strangely out of place

Closing down and moving on

noreply@blogger.com (Kat) — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 13:12:00 +0000

Hey guys.

I have decided to close this blog down and move on to a new one. Still on Blogspot, though, because I don't really like signing up for a new provider.

This will be the last week you'll be seeing this Strangely Out of Place. I've had it for five years and three months, and let me tell you it has been one heck of a ride.

I won't be deleting it... well, not until I figure out a way to properly download it all and archive it in my hard drive, comments and all. It's a big part of my life, one that I can't easily forget, and frankly, I don't want to.

Thank you for visiting, reading, commenting and even just taking a look everyone. I'll see you over here.

Moving on?

noreply@blogger.com (Kat) — Sun, 25 Jan 2009 02:41:00 +0000

I've had this blog since 2003.

I think it's about time I move on to a new one. Probably not my own domain just yet (don't have one as of the moment, am thinking of making that my birthday gift to myself), but moving on to a new Blogspot til then.

Why? Well, I think it's time for a change.

BTT: Inspired

noreply@blogger.com (Kat) — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 09:04:00 +0000

Since "Inspiration" is (or should) the theme this week �?� what is your reading inspired by?

Hmm... I don't think my reading is inspired of anything at all. It isn't like, "Oh what a beautiful sunset! I think I'll go read something." :p Haha, silly explanation.

For me, reading is something that I want to do and not influenced by anything else, unless you count the influence of a family who appreciates a good book and doesn't find it unusual for someone to choose to read, rather than watch TV (in most cases, anyway).

At most, I am inspired to read by a good story. It's always hard to determine what's good unless you actually finish the book, so you have to rely mostly on the blurb and for some, the cover. If I find the summary good, then I'm inspired to read, and if, in some cases, it's part of a series, I try to read that too.

Oh, on a side note, do check out my new bookshelves. I'm so happy with them. :D I'm not exactly inspired to read, but I am a bit inspired to write!

New shelves

noreply@blogger.com (Kat) — Sun, 18 Jan 2009 11:30:00 +0000

I finally have shelves for my books. No longer will they languish in the dark recess of my closet. Now, they will gather dust on these bright, cheerful yellow shelves haha.

These are custom made shelves, by the way. Anything that's in stores actually won't fit well in my little space, so we had to get it done specifically for the measures of of my corner.

Even our TV has its own shelf and it's also custom made :D

All were designed by Mama, and done by Mang Amor & co. Salamat, salamat po!

Brr

noreply@blogger.com (Kat) — Fri, 16 Jan 2009 15:26:00 +0000

It's hard not to say something about the weather. I mean, unless your skin is thicker than leather, I'm sure you've noticed how cold it has been in the past few days. So much colder than your typical Manila weather usually around this time of the year. It's like Baguio was generous to give us their surplus weather and somehow managed to transport it to the lowlands.

This is Baguio in mid March at noon.

Needless to say, I love it. It reminds me of afternoons at school, where my classmates and I would just hang out after our classes just letting time pass. It brings back memories of hours spent in the library, not really studying. Or nights spent walking around Session Road looking for somewhere to eat while we edit the videos we took for our class.

I actually love the cool weather. I'm more partial to wearing coats, jackets and other clothes that cover
the body as opposed to wearing summer clothes. I don't know, I find it more interesting.

Though in as much as I'm enjoying this weather, I am a bit leery of it. I read somewhere years ago that changes in weather, especially drastic ones, can signify that nature's balance has shifted. It may not necessarily be a bad thing, but sometimes it has effects that people aren't prepared for.

Like this weather. We're pretty much used to warm weather year round. December to February isn't really that cold here in the lowlands. I rarely don jackets or sweaters here and that's given the fact that I'm pretty weak against cold.

But in the past few days, I've been using long sleeved shirts, jackets and cardigans. My mom brought out the jackets I used in Baguio. I'm using a blanket when I sleep. At work, even if the aircon is off, it's still relatively cool.

So alongside the enjoyment of this coolness, I can't help but wonder if this is a sign of something. Or I'm just being paranoid?

Still, I say enjoy the weather while it lasts. You'll never know. Come summer, we might be bitching about how hot it is. In my opinion, it's a lot easier to find ways to keep warm and still get work done, than finding ways to be cool and fight the urge to just sit in the shade and veg.

News: Art in Site Magazine to launch at the Ayala Museum

noreply@blogger.com (Kat) — Fri, 16 Jan 2009 07:42:00 +0000

Got this in my email today. Can't wait!

Art in Site Magazine to launch at the Ayala Museum

MANILA, Philippines �?? January 12, 2009. On Saturday, January 17, Manila's arts aficionados and patrons will be welcomed to a special reception at the Ayala Museum to announce the publication of the inaugural issue of Art in Site Magazine. The quarterly publication will be produced in Manila and distributed in the Philippines and the U.S. It is envisioned to be a leading resource for, by and about Filipino artists filled with insightful and engaging articles relating to the arts in all its forms to incite a renaissance of sorts�??a rekindled interest in local art, artists, and a renewed sense of pride to be Filipino.

Art in Site Magazine is not just another arts magazine. Its history and unique vision are as remarkable as the people behind its creation. Patricia Laurel, editor of the magazine has the qualifications and pedigree: great-grand niece of national hero Jose Rizal; educated in Germany and the United States; writing credentials with European Stars and Stripes and Associated Press in the United States. Under Laurel's leadership, Art in Site Magazine was conceived under the banner of a Cooperative for Artists in the Philippines and the U.S. as a way to connect a growing international community of artists of Filipino descent.

In every issue of Art in Site Magazine, a special article will be devoted to an update on the Cooperative's ultimate goal �?? the establishment of the Manila Center for the Arts. The Center will be a physical structure that can be the hub for artistic development, exhibition and study; a nurturing home for Filipino artists, arts educators, and students to convene. Patterned after the highly successful San Francisco Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, the plans include a Center School for young artists, state-of-the-art performance and exhibition spaces for small audiences, the provision of legal and practical services for the artistic community, and advocacy programs to increase government and private support of the arts in all of its forms.

"The idea to publish a culture and the arts magazine was the result of a number of rejections that I experienced as a writer," says Laurel. "The first rejection was the sudden death of the first book in my trilogy of Young Adult Fiction. The book was first published in the Philippines. A few media appearances and talks, but it didn't pan out." Unhindered, Laurel continued to write.

The second rejection was the eye-opener: Laurel had just finished her second book manuscript and was in a celebratory mood. She rushed to a nearby confectionery store in Honolulu to purchase and devour her favorite creamy, dark chocolate caramel squares. The courteous, young man behind the counter looked like a 'kababayan' and was asked if he was Filipino. The reply he gave was a resounding, "unfortunately." He realized what he said and apologized after seeing the reaction to his single remark.

The Cooperative for Artists, through Art in Site Magazine and eventually through the Manila Center for the Arts, will showcase and promote the Filipino's unique and brilliant artistic talent, our vast and distinct cultural heritage; to impart knowledge through culture and the arts to our youth; to interpret, entertain and invite dialogue and provide food for thought. It will provide coverage and insightful treatment of Filipino artists and writers�??in the Philippines and abroad�?? and an intelligent perspective on our own history distinct culture, and aspirations for the future.

The design of the inaugural issue of Art in Site Magazine reflects its cooperative structure and approach. An international "Design a Cover Project" attracted more than 1700 entries from Filipino artists around the world. These entries will be on display at the launching reception on January 17.

Contact: Catherine Young, managingeditor@artinsitemagazine.com

Sing! Sing a Song

noreply@blogger.com (Kat) — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 08:34:00 +0000

Booking Through Thursday
But, enough about books �?� Other things have words, too, right? Like �?� songs!

If you're anything like me, there are songs that you love because of their lyrics; writers you admire because their songs have depth, meaning, or just a sheer playfulness that has nothing to do with the tunes.

So, today's question?
What songs �?� either specific songs, or songs in general by a specific group or writer �?� have words that you love?
Why?
And �?� do the tunes that go with the fantastic lyrics live up to them?

Hmm. Tough question.

Let's see. Among my list of favorite artists/groups, I'd say Jars of Clay would be on top in so far as lyrical meaning. I suppose the fact that they're a Christian band has something to do with, but what makes their words attractive to me is that they're not preachy. I like their lyrics because it uplifts and comforts me as I listen. Sometimes, it's funny or it's sad, but often, hits home.

My favorite song from JoC is called "Fly". At first it was due to the catchy tune, but it began to hold a special meaning for me when I learned that it was about a friend the band had whose wife passed away due to cancer. The time I heard the song's background was about the same time I lost my grandfather so it became more special.

I also went through a boyband/sibling group phrase back then. One particular band that came out was Hanson. I like them over any other band because the lyrics of their songs were mature for kids their age. Their songs had topics similar to what other bands have: love, heartbreak, life, but it's how they write their songs that get to me.

Hanson wrote this song titled "Weird" probably when the eldest, Isaac, was only 17, making his brothers younger than 15. For me, writing a song with these lyrics at that age was not a normal thing.

Now that they're older and have their own families, they still write songs but collaborate with other artists. They did a few songs with Dan Haseltine of Jars of Clay, Jason Mraz, Chris Sligh (American Idol 6) to name a few, in a song writing camp they call "Fool's Banquet".

When it comes to tunes, yes, they do live up to the lyrics. I wouldn't want to listen to a lyrical good song that has a bad melody. In fact, I'd rather listen to a good instrumental. I guess that's why I'm just not a fan of the spoken word genre.

And of course, I shouldn't forget the many amazing Filipino artists and songwriters who have written many songs with lyrics that totally moved me. Many of our artists write in English as well as in Tagalog. I wish I could translate the songs that I like but meanings get lost in the process (plus the fact that some of the songs have reference to Pinoy culture which would result to a lesson in that subject hehe).

Here's a few favorite songs from my favorite Pinoy artists. I picked the English songs.

Eraserheads - With a smile

Rivermaya - Balisong

Bamboo - Truth

And that's just for starters. :)

Full Wolf Moon

noreply@blogger.com (Kat) — Sun, 11 Jan 2009 13:42:00 +0000

Even with a humble point and shoot, it's still amazing. The tripod helped. :) See how bright the moon is? Beautiful.

Interesting read: Full Moon names for 2009

Lazy Sunday

noreply@blogger.com (Kat) — Sun, 11 Jan 2009 07:29:00 +0000

There's a probability that I just might not leave my bed the whole day, except perhaps to eat or go to the bathroom. The joys of a laptop and a wireless connection.

As it's a Sunday, I thought I should post something. Yesterday, I plurked (hmm, so it's a verb now huh?) about missing the old days of blogging where it was just all about saying what you want. Well, it's still about that but back then, no one worried about what your Page Rank was or if there were ads in your site or networking...

Yes, yes. I know I have all those in my blog but I just can't help but think about it.

sick
I am actually loving this weather. I love how cool it is and how I can be happy with just the fan set to one and pointed not at me but somewhere else in the room to help circulate the air. The climate reminds me of afternoons in Baguio, where my classmates and I would be hanging out on campus in between classes, just enjoying the atmosphere and the company. You got to love studying in Baguio, especially in UP where there's still plenty of places that makes it look like a park.

The downside of this weather is tis the season to be sick. Coughs, colds and everything else that comes along with it (aching back, aching joints, dry skin, allergies...) would plague you. During vacation I was proud of the fact that I wasn't sick like most of my family were, but when I got back to Manila, argh.

So here I am, throat itchy and coughing til it hurts. I want to drink something warm and minty to help it a bit. Finally, the sniffles have decided to show up and I think I'm going to come down with fever sometime between dinner tonight and breakfast tomorrow.

Take care of your body folks.

weekend
I can't believe its Sunday, not to mention that 12 hours have gone and there's only twelve hours left in it (of which I will spend six to eight asleep). Monday tomorrow? You have got to be kidding me!

I plan to be lazy anyway. So far, I've seen the final episode of Hakushaku to Yosei, a twelve-part series I started watching over the Christmas holidays. I loaded the final episode for the Ouran Host Club anime until I realized that I've seen it already, so I went to read the latest translated chapter. I'm pretty happy how (ok, spoiler) Tamaki's admitted his feelings for a certain girl (you don't need to be a genius to figure out it's Haruhi), but pissed off at how much of a cliffhanger it was. Oh well, I can wait.

Which reminds me, I should go check out what's new with Beck.

dsl
My DSL is weird. Ever since I got back from Zambales, I haven't been able to browse decently. Sometimes it loads the sites, sometimes it doesn't. Often, if I can't load the site on Firefox (which is my main browser), I try to open it on Safari. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. There are many instances where I have to stop the site from loading, then refresh it and hope that it will load. There are sites that I regularly visit before but would take minutes to show up.

Sometimes, but very rarely, the connection's fast and ideal. Most of the time, it just frustrates the heck out of you. I ended up using some proxies for the other sites I needed to go to but even that's wonky.

distraction
I stopped typing this post because I had the urge to clean, of all things, the kitchen sink. It looks so pristine now, and I'm happy. Off to go read some interesting short stories.

movies
I'm excited about the following movies this year. I got Z'riz's list and edited it for my own.

* Inkheart - Brendan Fraser - January 23
* Coraline - Focus Features - February 6
* Watchmen - Patrick Wilson - March 6
* Monsters Vs. Aliens - DreamWorks Animation - March 27
* Dragonball - Justin Chatwin, James Marsters, Jamie Chung - April 8
* The Hannah Montana Movie - Miley Cyrus - April 10
* X-Men Origins: Wolverine - Hugh Jackman - May 1
* Star Trek - Eric Bana - May 8
* Angels and Demons - Tom Hanks - May 15
* Up - Walt Disney - May 29
* Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen - Shia LaBeouf - June 26
* Ice Age 3: Dawn of the Dinosaurs (3D) - 20th Century Fox - July 1
* Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince - Daniel Radcliffe - July 17
* G.I. Joe: Rise of Cobra - Dennis Quaid - August 7
* Astro Boy - Summit Entertainment - October 23
* A Christmas Carrol (3D) - Jim Carrey - November 6
* Sherlock Holmes - Robert Downey, Jr. - November 20
* Alvin and the Chipmunks: the Squeakuel - Jason Lee - December 25
* The Princess and the Frog (3D) - Walt Disney - December 25

Yes, I watch Hannah Montana and enjoy it (but I'm starting to think that Miley Cyrus is starting to let fame get to her :()

And here are the CNN's must see geek movies for 2009. I probably might end up watching all of them... except for New Moon ha ha.

lastly...
To-do list in the works!

Full moon

noreply@blogger.com (Kat) — Sat, 10 Jan 2009 13:35:00 +0000

Has anyone seen the moon tonight? It's amazing, isn't it?

I found out about the moon tonight thanks to a news article on Yahoo.com. I was at the office and when I stepped out sometime before 7 PM, it was the first thing I looked for.

It was amazing.

I've always been fascinated by nature, both by its power and beauty, and how it all comes together. Even as a kid, my siblings and I have had the utmost respect for it, perhaps the fact that most of our summers were spent in my father's hometown, and that our grandparents were farmers as well as teachers. Even my mom's family had something to share about the power of nature, so it was just ingrained on us all.

One of the things I love are skyscapes: sunrise, sunsets, the moon, stars, the sky. There are many instances when I stare up at them and forget about everything that anchors me to this earth. It's like I'm almost flying when I look up at the sky.

Tonight's moon is another perfect example. I probably spent a few minutes at the office's dark parking lot (we're located in a park-like area, so there are no buildings or electric wires to hinder the view), just admiring it. If I hadn't received a text message, I might have stayed a little longer.

Unfortunately, I didn't have a decent camera with me, so I had to make do with my phone's camera. It didn't capture it in the way that I wanted, but I guess you can see how bright it was.

Just lovely.

BTT: The Best?

noreply@blogger.com (Kat) — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 06:30:00 +0000

Booking Through Thursday

It's a week or two later than you'd expect, and it may be almost a trite question, but �?� "What were your favorite books from 2008?"

It shouldn't come as a surprise to people who have read many of my previous BTT post that Neil Gaiman's "The Graveyard Book" is on top of the list.

Surprisingly, I've read only a handful of his work, most of which is geared towards the younger audience (or should I say, the books that have younger protagonists). You could say that I'm more a fan of Mr. Gaiman himself than his works, but I'm slowly changing that. This year, aside from waiting for his new works, I'll be reading back on his other books (and if I can find that Duran Duran biography he wrote, so much the better haha.)

Coming second is Nora Robert's trilogy "The Sign of Seven". Though the first book, The Blood Brothers, was released late 2007, the other two came out in 2008. Like many of her other works, this one tackles interweaving stories of several people. As it's a romance, you'd know that there's some mush and happy-ever-after at the end, but it's so much more than that. There's plenty blood and gore and a lot of action thrown in.

I would add J.K. Rowling's "The Tales of Beedle the Bard" to the list, but as I haven't really finished reading it, I wonder if it counts? Also, Diana Wynne Jones' "The House of Many Ways"... if I did manage to get my hands on a copy ^_^

Happy reading! I can't wait to see your lists.

Hello 2009!

noreply@blogger.com (Kat) — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 10:12:00 +0000

First post of the new year. I would've put something up earlier if my DSL didn't conk out before 2008 ended. Hurrah for Globe! First chance I get, I'll be switching to PLDT!

Hello 2009!
How was your new year? Mine was pretty quiet. My family has long stopped doing the usual do for new year: preparing food, staying up late and making noise. Lolo and Papa slept (the former due to his life long habit of going to bed early, the latter because he was sick), while Mama, Gerone, Otki & I were all online. Haha.

The neighbors were all lighting fireworks and sparklers prior to the countdown to midnight. I kept glancing at my laptop's clock to check how much longer it was. I was drawing a fanart of my new favorite series, Hakushaku to Yousei and I wanted to finish the line art. Fifteen minutes to midnight, the church bells started to ring. I was really surprised, so I checked World Time Clocks. My time was the same as theirs, so I just figured that the church's time was early. When my clock hit midnight, I went to my parents' room to greet them a happy new year.

What's funny is Mama had the TV tuned in to GMA 7's new year show, but their time was about five minutes later than mine.

Then my parents, Otki, Gerone and I went left Candelaria for Manila so we could go to Tita Ruth's birthday dinner celebration.

Family Day
My mom's older sister was born on New Year's day, hence the celebration of the new year is extended. This is usually one of our most looked forward to event of the year as there's always a different menu. My tita and her family are fond of trying new foods, and there's always something interesting every time. This year's theme was inspired by their recent trip to Macau, so it's a bit of Portuguese and the Macau street food.

As usual, there was a lot of joking around and laughter courtesy of the the family comedians, but everyone had something to offer that elicited laughs from everyone. Miel showed us their pictures from their trip, while Tito Ben shared the homemade DVD of his trip to Bacolod a few months ago.

Family photos were taken on the house's stairway: cousins, then my mom and her siblings, then with the spouses, then per family. Chaos, but fun.

Miel gave me this cute wooden giraffe that'll grace my office desk on Monday. Good way to relive the boredom, methinks.

Shopping is so not me
I reiterate that I really am not much of a shopper. Unless you count books, electronics and toys, then I'm good. When it comes to clothes, however, I think I'm the worst shopper around. This is how I go about it: I'd envision something that I think looks ok on me, then I'd hit the shops looking for something similar. If I can't find any, I'd go look for alternatives.

I'd go in a shop, take a look around, and if I don't find any that I like, I go out. The process is usually done in less than ten minutes.

I got to look around a little longer on clothes and other stuff today, but I pretty much think that I was a fast shopper. I was rather sad that the first dress that I really liked didn't have my size. I just needed it one size bigger, but sadly, there wasn't. Foo. Second time that it happened. Still, I found another dress and it was pretty cute.

Even though I don't really like shopping much, I had fun today. A lot of laughs courtesy of my wonderful company, and thank God for gift certificates. It saved me a whole wad of cash, haha.

Tomorrow, two good friends of ours are getting married. I'm excited not just for them, but because I'll also be seeing some people I haven't seen in a long time.

Here's to 2009! Cheers!

Ending the year 2008

noreply@blogger.com (Kat) — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 08:14:00 +0000

It's not my habit to make New Year's resolutions. I learned long ago that it takes a lot of effort to even remember what my resolutions were even if I write them down, much less actually do them.

I prefer doing a "to-do" list, than a resolution. See, for me, resolutions are things that you want to happen but you keep putting them off because you think you have the whole year ahead of you. As opposed to a to-do list, where you have to really do them within a specific time frame. Oddly enough, it works.

I suppose you can say it's a resolution too, but somehow, in the past few years, the word "resolution" has been tacked to duty, or to something that isn't fun or exciting to do. Hence, it become tedious and people often put it aside.

Last year, sometime early March, I made a list of things I have to do and want to have. The list roughly has twenty items, and is sorted under categories. The categories aren't really anything but something like "Things to do before I turn 28..." and so on. Checking the list now, I see that I've actually done quite a bit of them and it feels great. (I published the list on my Multiply and later it evolved into my 101 Things to do in 1001 Days). It seems that it's alot easier to do than thinking of a resolution, because I don't feel pressured. Because it's things I actually want to do.

I suppose it sounds off, but that's how it is with me.

So, for 2009, I'm making a new list. A few of the things I didn't get to do/achieve in 2008 will get carried over, but on the whole, it'll be a totally new list. I find that 2008 opened new doors for me, and though I haven't really taken them, I'm glad that I am aware that there are more choices for me than I initially thought.

2008 saw challenges that I managed to overcome. I became more aware of my not-so-good traits (sometimes in a not-so-good manner) and tried to change it. I met new people, strengthened relationships with old friends, and got to know acquaintances a little better. I've visited new places, re-acquainted myself with a place I once called home and spent time with my family. I've read more books than I could count, watched more movies this year than I did in 2007. I could safely say that I fell in love, but that's a whole different story I am not talking about.

I joined NaNoWriMo again, but I didn't stop at a thousand words. I may not have reached the goal of 50,000, but I reached 21,000, which is an achievement. I got my camera, not the DSLR I wanted, but still a very good camera that has not yet failed me. I've gotten my laptop and I love it. I've done online work which earned me quite a bit of money that I've set aside.

I've done some things that were really embarrassing, or things that I later wish I didn't do, but they've been almost forgotten and thought about with a bit of ruefulness and humor. I could say that there are things that I lost, including an innocence of sorts, and that pains me. There are things that I don't look at the same way as before, and now treat with caution. On the other hand, I learned to take things as they are, and often, go with the moment, but still be open.

In 2009, I plan to tap into my creativity more, both with visual and writing. I plan to visit more places around the country, but at the same time explore my own province. Going abroad is also a dream that I won't set aside but it isn't a priority. Careerwise, I'll also be more open and maybe pursue higher education.

I'll be making that list now, and looking forward to fulfilling it all one by one. I feel blessed for everything that happened in the past year, and am looking forward to what comes in 2009. Prayers again for good health, happiness, security and contentment for everyone I love, from family to friends near and far. Guidance too, for everyday.

And for the annual year-end survey I've been doing since I started blogging (plus an additional survey too), you can read it here.

A Happy New Year to everyone. May your 2009 be filled with happiness and blessings for you and your family.

Baking a pie

noreply@blogger.com (Kat) — Sun, 28 Dec 2008 12:17:00 +0000

Since I ate the apple crumble at La Branza Grill in Pampanga, I couldn't help but wonder how to make one. I did a quick search on the Internet and found that it's a lot easier to make than a regular apple pie.

Since I didn't have an oven at home, I figured I could give this a try in the future family get-togethers.

Yesterday, I found that a family friend gave us some fruits, which included a few apples. Now, these were the kind of apples that were dark red and had the tendency not to be crunchy, unlike the Fuji apples which were pale in color but guaranteed to have that fresh, crunchy texture.

Another quick search brought me a recipe with a tip on how to cook it in a turbo broiler, which is the only cookware that I have that can do something similar to baking. After asking my brother to get me the rest of the ingredients I need, I was off.

If there's one thing I noticed about cooking, is that you can come up with the most amazing dishes even without having to measure anything. You can always add something in if the taste isn't right, or you could change your recipe to become something new altogether. However, when it comes to baking, everything has to be done exactly as instructed, or else, the outcome isn't always pretty. There are instances where you can guess the measurements but often, you'd have to be exact.

I tried to follow the instructions as best as I could, but my challenge stems from the lack of measuring tools. I had but one measuring cup, and general eating table and teaspoons. Luckily, the recipe didn't require me to make a pie crust, so I went mostly by feel on this.

The first pie came out rather burnt on top, due to the low temperature and low cook time. My mom increased both which resulted to cooked apples but slightly scorched crumble. Still, when it was time for dessert, everyone said it was good and emptied out the pan.

The second pie came out better for the crumble. However, I had less apples this time, thanks to my error in distributing them among both pans. Still, it tasted about the same. We're reserving that for tomorrow.

Dinner included mini shrimp, carrot and eggplant tempura, with some pinanggat na isda. I've been going on a sea food binge since I got home. I think I've only eaten meat once.

Bon appetit!

Pre Year End

noreply@blogger.com (Kat) — Sat, 27 Dec 2008 13:28:00 +0000

The year is coming to a close and I'm thinking of doing that survey I've been doing since 2004(?) before the new year rolls in.

It's interesting how people go into the introspective mode when the year ends and a new one begins. For me, I don't want to dwell on the losses and the regrets, but rather think about them and use them to make next year a better one.

I'd like to think that this year, I've done more than I did, but at the same time, given up on some things as well. I've received so many blessings, but at the same time experienced things that made me question my life and the things around me. Whether it's good or bad, will be up to me.

Still, I think that 2008 has been a good year. I think I'm much happier, and I'm closer to both my friends and family. I've tried new things, visited new places, reconnected with people from my past. I've gotten new toys, spent time with people I love, did better on things that I've done before, and just plain had fun.

I'll post the survey on the 31st (provided that my connection would be good). I am very thankful for all the blessings, and continue to pray for the good health, happiness and security of my family, my friends and all those I care about. I'm looking forward to a wonderful 2009.

Wintery Books

noreply@blogger.com (Kat) — Thu, 25 Dec 2008 07:09:00 +0000

What I want to know today is �?� what are the most �??wintery�?? books you can think of? The ones that almost embody Winter?

Merry Christmas to all. In terms of having the word "winter" on the title, I really can't think of any. But a book that comes to mind (one that I recently read) that has a winter feel is Neil Gaiman's "The Graveyard Book". Possibly due to the fact that it's in a graveyard, somewhere in the United Kingdom and fog and mists are often mentioned, makes it feel all wintery.

It's rather cool now, much colder than what's usually expected for a tropical country. I find it refreshing. Cheers!

Season's greetings

noreply@blogger.com (Kat) — Thu, 25 Dec 2008 01:40:00 +0000

Merry Christmas!

All I want for Christmas

noreply@blogger.com (Kat) — Sun, 21 Dec 2008 23:50:00 +0000

So, everyone's doing a Christmas wish list. I'm not really expecting presents, given that I already got a fairly expensive gift this year and that people are in a tight financial fix nowadays.

Still, nothing to lose with this haha. I don't have big wish list. Probably the singularly most expensive thing I want is a DSLR (and the iPhone pala), though I'm having a pretty good time learning photography basics with my nifty P&S (which is now named Harvey after surviving a fall and has a dent. Gets?)

So, wish list. In no particular order:

Moleskine organizer for 2009
Moleskine large sketchpad
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
The Tales of Beedle the Bard (it's cheaper in National than FB by a hundred bucks)
Diana Wynne Jones "The House of Many Ways"
Neil Gaiman's Coraline
Nora Roberts' Blood Brothers Trilogy
Fall Out Boy's Folie A Deux cd
Up Dharma Down's Bipolar
ProtectMac Anti-virus
Canon EOS 450D (haha wish!)
iPhone 16gb (or the Sony Ericsson P1i)
Any cute anime figurines to put on my desk would also be welcome hehe.

Told ya, simple lang naman di ba? Hehe.

Oh yeah, and if you're looking for some awesome freebies, check this contest out! Cheers!

Skype fun

noreply@blogger.com (Kat) — Sun, 21 Dec 2008 13:39:00 +0000

Having fun with my friends on Skype. Started out with me playing with the settings on how to record a Skype call, Bakemono as my guinea pig. Added Toni and Gilbz later. Long kwentuhan after. Lots of fun haha.

I'm going to fix the settings so I can record it better. :)

BTT: Two questions

noreply@blogger.com (Kat) — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 08:38:00 +0000

For some reason, there are two Booking Through Thursday questions. I don't know which is the actual question for the week, but I'm answering them both. :)

1. Treat

What is the best book you ever bought for yourself?

And, why? What made it the best? What made it so special?

I'd like to think that all the books I ever bought were the best and are all special. I mentioned before (in old BTT questions) that I don't buy what I don't like. Admittedly there are times when I buy a book with much anticipation, then end up wishing I didn't buy it because it falls short of my expectations.

Here are my top choices for the best book I ever got for myself:

Manga: 60 Years of Japanese Comics by Paul Gravett - I'm a big manga fan, and developed an academic interest in it years ago. It was so difficult to get research material for this back then, but nowadays, you can easily get books off every bookstore. I consider this as one of the best because it's about a topic that I am greatly interested in, and it was a fun read. Plus, the agony of deciding if I should buy it was quite fun.

The Solitaire Mystery by Jostein Gaarder - I've mentioned this book before. I first read it at age fourteen, and was completely enamored by it. I lost my old copy, and over the years I said to myself that I would go buy one, but it wasn't until I was browsing a local bookstore's warehouse did I get one. It was priced at 50% off, but still in it's shrink-wrapped glory. I loved the "story within a story" plot, the intricate web of how the current event is connected to the past. I love the card system of telling the time and the ending, which was a beginning of sorts too.

The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman - I started on this book by listening to Neil read it himself. However, as much as I loved hearing his voice, I space out on audiobooks. I didn't plan on buying the book but it was there, and I was itching for a new read so I got it. It's a fun read, fast paced and easy but well worth it.

2. Generosity

Do you give books as gifts?

To everyone? Or only to select people?

How do you feel about receiving books as gifts?

Hmm, a familiar question. As I mentioned before, I consider books as a personal gift. You can't just give a book to someone because s/he likes to read. Even if you know what genre the person likes, s/he may have a preference within that genre so it's still difficult.

I do give books as gifts, but usually to people whom I know. I gave my best friends books a few Christmas' ago (though it was from their wishlists so it was a no-brainer), and I gave my grandfather a couple of books over the years (he loves biographies and WWII related books). I gave my grandmothers prayer books and Chicken Soup books too. I don't think I actually gave a book to someone who I don't personally know, not if you count activity books for kids or something that I know the recipient will read because it's popular.

As for receiving, bring them on! I'll usually read any book that's given to me, but whether I'll re-read them is another story. I'll take care of them and treasure them because it was a gift, but the pleasure of having them because I enjoye the story is a different matter. Over the years I've received books from people and so far, no one has yet to miss the mark, so I guess I can safely say the gift givers know me pretty well. :)

UP Baguio Homecoming 2008 Part 2

noreply@blogger.com (Kat) — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 11:22:00 +0000

Read UP Baguio Homecoming Part 1

Lunch
Alumni trooped to the Bulwagang Juan Luna for lunch. There was a program where TABAK did their trademark performance of a day in the life of Juana de la Cruz, bringing back memories of freshman year and various presentations over the years. It was also nice to see some of the alumni joining the presentation.

After lunch, the older alumni had an informal program of sorts where they introduced themselves and updated each other of what they were doing now. During the �??roll call�?? of graduates, we were the youngest, having graduated in 2000�??s, while there were graduated from the 80s and up.

We younger alumni listened and just had fun. I felt that we were too young to share anything yet, maybe in five years. Still, it was great to see them, learn about who they are and watch them reminisce about their days in UP Baguio. It was also a learning experience of sorts because you get to hear about how UP was before and what had changed. Everyone seemed to have something to share and that made it really interesting.

Someone was able to identify the picture of UPB faculty that was posted on sayoterepublic before. I only recognized two, and when we learned that one of them was Sir Delfin Tolentino, you could hear the people in our table gasp in surprised amusement.

Towards the end, one alumnus led a rousing rendition of UP Naming Mahal, but it was the English version (the one my grandfather knows). We also heard our manongs from Batch 60+ share a cheer they had way back then.

My batchmates and I were in fangirl (and guys, I guess hehe) spasms with Kidlat Tahimik sitting on the table next to ours. I was really thrilled because he had Sir Rolly and Sir Jawo there too. When they were finished eating, we snagged them for a photo. Priceless!

I finally met Kidlat Tahimik when he went around, asking people to sign the petition against the commercialization of the forest next to the Convention Center. He�??s nice, and quite funny too. We saw him around the campus for the rest of the day, and chatted with him too. Got to chat with his wife too, and their youngest, Kabunyan, was also there.

Tambay
We spent the afternoon just hanging around the �??park�??, as we called it. Later on, Thet and I went around the campus. I haven�??t been to the new College of Arts and Communications building, or the Social Sciences, so we went there.

It�??s interesting to note that the CAC and CSS are now at the �??bottom�??. What was the FA and Court B is now the CAC building, and the HS/Math division is now the CSS. I was admiring the CSS building and even the comfort room, when I spied a tree that looked very familiar. Stepping out, I realized that it was one of the trees we used to hold on to when we�??d go down to Court B. As amazed as I was with the new buildings, I can�??t help but feel a bit of sadness for the loss of some of the places we used to hang around in. You could even see the lines of the volleyball court.

And I can�??t get over the fact that the Mass Comm kids had these brand spanking new equipment that my batchmates and I could only dream of back then. Several batches would have to compete over two V8 video cameras and be creative in taking shots because that was all we had. Nowadays, they had HD cameras with boom mikes, a control for those cameras to switch views etc. No need to rent from outside huh? Lupit!

Thet and I went into the library, still manned mainly by the same people. It didn�??t really seem to have changed much, though some of the chairs were now monoblocks instead of the big, wooden chairs that were surprisingly comfortable.

I wanted to ask if I could see my thesis (a copy of which I don�??t have), but no one was around the reserved area and I wasn�??t sure if I had to go through the usual procedure of getting it (do you guys still remember how to?). So Thet and I went to the second floor and had our pictures taken among the bookshelves. Yay, pasaway.

I tried looking for any of the books that I used to borrow, hoping perhaps that the card there would still contain my name. Unfortunately, I wasn�??t successful.

I did see some new books, which was cool. Still, on the overall, it didn�??t look like the library changed much. I would�??ve loved to sit at the very back and ~~sleep~~ read like I used to.

More friends
Towards the later part of the afternoon, we were debating on whether we�??d go join the Torch Parade or just hang around at the campus. Tiki relived his days as SC Chair (2000-2001) by calling for people to join the parade. For some reason, the student who was supposed to do it had an attack of shyness, so Tiki stepped in.

Thet and I went to take some pictures, after we decided to stay behind. On our way to the Oble, someone called my name. Turning, I saw my blockmate Honey, I immediately gave her a big hug, then included Thet in it. We almost got run over by a car too. Then, Honey turned to someone behind her and said, �??Eto pa isa o.�?? I saw Kim (whom Onats christened Kabute way back then), another blockmate and good friend. I would�??ve screeched again, had it not been for the baby she was holding. Instead, I carefully hugged her as so not to squash little Raquim (I don�??t know the correct spelling though). Since we were not joining the parade, we decided to head back to the booth, took pictures and talked.

Kim had to leave a little later, but before she did, she introduced me to a girl who happened to be the younger sister of our blockmate Masikap. Masi was one of the few who went to Diliman during our second year, and we somehow lost touch over the years. I asked his sister about him and told her to give him my regards.

Our classmate Migs Canilao also dropped by with his brods. I dubbed our photo as a Korean telenovela cast shot of sorts.

Early Pasiklaban?
The sun had set by the time the parade started. I originally planned to just take pictures as they left the campus, but the lure of the festive atmosphere was too strong to pass up. So I said goodbye to Thet and joined the other alumni who were there.

The walk wasn�??t bad because there were plenty of people. The air was chilly and invigorating, coupled with the good humor of the alumni made it a lot fun. There were a few marshals, who looked to be part of the student council. They were giving us instructions on where to go and we jokingly replied, �??We know what to do!�??

It was good fun.

Since we were at the head of the line, we had to wait a bit before the Oblation Run and the fireworks. I went back to the booth to rest. Turns out our location was ideal because the participants for the Oblation Run would pass behind us. I literally ran with them to the crowd waiting at the Oble grounds.

The spot I got was right behind Oble, next to a few people for whom this was their first time, based on their comments and their shrieks. I stayed put for the fireworks, and with my handy Ixus, took shots of Oble�??s silhouette as the sky was lit up. Nice.

There were more people during the dinner, alumni and their families who had just arrived, along with currents students who joined in on the festivities. Kat said later that the number of attendees were way beyond the expected, much to the delight of Ma�??am Costina. The audi was so packed; many had to eat their dinners outside. Registration was halted because there were just too many people. Still, that didn�??t stop everyone from having a good time.

For the dinner program, it was the alumni who shared their talents to the crowd. Among the night�??s entertainment were performances from faculty of the various colleges, a reading of �??The Vagina Monologues�?? from various faculty and alumni (including Ma�??am Costina and Angel Aquino), a hula dance number from TAYAW alumni and a very lively performance from Kidlat Tahimik.

The program lasted well into the night, capped by a singing of UP Naming Mahal. We cleaned up our booth and headed home, though I have a feeling that many of the others didn�??t go to sleep until the wee hours of the morning.

Day 2
I went with my sister Otki to school. I introduced her to my friends, then had brunch at the Upper Canteen. Afterwards, I took her around the campus and visited the Human Kinetics Program building. As amazed as I am with the building, I couldn�??t help but feel a bit sad that the archery range is gone. There was a small area inside for shooting, but it wasn�??t quite the same.

I couldn�??t help wonder if they found our lost arrows when they dug up the ground next to the range. If you find any arrows with a pink fletch, that�??s mine.
We didn�??t do much, and we didn�??t really spend it at campus either. We visited Manang Mane and bought our favorite mangga�??t bagoon. No price increase! We also visited the student council office, with Tiki and Jang reminiscing about how it was like and how things have changed.

I got to talk to Sir Francis Macansantos, who was my professor in Comm 10. He may not fully remember my name, but he remembered me as the student who loved anime. Well, that counts for something, hehe. He recently won a Palanca, and he told me to go ahead and submit something. Nothing to lose, he said, and you�??ll never know.

One last trip around the campus with my sister, while telling stories of what I used to do here and there, then we broke for lunch.

I didn�??t get to go back to the campus after that, but spent the rest of the day walking around Session and experiencing the Baguio nightlife (which I never really got to do in college).

Kat said it in her blog entry. We all fell in love with Baguio all over again. In a time when it�??s getting overly crowded, these few days of fun in UP made me remember why I love it, and why I didn�??t move to Diliman in the first place. It was great to spend time with my friends, and see people who were in UPB way before I was even old enough to realize there was a UP in Baguio.

2011 is UP Baguio�??s 50th anniversary. Plans of another homecoming is in the works. Hopefully, my batchmates will be able to go (hint, hint).

Whew, that was long! For the rest of the pictures, you can check them out here, or at my Multiply.

UP Baguio Homecoming 2008

noreply@blogger.com (Kat) — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 14:49:00 +0000

I probably am one of the few people who passed the UPCAT never got the typical �??congratulations�?? acceptance letter. Instead, mine read �??Due to the planned expansion of UP College Baguio�?��?? and was told I can enroll in any course, except Com Sci.

I�??ve yet to meet anyone who has the same type of letter that I did.

I went back to UP Baguio a few weeks ago, to get a copies of my diploma and transcript authenticated. I had seen some familiar people, met with a few of my former mentors and gone around the campus just to see how things have changed.

As interesting an experience that was, it was far more exhilarating to actually be in UP Baguio with your friends and classmates and be surrounded by familiar people, bringing in memories of the great times you had when you were still in school. In that weekend, I was called ading by many of the admin and staff, and I felt like a freshman once again, mostly due to the fact the buildings were all so new�?� and the fact that I saw a lot of my upperclassmen (the seniors and up when I was a freshman).

In the words of Ma�??am Macansantos when she gave her speech during the lunch program, �??Welcome home.�??

Welcome home indeed.

Day 1: Friday
I arrived around 7 AM in Baguio of December 5. I took a day�??s leave from work and got the 1 AM trip from Manila. Initially, I didn�??t want to go because I felt that I was the only one who will be there. Somehow, at the last minute, I changed my mind and decided to go, even if my batch�??s attendance would be small.

I dropped my things off at my sister�??s dorm (who was also studying in Baguio) and slept for approximately an hour. I met her later for breakfast (almost getting lost because I didn�??t know there was a Jollibee in Assumption Road) then headed to UP. Baguio has changed a lot, but in some way, it hasn�??t changed at all.

The atmosphere was festive. Students were milling about the campus, probably preparing for the activities later in the afternoon, or perhaps doing their projects and other requirements before Christmas vacation rolls in.

I headed towards the lobby, hoping to spot anyone that I know. I was about an hour early in meeting my friends, and I wasn�??t fond of the idea of going around on my own.

I saw Ma�??am Vicky Costina talking with a few of the staff about the registration tables. I saw several people in similar shirts, taking pictures, and talking. I figured they were alumni from years before I went to UP. Then, I heard a loud voice talking and when I turned to look, I saw Ma�??am Claur. I couldn�??t help but smile at her, remembering how intimidated I was during PE 1 (which we call fondly called Bio 1). She was talking to another alumnus, and rude as it may seem, I just stood there watching them. In my mind�??s eye, she looked thinner than she did before, but on the whole, she looked the same.

Finally, my friends arrived. I think it was ok to greet them with shrieks and hugs, after all, it had been years since we last saw each other�?� well, years for my blockmate Thet and myself, though I saw Kat, Jang and Tiki sometime before.

We were among the first to register for the homecoming (I was #13 haha), so we were still able to choose our shirt sizes. We milled around the lobby for a bit, and saw the arrival of more familiar faces: Ma�??am Helen from the clinic (retired now, and with whom I chatted with briefly about the many changes around the campus), Ma�??am Brawner (my archery mentor and the team�??s kakulitan during practice), and a few upperclassmen.

Afterwards we helped Tiki set-up a table for the memorabilia he was selling. We got a table from Ma�??am Costina at the OPA office and found a good spot in front of the audi. There were a lot of people milling around waiting for the opening of the �??Pagpupugay kay Sir Darnay�?? art exhibit.

My friends and I took that time to take pictures. I was sad that there were only four of us from our batch�??s division (uy, college na siya ngayon!), but decided to make the most of it. Later, we found a few more batchmates from the Social Scienes and Nat Sci division, er, colleges.

We really didn�??t do anything much except hang around, do some catching up and take pictures. Manang Mane came by and we just had to pose with her. Then I heard someone say �??Sir Rolly�?? and saw him coming from the lobby. I�??m sorry, I couldn�??t help it. I literally jumped out of my chair, raised my arms and screeched �??Sir Rolly!�?? I immediately corralled him for a picture with Thet, Kat and myself. I think I was hyperventilating. Oh well, that was heaps better than the last time I saw him, where I was so tongue-tied I could only grin at him idiotically.

Of course, we also tried to sell the memorabilia and chatted with a few of the alumni. It was cool to see the turnout from the earlier batches, and I was even more amazed when I spied a man who came from Class 1967! He was by his lonesome, which I thought was sad, but later on, he was with a few other people who were his friends back then. Cool.

Read on "UP Baguio Homecoming 2008: Part 2"

BTT: 5 for Favorites

noreply@blogger.com (Kat) — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 07:47:00 +0000

Booking Through Thursday

1. Do you have a favorite author?

Of course! Don't we all? :) I'm thinking of my top two: Neil Gaiman and Nora Roberts

2. Have you read everything he or she has written?

With NR, it's almost everything. With NG, nope, not all, but I'm looking forward to reading all of them!

3. Did you LIKE everything?

Just because they're my favorites, doesn't mean that I love everything they've written. NR sometimes tackles subjects that I'm not comfortable with, or some of her characters aren't as endearing as the others. Sometimes I think NG's stories are too long and have a lot of excess things. But those are rare occurrences. Bottomline is they wouldn't be my favorite authors if I didn't like 90% of their stories.

4. How about a least favorite author?

Well, there's no particular least favorite author... I think.

5. An author you wanted to like, but didn't?

On the basis of just one book: Danielle Steele and Gabriel García Márquez. For the former, I don't think I'll try to read any of her works. For the former, I will still try. I tried to read One Hundred Years of Solitude when I was about fifteen. I guess it was the wrong time. :)

Weekend: Food trip

noreply@blogger.com (Kat) — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 13:39:00 +0000

The week's half done and I haven't updated. Yay for being lazy.

We had a three day weekend just recently, which was perfect for lazy about at home. I tried to finish my NaNoWriMo entry but I couldn't. The brain started shutting down sometime around 11:30 on Sunday, and I wasn't even halfway to the 50k words. So I shut down the laptop, and shut off my brain. Spent December 1 vegging, then went to watch "Bolt" with Miks... and saw the amazing sight of a smiley face in the sky.

No, I didn't read about it in the papers. I was inside the theater from 3:30 PM to 5:30 PM then did a bit of shopping. By the time I got out, it was 6:30 PM, and it was there.

It was also my boss' husband who told us that the two stars were Venus (the brighter one) and Jupiter, over dinner Saturday. Funny, and I've been observing the stars every night for the past week.

Food trip in Pampanga last Saturday. It was good! Started off with lunch at Bale Capampangan (where we had some crickets alongside some duck and goat), then we went around the province, taking at look at Betis Church, Betis Furniture and the giant parols. Dinner was at La Braza, a well hidden grill & restaurant that I probably can't find unless I have GPRS. Baby back ribs and apple crumble with ice cream for less than P200? Yum.

Was supposed to attend a Thanksgiving dinner with my mom's siblings on Sunday, but we forgot about it. Oh well. I ended up getting mad at McDo for giving me 5 pieces of chicken nuggets when they said it was six. Grrr.

Fooooood.

P.S. Did I mention that I absolutely love Hershey's Cherry Cordial Kisses? My stash is almost gone. I need more!

Dreaming to travel

noreply@blogger.com (Kat) — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 03:04:00 +0000

I have so many dreams that it's hard to pinpoint it to just one thing. However, I have always loved going places, and discovering new things and meeting new people. As a kid, my parents would take me and my brother (there were only two of us then) to various places over the weekend, be it just within Metro Manila or anywhere in nearby towns or provinces. Traveling long distances isn't much of a problem for us, as we're used to five hour rides to and from Zambales, our dad's province. Most of our trips involved buses or cars, and the only time I ever got to ride a plane was when I went to Cebu two years ago.

One of my greatest desires is to travel extensively. I'd love to travel to various places in the Philippines, take beautiful pictures and share amazing stories. I'd love to see how Filipinos live in other parts of the country, how different or how similar they are from the life that I know. Afterwards, I'd love to travel around the world, but come back home after every trip.

Sunset in Candelaria, Zambales

I've been to many places, but there's still so much more to discover.

Banaue Rice Terraces

St. Mary's Church, Sagada

Betis Church, Pampanga

The Oblation, UP Baguio

I don't think that's a bad dream at all.

My entry for The Parody's Moleskine Contest.