Mabilisan...

I know I'm bad with 'keeping things short', so I'll just enumerate some recent developments:

1. eto... (Miss Iggy flew 'budget' to Manila)

2. at eto. (for the kumukutikutitap smile)

3. at eto pa. (bonding moments...family planning seminar sa hallway ng munisipyo ng sta rosa)

4. eto narin... (macho! ah yeah...im not divulging any more details. :P)

Paalam (muna, pansamantala) Singapura

Its almost three in the freakin' morning. I'm sleeping in 10 mins time, and probably sleeping in while I type this. Im leaving for Manila 7 hours from now, and will probably be away from my routine posts until God knows how long. I'm in the process of convincing my teenager of a brother to 'lease' his prepaid internet cherva cable or gizmo (eh nde ko alam ang tawag dun eh) to me for 3 weeks (well the guy is milking my offer. susme). Will try to keep you all updated (hopefully I'll be able to post my suppliers list before the big day. gaah!). Will post pictures, of course. Baka panay picture na nga lang eh. hay! Im soo tired (left the office at around 8 pm today. kmusta naman yun).  Katatapos lang namin mag-impake, at iba na ang mood ko. heh.

cameras? check. film? check. passport? check. rings? check.

kermit jr? check. miss iggy? check.

Ay commercial muna po-- Jay and I celebrated our 9th year anniversary. hehe. wala lang. patawa eh. :P Happy anniversary pare. thank you for waiting. :)

AT! nang binuksan ko ang mailbox ko...andito na sya!! ang saya say

a naman. :) (saka na ang iba pang pictures. naduduling nako, pramis)

her jet lagged, purpleness miss iggy arrived last night. Ze Stella and AJ 

welcomed her in their respective kimonos, even wanting their pictures to be taken with her. Over tea they find out that she's leaving for Manila the following morning. 'viajera ang lola mo' exclaimed Stella.

sorry ha, nde na cohesive ang sentences ko. nagla lag na ang utak ko eh. :P see you laters, percolators!

the blackbirds are gearing up for the cool weather in Tagaytay. 

At si kermit...naka stripes!

 na green. hehe

MALIIT.

May isa akong kakilala, house wife sya at nanay sa dalawang batang parehong pumapasok na sa eskwelahan. Nagbitiw sya sa trabaho (‘hindi naman kalakihan ang kita’), sa kadahilanang gusto nyang matutukan ang kanyang mga anak (‘madalas sila magkasakit’) na maliliit pa.
Mayroon syang maliit na negosyo na inilalako nya sa mga kaibigan at kapitbahay.
Si mister ang punong tagapagbigay nang halos lahat nang bagay na maibibigay nang pera.
Isang araw, kinagabihan matapos kumain at habang sya ay nagliligpit, pinuna ni mister ang estante: ‘tignan mo itong estante, ang dumi dumi na’. Binigyan nya nang sulyap ito, at inisip—kung paano, bukod sa pagwawalis araw araw nang may kalakihan nilang bahay, maisasama nya ang estante. ‘Tignan mo o...ano ba ang ginagawa mo dito sa bahay?’ dagdag nang haligi nang tahanan. Natigilan sya sa pag iisip, di mawari kung paano tatanggapin ang sinabi nang kabiyak na nagtutustos nang lahat nang pangangailangan nila. Naisip nya ang araw araw na kailangan nyang gumising nang maaga, para ipaghanda ang almusal nilang mag anak, para masigurado na may isusuot na damit si mister, at para mapakain ang panganay nya (‘na matagal ngumuya at matapos’) na pang umaga.

Ihahatid nya ito sa gate (kasama si bunso) nang eskwelahan matapos usisain kung natapos ba nito ang kanyang takdang aralin kagabi. Pag balik nang bahay, si bunso naman ang aasikasihun—paliliguan, sisiguraduhing kumain nang madami, naka-dumi na at ihahanda para sa pang hapon na klase. Mag-aayos sya nang bahay, na sa araw araw na ginawa nang diyos ay may kalat ng mga laruan sa sahig-- mga pinag gupitan na papel, at kung ano ano pang maaring matapon na malagkit o madulas. Pagkatapos ay ihahatid nya si bunso sa eskwelahan ('malapit lang naman'), at susunduin naman si ate sa kabilang eskwela. Magsasabi si ate sa kanya na kung maaari ay huwag na syang sunduin dahil malaki na sya. Oo, sya na pitong taong gulang ay malaki na, at hindi sya maaaring ma disgrasya sa pagtawid ng kalsada, o malapitan nang masasamang loob.
Uuwi sila nang bahay, at magwawalis sya. Madalas syang makipag usap sa telepono habang sya ay nag iimis. Iniaalok nya ang paninda nya sa mga kaibigan, kung hindi naman ay nakikipag kwentuhan sya sa mga taong interesadong malaman kung ano ang kalagayan niya.

Maiinis si ate dahil mauutusan nya itong magligpit nang iba pang kalat. Magwiwika sa ate na pagod sya, at ibabaling ang katamaran sa pagbababad nang nanay nya sa telepono. ‘Mama, kanina ka pa nakikipag tsimisan, tapos ako ang uutusan mong magligpit’. Nagpanting ang tenga nya. Narinig na nya iyong tono na yon dati. Sa asawa nya. Ang asawa nyang magaling na wala nang ginawa kung hindi sumang ayon sa lahat nang sasabihin nang anak nya, sa kadahilanang ayaw nyang makipag talo:

Pag sya ay ‘hindi puwede’, si mister ay ‘Sige lang’.
Pag sinabi nyang tapusin ang takdang aralin at irarason ni ate na pagod na sya (at ipapahinga nya ang mata sa pamamagitan nang panunuod nang telebisyon), sasang ayon si mister kay ate. Hindi na tuloy naniniwala si ate sa kanya, at ang huling salita ay kay itay.

Bakit nga naman sya ang masusunod, eh hindi naman sya ang nagpapakain sa kanila?
Hindi naman sya ang nagpapakahirap sa pagtatrabaho (na ayon sa mga kalalakihan na de pamilya ay ang tanging paraan para makaiwas sa responsibilidad sa bahay) at pagkita nang pera?

Bakit, ano ba sya?

‘Bakit, ano ba ako? Katulong nyo ba ako?’ nagbalik ang kanyang diwa sa pang-kasalukuyan.
‘Porke’t hindi ako ang kumukita nang pera, wala na ba akong karapatan magpahinga—o masunod?’
Natigilan ang buong bahay, ngunit pang samantala lamang.
‘Sige, tignan ko lang, pag nawala ako. Kung hindi gumuho ang mga mundo nyo. Gaano ba ka 'di importante itong ginagawa ko, at kailangan akong kastiguhin at maliitin? ’
Hindi sya nagsalita muli, at nanahimik nang tuluyan.
Basa pa ang mga sampay. Bukas nga pala—anong ulam?

Naisip ko lang naman

Kung bakit ngayon kailangang lagyan nang 'bridal' chenes ang tawag sa lahat nang magiging accesories and eching ko for the wedding.

halimbawa--bridal bible, bridal suite, bridal house, bridal undergarments, bridal shoes...

medyo tuloy ang hirap mag isip at pumili.

para bang kelangan there's this element of 'first time', and rather 'impracticability' of anything I'll be using. Para bang it has to be super special na hindi ko na sya ulet magagamit.

Well, thats sad--don't you think?

That you'll be spending so much on something you'll find no use for, afterwards?

I mean fine--they're symbolic and all. Kaso, wouldn't it be ironic to call something 'symbolic', tapos that symbol will never see the light of day after the big event?

Naisip ko lang naman, kasi I think I've found my so-called bridal shoes last Saturday morning, while walking at Orchard Road. Actually, meron na naman akong nabili, last December pa--I call it my 'backup' shoes. Eager to 'break it in', I used it for my engagement shoot at Old Supreme Court last week. Okay naman sya, altho my sister finds it weird, or maybe not that reassuring enough to be 'that shoe'. So last Saturday I toyed with the idea of getting 'another option' from Isetan Shaw--I've been eyeing these 'collared' shoes with funky soles in red (whose brand name I forgot). But lo and behold--when I stepped inside Zara (which is on sale, by the way. bumula ang bibig ko, pramis), this sweet thing in suede said 'hello' to me instantly. I thought the idea was crazy, but I went on and gave it a fit. Naknampocha, it felt good. AT! I looked good on it. Bihira lang itong love at first site na ito. Ang unang pumasok sa isip ko, 'wow. ang gara nito sa skirt'. Tapos, biglang 'syet, at pwede itong ipang lakad sa luagr na--eherm--malamig'. So ayun. sa halagang 50% off, wala akong makitang dahilan para nde ako um-oo. While queueing for the counter, biglang naisip ko, 'ay--this is it.' (naknangteteng, why do I have to be so emo? hehe) So meet my so called bridal shoes. Happiness. :)

meet my back up shoes from Schu. :)

and... my bridal chenes chervalin...

from Zara.

Strange Day Today

To my bachelorette party organisers and attendees...

Dear Girls,

By this time I'm probably on my way to Zia's, bringing with me an unfinished tutu. I suppose all of you are waiting impatiently, as Jay (bless him) had to leave his office late (he's probably in a cab, on his way now). Once I reach the Inumerable's abode, I'll probably be ringing the doorbell, and Orville will probably be taking his sweet time to open the door. Tess will be there, welcoming me in, and once I step inside I'll probably see everyone's faces 'up for a good time'. I'll be in my very very surprised expression, probably misty eyed. We'll have one heck of a time as always. So thank you very much. Now, I have to tell you something...

 At exactly 5:45 pm today, I stepped out from bus#7, groggily from my ride wherein I had a delightful slumber at it's second floor front seat. I just had an (almost) entire day to myself, walking around China town, Little India and Bugis (yes, I walked through all of them!), taking pictures and as usual--bargain hunting. I was so beat and tired, listening to my iPod, obviously not minding everything around me when nearing the steps towards Amici and this cafe whose name I forgot--I saw a flash of colours in my peripheral vision. You see, the problem now is that I'm seriously and 'officially' near sighted, so I can't 'see' anything, aside from the colours. They were wonderful colours though, hurrying down towards the other direction, towards the back of Amici and the side of this cafe whose name I forgot. I wanted to get my camera and capture this fleeting movement, which literally is too fast and scurrying. I thought its perfect for my actionsampler. But darn! I just realised I ran out of film! I was so amused with this sight that I suddenly felt weird. Why are these two ladies in such a hurry, I thought. 'They seem to be running away from something'. I stopped my tracks, and studied them. The first lady was sporting a long, wavy hair that bobbed up and down the stairs. The second one was wearing orange, with hair on a chignon. I was hoping they look back that I literally stopped atop the staircase they took, because really--they were acting strange. Then something hit me--the poor lady in orange looked very 'her'--a good friend of mine. Im not sure if its the choice of colour that gave her away, but knowing the clothes--a sleeveless semi turtle neck in orange--I knew it was her. As for the other lady, also a good friend-- honestly, the first person that entered my mind when I saw her hair was her hubby. I wonder why the hurry? 

Now, when I reached the house I saw my sister preparing her potluck for a party hosted by her officemate (who by the way, happened to host another party (only) recently). I was so famished, I asked if I can have some 'leftovers' of this chicken she's slicing. she let me have a big chunk (without any hostility!).

Ah...strange things. :P

p.s. As much as I wanted to take a picture of these lovely ladies I encountered at holland Village, I decided not to. First, they were unreasonably fast. Second--they earned my respect for being unreasonably fast, so no 'telling' on my part. hehe. Salamat.

nagmamahal (at nag enjoy!)

-rica

Mga pahapyaw

i wrote this last night, but was not able to post right away. sori ha. :P

Habang ako'y naglalakad sa Kent Ridge, pauwi na matapos kumain nang lamb sa NUSS guild House...

1. natawa ako dahil naalala ko ang sabi ni Ron. Matapos ko kasi syang maisip i-aprove sa fezbook, bigla nalang akong nag sulat sa wall nya, with details on how i want their (AB Choral') 'help' for my wedding. Nag reply sya at sabi 'Direct to the point ka ah! chenes chenes...'sabay may ending na 'o, magkamustahan naman tayo--kamusta ka na?' ahaha. pwede na nga akong mag asawa. Kumakapal na ang mukha ko eh. (mental note: wag kalimutan ang pagbati at pangangamusta sa kada sulat, lalo na't patungkol ang sulat sa isang malufet na request na ikagaganda nang kasal mo)

2. Ngayon, nalaman ko lang ang tindi nang pangangailangan ko kay Ron nung tumawag sakin si Miro. Kaninang tanghali. Oo, ganito ang buhay ko ngayon. Bukod sa life sentence na pinagsisilbihan ko, salamat kay mayordoma-- tumawag ang bespren ko from HK at ang tanging nasabi ko lang nang matino eh 'Si Miro ba ito?' Yan eh habang naghahalungkat ako ng basura--este, estante--naghahanap kasi ako nang travel plug na all-in sa co-operative namin na ironically, nde cooperative sa kadahilanang sa iniliit ng pwesto nila sa Bukit Timah campus, magulo lahat ng paninda nila. Sabaw sabaw ako, nde ko nga alam kung paano ko naayos lahat nang pinapagawa ni mayordoma today. With matching preemptive measures pa ha.

3. tatlong araw akong andito sa Bukit Timah campus nang NUS. Humingi nang tulong yung isang alalay nang amo ko (tawagin nlanag natin syang mayordoma), at ako ang lucky draw winner. ngayon mali pala ang pagkakarinig ko--nde pala tulong ang kelangan nya. Katulong pala. :) diba ang cute? wala --okay lang ako, altho 2 straight days na akong badtrip come lunch time. I'll be fine. im not letting any wretched bitch spoil my last few weeks being single.

4. nako, OA na itong goodbye to singlehood chenes na ito ha. or yung idea na 'magpapatali ka na' na naririnig ko dun sa mga taong nde ko naman close pero iniimbitahan yung sarili nila sa big day ko. As if saying anything mean will get you an invite. Ako lang ang pwedeng mag joke about my state of distress, either present or future. Nyeta. :)

5. at...bumigat na naman ako. okay--nde as if nde ako mabigat ever. ang ibig kong sabihin eh medyo gumaan ako nang konti nung minsan (basta, minsan). as if nagtampo ang timbang ko. ngayon, imagine them coming back, merry and boisterous. they even brought MORE friends. egad!

6. ay! nakuha na namin yung iba pang kuha for the panelo.com 'free nap'. may mga magaganda, at syempre may mga --eherm panahon na huminga ako at nagpakatotoo. :P Mula ngayon--i'll try to hold everything in, at nde nako magpapakatotoo ever. wahaha. nde yata bagay sakin ang relaxed look. may isa akong picture, okay na sana eh, kaso naknampota yung braso ko, parang ewan. alam mo na--parang bagay na nakakasakit pag ibinato. :)

p.s. pramis, magpo post ako nang checklist for the big day. pati narin list ng suppliers ko. not that you may be interested--wala lang. mas fun yatang pakinggan yang mga details na yan kesa sa details regarding sa career ko. hehe. AT! i'll post some (more) pictures. sorry ha, baka may mga naiinis na at eto nalang lagi ang kwento ko. yaan nyo by next month, iba naman. Boracay naman. (yihee. may isang batang excited! oy, nde ako ha.) :P

pero..eto muna ang ilang keso-ness. (salamat ulet, jon--move over, mangored (joke, randall. joke! ))

another from the bridal front: 'ayun naman...'

after how many months of frustrations, constant self doubt and reflection ('so...bakit nga hindi kami na-post? hehe)--all we wanted was at least one 'finished product'. a hint, really--of things to come. Posing for enagement shoots--well, it took us some time to get the hang of it, so we're grateful to all our friends who subjected themselves to last minute shoots (they call it sessions), all pro bono (yogurt lang ang kaya namin pakain)--all 'practice sessions' so that sometime near February we get used to cameras clicking that we no longer freeze or turn overly conscious, nakakasuka na.

ay...at salamat kay panelo.com. We had our first engagement shoot with him and da labli fivefeetflat.com last night, followed by today's early morning (sort of) shoot.

in fairness, may finished product sya agad--as in oras lang. FIRST TIME ito sa lahat nang photographers namin (official man o hinde. AT! hindi pa sya ang official ha), kaya naman hands down--ikaw na, Jon--ang BERTDAY BOI. thank you.
wanna see?

pro bono ni John Panelo. backstreet boy--este,

back up photographer slash Bestman.

Maligayang Pasko at Mapagpalang Bagong Taon

The past month (and year!) has been very hectic that I don't know where to start. As much as I would want to give justice in writing about all these great things that has happened to me, and to those splendid people I know (and had just known! taray, diba?)--I'm giving my apologies in advance, coz I don't think I can chronicle everything at this point... it's been a very long and tiring ride, albeit fun and unpredictable. So I thank that 'guy' up there always keeping watch over me--over us. I know with this impeding recession, everything is uncertain--but isn't that what life is all about? Not knowing what will happen next. So fasten your seat belts, enjoy the ride, open your eyes wide (if you can) and don't forget to breathe.

I tell you--good things happen to good people.

God bless us all!

and tutu ni Zia. Gawa nang ninang nya.

isusuot sa Pebrero, with da chucks...

at wagon na hila hila.

yes, i have new pictures over here... and here...