A: What I LOOOOOOVE about Singapore

Singapore is known to be a "fine" city, and while it is true that there are a lot of rules that you will be fined on if disobeyed, once you get to stay here, you would understand how and why it is after all, really a FINE city. No pun intended.

It was more than two years ago when my boyfriend and I first came to SG for a 4-day vacation. Boy did we love what we saw from the time we stepped out of the plane! There were three things that amazed me/us the most about the country: it's clean, it's organized, and it's safe. And these things, alongside many other aspects, made deciding to come back here to try to find a job a lot easier. Now, it has been more than a year since I started working here, but Singapore still surprises me with the beauty it can offer. This country is truly one of those places you should not miss to visit, and here are just some of the many reasons why I say so:

DON'T WORRY, BE CLASSY

If you like sporting out your pricy gadgets, expensive blings, and designer items without worrying about someone trying to steal them from you, then Singapore is the place to be.

Have you ever seen anyone reserve a table in a food centre by leaving her Louis Vuitton bag on top of it? That is what I call, reserving a table Singapore style. I really love the fact that I can be carrying around a zipper-less bag and still not worry that someone may try to stick his hands inside and take something important from my bag. And though the government is still advising everyone to be vigilant as crimes can and sometimes do happen, the security that I feel while in this country is just incomparable.

Carry your gadgets anywhere, anytime, and not worry about anything!!! (Special thanks to my friend who didn't think twice about modelling for me, Nikki Shayne Del Rosario! Ü)

ONE CARD TO RULE THEM ALL

I hate needing to make sure I have exact amount of money to pay for transpo, and that is why I am thankful for Singapore's EZ-Link card! I can take buses, trains, and cabs, and not worry about how much loose change I have. All I need is one swipe of the card! How convenient is that?!

Singapore’s EZ-link card makes travelling hassle-free. Passengers just need to tap the card on what I will call as the "EZ-link machine" and fare will be automatically deducted. And if you’re already running low on credit, you will know right away because the machines will show you how much money you have in your card every time you alight a bus or exit a train station. Train stations have loading stations for the card, all you need is to “top-up” and you’re good to go!

PARK HERE, PARK THERE, PARKS EVERYWHERE

Singapore, as I would quickly describe it, is a country filled with nice buildings. And though it cannot offer you mountains for some trekking activities or beaches for your summer getaways, it can give you nicely landscaped parks good for jogging, walking, cycling, roller blading, and other activities that require clean and even roads.

To name a few, there is Punggol Waterway Park, Punggol Park, and Bishan Ang Mo Kio Park. These parks are the ones we usually visit to enjoy some outdoor physical exercises. I learned how to turn left and right on my bike while cycling in Punggol Park, my first bike accident happened in Punggol Waterway Park (the park is not to blame, I was not using my head. Haha!), and my first laser tag experience was in Bishan Ang Mo Kio Park. 

TO THE LEFT, TO THE LEFT

Have you experienced running late for a meet up or for work and you got on an escalator and you had to weave through people to get to reach your floor? Too much of a hassle and can easily ruin a good mood, right? Well, not here in Singapore. Singapore takes the “keep left” phrase seriously. You can observe that while walking on the streets, through the cars on the road, and even in escalators. And it makes reaching your destination a lot easier. The usual sight in malls would be people getting on an escalator and going for the left side and keeping the right side vacant for people who prefer to walk up or down the escalator. 

SOOO CLEAN

Again, let me say, I am so amazed as to how clean this country is. I enjoy looking at people here as they try to find the nearest trash bin for their small pieces of litter. It's priceless to see how they are concerned in keeping their environment clean that they will make an effort to put where garbage is supposed to be. And though there are a lot of street sweepers in Singapore, it is evident that Singaporeans and other people living here have that respect for their surrounding. If you’re lucky, you will be scolded by a local if you get caught littering, and you’d deserve that.

MEGASTRUCTURES! C'MON!

A boat-shaped structure on top of three buildings aka Marina Bay Sands. Now that's something you don’t see everyday. Come to Singapore and see extraordinary infrastructures. The Merlion, the durian-shaped Esplanade Convention Centre, the flower-shaped museum, and who knows what else they will build in the future. These buildings are so nice we make sure every loved one who comes here for a visit will have a photo taken with those landmarks in the background.

Photo sources: www.atlantis-lodge.com, upload.wikimedia.org, www.inhabitat.com, www.zdistrict.com

RESERVED

Now though Singapore is a fast-paced country, it takes its time to make sure people who should be given more priority are always taken into consideration. Buses, trains, and even pedestrian crossings, have given priority to the elderly, kids, pregnant women, and the disabled. I personally love the sensor they attached on top of the button you press for crossing the road. The sensor they attached is for the elderly to tap their EZ-link cards (for the elderly) on to get longer crossing time. Reserved seats for the elderly, pregnant, and disabled are plenty in trains and buses as well. People usually avoid sitting on those seats even when there are no any elderly people or pregnant women around.

Singapore may be a small country, but it has a huge and colorful history behind it. And it being a melting pot of many cultures and races makes visiting the country and meeting its people a lot more interesting. 

Spread some Singapore-lovin!

- A! :)

J: Women's Week Special: My Curvy Body Image Warriors

Being the fat girl in the playground, the chubby high school student, and the voluptuous kolehiyala, I absolutely know a thing or two about how the public’s perception of "normal" can unnecessarily alter the character and self-esteem of a person. We have to be honest that subconsciously most people think that it is a little bit harder for fat people. And, that is where they’re wrong, because we have our own way of doing things, it may be a bit different from what the status quo considers normal, but that doesn’t mean that it is harder or wrong. Because of this so called “norm”, I became a child who always sought for the approval of others, that chubby high school student who always starved herself to be accepted and recognized in school. And that is never good nor healthy because we should not forget that what we see on the outside should never overpower the purity and the goodness we have inside. We should not change who we are to be accepted.

I did not overcome all of these struggles alone, I am very lucky to have very supportive parents who never failed to make me feel that I am loved. But sadly, when I was a teenage, that didn't just seem to be enough. I sought for something else which will validate me in a larger scale and that is when I found these role models. I hope that I can inspire you the same way they inspired me.

Stacy and Danah Gutierrez a.k.a Plumpinay, Bloggers

source: http://facebook.com/theplumpinay

The Plump Revolutionaries in the Philippines!

I never knew such revolution, if I may indulge, existed until I stumbled upon an article in a newspaper about these twin sisters blogging about plus size body love in the Philippines. I knew I’m going to love their blog immediately and I definitely did! Through them I have come to begin to love my body. It’s nice to have a role model, it’s nice to have someone to look for as an inspiration in a pool of model-esque, super fair, and super thin famous people in magazines and other forms of media. They have even launched a plus size swimwear with “I Love Koi”. They’re really ruling this positivity battle! They made me realize that it’s not about being thin or being fat, their cause is about being self-assured and being healthy. That acceptance and love is not just for what the society perceives as beautiful, women of all sizes and form deserve to be loved and accepted, flaws and all.


An inspiring poster made by Stacy Gutierrez:

source: www.plumpinay.com

Tess Munster, Plus Size Model

source: http://instagram.com/effyourbeautystandards

She is the founder of “effyourbeautystandards”; I guess no further explanation is needed for that! ;)

I found Tess Munster through the Plumpinay Facebook page and I am so glad that I did! She is doing what she loves to do, to model; it just so happened that she’s a curvy lady as well. And, that is what I really aim for, to be able to do what I love. And she doesn’t give any “eff” to what the status quo said that curvy women can and cannot wear or do. She defied all of them and she’s inspiring ladies all around the world while doing so. The point is no hindrance or no one should ever stop you from pursuing your dreams. And that, to me, is what Tess Munster embodies.

Adele, Grammy Award-Winning Singer

source: Google Images

 I know Adele as an incredible singer and an outspoken role model. She’s had her own share of ups and downs because of her weight *Ahem! Karl Lagerfeld! Ahem!* but she just shrugs it off and said this; 'I represent the majority of women and I'm very proud of that' and I do believe that that’s all there is to it, really. All of us have insecurities but don’t let a single negative comment backtrack everything that we have already achieved. And, besides she also said that she does music not for the eyes but for the ears and she is definitely nailing it in that area. Her voice is divine and that’s all that matters. Body size should never outshine talent.

Kat Dennings, Hollywood TV Comedienne (2 Broke Girls)

source: Google Images

Kat Dennings or Max from the hit TV show “2 Broke Girls” is very outspoken and proud of her curves. She’s very funny, witty and sultry. She’s not a size zero but she can look sultry and sexy just the way she is. Sexy is not measured by the dress a woman wears, sexiness is how a person feels inside and it will radiate in the eyes or body language, no matter if you’re skinny or fat. If you feel sexy inside, it will radiate on the outside, and that is what Kat Dennings is doing. Even her role in her series is very relatable. Her character, Max, is an average American woman leading a very colourful and not so easy life. She faces every struggle with wit and humour and she gets out of them each time. She may have never been categorized as skinny but she will always look sexy with that personality. And that is what every lady should realize, as long as you keep your body healthy, no matter what size you are, you can be sexy! Never ever starve yourself to lose weight or eat too much that it could already cause harm, everything should be done in moderation.

Jordin Sparks, American Idol Winner

source: Google Images

Jordin Sparks is a very talented singer and she just recently lost 50 lbs. within 18 months. It may seem drastic but she shared that her weight loss secret was putting priority on her health and not her jeans size. She also said that she never felt like she was suffering in eating less and exercising more, also she found an exercise she enjoys doing for her to stick to it. See, she never complained about her weight but she decided to lose it for herself and for her health. She really serves as an inspiration when she stepped out with her new body; she looked really good because she did it in a healthy and natural way. She inspires people in many ways, she mainly inspired me through her music with songs like “Faith” and “God loves ugly”, I am always lifted and these songs really hit me hard and really inspire me and put music to my soul.

Here are the songs: 

God loves ugly

“You said that I wasn't pretty,
So I just believed you
And you said that I wasn't special, so I lived that way
With critical gazes and brutal amazement
And how my reflection could be so imperfect
With all of my blemishes, how could somebody want me?
But God loves ugly
He doesn't see the way I see
Oh God takes ugly
And turns it into to something that is beautiful
Apparently I'm beautiful
Cause You love me”

Faith

“Cause when the sky's the darkest, you can see the stars.
And when you fall the hardest, you find how strong you are
Close your eyes, rest awhile, It’s been a long, long day
So come on, baby, baby,
Have A Little Faith ”

To wrap it all up, I guess the sole message that I want to send across here is that no matter what size we are in, the main point is that we stay healthy. Never starve our body, eat whenever we feel hungry and exercise enough to strengthen the body. Everyone is beautiful in our own way, and everyone should learn to accept and love whatever size or form they come in, because we must learn to love ourselves first, before we can give out love and receive love ;)

Keep healthy and always be kind to yourself!


-J

A&J: No valentine? No problem!

It’s not everyday that we get the chance to spend time together and shop. So this month of love, we made sure that we get to set a date for bonding, shopping, and a whole lot of best friend time!

We both love to shop for clothes, hair accessories, shoes, among many other things that shout “I’m pretty!”, but unlike when we were in college, we don’t get to bring along our girl friends anymore to shop with us and judge our choices.  And we know for a fact that having someone on the next fitting room ready to check how the dress fits you is always helpful on deciding whether or not an item is worth losing a few bills in your wallet. So we were both excited to know that we will again get the chance to shop like how we used to do it; together. We didn’t waste any second while we were together. All the chika and all the shopping we did. Legen… wait for it… dary! :D

Before proceeding with the main event of the day, we first filled our sexy bods with some delish dishes from Conti’s, and of course, what else for dessert but MANGO BRAVO.

We visited SM Makati, The Landmark, Greenbelt malls, and Glorietta malls on a Monday. Why Monday? We both do not enjoy shopping in crowded places (this only applies to bigger malls, we both love Divi and Greenhills) so we met on a Monday!

We both didn’t have anything specific we’d want to purchase. We touched and tried everything that caught our eyes. We bought quite a number of small items and of course, some clothes. It’ll be too many (and not to mention too boring) if we share with you, friends, all of the things we bought, so let us show you our top 3 favorite purchases from our best friend Valentine's date.

Bebi A:

AAAWWW:  Bebi J can do her make up really well. She can transform herself from very chic, to rock and roll diva, to “I’m an actress who doesn’t know how to act” (Haha! She did a Kristen Stewart make up before).  Bottom line, she knows how to handle those brushes and palettes. And she sure looked nice when we met at Greenbelt; made me wonder if she forgot it was only ME she’s dating that day.

So since I was with her, I took that chance to have her help me choose the right lipstick for me. She gave me some really nice suggestions on which shade I should use, and which brands I should go for to get good quality lip stick. I went for Revlon ColorStay Ultimate Suade in Cotoure shade.

 The stick itself is more pink than red, but once applied gives you a reddish tint. A light dab gave my lips my desired natural-looking reddish/pinkish look. And it really lasts. The sales person didn’t lie to me when she told me it can last up to 16 hours. Lips still reddish after you have brushed your teeth, is that good or bad? You be the judge.

I LIKE: I stopped by at The Landmark a few days before bebi J and I went there. On my first visit, I saw this lacy dress that I fell in love with. I fit it, and it looked good on me (Yeah, you read that right :D ), but I didn’t buy it. But when Bebi J and I saw it again on our visit, I immediately asked for a new stock, and purchased it. Her remark, “Bi, this will look good on you.” gave me THE push.

This corset top dress will go well with a nice earth-color boyfriend jacket and closed heels for a more chic corporate look, and of course, can be worn alone plus some bright pumps for a date with the boyfriend. This baby all for a very cheap price of Php299! And I know a dress like this will cost me around $40-$50 in Singapore. Money well spent!

I SUPER LOVE: There is one difference between Forever 21 Orchard Exchange (Singapore) and Forever 21 SM Makati (Philippines); I have never gone to the former with my best friend. I have found myself wandering around Forever 21 in Orchard way too many times, but never have I purchased a single thing. There was just nothing that enticed me to buy anything, not even the ones I really liked (it happens to me a lot when shopping alone, for added proof, refer to the lacy dress story at The Landmark again). But when we got to Forever 21 SM Makati (Philippines), I just went mad over some shift dresses. And this time, I didn’t just fit dresses, I actually bought the one that I liked.

 And I just love how this shift dress can make me look longer than 5’1”. I also bought some half nude half red pumps (Parisian) to go with the dress. I feel very Audrey Hepburn-ish in the outfit. Oh! And let me just add, I’ve already worn this in the office, and I got compliments from almost everyone, including the big bosses. Made me feel so puhreetey!

Bebi J:

AAAWWW:  I am on the plus side of the fashion spectrum, and though they have a plus size section in The Landmark, the choices are still limited and kind of outdated, so I wasn’t able to buy new clothes from Landmark, but I was more than happy to suggest some cutesy dresses for Bebi A. We also bought some super cute and colourful mini hairclips to hold our fringes! Because every lady with fringes knows that it can get really irritating sometimes. ;D Then we went to the mall’s ground floor and that’s like a slice of heaven for me; MAKE UP counters everywhere!!! I immediately switch my make up sniper vision on and located VMV Hypoallergenics to buy “Skintangible Faintation: Skin Refining Skintelligent Non-Makeup”! I love VMV so much! In fact I am using they’re whole “Re-Everything” skincare line!

 

 
(L-VMV Hypoallergenics' Skintangible)
It is a skin brightener and it’s like a foundation but it’s not. It’s so light on the skin and it already has an SPF! I use this to achieve the dewy skin effect, not oily. It just gives the face that healthy glow!

I LIKE: And then we head on to my favourite high street boutique here in the Philippines; Forever 21! I made my way to the Plus Size section right away and found this very nice blouse top and a Navy-inspired black striped dress.

I purchased both of them, but I really like my new Navy dress. I’ve been looking for a dress like this for quite some time now. I love how its simplicity paired with a colourful skinny belt can remind me of Paris or if you match it with a black belt, you automatically can rock an Adele inspired look!

 
I wore this with a black skinny belt and my Tory Burch Black Jelly Reva Flats, and then Voila! A date night or night-out-of-the-town-with-friends look! Or, exchange the flats with red stilettos for a more vamp and sophisticated look.

I SUPER LOVE: And, then after a long day of shopping in Makati we went to the SM Mall of Asia to meet up with some college friends for dinner. On our way to the resto, we saw this store called Club Princess, a very cute store which has a lot of, well for the lack of a better word, princess things, feather boas, pink and everything cute! I found this zebra print headboard that is shaped like a crown with pink ribbons across it used to hold notes or pictures and it is the cutest thing!

I have been looking for something like this for quite some time now as well. I even tried to DIY this but, obviously, I failed immensely. LOL. I love having pictures or memorabilia of my loved ones by my bed that's why I put so much positivity in this board plus it's really cute so a +1 for my room's aesthetic! ;)

That day couldn’t have gotten any better! Food, Shop, and Chika! What else can two female best friends ask for on an ordinary weekday?! And we cannot even begin to describe the things we will do to get that kind of bonding again. Obviously, one day isn’t enough for all the cute items we can get our hands on. But though it’s just one day, we’re glad we had that chance. Who knows, maybe our next Vday date will not be in the Philippines anymore? ;)

 

A: My boyfriend is my boy friend :)

Now this should be fun.

My laptop is a witness to how many times I have tried to start my first blog entry, and just how many times I failed… miserably.

I guess what makes this first entry difficult to start is because I am trying really hard to dismiss the idea of writing anything about love, but I end up with ideas which suggest I do it. I have wondered, wondered, and wondered some more. And I don’t blame my best friend when she suggested writing about my turning-8-years relationship with my boyfriend. It is, after all, THE love month. But as much fun writing my ‘love story’ would be, I’d rather save that for another entry.

On the other hand, I would like to share with y’all the things I love about loving someone and being loved back. Some of you may have the same experiences as mine, while some may have even nicer ones. Feel free to share with us why you love being in a relationship and what you enjoy most about it at the comment box below. And while you choose which of your many lovely experiences you’d like to share with us, here are mine:

First, I love having a boy best friend. As a lady (I refuse to call myself a girl), it is important to have a steady set of girl friends or a really dependable girl best friend. I don’t know about other ladies, but I will not survive a week without talking to Bebi J and my other closest girl friends. It doesn’t have to be serious talk, gossip will do. :D

While girl best friend/s always come in handy with all the love life, handbags, stilettos, Hollywood chick-flick chit-chats, it’s also very helpful to have insights from someone who thinks a little differently. And I am blessed to have one in the form of my boy friend; Popo.

:)  FYI: Popo is not his real name. I call him Popo, he calls me Koko. It’s our thing. :D

I love how I can talk to him about things I also share with my friends, and hear a totally different opinion compared to what I get from my girls.  See, we can’t blame our girl friends if most of the time they take our side in an issue. They can’t help it. I think it’s the girl friend instinct. I think it is the girl friend god who tells us to stick together, never let the other one feel down. And that is what’s nice about having a boy best friend, he doesn’t always take my side, and he makes me realize when I’m wrong. And when it’s him who does that, I don’t feel offended. I feel his concern, his love.

Second, I love feeling protected. To all my friends out there with a lovey dovey, let’s all admit it. We all feel safe when we’re with them. I know we all pray that nothing ever happens that would put his ass-whooping skills to the test, but we all know deep inside us, that should anything wrong happen, there is going to be someone to protect us.

And our knight in shining armour is not only a hero on those kinds of situations. Let’s not forget, how good it feels when you have someone to wrap his arms around you when you’re crying off of frustration. When you have someone to wipe your tears off your eyes after you just had a big fight with your best friend. It’s nice knowing that when you are feeling really weak, he will be there to make you feel otherwise.

Third, I love being treated like a Princess. Now before you start raising your eyebrows, read first. Princesses in Walt Disney’s stories all had to face challenges of their own; they had to face dragons, witches, evil step moms, among many others. They had to face trials, and then after, they got to rejoice over the victory with their princes.

It’s nice to have someone to celebrate a promotion with. To have someone be genuinely happy for you after a visa application has been approved. Or to have someone text you in the middle of the night just to tell you he’s excited for your new adventures.  The feeling is great.

Fourth, I love the make up moments. My relationship is anything but perfect. If there was anything that frequently happened in the first few years of ‘Popo and Koko’, it’s that we fought. A LOT. I don’t look back on those days with a smile on my face, of course. But, I do smile (even giggle sometimes) whenever I would recall how our bad moments end up with us being even stronger.  

I have lost count as to how many times Popo and I fought, but I remember all the things we learned from every fight that we had, and all the happy memories we have after realizing we both are not willing to risk what we have just to get to prove who’s right.

I grew up understanding that there are relationships that you will value so much, you will be willing to understand everything, and sometimes even swallow your pride just so you can keep it alive. And this is one of those relationships. 

Fifth, I love having somebody to love. It’s priceless. I love knowing that no matter what I go through, there is someone who will celebrate with me if I succeed, or wrap his arms around me when I don’t (yet). I love having someone I pray for, and who prays for me. I love reading text messages making sure I already had my lunch, and reminding me to bring my umbrella. I love having someone who shares with me the same amount of excitement as we count the last few days before our anniversary. I love having someone I share my dreams with.

Writing this entry actually made me realize that there are a lot more I am grateful for. I cannot fit all of them in this entry, but I am holding on to them to keep every day a happy day!

There is never an easy journey. I’d bet a million dollars (even though I don’t have that kind of money :D ) that even relationship experts go through difficult situations with the people they love. It will always take patient and loving hearts to get through relationship storms, may it be friendly or romantic.

Spread the love! Happy heart’s!

-A (021513/7:20PM)