Hello, are you there?

My drive has been lost and I currently wake up everyday just because. I feel no desire in all the endless thoughts roaming in my head.

In the fairness of it all, I didn't forget to write a year ender, it’s just that I haven’t got the right energy to slip it into my time and i’d rather sleep or be a bum rather than type in words of memories.

I keep coming back to you

Since I first saw the sundown in Boracay last 2016, I have always been open in here that I always want to go back and experience it again. Not sure really what’s in there and clearly I have not seen all the beautiful sundown spots but there is really something in Boracay that makes me want to keep coming back.

822022

Thought i’d just immediately dump this here

Sober haunting

It was just this year that I started to go out and try to let the alcohol in my system. If you know me I am never the type who would go for a night out and drink on a Friday night. The very first time I tried to "get drunk" was during college - it was a very impulse moment, a Friday night as I recall, two of my dormmates brought out a vodka and a bag of cheetos. I wasn't super drunk but I remember drunk calling and vomiting orange water.

After then I tried to avoid any alcoholic drink. It was something I didn't enjoy I felt like i'm already okay because I tried it once. Plus, I didn't liked the bitterness of beers. At that time I didn't get why people enjoy how bitter it was or how people always need any alcohol just to enjoy a night out. So I said, "Never again".

When I was in Boracay for work last year, looking at the sun down, I felt like I need to grab a beer. Not sure why but the feeling of the bitter taste would match the beauty of what I was seeing. It was an impulsive thought so I decided to grab a hot tea instead. Safe.

So imagine me getting drunk three weeks ago.

What Went On / 7

~HERE'S THE THING~
Here are just a few of the things that happened during the past month..

The Good Breakup

Taken using the analog camera app, 'Gudak'

5 months ago, my 3 year relationship with my first boyfriend ended. At this very moment I can say that it was a very humbling experience for me. There was no such thing as the good breakup but if there is, I will consider this as one. Good because of all the things happened after it ended; things that I would have never thought I would explore and would be knowing and even if he had hurt me, and even if in some ways I created a scar in him, I wouldn't want it done in any other way because I knew for sure that even if I felt the need, I won't be doing it anyway - I'm the type who'll make it work.

What Went On / 6

ALL THE OTHER THINGS
When I was about to plot everything I would be sharing for my What Went On, I got surprised myself that I have things worthy of a share from the past weeks. Here's What Went On vol. 6:

The start of something new

*draft - January 2017

Here's What Went On vol 5!

What Went On / 1 + 2

Here's what went on vol. 4! I can't quite live up to my own words that all the WWO's will be a weekly happenings so I'll be doing it monthly basis!

As of January and February 2016!

• Started my January 1st with my highschool besties as we watched Walang Forever on cinemas while we tried out fattening shakes and shawarmas.
• We also did experiment cooking for Chel's work assignment with different types of cheese!
• My father came home post holidays!

Post holidays

Here's what went on during the festivities last year!

BEFORE THE HOLIDAYS

Before the holidays, we celebrated my cousin's 33rd birthday at Tagaytay. Just a simple celebration with the family - we had lunch at Josephine's, played like kids again with old pambata games (we gonna kick, nanay tatay) while the parents devoured in the view of the taal lake, roam around Skyranch and went to SnR after. I love love how we get to have small gatherings like this outside home! <3

The Sunday Currently // 02

This was an odd selfie of mine taken last week - I was trying to take decent photos of myself but realized I have a super messy hair I am too lazy to comb it (what's new?). Here, I realized taking a photo of the bulb and the ceiling is much decent than a portrait of my whole face. Ang labo. Edited it a bit and put some strokes using the paint brush tool in the memopad app!

As of today, well, currently:

Reading last few pages of Fifty Shades of Freed. Can't wait for the release of Darker next year!!!

Writing this...

Listening to the sound of silence. Nakakabingi pala talaga, ano?

Thinking a lot of things!! Yes I am that kind of girl!

Smelling my own flesh (omg ang weird, may maisagot lang hahaha)

Wishing that whatever happens later will turn out fine and okay!

Hoping this one of a kind opportunity laid upon in front of me be mine!!! Lord ikaw na po bahala 🙏🏻

Wearing a white sando and a denim shorts

Loving this life!

Wanting to be wanted but not the kind na huhulihin ng pulis ha!

Needing a lot of confidence, knowledge, self composure, and faith right now!

Join the bandwagon and check out all the other The Sunday Currently's!

Anything anything

Here's What Went On vol. 3! Taking you back a few happenings ago!

HEALTH IS WEALTH

We visited my Lola a few weeks back to accompany her for an emergency check up at a bone doctor. She was suffering from major pain she can't even walk properly or even sit and stand up on her own. We were alarmed we rushed her immediately. It was a Sunday so when we got there, no specialist doctor was in to check up on her aside from the resident doctors. We were advised to either stay for a whole night so we could wait for the doctor the next day or take her home and get back early in the morning. We chose on staying in since my Lola cannot walk properly, it will be very much comfortable for her if she stays at the hospital. Before we leave the house, my mother and Tita told me to pack some things just in any case my Lola needs to be admitted, someone would be able to accompany her.

To cut the story short, we stayed for two nights at the hospital after we were advised that we can go home. Super glad that when we left the hospital my Lola can walk even without the help of her walker! Now that her medications weren't through injections, her recovery became less faster as compare when we were at the hospital since all the meds were thru tablets and capsules. But she is much better and feeling less and less aches every day! I just hope she recovers fully before christmas!

9TH MONTH

When I got back, our friend Joyce invited us for a mini salo-salo as Baby Ereen celebrates her 9th month! Sig and I overthink what cake shall we bought - we are torned between an Alvarez cake whoch is less cheaper (?), a Red Ribbon, Goldilocks, or we could just bake 9 mug cakes para A is for Effort! Hahaha We overthink too much we ended up at Red Ribbon's!

We contacted Rachel and Camille but sadly Chelly couldn't come because of work but Camille managed to follow a few hours after. We just chit chat and played with Baby Ereen and shared stories about our highschool experiences and our future plans and of course, love lifes! Hahaha

SEE YOU SOON, MEERA!

One of the things that I had brought with me (and that I am thankful for) from my last job was making a few friends. I am so glad that I had found my lunch and merienda and uwian buddies that I would gladly bring along my entire existence. What's funny is that we were all resigned! Haha maybe the universe just wants us to meet!

Meera, my co-Laguna girl at the office and was one of my table mates was the one who got out first. She has plans on going "yolo" far far away at US. Last November, right after I flew out of the country for our Hong Kong trip, she went on her way to Lax! We were able to have a short catch up over a cup of coffee, pasta, and Jollibee ice cream!

Well right now we three have a pending Skype video chat right now na hindi matuloy tuloy because of time contraints? But I am so happy I found another persons worth keeping and bringing with me althroughout! <3

BURGER CRAVINGS

The day Sig and I met for Baby Ereen's 9th month, we were both craving for burgers. I kept on pushing that it's now her turn to make libre since she now has work and since I was already paid for my "libre date" months ago. But that day we ran out of time going out to search for a burger place since kakain din naman kami sa salo-salo.

A few days after an interview, I went straight to Sig's house and told her we should have that burger date already! We ended up at a burger place in Pacita (San Pedro, Laguna) called Hell and Back. It's a burger house that serves a few different types of grilled burgers, homemade (big ass) hotdog sandwiches and grilled fries!

Sad we wasn't been able to take an Instagrammable photo of the food and the hotdog since there was no good lighting inside the place hahaha ang arte! But the food was sooooo good specially the hotdog!!!! And the grilled fries! Less guilt but still potatoes but less guilt! Hahaha

CHRISTMAS IS NEAR

Can you believe were now down to few days 'till Christmas?!? Grabe! Parang last year lang pasko! Hahaha I can't wait spending the holidays with the whole clan with our Lola at Batangas! Umaapaw na pagkain na naman for sure! Alsooo, I can't wait for Baguio with the cousins after! Sinusulit before 2016!

Speaking of Christmas, I wonder what will you be asking for Santa this year?

The Sunday Currently // 01

Photo taken at High Street last year

I was just strolling around blogs and such when I came across this post about "The Sunday Currently" by different bloggers. With a bit of clicks here and there, I had known that it was a project started by Siddathornton! I think what all you need to do was make the whole post in the same format asnwering a few questions and then add "The Sunday Currently" on your post label/tag. Just not sure if it has to be during Sundays but I'll try to be cool so I wanna join the bandwagon!

As of today, well, currently:

Reading (on pending) 21 proms and Grimm's fairytales

Writing more like "trying" to continue the story I have quite on hold on my draft for months now. Sometimes I get so entertained and busy with the present I am forgetting my goals huhu

Listening to the sound of aircon mixed with the sound coming from the TV even though no one is watching. Siguro sabi ng Meralco, "Wow thanks! Itaas namin bill nyo hihi"

Thinking of a lot of things like next week, or this coming christmas plans, or my future.

Smelling Cheetos Jalapeno omaygash

Wishing I could get a job before the year ends! So help me universe!

Hoping for the full recovery of my Lola. She was hospitalized weeks ago due to heavy arthritis.

Wearing the best and most comfortable attire ever: Pajamas!!!

Loving the crunchy Lotus cookie we bought at the grocery yesterday. Super suggested! Also the crunchy spread! 

Wanting to be wanted. Huwaw!

Needing a new laptop so I could fix and blog properly! Two letters were already malfunctioning I cannot use them properly anymore. :(

Clicking or more like trying to press out the unclickable buttons on my keyboard! I feel hope!

Also I found another list like this called 'Taking Stock' originated from Meet the Mikes which is a lot longer compare the Sunday Currently. For this one, you just have to include #takingstock on your labels/tags bar as an appreciation to the one who originated the whole thing. But I like TSC more because this is shorter and much efficient for me.

Join the bandwagon and check out all the other The Sunday Currently's!

Random Shizznits

Here are the short happenings from the past weeks:

HALLOWEEN COSTUME

As what I have mentioned on my previous WWO, I finally got to catch up with my highschool besties. Part of our catch up was our costume planning for the last Halloween. The great Sigrid thought of pulling out our "Awkward" outfits since it is the most (sort of) easiest costume to wear with no budget required. Btw, Awkward. was a TV series from MTV.

Sig will be Jenna, the one in the middle and Chel and me will either be Ming and Tamara. Hahaha we didn't pull it out though since we didn't get to see each other during the Halloween. Next time! Haha

OHANA

For the Halloween, we go back to my Lola's house in Batangas to visit the grave of our Lolo. It's been 6 years if I am not mistaken. He died a day after my birthday. We miss him so much..

Quick story: Days before November 1, a black with a touch of brown Mariposa (big butterfly) was at our house for 2 days. I saw it early morning at the garage, then at the kitchen on the afternoon until the next day. It's just there. On the last day that we saw it, it followed me and I was scared since I have a short paranoia of insects and yes I know a butterfly isn't an insect pero bakit ba huhu. It kept on following me and then I stopped running and shouted quiely, "Lolo wag po ganyan dadalaw naman po kami promise". And then the next day it was already gone! Wow, Lolo.

Anyway, some cousins were there and we be able to catch up. I am a bit older since they are all still in college and we exchanged stories and I told them a bit of my experiences myself during college so that they can relate to and get lessons also.

These two, Ella and Irish, were both taking up pre-med courses and the family is pushing them so much to become a doctor! I am hoping also! But they told me they want to get out of college already. I sort of scolded them and told them to enjoy everything. Ang saya kaya maging estudyante!

LAST LEG OF SOUL SEARCHING

Our little family along with a cousin and my Tita went on a five day trip to Hong Kong. Sabit lang naman talaga ako haha I wasn't originally part of this trip and I accepted it whole heartedly and made plans on my own but on the last minute, I was told that they had booked a tickect including me. Kebs lang. Char haha but so thankful that the mother paid all of this for me. Medj dyahe because I should be the one supporting for my own expenses. I'll make bawi, motherrr!

I considered this trip as the last leg of my "soul searching" phase and my promised myself that I would get back on the grind as soon as we got home. And now, I am home! Lesdodis!

Will post a separate blog post for this trip but here is a view taken outside our hotel:

PAMILYA ARGENTINA

One of the biggest part in my college life is my dorm buddies. I am so glad my mother pushed me to go and live a dormitory life. Now I found life long friends and another family to share stories with!

Composed of 7, we are called Pamilya Argentina due to an inside joke from the then Argentina corned beef commercial with Solenn, Anne, and Georgina in it. And then we have decided to call that we are that kind of family. Hahaha We are 4 girls and 3 boys. 4 of us were already graduated and the 3 left are engineers in the making! (1 boy is a year ahead of us, we are 3 in the same batch)

Last Saturday, Martin invited us over for his mini birthday salo-salo at his hometown in Cabuyao. And we are happily complete, we can't even believe it!

l-r: Rj, Gel, Joyce, Karlo, Chel, me

Rj is a Marketing and Advertising graduate like me and Gel who is my batchmate. He graduated a year older than us. Rachel on the other hand graduated in the same batch as me with a degree in Communication Arts. Karlo and Joyce were engineers in the making with degrees of Computer Engineering and Industrial Engineering respectively. Martin, the celebrant, (not in the photo) is also an engineer in the making taking up... Wait I forgot his major but I think it involves in Sanitary I just forgot what it really is called.

Here's a photo of us with Martin and his real family. So cute!!!

Will now edit and update my drafts! My rants are now piling up! Haha

Birthday, Surprises, and Spontaineity all rolled into one.

Yup, I am never a fan of anything spontaneous but I don't like the idea of over planning either. I just want balance in things in quite of planned way. Basta never as in naisip ko ngayon and then agad agad go na. I like to overthink things first and be sure until last week I have had experienced the most spontaneous day ever in my 21 years of existence.

It was my college bff's birthday last October 24th and days before we were secretly planning a small surprise for her. It was just a surprise cake originally but the birthday girl baked her own rainbow cake and then we need to have a plan B. Nahiya kami sa rainbow cake na home baked! Hahaha so up until the night of the 23rd we were planning still thinking of something to give. We ended up buying 6pcs of balloons and party hats!

Afternoon of the 24th, Kim had no idea what time we will be going to meet her. We weren't texting her or updating her where are we already. Hahaha kaya naman....

Surprise!!!!

And we three were really actually surprised ourselves that Kim had been surprised! Hahahaha achieve!!!!

We waited for a few minutes and then were off to our favorite hang out place in Tagaytay, Java Jazz Cafe! This was the only original plan of us, four - we have to eat at this place everytime we are complete!

So glad I brought my camera with me!

Kim serenading us while we wait for our orders!

Java Jazz is located in Tagaytay (you can google the address heehee) but if you came from Sta. Rosa-Tagaytay road (or Manila) you have to take left turn and then a little bit straight ahead and if you came from Silang/Mendez just go straight from the roundabout. Sorry I'm bad at directions.

It's a small cafe serving hot chocolates (they have Tsokolate-eh and Tsokolate-ah), frappes, sandwiches and rice meals. It was actually a perfect spot for squads who just want to chill out with a quiet ambience with a cold weather. It's best also for stop overs. It has been our third time there and I think most of the customers we share the place with came from far places - just like us! Haha

They sell those wall paintings from aspiring painters and artists.

We ordered frappes, pastas, a breakfast platter (hashbrown, bacon, and eggs), and rice meals for the boys.

Days before her birthday, Kim shared with me her 5 (I forgot but I think its 5) birthday wishes. One is spending the day with us (awww hihi) and the other is her long time dream of making a wish lantern float.

She bought one online and after we had our early dinner we set off to an open area to set up the lantern.

Writing her wishes on a letter

Played around with the flash while we wait

                                     

Make a wish wish wish

Lantern bokeh

Here they are wishing we had more lanterns with us! Haha next time we shall have more than one!

P.S.: So hard to take pictures on a full dark place!

                                      

We originally plan on heading back to buy pizza for our marathon evening of "horror" movies (in which hindi natuloy because the two boys were so so so brave to watch such kind of movies. Hay haha) when we saw the Sky Eye at the Skyranch! And we were like:

"Huy di pa ako nakapunta dyan!"

"Ako rin! Ikaw ba?"

"Nakapunta na ako pero tara!"

"Totoo nga?"

"Oo nga tara!"

Hahahaha out of the blue we were at the Skyranch!

We just roam around, took photos and tried the Skyeye! We basically just danced our asses off the loud music inside and laughed and talk about random things! (See video for proof haha)

We then after bought pizza at a nearby Shakeys which by the way nakakatawa kasi while we wait at the take out area, we were talking to the Kuyas and Ates who cuts and takes out the pizzas in the big oven telling them "Ate kapag may nalaglag samin na lang" hahahaha

When we got back to Kim's, birthday cake blowing of candle! Oops no photo but here we are wore again our party hats and hold the balloons! Heehee

Also we forgot to bought a birthday cake candle. The candle at the cake was just a make shift white candle na pang brownout. Hahaha don't worry, we washed it first!

And then there.. We capped off our night as we watched The Secret Life Of Walter Mitty and Pixels while we have pizza and wine! Ahhhhh! <3

Days after Kim left off for Jeddah to fulfill her dreams! So basically this was also her "despedida". Aww can't wait for our next random dates with us four!!! We're praying while waiting for you!!