"Congratulations! You deserve that!"
"Thanks! But I want to add something right there."
There was a pause.
"I want to win a Palanca," I told Jan flat out loud.
He gave me an eager look as he continued to listen to me and my absurd dreams.
I rolled my eyes, gave out a soft sigh, and blurted, "I just do not know how to do it."
You see, I've read this year's winning entries - mostly from established writers, journalist, and columnists - and I certainly do not make the cut.
I guess Jan and I need an attitude makeover.
You see, we've been together in more than 20 flights. And perhaps a little less than half of that were at least an hour to three hours delayed. And not one, not a single free flight voucher from any airline has been issued to us for the inconvenience while I see a lot of my friends getting free round trip flights for an hour delay.
I think the problem roots to our attitude. We DGAF. We ran out of fukcs to give that we're already missing a lot. We still act calmly even in eventful and stressful situations and I'm starting to think it's a bad thing. What if nag-beast mode kami? Or kahit nagreklamo man lang? I reckon it's going to be different. Ang dami na siguro naming free flights ngayon.
The problem is, parang ang hirap magalit. I've never seen Jan angry. And he's never seen me angry, too. I am not easily offended. Perhaps I might have not reached my boiling point yet. But I still get pissed off. I get pissed off when someone is rude towards me. I get pissed off at disgruntled fast food crews who give me the wrong orders at a time when I am already dying of hunger. I get frustrated when a team member has not done his/her job properly and the situation will be taken out on me. I get annoyed at idiocy and stupidity. BUT...
You see, we've been together in more than 20 flights. And perhaps a little less than half of that were at least an hour to three hours delayed. And not one, not a single free flight voucher from any airline has been issued to us for the inconvenience while I see a lot of my friends getting free round trip flights for an hour delay.
I think the problem roots to our attitude. We DGAF. We ran out of fukcs to give that we're already missing a lot. We still act calmly even in eventful and stressful situations and I'm starting to think it's a bad thing. What if nag-beast mode kami? Or kahit nagreklamo man lang? I reckon it's going to be different. Ang dami na siguro naming free flights ngayon.
The problem is, parang ang hirap magalit. I've never seen Jan angry. And he's never seen me angry, too. I am not easily offended. Perhaps I might have not reached my boiling point yet. But I still get pissed off. I get pissed off when someone is rude towards me. I get pissed off at disgruntled fast food crews who give me the wrong orders at a time when I am already dying of hunger. I get frustrated when a team member has not done his/her job properly and the situation will be taken out on me. I get annoyed at idiocy and stupidity. BUT...
But you see, those are just a few of the many situations where I've seen normal people start losing their cool and here I am just brushing everything off like nothing happened. The most I can do is to kill someone in my mind 20 times within 5 minutes in a hundred different ways. Or if eye-rolling and sarcasm can kill and count as expressions to anger, you'd be dead before you even know it.
Don't get me wrong. I'm not a wimp. I can fight, too. I grew up fist-fighting in our neighborhood and I have a little training in martial arts - to which my friend has reiterated that this is scarier than someone who's perpetually angry. Mas nakatakot daw magalit ang taong hindi nagagalit. Eh lalo na yung marunong mag "karate". Haha. So yeah, try me.
Don't get me wrong. I'm not a wimp. I can fight, too. I grew up fist-fighting in our neighborhood and I have a little training in martial arts - to which my friend has reiterated that this is scarier than someone who's perpetually angry. Mas nakatakot daw magalit ang taong hindi nagagalit. Eh lalo na yung marunong mag "karate". Haha. So yeah, try me.
I wonder what happens when Jan and I get married, move in to our new house, and get into a fight. Knowing him who can throw that perfect uppercut and me who can execute a good roundhouse kick, I guess, kailangan namin ng boxing ring.
Should I be worried? I'm afraid this DGAF attitude might be bottling up my anger, explode, and then I become a Hulk (or worse, Peter Griffin) one day.
And also, yeah, still bummed we never got those free flights.
 |
| Image via gfycat |
And also, yeah, still bummed we never got those free flights.
I was eyeing on this particular shoe for several months even though I do not have a reason to wear it. I think boots are completely out of fashion when you're living in a hot and humid country. But I got one just in case I might need it.
Just so you know, I suffer from a different kind of amnesia. The kind of amnesia when you buy something and totally forget about it. Then later on you will just be surprised finding something you didn't know you have and don't know why you bought it in the first place. I know I'm not alone in this.
Well, the boots almost suffered the same fate. But unlike all the other past purchases, it only took 4 months of being kept hidden in the dark before it was pulled right out of its box. I brought it with me in Taiwan because I thought the weather is just perfect for a bootie. And it was.
I absolutely love it! I thought I'd never be able to wear it again until the next trip to a cold country - which isn't happening anytime soon because my priorities have changed and traveling isn't really on my top 3. *sniffs*
Then Christmas happened. In November.
Together with other media men from Davao and some members of the Davao Bloggers Society, Smart Communications invited me to a fun-filled Christmas at the Farm party!
Honestly, I didn't know what to wear. I got confused between a Western farmer and a typical cowboy. But whatever I wear, I knew the boots would cut it. I had to make do with what was already in my closet and this was the closest to a farm girl as I could get (or I could have just been a potato).
I think I pulled it off. The boots are great. It's just that, I don't think I'll ever be able to wear one again. So, in to the box you go, boots.
Just so you know, I suffer from a different kind of amnesia. The kind of amnesia when you buy something and totally forget about it. Then later on you will just be surprised finding something you didn't know you have and don't know why you bought it in the first place. I know I'm not alone in this.
Well, the boots almost suffered the same fate. But unlike all the other past purchases, it only took 4 months of being kept hidden in the dark before it was pulled right out of its box. I brought it with me in Taiwan because I thought the weather is just perfect for a bootie. And it was.
I absolutely love it! I thought I'd never be able to wear it again until the next trip to a cold country - which isn't happening anytime soon because my priorities have changed and traveling isn't really on my top 3. *sniffs*
Then Christmas happened. In November.
Together with other media men from Davao and some members of the Davao Bloggers Society, Smart Communications invited me to a fun-filled Christmas at the Farm party!
Honestly, I didn't know what to wear. I got confused between a Western farmer and a typical cowboy. But whatever I wear, I knew the boots would cut it. I had to make do with what was already in my closet and this was the closest to a farm girl as I could get (or I could have just been a potato).
I think I pulled it off. The boots are great. It's just that, I don't think I'll ever be able to wear one again. So, in to the box you go, boots.
 |
| And oh, I cut my own hair, by the way. |
But that is not always the case. Sometimes, choosing convenience and comfort over spontaneity is the best choice.
You see, exploring Taiwan would have been easy if the bus routes and directions were also written in English. Not that I'm saying it's difficult, but we simply want to relax and not stress over boarding the wrong buses, getting lost, and chasing bus schedules that we chose to book a guided Yehliu-Shifen-Jiufen tour from KKDay. And I never thought traveling could be this easy and hassle-free (this is not a paid endorsement and also, I think we're just getting old).
Zhongshe (also spelled as Chungshe) Flower Market is one of Taiwan's attractions located in Houli Township, Taichung. It is a vast six-hectare land filled with beautiful and vibrant flowers that bloom all throughout the season. I would have loved to see my favorite flowers - the tulips - in bloom but we were there during the wrong season. Different season offers you different flowers. As for the tulips, you will see them around February to March.
But still, even if I didn't see my favorite flowers, even if some flowers were not in full bloom, it is one of the most beautiful places I've been to. The pictures will speak for itself.
Sun Moon Lake offers a lot of activities. You can do a round-the-lake bus tour, or board the boats and sail some areas of the lake such as Lalu Island and Ita Thao, or try the ropeway (a.k.a. cable car), where you can see a fantastic view of the lake from above.
But of all the activities that are offered, I only wanted to do one thing: go cycling. Sun Moon Lake has been dubbed as one of the most scenic cycling paths in the world.
And it did not disappoint.
We booked our Taiwan trip from November 16 to 19, thinking that 3 days would be enough for Taipei. But since the airline cancelled our flight on the 16th, we had it moved to the 14th. Coming from Davao, international trips can be steep because we also have to fly either to Manila or Cebu since the only international flight available from Davao is going to Singapore and vice-versa (soon to Kuala Lumpur). Fortunately, we were able to book an early flight to Cebu because we also planned to go to Bantayan Island before the Taiwan Trip.
So apparently, the Bantayan trip has to be scrapped to give way to Taiwan. And even with the extended travel dates, 5 days is still not enough to experience Taiwan. And one blog post will not be enough for that. So for now, this post will only be about Taipei.
For the first time in my life, I wished I have the singing voice and be in a musical.
Well actually, I have been part of musicals. The biggest one I had was just a mere school play in college. But what difference does it make? I think the only line that divides both professional and amateur school plays is that they do it for money while we do it for grades. Haha.
Anyway, I played as a hooker and as Kim in Miss Saigon on different occasions. But don't get me wrong, even though I (assume to) have a talent in acting, I can never carry a tune to save my life. So apparently, on both musicals that I have been part of, we were just lip-syncing the entire time.
I'll be honest. Even though I'm no fashionista and my wardrobe is always out of season, I would be lying if I say I don't like dressing up. It makes me look human.
But what I hate about dressing up is the misery of finding the dress that's actually wearable. And by wearable, I meant something that's casually comfortable but could still be elegant and not unflattering at the same time. For my body type, that's kind of elusive, you know.
My body is so specific. I am skinny but I've got curves. So dresses from the department store can either be too big on the waist or too tight on the bust. Usually, I had my dresses done for me and that's a bummer because it is more expensive than buying RTWs. The ones I got from the department stores are not and will never be perfect fit and had to be sent for repair.
But what I hate about dressing up is the misery of finding the dress that's actually wearable. And by wearable, I meant something that's casually comfortable but could still be elegant and not unflattering at the same time. For my body type, that's kind of elusive, you know.
My body is so specific. I am skinny but I've got curves. So dresses from the department store can either be too big on the waist or too tight on the bust. Usually, I had my dresses done for me and that's a bummer because it is more expensive than buying RTWs. The ones I got from the department stores are not and will never be perfect fit and had to be sent for repair.
I love dressing up. But before slaying the red carpet, I'd go through a mini meltdown first after browsing a thousand dresses only to try on ten and fit on none. #TheStruggleIsReal
Anyway, I just rocked this dress during my sister's 18th birthday. I had this tailored by K Davao - formerly Kasuotan and it's the most gorgeous thing ever!
Anyway, I just rocked this dress during my sister's 18th birthday. I had this tailored by K Davao - formerly Kasuotan and it's the most gorgeous thing ever!
 |
| Move over, Pia Wurtzbach! Charaught! Haha |
Macau is also known as "Little Vegas" or the "Vegas of Asia", or at least that's what I've heard. And with its reputation for grand casinos and luxurious hotels, all the while we really thought going around Macau is expensive. But with research and a lot of reading, we never thought that it could be the most budget-friendly first class destination in Asia (as if I've traveled a lot of places in Asia noh? Haha).
We originally planned to book our Macau tour from legit online agencies since we can always go cheaper with that. A Macau city tour can go around Php 5,000+ that's already inclusive of lunch buffet in a 4-star hotel, roundtrip ferry (HK-Macau), and of course, the convenience of having a transportation that can take you from point A to point B. Actually, it's not bad. The buffet lunch would have made it reasonable. But it can still be quite steep for budget travelers like us.
I am an average looking gal. Most of the time, I look like I just rolled and fell from my bed.
I Did Not Choose the Klutz Life, the Klutz Life Chose Me
By Sarah Aterrado - October 04, 2017
This morning, just like every morning, I woke up earlier than my alarm feeling groggy. And to make things worse, I hit the corner of my bedside bookshelf with my head. I could have gone dramatic over a small, assumed-concussion like what I always do when my hormones go on a monthly overdrive and tell Jan my last goodbyes in case I didn't make it out of bed.
