My Restless Purple Ink

Sweeter Than My Coffee 2013 - Coming Soon

2013-06-02T21:41:00.001-07:00

Coming very very soon! Oh I just can't wait!

http://bookwarepublishing.com/upcoming-book/sweeter-than-my-coffee/

That feeling when you know that it's coming but you have no idea when? I decided not to bug the publishing company, because I trust that they are good on what they are doing. So I'll just keep my fingers crossed and keep on waiting. They are the one who will design the book cover. I can send suggestions but its their expertise so let them be! When it will come out? I really don't know. One thing is for sure, I am so excited!

HAPPINESS is NOT a CHOICE.
It takes a MIND to make a decision.
It takes a HEART to feel an emotion.

(...and you know very well that happiness is an abstract thing)

If you choose to be happy, you can tell the world that you are, but you know deep inside you feel down, bitter or frustrated -- that is HYPOCRISY and not HAPPINESS.

Why am I saying this? Just a reflection on how people are pushing me to be happy during those times that I feel so sad. They usually say that HAPPINESS is a choice. Too bad I was not born a hypocrite.

This is Happiness. This is what I feel right now and NOT what my mind tells or chooses to say how I feel. You know what I'm saying?

KAREN CELERIO

Karen Celerio: NaNoWriMo 2012

2013-06-02T21:09:00.001-07:00

I have just collected my certificate from NaNoWrimo 2012. The last time I joined this thirty days and nights of literary abandonment was in 2009. National Novel Writing Month occurs every November and each participant has only one goal, that is, to complete a 50,000 word or more novel. Who cares about the plot, the theme or the characters? What matters to them is you should be able to complete the 50,000 words before the end of November.

How about the rewards? As we all know contests usually have prizes. Contests usually have winners and awards. Once you have completed the 50,000 words, you will automatically be a winner. No monetary prices, no trophies or whatsoever. Just a certificate and a badge that you have conquered the 30 days of procrastination.

NaNoWriMo has contributed a lot on my writing habit. What I usually do is to include two to three 30,000 words novel in the contest. I may not be able to complete all of them but I was able to get started. I was able to push myself in building three plots in a month. I was able to give life to my characters in 30 days. I was able to get tips from my fellow participants. That was really one hell of a month, but it's worth it.

Yes, I got two new novels on the grill. Since November 2012, I haven't opened again my writing paraphernalia. Now that the first novel is about to be released (which is also a product of NaNoWriMo), I had this queasy feeling that I need to start the engine and get moving again. So help me God!

PurpleInk on Essays.ph

2013-05-09T09:55:00.001-07:00

Online jobs. Work From Home. Earn money online.

Yup! Imagine you are in Boracay on a busy Monday wearing your hot bikini and you’ve been on a vacation for a week. Suddenly, you realized that you wanted to earn money. So you open your laptop, connect to the internet then get some assignments to work on, compose some decent and unique sentences and viola! Money comes rushing in your account. Wouldn’t be so nice to earn money that way?

I’ve encountered so many money-making propaganda online such as networking, pay-per-click; surveys and the like but most of them are just a scam. They would ask you to deposit a certain amount before you could start working with them and earn money, after that you won’t get any.

Back in 2010, a friend told me that she’s been earning extra income through writing. The salary may not be that much but she’s still getting extra and its way better than nothing. She told me that it was more on writing SEO articles. These are keyword-driven articles normally with 500-1000 words. During that time, I was already working with that kind of stuffs in ODesk and getting paid in dollar so I said, “Sure let me try it out”.

So I applied through Essays.ph and if I may recall, I had to answer questions like describe yourself, why do you want to become a freelance writer and something like what is your typing speed? I was also asked to submit a resume online. After that I had to wait if I’ll be shortlisted. Fortunately, I received an email confirmation telling me that I now have an access to forums.essays.ph and I am now a member of the Black Team. Wohoo!

But wait, what is Black Team? Why am I in the Black Team?

According to their manual, initially an applicant is assigned in the Black Team and it was still part of the screening process. You have to write an article based on the provided list and from there you will be evaluated and transferred to Red or Green Team.

I am a writer. I have a blog. I have submitted so many SEO articles online. I am busy. I am lazy.

And since 2010, I never went back to Essays.ph. I’ve browsed through their forums from time to time just to check if they have updated the given topics for the Black Team yet still nothing’s change. Every year I received an email from them asking me to complete the process yet still I am lazy.

One fine day, I received an email again that I am now a member of the Red Team. Whatever process they performed, I really had no idea. Out of curiosity, the prodigal writer visited their site and checked out the assignments. I wrestled for a new assignment and got P120 for 1000 words. The assignment was good for 24 hours but I managed to complete it in 3 to 4 hours while I’m in the middle of my day job. I just waited for the staff to review and approve my submitted article and P120 already got credit to my account.

I met fellow writers in their forums section and I felt so at-home. Collaborating with people with the same passion as I have is simply amazing. Truly a great break from the routine that I have in a day.

Yes, I am proud to say that I am a new member of Essays.ph. In fact, what you’re reading right now is my second assignment. Cheers!

RideIn!: Commuting is now More Fun in the Philippines!

2013-03-19T08:38:00.000-07:00

In the Philippines, an estimate of 40% of the population are living with less than P50.00 per day. Even though the economy this year is said to be in good condition, most taxpayers are still struggling to survive everyday with the surging fuel and transportation costs.

Commuters in Metro Manila always have bad experiences especially during rush hours. Squeezing in buses, fighting for taxi rides and falling in lines for too long so that you can have a ride home are always part of your daily drama. Indeed, commuting in Metro Manila was never easy.

Now, who wants to turn the table around? Who among you wants to play a game?

RideIn! Commuting, More fun in the Philippines!

A group of IT professionals designed a mobile application for Android Users giving them a better commuting experience. How is that possible when you get sardined inside a bus? Well, how about snapping a photo, earning points and then getting freebies?

Not only that, RideIn! also offers other features such as viewing your rides history, getting traffic updates and informing your family and friends that you are safely riding your way home. Similar to Instagram and Foursquare applications, you can share pictures, shout outs and earn badges too.

The Humble Beginnings

A group of IT Professionals who are just passionate about their expertise have joined-forces embracing a single vision that is -- to make a difference through technology. They are: Maui Milan: Product Developer, Rai Escarez: Lead Mobile Developer, Michael Tisado: Lead Platform Developer, John Louie Binas: Lead Designer, Rey Zausa: Product Developer, Joshvin Matthew Domingo: Web Specialist and Lloyd Harlow Yap: Lead Web Developer. These bunch of computer enthusiasts have squeezed in their time for this project apart from their respective day jobs.

Started out in 2012, they have initially voted for iHATID. It is a mobile application that works like Uber services for Filipinos. The objective was to allow commuters to request for taxis through mobile application.

However, this idea would incur additional cost on taxi operators, because the proposed work process would require the taxi owners to invest on Android phones for all taxi drivers.

After series of thorough brainstorming and conceptualization, the group decided to shift the focus on commuters. Since it is currently the hype of Instagram and Foursquare, they have branded a new objective for this application and also changed its name to RideIn!.

The First Clients

RideIn! is currently on a pre-launch mode. They were supported by a taxi operator (BASIC taxi) and one of the top bus companies in the country.

JAC Liner's Solid North Transit, has already put up a streamer in their terminal to inform the commuters that something BIG is coming soon! This provincial bus company have travel routes from San Carlos City to Dagupan and from Pangasinan to Cubao. It has free WIFI on-board giving you a better commuting experience everyday from 2am to 8pm.

How RideIn! Works

1. Download the RideIn! app from Google Play (Android Users)

2. When you ride on a bus or taxi and found the sticker, open the application and snap a photo to scan the QR code.

3. Rate the experience, shout out, earn points and wait for the exciting freebies that will come your way!

Follow RideIn! and get updated through their Website, Tumblr, and Facebook Page.

-----

*All photos are linked to the Facebook Page of RideIn!

*An interview with one of the co-founder, Lloyd Harlow Yap was conducted on 03.19.2013

The War Remnants Museum

2013-03-11T09:03:00.001-07:00

Remembering Vietnam:

I was three-months pregnant when we visited Vietnam. Less adventure, as expected, we opted to stay in Saigon and enjoyed what the city tour offered. The War Remnants Museum is one of the destinations that would forever be remembered. They said it was a one-sided story (an anti-American view) of the US - Vietnam War. Indeed, all the horrors and terrors were encapsulated in this museum. This is what the Vietnamese people had to go through under the hands of the Americans before they achieved what they were fighting for.

Before you enter the museum hall, a big courtyard was packed with battle tanks, helicopters and fighter jets. These war machines were taken from the South Vietnamese Air Force. I remember my occasional trips to one of the airbases where my dad works. These stuffs were in no way of the same level as our tora-toras.

Inside the museum were bombs, missiles and other infantry weapons. The saddest section was the Requiem Exhibit. It showcased the photographs captured by those journalists who were killed during the Vietnam War.

In the war of aggression in Vietnam, the US not only used conventional bombs and armaments, but also chemical weapons to wipe out surrounding natural resources and prevent the forward march of the Liberation Army of South Vietnam. In the 10 years from 1961 to 1971, toxic rains poured down continuously on the Central and Sout Vietnam, defoliating mountains, plains and crops, destroying clean water resources and upsetting the delicate ecological balance.

According to US Defence Department data, from 1961 - 1971, the US Air Force sprayed 72 million litres of toxic chemicals of vrious types of dioxin. In a study by scientists at Colombia University (New York) published in Nature magazine, the total volume of toxic chemicals that the US sprayed over Vietnam amounted to approximately 100 million litres and the content of dioxin reported was double that of previously announced figures. According to the study, 3,851 communes suffered direct chemical sprayed and the chemical directly affected between 2.1 and 4.8 million Vietnamese people.

~ Quoted from AGENT ORANGE

I find it really devastating. 'Got the courage to snap on the first few photos, but later on, my husband told me to skip the remaining part of the exhibit because I might feel depressed which would definitely be bad for our baby.

The horrible truth about war is not a good memory to recall. It is not recommended for those who have weak heart. You could feel the pain from all the photos around you and this is the type of exhibit that could give you nightmares.

At the left area, outside the museum, was a version of French Colonial prisons used to house and execute Viet Cong prisoners. They call these prisons as "Tiger Cages".

I peeked on a very small window and saw this inside. Prisoners were said to be held in this sitting position for a very long period of time.

An actual killing machine was also part of the exhibit. The guillotine used to behead the prisoners was kept there and it was said to be used in executions until 1960.

Despite of all these, the War Remnants Museum is considered as an advocate of peace. Let this be an eye-opener that this kind of torment should never happen again. It is truly a very painful history.

Orange Pichi-Pichi with Cheese

2013-02-25T01:39:00.002-08:00

Pichi-Pichi is one of the most favored treats in the Philippines. It is a steamed grated cassava (kamoteng kahoy) rolled in coconut bits. My grandma is an expert in making suman (sticky rice) and my dad, he used to cook biko (another variety of sticky rice) every year (on my birthday). So, let me just feel that Filipino "sticky" dessert-making runs in my Celerio blood.

This is my second time preparing Pichi-Pichi for my family. My first Pichi-Pichi experience was the usual experimental stage. Back then, I used grated coconut as toppings and it lasted for only two days because the coconut bits get spoiled easily. I mixed red and blue food colors to produce purple but the original color of cassava is yellow. So imagine how red, blue and yellow turned out when I mixed them. The taste was just right back then (I ended up buying at Amber's to know what else I could do to make it better).

I love Amber's Pichi-Pichi with Cheese. I always savor the soft bites and the sweet and salty taste as it melts in my mouth. I always reminded myself, "Heck, I'm making my own version of this."

Here are the ingredients:

1 1/2 kilos cassava (kamoteng kahoy)
2 1/2 cups white sugar
4 1/2 cups water
10 drops pandan essence
2 1/2 teaspoon lye water (lihiya)
a pinch of food color (optional)
grated cheese (or grated coconut)
molder
steamer

1. Grate the cassava. Add sugar, water, pandan essence, lye and food color.

1 1/2 kilos of cassava make 4 1/2 cups. I also used a food processor to mix the ingredients well and make sure that the cassava is grated evenly.

2. Place the cassava mixture on the molder.

I would suggest you use a smaller molder than the one I used. It would speed up the process. With this molder, I still have to scoop them one by one just to make cassava balls.

3. Steam for 40 minutes or until the mixture turned translucent. Let it cool before removing from the molder.

4. Roll molded pichi-pichi over grated cheese and let it chill for 5 minutes before serving.

I opted for orange this time because as much as I love cooking, I also love painting. Orange and yellow looks good together. Happy col0rs indeed!

I used a tablespoon and was able to make 60 Pichi-Pichi balls. It was double the size of that of Amber's. My husband (first victim) told me that I should have used a smaller grater size for the cheese because the salty taste was not good for his gall bladder. I made a mental note to lessen cheese bits if I'll be using a bigger sized grater (that is--If I wanted to prolong his life **evil grin**).

Mission Accomplished!

No-Bake Cheesecakes for CNY 2013

2013-02-10T08:33:00.000-08:00

Chinese New Year is celebrated annually at the Philippines. Although it is not a public holiday, it is considered as a major festival in the country. To welcome the new year of the Chinese calendar, I decided to revive my 2010 no-bake cheesecake recipe and prepared a new version. Also, this time, I have captured every step to make it more memorable.

So after three years, I reviewed my list and tried to make a few changes. Earlier that day, I was struggling at the grocery store. One is because I no longer have a 20/20 vision, I couldn't find the right section just by looking up at the section board (dear me!). Another thing is, I couldn't stick to my old brands, its been how many years? So, here's the new content of my grocery bag when I got home from the supermarket:

Crust:

A pack of Graham Cracker ~~(Crushed into crumbs) -~~ (I know! There's crushed graham crackers available already)

100 grams of melted butter (I bought the unsalted one)

3 tablespoons of brown sugar
1 teaspoon of vanilla extract

Filling:

2 envelops of unflavored gelatin

1/4 cup of pineapple juice
2 ~~bars~~ of cream cheese (I saw this Australian Cream Cheese Spread. So I'm gonna try it out)

500 milliliters of chilled all purpose cream
3/4 cup of white sugar

Topping:

A can of blueberries and a can of cherry toppings

Cupcake Containers

Yes, this year, I am going to use cupcake containers instead of pans. This would definitely change the measurements. What a wonderful way to make things more complicated! :)

Exactly, 9:30PM of February 9, I lined up my ingredients and prepared my tools. Yup, this time, I'll no longer be whisking manually and I'm determined to finish this mission by midnight. Compared to what happened three years ago, I slept at around 3:00AM because I did not know that we have that machine to make my whisking easier. (Geez!)

1. Line up all the cupcake containers. I made four piles of the container since it is too soft to handle the mixture.

2. Prepare the Crust. Mix all the ingredients: crushed grahams, melted butter, brown sugar and vanilla extract. Believe me, buying a pack of crushed graham crackers really saved lots of time. Use 1 tablespoon to place the mixture at the container. Press to form a crust then, place it in the chiller for about 30 minutes.

3. Prepare the Fillings. Mix first the cream cheese, all purpose cream and sugar. Blend it well until smooth. Place it in the chiller while preparing the gelatin mixture.

4. Dissolve the gelatin powder in pineapple juice. Place it in a saucepan under low heat. Stir until it boils. Blend it with the cream cheese mixture until thickens.

5. Pour 2 tablespoons of the cream cheese mix on each container. Chill the mix for up to 6 hours.

6. Place the toppings. This time I bought cherries and blueberries to add variety.

I was able to fill 35 containers and yes I was able to accomplish this mission at around 12:08AM, February 10. A sweet treat for Chinese New Year 2013! Kung Hei Fat Choi! :)

Mission Accomplished!

Spicy Buffalo Wings

2013-02-03T04:55:00.001-08:00

It's been such a busy life since I've been juggling through work and motherhood. I really missed my kitchen so much and I was hoping to get hold of my pans and egg beater one of these days. While I was browsing through a social networking site, a Spicy Buffalo Wings recipe came up and it seems so inviting. So I checked the ingredients and procedures and hey, this is a pretty easy one. All I need is some Me-Time!

Originated from Buffalo, New York, this cuisine is more popular as "hot wings" or "chicken wings". Its original recipe is made of unbreaded and deep fried chicken wings coated with hot sauce. It is served with dips and best matched for beers.

Now let me try this...

1 kilo Chicken Wings (10-12 wings)

Marinade:

2 teaspoon cayenne pepper

4 tablespoon calamansi

2 teaspoon chopped garlic

2 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon paprika

1 teaspoon chili powder

2 teaspoon hot sauce

1 teaspoon ground black pepper

1/2 cup unsalted butter

cooking oil

Glaze:

4 tablespoon unsalted butter

1/2 cup barbecue sauce

1/2 cup hot sauce

Dressing:

1 cup mayonnaise

1 cup fresh milk

2 tablespoon finely chopped garlic

a pinch of salt to taste

ground pepper

Directions:

1. Prepare the marinade by mixing all the ingredients. Marinate the chicken wings for at least an hour.

I suggest you marinate it for more than an hour. The longer, the better. Just like our classic adobo, we marinate it overnight.

2. Deep fry the chicken wings until golden brown.

3. Mix the glaze ingredients in a pan over medium heat. Toss the chicken wings until all are coated with glaze.

Add up 1/2 cup of sweetened wine to the glaze just to spark it up.

4. Mix the dressing.

5. Serve hot with the dip on the side.

The sweet and spicy taste of the chicken wings gave my family a "sarap-to-the-bones" experience. Just a simple recipe that spiced up our Sunday afternoon.

Mission Accomplished!

272 Steps to Batu Caves

2013-01-22T01:50:00.002-08:00

Remembering Malaysia:

Another humongous Buddha? I thought it was actually, but no! That gigantic gold-plated statue guarding the Batu Caves is Lord Murugan, a Hindu deity. He is known as Hindu's god of war. This cave, located at the outskirts of Malaysia, is a very popular Hindu shrine outside India. Most tourists include this in their itinerary.So we made sure that we never missed it!

Batu Caves is a series of caves made of limestone crafted by nature. Inside were Hindu shrines, paintings and statutes. What made it more intriguing is that you need to climb 272 steps before you can view such wonder of nature.

Before we went to Genting Highlands, we dropped by Batu Caves on a very hot April morning. We traveled by train about eight miles north of Kuala Lumpur. We were eight in the group and only four of us dared to climb up the 272 steps to see what's inside one of the Batu Caves.

Up for the challenge! All geared up with towels and bottled waters, we climbed up the stairs hoping that we could make it to the top. The summer heat was like pricking our skins yet as we ascended, the cool breeze started embracing us. Monkeys were everywhere too. The climb was just worth it though my knees were already screaming on our 150th step.

Finally, we arrived at the finished line. The entrance of the cathedral-like cave was inviting already. There were stores outside for souvenirs. There was an albino Python for photo souvenirs too. With our trembling legs and ankles, we seated for a while and enjoyed the scenery. Looking downstairs and laughing at those people who aren't done and still struggling with their climb seems really relaxing. =D

The interior of the cave was just another story. How it was crafted was overwhelming. Several chambers were inside and everything were made of limestone. For others maybe its just another cave tampered by human because the flooring was already cemented and all but for me, it spells out one thing, "culture" and I love it!

Amazingly, this cave is more than 320 feet above the ground. The first chamber contains small temples and some statues for which I believe were Hindu gods.

The second chamber was another few steps to climb. The sun was pouring in this area. They said you can do lots of rock climbing activities in here. There are other caves which can be found at the base and it has entrance fees. Too bad we just dropped by to see one area. A whole day activity is definitely enough to explore the Batu Caves. Until we meet again Lord Murugan... **fingers crossed**

"Hinduism is a relentless pursuit after truth... Hinduism is the religion of truth. Truth is God. Denial of God we have known. Denial of truth we have not known.”
~ Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi

A Stitch Encounter

2013-01-08T07:10:00.001-08:00

Remembering Hong Kong:

Two days after my wedding we boarded on a plane bound to Hong Kong as our honeymoon destination. Back in the days when love was still a fairytale, we visited Hong Kong Disneyland and there we promised each other that we'll start a new beginning together.

One of the most significant part of my Disneyland Experience was the Stitch Encounter. An interactive show where you can talk to Stitch. Such technology is an example of digital puppetry that consists of real-time animation and conversation with the audience. The story of this mischievous alien is that he stole a space craft from his mortal enemy, Captain Gantu and cruised at the outer space (without Lilo knowing it) to meet new friends and have fun with them. This is where the interaction begins.

Such a hilarious encounter I had with Stitch. I remember three years ago, when I promised to immortalize the experience by writing a blog about it. (It took me three years to fulfill such promise...) The conversation goes like this:

Stitch : I want to know the person sitting at the fifth row. Person #1. (...that person was me)

Me: Hello Stitch. =)

Stitch : Hello! Speaking English?

Me: Yes.

Stitch: That's good. What is your name?

Me: Khaisse.

Stitch: Hello Khaisse! And who's that person beside you? Is he your boyfriend? Is he your...brother???

Me: My husband.

Stitch: Oh my God! What is your name husband?

Husband: ******

Stitch: ******. How long have you been together?

Husband: Ahh... Just got married. (all smile...)

Stitch: Oh my gosh! That is so sweet! Come on ****** and Khaisse stand up.. ****** say I love you to Khaisse!!!

Husband (holding the microphone): I love you Khaisse... (audience applauded)

Shameless...

Then the story continued with Stitch taking picture of an audience telling everyone that the latter was some kind of a space criminal. Approximately after 20 minutes, the show ended with Stitch escaping from Captain Gantu.

I found a Youtube video similar to the Stitch Encounter we had in Hong Kong:

"Ohana" means "family." "Family" means "no one gets left behind." But if you want to leave, you can. I'll remember you though... I remember everyone that leaves. - Lilo (to a running away Stitch)

Wat Pho: The Reclining Buddha

2013-01-07T22:13:00.002-08:00

Remembering Thailand:

The oldest and largest wat in Thailand is found at the Wat Pho Complex where the Reclining Buddha was sheltered.

Phra Buddhasaiyas, the Reclining Buddha, was created with gold plating at approximately 46 meters long and 15 meters high.

Part of the compound was a Buddhist Monastery. It was my first time to see monks walking around in broad daylight. We really tried to chase them to ask for some photo shots but they ignored us and kept on walking.

There are many definitions of the reclining Buddha. Each of which is based on the body parts' positions. This Buddha's eyes are open and the arm seems to be in place to support his head. Such position denotes that reclining, along with sitting, standing and walking are good exercises to keep yourself physically fit.

Another significant symbolism that you can get from this Buddha is his feet that are closed together in flat position.This means that he has completed his enlightenment stage and has reached nirvana - the state of nothingness. They simply call it the Buddhist Salvation.

There are plenty of humongous Buddhas around the world and I am thankful to have a chance to see some of them. Buddhism is about KARMA - cause and effect. RESPECT for the DIGNITY of HUMAN LIFE and one's quest for innate goodness, peace and happiness.

Buddha bless you!

A Thai Folklore: The Selfish Old Man

2013-01-07T04:52:00.001-08:00

Remembering Thailand:

A perfect Sunday morning when my friends and I decided to go to Thailand's floating market as part of our Bangkok experience. Our tour guide/driver offered to take us at the "Wek Museum".

"Wek Museum?!?" We looked at each other thinking what he was talking about.

He brought us at Siam Cultural Park's Wax Museum in Ratchaburi Province. Its an hour long drive from the city capital - Bangkok.

The museum showcased life-sized models of well-known figures in Thailand and Asia. Most of them have prominent connection with the history of Thailand. Part of the museum also portrays a Thai Folklore: a story of the greedy old man.

So the story started with "Once upon a time..."

There was this old man who lives in the jungle. He was poor and lonely. No food to eat, no family to love, no friends to hang out with. (I joined him one Sunday afternoon and tried to have a chitchat with him. Unfortunately, we cannot understand each other because of language barriers...)

Then, a hunter came by with his dogs. His dogs picked up his scent and started to chase him. Afraid to be eaten alive by the hunter's companion, the old man climbed up a tree.

Well, I tried to climb up too, but to no avail. Guess, I've eaten too much the night before.

So the hunter caught me along with the beggar. He was still up there so scared to go down because of the dogs. Good thing this hunter has a good heart. He came from the Royal Palace. He took pity on the old man (on me also...) so he provided the latter with nourishment and shelter for a day. After that, he brought him to the palace.

At the palace, the old man met the prince with his children. The prince realized how unfortunate the old man was after listening to his story. So he gave him a bottle of magical water. The prince told him that he will not feel hungry for ten days when he drink the water. After that, he vowed to give the old man anything he wished for. To his surprise, the old man asked to have the prince's children.

It was a very crucial decision for the prince to give away his children. He contemplated for days. Knowing how blessed he was to have everything, compared to the old man who got nothing, he decided to give his children hoping that they will receive the same love that he provided to them.

This old man; however, does not have a good heart. He mistreated the prince's children. He let them work for him. He used up all the fortune that the prince gave him and when he's back at nothing, he came up with the idea of selling the children to have food. (I could not believe it either. Poor children. I find a very hard time sneaking out of this greedy old man to free them... And couldn't!!!)

And you know where he went to sell the children? The King. He knows that his royal highness would do anything he wished just to get back his grandchildren.

Starving, the old man asked for unlimited food which the king obliged.

Feasting on his so-called success, the old man ate as much as he could.

Too much that his stomach could no longer hold.

That's why it exploded.

Of course he died.

It is not because the truth is too difficult to see that we make mistakes... we make mistakes because the easiest and most comfortable course for us is to seek insight where it accords with our emotions - especially selfish ones.

Getting someone's love or attention even though its NOT YOURS is SELFISHNESS. Being addicted to something or even someone that may result to aggravating somebody else is also SELFISHNESS.

KARMA has its own way of getting even.

I rest my case.

Dapit-hapon

2012-10-16T22:29:00.001-07:00

Si Lola
Sa edad na nobenta'y syete, ay tila kamangha-mangha
Sa hagdan, kaya pang mag-akyat-baba

Kaya pa niyang humawak ng sariling kutsara
At kumain ng nakasanayang adobo at tinola

Si Lola
Sa maghapon ay walang gawa
kundi matulog, kumain at pagmasdan ang bintana
Sa darating na dapit-hapon ay magsisindi ng kandila
sa harap ng altar ay luluhod at magaantanda

Si Lola
Nabuhay upang ang mga anak ay punuin ng pag-aaruga
Ngayon ay wala lahat, matagumpay na't mga dalubhasa
Binhi ng pagmamahal at kasipagan sa kanila'y ipinunla
Siyang tanging yaman na maipagmamalaki sa madla

Si Lola
Ngayon ay wala nang makilala
Maging anak, apo at kung sino mang dumalaw sa kanya
"Pagpapasensyahan ninyo ako dahil ako'y matanda na" aniya
Sa sarili niya, paghingi lamang ng tawad ang tanging magagawa

Si Lola
May busilak na kalooban at matatag na pananamplataya
Kaya't sa araw-araw, ang umaga ay pinagkakaloob sa kanya
At tinatanggap niya ito ng buong puso at ligaya
Na makikita mo kahit sa larawang aking kuha

Mahal ko si Lola at sa kanya ako'y tunay na humahanga
Dahil kung ako ang nasa kalagayan niya
Isang dakilang Ina na tila baga inabanduna
At nabubuhay lamang na parang nauupos na kandila

Kumpara sa kanya ako'y lubos na mahina
At sa dapit-hapon mas nanaisin ko pa
Na ipinid ang aking mga mata at ituwid ang dalawa kong paa
Upang makamtan na ang ligaya sa piling ng Poong Ama

Paraiso

2012-10-12T02:30:00.000-07:00

Ang larawang ito ay kalahok sa Saranggola Blog Awards 4

Painting on Flower Clay Pots

2012-10-09T02:37:00.000-07:00

A few months back, we went to the resort at Laiya, Batangas, where we had our wedding to celebrate our one year anniversary. On our way home, we passed by some stalls selling clay pots. Varied sizes from an inch tall up to four feet. I'm a bit excited on what I could possibly do with it so I bought the smallest size. The cutest size where you can place small cactus or fortune bamboo plants.

At home, I first cleaned my mini pots. It's important to have a clean painting surface so you have to remove dirts, sands or any other elements. I used sponge and scraper to do the trick.

Then, I prepared the base by coating GESSO primer. Afraid that the coating might wear off since clay pots can absorb water, I placed 3 coatings. Waited for the primer to dry before applying white acrylic paint. I applied a Liquitex brand (waterproof).

When the base paint dried up, I started painting the design I have in mind. Flowers of course! It ain't easy! The surface is not as flat and rough as the canvas but it went out well, I suppose.

Some of my friends were asking me to take home these two mini pots, but it was not possible to give it away during that time because I forgot to buy a varnish for the finishing coat. :D

Anguish

2012-07-10T09:10:00.000-07:00

It never subsides

As it creeps down to my veins

Ripping my flesh

Shattering my soul

Its that sensation

burning

ravaging

tormenting

Somebody sedate me!

Please make it stop!

Make it stop!!!

Karen Celerio: ANGUISH
Drip Painting on 10"X14" stretched Canvas (Acrylic)

My first try on abstract painting. A drip painting full of pain and sorrow turned out something else to a friend. He asked to have this as a gift.

So I sent the painting to a friend via courier. I do hope it will not give him any bad luck since I made the painting with all the hatred in mind... :D

A Treat of 100 Short Stories

2012-06-22T04:10:00.000-07:00

Here is a collection of aspiring and established writers' short short stories in the Philippines. A mix of different themes and styles written in Filipino and English. Surely is a good treat!

Around May 2009, I saw an invitation via FilipinoWriter.com. They were looking for contributors for an anthology of flash fictions which will be published in 2011 for the Centennial year of my alma mater, De La Salle University. Since most of my works are in flash fiction, I submitted 3 of my manuscripts to Mr. Gerardo Torres hoping that my write-ups will be chosen as part of the anthology.

So I've waited... Just like a child waiting for her parents to come home at night, I patiently waited at the window hoping for their shadows to appear. A month after (June), I started checking my Inbox everyday and still I got no email from the editor... So again I waited...

Then on July, I finally received an email from him. To my surprise, my work got in!

From school and community newspapers, I finally got a chance to have my work published. Anvil Publishing took care of the rest. I received my Complimentary Copy last December 2011 and here's a glimpse of my work. Cheers!

Yup! That's my work on Page 50.

My 2-page flash fiction finally on paper!

Karen Celerio: Sweeter Than My Coffee

2012-03-25T21:43:00.002-07:00

My First Tagalog Chick Lit. It's still in Draft Status. :)

Karen Celerio: Sweeter Than My Coffee

It's been every writers dream to have their works get published. Me, as an aspiring writer, I have experienced being rejected by publishers several times. Publishing Industry in the Philippines have set their own standards when it comes to published materials. This won't stop me from writing in my own style and dreaming. E-books are considered as a new medium to reach the audience. Since my manuscript is still in draft status and waiting for approvals, I posted it online to somehow get feedback and refine my work.

500 Feeding Project: The beginning

2011-02-23T10:54:00.000-08:00

This year, my mom and I vowed to help the children in our own little ways through a feeding project. We were starting at our very own town of Malvar in Batangas City, Philippines. There are several districts in our town and based on the census, each district has records of malnourished and underweight children.

One weekend, we filled about 25 containers with Chicken Arroz Caldo, a Filipino version of porridge or Chinese Congee. We also bought 2 boxes of juice in tetra packs and prepared sandwiches before we set out to visit Luta Norte, Malvar Batangas.

This marked the beginning of my 500 Feeding Project where I challenged myself to feed 500 children within a year. I'll be posting the photos of the children who were given a single meal.

For our first district, with the smallest population, we were able to feed 17 children and it only means that I still have a very long way to go.

Hope you'd join in my advocacy.

Learning Photography: Placing the Horizon Line

2011-02-15T06:54:00.000-08:00

A Canon 500D model is surely a wonderful birthday gift from a special someone. How to operate it is a one big struggle even though it's an entry level DSLR. However, it paved way to an exciting world of photography. My husband and I got excited on the beautiful things that we can capture around us.

As usual, I am a no-rule-bite-me person when it comes to arts. So I managed to take a few shots based on what seems to look good at the eyes of the beholder. Later on, concepts started to fill me in and first thing that I learned is placing the horizon line.

From word of mouth, I learned that the horizon must be a straight horizontal line since in reality, a horizon is a straight line. Browsing through the net I also realized that placing the horizon at the top, middle or bottom has a powerful impact to the composition of the photo.

Dasol Pangasinan: my first decent shot

For an instance, when you set the horizon at the top area of your frame, the distance is enhanced and the foreground details is accentuated.

Clouds are nice subject so place the horizon at the lower part

If you place the horizon at the lower part of the frame, it gives the impression of loneliness because it gives you the vast emptiness of the sky. Usually, this is effective if the clouds give a dramatic effect to your composition.

sample of an unusual horizon

Lastly, cutting the composition into two by placing the horizon at the middle, as they say is a big no-no, but hey! It is also true that rules are made to be broken. If it works and you can pull it through then why not? Usually it is effective in photos with reflections.

Oh well, I still got tons to learn...

Body Painting for a Bride

2011-02-08T06:08:00.000-08:00

Body painting is a kind of body art that is pretty much similar to tattoos but it only lasts for a few hours. Last year, I got a chance to have my back painted with flowers for a very special occasion—my wedding.

The wedding theme is Hawaiian. Entourage is wearing floral dresses, Hawaiian shirts, khaki shorts and grass skirts except me. The bride is wearing a classic gown and to add a touch of the Hawaiian theme, I had a body paint at my back.

Early morning, a few hours before the wedding, I went to the house of the artist. I also brought some colorful stud stickers to make the look fancier at my back.

The artist even finished it with silver glitters to add glamor at my back. He took about an hour to finish the body paint and charged me for Php 500.00.

This is how it looked when I put on my gown. A lot were amazed and the paint lasted until the next day when I hit the beach!

Maria Aragon - "Born This Way"

2011-02-01T07:51:00.000-08:00

From Charisse Pempengco, another Filipino child wonder was recently discovered at YouTube by no other than Lady Gaga.

Lady Gaga found Maria Aragon at YouTube, a ten year old half-Filipina who resides in Canada as she uploaded a recorded video of herself singing “Born This Way”. Gaga commented on her Tweet account about what she felt when she watched the video and exclaimed that Maria Aragon is the future. Since then, the video received million viewers all over the world.

Here's the famous YouTube video that the whole world has been talking about:

How to Make Mushroom Burger

2011-01-19T09:39:00.000-08:00

Tagaytay is always an instant getaway for those people who want to drive away from the city for awhile, hangout, eat and enjoy nature. Most people would not miss a chance visiting one of Tagaytay icons, the Mushroom Burger.

A perfect alternative for the usual fast food burgers, Mushroom Burger can be a good source of minerals and it can tone down your cholesterol level.

The store also sells four types of mushrooms which they grow themselves in Tagaytay. They have Shiitake Mushroom, Abalone Mushroom, Wooden Ear and Oyster Mushroom.

According to the store's history, they initially started growing mushrooms using Taiwan technology. Then, a Swiss Executive Chef helped them making the best mushroom burger recipe which made them well known until now. Recently, they have opened a new branch at West Ave, Quezon City.

But what if you wake up one morning and you feel like eating or preparing healthy mushroom burger for your family? Do you need to travel down south to visit the store? Why not prepare your own burger right at your kitchen?

I found a few recipes on how to make a healthy mushroom burger. Let me share it to you so that we can plan together cooking a healthy burger for our love ones in the next few days.

Things you need:

•    olive oil
•    1 diced onion
•    1 minced clove garlic
•    3 diced green onions
•    1/2 teasepoon of cumin
•    3/4 cup of diced fresh mushrooms
•    1 15 ounce can of pinto beans
•    1 teasepoon of parsley
•    salt and pepper

Things to Do:

1. Saute garlic and onions using olive oil over a medium heat for 5 minutes.

2. Add mushrooms, cumin and green onions, stir fry for 5 minutes. Set aside.

3. Mash the pinto beans. Add the parseley, mushroom mix, salt and pepper. Mix well.

4. Mold the mixture to form patties. Cook each patty over medium heat with 2 tablespoon of olive oil. Flip to other side after 3 minutes.

5. Prepare you burger with the desired bun, fresh lettuce, tomatoes, white onions, mayonaisse and ketchup. Add the patty and you’re done!

Enjoy your healthy burger!

Acrylic Painting: Sweet Pea

2011-01-12T08:14:00.000-08:00

After a few months of saving up for acrylics paints, I managed to buy a few sets. I also decided to buy some illustration boards and a few yards of canvass cloth so that I can customize the shape and size of my canvass. A primer is also essential that is why I’ve spent up to the last penny that I’ve got in my pocket to complete all the materials that I need.

Here's how I prepared my canvass.

1. Cut out the illustration boards into your desired size or shape.

2. Neatly wrap the board with a canvass cloth.

3. Seal the cloth using a bond paper. Fill the paper with glue then paste it at the back portion to cover the other side of the canvass.

4. Grab a brush and scrub in the primer!

I was dreaming of creating a 4 panel painting so I cut out the board into 4 pieces. After preparing the canvass with 3 layers of primer, I started coating it with the background that I have in mind.

Since I am not a professional painter, I don't have the basics of painting. As they usually say, use a pencil and sketch your piece first before hitting the canvass with a brush. I didn't. I just imagined and it seems like I imagined too big that it exploded inside my head. Thus, I ended up using a single board leaving the three behind.

Sweet pea, my first acrylic painting on a customized canvass.

DIAMOND KISSES: Episode #2 - Dracula Laugh

2011-01-05T06:02:00.000-08:00

See also: DIAMOND KISSES: Episode #1 - Surprise! Surprise!

“Hey Casey, wake up!”

I opened my eyes and found Mae staring down at me. Mae Duce, pronounced as doo-cheh with feelings, is my best friend since grade school. She had this Latina features which she always matched with auburn hair color. Mae and I literally shared a lot of things together: our dreams, our fantasies, our troubles, our secrets, our mission impossibles, our inclination to spooks and mysteries, art and fashion and of course, our fascination with boys!

“Eff! Intruder Alert!” I joked but totally disoriented.

“A gorgeous intruder!” she rolled her eyes, taking a seat on the foot of my bed. “So sorry to wake you up princess, but its almost nine.”

I stretched on my bed and blinked at the sliding glass door near the window. Sunlight was pouring into the room already. “Damn, it's Sunday girlfriend.”

Mae raised her eyebrows as she scooped the latest issue of my Cosmopolitan magazine collection. I suddenly felt a pang of guilt for not calling her last night. It might have been so precious to her that she went straight here first thing in the morning.

“What's up?” I asked in a groggy voice.

“How about hitting the beach at Nasugbu. I feel like my ghost skin is coming back.” She said half-minded while scanning the magazine.

I had to laugh. Knowing Mae so perfectly white who turns pink instead of tan under the sun, “of course, you getting well done and me getting toasted.”

“Oh you're sixteen already. Don't you know how to put sun block?” She threw a pillow at me.

“Never worked for me.” The last part was lost in yawn.

“Giddy yup, girl!” She hissed.

“Ayt! Why don't you tell mom so that she can pack some sandwiches for us.” I finally hopped off the bed.

Mae strolled out of the hallway. “Just give me five minutes... No make it ten!” I shouted lying back again.

“Hurry up you – ” I heard her voice faded as Mae's footsteps headed downstairs.

I turned over onto my back and stared at the ceiling trying to recall my dream. I suddenly thought of Mitos. A one month fling should have ended the right way. “But No! My dream is about Ferroa.” I insisted to myself. I remembered it was dark and we were staring at each other but who was I staring with? Mitos or Kelvin? I could not figure out the image of the guy. Restlessly, I got out of bed and hit the shower.

“He's my fantasy guy for years. Never thought of having our paths crossed.” I grinned as I scampered to my dresser and packed all the things I need for the beach.

We walked swiftly heading down the hot summer sand. A beautiful sunny Sunday and the Nasugbu Beach Club was packed with South Meadows' elites. The ocean breeze tossed strayed hair into my face. I held my sunglass and squinted at the heat of the sun. Lying down at a nice spot, I hurriedly grabbed the food basket for a sandwich. My tummy is aching for anything edible.

“I heard that Mitos and Sidney were... You know. Are you okay?” Mae started cautiously. She pulled up her dress revealing her red, two-pieced bathing suit. She has a great swimmer's body. Showcasing her glamor, some guys from the back whistled with the satisfying view. “I mean, why is it so sudden, I didn't even notice that she's hitting on him already.”

I almost choked myself with pickles. “So far, I don't give a damn.”

“Oh come on, baby. You have to let it out.” Her dark brown eyes looked so concerned, throwing the tanning lotion at me.

“I'm okay. Promise!” I laughed out half-heartedly sending her the signal to change the topic.

“Dear me, I hope she'll never chase my Taz when she realized that I like him.” She mumbled munching an apple.

“Keep an eye on him.” I said sharply as I ran my fingers through the warm sand.

“Wasn't Troy so... Ah I can't even think of a word for him. God-like?” She giggled. “He sent love quotes last Friday via SMS and I-miss-you quotes yesterday morning. Too bad I don't have a phone load.” She was floating.

“Well, he left a message last night in the messenger and I think he's got a thing for you.” I winked.

“Oh really?” Mae's face broke into a dreamy smile. “Stay tuned... He'll be mine soon. Sidney's not the only one who's got the charisma.” She toyed with her apple left-over contentedly.

The basket filled with sandwiches, chips and drinks made my appetite grew weary. I fished for a fresh orange juice instead. My mind started to spin and I am set to do some clear-headed thinking. “Do I need to talk to Mitos? Will Kelvin be mine also?” I wondered as I sipped the juice and scanned the place.

“Hey! Do you mind spilling it?” Mae interrupted my silence.

“What?” I almost choked from the straw that I've been toying with my tongue.

“Come on, you have something I need to know.”

“Uhm, It's Ferroa.” I started.

“Again? After breaking up with Mitos you're back fantasizing Kelvin again?” She asked excitedly.

I continued to gulp down my orange juice trying not to argue with what she had just said. Before I could even start to pour out my thoughts I was interrupted by a beach volleyball slamming at my water tumbler. I stood up flushed and figured out who it belonged to. The summer heat just splashed me with a surprise when I saw Kelvin at the volleyball court with Ursula all over him.

Dani approached me and gave me an I-told-you-so gesture. I gasped in disbelief but again I calmed myself pretending I was not affected. I held the ball on my hand thinking if I'm going to throw it to Dani or wait for Kelvin to get it from me.

“Hey buddy, over here!” Dani called him and Kelvin left Dimples.

“Casey and Mae's here.” He said trying to introduce us.

“Yeah.” Kelvin nodded avoiding my eyes and glaring at Mae. “We're from the same class right?”

I mustered a polite smile. I noticed Dimples followed and as soon as she came over, she rolled her eyes.

“Of course, same Homeroom and Creative Writing Class for like how many months? You just don't seem to notice!” Mae butted-in still seating gracefully on the sand.

Dimples grabbed the ball off my hands, ran back to the volleyball court pulling Kelvin after her.

“I hope we did not bother you.” Kelvin waived goodbye.

“No sweat.” I replied. There goes my opportunity. I sighed to myself.

“Six?” Dani reminded as he turned and followed the two. I nodded mutely.

“Hmm... Fishy, fishy, fishy!” Mae teased.

I regained my composure. Getting jealous of Dimples would only contribute to my defeat. I sat beside Mae silently ignoring her and fixed my tumbler. What do I get in return? Will I win his heart also? I might get hurt in the end. Is it worth to gamble? My mind was oozing with questions and anxiety. The more I think of it, the more I feel uneasy.

“Casey...” I heard at the back of my head whispered. Even if the sun is directly consuming my skin cells I felt goosebumps all over me. I looked around and checked everyone I know at the beach. Football players with their girls in hot bikinis were at the bar chilling out while waiting for the grilled pork chops. At the far left end of the beach were two couples from my History class having their moments. A group of lower batch students were playing Frisbee near the volleyball court. Some baseball players were having their wake boarding session and at the far right end was Misty... I mean Raven Lopez – the loner guy we used to call Misty. Since grade school he acted so weird and mysterious. The last time we saw him he was talking and hugging an Acacia tree at the school field. Mae always get annoyed on my theory that he had a huge crush on her and that he'd been stalking her since the fourth grade.

“enough of the silent treatment!” Mae yelled at me kicking some sand at my back. “You and Dani are having an affair behind Gilleane's back?” she fired at me angrily. “Shameful!”

“Calm down. For chrissake! You've got the wrong girl.” I looked at her trying not to laugh.

“Are you going to tell me or Am I going to bite your head off?” Mae is getting serious and pinkish mad. “Six? Is that some secret code or what?”

“Ayt! Dani asked me to help him to get Kelvin off from Dimples' clutches.” I confessed.

“Oh! And why you?” she asked impatiently.

“God knows why me. I have this freaky feeling that Gilleane is behind all this.” I remembered that Dani's girlfriend knows my hidden feelings for Kelvin. “Would you like me to send you instead?”

“Hell No! He's all yours! Ah! This is going to be exciting!” Mae shrieked. “No wonder, you're not that bothered with Mitos-Sidney issue at all. You'll be out chasing the man of your dreams.”

“Oh, bite me!” I answered dryly.

I grimaced looking at Kelvin while he's playing volleyball. He seems quite strong and perfect for every sports he'd been playing. He wallop the ball and hit Dani on the face. Dani's loud scream was not a simple pain but a distressful agony. Such a strong hand, I thought. Mae noticed Dani too as she stood up and tried to look what was happening. I cared less on Dani and studied Kelvin instead as he pushed his thighs to approach Dani. His sweat on his face were sparkling under the sun. Can he communicate through minds also? I wondered, feeling the sandwiches doing jumping jacks inside my stomach. The God of the hunks was trying to communicate with me?

“Ooh! I offered myself to thee.” I spoke out loud and laughed my head off.

Guessing that she knew what I was talking about, Mae laughed with me hard enough to catch Raven's attention.

* * *

5:45 PM

I was browsing through my Facebook account and searched for Dimples Marquez. I found pictures of her with Kelvin. She wears her big smile on all of their pictures while poor Kelvin never exerted any muscles around his lips at all. I copied a picture to my computer and edited it with Photoshop replacing Dimples' body with Ursula's. I was laughing hard when Dani popped out of my messenger.

Dani_Boy is on line

Dani_Boy: So what's the game plan?

Cyber_Kick: Guess none for me.

Dani_Boy: So this means you're signing on my contract. LOL!

Cyber_Kick: Looks like I've got no other choice.

Dani_Boy: Sweet dreams, Mendez.

Cyber_Kick: Ayt!

Dani_Boy is offline

Sidney_Sassy: Casey...

Sidney_Sassy: BUZZ!

I logged out of the electronic messenger like a shot. I could feel the heat inside me. Sidney and I had same classes in my previous years and she was good to me. As much as possible, I want to get over with that issue so that I could concentrate on my new mission. Its just that, I couldn't find the right words to say as of the moment. “Shameful.” I recalled Mae yelling at me.

I just chucked it and instead smiled at the Ursula masterpiece. I touched the contours of Kelvin's face at the monitor. “You'll be mine soon, my knight in distress!” (Dracula laugh) I saved my files and disconnected from the Internet. Still having the joker face, I tossed myself on bed.

Two weeks to go and we're all set for vacation.