Happy, happy, joy, joy

This weekend, I got my Philip Stein watch with red patent straps.

Woohooooo!!!

It’s my super mega early V-day gift.

Haaaallelujah!

We were running errands at the mall and looking for gifts for friends with new houses and apartments. In the middle of the chaos, we went inside Lucerne. R. said we’re just going to check out the new styles and if the Philip Stein watches are cheaper here than in Hong Kong.

We found my uber love with red patent straps and without batting an eyelash, he told the saleslady to wrap and charge.

Sweetness.

Sana ganon palagi.

Although the gifts are most welcome, what’s more important to me are the blissful, peaceful, happy weekends together.

Thank you, R.

Eyeloveit.

[Picture above is the actual Philip Stein model that I got. I realized, as per R.'s suggestion that black dial looks better with red patent straps.]

Beautiful Friday

Today is a wonderfully blessed Friday.

I cannot thank the heavens enough for it.

The two phone calls I have been waiting for already came --- not in the time that I expected it to.

Honestly, I was ready to give them up. Anyway, I am happy about how things are. The two phone calls, admittedly, made me happier.

As good tidings come in threes, I also got a third blessing today, although I had to ask someone for it.

Moral lessons of the story:

1. Sometimes, when you feel you deserve something more, the only way to get it is to ask.

2. There is virtue in gracefully waiting and graciously giving way to others. Because my turn will come and when it does, it hella rocks!

Thank God for the bounty.

Happy Friday, everyone!

I want you, Philip Stein

I've been eyeing this Philip Stein watch with red patent strap.

Isn't it just fab?

Nice to wear during jeans day!

Under normal circumstances, I will reward myself this new baby without batting an eyelash.

With the economic recession, however, it's common decency and actually - just plain old common sense - to hold off any unnecessary spending and hold on to my horses.

Okay foyn.

Tititigan ko na lang muna si Philip Stein.

Sigh.

Until the economy recovers.

Or at the very least, until I'm certain that it's on its way.

I'm being very bullish, though.

So Philip Stein... mapapasaakin ka din!

Harharhar!

When redheads have all the fun

Today, my hair just turned red.

As in Cate Blanchett in “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” red head.

Gem, Des and I went to the salon to change the colors of our hair.

And we’re all uber fab red heads!

Happiness.

Who said only blondes have all the fun?

Hah.

Patience as my virtue

I am waiting for two major things right now.

One pertains to the status of the hard work I put in my final school paper.

The other one is about waiting for a phone call that may well change my life this year.

Either way, the end-results are not in my hands.

And for an impatient person like me, waiting SUCKS!

I take comfort in these words that I read this afternoon:

"Patience is not so much about waiting, as it is about how one behaves while waiting."

And another one from Lyman Abbott:

“Patience is passion tamed.”

Yet again, I ask myself:

How can you tame passion like mine?

Thus, I keep watching, I keep waiting.

Until I get the results, all I can do is graciously wait.

"Graciously" is the operative term.

Happy New Year!

“If my heart can become pure and simple like that of a child, I think there probably can be no greater happiness than this.” - Kitaro Nishida

I wish everyone a blessed 2009.

In difficult times, it helps to be positive.

It helps to have a clearer, more grounded perspective.

Cheers to greater love, happiness, abundance and friendship!

Change of heart

"The greatest discovery of my generation is that a human being can alter his life by altering his attitude.” – William James

True enough.

I was not a Christmas person. Christmas carols made me sad.

I thought Christmas was overrated – people are just forced to be happy, giddy and good – all for the sake of the holidays and the birth of Christ.

It’s hypocritical.

We can choose to be happy, generous and be good people all year round.

Why make Christmas an excuse to become better persons when we can make the effort sans the occasion?

The holiday blues was made worse by the fact that this year is the 2^nd Christmas that Nanay isn’t around. It’s breaking my heart.

So what’s Christmas to me?

It just made me feel more miserable.

And empty.

But not this year.

In early December, I made a resolution that no matter the pain that the break-up caused me, no matter the heartache I feel that Nanay is gone – I will make an effort to celebrate Christmas --- to be joyful and grateful for all the blessings.

I completed the Simbang Gabi.

I prayed.

I wrapped gifts.

I cooked Christmas dinner – my much-celebrated pasta and meat sauce.

I spent Christmas Eve with the family.

I went to Boracay for a short trip with him. Yes, with him.

Because Christmas…

Is not about me.

I’m glad I made the resolution.

I am happier. More peaceful. And more in love… with life and with all the special people in my life.

Because love is beyond conventional definitions.

And so is Christmas.

Merry Christmas, everyone!

I hope you have the same fortune that I have this season – to feel what it really is all about.

This email made me cry today

"we are works of art. we are not done yet.

we still have to undergo pains but when we're done, we will be priceless and fab.

da vinci did not finish the mona lisa in one day.

i believe we will have our time. you and i.

it would be a complete and utter disgust to the whole humankind kung hindi.
darating din yun.
darating din sya.
in the meantime,
we have beaches to conquer, wines to drink, boys to have fun with and uber fab friends who will pick us up or untog our ulo when we get lost."

Ask any of my best friends and they will all tell you the same thing: no matter how painful the heartache is, they never saw me cry.

But this email is one for the books.

As soon as I read it, I couldn't help but just break down.

To the bestie who sent this: Thank you.

The email moved me.

And my new baby is born

I've been collaborating with Andoy for several weeks now to launch a new project.

Janjararaaaaaan...

Talk Usability is now up!

Finally!

I hope you can link us, visit and read our musings on what puts food on our table, and of course - what we like to do and what we do best (or at least we think we do).

Thanks to the Inner Circle for the support!

Party over here, party over there

Yesterday night marked the beginning of yet another series of Christmas parties.

Our division in the office welcomed the first week of December with our White Christmas Party at Dasma, Makati.

Although I'm not a fan of white clothes - because I am admittedly dugyot and clumsy wearing white - I had to get into the spirit.

I was just praying the whole night that I don't spill red wine on it.

I actually did, but it was when the party was almost over and I was still sober enough to rush to the bathroom to take the stain off.

I was part of the alcohol committee who pooled all the wine, vodka, rum and beer together. As such, I also got first dibs of the finest - Reserve, Asti, Sparkling wine and Mondavi!

Pao and I hoarded the Mondavi that another officemate brought.

The party was a blast! I had so much fun and I'm loving, loving the new guys.

Check out my photo with Ian - taken before we got totally wasted.

Best girlfriend trip... ever!

My trip to Hong Kong was shelved - a week before I was supposed to get tickets for it.

I wanted to go back to HK in time for the hairy crab season. I wanted first dibs of hairy crab at Wu Kong, Tsim Sha Tsui.

Some things, however, were inevitable.

I still don't want to talk about it.

Moving on...

You know, when I want something, I really will move mountains to get it. And I wanted a trip for the long weekend. So the girlfriends helped in looking for a beach resort we have not visited yet. I came across Punta de Uian.

It was probably Divine Providence - or the Universe just wanted to humor me - but Punta de Uian was the second link on the page when I googled resorts in Zambales.

The girlfriends didn't waste time and immediately booked for a 3 days 2 nights beach break.

FUN --- is an understatement.

The girlfriends are definitely going to do this again.

And this time - we even have a special project on what we want to do next.

I can't wait!

Postcript for StoicSuchi: It's not that I didn't want the man that I had. I did. You're the best person to say that I definitely did. The thing is, he didn't know that I meant it when I said it was really him.

Geek Christmas wish

Geek na kung geek!

I would really like to get my hands on these uber nice and girly USB pendant and necklaces.

Everywhere I go, I need a USB. I have nearly 5 meetings a day --- most of the time. Normally, we share files in these meetings.

It's kaartehan and something that I need at the same time.













Okay, foyn, the last pendant is heart-shaped. If you're my friend, then you know that I have an aversion to anything with heart designs. I will, however, make an exception for this one. It's Swarovski-studded, even!

On a side note --- Gemma, Des and I are going to the beach very early tomorrow morning. Again, if you are my friend, you then know the MAIN reason why I go to the beach with girlfriends.

I don't want to talk about it yet.

But I am hanging in there.

If you're my friend - you already know what I'm talking about.

Wish me a good weekend, folks.

I badly need one. I think I've been a good, nay, great girl who deserves one fantastic weekend break.

I wish the same for everyone.

What you did not know...

Is that I'm only a normal girl,

wanting to live a normal life.

I'm sorry you missed that.

Something’s a-brewing

Cooking something up with a colleague.

It’s still a concept but we’d really like to take it seriously.

Will hold off on giving more details.

Kahit bagsak ako sa marshmallow test.

‘Hope you guys will support the project once it’s up and running.

Pwera Pirata

Speaking of the real Vuittons and replicas in Greenhills…

I was working on a presentation last Sunday evening (yes, working. On a Sunday!) when I came across a feature on TV about buying fakes or pirated items from China.

It’s really very tempting to just buy the pirated stuff --- especially when the difference in price points is enormous.

Consider this – the real Louis Vuitton monogram Speedy 35 will cost you a whopping P34k.

You can get a quadruple A replica in Greenhills at P1,000 – P1,500.

The same thing is true for Burberry and Gucci.

However, what we don’t see are the repercussions of buying the fakeys:

1. They use child labor.

2. The “sweat shops” and factories for these items are not laborer-friendly. The workers get paid below their minimum wage.

3. The real artisans who hand-make the original products lose their jobs to these sweat shops. Burberry factories in London have already closed down.

4. They use the money to further fund the manufacturing of fake medicines, fake health products and fake food – which are deadly. Heck, China can now even fake eggs. Yes, people. Eggs! I saw how it was done on TV.

The fourth effect of buying fake merchandise is the most alarming.

Fake eggs have been found in several restaurants in China. These fake eggs were contaminated with chemicals that can cause dementia and paralysis.

Anuveeeeeeeer.

I urge you to buy the real deal.

If we can’t afford the luxury brands, it’s better to buy other budget-friendly brands rather than resort to buying replicas.

My friends would always cajole and dare me to buy local brands. Honestly, I don’t see anything wrong with it. If the bag is of good quality, then why the hell not?

It’s better than buying a quadruple A from Greenhills.

The latest addition to the LV family

Janjararaaaaan...

Introducing the Louis Vuitton Sac d'epaule in black epi leather.

Released in the mid-1990s, this is already a collector's item since it has been discontinued.

This cannot be bought in the stores anymore.

The good thing about epi leather is that it's difficult to imitate. LV has made a good job in embossing and imprinting the LV emblems on the leather. When you check the epi replicas in Greenhills, the difference is striking.

Sobrang layo.

I got this from a fellow e-Bayer in super duper mint condition.

It was more than what I expected because it looked brand new!

Thanks, Tracy!

*picture of the bag also courtesy of Tracy

Monumental day: Obama becomes first black President of the United States

Today, Barack Obama was declared the 44th President of the United States.

May this change help revive the US economy.

And may he become the true agent of change - the way people believe him to be.

Thought bubble: I really wished Al Gore won the presidency before. Hats off to him for the Inconvenient Truth and his efforts to slow down climate change.

May the world be filled with more well-meaning, noble and morally upright people.

When it’s all worth it

Halloween in Manila was spent counting cars that passed by Paseo de Roxas – the street overlooking the Club Floor of Mandarin Oriental.

It’s been a while since I spent the Halloween break here. Normally, I’d be in Hong Kong or out of town with Boyfriend.

Since All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day were not declared holidays – us Manila peeps had to be content with the usual 2-day weekend.

Boyfriend was also uber busy with the fluctuating stock market so I never even bothered making plans with him. It was a long shot anyway, but half of me was also wishfully thinking he could either come home or I could fly for a quick break in Hong Kong.

I just decided to stay in and continue my spring cleaning. It’s time for my LV bags to be cleaned and conditioned, too.

Friday night - I got to my apartment at almost 12am. I went online to check my mail and eBay account. Five minutes of watching One Tree Hill, I turned my DVD player off and decided to go to bed early.

Boyfriend texted that he had pasta for dinner, he was just watching TV and that he will go to bed soon.

I went to my room to continue surfing the Internet. I heard a faint knocking on the door and thought that it was my neighbor’s.

Who would come knocking on my door at past 12 anyway?

After several attempts, the knocking stopped.

My mobile phone rang. It was Boyfriend.

He was asking me if I was done with my dinner. I said I only ate a bowl of chocolate cereals because I was feeling lazy to prepare food.

He asked if I was still hungry and if I wanted to eat.

I said I can just go to bed and sleep it off.

He said I should eat… because there’s corned beef pan de sal waiting for me if I open my front door.

I hurriedly changed to more decent clothes and opened my door.

And there he was --- sitting on the flight of stairs – carrying a brown bag from Mandarin Deli.

He brought me corned beef pan de sal.

I cried in his arms that night.

I was deeply touched and moved by the gesture that I could not make sense of what was happening.

He said he never lied. He ate pasta – at the deli. He was watching TV – in our room at the Club Floor. And that he was just waiting for me to get to my apartment.

All this while I took my time to run errands that Friday night.

He said he didn’t want to disrupt my itinerary and that he didn’t want me to postpone going to Mom’s.

In moments like this, I am reminded how amazing he is and how both of us can be the great persons we would like to be – if we only try.

And in times like this, I feel justified that fighting for us – despite all the tears and the heart-wrenching pain that we both had to go through – was all worth it.

So whether it's just counting cars to pass time or getting drunk at Barcino's with my besties --- doesn't really matter to me.

I'm just really glad he came home.

Santa Beybeh...

...please make me smile this Christmas.

And give me my Louis Vuitton Sac Bosphore.

It's perfect for my laptop.

And my take-home work.

It would be a perfect school bag, too, should you and God perform an extra miracle of sending me to Hong Kong University for another Masters Degree that I've been dreaming of for the past 2 years.

This bag is so, so, so, soooo nice!

Yellow LV Noe - my mini reward for being smoke-free

Celebrating my smoke-free 3rd week came with a prize.

And a price tag to boot.

It's a mini reward, though, as I got it from a reputable Louis Vuitton seller in eBay, and not from the LV store.

eBay's got several authentic LV sellers - if the bag you're looking for is discontinued or is part of the so-called collectors' item.

I've been looking for Louis Vuitton epi leather bags in Noe, Saint Jacques and Sac d'epaule for months now, preferably in toledo blue or canary yellow.

Finally - I got me this candy.

Now my search for the ever-elusive Louis Vuitton messenger/laptop bag is on. I hope I can find something before Christmas.