Hello, LJ friends! I decided to make myself "present" after a long time because I felt that this was something worth blogging about.

About a month ago, after Ondoy hit us, I designed a slogan which I shared on Facebook and on my other blogs. Friends and family members seemed to like it and asked if I would consider making it into a shirt. Shortly after that, a T-shirt design company, The Inksquad, invited me to submit my design.


Since then, I asked interested friends and family to vote for the design if they really wanted it printed on a shirt since The Inksquad operates on a design democracy basis; the more votes a design has, the more chances it has of being made into a shirt.

Anyway, to cut the long story short, voting ended last weekend and, voila! Thanks to people's support, the design generated waaaaaay more than the number of votes needed. Thank you to everyone who voted for it!

Now T-shirt production begins. If you're interested to order, check out the link here: CLICK!

The Inksquad has tied up with WE International Philippines Relief Operations so that a portion of my shirt's sales will go to the flood victims. Right now, the shirts will be priced at P490 so that P250 goes to WE Phils. Since The Inksquad accepts orders on an online basis, it might be tedious for you to order it individually. So if you want to order, just comment here (they'll be screened) with your sizes, how many pieces, and your contact information and I'll do the ordering for you.

Thanks for taking the time to read this update! God bless!

After 5 and a half years of LiveJournal existence, I think I'll be taking a break from blogging here for a while. I don't know if times have changed or I have, but my blogging style no longer calls for paragraphs upon paragraphs of coherence. I've opted to go for something much simpler and something more visual.

But this doesn't mean that I'll be completely MIA from LiveJournalLandia. Count on me to check on your updates and comment regularly. Besides, I can't afford to shut down this, what with 5 and a half years' worth of memories.

In the meantime, visit me!

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Be seeing you all! Much love.

Apparently, shoe sales are the fad in Jakarta.

Yesterday morning, my art director partner and I (I being the writer) went to the mall nearest our hotel. It didn’t look like there was anything worth buying until we came across this sports shop.

The signs read “50% off on the 2nd pair of shoes that you buy!”

So we went in. The Chuck Taylor originals, to begin with, were already cheap compared to Manila prices. I got a pair of black leather velcro sneaks for my youngest bro, CJ (because he never shops for himself). That pair cost me about PhP 1,300 when in Manila, shoes like those would at least be 2K.

Then I saw a nice pair of white ones with gray accents, which I never/rarely see in Manila. I love Chucks because they’re just so easy to pair outfits with, but I don’t like extreme designs or colors. So I got these white babies — for a grand total of PhP 600!

I got two pairs of shoes for one pair of Manila-priced Chuck Taylors!

Later in the afternoon, the production people I’ve been working with told me that the sales in Jakarta are always like that. If the promo isn’t a Buy 1, Take 1 thing, you’ll definitely get 50% off on the next item you buy.

Speaking of shoes, we’re stopping over in Singapore later en route to the Philippines. I hope that there’s enough time to go to the city and check out Charles & Keith because it’s a lot cheaper there, I hear.

SHOES ARE LOVE.

So far, here are my thoughts on the city of Jakarta:

1) It is very much like Manila. The roads are the same, the design of the buildings are the same (except for some that have touches of Muslim embellishments), and some subdivisions look eerily too familiar.
2) Some places resemble particular spots in Metro Manila. I've passed by a road that looked like I was in España, heading towards UST. Another part of town looked like Nueve de Febrero in Mandaluyong.
3) The people here look exactly like Filipinos. Okay, not all, but 99.9%. My first day here, I had to bite my tongue before speaking to the locals in Tagalog.
4) With the exception of the Muslims, people here dress like Filipinos. Even when I was working on my production, I marveled at how the crew looked like how our prod staff back home did -- from the loose black shirts to the cargo/camouflage shorts, to the Crocs (with socks!) and belt bags.
5) From what I've seen, there are more high-rise buildings in Manila (i.e. Makati, The Fort, Ortigas and Eastwood) as compared to here. Then again, I haven't really seen the business district so the statement preceding this may not be accurate. The malls here are also more of "wide" (a la Mall of Asia, but smaller) as opposed to tall (i.e. Hong Kong's Langham Place mall).

Work here's been crazy, but interesting. Finally, though, I get a free day today to go around and do some shopping, I hope.

I'm supposed to fly back home on Thursday yet, but my ticket got rebooked to tomorrow so it's my last day here.

I also hope to eat some bonafide Nasi Goreng before I leave.

Time to have breakfast first. Bye for now!

While fixing my camera stuff for a trip this weekend, I came across a Nikon lens hood (HB-35). I don't know the diameter though; it just says HB-35.

I have noooooooooo idea why I have it, but in the event that a Nikon shutterfriend might have given it to me for safekeeping during one of the photo shoots we might have been on, well, it's here. Haha!

So yes, if ever any of you has been missing this particular lens hood, just let me know so I can give it back. I'll be out of the country for most of this week for work though, but I can return it to you as soon as I get home.

Cheerio! Happy weekend, all!

P.S. Updates from Jakarta, my destination, when I can. Yay to exploring a new city/country!

Yesterday was just supposed to be a regular day. I had no plans for the evening since I already had dinner out the night before and met up with another good friend for lunch and dessert yesterday. I was considering sneaking in Star Trek or Angels & Demons to wrap up the night, if I felt like it.

Then my sister called me up out of the blue at about 4pm.

“Do you want tickets to the David [joint concert of Archuleta and Cook] concert?!”

“Huh? Why? Who has?”

“My friend has 2 VIP tickets. Just P2K!” The original price was over P3K.

Without a moment’s hesitation, I said, “Yes!”

I called up my best friend and concert sidekick, Mitch, and an hour later, we were off to join 40,000 people in welcoming David Archuleta and David Cook.

Surprises and impromptu gimmicks are the best. Especially when they involve two artists you followed for most of last year as American Idol progressed and as their respective careers took off post-Idol.

Experiencing the concert itself is another story altogether -- one that entails another post, most probably.

Thank You, Lord, for this unexpected blessing!

( Spoiler! )

I hope that the finale will be just as suspenseful as it was last year when we were all at the edge of our seats, waiting to find out which of the two Davids would bring home the prize.

Because I can't remember the last time I wrote a decent blog entry here.

First things first.

I'm back from a much-needed break over the weekend. By break, I mean sun, sand and sea, and it helped that I was with some of my best girls and the boys.


Now, I'm four shades darker and redder, peeling like anything, but happy as a sand crab.

I think I want to reward myself with small "vacations" every so often.

Although, I must admit, coming home to my MacBook after this trip was pretty sweet.

I just got home from a fab beach vacation with friends and what awaited me is my new MacBook.

This photo is my way of saying hello with it.

Also, I am as red as a lobster. I love being sunburned.

Life is good. Thank You, Lord.

More updates to follow -- when I get over my excitement over this new toy.

( Okay, I decided this was worth mentioning. )

It is reveling in others' happiness, soaking it up, and letting it creep into every crevice of your being.

One of my best friends just got engaged and after hearing about her whirlwind proposal (thank you, Yahoo! Messenger) in Stanley Park, Vancouver, I couldn't help but be filled with an overwhelming sense of joy -- one that not even time zone differences nor distance could stifle.

Maybe my one-time stint as a wedding planner last August was a preview for this next big undertaking. I seriously can't wait!

I feel something short of motherly pride and something even more indescribable. I am just thrilled beyond words!

I'm alive.

Really.

I just haven't been updating here because it's been hard to string together cohesive paragraphs. Plus, I haven't thought of anything worthwhile to write about.

In the meantime, I've been updating my Tumblr with quickie posts (mostly photos), in case you want to check them out.

I'll be back here soon with a decent post when my brain collects itself and life gives me something interesting to say.

Hope you're all well!

The Holy Week break, consisting of five days of no thinking, no stressing and no overtiming, was pretty awesome. While I didn’t get to go out of town, unlike most people, and spent most of the break in bed as I battled the flu, I actually relished the fact that I didn’t have to do anything.

Now I’m back at work and am already missing the bum, idle life.

In particular:
- Criminal Minds marathons with the fam. We started with Season 1, Episode 1 last Wednesday and as of last night, we were at Season 4, Episode 7. Yes, we were really sloths 99.9% of the time but we now feel that we can apply for the position of FBI profiler in the Behavioral Analysis Unit. Right.
- Playing and walking with the dogs when I wasn’t watching Criminal Minds. I really enjoyed our walks to the park, playing fetch with Cassie, and trying to get the dogs out of the house once they wormed their way inside. They honestly think they’re not canine.
- Eating, eating and eating. Since I don’t eat when I’m stressed, I was able to gain back all the weight I lost. Yay, I think? New restaurant discoveries of Holy Week were Little Asia at Promenade and Kanin Club at Westgate, Alabang.
- Sleeping more than 8 hours a day. Enough said.
- Going around Manila and seeing EDSA devoid of cars. It took us just 20 glorious minutes to get home from Alabang last Saturday.
- Doing nothing the rest of the time. By “nothing”, I mean staring at the wall, reading a few pages of a novel at a time, singing pop 90’s songs at random, and…staring at the wall.

It really is a treat to “stop and smell the roses”, once in a while, as they say. I thank the Lord for giving us a few days in the year to revel in His grace and goodness, but more importantly, I thank the Lord for His victory over sin and death. Yeah!

And you? How did you spend your Holy Week?

Normally, during Holy Week, we take the dogs to Ateneo so they can run to their heart’s content and see the outside world.

But not this year because Shadow got sick a few weeks ago (and I haven’t exactly been feeling stellar myself).

So today, since I can’t do much, what with my annoying runny nose and monster headache, I decided to play frisbee with the dogs. And it turned out to be a game of tug and war.

I’m just glad that Shadow has put on weight since he was first diagnosed and he’s a lot more active now, what with his new dog food and love for milk.

Cassie, on the other hand, is as crazy as ever!

A blessed Holy Week to everyone!

I woke up several times throughout the night and early morning. I must’ve had nightmares or strange dreams because I’d always wake up feeling disoriented somehow.

This morning, when I finally joined the land of wakefulness, I pumped myself with ascorbic acid (2000mg) and anything that could rid me of my colds and fever.

Being sick sucks. Especially now that I’m supposed to be enjoying this Holy Week break.

Today would’ve been spent in a country club in Alabang with my aunt and cousin, lounging in the pool and feasting on quesadillas and nachos and fruit shakes. Today would’ve also given me my first sunburn of the summer.

Oh well. Life’s funny.

Oh, [Holy Week] vacation. Where art thou?

Now back to my monster pile of JO's (job orders).

This commercial was brought to you by Procrastination, in cooperation with Lethargy and Brain Drain.

Per DTI-NCR permit no. 12345678, series of 2009.

Last week, a lot of people were talking about local designer Boyet Fajardo and his Duty Free scandal. Basically, he was caught on video asking a Duty Free employee to kneel in front of him and beg for forgiveness after said employee only asked for an ID since Mr. Fajardo's credit card wasn't signed.

Hello, human rights violation! Seriously. How demeaning, dehumanizing and mortifying is that?!

So Mr. Fajardo, in an attempt to defend himself, finally came out (or, should I say, came up) with an apology. About a full week after the incident, I might add.

And I don't know what to make of this so-called "apology", really.

See for yourselves!

THE YAY:

Shadow's home, after four days in the vet's clinic. He's more active (finally able to walk a few steps at a time) and he eats more, too. We're just happy to have him home and we look forward to keeping him healthy for as long as possible.

THE NAY:

He needs to eat specialized dog food -- one that's "kidney-friendly", in a word. And I've discovered that Manila isn't exactly a haven for specialized dog food brands.

Right now, the only dog food worth considering is called Royal Canin Renal.


It's pricey but we don't mind; if it'll mean that Shadow gets better, we're all for it. The only problem is that the one place I'm aware of that carries this brand (and sub-variant; there are other specialized variants for intestinal problems, obesity, heart problems, etc.) is in Animal House all the way near New Manila, QC. And it's not exactly near our place.

So if you dog/cat owners (there's a cat equivalent) have seen this brand in another pet store -- ideally one that's near where I live -- please let me know.

Or if you know of other specialized dog food brands, that'll work, too!

Much appreciated! Thanks!

...I was in Thailand representing the Philippines in AdFest, Asia's most prestigious award show.

I can't believe it's been one full year since that amazing experience happened. Whenever I remember those 8 days spent in Thailand with other advertising geniuses, I feel overwhelmed and humbled at the same time.

Recently, I was interviewed by AdFest regarding my experience last year and the interview was finally published, in time for this year's AdFest.

Click!

To this day, I remain grateful to have experienced all of that and brought some recognition to the country. Thank You, Lord!