Taxi No More

Thank you God my 3AM shift is over. I don't have to ride a cab on wee hours of the morning anymore, super. I can save up now I have cheaper options for transportation especially that LTFRB (Land Transportation Franchising Regulatory Board) has recently approved the petition of taxi owners to increase the flag down rate of taxicabs in the whole country. Oh my everything's going up! For most Pinoys, it's becoming tougher each day to make both ends meet so instead of waiting and hoping for a better life in our country we go elsewhere, sad but true but you see practicality is one of the keys to survive in this crumbling world. 

Well, I cooked twin sissy's breakfast since I woke up early so I can sleep later. I'm excited over SL (sick leave) conversion but I have to keep it somewhere safe until I know what to do with it. Then, I will submit my resignation letter, wait for my passport and fulfill my lifelong dream to travel, yay! this year's gonna be a good one. I can't wait.

NBI Application

It's been years since my last NBI clearance application I lost my personal copy I just noticed last night. It's supposedly a renewal but I lost the old copy so I have no choice but to apply for a new one. 

NBI clearance renewal can be done at the any any of their satellite offices in the mall but new applications will have to be done at the main office only. I'm a little lost when I went to the city hall of Mandaluyong good thing there are information booths all over the place so it was a little convenient. It's my rest day today so I'm in no rush. I got my cedula first (it's required before they give you the application form) then I waited patiently for my turn which is so not usual of me but since it's my fault I have to deal with it. The thumb marking process was quite a mess I brought my own wet tissue but they're so quick to give you theirs so you can't even say "no" and pay the P5.00 upfront for the darn thing. It's not too big of a deal I just find it too obvious that it's for "extra income." The whole process took a good hour an a half I'm so tired and hungry when I got home. 

I heard mass in Quiapo prior to renewing my NBI clearance it's too crowded and suffocating inside the church I decided to leave after the homily to get some air it's feels like i'm going to pass out already. I'll resume wit boxing tomorrow I haven't boxed for three weeks I need to burn 'em carbs. 

I Did It My Way

I haven't blogged for weeks so I never get the chance to say cheers to the new year, the year of the metal rabbit... rock on! Kidding aside, time flies by so quickly. Let me rewind the clock back to the new year of 2010 when twin sissy and I welcomed 2010 amongst ourselves because we have work, sucks right? That's why I'm so thankful that I spent Christmas and New Year with my family this year, that's good for a start. 

It was back in January when I was able to convince twin sissy to try out boxing for us to lose weight and from then on it became our weekly routine. Now we can't live without boxing it became our major form of exercise and bonding time aside from shopping teehee! We became uber OC in terms of losing weight and avoided eating fast food as well as those high in carbs. We stopped eating rice gradually and substitute it with food that is rich in fiber instead. Nothing comes easy but no pain, no gain. Sacrifice and discipline is the key to losing weight the healthy way. I have nothing against slimming pills there that widely exists in the market nowadays because I'm taking one too but I don't depend on it too much. Slimming pills will not work unless you exercise and take your diet seriously. 

I'm no fitness expert but hopefully, my experience will inspire and benefit a lot of people who will read my blog. I've tried a lot of things to lose weight. I've been boxing for almost five months when I noticed that I'm not losing weight that much.  My twin sister suggested we try the apple and cucumber salad diet for weeks. I don't know where she got that idea but I'm sure she researched it or something so I gave her credits for that. It worked but I'm still not satisfied with so I resort to eating brown rice until eventually I quit eating rice for a week and noticed that I'm losing weight more rapidly. I lost 10 pounds in 2-3 weeks time. Instead of rice for lunch, I substitute it with wheat bread sandwich and fruit like an apple or banana. I start to feel lighter and not bloated anymore. I resume eating rice after a week but from then on I make it a habit to eat rice only once or twice a week. I weigh 125 lbs. before I started boxing. I'm petite so I'm pretty overweight for my height. Walking is my only exercise when I go to work after I get off the bus. I sit for eight hours at work and I've been working for years so I'm sure you can now imagine how I got all the flabs. My waistline is getting wider and everything that I wear just won't fit right anymore. I told myself I can't let this go on until I decided that last year's a good year to stay fit and I'm proud to say that "I did it!" My year ended weighing 97 lbs. but gained 2 lbs. when I came back from vacation for the holidays but no longer worried I know I can maintain what I started. I won't just put everything to waste, of course, spell d-i-f-f-i-c-u-l-t! But it was all worth it. I gave my old jeans away and some clothes that I can't wear anymore I swear I'll never wear those again.

So what's in it for me in 2011? According to my astrology and horoscope that 2011 is a challenging year for Taurus. I will succeed in career however, there will be too much hard work and some struggle. This year will bring promotions and elevations in career, and hard work will be appreciated. Furthermore, in terms of health 2011 is a good year. Taurus will become a great source of inspiration to other people in the year of the metal rabbit. How's that? I don't rely on astrology and horoscopes they're only guides so it's still up to me to make it all happen and I'm pretty confident that I can do it with divine providence and hard work. I'm looking forward to a great leap in my career this year. I'd like to travel, experience other culture and see what's out there. Testing the waters is a bold and risky move but life without the risk isn't life worth living and part of it is the learning process. It's normal to stumble and have regrets in the past, we're only human but moving forward is the most important thing. We can never go back so don't dwell on the past and move on but don't forget those people who inspired you and make you a better person and the experiences you've gone through. Pretty deep eh? 

Merry Christmas Beybeh

My most awaited vacation is here at last. Thank God I wasn't tempted to waste away all my leave credits last month or I'll be left alone for the holidays. My twin and I reserved tickets a week before our trip we thought it'll be such a hassle to get one on the day itself especially during this time of the year where everybody's going out of town for the holidays. I hate falling in line but we had no choice they don't have online reservations yet it's a long queue at the terminal. 

We waited roughly thirty minutes for the 6 PM bus to arrive. We arrived past midnight yesterday the bus stopped in front of our vacation house since it's along Marcos Highway it's still kinda dark the moonlight lighted our path. Sissy rang the doorbell our brother opened the gate it's good he's still awake. We're so tired but it's good to be home, I miss home, my family and real food of course. My parents are quite surprised and worried at the same time they haven't seen me in months they noticed that I've lost a lot of weight they thought I got sick or something but I told them that I'm okay I'm just on a diet because that's the truth. I'm not going to forget about my diet while on vacation but I promise to myself that I will eat properly I don't want to be so hard on myself. 


I need quiet time and I definitely will make the most out of this vacation. We slept early so we missed Noche Buena we opened our Christmas presents in the morning. We loved mom and dad's gifts, a cute rabbit coin banks, yay! We gave them a digital photo frame in return and they liked it a lot. I got my niece two pairs of baby leg warmers she's wearing it right now it fits perfectly. 


That's about it for now. Have a Merry Christmas to y'all. Cheers!!!

14 Days Before Christmas

Fourteen days to go before Christmas twin sissy and I thought it's never too late to hang our Parol (Pinoy Christmas lantern) that dad bought us at the balcony door. I haven't blogged a lot I've been quite busy. It's my rest day I stayed home all day and took my much-needed rest. We had "Amazing Race Asia" marathon in AXN because twin sissy's crush Richard Herrera happens to be one of the contenders so we're instantly glued to the TV. Whatever she watch, I watch of course.

Amazing Race Asia's 2 Richards'

I got the canon lens mug that I ordered online yesterday via Air 21, I liked it a lot. I give myself a little something every Christmas like some sort of reward for working hard. My gifts are all wrapped up and ready to be given away. I'll be away for the holidays I can't wait I badly needed this vacation. I needed some time to chill and think things over. I realized that life isn't all about work and money. What I'm feeling is that work has taken over me and I need some time to be with my family, glad I still have one to come home to.

Canon Lens Mug

Clickatoo

It's a sunny day today yay! Twin sissy's at work while I'll be spending my next few hours in bed I'm going back to work tonight as much as I would like to go on leave forever. I don't want to complain anymore 'since I'll be on leave again this weekend, great. Just in time for the 13th month. Three more days before 13th month I'm so excited I can't wait any longer. I can't eat, sleep, oh wait I'm overreacting haha! Sissy and I got new pairs of ear candies last night that we ordered it online they're so cute we're just happy. 


My newest addiction is online shopping I've never enjoyed technology this much, everything is just right at your fingertips how cool. I don't have to scour the mall to look for Christmas presents all I have to do is to sit in front of my computer and check online stores for cheap and cutesy stuff, pay it via Gcash or bank transfer and get my package delivered in few days it's so convenient. My Christmas gifts are almost ready all I need to do is to boxed 'em up. I'm just curious if I will I get any Christmas present but I won't feel bad if I don't get any, really. If you give something to someone you shouldn't expect something in return. Christmas is all about gift giving.


Off to bed. Goodnight.

Monday Sickness

It's a rainy Monday aftie. I stayed home and got myself real busy. I did a makeover of our studio-type room I hope that sissy's going to like the new arrangement. I re-arranged our furnitures so we can breathe a little we have so much stuff yet too little space for everything. The room next door is still under repair the family who lived there for almost a year left last week but already saw a couple checking it out yesterday. 


I did not go to the gym today but it feels like I did I had my muscles stretched when I moved some heavy furnitures like our wooden cabinet, fridge, etc. I still have colds but I'm feeling quite better after self-medicating like eating fruits and drinking lots of water for two days. I don't catch a cold easily but there must be a very strong virus at work. I hate getting sick it feels weird thank God I'm on leave last Saturday I was able to rest yesterday and today and it's still my off or else my flu could have gotten worse.

Boxing for Toughies

Manny Pacman Pacquiao as anticipated, won again by unanimous decision over cis Mexican contender Antonio Margarito before 41,734 boxing spectators at the Dallas Cowboy Stadium in Dallas, Texas yesterday. Pacman wins his 8th title and once again made Filipinos and the country very proud. 


I did not watch the entire fight and found out about his win over Margarito from my sister who got a text message from a friend. Pacman's fight is always like a holiday in the Philippines, no traffic, no crime, pretty amazing. I'm no boxing fan and I know nothing about the technicalities of this sport but every time Manny has a fight I also try to watch just like everyone else. It makes me proud to see a Filipino being admired by the whole world. I can't stand people hurting each other even if it's just a game I find it a little too much for me so as to why I chose boxing as my fitness sport remains a mystery, lol. I don't know maybe I just find this sport interesting. Boxing is a man's sport but now women are enjoying it as much as they do. 


I worked out earlier some girls at the gym still can't get over the Pacman fight fever, duh. I just had mini stop's tuna mushroom melt wheat bread sandwich for lunch so I'm kinda starving already but I'm waiting for twin sissy to get home from work so we can have dinner together I made us gourmet chicken sandwich. 

Troubled Me

Tuesday has become my least favorite day of the week. I hate the thought of going back to work. I don't feel good, honestly. I envy my sister she's moving on to a new department but same account just not as toxic compared to where she was for two years. Well, as of me I'm stuck. I have a choice to drop this if I want to but I don't want to do something careless at this point, it's Christmas time if you know what I mean. Two weeks before 13th month but I'm becoming more depressed as Christmas time is drawing near. Sissy's definitely going to enjoy the most important holidays of the year while I'll be praying hard that I'll have the same fate. I hope next year's a good year for a career leap. Change is inevitable and risky at the same time but without the risk, there's no room for growth. 


Whatever it is I'm up for the challenge.

New TV

Another busy rest day as always. I just had two hours of sleep but that didn't stop me from hitting the punching bag real hard I must say that I had a good work out. I had a bucketful of sweat gotta burn 'em all carbs. 


Twin sissy and I got home past noon, our two-year-old niece greeted us like there's no tomorrow hehe. Our elder sister told us that she is the only one supposedly coming over but dad, our other sister, and fourteen-year-old niece tagged along with her. Our elder brother drove all of them here so it's a family day affair kinda thing. Dad brought us  Suman (rice cake) fresh from Antipolo. When everyone's gone twin we head over to Robinson's Galleria and checked out Saizen where I bought a vegetable bag and key holder for myself. We're starving after strolling the mall for almost an hour and spotted Burger King so we had our uber late lunch. We haven't eaten in BK in years so we miss ed Whopper JR that's what we ordered but for some reason, it doesn't taste as good as the old Whooper anymore and the size of the burger is a lot smaller than it used to be, just saying. We miss the food in BK but our food trip at Brothers Burger last week was more satisfying. 


We went to SM Megamall later to scout for an LCD  TV our not so old TV is still under repair by Manong Guard who happens to be an electrician too but there's no update yet if he's able to fix it we don't want to wait for another week without TV, luckily we found one in Western Home Appliances. Our new sharp 22 inch LCD TV has a sleek design, we liked it a lot I think we found our dream TV. 


Sissy is fast asleep as of this writing and she wants me to read the manual to learn about the features of our new TV I told her I'll try because I hate reading manuals I find it boring plus she did TV support back in Sony so why would I bother? but I won't tell her that of course zip it, zip it! haha. I always tell her that she can count on me when it comes to troubleshooting our Internet or computer but TV is not my thing I find it too complicated.

Cable Signal Problems + The Myth of the Human Body Exhibit in Taguig

It's a rainy-gloomy Tuesday morning. It's All Souls Day but it's no holiday for me because I have shift at work. Holiday or not I still come to work I just care about holiday pay. When I was a kid I get excited about the holidays because there's no class. 


I woke up early so it wouldn't be difficult for me to sleep later since I've been off from work for five days and almost getting used to normal night sleep. Sad to say I'm back to being a vampire again. I'm going back to work whether I like or not. Yesterday was my interim off and tonight is the start of an earlier shift from 9:30 PM to 7 AM. At least I can go home before sunrise, great. 


Our cable lost signal again. An error popped up on the TV screen saying "e06 smart card failure." Every time I see this error on our TV I tell my sister if we can only buy that darn smart card I'll just buy that just to make it stop. I think we need to change our cable provider this is such an inconvenience, it's not funny anymore. Since our cable provider digitalized their system we've nothing but problems. I love the crystal clear reception with the help of our digital box but I'm not happy with frequent signal interruptions it's getting annoying especially when you're in the middle of watching something important. Poor customers like us can complain as much as we want but albeit that a big cable provider like them can't be shut down. I guess we're stuck with what we have. Actually, we've already switched providers before the one we had is far worse than this. What can I say? A song goes I'm just a small voice.

The Neobabylon Building

Let me talk about this interesting exhibit I saw in the news last night called the Myth of the Human Body. The exhibit opened on October 15, 2010, at the Neobabylon Building along Bayani Road in Taguig city and housed donated bodies transformed into art forms. Pretty scary right? I know, they're just wax-like figures but they're still cadavers so the thought of getting locked up in a museum like that gives me goosebumps. Kinda freaky and disturbing at the same time but I find it interesting because those are real bodies and parts I'm sure that it's truly a painstaking task to put them all together. I read from Jessica Soho's post on Facebook that the entrance fee up to date is Php 350 but I'm sure it's worth a try especially if you're up for something educational and far out at the same time. I'll check out with sissy if she'll be interested since it's a once in a lifetime experience. The "Myth of the Human Body" exhibit will be in the country until April of next year. For more information read the article from www.gmanews.tv.