Macau 2009

Decided to make a separate folder for this trip with Melissa what with all the time it's taking me to upload our photos in one folder and my Vaio crashing, this New year's eve should really be put to good use.

Was really looking forward to this leg of our trip -- Macau with its Portuguese influence, casinos and Pinoys all over.

HK and Macau, 2009

Hatched the idea to travel with Melissa and Leo last May while celebrating her birthday at Casa Armas in Trinoma. Booked our flight tickets after our dinner celebrating my birthday at Le Maison also in Trinoma this time minus Leo.

Our last trip together was in Sapporo 2007. Hong Kong was supposed to serve as our entry for the Beijing train adventure but we didn't get the Chinese visa - hated queuing at the consulate in Makati. We ended up staying in the city for 7 days. Highlights include:
1) me having an anxiety attack on the fist day thinking that Melissa might suffocate and die because of the dust mites in our room at the Chungking Mansion;
2) almost buying a fake camera (didn't know they also sell it in reputable looking stores near the mansion);
3) Melissa having an anxiety attack too before going back due to a certain "speedy Louis" =)

Shows I watch

These are the shows that I am really into these days.... I lose sleep over them.  I get cranky in the morning or every time I missed an episode or re-runs.  I "google"  every information about them.  Translation - I'm obsessed with them.
Glee - there wasn't really any hype when this show started.  I got intrigued because the cable channel Jack TV advertised they'll be showing it ahead of the free tv Etc.  So I tuned in.  At first I found the concept - well, tacky kinda if High School Musical is for tweens, this one's for the real teens.  Then, I got intrigued with Kurt's love of fashion (bullying is fine as long as they don't touch his Marc Jacobs jacket), Rachel Berry's sticker star after her name and her singing Lea Salonga's audition piece for Ms. Saigon - "On My Own." Finn's rendition of REO Speedwagon's "Can't Fight This Feeling" while in the shower.  I love the songs in the series!
Top Chef - I have seen the previous seasons but not really watch all the episodes.  But when I saw Dale Talde - a Pinoy chef in NYC prepared a halo-halo inspired dessert and got praises from the judge - I made this my Wednesday night date.  Now, they have a new batch of NYC chefs.  I'm looking out for the two Europeans (Stephan and Fabio), Jeff (from Ritz Carlton and definitely the cutie of the batch) and Eugene (haven't figured out if he's of Pinoy origin too but his bio says he's Hawaiian.  On the first or second elimination, Ariane - twice in the chopping block - lamented that she's supposed to be the one eliminated and Carla said the line, "There is no mistake in the universe....You deserve to be here."  Those lines set me up for another Wednesday nights of watching this show.
Project Runway Philippines - I am really a fan of the original one - hosted by Heidi, Nina Garcia, Michael Kors and Tim Gunn but shunned the first season of the Pinoy version.  Then I got a text from Ma-an, one of the models, and watched the first episode really for her.  I think her designer got eliminated on the second or third episode and I was really bent on giving this up because it conflicts with the Top Chef's first airing.  Probably the remote control did it - I'm monet and I'm a trigger happy with the TV remote.... Suddenly, Ma-an came back to the show- I missed that portion but I'm still watching the show and designers are now down to four - Manny, Santi, Cherry and Russell.  I want Russell to be out.  Among the remaining three I'm really for Kuya Manny but wouldn't mind if Santi or Cherry wins. 
How I Met Your Mother - Doogie Howser, aka Neil Patrick Harris plus the NYC setting and great comedy.  What can I say?  I missed out on Friends -wasn't really a fan - was too busy watching telenovelas that time....
Professional, Cool Japan, Japanese Kitchen, Tokyo Fashion Express, NHK Special - just to practice with my Japanese (hehehe!  all these shows are in English).
Arirang's Showbiz Extra - BJ (Before Japan or pre 2005), I was a big Kdrama fan.  Ask everyone, I was one of the ambassadors of the Korean culture with my set of friends and office mates....I bought all those drama CDs and was active at forums or discussion boards on Korean entertainment.  So just to keep abreast of what's happening on Korean entertainment.  BTW, Adrien Lee, one of the hosts, speaks French. 
You're Beautiful - Hana Kimi and Coffee Prince rolled into one idol version plus more fun and comedy.  The cuties are a bit changed too - metro-sexual idol groups.  Kame, Jun and Ryo but they're in one group and are Korean - so a little toned down....
IRIS - Lee Byung Hun, Jung Jun Ho, Kim Seung Woo.  Hey, if you're into korean entertainment late 90s to early 2000 these three are SERIOUS reasons to tune in and endure.  Good thing LBH on his own sizzles even with the Michael Bay or James Cameron-like plot and production. 
Smile, You - Lee Min Jung, the other girl (Shigeru's role in hana Yori Dango) in Boys Over Flowers and Jung Kyung Ho, the other guy in Time Between Dog and Wolf and I'm Sorry I Love You are now the leads.  Got intrigued because of these two leads but as this is a weekend drama and may stretch to 50 plus episodes - I'll probably drop this and just wait for the ending on Mysoju.  
Otomen - started watching this mid summer of 2009 and the drama will air until the fall season.  The lead character is a Kendo national champion but loves to read shojo manga and is very skilled in cooking and sewing. Discovered Okada Masaki here,     

Evangeline Ophelia M. Robles

Victoria calls her "Eva" as in Eva Longoria
Patricia and the rest call her Baby Buddha.
Itus told me to call her "our nanay"  (she was named after her two grandmothers but of course for Itus, Ipeng and me her "Ophelia" name is really a tribute to our nanay).
The new bunso as Ipeng tells everyone - Evangeline Ophelia (b. April 9, 2009, London UK), the prettiest among Itus' daughters. 

Now it's Melissa's turn

Funny how the word "fate" seems to work... Less than a month after I learned and posted here that Lea's going to the Netherlands, I got a phone call from Melissa telling me the same message - she's going to the Netherlands too!  Not to see the windmills, buy diamonds or smell the tulips.  Starting January 2010, she'll be in Van Gogh's birthplace on a PhD scholarship in Social Sciences. 
Mighty proud of her - I used to see her as my "mom" in Japan.  Nova even said that she allowed me to play and live contentedly in Japan.  I'm pretty glad that we both seized the opportunity to live apart on our last year in Kobe.  This allowed our relationship to evolve and we gradually became "sisters."   The past two years since we got back, I definitely took a back seat as Leo, Ading and Baby 2 (well, along with Mommy, Daddy, Reng-reng, Kuya Dilbert even Ate Bell and Ate Kulot) claimed her back. I don't mind at all. In fact, I'm just too happy to think of her as my girlfriend! 
Congratulations to my mom-sister-girlfriend!  Come back and inspire Ading, Baby2 and me with your PhD diploma and a job in an international organization - still and definitely helping the vulnerable sector!

Lea's going to the Netherlands

Been meaning to post something about Lea's graduate scholarship to ITC in the Netherlands from 2009 to 2011.  She's really looking forward to finally getting the chance to study abroad for her masters degree!
I woke up very early and checked if MTV Philippines has stopped with the all-Michael Jackson programming.  They had and saw Jewel's video of Stronger Woman.  Here's part of the lyrics: 

"Stronger Woman"

But not tonight
'Cause come the morning light, oh
I'm gonna love myself more than anyone else
Believe in me, even if someone can't see
The stronger woman in me

I'm going to be my own best friend
Stick with me till the end
Won't lose myself again, never, no,
'Cause there's a stronger woman,
A stronger woman in me

Light bulbs buzz,
I get up
And head to my drawer
I wish there was more
I could say
Another fairytale fades to gray
I've lived on hope
Just like a child
Walking that mile
Faking that smile
All the while
Wishing my heart had wings

Well tonight, I'm going to be
The kind of woman I'd want my daughter to be, oh

I'm gonna love myself more than anyone else
Believe in me, even if someone can't see
There's a stronger woman in me
I'm gonna be my own best friend
Stick with me till the end
I won't lose myself again, never, no
'Cause there's a stronger woman,
A stronger woman

This is me, packing up my bags
And this is me, headed for the door
And this is me, the best you ever had
I'm going to love myself
More than anyone else
Believe in me even if someone cannot see
There's a stronger woman in me
I'm going to be my own best friend
Stay with me till the end
Won't lose myself again, never, no
'Cause there's a stronger woman
A stronger woman
There's a stronger woman,
A stronger woman in me,
Yeah...

Enjoy being a student again, Lea! 

I intentionally cut the first stanza and here's the mp3 of the song:

Attachment: Jewel_-_Stronger_Woman.mp3

Five things I learned from Pa and Lolo Jose

Father's Day 2009 and I would like to remember Lolo Jose and honor our tatay's through their words of wisdom. 
1.  Pa - Always buy good pairs of shoes, they'll last longer.
2.  Pa - Think twice before blowing your own horn, be humble always.
3.  Pa - "Ang utang ay utang, ang bigay ay bigay, ang hingi ay hingi (A loan is a loan, a gift is a gift and a dole out is a dole out)," always remember the difference.
4.  Lolo Jose - Better not start a task unless you'll put 100% of your effort, try to perfect a job or a skill.
5.  Lolo Jose - Honor your commitments, be responsible to your younger siblings.