Here's to Never Growing Up

RE-posted from Facebook.

I still cant believe it. I'm looking at some of my dear friends on Facebook, via their profiles. And not just them, but this time... them PLUS their own kids and/or lifetime partners. Good thing is we're not technically minors anymore. Baka kids at heart. 

Some of them i haven't seen for the longest time... some, i've only heard just now ever since i left my hometown. Around a decade ago? Heck, there are even some i only recognize by face, those whose names i fail to recall now. I will take memo plus, this is probably a sign. Hahaha.

Seriously, it might feel odd to you, but it just feels 'weird' to me seeing some of my childhood friends, now holding a baby...or frolicking in the park or elsewhere with their toddlers. Happy family and all. May be because the last memory i have of them was when we were still in grade school.

Think about that imprinted in you. Then one day, you suddenly find them with a baby?! Hallelujah! It may not be a miracle but it sure does surprise me most of the time. I mean it's like being touched by tiny electric waves... yung may sundot, kuryente factor.

Anywaaaayyy...

Shittttt, where have i been all this time? I feel like i'm stuck being a kid, still finding her way in the world.

That. and then again may be, there are just times when we cling to youth.

Tik tok, tik tok.

Wo says Avril is the only one who can blurt: HERE'S TO NEVER GROWING UP!!

word of the year: SELFIE

So, here's my take on going with the bandwagon we all know as SELFIE.

Hate it or hate it, here they are! Hahahahaha!

Drive

How I wish falling in love were like driving a car. Take a joyride and see what's out there. Drive around 'til you settle for a special spot. Accelerate when you feel like hitting a low point in the relationship-- in such a way that you can get past the ugly phases.

Perhaps, hit the brakes when everything's just happening too fast, or worse, out of your control. And when you feel like everything's falling apart or like giving up, you just have to shift the gear. May be take a detour and head to the unpopular bend and go down memory lane- to cherish only the cheerful moments.

The best thing about it though is driving the car with someone you want to travel your life with. 

Hopefully, 'til the end.

Musings: Your 20s

We're young, overwhelmed, overworked and underpaid.
and we think- no, we hope- that one day a sudden ray of enlightenment strikes us with the clarity that all the hard work we're doing will pay off. With abundance and aesthetics!

The uncertainty cloaks us, quite darker than the night sky. see: smog, too ;)

For tonight, we're under the impression that the star will lead us to the Answer and Purpose. Light? Or was it just a hint of that airplane signal?

We Follow that Star (no this is not shameless plugging) walk and walk, until we see a fork down the road: go on or give up, go with the crowd or be off the beaten track.

We search for the answers, while half-hearted and unsure of what to ask.
But someday, we will know.
Hopefully, not too late.

#YolandaPH

With all these going on, it boils down to preparedness.
Pinoys are generous, helpful, even resilient. That we cannot deny.

But we cant also deny the fact that these "natural disasters" come and go year after year after year. We simply cant avoid them! And yet what? Thousands, even millions still have to suffer over and over again-- families have been broken, lives forever scarred by the torrential effects of these disasters! What we see on TV, hear on the radio, or read in the papers, weve pretty much encountered the premise of these stories in the past. Weve had calamities come our way, yet we stood our ground.

But must we always have to suffer... this way?

Think of it, if we only have prepared. If our government has a concrete plan or program on right disaster preparedness, accurate information dissemination, things would have been different! I dont think we would be this desperate...

With foreign aid coming our way, we look so dependent. Even helpless. It's such a shame how they can send us help even when theyre not really the main people to be held responsible, and on the other side, most of our officials remain mum and inactive (i heard some are even abroad?). Cmon, how can you sleep at night in your air-conditioned room, comfy king-sized beds, knowing your constituents are out there shelterless and starving.

Proud lang ako sa mga taong tireless sa pagtulong, at yung hopeful pa rin that we Pinoys can do better. Even with so much of these glaring implications. That's Faith! And I dont see anything wrong with saying We Need A Miracle. Soon, please.

TB: XMAS SHOPPING @ DAPITAN ARCADE

The Holiday season—the most wonderful time of the year-- is here! And your Taste Buddies surely know how to spice up the Holiday gift-giving vibe in the metro!

Embark on a stress-free and budget-friendly Christmas shopping at the accessible Dapitan Arcade in Manila with Isabelle Daza and mother-daughter tandem, Pinky and Karel Marquez!

Picking out the perfect gift for your family and friends might tickle your fancy and offer you non-stop thrills but it can also give off some jitters, especially when it concerns the budget!

The good news is that the girls are ready to share practical tips on gift-hunting plus other ways to maximize your hard-earned money so you can scrimp, save and stretch your funds!

As they raid the Dapitan Arcade, the girls recommend streetwise tips on shopping: what to bring, what to wear and what to keep in mind when on the hunt for that ideal present!

What’s more is that they take up the challenge on the right way to haggle aka paghingi ng tawad in tiangges! Also, witness as Pinky and Karel exchange gifts, while Isabelle picks out something for her special someone and the people she loves!

Aside from indulging on retail therapy, pamper yourself with Filipino cuisine in Tiago, found in the Morato food strip!

Don’t let the idea of gift-giving this Christmas season get you edgy and worried! Learn and experience the fun and exciting side of it only on Taste Buddies, Saturdays, 5:40 p.m. on GMA News TV.

TASTE BUDDIES BY THE BAY

Are you craving for a unique dining experience that is best enjoyed with your family, significant other or barkada? Well, this Saturday, your Taste Buddies will treat you to an unforgettable gastronomic feast where foods are served fast, fresh and flavourful!

At Seaside, along Macapagal Avenue, join Solenn Heussaff and Isabelle Daza, together with Katrina and Sheena Halili, as they relish the terrific view of the Manila Bay, all the while indulging in appetizing seafood!

What makes the trip at Seaside truly unique is their concept of “paluto” service, wherein customers can buy fresh seafood in the market and ask the restaurant chef to cook it for them! And since our Taste Buddies are always on the lookout to savour adventure, they will raid the Seaside market and prepare the dishes themselves!

It’s not every day that we can see our favourite Pinay celebrities like Solenn, Belle, Sheena or Katrina do their own shopping at the market, or even clean fish (talk about pagtanggal ng kaliskis or hasang here!) , or wash shrimp and seashells in the kitchen! But this Saturday, they’re all set to reveal that they’re pretty much like the rest of the Pinays out there who have to endure the usual kitchen tasks at home!

See how the girls make the most out of their Seaside adventure and food trip by the bay, this Saturday, 5:40 p.m. on GMA News TV.

Caramel!

I love it when it's Caramel Brown. :)

Life and the Movies

Ikr, sometimes you just wish life is just like the movies. And during times of distress, your knight in shining armor- may be in the form of Richard Gere-comes in to rescue you. Perhaps your dream girl saves you from frantically drowning ala Pamela Anderson of Baywatch. (Ooooh)

Or when you are gloomy, tired and alone and stranded in the streets during an unforgiving downpour, the Amazing Spiderman enters the frame, albeit inverted, to comfort the lady with a wet kiss. (U huh)

Dont you just wish you can get lost in the mystery and magic of the movies: where lighting creates an ambiance, music sets the mood and makeup covers the imperfection.

Voila! Perfect!

But it is all staged. And everyone acts.

You know, in life, it is pretty much the same. The world is our stage and we are all actors. But there's no Academy Award.
Too bad, we would have won for the Best and Worst Version of Us. Depending on the scene.

Bdays and all

You know what would make me smile on my birthday?

To know that I could go on that day without ever having to worry about work, or hounded by deadlines and pressured to read and answer the emails. 

To know that I'm going to be spending the day with the people I love and do what we want to do together, without minding to answer a single call or text message when my phone rings.

To be remembered by people who are close to me, and those I hold dear in my heart, and read their genuine, heartfelt dedication, some of which are perhaps sent the moment the clock strikes midnight that day.

And if you're still reading this now, a handwritten letter or greeting from you is more than fine a birthday gift! Call it a fan sign if you like, haha!

I thank heavens, I caught up with the generation that considered writing letters is not a bore! I was fond of doing that and my friends are witnesses...! Haha.

But Im quite sad to know that my generation is soo tamad. Or effortless. IDK, I just probably miss receiving letters, or that feeling to see one's handwriting on paper and his/her thoughts on it.

I hope this act does not die, the way Newsweek stopped publishing printed versions and eventually sticked to digital editions.

I just want to receive a handwritten letter on my birthday, thats it. Hahaha.

Sunday All Stars SAYAW Prog info

The heat is on as the search for the Best Kapuso All-Star Dance Crew makes its way to the Sunday All Stars stage this week!

Can Instagang defend their title? The group’s Team Leader Mark Herras fires up the stage once more as he shows what it takes to be the reigning Bad Boy of the Dance Floor, this time to the tune of the local ethnic beats! Together with his teammates Sam Pinto, Andrea Torres, Jake Vargas, Yassi Pressman, Julian Trono, LJ Reyes, Julieanne San Jose, Frencheska Farr and Christian Bautista, they will try to score a consecutive feat by offering a tribute to the nation’s folk dances.

It’s hip-hop like you’ve never seen it before! Witness the most-awarded team, Tropang Trending, gives the genre another flavor by combining tap and step dance into their one-of-a-kind routine! Don’t miss Team Leader Jay-R, Enzo Pineda, Kristoffer Martin, Aljur Abrenica, Kris Bernal, Max Collins, Jonalyn Viray, Rita De Guzman and Rochelle Pangilinan join forces with the Pinoy pride, internationally-recognized hip-hop dance crew, Philippine All-Stars!

Croon and swoon, hop and bop the Contemporary Jazz way with Ligang iLike! Leading the team is Kyla, who makes a shift this week from being the RnB Princess to a Jazz Sweetheart! Along with Winwyn Marquez, Mark Bautista, Steven Silva, Derrick Monasterio, Aicelle Santos, Kylie Padilla, Diva Montelaba and Barbie Forteza, they give a new meaning to pop music by fusing it with some jazz melodies.

Pasa Doble, Argentine Tango, Salsa, Samba and Jive, all in one classy production number! That’s what TweetHearts is about to cater this week featuring Team Leader Alden Richards, Maricris Garcia, Rodjun Cruz, Aira Bermudez, Louise delos Reyes, Sef Cadayona, Kris Lawrence, Ruru Madrid and Rachelle Ann Go!

But the Sunday fun does not end there! Because the cast of the most-awaited GMA Serye are set to join the All-Star stage!

The lead stars of the newest addition to GMA Telebabad, “Prinsesa ng Buhay Ko,”- Aljur, Kris and LJ give us a taste of the sweet vibe they’re about to show us every night starting September 23. Keeping us up in that mood are Kristoffer and Julieanne who would sing the theme song of “Kahit Nasaan Ka Man.”

Meanwhile, Winwyn, Ruru, Enzo, Joyce Ching and Mayton Eugenio would provide us a sneak peek of the happenings in “Dormitoryo.”, the latest Kapusos Sunday afternoon treat. Plus, your favourite “Anak Ko Yan” contenders are gearing up for some showdown with the stars this week!

This Sunday also paves the way for the music video premiere of one of the theme songs of the most-talked about and controversial GMA serye recently, “My Husband’s Lover!” Catch the exclusive preview of Jonalyn’s “Help Me Get Over You!” video!

 Join the All-Star, All-Out Showdown this Sunday, 12 noon on GMA!

Taste Buddies : BFF! BINONDO FOOD FESTIVAL

In Binondo, there’s never a shortage of foodgasmic treats! From authentic Chinese specialties to creatively exotic dishes, there’s always a room for savoury eats for locals, tourists, backpackers and the foodies like our Taste Buddies!

Armed with her appetite for adventure, Isabelle Daza makes the most out of her BFF-- Binondo Food Festival-- with Starstruck alumna Rich Asuncion and TV host Ali Gui.

Rich, Belle and Ms. Ali plus the owner of Masuki Mami House.

Best toured by foot, Ms. Ali takes the girls to her favourite food spots in the oldest Chinatown in the world. Together, they indulge in the delectable recipes of the must-go to places in the area! 

Perfect to mellow the rainy day blues away is the traditionally-made noodle soup of Masuki Mami House. 

The traditional way of making noodles via "pangangabayo."

Affordable yet equally-yummy dumplings is the hallmark of the TripAdvisor awardee, Dong Bei Dumplings.

Locals don’t even have to go abroad to experience the Hongkong-style dishes! A trip to the famed Wai Ying can already satisfy their cravings. And just a few blocks away, Quick Snack offers something innovative like their oyster cakes and omelettes! 

But if you want to be a chef at home and tweak some sumptuous recipes, you can also do your own shopping at the Bee Tin Grocery. 

There are so many ways to enjoy the weekend! This Saturday, give yourself a break and craft your very own Binondo Food Festival! For a preview, see how your Taste Buddies do it on GMA News TV, 5:40 pm.

TASTE BUDDIES: ULTIMATE RAKETERA

The Holiday season is here and it's that time of the year when presents come in handy! But if your budget for gift-giving is quite limited, worry not! Because your Taste Buddies, Solenn and Belle plus Kylie Padilla, have some ideas for a sideline aka "raket" to let you earn extra income.

And not only that, Solenn and Belle are vying for the coveted title of the season: The Ultimate Raketera! And in order for them to be named as such, they

would have to endure a series of challenges: Trip sa Jeep, Flower Power and Kiosk Ko Po!

Flower Power! Put your creativity to the test and mix and match those lovely blooms to come up with that mesmerizing floral arrangement!

Pleasure and Passion for the Palate! Get to know the easy techniques in making those luscious fast-food bestsellers and be inspired to make your own recipes out of them!

With these simple tips, you can earn more money in time for the yuletide rush, plus you can have them as your Holiday giveaways!

But even when working, don't let the fun die down! Sprinkle some adventure while doing your "raket", even when in the streets!

Do something daring like channeling a jeepney barker for some extra pesos in the Trip sa Jeep Challenge! Or perhaps go hunting for some elusive Pinoy delicacies to satisfy your cravings for regional specialties like the Suman of Rizal and Uraro of Bicol, just to name a few, in the Kiosk Ko Po Challenge!

In the end, there can only be one Ultimate Raketera! Find out what it takes to be one!

And before you embark on your investment plans for this season, "rumaket muna" with your Taste Buddies this Saturday, 5:40pm on GMA News TV.