sari-saring kulay

Cool water

Thu, 22 Sep 2011 21:55:49 GMT

Hehehe. Saw this cute bottle at the orientation of new scholars at the Japanese Embassy in Manila. Isn't it cool? It's just the right size. I mean, I noticed everybody was able to finish theirs and no water was wasted. And since the bottles have that foil thingie at the end, there wasn't a need for bottle caps. I checked at the supermarket and the sell it for 5-8 php (I forgot exactly how much), but I think it's a great buy for picnics and receptions. Pretty good value for the size ;-)

time flies...

Thu, 25 Aug 2011 02:37:15 GMT

;-) How time flies. It's almost been a year and a half since P-chan came screaming into the world (He still loves screaming, but that’s another story altogether).

It's been an interesting journey so far. Here are revelations that mommyhood has brought so far:

On breastfeeding...
... I can't believe I'm still doing it! Hahaha! How do I wean him? Wahaha! But these days, nursing sessions are more of cuddle sessions with Mama than actual feedings.

On cloth diapers...
...I tried, but disposables won out a few months ago when he outgrew his diaper covers. Sadly, unlike in Japan, there aren’t that many covers to choose from in Manila ;-( But we’ve been starting to toilet train him and he’s been wearing briefs in the evenings, so hopefully we’ll kick the diaper habit soon (fingers crossed).

On food...
... I'm really glad P-chan doesn't seem to be allergic to anything so far. He's a really adventurous eater and will try anything once. Though I specified that he not be given sodas, he's had everything from dinuguan, to puto, taho, and lechon. Among his favorites are bibingka, waffles, and fish crackers.

On buying things…
…it’s a good idea to check what’s available at your friendly neighborhood palengke before venturing out into the malls. Often, things will be a lot cheaper. I bought P-chan his first pair of shoes when he started taking baby steps at 7-8 months. It was a rubber affair I bought at the palengke for 50php (I managed to convinced the tindera to give me a 20php discount (Yay me!)--- and I got more use out of that than the pair I got him at Payless for 525php (shudder!). Recently, I bought him a pair of chairs for 70php each, which were way nicer than the 100php ones in the mall. Gosh, I am such a cheap mom. Hahaha!

On communication...
... It constantly amazes me how smart babies are. P-chan can now tell us where he wants to go, what he wants to eat, and which dog he loves best. He also understands when I tell him to give something to someone or to pick up his toys, but sometimes, he gets a really pilyo look and does the opposite of what I want just to get a rise out of me.

On milestones...
... Other people's kids will always sleep through the night, be better behaved, and learn their letters early. It doesn't mean anything that just because your kid isn’t the same, you aren't on the same level. Each child is different. I've learned to simply focus on P-chan and how he's progressing rather than judging his accomplishments vis-a-vis other babies. I love talking to other moms about how our babies are developing, but I dislike how some people can turn it all into a competition. It's just not healthy. I celebrate with P-chan whenever he masters a new skill and turns to me, his eyes full of pride. And boy, does my little boy love applause ;-)

On tough love…
…It’s hard to stay unmoved when P-chan looks at you with his big, round eyes with matching lip-quiver-and-pout (I wonder where he picked that little trick up?), or throws a tantrum when he doesn’t get what he wants, but I’ve learned that by standing firm and seeming unmoved, he gets past his pique in a few. Of course, I know that when I turn my back he appeals to his grandparents for spoiling ;-( the little rat.

On first words...
... I'm often asked if P-chan has started talking and what language he speaks. So far, it's been "Mama" and "ota" for water, but as to what language P-chan speaks, hands down it’s Bisaya. Seriously. Hahaha! It can’t be helped because most of the day he listens to his 2 yayas, Sandy (yaya’s kid and P-chan’s built-in playmate), and his lolo gabbing away in Boholano.

On letting him make mistakes...
... I personally think that kids learn by doing. They learn a lot from what they see us do, but most of the time, they have to have freedom and space to learn and make mistakes on their own. But I think this depends on the child really. P-chan seems to have inherited his father's independent nature, not to mention his bull-headedness (both Taureans, go figure), so he if he insists on doing something that won’t mortally endanger him, I let him do it even if it means he stubs a toe or hit his head. That way, he knows not to lift heavy objects because if they fall on his feet, it’ll hurt. (he still tries to lift some things, but knows he has to jump out of the way when it falls. Better than nothing, I suppose). He also knows how to go down the bed properly or duck when crawling out from the cubby hole beneath my mom’s dresser he loves playing in. In addition, Juls had just one request: that we not coddle P-chan (overly) much. So we (try) not to shout in alarm when he trips or falls, and instead encourage him to get up by himself. So P-chan hardly ever cries (unless he's throwing a tantrum) when he's hurt, he just stops a bit, gets up, and starts playing again. Of course there are times, when it hurts more than usual, that he'll go to Mama for a quick hug, but after a few minutes, he'll be off exploring again ;-)

Hay, there are a lot more things I’ve learned, but this post is the longest I’ve written in some time and I do hope I didn’t bore you ;-) I truly miss blogging!

doppelganger?

Tue, 05 Jul 2011 00:48:47 GMT

I love this pic. Doesn't it look like a stone temple from Cambodia?

But it's actually a photograph I took of the Paoay Church in Ilocos when we went there (on a survey turned epic adventure) last weekend. It was the first time I've taken pics of this church at night and I love how it looks ;-)

Haaay. Now I have to recover from almost 20 hours on a bus. This is the first time ever that I completed a survey of 2 museums in under 4 hours. Hahaha! More updates soon ;-)

---

roof table

Thu, 30 Jun 2011 11:51:09 GMT

Heehee. Game to play abother round of guess what this is? This is one of the projects that kept me busy early 2011.

So is it a roof...

... or is it a table?

Heehee. It's both actually. Originally conceptualized as an exercise in roof-building for the students of Escuela Taller Intramuros, it was decided to fabricate the roof in a smaller scale and make it into a table.

It's actually nice because you get to appreciate the lovely lovely woodwork ;-) we don't actually have this type of construction here; the roof is based on spanish mudejar ceilings wherein the pieces all fit together like a puzzle. I really had fun designing this table (from the obscure photographs in the books M lent me), it was like geometry class--- only more fun! first we picked out a pattern we liked, then I had to figure out how the ceiling was incorporated into the roof grid. it was really tricky because i wanted to to be just like the original ones, interlocking parts and all. good thing M's mentor in mexico sent us working drawing that i based the specs on. heehee. but it was all worth it; i was really happy with all the raves the table got at the exhibit at greenbelt 3 in makati.

to the artists, educators, students, and artisans over at ET Intramuros, you guys did a really great job!

---

The long and winding road

Mon, 13 Jun 2011 13:12:40 GMT

Have a look at the curved accent on this street we spied in Tsukuba today. A border and a change in the color of the pavement denotes the separation of cars and pedestrians --- or does it? Hahaha! One side of the road had no sidewalk to speak of, but the other side had a pretty wide one. So that left me wondering, what are those curves really for? Any intelligent guesses? ;-)

SMadness

Fri, 15 Apr 2011 14:04:29 GMT

at first i thought the orcs were storming mawdor --- then i remembered i really wasn't an LOTR fan.

my second thought was: "is this the end of the world?" imagine, left and right people were shoving items into their carts. in front of me, the lines to the cashier snaked around the displays. panic-buying. chaos. this wasn't a sight i had envisioned when i planned a quick visit to the mall. and it certainly wasn't a normal occurrence at 10:15 in the morning. gadzooks, didn't the mall just open?!

(un)fortunately for me, SM was having one of its 3-day sales on the day i decided to get p-chan a new playpen. heehee. i simply wasn't prepared!

heehee

Tue, 12 Apr 2011 08:57:13 GMT

i was in Divisoria today to source some fabric for a project of mine. As I was exiting Tutuban, pedicab drivers were waiting at the entrance and calling out to potential passengers.

Driver to me: Miss,miss, padjak kayo?
Me: (smiles) Salamat na lang po. Masakit po yun e.
Driver: (after a few seconds of stunned silence) Uy, si ma'am nagpapatawa. Corny! (Laughs)
Me: Uy, si manong, natawa naman.

Iba talaga ang Pinoy humor ;-)

little observations...

Thu, 17 Feb 2011 03:22:03 GMT

A month ago, the bridge spanning the nearby Estero de Sunog Apog (which connects Gagalangin to Isla de Balut) was closed for much needed repairs. All traffic was rerouted to the spanking new V. Del Fierro bridge a couple of blocks away. Although I know that it’s just a temporary inconvenience and I’m glad that the local city government is doing something proactive, it’s just a bit sad. It’s gotten so quiet. Well, relatively quiet by Tondo standards. Plus, we now have to walk a few blocks in order to hail a jeep, which kind of sucks since all we had to do before was to open our front gate. Hahaha!

Anyway, the new jeepney route has forced us to go through a part of Tondo that I rarely pass through, and it’s quite interesting.

… I’ve found that quite a few of the old houses still exist. If I had time, money, and the clout needed, I’d love to document them. These are the pieces of old Manila that people rarely see (or refuse to see) nowadays. I wish I could show you the details I’ve seen --- beautiful colored glass that still adorns some windows, intricate designs of iron grilles, delicate lacework on the eaves, and wood carvings on door panels. I can only guess at the spaces within. And these are still living, breathing houses. I mean, they’re still in use. Some are in disrepair and some are lovingly tended to. I smile when I spy one that’s been recently painted, even if the palette is a bit garish --- at least it’s still standing!

… There also seems to be a lot of new construction going on. Orange slate seems quite popular nowadays. I’ve counted at least 8 houses in various stages of completion that sport it as their main décor. I haven’t anything against it, and it could be attractive --- in small doses. It’s just that everything seems so… so orange. Hahaha! Well it could be worse. Yesterday I spotted a house in pink, red, and white. *shudder*

… Roof decks seem to be a recent fad too. It must be due to the fact that almost every household has its own Magic Mic --- thus the deck is perfect for celebrating someone’s birthday every other week. *double shudder*

… Since printing on tarpaulin has become so cheap, every Juan, his wife, his mother, and his four siblings have had their faces emblazoned on tarpaulin. It’s not bad at all --- easy décor for a party, and at least you can easily tell who’s celebrating what. It’s just funny to contemplate how people reuse the tarp after the event. I’ve been riding in pedicabs more often now and many a time I've felt awkward at resting my feet on the broadly smiling face that lines the sidecar’s floor.

Anything new in your part of the world? ;-)

busy as a bee!

Wed, 09 Feb 2011 01:06:00 GMT

It’s been quite a busy year for me so far and I’m thankful for all the opportunities that has come my way ;-)

For starters, as part of a team, I joined a competition wherein I helped develop a concept for a museum. The good news? We were chosen as one of the three finalists who will be submitting design schematics. Go us! Heehee. I just love museums. I like visiting them, but I love designing them even more. I love being able to tell a story through the objects and I love learning. Here’s hoping that we get to submit a good design ;-)

Next, my good friend M over at the Escuela Taller Intramuros tapped me to help in one of their projects. I’m designing a table. And not just any table. The catch? It’s supposed to be a roof. Wahahaha! Ok, ok, in a nutshell, under a grant from Spain (AECID), the Escuela is training young residents of Intramuros in traditional building techniques. The scholars learn masonry, carpentry, painting, plumbing, welding, and others. At the end of each semester, they have a project and put on an exhibit. So the goal is to let students experience how to build a traditional wooden roof with all the joinery involved. The problem is space, hence the full-sized roof has been scaled down to the size of a dining table. However, all the elements will be present, including an almisate with all the requisite laceria. In short, nakakaloka sya, but if they manage it, wow!

Next, I’m also writing a paper on architectural research techniques with my dissertation on Locsin as a case study. It’s a 6-page paper due in early March. I'll be presenting the paper at the upcoming UIA conference in Tokyo in September. Help! Hahaha! I also might have to prepare for a lecture in late February.

Oh, and I’m taking care of a rambunctious 9 month old too.

Wahahaha!

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What have you been busy with so far this year? ;-)

looking for a few good men

Tue, 08 Feb 2011 11:30:38 GMT

I’m seriously disenchanted with the AFP.

All this time, despite all the rumors that continuously assail it, I’ve always thought the service an honorable profession. My lolo and my dad came from the navy and the army respectively, and it’s partly because of all their stories that I even applied to the PMA. I passed the written exams, and had I gone through with the rest of the tests, I might even be one of the jaded lower ranks. Thank god the medical and physical exam scared me off (Hahaha. As if I’d pass the physical).

It’s also sad to contemplate that those involved in the current hullaballoo would rather take their own lives than face the music. Whatever happened to honor, integrity, and justice?

But I don’t think we’re a nation of cowards, brown-nosers, and finger-pointers (although that there are more than a few cannot be denied). I still believe that there are an honorable few simply waiting to make their mark in history.

How I wish that they would have the courage to step up. One step at a time is all it takes.

And yes, now would be a good time.

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new year, new life?

Mon, 07 Feb 2011 01:31:50 GMT

wow, it's february and this is my first post of the year. hahaha! can you spell slacker? hahaha! oh well, i hope everybody had a great time during the holidays. P-chan, J and I spent it with our family in Manila and Silay. Exhausting? Yes! Fun? Definitely.

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A couple of weeks ago, I went to the gym for the first time in ... I don't know... decades? Hahahah! My last attempt at joining a gym was when I was in grad school and Mike insisted that we ought to lead healthy(ier) lifestyles. And yes, I used my year's subscription for only four months, but I got a big student discount! Hahahaha!

To be honest, I'm really one of the laziest people around. When we were kids, my sister had to be given ballet lessons to tire her out, while I was content to sit, read, and draw. I am a master at vegging out.

So why go to the gym in the first place?

It all started with a conversation with Chippy, one of my best friends from high school:

Me: Chips, I want to eat fishballs.
Chippy: Let's go jogging on Sunday, then we can eat fishballs after.
Me: Uhhh ... I cant, don't have shoes kasi. (The last pair of running shoes I bought was before I left for Tokyo and those lasted years!)
Chippy: Samahan kita, bili tayo!
Me: Oh, okay (Figuring I did need a new pair)

So we make a date to buy shoes that Saturday. A few days later, I get a text:

Chippy: I got free passes at BIG GYM, you want to go on Saturday?
Me: Uh, ok! (She had me at FREE. Damnit, why do REAL doctors get freebies all the time?!)
Chippy: Great! I booked us for a yoga class.
Me: All right, sounds fun! (Hm, sounds relaxing enough)

So that Saturday, we trooped to the mall, bought a new pair of shoes and went to the gym. Yes, yes, I do realize I was going to break my new shoes in, and that my feet would kill me after, but she was driving me home, so all's well I figured. Plus, I don't really need shoes for yoga, right?

But then we walked into the wrong class.

We walked into a swiss ball aerobic class led by an energizer bunny masquerading as an instructor. I chickened out after 2 sets because I was terrified I wouldn't be able to carry P-chan for a week (or three). I tried a few machines out after. That was a bit better because I could adjust the pace and everything. I even toyesd with the idea of getting one for myself at home. On the whole, I survived the gym. I even survived running along Roxas at 6:00 AM the following week (who knew that a fourth of Manila would be awake and running at that ungodly hour?).

But still, no fishballs.

Sigh.

Time flies ...

Sat, 27 Nov 2010 04:03:52 GMT

Hi P-chan!

Wow, has it been half a year already? It seems like only yesterday that you were still in my tummy, kicking like crazy. I should have known that it was a sign ~ a sign of how frisky you'd be once you were out.

The past six months have had their ups and downs. At first we were really scared if we'd be able to take care of you, and we've had our share of mishaps ~ but thank you for being a such sweet-tempered and forgiving baby.

Despite our sometimes sleep-deprived states, your Papa and I are very happy to have you in our lives. It's a constant wonder to us, seeing you grow up and master little things each day. I love the look of determination on your face when you're trying to do something and the look of satisfaction once you've achieved your goal. I love the look of wonder in your eyes when you sample new tastes and textures. I love your look of excitement when you watch your favorite videos or play with your toys and playmates. I love your look of contentment when you've finished feeding. I especially love the look of love and adoration on your face when we wake up next to each other each morning.

It can't be helped, your Papa and I are certified addicts ;-) We thank God everyday foe bringing you into our lives. We love you P-chan!

5 things you should never ever tell an architect

Wed, 24 Nov 2010 11:19:51 GMT

1. "Wow, buti ka pa, pa-drawing drawing lang"

I hate to shatter your illusions, but there is so much more to architecture than just sketching pretty houses.

2. "Naisip ko rin dati na mag-architect para kasing madali lang"

Langya, wag na wag mong sasabihin ito kung ayaw mong matadtad ng t-square at masaksak ng .1 na tech pen. Anong akala mo, nagpupuyat kami dahil trip-trip lang? Lekat.

3. "Siguro magaling kang mag-drawing, igawa mo nga ako ng portrait"

Although marami arki ang magaling magdrawing, drawing ng bahay ang ginagawa namin, hindi tao.

4. "Wow, ang yaman mo pala, manlibre ka naman"

Uh, di kami nagpupuyat para lang pakainin ka.

5. "Sana nag-(fill in profession here) ka na lang, mas malaki pa ang kita"

Don't rub it in. Akala mo ba di namin naisip ito? The weirdest suggestion I got was to become a hostess instead. Sige, pagiisipan ko.

A pet(ty) Christmas

Sat, 06 Nov 2010 05:28:49 GMT

Having cake for the kids on Christmas day is a big thing in Japan, but the advert J and I spotted on our way home last night (featured above) takes the cake (pardon the pun). It's a selection of cakes for pets. I can see where they're coming from though; a lot of childless Japanese couples treat their pets like children (literally, judging by the number of strollers with furry occupants that P-chan and I bump into at the local park), so why shouldn't they go the whole hog and provide cake for their pets on Christmas? Its a great idea ~ i know my old dogs Shiro and Puff would go crazy over them ;-)

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How about you guys, how do you pamper your furry pals? ;-)

It's almost here!

Fri, 05 Nov 2010 12:43:07 GMT

Heeheehee. Just a few more weeks. I can't wait! Now who wants to take care of P-chan while Juls and I watch? ;-)

All I want for Christmas

Wed, 27 Oct 2010 13:51:46 GMT

Christmas is in the air ;-)

This post of for PM's All I want for Christmas swap. Hehehe.

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Something small: A package of French macarons ;-)

Something big: A large monitor

Something cute: A functional (albeit cute) diaper/pocket bag

Something soft: comfy ballet flats in navy

Something techie: a pattern ;-)

Something fancy: A new case for my iPhone

Something pink: A shirt dress

Something wearable: a cool OOAK bib necklace like this or this ;-)

Something you need: a good yaya

Something you can use for work: Time? Hehehe. A good sketchbook or day planner. A nice pen.

Something sweet: A big, gooey chocolate cake. No nuts.

All I Want For Christmas: A movie and dinner date with the hubby ;-)

Tampipi tee

Fri, 15 Oct 2010 01:27:17 GMT

This just went out in the mail today. It's a (belated) birthday gift for one of our close friends who has moved out of the big daikon that is Tokyo.

I just love the Tampipi logo. I never thought it'd look this good when I was sketching it out. But I love its tribal chic-ness. Hehehe. Plus, it's so fun to play around with. I've been working on the graphics for Tampipi's new album, but it's taking longer than usual --- mostly because P-chan, my lord and master, has me at his beck and call, and partially because all I seem to want to do lately is sleep. Although I've cleaned up the logo graphics on illustrator and designed most of the main elements, I have yet to start on the actual layout.

I wonder when (and if) I will ever find the time to tear myself from my chunky bundle of joy and get some work done ;-)

Coffee kayo dyan!

Thu, 14 Oct 2010 22:58:24 GMT

I love me a cup of Joe in the mornings, but since I'm breastfeeding P-chan, I've had to cut down on the caffeine. Sad. Di bale, in a few months I'll be able to taste coffee again ;-) hehehe.

Which is why I've been hoarding a couple of boxes of Maxim's seasonal offering:

Ta-dah! Coffee and Oreos! Can you spell bliss? Hehehe. I first saw this on M's facebook page and I hastened to the local convenience store to nab one. Yatta! ;-) not a bad buy at 208 yen.

While I was there, I also spied instant Starbucks coffee. Waaaay overpriced at 498 yen for 5 sachets. But hey, if you like your brand coffee, it's definitely much cheaper than what you can get at the store.

Love the sleek packaging though ;-)

+++

What's your caffeine addiction? ;-)

Nice Nissen

Mon, 11 Oct 2010 01:59:05 GMT

I'm loving the new landscape format of Nissen, one of the famous catalog (and recently Internet-based) shopping outfits in Tokyo. It looks really current and they managed to cram their voluminous contents into lesser pages.

I love browsing through catalogs ~ they have such lovely things! From clothes, shoes, and bags to furniture and houseware. They're great lookbooks. I have to physically stop myself from hoarding them. Heehee.

What catalogs do you like browsing through? ;-)

Sunday out

Sun, 01 Aug 2010 10:31:09 GMT

Juls, P-chan, and I spied an interesting quasi-Italian restaurant belonging to the Skylark group on our way home from hearing mass at Ichikawa. So we decided to have dinner early. It's lovely that we get to take him out nowadays. It doesn't hurt either that he manages to be well-behaved throughout our meal (I wonder how long that'll last).

They had amazingly cheap sets for 1,100yen ~ pasta or gratin, antipasti, dolce, and drink bar. Juls and I had the carbonara ~ predictable, I know, but it was surprisingly filling.

Then I had a platter of fried zucchini. Yummers!

Juls, who is predictably wary of most veggies, chose the cheese foccacia.

Then we had tiramisu and purin (flan) for dessert. Not a bad deal at all! Now if I could only remember the name of the place ... ;-)

the road calls ...

Fri, 30 Jul 2010 14:18:42 GMT

;-)

i was clearing up some of my files when this pic tumbled out of one of my books. this was taken in 2002 when i spent a whole month in mexico. this was one of our final destinations ~ campeche i think. grabe, negrita na ako rito ~ understandable after climbing all those temples and after sunning ourselves on all those beaches. hahaha!

it's one of my fave pics of that trip because of the winner lighting ~ we got a tip from a photographer at the cantina where the shot was taken. he was waiting for the perfect moment when the light hit the church. so we waited with him. we even got into an interesting chat about elementals (yes, i did encounter some in mexico!). sigh. that was a fun trip ;-)

+++

juls and i can't wait until p-chan is big enough to go on the road with us. we miss traveling, but we're having too much fun with our wriggly baby to mind ;-)

Toot toot!

Sat, 24 Jul 2010 05:47:07 GMT

Coolness! Juls and I spotted this game at the game center in the Warner Mycal building in Myoden today. It's basically a game wherein you get to be train master. The catch however is that instead of plain graphics, you get to be control of an actual model train! The train is equipped with a camera so you get the real train-on-the-tracks experience. Not bad for 100 yen a pop ;-)

wishing on a star...

Sat, 10 Jul 2010 02:05:36 GMT

heehee. for the past couple of years, i've been posting a birthday wishlist on this blog. the list is mainly a hint to the hubby (who would sometimes rather be told what i wanted), but some good friends have been taking their cue from it too. oh well, on my part it's simply wishful thinking ~ a rather roundabout way to assess the things i need and want. and as my lolo used to say, it doesn't hurt to dream; it doesn't cost a cent and you never know when it may come true ;-)

birthday wishlist 2010

1. a couple of hours. hahaha! can one give time as a gift? seriously, a few hours for a facial or manicure is an absolute luxury nowadays.

2. a really good meal. needless to say, i haven't been out much and have been cooking most of our meals at home. i'd really love to be on the receiving end for a change. even deliveries are good; we have extensive delivery menus at home ;-) hahaha! kahit ano, i'm game.

3. a massage. seriously, i love my little big boy, but lugging around 6 kilos of wriggling baby all day has taken its toll on my shoulders, back, and knees.

4. a nice movie. there are a lot of great movies coming up lately and i'd love to catch a few ;-)

5. a birthday card. there's something really satisfying about receiving snail mail.

6. pants. hahaha! i still don't fit into my pre-preggy jeans ;-( i saw this really good pair at uniqlo/g.u. that has an elastic waist that'll accommodate the added padding ;-) oooh! and those denim legging thingies might work too!

7. tops. have i mentioned that my old wardrobe seems a little clingy lately? hahaha!

8. books. one of my favorite birthday pictures is one that was taken when i was about 3 or 4, i was in the middle of the large bed in our guest bedroom surrounded by a heap of books, and i had a smile about a mile wide. my idea of heaven!

9. a loaded halo-halo or mango or queso ice cream by selecta. hahaha! tsk, its the heat.

10. lego architecture ~ ok, this is the most frivolous thing on this list and something i probably won't get to work on in the next few months (years). but when i saw them on amazon, it was love at first sight ;-)

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oh, and may i just mention that i love love amazon's universal wish list. winner sya. finally, you can combine items from different stores into one list ;-) love love love!

here's mine. teehee ;-)

it's confeeermed!

Sat, 03 Jul 2010 13:33:04 GMT

homaygath!

winner itong video na ito. hehehe.

i remember i wrote about "confirmed" and "confeermed" some time ago, so forgive me for recounting it. M, a friend in Makati, was going up in an elevator when he heard the following conversation:

man 1: pare, ano bang kaibahan ng "confirmed" at "confeermed"?
man 2: (scratches head) ah, ang "confirmed" kapag medyo hindi ka pa sigurado, pero yung "confeermed," siguradong-sigurado ka na
man 1: ah ganun ba? thanks ha!

anyway, this video had me laughing out loud and i remembered the story above. very capably narrated by Lourd de Veyra of the Radioactive Sago Project, the video looks into the different ways that Filipinos pronounce English.

Sigh. Is it bad to laugh?

That minty fresh feeling

Mon, 28 Jun 2010 07:33:29 GMT

Meiji has added another interesting piece to their lineup. I spied this pack of "feel mint" chocolates at the local ministop and just had to snag one for myself. I'm not a real mint choco fan (it's my sister who loves the especially strong toothpaste-y ones), but I used to like having those after dinner mint thins my Lola favored.

Meiji's mint chocos were just right, although the green toothpaste-y color made me pause. But it made for a really nice blend. I find that it's a bit pricey at ¥138 for a box, but the packaging is real nice ;-)