Bambiking at Intramuros

Yesterday, I had the chance to explore Intramuros after my meeting in Makati. I had the exciting opportunity to explore the walled city first by foot. 

I planned to visit the walled city for Independence Day, but I decided that one day wasn’t enough to explore it. Day 1 was all about seeing the parts which I previously did not appreciate while I was in a car.  

There were quite a number of interesting nooks and crannies to appreciate and photograph.  

My tour became much better when I rented a bambike (bamboo bike) for one hour. I got to ride through narrow streets and busy sidewalks in Intramuros. 

I got to have some cardio and have a better understanding of the historical markers scattered throughout the walled city. 

My favorite moment was reaching the site of my favorite hero Jose Rizal’s former dormitory. 

My visit ended at Bathala Bar, where I had avocado ice cream and Bayani Brew.  

This was definitely much better than my previous visits to Intramuros as I got to appreciate it more as I was walking and on a bike. I’ll definitely be back!

13 Lessons from My Dad

It’s been a month since my dad passed away. He bravely battled stage four bile duct cancer. He was courageous until the very end. 

Here are some lessons I’ve learned from half a year of being his carer: 

1. Every moment counts 
2. Never underestimate the power of a side-hustle
3. Having a hobby that does not involve a gadget or the internet goes a long way
4. There is no such thing as a wasted opportunity  
5. Friends are the family we choose 
6. Keeping a journal is therapeutic
7. Prayer works
8. Exercise is an everyday essential 
9. Life is too short 
10. Charity is a healthy kind of selfishness 
11. Always find a way to share what you have learned  
12. Learn when you still can 
13. Work should not be an excuse to abandon one’s family.  

Sunday Hugs

Yesterday, I spent time with the furry friends from the East! I went to Barkin’ Blends Sta. Lucia branch for some quality time with dogs.

I was warmly welcomed by Reese. 

I also missed Robin, my favorite golden retriever. 

Julia took a nap on my lap, and I felt very sleepy too. 

Bucci kept me awake when Julia woke up. She is still a puppy, and likes running around and begging for belly rubs. 

A hug from Martha before I left the cafe warmed my heart. 

After playing with my furry friends, I had some chicken mami from Ma’s Chicken Mami House.  

Then, I purchased some budget-friendly pocket notebooks for my bullet journal setup. 

I was delighted with their paper bag, which features a woman with a pixie- and she kind of reminds me of myself! 

I completed my Papemelroti purchase with new stainless steel earrings. 

By giving myself the entire Sunday to play with dogs, eat comfort food, and buy little things that make me happy, I am experiencing joy which will fuel me for the rest of the week. 

Here’s to more Sunday hugs in the future!

Sukiyaki Smile

I was invited to a party at a family friend’s residence last night. It was a privilege to eat delicious sukiyaki and twin popsies again. 

I may not be close to the hosts, but I appreciate the yummy food as these simple eats brought back many good memories. Sometimes, all we need are throwback dishes and desserts to inspire is to keep going.  

Stepping Forward

I choose to move forward with my life by appreciating pretty floors whenever I see them. 

I go to mass whenever I can. 

I enjoy delicious food, such as this vegetarian pho from Bawai’s. 

While looking around Papemelroti, I found this Ifugao house figure. I took it as a sign that I will go back to Banaue someday!

I finished my day with some lovely strawberry mango cheesecake frozen yogurt from my usual dessert stand, Elait. They employ deaf employees who are empowered with work and fair wages. 

I move forward from challenges with the things and experiences that make me smile!

Homespun Scarf

I just finished knitting this scarf using The Attic Yarn and Craftery’s Lion Brand homespun yarn. It has a slightly faux fur feel to it, which I love. It can also provide substantial warmth and style to any outfit. 

This project has helped me remain cool during this week’s challenges: job interviews, meetings, appointments. I was able to do some adulting while knitting this scarf! 

I know that I can achieve many things while applying my skills in knit and crochet.  

Aida’s Chicken Inasal

I had the best chicken inasal I’ve ever had (so far!) at Aida’s Chicken Barbecue. It’s located at Makati Square, which is one of the oldest malls in Makati. 

I was in the area for a meeting, and after a productive morning, I was starving! The hefty serving made the commute from QC to Makati all worth it. 

I hope that this won’t be the last time that I’ll feast on this delicious chicken inasal! 

Uplifting

It’s not everyday that I get to do brisk walking around the UP Academic Oval. Being with trees and sunshine inspires me to get moving and stay positive amidst life’s challenges. 

The street food scene at the university uplifts me each time. The carioca, fish balls, and kwek kwek filled me up and made me feel young again. 

I got to watch Paillim, one of the movies featured in the recent Sinag Maynila film festival. The movie featured a fictional family who lives in a public cemetery, and their struggles to make ends meet- literally. 

Since I was already at UP, I maximized my visit by dropping by the Vargas Museum to recharge amidst art by Amorsolo, Hidalgo, Luna, and Edades, among others. 

Before going home, I had early dinner with my helper Racquel at Malingap Central, a hip food park near home. We had mushroom burger steaks from MushEat Lite, a vegetarian kitchen. We loved our food, and it was best paired with Siam Yum’s delicious Thai milk tea. 

It was also an honor to meet the man behind Malingap Central, Pino, Pipino, The Burger Project, and Breakfast and Pies, PJ Lanot.  

It doesn’t take much to make me happy. Art, film, healthy eating, and conversations keep me motivated to live my best life. Here’s to more uplifting experiences to come!

Happy Monday

I had a busy Monday. I found myself at Power Plant Mall yesterday for lunch, so I brought my starving self to Shawa Wama. 

I ordered the red beet falafel rice meal with a side order of fried cauli. It was delicious!

I later proceeded to Trinoma in Quezon City for a meeting. Later for dinner, I treated myself to this beautiful chicken and pasta plate from World Chicken. This outlet in the mall never fails to please me with their flavorful chicken and generous sides. 

And before calling it a day, I spent time with my favorite dog Ella and her friends at Barkin’ Blends Dog Cafe. It is always a lovely time with these fur babies who love being with humans.  

Having a good Monday is a state of mind. Even if I’m busy, I find myself eating the food that I want, knitting, and swinging by my usual dog cafe. Life is too short, so let’s make our Mondays count! 

Knitting Black

I visited SGD Bodega again for some black coffee from Sagada and my favorite oatmeal cookie.  

The sunny cafe and open ambience inspired me to take out my needles and knit.  

Knitting while sipping black coffee is truly relaxing. I feel one with nature whenever I’m in this cafe.

I know that someday, I’ll knit in the mountains again.  

Bloggers United 17

It was my first time to explore City of Dreams yesterday. I was excited to go to Bloggers United 17, an event that gathers bloggers and influencers under one roof. So when I received an invite from Melissa Gatchalian of Sartorial Panda to attend the said event at City of Dreams, I said yes! 

It was a beautiful, sunny day to visit a new place.  

I was able to buy clothes from bloggers and celebrities Melissa and Blythe. I can’t wait to rock my pieces from their booths!

It was lovely to meet Melissa in person. She was personable and very accommodating. I am grateful for the invite to this event!

After shopping, I got to walk around the hotel.  

And I finally got to eat dinner at Pink’s, where I had the philly cheesedog and cookie dough milkshake. Both were delicious! 

My visit ended with this smiling K9. Thank you for a wonderful day, City of Dreams! 

Quezon and Sarah G

I finally got to have my eyebrows professionally waxed at Benefit. People underestimate the power of good grooming, and having freshly trimmed eyebrows does wonders to my self-esteem. It made me feel alive again.  

I had some free time in the afternoon, so I watched Quezon’s Game in the cinema. I enjoyed the historical experience and I was moved by the film’s premise of Quezon saving more than a thousand Jews. It was a masterpiece that I hope more people will watch. 

Later that day, I went to the event that I was invited to: Sarah Geronimo’s concert and Pop Studio makeup line launch at the New Frontier Theater. 

I enjoyed the event because I am genuinely a Sarah Geronimo fan.  

I sipped some awesome cheese milk tea from Paper Moon prior to the event.  

Then, it was party time with the Popstar Royalty herself!

It was a fun night, which I ended by purchasing a lipstick from Sarah’s line. 

I chose a mauve shade that can go with my everyday looks.  

It was a privilege to watch a touching historical film and a concert in one day. Here’s to more days where I can have it all!

Making Mistakes

I recently finished making this crochet sampler featuring the alpine stitch. It was a few rows in before I realized that the stitch was not fun for me to execute. I knew then that I was only making a sampler, and not a scarf. And that’s okay. 

Making mistakes isn’t supposed to be some awful sentence. In fact, it is just a normal part of the journey. I made mistakes in the sense that I chose a stitch that I didn’t like, and the yarn I used was prone to knots. Now, I know which stitches to stick to, and what yarn will work best for my lifestyle. 

And if I will make mistakes, I know that learning from them makes it all worthwhile. It also wouldn’t hurt if I have a cup of Sagada coffee by my side.  

Here’s to more learning and awakening! 

Sarah Geronimo for Shopee

Shopee reveals Sarah Geronimo as new brand ambassador in time for Shopee 6.6 - 7.7 Lowest Price Sale

Filipinos can stay tuned for Shopee and Sarah Geronimo’s first television commercial airing on June 1

MANILA, 31 MAY, 2019 - Shopee, the leading e-commerce platform in Southeast Asia and Taiwan, announces Popstar Princess Sarah Geronimo as their new brand ambassador in time for the Shopee 6.6 - 7.7 Lowest Price Sale, happening from June 3 to July 7. On June 1, Filipinos can stay tuned for the first-ever television commercial of Shopee with Sarah Geronimo.

Martin Yu, Associate Director, Shopee Philippines, said, “We are very happy with how Shopee performed in 2019 and to ramp up our efforts, we are following this up with a big campaign featuring our new brand ambassador, Sarah Geronimo. We believe that Sarah’s approachable and bubbly personality is a perfect representation of the Shopee brand and we are thrilled to have her become part of the family. We invite everyone to join us in celebrating the Shopee 6.6 - 7.7 Lowest Price Sale.”

Happening from June 3 to July 7, the Shopee 6.6 - 7.7 Lowest Price Sale promises five weeks of unbeatable deals with up to 90% off from leading brands including P&G Hair, Huawei, Colourette, Colgate, Silverworks, Maybelline, Unilever Personal Care, Watsons, and Olay. Users can enjoy free shipping with ₱0 minimum spend on selected brands or categories daily as well as one million Lowest Price Deals, daily 100% cashback vouchers, and ₱1 Deals.

Bigger and better surprises in store for users

Shopee 6.6 - 7.7 Lowest Price Sale will feature 35 days of themed promotions happening from June 3 to July 7. Key highlights include:

● Category days such as TV, Audio, & Gaming Sale on June 28, Mobile Sale on June 30, and Korean Skincare Sale on July 4.

● Mechanic days including:

○ Vouchers Sale on June 3, featuring seller, category, and sitewide vouchers up for grabs

○ Free Shipping Sale on June 4, featuring free shipping with ₱0 min spend across the platform

○ Flash Sale on June 12, with an upsized Flash session happening 10 times across 24 hours.

● Super Brand Days from June 17 to June 21 featuring leading brands across categories including Huawei, Maybelline, Hanford, Unilever Homecare, and Unilever Personal Care.

● Exclusive deals from partners including BDO, Cebu Pacific, and the official store launch of iWant.

For more information on the Shopee 6.6 - 7.7 Lowest Price Sale, please visit https://shopee.ph/m/double-double.

Download the Shopee app for free via the App Store or Google Play.

Visit https://shopee.ph for more information.

Reconnecting with Grace

Yesterday, I got to reconnect with my good friend Grace. She was the HR Manager in my former office. I was ecstatic to learn that she is now based on QC, so we met up at Breakfast Bin in Maginhawa. 

I ordered the veggie skillet and later, we had dessert at Papa Diddi’s. 

I had the coffee and cheese ice cream scoops. So good!

It was so nice to reconnect with an old friend from the past! Hopefully, this will be the start of more rekindled friendships. 

In_Pact Asia 2019

I was fortunate to be a delegate in the In_Pact Asia 2019, a conference on inclusive impact at the Asian Development Bank. I attended because of my passion for social enterprise, which I apply to my Human Nature online dealership.   

Please support me by making a purchase on my Human Nature Online Shop!  Every purchase supports communities in need and sustains my micro enterprise. Thank you! 

I started my day with a hearty breakfast at the famed ADB cafeteria.  

The delegate wristband was cool as it was embedded with spinach seeds, which makes it grow when it is planted.  

I also got to connect with Mariel, a familiar face from my previous conferences in an educational institution. It was lovely to chat with someone from the inclusive business space.  

My key takeaways from the conference is that diversity drives businesses to foster collaboration. This will drive inclusion in the sense that no one is left behind, and ethical business decisions will help workers thrive amidst the Fourth Industrial Revolution. Also, social enterprise is key to sustain communities and to empower women to make a difference in the age of fair trade. 

It was a privilege to attend the fireside chat that featured Human Nature’s President Anna Meloto, who shared how Human Nature empowers women (particularly mothers) to have stable careers while caring for their families. 

I got to enjoy ADB’s notable cuisine and interact with like minded individuals. Learning about industrial trends is the reason why I attend seminars and conferences. May this be the start of more productive events that allow me to share, exchange ideas, and realize my place in the bigger picture of business and social impact. 

Mentoring Lunch

Yesterday, I had the time to do some brisk walking at the UP campus. 

I was able to burn some calories before my lunch at Sunnies Cafe. I got to do some crocheting before meeting with my friends.  

I had a lovely lunch with my uni mentor Mitzie and her niece Maiko. It was nice to catch up with friends after my dad’s recent passing. 

No visit to Sunnies Cafe is complete without some selfies in their famous washroom. 

I got to buy Sunnies Face’s new Airblush after lunch. 

I also got to offer eggs at St. Clare Monastery. 

I bought carioca, a local street food consisting of fried sticky rice. It was a delicious afternoon snack. 

Before going to bed, I brushed my teeth using this bamboo toothbrush that I bought from social enterprise Rags 2 Riches. 

I know that by continuing my passions and meeting my friends from time to time, I can carry on with life after the storm. 

IFEX 2019

Yesterday was the fourth and last day of my stint as a NAIA Buyer Services Representative for CITEM. It was a productive gig, and I am thankful for the chance to serve our country by smiling and assisting VIP passengers. 

It was a privilege to hear Sunday mass at the Terminal 2 chapel. 

After mass, I ate Minute Burger’s pizza burger for brekkie. It was so good! It went well with Jollibee’s surprisingly flavorful brewed coffee. 

After airport duties, I rode a bus, train, and a tuktuk to the World Trade Center for IFEX 2019, the country’s premier food expo!

I got to eat, drink, and appreciate all the hard work I have contributed for the past four days. I am very proud to be Filipino, and it makes me happy to see all these exhibitors bring the best of Filipino cuisine to the world. 

I made sure to buy straw bags from Crafter’s Joy, a Pangasinan-based social enterprise that provides livelihood to local women weavers. 

I am excited to use these straw bags! The planter was for my mom. 

It was an honor to serve our country for the past four days, and to sample the best Filipino food and drinks at IFEX. I look forward to next year’s expo, and I hope to serve the country again in the future. 

Mabuhay! 

NAIA Work Day 3

Yesterday was day three of my four-day stint as a NAIA Buyer Services Representative. 

I started my day with brekkie.  

Then, I worked the empty halls of the airport. 

I crocheted while waiting for VIP passengers.  

I also hung out with airport colleague Jang. 

Then, I transferred to terminal three for lunch and coffee. I had 1st Colonial sili ice cream for dessert and it was delicious! 

I also served as lector during the noontime mass at the airport chapel.  

After work, I offered eggs at St. Clare Monastery.  

I also bonded with the dogs of Barkin’ Blends’ East branch.  

I got a blind massage to cap off my day.  

Here’s to more opportunities to balance work and life with faith, furry friends, and food! 

NAIA Work Day 2

Yesterday was the second day of my four-day stint as a NAIA Buyer Services Representative for CITEM. I learned how it was to be bored and how I could use that to realize my priorities and what’s important to me. I am honored to serve our country, and I can’t wait to have more opportunities to do so in the coming weeks and months!