A: 5 FRIENDSHIP HIGHLIGHTS with BEBI J (more photos to be uploaded on the update) :)

Okay, so the original scheduled topic was for me to write things I know about bebi J that maybe most of you don’t know yet. I think it was a nice idea. But the only problem is I already did that on my blog entry on her birthday week, remember “SHE’S ALL THAT”? I know I can go ahead and just list some other facts about her, but instead, I’d just like to highlight the (currently) top 5 most memorable moments of our friendship. How his crazy friendship started, the most fun moments in between, and how I have come to consider the friendship I share with her as the “best”.

As most of you may already know, bebi J knew each other since we were freshies in college. Well, I can say we were more of acquaintances then than friends. We never really did share any “special moments” during those times. But the things that happened during the latter part of our freshman year and the beginning of our sophomore years led into two crazy unica hijas to become closer than they ever thought they would be! 

1.      Harbour Square

It all started here. A couple of drinks with Jaz (I used to address her with her nickname before I started calling her “Bebi J”) and another friend gave birth to a really special friendship. The things we talked about, the seats we took, even the bar we went to are all very vague to me now, but I do remember how much we laughed, how long we all just sat there and talked, and how much fun we had. And this bonding started the “bebis”. I became bebi A, Jaz became bebi J, and another friend became bebi G. I think it was the work of the jejemon inside all of us! Haha! But I remember these "bebi" names were from me, so does that make me the most jejemon of the three? Hahaha!

It was that night that showed me the crazy, hilarious, and fun side of bebi J, and that makes me so glad I went out with them. I wouldn’t be friends with her if she was dull, or so proper, and all goodgy goody anyway. Haha!

Harbour Square is a compound of bars, restaurants, and coffee shops at Roxas Boulevard, Manila Philippines. It's really relax aura makes it a good place to hang out and chill with friends. If you're lucky, you may also find yourself shopping in the bazaars that from time to time are set up in the area.

2.      Enchanted Kingdom

It’s not only magic that’s here. For me, it’s also fun, friendship, and good memories. I honestly have a smile on my face right now as I type this. So many really funny memories are rushing in. I’ve visited this amusement park 7 times too many, and nothing would compare to the time I visited it with bebi J with our friends from an organization in college.

I am not one you can take to amusement parks and expect to make the most out of the entrance fee. That is simply because I do not really like extreme rides, I’ve never been on one. The most extreme I’ve tried was EK’s Jungle Log Jam and that was with bebi J and another friend. I remember how scared we all were, but I most specially remember how much we laughed while in the ride.

We were all crazy scared about the ride, and we were caught off guard on our first fall. We knew there was going to be a second and bigger one next, so we anticipated and encouraged each other to scream to let out the scary feeling. We did attempt to do it, but we somehow lost our voices and breaths halfway and ended up screaming after our ride has landed. Hahahaha! It’s not as funny when I type it here as it actually is being there, but I guess you'd need to bring a crazy friend with you and ride in an extreme ride for you to find out how it would feel. 

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Enchanted Kingdom is an amusement park located at Sta. Rosa, Laguna. It has been long considered as the Philippines’ Disneyland. Though it may not have Mickey, Minney, and the rest of the gang, it does have lots of rides you can choose from. They cater to the extreme ride enthusiasts, children, and even those who prefer it "safe" since they are positive they would pee halfway if you put them in any free-falling ride.

3.      David’s Salon (ExcelLANCE 2008)

Now, had today been 2008, I wouldn’t even think about including this in my entry. And since it's already 2013, I don’t think bebi J would hate me anymore if I share this to the world. And to her mom, tita Ning, bebi J didn’t mean to do it. She was a good student. :D

Bebi J and I were too concerned about our look for this annually-held awards night of our department in college that we went to a Salon to have our hair and make up done on EXAMS WEEK. I wasn't worried at all because I already took all my examinations then, she, however, still had one left; English. We both thought that since the people who would attend to us are pros, we’d be done in no time. We have not been so wrong. Well, the person who attended to me was quite fast, but it was a different story for bebi J. It took her I think about an hour and a half longer for the person who attended to her finish her loose curls. I can remember the look on her face as she almost every minute checked her phone for the time. She was going to be late for exam, she was positive about that. But she still hoped that she will be able to take the examination.

We rushed back to campus right after we paid for the rather disappointing service we had been offered, and yes, she was 30 minutes too late for her exams. And yes, she didn’t get to take it. So after a few minutes of breaking down and wondering how the future would look like for her now that she missed to take one exam because of some lousy locks, she decided she's just going to make the most out of her pretty hair. We then prepped and enjoyed the night.

Disclaimer: This is my opinion about the service given to us. I’m sure some other people would love to go back to David’s Salon for their service. Just not us.

Note: And also, bebi J was allowed to take special examinations! Yaaay!

4.      The filming of Lihim ng Dapit Hapon

Now I think it’s not just our friendship that grew stronger during this period. We made really good friends with many other people while filming this short film. I see this as one of the highlights of my friendship with bebi J because making an indie film is not at all easy, but getting to work with a friend who also is very responsible and hard working lessens the pressure and stress on the set. She was tasked to handle the wardrobe, hair and make-up of our stars and she did just that flawlessly. She was very coordinated and was always on time. She made sure she kept track of what was going on and was aware of what was needed to be done next. I guess, I can say, I saw the grown up and professional side of my best friend during the 3 days of filming.

Can you spot bebi J?

Lihim ng Dapit Hapon is a short film written and filmed by 4th year AB Communication Arts students of Colegio De San Juan De Letran Manila (Philippines) as part of their final examination for film class. The story is about a guy who has deep affection for a woman who can never look at him the same way. Their love story will shock anyone who will watch the film.

5.      The making of BLAAAH

I have always wanted to start my own blog account, but never really tried to create one. Until one afternoon, I told bebi J that I think it’s a cool idea if we can start a joint blog account. And she agreed! It was a really funny, creative-juice-draining, and even scary month of preparation we had. We would talk almost for an entire day just to try to come up with a name to call our account. And just for you to have an idea what kind of crazy stupid ideas we came up with, here are some of the names I can still recall:

>     Pizzaz gurlz (from bebi J’s mom)

>     The bestfriends code

>     She said she said

>     What best friends know

>     Autonomous Region

>     Our autonomous region

>     Our autonomous region of Muslim Mindanao (Hahahahahaha! If you don’t get it, then you’re probably not from the Philippines. But just FYI not trying to make fun of any group of provinces nor religion. )

>     BLAAAAAAH

Now after I think two weeks of trying to figure out what we will call ourselves, we went into planning what topics to write. What is the tone of our blog entries, which topics we can and cannot discuss. And now, you are reading mine! :)

I have not yet even included that time when bebi J had too much to drink on a night out with girl friends that when we got back to our dormitory, she wouldn’t stop talking about this particular guy. And she really hated that guy! Well, at least when she's sober. Haha! Or that time when we skipped classes just to well, slack around and do nothing. Or that time when I flooded our entire dormitory with water. Well, not so much fun, but still, an experience. 

I guess what I am trying to say is that I am really happy and blessed that I have spent all my years in college with her. All the trials, the hardships, the happy times, the i-am-so-near-to-selling-my-roommate moments, and all the crazy times. She has made me the crazier person I am now. Haha! And I thank her for that.

And I do agree with what she wrote about me not being her best friend. That bitch isn’t my best friend too! Haha! She really is my sister. We may argue, bitch out on each other, disagree strongly on so many things, but in the end, we still love each other.

- Spread the love! - A!

A: How I made the most out of my vacay in the Philippines!

If thinking happy thoughts would really make you fly, then am pretty sure I would’ve been up in the air after I booked our flight going to the Philippines. I have gone back home twice since I started working abroad, and the amount of excitement coming home is the same if not even greater this time.

I had everything planned right away. Well, I can say that the "planning"  part is easy; you choose the dates, book flights, buy pasalubong, and pack your bags. It's  making the most out of my limited time back home that gets quite challenging. But having learned many lessons from my first trip back home, I now know the to-dos and not-to-dos when coming home for a vacay. 

So many loved ones, so little time? Not anymore. Here are some tips on how you can maximize your time when visiting home:

Tip #1: Make a schedule

Coordinate with people you want to meet. Create a time table for all the meet-ups you will have, and this should include the place. 

If you are going out with a group of people, make sure everyone is aware of and have agreed to the date and time of meet-up, this way there will be no room for sudden changes in plans.  If you have a group of friends who prefer to chit chat while eating, and another group who prefers to do just the same but over a couple of drinks, then set a lunch date with the former, and a dinner date with the latter. With schedules starting quite late, you can even inject some shopping time in the morning. Find those filipino goods you missed while you were away from home. 


Tip #2: Too much of anything is bad

Unless you are meeting friends over their 1-hour lunch break, then the tendencies are you all would want to stay and chitchat longer and enjoy more food or more drinks. And this is why it is not advisable to schedule a meet-up with three different groups of people in a single day. The last thing you want to do is check on your watch every minute and worry that your other friends might already be waiting for you.


Tip #3: Location location location!

Ask your different sets of friends to meet you in places that are near each other.  This gives you enough time to enjoy every second you have with your first “date” and not worry that there could be heavy traffic on your way to your next meeting place.

Plus, I bet the people you will want to meet are your really close friends, and with that being the case, am sure they’d be willing to compromise. 


Tip #4: Take the level of drunkenness to a 0!

Remember that time when you went out drinking with friends, you had so much fun you downed all the alcoholic drinks you got your hands on? Then the following morning you woke up perfectly fine, all energetic, and ready to go malling? Yeah, neither do I.

We all know how bad hangovers can get after a night of all-out partying. And although letting lose with friends can be a lot of fun, it will not be so entertaining while you try to drag yourself in to the bathroom so that you can start preparing for another day out with friends. It also can be heartbreaking when you know you will not get to leave the house because you're still dizzy from last night's drinkathon and you cannot leave your bed.

Depending on your alcohol tolerance, a couple of bottles should be okay. None of us wants to be that KJ (kill joy) balikbayan who only wanted iced tea, right? Have a good time, but make sure you will still be strong enough, if not sober enough for the following day's agenda. 


Tip #5: Always be on time

It’s simple, if you get to your first schedule on time, then the chances of you becoming late on your next meet-up is very small. If you really want to spend enough time with people you want to see, then you should stick strictly to your schedule.
 
These are the tricks that worked for me on my last trip in the Philippines.We would also love to hear how you make the most out of your time when you go back home or when you visit places. Please feel free to share them with us on the comment box below.

Now this is the part that I'm excited about the most. This is how it all went down during my 7-day vacation in my country.

HELLO PHILIPPINES!

Flight back home: We booked the 1:20AM / February 7, 2013 flight and we were happy that we landed on time. Smooth flight and comfy seats. Thank you, CEBU PACIFIC!


Day 1 / Feb.7.2013 Thursday:

Sunrise!

Our first stop was of course, at that fast food chain with a red-and-yellow-striped bee! :D Popo’s mom and dad had no idea he was coming home, so needless to say, they were both surprised to see us early morning in their house, with Jollibee breakfast meals!

Teatime!

We went to SM Mall Of Asia (MOA) later that afternoon and did a little shopping. Oh I missed looking at that globe. We also finished what needed to be done at BDO. They really find ways! Special thanks to Mr. Ryan Bautista.

All the walking got us tired. How about some merienda? RAZON’s! Ooohh you got to love their halo-halo!

Sunset!

And of course, what better way to end our first day back home but by having dinner with our families at Seaside Dampa! Julie’s Ihaw-ihaw provided a wide variety of grilled meals and all-Pinoy dishes. We savoured their Sinigang na hipon, buttered shrimp, ensaladang mangga, baked tahong, grilled liempo, and calamari. Oooohh just typing these meals makes me hungry. And for dessert? The White Hat Italian fro yo and Chatime milk tea!

Day 2 / Feb.8.2013 Friday:

Sunrise! 

I woke up Friday morning feeling really happy. I'M HOME, B%^#CHES! :D For breakfast, mom bought some creamy pandesal.Yuuuummm! I started to finally unload the things inside my luggage before I prepped for another day of gala.

Teatime!

We made sure we pay our "college mommy" a visit. We stayed for a couple of hours, and just did some catching up over ice cream and juice. Haha! Here's our photo with our mommy Chil in Letran. Love her!


Sunset!

After Letran, I went straight to Greenbelt to meet my drop dead gorgeous high school girl friends. We enjoyed our dinner at Gerry's Grill Greenbelt 3. Our dinner was followed by a few bottles of beer, and then some coffee. I have never, in years, laughed so hard, and had much fun as I had with them. We met around 8PM and were in Greenbelt area until 3AM. I am crazy about these girls!  

(Notice that I changed my outfit? I met my mom at Glorietta first and bought a different top before I went to see my girls. Haha! I can’t help it.)

 
Day 3 / Feb.9.2013 Saturday:

Sunrise!

Usually, I get grumpy when I only get 3 hours of sleep, but not this time. I got home from my Fridate past 4 in the morning, slept around 5:30, and I was up prepping around 8:15.

I visited some some friends from my previous work in Mandaluyong. It felt weird to wear a visitor's ID. Haha! We headed to Hap Chan after some chikahan in the office. :) 

Teatime!

I spent the entire afternoon with another close friend, my ate Tine. I enjoyed this part of the day so much. We had so much catching up to do, and we did that over shopping. Even more fun huh? I got to buy so many items for very reasonable prices, all thanks to Fashion Market at Market! Market! If you live near the mall’s area, you should drop by and visit their four floors of all-affordable goodies; native delicacies, clothes, gift items, house displays, and furniture. You can find many nice items with good quality, and practice your bargaining skills at the same time! 

Sunset!

My amigang Yka would have seriously demanded we go to a bar in Timog had I not explained to her I really have somewhere I need to be early morning the following day. Haha! She loves me! So instead, we enjoyed dinner and a few bottles of beer at Giligans Glorietta 5.

I have one question though, Giligans. WHAT THE HELL HAPPENED? We had this old metal table that leaned to the side and wobbled. So you can just imagine how careful we tried to be when pouring pork sinigang in our bowls. The place was dead quiet. It was nothing like how it was before. 

Good thing the girls I was with were anything but boring. I love these girls, and I will always have a day/night dedicated to being with them when back home. It's funny how we "attacked" the mangga't bagoong served to us? Hahahaha!

Day 4 / Feb.10.2013 Sunday:

Sunrise / Teatime! 

We were at Jollibee SLEX a few minutes after the sun rose on my 4th day home. After munching in on our breakfast meals, we were back on the road. Next stop: Tiaong, Quezon; home of the Dipasupils!

My lola (grandmother), native chicken, and fruits picked from our trees backyard, are just some of the many reasons why I always visit Tiaong.

 
Sunset!

And as if we haven't had enough Chinese food in Singapore, dinner at Chowking! Well, Popo and I still enjoy Chinese food cooked the Filipino way.

Day 5 / Feb.11.2013 Monday:

Sunrise / Teatime!

Remember our first joint entry? That would fall under this day. Bebi J and I spiced up our Monday.

Photo taken at Conti's Greenbelt 2. Love that Mango Bravo!

 
Sunset!

With my college/org friends that night for some good old peer bonding.

Day 6 / Feb.11.2013 Tuesday:

This day is specially for my mom. I really miss going shopping with her, so this day is for some mother-daughter bonding.   

Sunrise!

Photo not taken in the Philippines. Just wanted to show you my mom! Haha!

We went back to Market! Market! and shopped a little, then waited for my cousin, kuya Joel before going to Max’s for our (late) lunch. 



 
Teatime!

With time still in our control, we went back home first to drop all the things we bought and freshen up before leaving again for Makati.

Sunset!

It was our last night in the Philippines. After buying all we needed at SM Makati, we headed to Conti’s Greenbelt 2 for our family dinner.

Day 7 / Feb.13.2013 Wednesday:

Ensaymada, caramel bars, happy peanuts, dragon sid, Oishi Cracklings, Tomi sweetcorn, sour sampaloc, and some processed goods. Yes, our bags are packed. Bound for Singapore.

- A (02.24.13/11:00PM)

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)