HAIR TODAY, GONE TOMORROW!

This was me last night at the opening of the Kiehl's store in Greenbelt 5
Early in the evening with Gina and our fashion assistant at Metro, Andrea!
And with Pam and Vicy. As usual, my hair wa sin a boring old ponytail because I didn't know what else to do with it!

And this is me right NOW!
I finally chopped my hair off. Yay for me! It's so liberating! The under layer is actually really cropped, to add volume to the back, then the front is a bit longer, right below the chin. On the left side of my face there's a part right above my ear that's cut shorter and i can kind of scrunch it up to make it look messy.

I asked Drea Zulueta (of Piandre) to give me a cut that was FUN, PLAYFUL, EASY TO MANAGE, FUNKY but not TOO MUCH that I'll hate it after a week. Loves it!
Buti nalang I have an event tonight, so I can make a hair debut! hahaha!

that's all for now haha. I'm just happy about my hair!

Hafa Adai!

I'm back from a fun but VERY TIRING trip to Guam. I left Friday night at 1030 pm, arrived at 430 am Guam time (They are ahead 2 hours) checked in and got settled by 630 am and had to be ready for breakfast-and all the activities of the day by 9 am!

So, with barely an hour of sleep...We-

...Toured the hotel wth the rest of the Philippine journalists-from beside me: Judith from High Life, Becca from Philippine Star and Cheryl from Lifestyle Asia.

We stayed at a hotel called Pacific Islands Club. It had something like 7 swimming pools and all these water activities. I think it would be the perfect place if you had your kids with you. There is so much for them to do. Otherwise, I'd book a room at the Hyatt (for couples and lone travelers)

...Went to Two Lovers Point. Legend is that this Chamorro (Native Guamanian) Chief wanted his daughter to marry this Spanish guy, but she was in love with a strong Chamorro Warrior. So, much like Romeo and Juliet, they deviced a plan to die together because death was preferable to a life without each other. They tied their hair together in a knot and jumped off a cliff-now known as Two Lovers Point.This is where the two lovers supposedly jumped to their deaths! Young people are crazy, eh?

...Attended this super cool, super yummy event called Pastries in Paradise in another hotel. It was like a contest/exhibit of desserts from all the hotels and restaurants in Guam (I'm actually not sure if it's just the Tumon area or literally the entire Guam) Anyway in these photos are Strawberries dipped in chocolate and rolled in pistachios and a spread of cookies! There were also mini pavlovas, macaroons, panacottas and lots more.


...and as if we weren't stuffed enough from the pastries, we went straight to Jamaican Grill for yummy jerk chicken. The food was like a fusion of Jamaican and Chamorro cuisine. Too bad i was so stuffed, I could only manage half a piece and some rice.

...To cap off our already tiring day, we were brought to two clubs to experience Guam's Night life. In the picture above, we were at Club Pash and below was 80's night at the Globe with Bryan (our Manila GVB Representative) and his friend Vince. We were SO tired already then.

The next day was filled with activity as well. As early as 8 am, we were having breakfast already because we were scheduled to ride a submarine!
I was excited but then disappointed because we didn't see anything cool like sharks or even an octopus or a manta ray or something. At one point we were 140 metres underwater and all I saw was...water-whoopee! haha.

Next we went to Underwater World after lunch. It's like an aquarium. It's kind of small but cool nonetheless because they ahve these giant turtles, mantarays and stuff. It's like the Sydney Aquarium where you walk through a tunnel and the marine life is all above you.
A Shark A shark! Oh btw, on the submarine ride, they started playing the music from Jaws WTF?
Me touching a baby shark. I swear, whenever I'm at aquariums or zoos, I turn into this little kid. I get so excited!
Camwhoring at the Underwater World sign before leaving for DFS (Duty Free!)

Behind us are stores like Hermes (in photos) beside it Louis Vuitton, Chanel,Bally, Bulgari etc. We drooled, we lusted over, but sadly, we were all too short on funds to each nab ourselves a Chanel bag (The ultimate, mother of all bags! Screw Hermes. I don't even like the Birkin!)

We went to the Micronesian Fair after, but I was too tired to take pictures-I thought I was going to pass out so I begged for an early dinner, we all ate in our rooms and rested a little bit-then went to K mart after to splurge on American food that we can't find here.

I got Apple Jacks, Twinkies and Funyuns among other things woohoo. I love it. Bring on the calories.

On our last full day, we SLEPT IN! I still didn't sleep THAT much (around 6 1/2 hours) and we had the morning free. After lunch at Hyatt, we went to GPO (Guam Premier Outlet) and Micronesia Mall to go shopping.

After a really good buffet lunch at Hyatt. I checked my weight here when i got home and I gained three pounds in three days! Ack! Starvation for the next two days!

After the mall, we had our last group dinner at Capricciossa, a Japanese owned Italian restaurant chain (I believe there is one in GB) This is the last photo I have of all the Philippine delagates to Guam on this trip-
Aside from us print media people, the Sports Unlimited crew was there as well. Here we are with Corey Wills, Mark Nelson, Jackie Castillejo (Dianne not in picture) as well as the GVB Philippines marketting Reps Bryan and Michelle and GVB Guam people-who were such good hosts :)

LAst minute shopping at Kmart followed and we had to be ready to go to the airport at 4am. No sleep-again. Today was spent alternating between playign with dada and sleeping. Still not fully recovered. Tonight I will get real rest.

It's always good to be home. I wonder where my feet will take me next :)

Happy Birthday B!

Guess who is back in town?
Bea a.k.a B Joe. This was at Mamou in Serendra last Saturday, before we went out to drink!

We went out for Bea's belated birthday. We were all out of town for some reason on the weekend of her real birthday so Vicky, Gina, Jocelle and I decided to have a small dinner, gossip and alcohol session last Saturday.

She's actually been back for about a month now but this was the first time we hung out because it's just been crazy hectic. It's always nice to see old friends :) specially when everyone is always bouncing in and out of Manila.

Gina, Vicky, Jocelle, Moi and birthday girl Bea at Mamou. We're so old, we didn't even go to Cuisine or the club. We were sitting outside Cafeteria the whole time drinking and watching people walk by and feeling old!

Everyone was out for some reason. It was nice seeing people I hadn't seen in years! Like last time was pre-Ananda pa. Crazy!

Guam on friday! yay!

From Boracay to Tagaytay

These days I feel like I'm out of Manila more than I am in it. I'm not complaining though, I love going out of town and checking out new places. Last week it was the newest and hottest new hang out/hotel in Boracay-The Tides.

It was a 3 day affair, with parties, an all day buffet, open bar at any time of the day, nice, cozy beds and POOL THROWING! Thank God I was sick (haha I'm thanking God for being sick) and that was my excuse the entire time (Don't throw me in, I'm sick *cough cough*-see?!)
Danielle, Me and Vicky at The Tides' Launch party entitled "Golden Tides" Drink of the night? Bubbly of course!
Boracay White beach during Habagat. For those who say you wanna live on that island-go there during storm season first, then decide! haha!
I can never leave the island before eating at REAL COFFEE and ordering calamansi muffins to take home! They deliver now!

A few days after I got back from Bora, Ananda and I left for Tagaytay for a little trip-just the two of us. We stayed at T House, a nice little Bed and Breakfast spot, away from the main area of Tagaytay city-it's actually on the other side, on the way to People's Park.

I really liked it. The room we stayed at was EARTH themed (the 15 rooms are divided into clusters named after the elements) Ours was a suite, mostly black and white accented with brown, rust and beige. It was so relaxing and I readily spent the entire rainy (stormy!) day curled up in bed reading a book, while Ananda watched cartoons and read books of her own.
Our little recieving area. I have no idea what Ananda is doing! haha!
Our bed. The place is nice. I liked the room. I'm actually inspired to paint my room all black and white and just use colors as accents.

The food was good too! Man I ate so much! Their Tribecca crepe is the best for breakfast. It's a creamy mushroom crepe accented with truffle oil. So rich but so so good. Their set menus are only P550+ but I never finished any of my meals because the servings were huge. Sulit!
Bagong Gising! hahaha


So I'm back in Manila for the next week. Next stop-Guam! :)

Back from Down Under

Actually, down under was just Dumaguete hehe. I spent Wed-Sat with Boogie and Ananda in Antulang, which is an hour south of Dumaguete City. I went for work but I was also lookign forward to a nice vacation with my man and my baby.

I GOT SICK! Argh! The day before we left for Dumaguete was Metrowear. Already I was feeling under the weather so I doped up on meds to try and kill the fever before it could come. I couldn't sleep that night. My throat was killing me and I could feel my sipon dripping into my throat (Gross. i know) by the next morning I was already feeling the start of a fever. I got rained on from the airport to the plane and had a high fever by the time we arrived at the resort.

My whole first day was spent in bed, barely being able to eat, move or even breathe. I was pleasantly surprised at how well Boogie and Ananda got along with out me. My daughter likes him but is usually jealous of him when she sees us together, so we always make an effort to include her, even during activities like watching television. They were totally fine without me, swimming and playing.
The first day i was resigned to just take pictures because I was too sick to do much else.

Thank God I was slightly better on the second day. I still felt quite sick but my fever went down, so Ananda and I went horseback riding in the morning and the three of us went on a cruise in the afternoon. Like i said in a previous post, I think I've developed motion sickness because I disembarked feeling really woozy and sick.

My white horse was called Michael and Ananda's was named Joseph hehe parang White Castle Whiskey haha!
The look of a distressed three year old on a yacht haha. she was scared at first but was ok after awhile.
On the beach before getting on the boat.

On the third day, we left Antulang and staye din Dumaguete city for a day. I had Jo's chicken Inato (Yum. I loved this last time I went to Dumaguete) and we were told not to leave the city without buying silvanas at Sans Rival-which we did!

It was a good break, even if I was sick through most of it. I love being away from Manila. I have a love-hate relationship with getting on planes. My grandfather on my dad's side died in a plane crash, so I always have this fear-but everytime i get on a plane I know I'm gonna get off somewhere else, which is why I love it too.

So, this is a week of shoots. Today was Mamou in Serendra (two thumbs up!) and more places until wednesday. Thursday I'm off to Boracay for the opening of The Tides. I'm crossing my fingers that my cough and cold go away already so I can enjoy my stay.

peace out joes!

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Discoveries!

I realized that I dislike cold soup. I had gazpacho before and I didn't like it, and yesterday, i went to an press lunch where I was served cold watermelon and tomato soup. I had two sips and that was it for me. I put my spoon down and reached for the bread basket.
There's just something about certain tastes that should be hot or cold and they can't be interchanged. Speaking of gazpacho, if they wanted something to refresh them on a hot day, why not just make fresh lemonade or eat a popsicle? I just don't get what's good about cold soup. I really don't like it.

I also discovered that I recently developed motion sickness. I was on a yacht for an event earlier this week and I seriously felt like I was going to barf. I had to stay in one place almost the entire time because I was feeling so sick. It's never happend to me before.Sometimes, i also get car sick when I'm not the one driving. It's so weird.I stopped liking boats when we were on a very turbulent boat ride in Davao years ago. It was so scary and it was night time and my dad actually set up a buddy system already just in case. I really thought it was going to capsize.I felt a familiar fear when the yeacht was swaying really strongly from side to side. It was a good event because it was differnt from the usual that's held in clubs or hotels, but it was kind of scary.

Another thing I realized is that I think I'm doing a good job being Ananda's mom. I've stopped second guessing myself and I'm more confident now. I know I'm doing the best i can given the circumstances. I'd love for Ananda to grow up in a more family environment, you know where there is a mom and a dad and all, but if that's the only reason I have right now for wanting to get married then I don't think it's a very good reason. The fact of the matter is, I'd like for it to happen someday but right now I'm not ready for it. So, for now, I've accepted the fact that I'll have to play both roles, I have to play both good cop and bad cop with her. It's hard at times but our relationship is so much better now. We don't fight as much anymore and I'm seeing her more like my daughter and less like a little sister. I know that sounds weird but I explain to her more why i get angry and all that instead of just getting mad and letting her figure it out on her own. Basta, it's hard to explain but I'm just really happy right now that Ananda came into my life. I've always said in the past few years that I'm trying to fit into my role as mom-and now I think that I'm not trying to be that anymore, I AM that.

Anyway, I've been so busy lately. I want a day or two to just get away and breathe. I miss my family. I miss Sydney. Weird.