Becoming Kate Cancio

Sentimental Over the Laundry

noreply@blogger.com (Kate) — Thu, 14 Apr 2011 10:24:00 +0000

If there's one thing Nelson and I have in common, it's that we both have the tendency to be attached to certain things that connote pleasant and irreplaceable memories. So when the very first washing machine we ever bought as husband and wife began showing signs of ageing a few weeks ago and almost stopped working, Nelson got creative beyond imagination and did all he could to revive it.

Alas, on a Sunday, Ms. Sharp, who spent 6 lovely years with us, finally conked out and is now in machinery heaven.

Rest in peace, Ms. Sharp...

Well, all good things come to an end. It's a fact of life. And because we direly needed a new one, we spent the rest of the afternoon scouting for a reliable laundry helper and ended up choosing a sturdy 6.0 kg capacity washer in powder blue.

Welcome to the family, Mr. Pana!

We look forward to an even longer and prolific fabric washing affair with this one.

The First Lost Tooth

noreply@blogger.com (Kate) — Thu, 17 Mar 2011 12:17:00 +0000

Zakei was initially in denial. As a good 5-year-old kid who regularly brushes her teeth twice a day, the loose tooth came as a big shock to her. She cried when she realized it was just one of those things she couldn't mend with a glue (although she did attempt to do it with Elmer's).

Then came the acceptance phase. Mama convinced her that it's actually a pleasant thing. Her pretty baby pearly whites will soon be replaced by a stronger and even more gorgeous set.

I remember when I was six, every time this happened, I'd refuse to go to the dentist and have fun twisting my tooth around the whole day, then by bedtime I'd be holding it in my hand, admiring the milky incisor or molar that's been with me for a very short time. Oh, childhood. Things change every now and then in such a jiffy. But I'm glad I have teeth that never needed any serious type of dental treatment. I hope the same goes for Zakei.

Congratulations on losing your first tooth, sweetheart! Mama loves you :-)

Stargazer Holds Free Mini-Concert

noreply@blogger.com (Kate) — Thu, 03 Mar 2011 11:50:00 +0000

The wrath of Typhoon Ondoy that sank hundreds of houses and killed countless Filipinos, the devastating earthquake in Christchurch, New Zealand, the recent floodings in countries all over the world that seem to indicate a dramatic change in Mother Nature's course, somehow, these occurrences tell us one definite thing -- it's payback time.

Yes, we all had something to do with the current series of disasters, whether we admit it or not. And we ought to make an effort to heal our sole humble abode sooner that we think.

Stargazer is a well-known psychic who hosts a radio show on DZMM called Pinoy Vibes which airs Sundays at 1 a.m. to 3 a.m. When I say 'Psychic,' I don't mean your typical manghuhula or fortune-teller, because she simply is not. She's a life reader who uses the aura and vibrations, and a very good one at that. Her clairvoyance has helped a lot of people lead better lives, solve crimes, and tackle the mysterious and unexplained.

Famous for predictions that actually took place and got her featured in newspapers and on television, Stargazer makes it a point to remind her followers about the importance of having faith in God. She also believes (and so do I) that we can reverse the negative effects of man's way of living on our beloved nature through positivity and meditation.

If you happen to be in Manila on March 12, 2011, Saturday, check out the free mini-concert that she's holding at the Ever-Gotesco Cinema, Cainta, Rizal at 2 p.m. - 4 p.m. There will be song and dance numbers from surprise guests and freebies!

Here is Stargazer's letter of invitation to the public (click to enlarge):

Everybody's welcome. If you're an avid believer and supporter, or just plain curious, come and join us in this selfless endeavor to heal the earth! E-mail LLC_events@yahoo.com for free tickets.

The Best Kare-Kare So Far

noreply@blogger.com (Kate) — Mon, 07 Feb 2011 06:15:00 +0000

Sunday is 'Get Physical Day.' We're really into exercising together as a family. We either jog or walk around wherever our feet would take us. Sometimes even my mom comes along. The Marikina Sports Plaza is one of our favorite destinations where we sweat all of the previous week's stress off. You can find lots denizens trying to lose the extra pounds on the large oval track on weekends. It feels so darn good to live in a healthy city.

In 2009, after a very satisfying and relaxing workout, we decided to have dinner at Nid's Balot sa Dahon. It's located almost right across the plaza, hence, it's hard to miss.

The resto's interiors give off a native, homey ambiance.

We ordered Pork Sisig and Sinigang na Baboy. Since then we never craved for anything else on Sunday evenings.

Saturday is either 'Date Night' or 'Malling Day,' or both. After strolling at the Blue Wave Mall in the afternoon of the 5th, we had one of our Nid's Balot sa Dahon top picks, the scrumptious Kare-kare! A day earlier than the usual, but what the heck? We eat what we want, when we want it.

Oooops, my second cup of rice (grins). Yes, you get to eat on banana leaf laid on a rattan plate. Downright Pinoy.

Simot sarap!

Nothing beats filling up on Philippine cuisine.

Phone Talk!

noreply@blogger.com (Kate) — Fri, 04 Feb 2011 06:54:00 +0000

As frivolous as it may seem, most Filipinos are crazy for mobile phones. And I'd be a hypocrite if I say I'm not one of them. I love checking out shops to see the latest models and saving up for whatever catches my fancy. It's not an obsession, I just happen to marvel at technology and it's fast-paced evolution.

These days, I'm currently hooked on my Nokia X6 8gb (Symbian 60 5th Edition).

It got me enslaved to searching for and downloading apps which have turned into daily necessities like:

1.) Free-iSMS - Cool message threader. We all know Nokia's still stuck with the same ol' boring SMS system. This one does the magic.

2.) Resco Photo Viewer - A systematic photo album that organizes photographs and keeps them where they should be. It offers file options that make photo viewing a pleasurable experience.

3.) Scalado PhotoRama - Allows you to take panorama pictures sans the hassle.

4.) Nimbuzz & Socially - The social networking applications you can't live without.

5.) Pixelpipe - Enables you to upload photos, videos, audio & text files to over a hundred destinations, including Facebook.

But what got me really spellbound with my unit is this...

I got SPB Mobile Shell 3.7.2 installed on my X6!

SPB Mobile Shell is a highly customizable (and laudable) user interface. It has two types of home screens, Lifesytle & Professional, that provide up to 5 pages each -- which means 10 glorious home screens that you can navigate through just by flicking up, down, left and right.

The widgets, the layouts. You can personalize every bit of it.

I can reach my favorite contacts at a touch.

If you want to revamp your ordinary Symbian touchscreen phone, this is the best software there is at the moment (check your phone's compatibility first, though). It's got all you need and more...

The program runs smoothly and acts as if it's inherent to the main operating system. A word of caution to phone-freaks: It's quite addictive to the point that it made the hubby jealous. To the geniuses at SPB Software -- Bravo!

He Must Be So Overwhelmed!

noreply@blogger.com (Kate) — Mon, 10 Jan 2011 04:42:00 +0000

The best surprises are the ones that come from God.

Just a week ago, Ted Williams was a 53-year-old homeless soul in Colombus, Ohio, whose life was immensely disheveled by drugs and alcohol. Before the nasty vices got the better of him, he had a good job, a family, and a home. Consequently he lost everything he had.

In hopes of a second chance and two years into clean living, Ted frequented the highway holding a cardboard that claimed he's an ex-radio announcer with a "God-given gift of voice" who has fallen on hard times. It also said, "Any help will be greatfully appreciated."

Then one fateful January day, Columbus Dispatch reporter Doral Chenoweth III saw him at a street ramp and asked him to illustrate his talent on video...

I bet what happened after came as a shock to Ted. The video garnered over 11 million hits on YouTube, he got countless job offers from huge TV and radio networks, invitations to appear on various shows, and is now reunited with his mom.

Guest announcing on NBC's Today Show

Ted shares, "I always used to pray to God, 'Lord let my mom live to see another year; maybe this will be the year that somebody will say, 'Hey man, do you want a job?'"

This is exactly the sort of thing that happens when you give in to the Lord. What an inspiration this man has become!

Mr. Cancio's High School Reunion

noreply@blogger.com (Kate) — Wed, 08 Dec 2010 02:35:00 +0000

Nelson reunited with his high school gang at the zany Quezon City High School (Q.C.H.S.) Batch '96 Christmas Party held at Ten 02 Bar. The well-trodden venue is owned and operated by none other than popular '90's ska icon Myra "Skarlet" Ruaro of Put3ska.

Reunions are fun because almost everyone doesn't end up the way you expected 10 years ago. The former class nerd shows up as an über successful lawyer, the ex-school heartthrob as a jobless freeloader, and the quondam wall flower as a thriving disco diva by night and CEO by day.

As for Mr. Nelson Cancio, his tagline that evening was 'erstwhile silent geek-turned-hunky graphic designer.' Naturally, I was his date.

Perfect with beer!

They played Pinoy Henyo, Quazo style.

And took some more pictures...

Their batch had a month-long on-line logo making contest in search of their official emblem to be used for various merchandise and upcoming events. The votes were tallied and a winner was announced towards the end of the night...

Congratulations, hon! I'm so proud of you!

Tuesday Photo Flashback

noreply@blogger.com (Kate) — Tue, 30 Nov 2010 09:10:00 +0000

My mom, Arlette, and her older brother, Tito Richard, sometime before the 1960's.

Mama is such a little darling in this photograph! I was browsing through hundreds of old pictures, came across this one, and thought it's too adorable to get stuck on drive (D:). I just had to make up an excuse to post it. So, I guess this would be the first official Tuesday Photo Flashback entry.

Ma, you look like a slightly taller and long-haired version of Onei! :-)

The Girl Crush: Got One?

noreply@blogger.com (Kate) — Thu, 25 Nov 2010 08:40:00 +0000

WARNING: I'm not a lesbian (although I love gays).

I admit I used to wonder if finding a person of the same sex attractive connotes a hint of homosexuality. Yes, our very own conservative Philippine culture dictates that liking which involves physical attraction must lead to wooing (hmmm... do the kids of today know such a word existed?), which then leads to loving, and finally, to marrying.

The strict requirement that this liking process should only be between a male and a female and never between individuals of the same sex is also foisted upon us traditional Filipinos. But then, I won't pretend that I don't live in a world that sees an abundance of same-sex relationships, or that I didn't go to an all-girls college where scads of students broke the rules.

However, when a straight girl likes another girl and thinks she's extremely awesome, checks out her on-line photos every once in a while, and becomes more interested in her life than she usually is in anybody else's, it's never a sign that she has bisexual or homosexual tendencies. Unless there's some sort of sexual attraction going on, it's a totally different story. I believe most women have girl crushes and it's perfectly natural. The emotionally mature openly confess, while the ones struggling with insecurities try to deny.

Females who admire other females for their sexiness, brilliance, or status in life sans the urge to make love to them are guilty of having just that -- a girl crush.

Here's proof that I'm also human. My top 5 girl crushes at the moment (yeah, they evolve):

5.) Angelina Jolie - This woman could've easily been the reason why the word 'girl crush' had to be coined in the first place. She's a symbol of beauty, class, benignity, and strength.

4.) Eva Mendes - You always wish for what you don't have. I was born with pale complexion and I'm amazed by girls who can flaunt their au naturel golden tan. Eva just glows in her skin.

3.) Thalia Sodi - Also known as Mrs. Tommy Mottola, this multi-talented Latina has a smile that can light up a whole astrodome. I like her wit and charm.

2.) Ruffa Guttierez - She definitely exemplifies the saying "30 is the new 20." The former Miss World Second Princess looks even more stunning than she did 10 years ago.

1.) Namie Amuro - I bet you've seen her in the Coke Zero ad. This Japanese doll got me listening and dancing to 'Wild' for the nth time. Namie puts the 'hip' in hiphop.

Kitty Love

noreply@blogger.com (Kate) — Wed, 17 Nov 2010 07:51:00 +0000

While checking out a bulletin board at the office of Sacred Heart Parish in Quezon City on Eid'l Adha (Feast of Sacrifice), a poster caught my eyes:

This cat's owner must have bouts of depression at the moment.

I have a ridiculously soft spot for felines. In fact, when I was still living with my rents, we used to have 16 pet cats inside the house. They stayed in the kitchen most of the time and pretty much behaved when they needed to. Every time one of them got out and failed to find his way home, I'd go crazy and ask my father to drive me around the hood just to find him. It happened thrice to be exact.

In 2004, papa converted half of our lot into apartments. It was then when my favorite kitty, Pichu, ran away after he decided our place had become too crowded with all the construction going on. The diurnal noise, faces of carpenters he hadn't seen before, and basically, the change of environment scared the beejezus out of him. I searched for him each night after work, even on weekends. Unfortunately, I never found him.

Fast forward to this day, you won't hear a single purr at this cat lover's crib. Nelson and I borrowed a male tabby from ma for a while. We needed him to help us get rid of the little mice. He was practically nameless, so I called him Tutti. Tutti was brilliant and liked going out. But because I wanted to keep myself from becoming emotionally attached, and it's not really healthy to let him stay inside the house since we have an infant, he now happily lives with one of our neighbors. Don't get me wrong, I still love cats. When Onei gets older, I'm gonna get myself a Siamese.

Cats, cats, cats! You can't trust a random stranger but you can always trust a stray cat. They're upright, innocent, and neat -- even the ones who dwell on the streets.

Muchos Gracias, NU 107

noreply@blogger.com (Kate) — Mon, 08 Nov 2010 04:42:00 +0000

October 31, 1987 - November 07, 2020

In Manila, the city that wishes it never sleeps, thousands mourn the demise of the one and only rock station that managed to seep through the veins of true blue rockers from the glittery, spandex-laden snail-mail era of the 80's, all the way to the 3 dimensional age of podcasts, digital SLR's and Facebooking (yes, grandma, it's now an actual word you can find in the Urban Dictionary). Beginning today, the 8th of November, 2010, Philippine radio would never be the same again. Not without the great purveyor of alternative, punk, metal, Pinoy or Christian rock .

My romance with the Home of NU Rock dates back to the time when most of the male kids in my class were learning the guitar chords for Guns N' Roses' Sweet Child of Mine at recess, and the girls talked about dealing with their first menstrual cramps. I got fascinated with the names Axl Rose and James Hetfield instead of discovering monthly pain killers. It started with curiosity, until I found myself frequenting this 'odd' FM station on the far right side of the radio dial. Eventually, I was glued.

DWNU 107.5 officially signed off for the last time at 12 midnight. Due to financial reasons, and perhaps, the dominion of tacky pop stations that cater to a huge percentage of tacky listeners (in Tagalog, 'Mga baduy na istasyon na tinatangkilik ng mga baduy na tagapakinig'), NU 107 played its last song with a heavy heart, much to the grief of fans who live and breathe real music.

And as the Eraserheads' Ang Huling El Bimbo continues to linger in my head, I express my gratitude to you, beloved NU 107, for your immense clout in my universe.

1.) Thank you for being with me in my awkward teenage years. You made me feel that I belong when I felt rebuffed by the standards of the adolescent society.

2.) Thank you for inculcating good vibes in me. The songs you played promoted independence, positivity and unconventionality. Nobody else did it better than you.

3.) Thank you for giving us Zach, Joey, Pontri, Roxy, Mondo, Tabitha, Jelly Jean, Roxy, Myrene, Jaedee, Ron T., & Nine-inch Neil (whom I had the honor to work with during my stint as an FM radio traffic reporter. He never found out I was a fan though). These iconic individuals are the jocks I grew up listening to, and the culprits behind my incessant desire to be in radio broadcasting. I tremendously admire their expertise in their craft.

4.) Thank you for Zach and Joey in the Morning. The show turned lots of gloomy days into tittering moments.

5.) Thank you for advocating Christianity via Against the Flow. You exemplified how one can praise God through rock music.

6.) Thank you for introducing me to the Beastie Boys, 311, Presidents of the United States of America, Stone Temple Pilots, Alice in Chains, The Flaming Lips, Blur, Rage Against the Machine and the other legends who weaved the soundtrack of various chapters in my life.

7.) Thank you for being one of the few things I have in common with my siblings. They adore you, too.

8.) Thank you for putting Filipino rock music in a different light. I'm impressed how these local talents have vastly improved since the early days of In the Raw. The NU Rock Awards will be painfully missed.

9.) Thank you, simply for being NU 107. The airwaves has just lost one-third of its substance.

Meet the Newest, Cutest Catholic!

noreply@blogger.com (Kate) — Sun, 07 Nov 2010 00:48:00 +0000

Remember Henri & Rolyn Fernandez? Mis amigos recently threw a Ladybug-themed Christening Bash for their 6-month-old Kyra Leigh at The Oasis, following a jovial ceremony at the Santuario de San Jose. Her Cuteness got baptized into Christ in style.

The baptism

Looking so demure in her mom's arms

Kylie officially joins us Christians!

Girlfriends for life & Kylie's trusted titas. Ayesha (far left) is one of her Godmothers.

The Fernandez family with comrades and some of the Godparents strike a pose at the church.

The celebration

High school gang + the kids

Congratulations, kiddo! Welcome to the Christian world!

Of course, the day ended with buckets of fun...

They're Starting to Annoy Me

noreply@blogger.com (Kate) — Thu, 28 Oct 2010 06:17:00 +0000

Cerulean is my favorite shade of blue -- and, yeah, the current and past templates have been a dead give away. There's always something azure. That's why as soon as I laid eyes on this tank top at some hidden thrift shop a couple of months back, I instantly fell in love with it.

I haven't worn it, not even once, since I was 20 weeks heavy with Onei at the time of purchase. So, imagine my surprise last Sunday when I found it helplessly perforated amongst a swarm of tiny red ants in the closet.

The poor shirt now has several peepholes in the back...

Those pesky bugs are at it again.

Considering most of the pieces they ruined in the past are made out of cotton, is it safe to assume they like the particular fabric? Not that it's seriously nasty. A little bit of mending is what it needs. But, darn, it just won't be as good as new anymore!

The Twister Fry Blunder

noreply@blogger.com (Kate) — Wed, 20 Oct 2010 09:21:00 +0000

I follow GMA News on Facebook, and this particular status at around 2 p.m. made me giggle.

It's one of those days when it's actually cool to botch up a little. As the cliche goes: everybody makes mistakes. Too bad I missed the post they were referring to. Love ko 'to! =)

Here's to the 6th!

noreply@blogger.com (Kate) — Sun, 17 Oct 2010 10:53:00 +0000

Six years. Some people would consider lasting more than half a decade a milestone. I say it has just begun. All the irreplaceable realizations, grave sacrifices, dreams, contentment, and revolving & evolving rapture -- I would never trade them for anything else.

My life with the hubby began with an outburst of passion that wreaked havoc and brought resurrection at the same time. Ours is a story of defiance. When they said love is not enough and tried to pull us apart, they inadvertently made the flame bigger and stronger. It has been, and I guess will always be, me and him against the world.

P.S. Wensha Spa Center in Timog is the bomb! Can't believe it took us a pretty long time to discover this gem of a place in Quezon City! The fab staff, deeply soothing body massage, and satiating buffet food added sparks to our private celebration. Weeee!

An Incredible Blessing

noreply@blogger.com (Kate) — Fri, 08 Oct 2010 05:00:00 +0000

Oneisha Kaye Cancio

September 09, 2010

9:25 p.m.

Thank you, Lord, for an amazingly healthy and beautiful baby girl! May Onei be a boon to everyone else as she is to us. :-)

Day 5

Day 10

Day 19

Day 25

Day 29

Can't believe how time flies. My Little Zakei's now a big sister!

Battling Boredom

noreply@blogger.com (Kate) — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 10:07:00 +0000

Life has dramatically changed.

For someone who couldn't live without regular long walks and sightseeing, you could say this 3-week-old bed rest might as well start to kill me. Being 7 months and sixteen days gravid, we all know the baby's not supposed to come out until the first week of September, but some complications might lead to premature labor if I stopped listening to my doctor and did things my way.

On the bright side, God has a very good reason for restricting me from leaving the house unless I need to see the OB-GYN or take some lab tests: I'm growing another human being inside of me, and it's our daughter, that's why I'm willing to miss a couple of parties and spontaneous adventure trips if it means not risking her life.

Hell, yes, I'm bored. But nothing will ever compare to the kind of happiness and contentment my little one would bring. Anyway, a month and a half more won't seem like forever as long as I have the laptop and a phone beside me. Thank goodness for technology! :-)

Okay, Okay! I Was Hibernating

noreply@blogger.com (Kate) — Tue, 29 Jun 2010 02:59:00 +0000

I know I've been gone for more than 3 months. And the reason behind the hiatus is, surprise!!! -- I'm 27 weeks gravid. Here's the proof: (Sorry, I don't have a lot of pregnancy pictures at the moment.)

At a quaint family gathering...

Pregnant women usually go through changes. Save for craving black forest cake every now and then, the hormonal ebbs and flows have really taken a toll on me and I felt like shutting the rest of the world out until I was ready to take on the universe once again.

Kudos to my husband for braving the waves brought about by this second miracle.

Regardless of the tides, I'm in bliss...

The Drawings Mean a Lot

noreply@blogger.com (Kate) — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 10:45:00 +0000

From left: Mommy Lola, Papa, Mama, Zakei, & Cousin Clark

Zakeisha Kathley drew this a couple of days ago. When I ask her what the huge letters on the upper right corner mean, she says, "family." Now, who am I to burst her bubble over something too trifling for a four-year-old, like spelling? I already taught her how to spell it right, though. She must really like symbols and hidden meanings.

My mischievous princess has been doodling quite a number of this sort since the day she found out how a pencil works. There are at least 20 more of her family drawings which I've kept in a safe place. I stuck most of her posters near Nelson's and my work station. So, on days when we're inclined to spend hours beating deadlines and thinking of extra ways to make ends meet, when supposedly free time is consumed by nerve-wracking overtime work and there's hardly a chance to play, all mama and papa should do is glance at those works of art, and remember that what matters most to their precious Zakei is her 'family.'

The First Filipina President Who Ever Earned Respect

noreply@blogger.com (Kate) — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 10:31:00 +0000

Aside from the Liberal Party and its staunch supporters, the rest of the country languidly celebrated the 24th anniversary of the EDSA Revolution a week ago. I can't really blame the weary public for exhibiting an obvious lack of enthusiasm when we were supposed to commemorate the day the Philippines gained back its so-called dignity with vigor like we used to. The sense of hope the Filipinos thought they had eventually proved to be some sort of lame joke in the face of blatant corruption. This awful truth makes stomachs churn.

Now, I'm not pro-Noynoy Aquino, but I revere his mother for the courage she exemplified when we madly hankered for a figure who would boldly defy a tyrant in dire need of some uprooting. We may not have found what we were looking for after we successfully jettisoned martial law, nonetheless, I believe the lady lived her life free of debauchery, and inspired men and women across the world to stand up in a time of intimidation.

Here's my own little tribute to Corazon Cojuangco-Aquino, a woman who once became a mother to an ailing state:

MOD Magazine, October 2009 (Click on the images to enlarge)

What Does Your Website Sound Like?

noreply@blogger.com (Kate) — Sun, 28 Feb 2010 08:27:00 +0000

If you're looking for something uniquely brilliant that could bust boredom, then go to http://codeorgan.com. CodeOrgan is a spankin' new web craze that translates web page codes into music. A brainchild of Andy Morris and Andy Goodridge of DLKW, a London-based marketing and advertising firm, this fantastic on-line musical contraption reads your blog's and just about any website's body content via a complex alogorithm that defines key, synth style and drum pattern. Cool, huh?

Well, I had a ball listening to my URL's melodious cosmos, and it sounded out-and-out techno on the first try. Just the way I like it. After a few minutes, I changed my background color, played it again, and the notes aren't as groovy anymore. Still, sound tripping on CodeOrgan is one nifty way to kill time.

Andy Morris, DLKW Head of Technology, and Andy Goodridge, DLKW Head of Digital Design, on CNN

My Top 5 Favorite Unusual Delights

noreply@blogger.com (Kate) — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 04:46:00 +0000

Some folks eat bugs, some drink snake blood. The things I gorge on every once in a while aren’t actually the kind that will gross you out, only a tad odd, I guess (or maybe it's just the way I opt to have these staples).

5.) Powdered Chocolate & Milk Products - Milo Energy Drink, Birch Tree & Anchor Milk, and at times, Coffee-mate. You ask, ‘What’s so weird about that?’ Well, I don’t really drink ‘em, I EAT ‘em. I’m hooked on consuming these powdered stuff without water. I still enjoy a cup of hot cocoa most of the time, but you can’t imagine the satisfaction that comes with eating it like it’s never meant to be mixed with aqua.

4.) Kentucky Fried Chicken With Gravy & Catsup - Don’t forget the coleslaw. The combination might look horrid to the finicky, but the hodgepodge of scrumptious world-famous chicken, light brown gravy, tangy catsup and coleslaw juice on a single plate always looks appetizing to me.

3.) Coffee With Heaps of Sugar - 3 tablespoons of sugar does the trick. I can’t help it. Diabetes fails to scare me.

2.) Lucky Me Sweet ‘N Spicy Pancit Canton - One pack ain’t enough . It always has to be a bit overcooked and served sitting on at least ¼ cup of water in a bowl. I never drain the noodles completely.

1.) Koko Kruch!!! - I could live on this for a whole day. Heck, I could live on it my whole life. I won’t ever complain if all I could have for breakfast, lunch, & dinner is this fab tasting cereal. It wouldn’t hurt to have it at midnight as well. I’ve been addicted to Koko ever since he hit the shelves.

Which reminds me, it's almost time to grab a snack. :-)

Pacquiao Is Bigger Than He Seems

noreply@blogger.com (Kate) — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 08:46:00 +0000

There is a reason why they call him Pacman. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)

Never again will I judge a boxer by his size...

The fist-fight of the year kicked off like a box-office thriller, the kind that misleads audiences to believe that the hero in the movie is faced with a taller, all-powerful force that just might win, whether the Filipinos can take it or not. But lo and behold, Manny "Pacman" Pacquiao, with hardly a scratch on his million dollar mug, has brought his opponent, Miguel Angel Cotto, and everyone else who gives a damn to his knees.

Pugilism reminds us of a thing or two. Enormity does not matter, and perfect practice does make perfect -- spanking new Welterweight Champion Pacquiao is legendary living proof.

She Let Me Break the Rules

noreply@blogger.com (Kate) — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 11:12:00 +0000

The Simpsons overdo it, though.

When I was growing up, my parents prohibited us from talking back when an adult, or anybody who's at least 10 years older reprimanded us each time they saw fit. Filipinos see it as an act of respect when a kid shuts his mouth in the face of intolerable criticism by an elder.

Five days ago, I can't believe my mother gave me permission to brazenly retort to a self-righteous, haughty, and pretentious family member who's 20 years my senior. Not that my mom has lost her cultural morals and decided to promote abdication of sense of respect. It was simply the right thing to do.

Sometimes, you can't just sit still in a corner with your lips zipped when your relatives are trampling on you and your dignity, especially when they're trying to haul your dead father into the picture. It's sad that it reached this point, since I thought family will always be family, but I guess there comes a time when you need to defend yourself and immediate kin to folks you learned to venerate most of your life.

Painful words had to be said out of necessity, because it would be downright wrong to opt for silence in a situation that requires you to fight back.

The details, I'll spare you. If you belong to a decent family that values confidentiality, I'm sure you'd comprehend.

The Art of Losing Weight

noreply@blogger.com (Kate) — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 08:06:00 +0000

Before

...and after

I've shed scads of pounds over the last few weeks, but if this is how Kate Cancio spends her time brooding in solitary, I honestly don't know how I did it.

When people ask me how I got the slightly flatter tummy, the answer they get is "No rice nor any form of carbs for lunch." Albeit the occassional pizza and pasta affair, frequent heavy snacks in the afternoon and the full meal at dinner come creeping into the back of my mind every time I give that advice, it's the best that I could do, since the "No Rice Policy" has worked impeccably for me. :-)