Helping Hand

It’s four days before Christmas while I can’t wait for this special day to come, my sympathy goes to all the victims of "Typhoon Sendong" especially children who lost their loved ones, they are so oblivious of what lies ahead. We know that what happened is nature’s wrath but this wouldn’t have happened without negligence on everyone’s part and it’s always easy to put the blame on the government but the truth is we’re never prepared for anything and it’s always too late. So where do we go from here? If we will not care for mother earth we can anticipate that the worse has yet to come. God never wanted this to happen neither for people to suffer. HE never gives up on so let’s just take this as a reminder that we are lucky enough to be alive and to cherish every moment that we have with our loved ones for what is lost can never be saved.

Holiday Plans

It's 14 days to go before Christmas... really? It doesn't feel like Christmas at all here in the mountains hadn't because of the cool morning breeze. I think the locals aren't big on Christmas lights, lanterns, etc. I don't know if they're just too lazy to decorate or they simply don't care at all? It's no big deal though, I'm just wondering.

I miss the festive holiday atmosphere in Makati, especially along Ayala Avenue. I look forward to see what concept they'll come up with every year. The lights are such an eye candy. Whenever I'm inside the bus and passed by Paseo, I can't help but feel that Christmas is coming close.

So what are my holiday plans? I'm afraid it might be the usual, traditional Christmas and New Year kind of thing. My idea of a perfect holiday is just to spend it in private with my family. I Iike to keep it simple. That's all.

Early Bird

Good friggin morning. So why am I up this early again? Well, it's my day off and I'm just making the most out of it, I guess. I slept around 5PM yesterday. Every week is like the longest week of my life for some reason and I can't wait to get plenty of sleep and rest. I miss my bed so much. I'm in love with my bed and someday we'll be together forever! 

Thank God it's pay day weekend I'm done with my shopping spree (wow, really?). People are flooding the mall because of the 3-day sale that my sister also took advantage of as well she got herself a real cute jacket with 20% off (I'm not envious, snort). Anyhow, twin sissy and I didn't find the nail art stall we're looking for inside this local mall so we're a little upset but I'm over it somehow I just bought a cheap nail polish so I can just paint my nails later. I also got myself an eye shadow palette. 

I hate the idea of having to work, can I just get paid for doing nothing? I wish it's that simple because work can be a little too much. For now, I'll just chill and enjoy the rest of my rest day while I still can.

But Why

Why does it always rain in the afternoon?

I did our laundry this morning thinking that the sun will stay up the whole day but as expected here comes the rain, (not) again. The weather is indeed very unpredictable so better have an umbrella handy at all times.

The rain brings this melancholic feeling sometimes. I don't know if it's the cold breeze or just the sound of it. I hate it when when it's raining too much or when it gets too hot. Anything extreme is not good of course. Looks like the rain's going to be around for a long time so I guess I better just enjoy a hot cup of tea while listening to Earl Klugh.

Home Is Where the Heart Is

Heya! I'm back from outerspace again. Did I miss anything? I haven't been MIA (missing in action) for quite sometime now I've been really busy dealing with a lot of things. Mostly personal so I'd rather not talk about it. Well, I'm up here in the mountains, somewhere in this lonely planet but guess what? It's really not that lonely after all even if we don't have cable TV or postpaid Internet I kinda enjoy the cool breeze and refreshing view. There's no place like this in Singapore, there's no place like home.

So what's keeping me busy lately? Nothing much really. Movie marathon all day and watching "The Biggest Loser Pinoy Edition" every night. It hasn't been a month since we moved here so sissy and I are still getting ourselves familiar with the way of life here. It's not as fast phased compared to what we've been accustomed to, it's pretty simple actually. I'm enjoying the company of our dogs and I missed them a lot because for the past years I only get to see them once or twice a year thank God they are all so welcoming everytime I pay a visit it's just sad that I didn't get a chance to say goodbye to our dearly departed senior dog Harriet, who passed away a month ago (sob, sob). Even Yumi, Harriet's grand pup didn't get a chance to say hello and goodbye to her (sob, sob again).

They say that life is like a rosary, it's full of mystery so I think it's for us to unravel life's mysteries in a positive way instead of dealing with it negatively because whatever God take away from us he'll give it back, sometimes it's even better than what we expect if we wait patiently. God took Harriet from us I'm betting she's in a better place now. God gave us three cute puppies in return. My elder sister decided to sell two of the three pups 'cuz we have too many dogs already. We decided to keep Yumi, I think she's the cutest and cuddlliest of them all she's slowly learning to howl.

I guess I'm starting a new chapter in my life. I'm looking forward to something better. 

Moving Out (Soon)

I say hello from outer space. It's only been weeks that I haven't written anything but it seems forever to me because a week after twin sissy and I came home from our two-month vacation in Singapore, we spent two weeks in Baguio. 

I really enjoyed the cool breeze in Baguio how I wish that the weather all over the Philippines is like that. Okay, I'm back to the world to take care of some unfinished business. While in SG and Baguio sissy and I have been talking about giving up our apartment here in Mandaluyong since we won't be staying here often. Also, we have way too many services that we don't really need anymore, to cut it short it's time to get practical and start saving up for our future. We're not getting any younger so earlier today we informed the building administrator of our decision to just consume the two months deposit our dad paid back in 2004 (see rental law of 2009 in the Phils., R.A. # 9653). Giving up our apartment didn't come easy it's almost like our second home. It's been our own personal space for 7 years and we've come to love this place, the convenience and all but we've also accepted the fact that we can't stay here forever. You see, nothing is constant in this world but change so we have to be prepared for anything that lies ahead may it be the end of the world or whatever. There's nothing that we can hold on to forever.

Home at Last

It hasn't been a week since my twin sister and I came back from our 2 month vacation in Singapore but I miss SG already though I'm happy to be back home. 

The weather is kinda sultry in the Philippines thank goodness it rained for a few days it helped cool down the heat before it kills me. The summer heat in SG is tolerable because there are wide open spaces and there's no pollution unlike here. 

So, what did I miss? Nothing much I guess? I have all our bills printed they've been sitting in my inbox for quite a while. I got my backpay and my new credit card (the old one's expired already). I've been eating a lot of food that I didn't get to eat while I was in SG like the spicy hot pancit canton, tapsilog, etc. They're quite expensive there. Truly there's no place like home but If I have to choose I'd still prefer to work abroad I believe that there's so much more to learn and it doesn't end here.

Birthday Holiday

Home alone. It's been raining more often for the past few days here in Bright Hill. Thank God it didn't rain on my birthday, April 27 or I'd be really disappointed. Twin sissy and I heard mass at the Cathedral of the Good Shepherd, strolled along the Esplanade and had a sumptous dinner at the Makansutra Glottons Bay. I had quite a few people who remember and greeted me on my birthday I'm glad to know that I still have friends. 

We're caretakers of the house as of the moment. The Pinoy couple who own the house we're renting paid a visit to their loved ones in the Philippines and will be back next week. We were informed that we have a new lady housemate coming in tomorrow so we have to be here to brief her regarding house rules or in case she needs anything. When we first came here in Singapore we're really surprised at how comfortable Pinoys are to let strangers in their house. They even leave their valuables like cellphone or laptop unattended while they're at work. Back home, it's a risky thing to let strangers in your house. You can't trust anyone these days either you'll end up getting robbed or worse case scenario, murdered by people you trusted because they aren't afraid of the law. I admire how people in SG have respect for the law. All my life I was accustomed to living in a country where criminals and thieves roam freely on the streets and I mean it with no disrespect, that's reality. I have no regrets that I am a Filipino and I'm proud of where came from but I'm just wondering why the Philippines can't be like SG where it's safe to go around even late at night, use your cellphone without fear that it might get snatched from you. Why is everything so organized here? why is everything seem so simple yet so difficult? Filipinos are very hardworking but we go elsewhere to search for a better life. 

I'll be leaving SG soon. I might come back or maybe not anymore but for sure I'll remember this country for all that they have that we don't like the cleanliness and safety. If only the Philippines can adapt the kind of discipline they have, I think we can do better.

Wanderlust in SG

Happy Easter! It's a sunny day today hopefully it'll stay this way for the rest of the day. Twin sissy and I are supposedly going to church early this morning but it didn't happen. My legs are still aching we walked all day in Orchard and Chinatown yesterday plus I had a terrible hyperacidity possibly due to chilli sauce in the Thai chicken 

rice I ate in Orchard. I really have to avoid eating oily and spicy food to avoid the weird feeling in my stomach thank God for Kremil-S I'm feeling better now. The only challenge is that most hawker food here in SG are spicy so I really have to be a lot more cautious of what I eat.  Sissy and I went to Singapore Botanical Gardens we followed directions from www.gothere.sg but the website says to alight after Pierce Road which is the wrong bus stop it should've been "before" that so we had to walk 2 bus stops to get there I thought I already saw the gate of Botanic Gardens from inside the bus but I didn't follow my intuition, geez. Nothing much to check out inside the garden actually so we just have a few pics taken but it's definitely a good place for a family picnic too bad we didn't bring food I didn't enjoy the food there and it's pretty hefty too grrr! There are huge century old trees, plants I've never seen before, a

swan lake, etc. It's also a perfect place for a morning jog or if you simply want to commune with nature. Before we head over to Tanglin Mall to check out antique stuff we cooled ourselves down and bought ice cream sandwich near the bus stop but the ice cream is sooo frozen we didn't enjoy it at all argh! Last stop is Chinatown where we bought souvenirs for a much cheaper price from this mall called "People's Park Complex." I suggest if you want to buy souvenirs to check out this mall first. There are souvenir shops there that sell 12 pieces of key chain for $10, 4 for $10 fridge magnets, etc. whilst outside they only offer 5 or less pieces for $10. We're not leaving Chinatown without having "mango pudding" for dessert, so yummy. We also tried "chicken satay" it tastes good but I didn't like the dip that go with it I still think that Pinoy barbeque is a still a winner. 

I had a real long and tiring day yesterday. I put Salonpas on each of my legs to relieve the pain I still can hardly walk I'll make sure to rest well today.

Goodbye Harriet

I received a sad text message from my sister that our oldest dog harriet passed away already. I am somehow prepared that harriet will leave us anytime soon but when the time finally came it's still a bit disappointing. I am thankful that God gave Harriet to us and without her we wouldn't have Jack and Jill. I still recall when harriet gave birth to Jack and Jill I hurriedly travelled from Antipolo to Mandaluyong to see her pups. Mom named Harriet's puppies Jack and Jill, just like the nursery rhyme. Whenever I pay a visit I bring milk or anything to keep them healthy. I get excited everytime I visit Harriet and her pups they're so cute I took they're family picture and kept it in my Photobucket account to make sure I don't lose it. Their picture still make me smile everytime I look at it. 

They say that dogs are "man's bestfriend" but to us our dogs are more than that, they are part of our family. I will surely miss Harriet's presence and her playfulness when I visit our vacation home in Baguio. They say that dogs don't have a soul I'm not sure where they go when they leave their physical body but I hope that she's happy wherever she is now and that "Owi" (her mom) is with her now along with the rest of her family that have died years ago. My sister told me that my brother buried her in our backyard and her cause of death is either due to old age or infection from a scar that she got when one of our adopted dogs "fiona", bit her few days ago.  When I was told that Harried passed away I didn't want know how it happened. She escaped death many times she's so fond of playing with bull frogs when it rains and they're poisonous but no matter how hard my sister tries to keep them away from her she still manage to chase and bite them. She's one hell of a stubborn dog probably because she knows that my sister can fix her everytime she gets poisoned by a bull frog by making her drink sugar and it sure does the trick. I guess Harriet's time has come so as much as i don't want to miss her, I definitely will. 

We lost another wonderful and cheerful dog. Rest in peace Harriet. You will be missed.

Keep Moving

Another boring day in Sembawang, SG... zzz. 

It rained a bit but now it's sunny again, good thing we don't have any more clothes waiting to dry outside. Sissy and I we'll be moving out again to our fifth house in few more days I'm kind of getting used to the idea of being a "gyps." Nothing to do but surf the net so as much as I don't want to maintain too many blog sites, I thought it wouldn't hurt if I create a Tumblr account just to keep myself busy so I did and so far I'm enjoying it. I don't really like living with strangers. I'm not very sociable but I have no choice since we couldn't afford to rent a whole flat yet as of the moment we have to rent a room for the two of us. Oh well, sink or swim but we have to survive. 

I'm coming home soon, hopefully. Life.