UST College Days Nostalgia

Happen to pass by Dapitan St. a few months back. Can’t help but to take snapshots of the places our college life at UST revolved in.

We used to frequent these spots and now it’s all just memories.

Asturias St. was our go-to place for anything and everything we needed. From index cards, folders, clear book, photocopying and binding.

Gifts, stationery, cards, flowers, teddy bears.

Red Image Photo Studio, several net shops, Fujifilm Photo Developing Studio, Video editing studios

Add to that the usual tambayans: Lovelite and it’s Footlong Rice and P25 shake; the food stall next to Lovelite that offers the same menu (we go there when the queue at Lovelite is long or when it’s closed); either have lunch or have early inuman at Tapsi; mani, fishball and kikiam stalls.

Of course, when we can’t think of anywhere else to eat, there’s Jollibee.

Who would have thought that you can find all these in just one block. Amazing, remembering it now.

The building at the back is the Central Library. My second home during college. It houses the Ed-Tech studio which handles the Tomasian Cable Television.

I was a very dedicated member then, was even assigned as the Management & Properties Head and produced several documentaries and canned shows.

Wasn’t able to go back after college though, I miss everyone there and I wonder how’s the organization now. Reunion, anyone?

This is the intersection of Espana Blvd and P. Noval, the streets nearest to the CFAD gate and Gymnasium gate.

What’s memorable? 1611, Zagu, P.E classes, AB Cheerleading practices and competitions, UST Church, and the football field.

Sigh, suddenly missing college.

Remember this Credits MTV?

Miss my broadcomm groupmates.

My Favorite Getaway: Potter's Ridge Tagaytay

Potter’s Ridge has this homey feel where you can relax and rest. You have the view of the Taal Volcano and Lake, and vast green scenery. Not to mention, the beautiful clouds that you can just stare at from sun up to sun down.

If you want to escape from the city and have a serene stay, it's a perfect place for a getaway, and so far it's my personal favorite.

I love the interiors. Every floor is filled with artsy and interesting stuff.

When the three of us stayed there last February, we all agreed that we forgot whatever worries we had and got the rest we needed.

Our intention really for that weekend was to spend some time by the beach at Nasugbu, Batangas, but we were disappointed when we got there and decided to drive back to Tagaytay instead. Good thing we spotted Potter’s Ridge and that’s where we spent the night.

It only cost us Php2,600.00 for the standard room, breakfast included. We got a good discount at that time ‘cause of our late check-in and it’s already an off-peak period for the hotel. Higher rates apply during peak seasons - usually that’s Summer, Christmas, and New Year. Complete rates here

(Note: Went back there last May and got a family room at around Php4,000)

You can find their restaurant upstairs coming from their lobby/main floor.

It’s spacious and is also filled with artsy items and furniture.

We had Filipino breakfast. Daing, Tocino, and Longganisa.

They served Kapeng Barako, the native coffee of Batangas. Kapeng Barako is definitely one of the best-tasting coffees for me!

It also has a lounge area where you can stay and relax after having breakfast.

I opted to read a book that morning, the one I’m holding is Paulo Coelho’s “The Witch of Portobello” - it’s a good one by the way, very inspirational. Free WIFI is also accessible at the restaurant, so in-between reading and chatting with friends I was able to check my emails and update online statuses.

Found peace in this place and whenever I think of having a relaxing and stress-free day, Driving to Tagaytay and Potter’s Ridge are on top of my list.

Potter's Ridge is located at Km 67 Aguinaldo Highway (after Mendez Market and before Splendido Golf Club). Manila Line: +632-985-6900/ Telephone No. : +63 (46)4130368/ Mobile : +63 919.4629897/ Email: info@pottersridge.net

Loving the Buffet Breakfast at Thunderbird Resorts Poro Point, San Fernando, La Union

Woke up to this view and savored the moment of being able to see something this beautiful. If only all my mornings are like this.

Their buffet breakfast at Olives Restaurant is just crazy. It’s a feast for my eyes. Actually, my heart skipped a beat when I saw they have not one but three cereals! You can mix chocolate cereal, corn flakes, and wheat flakes. I almost forgot there’s bacon, salami, sausage, cheese, breads, pastries, omelettes, scrambled eggs, wanton noodles, etc. served on the buffet table. I’m solved with just the cereals.

Fast fact: I can eat cereals for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

Then, you have the South China Sea as backdrop while having breakfast, probably one of the best mornings ever.

Thunderbird Resorts is located at Poro Point, San Fernando, La Union.

For rates and promos visit www.thunderbird-asia.com.

NFS

Have Breakfast at Perfect Loaf Bakery & Cafe

Attending Holy Mass in Holy Rosary Parish Church at 6AM to catch the English session leaves you with a few choices for breakfast afterwards. Not a lot of restaurants and food stalls are open that early.

Fast food chains would be the usual option, but during this visit I didn’t let it happen. Been in Pampanga several times already, and I just have to try something new.

After making rounds and looking for a place, we finally find just the right spot to have our morning meal.

The Perfect Loaf Bakery & Café in Angeles, Pampanga. Just around Nepo Mart and the Holy Angels University.

It has the ambiance that fits the morning chill mood, and that I really like. I enjoy having breakfast with a setting that gives you that good sunshine vibe. When you have that feeling in the morning, it carries on for the rest of the day.

As for the food, you can choose from their Pinoy ‘silog’ favorites or prefer to have American breakfast. Of course, their bakery has lot of bread choices and I must say that it’s all reasonably priced. Price range: Bread starts at 12php to around 60php. Meals are at 80php to 150php.

I had Waffle with Cinnamon and Sausage, I also tried their clubhouse sandwich, enjoyed it both. But not the coffee. It’s not strong enough for me.

I bought cheese breads and ensaymadas for pasalubong. Had a hard time choosing because there are just so many breads and you just want to try everything.

It’s a good breakfast experience. It saved me from eating fast food set meals that day.

The next time I’ll attend mass in Angeles, this would be my to-go place.

Perfect Loaf Bakery & Cafe is located at Teresa Avenue, Nepo Mart Complex, Angeles CityTel No. (045) 888-6625 / (045) 323-4282

NFS

Skipping the trend

I’m magazine-dependent when it comes to mod. Browsing through each page makes me feel in-the-know of the newly implemented rules in dressing up. It guides me on what I should and shouldn’t wear – quite ironic when I seem double the size of the models that I look at. Fashion is always current. Basically I’m taught about what’s in and out in the industry. But scrutiny aside, it doesn’t express the real me. In fact, my style is dictated and possibly manipulated by just another person – the author or the editor of the article.

So how do I turn the table ‘round and become the subject of the magazine’s future write-up?

Answer: Fashion expressed by identity confusion.

It can’t exactly reflect what’s “in” but it can definitely influence whatever lies ahead.

Imagine a floral skirt and a hardware-made leather jacket…or an off-white lacey top matched with buckled biker boots…or a satin cocktail dress and a pair of heeled sneakers...

Crazy? Maybe not next year.


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Thanks to Scott Schuman’s The Sartorialist.

RAMP

Taken Away by Taken by Cars

NOW I have my OWN favorite band…again.

The last band that I put on top of my fave’s list was The Corrs – with their Forgiven, Not Forgotten album - released last quarter of ’95. Hence, I realize how fussy I am when it comes to favorites.

I couldn’t exactly tell the mood I got into the first time I saw and heard them on MTV but whatever that was, it didn’t make me want to switch the channel. They looked Pinoy, I thought, but they didn’t sound like the usual OPM played by the very “energizing” and “no-need-to-memorize” FM stations that every killer bus that passes through NLEX would unconsciously tune in to.

They are so far from that; they played like something else.

Their music sounded electric, or maybe rock with a hint of techno, with a female vocal, which probably balances the whole arrangement and makes it airwave-friendly (fair description coming from one hip-hop and RnB patron). Kinda like a lady version of the Broken Social Scene, but not.

I normally can’t stand listening to music without that ‘krumping’ effect but this time it’s different.

I like Taken by Cars!... No, I love Taken by Cars!

And today I shall be breaking up with my long-time blinged out boys.

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Two Shots and Fighting

My left arm’s still sore. And it’s because of the second shot that I had yesterday afternoon. My first didn’t hurt this bad, actually. Or maybe the person who injected that liquid to my bloodstream just didn’t know how to make the process less painful.

I’m talking about cervical vaccine.

I had my first last June. And it’s almost the end of August. As far as I know, I should’ve taken it last month. But as far as my routine is concerned,

my schedule for a second shot is not noted on my desk planner. And that’s if I even write anything on my desk planner. My bad. Whatever.

I joined the anti-HPV bandwagon primarily because my grandmother died of breast cancer and my mom just had her own finding of cervical cancer. I’m not scared of my genetics to be honest. I just worry about not being able to save up a lot of money to get myself hospitalized in case I get diagnosed. Helpless, right?

So I took advantage of our company’s medical benefits. Each shot costs around Php 3,000 or more in the market while it’s only Php 2,000 here (yes, I’m blogging during office hours). And since I opted to use my medical expense reimbursement privilege for that matter, I got two shots for FREE and will only be paying a grand for the third which is scheduled 5 months from today. It definitely sounds way cheaper than undergoing those strictly-for-the-rich-only treatments like chemotherapy and radiation.

This was the shot given to me. Prices actually range from as low as Php 2,000 to as high as Php 6,000 depending on the brand. You may compare Cervarix and Gardasil for reference. And most importantly, see first if you're qualified for a shot.

It wouldn't hurt to click on these links to be informed.
Just the needles, though, so good luck. :)

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one hand and an IPhone.

“What can you do with one hand?” says Conner thru a text message in an attempt to save Mason from a client who demands a tagline for his telecoms company. Client likes it, err loves it…but not until a few days, when the tagline suddenly stirred something else other than text messaging.

And so that episode from ‘Trust Me’, a television series on advertising, popped into my head after seeing on the internet a cover of the The New Yorker magazine. Known for its illustration covers, the magazine showcased yet another stunning work from illustrator Jorge Colombo for its June 1 issue. With his IPhone as a canvass, and his hand as the paintbrush, Colombo drew the scene before him while standing outside Madame Tussaud’s Wax Museum in Times Square. He used Brushes, an IPhone application that allows user to experience natural media painting. It also records the user’s actions when painting which can be viewed via Brushes Viewer.

Amazing isn’t it? At first glance, many will think that Colombo’s work is just another painting, but there’s such awe after learning it was finger painted using a mobile phone. It’s on the cover of The New Yorker, and that alone is a statement. Although for Colombo it’s not big of a deal that his work is a virtual finger painting, still it is a refreshing thought to know that a publication about 80 years old embraces the possibilities of technology on its cover and pages.

What can you do with one hand and an IPhone? The list is endless: from the simplest of calling and texting, to the more complex like poker, spy cams and yes, painting.

Personally, I wasn’t all gaga about IPhone when it first came out. While everyone else was calling their relatives in the US to get one for them, I was just in a corner apathetic about the whole IPhone craze. Not until recently. The need for a new IPod, and okay admit it, for a new phone, makes me now crave for an IPhone. I’m actually saving up to buy one. And maybe aside from ITunes and a bunch of Fall Out Boy songs, I’ll get that Brushes application.

NFS

Penniless Loafers.

I was planning on buying a pair of wedge sandals to quit myself from matching my gold-turned-greenish brown metallic flip-flops with every outfit that I have in my closet until I passed by my sanctuary – ukay-ukay. I know, cliché. And I don’t have any intentions of labeling myself as a self-professed ukay queen because I’ll only add up to the hundreds of ladies who designate themselves to that position. Maybe I’m just good at the industry but I don't rule. ;)

Moving on, my eyes happened to see this really nice pair of light mustard-yellow shoes. It looked like my boyfriend’s Sperry so I assumed it’s another species of the top-sider family. And having been an ukay patron for almost half a decade, I’ve now expertly developed this skill called LISTENING TO THE “CALLING”. And this duo definitely called me loud and clear! So I grabbed it and flipped it over to see the size, and bingo, size 37. I slipped them on and boy, they fitted perfectly! Of course I bought them!

Apparently, they’re not top-siders. It’s a pair of Penny Loafers – some shoe invention during the late 30’s. Outdated me, alright. At least now i'm aware.:p

And since these shoes commemorate our dear 500-Peso Bill man, Ninoy Aquino through its EDSA Revolutionary yellow color , i officially name them my PENNINOY LOAFERS. Now that's vintage. :))

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RAMP