar Roxas but was a girlfriend of Noynoy Aquino in early 2000. ^^

Well, it's all in the twist of fate. Who knew that these guys would one day be up against each other for the Presidency, Noynoy was never in the surveys, he was never planning to become a Presidential candidate in 2010, he rose into fame when his mother, the Democracy icon Cory Aquino passed away that people has "zoomed" in, into the role of the Aquino family over the years in Philippine History. It's not hard to believe that he could be the next President or that we could rely on him, as his records in public service is straight and speaks for itself, but he must find the VOICE... he must be willing to accept the challenge as "fate" has already intervened in the whole process. Anyway, there's no rush... he has 8 mos. to decide! ^^

haha. 8 mos.

ladida...

I wore my "classy-fab" new blouse today at work, paired it with wicked RED pointy heels! WICKED!!! 'Hope I could have new outfits everyday and feel grand!^^ I don't want to go through my closet anymore and wear same old, same old stuff... like the ones I've been wearing for years! I need wardrobe overhaul ... seriously needing one! Like I don't want to wear an outfit TWICE!


brat.


deluded brat.

stand alone together.

We are but the same in many ways, except for our personal beliefs and how we practice that belief...oh no, not again...not another rant about religion, faith and how it divides us. Well I'm not talking about the world! As it already involve too many issues that you can't even root for the real cause anymore, it has blown out of proportion resulting to VIOLENCE which isn't found among the teachings of any major religion, odd isn't it??? They all teach peace, love and harmony and yet, look where we are now with these beliefs. tsk.tsk.

Anyway, I cannot talk about "peace", "RESPECT" and "harmony" if I'm not in the situation where I can practice what I preach! Preach, that's a BIG word. I don't preach. I just belong to this group of friends that I love with all my heart but happens to be born or baptized to different religions and denominations but WE get along fine and we do things together all the time without worry, without letting our differences get in the way, or without even noticing we had that factor among us! ^^ Isn't that nice? How wonderful the meaning of "respect" is? How it brings harmony and fun?!

Can't we just do the same? Like worldwide-scale same?!

crafty *cookie*

That's what my friends call me now. Every weekend I come up with something to bring to the office, "preferrably" edible! It started just 2 weeks ago that I made waffles (darn! I didn't take pictures ... nevermind, it was not gourmet anyway, it had burns and fringed edges, as the waffles were over done!) ^^ heck, I'm a newbie at waffles. Remember the Polvoron? That too was a project for my office buds, it tasted perfect but the wrapping was NOT even CLOSE to how it's supposed to look like. A polvoron is wrapped in a certain way but I can't manage to do the same (I'm a newbie at Polvoron too!) we laughed it off, "nevermind the wrapping!!! " ... And so again, I'm gonna do "maja blanca"... a dessert made of milk, cornstarch, some coco milk and corn kernels...I'm a "newbie" too at this and haven't tried making one my whole life, but since this is one of my favorite desserts in the world, I'm gonna be brave and learn how to do it. (We have life insurances, don't worry!!!)

BUT...not so soon! I'm still tied up with this "crocheting" project I was on...Actually, I'm just learning how it's done but I bought lots of yarn in different colors already! ^^ I later realized that I don't need that many colors! It takes longer rounds to shift on another color when I want to! Unless, I'm making a "rainbow pattern" that I could change color on every row of chain!!! ^^ oh well, the typical me, always wanting to get advanced at something, always wanting to get ahead at something ... that I'm too excited to even start at the bottom!!! :P baaaadddd...I have too many crafts in hand right now, that my travel scrap book is not even moving a page for a year and I've already been to 2 countries! That's how bad my focus is at doing crafts! I shift and shift to my heart's content because I find every crafting project enjoyable! I don't even care if the results of my "crafty" hands aren't the same as the sample photos, I consider my own output as a craft with my own "twist" to it! ^^ yeah, that's what it is! A craft with a "twist".

Anyway, I'm new to being a wife, I didn't know that this new role will instinctively put me into crocheting and cooking! ... All I ever know is to shop for whenever I need something, I don't have to actually make it myself! But this time, little by little I know my life is being updated to a "new" version. A version of calmness, patience, of pastels and sweet smiles...'Hopefully more kindness and charm...

...and maturity. ^^

your favorite season begins here first!

Time flies is such a cliche. I've heard my first Christmas song today on my way to work. For the season...season? oh well, we love to go over the top on everything around here, that we have the longest Christmas season ever! Starts from the beginning of the -ber months, September and runs up to February the next year! Ain't that long?!!! ...and Grand! We love Christmas, that's why. Little by little Christmas decorations will be put up on the streets, tiny golden lights that blink in sync around shrubs and trees, huge, colorful "Parols" (colorful lanterns) hanging on every lamp post and the malls, yeah the MALLS will be filled with the season's festive mood, SALE!SALE!SALE! is in the air! ^^

yay!

There'd been hints of "Christmas" as of last night, when we came around a steaming "Puto Bumbong" while strolling the busy streets of Pasig, we noticed a whistling sound and realized that it's Puto Bumbong!!! Purple sticky rice, stuffed in a bamboo shoot to steam... when done, the "puto bumbong" is shaken off the bamboo shoot and is topped with shredded young coconut and sugar, folded into a banana leaf for wrapping...mmmnn... yummy!!! Husband asked me if I want some but I said "NO!" We're breaking traditions here! This is too early for Puto Bumbong, they can't be making Puto Bumbong just yet, but there they are already making some and it's just August 31 yesterday! phew! I guess some people are little too excited than me! I still refused to have some, it's meant to be eaten by December especially after the "Simbang Gabi" ... (nine nights/dawn of novena prayers for your Christmas wishes), it's one of those traditions that I grew up with, but if others want to have them as early as September they're NOT breaking the law, it's just the whole wonderful meaning and memory attached to it that's being broken! You can't give away Christmas cards in March, that's what it's like... and I'm just a sentimental fool, that's why!!! ^^

Anyway, we do so many things about this season that's why we have it as soon as the -ber months come. We just love festivities! We just love making reasons to gather and eat! To bring out the lights and outdo our neighbors with the grandest decors! haha...

So,The season have started from where I am and you're certainly invited to join! ^^

Traditional Parol made of bamboo sticks and colorful paper

A modern, parol with programmed lights made of Capiz Shells and wire

Puto Bumbong (is prepared only within the Christmas Season)

Simbang Gabi, (nine nights/dawn of novena mass, Dec.16-Dec.24)

P.S.
Not to worry, we still have time to celebrate Holloween in between all of these!!!