We'll always have BAGUIO..

BAGUIO has always been something 'sacred' for our family... (so I'm glad Stel came with us there last December..) Some people actually think we've got a house there coz we're there almost 2-3 times a year. Since the currency crisis, it's the only vacation place our family can go to together.. and still have all the rest, relaxation and EATING we want.. Luckily, Gin always manages to file a leave just at the right time.. So we go there altogether.. :)
So this trip was nothing different. We stayed a wee bit longer (3nights), and we spent most afternoons just sleeping and watching TV in our rooms -- coz it was raining so hard! The great thing is, we were able to eat at the Japanese resto twice, and we even had our fix of Mongolian the first night. The trip was almost complete.. if only the quality of the strawberries were better.. :(

Here are some highlights/pics from the trip :


**the family at Hamada.. siyempre I was the one taking the picture**


**here's all the food my sister treated us too.. yummy!!** i forgot to take a picture of the cheapest hamachi temaki in town.. argh :)


**Mama, Jumpy (isn't he all grown up?) and Papa**


**Me and my dear sister**


**Do they look like they have 2daughters who are a doctor and a CPA, both old enough to have their own kids?**


the siblings playing with the camera :)


the tanchi brothers..



..till the next trip for more sleeping, raisin bread, hamachi temaki, steak and puto bumbong!!

Retail Therapy

My parents NEVER go shopping.. They can NEVER understand the concept. My mom has her occasional bouts, but since she travels a lot, she usually buys stuff elsewhere, and not here.. Hence, she can't really understand my need/my siblings' needs to acquire stuff. And on rare occasions she can buy locally, her size is so small that she can fit to ANYTHING which would only cost between 50 to 200!! That's not even enough to pay for half of the shirts my size!! :(

When I was younger and we used to be out of the country every summer, retail therapy was so much easier then.. Hehe. For some strange reason, they'd buy us more things there than here (even if in all honesty, things are even cheaper here). So there.. We grew up without asking for shopping money, or going shopping with our parents, coz they'll always define it as frivolous spending. It amazes me how I managed to acquire all the stuff I have now. It was much easier when I was a student.. living on a steady weekly allowance which was just like having a salary.

Nope we had/have NO credit cards, NO extension cards. (That's another story altogether..)

Now that I'm much older, and I'm already a graduate, (BUT still not part of the workforce) I manage on moonlighting gimmicks... and I'd say it's so much harder to cope. (Hehe)..

Which is why I'm on Havaianas rehab.. and although new stocks have come out, I REFUSE to visit any Havs related store..

Which is why I haven't been to Greenhills in a LONG time..

Which is why the Rustan's sale, or any mallwide sale doesn't really matter to me for now..

Which is why I'm stuck home most of the time now. I refuse to go to any Starbucks, or even get myself a frap.

Oh these are the days when I wish that even my Lolo was a dole out kind of person.. But that's just not how our family works. EVERYTHING has to be hard-earned.. and sometimes, you won't even get rewarded for anything.. Sigh..

My Wishlist (for now..)

My birthday is coming up... and I always, always love receiving gifts coz I seldom receive material things from other people.. My parents aren't the type to take us shopping, or get us gifts.. So here's my wishlist for now..

The NEW Macbook in BLACK.. plus the a 4G NANO with the lanyard.. Hehe..



A digicam for MYSELF..



necklaces like these..





these bags in ALL COLORS hehe..





of course the havies.. i wish i could collect all the metallics..



and these..







haay.. how i wish :)

I'm back!!

I came back from Baguio today.. A trip of leisure.. Of endless eating, and sleeping, and the cold and the rain.. and TALKING.. and the family.. More on that soon. Hamachi Temaki at Hamada is the cheapest fix you can find anywhere.. Enough said.

I don't know why after sleeping so much the past days at a way decent bedtime, I'm still up and about at 1am.. When I've actually been so sleepy by 11am. I came back to find out that the newest stocks of Havaianas have arrived.. And if that isn't enough,the metallics are all here.. even the aqua ones (well, not the purple or the gold one).. I'd come out of rehab for a pair of PURPLE tops or metallics.. Whatever. I don't think I'll ever find ONE anyway. I've vowed to myself and to Stel, to stop buying Havis. It's no longer funny. Half of a duty's paycheck only amounts to a pair of slippers!! That's just not right. It's time I stop.. Not UNLESS I get my birthday money soon enough.. or someone really nice gets me one hehe..

I'm loving my Havs fashion in black. Nothing can beat it's wearability anywhere.. Not as high as the high look and not as tsinelas as the TOP ones.. I really really wish I could get myself a leopard gold in Oz.. How I wish :)

I just got word that I got a multiple visa to Australia!! Woohoo!! All systems go.. except for that little part we could call my plane ticket. We're still waiting for confirmation on the cheap fare for me.. And I leave in a week!! I didn't accept any duties for now. I've got to prepare.. and enjoy.. Coz by the time I get back, I've got to review for the stupid step2. Argh. I'm seriously considering Australia as my place for training.. More on that in the next days..

Better get myself some decent sleep soon. Getting up early for the AI finals tomorrow. It better be good :)

I'm finally CONNECTED once again.. Yahoo!! It took me about 1 1/2 hours to get myself connected to globe.. and just when I got to a CSR, they tell me that it's been reconnected already.. hehe. Ang tagal ko kasi nagantay.. :(

I'm staying home tonight. I'm supposed to meet some friends.. But I'm quite tired from going out the past nights.. Plus I'd like to get some sleep before the trip tomorrow..

Won't be able to post for the next few days.. BAGUIO here we come :)

ARGH!!!! My damn phone got cut off today.. When my plan expires, I'm definitely switching to prepaid.. This stupid network takes advantage of the postpaid subscribers.. We've got all these taxes and adjustments in the billing statement that we hardly even understand.. Sheesh.. :(

I feel so powerless.. and incommunicado..

That's why I stayed home most of the day.. Good thing there was chikka and ym..

Haay.. It HAS to be reconnected tomorrow.. STUPID Customer Service.. Argh..

On the CODE..

I just came from watching DaVinci Code.. And it was actually a wee bit disappointing for me. :(

Well let me start with how today went... I guess things just weren't right. I woke up really early for breakfast with the family -- and I was dizzy the whole damn day. Went to run some errands at different banks... Then got home around noon already..

I was a bit disoriented and dizzy but I did try to fall asleep... The thing with me is, the more I pressure myself to fall asleep, the more difficult it is for me to get some sleep. Oh well, things all went fast. Before I knew it, I had to get ready once again to leave!!

Been looking forward to the movie/dinner date with Stel... And it WAS the DA VINCI CODE.. The thing is, I wasn't really feeling so good when I left. Bad hair day. I didn't like how I look (How shallow can I get?).. Plus I was really sleepy.. Harhar.. Oh well. We started with a bit of studying at Starbucks in Libis. But Stel was ever so hyper and kulit... That we ended up leaving early for dinner. WE couldn't decide where in Eastwood to eat (Yes, out of the 20++ restaurants around..) And by the time we found our match, we had an hour to spare, and food took so long. We ended up buying fastfood near the cinema. Sigh..

Trailers took so long. Just goes to show how much sponsors the movie had. And here comes the much anticipated movie of the year...

Well, it was entertaining.. The actors and actresses were amazing. It was nice to be able to "travel" through all the monuments.. Some suspense scenes were actually terrrifying. I did get some goosebumps along the way. But it was a full-packed theater, two hours till midnight... And here I was thinking that my back was stiff, my legs were uneasy.. And I just couldn't really say WOW to the movie I've waited so long to see.

I read the book. And like other movies based on novels, it's always a big mistake to have read the written work before seeing it on big screen.

The book captivated me from the first word to the last. I remember finishing it in less than 4hours... And I was actually on duty at the ICU..

The movie? Honestly, I couldn't wait for the scenes to unfold, and for them to find the holy grail once and for all. I guess the anticipation was FAR better than the movie.. And I found the trailer/teasers much more exciting than the real thing.

I'm sure it will still be a blockbuster hit though... But I was far from impressed.. :P

On TOP of the world!!

Yehey.. a Filipino has finally reached the top of Mt. Everest! Wow.. Never ever ever in my lifetime will I achieve something like that.. :P Congratulations!!

I'm watching Da Vinci Code tomorrow.. I never thought it was going to be shown on Philippine Cinema. Haha.. Asa pa sila to stop the Filipinos from watching something like that.. Well, it's really all up to our own judgment and belief. I read the book coz it's a damn good book on FICTION. Dan Brown's a great writer. One of the best I've read so far..

I'm happy I've been able to unload my stuff on the net.. Best excuse to have a bit money to spend again.. Got no duties this week.. But the family's going to Baguio on Sunday.. for some family bonding. That's 4days of no internet. Struggle..

I better hit the books soon.. After dinner maybe.

We're on TOP of the WORLD!! :)

I feel so old...

It's barely 1am.. and I just came home from a niteout with my dearest HS friends. I feel so old! Everyone was all sleepy and tired already at 11pm!! And to think that when I was in medschool, my friends and I used to go out at 10..

Why do people get sleepy SO EARLY? Most especially my Stelly? That guy can sleep like a log.. and he gets really narcoleptic at night. Ang weird.. REM in a few seconds. Hehe..

So here I am, still all fired up... But everyone wanted to go home.. Plus it was also a bit rainy pa rin.. I can't get over the fact that I've been sleeping at 2am almost everyday -- and everyone I know is already in dreamland. Argh.. Oh well.. I wish I had someone sensible to talk to at this time of the night.. :P

Teens..

I just saw Cinderella story on HBO.. I don't why I've always been a sucker for teen-y romantic movies.. Maybe it's because highschool was pretty different for me..

Yes, I had my share of friends, mostly guys actually.. But back then, guys were just friends. I never really thought I'd eventually fall in love, or that someone would love me more than life itself..

I always seem to get teary eyed, or even shed a tear or two, at the end of TEEN movies.
Strange 'no? Lost loves? :) I don't know...

Now that I'm twenty something... "old" and in love... I just call myself lucky :)

Confessions..

I went on duty yesterday despite the wind, and the rain, and the brownout.. I was all sleepy, and tamad, and anticipating a BENIGN duty. After all, who would go to a freaking hospital if it was all rainy outside? Oh well, I was right... I was able to sleep for about 5hours (which explains why I'm still wide awake..) Earned a measly sum, but that was fine. Was able to study a bit, bond with the stuff.. and rest :)

Happy mother's day to MAMA.. We had an ever scrumptious meal of lechon, kare kare, sisig, bbq, puto bumbong, palitaw and buko pandan at Kamayan.. Hey it's the one of the few restaurants where we don't have to force feed her.. so it was quite a timely treat. Stel joined us today, and I must say, it was one of the better Kamayan buffet days.. Quality of food was great..

Did some shopping yet again at Dorothy Perkins in Rockwell.. I'm so loving that store.. Clothes that fit me, and my personality. I love their jeans and skirts.. Especially when they're on sale. Got myself some skirts for about 70% off.. :) Great buys.. Basta dapat sale. Promise. I finally had my fix of KFC and Starbucks today. Been craving for fried chicken since I came back from Boracay about a month ago.. Finally had some for dinner!!

GMA must really like Shabu-Shabu, coz while we were at Starbucks at the Powerplant earlier, the PSG were checking out the place, having the bathroom cleaned (since the restaurant didn't have one) and surrounding the mall.. Apparently, the first family was having dinner there (and since it was mother's day -- maybe it was one of her favorite restaurants!)... Too bad we didn't get to see them coz they took some time to get there..

Stel really spoils me so much.. So despite all his quirkiness, and impatience, I'll always love the dude :)

Stop..

Haay I better really stop this Havaianas obsession of mine.. I don't actually have that much pairs (about 10 or so lang)... but when something new comes out, I really can't help myself but check out the stores, or the websites, or the thread in that other forum I frequent. Kakainis na it's so addicting when it's actually so expensive!! Haay.. I don't know why I hesitate spending even more than 500 for a blouse, or bag, or even shoes, but not when it comes to my precious Havaianas!! Stel was patronizing me for a time, but now that he's in shoes 24/7, he's getting mad at me already.. :P Rehab na talaga promise :) Though I can't really promise that a purchase in Australia is far from possible..

All systems go na for my upcoming trip.. I just need to get a visa. Hopefully things will all work out. I haven't travelled since that Christmas in Canada, and that was over two years ago!! I just wish Stel was with me.. Haay..

Went on a shopping spree awhile ago courtesy of my sweet Stel.. He really never fails to spoil me.. :P Hehe.. I'm so happy I found quality clothes that fit me.. I'm a Dorothy Perkins addict from now on. It's not as expensive as Marks, better quality than the local brands.. and the clothes aren't plus-sized per se so they just look like bigger sizes of regular clothes :) They start at size8 anyway :)

I saw the Adicolor in person.. I want it!! But it's way expensive for rubber shoes which I will hardly ever wear in a week.. Not unless someone gives me one *wink wink*

It's raining!!

After months of rainfree, sweaty, humid, no-wind weather... it finally rained today!! How strange.. The weather has gotten even hotter.. But it's just so weird to hear the rain from the roof.. Coz it's still as hot as hell.. Maybe tomorrow will be better :)

I can't wait to see Stel tomorrow.. and shop at Dorothy.. I wish they had that store in Australia too para makashop dun with Tita Peena.. :)

Will be going to Australia... Hope I get a visa soon. My strange lolo is willing to finance my ticket. Yipee!! I just wish Stel was coming along.. (I'm still going to skip his birthday.. )

Stuff..

Haven't been writing in a while.. I don't really know why.. :p

I've been moonlighting a lot the past days.. and strangely, I seem to be out of cash everytime I go on duty again.. Tama si Stel, I'll earn a lot more here.. But there's something about getting the money in bulk that will make you save more, and spend less.. Lately kasi, when I get my sweldo, I usually spend about half of it buying stuff, so when next duty day comes, wala nang money ulit.. *wink wink*

The heat has become super unbearable the past days.. and so many things have changed with people I know.. A really good friend lost her dad recently to heart failure.. Another friend got married and is expecting a baby.. People are all around trying to figure out what to do with their lives.. And yeah, there's a new batch of interns na.. So that just means I've been out of PGH for exactly a year..

Haven't seen much of my friends lately.. I really have this strange concept with friendships.. Sometimes I'm really constant, and sometimes, I'm tired of making an effort, so I just step back and wait..

I miss a lot of things.. I miss my friends.. I miss the constancy of being busy, and knowing what lies ahead.. I miss Manila.. I miss my dormroom.. Sometimes I also miss living away from home.. Sigh..