What is cute?

Dahil sa batang ‘to, nabigyan ng bagong meaning ang name na “Jeorge” para sa akin:

Ngayon, ang definition ko ng “Jeorge” ay cute. And happiness! Jeorge is now in grade three. Actually di ko maalala kung papano ko sila nameet ng parents nya eh. Basta ang alam ko, cute sya ever since. Medyo maliit na bata si Jeorge, so double ang cuteness. Siguro kaya hindi rin ako madalas magalit sa kanya at sa mga kasama nya, kasi cute nga syang bata. Tsaka masunurin yan, ang hindi lang nya kayang gawin eh bigyan ako ng kiss. When he was still in grade two, magtatago pa yan sa ilalim ng table para lang makaiwas sa kiss. Pumayag na rin sya sa kiss sa cheek eventually, nung nag-offer na ako ng Milo. Oportunistang bata! Hahahaha. Well, sulit naman ang P12 ko.

Jeorge’s mom told me that he would cry pag nag-aaral sila. Well I guess it’s a good thing that I’ve never really seen him cry when he’s with me. Medyo frustrated lang sya minsan, lalo na kapag mahirap na mahirap yung lesson, pero kinakaya naman. He doesn’t like Math, but he’s trying.

Kanina, I greeted him an advanced happy birthday. Tapos nagtanong sya kung anong gift ko sa kanya. Edi sabi ko, “It’s not a toy, but when I saw it, it was like I saw you.”

Surprise na lang muna! I also want to see how Jeorge will react when he opens his gift. Niloloko kasi namin sya, sabi ko ang regalo ko sa kanya ay leeg. Heehee. Happy birthday Jeorgie Porgiiieeeee!

♥ Ate Imma

I’ve Heard it Said That People Come into Our Lives for a Reason

I forgot to post this last January 18, na birthday talaga ni Sir Alan. Huli man daw at magaling, naihahabol pa rin.

Two of the most beautiful people (both inside and out) I’ve met in my life: Diane and Alan Reyes. Parang Juday at Ryan Agoncillo na 40 year old version lang diba. Well, si Sir Alan papayag yun na kamukha nya si Ryan, dahil look alike naman nya talaga. Pero malamang sipain ako ni ma’am.

“I’ve heard it said that people come into our lives for a reason. Bringing something we must learn and we are lead to those who help us most to grow if we let them and we help them in return. Well, I don’t know if I believe that’s true. But I know I’m who I am today because I knew you. Like a comet pulled from orbit as it passes a sun; like a stream that meets a boulder halfway through the world. Who can say if I’ve been changed for the better? But because I knew you, I have been changed for good.” — For Good, Wicked.

I’ve posted entries before about the Alan Reyes who changed my life. Yes, I sound cheesy at madrama. But really, I will never run out of ways to thank the person who has made my life better. In an interview, Ruby Rodriguez said that it was Vic Sotto who pulled her into show business, closed the door and sealed the deal for her. Well, Ruby has Vic and I have Sir Alan. Last year, I told him that I was going to hold summer classes for some students. I told him that the bulk of the materials that we were going to use for the course would come from me, my brain farts basically. I told him that if it weren’t for him, I wouldn’t have such a nice job. His reply? “I only opened the door. You did it all by yourself. Your Reyes Family is proud of you.” Tears!

Sir Alan, you probably know this already, but the love and gratitude in my heart is overflowing for you and your family. Belated happy birthday!

♥ Dyosaimma

Chris Tiu as Boy Chicha. What?

I’ve had the biggest crush on Chris Tiu since 2006. Kung lalapitan ako ni Chris Tiu at magiging friends kami, malaking kasalanan man ang gawan sya ng masama, pero patawarin na ako ng langit dahil talagang hindi ko maipapangakong mapipigilan ko ang sarili kong hindi sya tikman. Magkukunwari pa ba akong hindi yan ang gusto ko? Hahahaha. Hindi ako ganon.

Dahil isa akong normal na babae, nahuhumaling ako kay Christ Tiu. Lahat na yata nasa kanya. Except hosting skills. Nakakainis sya mag host, try nyong panoorin minsan. Once lang ha. Baka mabato nyo TV nyo pag second na eh.

Last Friday, he was in Bubble Gang. Kasama sya sa Boy Pick Up. Akala ko joke eh. Hindi pala. Here’s the proof:

 

Lahat na lang dinadaan sa pagiging pogi nitong si Chris Tiu eh. Bwiset.

♥ Dyosaimma

The Book Launch That Ended All Book Launches

 After more than five hours of waiting, we finally had our books signed by Chico and Delamar! Spell fan girl and fan boy, please.

Well we didn’t technically wait, as in tumunganga at naghintay until our numbers were called. Umikot-ikot din naman kami. I lost my sim card before the book launch, actually. Hohohoho so unfortunate, pero I guess ok na rin. When I lose something, iniisip ko na lang na yun na lang yung nawala instead na malaking bagay. To make myself feel better, I guess. Oh well. Oh. We waited for more than five hours because the people who attended the book launch were asked to register, tapos binigyan ng number. We got numbers 435 and 436. A few minutes after we got out numbers, tsaka inannounce na hanggang 450 lang ang i-a-accommodate, masyado na rin kasing maraming tao, hindi kakayanin nila Chico at Delamar. Oha oha. Buti umabot pa! Hahahaha. Nakakaloka. Paikot-ikot na lang kami sa Robinson’s Galleria. We waited because we didn’t want to go home empty handed. Sayang naman pinunta namin dun diba.

Here’s how the activity center looked from the 4th floor of Robinson’s Galleria: At ito naman ang inatupag namin habang naghihintay na tawagin ang numbers 431-440:  Actually marami pa yan. Kulitin ko yung poging may ari ng camera na i-upload lahat. Hihi. Halata bang stressed dahil nawalan ng sim card at naghintay ng more than five hours? Hindi naman diba? DIBAAAAA. Thank you Lord, for making us cute. Mukha man kaming nanay at tatay, salamat pa rin dahil cute kami. At thank you rin dahil nakapagpa-sign kami ng books namin. At least we didn’t go home empty handed.

Siguro hindi lang talaga namin teritoryo ang Robinson’s Galleria no? Oh well. At least we were able to get what we wanted, which is to have our books signed. We were so stressed by dinner time and we really wanted to go somewhere nice, so fly kami sa Katipunan. Wheeee. Toxic lang talaga forever sa lugar na yun sa parking, pero with the things that we had to endure for that day, ok lang yung parking. Sanay na rin ako. Batang Diliman eh! Keri ko ang Katipunan, bow.

Guess where this is: (Feel na feel kong may nagbabasa at may huhula.)

And then we had pie here:

Kung may rewards card ang Banapple, sure ball marami na kaming na-earn na points. Weekly kami kung bumisita eh. Sabi ko nga kanina while we were stuck in traffic along White Plains, “Happy place natin yung Banapple eh.” Medyo fail yung Banapple apple pie kanina, but I will talk about it in another post.

To be really honest, this day is tiring and a bit stressful. It started out really good though kasi I was able to do a lot of things sa work nung umaga. And then I lost my sim and then we had to wait for hours. Pero kahit toxic, okay lang. Chico and Del signed books for more than five hours too and they did not complain. They kept on smiling the whole time and they were game for pictures. Maybe they just couldn’t help it–sanay na sanay na silang napapasaya kami tuwing umaga diba? I guess the official launch of The Morning Rush book is really the book launch to end all book launches. Wheeee!

The Morning Rush can be heard at RX 93.1 from Monday to Friday, from 6 to 10AM. Yes, the DJ’s are crazy and they will make you feel normal. Listen, gooo!

♥ Dyosaimma

How I Got Garlic and Sapphires

A few weeks ago, this happened on Twitter:

I was only able to get the book this morning. I didn’t drive to work today para ma-claim ko na rin yung book. (Hassle kasi sa parking pag may kotse, so di ko madaanan.)

It had my name on it when I got it. I removed it agad kasi I intended to read the book habang nasa jeep. Wheeee. Nakakakilig!

But wait, there’s more!!

Sulat pa lang, na-starstruck ako. Sakit ko na yata yun. Well anyway, thank you to Paul Santos, aka Unlawyer, for the book. I love books. Kapantay nya ang boys para sa akin. (Chos.) So getting a free book is really a big deal to me. Actually, pinakagusto ko pag nireregaluhan ako ng book. Again, salamat!

♥ Dyosaimma

What are You Doing New Year’s Eve? WHAAAAT?

I saw this while I was wasting my time with Patty Laurel:

I died. Dahil sa kilig. Pero nabuhay din ako agad, dahil rin sa kilig. Hihi. Chinese New Year naman diba? Pwede pa ring pakinggan ‘to at namnamin ang message.

Oh dear Lord. Thank you for Zoey Deschanel and Joseph Gordon Levitt. Maraming salamat dahil ginawa nyo silang nakakakilig tingnan pag magkasama sila.

♥ Dyosaimma

This Month in Books (Part One)

The Bobbi Brown Makeup Manual + Malcolm Gladwell’s The Tipping Point. Both bought at Fully Booked with my Fully Booked card, which entitles me to a 10% discount. I got a bigger discount with the Bobbi Brown book though. Nakalimutan ko na kung bakit. Basta mura yan. Hihi. (Insert: How I wish the iPod Touch had a better camera. Huhuhuhu.)

Most makeup enthusiasts would probably tell you that the Bobbi Brown Makeup Manual is one of the most comprehensive guides for makeup and all that shiz. It has almost everything, from skin care to which types of eyeshadow formula would work for Asian eyes. Yes, may ganong chenes. With the first chapters of the book (na tungkol nga lahat sa proper skin care) ang dami ko agad napulot. I think it’s nice that Bobbi, yes close kami, started with that kasi totoo namang kahit ang pinakamagandang foundation in the world pa ang gamitin mo, balewala rin kung puro ka naman pimples underneath. She also stressed how bad smoking is for the skin–I love you, Bobbi Brown. Though akala ko talaga dati, lalake si Bobbi Brown. Bobbi eh, tapos Brown pa. Malay ko ba sa makeup, wala naman akong makeup funds dati kaya hindi ko inaatupag. Anyway, the Bobbi Brown Makeup Manual is a good buy for girls. Fine, women. It has almost everything–makeup tools, how to cover eye bags, how to fight a “bad face day” etc. Akalain nyo, may bad face day pala.

The Tipping Point is also informative. It’s a good read, pero hindi sya good buy. I’ve read it twice because I’m taking notes, as in I have a notebook for it ha. Bakit? Kasi feeling ko nagbabasa ako ng handouts assigned by a professor for a class discussion and a long exam. It’s basically a compilation of stories na iisa ang tumbok: how little things can make a big difference. I bought the book more than two years ago, I think, but I decided to read it again this month because I need more information for a project that I will be working on this June–yes, it has something to do with business. Kumikitang kabuhayan, mga ate, mga kuya. Malcolm Gladwell’s The Tipping Point is not only for business people though, I’ve said that it’s a good read in the sense na ang daming pwedeng matutunan about how people respond to trends–in short, it’s about the best way kung papano mapansin, kung anong kelangan, kung ano dapat etc. Yun nga lang, I don’t think pwedeng i-apply sa love life at panglalandi ang principles sa Tipping Point. Unless dream mong ma-in love sayo ang lahat ng tao sa barangay nyo.

O siguro medyo fun din yung buong barangay naglalaway sayo paglabas mo ng bahay. Maybe it’d be a good idea to use the makeup tips from Bobbi Brown and the papansin tips from The Tipping Point. Now I have a project! I need volunteers!

♥ Dyosaimma

The Goody Ouchless Flex

Medyo mahaba na ang hair ko–literally. Pinahaba ko talaga, para na rin I can play with it more. Ang target ko ay soft curlsss. Sana ma-achieve soon! It’s time to say a bonggang hello to Watercolors Salon. Hello!

At dahil medyo mahaba na nga ang hair ko, I decided that it was time to buy some tools:

This is the “small” version of the Goody Ouchless Flex, which retails for P399.75. Goody products are very easy to find, I think they’re available in leading department stores at my dedicated section pa ang department stores para sa Goody. Yes, their products are more expensive than other hair tools, but Goody is Goody.

Anyway, this small Ouchless Flex is very easy to use. Though dahil sa sobrang kapal ng buhok ko, pang half-pony tail lang sya sa akin. I have smooth hair and with other hair clips, madaling mawala yung ayos ng buhok. The Goody Ouchless Flex holds my hair well.  Sulit na. Tsaka mapipilitan ka pang ingatan yung panali mo sa buhok kasi hindi mura. O diba, na-te-train pa maging maingat sa gamit.

Ang Goody Ouchless Flex ay ouchless talaga sa buhok at sa pag-gamit. Ang konting ouch ay napupunta sa bulsa. Heehee.

♥ Dyosaimma

Another Happy Food Saturday. Heehee.

After dropping off Mama Daku (lola ko), my aunt, nephew and niece, our next destination was Tiendesitas. I went to Tiendesitas around three to four years ago, I can’t really recall. I can remember calling it as a sosyal tiangge place. I didn’t think there was anything special about it, pero hindi rin naman sya pangit. I just don’t think it’s something that I should hype about. Sorry sa mga Tiendesitas fans dyan ha.

So last night, since it was on the way, we decided to drop by. It’s my first time to visit Tiendesitas at dinner time and I had no idea that it’d be so noisy. Siguro hindi lang namin feel talaga yung ingay at yung environment na inabutan namin. Most of the food stalls had grilled food–Tiendesitas is basically an inuman hub at night. It’s a good place for birthday salubongs and those “let’s go and numb the pain of our miserable lives” inuman sessions with friends. So konting ikot-ikot ang ginawa namin and then we later decided to look for a more quiet place to eat.

Buti na lang we didn’t settle for the inuman hub! Hahahaha. We had these for dinner:

Puttanesca + family platter + chef salad from A Venetto in SM Supercenter Pasig. Bago ang judgements, hindi namin naubos yung food. BEH! Every time we’d eat in A Venetto, I would really ask Dremon if we can order the family platter. Ganito lagi usapan:

Me: Family plaaaaattuuuuuurrrrr!

Dremon: Ang dami nun, hindi natin mauubos.

Me: Family plaaaaattuuuuurrrrr!

Dremon: Dalawa lang tayo, dapat family yun kasi family platter nga.

Me: Family plaaaaattuuuuurrrrr!

Dremon: Marami nga yun. Hindi natin kayang ubusin.

Me: Fine.

 

Last night, walang ganyang usapan. Pinagbigyan na rin ako ni Dremon, yay! True enough, hindi namin naubos yung family platter, dalawa lang kami eh. Hindi rin naman kami matakaw. (Kidlat!) Na-realize na lang naming ang dami pala naming inorder nung nandun na lahat sa table. Again, hindi namin yan naubos. Ang daming take home, okay. Don’t judge. Thanks.

A Venetto is the place that we always go to whenever we’re craving for something Italian. Plus I love celebrating birthdays in A Venetto (Visayas Avenue branch) because the people there are really nice, tapos hindi pa sila nagagalit kahit gaano kayo kaingay. Wala pang service charge! Oha. For A Venetto virgins out there, I highly suggest that you visit A Venetto as a group, siguro around four to five people ok na, para mas sulit. Their pasta dishes are so tasty and the servings are generous. Their pizza is also really good–not too greasy and not too pricey. Again, visit A Venetto in groups, mas sulit. Tsaka masarap lagi ang kwentuhan sa A Venetto. With good food comes good stories and a lot of laughs.

Pagkatapos ng dinner, syempre kailangang ma-burn ang calories kasi mahirap na kung tumaba diba. Paano na ang figure? HAHAHAHA AS IF. Konting ikot lang kami sa Silver City (na hindi silver) at sa SM Supercenter. We also tried a peanut butter empanada, na sayang lang sa pera! Huhuhuhu. Sayang yung P19 because the empanada was too dry. SM Supercenter is nice ha, in fairness. Hindi kasi chaotic. Well, maliit lang naman kasi sya tsaka ang daming pwedeng puntahan sa Frontera Verde area.

I craved for iced tea so we made a quick stop sa aming forever happy place: Banapple! Kailangan din kasi naming bumili ng pie, para alay sa bahay. You know, para hindi kami pagalitan ng mga nanay namin. (Tip: Kung uuwi ng medyo gabi, magdala ng masarap na pagkain. Pangontra sa inis ng mga magulang yan.) Kaso nagkaroon ng konting change of plans kasi nakita kong available pa ‘to:

So yung take out na tuna pies at Banapple home made iced tea, nadagdagan ng isang slice ng Yo-Ho-Hope Cheesecake. Sa sobrang tuwa ko, sabi ko kay ate sa counter, “Miss tsaka isang slice ng Yo-Ho-Hope.” SMILE.

We were surprised with the Yo-Ho-Hope Cheesecake, actually. Parang hindi cheesecake eh, para syang malaking brownie na may pecan nuts na lasang pili, dahil candied. Masarap naman, kaya lang nagulat kami. It’s worth giving a try, habang available pa. Since it was kinda late already, we couldn’t really stay in Banapple to eat the cake, so we ate in the car. Something magical happened–hindi kami natraffic. Hindi rin namin inabutang red ang stoplight. Evaaaar. Napakachallenging palang kumain ng cake habang tumatakbo kayo ng 60-80kph along Katipunan at Elliptical Road. Challenging but fun. Hindi naman nakakamatay though.

Naisip din namin kagabi, ilang beses na kaming naipit sa traffic at nagutom. At hindi birong traffic yun ah. Mga two to three hours na bumper to bumper situations na ang naranasan namin before, tapos walang pagkain sa kotse. Bakit kaya ganon no? Kung kelan meron kaming pagkain, dun naman kami hindi pinatigil. Is this the universe sending us a message about our diet? Ito na ba yun?

♥ Dyosaimma

What do you order in Iceberg’s at 12AM?

Last Tuesday, we found ourselves in Iceberg’s in MOA. Bakit? Dahil nakakastress ang Tuesday night! Nakakastress in all levels. At pag kami ay nasestress, we turn to the thing that we know will never let us down: food.

We were (kinda) near the Mall of Asia, so suntok sa bwan na dun na kami pumunta. Good thing there were still a few open restaurants. Bumawi rin ang langit sa amin! YAY!

Pampatanggal ng antok ang brewed coffee, Iceberg’s version. Nothing special about it though. For P78, I think it’s a bit pricey. Masaya paglaruan yung fizz sa taas though. (Hindi ko alam tawag! Hahaha. Sorry.)

Panlaban sa gutom: Beefy lasagna with bread. Malasa naman, but not as powerful as Banapple’s lasagna. Ok naman ang serving size, nagkasya na sa dalawang chubby people na hindi masyadong malakas kumain.

Okay, fine. Nagkasya yung lasagna sa amin ni Dremon kasi we also ordered the fish and chips. It was served really late though. Mas ok sana kung nauna nilang sinerve kasi pica-pica sya dapat. Itong fish and chips naman, pampatanggal ng stress. Pero feeling ko mas nastress si Dremon kasi napaso sya when he ate a piece. Well you know what they say diba? Ang unang mapaso ng mainit na pagkain ay ang pinakamatakaw. Bakit? Kasi yung naunang mapaso, unang kumain. Ang unang kumakain, sabik sa pagkain. In short, matakaw. (Fine, pwede ring gutom lang talaga.)

We ended up in Iceberg’s in MOA ng alanganing oras because we came from the airport. At masasabi ko, with full conviction, that our airport experience was too stressful. Hindi nakatulong yung condition ng NAIA. Yung place na designated for those who will salubong those who will arrive looks like a bus terminal in Cubao. I have nothing against Cubao bus terminals ha, kasi nag-bu-bus din naman ako. Pero kung ako ay galing sa ibang bansa at yun ang makikita ko sa airport, I don’t think I’ll be happy. We were talking about how bad the airport was and we couldn’t stop. There were people  who were in the airport for the wrong reasons–there were girls who wandered around the waiting area, asking people if they want to have some fun, if the price is right. Nakakaloka. Girls ang sabi ko kasi they’re not exactly girls. Context clues na lang, friends.

I really hope na with the renovation project for the airport, kasama na dun ang major overhaul with the management. I mean no offense to those people who are working in and for NAIA, pero guys, let’s face it. NAIA made it to the list of the worst airports in the world for a reason. Let’s do something to change that. Lezzzgow!

Hay. Buti na lang natuwa kami sa pagkain sa Iceberg’s, nakalimutan na rin ang stress. Heehee.

♥ Dyosaimma