A New Life

It was the day after my 24th birthday, we confirmed that the best gift I could possibly have was given to us. April 13, at around 3pm the self-test result was too much to handle:

It was my first time to do such test and the manual says two lines means positive. Prince should be the first to know so I texted him to call me as soon as he wakes up. I shared the good news and we both agreed to go to the clinic on weekend to confirm but we did it on Friday instead. Thus, the confirmation took place:

I am now eight weeks pregnant and my OB-Gyne gave me at least five days bed rest since I've been having colds and cough for the past three days so it's crucial for me to have enough rest. I just had my urinalysis and CBC last Tuesday and will have my first trimester ultrasound soon so I'm really praying that our baby will stay healthy.

For a first time mom-to-be, I can say that this is a really big step up from the bachelorette life. I have different priorities now. It is both exciting and scary at the same time. I'm just so glad that Prince is always around to help me out and make me feel better all the time.

New Pad

I moved out yesterday to the new 2-bedroom apartment that I share with long time good friend, Kuya Glenn. I just had my operation to remove the cyst in my neck two days ago so it was really hard for me to carry heavy things but I was able to do so with the help of Kuya Glenn. Prince has been sick for three days now so he wasn't able to help me out as well.

We finished transferring all my stuff at around 10am [Kuya Glenn and I ended out shifts at 8-9am], took a short rest and went to the department store to get stuff for the house, my new bedroom in particular. I just got those simple basic bedding needs - mattress, pillow, bolster and a night lamp. We went back home and fixed everything before 3pm. My room now feels so light and I can relax all day [I wish I can! haha].I love the sense of independence that I have once again. With how everything is turning out, I know that it's another beginning. A fresh start this 24th year in my life. ♥

Moving Out

For Filipinos who are used to the "close family ties" culture, it's not an easy thing to move out of your parents house unless you're getting married, if you're from a rural area and will be working in the city or will be living outside the country. Sometimes even a married couple still lives in the parent's house simply because they find that the parents are not used to their children living away from their home and vice versa.

Since I am a self proclaimed anti-norm, I started living in my own apartment after I turned 19. It was a small bachelorette's pad with two bedrooms [I am sharing the rent with another female officemate who's often out to her parent's place in Pampanga during weekends], with a small kitchen and dining area, a medium-sized lanai and a huge bathroom. I came back to my parent's house when I am about to finish my last semester in college but I get to keep my full-time job.

My second time to move out was when I left for Singapore. I rented different HDB flats, a mansionette and the last was in a private condo. The most costly thing in that country is paying for rent but it's all worth it as long as you are earning enough to pay for it. I stayed there for more than a year before I decided to go back in the Philippines and stay here for good.

I like being independent. I am now, again, living with my parents for 7 months since I came back and I miss having my own peaceful place although I can't complain that my parent's house is so close to where I am currently working. I've been scouting for an apartment and a very good friend of mine said that the apartment downstairs where they are currently staying is already vacant and is ready for new tenants. I will check it out later today and will be moving out of my parent's house again within this week. It's about 30-minute travel to work but I think it's not that bad. Good luck to me! ☺

Summer Lovin'

Does love means sacrifice? I don't know. Just noticed that when someone loves, it seems like he/she also have to sacrifice something very important or change something about his/her personality. Why does it have to be that way?

I blame it in overrated TV drama series and most things in the media. Love is supposed to be the most positive idea in the entire world. It's supposed to be simple yet very special. When two people love each other, it means acceptance, trust, loyalty, respect and understanding all-in-one. God made the people in His own image but each one is called an individual because everyone is different. Remember that unconditional love doesn't even attempt to change anything in your partner because that is how he/she is. Change will come in his/her own will and you wouldn't have to initiate it. The way people change may be something not everybody will like but it's an individual choice. I know, it's such a huge word - UNCONDITIONAL LOVE. A person will either commit to it or do otherwise. This is after all, a life full of choices.

Holy Week Reminder

How does the idea of having a very rude visitor in your house sounds? Annoying enough to kick him out and warn him never to come back again, I think. As a person who loves traveling, I always make it a point that I respect the people, place, culture and rules in whichever location I go. Our country is famous for it's tourist spots, love for music [and Manny Paquiao]. We have top of the line beaches and that's one of the reasons why I love summer. There are more and more summer destinations that are making names these days. Before, it will always be Boracay. Nowadays, people are exploring the islands of Palawan, Bohol, Davao, CamSur, Cagayan de Oro, Anawangin, Nagsasa Cove, Potipot Island, Carabao Island, La Union and etc. I hate it when I see people tourists ruin such beautiful places. I'm never active in any environmental organization but I know how important it is to do my part - simple things that will really matter if only everyone will do the same thing. It's Holy Week again, a lot of people will be travelling out of town. Please be mindful of your actions, it's not only you who want to enjoy nature at it's best.

Journey on The Best TapSiLog

TapSiLog is one of the most popular breakfast meal in the Philipines. It's a combination of tapa [most of the time, beef], garlic fried rice and egg fried sunny side up. I am fond of having tapsilog anytime of the day and so I never stop trying out different versions served in every corner of the world where I can find it which is apparently, everywhere and I mean EVERYWHERE!

And then I decided to make a documentation of this journey in search of the best tapsilog from the outskirts of the metro to the deepest province wherever it's served as long as I remember eating there, hehe.

I will first mention the restaurant which probably have the most number of outlets - Jollibee. Their tapsilog is a mediocre. It's neither good nor bad. Something that I might order again when I happen to pass by one of their branch in search for breakfast but not good enough to make me crave for it.

Then there's this Rufo's Famous Tapa with branches in Ortigas Center and in Makati [I'm not sure if there's more]. For me their tapsilog tastes sweeter than how tapa usually taste in other restaurants. I like it and we used to call in for delivery when I worked in Ortigas.

I make it a point to try out different tapsilog when I'm travelling, too - Boracay, Bohol, Puerto Galera and even in Singapore! Tapsilog by the shore is the best breakfast [better than having waffles or sumptuous pancakes, I swear!] paired with just instant coffee. In Singapore there are not a lot of tapsilog options but I like it served in a restaurant in Lucky Plaza called Jologs, although it costs about S$7 [Php200+] which is more than half of it's usual price, most OFW still dig it.

Prince once brought me to a tapsihan few years ago at the back area of the UST campus. I'm not sure what that place is called but their tapsilog is also something worth the long travel time and I could have it everyday if only I live in that area.

Last month was my first time to eat in a famous SEx [Sinangag Express] outlet in Sucat, Parañaque with Prince and his bandmates. I so love the vinegar and the tapa so I had to ask Prince to buy another one that we can share after I finished mine, hehe.

However, no matter how far I travel, the best tapsilog is just few minutes away from my place - Tapsi Ni Vivian located in Project 3, Quezon City.This place has always been a favorite since I was in grade school when my father bring the entire family and we just occupy one of their nipa huts to enjoy a lot of their great selection of dishes. Sadly, Tapsi Ni Vivian doesn't have any other branch but I assure you that it's really worth going to this one of a kind tapsihan!

We We're Once Respected.

I am turning 24 next month. I was born after the historical EDSA Revolution in February 1986. It made me naïve on what it felt like to live during the Martial Law. From my late grandmother's stories, it made me scared to imagine how was it like. I remember that she used to tell me that although she's not the type who goes out often, they sometimes have to go to the dance but make sure to be home before the curfew otherwise they will be put to jail. It sounded so negative to me. Although she also told me that the exchange rate at that time was USD1 = Php2. No one will ever think of going out of the country to be an OFW.

Speaking of being an OFW, I had my fair share of being one of them for more than a year. Although there are a lot of young professionals working there, the "DH" image remains for Filipinos worldwide. When I was in Singapore, one of the Philippine's neighbor country, I heard a lot of good stories about how Ferdinand Marcos was as  a leader. I even saw a tv special tribute in one of the local tv channel in Singapore to Imelda Marcos with very rare videos of her interaction with very famous world leaders - they were kissing her hand and all the respect-filled gestures. The image they portrayed as the country's President and First Lady during that time is very far from how I see politicians running for office this 2010. While watching it, I can't help but wonder how the idea of sending huge number of Filipinos to be domestic helpers even started.

I once had an old Singaporean client who's very fond of talking about the Philippines. He said the last time he was able to visit the country was in 1985, I laughed and joked that my parents must've been planning for their first baby [me] at that time. He is an amiable old man. He said that at that time, Singapore was a struggling country and that they were given donations from the Philippines that lived up to now. He mentioned personal stories that he was in the army, their trainers and leaders were Filipinos. He said words such as, "Filipinos have the best, strongest soldiers in the world I've ever known. They do trainings in the wild with only swiss knife and they survive. It's amazing" with such pride that I will think he's a Filipino himself.

It kept me, afterall, proud to be a Filipino amidst all the negative news, calamities, circus-like politics and corruption. I still think there's a lot of Filipinos out there who continue to make us proud. And well-respected.