what.a.year!

what a year it has been!

I just realized now!!

2010 was indeed, a year full of traveling (locally and internationally for me, for all of us!).

January - Tagaytay.

February - Shanghai.

March - Shanghai. Suzhou.

April - Shanghai. Xian.

May - Shanghai. Moganshan.

June - Shanghai. Beijing.

July - Shanghai. HAngZhou.

August - Singapore.

September - Naga.

October - Davao.

November - Shanghai.

December - family trip somewhere IDK yet!

what have I done to my year?!?!

wishlist

ding.. dong.. ding.. dong..

yes, it's that time of the year again!! The time for merriment, the time for happiness, of sharing, and of GIVING! It's Christmas-time friends! and since it's just 50 or so days till, then I figured, it's time that I make.. my Christmas list once again!! hooray!!

Well not to be misunderstood, I am not a brat who just keeps on asking and asking... Of course not! I do know how to say thank you and be grateful for everything! and I mean everything! especially when the year has been good and almost everything I wanted fr. my previous list, and even my lists post-Christmas-time, I got! Thank you so much, my very, very kind sponsors (who, btw, wouldn't agree on sponsoring my coming Shanghai trip w RG O.)!!!! But it's okay, I'm a grown up, remember? and so, I shall take this matter w proper maturity!! MOM!!!!!! :(

Well, since I just recently got my Jo Malone.. and mom wouldn't let me dare dream about bags like her bags simply because I am still too young to be on that level as her, I thought that I would have nothing to wish for, really!!!!

Gadgets, I already have and don't even need!

Work, mom is willing to help.

Clothes & accessories are currently unused and overflowing fr. my closet!

Travel? well, it has been a year full of traveling for me.

So, I thought, really? what else is there for me left to want????

Then I went to Davao! and realized that this very, very brief trip to Davao sure did make me grow up!! So much that when I came back home to Manila, I wanted something I never really cared about before. And of course, I was really more serious about my business plans!

So what do I want for Christmas??? Here it goes since I know, Mama will never really let me have one of her watches for everyday!!! But then again, I can always steal fr. her loot, right??

So choose mom!!

Since I'm not a brat, I'm good na with..

1. Swatch Seasons collection (white pls.!) walang pic eh!

2. Swatch Full Blooded in white or black

But, if you're feeling a little bit generous, I can also do with

3. The Toywatch Plasteramic

4. or this.. Toywatch Keep a Child Alive Limited Edition
5. or this... I really want this!! Toywatch Mother of Pearl Chrono!! Di ba mahilig ka sa Mother of Pearl, mom?? I always hear this fr. you when you're buying!! see, we can share!

6. will do also! Technomarine Cruise collection
7. and yes, will also make me smile! Technomarine Cruise Star

8. same as with everything! another Technomarine

But I know you don't like Techno.. so, if you're feeling more generous pa,

9. will be that watch like yours... i can't find any pic eh! THE RUDY PROJECT you gave to Steph last time.

or

10. Anything I can wear for everyday from that store in GB5 y'know!! lol.

and no, I am not accepting any fr. your loot except on special occasions bec. I feel old wearing them!

Are you happy now, mom??? GUess, I've really grown up even with my choices! hoorayyy!!! or maybe am just really easily influenced by the people around me oi!!

next year, who knows?? maybe jewelry naman! like the ones you've been nagging me to start buying since last year!!!

Santa, pls. make my parents feel EXTREMELY GENEROUS THIS SEASON!!!!

Love ya! :)

on liars.

I bet I've told you before how much I hate them who can't keep their promises.

Them who lie in front of others, much more to their friends!

Damn, I really, really hate them!

Like BIG TIME hate!

And I wish, for the sake of my betterment in this lifetime,

that I spend little of my time getting to know them

and making them a special part of my life.

That is just pure bad judgement.

A total waste of my time!!

This goes to you.

You know who you are!

bff.

let me tell y'all about my newest BFF's! well, hopefully.

I wake up everyday at 6 in the morning to prepare them all. My Hanes plain shirt, jogging pants, and Nike shoes. I grab a bottle of water and my ipod still and then off I go to the gym.

In Olympus, I met Rey. He's the man! Heck, he's my man!! He was actually the one who told me, "kulang ka pa, kailangan 54 ka lang e!" And when I said, "kuya, when I was 63, mukha na akong may sakit." He said, "iba pag nag ggym." So fine! 54 it is!

Hell, make me lose 7 and I will really love you na! Make me reach 54 and I swear, you will be one of the most awesome man I will ever meet in this lifetime!!

So now I go to Olympus and start my 1 hour love affair with the treadmill, 30 minutes elliptical, 10 minutes spinning, and of course, the rest of the time I spend for ab work! Whew! So much work in a day!! Hopefully, I will have time to join them mommas for some aero or whatever stuff they're into!!

lovett!

the cause of my confusion.

back in Manila, I wanted to forget something. And so I told myself to focus. Focus on the more important things in life. Focus on what's ahead for me. Focus on anything, just not THAT particular thing. And so I gave myself an ultimatum. And boy did it manifest itself! As a result, I told myself, that once I go back home to Naga, everything about THAT thing needs to be gone. Erased. Forgotten. Period.

So I came home. And started anew. It has always been chill here in Naga. More so now because of all the festivities happening around me. As well as my future plans, of course. I resent dull times now. Because it is during these times when I once again allow my mind, involuntarily, to wander once more to THAT worthless thing!

But still I find myself confused. Because of the start of something new, something big, something perhaps I never really expected.

Back when I was still in college, I told myself, someday, I will have my own school. It's gonna be nice, it's gonna be big. The way I see it, it's fab!

A few years ago I graduated college. And worked immediately to gain experience. To learn the ropes from one of Manila's best preschools. And I will have to admit that I did learn a lot. So I stayed for 2 years I stayed, and observed everything they did. The right and the wrong, the good and the bad. Then I quit. Originally, to pursue my further studies to achieve my dream.

Then GBF came. And I promised my mom that after GBF, I was gonna pursue my studies and be right back on track. You see, GBF also offered an opportunity to live a dream. And so I got in and the rest is history.

In GBF, they required an ICARE. Something you will do upon your return from your studies in China. Mine was simple. I wanted to have my own school. Put in whatever I can get from CHina. And study to become a success. Well, maybe not in that particular order actually.

5 months in China passed and I came back. Came back and failed to follow up on my application for further studies. So my mom was furious. What was my plan. 1 month passed. Almost 2 now.

Somewhere in this time, Jen offered me an opportunity. A good opportunity. One that can make or break everything I have been dreaming of. I listened to it. Thought about it. Told my parents about it. Then finally agreed with it. Voila! Now I find myself all serious planning everything. Now I find myself so confused. But good confusion perhaps because at least now, it's not anymore about that good for nothing something!

Now I ask myself, is this really what I want? What if it fails? What if I can't make it? What if it all goes to nothing? What if, what if, what if..

But amidst all these, I also ask myself.. what if it succeeds? what if, I can make it after all? what if, the time for me is now? What if, this is the moment I have been waiting for.

And so I sleep every night with so much confusion, so much what-if's. And face each day thinking, trying, motivating myself. Because this time, I know I can't fail.

my birthday resolutions..

for the sake of having "something new", I thought of having birthday resolutions. And since I'm 23 this year, I will try (my very best) to have 23 resolutions as well. Composed of things I wanna start doing as well as things I wanna stop doing. And of course, at the end of it all, pray and I mean pray real hard that I fulfill them all!!

1. First up, I wanna stop or at least avoid eating meat!! I've started this already and am doing a pretty good job actually. Except occasionally when I am tempted to eat chicken!! You see, chicken is one of those which I can eat everyday!! With the exception of natural chicken!! And I often have a Jollibee craving as well. But occasionally nalang na now. SWEAR.
2. I wanna stop or at the very least avoid drinking!! For obvious reasons.. need I explain this more??
3. I also wanna stop being and feeling lazy!! It sucks big time!! To have nothing to do everyday makes me feel sick and crazy!!! just plain crazy!!
4. I wanna stop being mean!! At 23, maybe it's about time I be kind to people!! Yes, even to those I don't really like. Really now?!?
5. I wanna stop commenting on things not worth it!! In short, panlalait to those I feel, not worth it, jologs, or just plain baduy!!
6. I wanna stop my junk food habit. My soda and chocolate addiction. I know I've said this again and again, but hey! am serious this time!! Not super for diet reasons but more for health reasons!! I wanna be healthy!! naks!!
7. I wanna stop buying bags (for now) because I have no more funds!! lol. Thus, I will steal Mama's first!!
8. I wanna be healthy!! Yey.
9. I wanna start exercising. To have the patience to actually exercise. Stand up and exercise!! Do sport!!
10. I wanna do capoeira!! Yes!
11. I wanna go dancing more often!! As part of my enjoy life motto at 23, I just wanna dance!! Dance to the music, dance to life!!
12. I wanna travel more!! Alone or with friends.. basta travel!! Go places, learn stuff. Period.
13. I wanna experience more wild, unpredictable things!! Things that which seems exciting. And know how it actually feels to be there, to be able to say that yes, I've done that even once in my life.
14. I wanna start going to mass again! I haven't been going to mass. Bad, I know. But at some point, I just stopped. For what reason? I don't really know. But don't mistake or even confuse me for some whatever kind of dude, because I do believe in God.
15. I wanna fix up my house!! so it looks neater, cleaner, better!!
16. I wanna lose weight!! And lots of it!!
17. I wanna eat, pray, love!! lol.
18. I wanna meet more inspirational people. People whose life stories are one of a kind and be inspired!!
19. I wanna be decided in pursuing my plans for next year with Jen..
20. I wanna promise myself.. to go back or at least try to go to Shanghai at least once every year.. if just for the memories of my living there for almost 6 months, then yes! Shanghai will definitely hold a special place in my heart!!
21. I wanna revisit my favorite places in the Philippines and check out new ones too!!
22. I wanna have courage.. so that I can fulfill no. 23 which is..
23. To be able to accomplish all these resolutions!!

GG... how I love thee!

Well, y'all know how I love Gossip Girl!! So when I found this video somewhere in the net, I'll have to admit that I just can't stop watching!!

last 2.. 22!

Today marks the second to the last day of my being 22! Ah... SWEET, JUST SWEET.

22 years of being fabulous and crazy!! At 22, I gained so much new friends, so much new experiences, so much of so many things!!

At 22, I know I lived a random, crazy life! Sometimes, people found it weird already, too random, too much they said.. the way I lived my life. I say, yes! but it was exactly the way I wanted to live it! It still is now. And will still be even when I turn some more years older!!

I live my life crazy. YES! I do not think much of tomorrow. KNowing that in my heart, what matters is the now! I do not think much of the past, knowing that what is there are only lessons.. lessons to be learnt. Lessons never to forget.

22 years in this lifetime and I must say, I am thankful! Thankful for everything. Thankful for the everyday beauty I find myself in. Thankful for them lovers, haters, family, and friends.. you make my life worth living!! You make my everyday filled with so much more excitement and blessings!!

I am excited at the thought of turning a year older. Another excuse to be crazy, to be random, to be fabulous!! I am excited at the things this year has in store for me!! Perhaps, it'll be better, more fabulous! Who knows?? I tell you, it's pure excitement!!

Now if I can just fast forward time... and yes still, get my hands on that Jo Malone for free!!

23 for 23

5 more days and am already once again turning 1 year older!!

23 for 23. Because am turning 23 on the 23rd.

23 for 23 because below I list down my 23 wishes for my 23rd birthday.

Some I already got for myself, some, I yet have to get for myself.

But of course, you're always welcome should you decide to get it for me.

23 wishes, both the material and non-material things I desire.

23 wishes, wants that I am still thinking of.

But for now, here are the things that are really topping my list!!

1. I want HAPPINESS. I want to be HAPPY, who doesn't? I am super happy, actually. But there are things sometimes that just really makes me sad and that is why I want..

2. The capacity to think little of the unnecessary and the unimportant. People and events, all the stuff that make me sad.

3. I want, for me and Jen's plans for next year to become a huge hit!! At 23, I have decided to start the beginning of my dreams! I am excited, but also afraid. It's a big risk.. but it has always been a dream. Why not start it now??

4. To be healthy. To lose all the lbs. I gained and go back to my pre-GBF weight. As in mga 30 lbs. lighter!! Uh, oh!

5. To go back once more to Shanghai. And show my family where I lived, what I did, and why Shanghai will always have a special spot in my heart!

6. To figure things out.

7. Jo Malone Nectarine Blossom & Honey Cologne!! Discovered this when I went to Singapore. Sadly, there was no more 100 ml. bottle. So parents, sisters, friends, just in case, you know na what!!

Can be found in Takashimaya at 199 SGD the 100 ml. bottle!!

8. Eat, Pray, Love. I've recently gone back to reading so I bought myself some books including this! Big regret that I didn't take advantage of the xiansheng 10 RMB books back in Shanghai. But it's cool. Someday, I wanna pull a life ala Eat, Pray, Love.

9. Blackberry. Ah, Love!! What I've always wanted to get even before China. My supposed to be resignation gift to myself! Came in late, but as they say, better late than never!! I love you, BB!!

10. Love the One You're With. Because since it's always sold out. And I didn't find any copy in China, decided to buy it immediately when I returned in the Pinas and had nothing to do! Just finished reading this book actually. And it was just so-so.

11. World peace.

12. To be busy. With something, anything!! But if plans with Jen push through then I will have no problems whatsoever with keeping myself busy!!

13. To finish fixing up the house in Manila. Puhlleeezzzzz....

14. To be able to think of 10 more wishes!!

I feel so blessed, so lucky in life, it would really be selfish for me to say that I still have things I want that I haven't had.. except for that Jo Malone Cologne of course!! ARGH.

on museums

Traditionally, whenever you go to some foreign land, you go and visit the museums.. especially when they're for free or really cheap!!

Since I didn't wanna consider myself a foreigner in Shanghai, it took a while before I finally decided to go check out the various museums in Shanghai. You see, I'm not really big on museums. For this particular country, I only chose 3 museums. Namely: The Shanghai Museum, The Shanghai Urban Planning Museum, and the Science and Technology Museum.

I went to Shanghai Museum one weekday (I think?) with Anton since it was the museum of all museums in Shanghai. Then we met up with Em after her work at Nanjing Dong Lu to go shopping, eat, and just hang out.

(The Shanghai Museum)

Inside the museum, you see really cool artifacts. Our favorite here was their tribute to the Jesuit priest which, of course, if you're Atenean like Anton, you'll really LOVE. I bet if it was some La Sallian brother, I would have been overjoyed too!!

(inside the museum)

(Me & my long lost brother)

(Me & Anton while waiting for Em)

(Me & Em at Nanjing Dong Lu)

Next on our list was The Shanghai Urban Planning Museum. We went here with Em and her housemates Aby, Erika, and Kaye. This was pretty amazing as here, you'll see at how planned everything is in Shanghai!!

You enter and see this wonderful, wonderful revolving figure of Shanghai!!

(upon entering)

One floor up and you see the whole of Shanghai in miniature..

(mini Shanghai)

You even see a glimpse of the next tallest building in the city which, was still under construction when we were there. Okay.

(the three tallest buildings in Shanghai: Jin Mao, SWFC, & something else)

(the area where our dorm is supposedly)

(Me, Em, & Anton)

The last museum I went to in Shanghai was the Science and Technology Museum. Because I was super amazed with the one in Singapore and of course, because Desi said it was worth visiting!! It looked amazing from the outside.

(Shanghai Science & Technology Museum)

Inside, there were mini bat caves, forests, and stuff.

(me: picture time!)

The best part that I loved was the last part we went to where one can play and tinkle with science stuff! YEY!!

(something I don't remember)

(Me & the magic ball)

(Anton & the magic ball)

my Coco love affair..

This is where you'll find out why I opted to walk outside the school campus.

Aside from I feel that it is a shorter, faster route (Sigh is one with me on this), it is the only way on how we can actually pass by Coco and buy Milk Tea before going home. It's sinful, YES! But trust me, when it's winter time, you'll forget everything it does to your body!!

Thanks to Donna, I discovered Coco. If you are studying in Fudan or in Shanghai, trust me, you have to discover Coco esp. if you're there during the winter. So everyday, me and Sigh would drop by Coco to buy Coco. One time, we even skipped 1 period just to wait for Coco to open up so we can buy. We have it for breakfast snack, lunch, or afternoon snack! Point is, we have it once a day! Or so we used to. 1 Coco Nai Cha for Sigh and 1 Pudding Nai Cha for me. Re De and Da Bao. Okay??

Sometimes, we would drag the likes of Prim, Tiff V., Cheng, Anton, Desi, and Em with us. But we were the ones who were really addicted to it!

(at Coco in Guo Ding Lu. Photo: Prim Paypon)

I used to feel that Coco can go with any type of food I was eating. Even with pasta!!

(having Coco while lunching at Eattogether)

While walking home, and the weather was so cold, trust me, Coco is such a good companion!! Especially when the walk is shared with friends, of course.

(Prim & Me walking back to the dorm)

(Prim & Sigh: my Coco-mates)

(Me & Sigh: WE JUST HAVE TO HAVE COCO!)

But eventually I had to control this addiction and stop! When Desi told us that 1 cup is almost 600 calories, I used to not care! But upon seeing it's effects on my body and Sigh's and Prim's, I JUST HAD TO STOP!! AFRAID MUCH!!

WARNING: Coco is good. But like everything else, it has effects on your body which is/might not be so good if like me, you're perpetually on a diet! BUT HAVE IT NONETHELESS.

复旦大学，上海。

Thanks to the Gokongwei Brothers Foundation, I was lucky enough to experience studying in Shanghai. That is, aside from the opportunity to live in a foreign land.

This was where I spent half of my Year 2010. Studying in 复旦，while living in 上海。

Let me tell you about 复旦。

The 复旦 campus is huge!! It has everything in it! From the locals' dormitory to the dormitory where I lived, that is, the Foreign Students Dormitory. Inside, we had two canteens where we often ate the first few months, a huge lawn ala Gossip Girl, and amazing ID's you can use to buy stuff!

I was always in GuangHua building. Room 406 specifically. This was where most of the Language classes for foreigners were held. I feel lucky I never had to go to Di Er Lou where some, well, most of my fellow GBF classmates had classes.

You can do a lot in school. From walking, jogging, having picnics, to plain hanging out.

(Guang Hua building at night. Photo: Prim Paypon)

(the view from our classroom: Guang Hua Lawn)

(from the lawn, the Guang Hua towers..)

Going home, we start our 30 to 45 minute walk back to the dorm. You can opt to walk inside the school, or outside the campus. As for me, I used to walk inside the campus but later on decided to walk outside. Why? I'll tell you why later.

(part of our walk to the dorm, winter time.)

When we don't want to go back home just yet, we go to Pedestrian Street to check out some cheap books and cute little stores. Or sometimes, we just go to Wanda where there's a shopping option!!

(Pedestrian Street)

People biked in school because it was super big. I don't know how to bike so don't ask!

(random building)

(walk back)

(walking from some event in Guang HUa)

Sometimes, I would let Prim drag me and we'll have some moments of adventure in school such as taking pictures at random places or eating, or just hanging out at Prim's secret garden!

Taking pictures such as this,

(photo: Prim Paypon)

Eating random food at Pedestrian Street and dragging Desi along,

(at Pedestrian Street. Photo: Prim Paypon)

Or just hanging out.. to take pictures still!

(the secret garden. photo: Prim Paypon)

(somewhere near Di Er Lou)

(Desi & Me)

(Guang Hua Lawn. Photo: Prim Paypon)

Good thing whenever we get hungry, our ID's are always there to let us buy food in the canteen. Provided, it is loaded of course!! Trust me, we're always hungry!!

(getting our ID's. Prim, Me, Cheng, Sigh.

Photo: Prim Paypon)

Qibao

Everyone was saying that we just had to go to Qibao while in Shanghai! At least according to those books, maps, and what-nots that I've read while browsing through things to do in Shanghai, Qibao would always emerge as the Venice of Shanghai! And so we went one day. One weekend actually. Me, Sigh, Anton, Em and her housemates and some more.

What I really like about Qibao is it's old city charm. Like it's been there for ages.

(Qibao)

From the Metro stop, we had to walk for a while before we reached the entrance to the streets of Qibao.

(Em, Me, & Sigh)

For some reason, the charm of Qibao reminds me that of Suzhou's appeal.

(Sigh & Me)

(Qibao)

Only, Qibao had a food trip option which makes it even more appealing to those of you adventurous spirits when it comes to food. This whole street, for instance, sells varied snacks that can actually pick your interest. And most of them does not disappoint the adventurous.

(Qibao Food Street)

I never really tried this because I was already full. But this is their most famous dish in Qibao. They tried it and said that it was okay.

(Qibao Beggar's Chicken)

How about you?? I'll leave you the task of discovering why it was called Beggar's Chicken.