J: The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel

The long hiatus is over!! And, it's time to share what I've been up to for the last few months. 

Well, for a start, I found a new job and that's what's keeping me super busy. But, I never fell short on adventures and social life. Let me begin my series of stories by sharing with you a movie I recently watched and basically changed how I see India, optimism and love, "The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel"

The movie is about a group of retired people from different walks of life, with different stories and somehow escaping from something. They all received an email from a very optimistic young Indian hotel/retirement home owner, offering them to stay there for free, all expense paid. And, when they get to India, everything that they expected came crumbling down and they found out things about themselves they never knew existed and one of them revisited his past and he proves how true love can transcend time, distance, culture, age and even gender. I love the twist of the story and how their lives suddenly changed; from being just plain comfortable to complicated yet fulfilling lives. 

They went through all the the hustles and bustles of India, adapted to their culture, which is very different from theirs, accepted their differences and found what true love really means. 

Let me share a gist of the story of the two main characters that really hit me straight to the heart. 

The first one went to India to find a new purpose in life after her husband died. And, she found a new job that made her realize that her purpose wasn't really lost and that her age is never a hindrance to continue her dream. And that it is never too late or nobody is ever too old to fall in love again. 

The second main character is a judge who once lived in India and found his true live there but the country's culture got in the way and forced him to go back to his country and never got the chance to ho back there until now. His search for his true love was quite a journey and when they met it felt like they were not separated even just for a day, they talked, explained things and forgive each other. They proved that no matter what other people say, it can never stop a true love's beating heart. 

I would love to go on and on about every detail of this movie, but I don't think that would be fair, because I want all of you to experience the love and joy that I experienced whenever I watch it. I hope this movie touches your heart the same way it touched and warmed mine. This movie is all about love, hope and second chances, and don't we all need to see that unfold every once in a while?

And, to borrow a very inspiring line from the movie, "Everything will be alright in the end; if it's not alright, it's not yet the end."

Enjoy! 

-J

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

J: I’ve got to go…AGAIN! + Basic packing tips for long haul flights!

How time flies! It feels like I just came back home (from Qatar) yesterday, and now it's time to leave The Philippines again. But I can't say I am not excited to leave, I am very thrilled, and I cannot wait to get the hell out of here!

Don’t get me wrong, I love coming home to the Philippines, but I am always excited to go back to Doha every time, mainly because my mom is there and it is there where our family can be complete. I have said this before; Doha feels more like my home now. It doesn't matter which country we're in, what's most important is that we're (physically) together. For me, that's all that matters.

We came home December 2012 for the holidays and also for the renewal of vows of my mom and dad. They just celebrated their silver wedding anniversary! That was really exciting not just for me, but for the whole family as well. Valentine’s Day came on a December for us ;)

March is just around the corner, but before that 9-hour flight to Doha, my dilemma is always how to fit my things in my luggage, haha! I’m a lady and travelling light is a huge problem for me! But years of going back and forth from Doha to the Philippines has taught me a thing or two when it comes to packing my stuff properly and these techniques, I am going to share with all of you. Say goodbye to the troubles of packing the wrong way.

For my Clothes:  I never fold my clothes, I roll them. With this, I can fill the space of my luggage more efficiently and then layer them. This means I can fit more clothes in, and then just fold my jeans and delicates then lay it over after.

I normally have tops and dresses that has a sheer and cotton material so it's easier to roll. But this trick does not apply for jeans or sweaters because these are too thick, it might take up more space when rolled, so it's much better to fold them and lay them over the rolled clothings.

After a few layers of rolled clothes, this is how your luggage should look like! Very compact and efficient.

For my Shoes: The last time we went to Doha, I weas literally in tears while I bid adieu to some of my shoes. But then, I am not planning to go through all that this time. I decided to pre-select what shoes to bring and then put them in a hygienic plastic wrap so I can squeeze them in my luggage and then some on my carry-on bag. ;)

I got this vacuum storage bag kit from Avon. I love it because it's super sealed and it allows the shoes to be mixed with my clean clothes.

For my Make-Up and Fragrances: I have a small hard case luggage for my makeup and perfumes, because I am more convinced that nothing bad will happen to my makeup when they’re in a tough luggage, haha! But I don’t just throw them in there, I also wrap them in a bubble wrap, because I am OC like that and to prevent leakages for the liquid and cream ones, it’s also a perfect excuse to play with those bubble wraps. ;)



I have a small luggage for my makeup, brushes, fragrances and some pieces of clothings and delicates

For my Brushes: I’ve got tons of makeup brushes at this point and I pack them a little different. I put brush guards on them to protect their bristles and then put them in a separate pouch to keep them safe because they’re like my babies and quite pricey as well! So better keep them safe, right? ;)

I got the brush guards from Suesh Makeup Toolkit and the pouch came free with the Suesh Smokey Eye Brush Kit.

For my Gadgets: I always try to bring my gadgets in my carry-on luggage but they can be too bulky, like my DSLR or my hair dryer, so I put them in my check-in luggage. I strategically put them in between clothes so they’re quite snuggled in, because we know how rough the luggage handling in the airports could be.

Among my gadgets, My DSLR and my Laptop are the most bulky. I tend to squeeze my DSLR inside my luggage or let someone else carry it for me. As with my other little gadgets, I put them in my shoulder bag :)

For the Pasalubong/Baon: My aunts/uncles and grandmas always make sure that I bring a slice of home as a pasalubong to my inay. This means tons of Goldilocks polvoron, dried mangoes,  pastillas, etc. I usually just let them do the packing for these yummy treats, and how they usually do it is by the "classic" way; wrapping them whole with packaging tape and then squeeze them in our luggage. Believe me, it works all the time! ;) The pasalubong are the last ones to get inside the luggage. :)

The very yummy pastillas

Giving the classic polvoron to anyone we know that's leaving the country is almost like a tradition in our family. It's a staple pasalubong or pabaon.

Banquet of all sorts of native knick knacks

And that is it for now. If you’re travelling anytime soon, I hope this helped and enjoy! :)

-J




Photo Sources:
http://sartoriography.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/04_rolling-clothes.jpg
http://www.prolificliving.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/Folding_Clothes_in_Luggage.jpg

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)