1.Marunong ka bang magluto?
– oo

2.Kumakain ka ba ng ampalaya?
– oo, isa ito sa mga paborito kong gulay

3.Anong mas gusto mo, Mcdo or Jollibee?
– McDo. Love ko ‘to 🙂

4.Anong madalas mong inoorder sa number 3?
– Cheeseburger meal at 6-piece Nuggets

5.Mahilig ka ba sa maanghang?
– oo, kailangan parating may hot sauce sa bahay

6.Nahilig ka ba sa scrambled?
– kung ang tinutukoy mo ay ang scrambled na binebenta sa kalye, yung kulay pink na nakaka-tonsilitis, hindi.

7.Anong mas gusto mong sawsawan ng fishball, ung matamis o ung maanghang?
– yung maanghang

8.Anong paborito mong sangkap ng halo-halo?
– leche flan at nata de coco

9.Sumusunod ka ba sa instruction ng isang recipe?
– hindi. binabase ko sya sa panlasa ko at nang mga kakain nito

10.Anong kakanin ang gustong gusto mong kainin?
– kutsinta at suman

11.Bumibili ka ba ng samalamig na may sagong maliliit?
– oo, miss ko na nga yun eh kaya sa bahay gumagawa na lang kami nito

12.Banana-q o Turon?
– banana-Q

13.San ka madalas kumain ng tapsilog?
– Tapa King

14.Nasarapan ka ba sa Pearl Cooler?
– oo, pero nang uminom ako nyan, bigla akong nilagnat kaya di na ako umulit

15.Thick crust or Thin crust?
– Thin crust

16.Kinakain mo ba ung taba na nasa dulo ng pork bbq?
– minsan

17.Bumibili ka ba sa manong na nagtitinda ng tuhog tuhog na mangga at singkamas?
– nung high school ako, bumibili ako nyan sa labas ng school namin tuwing uwian

18.Catsup ba o Mayonnaise ang sawsawan mo ng French fries?
– wala

19.Ano ang madalas na Special Order request mo kapag umoorder ka sa fast food restaurant?
– less ice sa iced tea hehehe.

20.Dine-in or Take-out?
– dine-in

21.San ka nakakain ng masarap na sisig?
– sa Dencio’s (Phils) at sa Lutong Bahay (dito sa Sydney)

22.Ala Carte or Set Meals?
– Ala Carte para pwedeng mag-share

23.Mahilig ka bang mag-softdrinks?
– hindi talaga ako umiinom ng softdrinks, iinom lang ako pag yun ang si-nerve ng host kasi nahihiya akong humingi ng tubig

24.Kumakain ka ba ng nakakamay?
– kapag dapat kamayin ang nakahain na pagkain nagkakamay ako

25.Anong paborito mong ipalaman sa tinapay?
– corned beef sa pandesal, tuna naman kung normal bread

26.Nakakain ka na ba ng adidas at ulo ng manok?
– yung adidas nakakain na, yung ulo ng manok hindi pa

27.Tinatabi mo ba yung komiks sa bazooka?
– oo!!! dati collection ko ito nung bata ako. kaya ako mahilig bumili ng bazooka bubble gum dahil sa komiks.

28.Chicharon or Fish Cracker?
– chicharon na isa-sawsaw sa sukang maanghang

29.Bumibili ka ba nung laruan na may candy sa loob?
– oo…kasi nae-excite ako kung ano yung candy sa loob ng laruan

30.Nakatikim ka na ng kwek-kwek?
– yeah!!! meryenda ko ‘to parati sa office nung nagwo-work pa ako sa Makati

31.Kinakain mo ba ung sisiw na nasa balut?
– hindi. takot ako eh.

32.Nagmimidnight snack ka ba?
– ang midnight snack ko 8 or 9pm hehehe…maaga kasi ako natutulog eh.

33.Malakas ka ba sa kanin o sa ulam?
– bina-balanse ko eh. dapat sa bawat subo ko sapat ang kain at ang ulam

34.Champorado o Lugaw?
– lugaw with tokwa’t baboy

35.Cheese Ensaymada o ung plain lang?
– cheese ensaymada para espesyal hehehe

36.Boy Bawang o Cornbits?
– boy bawang!

37.Kapag Wet Goods, Grocery o Palengke?
– sa grocery na lang.

38.Anong part ng manok ang paborito mo?
– thigh

39.Nasubukan mo na bang iulam ang chippy?
– hindi pa…ma-try nga minsan

40.Curly Tops o Nips?
– curly tops

41.Anong paborito mong luto sa itlog?
– sunny side up

42.Kumakain ka ba ng dinuguan?
– pag alam ko kung sino ang nagluto, kailangan ko kasi malaman na malinis ang pagkakaluto ng dinuguan so tinatanong ko muna kung sino ang nagluto.

43.Cold drinks o hot drinks?
– sa ngayon, parang mas madami akong iniinom na hot (coffee and tea)

44.Ginagawa mo din bang lipstick ung cherry ball bago mo kainin?
– oo. nung bata ako, trip namin to ng mga kalaro ko para kunwari naka-lipstick kami

45.Hany o Chocnut?
– chocnut

46.Anong pagkain ang binibili mo pagktapos mong magsimba?
– wala


Yesterday was a very unusual day for me. Unusual because I got to do something I haven’t done in my entire life.

It started with a meet-up with Erick and Jon at Parramatta.

My first time to meet Jon at feeling close na kami coz we have a lot in common hehe.

Finally a photograph with Master Erick

After the meet-up, we went straight to Erick’s place and this was the sight that welcomed us…

Larry (with his son Justin) was also there with his invention (nice one Larry!).

Then after a very yummy adobo lunch, Larry and son went home 🙁

But we got on with the goal for the day…the guys to shoot and for me to work it for the camera!!!!

It was one of those days that challenged me immensely. Bakit??? Kasi hindi naman ako model!!!!!! In my life, I will admit that I am a Trainer, a Singer or a Wife but I will never admit that I am a model–coz I’m definitely not—I”m not even very girly, I don’t like dressing up and putting make-up on. But since these guys are my friends and I know that this is a learning experience for all of us, I was game to do it. And as they say, once in a while do something different to spice up your life and so I did. This was a much-awaited project that made anxious, nervous and excited all week.

Ang hirap palang maging model!!!!! With all the stomach-in-chest-out-butt-out moments I had yesterday I have a sore body today (the kind of feeling when I had a badminton game). Starting today, when I look at celebrities and models in print ads or magazines, I’d appreciate them more. Modelling is not all about glamour, it’s about hard work too.

And speaking of hardwork, at the end of the day, it was all about good photography. Thinking of concepts, setting of cameras, positioning of flashes, diffusers and reflectors. Putting them all together requires effort, patience and precision in the hopes to get it all right, in the hopes of getting a good photograph. We had a couple of bloopers but we had more fun because we made it fun 🙂 Teamwork and sense of humour at its best.

Unforgettable dialogues:

(1) Jon saying “Ivy, mag-pose ka nang maganda” (dahil naubusan na sya nang masu-suggest na pose, kaya nasabi nya ang napaka-vague na phrase na “mag-pose ka nang maganda”)

(2) Erick saying “O jump shot naman” and I was shocked at the request because I was wearing an evening dress…as in “jump shot? naka-dress ako???” Pero ginawa ko naman (uto-uto hehehe).

To Erick and Jon, thank you for taking care of me yesterday. It was fun working with both of you. It was an awesome experience. 🙂

I declared an Ibyang’s Day last Friday because I had another day off from work and this time, I focused on shopping just for myself. I can’t really say I was very happy about shopping for myself. Apparently, I discovered that I didn’t like shopping as much as I used to. Shopping nowadays turn out to be more of a chore rather than an activity that relaxes or de-stresses me.

The main reason for a Me-Myself-and I-Shopping was because there was a need for me to buy clothes for upcoming events and update my make-up kit (it was time to get rid of old make-up). So basically, my shopping was more of a need and not a want. Nevertheless, last Friday was a gift to myself because I got to spend it with one of my favorite companions—ME! 🙂

And to celebrate my day, I had lunch at this quaint, little cafe called Meza Cafe.

I had a big glass of fresh orange juice and a plate of Calamari, Chips and Salad

As usual, being able to sit down and have a decent, pleasurable and quiet lunch meant more to me than buying all those girly stuff that I bought.

I’ve been meaning to update you on what’s happening in our lives lately but there seemed to be a lot of things going on in our radar these past few weeks. Life is pretty hectic right now and I’m hoping that things will gradually slow down before Christmas.

Anyhow, let me update you on Chris’ application. We’re happy to inform everyone that Chris passed the interview and the medical check-up with flying colors. As much as I’d like to tell you the nitty-gritty details of how everything happened, Chris has requested not to divulge it yet. Binigay kasi namin yung URL address ng aming mga websites at natatakot kami na kung ikwento namin dito (ngayon) ay baka ma-misinterpret nila etc. As of now, we were advised to wait til the 3rd week of December and if there’s no news from the Immigration’s end, we are allowed to call them and make a follow-up. Hopefully, there will be a decision made by December as we need that before Chris hands in his resignation.

We have given up the thought of celebrating Christmas, our 1st Anniversary, my 31st birthday and Valentines Day together. I know some of you might get shocked with this news but we have thoughtfully deliberated everything and have decided that Chris will finish his work til February 2008. When we see each other, we’ll just make it up and celebrate everything we needed to celebrate. At the end of all this waiting, we know that it’ll be worth it.

Some of my friends here in Sydney reacted by saying “ang tagal naman”. I know, mga kapatid. Matagal nga kung tutuusin. But there are a lot of considerations and we are not the type of people who will just “eat and run” so to speak. One of the major reason is this: as a way of saying thank you to the company that gave my husband the opportunity to work abroad, he would like to make a “grand” and graceful exit by working on his last office furniture exhibit in Dubai which will happen in the first week of February 2008. And as his partner, I totally agree to his way of saying goodbye to Dubai–with a bang! It’ll be a happy good-bye for both him and the company diba?

As for me, of course, I feel a lot of excitement already. I can’t wait to see him but just a little more patience and strength and before we know it, we’re finally together. At least now, my waiting is full of positive vibes, not like a few months ago when I felt uncertain at times. Now I feel more secure knowing that there’s a projected month on when we’re gonna see each other.
So konting tiis na lang talaga.

So saan nga ba kami magkikita? Eh di sa mata….hehehehe. Corny!!!

Seriously, the plan is for us to reunite in…Dubai!!! We have decided that I pick him up there (since he’s there already) and go around Dubai for a couple of days. And in going back, we’d like to stopover at an Asian country before finally arriving in Sydney (take note: we’d like to but not really sure if this will push thru, depending on the moolah).

So there. Puro plano uli hehehe.

One of the reasons why I’m so busy these days is I’m also working on stuff that I can do now coz I will focus on planning my trip to Dubai and Chris’ homecoming in Sydney early next year.
To all our family, relatives and friends, as early as now, we’d like to say a big THANK YOU for all your pangangamusta, support, wishes and prayers. We are deeply touched (to the max and nth power, lahat na!) by all your thoughtfulness. Thank you very much for making us feel that we are loved. Chris was so overwhelmed when he saw a lot of friends commenting on my entry regarding immigration calling him. As you have noticed, he rarely replies to my entries (ginto ang comment nya hehehe) but that one time, that one entry, he replied—touched na touched talaga sya.

Now, we will wait some more and as soon as we hear something, we’ll definitely let you know.

I’m sure everybody can relate to this scenario: Feeling so down because you lost your most precious wallet and praying that hopefully the one who got your wallet would at least return the important cards, mementos or photographs inside your wallet. Yung tipong ganito ang dialogue mo: Kunin nya na lahat ng pera, pero sana isauli naman yung mga churva ko. Money is definitely replaceable but the special mementos we keep inside our wallet mean a lot to us.

I have experienced my wallet being snatched from me when I was studying High School in Caloocan City. Fortunately, I was able to get my wallet back because I chased after the thief. That was how important my wallet was to me (and still is), not because of the money inside it (duh barya lang naman ang laman nun) but because I held important cards and mementos there. Until now that I’m a grown up, mahilig pa rin akong maglagay ng mementos sa wallet ko, tulad nang:

  • My East West Bank ID – because whenever I see this photo, it reminds me of happy times spent in East West Bank. The photo in this ID also reminds me that once upon a time I wore braces on my teeth.
  • SSS Card – because this card reminds of the time I graduated from College. Ang una ko kasing ginawa nang mag-graduate ako from College is to get my SSS card.
  • My 2 Health Cards: (1) Private Health Fund and (2) Medicare from the Government – these cards make me feel safe. yon na!
  • Credit Cards – Visa, Mastercard and AMEX
  • Calling Cards – I keep calling cards of important people or establishments that I might need to contact: Chris’ call card just incase I need to contact him in the office; my bank’s customer service representative just incase I need assistance regarding my banking needs; my ex-recruitment officer’s card just incase I meet a Filipino somewhere and needs assistance in finding work here in Sydney; my gay hairstylist’s card so I can always check the salon if he/she is there; and Max Brenner’s calling card–hehehe, so that wherever I go, I’d always know if there’s a Max Brenner nearby (Max Brenner’s card has a list of their branches in their card)
  • Driver’s Licence
  • 5 Dirhams note – from Chris, souvenir from Dubai.
  • Lord of Pardon misal – I won’t feel safe if I don’t have this inside my wallet
  • Photographs – (1) of Chris and (2) of Chris and I

What about you? What’s inside your wallet?

Since we’re already on the topic of wallets, let me also share with you this forwarded email I got a few years back. This is one of my favorite essays forwarded via email:

Take Care of Your Wallet


“… you don’t want all these better-looking wallets. You want
yours, because of how comfortable it is, because of all the cards and
pictures and other stuff in it.”

My old Humanities II professor used to tell us that wallets were a
lot like girls, “Dapat mong ingatan, kasi kung hindi mo iningatan, baka
may mangyari.”

I know what he means. I just lost a wallet, and I just lost a girl.
You know, it’s the same thing. One day, you just realize it’s gone. You
try to look for it everywhere, even going back to the places where you
could have lost it. You think, and you think hard, only to come upon a
grim realization: it’s really gone.

Of course, you can hold on to some hope. After all, there have been
some very, very lucky (blessed?) people who got theirs back. Perhaps you
could become one of those people. You sit around at home and you hope
that someone would call, and that you would get it back. But then, some
time passes,and you realize that it’s still gone, and you realize that
it’s time to let go.

The first few days, you turn to your friends for support. Some tell
you you’ll be ok, some tell you it was your fault and that you should
have been more careful, and some tell you about their own experiences.
They give you all sorts of advice, none you haven’t heard before.

You then go out to find a new wallet, only to realize that you don’t
really want a new one. You want the old that you lost. No, you don’t
want all these better-looking wallets. You want yours, because of how
comfortable it is,because of all the cards and pictures and other stuff in it.

You go out and carry on without a wallet, keeping your money in your
pocket instead. You throw away stuff that you would have held on to if
you had your old wallet. And then, finally, you find a new wallet you
like and settle in.

You then start filling your new wallet, little by little. It still
doesn’t feel as comfortable as the old one, but it’s getting there. Then
you start putting in cards and pictures and other important stuff into the
wallet.

Soon enough, there’s as much stuff in your new wallet as the old
one. And then, after some time, you feel as comfortable with your new
wallet.

And then you realize that you’ve almost forgotten you ever had your
old wallet. Sure, you still remember most of the stuff you lost with
that wallet. But then again, you don’t remember the hurt when you lost
it.

That’s because that wallet you lost is no longer yours. You’re no
longer holding on. This new wallet you’re holding has all the important
cards and pictures and stuff that you need. This is your wallet.

And this time, you tell yourself you’re never losing this one.

– Anonymous

This entry was inspired by Anne‘s tag “What’s inside my Wallet?”. Please feel free to tag yourself.