[Project FeeTrail February 2014]: Dipping Feet in Diliman

I've been to UP Diliman before, either just passing through or went directly to an office inside the campus. I've never seen their oblation other than the internet and television of course.

So when we had an official business trip to go to UP  Diliman and meet at the Quezon Hall (building behind where the oblation is), I couldn't help but take a photo.

Also I noticed that I can take my project feet shots as there are three project feetrail shot -worthy (Top to bottom from the left):
1. The steps leading towards the oblation, when standing in front of the Quezon Hall.
2. The steps opposite site of the oblation is where they held their commencement exercises.
3. The square, glass-like floor decor on the base.

And this is just in one building alone!

There is an on going urban legend across UP campuses (among students) that you shall not take photos of yourself with the Oblation while still in your academic year or else you will not or will get delayed in graduating. I felt confident taking photos of the oblation because I already graduated, cleared and received my transcript, but just when I was about to take a quite embarrassing "selfie"with the oblation, the people we're supposed to meet already arrived.

Whew! :)

Gettin' wiggy with it!

We were were tasked by our aunt to buy a human hair wig to be shipped to UK by next week. We went to this place in Makati, called Lynelle Hair Fashion, owned by a Filipino celebrity named Jennifer Sevilla.

This place sells all kinds of wigs. Cosplayers frequent the place and gay customers as well who buys wigs for gay beauty pageant.

More on these fashion wigs after the jump!

The Stew Statements

Today, in Philippines' Time, is Kuya Stew's thirty-something birthday. And as I've been doing for the past few years, a blog post is in order. Here are the funny Stew Statements that I can recall through the years:

On getting a cheap phone and a prepaid sim card in the Philippines:

"If you want to enjoy Philippines to the fullest, this (the cellphone) is the answer!"

On designer stores in Orchard road when we were in Singapore:

"I don't want to look at Louis Vuittons! If I want to see designer shops I would have stayed in England! Let's go to the cheap, dirty ones!

On his prolonged stay in the Philippines:

"The only thing that makes me anxious besides the extension of my Visa are hairy legs."

I was so touched Kuya Stew washed my 3 year-old, never been washed Chuck Taylors. When I thanked him, he said:

"Oh that? I was using the washing machine and there's still space so I just threw them in."

On seeing I lost weight while my dad's been in a coma, admitted in the ICU:

"Cuz, I know it's not a good time to say this but, you look good. Might as well get something out of it."

On the Filipino homecoming:

"I love it here cuz! They keep killing animals for me!"

On attending one of my graduate school classes:

"I don't understand your teacher. She said you guys should be open to development but look at her body language!

On leaving me alone in the house while he will be out of town:

"I'll get you B.G. ( our relative he calls bodyguard), he will be at your disposal!"

On my decision to travel alone:

"Do it cuz! It's refereshing. It's scary but its good. You can go ahead and write in that odd blog of yours!

On smoking outside the house with one of our dog, a dachshund named Kookai, watching him:

"I like Kookai. She's so pretty. When I'm smoking outside, she just looks at me. We have an understanding. She is my favorite dog."

On keeping two male dogs running around the garden:

"You cannot have two alpha male dogs! One will always try to be the alpha. Trust me I know. When we're all here together, they know I am The Alpha!"

Thank you for walking my dog Kuya!



Stew the dog walker from The Kea Channel on Vimeo.

 Plus, you're the only one I know who looks this good on fish eye lens.

Last but not the least, on being Pinoy:

"Manny Pacquiao is my hero!"

I swear, I still have a lot of memorable quotable quotes from you. But for now, these will do.

Happy, Happy Birthday Kuya Stew!

When there's U.P., there's Isaw

The first time my bff went to UPLB, I asked her what she wanted to do, other than to hang out, she blurted out: "Isaw!"

So when it's my turn to finally tour the UP Diliman campus, we asked our friends/colleague from the UP System Information Office where can we have the famous "Isaw"before heading home to UP Los Baños. 

They said "Mang Larry's!"

We found Mang Larry's famous Isawan in front of the International Center inside the UP Diliman Campus. I went with my colleagues Paolo and Kuya Karl and the first thing that caught Kuya Karl's eye is the photo of Mang Larry!

We did not get to meet Mang Larry but you can tell how far his business went because it's the only street food stand that I encountered that has a LED signage with crawling text that you usually see in fast food chains. The street food is stored and in a glass window and is grilled in discretion. The cashier takes your order, writes your name on the order slip and calls out your name like when your coffee is ready at Starbucks.

On the right side facing the stall, there are 2 huge jars of dipping sauce stored in two separate water jugs. One is sweet, the other is chili vinegar. The best way to enjoy it is to mix the two in a plastic cup that you can get at the counter.

We only stayed there for a good 30 minutes (approximately) and I tell you, vehicles are coming in and out, and the make shift hang outs around the area already have other customers eyeing your seat. We actually spoke to some of the customers and most of them are not really UP students, but those passing by and visitors (like us) who went to Mang Larry's just to experience the famous UP Isaw. 

 Thank you Sir Kim, Ms. Timi and Ms. Arlyn (of the UPSIO) for introducing us to Mang Larry's!

Way to motivate

Last Sunday afternoon, my sister and I were on our way to a client meeting when we saw this written on the side entrance of a hotel.

It lead to a door for the entrance of what they call "Hotel Associates".

Luckily, I have my camera with me that I took a photo, until the guard assigned to the hotel told me that it is prohibited to take the photo of the writing on the wall.

Bayanihang Tianggian at UPLB

The morning after the Valentine's night out, with barely 5 hours of sleep, we went to Bayanihang Tianggian to support our friend, Frankie, who advertised and donated at the event.

Basically, Bayanihang Tianggian is where you donate your second hand, mint condition clothes, books, toys, etc. or previous gifts/unused clothes, toys, accessories, etc. and the organizers will sell it to bazaar customers.

Proceeds of the event will be given to survivors of Typhoon Yolanda.

 Even gradeschoolers donated their unused toys and garments!

I was able to buy a desk organizer for Php 50.00, a 5 inch thick memo pad for Php 50.00 and a pair of scissors for Php10.00 and a scented plum colored, candle for Php 30.00.

Paully is the one who shopped the most or what I call "pang-kabuhayan showcase shopping".

I found these photos from the UP Bisok Facebook page, so I borrowed it for my blog. 

Next photo was taken by "lakas-maka-States" Frankie: 

I hope they will have another one next year as I would like to donate stuff to that I was not able to use at all. We got hungry so we passed by the UPLB Feb fair on our way to lunch. It's actually my first time to see what the Feb fair looks like at noon. In case you're wondering what the UPLB Freedom Park looked like after the very crowded February 14 event, check this out:

I was expecting tons of garbage but it looked so clean like you wouldn't imagine it this clean if you witnessed the waves of crowds who went here the night before. Good job!

UPLB VetMed's Pet Show

I spent my Valentine's day morning covering UPLB College of VetMed's Pet Show for work. It's actually my first time to attend a pet show and I'm glad my friend, Kat, came with me. 

More of the cute pets after the jump!

2014 Valentine's Week in Photos & Videos

February 11: 

The cuddling couch

"Curl up in ball with something Hanes..."

This is what they call  'a cuddling couch/nest'. It gives a I'm-in-a-make-believe-jacuzzi vibe.

I saw this on pinterest today and I really, I really would love to have something like this in the future. The TV and the bookshelves behind is just parfait!

Review: Archie Comics Married Life Series kept up with the times

I got the Archie Married life series last year for Christmas.I have to say I had to adjust reading comics again because I was so used to reading books with zero pictures on it. Anyway...

... I have to say I am happy that the story kept up with the times. Although the story line still played safe by showing what Archie's life was when he married Betty...




....and Veronica!

 

If you're an Archie fan and you're planning to get the series, stop reading this post to avoid SOME spoilers.

But if you're interested in reading more interesting twists in the new story line, there's more after the jump!

How about an Honest Facebook Movie?

Yesterday morning just before my feeds got flooded with everyone's Facebook movies, I already watched my Facebook Movie and proved for the second time around how very little Facebook knows about my life. (Good thing, I tell ya!)

Even though it contained really good parts, that's not really the adventure of my life. Actually while I was watching mine, I kept trying to look for some significant parts that mattered (because I remember certain things so well) but then why fuss about it? It was a just template designed for everyone's movies anyway and what was shown are based on their statistics. It reminded me of Statigram, an instagram video summary.

I was reading one of my favorite bloggers, Chinie, and she shared this on her blog. Now, how about we enjoy an Honest Facebook Movie?

Barbie-fied Celebrities!

Remember my previous barbie entries?

I found these on buzzfeed and borrowed photos from the internet to see the similarities. Here are my top favorites because of the details they put into it: 

1. Cher

Check out more dollified celebrities after the jump! 

Super-bowling at S.U. Building

I remember when I first moved back to UPLB. I didn't have any friends in graduate school yet, so my sister and her boyfriend took pity in my boredom and invited me to go bowling at the Student Union Building. I was actually quite impressed that the bowling alley still works because I remember watching UPLB competitions because my aunt/family relatives/family friends used to play and we, as kids, were just watching from the sides.

So last Monday, Aya, Frankie and I went on an impromptu bowling date and had forgotten how much it can make you sweat. I was still wearing my office clothes and totally inappropriate footwear but good thing they don't require you to wear bowling shoes.

I noticed, although I already saw this last 2010, that they no longer use humans to assemble the bowling pins. I used to remember that Kuya (male bowling alley attendant) used to run for their dear lives when someone bowl the pins over. Now its a good thing that it's automated, because when I threw the bowling ball with all my might, hoping for a strike, it ran fast...diagonally, hitting the side walls of the lane making the ball jump 2 feet from the ground. I didn't even know that it can do that.

The following Monday, my "competitive" friend Frankie took off his footwear. 

We have rusty bowling skills so we are officially making Mondays "Bowling Bonanza"day. I love that Mondays have fewer people hanging out. The basement of the S.U. building also has billiards hall but it happened to be closed when we went there.

Rates (per game):

• UPLB student: Php 15.00
• UPLB Employee: Php 20.00
• Non-UPLB student/employee: Php 25.00 

Schedule:

• Open Mondays to Fridays , 10am to 8pm.
• Saturdays - 1pm to 6pm

For reservations,  please call:

• 0949.650.1488
• 0926.296.4244
• 0916.102.3177

"Bangs before Botox" says hairstylist

"Bangs before Botox," says Adrian De Berardinis of De Berardinis Salon. He adds that bangs inadvertently draw attention to your eyes and disguise both crow's-feet and forehead wrinkles—clear signs of older age. (source)

I wrote in 2012 about stuff that you see in the supermarket. I remember seeing instant bangs that my sister found for sale and although we did not buy it, she tried it on.

Last weekend, we were at the same supermarket, and not only we found one, but we found three more in different hair colors and one even matched mine!

For those asking, we found them at Pure Gold San Pablo City Branch and with the price of Php 119.00 ( I think!) 

P.S. It's prohibited to take photos inside the supermarket but we managed to steal a bunch few shots. :) 

The one with the list

There's always Chinese New Year

Kung Hei Fat Choi!

Happy Chinese New Year! For breakfast today, we had tikoy. I'm not "Chinese" but we might be 1/32 Chinese (layo!) in our blood. I'm just assuming that because every January my parents insists on going to the house of our relatives on my father's side in San Pablo for the fiesta celebration sa bahay ng mga intsik (house of the Chinese and they are Chinese, I think. Tama ba Ninang? Haha!).

Anyway, I started 2014 with a whole lot of positivity, prepared and created my vision board. I am willing to allow my desires to happen. While as early as January, I can see and feel that I am being routed to the stuff on my vision board, I am embarrassed to say that I broke my top feeling-ko-doable New Year's resolutions:

Sleep early. Latest at 11pm.
I don't know how I can keep up with this alibi for the rest of the year, but what keeps me awake is watching Friends reruns on TV. I am, every night, sleeping on the couch (which irritates my mom because what are beds/bedrooms for?). But honestly, it is the best part of my day. I think I really have to get my own TV and put it in my bedroom. Wait! I think that's a bad idea.

No sodas for 2014.
I was actually doing really well with this one until, on my friend's wedding day, I got so thirsty and no water in sight but an ice cold Coca-Cola. I think you would understand.

Exercise at least 3 times a week.
I've been doing #WashboardAbsWednesdays by playing badminton with Franco and Aya, but we've only been playing every Wednesdays and only twice this month due to our busy schedule. (Plus, okay, after playing badminton we head straight to eat and catch up an all burned calories are back on again.) We have to do better this month!

Finish at least one book per week.
I'm only down to the last 2 chapters of The Power by Rhonda Byrne and it took me 2 weeks to finish it. And I thought I would have all the time in the world after graduating from my Masters.

BUT! I have been doing good on some areas such as:

Gratitude Diary
I started mine on Christmas Eve because I got so excited my boss gifted me with a journal. I've been religiously writing ever since.

Spend only on necessary things
So far I am doing good, but after tweeting that I had such financial discipline the past credit card cut off, I had another major purchase that my bank's happy again and as for me, I cannot have unnecessary spending until summer.

Stared a savings plan
I know you must have heard about the 52 weeks savings challenge right? We'll, on top of that, my friend Kat and I bought a glass jar on sale at SM Department store and we swore to only put 5 and 10 peso coins only. So far I've been religiously putting coins in my grown up "piggy bank".

Anyway, there's always Chinese New year to get it right.

Kung Hei Fat Choi, Friends! It's the first day of February which means tis the season of Love, Valentine's day -panic and the yearly anticipated UPLB February Fair!