hermetically sealed in air-conditioned shininess

I love how Manila is described in this article I found through Louie's Facebook. The second paragraph hit me!

It's (Manila's) a world away from carefully planned Asian cities like Singapore -- which makes it perfectly suited for visitors who don't need their lives hermetically sealed in air-conditioned shininess.

What's implied there is true. Life here is "hermetically sealed in air-conditioned shininess." Hahaha. That's a nice way to say sterile!

When locals ask me how I find life here, my standard answer is "It's easy." What else can I say? It is easy.

Here in Singapore, there's a super efficient system is in place so that people can concentrate on living their daily lives.  Green means go. Red means stop. No littering. Ride the bus at designated stops. No overcharging cabbies. Tipping is discouraged. The MRT is reliable. Government officials are doing their jobs. Garbage is collected daily, and crime rate is so low it's almost negligible. The media is controlled here too so you only hear/read the news you need to know. This kind of life might not work for some but it works for me just fine. And it does too for majority of Singaporeans and migrants here.

Sure, I miss Manila's hustle and bustle, its chaos, its craziness and I still want to experience it once in a while. But as I've said to one of my friends, I don't think I can live there anymore. I've gotten used to being in a "hermetically sealed" environment, and when you've lived in a place where everything works perfectly, Manila just becomes too exhausting.

And irritating, too!

But the Philippines is still home and I have plenty of reasons (family, friends, SM!) to go back again and again and again. The Philippines is like a mother to me and I'll always love her no matter how crazy she gets. But now, I'm really enjoying my time in Singapore. It's like being in UP all over again. It was initially weird, shocking and threatening but later became a comfortable place where I can grow, try things out, be optimistic, reach for my dreams and be happy.

where's the Imelda in me?

I used to have lots of footwear. Even if I still had functional pairs, I'd buy a new pair if I saw one that I liked/thought I couldn't live without. Just look at the slippers, sandals, flats etc I have in that photo, which was taken years ago when I was still in Makati. If I remember correctly, I just threw out some of the pairs I wasn't using anymore/I could live without before I took that photo.

Now I only have 11 pairs (flats, tsinelas, sandals and running shoes), all of which are in rotation. They're all pudpod, all gasgas, all dirty and all super gamit. I don't buy shoes on a whim anymore; I just buy them when I need them. I guess the Imelda in me died when I left Manila, and there are no more SMs or Landmarks to satisfy my lust for cute yet cheap (but sometimes uncomfy and mahuna) shoes. If I want cheap but reasonable quality here, I have to opt for Charles & Keith, which isn't really cheap by Manila standards.

Now I have to trek down to the Charles & Keith shop at the first floor of our office building because I need to buy a new pair.

I was wearing my purple flats this morning and when I got on the train, I noticed that one part of the upper (faux leather, from Landmark) was no longer attached to the sole. In Tagalog, nakanganga siya. Buti na lang hindi siya super buka na nakikita na ang toes ko and I was still able to walk to the office with a shoe on each foot.

Why do these things happen when you're trying to save money? I also ran out of face powder so I need to buy a new one too! Arrrgggh!

Anyway, saw these nice pairs at French Sole:

Hortense, SGD 220+

Lowcut, SGD 186+

Droooolll slurp slurp slurp.

UPDATE: Nevermind. I decided to honor my self-imposed shopping hiatus and just use my office tsinelas later. Wag lang sana maputol ang straps nito!

catching up

I was on sick leave today. Nothing major. Just sinusitis. The doc gave me mean medication which would remove the blockage and make me sleep at the same time. Sweet. The drugs here are hardcore. They'll knock you out. 

I needed to be knocked out though. I've been feeling stressed and out-of-balance since we came back from our Ilocos trip. I guess blocked sinuses are my body's way of telling me I need to step back and rest. When we got back kasi I went straight to work then this weekend was all about doing the laundry and cleaning the room. Pero naisingit ko naman ang panonood ng movies: one Tagalog movie last Friday, two last Saturday and a Hollywood flick last Sunday (all already in the Reviews section).

I think what remained of my energy was sucked out when I cleared my closet. It depressed me! I realized that the clothes I bought last August were size 12. And I'm frickin' wearing 14s now! Oemgee! The truth hit me like a 10-wheeler: I'm getting bigger and bigger by the second and if I don't do anything about it, I could be bedridden in a few years' time! It scared me!!!

I made healthy switches already. From white I went whole grain, from whole fat, I went low fat. I think the problem is with the amount of calories I consume. I am exercising but I think I'm only reaping health benefits from it. Ano ba naman ang 30-minute, low to medium impact walk-jog? I think I have to be more aggressive if I want to control my weight.

B discussed the possibilities of joining a gym but I find it...impractical. I would if I had extra cash but there are cheaper/free options naman.

Anyway...

After the emotional and stressful closet clearing, I decided to take Monday off. I had a valid reaon anyway.

So. I managed to take two one-hour naps today, one in the morning and another in the afternoon. I was also able to finish Absolute Sandman Vol. 1 and I must say, I'm totally hooked. I loved the Sandman Miscellany at the end, especially Neil Gaiman's proposal. It helped me understand the story and the characters better. That Gaiman guy has a wild imagination! He's super. I admire him. He's awesome.

And my husband's back from work. So, till tomorrow!

we're supposed to stay at the InterCon Makati but

We both got pay cuts! To save moolah, we're staying at the Crown Regency Makati instead. It has good reviews at TripAdvisor naman and is way cheaper than the InterCon. 

Oh my, the crisis is really bad noh? We were asked to choose between a 5% pay cut or a 1-month vacay without pay. I'm okay with both but I feel better with the former since the difference is quite negligible. And as per the Singapore government's regulations, we get an extra day off per month.    

Even if we're earning less, both B and I are thankful that we still have jobs. I think at a time like this, having a stable source of income is better than not having one. Buti na lang we don't have long-term loans we have to pay--yet.

And to my friends who got retrenched or is having a difficult time finding a job, don't lose hope! Like everything in this world, this too will pass. Have faith!  Para sa inyo ang awit na ito:

*****

And despite the pay cuts, we're still excited about our trips! Nine days to go and we're off to Laoag, 30 days to Macau+Hong Kong and 59 days to Phuket (with free accommodation babe!).

According to Readers' Digest, the traveller is king this year so make sure to watch out for travel deals and satisfy your wanderlust!

back to normal

Le zizter is back in the P.I. The photo on the left was taken on the day she left. Kumain muna kami ng isa sa mga usual breakfasts dito sa Singapore--stir-fried noodle tapos pipili ka ng "ulam." We chose omelette, fried dumplings and fried fish fillet. Chilli on the side siempre. Sarap!

******

Nakakatuwa pag may bumibisita. It's a nice disruption from our sometimes predictable (but good) life here. I wish we had our own flat though so we can entertain more people and accommodate visitors for longer periods. 

It was nice having Lia around kasi she cooks. Minsan kasi nakakatamad magluto lalo na pag kelangan din magtrabaho. Plus, I enjoyed bringing her around the city and making her try local food. Gave me an excuse to eat! Hahaha.

*****

We need a serious vacation! Laging ganito, two to three months na hindi kami nagbabyahe, parang super inip na and kating-kating na pumunta kung saan. Buti na lang at in 28 days, sasakay na ulit kami ng plane! Yipee! 

*****

Our friend Nell, saw an ad at a Pinoy IT forum. A guy was selling Coldplay tickets at the original price, walang patong. Naexcite ako momentarily pero nung chineck namin which seats, dun pa din sa seats na rear view. I really feel that paying $158 for a rear view ticket isn't worth it. Hihintayin ko na lang ulit ang next concert.

*****

Magtatrabaho na nga ako. Hehehe.

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

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! 

our weekend in Polaroids

After hearing mass, B and I headed to our favorite mall, Vivo City.

The first thing we noticed was

They were selling books, magazines, maps, furniture, globes, travel gear, clothes and toys. The clothes were made of good fabric but were expensive! The window display was cool though--

Not me, silly. The horse! It's made of chopped wood in various sizes na parang sinaksak lang together to form a horse.

Then we saw that

There was also a Chinese New Year bazaar at the activity centre. I noticed this, among others:

And


After going around in circles, we headed to

for lunch.


While

We both enjoyed our burgers with


And


Everything was so good! This is B


After lunch, we watched

Afterwards, we had a light dinner then went home. Whew!

It was a great Sunday.

i am here, now

"You are exactly where you should be."

I couldn't agree more.

I am happily married. My husband's wonderful.

I love my job. It allows me to work from home twice a week.

I could be healthier, and I am working on that, but I'm grateful my body's functioning well at this moment. It allows me to work and exercise and eat and be here.

I have clothes to wear, there's a roof over my head and I have money in the bank.

I've got all I need.

Hosannatothehighesthallelujah!!!

Merry Christmas!

It's Christmas eve and I'm in the office! This is an absolute first!

Unlike in the Philippines, there's no Christmas frenzy in Singapore. There are decorations, yes, but the vibe is not as festive as back home. I sort of miss it but when I watch TV Patrol, I become kinda thankful I'm not in Manila. I do wish we were in San Pablo though enjoying the food, but there's next year anyway.

So, merry Christmas everyone! For those in the Philippines, enjoy the eight fattening days!

back in la singapura

Just taking a break from the task my boss assigned to me this morning to say "hi."

So, hi!

Going back to work now. Just less than half an hour before uwian!

blog addict

I have 73 feeds on my Bloglines!

disconnected

We won't have Internet and cable connections for the weekend. Starhub won't let B sign up because the former tenant of our place failed to pay $800 to them. Ewan ko ba bakit by address at hindi by person ang kanilang pagmomonitor niyan. I hope we could fix this on Monday. According to customer service, we just have to prove we're not connected to the former tenants. In the meantime, adios.

TARA3, Majide and Halloween!

B and I are hooked on The Amazing Race Asia again!

We were so glad siblings Henry and Bernie were eliminated in last night's episode. I don't like them especially nung napikon sila sa pagka-yield sa kanila ni Geoff and Tish. Haler, it's a game. Natural may strategy para manalo.

Super swerte naman ng Malaysian moms na si Aida and Tanya. Twice na sila last nag-arrive sa pitstop at twice din silang hindi na-eliminate. Buti na lang second-to-arrive sila kagabi sa pitstop. I like them. They're so cool at ang fun nila mag-race. They're really in it for the adventure.

Joining team Malaysia and team Philippines in the final four are the Hong Kong boys Sam and Vince, and Singapore's AD and Fuzzy. Of course, we're rooting for team Philippines--the hot-headed Geoff and the beautiful Tisha. We really hope they win this time after Marc and Rovilson's frustrating loss last season.

*****

Before TARA3, though, we tune in to another reality show: I Survived a Japanese Game Show. Siempre riot ang show na ito! Ano ba naman ieexpect mo from a Japanese game show??? San ka pa ba naman makakakita ng Velcro suits, panda and gorilla mascots, mga balloons na puno ng itlog at ng instructions na ganito?

The Japanese game show is called Majide and the host is so cool. Nakakatuwa kaya minsan sinasabayan namin ni B ang audience sa pagsigaw ng MAJIDE! Hehehe.

*****

Grabe, I can't believe it's going to be November tomorrow, and just 36 days before our wedding day! Waaah! Ang bilis!

Happy Halloween everyone! And to those in Pinas, have a safe Undas! Rawr!

UP is 276th among the top universities in the world

Jec forwarded a news item about  The Times Higher Education - QS World University Rankings for 2008. Ateneo is the highest ranked university in the Philippines at number 254. My beloved UP is ranked at 276. Not bad. De La Salle and UST are also in the list.

The rankings are based on the universities' scores on a peer review survey; an employer survey; the student-faculty ratio; research performance relative to the size of the research body; the proportion of international faculty and the proportion of international students.

The National University of Singapore is number 30 in the world, while Nanyang Tech is ranked at 77.

Big difference, no?

But I'm happy UP made it to the list.

heya pretty girls and boys

It's Monday yet again and it doesn't help that it's overcast here in la Singapura. With only six hours of sleep (12-6), I have to entertain myself to stay awake. I plugged in my earphones and am currently listening to dance music (Akon's Dangerous, Pink's So What and house staples like Ever After and Everything).

Anyway, have you looked at our pre-nup photos yet? I did and looking at them made me realize that I've gained too much weight! I became depressed for a while (like 30 minutes) and kept thinking about why I let myself go. Of course, me being me, I caught the destructive and useless negative thoughts and decided to just make the right choices from now on.

I know, I know. I've probably promised to take care of myself a million times already. I've been breaking those promises each time that even B is skeptical about me making my nth vow to be healthier. But this time, I will do my best-est to have a healthier lifestyle. I'm not getting any younger and as long as I keep up my love affair with food, then I'd be more prone to cardiovascular diseases and diabetes. Now, it's not as much about looking good as having a healthy body.

I gotta go back to reading YOU on a Diet, which I bought a few months back only to let it rot on the shelf. I'm so sorry Dr. Oz. I'll make it work this time.

random things

I overheard this exchange at Charles & Keith yesterday.

Girl: (picks up a black shoe from the shelf)
Boy: You have lots of those at home.
Girl: But I don't have black ones. (tries the shoe on) What do you think?
Boy: (shakes head) It's ugly.
Girl: Why?

At that point I walked away kasi natatawa na ako sa kanila.

*****

I want this so badly!!!

It's the Canon EOS 1000D, the more affordable baby brother to the 450D and kuya to the 400D. *drools* It ranked first among The Straits Times' review of affordable DSLRs. The Nikon D40 came in second. But I'm a Canon baby. So it's either this or the 450D for me. Kaunti lang naman difference sa price.

Kailan kaya??? Hmmm...

*****

Girls, anong magandang face powder?

My Loreal True Match foundation is almost finished and I'm on the lookout for a new product. I decided to just use face powder instead of foundation. I hardly wear any makeup anyway.

Suggestions please!

risky business

Since news broke out that the insurance giant AIG was in trouble, Singaporeans have been flocking to the AIA customer service centre near my workplace. On our way to Lau Pa Sat for lunch, B and I passed by a long queue of people waiting for their turn at the counter. Super dami talaga even as the Monetary Authority of Singapore has already announced that everything's going to be fine, that AIA Singapore has enough to cover their liabilities. They even advised people to not pull out their policies pero masisisi ba nila ang mga tao?

B and I are AIA-insured. We availed of their medical (hospitalisation) insurance a year ago. Kaka-upgrade nga lang namin since we're already permanent residents. We're not worried because this is a term insurance. Kahit kailan pwede itigil ang payments.

However, B just got an endowment fund/life insurance from AIA. He just paid two-months' deposit worth a couple hundred of dollars. Siempre, he was so disturbed when we heard the news yesterday. We were not expecting anything to happen to AIG since it's a really big company. But I guess no one's safe nowadays. Kahit pagkuha ng insurance na supposedly ay magpoprotect sa'yo from risks, risky na din.

Fortunately, B hasn't received his policy yet so he can still opt to pull out. May tinatawag na free look period kung saan pwede mong i-assess if you still want to continue or not. If you decide to discontinue, AIA will refund the deposit. Buti na lang!

Hopefully, things will improve for AIG. Kawawa naman yung mga policy holders kung di nila makukuha ang pinaghirapan nilang pera.
 

today is a special day!

It's Reden's birthday!

Happy birthday B! Mwah mwah!

now it's official

It's time to go sole searching.

I really need a new pair of black shoes!

The pair I've been wearing since June (I bought it last time we went home) is already so worn out. Plus, nahati na yung sole ng left shoe. As in putol siya. Must be because of the way I walk.

Oh well. That's goodbye to another pair. It's been a good three months.