February Finds

Ah February, the month when everywhere I go there are hearts and flowers I have to put up with. While I did not find love much to the disappointment of overly-enthusiastic friends, here are some consolations I also found:

The dress that launched a thousand looks

So perhaps a thousand looks may be a little exaggerated but perhaps it is possible to the creative mind!

Because I occasionally have a fancy event to attend to, I have to think carefully what to wear, especially when it requires me to wear a formal attire, forget about it and prance around doing my job. :) I have previously rented clothes for such occasions. Honestly, I found it to be quite pricey and time-consuming hopping dress shops and finding a perfect fit. No regrets for looking my best, though. On the other hand, being fashion and budget conscious myself prompts me to look for better alternatives.

So when a friend recently launched their enterprise Tying the Knot featuring this awesome Infinity Dress, I was really excited to try one. I was set on finding pieces I could just recreate or mix up instead of buying dresses to every glamorous occasion but there it was! They make quality & affordable wedding clothing, but even after the occasion, you can wear the dress again by reinventing your look. A good investment, if you ask me. If you're planning to dress up your entourage similarly, I bet bridesmaids would appreciate being able to customize their dress according to their body type, given the many ways the dress can be styled. Apart from this, the dresses are made by mothers trained by NGOs. Now that's a really good buy!

There are plenty of tutorials in Youtube showing you ways on how to wear the dress, but I also found out you make some sort of version yourself. Like the way I wore mine, with the slightly revealing back and flowing cape at the back slightly reminiscent of Emma Stone's dress in the movie Gangster Squad (or just a nod for Oscars 2015 Best Picture Birdman). For just a bit of drama and for the fun of wearing it. =D

The color Marsala won me over.

Down with Love, Up with Chocolate

I got an interesting bar of chocolate on Valentine's day which hilariously reminds me of that chocolate in that 1960s-inspired movie Down with Love starring Rene Zellweger and Ethan McGregor.

"Abstain from Love. Indulge in Chocolate."

Interestingly, the Seattle based JCOCO Couture Chocolates company also gives back to the community by serving fresh and healthy food to someone who would otherwise go hungry.

...which reminds me as well of the locally-produced artisan chocolate Theo & Philo. Getting their cacao beans straight from the farmers in Davao and sugar from Bacolod, this social enterprise champions the people over machines to make the high quality chocolates and proudly makes them from bean to bar right here in the Philippines.

Theo & Philo. Because of my love for chocolate, only the seal was left behind.

Trivia from Theo+Philo: European countries are well-known for their chocolates, but their climate doesn't actually allow it. The cacao plant can only grow in countries like the Philippines which is near the equator. Imagine our luck (not to mention our unleashed potential). As for its name, "Theo” comes from the cacao bean’s scientific name, Theobroma cacao while “Philo” means love, Thus it's “Chocolate & Love.” 

Both chocolates actually have other flavors to choose from but I prefer the 70-72% bitter/dark chocolates. Incidentally healthier for me. =)

Now ain't February sweet? ;D

Quaint Shops in Naga

Now that I need to hop on a jeep and travel at more than 30 minutes from home to work, I'm now more than familiar with certain landmarks along the Concepcion road I pass by almost everyday. I also realized I haven't talked much about the current city I live in, and other blogs can say something better about the food along Magsaysay Avenue and other great restaurants and the malls sprouting in Naga City (maybe when I when I'm completely raving about a certain delicacy or place, which I have already listed and will probably have to describe later). You can probably count on me for occasionally taking photos of food but that would make you hungry. =)

Instead, I'll be championing less popular shops along Maharlika Highway. If you're tired of seeing predictable items in the mall, here are some places you can check out for interesting stuff from abroad/past/heck, I don't care! As for me, I found these interesting just because 1) they're from Japan, 2) you never know what to find/expect here (Note: Surplus shops aren't quite rare, really, even in the Metro. You just gotta LOOK). Here are some photos from my bidding-adieu iPhone:

Eson Japan Surplus (located at the Rotonda going to Concepcion)

Japan Surplus Shop (Along Concepcion beside Ago Foundation)

 

I loved National Bookstore as a kid, Bookshop in my college days for their cheaper books and later on Fully Booked for funky titles and beautiful knick knacks under its belt. But this warehouse is just unbelievable cheap. That commercial asking you what can you get for P20? Well, more than just some ice cream, I'm sure.

Along with the books are things like VHS, medicines in boxes as well as clothes and shoes I suspect would end up in Ukay-ukay. Proceeds go to charity. Totally supporting that.

On wheels, on ice

When I learned

how to skate

and ride a bike,

one went fast,

one took time.

In childhood days

I yearned to glide

like the mouse at a show

in the city one night.

I have watched my brothers

swivel through streets,

wishing I could join them

instead of sitting at the backseat.

First, I was taught to ride a bike

in which many tried to teach me.

In any case, I was always falling down.

Both of my legs sustained a lot

of bruises and injuries.

From then on, mother forbade me

to mount another bike.

Thinking I would be safe

and would no longer be scarred.

It wasn’t until later

in a broken down bike,

when I was on my own

poised on top of a slope,

I lifted my feet off the ground.

Counted the seconds

‘til I moved forward

without ever falling down.

It wasn’t long before

I could push the pedals

One by one.

Skating, on the other hand,

was taught seasons after I grew.

This time though, I attempted

to try something new.

I tried to teach myself

based on the books and pictures I knew.

Alas! After two lapses groping

on the sides of the rink,

I finally called in a coach to assist.

Holding my hands, she held me towards

the center of the ring

and taught me to march ahead,

find the balance from within.

When I finally took a stance,

only then did she show me

how gliding was done.

With feet not too far apart,

slide in opposite direction

one by one.

The day I learned how to bike

and glide a little bit gracefully on ice,

years have passed in between.

But both speak of the same need

for balance, for continuity.

Our youth may have called for some self-efficacy

but to grow is to need others in this journey.

How we can be dependent on one another

yet at times need to be alone on our own!

Palpitations

The doctor said it was nothing –

I couldn't believe him though.

My heart had squeezed the day before

for reasons unknown.

Tried to steer clear of caffeine,

slept earlier than the owls prescribe.

I even tossed the sheets aside

but nothing made it cease at night.

So he checked my pulse and looked

at me, straight into the eyes.

Calmly, he said –

“Let it love.”

I went out with a smile.

Wami sa Umaga

Wala na ang dating lugar kung saan tayo

sumilong noong nagdilim ang langit.

Bumuhos nang paunti-unti ang mga patak ng tubig

at binura ang mga naiwang yapak sa sahig.

Wala na rin ang mga pagkai't inuming

nagpabusog sa ating mga tiyan

at nagpatamis nang ating mga usapan

sa sulok ng madalas na ka-ina.

Wala na ang hinanap-hanap na sopas

noong malamig ang simoy ng hangin

na siyang nagpainit sa ating mga katawan

nang papalapit na ang taglamig.

Niluma na ang mga pahayagang iniabot

sa atin ng tindera, na nag-udyat basahin

ang kapalaran minsa'y nasa panig natin

ngunit piniling hindi tayo pagpalain.

...

Wala na ang mga magpapaalala ito

tulad lang ng pagtingin ko sa'yo.