Wonderland

I didn't know where to put this one. Sorry. :-)

Credits to Leo for this picture

Aly.

No Sleep.

I've been deprived from sleeping for the past three days already. I've been busy with tests, paper works and more paper works. Pimples are bugging me. As I reach my nearly fourth day, I look like this na. These were photos taken in Maica's Condo during our overnight for Metres.

Cobra doesn't incur any effect on me na, and I am just so sad. I am yet to discover another keep-me-awake companion soon.

Midterm Week

I have a total of three tests for midterms

• Dastrap (Java Programming)
• Elemfre (French)
• Infimac (Accounting)

I had already taken the two, and I must say they were really both hard. Elemfre was like "wtmfomfg is this?" and Infimac on the other hand was like, "I thought, we needed 10 sheets of  3 columnar paper, why multiple choice? OMG, I preferred computations </3"  Yes. You heard that straight from me (not heard, read, technically), I didn't expect to have a test like that in Infimac because I really thought the faculty would give problems that need to be journalized, put into balance sheet, adjusted then trial balanced, but then again, the test was like full of concepts and I wasn't too prepared for that. *sobs*

I hope DASTRAP would be good to me tomorrow, please please, Miss Shirley. :-)

Xoxo,

No Extensions Please?

This is my graduation picture (taken October 2010) and my ID picture that was taken before the start of my Frosh years in DLSU (April 2008). My face, hair, color, really sucked at my ID photo. Obvious? Hahaha. I didn't like my graduation picture much too because I feel that I really look fat on the photo. Yes, I know I am, but the hair contributed to a fuller face. Major boo boo, I should have asked the hair and make up artist to have my hair straightened instead. Haha. Nevertheless, evidently, my graduation picture looked better than my yucky crappy ID photo which I have to succumb in my entire stay in La Salle. Ha Ha Ha.

By the way, I haven't graduated yet. This was just for the centennial yearbook. My expected time of graduation is at the second term of this year. I don't one to extend one more term, so please pray with me. Thank you!

No Miss Sungit

" To a long and tiring day, the least you can do is to smile and thank people for even the simplest things they've done for you. "

Sa mga simpleng "thank you", mapapagaan mo na ang kalooban nila. Sa mga simpleng "thank you" napapadama mo na na importante sila. :-)

Thank you kay kuyang nag-ga-gas. :-)
Thank you kay ate cashier sa supermarket.
'Wag kalimutan magthank you sa pagbalik ni manong driver sa sukli mo.
at siyempre, kay ate/kuya sa pag abot nito sayo.

Mga Nakakatunaw Na Salita

Isang mainit na tanghali ang sumalubong sa akin at sa aking kaibigan nung minsang papunta kami sa bahay ng isang kaibigan. Habang hinihintay namin siyang bumaba sa kanilang tahanan. Maraming klaseng tindero ang lumapit saamin. Tindero ng Mop, Prutas, DVD, MP3 at kung ano ano pa, serbisyo sa kotse, ano mang hanapin mo, naialok na. Ngunit may isang lalaking nakapagpahinto sa akin at nakapagpaisip saakin nung mga panahon na yun. Isang mamang may bitbit na higanteng bag sa kanyang balikat nagaalok ng mga damit at kung ano ano pa. "Ma'am/ Sir Tshirt po, Lacoste, Polo, Burberry" Parang wala lang naman saakin nung mga oras na yun. Katulad lang siya ng ibang nagtitinda, so hindi ko siya pinansin. Mamaya maya pa't biglang salita uli si kuya. "Ma'am ipakita ko lang po, baka sakali lang." Hanggang ngayon hindi ko alam kung bakit sa twing naalala ko yung mga salitang yun ni kuya, hindi ko maiwasang maluha. Siguro kasi may parte saakin na naguguilty ako bakit di ko man lang siya pinakinggan. Siguro kasi naiisip ko na bakit di ko man lang siya binigyan ng pagkakataon. Siguro kasi naiisip ko, napahiya si kuya, at dahil sakin yon.

Ayoko ng ganung mga sitwasyon. Pakiramdam ko kasi, dama ko yung hirap niya. Siguro kasi naiisip ko na, "Pagod na nga yung tao sa buong araw na pagiikot, hindi mo man lang siya nabigyan ng ilang segundo para man lang ipakita yung produkto niya at subukang makapagbenta" Siguro naiisip ko kasi, ang sama sama ko sa mga panahon na yun.

Kung meron lang akong pera, bibili ako ng tinitinda ni kuya. Hindi dahil sa kailangan ko yung tinitinda niya o ano man pero naapreciate ko yung pagod at pagpupursige niyang makabenta. Kung meron lang akong pera, bibili ako ng tinitinda ni kuya, para sa mainit at tirik na sikat nang araw, para kahit sa tagaktak ng pawis niya, kahit papaano, mapasaya ko siya.


Saludo ako kay kuya at sa mga iba pang tindero na nasa daan na nagsisikap para mabuhay. Kung tutuusin mas madali pang magnakaw kesa makipagsapalaran sa daan magbenta ng produkto nila. Bukod sa labas sa puhunan, ang kita ay walang katiyakan. Pero kahit ganoon, hindi parin nila pinagpapalit ang dignidad nila. Tinittiis nila ang hirap, para mabuhay sa marangal na dahilan. Galing mo kuya. :-) 

Sumakay ako sa Jeepney

Hindi ako nagkokotse pag umaalis ako, hindi narin ako gaanong nagtataxi simula ng umento sa pasahe. Mabigat na kasi para saakin ang kwarentang flagdown at tres singkwentang dagdag kada patak ng metro. Wala naman kasi akong pera, kung meron man, sapat lang sa panggastos sa mga pangangailangan ko. Oo merong sobra pamisan, pero madalas tipid ako o di kaya kuripot lamang talaga. Dahil sa mga ito, madalas akong nagjejeep kahit papunta sa paroroonan ko, lalo na kung wala ring mga bus sa ruta ko at eto ang bersyon ng jeepney story ko.

Solvent.

Dalawang beses na sa Linggong ito ko naranasan ito. Tatlong magkakaibang bata. Halos iisa ang storya.
Nung minsang papunta ako sa Dangwa nung biyernes, sumakay ako ng jeep rutang Cubao- Divisoria. Pag upo ko, tyaka ko lang napansin ang isang batang tila pagal na pagal na. Antok na antok. Halos wala na sa ulirat. Bawat hinto ng jeep ay isang pagkakataon para sa linggit na ipikit ang kanyang mata, hanggang sa nagtagal, di na nya namalayan nakatulog na nga talaga siya.

Naisip ko nung mga panahon na yun, "Bakit kaya siya pagod na pagod? Saan kaya siya nanggaling? Saan kaya siya pupunta?" Halata naman kasi na wala siyang kasama. Maiitim ang mga paa. Napabayaan na nga ata. Noong nagdadagsaan na ang pasahero, til wala parin siya sa ulirat, dun ako simulang nagtaka, "Ano kayang meron kay bata? Ang pungay ng kanyang mata". Sabay sigaw ni Manong driver, "Baba ka na dyan, marami na kong customer, lipat ka nalang sa harapan. Tabi kayo ni nanay." Si nanay na sosyal ang itsura, sabay hirit pag lipat ni bata, "Siguro nag sosolvent yan, imposibleng di nagsosolvent yan". Si manong driver, tuloy ang pag daldal kay bata, hanggang sa tawagin na nya itong kosa. Bumaba na ako sa bandang Avenida. Di ko na alam kung nakarating si bata sa biyaheng Divisoria...

Sobre.

Isang araw nang minsan akong papuntang Buendia. May dalawang magkapatid na umangkas sa jeep. Sabay pasok ni liit. Sabay upo naman ni ate sa tuntungan ng jeep. Nasa mga tres anyos palang si liit. Si ate naman, nasa mga dose. Maraming hawak na sobre si liit. Parang problemado naman si ate. Masaya parin si liit. Kumakanta habang namimigay ng sobre. Mistulang naglalaro lang, at kami- kami ang mga kalaro niya. Ang jeep na sinasakyan niya, ang playground nya. Nang karamihan saamin ang binalik ang sobre, sabay salampak ni liit sa gitna ng jeep, binibilang ang mga baryang nakuha nya. Sa pangalawang pagkakataon, ang saya saya niya. Mistulang naglalaro lang siya. Walang pakialam sa kung gaano na ang halaga ng nakolekta nya, basta siya, nagpapatunog lang ng mga barya. Habang nakasalampak siya, tinawag siya ni Ate (mag-asawa kasi ang nasa biyahe- driver at si ate) "Neng, halika, lipat ka dito sa harapan, baka bumaba ka ng umaandar masagasaan ka". Sa kabataan ni liit, sa tingin ko di nya alam na siya ang kinakausap ni ate. Sabi ko nga, sa tancha ko, tres anyos lang si liit. Tuloy parin siya sa paglaro. Di niya pinansin si ate. Makalipas ang ilang saglit, tinawag ni ate ang ate ni liit. "Neng, dito kayo sa harapan oh." Tinawag nang ate ni liit si Liit, sabay baba sa jeep. Hindi ko na nakita....

Hindi ko alam kung may sense ba para sainyo yung kwento ko, pero saakin sigurado akong naapektuhan ako. Gusto ko ayusan ng buhok si Liit. Gusto ko siyang kausapin. Gusto ko siya bigyan ng pagkain. Bukod sa mga kagustuhan kong iyon. Sa isang banda, napaisip ako. Napakaswerte ko.

Maswerte ako dahil pinalaki ako ng magulang ko sa simpleng buhay. Nagpapasalamat ako dahil hindi ako pinalaki ng magulang ko na de yaya, de koche, at halos lahat de-luxe ang serbis. Pinalaki ako ng magulang ko sa lakad, maraming lakad, jeep, tricycle, pedicab, mga eskinita, tawaran sa Divisoria, walkathon sa Quiapo at kung ano ano pa. Maswerte ako na pinalaki ako sa simpleng buhay. Nakakahanap ako ng kasiyahan sa mga simpleng bagay.


Ang sarap sa pakiramdam nung narinig ko ang dalawang drayber na nag-ooffer ng tulong, ng espasyo sa upuan kahit na alam nila na mababawasan sila ng kita. Ang sarap sa pakiramdam na alam mo na may malasakit sila kahit sa di nila kaanak. Ang sarap sa pakiramdam na malaman na may mga tao pa palang ganito, at mga kababayan ko ito. Hindi ko alam kung nakukuha niyo yung punto ko, pero masaya lang talaga ako.

Sana ako rin may magawa para sa mga batang katulad nila. Sana.

It's Confrimed!

Last, February 12, 2011. My lovely sister, Andrei, received her sacrament of confirmation. She together with her batchmates was confirmed at The Most Holy Redeemer Parish in Quezon City. She participated in different parts of the celebration. She offered flowers during the offertory, she read the second reading and she did one more thing. ( I can't remember what exactly that is now) 

Before going to the church, I curled her hair. We had a petty fight prior to that too. Hehe. After curling her hair. Ate Trish, my cousin have done her make up. 

We dined at Pizza Hut Trinoma after. We initially wanted Don Henrico's but there was no such resto in Tri. 

Here are the cuts!

This is her, while waiting for the celebration to start.

Her godmother, our cousin, Ate Trisha.

These are her classmates, just a few of the many.

 This is her reading the second reading.

And her about to offer the flowers.

(I bought those btw, all the way from Dangwa) 

This is her entire class. 

Pup and Drei!

Me, Drei and Ate Tricia

Family Picture, almost. Hi mom!

Family picture 2, closer shot.

A shot while eating @ Trinoma

Andre with her dessert!

Congrats Drei! Love you!

xx, 

Ate Yan

My Intramuros Shots

These were Anj's shots. I edited the lighting via lightroom. Tiring but fun day. I've seen the best and worst of Manila, yet again. Thank you Angelo!

I'm Inlove With This.

Its been a week already since I first saw Oyo and Kristine's wedding video but nevertheless, I still am very much in Cloud nine whenever I get the chance to watch this. I watch this a hundred times already. A hundred and one, I think, and I feel so happy every single time. I feel so inlove. I still feel kilig. It even make me feel that I want to have a wed just like that.  Hihi. This is me, being hopeless romantic and a dreamer again, I know.

I can feel Oyo's happiness in the video. Yes, as if we're close, but hello you can really see it in his eyes. I find him a really sweet guy. A sincere man. (I am speaking based on the video, by the way).

I hope they would last. Hehe.

As for me, I just find this wedding really sweet, simple, laid back, private and yes, awesome. Kilig*

Xoxo,

Aly

• I would not pay too much attention on impossible thoughts. (Impossible because they were already verified gazillion times) 
• I would not think of crazy ideas. 
• I would live by these two must-dos, and it will lead into actions. Concrete ones.

-ALY

The Best Of Street

Say hello to my first entry. For my debut, I am writing about the food that one usually munches on to when either he/she has a tight budget, or he/she has experienced sudden cravings on the street! Now let me share to you, my beloved reader, a roster of my  personal favorites. How about a delicious budget friendly food without compromising cleanliness, hygiene and safety. That's something right? So here, my own personal recommendation of a perfect spot to hop in whenever you are in Q.C, specifically when you are within the boundaries of  Anonas, Sikatuna, and Kamuning.

This is the first view of the haven of enticing thrills. 

(One could never cross this street without noticing this Ice Cream House. )

This ice cream house has been the place of joy to children for the past years. The store serves locally made ice cream that comes in different variants. They also have, yes! Pizza. A Perfect match! Aside from ice cream, they also have floats and shakes of different kinds! And did I mention, this place are also for diabetics, for they sell sugar-free ice cream! Their products have prices ranging from 5 pesos to 200++ pesos. They also have party sized ice cream which is very applicable for any celebration.

Just beside the ice cream store is this fish ball cart! Uh oh! This stand is definitely like no other fishball stands in the Metro. This stand is much more hygienic that those on the streets for it doesn't allow sauce dippings. They have the sauce in bottles and one must have to squeesh the bottle to put the desired sauce on to his/her plastic cup or mini paper plate. Fishball is at a .50 cents, as usual and Chicken Ball and Squid Ball is priced at 2.50P each!

A few steps from  the ice cream store is this small stall selling quail eggs, cheese sticks, kikiam, lumpia and my favorite...

Calamares! Yes! I tell you, you can never go wrong with their Calamares. They have the best street Calamare on the Metro, i tell you! What's good is that they do not allow people to dip on the sauce instead they give plastic cups to their customers.

My all time favorite Calamare costs 4P each. Yes, that is really worth the price. They also have the best vinegar-compatible-to-calamares sauce, and the super delicious chili garlic that would also add to the flavor. Yummy! 

A few more walks and you will find this Barbeque stand!

This Barbeque stand is my favorite. They have the best-tasting isaw ng baboy, and Balun-balunan at a very affordable price. The chicken intestine (isaw ng manok), pork intestine (isaw ng baboy, which is practically at two kinds but both taste delicous!), is at 4PhP, pork ears (tenga ng baboy) is priced at 7PhP, while their gizzard (Balunbalunan) is at 10PhP. I am not so sure about the barbeque, sorry but i tell you it wouldn't exceed 13PhP. I am also not sure about the dugo, because I haven't tried eating one in my entire life. Practically, you can have everything you want for less that 50 pesos. (With pants, unbuttoned after.)

Those are my favorite spots around Sikatuna. I know I haven't explored enough but I am sharing it anyway. Hihi. 

Btw, there are also, Buko Stand, and other stalls within the street. These are just my personal recommendations. Tried and Tested.

So, to him who said that one could never have delicious street food without compromising hygiene and cleanliness.. Hm! I bet he hasn't been in this place! I can't wait 'til he discover this delicious alley in this simple street in Q.C!

See you there! Happy Eating! 

x,

Alyana.

Two in a Row!

I've been spending the past two Sundays at Leo's vicinity. I usually arrive there a little less before lunch time. Last week, I brought ice cream for them, and this week we made Mango Ref. cake. Anyway, enough with the bluffing. We usually spend our time watching T.V., talking to her sister and eating! We also usually hear mass nearby, at Sikatuna. For this week, we...

Heard mass at a chapel inside Sikatuna Village.

(Look at the street where the church was located, really suites eh?)

After hearing mass, we ate on the stalls. This is our first stop! Calamares!

After eating Calamares, we are now ready to eat ihaw ihaw!

(You must then read my food blog post about this delicious food! Calamares is just one of them.)

(This is me and my sister waiting for our orders to be cooked)

(And this is me, already munching on the food!)

After eating we went back to Anj's place. 

Anj's mom and sister were outside when we arrived. Andrei took the opportunity to practice biking. A past time she could never do here at home. She first took on the exotic bike (because I don't know, how that bike was called)

And tried also the regular bike (which was practically already small for her)

After biking, we ate dinner. We spent a little more time at Anj's and we went straight home already. 

That's how the past two Sundays had been for me. Simple yet tummy filling. Simple yet satisfying. Simple yet happy. :)

Thank you Anj for spending your Sunday with me. I know you didn't get to have enough rest, but regardless of that you still chose to be with me. Thank you! >:D< Thank you also for taking pictures. Sorry you weren't visible on any of the photos :|

xx, 

Al. 

No content yet, sorry! I'll post something as soon as I get my files organized or, discover something new!


xx,
Yana

Burlesque

Last night, my sister, father and I watched Burlesque. It was a musical starred and produced by Christina Aguillera and Cher. The movie had a simple plot, yet it still was very appealing and exciting to watch. 

There were also several lines that struck me- one of which was when Sean said to Jack that opportunity comes once in our life, and once its there we have to grab it for it won't last long. It struck me because I didn't expect that those words could still be very applicable and appropriate even in the simple things in life.

On the critique side of the movie, I must say that it was worth your money, in 2D or 3D. Christina (Ali in the movie) gave me chills while she was singing. Really good vocals and moves.

Now, how I wish I could turn back time and make my debut  "Burlesque-Themed".

BTW, Christina was really in good great shape in the movie! 

xx,

Aly

A Deserving Winner

Hello guys, vote for my friend, Mr. John Carlo Esteban. He is eying to be this year's Mr. Letran so please please help us by doing a simple favor. It won't take two minutes of your time, promise!

Here's how to help:

1. Like this page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Mr-and-Ms-Letran-2011/172539082784356
2. Go to photos page. And like this picture.

3. Or type this URL instead, and click "Like".

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=180848375286760&set=a.180847965286801.34314.172539082784356&pid=383651&id=172539082784356

Thank you very much! 

The Best We Can Ever Have

To the one whom I've waited for, for seven long years.

To whom I loved the moment I knew mama has her on her womb.

To my much awaited, and forever playmate.

To her who has always been my refuge.

To the one whom I entrust my stories with.

To her who has always been my source of laughter.

To my forever picture buddy.

To my full time best-est friend, part time enemy. Hehe.

To my one and only sister, my baby, my Sharmain Amethyst, and also my ate! My Andrei!

Happy 12th Birthday!

I love you my Bochelli!

xx,

Bach / Ruby Mae / Ate Yana