Tokyo nga ba? (click pics to see everything)

o diba. these three looked good together.

I haven't found an apt name for her. I think she's Japanese (and for how long have I wanted a Japanese alter ego. hehe), so an English name will not make the cut. Or ewan ko. haha.

Baka Josie, as in Josie Natori that Pinay fashion designer and CEO of the Natori Company. (who kinda looks like her. sort of lang. hehe).

or O-ren Ishii, after my favourite 'Kill Bill' character.

baka I'll end up calling her Tokyo. or Minami Kurihashi (after that place kung saang

kangkungan kami nakarating, one fateful train ride in Tokyo).

Mas masaya pala pag tatlo na sila.

i decided to take a 'stock outfit' photo. AJ and Stella have not worn their stock outfits for the longest time. natuwa ako, parang memory lane chervalin ang dating.

ang kulet nung dinosaur ni manong jay ha. :)

first love never dies (a.k.a. ikaw na ang magbigay ng title pag jologs mode ka)

dediketed to my future children.

I've been catching up on my reading.
Yun pala ang epekto nang walang TV sa bahay. haha.

I love to read. I discovered this cheap thrill when I was five. At ang instant favourite reading material ko ay Readers Digest, lalo na yung section na 'Laughter, the Best Medicine' at 'All in a Days Work'. Aba, niyayabang ng nanay ko yan--I may be laziest and most careless kindergarten student (5 yrs old=kinder) she's ever met, but it's undeniable that I can lap up reading materials such as this. Siguro alam na nyang weirdo ako, maliit palang ako.

When my mother passed away, she probably took the RDs with her. Yung buong subscription. By that time I have ventured into other books and playmates. By then I made friends with Jessica, Elizabeth and Todd Wikins from Sweet Valley. Mula SW Kids to university yun-- nagkapalit palit na sila ng boy friend, at nag asawa na. Mag susyalera ang mga kaklase ko nun sa St.Paul's Pasig, kaya nabuhay ako sa pahiram hiram at book swaps. I left Sweet Valley at the age of eight, probably right after my mother's passing, followed by our relocating to a new life in Laguna. Grade four ako nung na-discover ko ang adult books stash sa bahay (nothing to do with adult as in bastos ha). May mga libro (tulad ng Danielle Steele) na mukhang off limits, at saka ko nalang malalaman na siguro kasi madaming hubaran at lovey-dovey dito. At dahil sa mga off limits na yan, iisang libro lang (yata) ang puwede kong basahin, at iyon ay isang hardback copy ng 'Memories of Midnight' ni Sidney Sheldon. Josko, tuwang tuwa ako sa libro na ito. Habang ang mga kaklase ko ay panay 'Nancy Drew' at 'Hardy Boys' ang sina submit na book reports, ako ay taon-taong nagbibigay ulat tungkol sa iba ibang nobela ni Sidney Sheldon. Nandyan ang vengeful na 'Rage of Angels', 'The Other Side of Midnight' at full of inspiration na 'Master of the Game'; ang ambitious na si Lara Cameron sa 'Stars Shine Down', ang tatlong madre sa 'Sands of Time' at madami pang iba. Buti nalang at binasa ko si Sheldon bago si Danielle Steele (actually, wala pa akong Danielle Steele na natapos, at inaantok ako sa kanya). Hanggang ngayon, Sheldon is still my favourite tabloid writer. harhar. Although I have to admit--mas okay yung mga nauna nyang novels, kesa sa mga bago nyang sinulat, tulad ng 'The Sky is Falling' or 'Are you Afraid of the Dark?'. Parang nung binasa ko yung dalawa na yun, alam kong retirement-mode na sya (by the way, he died last 2007, bless his soul). Bukod kay Sheldon, ang isa ko pang gustong manunulat ay si Grisham. Siguro sya at si Ally Mc Beal ang nagkukumbinsi sa akin nung mga panahon na yon, na mag abugasya. May Grisham collection din ako, kasi si Jay--knowing that I love to read, would buy them for me when he was already in Singapore, at struggling college student ako sa UST. He'll usually send them to me in bulk, and I usually read them on summer vacations. My favourite Grisham novel will have to be 'The Partner', kasi astig ito masyado. Kwento sya ng conspiracy at deceit at long term strat planning. Umaga na akong matulog nung binabasa ko ito. Then, there's Stephen King-- na pota, salamat sa kanya at ni celebrate ko ang pasko nung 1997 na takot na takot. Christmas vacation kasi nung sinimulan ko ang 'IT'. Madalas akong magbasa sa madidilim na lugar (bad habit), at dahil dyan tinakot lang naman ako nitong payaso na mental na pucha--nangunguha at pumapatay ng bata. Hindi ako nakatulog ng ilang araw dyan, leche sya. Mula 'nun, he became an instant favourite. I've been reading his 'On Writing' book for a year now. Hindi ako matapos tapos. haha.

I have a new favourite. Si Gaiman. I've only read two of his novels (na ewan ko kung pang-kiddy talaga, kasi medyo disturbing yung ibang scenes. Pero ayun nga sa isang short-story character nya, who are we to purport reality for the sake of 'guarding 'the innocence of a child? Para bang Brothers Grimm, kung saan they had to 'sanitise' the stories for the children, therefore not giving the real story): The Graveyard book and Coraline. The book I'm reading right now is his collection of short fictions: Fragile things. Nag eenjoy ako sa mga nabasa ko so far. Of those I've read, eto ang mga highly recommended:

1. a study in emerald
2. october in a chair
3. My Life -pwedeng pang monologue!
4. Sunbird

Okay. Tama na, at mahaba na ito.
p.s. to those who may have come across this post, and have nothing better to say or do (granted that surprisingly--you actually read this through and through)...your 'so what?' is welcome. :) it's just that I wanted this thing to be written down, for future references. Probably not for you, but for someone who may see value in this the next time she/he needs to know more about his/her mother (ako yun). :)

Ze cuteness

Meet my kimmidolls.

 (paki click nalang po ang picture, for you to see the entire thing)

Love at first sight ang naramdaman ko nung una ko silang nakita. Bukod sa naka kimono sila (fetish ko ever), gawa sa kahoy (na mabigat) kaya pwedeng ipang-wasiwas, may mga chervalin sila, which corresponds to a certain 'virtue/value/ characteristic'. Alam mo na--madali akong mauto ng creative advertisement eh. haha. I had a hard time deciding which doll would befit me (yes, para akong tanga). I took the values/virtue seriously eh.  Thus, after several trips, I ended up buying my first Kimmidoll--Choya, which (according to her profile) stood for 'belief'. Choya became my birthday present to *eherm* myself.  At dahil feeling special ako, I celebrated my birthday for a month. hehe. Then came Michiko (hindi dahil 'wise' ang translation nya, okay--dahil black ang buhok nya, at mega mukha syang donya. hehe. oh well--sige na nga, baka nga dahil sa translation nya :P), then Etsumi. Etsumi had red hair, egad! Naastigan ako sa kanya, pramis. My sister suggested I get her, kasi she's the only one with eyes open--'dilat' ba. :) Para bang it symbolised taking in life with eyes wide open (sabi na eh, I thrive on melodrama). 

L-R: Choya (belief), Etsumi (delight), Michiko (wise)

Diba ang kyut nila. Para silang girl band crossed with your friendly neighbourhood triad.

eto pa.

isa pang kyoot na development: Dumating na yung 3 postcards ni Conniechiwa na may Simpsons na stamps. Pamilya Simpsons ever ito. Natuwa ako. At syempre si Jay. Salamat Connie! (ay pati narin si uglyworm at puglee, natuwa)

Itchy Feet (and when it's not fungal infection)

Thanks to the swine flu-induced travel advisory. Now, I dont feel THAT bad whenever I daydream my way to another overseas adventure. I think one eight (okay, 2 eights. haha) of my day revolves around planning for another trip. I cracked the habit last year, when planning our wedding. Now feeling a few weeks short of a decent honeymoon (i mean, Boracay was decent and okay--but i want something *eherm* 'foreign'), Jay and I have been discussing plans come end of this year (due to financial constraints, limited annual leaves and the NBA season (asa ka pa), it's gotta be between end of third quarter and early fourth quarter). Eh, anak ng tokwa, talagang hindi nako mapakali eh noh.

Gusto ko sanang tumawad ng mas maagang shorter trip, pero sayang naman, we both agreed earlier na wala munang magba back tracking, so we can't go back to Tokyo (ang kyoot sana kung may cherry blossoms background ang birthday picture ko. o ng fuji-san, with the sake in hand. omaygad!) or Hong Kong (syet, ilang wig ng manika ang mapapakyaw ko? may side-part na wig kaya dun? ilang sugarmag outfits kaya ang kasya sa maleta ko, genuine man or japeks??) I know, and OA, pero totoo itong scenario na ito--nanginginig nginig pa.

Until now we havent decided on whether we should go to the land of stone cold ice cream--that one with a French lady statue as national symbol(and it's not even France), or go 'old school' via the empires of the past and their quaint commuter towns and cities. So while practicing restraint, I just make plans. Aimlessly. I know, pathetic. Gumagawa ako ng iterinary, research ever on how to navigate the entire euro railway (if in case it's europa) from london to prague. Tumitingin ako ng cheap domestic flights from San Fran to NYC, just to get an idea how much this trip will cost us. Inaalam ko na nga rin kung magkano ang tickets ng:

-isang NBA game (well, two games, kasi napilitan lang ako sa Lakers game, at maiinggit si Jay sa Knicks game ko. harhar)

- coldplay concert sa Wembley, Parc des Princes o Estudi Olimpic (dahil manunuod ako nito! hah!)

Ngayon, kung tuloy ang Inglatera-Pransya-Espanya-Italia tour, eto sana ang gusto kong makita sa first leg of our trip:

HOPES and EXPECTATIONS 101:

Ben Ben. Dahil maganda syang litratuhan sa gabi.(mapapansin nyong halos lahat ng gusto kong landmark ay magandang litratuhan sa gabi)

London Bridge (...is falling done, falling down...)

Sila, sa Wembley.

and something like this (at Piccadilly Circus), kasi wala pang ganito sa Ayala at sa Orchard (at this caliber, take note). haha.

pang tanggal ng umay...

to this awful lot who's sick and tired of hearing about our wedding--let's move on to something else (for the meantime. hehe).



This, I like!

First Flight

blackbird,fly+sprockets.

first time ko.

more...

So how did you meet-- again?

Nakakatawa ang sagot sa katanungan na ito, and suffice to say we can always come up with different ways to tell it.

Parang ganito kasi yan...see diagram...

well now, you know. :P

Whats your motif?

Eto ang isa sa mga pinaka gasgas na tanong ever sa taong ikakasal. I mean, not to say its not okay to ask, pero sabihin nalang natin from the 'to be wed's end'--na pwede mo nang i-record at gawing ring -tone ang sagot mo dito, kasi 'you'll get this everytime'. Minsan pwedeng 'small talk' lang ito--pwede ding seryosohang tanong, but its very likely an avenue to exchange pleasantries. Those who throw out the query would (seem to) always reply 'ay! ang cute!!'

So enter our motif: BLACK and purple and green. Nah, we dont get the same 'ang cute!' response, primarily because--its black. Never mind the purple and green---its black. Black is our common element. We love it--its modern stylish, artistic and classy but underrated. Its a good choice for accentuating and emphasizing, yet versatile enough to mix with anything. So black it is. Our other colours reflect personal favourites: Jay likes the colour green because its fresh and lively (Rica prefers it too, because she's into environmental politics.hehe), while purple has been Rica's favourite colour since the age she can say 'violet, lavender and purple' --thats waay even before it became vogue (it used to be 'kulay na pam-patay, diba?'). Jay 'thinks' he's into purple as well--probably to spite Rica.

Back to black--initial responses were a mixture of incredulousness and amusement. Some of Jay's cousins are of half- Chinese ancestry (and yes, they're based in Binondo), so you can imagine the 'wdf?' on everyone's lips. It took some time to sink in, and now everyone thinks its cool and er--different in a safe side sort of description (hehe). Hey, to set things straight--its not even an all-black affair. Well, the bridesmaids will be wearing black, and the guys in black suits, and aside from them (bunch, and I mean a big BUNCH. hehe), black will only be present as accents to either purple or green (appeased now?).

Now a simple advise to other brides in prospect: PLEASE, pretty please--its a colour motif. So use colours, like black, green and purple. Although midnight, steel, pistachio, uretane airbrush and what -have-you sounds poetic, they also sound vague. Like 'rose and wine'--so red rose ba, white rose...red wine ba, white wine? Ganon ba. hirap ma-gets eh.

More notes...

1. My lonable number of books (i.e. loan quota) from the library has just been 'upped' from 40 to 80. Wow, I think I heard the nerds from upstairs crying for joy (while pumping their fists in the air) that time I got this email. (Now, Im not really referring to the entire school. :) Nerds? oy, hindi ako ha--sila! eherm.)In fairness, natawa ako nung nabasa ko yun, kasi may nakalagay pang hotline that I can call, in case I need further info. Gusto ko sanang tumawag nalang sa HR, at sigawan sila 'ito ba ang tinatawag na christmas bonus?? ha? ha?? talk to me! may buhay din ako!' to which they will gently reply 'so, you're not happier with 40 MORE books--doubling your quota?'. To which I will, with full conviction assert 'Well, I need a bigger bag for these. or a wheelbarrow. i take it no one liked my suggestion of providing free delivery services to research staff, huh?'. And that will be the end of me--este, it.

2. Naa adik kami ni Jay sa lomography. Nako. 'Have to resist--noo! noo! you already bought one last month.' 'eh, last month pa yun', whispers my evil twin. to which I agree: 'Honga noh??' Gasp!

3. May Ben and Jerry's Chunk Fest next month sa Fort Canning! Im sooo excited, Im thinking colour, funk, hyper kids and ice cream! I can imagine my actionsampler dreaming about this. Baka himatayin yun! (see? its an addiction, i tell you)


4. okay okay--less than three months nalang. ako, ninenerbyos? hindi noh.

Lente.

(above) Life in general: a big, fun, costume party.

Hindi inaasahang matutuwa ako sa bagay na di ko kilala—tulad nito.
Plastic, mura--chipipay kumbaga.
Walang zoom, ISO check, sharpness, atbp.
Sa panahong lahat ng bagay ay pwedeng ‘perfect’ at di-metro,
Aanhin mo ang di mo alam, at di garantisado?

Siguro dahil ang buhay ay nakasalalay sa mga lente...
Sa mga bagay na di sukat, at di permanente
Bago mo pa naitaas, mai anggulo ang viewfinder mo,
Sandaang segundo ang dumadaan, tuloy ang ikot ng mundo.

Eh ano kaya kung isang araw,
Maburyong ka sa eksakto—
And bagay na perpekto’y nag iba sa paningin mo
Naisip mong madami pang bagay na maganda
Na di kailangang ‘perfect’—pero ‘iyo’, at kakaiba

(Iginapang mo, itinutok mo, hinintay mong mai-develop,
Bukod dun, iwi-wish mo pang mag-black yung mga sulok (vignetting. Haha)...
Ano bang kasayahan ang dinadala nito?
Nitong bagay na hindi mo alam kung magiging okay o luko luko?)

Hindi ba’t mahusay din na di tayo pare pareho?

Pagka't may kanya kanya tayong lente...
Patingin nga ng iyo?

eto pa!

My action packed and umaatikabong weekend

Flea market and bargain hunting--whole day Saturday? check.

Testing da seven dollar loot of a toy camera--Saturday afternoon? check.

Birthday party ng inaanak--Sunday afternoon? check.

Parokya ni Edgar concert--Sunday night? check.

Wake up almost noontime on a holiday? check.

Fancy lomo sightseeing in the city--Monday after lunch? check.

Oh, and the month has not ended yet.

Ah yeah.

Some peeks at the pics...

p.s. minassacre ng blogspot ang posted pics ko, kahit na naka medium format na sya. these are supposed to be four-frame pictures, so sa mga magtataka kung ano ang pinagsasasabi kong frames 1 to 4, paki click nyo nlang ang mga larawan for the four frame epek. 

NOTA: all taken by an action sampler. Here's a review (baka kasi hindi nyo ako paniwalaan) at amazon.com. 

my first picture taken. lookat da fingering at lens # 3. wah. 

Mga paa: I like how the dots which cut across frames 3 and 4 made this picture a 'film' authentic. 

'Sundays at Holland Village': its da colourful flawah with some

 white guy on a striped shirt in da background. Its very Holland Vee, dabah?

the poster reads: 'He's just my type'. ah yeah.

Jay. tongue out. Waving like mad.

some more!

Egad!

Tamagotchi v.04. Bow!

ah. so this is the stuff my classmates in primary school used to brag about. not bad at all.

I dont really think I was deprived as a kid.

under the 'hulugan system', my ate tintin offered (er, was coerced to) her new acquisition for only half the price. Yey!

Yes, Virginia. It isn't called second childhood for nothing.

Abah bah bah....

Return Migration in Asia: Experiences, Ideologies and Politics

Asia Research Institute

National University of Singapore

31 July 2008

Medyo succesful ang break in. (medyo=ayoko maging mayabang)

Ang lola nyo, Academic na.
Prospecting Return: Filipino Professionals in Singapore

Abstract: This paper argues a case different from the traditional migration-and-return route which apparently is still the case for most Filipinos on ‘permanent’ migration to North America and Europe. While Philippine migration to Singapore is categorised as temporary labour migration, with such changes taking place in the host country’s immigration policy, there seem to be an emerging lifestyle for Filipinos working in a foreign country not far from their own, very much different from the traditional ‘Balikbayan’ and temporary work migrant ’imagination’. An online survey was conducted among a sample population of Filipino professionals working and residing in Singapore as preliminary data for this study.

maong talelong

it didn't occur to me what S actually meant when she said she'd like to 'pah-teeh'. I thought it meant that living thing function related to digestion (which I believe is due to her watching waayyy to many 'living person' shows). Until I saw this. ah. party pala. support the cancer foundation party? Ben Tambling, ish that you??
So, yes--at the expense of a doll, I just want you to know that I actually made THAT maong dress (if you call that one). Its my frist time, okay? I'll try to make more rags--este, dresses, until I become a (doll) dress master, A-line category (then there's three thousand MORE categories. yey!) Im trying to make some skimpy shorts as well. And a shirt. And no--Im not trying to pimp my girl.

Cheesy songs and flights o' fancy

Sunday was chorale practice (yes, bad habits never die). After two weeks of absence (conferences, long over due meetings), and missing the 'group photo op', it felt weird that Im still keen to go on, and join them. Its as if there's no such thing as momentum for me when it comes to this 'interest' that is chorale singing--thus Ive realised I really like what Im doing. Wah. Finally. Surprises of suprises, diba? Gee, I bet Miro will 'tambling' forever. The group's atmosphere was pretty much similar to chor-al's --the chorale ensemble I used to be part of--hmm...now using the term 'used to' sounds weird! (awwww...miss ko na sila)

Henewey, now that Im in Singapore (for almost four years! where'd that go?) and after several trial and error with different chorale/music ministries, Ive decided to settle (i think!). Psalmi's structure is a bit complicated, as it is loosely connected with the FX Choir at St Ignatius. Its not really problematic, but lets just say, hmmm..Im with Psalmi. Its not your regular church choir, but is a choir. firyud. Like the Mads, like the UST Singers (not that we're at par, okay? hehe).

We're nomads (aren't we all?), hence the different practice venues. Last Sunday was at Kiko's at Casa Sophia. Where? Up there o! ------------> yeah, and a couple more walks. Excuse my french, but wadapak?? talaga naman. When I reached Kiko's, my heart was beating to the milliseconds. Cardio ba itoh? I heard its 140 steps. Steep steps. No, I ddin't count, and Im not planning to confirm it by doing it again. After four hours of practice we had to face the sad realisation that its Monday the next day. Packing our things, Manny said 'sa stairs tayo dumaan' (lets hit the stairs). Everyone: 'Tara'
(Lets go). Joy, knowing how my plight went, looked at me and said ' O, eh baket parang hindi ka masaya?' (and how come you dont look happy?). Me: away nalang tayo, ano? (NB: no english translation for this, sounds sooo better in Tagalog. hehe)

Turns out that walking down (of course) those flight of stairs is better done when you're with a group of rowdy individuals happily chatting away. Before you know it, you're almost there.

Now, for that cheesy song, as my title suggests...its called 'Love is the Answer' . Its the most keso-ful thing on the face of the earth, but hell--the arrangement is full of movements--dynamics and blending. I heard its a regular church song/wedding song although I've never encountered it before (maybe becuase chor-al was never a church song-fixture? hehe) . Some of the lyrics may put you off, but its a love song, so its a given (heehee). Here's my favourite (first part!):

Morning comes and I must go

dawn is breaking yonder

after all those places I have been

now im going home

Now if only I get a remedy for sore legs and knees. Can love account for that? (you cheesy little twit!)