Paper, Trails and Tales

Dear Izzy: Your first movie.

2012-11-03T11:42:00.000-07:00

Hello sweetie.

You broke your routine tonight. Slept at "sevenish" and you woke up at 10. Dad and I thought you were hungry but you weren't you're just simply looking for me by your bedside and that woke you up realizing it was your crib bumper that you were rubbing your tiny little face to.

So we picked you up and tried to put you back to sleep but to no avail. Anyway since daddy and I are watching Brave I just had you sit, crawl, lay, lay on your tummy on my lap...guess what? you were so comfy on my lap that if you were an adult all you need is a popcorn and you're all good.

Yeah, you were intently staring at the moving picture at that huge frame by the wall--it's called a tv by the way. Oh you should have seen the tv when we were like you. It's a square version of the microwave oven.

It was an awesome Saturday night. Btw you might ask what's the story of Brave? Well, I won't spoil you as we will watch it again this time you'd be big enough to know what a movie means.

In the meantime goodnight love.

Mum

Our funny Valentine.

2012-02-14T23:54:00.000-08:00

February 14, 2012.

The day of hearts has arrived! And like he always do, cupid painted the town red again. The day where roses, chocolates and sweet-nothings are exchanged and celebrated by couples or even friends.

Since the husband and I have an upcoming "project" in the coming months, we decided to make the most of our Valentine's day this year -- literally from sun up to sundown. As we will surely look back to this very day in the coming years so I had to put this in writing.

We beat the alarm this morning (hell yeah, we did!). We had a non-fancy breakfast, lunch and dinner by plainly following our noses (it's a must-try, really fun!). In-between our unplanned "where-to-eat plan", Eric went back to work, while I spent the whole day both shopping and window shopping as a little Valentine's treat to myself.

We ended this cold February day with a Japanese dinner near our place so we could just walk home, holding hands (my left arm on his right while my right arm held that single perfect rose on the photo above, yihee!) while we talk/joke about things--anything. Just like we always do.

When we were home, it was like Christmas all-over again -- only sweeter and warmer (and much more redder too!). He got me giftS! yes, with a capital "S" as I only got him a gift. ha-ha, very funny.

Today wasn't like I'm-in-a-chick-flick-or-any-romance-movie/novel. No, not even close. It was more simple and very (very) spontaneous. So simple that this marks ~~one of~~ our most unforgettable heart's day.

I got him this =D

and he got me THESE! =D

...ahhhh this is one funny Valentine.

My so-called Hiatus.

2012-01-16T01:09:00.000-08:00

So, I took a 4-day hiatus from Facebook due to some glitches it had on my system hence I was going to write about "being unsafe and all" but then again, I could just sum all of it up to one paragraph: Wherever you may be, the factor of being unsafe always lurk around. Be it in private or in public, heck even on the social network where you are at the comfort of your home, all these viruses get you. Call it a glitch or whatever it still implies a breach of your privacy.

There, done. Now, let me focus on the lighter side of things.

My 4-day off the hook from this pool of virtual his hellos and thumbs ups was quite(if not)a nerdy one. I didn't break a sweat resisting the temptation of "taking a peek" on FB as, I got me a few CD's from HMV's closing out sale! (ohhh sale, I love the sound of that. It's like music to my ears, no pun intended).

Music just automatically took over everything. I also started a new project. It's a vector graphic inspired pen art, I don't know how will this end up but what the heck right? So, with art and music minus Facebook, what can possibly go wrong?

Going back to music, I have added 5 new CD's to my collection I always wanted to get them but I simply just wasn't able to over the years. Here are my newest must-haves:

Music is life!

#5. Counting Crows' "Films About Ghosts-- The Best of..."

When I was in highschool, I'd always compare them to Hootie and the Blowfish though overtime, I became more attached to Counting Crows after their remake of "Big Yellow Taxi feat. Vanessa Carlton". Hence here they are on my collection.

#4. Janet J "Number Ones". All of her hit songs from the 80's to the early 2000's. I was only into few songs on disc 1 but disc 2? Man, I could loop it on my player the whole day! It sort of took me back to my radio days.

#3. John Mayer's "Room for Squares". If you don't know this album and haven't heared just one bit from this album then I don't know what entertainment means to you. That's all I have to say.

#2. Moulin Rouge OST. This is my 2nd Moulin Rouge CD. The first one is sitting in utter and dusty silence at home with its older sibling we call the *drum rolls please* cassette tape! I love broadways! Take that aside, Baz Luhrman's overflowing talent made him produce both the movie and the album. The Elephant Love Medley is just genius!

Finally, this what I consider the greatest collection of all time.

#1. U2's "All That You Can't Leave Behind". All the songs on this album is just playable. Anytime. Working, driving, party, sulking, celebrating. Anything. Like I said anytime. If this is so, what's not to be number one about?

My 5 new friends just made my day and I hope you did too.

Have a Beautiful Day, Beautiful People! Don't get Stuck in a Moment, otherwise you don't know what you've Got Till its Gone. Go ahead and take the Big Yellow taxi as There's No Such Thing as Come What May!

Deceitful thing called...TV

2011-11-07T10:50:00.001-08:00

As I am writing this, my eyes are surrendering to the tranquil world of slumber while my brain on the other hand, just won't budge. Well, let's see how far will this go....

The previous week was quite interesting for me. I was caught in the middle of a hail, I was able to get 3 items on my vintage collection and most of all I was in "Boston". Well, the picture I posted says Boston Police so I should be in Boston right?

Here's the skinny: I happen to pass by an actual shooting of the TV series Fringe Season 4 in downtown Vancouver.

So, Boston huh?

My Trail Tale....

2011-11-03T13:01:00.000-07:00

I updated my tripadvisor account and this is by far my "trudging" stats:

Bohol Island, Philippines

Ayutthaya, Thailand

Hanoi, Vietnam

View my profile

Create your own travel map or travel blog.

Great holiday rentals at TripAdvisor

I travel because of the childhood nostalgia it gives me. The hot summers, the sore, aching and blistery sunburns, the aqua blue-green-brown-white pallet of the beach, the dusty and bumpy dirt roads of Negros and the foggy mornings of the highlands.

Though, eventually the nostalgia has evolved into the thrill of seeing new places and the exclusivity it has which sets it apart from other towns and countries I have seen. There's just more to what can pictures capture. The mystery of it -- I guess?

Hence I make it a point that I take my time to drop the camera and just savor what's in front of me without snapping a shot. I linger at the positive conundrum of the moment which obviously need not be answered. What's right behind that limestone formation or where will the dolphins appear or is there a trail to follow? or how hot really is the desert, once I stepped out of the Airport?

68 cities and 9 countries. Maybe a little too few for some, quite a lot for the others. As for me, that's why I termed this "trudging" as I take it one step at a time. Before you know it you are somewhere you aren't expecting you'll be at. As long as its clear to you why you're doing what you're doing.

I mean, I wasn't expecting to come and live in North America before this year ends...surprise surprise!

My Vintage Collection -- Finally!

2011-11-03T10:06:00.000-07:00

All these years I've been wanting to collect something vintage and many things came to mind.

A candelabra?
Some of them are too "draculaish" and scary, so no.

Old bottles?
Way too rare and expensive, scratch that.

Antique Dolls?

What if "Chukie" does exist? Nevermind.

Old Tin Cans?
Didn't work out.

Books?
I've had storage problems thrice, so I'll give this a pass.

Figurines?
The old ones looked like they're just pretending to be inanimate and sneak out in the middle of the night and watch you sleep every full moon or holloween and again, what if "Chuckie" is true? -- I'm not taking any chances. NO.

...and finally (which is right under my nose all this time as I grew up with Pyrex wares) this:

vintage Pyrex and Corelle coordinates. Yes! These will be it. In fact, these lovely darlings are the very first items on my collection. I got them yesterday (thank you craigslist!). The pattern is called Crazy Daisy/Spring Blossom from 1970.

Perfectly fits me well. My love for cooking, my favorite place in the house is the kitchen and most of all, I'd rather be on a flea market than be in a mall where everything is new, artificial and really expensive.

I love good old stuff. So why not?

Trick or Treat...

2011-10-31T10:04:00.000-07:00

That's the husband...he was a zombie on their office holloween party. We were too desperate on choosing what character would he be and he finally decided to be a zombie. 

With my little make-up skill, voila! I created a monster...rawr! I'm glad you guys love it! Till next holloween!

Holloween...Cauayanon Style: "Treat-and-more-Treats!"

2011-10-31T09:51:00.000-07:00

"Kalag-Kalag" is how we Ilonggos call holloween. From the word "Kalag" which is the direct translation of soul or spirit. 

As for the repeatition of the word, my guess is that our ancestors might have playfully repeated the word, to sugarcoat the "scare" that it implies and to make it sound more festive . (Somebody please enlighten me on this?)

In the Philippines we celebrate holloween every 1st of November otherwise known as the "All Soul's Day".(ohhhh, I smell wonderful chidlhood memories again)

When I was a kid, every "kalag-Kalag" my family used to visit my mother's hometown in Cauayan, Negros Occidental to pay a visit to my grandmother Consing's tomb and other relatives who passed-away.

A usual "November 1st" goes like this: In the morning, my titos (uncles) would go to the cementery to tidy-up the my grandmother's tomb for the visitors while my titas and my mother are at the kitchen making all these classic sticky rice menus that I would never trade for any gourmet meals in the world. It is a Filipino belief that these sticky rice delicacies will keep the family more closer for every year that comes. 

In the afternoon, the neighborhood becomes quieter as everyone heads to the cementery. To light candles, say prayers and offer flowers to dead loved-ones and relatives and be back at home before dawn.

Until a few years back when I blogged about this on Friendster, I realized Cauayanons do have their own version of "trick or treat". However, it was more of a "Treat and more Treats!". My cousins, me with my parents, titas or older cousins would go to a relative's home and yell outside their doors "mangalag-kalag kami!" (we want to celebrate holloween).  Of course, being hospitable as we are, the host gladly let us in for the treats. However, those are not m&m's, hershey's, skittles nor any candy, nope!...it was waaayyy better!

We get warm milk, Taho (ginger tea),  suman, valenciana, ibos, bihon - except for the bihon, these are sticky rice cooked in different ways. (Ask Mr. Google, he knows a lot about this). Then laughters, stories -- ghost stories then fills the table until its time for you to visit another home. You could go to as much homes as you want, as long as you still have room to fill your stomach coz you have to eat once you went in someone's house. Indeed that's lotsa treats! 

I hope that this is still being practiced today as this is one rare practice among Filipinos. Happy Holloween everyone!

Renewed.

2011-10-19T19:48:00.000-07:00

I am so into fall right now.

I have been all over Vancouver and taking pictures everywhere as the city transforms into a beautiful red-yellow-orange-gold pallet. The greens are disappearing bit by bit.

Talking about green, I got my renewed passport last Tuesday. I am officially and finally sparing myself from the embarrassment of having a (still) handwritten and no chip passport (yey!). No more funny smiles and stares every time I present my country's "emblem". 

Funny how this goes with the season....and so the green one shall go as it should.  -- haha! 

I'm just glad that before I let it go, it did served its one sole purpose why I dragged my a$$ off to DFA Manila about almost 5 years ago albeit it took a while to have it stamped with "that visa". It was all worth the detours during that dormant time of 4 years and 7 months.  

dirty pages of my old passport

 Well, to you my old green pal, this is not goodbye,  I just have these new blank pages to be stamped on. 

indeed green is out, red is in.

::091811::Frenic Turns One::

2011-09-19T00:28:00.000-07:00

So, it's been a year and things just breezed through, we barely felt that a year has gone by. This is by far the best day of our lives. Though it wouldn't be as special had it not for the people (yes, you are one of them!) who have been supportive of me and Eric and for that we will be forever grateful!

Here's a "lil' sumthin-sumthin" I made of the year that was. Enjoy!

Free digital greeting card personalized with Smilebox

Rewind....

2011-09-05T23:17:00.000-07:00

Today last year:: Sept 5 2010::

We just got back from Cebu for our China visa which didn't happen because green Philippine passport holders exiting from Philippines are suspicious (just my resentful theory) hence fall honeymoon in China was cancelled and Plan B became the new Plan A and that is to split the Honeymoon into 2 parts. Krabi, Thailand will be destination 1 and Canada is destination 2

So anyway, we just went back to Bacolod and resumed whatever preparations that has to be done for the big day, China dreams were crushed but who cares, it's the wedding that matters most...

Here are some little snapshots:

Meeting Albert's family in Mactan. He is Eric's highschool barkada.

Also went to see Abby Girl, after 9 years! Time flies!

on our way back to Bacolod

The day after Cebu...back to my "yellow" folder again and my Maid of Honor...

Booked: Committed.

2011-06-13T07:04:00.000-07:00

(Eat. Pray. Love Part 2)

I was finally able to groom (aka plastic cover) my new book last weekend. It's been squatting on my bureau for 4 weeks now and haven't been removed from its bag since.

(I love the smell of books by the way. Preferably the old-tanned-paged ones. It makes me feel like a reader full of wisdom. Sadly I am just a reader.)

So I had my "me-time" with its fresh-off-the-shelf smelling pages this morning on my way to work and continued on my way home. Guess what, my (supposedly) slow reading has brought me to a quarter of its inch-and-a-half thickness with about size 8 fonts.

What I thought was going to be a month-long reunion with Liz Gilbert might quickly end up for about 3-4 days (some good things just doesn't last, do they? what an unjust life huh?). Anyway, the first 2 chapters are quite wordy—I’m still digesting whether it is “wordy good” or bad kinda wordy. I don’t know but I am hooked so this must be something.

As the “ordeal” Liz and Felipe got into was Romeo & Juliet-like, only the Capulets were the Homeland Security and the Montagues were the Australian government but no feuding is involved. This time Liz's and Felipe's destination is Vietnam and Thailand (finally Liz and I had a common ground. Yey!) and the rest of Southeast Asia except Philippines. Anyway, I won’t say much except – just go grab a copy!

This obviously isn’t a book review. This is just me “booked”.

Ellen Degeneres is my Julia Child.

2011-03-02T21:51:00.000-08:00

I am very much inlove with the movie Julie and Julia. In the movie Julie Powell's kitchen "fairy godmother" was Julia Child, she cooked because of Julia. Well, I crack jokes because of Ellen Degeneres. No Ellen blogs though....just this one...or maybe once in while. A not-regular-and-no-deadline of some sort. Julie Powell already did that with Julia Child...I know Julie, I don't like the idea either, so "unyummy".

It's been two years since I've watched Ellen show on TV. The Ellen Degeneres show is not being aired here in Singapore. I don't know why. Thanks to YouTube at least I get to see clips on the Ellen TV.

Here are my top 5 most fave segments *drumrolls*

NUMBER 5

NUMBER 4

NUMBER 3

NUMBER 2

NUMBER 1

I have been watching these over and over and still makes me laugh like crazy. Makes me wonder if given a chance to ask Ellen one question what would it be? ___________________. Seriously! I have no idea. How about, if there's one thing I wanna tell her what would that be?__________________. Am I kidding me??? Could not think of any either!

Six years of "keyboard tapping" huh? But couldn't type a few words to ask or tell Ellen. Impressive.

...of Friendster and blogging

2011-03-02T20:07:00.000-08:00

While browsing through a jobsite, a surge of nostalgia came to me. The fact that I have not updated my jobstreet account for ages definitely brings back a lot of memories. Who wouldn't?As my jobstreet profile shows this:

Current employment: Ross System Int'l

Year: March 2004 - Present
Position: Drafter

and my profile pic was this:

My oh my...

In the midst of these hilarious thoughts, I remembered a long ~~lost~~ forgotten friend. The good old Friendster so just for the heck of it, I did what I had to do (and I can hear it yelling at me "Finally! & Thank You!" when I hit "log-in"). It was like, seeing someone after a really long and distant hiatus from that person but you're glad to finally see him/her anyway.

So there I was, browsing my old photos, my profile -- still "in a relationship" (which I of course updated to "married"), comments -- no new ones (of course!) and my blog. Yeah my 6-year relationship with the keyboard. Man, I have been blogging (on and off) for 6 years now. Not very long for some but six years is more than half and a stone's throw away from a decade.

So just for the record here is my "sensible (and at times not) thoughtlessness" my friendster blog link:

http://frenic.blog.friendster.com/

au revior

Magnum Opus....

2010-12-09T08:08:00.000-08:00

Okay this is going to sound embarrassing, you guys know the Magnum Ice Cream right? The one Eva Longoria Modeled for.

Tonight, is the second time I've had it. YES! The first time was during a free sampling last year, and I just had lunch so I really didn't paid attention to it, I just took a couple bites and threw it away.

Anyway, it was just a while ago, when I really ate it and I mean savoured it like a foodie. Wow! The crust was a Magnum Opus -- of butter! I can imagine a truckload of butter being mixed into a huge steaming tank of chocolate mix for the crust.

I can even hear myself screaming and cussing me "don't load it up! B*itch" and me arguing, "ooohhhh burn!" Though the real question here now is, will Indulge myself again? Hell yeah, I just said the crust was just too buttery that's all.

Besides, I was thinking of writing about food tonight and I couldn't think of any except for my short trip to 7-Eleven which eventually led me to indulge (i'm starting to feel the guilt creeping up now, I shouldn't have bought those).

Talking about Ice cream. I love to have:

- Vanilla / Double Dutch

- Sliced strawberries

- Sliced bananas

- Cornflakes

(if the flavor is rocky road or coffee Crumble just get rid of Cornflakes and bananas)

Mix 'em all up...Grab the remote / Grab a book...Enjoy!

Where was I?

2010-11-05T22:20:00.000-07:00

I was flipping through my passport yesterday after we arrived from Penggerang, and I saw three special dates on my passport stamps, I thought it would be nice to document this -- yeah maybe I should.

Sept. 11, 2009

- The Annual memorial of the 9/11 attack

- The Husband's birthday

- Our Engagement date

Jan 1, 2010

New Year's Day. I just started my year somewhere in the globe, and its nice to have it captured on one of the most important legal document you have. Wow, I just marked my year right!

Oct 10, 2010

Well, it's THE 10-10-10, this year's auspicious date. I was stranded in the sky for 3 boring hours and was travelling the whole day. Might not be a good way to spend this once in ones lifetime occurence but at least I got my passport stamped with it! Awesome!

Its funny how mundane things become special just because it was stamped and captured at the right moment at the right time....Interesting!

Kopi, Curry, Briyani and Me.

2010-11-02T11:10:00.000-07:00

Here we go! here we go!

Itineraries here we go!

-- "We missed trudging with Trudge while I'm on my Chucks, chuckling while dragging my dirty, dusty and muddy bag...and so the series of epic "trudging(s)" shall resume." --

First stop countdown here we go...tic toc tic toc tic toc!!!!

It'll be just right at our backyard.

Quickly, quickly hope to catch up with you sunny.

Beached, beachy, beaching no longer my thing.

Don't get me wrong!

Sandy, dandy, duney still is lovely.

Like those in Mali.

Though old, cold, moldy bricks

Now gives me the kick.

In the meantime let me just say,

Happy Deepavali!

Photos taken just this afternoon at Little India. I just have to drag myself there, hoping to spot a few opportunities to shoot.

Unfortunately, the smell of curries, briyanis and cutlets are everywhere, it was just too distracting (in a good way!). Long story short, the tongue ruled over art this time.

I "trudged" inside Taj Samudra (Rotti Prata here rocks!) while waiting for The Husband I pondered on the menu but my thoughts drifted away again (daydream ruled over the mind-ha!). Instead, I was reminded of our trip this weekend to Malaysia and our upcoming trip to Indonesia soon after but no so soon (duh?).

Evidently, the silly poem above is the (embarrassing) proof....ooooppps! thoughts driftng again....Namaste!

Wedding Posts: “The Day” September 18, 2010.

2010-10-20T00:08:00.000-07:00

5:00am

L'Fisher Hotel

I heard a soft knock – or it was a doorbell, was it? can't remember, I was really sleepy that I dozed back to slumberland. I heard the knock/doorbell again. This is it! It’s our big day. Half asleep I trudged towards the door and opened it, as expected the wedding people. “Staff kami ni Tipay” they politely introduced themselves and so I let them in. This is really it!

Soon enough, Gernie the entourage make-up artist was in the room as well. Omg this is soooo it! I went to my Groom next door, guess what?! He was still asleep, as in snoring asleep! So I woke him up and dragged him for breakfast at the hotel resto (the breakfast buffet wasn't so good btw!). That was the last time we spoke and looked into our just-woke-and-still-want-some-more-sleep faces that morning. I could barely recall the turn of events, the next thing I know, Julius Dinorog was already air-brushing my face. All was running smoothly and everyone was having fun prepping up, then my coordinator's staff assigned to us asked me (in the middle of my make-up!) if where were the bridal car flowers? As I was to provide them. Bang! Le angry bride strike 1 (after 12 months)! So I asked my sis to hand me the contract and read it aloud in front of everyone -- The contract clearly states bla-bla-bla....geeezzz! *i heard excuses*

Anyways, she realized her innocent mistake, she was probably not oriented well by her boss - poor thing. The chitty-chats and whatevers continued. Next thing I know, my pretty bridesmaids were all dressed and they all looked gorgeous. Lito (Lito Inso Photography) and Alvin (Mayad Studios) were taking their turns in directing our poses. Till it was time to leave for the church.

Wait! What about my vows?! Omg my vows!

I have been finding my “me time” to write my vows since we arrived in Bacolod but I had no luck! It’s either me and ‘le fiancé had to be somewhere else or my moody writing mind won’t just cooperate. I remembered I grabbed my pen and mini planner while I was having my make-up with Julius but it’s just impossible to concentrate.

Here we are leaving the room and approaching the Hotel lobby. ‘Le angry bride had a strike 2 and thankfully the last! 'cause I hate getting angry at people. There was only one staff to attend to about 10 people left in the hotel and she seem to not know what to do. Anyway, like I always say, there is no perfect wedding, so whatever!

The moment I saw that it was a bright-sunshiny Saturday just as I have always imagined my wedding day would be, my chest started hammering! Omg! Omg! Omg! And a thousand more of Omg’s.

I thought when Eric proposed, it was going to be the most nervous moment in my life. Well, I was right it was just BY FAR coz the moment I stepped out of L’fisher Hotel, I felt there were excavation, piling and demolition works taking place inside my chest all the same time. I was nervously excited to describe it in two words. I was even distracting myself as tears might come out any minute. I hate crying too by the way.

Wow! This brings back the feeling, man! *deep breath*.

...off to the church.

Anyway, my parents were talking about something while I grabbed my pen and mini planner and started writing. I have no idea how long was the drive from the hotel to the church but I finished it just a few kilometres away, near enough that I could see the cross from afar. My chest starts hammering again like I wanted to get married in private and don’t want everyone to see me cry. A tiny lump starts growing my throat the moment our car entered the church’s driveway and again a thousand – no, this time a gajillion of omg’s!

My parents finally alighted the car to greet the guests and I was left there alone, I tried reviewing my *sigh* cheesy vow intro but I could no longer get my mind to work. All of a sudden the car door opened, it was Julius D. My make-up artist. I tried to casually talk to them and jokingly sang with the weird music that’s playing in the car just to ease the—my tension out.

*Retouches’, laughter, jokes* *Retouches’, laughter, jokes**Retouches’, laughter, jokes*...

Finally, my biggest and the “many(est)” OMGs of all time! The car door opened and Tipay my coordinator and these guys were helping me get out of the car. I feel like a piece of ornamental vase wrapped with lots and lots of butter paper and styro chunks, thank God for my wedding flats it somehow eased out my nervousness!

10:00am

Triumph of the Holy Cross Church

*wedding march*

All were finally settled and me, I am yet to march. Suddenly all eyes are on me *gajillion omgs* I smiled, smiled bigger and smiled a lot while I began marching- slowly slowly. Do not cry!
I saw my parents waiting for me in the middle of the aisle. And so this is really it! -- no tears.

*Bridal march*

Until time for my parents to give me away, *Hugs & kisses* more *Hugs & kisses* finally, I’m on my boyfriend’s arm and spent our last minutes together.

The wedding went really smooth and it was full of laughter with Fr. Mitch’s funny but true sermon. Finally "I Do’s" have been exchanged and Ring’s have been slipped onto each other’s ring fingers. Now time to kiss the bride. No wait! What about the vows. Eric silently told Fr. Mitch, that the exchanges of vows have been skipped. uh-oh!

*Whispers between the the three of us: me, Eric & Fr. Mitch.*

And so the vows we’re said..Eric first.

Need I say more? It wall all captured on Mayad’s SDE. One revelation though, I cried a bit (hehe!) lucky it wasn’t so obvious. So my big smile and laughter still prevailed.

...and so he kissed his bride. *pictorials* more *pictorials and finally off to the reception.*

12:00noon

La Proa Ballroom-main, L'Fisher Hotel

Awesome on-the-spot dance with our awesome ento and my beloved cousins! (thank you paks!),

Programme, lunch, more pictorials and videos followed. Then the remarkable speeches from 5 special people the literally Best man on the planet Mike Logarta, my Father, Manong Bong, Tita Telit and Arch. Aguillon one of our special ninongs.

More greetings, hugs, kisses, handshakes and laughter! Man, that day was just heartfelt...

One of the most awaited parts of every wedding are the video/photo presentation. It was outstanding! *clap* *clap* *clap* Call it bragging but our wedding SDE was one of the best wedding vid by Mayad Studios I have seen. One special moment that kept repeating in my head was when the Mayad Studios logo appeared at the end of the video it was felt strangely familiar like I’m finally looking into Mariah Carey performing live -- too bad I missed her concert at the F1.

As all this time, I would just see Mayad’s name on other people’s wedding vid and now our wedding vid is has the Mayad logo at the end! DAMN!!!! Unbelievable!

The AVP too! Ohhh yes the AVP. I heard cheers, laughter while it was playing and a slight embarrassment as well with my photos back then until it flashed in slow-mo...

You don’t marry someone you can live

You marry someone you can live without

The first photo flashed and the "Ohhhhhhhhs" and "ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhs" were non-stop, everyone applauded at the end of the slideshow. Again, it all felt surreal as we are actually looking at Lito Inso’s god-like shots with us on it! DAMN!!!

Geezz! I just could not get over that day. Now here we are, living happily on our ever after, forever and always!

Wedding Posts: A month later.

2010-10-18T03:46:00.000-07:00

31 days ago since our wedding...(click the image above -- that's the front cover of our wedding website).

As the cliché goes, “Time flies so fast” (in fact, the whole statement itself is the mother of all clichés), yeah sue me now! But undeniably and ironically, time is the most selfish (and generous) thing in this world and even in galaxies far far away. *wink*

Months and months ago, I and my then fiancé were keeping our weekends busy, besides the normal routine, laundry, cleaning and grocery shopping sat-sun. For a year, we have squeezed-in new tasks on our to do list: clipping inspirations from stacks and stacks of bridal magazines we bought everywhere. Browsing useful wedding websites, making choppy long distance calls back home and deciding if which vendor isn't ink-worthy hence it remains on the shortlist, until we have decided and contacted a few great and talented people for their great wedding stuff! (eeeheem!! you guys know who you are, it was such a privilege!). It was like a "whirlwindy" rollercoaster ride, one minute you have a lot of things in mind then next thing you know it is all over!

(As in worry-free over! Proud to say that when we woke up the day after our wedding, our only worry is what to do with our 3 week vacation as our supposedly post wedding sabbatical for a week in Beijing was cancelled. No loans and no over-budget to worry about! Most of all, none of our parents spent a single cent for the wedding!)

...and so It Happened on September 18, 2010.

Indeed! Our wedding was -- I'd say memorably heartfelt and intimate. Not to mention, the creative minds who worked with us was just overflowing with outstanding skills -- what can we say. Nothing! Hence, not only was the fun double but everyone had a blast and they couldn't get over the event – as this new song by Diana Vickers goes: our wedding was “♫♪stuck like glue♫♪” on everyone’s hearts.

The best part of it all, was when our families and friends were all gathered inside one church, putting aside their individual beliefs. They all prayed, laughed and shared the same faith as Christians with us on that day. This is by far the most touching and overwhelming part of our wedding day. The support, love and most all the blessings of those who spent their entire Saturday with us. It was just a day to be cherished...sooo meaningful.

...we are now husband and wife.

Marriage isn't going to be a 100% smooth ride but it felt great and reassuring to know that someone will constantly hold your hand, wipe your tears or cry with you and will whisper things like “Don’t worry”, ”I’m here”, “I forgive you”, “I’m sorry” when the road gets all bumpy, dusty and hazy.

...and as I have vowed to my husband 31 days ago, I will hold on to my vows and will keep on reminding myself whenever a rough road is up ahead.

(“I may not be a princess on a fairy tale book but I am in our story – our love story and I thank God for the prince charming who is standing in front of me right now.)

"....From this day forth, I will be your missing piece of the puzzle. I Will be the first one to be there for you whether you are happy of you are upset, I will be the warmth you seek for at the end of the day when everyone seems cold, I will be the #1 critic (and fan!) of your matte paintings, beginning now, (counting the imperfections) things will be perfect, just as God had planned our lives, Forever and Always. Palangga-on ta gid ka!”

Happy Monthsary Husband! Palanggaon ta gid ka!

Wedding Posts: The Preperation. A little over a year ago.

2010-10-18T01:56:00.001-07:00

I would always compare wedding planning to a graduating student's Thesis or a Board Exam review. I was totally wrong! My two (as my ex-boss would say) amateurish comparisons were definitely the understatements of all time. (geeky quote zooms-in my face “with great power comes great responsibilities”...in 3D text!). Okay! I got it spidey, now shooo!

READY. Sums up the Ghandi-like virtues one can think of and practice in order to pull through those two major achievements on one’s younger (ouch! But true!) days. Am I? Is he? Without a doubt! YES, has been the only answer for both of us.

Yey! we are getting married! ...wedding preps commencing...

I have concluded some unnecessary (for some) but necessary (for me) pointers while planning our BIG day! which might be helpful to some brides-to-be as well. Though my primary purpose is to keep every bit of memory fresh out of the 12-long-months of wedding preps.

It was exhausting(ly fun!) -- specially a week before the wedding, goodness, had it not for the photos and vids and more photos and vids we wouldn't have recalled what happened!

It was frustrating(ly fun) too, we could have gotten ourselves a trip to Italy or Greece or Maldives or USA heck! We could go anywhere we want, with the budget we put aside for the wedding but nope! We would not trade THAT one day for any trips in the world, not even to the moon besides that, there isn't anything to see in the moon anyway (hardy-har-har tickle me)!

But seriously, it was just fun preparing for that one special day! Shopping for rings, shopping for shoes, flipping through magazine pages, doodles and sketches that you later realized it looked horrible so you have to do it again, conceptualizing the theme, decor ideas, cake designs, dress designs, spying (hehe!) on online wedding vids -- some are cheezy, some are cute, some are heartwarming (ours, we have decided to let experts do their thing!), surfing for other people's wedding photos (we sooo loathe too much HDRI's and lomo-like shots! I mean come on! Use a lomo cam then! Instead of your D90 or EOS7D or 5D, that's just ridiculous!).

*sigh* I already miss those days (and nights). This is the real once in a lifetime experience that sadly, not everyone had the privilege to share and talk about. So! here goes my few documented pointers during the wedding preparations.

1. Are you both READY? Are you sure? -- you know what the answer should be.

2. (This is reeally necessary) "THE" Plan B, as sometimes this can be way better and exciting than plan A.

3. Bridal Magazine - Lots and lots of it! You can never have enough. One mag more often than not just have one inspiration that is clip-worthy. Trust me!

4. IDEAS! And I mean original ideas. No one can stop you from admiring someone’s wedding but take note, there is a HUGE difference between admiration and imitation. You don’t want someone describing your day as “very much like so-and-so’s wedding” or you don’t want to hear someone saying “wow! This is all so familiar, remember our friend’s wedding?”. That would be awkward and – what’s the word? “Yucky?”

5. Great and Talented Vendors. Ahhhh...I’ve been dying to blog about this.

I was given a heads up by a friend who got married in Bacolod last September 2008 that SOME local vendors in Bacolod are quite non-responsive over emails. Lo-and-behold, I had my own taste of a snail's pace work ethics of some vendors. After 3-4 weeks ( even longer than that) of waiting -- I got replies that usually begin with “SORRY...”

“I was busy with my other client...”. Talking about business ethics, I have never, not even once said this to my clients and would never say this, ever!

“...Our computer was down” – OMG! I actually don’t know what say except, Soooo? No back-up plan? Some experienced vendor huh???

“ the staff-in-charge went AWOL” -- I shall quote Miranda Priestly “details of your incompetence does not interest me”

And many (I’d say) other LAME excuses...

It’s as if you, as a client would have to beg them to be your vendor. Yes! You got that right – YOU(client)-BEG-THEM(vendors). Well in our case, nope! That’s not how it works. Too bad they were not able to work with the easiest client on earth!

No offense but I'm just stating my own opinion based on my first hand experience.

Though there were two vendors I really admired! They were the perfect examples of working like pros!

Ysabelles' Bridal, Tita Lynette Villanueva was very accommodating and keeps you posted for any changes or better suggestions she might have! hence many loved my gown and the ento dresses! In fact the ento dresses were not according to my original design due to some constraints on the , cut, hems and other tailor whatchamacallits but turned out more prettier and more original besides that the ladies who wore the dresses were already pretty!

Honey Grace Cakes! (Thanks Ivz!) Honey Grace herself attended to me and patiently answered all my innocent queries! As I have zero know-how about cakes! The moment I stepped into her store, I haven't left till way beyond closing hours till all queries and doubts were settled! She even took time to do the mock-up of the cake layer set-up as my idea was kinda experimental but we later on pulled it off! By the way I later found out she is one of the local TV personalities in Bacolod. How cool is that?!

So bride’s-to-be out there, better have someone whom you can really ask to do things for you if you can’t be physically around on the early stages the wedding planning. Had it not for my dearest sis Vannie (she is indeed the real maid-of-honor!) and bestfwend Ivy (my own personal Bride’s maid), I could not imagine what the output would be. You guys can actually start a wedding coordination partnership!

Albeit some internal mishaps during the wedding day, we pulled it off! There is no such thing as the perfect wedding anyway. Everyone loved and enjoyed the whole event and that’s what matters. Looking back, it seemed like it was all dream, so surreal that we even ask ourselves

“How on earth did we do it?!” -- here goes the answer...

...and the most important tip of all time...

6. Leave it to the experts! They know ~~better~~ best! Quit being the all-knowing-yet-knows-nothing "expert"!

September 11, 2009: Life Changing Day

2010-10-14T23:08:00.000-07:00

I have finally drifted onto “my space” and I mean me and my mind working together in silence, travelling back through time and picking up bits and pieces of breadcrumbs (not for solving crimes, this ain’t CSI!) that can feed my mind.

12 months and 27 days ago in Amari Coral Beach Resort wharf in Phuket, Thailand. I was asked a life changing question which I suppose there should be 2 choices for an answer, a YES and a NO where the former awaits a happy ever-after while the latter will devastate not only me and Eric but the people who knew us as well.

Anyway, back to The Question -- there has been only one answer for me.

Just Y-E-S...

It was not like in the movies where everything was all perfect -- zoom-in-slow-mo shot-like moment where the guy have John Cusack’s perfect soft spoken voice as he is uttering his proposal speech that melted the girl’s heart and got her all choked up while cupping her nose and mouth, then she finally says yes in tears as the guy slips the ring on her finger and then another staring-onto-each-other’s-eye-moment where the world stopped revolving while slow melancholic music starts playing. Nope! Not even close.

Ours was just purely spontaneous and fun topped with (cute) blooper moments BUT despite of those “moments”, I would not (ever!) trade it for anything expensive in the universe. Those few precious minutes were just priceless and could never be equal to the diamond ring being slipped onto my finger.

That windy sunset with its golden rays peeking through the clouds and waves drifting beneath the wharf shall be kept fresh on a vacuum tight compartment in our now united hearts and shall be later re-lived in time we re-tell this funny story to our children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.

***

Lets take the LEED!

2010-06-26T09:22:00.000-07:00

Dear Fellow Architects,

As the lead professionals in the construction industry, let us take advantage of our post on this progressive era of steel, concrete and electriciy to support the fight against climate change. There are over hundreds of advertisements and campaigns from all over the world, showing us of where this fast-paced planet is leading us – disaster! Which we ourselves caused.

However, these foreseen disasters coming our way can still be prevented. As architects, we play a vital role in this critical issue .The decisions we make,can either build or destroy nature. This may be an imposition to us, but if we look more closer and dig deeper, we are not being consulted and we do not sign things off for nothing. Our approval is not being sought after just for formality, rather it is needed as it is the right thing to do.

I am encouraging everyone to adapt the LEED’s (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) principles which for certain we are all familiar with.

Let’s take this chance to not only work closely with our clients but let’s make them fully aware of what they can do in their own simple ways to rejuvenate the Earth. Our country is abundant in land, that’s our one advantage!

With such a small land area – which the Negros Island is ever bigger, Singapore is able to implement to their people to maintain a certain square meter for greens (both vertical and horizontal) on all buildings, and then that should not be a problem for us.

Lets ask ourselves this question, What Can We Do?

Let's take the LEED,

Arch. Fran Marie I. Flores, UAP

Wild Things in Life

2010-04-09T16:41:00.000-07:00

http://ph.news.yahoo.com/ap/20100407/tap-as-philippines-giant-lizard-2nd-ld-w-fe2a5de.html

Having read the link above, we are clearly one of the world's best paradise (supposedly). Our natural resources are (supposedly) as rich as the oil deposits in the Middle East.

Why I am I being a cynic?
That's because we are too passive to care for our country. Cutting down trees is just like harvesting rice and sugarcane. Inappropriate dumping of garbage is like broadcasting seeds in the farm. Moreover our unique wildlife has become endangered because we kill and slaughter as if the we are starving and could not find food anymore.

I still keep my hopes up though.
For as long as we are seeing greens, hearing sounds within its thick foliage and for as long as sky remains blue and clouds are white. Our chances are still overflowing. We could still propagate the lushness of those greens. Make those sounds louder and Keep the skies clear and the clouds whiter.

Serendipity...

2010-03-08T07:16:00.000-08:00

Part of me always wanted to become a writer.

Which I eventually gave in to writing, as I thought, that it might work for me. Sadly, it didn't...never did. Though, if you ask me if it was a waste of time, I'll will straight away give you an N-O for an answer. I was once a writer for my school paper and I somehow managed to sneak my name into the lifestyle pages of my hometown's local daily.

The first time I saw my name on the by-line that one particular sunday was probably like how Loius Sullivan felt when the Wainright building was considered as one the first skyscrappers in the world. I read my article over and over and over and over again that night. It felt great!

Little did I know, it was just the beginning of a fortunate accident. That's why I always love to look back at those little imperfect moments as it reminds me, how I got here.

...to moments! cheers!

Recollection :: Off the top of my head::

2010-03-04T20:05:00.000-08:00

The pressure is on! It has always been on.

If I may say, I consider pressure as human being's greatest stalker. From the simplest decision making as to what coffee and donuts to order while on a long queue, up to opening that piece of envelope with your billing statement on it. While you are on a plane, you are definitely under a huge pressure -- literally! and so many other negligible things that is unknowingly contributing pressure.

Where I am now (geographically), pressure has been a part of its culture. Everyone is not an exemption. Locals, expats like me, and even one who is as young as a pre-school kid, goes through it, in school and most sadly at home.

This reminds me of what I witnessed one Friday ago while I was lounging at the pool, I overheard and saw one of our neighbors whose unit was nearby the pool. He was tutoring (or should I say torturing) his kid like Hitler. He was yelling and screaming because his son couldn't give him an answer on some Arithmetic questions. Poor kid, he was in total tears while guessing the answers. Of course, how could the poor thing focus and give his "tutor" the right answer when, he is being yelled and screamed at and being embarrassed by his dad.

They where at the living room and their glass door was wide open where anyone who is nearby could hear the tormenting treatment he is getting from his dad -- HIS DAD. Most of all it was a Friday!

On one of my conversations with my boss, he mentioned, quite a few times, "the system is not very forgiving so there is no room for errors". Wow! does the system say that kids must study and must not be given some slack on a Friday night? I guess it does...I just don't get it though.

Everything here is almost perfect but ironically their imperfections are just way too obvious. No rooms for questions and clarifications otherwise you'll be reciprocated with sarcasm or worse, you'll be screamed at. No room for explaining, otherwise, you'll be cut-off mid-sentence.

No room for forgiveness as they do not know how to.