Kulam candles???

I must admit, it has been a a long, long time ago since I've been to a traditional church. By traditional, I mean, an old rustic church enlivened with vendors or hawkers of colorful balloons, toys made out of old cans, native kakanin, religious items, and ofcourse, candles.

The pictures above made me think twice about what they were trying to sell me -- candles shaped like a woman! For a moment it freaked me out! I'm sorry I might have confused you there, but it reminded me of kulam.

"Toys! Toys! Mommy, I want that toy!"
Antipolo's famous suman, sticky rice cooked inside coconut leaves. It has to be dipped on sugar, then eaten. Yumm!!

My Bikini Bottom Pals

 

Hanging out with one of my bestest college friend Chacha is one of my favorite things... what more to accidentally bump into my Bikini-Bottom friends!!! Imagine 2 grown up girls taking pictures with these... crazy noh! Then I hum... "Who lives in a pineapple under the sea?" 

Sleeping On The Job

Atleast once, everyone must have behaved like this feathered friend -- sleeping on the job. The sight of this sleepy head amidst a busy street in Montreal is cute! I got caught sleeping on the job too... not cute. Tee hee! 

Exactly one year ago...

Exactly one year ago, I braved Toronto's bus and train system to get to my destination. It was spring. I miss Toronto. 

One Day at a Time

Last night, I was idly browsing thru my small part of the huge family bookshelf when I grabbed this old book. It is a book my mom got as a gift about three years ago. I remember the many times it gave me inspiration to move on during the very pressing times of my previous job (It was a managerial job and I had to travel a lot). That job was just so difficult for me. I was only 23 but I was managing 14 programmers and a dozen demading clients! Sometimes I also do sales and tag along with our marketing arm to get new clients. This book got me through all that pain. This book is somewhat heavier than most books of the same size yet I bothered to take it with me even during client demos outside Metro Manila. I noticed the name of the author "Francis Kong" and it somewhat rang a bell in my head.

Just half a year ago, a friend invited me to join her attend the 2nd Grand EB of EntreplinkPhilippines. I was so impressed and inspired by the speakers who talked about their lifestyles as entrepreneurs. I remember a certain speaker F. Kong who left the best impression on me. Alas! It was Francis Kong! Darn! If I knew he was the same person who wrote the book I so much cherish, I should have brought the book and asked him to sign it for me. Oh well... all the more I aspire to be like them -- well-rounded entrepreneurs. Like Mr. Kong, I want to be an entrepreneur, speaker, writer, mentor, family-person and most especially, an inspiration for people like me who simply take "one day at a time". 

An Ode to My Digicam

Oops! There is no ode here. I've been wanting to write an ode but I don't think I can really make one.

How do you say goodbye to something that has been with you through the years? Anyhow, dear digicam, you are still the best thing I've bought abroad. I bought you with the first few hundred dollar bills that ever landed on my own hands... And you never failed to keep precious memories for me and my friends.

Thanks for being with me at Universal Studios, Griffith Park, Hollywood Boulevard, the Golden Gate and the long stretch of Las Vegas. Thanks for capturing my first glimpse of the amusing American airports. Thanks for being with me despite the scourching heat of the sun at Guam. I particularly loved how you recorded movies of my first visit to MarineLand. Thanks for withstanding the cold with me at Toronto. I tried skiing and fell many times on the snow and you managed to record all that fun stuff! It has been 5 years, my friend... 5 wonderful years of trigger happy moments.

Tonight, I shall be claiming my new digital camera straight from Japan but, to me, you are still my best digicam. I sold you in ebay thru a trusted friend. And I know you are in good hands now.

My Greek Attempt

I am no cooking expert. In fact, I am a kitchen idiot. I morph into a 3-year-old whenever I am in the kitchen. With a knife or a laddle in hand, I say "Hey, can I brush my teeth or comb my hair with this?"

Lo and behold! Some ancient spirit possessed by earthly body! I found myself making Greek dinner for my family! I am no longer like a 5-year-old... but err... like a 9-year-old. Not bad, ei?!

I was so proud of myself I took a picture of my "creation" and posted it here. It's called Souvlaki -- Greek Sandwich. I also had Greek Salad on the side. My favorite was my tomato wedgies, onions and crumbled Feta cheese... heavenly!

Now I shall summon another spirit to take me to the kitchen again and whip up another dish. Hmmm.... I've been to Bollywood last Friday night. I need some Indian chef spirit to possess me this time...

As Clouds Kiss the Mountain

I found comfort beneath a drenched tent
Till morning dew dripped onto my forehead
One more minute, I said

I savor this moment of freedom
Atop a mountain, miles away
Away from the metropolis -- full stress and dismay

I open my eyes and sniff the scent of pine trees
I feel the rocks at my back
Still as cold as my heart

I crawl out of this passing refuge
I felt my heart skip a beat or two
I took a long deep breath, could he now be taking one too?

The wind brushed my long black hair
Blowing hard like madness
Blowing away my sadness

In a blink of an eye
Clouds blurred my sight
I was like walking in the clouds – what a delight!

One more blink of an eye
Clouds vanished into thin air
Clouds kissed the mountain’s cheek in swift flair

But this mountain I envy
Why I have no clue
But I know that as clouds kiss the mountain I remember only you

The Distance by Evan and Jaron

The Distance
by Evan and Jaron

The sky has lost it's color
The sun has turned to grey
At least that's how it feels to me
Whenever you're away

I crawl up in the corner
As I watch the minutes pass
Each one brings me closer to
The time when you'll be back
You're coming back

I can't take the distance
I can't take the miles
I can't take the time
Until the next time I see you smile
I can't take the distance
And I'm not ashamed
That I can't take a breath without saying your name
I can brave a hurricane
And still be standing tall when all the dust has settled down
But I can't take the distance

I still believe in feelings
But sometimes I feel too much
I make believe you're close to me
But it ain't close enough
Not nearly close enough

Comfort Food

It was not until recently when I understood what Comfort Food really meant. I have been very depressed lately; bear hugs and shallow jokes were not enough to cheer me up. Though I feel blessed for having a lot of friends who are always by my side, I wanted more... I wanted something simple yet powerful enough to make me smile and forget my pain.

As I walked past too many two-legged omnivores/carnivores/vegans/or-what-have-you in the mall, I knew I needed to sink my teeth into something, you know, comforting. Funny but my stupid craving brought me to Chowking. Yeah, I must admit, it's one of my favorite fastfood. Yes, thanks to steamed kangkong and bagoong, I felt happy! Truly comforting. Here's a short list of my comfort food from the top of my head:

• Chowking's Kangkong with Chinese Bagoong (Shrimp Paste)
  
• Kinilaw na Nokus (Surigaonon for squid)
• Dried Nokus and Danggit
• Inihaw na Talong (Broiled Eggplant) at Bagoong
• Ansuhan (Surigao's crushed and fermented shrimp paste)
  
• Jollibee's Choco-mallow Pie
• Jollibee's Coffee Jelly
• Shawarma from Makati Jolli-jeep or wherever for that matter
• Fried Tofu
• Jollibee's ChickenJoy
• Wendy's make your own salad
• Raisins
• Champoy (I used to have this as a reward everytime I ace an exam in grade school)

And oh, craving is probably an understatement. I felt I needed food to make me feel a lot better. Like how clownfish Nemo finds comfort within the stinging tentacles of a sea anemone.