Home Ideas

I love IKEA. Its home furnishing and accessories is like Disneyland to me these days. "Sweet dreams are made of these," I am reminded of a line from an Annie Lennox song. Although IKEA is actually a low-budget home furnishing outlet, it sparks wonderful and creative ideas in my distraught mind, giving me something to look forward to. For instance, I used to think beech would be the color scheme of Studio 34, and then I talked to a furniture expert and she said the popular wood color these days is dark. And so I thought my new scheme was going to be dark wood, but then I looked at white, and ooh-lala, it looked just the right color for me. White shelf wooden planks would be put on the wall to act as a book/CD/DVD holder. White bed and white side tables, white Japanese lamps. The overall white theme would be accompanied by stainless steel color, Toot Toot convinces me.
A set of halogen lamps hung from the ceiling could also be the option, but I figured this can work well with the high-ceiling of the condo (see picture with the staircase and bulky TV set), and should be used to accentuate a painting or artwork. The halogen lamps can be quite intense for the bedroom. Cost of the 5-set halogen lamp from IKEA, $129 or around PhP4.5K. In the meantime, I remind myself I have to start with just a bed, an airconditioning unit, a lamp and a fridge.
Chris fell for these glass-covered cabinets and the white theme for the bathroom as well. For the other areas of the bedroom, a workstation, a reading corner or TV set would be an option.

Next project, the dining and nook area.
I like the stainless steel table hooked up to the wall, I can put 2 high-backed chair or stools and it would work well. A foldable wooden area may also be considered.

IKEA linked to ikeaph.multiply.com
Valentines linked to Valentines.com.ph

Shoe-Crazy

Ok, I admit. I'm shoe crazy. Who isn't? Look at all these women. It's not just me. It's not just for a special ocassion. Women want shoes so they can have a reason to go out. In quest for the cutest, fanciest, sparkly shoes, I've scoured ebay and found some of the best ones in Singapore. It's too bad some of the nicest ones are not in my size. Here are some of my loveliest finds:
Purple flower pumps from Trendy Zone, for the true Kikay. I'm meeting the seller of this item.
Silver Mondo flats for casual dates ala Carrie Bradshaw without the heels. I'd bid for this if it had heels. Now, I'm just content looking at it.
New Black Mondo pumps selling for $35. My budget is only up to $25, but these are cute.
I love love love love this X:odus pink pigskin pumps, but they do not fit me, and cost $50. It's for a size 39.
Shiny ball shoes, Size 39, PVC, baby blue with a bunch of blue plastic stars attached to the toe-front, worn once, in EXCELLENT condition, price starts at $5.
This is one of my favorites because of its unique style. Of course it doesn't fit me. Size 38, multi-coloured (silver, pink, gold, etc).
This butterfly shoes is just lovely to look at. Size: 36, Measurement: Heels-3/4', Length of shoes-23.5cm, width- 7.8cm , Color: Pastel Green , Material: Canvas, Style: Short Heels, Match: Skirt, jeans. Bid starts at $19.90.
This one I'd love to find, but these are not available in the stores where I looked at. Brand NEW PINK Ballet Shimmer from X:ODUS. Still retailing at $59.90 but is up for bid starting at $37.90. Size 37.

Navy blue wedges. Brand New *Size 7 (23cm) *Colour: Baby Blue *2.5" High.
Look at these girls. Pink Adidas for $33-$50.
And another one up for bid for only $25. I'm watching this item too.
So far, I've only bought 2, they were on sale!

Roommates

Chris comes in at around 8 PM, the sun is already out but the sky is still lit. He says hi, goes to his room and never comes out. One time when I was here he did, the adobo toot toot cooked got the best of him and he helped himself to some. (I thought it was salty, because I asked toot toot to dry up the sauce, just like Tata does it at home, but I digress, and that's unfair). Mark comes home way past 9 PM, when his shift ends at 8. Before sneaking into his room he talks to toot toot, mostly on office stuff, or gadget talk. Sometimes Mark cooks, or joins us in watching CSI or a movie, while he checks his mail on his brand new HP laptop and chats using Yahoo's Instant Messenger. When I came here 4 months ago, he was using an old laptop to communicate to his friends and family, now his brand new toy is worth every penny, or every Singapore Dollar he says. So this is how life in Singapore is. Guys love their gadgets and girls love their shoes. Let me count the ways:
Toot toot's desktop has 2 terabytes (that's 200 Gig) of hard drive, 19 inches flat LCD screen, pentium D-dual core processor, 1 Gig RAM, multiple card readers, Sonic Gear speakers, webcam of the latest model with the highest resolution available at Sim Lim Square. Actually, I love his set-up because we don't use the TV anymore. He downloads movies and shows from TV series, music, and uses the unit as a gamer's machine. Yesterday we stayed in and watched a season of Whose Line Is It Anyway, before we went out for dinner. This evening we watched CSI; the other day Serendipity and my season 1 of LOST which was in my external Samsung hard drive, bought from Guang Hua in Taipei. The other day we listened to new CDs we bought in HMV, the Balcony and Lounge CD we bought are fabulous finds. Actually, I forget that the set-up is a PC, and that I brought my laptop with me. So every time toot toot uses his desktop for checking his emails and chatting with his friends, I feel bad. Like at this moment, I hear loud gunfires and realize he is online gaming with some other guys on the internet. And then I realize, shit I have a laptop and they have a wireless set-up so I can hook up and actually check out my mails, write some stuff or view items on sale at eBay. A-ha!
While I'm typing this, Mark is already in his room, still chatting or using Yahoo Voicemail to call home. He has recently uploaded our photos from our little field trip with Elton and Toot Toot at Marina Bay. His digicam is a Sony Cybershot digicam (of course), small, but with very good resolution shots (as they should be). While chatting his iTunes play some lounge music that suits his lavander aromatherapy set-up in his bedroom. (He let me peep into his room and even let me borrow the lavander oil lamp for one night. I swear, I slept well that night. ) His laptop is the latest HP model in Sim Lim Square, but his cool set-up includes a docking bay for all his other accessories.
While we were watching CSI tonight, I asked about the other Chris and wondered what his computer set-up was. (You see, the way to a man's heart is not just through his stomach, but if you speak gadget talk, they can't stop talking). They say Chris bought 2 flat LCDs for his computer monitor, taking back home his laptop. Chris works for HP as a programmer, and I ask," What do you do with 2 LCDs?" Well, obviously, you can work on one screen while doing something else on another screen. Oh I get it, so you can have more work done. While some of us back home puts on our make-up while the computer boots up, Chris has 2 LCDs, one for his syntax and another for his excel files or porno download or whatever it is that guys download on the net.
So here I am in Singapore, with 3 geeky guys and their hardware set-up wondering why men are so different from women.

Trailblazer

I was still a child and she was already driving her own car. When she chose to live independently, she went to Singapore while I was still working at the Japanese factory in Canlubang. Years later, I lived in Tokyo while she packed her bags in Singapore and went back to Alabang. After 6 months in Japan, I did the same and went back to work in Ortigas. By the time I had my own car, she was in graduate school, and one day, called to tell me she was going to tell C that she is going to New York and that she loved him, even if things were difficult for them. She did, even if C's secretary wouldn't take her calls so when I told her to go after the man she loves, she just drove from Alabang to Greenhills to tell him that, and flew off to New York. In a month's time, C followed her in New York and then to Canada.

You see, Lei is always one step ahead of us. She would make her mark and blaze a trail. Not that she wanted to, she just did what she wanted and in the process inspired others to find out who they are and be the best they could be. At least she had that effect on me. She's almost like a man, practical, rational and ambitious. But in the same sense, she's the modern woman because she pursued open doors and opportunities without thinking that she's a woman, or that it mattered if she was a woman, a Filipina at that.

Seven years after I last saw her, we kept in touch through emails and instant messengers and Friendster. After all, she's a friend worth keeping, and friends keep in touch in spite of the distance. Now she's been to the Bahamas, Europe, navigated the United States, and is now working on a new career path. A tough act to follow, indeed so I just made sure I drove all the way from work on a traffic-jammed December weekday all the way to Alabang to see her. She's my friend. She has made me shine, supported my journeys, shared my success or setbacks, loved the people I loved, and made me think a woman's life is best lived if we just did. Live life the best way we could, that is.

Thanks Lei, for the inspiration. Remember our parting words," Whenever, wherever!" Love you!

Shoes

I find myself drawn to shoes lately. Is it a coming of age thing? A woman thing? Flats, mules, sandals, wedgies, strappy, slingbacks. Pink, blue, checkered black and white, peach, white, black, mocha. Putting these words together is a cacophony but sounds like harmony to me. Carefully flanking them next to each other is done like a ritual. I have three pairs under my desk (don't ask me why), driving and cross-trainers in the car, and some at home. It is not a lot, but i treat them with predilection, you can almost see me whisper "My precioussss...."
I guess as a woman matures and tries to explore her personality and along with it her sexuality, shoes become a form of self-expression. I feel pretty today, I'm a strappy sandal. My hair is a mess, my cold's making me teary-eyed, how about a pointy heel that will scare bad vibes away? Casual is never just casual anymore as one has to look carefully put without looking overly made up.
If they say you can tell a man by their watch and shoes, you can most certainly tell a woman's personality by the shoes she wears.

Latebloomers

Consuelo has just finished a creative writing course, and is starting on her French language course soon. I'm not quite sure if she has completed a dancing class, after the make-up (serious!) classs she took in Singapore. I enjoyed the poem she wrote which Tweetums published in PhilStar. Totally surprising for an IT project manager.
I bumped into Ime at the derma last Saturday. We were supposed to see each other for a nightcap, but I had an invite to a karaoke at the Red Box in Greenbelt. These days Ime is busy with work that is quite fulfilling her. I hope she gets that black belt (go girlfriend, make Yoy proud!).
These are my girlfriends. We belong to the same club of free spirits. Once a month (we hope!) we get together to enjoy a massage, a parlor day, a good dinner or coffee. Gee, we should do more stuff girls. The most enjoyable ones were overnight sessions at Ime's place. Once, I brought a massage therapist along, and they were laughing at me. But guess what? We finished at 2 AM and both of them wanted to get my therapist to do them on weekends! Too bad Glenda is now into selling DVDs. I miss those days =(.
Another time was when we decided that a night out to be seen is best, and boy did we see a lot of people. Greenbelt 3 is the place, and we saw friends from Fujitsu, from college (who made first eye contact with Bernard???!), from Singapore and some other people it was unbelievable. That was the night that we saw John who took this picture of us. John died almost a year after from liver cirrhosis. We didn't know he was sick, and apparently he didn't know it either, til his last days. John was one of our favorite guys in FCCP. Too soon, he went too soon.
Once we went to a BMW event and got drunk with wine and laughter. Robert spoils us. Most often though, it is the dinner which highlights our gatherings. We hope though that Roblao, Charmz, Maan,Grace,Yoy and Sony could join us more often. Do I have news to share? Need a lift, Ime? Or is it time for a haircut again Cie? It's that time of the month, you know!

O Hisashi Buri Desu Ne!

My fondest days are my Japan days. I just love this country and its people. Some became my friends for life. There is Kenji, a colleague who also became my guide to Tokyo, the Kishida family from Nagano who knocked on our apatoo door by mistake, but ended up inviting us (Cielo and I) for tea. There is Kaoru who showed me what a wonderful life it is to have dogs as part of the family.
One who stoods out though, is not even a Japanese, but a French native who holds an Australian passport but has lived for more than 15 years in Japan. He has a perpetually curious mind that can be infectious. Alas, you'd wish it stays with you, but that trait has been developed his entire life. I asked him ," What happened? Why are you here in Japan? And what is that bit about Australia, and your country, why leave it?" I must admit it was a question posed by a young person, a bit tactless but nonetheless appreciated for its sincerity.
He was amused, and told me how at 16, he packed his bags from France, circled the world and ended up in Australia. I asked more questions. " At 16, I have been taking care of my sick mother and brother, one after the other. After my mother died, and my brother got settled someplace, I was so exhausted at such a young age, I decided to find my own space. I packed my bag, and with a little money, went around the world. I have even been to the Philippines, in places you've probably never been to (he was right at that time). Anyway, I ended up in Australia and started teaching there. That is also where I earned my doctorate degree. I got invited to teach in Japan and decided to stay. And here I am."
"Why Japan?" ,
" It is convenient; the country has four seasons. It is beautiful here, people are kind, and especially kind to old people." Over sashimi, coffee, tea, Half and Half beers, I heard stories of old Europe, where engineers do not get paid in old Croatia for months so they had to work elsewhere, of crazy "road trips" ending up in Switzerland, of Yakuza men, Filipinas in Tokyo, and how hard it is for gaijins to own a restaurant in Tokyo.
I remember how he came to my rescue on one sad day. He has touched my heart, and rekindled my spirit. I stood, like many heroines in a movie (Before Sunrise? Lost in Translation?) at the train station with him holding my hand telling me it is going to be all right. Before we went our separate ways, he kissed my hand.
I left Tokyo shortly after that.

Photo taken by Christian Cheneux.

Miguel

His high-pitch scream was heard throughout the house when I arrived. I called him out and that was his response. He was running towards me and calls me by my name, Armi (silent r). There are no words to decribe the joy I feel. All stress and worries are gone as I ask him to give me a kiss and a tight embrace. Doe-eyed and anxious, he could hardly wait for me to open my bag and give out my pasalubong. I have none, so instead I ask him, "Sinong may gusto ng ice cream, taas ang kamay!" His 2 hands shoot up and he almost jumps with joy. More laughter follows from his lolo and lola whose grin we laugh about, as mama has one more week before her new set of teeth is ready.
I remember how my sister told me she was pregnant. Recently married, and her husband off to the middle east, she took a pregnancy test and came out of the restroom to look for me. She told me,"I'm pregnant." Tears followed. I asked her why she's crying, to which she said, "Ang bilis. Akala ko after one year pa.." "I thought you were crying with joy," I chided as tears were already forming in my eyes as well (if you know me, you can almost tell that will happen). "Kasama na yun..," she said. From that day on, gone were the days when we'd poke each other on the bed until I fall off (I always fall off), nor the days when she'd pull the blanket from me and kick me (I'd kick her too, of course!). Memories flashed as I remember the days we'd fight and my mother would intervene. I'm still guilty of the peklat I gave her on the face because of sabunutan incidents when we were young. Those days were followed with love. Nothing but love. She is after all, my only sister, and her kids are going to be fabulous.
She gave birth on the dot, after only an hour and a half of labor time, and her son looked exactly like the close up shot taken by her ob-gyne on her 6th month. Round-eyed, big-nosed and healthy. I remember I worried about them staying with us and how that is going to interrupt my sleep (how selfish!), and boy was I wrong. Miguel interrupted my every waking hour. He changed his grandparent's lives too. Miguel is the first grandchild from both sides, and we'd borrow him a lot. Papa is his number one fan, though. And he loves his lolo as well. He'd change his nappies, feed him at 2 AM, cook for him, jog with him, put him to sleep, insert his Barney CD even if there's OTB on channel 71. After all, he'd ask his lolo repeatedly," Asan Barney, Lolo?"
I gave my Purefoods-signed basketball to him as a present, and boy, how he loved the sound of that. Ball is among his first words, I think. He thought everything round is a ball, and would drop it and assume it'd bounce. Calamansi, orange, Chinese therapeutic massagers, eggs. He loved the sound of the bounce, and is drawn to basketball courts. When asked where his baby sister Ysa is, though,he'd say,"office". That's where his mommy (mayee to him) is, so he just repeats what he hears. Ysa is a beautiful baby girl, already wanting to go out at 8 months, wanting to do everything in advance. She has huge eyes that are so pretty you'd cry. I know she'd make men cry one day. Haha, especially her father's.
How time flies. One of these days I will have children of my own, and I hope to give them as much love as I can. And of course, they will be fabulous too!

Hydrangeas

They start blooming early June, but they come in full bloom in the months of July and August, summer months in Kamakura, Japan. An hour and a half from Tokyo, it is a world away, more reflective of the old Japan in the Edo period than the bustling city that Tokyo is. For one, there are no young people on the streets of Hase, there are more oji-saan and obaa-san than the high school students in short skirts.
There are busloads of tourists this first Saturday ofJune, a perfect weather for walking and sightseeing. It was sunny, but spring is still in the air, bringing soft gusts of wind, not too cold, and not hot. One can walk for hours without perspiring, and still enjoy what the local community has to offer- special rice crispies cooked before your eyes, wasabe ice cream. A good lunch would be the traditional rice bento or soba or udon set (buckwheat noodles).




Hydrangea is a flowering bush, native to Asia, and they come in pink, blue or white. What makes Hase special is they have this garden tendered for over hundreds of years and maintained up to now, so one can enjoy the clusters of flowers in different colors. One follows a path,a walkway that traces one group of hydrangeas from another, and to the top - a buddha temple, a view of the sea and neighboring town, a museum, and a restaurant overlooking the sights. Don't miss Kamakura on your visit to Japan.

With the Hunks

What's wrong with this picture? Azure skies, calm seas, perfect moment. But wait, to me the perfect beach moment would be if I could have that shot in a 2-piece swimsuit. Just one shot. Ok, maybe if I had the body, one shot would not be enough. Clearly, if I had the body, I wouldn't mind posing with Diet and worrying if my arms are indeed bigger than his.
Alas, after diet pills, Oprah's Make that Connection book, and at least 2 gymn memberships (I always commit to the gym but never last for more than one month), I am almost resigned to the idea that I'll never wear that maillot swimsuit, or again wear dresses. The operative word there is almost. According to gurus, the only real way to lose weight is to exercise and eat a balanced diet. The only problem with diet is that as one gets older, the metabolism slows down, and you can't eat as much as you used to, otherwise, food all go to their favorite places- love handles and all. So, the secret must be in the exercise. I have a problem with exercise, I can't do it without a gym buddy. It's late if after work, and too early if in the morning. These are my current excuses, but I know I have to face that if I really want to lose weight. Without doing anything at the age of 26, I can still lose weight. Without doing anything at 30, I gain weight. Heck, I gain weight just thinking of food. Half a cup of rice, and fish and vegetables for lunch, and I gain weight. I know i also have to give up chocolates, at least lower the intake (now it's only when my cravings come, right before menstruation), but boy, what a discipline this is going to require. I've never had any problem being on time since elementary, being disciplined by the nuns in high school (daily and every weekend choir practice), studying at Eng'g throughout college, working my ass off at work, but still, my boyfriend thinks I'm lazy. I lay like a vegetable at home on weekends. I feel more relaxed at home on weekends, play with the kids, watch DVD, sleep, have the afternoons and night for socializing. I lack exercise. Maybe I should get a dog. (I should be taking care of Louie's beagle if only we had a space for Cranberry's cage..) I'm thinking of enrolling for a badminton class. That is going to be my birthday action plan-take up sports. And believe me, it 's going to take a lot of work. Will keep you posted. But if anybody asks what my wish is (it's to go to Singapore), but that's another blog..

My New York Moment

I've never been to New York but after watching Sex in the City seasons 1-6, I can cite several reasons why they say it's a city like no other. Aside from the numerous museums, shops, restaurants and other places of interests that NY has, going to Central Park can be so...fashionable. Donning a summer dress (Miranda), or shorts with belt bag and a coral blue spaghetti top (Carrie) while drinking lemonade and talking about men, Central Park is as much a place to be seen as a New York way of life.
I found myself in my New York park moment, the closest Manila can have, last year. It's a small but well-kept park-Jaime Velasquez Park, I believe, is its official name, located along Alfaro corner Leviste Street in Salcedo Village, Makati. It's in front of Starbucks along Alfaro, and on its three sides are residential condos and business centers. It is near at least two call centers and three 7-Elevens. I was there one Saturday evening last year with my guy sorting out relationship issues. We took our coffee and tea from Starbucks, plopped along one of the washout-finished benches and watched the people pass by. There were Japanese women strolling with their babies, women in shorts jogging, old couples walking , yayas with their wards, and couples like us talking or just spending their Saturdays off not at the mall. It was a serious talk- I was asking for a reconciliation, but note how I seemed to remember the scenes.
I also remember that the park was well-lit, there was no need for a security guard as the park emits a sense of nature, harmony and serenity. Hedgerows are well-kept, no thrash or garbage littered on the walkways. I was on an agenda that night, but I kept a mental note of another agenda: to visit the park at daytime, and taste their famous bar-b-que.
After Friday gimmicks in Makati, my friends Cielo, Ime and I would return to Alfaro Place at around 2 AM, chat, sleep then wake up at 9 AM,shower and head our separate ways. Cielo is off to her Docent Class at the Ayala Museum, Ime to her Industrial Psychology teaching class at UST, and I to my wonderful bed/derma/whatever is scheduled that day. But before we go, we cross the street to the park. On my first visit to the park where the parking area is converted to a Saturday flea market, I was overwhelmed by the sight. A mixture of traditional Filipino food sold in several stalls is its main offer. Kesong puti, Cebu lechon, Aling Nene's bar-b-q, fresh Chinese lumpia, puto, suman, kutsinta, organic vegetables and fruits, grilled seafoods, bacon pao, bonsai, native hats and bags, hot choco, flavored teas and coffee, fresh fruit shakes, pastries, pasta, you name it, they have it. A cacophony of sounds on a Saturday morning combined with a leisure walk, taking in the surroundings is not a sensory overload but is rather a delightful experience. There are no offensive smells or loud heckling. The stall owners encourage you to taste their products.
What You'll Hear:"This suman is made from herbs in Dumaguete. It's naturally sweet, taste it."
What You'll Sometimes Hear: " I want mine vegetarian lumpia. No sugar!!!! More vegetables!!!!"
POP on the product: Aklan-made, Guimaras mangoes, gourmet coffee
The Crowd: Armida Sigueon-Reyna shopping alone, that exercise lady (not Tina Juan) in full aerobics attire, Caucasian and Japanese couples, Makati's old rich couples, Chrissy of Nestle, a Caucasian woman carrying a bayong-ful of goodies, Preview's Pauline Juan with kid and yaya in tow (she was uber fashionable in green short shorts and a printed blouse, sans makeup), Celine Lopez in short shorts, a bright yellow top (sleeveless of course), and a scarf on her head, and with a guy (of course).
On my first visit, I've rounded the small parking lot twice and noted that in 2 hours, 7 whole Cebu lechons were sold at P300/kilo. Talk about a fast-moving item! My last visit was during the previous weekend. By 11:30, after rounding up the usuals, I'm in my car, driving to my Fashion Beat CD, munching on my bacon pao and glancing lovingly at my fresh Chinese lumpia, which I'm saving for lunch.

Tiger Airways

My birthday wish came true, all thanks to Tiger Airways. Flying to Singapore via Diosdado Macapagal Airport in Clark, the fare is absolutely, almost ridiculously cheap and people always ask,"What's the catch?".
A 2-way ticket to SG cost me SG$154.96 (that's only P5.5K). That's during their August promo rate, and booking is made through the internet. All you have to know is your passport number and a credit card number, and that's it. However, one needs to know some minor logistics.
1. How to get to Clark if you're not driving there: Philtranco has a booth outside Megamall A which is unmanned but has the daily pick-up schedule. I checked my schedule a day before my flight. My plane leaves at 7:35PM and the Philtranco has 3 schedules for a Tuesday flight, the last one leaves Pasay terminal at 3PM and is at Megamall by 3:30 PM. This is just in front of Megamall, along the side of the parking beside Podium. By 3:30 PM a queue has formed. I guess was asking too much when I hoped the bus would be there by 3:30 PM. It arrived 4PM.
2. Reservation of bus tickets: No need. Just be at Megamall, and you can pay inside the bus. There are no helpers inside the bus, you lift your own suitcase and the driver hauls it up. Then you take your seat, which brings me to the next point..
3. Don't bring a lot of baggage if you're travelling alone. The maximum load per person is at 15kg. There's not a lot of lugging around with your suitcase, though. The Clark airport terminal is actually very small, typical of a provincial terminal.
4. Bring at least P2200: 300 for the Philtranco bus ride (one way), P350 for the terminal fee and P1620 for the travel tax.
5. Megamall to Clark: It is just a 1.5 hour ride and you have more than an hour before boarding the plane. That is more than enough time, actually. (I had time to read my 110 unread email messages and respond to some, and text messages were sent).
6. The plane: It's an airbus 320, similar to PAL's domestic plane going to Aklan. 5 seats per row. It's your usual commercial plane except for the following:
a. Seats are smaller
b. No pillow, headset, barf bag, in-flight magazine, newspaper, welcome drink or food, no kumot, no TV or radio
c. Light meals are offerred on board like chicken sandwiches (SG$5-7), instant noodles ($2), wine, orange juice ($5), Coke or 7-Up, Toblerone ($2) etc. They also offer Duty Free items like wine, perfume, liquor, jewelries, the usual stuff.
7. Food: Food is not allowed on the plane. It used to be allowed but Pinoys bring Chickenjoy, well...that was the end of it. There is a small cafeteria inside the Clark terminal and they sell Coke products, mineral water, sandwiches and around 4 SKUs of URC chips.
8. The flight: I don't know if it was the guy beside me, the vegetarian Napster on my left, or the fire-resistant kumot I miss but it wasn't as comfortable as my PAL economy flights. The weather was really awful too so we all felt the turbulence. At one point my left temple was cringing in pain, it was the pressure. However, that was not as bad as the 22-seater, turbo-propelled plane I took on my way to Palawan. But that one wasn't bad either- I counted 39 islands and a rainbow (but again, that's another blog).
So, as for my rating, on a scale of 1-5, I'd like to quote Lester-"8 stars", because a personal greeting is always better for that someone special, even if that someone special was late in picking me up. Thanks Tiger Airways, for making travel junkies like me afford a trip to another foreign land. My goal is only to reach one new place each year, thanks to you, I'll be able to visit Malaysia next time.

STUDIO 34

I am obsessed about the tiny space that is going to be mine in a few months’ time. It’s a 34 sq meter loft studio which made me bankrupt for the past 3 years. I decided to put my money here instead of putting all of it on suits, shoes, bags, pretty blouses and more of those (I shop in cycles). Books and magazines are essentials. DVDs and CDs I indulge in when I have extra money. I pay a lot more for derma than for make-up. Spa is a luxury, massage I need. I stopped being the gadget girl years ago when I went back to Manila and sold my Fuji Finepix, webcam and headsets just before MP3s came along in 2000. Before I reveal too much of my pathways to self-fulfillment (that’s not all I spend my salary on- I support a lot of err….causes), let me get back to my studio 34.
You’d either hate it or love it. I can’t decide yet. I said I want a home with a view of the expansive sky. Alas, this comes at a price I can’t afford. It’s either a rat’s cage or a singles pad-my license to an independent life. That’s the way I see it, and more often than not, it’s the former, rather than the latter. Why live alone when at home there’s always a good meal waiting, freshly made bed and ironed clothes? I wrack my brain on how to furnish the unit to make it liveable. For my future interior designer, I am putting together a list of things that may or may not be mandatory requirements for my condo unit (or rat’s cage, I still can’t decide).
1.Layout, lighting, color, tonality and style- As we are constrained with a 22 sq. meter living and dining area and a 12 sq.meter bedroom loft, space is an issue, so we want to create the illusion of space.
a.Personally, there is nothing more relaxing than the soft muted tones of beige, brown, tan, soft lights and an aromatherapy scent to greet one after a hard day’s work. I want the room to be relaxing, more than anything.
b.If I can have all these and yet achieve a spacious feel to the unit, I’d be happy, but I’m willing to negotiate->A spot to read a good book, a small table to have coffee on a Sunday morning while reading the paper, and oh yes, a couch to rest my tired feet on.
c.I want the room to have as much of the sun as it can, to make it airy, clean and light as much as it is relaxing.
d.Japinoy is actually the style I’d like to keep. I lived in Japan for over a year and I loved their craftsmanship, clean, simple lines in furniture, and I know this can be mixed with our own Filipino designs.
e.I love wood. But I know wood is difficult to maintain, and I don’t know a lot about wood. I do know there are lots of different wood finishing that can be mixed and matched, sand-washed or polished. I want wood finishing or wood interspersed inside the unit.

2.Furniture & Fixture- I have listed some of the units I currently have or thinking of buying for the unit.

This is the 39 sq m unit, which is the only unit that can hold a sofa set.My unit can only hold either one of the following- a foyer receiving table, bookshelf (think of Carrie Bradshaw’s, only a third of that one though) or a customized built-in L-shaped couch.
a.Bookshelf- think of the foyer displayed at the Ayala studio unit at Greenbelt. I am thinking of doing without a couch or sofa and just have the bookshelf upon entering the door. This way I have all my books, CDs, DVDs, Bulol pieces, Baguio knick knacks and Japanese pottery organized.
b.Bed made of kamagong or molave. Teak if I can afford it but it would cost me 2 months salary. Note: The loft bedroom is open- haven’t decided whether to keep it open or use wooden sliding panels (ok, will keep it open initially because of budget constraints)
c. Sidetable on both sides complete with bedside hanging or mounted reading lamps. Maybe our Lonely Planet cabinet can be the bedside table. Only this came with a bamboo “carpet” shipped from Boracay.
d. A couch that can sit two people or at least enough for me to lie on and put my feet up while reading. If not a couch, a fabulous chair (Budji Layug if I can afford it, but it may cost more than my bed)
e. Would native blinds be right for the unit?
f. A small table which can be the buffet table on sleepover nights, but is mainly a dining table for two (made of wood of course)
g. Lamp- I have a Noguchi Japanese paper Akari. This may be used somewhere in the house or a lamp designed locally by an artist/ design house

3.Electronics:
a.This poses a problem, as there is not much space. I do not watch a lot of TV, but I watch movies on my DVD.
b.I’ve decided that I don’t want TV in the bedroom. But if space is the issue, I may be willing to have the TV set in the bedroom. Or decide not have the TV at all.
I do not own a painting yet, maybe for the meantime photographs will do. Whew, this is too much work, just thinking about it. I need a professional. If you know of a good interior designer who is willing to work with my rat’s cage and constraints mentioned above, please get in touch with me.

Close Encounter

My appointment with the famed geomancer is at 2:30 PM. I waited for an hour after a Chinese couple sporting a BMW consulted about their business and properties. I was there curious, not knowing what to expect or to ask. I did have a few questions, but I was not expecting my fortune to be told or my past to haunt me.

Located in Brgy.Pio del Pilar in Makati, there are no tell-tale signs of geomancy as I rang the doorbell outside his house. If a Mini-Cooper and a Volvo outside the door are the fruits of being a master of Chinese esoteric sciences studies, it sounds like a rewarding practice. The wife greets me as I walk in on my friends (we scheduled a 30-minute session each with the professor). I looked around the first floor of the house which was converted into an office. Awards and business registrations are on the walls, and shelves of books line the other half of the room. Bulol artworks stand beside Chinese pieces, as books on dogs are in the same shelf as Chinese reference materials. The numerous articles and photos regarding the professor’s works are showcased on the shelves as well. The room is airy, full of light and clean, in spite of the 2 dogs (a Chihuahua and a shihtzu) running around the room.

The professor started with a lecture on what Feng Shui is. How we, humans, are like cars on the road of life. Some are brand new, some are second hand, but how it performs depends on how we take care of “it”. The car is only good if parts are complete, and if not properly maintained, it will not last. Some are born rich (i.e. brand new), some are so-so. The time, date and place of birth differentiates one person from the other. With such information, one’s destiny is read, and guidelines are given. Hmn. Can’t say I believe all this, but here is what the professor had to say about me.
He starts reading my numbers with his eyeglasses, brings out his magnifying lens and proceeds to discuss what the charts say.

Year: Wooden Tiger (wood) Day: Earth House (Fire) Month: Metal Goat (earth) Time: Metal monkey (metal)

All in all, 2 wood elements, 1 fire, 2 earth, 3 metals. No water element.

“You are very intelligent. Not just intelligent, but very intelligent. You are frank, may sumpong, kasi wala water eh. Hot- gusto mo tapos agad maski ano bagay gawa, impatient, and you are trustworthy. Pwede paka-tiwala.. You like to read, maaral ka, creative. With lucky “survivor” star! Kung ikaw sundalo, di ka mapapatay sa laban. Sa eroplano, barko, wala problema. Pero may kapalit yon. Ang kahoy pano mabubuhay kung wala tubig? Natutuyo. No roots, no foundation. Pwede magsuffer lovelife. Dali hiwalay sa asawa kundi ka ingat o alaga. Ang nunal sa ilalim ng mata mo, sign na pwede mauna magreport agad asawa mo (turo sa taas). Asawa mo dapat may water sign para hindi ganun mangyari.. ”

” Ang birthday po ng boyfriend ko--“ (Actually my questions are centered on whether toot toot and I are compatible, I’ve read about wooden tigers and these are typical descriptions of us. I was surprised about the widow thing because of the mole, well, not really. Old people say don’t let tears run on this side of the face or I’ll lose a husband. Then my train of thought led to Dr. Melvin, my derma, who has been bugging me about removing this mole. I wonder, would the charts be different if I showed up with no mole and a microdermabrassioned face?)

“Teka, ” he interjects like I’m ruining his concentration. “PRAYER WILL ENHANCE MORE POWER. You pray every morning…“ I watch him as he writes the word PRAYER in another sheet, cuts it, puts paste at the back of the sheet and pastes this tiny piece of paper on my information sheet, where he has been writing. Apparently, he misspelled it the first time. The professor is very OC on this, as he also underlines and highlights words for emphasis, using blue for normal writing and red to mark a point.

“O, your kidneys and ovaries are weak. Water therapy is needed. You drink three glasses of water every morning pagkagising. You do this para yung energy na nawala sa pagtulog, inum tubig, bago na naman. Hindi pwede after toothbrush, wala na effect yon,” and he proceeds to show me how big a gulp I should take with a glass of water beside him. “ Your father, parati hindi ninyo kasama ano? Parati umaalis?”You were born past three, that means you have 1 or 2 brothers, tama? “ That I did not expect. He was right. On both counts.

“ O, you are wearing white, your lucky color is red or bright. Mga red o pink, ganun.
Pwede ka suot Hawaiian prints gaya Mayor Atienza. Wag suot solid white o blue o black. Pwede combine white-blue, ganon..” (Nooooo-I don’t like prints. I love my blacks, whites, and plains. ) “You are wearing a ruby ring, that is good, that is your lucky stone. If you will buy a car, you choose plate with numbers 1,2,3,4, 9 or 0. “

He then asks for toot toot’s birthdate, time and proceeds to count- earth, metal, 3 water elements. He seemed relieved that he had an abundance of water elements. He writes , “ Lack of patience. Be careful in selecting friends.” He looks up from his magnifying lens and tells me,” Wala problema. Ma-kaka-tuluyan kayo. This year o next year pakasal na kayo. Eto, magagandang dates. June next year! Gusto mo ba Saturday o Sunday?.. “ He then takes a yellow pad from his mount of papers beside the desk. The pad is lined, with columns of numbers, again in red and blue ink. With his magnifying lens, he leafs through the pages, muttering to himself, “Yes…no, di pwede.” He turns from one page to the other, going back and forth before telling me the dates he thinks I should get married.

“ May 13 or 28, but do not enter the church between 3-5PM. June 18 ok din..June 25 all day except 5-7 AM..ok lang wala kasal ganun oras…December 3 (except 3-5PM), Dec 23 (except 7-9)..” (How can I think of dates? Am I kidding myself? I don’t even know where I’ll spend my next Friday night.)

“Your destiny-- ”

Natigagal ako sa salitang yon. Hindi masyado ginagamit ang salitang iyon, ang destiny. Ano kaya ang sasabihin nya?

Well, that my friend, is something I’d like to keep for myself. Suffice to say that the good professor need not look on his magnifying lens to tell me that I will be fine, wala problema.

Mga Babae sa Lansangan (at iba pang kwento sa pagmamaneho)

Noong unang dumating ang sasakyan ko, hindi pa ako marunong magmaneho. Hinatid ng Honda Cars Alabang ang Honda City ko sa Ortigas na may odometer reading ng 000075. Ang unang nakamaneho ng kotse ko ay si Eric. Pagkahatid ng Honda, diniretso namin ng Libis kasama si Czar. Nag-Jollibee drive-thru ata kami at bumalik din kaagad sa office.

Kinagabihan, dahil hindi pa ako marunong magmaneho, si Louie ang pinagdrive ko ng kotse. Nagsimula ako mag-aral magmaneho noong linggo ding iyon. Nagbayad ako ng kulang-kulang sampung libo.

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Naiyak ako noong una kong nagasgasan ang sasakyan. Nagpa-parallel park ako noon sa masikip na kalye ng Sampaloc. Mabigat ang paa sa clutch at gas, amoy-usok at gasolina na sa kalye, hindi ko pa rin naipaparada nang maayos, hanggang tumama na ang kotse sa gilid ng lansangan . Maraming beses pa iyong nagasgasan dahil may nagsabi sa akin, ”Huwag mo munang ipagawa hanggat hindi ka natututong magmaneho.”
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Isang araw habang hindi na namamawis ang kamay ko at ang tuhod ko’y kaunti na lang ang panlalambot at wala na rin akong driver/instructor kasabay papasok sa opisina, naglakas ako ng loob na iparada ang sasakyan sa 45-degree inclined parking lot ng aming gusali. Naibaba ko nang maayos. Ang problema, nang ipinarada ko katabi ang bagung-bagong HRV ng expat kong boss, tinamaan ang pintura. Mag ga-pisong parte ng sasakyan nya ang walang shit-orange na pintura.
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Isang gabing medyo maulan, papaliko ako ng Greenhills, papuntang Wilson nang may pumina sa akin na isang Isuzu Elf truck. Nakita kong masyado syang malapit habang hinihintay naming mag-green ang traffic lights. Nung mag-go na, may naring akong crack na tunog. Ngunit dahil medyo traffic sa lugar na iyon, normal lang akong nagmamaneho hanggang sinabi ng isip ko,” Nabanggga ka!”. Pareho naming binabaybay ang Cardinal Santos Hospital, sinabayan ko ang bilis ng takbo ng Isuzu, binuksan ang bintana at sabay sigaw,” Nabangga mo ba ako?” Sumagot naman ang drayber kasama ang pahinante nya ng ,” Hinde”. Pag-uwi ko, may malaking crack ang front headlights.
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Rush hour. Traffic na naman. Galing akong Honda, o kung saan man mula sa Ortigas at binabaybay ko ang Shaw Blvd. Sa harap ng Lourdes Hospital may isang truck na may kargang mga steel at nagmamaniobra. May isang lalakeng sumesenyas na huwag tumuloy upang makadaan sila. Dumire-diretso ako habang kausap ko ang katabi ko sa sasakyan. Hindi ko namalayan na hindi pala ako dapat dumiretso, naisip ko na lang yun nang makarinig ako ng mura paglampas ko. Mayamaya, naramdaman ko na lang na mayroong humahagibis na sasakyan at ilang saglit pa’y katabi ko na. Nang masipatan ako, ang sabi ng pahinante sa driver, ” Pare, babae pala.” At hinayaan na nila akong mauna. Nagkunwari akong walang narinig...
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Text: Armi, alam mo ba ang route from Makati-Mandaluyong bridge papuntang Shaw?
Armi: Oo
Text: Marami bang hanging na daan doon?
Armi: Hmn...meron pero hindi naman ganoon kadami..
Text: Ahhh..di bale na, maaga naman ako aalis para wala pang masyadong sasakyan...
Armi: Hehehe
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Company driver to Armi: O, anong gagawin mo kapag naflat- tire ka?
Armi: Ahm, papalitan ko ng spare tire?
Company driver: Marunong ka bang magpalit?
Armi: Hinde nga eh..(sabay ngiti)
Company driver: Ano ang dapat mong gawin kung hindi ka marunong magpalit ng flat tire pero naflat-an ka?
Armi: Tawagan si Manuel?
Company driver: Tumawag ka ng taxi. Yung taxi driver ang magpapalit ng spare tire mo. Bayaran mo na lang ng mga 150, ayos na yon.
Armi: Oo nga no? Ang galing mo.
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Monday:
A: Asan ang kotse mo ngayon?
I: Ay coding ako eh. Nagpahatid ako kay Arnel.
Tuesday:
A: Coding ako, pano tayo magkikita? Pwede mo ba ako sunduin?
I: Hindi ko dala kotse ko eh, hiniram ng kapatid ko.
Wednesday:
A: Uy, asan kotse mo ngayon? Pasakayin mo naman ako, hindi pa ko nakakasakay na ikaw nagda-drive?
I: Nakay Arnel ang kotse ko e. Kasi coding sya ngayon. Hinatid nya ako tapos bukas susunduin nya naman ako.
Thursday:
A: Asan ba ang kotse mo?
I: Nasa baba nasa parking, susunduin ako ni Ate Monique ngayon eh.
Friday (at 2 years after na tinigilan na naming magtanong):
I: What do you think Armi, ibenta ko na lang kaya ang sasakyan ko no?
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Si April ay girlfriend ni Chichi. Si Cha ay girlfriend ni Buboy. Magkapatid si Buboy at Chichi. Isang hapon habang pareho silang nasa mansion nila Buboy sa King’s point at ang magkapatid ay nagba-basketball, nagpaturo si April magdrive kay Cha. Ayun, at ang dalawa ay nasa malawak na kalye nagpa-praktis magmaneho nang biglang may narinig na malakas na sigaw. Bumangga sa poste ang sasakyan.
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Si Dinah ay Toyota Revo ang minamaneho. Dahil marami kami, napagkasunduan na sa kanya sasakay papunta sa Cafe Ysabel. Si Dinah ay division manager na, at ilang taon na ring nagmamaneho pero parang kinakabahan. Kasama kasi namin si Sam, at umupo ito sa harap. Nakapwesto na kami, pero meron pang mga hindi nakasakay at iniurong nya ang Revo upang ang iba ay makasakay sa likuran. Nakataas ang pinto sa likod at pasakay na si Cathe pero pinaaandar na ni Dinah ang Revo. Sabay-sabay kaming nagsigawan, at nagtawanan. Sabi ni Sam,” It’s just me.Don’t be nervous!” Pero parang kabayo na umaangal ang andar ng sasakyan (nasa parking lot pa lang kami). Buti na lang si Cathe na ang nag-volunteer magmaneho, parang taxi driver kung magmaneho ang babaeng ito eh. Nagtatawag pa nga ng pasahero sa Edsa, animoy collorum ang sasakyan. Hindi naman nagtataka ang ibang mga pasahero na babae ang nagtatawag. May mga sasakay nga pagsabi nyang,” Cubao! Cubao! Anim pa ang kasya”
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Si Jane ay 4’11” na Pilipina na nag-asawa ng 6’5” na Amerikano. Noong tinuturuan sya ng asawa nyang mag-drive sa kalye sa Amerika, may mga kalye doon na walang traffic lights pero may STOP sign, kagaya sa Subic. Dahil wala namang ganoong mga sign sa Manila o sa San Pedro, Laguna, tinanong ni Jane ang asawa, ” Honey, what does that sign mean?” Inexplain ni Jim na kailangang huminto for road safety, kahit na walang pulis o traffic lights sa paligid. Follow up question ni Jane, “ Hmn..is that optional?” Parang Starbucks, pwedeng with hazelnut ang café mocha. Hahaha.
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