Maraisms

Hong Kong Phooey! Day 2: Falling In Like with Cities Like They're People

noreply@blogger.com (Mara Ruiz) — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 10:31:00 +0000

I really did not appreciate Hong Kong during my short 3-day trip there last November. I was still in my honeymoon phase with Singapore (was totally "In Like" with that country up until I came back there for the fourth time), and I saw Hong Kong as a Manila with a better transport system at that time.

Only when I unearthed these photos that I started missing Hong Kong.

I actually want to go back.

According to Feng Shui, the diamond pattern is thought to be very unlucky. The Prime Minister of Hong Kong refused to live here. It's like Obama refusing to live in the White House.

My fried Z likes making ~~stupid~~ funny faces.

This view. I was breathless for a while. Also because of walking uphill.

Hong Kong Phooey! Day 1: Mingle by the Park

noreply@blogger.com (Mara Ruiz) — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 07:24:00 +0000

It was The Trip of Many Hassles: hotel bookings, flight schedule coordination (Z did not have tickets 2 weeks prior to our scheduled trip), and itinerary planning (what the hell are we going to do there?). But I was glad that my friend Z and I took Hong Kong Phooey by storm!

It was my first time, and I really wished Hong Kong and I didn't meet in such circumstances: I was under a budget, I had to take unnecessary leaves from work, and lodging, for the first time in my seafaring adventures this year, is on me. No friends abroad to provide shelter (just a round of good drinks and tapas) this time. Z and I were literally left on our own devices coupled with mad researching skillz.

Good thing our VAIOs led us to this quaint boutique hotel called Mingle by the Park. Okay, okay. It sounded funny when I had to say Mingle by the Park to friends, to my parents, to the immigration officer, etc., when asked where in Hong Kong we are going to spend our nights, but Mingle provided more than we asked for.

CONCEPT and DESIGN

Mingle is a boutique hotel located in the heart of the heritage district of Wan Chai in Hong Kong Island. It's a 50-year old, 1960's "balcony" style "Tong Lau" residential building — typical architecture for the period — that captured the old, 60s, glamorous-as-far-as-glamorous-goes Hong Kong.

To give you a visual, if In the Mood for Love would be re-imagined for 2011, I would picture Tony Leung and Maggie Cheung having their affair right in this very hotel.

Mingle, as I see it, is designed to be experiential: you get transported into a different era everytime you get to a different floor. It is very evident in the photos in the stairwell (if you care enough to read the captions, which we didn't!) and the wallpaper that adorn every floor.

"Du", Azalea, is chosen for the 1^st floor. When this flower blossoms, the Governor's House is open to the public. This is also where the reception area, decked as a traditional Chinese drugstore with all the mini cabinets, is located.

"Mei", Plum blossoms for Spring on the 2^nd floor.

"Lan", Orchid for Summer on the 3^rd floor.

"Ju", Chrysanthemum for Autumn on the 4^th floor.

Picture taking stopped at the 4th floor because this was where our room was. Also, spot the difference between the 3rd and the 4th photo! Note: it's not the dollop of catsup on my shirt. Haha.

The rotary dial phone is such an anachronism among our gadgets, modern hair thingamajig, and MTR card.

Each floor also has a theme and each room has an item representative of the floor's theme. For the 4th floor, the Entertainment floor, I might be wrong, but there was a set of Chinese divination sticks, which I thought were incense sticks. LOL. Other rooms had traditional Chinese toys, traditional Chinese board games, and utensils. No two items are the same per room, so you really get a sense that the concept was very well thought of. Kumokon-cept! as my friends Mark and Lyra would say.

LOCATION and AMENITIES

Looking back, we couldn't believe how we struck gold with this hotel. It was situated a few meters away from the Wan Chai MTR station, making it very accessible via MTR to Hong Kong International Airport, Hong Kong Disneyland, Nathan Lane, and Kowloon.

Mingle is also sort of a fork in the road when it comes to traveling in Hong Kong. You either have a choice to revisit Hong Kong's Past OR Hong Kong's Present and Future. On one hand, you have the antique markets, the memorials, and the old houses. On the other, you get the shopping malls, the theme parks, the bustling Hong Kong cosmopolitan.

How do I know all of this? Foursquare! And Mingle provides their guests with a handbook of sorts of all the places to see and visit within the area. They also give MTR directions, too! It didn't matter if we didn't have an itinerary planned; Mingle already made one for us.

For your reference: where our room starts and ends. Don't ask me what Z was doing there.

Entrance to the bathroom. Check out our matching luggage!

Nice little bathroom. Dapat sideways ang pagpasok. Kidding!

As mentioned, Z and I stayed on the 4th floor and got the Double Value Room that can house two grown ladies. For approximately PHP 5,000 a day, you get a clean room with a cleaner bathroom, a must for us two picky budget travelers (such oxymoron! Haha).

Remember, we booked our hotel 2 weeks prior to this trip so prices may go down if you book earlier. And a word to the wise: Get rooms in the lower floor/s because there are no elevators!

No breakfast, too, but with the multitude of local eateries around, a 7-11, a McDonalds, and a KFC, there's really no need for a buffet breakfast we all know you wouldn't wake up early enough to have.

FUNTERTAINMENT!

As an add on, there were FREE in-house movies and music in every room. I think Z and I finished around 3 movies during our whole stay there.

OVERALL

I definitely recommend Mingle by the Park because of it's value for money, location, concept and design, and overall awesomeness!

Mingle Place by The Park
143 Wanchai Road, Wanchai, Hong Kong
Reservations: +852 2838 1109 Fax +852 2838 2252

or visit www.Asiatravel.com to book online.

Maraisms on the Web

noreply@blogger.com (Mara Ruiz) — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 11:16:00 +0000

Just like my Twitter description said, Oversharing since 2011, my oversharing tendencies were heightened when I got an iPhone 4 two weeks before the iPhone 4S was released (I regret nothing!). The minute I unboxed my unit, I downloaded all the Social Sharing apps imaginable.

Behold:

I now understand why people are so addicted to their iPhones. For a week or so, it became an extra appendage; it's practically an extension of my arm. BUT I'm not here to talk about my iPhone.

Not that my ego is bloated enough to think that 77 readers translate to 77 ~~friends~~ ~~stalkers~~ friends, but let's all stop pretending and let's admit that we like snoopin' on each other's muffin.

As a sort of reintroduction to anyone who just got here, and in celebration of Maraisms.com's first birthday (yay!), here's where I'm up and about on the Internet. Be warned though that having an iPhone made me a social networking site fiend! Name it and I'm on it. Here are several ways to get to know me without buying me dinner.

Let's keep in touch if you're up for it.

@maraisms on Twitter

I have to come clean that I have two Twitter accounts: One is reserved for in-real-life (IRL) friends only, and @maraisms for more propeyshunal contacts and, well, friends who can't get enough of me. Hrhr.

The reason for this dichotomy? Let's put it this way, based from a scene from The Social Network, a movie which I believe should be the bible for all your social media and online interactions.

Here's the scene where Mark Zuckerberg tried to apologize to her ex-girlfriend Erica Albright for calling her a bitch in one of his blog entries:

Erica Albright: You called me a bitch on the internet, Mark.
Mark Zuckerberg: That's why I wanted to talk to you. It we could just...
Erica Albright: On the internet.
Mark Zuckerberg: That's why I came over.
Erica Albright: Comparing women to farm animal?
Mark Zuckerberg: I didn't end up doing that.
Erica Albright: It didn't stop you from writing it. As if every thought that tumbles through your head was so clever, it would be a crime for it not to be shared. The internet is not written in pencil, Mark, it's written in ink and you published that Erica Albright was a bitch. Right before you made some ignorant crack about my family's name, my bra size and rated women based on their hotness.

Not that I go around calling everyone "bitch" on my other Twitter account, but if there's one hard lesson I have to learn from oversharing since 2001, it is you don't overshare. EVARH. Which, I couldn't help doing because I even live tweet my dinner.

@maraisms is just the watered down version of my other account. Call it Other Mara's Twitter account lite if you may.

Okmaraok on Tumblr.com

Here's another watered down version of Maraisms or what I would like to call Maraisms in 100 words or less: things that are too long for twitter and too short to blog about.

It's also a repository of my Instagram pictures (not photos because I am not pretentious) made available for people who do not have an iphone. "And what is Instagram?" you ask?

@maraisms on Instagram

One of my favorite iPhone apps to date: Instagram! I call it Photoshop for the lazy. My pictures are not exactly gallery-worthy but a little instant overlay there, some creative cropping, and BAM! Call me Captain Instant Photographer. My friend, Z, said it best: Nothing looks bad on Instagram.

I try to veer away from posting too much of my face or my meal for the day. So do check me out. -_-

@mara_ruiz on Foursquare

Holy crap! I can't believe how addicted I am to this app! I love it so much it hurts! I love it so much I check in on every place I go to! Exclamations!

Foursquare, if you guys don't know yet, is a geolocation tagging site that lets you share where you are in the world. It's similar to what Facebook Places is or what I like to call "Maiyabang lang na nasa Republiq ako" app.

To get people addicted to the app, Foursquare offers badges for special check-ins and mayorships for frequent check-ins. Aside from having a cool badge on your profile for bragging rights, other establishments offer discounts and special mayor promos for frequent customers. Neat, huh?

As for me, I got to maximize Foursquare during my recent trip to Hong Kong (partly because of the yabang factor) and mostly because I was so afraid of getting lost alone in a foreign country; I basically let everyone know where I am.

Foursquare also has that very cool feature of locating the interesting places near you. Very, very useful when looking for the nearest Cotton On or H&M store, I say ;)

As per usual, and to avoid any untoward incident of stalking, open to IRL friends ONLY ;)

Mara Ruiz on The Philippine Online Chronicles

I am happy to report that I started writing for The Beauty and Fashion Channel of The Philippine Online Chronicles again. Yay!

I say "again" because I went on a brief hiatus for 2 months, mainly because I got overwhelmed with IRL work and with, well, writing. But now I'm back with a bang (HUHLolz).

My first comeback article is again about another It Bag. Out with the old (Longchamp Le Pliage) and in with the new (Cambridge Satchel)! Read about its not-so-long-yet-equally-interesting history which may or may not involve Harry Potter.

So, there ya go. No need to miss me too much because, as they say, I get around ;)

#KumuCulturalInSingapore2011: Strictly Pancakes

noreply@blogger.com (Mara Ruiz) — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 09:50:00 +0000

Has it really been 4 months?

Yikes!

Indeed. As much as I don't want to do a repeat of March, more important things have happened. I am, at the very least, a part-time blogger (and lover undercover. Hrhr).

Anyhoo, a loooot of time has passed (and I have admittedly been back to Singapore for the Great Singapore Sale), but I still have a lot to share for my #KumuCulturalInSingapore2011 series. So here goes.

Meet Zhorai.

Contrary to popular belief, Zhorai is not a grumpy Ex-pat living in Singapore.

She's just an Ex-pat living in Singapore who doesn't like their local food.

Gasps! You might say. Someone can actually dislike Singaporean food?

You see, Zhorai is a picky eater.

Doesn't like spices. Not even curry.

Which eliminates all basic Singaporean food groups in the menu - Malay, Indian, Thai.

So what is left for Zhorai to eat than Chinese cuisine? Which we all can agree gets to be a tad boring when eaten repeatedly for months on end.

So what is a good friend to do when she drops by Singapore?

Bring her to Singapore's first dedicated pancake cafe, Strictly Pancakes, that's what!

Prinsep Place at Prinsep Street

Located at 44A Prinsep Street, Singapore, Strictly Pancakes is situated in one of the quaint and quieter parts of Singapore. Unlike the megatropolis that is Orchard Road or the corporate ~~non-~~jungle that is Jurong East, Prinsep Street is like the cleaner version of Cubao X or Makati's The Collective (only less cooler).

Rocking the t-shirt and some white-framed shades.

Prinsep Place at Prinsep Street, where Strictly Pancakes is located, is a stone's throw away from the La Salle College of The Arts so expect some hip~~sters~~ and young-ish crowd when you go there.

Also catering to the students (and probably student's budget) are the different pubs and cafes dotting the area. Worth paying a visit while you're there is ~~Mr. Bean's Coffee (LOLZ)~~ The Selegie Arts Centre where I believe The Photographic Society of Singapore often meet.

Strictly Pancakes - The Place

So enough blabbering about the street. It was just a devious ploy to show you all my day off photos. Hrhr!

Strictly Pancakes has an IKEA-esque feel to it: utilitarian and minimalist, yet cozy. From their website, their logo design, even to their interiors, everything is (supposedly) clean (white text against a muted pop color) and crisp.

Reminds me a lot of My Arcade Hero Creatives :D

I say supposedly because the couches could use a little scrubbing and conditioning =/ Or maybe it's just Zhorai's misophobia (fear of contracting germs, yo!) that's been rubbing off on me.

Even so, I love how they maximized the merely 30-square-meter space to include low tables with cozy couches and the standard sit-down tables (seen at the foreground of this next picture). It makes Strictly Pancakes a great place for Getting-to-Know-You Dates (sit down muna!) or cozier and more intimate Going-Steady Dates (pang-couch ang dating!).

If it were a school day and if it were in the Philippines, I would've expected a college crowd somewhere there. The low tables with comfy couches are also perfect for group study sessions!

Of course, our lazy bones just had to choose the couches. In fairness, di nandiri si Zhorai.

And now, the food!

Being the first dedicated pancake cafe in Singapore, one would expect the fluffiest, the tastiest, and simply the best pancakes in Singapore. It delivered in that aspect. Mind that I specifically said in Singapore because I am never really fond of Singapore doing their own spin on Western dishes. We do it better here in the PH, I must say ~~(Pinoy Pride!)~~.

While researching for places to bring my BFF and her tired palette to, I noticed that SG is so big on breakfast/brunch places. Didn't even bat my eyelash on those because Zhorai and I are just spoiled with some of Manila's best brunch places. I have to say that our hotels have better breakfast buffets than most brunch places in SG, this coming from someone who doesn't really subscribe to Pinoy Pride. I'm just sayin.

I don't think there's nothing like it in Singapore, but I could be wrong. Anyhoo, the place boasts of freshly made batter with every order (no stale batter from these guys!), maple syrup straight from Canada, and the first in chill brew coffee, that is gourmet coffee brewed in low temperature to release that different aroma and flavor.

I appreaciate though that Strictly Pancakes offered a lot of experimentation on their menu.

Step 1: How high can you go?

Short (2 pancakes)
Medium (3 pancakes)
Large (4 pancakes)

Step 2: Salt on your buttah, madame?
Choose your own butter

Salted
Unsalted
Garlic + herb
Rum + raisin for the more adventurous.

Step 3: "Friends for a Lonely Stack" aka sidings

Bacon
Scrambled Eggs
Sauteed Mushrooms
Corn Beef Hash
Chicken Chipolata

And now, the food!

We decided to skip the usuals and go straight to the main event.

The best thing about pancakes is that they can serve as blank canvasses for anything. Strictly Pancakes really went wild on their selection: from the the usual Sweets or the unexpected Savory.

Zhorai and I were feeling dangerous so here's what we ordered from the Savory bunch:

Zhorai's order: Butter Garlic Prawns

SGD 14.00 or approx PHP 475.00 ++ tax

Medium stack served with prawns buttered generously with garlic and cherry tomato salad on the side for an aromatic, mouth-watering treat.

Made of so much win! Give Zhorai shrimps, give Zhorai butter garlic, and we're good to go! The pancakes served as a great backdrop, if you may, to the butter garlic shrimps. The symphony of herbs thrown into the butter + garlic concoction was much appreciated, too.

My order: Beef Me Up

SGD 14.00 or approx PHP 475.00 ++ tax

Have a super thick juicy homemade beef patty flanked by two extra thick pancakes with sautéed mushrooms and a side of arugula salad. Served Well done.

It was anticlimactic to Zhorai's previous Order of Win. The beef patty was dry (because it was well done and I usually prefer my meat medium well), the contrast between salty and sweet (I ordered maple syrup + salted butter) was not appreciated on my end, and it just looked kawawa next to Zhorai's order.

Potato Wedges

SGD 6.00 or approx PHP 205.00 ++ tax

The potato wedges came as our meal's great equalizer. Nothing spectacular, nothing life changing, not really disappointing. Aside from being pipping hot when served (something you should watch out for), the wedges were OK when paired with catsup.

Value for money and is it worth visiting?

The food at Strictly Pancakes weren't cheap to start with, makes one miss the Pancake House pancakes in the PH, really. But Strictly Pancakes is not exactly the usual hawker place in Singapore. So YES, if you want to splurge on something different and NO if you don't want to spend more than the usual for pancakes.

Strictly Pancakes

44A Prinsep Street, Singapore 188674
6333 4202

Opening Hours:
Mon: 1800 - 2200*
Tue - Thu: 1130 - 2200*
Fri: 1130 - 0000**
Sat: 1000 - 0000** Closed from 1600* -1800
Sun: 1000 - 2200* Closed from 1600* -1800
*Kitchen closes 30 min before **Kitchen closes 45 min before

#KumuCulturalInSingapore2011: The MINT Museum of Toys

noreply@blogger.com (Mara Ruiz) — Tue, 28 Jun 2011 03:12:00 +0000

I'd like to believe that my recent trips to Singapore were entirely made possible by the Internet. For one, I bought my tickets online. Who doesn't anyway nowadays?

Then, to get around, I totally (like to'lly) GoThere.SG-ed my route and commuting tracks (I only missed my stop once!).

And then I Google-ed all the malls I have to hit once I got there. I developed a new skill and gained fake notoriety for being the Singapore Bargain Shopper (self-imposed title) overnight that I even wrote an article about it.

But more than surfing the Web for shopping ideas and good deals, my best find on the internet was not an item to purchase but a destination. And in theme with my #KumuCulturalInSingapore2011, I decided to hit museums this time around. I'm really not interested in art or history museums, so after some researchin' around the Web, I decided to go to The Moment of Imagination and Nostalgia with Toys (MINT) Museum.

Holy Tan, Batman!

(The rest of the entry is image heavy. But who's still on dial up anyway?)

MINT Museum of Toys is actually a private collection of one Singaporean toy hobbyist, whose toys were curated and housed in the MINT museum which was opened to the public in 2007. According to the website

".. [It is an] extensive collection of vintage toys, including rare and unique one-of-a-kind pieces. It is considered to be the largest collection of its kind within Southeast Asia, with more than 50,000 pieces of vintage toys and childhood memorabilia, ranging from the mid-19th century to mid-20th Century."

Imagine amassing 50,000 toys in your lifetime! Well, you don't have to if you've been to The MINT Museum of toys. The entire collection is worth S$5,000,000 or approximately PH 175,435,740!

It was an interesting mix of robots, character toys, superheroes (and villains), and different collections of toys from different countries. I am not much of a toy enthusiast myself (I was deprived as a kid), but it was a treat to be surrounded with all those characters from my childhood.

It was also worth noting that my friend Zhorai, who grew up Laking Aircon and lived in an entirely different side of the spectrum, and I have different experiences with toys while we were growing up.

I knew what Daleks are because I grew up with a sci-fi geek of a father; she doesn't. I knew Snoopy because of the McDonald Happy Meals back in 90s; Zhorai actually read the comics. Parang Guess the Geek/Mahirap lang yung nangyari.

Here are some interesting photos from MINT Museum!

Heroes and Villains

Fatman and Blobbin

Dan Danger Thimbles. For every kid's sewing needs.

Darth Maul life-size replica.

And the Star Wars geeks go wild.
Also, an ode to the now defunct Mirror Project.

Bruce Lee punching dolls!

A Superman string holder!

I dunno what kids those days have with string holders, but let's start counting how many were there in the museum, shall we?

Tin robots that my friend Mark will definitely enjoy! Check out that rightmost robot's estimated value.

I guess it's a hand puppet? Kids, this is how you use your imagination.

Astroboy's sister, er, Astrogirl!

And its live action trading cards!

Character Toys

I'm strong to the finish coz I eat my spinach with salt and pepper.

Whimpy and some green guy string holders.

String holder count =3

Woody Woodpecker string holder.

String holder count = 4

Dennis the Menace dolls and a Mighty Mouse paddle!

I bet kids these days don't even know who these are.

Donald Duck's predecessors.

And a dead one that was laid to rest.

Their Barbie collection was dismal, and I made it known through their guest book XD

String holder count =5

With WWII and the Holocaust, kids of yore scare very little.

Felix the Cat prototypes.

Sounds wrong. So wrong.

String holder count = too many to mention.

A Shirley Temple string holder.

Are you still counting?

I don't know what kid would be interested in Charlie Chaplin toys.

The plagiarized Lion King - Kimba the White Lion - in a spaceship!

What a downer!

Why anyone would make a character about a friendly ghost baffles me.

The Flintstones!

Zhorai was very happy to find an old friend.

Toys from around the world and collectibles

Everyone's a little bit racist.

Used-to-be-socially-acceptable toys in the 50s called Golliwogs.

A collection of tin cans

And Tin Tin!

Speaking of tin, check out those tin lunchboxes!

Zhorai's pick

My pick

Aaand a remote-controlled tin peacock.

A doll, which I suspect, that is supposed to take your soul and never give it back.

Mr. Bean's Teddy is part of the teddy bear collection. Cute!

Traditional Chinese dolls. Equally as creepy.

It takes very little to amuse kids back then.

A Japanese folk toy that I find soo kawaii! Z said every Sony office in Japan usually has one of these.

I really like these toys the best. Very simple and sweet.

Probably because Singapore was a British colony? I really dunno.

The Beatles Comb Collection: a must have for every fan.

Matchboxes

And more string holders!

Zhorai in front of the supposedly award-winning building that housed MINT (wasn't that impressed actually).

As I've said, I really was a deprived kid when it comes to toys. My parents never bought us a lot save for one Barbie for me; a toy train, a laser gun, and a dinosaur replica for my brother; and a tub of Lego that my brother and I would sit down with for an entire Saturday afternoon, building pyramids. ~~MINT was a grim reminder of how much I missed out as a kid.~~

MINT really is for adults more than kids. Do drop by if you're a little kid trapped inside a grown man's body.

I, on the other hand, was just an old lady stuck in this 26-year-old body.

MINT Museum of Toys

Opening Hours

9:30am to 6:60pm daily

Address
26 Seah Street
Singapore 188382

Contact

Tel: +65 63390660
Fax: +65 63343373

Visit www.emint.com for admission prices

Because I took too many photos of MINT Museum, get the uncut commentary on my tumblr! MEHGAHNUN.

#KumuCulturalInSingapore2011 Day 1: Disney's Lion King The Musical

noreply@blogger.com (Mara Ruiz) — Wed, 08 Jun 2011 02:00:00 +0000

My first, 70% of my second, and probably 100% of my third trip to Singapore are ALL ABOUT shopping. Sure, sure. Culturally uptight hipsters might think that I am such a product of consumerism to even fall to the trap of Singapore shopping. BUT I won't apologize for it. Still, it felt like I was missing out on some of sights and sounds of the city, so I decided to make part of my second Singapore trip into a cultural one.

My first time! Mark of a Singapore newbie: Forever 21 cardigan, Cotton On spaghetti straps top, Charles and Keith bag (ALL BOUGHT ON SALE), and a photo at the most touristy spot you can imagine (next to the Merlion, which I am puzzled to say that I haven't got a picture of yet).

And with this shopaholic, culture means watching a musical. Not even a local Chinese opera but a big Hollywood production. LOL. Baby steps, guys. Baby steps.

So on my first day, after an exhausting shopping trip (and missing my bus stop once!), my own #KumuCulturalInSingapore2011 activity began. Here's how it happened, in the grand tradition of Twitter, 140 characters or less:

What am I talking about? Probably the most "cultural" thing I did while in Singapore was watch Disney's The Lion King Musical.

I really don't have pictures to show you aside from these

I was so totally there, you guys! They allowed cameras inside but trusted their good citizens to not record nor take pictures of the show. I wouldn't want to be the Bobong Turistang Pinoy that gets caught taking photos so this one was the only photographic evidence that I have.

Oh, and this Uma-Outfit Post photo. Yes, I am wearing the same orange cardigan AND I went with the theme of the musical: TRIBAL.

If you really want me to talk about the musical, well, it was an experience. It was a grand theatric experience of song, dance, acrobatics, puppetry, shadow puppetry, and machinery. YES! Machines!

Kaya nyo yan?

There was an interesting part of the musical where the passing of the seasons was shown by a man pushing a what seems like a wheelbarrow with different puppets hooked on it. As the wheels and the cogs of the wheelbarrow turned, so did the animals attached to it moved.

AND THAT EPIC SUNRISE! I thought I've seen everything there is to see on theater when Himala the musical (yes, there was one in 2003!) made it rain inside CCP without getting the audience wet, but my God! When that huuuuuuge sun rose from stage of The Lion King Musical, I was almost in tears because of its pure awesomeness!

The actors who played Simba and Nala were great, but sorry na lang: Adult!Nala is way better thant Adult!Simba. Even Kid!Simba is better than his Future.

There were a lot of interesting characters, but I tip my hat for the costume designer for dressing up Zazu in a suit and a bowler hat combo. I had the movie's OST on casette and I remember seeing Rowan Atkinson's name on the credits, so this amused me a lot.

But my favorite has got to be Mufasa (left) for being so regal and menacing! The actor who played him kind of reminds me of Bernardo Bernardo. LOL.

Timon and Pumba gave the comic relief, and their Hakuna Matata number is always a crowd pleaser. I appreciate how they used colloquial terms and local jokes to reel the crowd in. Also, Timon might look weird in an all-green costume, but, like all musicals, it's all part of the act.

Great musicals rarely get staged in the Philippines. And if they do, local theater companies botch it (Save for Avenue Q. BUT I have my evil eye on you, Spring Awakening!). So it was a pleasure to have the opportunity to see an award-winning show. Kids would love this show, not to mention the kids at heart. Being in that theater felt like I was 10 years old again, popcorn at hand, and excited to see a "cartoons" with my family.

All in all, day 1 of my #KumuCulturalInSingapore2011 was a Great Success! I still have Days 2 and 3 to write about, and I promise I won't post pictures of myself with the Merlion.

In Which I Go Batshit Insane About Garbage Disposal

noreply@blogger.com (Mara Ruiz) — Thu, 19 May 2011 06:30:00 +0000

I know, I know. That pink bag Zhorai hates. LOL.

A few weeks ago, Avon Philippines, in cooperation with the Direct Selling Association of the Philippines (DSAP), Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), and Partnerships in Environmental Management for the Seas of East Asia (PEMSEA) held a coastal clean up along Freedom Island and Long Island (Numu-New York!) at Manila Bay.

My first tarpaulin! Made that with my (not so mad) Photoshop Skillz.

The site for the Manila Bay area clean up was originally planned for reclamation as a part of a development project in Manila Bay. However, in April 2007, Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo declared the site as a critical habitat and ecotourism area, which eventually prevented further land reclamation in the Manila Bay area. The place is home to 40 species of birds, including migratory birds, and 9 species of mangroves including the Nilad, which used to be abundant in the area and on which Manila derived its name (May nilad – to have Nilad).

source

An ornithophobic's nightmare

Of course, being part of Avon's Communications Team (of which Corporate Responsibility falls under), I was there with other members of our team to help out. I am usually the couch potato environmentalist when it comes to activities for Mother Earth - using both sides of the paper, recycling, segregating my garbage, using earth-friendly products - but I never really took the step to go out there and literally pick up trash.

So there we were at along the Manila Bay coast at 7 AM, picking up people's trash that got washed ashore. You won't believe what people throw out as garbage, and into the sea for that matter! There were suitcases (plural), several pieces of shoes, a freakin stroller, basketballs, glass bottles, and every size of sando plastic imaginable.

The activity reinstated my ongoing peeve about how A LOT how FILIPINOS can be so careless with their garbage. Filipinos, as I see it, have a habit of throwing everything without really giving a damn about the consequences. We take pride about taking baths twice or even thrice a day but we are HUUUUUGE LITTERBUGS. Just go outside your office building and see how many cigarette butts or candy wrappers you see lying around. In my condo alone, a day does not go by that I do not see a piece of plastic or a plastic cup from Jollibee inside our FREAKIN' ELEVATOR. It's really disgusting.

Photo not relevant.

Just so you have an idea of how long it takes for your garbage to decompose:

Paper- 2.5 months
Cigarette Butt - 10 to12 years
Plastic bag- 10 to 20 years
Disposable diaper - 75 years
Tin can - 100 years
Styrofoam- NEVER. They're immortal, like Edward.

source

Photo by Francis R. Malasig/EPA

According to The Resources, Environment and Economics Center for Studies, Inc.’s (REECS) 2002 study on household waste management systems and the attitudes and behavior of the communities in two barangays in Metro Manila ( Bennagen, Nepomuceno, Covar, 2002) showed that:

1. Waste management is still perceived by many as the responsibility of government.
2. Public participation in waste management, especially in segregation at source, remains limited.
3. More extensive awareness- raising activities and training on ecological waste management are needed, together with stricter enforcement of the Law and local ordinances must be observed.
4. There is lack of community empowerment and political will to resolve the problem.

source

It's not. Waste management is EVERYONE'S responsibility. Don't expect the government, OUR GOVERNMENT, the same government who can't feed you, will pick up your trash. DON'T BE LAZY.

The garbage you throw LITERALLY, IN THE MOST LITERAL SENSE OF THE WORD, AND I AM NOT BEING IRONIC HERE, stays FOREVER.

To say that the coastal clean up activity was an eye opener is an overstatement. We already know our coastal areas are disgusting and congested with garbage. Haaaaaave you met Ondoy? If we continue to carelessly litter, the beaches we are oh so proud of - Boracay, Panglao, Anawangin - all of those will be gone.

More than enacting anti-plastic laws, more than dreaming about Priuses, more than building solar-panelled houses, I believe it's the people's attitude about waste disposal that needs tweaking. We as a nation should know that Garbage dumped into the sea or anywhere is no longer an environmentally or socially acceptable practice. It's NOT Cool.

So here's what I suggest: instead of being preachy about The Environment, la di dah, throw a disgusted look at anyone you see littering. People should be ashamed to litter, to throw garbage anywhere they please. It should feel cool to segregate, to not be wasteful, like District 13 in The Hunger Games!

I may sound like a tree hugger to you right now, but try walking around Manila after the rain, with all the mud and soaked garbage on the streets WHILE WEARING FLIP FLOPS and see why I am so passionate about this.

Just think about this: We could've had a stretch of beach just a few minutes away from Manila. Instead of flocking into malls, we could've been sun bathing along Manila Bay. But no, we don't have that. We have a stinkin' body of garbage instead and it's nobody's fault but ours.

For your reference:

Expectation

Reality

Doing your own makeup

noreply@blogger.com (Mara Ruiz) — Mon, 16 May 2011 03:58:00 +0000

I've been dabbling with makeup for almost a year now and it seems so long ago when I attended meetings with blue-green eyeshadow and knew nothing about contouring. I never wanted to make a career out of makeup (although I luckily landed a job in a beauty company :D ); I just want to be good at it enough for me to do my own makeup.

And so that's just what I did for one of our latest events at work: Did My Own Makeup. I think it's the ultimate test of your makeup application skills. Just like Kate Middleton who did her own makeup for her wedding, I road tested my skillz and chose to do my own face.

Not too shabby, don't you think? I could've retouched my foundation and lipstick before taking this picture, but whatevs. I take full credit for this face (and my parents for my genes. LOL).

Face

Avon Ideal Oil Control Pressed Powder in Neutral

Oil control wise, it held its own with enough primer. I'm just really oily on the T-zone, hence the gleam.

Ellana mineral finishing powder in Espresso Con Panna

Cheeks:
Lancome powder blush in Shimmer Pink Pool

Eyes:
MAC Studio Finish Concealer in NW25
Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion

In2It Waterproof Eyebrow Color

Maybelline Magnum Mascara

Avon Smooth Mineral Eyeshadow in Mocha Goddess all over the lids

Urban Decay Eyeshadow in Oil Slick

Applied on the upper lid and on the outer V of the lid make the look party-appropriate and to give my eyes an illusion of a crease.

The Urban Decay Primer Potion is godsend! Applied this eye makeup around 8 AM and retouched only once at 5 PM. The event lasted till 930 PM, and look at that minimal creasing!

Lips

Lip Ice Strawberry Lip Balm Sunscreen Protectant with SPF 15

Mac Lipstick Amplified Creme Cosmo

All in all, I am happy that my small collection of drugstore and high-end makeup brands all complement each other. I am proud to say that none of my makeup goes to waste. I use them all! That's because I am very particular with my makeup products. I don't buy them just to try them out. When I buy makeup, I make sure I will use it or I will not buy it at all. Frugality at its finest. LOL.

Also, knowing how to do decent makeup on yourself is really an invaluable skill that every girl should know. You don't need to take makeup lessons; there are a lot of resources online - Youtube, blogs, forums. So go ahead and dare to do your own makeup, too :)

Clinique's 3-Step Skin Care Program

noreply@blogger.com (Mara Ruiz) — Mon, 02 May 2011 08:56:00 +0000

My secret skin care shame is that I don't preach what I write. Yup, guilty as charged: I do not cleanse-tone-moisturize as often as I should. This is mainly because of laziness, but lately, after the sudden weather change from winter-y to hellish (read: SUMMER!), I find my skin more problematic than usual.

Here's my skin condition as of the moment:

Thanks, Camille, for the photobombing.

Oily at the T-zone, with the oiliness sometimes spilling over to my cheeks
Dry around the mouth area
With small pores around the nose
Occasional blemishes and breakouts
Skin tans when exposed to the sun
With anti-aging concerns

All my life I've been convinced that I have a combination oily skin, having an oil slick of a face. But two summers ago, my face reacted differently after spending the day under the sun. My face started to be extra oily on the T-zone and extra dry around the mouth area. Researching more about my condition, I found out that my skin got dehydrated while under the sun so it produced extra oil

Skin that's under-moisturized gets dehydrated, and while it may not become truly "dry," the skin's natural reaction is to produce extra oil in an attempt to capture more moisture.

Source

So that summer, it was my first time to try moisturizers. I must admit, my moisturizing non-habit comes and goes, but it all changed when I got the chance to try Clinique's 3-Step Skin Care during Project Vanity's Clinique Party Part 2.

Turns out, I was a Skin Type 2 - Dry Combination

You have combination skin, which means you're oily in the T-Zone but cheeks are uncomfortably dry when you don't use a moisturizer.
Your priority is to keep skin in balance - add moisture to some areas and keep oily spots under control.

All my life I have been treating my skin with anti-oily products to the point that I may have stripped my face of its natural moisture! I couldn't accept it at first (LOL. I was still in denial), but after giving the Clinique Type 2 Trial Packs, I was obsessed (to say the least)!*

Step 1: Clinique Liquid Facial Soap, Mild for Normal to Dry Skin

The first step in Clinique's 3-Step Skin Care System. All the benefits of Clinique's dermatologist-developed Facial Soap in a liquid formula. Cleanses without stripping protective lipids. Preps skin for the exfoliating action of Clarifying Lotion. Convenient pump dispenses just the right amount.

Let me just say that this facial cleanser feels like butter when applied AND when washed off! It doesn't have that tight feeling after washing that I really, really hate! It's unscented and didn't make my skin dull after a week of using it (yes, I used it for a week! Using only tiny dabs of it to save what little is given on the sample. LOL). My skin felt really supple and hydrated after use.

It makes sense though that I'm given a mild formula for normal to dry skin to avoid stripping too much oil from my face. Remember, too much washing can strip your skin of its natural oils and will trigger your skin to produce more oil than usual.

Step 2: Clinique New Clarifying Lotion 2 for Dry Combination Skin

Helps clear away pollution, dulling flakes for smooth, glowing skin. Helps pores look their smallest. Skin accepts moisture better. Grows more resistant to impurities. Stays healthier, younger. Dermatologist-reformulated to be comfortable, non-drying.

Liz once told me to skip on the toner just so I won't be too lazy to moisturize. This tip, however, doesn't work for me because I always see toners as a safety net to remove all the dirt your facial cleanser failed to clean.

Clinique's New Clarifying did just that and as far as making my pores look smaller, it did make them disappear in pictures. LOL. What do you expect? I was only given the sample size.

The clarifying lotion has a slight sting and alcohol scent to it, but I don't mind. It may be its way of preparing my skin to "accept moisture better." All in all, I think I can live without it, but your Clinique 3-Step Experience may not feel complete without it. Just my two cents.

Step 3: Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Gel

The oil-free moisture “drink” developed by Clinique’s dermatologists to maintain optimal moisture balance for skins comfortable in the cheeks but oily in the T-zone or oily all over. Oil-free formula softens, smooths, improves.

According to the Skin Consultants, gels are better suited for oily skin types because these are lighter than normal moisturizers. If you will notice, this is the only product that is prescribed to remedy my oily skin. Do not be afraid of moisturizers even if you have oily skin. Again, having excess amounts of oil on your face may mean your skin is actually thirsty for moisture.

Additionally, Mira said that this should not take the place of your moisturizer. The Dramatically Different Moisturizing Gel prepares your skin to absorb your moisturizer. I see now how Clinique's 3-Step Skin Care routine works well together and with each other because each step really complements the next.

The Dramatically Different Moisturizing Gel is a lot more dense than the Moisture Surge Gel which I also got a generous sample of (20 ml, I think!). When applied, you have to wait a few more minutes for it to settle before you apply your main moisturizer. Also, I found out the first day that when over applied, you will end up with a pool of oil on your face when you wake up (or throughout the day). So use this product sparingly!

In summary, it's safe to say that I am IN LOVE with Clinique's 3-Step Skin Care System! I used it every night for one week and I woke up with soft and supple skin every time! No breakouts, reduced oiliness, and most definitely no dryness.

If I have the cash to burn right now, I would've splurged on the entire line within minutes! But Clinique, as I see it, is an investment brand. You buy their products if you expect great results within days and if you want to invest in your skin.

If you find local retail prices exorbitant, here's a tip: buy it abroad and in duty free shops. Also, when you travel, do not skip out on cosmetic duty-free stores. While shopping around Changi Airport, I found great airport-exclusive Clinique Skin Care sets for 125 SGD (full sizes) and 50 SGD (travel sizes with additional travel Moisture Surge Gel and All About Eyes). That's around PHP ~4400 and PHP ~1700, respectively, or around 30-40% cheaper than local rates.

How about you, guys? Are you obsessed with any skin care products lately?

*DISCLAIMER: I was given sample sizes so all gushing and obsession are based from 5 trials tops. Long-term effect was not observed due to, er, lack of product.

Project Vanity's Clinique Party Part 2!

noreply@blogger.com (Mara Ruiz) — Fri, 29 Apr 2011 06:41:00 +0000

You all know I work for THE Company for Women, but as much as Avon remains no. 1 in my heart, that doesn't mean I should close my doors to other beauty brands. Hey, a beauty fiend's gotta do what she has to do. That's why when Liz invited readers for a part two of her now famous Clinique Party, I couldn't resist the temptation to say yes.

Ohmegee, girls, I am so bad at names. Us with Liz and Clinique's Brand Manager, Mira.

To the Clinique counter I went that Saturday afternoon, playing with makeup, discussing skincare, and mingling with Project Vanity readers. I've always been curious of Clinique's skincare and beauty products, but I shy away because of the price (Majalia Fuentes). So to be given a chance to test drive their products was not just a nice treat but a good way to get to know the brand. As I always say: the difference between good makeup and fez is information. Really, guys. Try nyo.

I also finally had the chance to set the record straight: How do you pronounce Clinique? My friend, and Clinique Liquid Foundation user, Zhorai used to tell me it's cli-nich, with a French twang, because she overheard that it's a French brand. Mira finally cleared things up and said that Clinique is an American brand which is inspired by the boutique makeup stores in France called clinique d’esthetiques. So, if you check out the pictures from the launch, the beauty consultants are wearing lab coats! This is Science, you guys.

I went there with no makeup on just so the makeup artist can work on a blank slate.

Guests get to have a skin consultation and a beauty makeover. I am pretty impressed with the skincare line and the samples they gave me, so let's set that aside for another blog post of gushing. For the mean time, here's what Clinique's guest makeup artist Vannie came up for me.

Parang Phinoto-shop! Can you just see how flawless Clinique's foundation's finish is?

FACE:

I am not particularly sure, but I think they used Perfectly Real Foundation in either Sunny or Neutral. I was sooo ready to buy a tube right then and there but there was the concern of my skin being too acidic.

Mira said that if the shade turns a bit darker after a while, my skin's supposed to be acidic and it's okay to go one shade lighter. If not, then I should stick to the shade I have on.

I hope they kept a record of what they used on me because the liquid concealer is ACE, too!

Expert tip: My my neck's and my face's shade do not match, so what Vannie did is choose a foundation that's the same shade as my neck. With that trick, I don't have to apply foundation on my neck anymore.

EYES:

Aaaand because I was just happy to be there, I did not ask about shades. It's a neutral palette of brown, pink, and shimmery pearl white, I think.

Expert tip: For my eye shape, Vannie told me that I should avoid putting eyeliner on my lower lash line. Instead, I should try white eyeliner.She also did a subtle wing for my upper lash line to open up my eyes.

For eyeshadow application, I think I am already on the right track and I know what I am doing because Vannie did the same "highlight the brow bone with a darker shade" technique that I've been trying to do.

LIPS:
Again, can't remember which lipstick line Vannie used but the shade's name is Bejeweled, topped with gloss. It looks brownish pink in this picture, but IRL it's a cherry-ish red that suites my yellow undertone. I think I found my perfect pink lipstick.

Expert tip: Vannie told me to smile whenever I apply lipstick so the color will go in between the lines of my lips. I do this with the "swipe your lipstick up and down instead of side to side" technique c/o Bianca Valero and I am set for life!

When I got home, I took a picture of myself again to check if the foundation oxidized or not. I really could not decide, but the Photoshop finish was still there and, to say the least, I still looked good ;)

With flash. Hafta ask for that blush's shade, too!

After walking around Makati on a humid weather.

I think we can all agree that "dewy" doesn't work for me. Also, in fairness, I was wearing Avon's Ultra Luxury Brow Liner in Dark Brown

I think I can try to duplicate the same dewy effect with a mattifying day cream + mineral foundation.

Without flash.

All in all, it was a nice experience to get out there and explore other makeup brands (and not to mention meet other Project Vanity readers!). I'm a strong believer of paying for quality products if you can afford it. There's a reason why Clinique has a hefty price; obviously, the products speak for itself.

Let's all pester Liz for a part 3, yes? :)

Up next: Clinique's 3-step Skincare Regimen
Clinique Party photos from Kari and Lori.

Oh March, how did we end up like this?

noreply@blogger.com (Mara Ruiz) — Fri, 25 Mar 2011 16:13:00 +0000

Source

March has worked my fingers to the bone, so much that I almost forgot I have a blog.

So salutations my 73 bot readers (74 if you count Z, my one true human subscriber). You all can now crunch your 1's and 0's and crawl my blog for whatever reasons you have for subscribing to this blog.

In the interest that you really care about what I did with my month, here's my life so far.

1. Been to 1 regional conference, had too many early mornings, had too little coffee, and just the right late nights to keep me interested in participating in events. Maybe. Organizing events is a skill and a passion, not one that I think I have right now, but it's a learning experience.

2. Successfully orchestrated an engagement party and I might be slowly Friend of the Bride and Groom-zilla-ing my way into this wedding. I also came to a conclusion that I will only organize events for A) causes that I am passionate for and B) people who I love.

3. I realized that I have no Pinoy Pride (italics necessary as I don't think this exists) in my body at all. I only live as a Filipino. How can you have personal pride for a nation that considers sports as a source of national pride? With that being said, I still have hope for the Failippines.

4. My name is Mara, and I live on the 19th floor, and on the metro's largest fault line. I may have to prepare an earthquake emergency kit.

5. Had come to terms that my condo's developer, DMCI Homes aka You Dickheads, has no sense of customer service whatsover. I would like to lash out on them here and tell them that not all of us are Maggie Wilsonses who can roll around half naked while having people do their bidding for them, but why bother? Sending them e-mails, calling them, verbally abusing them, comment bombing their Facebook Wall did not work, so why should a blog entry?

As a form of public service, I will just send out this warning to the world: their after sales service is crap. I have friends, also DMCI Homes property owners, who can attest to this. How does DMCI Homes suck? Let me count the ways: agents who couldn't bother to pick up their phones after they've sold you a unit, documentation officers who keep sending emails to an @yahoo email thinking that it doesn't make a difference when your email is actually an @gmail address, and graphic-artists-slash-Facebook-moderators reprimanding you for posting on their company's Facebook wall.

6. Will be filing my own taxes for the first time. So help me God.

7. March is cruel, but April will be vicious. So thank you, one and all. Let's catch up soon.

8. Banapple, I love you.

Day 8: Your views on mainstream music

noreply@blogger.com (Mara Ruiz) — Tue, 01 Mar 2011 18:19:00 +0000

Let's mix things up a bit again.

In the defense of mainstream music, it's the music that defines a generation, YOUR generation. Music has to be popular, to be mainstream, for more than a group of people to connect with it. More often than not, that group is The Youth, which makes sense as they are the largest consumer group when it comes to music.

Go back to the time of your prom and think about the songs the DJ played for everyone to dance to. Mine were 'Nsync's God Must Have Spent A Little More Time On You and Backstreet Boys' Get Down. There were a few senti songs throw into the mix and also some cover songs by Freestyle.

Now these are horrible songs by our standards today. Hell, these are horrible songs by anyone's standards at present. Not with the youth right now going gaga over Lady Gaga (we used to have Spice Girls as a benchmark for fashion), crying over Bieber (Moffats, anyone?), and singing their lungs out to whatever indie artist only they know (alternative rock used to be our indie as nobody seems to want to listen to it then).

Nobody thinks pop music - mainstream music - is cool unless you were there to listen to it when it first came out. It's one of those You Have to Be There to Get It moments.

With that being said, in the defense of mainstream music, it's the music that connects people together. Naturally, it's popular, so everyone knows it, can sing at least a few lines or notes from it, and will remember it until their dying days.

Now that most of my peers and I -- the Eraserheads, the boyband, the senti generation -- are now in our late 20s, now that we have probably evolved into liking different musical genres, now that we are no longer Catholic School Girls gushing over blue-eyed, blond boys, what do you think will be played on our high school reunions and have everyone tapping their toes, shimmying their booties, and re-enacting what seems to be a swimmer attempting to do a backstroke out of water?

Six letters, 2 syllables: MMMBop.

On your high school reunion, you're going to be line dancing to Steps' 5,6,7,8; you're going to look longingly at your then high school crush when the first few lines of Freestyle's song Bakit Ngayon Ka Lang starts playing on the background; and your high school guy best friend will take your hand and comfort you with the Eraserheads' With a Smile.

In the defense of mainstream music, it is nothing to scorn at. On the contrary, it's part of one's history. I myself have no shame in admitting that I listen to Britney Spears. Sure, pop (mainstream) music is fun, not all of it may be gems, and you may not want to consider it as the defining genre of your musical taste. But if I have one thing to say about mainstream music, particularly the mainstream music of my youth, is that I embrace it. It reminds me of days when all it takes is a simple pop hook to lift my spirits up. It takes me back to days when things are carefree and I can let myself love with abandon, even if my subject of affection then is a musician who identifies me as a fan. It brings back memories of an entire busload of girls on a field trip, singing all together to a love song - athletes, mean girls, geeks, and artsy fartsy kinds all seem to have sentimental hearts back them so it seems.

How about you? What are your thoughts on Pop Music?

Seemingly Inane Yet Eventually Character-Building Goals: MUSIC

noreply@blogger.com (Mara Ruiz) — Tue, 22 Feb 2011 18:22:00 +0000

Source

While I was still in the claws of the Evil Money-Making Scheme I call a BPO job, I experienced both lows and highs in my music listening experience.

The high: I re-discovered my now favorite band, OK Go. I say rediscovered as two of OK Go's album had been stored on my iPod for the longest time. It was only in 2008, when I was editing gene codes, that I blasted OK Go songs on a loop for 8 hours just to get the boredom out of my head. From then on, it was madness.

The low: Being stuck with just one favorite artist (and two to three favorite albums), also became a low for me music-wise. As much as I love my favorite band, how awful would it be to be stuck listening to one type of music for months and even years?

Before OK Go, I would listen to world music, Canto POP, KPOP, alternative rock, top 40s, indie alternative, electronica, classical, and basically almost anything that can be played on an iPod. Simply put, after I got over my initial OK Go High (a high that lasted 8 months), I finally found myself stuck in a rut. Those were the days I'd listen to Ne-Yo and attend the Incubus concert (a band that I don't even like) just so I have something different to listen to. It also did not help that my former job does not allow MP3 players inside of its premises because of their staunch information security policies.

This year, as part of my Seemingly Inane Yet Eventually Character-Building Goals, I resolve to redefine my listening habits.

1. I want to know and each and every song on my iPod, Rusty, and purge those that I stored out of MP3 hoarding.

2. I want to scrobble at least 50,000 tracks on my last.fm account by the end of June.

3. I want to listen to other people's music, but know my music. I do not aspire to be an indie scene kid (I love my pop music shamelessly); I just want to listen to as much music as I can.

4. I want to get to know the artists behind the songs I listen to, get to know what motivated them to write their songs, know what a track's and an album's back stories are. I want to be able to articulately talk about my music

5. I want to define my taste in music without restricting myself to a genre. As of the moment, it's leaning towards happy alternative rock, twee pop, annoying-yet-catchy top 40s, tolerable indietronica, angry-yet-enlightened female rock, singer-songwriter, John Mayer, OK Go, well executed covers, pre-disco boyband Maroon 5, not-when-he's-adlibing-too-much Jason Mraz, Feist, and bands that sound like the a-lot-better-Coldplay Travis.

I want to listen to more of Mumford & Sons, Anberlin, Arcade Fire beyond their latest two albums, The National beyond their song Blood Buzz Ohio (looooove it!), get past Lykke Li's high-pitched voice, and finally sink my teeth into The Magnetic Fields.

6. I want to watch one of the last Sugarfree performances, by hook or by crook!

7. I want to go to one local gig, at least one. Preferably General Luna.

8. And although I do not have high hopes for nor interest in local music (fine! Hurl stones at me, will ya?), I want to be acquainted with it, buy it a few beers, and see where it goes from there.

9. I want to see The Killers, Vampire Weekend, and (okay, okay) Maroon 5 live.

These are grand ambitions, my friends, but I would want to beat the hell out of these goals. I seem to forgot how music used to inspire me, how it used to automatically turn a crappy day into a better one, and how it connects me to a greater network of people. This year, I am re-exploring, re-acquaintingwith, and re-loving music, whatever it takes.

How about you? Any music-related resolutions? Better yet, tell me about the music you listen to and let's be each other's last.fm co-stalkers while we're at it!

Day 7: Location, location, location!

noreply@blogger.com (Mara Ruiz) — Fri, 18 Feb 2011 01:30:00 +0000

So by now you must've realized that I am slightly fumbling with my 30-day blog challenge. Mainly because I failed to realize that the questions are stupid. Seriously, who would want to read 30 supposed interesting things about myself, written by myself? Gah. Also, Day 7, oh Day 7. Must I really bore people to death about how I think I am classic Libra? Whatevs.

Anyway, to give my 30-day challenge an interesting twist, allow me to lift questions from Soul Pancake. It's a spirituality/creativity site started and put up by none other than Rainn Wilson aka The Office's Dwight Schrute!


Day 7: Is your happiness linked to your location? (Don't forget to tell us where you live.)

It was my first time to move out of my parents' house last July and I was really excited. It's not that living with my parents is such torture. Hey, it took me twenty-four years to finally move out! But my friend Z, in her infinite wisdom, once told me that she wanted to try living by herself at least once, at least before she gets married. That struck a chord in me, as I've been living in my parents' house in Cavite up until recently and never have I tried living alone, not for college, not for work. My Big Move really is my first time to live (semi) independently.

My parents helped me set up my own digs the first time I moved in to my Room in the City. We brought in furniture and appliances, arranged knick knacks, hung curtains, and cooked lunch all in one day! Come 4:00 in the afternoon, it was time for my parents to go home and for me to savor the fruit of my year-long toil.

Saying goodbye to them in the parking lot was bittersweet; it was the weekend and because I have social obligations to attend to at that time, I had to spend my first weekend alone. It was the first time that I have been alone in my own space in the city. Although I know I'll be seeing them after five days, there was a sinking feeling that I just couldn't shake off then.

The thrill I have been feeling as my moving day came closer was suddenly gone. I never thought about having to do my own laundry, still having to cook my own food instead of coming home to a warm meal at the end of the day, and cleaning up after myself! My god! The amount of time it takes me to do a general cleaning for a space that is smaller than my room in Cavite!

Our pitbull, Obama.

And our dogs :( For a brief moment, I had to unlearn the habit of dropping food from my table, thinking one of our eleven dogs will pick up any of my leftovers. It also didn't help that two of my good friends moved to different countries while one recently got married to her job.

Moving to the city was supposed to bring me closer to my job and my friends. I never realized how my Big Move is one of the loneliest decisions I have made in my life, but it's a necessary evil of this thing called Growing Up. Not a lot of people my age can say that they have a property under their name, bought using their own money. Most of my peers still even live with their parents (myself included but only during weekends).

For some time, I thought moving to the city will make me happier, my commute easier, and my social life a bit livelier. Well, it did for a while, but not when my friends started moving away from me. I also barely spend weekends in the city now. In the end it really did not matter where I am; all that matters is where my loved ones are (nux).

Kira-Ramirez.Com, Project Vanity, and Avon Philippines Giveaways!

noreply@blogger.com (Mara Ruiz) — Tue, 15 Feb 2011 03:31:00 +0000

One of the things I love about the Internetz is that you get a lot of stuff for free. Of course, you still have to pay for music, ebooks, and movies, but generally, a lot of companies are giving away their goods online.

One of them companies is Avon Philippines who is giving away sets of their newest His and Hers scents

All you have to do is to like the page and complete this phrase:

I love ______________ Simply Because __________________. Make an ordinary day extraordinary with Simply Because Fragrances For Him and For Her.

Your chances of winning increase when you share the Simply Because Tab on your wall and if you follow them on Twitter (@AvonPH). Pretty easy, huh? Up for grabs are Simply Because For Him and For Her scents!

I am actually using the For Her scent. It has that sweet, lychee flavor upon application, which dries down to a fresh floral scent. I've traded Simply Because For Her over my bottle of Outspoken by Fergie (both from Avon, of course!) for the summer. Think floral dresses, playing in the fields, and wide-rimmed hats!

** ** **

Speaking for summer, Kira is getting everyone summer-ready with her Summer Beauty Treats Giveaway! Up for grabs are the following:

V&M Whipped! Shea Butter with Rooibos & Cranberry

V&M Queen Zakiya’s Charm Beauty & Skin Cleansing Bath Wash

V&M Orange Spa Milk Salt

V&M Smooch Lip Butter Balm

Skin Hour Hairfall Be Gone (Rosemary, Gugo and real Gugo Bark)

Skin Hour Existence (Dead Sea Mineral Salt)

Bedazzle Embellished bib

Bedazzle Felt purse with bird appliqué

Bedazzle Ribbon bracelet with semi-precious stones

EarthlyDelights “A little bird told me” Hand painted neckpiece

EarthlyDelights “Lightning Strikes” studded earrings

How cute are those “Lightning Strikes” earrings? Reminds me a lot of Harry Potter :D

From Sony Music Phils.

Ciara Basic Instinct

Leona Lewis “The Labyrinth Tour” DVD

Azta Urban Salon Katipunan

VIP Card that entitles you to 10% discount on ALL services (valid til Dec. 2011)

15%-30% discount coupons on haircut, color, perm, rebond and relax services (3 pcs.)

I have my eye on the Azta VIP Card! Sucks that it's only valid for the Katipunan branch =/

And all these are all for the first prize! If I were you, I'd head over to Kira's blog right away!

** ** **

You all know how much I love joining Liz of Project Vanity's contests, almost up to an embarrassing degree (LOLjk), but you can't blame me! Liz's giveaways are always ALWAYS ace! This time around, she's giving away a bunch of beauty stuff and some CDs for her Beauty and Music Giveaway.

Estee Lauder brushes (face, blush, lip), Purederm Face Mask, Revlon New Complexion loose powder, Obagi Gentle Cleanser, Purederm BB Cream, Celeteque , Purederm Deep Moisture Hand Mask, Leona Lewis, Michael Jackson and Ciara original CDs (c/o Sony Music Philippines)

The Obagi Gentle Cleanser, the Estee Lauder brushes, and the CDs alone must be worth P2,500 minimum! Come on, girls! That's an Obagi Gentle Cleanser for free for just adding Project Vanity on Facebook and telling Liz which musician is your beauty/fashion inspiration is!

I myself chose Leslie Feist. LOVE her just woke up look. Also, in another dimension, I am waif and can pass off as a Marc Jacobs girl. Heh.

So, if you have nothing better to do than dick around the internet, why not give these online giveaways a shot, yeah?

P.S. I'm thinking of a giveaway myself :) I have stuff to giveaway but I dunno if there are people out there who actually wants to join. Any of those 73 readers actual non-bot human readers?

More L+M 12.17.10 (aka The Awesome Wedding of Win) Photos

noreply@blogger.com (Mara Ruiz) — Sat, 12 Feb 2011 10:15:00 +0000

I really couldn’t get enough of Lyra and Mark’s wedding. In my heart, it was the Best.Wedding.Evarh, so I am going to share more pictures from the event :) Also, in case Lyra and Mark decided to submit their wedding in any wedding publication, I’d like to have the yabang factor of being able to put it online first.

Take that, Martha Stewart Weddings!

The Bride

My friend Lyra The Vampire. She doesn’t age. She also doesn’t sparkle.

This is what Tyra Banks’ life worth is all about: finding the light and your angles. LOL.

Our friend Melody Biligan did Lyra’s makeup as a wedding gift.

Don’t you just love the soft vintage effect in all their photos? I like this best better than the other HD wedding photos out there. Your wedding photos should look dreamy and pretty and romantic! Not a high-res, high fashion editorial wannabe. Tingin ko lang ha.

The Groom

Lyra, what a catch! LOL. In their wedding AVP, Lyra said Mark was a jock in grade school. Obvious ba? :)

Mark is also a great graphic designer/videographer/all around nice guy. He’ll be putting up his design studio soon, so if this wedding is not testament enough of his skillz, ewan ko na lang ha!

The Gown

Lyra told me she was trying to work with an up and coming young designer before. But the plan didn’t push through, so I don’t know who she ended up with. Still, her gown looked super fab! I wouldn’t know the difference if Big Name Designer did this or not.

The Church

The ceremony was held at the church of San Antonio ng Padua in Silang, Cavite. It was quaint church with amazing interiors.

Behold

The very pretty bride about to walk down the aisle.

It was Christmas season, so medyo nakatipid ng onti sa decorations. LOL.

The Entourage

Lyra and her family. Technicolor ba kamo?

I must admit, my friends and I were a bit apprehensive when Lyra said we can wear anything (then turned cocktail dresses) in any color for her wedding. I mean, in the hands of any typical Pinoy wedding, orange, fuchsia, and bubble gum blue can be disastrous! This just goes to show how Mark and Lyra have enough taste to make their wedding cute and sosyal! The cuts for the entourage’s dresses were so age-appropriate. Don’t you just love the prints and the patterns in Lyra’s mom’s dress? Or how youthful her sister looks in her blue + yellow ensemble?

Mark and his parents.

Note how all the boys in the entourage wore bow ties!

Everyone must be sick of Chuck Taylors for weddings right now, but how can you resist looking at these cute boys?

And girls! How cute is that headband?

I am so glad Lyra and Mark didn’t make their girls wear spag-strap gowns. Ugh. Those are so tacky! I like little girls wearing frou frou dresses and not mini versions of the bridesmaid's’ gowns.

Who would ever dare of mixing yellow with orange? Only Lyra and Mark! They chose a mustard-y shade of yellow with a darker tangerine shade of orange to make it work (Tumi-Tim Gunn lang naman ako on the side).

And of course, all the boys wore Chucks :)

The Ceremony

Guys, wala e. Late ako. Wala akong masyadong commentary.

BALITA KO UMIYAK SI LESTER LIM.

Lyra and Mark even used rainbow-colored candles instead of white ones with colored ribbons. Very creative, won’t you agree?

Mark, bakit naman parang lola yung kiss? LOL.

Aaaaand they’re married :)

The Bridal Car

It’s a Mini Cooper!

Yes, it deserves an entire section of its own. I couldn’t find a picture with the L+M plate on the back, but it’s there. It happened.


Did Mark drive the car himself after the ceremony? Galing!

The Post Wedding Pictures

Don’t they just like the lovely couple from Up?

The Reception

It took place in Ville Sommet, and with the chilly December wind, achieve na achieve ang mga porma namin!

Look at the kids turned and with eyes closed when their Teacher Lyra had a garter put on to her legs by her husband Mark. Using his teeth I might add!

This was my favorite part of the reception: Lyra dancing with her father. They danced to a LIVE string quartet version of The Beatles’ Here, There, and Everywhere.

Nakakaiyak, guys. Diba Lester?

I already made an entry about the details that went with the wedding here, so lemme just show you all the Kodakan moments we’ve had. LOL.

We really felt that we were part of the wedding! With Melody doing makeup, Lester “Crybaby” Lim hosting, Cassie and Ken “winning” the bouquet and garter, we were really engaged! It felt like it was our wedding, too! And what a wedding to top. In the words of Melo, “Ikaw na!” Haha.

Ang ganda din ng soundtrack ng wedding nila. It’s a truly Indie Wedding minus the un-bathed guests.

White wall, a DSLR, solb!

Thank you, Mark and Lyra, for making us part of your wedding :) It was truly an experience to be part of your special day :)

Wedding photos by Jill Lejano and Jason Buena (ano pa hinihintay nyo! Book nyo na!).

Table_03 photos by Camille Palacios and, er, Table_03.

To know more about L+M 12.17.10, check out lplusm - Lyra and Mark's wedding blog :)

L+M 12.17.10 (aka The Awesome Wedding of Win): The Details

noreply@blogger.com (Mara Ruiz) — Sat, 12 Feb 2011 02:24:00 +0000

Let me tell you about this awesome wedding I attended last December

Maggie and Victor's Save the Date video has nothing on this one!

Lyra is a good friend I met in college. She is one of the extended members of our originally 11-strong (LOLZ) group, Table_03.* What I love about Lyra is that she's one of those people who always shows up for birthdays and whatnots even with her tight schedule. So when it was time for us to gather for her special day with Mark, we did not let her down. Even if her wedding was in Tagaytay and even if it was on a Friday (I had to take a leave without pay and another one of our friends had to fly in from Canada after just being there for 5 months), we made sure that we were there.

Lyra and Mark, on the other hand, did not disappoint. Seeing that they had to ask guests to troop to Tagaytay on a work day, they pulled all the stops to make their destination wedding a delight for both them and the attendees. I admit, I used to hate weddings. Weddings always make me feel like I am forced to attend a ceremony for people I don't really care about. But maybe that was just because I have only attended weddings of distant relatives and random neighbors. As Lyra and Mark are one of the first couples in my social circle to tie the knot, my friends and I were really excited.

Who wouldn't be with all the cute details of their kumo-concept** wedding? The devil was really in the details with this one. Lyra and Mark minded the smallest of things -- from their bridal car's plate number that read L+M up to the photobooth pics that had "Lyra and Mark are married!" instead of "...getting married" as seen on the invitation.

Their concept or theme, if I am not mistaken, has something to do with the circus and/or a fiesta. The colors they used are not the usual pastels and solid two-toned shades. Lyra and Mark went crazy with their wedding and used ALL the colors of the rainbow! They had

Hot air balloons

Carousels

Fiesta banners. Guys, ano ba ang English ng banderitas? Haha.

and the letter blocks that Mark used when he proposed to Lyra. During the proposal, Mark himself was standing on the “ME?” part instead of those letters. Can we all just die of cuteness overload right now?

To illustrate more of L+M’s Legendary Wedding of Win, here be the Pic Spam.

Their invitation is a typography geek's dream. I particularly looooooved the embossed L+M on the envelope (paper geek alert!)

Instead of boring corsages, they had button pins made for their entourage.

Even the bride and groom themselves wore their own specialized button pins that said "Bride" and "Groom."

Guests who RSVP-ed got to take home a button pin with their name on it, too! Can you imagine the hell it must've been for the person who managed the guest list? So you see, it always pays to RSVP!

Since I RSVP-ed, I get to have my own pin! Can you see the L+M 12.17.10 print on the sides? I just noticed those while I was taking pictures of my pins. Suffice to say, I am again equally amazed.

My friend Z and I wearing our name pins. Pansinin: parehong single ang nagsuot. Gusto mu-mingle. Haha.

For cocktails and pre-wedding snacks, there were “burgers with your name on it” waiting for guests. Burgers. With my name on it. 'Nuff said. Also, makeup fail. Was there a cotton candy machine and a popcorn maker, too? Or was I just imagining things?

Also, since it takes a while to get from the church to the reception venue (considering traffic), Lyra and Mark gave away snack packs after the ceremony. I wasn't able to get one because I missed the church event, but Z told me it was full of our favorite childhood snacks! Can you see Butterball, Marie and Pompom in the picture?

Lyra, being a preschool teacher, invited her students and their parents to her wedding, too. And to keep the kids busy, they had their (Mark's and Lyra's) avatars printed in coloring sheets for the kids.

For the adults who couldn’t sit still, they were given beading kits to make their own bracelets, anklets, and what-have-yous.

Here I am during an intense beading session with Cassie. Also in the picture: Jayb’s thumb.

I ended up making a bookmark with my initials because all the vowels were taken.

As if the burgers with your name on it, the button pins, and the beading kits were not enough, Lyra and Mark also provided Lomolitos at each table for guests to camwhore and such.

My best friends Cassie, Zhorai, and Camille. (wow. meeeehgaaanun?)

Table_03

Table_03 +L+M = Awesome

The Singles and Ready Mu-mingles.

Still the dorkiest bunch of all.

Lyra and Mark’s wedding was so beautiful, so fun, and so well thought of! I never imagined myself having a grand wedding,*** but seeing their guests happy and L+M being able to pull off the concept without looking that they were trying too hard to be cool or indie or maiba lang made me want to have a cute, kumoconcept, and colorful wedding of my own, too :) L+M 12.17.10 was really an L+M + their family production. No other sourced wedding planner could pull this off. It was unique, L+M’s own, and, to be cheesy about it, Kasalang Espesyal.

I hope Damian Kulash gets divorced soon.

*Yes, with the underscore because I said so. The name was in reference to the cat calls we used to make when one was trying to call his/her parents/significant other when we used to go out (Ma, dito lang ako sa bahay ni Cam. Gawa lang project/*with one of us heckling* Waiter! Isa pang bucket sa Table_03!). It then became our standard table assignment during debuts and even L+M's wedding :)
**This word has now crept into my vocabulary. Thank you, Mark.
***I don’t want to do the gown-church-reception with everybody there routine. I’ve always wanted to have a church wedding with only our families with friends only to follow during the reception. There was even a time I seriously considered sponsoring a concert with my favorite bands (The Killers, The Kooks, and OK Go) in lieu of a wedding. Haha. But after seeing this, baka pwedeng cover bands na lang. Magpapa-pancit na lang ako, guys, ha. Magiging asawa ko naman yung lead vocalist nung isang banda e ;)

10 years of blogging, and blogging, and blogging.

noreply@blogger.com (Mara Ruiz) — Fri, 11 Feb 2011 08:23:00 +0000

Of all the scenes in the epic The Social Network movie, this was the scene that spoke volumes to me. That was me in 2001 when I started blogging: drunk, angry, stupid, and blogging. Well, minus the drunk part (sometimes).

It's been ten years since I decided to broadcast to the then small online community about my crushes, my day's events, and my favorite TV shows. Nothing much has changed since then, and in this age of niche bloggers, I never really transitioned from being a personal online journal keeper to a pro blogger.

After 10 years, one must expect that I must've made it big in the blogging world by now. Friends ask me if I am making money out of my blog(s), and when I say "No," they give me this confused "Then what the hell are you wasting your time for?" look.

I have to admit, I missed the pro blogging wave when I started locking my entries and making them available only to a few friends. But it was at that time, when I was in Livejournal (LJ), was angry, and stupid, and blogging, that I was able to form a voice of my own. In LJ, I was the girl who likes crack,* obsessed with TV shows, likes quoting from The Office, has all these issues, and has a wacky father who brings home possum hide bags from Australia. People would've loved LJ!Mara. All the drama, the obsessive fandom entries, and gratuitous photos of my lunch. But it would not have gotten me the writing opportunities I have right now if such entries were made public.

It was in 2009 when I finally made my own madness public. Evidently, I am more guarded with my words now. There is a sense of freedom and zest in the way I used to write post-LJ, only for LJ!Mara to die down and evolve into a Wannabe Beauty Writer.

All of us has to do a lot of growing up, and I certainly did with the way I write. I don't use my blog(s) to ~~pick fights with~~ stir the ire of other ~~bloggers~~ people anymore. I don't verbally vomit frustrations and bad customer service rants via my blog(s) anymore. ~~We have Twitter for that.~~ Although I still wish I can be more open without giving too much of myself online.

It's been 10 years, and I may not be The Maraisms that my one supportive reader predicted that I would be in the Blogging Industry, but I am proud to say that this blog is my own. Browsing through my LJ entries, this blog's entries, and all the cringe-worthy seekret** blogs I used to have, I am happy to report that I may have not come full circle but I have definitely evolved. Well, I have to after 10 years, right?

This blog, this blogger, has gone through so many confused episodes. But now I know what I want do with this little space of my own. I just want to call it mine, with no pretentiousness, no grand ambitions to be the #1 Blogger in the World.

I just want to write.

*Not to be confused with cocaine. Basically, crack is silly, intentionally non-serious, and has a high tendency to be extremely crazy and unfounded, such as purposeful OOC-ness or playing on cliches, inside jokes, and/or fanon. The term crack probably stems from crack as in crack cocaine, as opposed to a crack in a wall. As in, so horrendously unfounded/silly that only one could have come up with it while under the influence of crack.

**Still using LJ linggo, yo.

Day 6: Write 30 interesting facts about yourself

noreply@blogger.com (Mara Ruiz) — Thu, 10 Feb 2011 14:07:00 +0000

I once read that people who like talking about themselves are the most boring people on earth. That has always been my guiding rule whenever I blog. So to ask me to enumerate thirty interesting things about myself is kind of a stretch. It was fun when you were drunk, twenty-one years old, on LJ, and blogging and blogging, but nobody really cares that I was a spelling bee champ in grade school (I wasn't).

So here's the deal: I'll tell you ten things about myself that I am at liberty to disclose, and you can choose to keep reading or just pack up and leave.

Fair enough?
OK.

1. My name is Mara, and I live on the 19th floor.

2. I am slightly addicted to paper products and I have a mid-size collection of notebooks at home. My room alone is a fire hazard.

3. I can't swim to save my life. I also can't just swim (even if I weren't saving my life).

4. My teen years to early 20s can be divided into three fandoms: Harry Potter, Meteor Garden/F4, and Hanson. Yup, in that order.

5.With that being said, I spent a large chunk of my late teen years joining Harry Potter Trivia IRC Chatrooms.

6. My great grandparents are full-blooded Chinese. If I have the facts straight, my middle name would've been Teng instead of Castro. My relatives had to buy a Spanish-sounding last name for reasons that allude me. Nevertheless, I never call myself a 1/16th Chinese. People who call themselves 1/4 Chinese, 1/4 Spanish, and 1/3 Chihuahua are utterly ridiculous.

7. Somewhere in the Interwebz, a Web site about my college barkada (Table_03) exists. That was the first Web site that I've created.

8. I've lived in Cavite for 24 years. I moved into the city some six months ago.

9. I've never been to Boracay and Embassy (now more popularly known as Encore). I've been to Rebuliq Super Club twice because I am Supah Cool. I also think clubbing is retarded.

10. In the event that I get brutally murdered and my face unidentifiable, this is how I look like:

See what I did there?

11. Also an identifiable body mark, in case of my demise, is a scar on my right arm. I was five or so and I was hanging out at my paternal grandparents' veranda. Because of my enthusiasm to watch a parade going on downstairs, I ran straight into our maid who conveniently had a flat iron on her hands that time. Was she trying to stop me from falling down two storeys WITH A SEARING HOT FLAT IRON? Who knows.

12. I will not turn down a serving of Laoag longganisa, garlic rice, and pinakbet

13. I am really judgmental, especially of people who name their gadgets. Please, people, let's grow up.

14. Wicked is my favorite, favorite, FAVORITEST musical. When I first saw Idina Menzel and Kristin Chenowith's Tony performance of Defying Gravity, I swear there were tears in mah eyes. I shiver every time I daydream about going to Broadway and seeing a restaging of Wicked with all the original cast members.

15. Since we're talking favorites, The Office is a show I used to dare not miss. When I was still blogging at LJ and had too much time on my hands, I would post screencaps of the show every Thursday and write a point-by-point fan analysis of the show, mostly for the LULZ. Most of my jokes are The Office references. Wondering who Jim is? Yup, a The Office reference.

16. I loooooove OK Go! I love that they do not always take their selves too seriously ~~like Kings of Fuggin' Leon~~ yet their songs have that depth,excitement, and that tinge of obnoxiousness and sarcasm that I really love.

17. But we all know I secretly love John Mayer.

18. Aside from being a published, I know I'm made as a writer when I've finally written for Mental Floss. Nerdify!

19. Every year, as part of my Self Improvement Plan, I always try to travel out of the country at least once, watch at least one concert, and watch at least one musical/play. This year, I've already made plans to go back to SG, I hope R.E.N.T. goes on an extended run, and I hope someone goes with me to one of the Sugarfree farewell shows.

20. In a perfect world, I am Sofia Coppola, decked from head to toe with Marc Jacobs, and is BFFs with Wes Anderson. Such life.

Well, that's all I can exhaust about myself. If you want to ask me anything, just go ahead! Maybe I can tell you something about myself to complete this list. But for now, I am just glad I am over with silly 30 things list.

Day 5: A time you thought about ending your own life

noreply@blogger.com (Mara Ruiz) — Thu, 03 Feb 2011 02:00:00 +0000

High on life!

Gah, how awful would it be to think about ending your own life? Awful as it may be, the idea has crossed my mind. If I were having a peach of a life, which we all have to agree I am not (who does anyway?), then living a long and unending life would be first on my wish list. But to take my own life is something I cannot consider, not even fathom, doing.

For one, life, in whatever way or form, is sacred. It's not ours to take. It's nobody's. It may be God's, my god's, your god's, Mother Nature's, or Buddha's, but it's not ours. All life must end and begin naturally. That I believe in for now.

I have not yet formed my opinion on cloning and stem cell research, so let's not talk about that, too. Also, I cannot talk about abortion without getting "religious" about it, so let's just leave it at that first.

The nuns in my high school can be glad to know that they've finally gotten into my head.

So kids, say no to suicide. If something is bothering you, unburden by calling a friend.

Friends, be sensitive enough to know what's going on with other people. Never underestimate the value of a smile or a simple "hello."

For Suicide Prevention Hotline in the Philippines
Call Crisis Line (free and confidential): +632-8937606 or +632-8937603

Know more about suicide and mental illness here.

A study of trends: the Longchamp Le Pliage bag

noreply@blogger.com (Mara Ruiz) — Wed, 02 Feb 2011 14:06:00 +0000

Take a good look at the person sitting beside you, and chances are if she’s a girl, she will be toting a solid-colored nylon bag with leather straps and a leather flap. Unmistakably, that girl you’re beside with is toting one of the most popular bags in the Philippines as of late – the Longchamp Le Pliage.

Read more

I don't mean to offend anyone, and you can only imagine the restraint I practiced while writing this article, but my friend Lester said it best: It's the elite bag of the masses.

Personally, after writing this article, I started wanting a Longchamp of my own. The history and the skillz put into every piece calls to me. With every bag, you already have a piece of fashion history in your possession. And admittedly, the Le Pliage has a classic look that can go from casual to dressed up. What irks me though is having to bump into five other people who have the same bag. That thought doesn't appeal to me. If I am going to buy a 15,000-peso bag, I would at least make sure that not every Ate and Tita in market places will have a replica of my bag.

Besides, that's P5,000 short of a Marc by Marc Jacobs bag. Hey, I'm just keepin' my eye on the prize ;)

Any of you girls there have a Le Pliage? Thoughts?

Day 4: Your views on religion

noreply@blogger.com (Mara Ruiz) — Mon, 31 Jan 2011 05:04:00 +0000

Ahoy! As I've predicted, this 30-day thing does not pan out as I've expected. As usual, work and whatever's left of my social life ate up my free time. Also, this next topic is an iffy subject that I don't like discussing. It's about religion, and as much as I love God, Jesus, Mary, Joseph -- they're all my hommies, it's organized religion that I have a problem with. But anyway, let's get crackin'!

Also, my lovely lady lumps.

You see, a huge chunk of my life was spent being a Catholic School Girl, mainly my adolescent life, the most volatile period for a person to be involved in religion. The nuns in my school were strict to the point of being almost totalitarian. Their ways and means were mostly preventive, so we weren't given the capacity to decide for ourselves. I couldn't blame them since most of my schoolmates were in this rebellion, "let's fuck the nuns up!" phase of their lives, which I think wasn't beneficial for both parties.

This was the period of my life where I started having problems with religion. Well, at least the you have to do this or you'll burn in hell, you heathen part of it. One of the nuns' ways of disciplining us girls was to immerse us in rigid prayer - Angelus, rosaries, Gospel readings - all in one day. I am okay with all those if I were a cloistered nun, but damn, I was a teenager with raging hormones! Prayers on top of a demanding academic life was just too much. How can I pass a test I haven't studied for if I was busy praying to pass the test I haven't studied for?

I also partially blamed those nuns for my being unsocialized and ~~single~~. You think they'd be throwing us into the arms of co-eds with the G on G dilemma they've been having with an entire all-female population, but noooooo. They think banning jeans and pushing us into skirts would do the trick. This was during the late 90s, mind you, when frou frou skirts were virtually unheard of. Well, unless you're a Spice Girl.

Eventually, I reconciled with my faith and realized that I shouldn't blame the deities for what their bat shit insane army is doing *cough*Anti-RH Bill movement*cough*

So to summarize:

I DO believe in God and faeries.
I somewhat have a problem with organized religion. I attend mass when I can and want to, but I don't like being forced to do it.
I DO pray.
I AM Catholic.

2010 was a slow year for movies

noreply@blogger.com (Mara Ruiz) — Tue, 25 Jan 2011 02:08:00 +0000

And somewhere between June and August, I stopped caring about what I watch anymore. I also lost my movie list from September to December after mindlessly deleting the note I used to keep in my cellphone. So in a nutshell, my movie life in 2010 was almost meaningless.

From watching 104 movies last 2009, for 2010, I was down to twenty. Thirty-five if you count my missing movies from September to December. Thirty-two if we disregard the repeats (I saw 500 Days of Summer and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1 twice; that I am sure of). Maybe even more if I remember where my June to August went.

January

Sherlock Holmes
Inglorious Basterds
The Ten
Daybreakers
Party Monster

February

Did You Hear About the Morgans
Charlie Bartlett
Beneath
Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist

March

Miss You Like Crazy
Alice in Wonderland
Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2

April

Whip It
My Best Friend's Girl
Where the Wild Things Are
The Blind Side

May

Iron Man 2
The Lovely Bones
Jennifer's Body
Up in the Air
The Fantastic Mr. Fox

I must say that it was pretty depressing to lose that list, among other things that I lost this year. This was the year I watched movies for pleasure, not really caring about how many horrible movies I can force myself to watch. But oh well, whatever movies I've forgotten that I've seen, I can always rewatch this year.

Day 3: Your views on drugs and alcohol

noreply@blogger.com (Mara Ruiz) — Mon, 24 Jan 2011 13:53:00 +0000

Which is a boring topic because I barely drink and I don’t do and haven’t done drugs. I just drink girly drinks in sissy bars.

But to make it worth your while, seeing that you're already here, why not join Project Vanity's Beauty and Music giveaway?

Day 2: Where you’d like to be in 10 years

noreply@blogger.com (Mara Ruiz) — Sat, 22 Jan 2011 15:29:00 +0000

Dear Present Mara,

When we were born, I never imagined you’d be doing what you’re doing right now. Hey, it was 1984 and the internet hasn’t been invented yet. Or has it? I’m not really sure. We, er, you, were still a baby then. But now, this 30-day meme is asking you what you want to do in 10 years! Personally, I don’t think you have no idea what you want to do, seeing that you’ve been winging it these past years, i.e., your life!

But you see, Present Mara, I predict a bright future ahead of us. I’m not saying this to give you a sense of false hope. It’s true because I’ve been there, or, I’m in it. To make things less confusing, Present Mara, allow me to introduce myself. Meet Yourself, 10 years from now. Meet Future Mara, i.e., me, or us.

I have to say, the future’s looking promising, Present Mara. Sure, they haven’t invented hover boards yet nor flying cars, but things have finally looked up for you.

Career-wise, you’re there. To put it simply without really being vague, you finally have the balls, the ‘nads, and the authority to say “…, bitch” right after you introduce yourself. You’re the go-to person when it comes to capturing the attention span of people on the internet. What you sell them, they buy, and companies are just in awe how you can peddle their goods.

You’re still writing but now for leisure and not to earn your keep. But here’s the clincher: People still pay you to write. A far cry from someone who didn’t know the difference between breath and breathe.

Two kids, a four-bedroom house with a two-car garage and a garden and pool, and a husband who is your equal. Not so bad, Us! Not so bad. To think you started s0 late in the game.

We have also travelled the world a bit, Present Mara. I know traveling just for the sake of traveling is not really your thing, Present Mara, but circumstance have brought you there. So far, you’ve lived a few years in some countries (which I am not telling, btw) and have immersed yourself completely into those places’ culture. You ride MRTs, buses, trains; order local food; greet everyone like you live just around the corner; and know the best shopping places like it’s nobody’s business. We, to be cheesy about it, have become a Person of the World.

These are all yours, Present Mara. In 10 years these can be yours. Just keep on doing what you’re doing and do it good! In the words of the immortal Carpenters, “we’ve only just begun.”

Cordially,
Future Mara