God Sent

Martina Mcbride - In my Daughter's Eyes In my daughter's eyes I am a hero I am strong and wise and I know no fear But the truth is plain to see She was sent to rescue me I see who I wanna be In my daughter's eyes In my daughter's eyes everyone is equal Darkness turns to light and the world is at peace This miracle God gave to me gives me strength when I am weak I find reason to believe In my daughter's eyes And when she wraps her hand around my finger Oh it puts a smile in my heart Everything becomes a little clearer I realize what life is all about It's hangin' on when your heart has had enough It's giving more when you feel like giving up I've seen the light It's in my daughter's eyes In my daughter's eyes I can see the future A reflection of who I am and what will be Though she'll grow and someday leave Maybe raise a family When I'm gone I hope you see how happy she made me For I'll be there In my daughter's eyes Credit: Smilebox

Barrio Life

Photo credit: Google Images

Going to my hometown wasn't initially included in my plans.
Last Sunday my husband called me saying that he found an affordable ticket to Manila via a budget carrier. I wasn't sure of going home without him and I don't think my money will warrant to as well so I told him to hold it first until I haven't finalized my decisions yet.
 
At exactly midnight, we noticed the increasing airfare costs so I finally told him to book for the cheapest go-light flight. I just prepared few clothes with me and enough money to sustain my 7days of freedom.

1100 Hours of January 24 when we reached the Ninoy International  airport. The entire flight was okay but we experienced occasional air pocket episodes which gave me a hard time completing my embarkation card. Anyway, I always have my Lord of Pardon prayer booklet so I know I am safe all the time.

Still got enough time for hair spa so I immediately went to the nearest salon to have my hair done before I catch the 6PM bus departure at Jac Liner. I also had a great time strolling at SM mall. I browsed the shops and I found an 80% off signage. I quickly went inside the shop and saw a nice, simple Chinese inspired top. I didn't buy it at first because it's not included in the list of my expenses so we just decided to have my favorite Pinoy pasta at our oriental quick-service restaurant - Jollibee. After a glorious pig out we went back to the boutique. I want it desperately so I ended up buying two items (imagine, two items for S$10!)...I like to pamper myself  once in a while.

0400 Hours when I reached the Cawit Port. I didn't call my father to fetch me as I don't want them to be disturbed so I just took a 5-minute tricycle ride from the port to our home. Wow! I'm home at last, my home sweet home! I can feel and smell the freshness of the morning dew, the gentleness of air whipping around my face,  just wonderful enough to have a 5-munite trip down to memory lane and recall the days of my childhood. Oh, how can I forget to thank God for this beautiful blessing we call life! Hay, ang sarap ng buhay at mabuhay!

"Flowers really do intoxicate me".

I opened the gate, excited to see everyone at home. I realized that our home has been empty for years without the five of us. I miss my siblings! I miss Richelle's sweet yells, I miss Ian's laugh, I miss Annelyn's kindness and most specially AC's 'kakulitan'. Lucky, I have my Dayne to equal them!

My mother prepared three Pinoy simple dishes for brekky. I ate them as though I didn't have a proper Filipino meal for the longest time. Our dinner was a fresh 'Lapu-lapu' bought by Papa at Gasan's wet market.

Fresh Lapu-lapu

The following day, I visited my in laws at Barangay Dawis. I felt so envious of their simple, not-so-basic way of living. My mother in law prepared fried fish paired with sauteed 'Talong' (Eggplant) and of course with Coke!
I bought 'Pinutukan' (a kind of bread) at a 'sari-sari' (miscellaneous) store nearby for my 'merienda' (snack time). It's  3x cheaper than the vending machine food supplies in SG.

I also visited Boac, our hometown's capital and the center of commerce. Had manicure and pedicure, a glorious merienda at Kusina sa Plaza and finally, I went for a walk.

Pinoy Pancit Bihon, taken at Kusina sa Plaza

Taken at Boac Chapel

Boac Cathedral's main entrance

 While walking along the streets of Boac, I noticed that there are tons of stagnant 'kababayans'. I don't know what to feel but definitely I envy them for living a life not beyond their means. I mean, kaya nilang pagkasyahin ang kanilang gastusin. Masaya silang mga tao. Para bagang di kumplikado ang kanilang mga buhay na kayang pang ngumiti sa kabila ng hirap nito - buhay na nakakaraos din.

 There are no seven wonders of the world in the eyes of a child. There are seven million.
-Walt S.-

 One of my favorite shots

Asian Food Like No Other.

Living overseas for about six years made me appreciate foreign dishes. At first, they may look and smell odd but they are not bad at all - in fact some of them became my favorite.

An Arab food they call Kabsa - It's a chicken - rice combo with a blend of spices. I refused to try it at first because of its very strange and strong smell but a friend encouraged me to try it. Since then, every time a patient hand me a 'hadiya' (a monetary gift), I always make sure to buy it and share it among my housemates. It's so delicious specially with white onions, raw spinach and limes. And if you think we use plates, no we don't! We use a huge plastic provided by the caterer and dump everything onto it and voila, happy eating begins with only eight Riyals.

They say Shawarma is a little piece of heaven right here on earth, i wont contest that. It's true, specially the one from fast food restaurant chain at Mahmood Saeed. A one Riyal food will absolutely bring you a taste of heaven.

Never been so original Franks - Whenever we attend mass at the Holy Trinity Church at Tampines, we always drop by at a kiosk beside 7-11. It is called the Gogo Franks. We love the taste of their prata sausage roll - a cheesedog with mayonnaise, lettuce and chili sauce rolled inside a thin rounded bread. It's just heavenly. If you are going to visit SG for the first time, trying it is a must!

I'm a coffee lover and now a Teh Tarik too. It's a hot tea beverage commonly available at Kopitiam and food court.


Nasi Briyani - An Indian food but it could also be a Chinese dish and a Malay wedding traditional main dish as well. I do eat Mutton now! It may also be accompanied by vegetable pickles and fried lentil crackers. 

Briyani

Ayam Penyet - One of the best food I've tasted. An Indonesian food with chili padi and smashed fried chicken.

Ice Cendol - A 'halo-halo' counterpart with coconut juice. I love it most specially with Ayam Penyet.

And who would leave SG without tasting its famous national icon - the chicken rice? It's a glorious combination of roasted chicken, aromatic rice and other condiments. One of the places where you can find a delightful one is at Bedok hawker center at S$2.40.  

Chili Crab

Chili Crab is also worth trying.

If you are in a foreign land, Filipino food becomes too expensive and sometimes the only way to save is to embrace foreign dishes with an excellent Asian taste at very affordable prices.

A Kind of Magic

I made this blog to keep in touch with the wedding memories of our family and friends with the hope that the solid idea of their love to each other will last forever. Their wedding pictures and wedding video montages made me appreciate the magic of each relationship.

In 2001 my daughter started to participate as a flower girl in  my friend's wedding and subsequently followed by one after the other.

"Marriages are made in heaven and celebrated on earth"

A memorable and a classic wedding theme in the "city within walls"

Another simple but elegant wedding of a good friend and a former colleague at Veterans Memorial Medical Hospital

A no airy-fairy yet a dream come true wedding. The church and the reception were decorated with flowers in light blue tone.

A very intimate wedding celebrated among couple's close friends and family at Boac Cathedral.  

An appealing choice for a wedding event color palette. Held somewhere in Quezon Province.

An absolute blast to attend. An extravagant and a happy wedding. The wedding was filled with so many beautiful touches.

Grow old with me!  The best is yet to be.  -Robert Browning-

Just plain awesome! The reception was decorated with flowers in red and blue tones.

There is no such cozy combination as man and wife.  -Menander-

A simple yet a lovely wedding attended by the entire family and close friends. Save the date cards and wedding invites were like a coffee table book customized by the couple.

Marriage is not an easy road to walk. It is the most rewarding road however.  -Patrick Weldon-

A stunning shade of green wedding combined with fuchsia. The celebration was just as wonderful as the couple.

There are three things that last: faith, hope and love, and the greatest of these is love.
- I Corinthians 13:13 -

A colorful and fabulously styled wedding shared among family and friends. Gratitude to Cana Events staff who made an exceptional planning.

Beautiful and happy marriages start when we choose to marry the ones we truly love and they flourish when we love the ones we marry. 

 

I Love White

Aside from crafting, I'm also fond of collecting white tops! I find them cool and fashionable. For me, there is no immoral dress when it comes to white.

My husband frequently tells me that his clothes are like squatting in our closet. Well, there's a veracity to that. Inside our closet you will see my white tops secluded in white plastic bags (of course with holes to allow air access) and are arranged neatly and accordingly. I'm very meticulous when it comes to my white tops. Accuse me of being obsessive compulsive, i don't mind. 

Not only that, I also provided a separate hamper for those delicate ones. My husband knows that he cannot just dump them into the washing machine as the fabric might be distorted. I wash them gently with 'Perla', i don't use bleach not unless they are heavily stained. For scarves even white curtains, quilt covers and bed sheets never use starch, it's a sin! Using the latter will just weaken the fabric. It will just be a 'wear and tear thing'. ( FYI, Perla is a mild laundry detergent specially made for white clothes. Pinoys are quite familiar of this soap. For those who aren't, you can easily find it at any 'sari-sari' store.)

In addition, I always check my shirts for rips or loose threads. It is a routine for me to maintain them. My husband would sarcastically tease me whenever he sees me doing it -  "Ano, ina-dasalan mo na naman yan?"...i'll just shrug off or  abruptly change the subject. Napipikon kase ako.

Lastly, I always check the manufacturer's label (those that are purchased in 'tiangge' usually don't have it) for instructions specially in ironing.


I'm a simple person. I'm always comfortable on casual jeans - white tees combo.
I seldom purchase branded clothing. Honestly, I don't have the budget. Cheap but worth finds from 'tiangge' (flea market) will make me happy.  The most expensive items I have are from our local brands like Kamiseta, Bayo and Shapes.
One of my favorite 'tiangge' is located in Quezon City district. When on vacation, going there is a must.

My white tops are my investment. When going for an employment interviews, I always wear white. In December 2010 i was interviewed at the British Council for my IELTS and mashallah...the result was quite satisfactory! I just had to wear white!

Some of them in random

White projects purity, cleanliness, and neutrality. Doctors don white coats, brides traditionally wear white gowns, and a white picket fence surrounds a safe and happy home. -Credit: Sensational Color-

Taken at Changgi Airport. I got this from Bedok 'tiangge'.

 In the Bible, white represents the color of light and is an emblem of the divine.

-credit: Senasational Color-

New Year 2011 Power Countdown Party at Marina Barrage

A mother-daughter bonding
In Christianity, a white lily represents the Madonna.
- credit: Sensational Color -

Universal Studios in 2010

With Mama and Papa

With Tita Mila and Ate Nida

2009 Christmas - Taken at Constant Wind

A Christmas gift from my husband in 2009

With my childhood best friend Ma. Norren Saporna at Ricky's wedding in July 2008. She's like my sister. She can also be my driver, my nurse, my songbird and my protector. I'm grateful to have her.

  Shan's Christening

White encourages us to clear clutter or obstacles and it evokes purification of thoughts or actions -Credit: Sensational Color-

Taken at my parent's small, undeveloped beach in Bacong-bacong

During our participation in 2007 Gawad Kalinga Project

My friends in Jeddah - Rosanne and Marj

(With Marjorie Alvis-Pardo) When will i see her again?

(With Laila Mataac) I miss having 'slight tsismisan' with her!

Taken at Pasir Ris Park

Taken at Orchard's Ion. I waited for it to be on sale. Well, it took me a year!

Given by one of my college best friend, Rodella Dones-Diaz. Every time they go home from overseas, they make sure to buy us something. I miss them!

One of Kamisetas
“White covers a multitude of sins.” - Jonathan Milne

Taken at the Bird Park with Dayne

With Ivan Pineda at Marche

Bought at Hongkong's night market.

Taken at Ikea Tampines

Building 11 Faisaliyah Accommodation, Jeddah in Christmas 2005. While having our Chrissie Noche Buena with Marj and my sister Richelle

My sister, My best friend

 With Laila and Richelle

I bought this noodle strap for onlyThree Riyals at Balad Souk. The floral embroidery designs were done by me.
With cousin Kuya Dondon

At Singapore's Budget Terminal waiting to board for HK

At Bugis Junction, where you can find cheap clothes. With Dayne and my sister A.C.

One night at Clarke Quay with Irish and Lee Ann

I got the top from a college friend Anna Ahorro-Agile. Taken at the Botanical Garden

Singapore's SMRT Bus

With my sister Annelyn and Dayne

Elmer Yu's place with his wife Andrea, who inspired me to blog. I bet, you will love her blogs as much as I do!

Celebrating our 11th wedding anniversary at East Coast

With one of my college best friend, Bernadette Gulapa. Taken at Dad's Glorietta, one day before i was diagnosed of Dengue Fever last year

White ... is not a mere absence of colour; it is a shining and affirmative thing, as fierce as red, as definite as black....God paints in many colours; but He never paints so gorgeously, I had almost said so gaudily, as when He paints in white.  - Gilbert Keith Chesterton -

Run Forest Run! A memorable date with friends I love!(Dhel, Ria and Rey)
The first of all single colors is white ... We shall set down white for the representative of light, without which no color can be seen; yellow for the earth; green for water; blue for air; red for fire; and black for total darkness." -Leonardo Da Vinci-

A white and cream stripes from Perlys, my favorite 'tiangge'. With Jhing Jao

While lingering Hongkong streets

At Veterans Memorial Medical Chapel with Juts and Sis in law Kareen
I miss my Ward 10 barkada!

At Takashimaya, December 2008

Christmas 2010 with Dayne's favorite Tita Melissa. She loves her cooking!

With cousin Manoleth Semilla-Unico. Dayne and I are wearing my sister in law's 'pasalubong' from Abu Dhabi


When a fashion brand makes a piece in several colors, there are a handful of standards that tend to get made. These include neutrals like black, WHITE, and grey as well as classic colors like red and yellow. For 2011, however, a deep burgundy color is showing up among the standards. - credit: Sensational Color -