Thoughts Salad: Two work weeks post UK

1. I've never had a vacation where I didn't need to have a vacation to vacation from my recent vacation. Wait, except when I went to Boracay last year for my birthday.

2. I think we all need someone who will tell us everything's going to be okay.

3. I need two weeks to process the jumping up back to normal life.

4. I need two long weekends in a month.

5. I need some serious life regrouping plans.

6. I need to have a talk-date with God.

7. I need to have a project for distraction. That includes: Printing photos from Hong Kong Trip last year; Segregation of new photos from UK; clean up some stuff.

8. I want to have a good laugh. I'm so busy getting back on what supposed to be is the track.

9. I need to get myself some new eye glasses, and perhaps an new contacts too because this "gray"is wrong but it's only been for a month when I bought it to be good for 6.

10. I want to go home and put on FRIENDS on TV and open that bottle of white wine that I got from the plane.

11. I miss pubs.

12. I need to get back and exercise. I can still feel my holiday weight.

13. I need to update this blog and I don't know where to even begin.

14. I want a new laptop. But I guess with the UK trip this year, it'll be for next year.

15. Shit, October is coming fast.

[Project FeeTrail July 2015]: Graduation Garden

It's going to be three years next year since I joined the Office of Public Relations. I've participated in three graduations so far.

In April 2013, I was feeling a bit bitter of not having graduated on time. But then again, if I did, it's not like I am rushing on to the next. But sometimes, the race to graduation in graduate school stings a part of me. We just watched on the sides that day. (Then I graduated October that year)

In April 2014, I am finally a certified graduate and was able to walk on stage on both graduations (Hooding Ceremonies and University Graduation). I attended every recognition day, even the graduation ball that I normally do not participate in, so in other words, I enjoyed every minute of it.

This year, July 2015, is the first graduation that happened in July since UPLB switched it's academic year to start in August. Also, this year my friends Aya and Frankie graduated at the same time. It's also my first time to really be part of the behind the scenes team, attending the Commencement Exercises meetings and so on.

Never mind that there was a little bit of a mishap. The stage was so beautiful, we had LCD screen at the back and man-made water falls complementing the lush garden, the stage was made into that day.

I just had to take a photo and it made it here.

August is coming up this weekend! I'm  EXCITED!!!

Fight Song came 5 years late

I needed this song in 2010. I first heard the mash up and searched for the original one and I fell in love with the lyrics!

Here are some excerpts that spoke to me...or like me.

“ I might only have one match, but I can make an explosion”
 “ And all those things I didn't say, Wrecking balls inside my brain” 

And of course, the chorus!!!

" This is my fight song

Take back my life song

Prove I'm alright song

My power's turned on

Starting right now I'll be strong

I'll play my fight song

And I don't really care if nobody else believes

'Cause I've still got a lot of fight left in me" 

Watch the embedded video. Although very twenties, very hipster, but inspiring.  (Hey I was still in my mid twenties when I needed this, but it came five years later.) 

Proof that whatever it is... it will pass. Even if you think it is impossible. 

 

What to do when an unknown landline number calls you?

This is old news, but the Internet, when used properly, provides such a huge amount of relief and convenience. I'm not just talking about places, reviews, etc.

Gone are the days when you see a missed call register on your phone and you try to figure out who might have called you and why it's from a landline? I got a call different times from landline numbers from Manila. Last April 27, 2015 I got a call from 02 798 8000. Today it's 02 944 3100. 

The first one was missed, the second one, I actually picked it up. It so happened that I am waiting for an important call and when I picked up, it hung up. Normally I would be really annoyed, but thanks to the internet, no need to be bothered whose call I might have missed. I simply type the number in the google search bar and look what I found:

I clicked on one of the links and got into a page:

I scrolled down some more and it came from a telemarketer.

Now having been part of the BPO industry, I understand how annoying it is to get these kinds of telemarketing calls, but these numbers just calls to hang up! That's a different story.

The next time you get a missed call from a landline, google it first. Anyway, if they really do mean business, they wouldn't just call to hang up.

[Project FeeTrail April 2015]: Regina Rica Rosarii

This month's Feet - trail goes to Regina Rica Rosarii. First five days of April was included in the holy week. So our family, together with our closest family friends, went to do station of the cross at the Regina Rica Rosarii in Tanay, Rizal, on a Maundy Thursday. It was such a beautiful, well-maintained place with a  huge Mama Mary statue situated on top of the hill.

Short story before climbing up the statue that the "cape"of mama mary symbolizes protecting her people and the child Jesus she was carrying had a sandal-snap accident because just like any kid, he once got scared of something and jumped to Mama Mary for protection.

Best tip I can share before going: Arrive Early. We arrived at 6am and went down at past 9:30 am, finding a lot of people lining up for the orientation. Yes, there is an orientation before you can explore the place.

I also noticed that the sunflowers lined, going up the Virgin Mary on top of the hill, all face the same way. I was told that they got their name because they "face the sun". I could have taken a lot of photos for blogging purposes during that trip, but it's lent and I assume that people probably don't want to go to some place sacred only to end up in someone's blog.

Anyway, I haven't been writing in this blog that much this month for I am busier with my life offline. I actually miss writing, it used to be therapeutic for me. I am actually thinking of disconnecting the auto publish function to my personal Facebook account, just because. I wasn't here for the hits anyway (but THANK YOU!)

I'm actually glad its going to be May tomorrow. I know internet meme's gonna be like:

I'm glad because when it's May, rain starts to drop by every now and then. Last year it rained heavily on my graduation day (April 26) but now, it's really hot. We need another term now for the dry season. I can't be writing every year how much I am hating not liking summer.

April was very busy for me. I asked something from the Universe at the start of the year and I am now receiving it, but more of that in the coming months.

How did your April go?

Don't waste your @talk2GLOBE points! (or how I got a KFC Krusher for free)

"I called to claim my rebate of 10 cents!" said our American client who called on the phone. I used to work in the Business Process Outsourcing Industry that was one of the interesting calls I received.

"Maám, may I repeat. You called to claim your ten cents." I said, with emphasis on the ten cents.

"Yes" she said. She probably knows what I am trying to say. "Listen honey, imagine if one million Americans don't claim their 10 cents from your company, you do the math on how much money yáll get for free!"

Which reminded me of GLOBE points.

Honestly, I don't really care about GLOBE's reward points. It just accumulates and encourages me to redeem it but I do not know how and what to redeem. I thought, well, it's just a few points...until I realized that 1 point is equivalent to 1 peso and I have a virtual Php 170.00 waiting for me, ready for consumption:

Then I saw this: 

You can actually buy using your points!

I tried first what else I can buy that I like using my GLOBE points, but a purchase at KFC is more realistic for me.

So I went to the counter, texted a number: BUY <space> store globe number <space> amount and sent it to 4438 and bought something I like from KFC.

I have one week and a half to decide the next order amounting to Php100.00 that I still have in my Globe Rewards. 

Thank you GLOBE for my free KFC Krushers! 

Don't waste your GLOBE points!  Imagine if one million Globe subscribers won't redeem their 170 points/rewards... you all know what I'm saying. Now go and redeem it before March 31, 2015.

[Project FeeTrail February 2015]: Such a sweet swan

Not my first time in Fernwood Gardens, but it was my first time to actually see the swan (and how big it is pala in real life) in Fernwood.  Such a bonus that it could've been just any other swan but it happened to be a very sweet and generous swan.

I took a video and instagrammed this little, big darling, getting food from the plate and shared it with her fish friends. It's like a mother feeding her babies. I really could not help myself but step up to this man-made rock formation and took a photo of my feet while peaking. The little flower girl in the venue must have found me weird and amusing that she started stepping on the same rock formation too, (to the horror of the mommy).

On the other side of Fernwood gardens is also another solo swan with fish friends, but swan number 2 does not share her food at all.

February felt like it was only a few weeks! How did yours go?

Signs I've been Tita-fied

Been feeling a little under the weather today since my allergic rhinitis yesterday, and I think all I really want to do right now is put on some house clothes and be a couch potato rest. It's Feb Fair in UP now, actually, and for some reason, I'm not really feelin' it. 

My friend Aya tagged me in this link that showed 13 signs that I am actually a Tita.

Taking off from their 13 signs that one is actually a Tita, lemme see how I Tita-fied I am now:

1. You shamelessly steal tissue from restaurants.

Actually not just tissue, but catsup as well especially if it’s Heinz! Haha! But kidding aside, back in our early twenties, and back when Starbucks still makes their environment-friendly tissue and display it out in the open, we would “steal” them and store them in our office desks.

2. Longchamp bags and giant totes are the way to go...

Not really Longchamp but big totes! You will hardly  find me with a small sling bag. I always carry the big ones and I always seem to have a lot of things to bring (but I've been meaning to minimize it.)  

3. ...because your friends always count on you to have everything in your bag.

Oh yes! From wet wipes to sanitizer (which I occasionally forget), my friends used to call me girl scout. I even have tweezers and balm for skin itch. (But again, I'm on a quest to minimize it).

4. Your idea of fun is brunch with the girls.

Oh yes! Lately I’ve been setting up dates for brunch and start to itch to go home as soon as it gets dark.

5. Your happy place is S&R.

Because there’s just too much to look at (even though I always gawk at the chocolates section)!

6. Friends always turn to you for advice.

Yes, I do love to share my wise and some walwal years with my friends.

7. You're always setting up friends to date.

Uhmm… I cannot say for this one. I setup my best friend once with a "player" because she specifically wanted a "nothing serious but just a fun rebound" and it backfired. I tried again but it did not even went to first step. So, no, I’m not trying that again.

8. You have a collection of paper bags and shoe boxes collecting dust in your house.

Paper bags, yes. Shoe boxes, some of them. As long as the box is made in really good material.

9. Your favorite past time is going to the grocery and shopping for home décor.

Not really grocery shopping, but more on watching reruns of FRIENDS on TV. ( I can never get tired of it. I don’t know why! I even have all 10 seasons in my ipod!)

10. You host weekly dinner parties.

Not weekly, but more of a small, intimate, annual KTV party for my friends called #KEAoke! And the party time ends before midnight!

11. In the few times you’ve been out at night, you were super sleepy by 10.

Only because I get up at 5:30 am (then hit snooze).

12. @TitasofManila is your favorite Twitter account.

Not really lurking on Twitter nowadays but yes, I follow @TitasofManila for laughs.

13. Your friends actually call you a tita.

…And this is Eisen’s fault! No, actually, it’s our office Tito Abel, who called me Tita (he calls everyone Tita, excuse me, and I was 29 when he first called me that! Hahaha!) and eventually Aya caught on. It does have a nice ring actually. Tita Kea. I don’t mind. I’ve been called Mama Kea by my 13 agents before and I was twenty-friggin-four and I am cool about it. Bakit ba? :) 

I'm not yet a Tita, as per my friend. 

Planner: Daily Interact + Certified Positive Planner

I am always on the look out for a new planner every year. I always want to pick out my planner because it is something very personal to me.

The other day, when Paully and I had lunch at Karne Frio, my eyes caught something on the counter: They sell planners!

While waiting for our orders, I asked the waiter if I could take a peak inside the planner and see what it looks like:

What I love about this planner:

• Practical sections
• really good paper ( I always, always, "feel" the paper)
• Cute stuff
• No coupons 

But what I don't like about it is its got too much reading stuff on the planner (like the one on Miriam Quiambao). That's the reason I switched back to Everything is Possible planner from Belle de Jour.

Oh, in case you're wondering how much it costs, it's Php 540.00.

Happy Birthday @laiahdear #AYAconda2015

Before we start, how about we get into the mood by listening/watching Nicki Minaj's Anaconda Video?




Aya and I have this birthday tradition where we photoshop our birthday celebrant friend's face into celebrity bodies for laughs!

First it was Yeye, then it was Frankie but asked me to take it down for the sake of taking care of his digital footprint (hihihi) thenI got mine, and now it's the photoshop queen's turn! Happy Birthday AYA!!! I came up with a birthday countdown that stressed her out for five days!

Here's Day 1:

Dear Aya, you think I would wait for saturday to greet you on your birthday? Let's start now! Happy Birthday! You have no choice, we will have a birthday countdown. Here's #AYAconda Photo 1 of 5, yes 5, and if you erase your pic you would look like your twinnie (private joke). Get ready birthday girl! 

Day 2: 

Happy, Happy Birthday Aya! Here's #AYAconda Photo 2 of 5! YOu're so sexy in this picture! No wonder we got the paddle boarding for free when we were in Boracay last year. HE was stunned by your sexyness! 

Day 3:
HAPPY BIRTHDAY Aya! As promised, here's #AYAconda Photo 3 of 5. You're so pretty here! Digital perm suits you welll. This is how you ride the jeep, so the jeep can take you to your office for only Php 8.50! 

 Day 4:
HAPPY BIRTHDAY Aya! Here's #AYAconda Photo 4 of 5. YOu're sexy already but you're still dedicated into working out! Happy Birthday. Tomorrow, since it's your actual birthday, I will reveal your grand finale photo! 

And the much awaited FINALE: 

HAPPIEST BIRTHDAY AYA! 

Keep workng it sexy girl!!! 

No more Balik Alindog, because your Alindog is soooo back! 

Thanks for being a good sport in your Birthday countdown!

(Kinakabahan na ako sa standee ko).

Happy Birthday Taytay @taylorswift13

Besides the fact that I like her style, fashion sense, and her songwriting, here are more reasons why I love Taylor Swift:

Happy Birthday Taylor Alison Swift!!!

- From a 31 year old Swiftie. :)

Taylor Swift's Cray Video: Blank Space

Okay, I don't think I've written it here before but I'm a Taylor Swift fan for years now. I started to like her so much when I found out that she writes her own songs (just like when I found out that Mariah Carey writes her own songs too!) My favorite album to date was her Speak Now album and have been looking forward to the lyrics of her songs.

 And I like her fashion style, her red carpet looks, her hair style, make up, how she treasures her friends, the way she wears her red lipstick, dance like she doesn't care and how she makes money out of a broken heart.

Today I watched Taylor's new video, Blank Space, one of my favorite songs in the new 1989 album, and I gotta hand it to her. I love this cray cray video.

Oh Taylor, if only I could do the same (make money out of a broken heart), I'd be rich like you too! Hahaha!

[Project FeeTrail August 2014]: Shabby chic, Serene and Sweet

If you've read my Project Feet Trail posts for a while now, you will notice how this shot is very similar to a certain post in October 2012 during my cousin's inter cultural wedding (also designed by my wedding/events florist sister, Aprille Araguas)

It was a lovely day for a rustic themed wedding and I love the whole feel of the exclusivity and intimate setting. The place even had a nice room for wedding suppliers to set up. I would like to gush more about the details but I'm going to save that for the actual complete wedding post at www.aprillearaguas.com.

In a previous post, I said how this is my first time in Casa San Pablo but our second time to cover an intercultural wedding. Hence, this automatically goes to my Feet Trail collection. This shot was taken after the wedding ceremony and I decided to include that little white lantern as well.

The -BER months starts tomorrow! Time flies so fast!

Blog Readers' Questions Answered: Hair, Mousse, and How to be part of a Studio Audience

First, I would like to apologize for the way too delayed reply. I didn't even know I am getting messages because the notification stopped and I never received it in my email. So to make things easy, you can message me on Facebook (and oh, and like my page too!)

Second of all, I never really thought I would do the type to have actual reader requests three in a row! Wow, legit blogger na ako? 

I know these responses are way too delayed but I would like to return the favor of answering your queries and as thank you for reading/stumbling upon my blog.

1) From C:

Hi Kea! stumbled upon your blog while checking for products for damn hair. hehehe! question. do you think it's okay to have my hair permed even if i have a curly hair like that of nigers. seriously. please help. really look old and wanna try to look better. thanks.

My Reply:

Hi C!

I think the question would be best answered by the hairstylist. Stylist mismo not the assistant who would encourage you to try other services (that will blow up your budget). I suggest you go to the nearest Tony and Jackey (where I had mine) and have your hair assessed (Read my post about it here). They will tell you about the texture and what would be best. Go for the medium curls and not the big ones because the medium curls will eventually turn into big ones and they stay long.

Thank you for reading my blog!

Best,
Kea

2) From S:

hi. i just wanna ask couple of questions po :) first time to digi perm hair and it's not turning out the way i want it to even though i condition my hair, apply mousse when it's wet and scrunch it, i don't blow dry my hair or comb it but it still turns out like i have a bad hair day and u cant see the curls and they are more like frizzy hair what do u recommend i do? i just permed my hair a month ago would u recommend getting the top part of the hair rebonded and the lower part digi permed? i saw a salon that offers that kind of service e do u need to curl your perm with your fingers when u apply mousse or does scrunching do the job?

My Reply:

Hi S!

That is the common hair woe the day after you had your hair permed. Actually there are cases that it became straight again. But as per instructions, you are not allowed to get your hair wet  for a number of days. Scrunching actually does the trick, like what I wrote in this post, as long as you do it while the hair is still wet. You can read all about my hair products here.

Thank you for reading my blog!

Best,
Kea

From L:

Hi Kea, your blog happened to catch my attention, the name is unique as well. Since I'm looking how could I bring my family to watch Party Pilipinas live like you did, could you help me how to the tickets? We're going to Phil. (from Canada) this June __ and planning to watch the show on July __probably with some of my niece and nephew say 6-8 persons. My daughter wish to see the celebrities since we have GMA channels right here. Hope to here from you. Thank you and keep on writing you do it very well, L

My Reply:

Hi L!

My super sincerest apologies for not replying as fast as I can. Although I watched the sunday show three times already, it was on different cases. The first one was during our the opening of the biggest and brand new live audience studio and we got passes from the director who is my mom's friend's friend (hope you were able to catch that! hihi). The second time, I got in because my former agent was a member of a fans club (haha!)We went in on different privileges (fan club access) though we're not really members of their club. They were just kind hearted enough to let us in. The third one is the show's renamed program (the one I wrote here) and we got passes from my friend in graduate school who's best friend works there. (Or used to work there, I don't know anymore.) GMA has studio tours you can check it here, and also ABS-CBN offers studio tours where you can be a live audience on some programs. You can access it here.

Thank you for reading my blog!

Best,
Kea

You can send me a message through my Facebook page instead, it is easier and I get to reply to you in a more timely manner.

Thank you for reading!

Jesus calmed the storm #Glendaph

Much has been posted about Typhoon Glenda and as of this writing, we do not have electricity for over a week now and we have intermittent water supply.

It is during these times that people go back to the basics. Lord, despite the typhoon, please let us have water (supply). Then came mobile signal and internet signal, then electricity. The sales of generators have risen up, that it gets out of stock the moment new stocks came in. When I was young, only businesses (owners) and rich people have generators, now people can afford it. Not that it has gotten cheaper. Anyway...

As I was praying really hard during the storm and my sister was in our other house near UPLB, there's this one verse that keeps on entering my mind: "Jesus Calms the Storm".

Mark 4:35-41New International Version (NIV)

Jesus Calms the Storm35 That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, “Let us go over to the other side.” 36 Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat.There were also other boats with him. 37 A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. 38 Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?”39 He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.40 He said to his disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?”
41 They were terrified and asked each other, “Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!”

And he did. Hours later after I slightly passed out, the storm calmed down. I wrapped my phone in plastic and started taking photos of what happened outside the house.

I took off the plastic wrapped around my phone to take better photos.

I prayed: "Lord, please, not the windshield. It's very expensive (to have it repaired)."

And here's what I got. My heart can take this.

I thought our little cabana would be roofless by now, but it was not.

Stuff thrown everywhere. I found our chair at the back.

My mother and I got into the car to rush to my sister in UP. Here's the guard house (photo by mom)

Photo taken at the bridge.

Thank you Lord, we got friendly neighbors to help us out. We managed to restore our tree with assistance.

 Almost all roads are not passable. In pili drive alone, there are 11 pili trees that were uprooted. We went to UPLB to bring one of the guys who helped us for anti- tetanus injection. I waited at the area of the Japanese Nihon Koen and took some photos.

I did not take much because I don't want to use up all my phone's battery, even if I didn't have signal.

To this date, UPLB is working over time for the campus clean up. Photos below shows pic taken last week, the right one shows pic taken early this morning.

Right now its business as usual in our office. Thank goodness, we have a generator and intermittent internet connection. Better than none, I tell you.

Remember when I was supposed to go to Thailand? It's a good thing I did not push through with the trip because otherwise, I wouldn't be home when Typhoon Glenda happened.

I would probably be having a nervous breakdown somewhere at the airport.

I'm starting to think my cancelled and wasted plane tickets are blessings in disguise, because last year I was supposed to go to Bohol for my 30th birthday, then Bohol had an earthquake before I even booked my hotel.

Thank you Lord.

(More photos of typhoon Glenda, by this photographer that I saw taking photos that day. )