changing yourself

Actually, the only effective way of changing another person, Kat, is by changing yourself.

Works every time, guaranteed.

The Universe

PS

Though, Kat, I'm kind of partial to the way you are right now.

the end of husbandry [economy]

That's what my band's first album is called.

And my band's called Cold Hearted. Haha. Cool. 

Album cover photo from Julia Lee

This is for a meme circulating in Facebook. But I'm a Multiply-er so I'm posting it here. I tag whoever may find this interesting enough to do. 

Here are the rules:

1. Go to Wikipedia then click on Random Article. The first random Wikipedia article you get is the name of your band.

2. Go to Quotationspage.com then click on Random Quotes. The last four or five words of the very last quote of the page is the title of your first album.

3. Go to flickr and click on the last seven days. Third picture, no matter what it is, will be your album cover.

4. Use Photoshop or any photo editing software to put it all together. 

5. Post wherever and tag others.

lessons learned

Among the many lessons I've learned since I moved here are:

1- That it's okay to have questions and not have the answers right away;

2 -That it's okay to not do anything than do something drastic and make things worse; 

3- That there is no need to hurry;

4- That it's alright to stay put, and

5- That everything I need is here, now.

Have a great weekend!

love begets love

In both relationships and life, Kat, trust begets trust.

Generosity begets generosity.

Love begets love.

Be the spark, especially when it's dark.

Hubba, hubba -

The Universe

PS

Same for luxe and lack, Kat; sadness and joy; anger and kindness; Hershey's and kisses. Especially when it's dark.

rain

It drizzled a bit on our part of Singapore today. Made me sit on our cozy corner and read my book. I loved that quiet moment. It calmed me down. It made time stop for a while.

eat pray love on gratitude

Keep cultivating gratitude. You'll live longer.

eat pray love on where God is

God dwells within you as you yourself, exactly the way you are.

eat pray love on why God needs us

We have hands; we can stand on them if we want to. That's our privilege. That's the joy of a mortal body. And that's why God needs us. Because God loves to feel things through our hands.

eat pray love on rituals

This is what rituals are for. We do spiritual ceremonies as human beings in order to create a safe resting place for our most complicated feelings of joy and trauma, so that we don't have to haul those feelings around with us forever, weighing us down.

eat pray love on the search for contentment

The search for contentment is, therefore, not merely a self-preserving and self-benefiting act, but also a generous gift to the world. Clearing out all your misery gets you out of the way. You cease being an obstacle, not only to yourself but to anyone else. Only then are you free to serve and enjoy other people.

eat pray love on happiness

People universally tend to think that happiness is a stroke of luck, something that will maybe descend upon you like fine weather if you're fortunate enough. But that's not how happiness works. Happiness is the consequence of personal effort. You fight for it, strive for it, insist upon it, and sometimes even travel around the world looking for it. You have to participate relentlessly in the manifestations of your own blessings. And once you have achieved a state of happiness, you must never become lax about maintaining it, you must make a mighty effort to keep swimming upward into that happiness forever, to stay afloat on top of it. 

oscar tidbits

I'm glad Kate Winslet won. I loved that part when she asked her dad to whistle. Cute.

*****

That bit when the past best actress winners gave a short tribute to the nominees. Naluha ako kay Anne Hathaway pa lang. 

*****

Sophia Loren naman could've pretended to feel what she was saying to Meryl Streep noh. Haha. Super halatang binabasa niya yung speech.

*****

I'm happy Harvey Milk, este, Sean Penn won best actor.

And that Heath Ledger won best supporting actor.

But I also loved Robert Downey Jr in Tropic Thunder.

*****

I felt sad naman for Jennifer Aniston. Nasa second row siya with John Meyer tapos first row si Brad at Angelina. Here's the Us story.

"When the lights were down, Aniston smiled directly at Pitt, but not at Jolie."

It was really brave of her to show up.

I really wish her well. (Haha, kala mo friends eh.)

*****

Must watch Frost/Nixon, Doubt, The Wrestler, Rachel Getting Married, The Reader and Vicky Cristina Barcelona soon.

kick butt

There were a lot of reasons you chose to come to earth, Kat, and I am super happy to tell you that not one of them was to master being poor, lonely, or sick. Incidentally, neither did you have any intention of living your life without *insert what it is you most want here*.

Clutch!

You came to "kick butt," Kat... 

The Universe

PS

You know, Kat, I could make an absolute fortune dishing your secrets to the tabloids.

approved leaves

One of the things I'm thankful for today is that my boss have approved all the leaves I plan to take upto May. Thank God madali siyang kausap.

Another thing I'm thankful for is that B's boss have approved his leaves as well. Yey!

accidental dinner date

Last night, we unwittingly celebrated our 41st month together. (We just remembered that the following day will be the 23rd so we just declared last night's dinner as an advanced celebration.)

We had spaghetti with a sweet tomato, ham and Swiss brown mushroom sauce topped with cheddar cheese, of course.

We paired it with a 2005 red cabernet sauvignon wine. It's not as good as the others we've tried. We found it quite watered down.

After dinner, we tried to pair cheddar and walnut. We've tried various cheeses from hotel buffets but never with walnut so we decided to give it a shot. It was good! The sharpness and saltiness of the cheddar complemented the bitterness of the walnut. The creaminess of the cheese gave a nice contrast to the crunchiness of the nuts as well. 

To round off our meal, we had Lindt Madagascar dark chocolate with 60% cocoa. It paired nicely with the wine.

  

Compared with other anniversary dinners we had before, this is one of the healthiest. Red wine is a good source of resveratrol which is beneficial to heart health, and according to a study, cabernet sauvignon reds may help reduce the risk for developing Alzheimier's. Walnuts are sources of omega 3, dark chocolate has anti-oxidants and our pasta is whole wheat. 

Healthy meal + great conversation = more anniversaries to come! 

our cozy corner

Was finally able to get the armchair from IKEA today. 

Here is our cozy reading corner:

The magazine holder on the lower right-hand corner, is where I put my journal, magazines, planner, and the book I'm reading.

This is B giving the corner a test run:

I think we're going to spend a lot of time here from now on. 

sunday morning

It's the perfect Sunday morning on the east side of Singapore today. The weather is nice; it's sunny with a bit of cool breeze, like spring time in another part of the world, but maybe warmer.

Every morning one of the first things I do is open our bedroom window and look at this while I whisper a prayer of thanks to God:

I love this tree on the neighboring compound. And the birds feel the same way. It makes me happy every time a see birds playing on the tree's lush leaves and huge branches. 

When I look on the other side to catch the breeze, I see this:

The sunshine was so beautiful this photo doesn't do it justice.

Just after breakfast (which my dear husband prepared), I take a peek at the window in the living room and was bowled over by this:

I just noticed that the tree on the opposite side of the road has flowers! It's so pretty!

It is springtime in Singapore. 

I'll leave you with this. Have a blessed Sunday!

best lechon evah!

Anthony Bourdain went to the Philippines (finally) for No Reservations and he said we have the best lechon ever in this blog entry. So cool! Sabi na nga ba masarap ang Cebu lechon. Pinakamasarap in the world!

Nakakatuwa si Bourdain. Sabi niya sa palagay daw niya Filipinos are just too darn nice kaya hindi nakikilala ang ating cuisine sa ibang bansa. How iswit? Hehehe. 

You can see him say that and declare the lechon as the best pig ever here:

first be happy without it

Whatever it is you want, however you want to have it, no matter why you want to have it, Kat, you can have it faster if you can first be happy without it.

Sneaky, clever, foxy, wry - 

The Universe

PS

Desire and happiness, Kat, need not be mutually exclusive; they actually work best together.

when you try your best but you don't succeed* and your hair is too long

So. We ran out of Coldplay tickets. Actually, there were available tickets as of last night, but for seats with a restricted view. "I'm pretty sure you're going to be blocked," said the guy at the SISTIC counter. I said nevermind. Come on, why pay $158 when you can't even see Chris Martin's ass??? Of course, for some it would be worth it to see the band play their songs live but it's just not worth the price for me. I need/want to see Chris Martin's ass! 

I was sad for quite a bit but I thought of other things I can do with the money. I have quite a lot of items on my shopping list.

******

I cut my hair today. You read that right. I did it myself. I was combing my hair and realized I was really tired of carrying all that extra weight so I grabbed the scissors and cut it. The moment I lost all that old hair, I instantly felt lighter.

No, I'm not going Britney. I just need time to figure out what I want to do with my hair before I go to the pros. But I totally understand Britney when she grabbed the razor and shaved her head. Cutting/shaving your hair has a cathartic effect. Like you're starting anew.

But for me, it was just about losing the weight. I've got enough on me already. Hahaha. 

*Fix You, Coldplay

dreams are like that

Dreams are like that, Kat... Most of the time you don't even know how close you are, until after they've come true.

Sometimes, even, the very day before they come true, it still feels like they're a million miles away.

Something to remember.

Tallyho,
The Universe

PS
Just proving that age old adage, Kat, "It's not what you know, it's who you know... and love." 

no words

I don't have words (to write) for work.

I'm tigang.

I need a or  or .

Haha walang sense.

viva la vida loca!

WE. WILL. WATCH.



Oh God, please don't let us run out of tickets. Please, pretty please?

the frightened child

When you can look beneath their behavior that hurt you, Kat, and you can see the frightened child - it becomes nearly impossible to be angry and carry a grudge.

And you so can.

ILY,
The Universe

PS
Besides, Kat, your happiness, abundance, health, and friendships are not dependent on how others behave. 

eat pray love on prayer & destiny

Prayer is a relationship; half the job is mine. If I want transformation, but can't even be bothered to articulate what, exactly, I'm aiming for, how will it ever occur? Half the benefit of prayer is in the intention. If you don't have this, all your pleas and desires are boneless, floppy, inert; they swirl at your feet in a cold fog and never lift.

*****

Destiny, I feel, is also a relationship--a play between divine grace and willful self-effort. Half of it you have no control over; half of it is absolutely in your hands, and your actions will show measureable consequence. Man is neither entirely a puppet of the gods, nor is he entirely the captain of his own destiny; he's a little of both.

do the not-so-great stuff

Until the really "great" stuff comes along, Kat, do the not-so-great stuff.

The not-so-great stuff always leads to the great stuff. Whereas doing nothing pretty much leads to nowhere.

And do it with a passion -
The Universe

PS
You tiger, Kat. 

work/passion

The whole company got an e-mail regarding half-year bonuses for 2008. The big boss said it will be paid out sometime in March and whoever is eligible will get a letter saying so within the week.

It's happy news but I remembered my contract again. The last time I asked about my eligibility for a bonus, HR said contract employees are not qualified to receive bonuses. I felt really bad, not because I needed that money, but I felt that I wasn't getting what I deserved.

Now that feeling's back all over again.

I know I shouldn't let what's not here affect me or make me feel sad, but I am. Kind of.

Bleh. I know I'll get over it. I always do.

Now, moving on.

I received this quote in my email today:

You have to realize what makes you happy. The kitchen always does that for me.
—Michelle Bernstein, chef

I feel the same way!!! I'm happiest and most energized when I'm in the kitchen preparing meals for loved ones. Suddenly I was thinking about shifting careers. Should I study to become a chef?

I'm kinda discouraged because when I studied writing/journalism, it burned my passion out. (But is that even possible?) When I was a kid I loved to write. When I learned to edit myself though, it just kinda died. I'm afraid going into cooking school will put out the flame, too.

Should I just open a karinderya then?

Ahhh. Decisions, decisions.

Slumdog Millionaire

Rating:	★★★★★
Category:	Movies
Genre:	Other

I didn't know in which genre to categorize Slumdog Millionaire. It's a comedy, drama, love story and action-adventure flick all in one. On the surface, Slumdog Millionaire is very Indian, very Bollywood, thanks to the setting (Mumbai), costumes, choreography and music. But the film reminded me so much of the Philippines--gangs using children to earn money, prostitution, incompetent cops and game shows! Poverty is the same everywhere, I guess.

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

Rating:	★★★★★
Category:	Movies
Genre:	Drama

This is such a well-made film. Each frame was just rich and beautiful. Of course, Cate and Brad were beautiful, too! I was touched by Daisy and Benjamin's love story and was saddened when they had to part ways because Daisy "couldn't take care of both of them" (Benjamin and their daughter). The film, however, wasn't as deep as it could've been. Instead of us deriving life lessons from the story, the lessons were thrown to us by means of dialogue. Nevertheless, I'm glad I've seen it.

Memorable quotes:

*We are defined by opportunities, even the ones we miss.

*It's a funny thing about comin' home. Looks the same, smells the same, feels the same. You'll realize what's changed is you.

*Sometimes we're on a collision course, and we just don't know it. Whether it's by accident or by design, there's not a thing we can do about it.

*For what it's worth: it's never too late or, in my case, too early to be whoever you want to be. There's no time limit, stop whenever you want. You can change or stay the same, there are no rules to this thing. We can make the best or the worst of it. I hope you make the best of it. And I hope you see things that startle you. I hope you feel things you never felt before. I hope you meet people with a different point of view. I hope you live a life you're proud of. If you find that you're not, I hope you have the strength to start all over again.

*Benjamin, we're meant to lose the people we love. How else would we know how important they are to us?

*Some people, were born to sit by a river. Some get struck by lightning. Some have an ear for music. Some are artists. Some swim. Some know buttons. Some know Shakespeare. Some are mothers. And some people, dance.

if you're in a hurry

Anything you could ever hope that I might one day do for you, Kat, is something you can begin doing for yourself today, making the whole thing happen about 7,000 times faster.

But that's just if you're in a hurry, 

The Universe

PS

Kat, you're just another part of me.

you've grown

When you begin to find love, Kat, in people and places where you haven't found it before, it's always because you've grown.

You so rock,
The Universe

PS
All there is to love, Kat, has been there all along.

attn: mr. mateo

happy valentine's day! i love you!

photo from Kate Spade Valentine

eat pray love on our duty

When you sense a faint potentiality for happiness after such dark times you must grab onto the ankles of that happiness and not let go until it drags you face-first out of the dirt--this is not selfishness, but obligation. You were given life; it is your duty (and also your entitlement as a human being) to find something beautiful within life, no matter how slight.

I'm really loving this book!

feeling incomplete does not make you so

Here's the thing, Kat. Admission into time and space requires a belief in limits: a belief that both time and space are real; that you can therefore have and have-not; that love can be lost or found; and that you are what your physical senses show you and no more.

These illusions immediately lead you to believe that you are incomplete. Yet, far from indicating you are flawed, they reveal your brilliance by filling you with desire, igniting your emotions, fueling your passions, and catapulting you out into the world where journeys are begun, connections are made, and dreams come true... only to be replaced by new dreams as your divine sense of incompleteness persists.

This is by design, Kat. Feeling incomplete does not make you so. It's how legends are born, giants are made, and history is written. It's why you're here. To ever so briefly escape your true identity as you live with an unquenchable thirst that will lead into adventures of grandeur, discovery, and a realization that love is all there is.

Your trusty accomplice,
The Universe

PS
The truth is, Kat, you are complete, you are where you should be, nothing has been missed, and I'll see you at the ball. 

our reading corner

True to Scorpio's horoscope for the month (I'm a Leo but Scorpio is my Rising Sign), I've been in the mood for redecorating. We've been to IKEA twice this month already and have bought a couple of knick-knacks. The streak isn't over yet, though. 

I want to create a reading corner in our bedroom and in my head it looks like this:

Our reading corner - by kataztrophe25 on Polyvore.com

We already have the rug (it's bigger in real life), which we bought on sale for only $39, and the floor lamp (a variation of the above with an orange shade). We're planning to purchase the armchair soon, since it's the IKEA home furnishing sale. Even if the chair isn't on sale though it's still quite cheap at $79. We tried it last time we went to IKEA and it's comfy! But before we buy it, I have to take some measurements first to make sure it fits. 

Yeah, our room's an IKEA showcase.  

checkpoint 1

It's been more than a month since 2009 began and it's time to see how I've managed to keep my resolutions/goals.

1. Having a healthier and more fit body. - So far, so good. I've started exercising about 30 minutes a day, five times a week. We've also switched to brown rice. We're also keeping our junk food consumption to only once a week and only if it's unavoidable. We try to eat at home more often now.

2.  Shopping less and saving more. - I've been staying away from the malls so I can avoid temptation. However, we've been purchasing air tickets here and there so I haven't managed to raise my savings yet. Maybe next month.

3. Loving my job and doing my tasks well. - Still loving it and still doing it.

4. Visiting places I've never been to and revisiting places I love. - My sister is coming over for a two-week vacay and I'm planning to take her to two places I haven't been to yet: Labrador Nature Reserve and Fort Canning Park. I'll also bring her to the Civic District, which I love. So two checks for goal number 4.

5. Reading more. - I wasn't able to finish my January book, which is YOU On a Diet. I got bored with it. For February, I'm reading Eat Pray Love and I'm hooked.

What about you? Are you keeping up with your resolutions?

eat pray love on God

I was just so struck by this that I had to share it.

Dante writes that God is not merely a blinding vision of glorious light, but that He is, most of all..."The Love that moves the sun and the stars."

Ang ganda ano?

never compromise a dream

Kat, never compromise a dream.

Sure, take a step back, regroup, go bowling, but never compromise a dream.

Ciao,
The Universe

PS
Well... I don't really bowl, Kat, but I do love the shoes. 

i thought office work was safe?

Mali pala ako. Years of typing and using the mouse have lead to the deterioration of my right hand and wrist--

Idagdag na rin natin ang ilang taon nang pagpipitpit ng bawang. Hahaha. All out kasi ako pag nagpipitpit ng bawang. As in BAM! Maganda siyang panglabas ng stress kaso pag higit sa dalawang bulbs ng bawang ang pipitpitin mo, gud lak naman deba?

To relieve the pain, I took Mefenamic Acid and put Salonpas patches on the parts that hurt. 

Ok lang kahit mag-amoy lola ako. Masarap pala ang feeling ng Salonpas. Mainit at gaya ng sabi ng kumare kong si Mel, nakakarelax ng nerves.

Sa awa ng Diyos bumubuti na ang pakiramdam ko. A few days ago sobrang sakit pag sinusubukan kong itwist ang kamay ko. Ngayon CAN na ulit. 

Nakakatakot. Dapat may insurance ata kamay ko (or kamay ng writers for that matter). Ayaw kong magpaka-Stephen Hawking ano. Yung tipong iniisip mo lang tapos computer na bahala sa output. Yung kanya nga lang, nagsasalita para sa kanya. 

Kailangan ko nang bumili ng wrist guard. Sa ngayon kasi hanky lang gamit ko. Siguro kaya may wristband si Erap noh? May carpal tunnel syndrome???

very, very, very

You just never know how close you are, Kat. 

Best to assume "very, very, very."

Verily, 

The Universe

PS

Just a breath away, dear Kat, you are just a breath away.

my life in Singapore so far part 1 - establishing a career

In a span of two years, I've had three jobs here in Singapore. My "career" here or my quest for one, has been an emotional roller coaster, much like the history of my romantic relationships. 

Job no. 1: Editorial assistant for a high society magazine

Duration: Eight months

I accepted my first job here just to get my foot in the door. I was itching to find work at that time so when the offer came, I grabbed it without much thought. I was so bored with being a bum that I said yes without hesitation--even if the company's office was in a factory building up north. I set aside my personal rule to stay away from companies with hideous offices just so I could begin earning some money. 

It was just like the first romantic relationship I spent years fantasizing about. I wanted to experience the thrills of the first "love," that which they say never dies. 

Oh, but die it did. It died very much. The first boyfriend didn't show at all. That first relationship was hardly a relationship. It was a joke and I'm laughing now just thinking of how much I invested in that "relationship" emotionally. I was 15 then.

After a couple of months, the poor management style, the lack of focus and evil editors started rearing their ugly head that I couldn't ignore them anymore. That they fired my managing editor and replaced her with a disorganized, panicking lady that was anything but high society made matters worse for me. After eight months of pagtitiis and self-denial, it was time to say goodbye.

  

Job no. 2: Copy editor for an animal feeds magazine

Duration: Three months

After a bad experience, I tried to make up for it by choosing a job that was on the boring side (haha!). The office was organized and clean. The people looked friendly and I wasn't anyones assistant. Yun nga lang I was writing about animal feeds, which isn't really my topic of choice. Plus, I had a boss who carried his professorial style over to an office setting. Remember, the guy who met with the editorial team once weekly for recitations? Haha.

Again, I didn't really think about this job. At that time, I felt that what mattered is that I immediately got a job. I didn't think about what I want. On one hand, I thought it was me being open to new experiences. Yun pala, I was playing it too safely. I was clinging to the GS idea because one, the first new experience aka the first SG job was too traumatic, and two, GS gave me a stable three years back home and I wanted to recreate that by picking an editorial job in a trade publication.

As with my  two next relationships after the first one, I looked outside instead of inside. Or maybe I looked inside but at the wrong parts. It was me (or my ego) and my Messiah complex; me trying to prove to myself that I can make something work--all wrong reasons to be in and keep a relationship. I won't say that those were not mistakes because I really wasn't at my brightest and smartest during those times. Those were mistakes but I learned a lot nonetheless. Those were wrong moves which were kinda necessary for me to get to the next stage.

Job no. 3: Junior copywriter for an on-line hotel reservation company

Duration: Seven months and counting

When I was looking for my third job, I thought really hard about what I want. So I searched my way through JobsDB and Jobstreet, keeping in mind that I'm aiming for a predictable job that involved writing, travel or food, which are three things I love. When I saw the opening for my current job, I immediately sent my resume and told the universe I wanted this one. I took the exam and was interviewed by my would be manager. He told me I got it soon enough. I was really happy and excited about it.

When Reden and I started going out, I already knew what I wanted. I wanted to be with a smart gentleman who was great to converse with, made me laugh and was on the same wavelength as I was. Aside from knowing what I wanted, I was ready to meet that guy as well. That guy turned out to be Reden whom I have been friends with for more than two years. I knew at that time that I was in-sync with the universe. I met the one and I married him!

Although I don't see myself making a lifetime commitment to this job, I can say that it is right for me at this time. I'd probably keep it for a few more years, given that the company thinks the same of me, of course. Like a marriage, though, it's not always easy. Sometimes it's challenging to stay put. And you would always want to explore new jobs that will pay more and be more exciting. I haven't seen the job that will trump the present one yet though. Maybe because I haven't given it much thought.

Good thing I don't have to think about the next guy anymore. I have the only one I want committed to me forever and ever!

And I'm committed to him as well. 

building blocks for tomorrow

Think back to a happy time in your life, Kat. A really, really happy time. If you can, try to remember the happiest you've ever felt. Think of the laughter, the peace, the confidence, the ease of it all. Emotionally, relive a few of those moments. Don't think of the details (people, places, or circumstances); just think of the way you felt.

Good. Very good. We're just creating some building blocks for tomorrow and the rest of your amazing life.

Adios, 

The Universe

priceless

Hunches, instincts, and intuition are priceless, Kat, because they throw you into action.

They do throw you into action, right Kat??

Tallyho,
The Universe

PS
Taking action, Kat, is usually the ultimate solution to every dilemma. 

the i-miss-pianorabjornchitoduckiedreatatanbidyokeandalak post

Everytime we have our videoke parties, there are three things I look forward to other than the booze.

1 -

2 -

and 3 -

And I have a pathetic joke in honor of that boy in Obamaland:

Use Bjo in a sentence.

Answer: Kelan kaya tayo magb-Bjo-ke ulet???

Mwehehehe!

signs

I just watched SIGNS, a short film by Patrick Hughes. It is part of the Schweppes Short Film Festival. Ang galeng! Walang spoken dialogue involved, puro facial expressions lang tsaka handwritten notes. You should see it! It will make you realize a lot of things about finding love.

Go here. When the dialogue box appears, click on the UK flag. Click "yes" once you're asked if you're over 18, then click "Enter" once you get to the cinema. You will then be taken to the lobby. Click on the SIGNS poster and play and enjoy!

Leave a comment here once you've seen it. Let me know what you think.

time and space

Worry and time have an inverse relationship. The more you have of one, the less you have of the other. Yet curiously, Kat, both are suspended when you live in the now.

As you were,
The Universe

PS
Do you think I made time and space too easy, Kat? 

it's february!

And just like that the first month of 2009 is over!

February is the month of my second anniversary of living here in Singapore. As they say here in the red dot, "wa, so fast!" 

Even if this island is microscopic compared with the Philippines, I haven't explored every nook and corner of it. So this year, I aim to get to know Singapore a bit better.

Have a great love month y'all!