Project FEETrail [October 2012]: Ipanema on Confetti-ed Red Carpet

I was supposed to be a bridesmaid but I still chose to wear my bridesmaid shoes.

In the middle of the wedding, my feet hurt from too much walking around the church, running and taking photos, capturing moments and finally I just decided to ask the driver to take me back to the hotel so I can change into my trusty Ipanema rubber sandals.

I think I can almost hear my toes breathe a prayer of thanks for changing footwear.

We almost missed our flight to Tuguegarao

I think, now that Kuya's wedding successfully pushed through, it can now be told that we almost missed out flight to Tuguegarao. 

The last time I rode the plane was November last year when our family and relatives flew to Davao for my birthday weekend, I always seem to not remember what stuff to bring and what to check in. Good thing, we're shipping flowers for Kuya's wedding which allows us to have more kg for check in. Not only I am a terrible light packer (I always tend to bring more clothes than what I can actually use), I'm a paranoid flyer as well. 

It's been almost a year and NAIA Terminal 3 really did change from the last time I saw it. First, you can now bring hairspray via hand carry. I even remember seeing another passenger leaving his brand new bottle of perfume because he did not check it in and it was not allowed to be hand carried.

How the Brits got jiggy with it: The Tagalog-British-Kalingan Inter-cultural Wedding

On top of the Talama Ranch in Tabuk City, Kalinga is the reception of Kuya Stew and Jaydee's inter-cultural wedding. 

When we had the "pamamanhikan" before, we were told that it takes time ( I'm not sure if it was a month) to make the tent and make sure to cover the surroundings of the place.

Months before, Ate Chimy and I were BBMing each other and I was sending her photos that I took from my phone so that she will have an idea once she gets there. They flew in three days ahead of us and had more cultural immersion.

Our Kuya finally got hitched!

I never had a brother. So when Kuya Stew came to stay in the Philippines for a year, we were given a chance to borrow an older brother even just for a year. So when Kuya decided to get married, October 20, 2012 in Kalinga, Apayao to be exact, we were given a chance to see what it felt like having a family member get married. We even went to Kalinga for the formal "pamamanhikan" to represent his family who are based in UK.

Weddings are big in the Philippines. The stress is always, always on the menu especially the day before the big day.But when you have a rush inter-cultural wedding like ours, stress is also magnified in the middle of flying people from UK and Laguna to Kalinga, three different languages for language barrier challenges, observing each other's cultural protocols, all for the coming of two people together to start a family.

I would always remember Kuya Stew, the groom, knocking at our door at 5:30 in the morning handing me the car key, telling me that the wedding car has arrived. The official wedding florist and Church designer, my sister Aprille, immediately went down and took care of installing the flowers to the vehicle.

Then a photographer arrived telling him that he's having a pre-wedding pictorial. He looked at me, zombie-like and surprised, then handed the key and said:

"If worse comes to worst, since you drive, you're driving!"

How I turned my Bridesmaid Que Horror moment to Q'Viva moment!

What is the worst thing that a bride and a bridesmaid (who flew thousands of miles away) that could hear the night of the wedding?

" Cuz, none of the bridesmaids' dresses fit!"

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We arrived last friday evening and kuya's wedding is on saturday morning. The very next morning. There's no way they can make another dress for me ( I heard they had it made somewhere in Bulacan) and still make it just in time for the weekend.

Travel Kalinga: Stay at Grand Zion Resort

Last week we stayed at Grand Zion Hotel and Resort for my cousin's wedding. They have limited number of rooms because they are a fairly new hotel. We got the biggest room, the dorm type, which is only for Php2600 a night with 5 beds and a huge room. My sister used this hotel room for her wedding flower arrangement gig that I will blog about soon.

WARNING: Major photo dump ahead. Prepare to load. :)

This is what the entrance looks like:

What happened to decent business conversations?

Image source

First and foremost, this post was not supposed to be bitchy. 

When I was 20 years old, my first job was to work for Americans. I was fascinated by how straight forward, upfront and honest they were that until now, it was probably the trait that not only I picked up, but I embraced whole heartedly. Maybe I just had a really damn good American Culture Trainer, but whatever it is, my being upfront (polite upfront) saved me a lot of time, irritation and energy.

Years later, not only I was able to learn to be straight forward and save time, I also learned to ask when I don't know what is.

So when I came to elbi (where people expect that you know everything by giving you the world's greatest university jargons) my being upfront with people that I don't know this place, this protocol, this whatever, definitely saved me a lot of time  (provided that my first semester in graduate school, I lost my sense of time). The world has been a little bit, kind of, nicer. That is because, I honestly do not know and that is why I am asking.

Now simple everyday transactions irritate the hell out of me. Like bank transactions:

Me: Can I ask for my account balance right after this deposit?
Teller: Our system is updating.

I am cutting this scenario short but bottomline is, she could've told me I cannot because the system is offline. I would understand.

Like booking a hotel/accommodation in a place up north. Of course I know the hotel standards are definitely not like those in the city. This actually happened right after we paid more than half of our stay before we even checked in.

Me: Hi Ma'am, does our reserved type of room have it's own bathroom? (we have the dorm-type)
Hotel: Yes, you have your own bathroom.
Me: Do you also provide complete toiletries as well? and May I ask if your hotel has a spa or a massage service?
Hotel:  Yes, we provide toiletries.
Me: How about the spa, ma'am?
Hotel: *No Reply*

Oh I'm sorry, did the hotel attendant suddenly had a cardiac arrest in the middle of the text exchange? Three weeks later, I asked again about the spa and did not get an answer. This is in the middle of a text exchange. If they dont have it, it's okay. It's not like we're going to back down or throw in a tantrum. It's just a question of having it or not. No big deal. Nothing personal.

And last but not the least, I was in the middle of speaking to a coordinator via text when I asked something that required a forwarded number and very defined yes or no. We were in the middle of texting when, and I need to stress this, that I POLITELY ASKED A QUESTION, I did not get a reply when it is her job to reply. And yes, I waited patiently for an update/reply for 24 hours before coming to a conclusion and never got it. 

Did someone fall into a coma in the middle of a text conversation of an event coordination?

Again, my apologies for being bitchy. I do not intend to blog today because I'm so swamped but I just couldn't help my self venting out.

What happened to decent conversations, never mind that it's over text? If you're speaking to someone face-to-face, you wouldn't just walk away just to NOT REPLY, especially if it's business-related. 

The Magic Hot Compress

I think a couple of weeks ago I woke up with a bad back, so bad, that I can't even fall asleep. Knowing myself, I can sleep anywhere as soon as I'm sleepy. I've slept on bar ledges, public sofa in Starbucks, Burger King in Singapore, MRT in Magallanes and so on. So the fact that I had to wake up and sleep while sitting ( pillow leaning on the wall, me doing an indian seat) it is a big deal.

One day, my sister handed me over what she calls a "Magic Hot compress". At first it looked like a jelly bag with a loose lucky penny swimming inside it.

The best Halo-Halo in Pagsanjan, Laguna? Go to Aling Taleng's!

Along Mabini Street in Pagsanjan, Laguna lies another branch of the really "popular halo-halo in Pagsanjan" called "Aling Taleng's Halo-halo".

After running some errands in Lumban, Laguna we decided to try the "talked about" Halo-halo, that according to people who actually tried it, did not use sugar as sweetener but used  "kundol or gondol" instead or Wintermelon, according to Wikipedia.

UPLB's 94th Loyalty Day Parade and CEAT's 100th year

It’s my second time to attend UPLB’s 94th Loyalty Day, this time as the official photographer for our college. Last year, I was one of theparticipants in the street chant(?) dance (?) cheer(?).

Also last year, I saw Frankie before the parade, and had a quick catch up before going back to our respective groups. This year, I was not able to see Frankie, but was able to see Aya and we had quick two-minute-secret-pointing-of-who’s-who before we head off to our teams. So quick, that I was not able to take a photo of us together.

Anyway, as I’ve mentioned, I’m covering the event for our college so I took photos of our college, before, during and after the parade.

So ladies, gents and becks, here’s The College of Engineering and Agro-Industrial Technology celebrating it’s 100th year!

Pre-parade: Quick Practice of the Cheer with students 

The CEAT Centennial Fun Run

This is probably the earliest call time for the job that I've had in years. I was the official photographer of the College of Engineering and Agro-Industrial Technology (CEAT) and I was at UPLB Baker Hall at 4 in the morning to witness and document the Fun Run set up.

I don't really jog, nor run, I just do a little brisk walk, but obviously, if you know me I haven't been  trying to get in shape and sweating it out because sleep has been more appealing to me lately. This is the first time I get to witness an actual Fun Run event, not as a runner/participant, but as a photographer. 

The expression "Double Rainbow"

I was on my way home and saw this from our office staircase. I just couldn't resist taking a photo.

Yes, I was fascinated but I was not as fascinated by the person behind this:

I don't know about double rainbows, but when I googled it, I didn't know it was a meme!

Did you watch/listen to the person taking it? Then I googled some more and saw this:

Now I know where Urban Dictionary got it's definition.

Who misses the OLD ELBI?

I miss the old elbi. I've been living back in elbi for two years and a few months and sometimes I still can't help but miss the old elbi.

I miss walking along Grove without having to worry.

I miss being in Umali Subdivision without having to fear for my life.

I actually miss elbi having called as sanctuary. It has been home to many and even those who's not from elbi but have studied in UPLB have chosen LB, or Los Baños, to be their second home. It's laid back feel and the feel of security is so addicting that the universe may actually have to peel you off from your seat just so you can get out of this community.

I actually miss the time when there are no spits on the street because our former Mayor was so strict, the rules were strictly implemented, crime rates were amazingly low, people were actually disciplined. In fact, he (our former mayor) does the monitoring of the traffic flow himself and most of the time, does his own driving. He surely knows how to walk the talk. 

Last Friday, the people have spoken and rallied. The photo above have shown the people's sentiments. They say, if you did not vote last election, they you don't have the right to complain.

For for those who did vote, like me, whatever choice we have made out of curiosity, let's charge it to experience and make up for it this time.

This time, LET US VOTE INTELLIGENTLY.

After all, we owe it to elbi.

The Grad School Diaries: Episode 14 - The dreaded "What's Next?"

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[Sen. Miriam] introduced herself to me a long time ago—I think I was 13 or 14 years old—she came up to me and said “You’re Heart Evangelista, right? Hi, my name is Miriam Defensor-Santago. I have one question for you: With all your success right now, what are you going to do next?” – In her own words: Heart Evangelista

Right after I passed my comprehensive exam I was also asked:

After you finish your Masters, what are you going to do next?

I really dread the question.I thought by late twenties I got my life completely figured out, I was wrong. Especially someone like me who's not born out of a cookie cutter.

I amazed at some people who seems to have everything figured out. While some meet some one and fall in love during college, go through twenties together, be with each other for a decade or so, get hitched, have a baby and start a family, I have realized early on that I am different. I want something else.

I could have finished my masters and graduated this semester, but no. I am taking my sweet time trying to figure everything out. I've been reading some blogs of those in their early twenties to 25, they've been going through the exact same dilemma that I had when I turned 25. I mean, 25 is supposed to be the time you're ready for the next step, at 25 I was able to live alone, have a fabulous career, declare independence and live on my own in a 1BR apartment. Everything that I have imagined to be living sort-of Carrie Bradshaw like from Sex and the City, I was able to do that. But then, by the time I reached 26, I was confronted with a question: What's Next?

What's Next? I don't know.

I wish I could share wisdom but I really do not know. I'm facing my late twenties and I am just acting out on inspired thoughts with hope and positivity. While others around me have started settling down, I just try my best not to mess my life up by making intelligent choices and informed decisions.

Honestly, so far, it's been working out for me.

Project FEETrail [September 2012]: Barefoot on carpets

I have this "thing" for "whatever feels good on my feet" that's why I, until now, I sleep with a special pillow with my feet on it. When I was young, I sleep with the mosquito net under my feet. I love anything that feels good and ticklish on my feet. Carpets are no exception.

This was taken when I was left all alone in the auditorium before the Rappler event that we participated weeks ago.

I was feeling sick this day and I decided to take my shoes off and walk barefoot in the auditorium.

Oh yes. I do embarrassing things when I'm alone and no, I did not do the Oppa Gangnam Style.

The Nigerian Barbie-Ken Wedding

Once upon a long time, I fell in love with cultural themed weddings. So crazy, in love that my best friend and I went to an Authentic Indian store and tried on the most expensive silver gray sari complete with all the bead works. The nice saleslady showed me how it was worn and my supportive bff, smiling, told me, that if I am really set to marry "this" guy, she would sponsor that Authentic Indian Sari that costs Php10,000. That's for the sari alone.

Now, the real question actually is, whether I am in it for this guy for the long haul. 

Years later, I am now sober from being madly in love in a different place,  but I still have the penchant for cultural themed weddings.  

I found these online today and I am very much impressed with the concept, design and photography that I just had to share it with you.