Fashion

I like to watch Fashion TV once in a while. I especially enjoy the behind the scenes bits with the models getting made up because you get the chance to see them ugly then transform to how they look on the runway and magazines. Maybe it's weird but it gives me comfort. Bitter much?

Anyway, when I've had enough of the fashion shows, I keep the TV tuned in while I do other things, like what I'm doing now. Having Fashion TV music on the background makes me feel a little glamorous and inspires me to be out there.

You might wonder why, then, am I not fashionable if I like watching fashion shows? Why don't I know how to pull off accessories, and why do I stick to the same boring outfits?

Well, firstly, while I appreciate fashion, I'm too stingy and self-effacing to spend on things just to look good for other people. Secondly, I do get bold with my outfits once in a while when I'm courageous enough to execute an idea in my head, but I am pleased more with compliments about my confidence rather than the ensemble per se.

That, to me, is close enough to being model, and more so when it's from the specific person I am trying to impress. Thanks to B for cheering me up this way yesterday.

I need to talk to someone. I feel like I'm going to go crazy if I keep thinking.

It hit me just now: I have barely a month.

Maybe we should take a picture of everytime we're together from now on.

...

Are we going to be ok?

Korea journal part 4

Sorak National Park (last entry)

Went to Sorak National Park this morning to look at cool trees and streams and some temples.

Entrance to the park

Alice (our tour guide) said Korea only has 10 bears lefr in their ecosystem because men used to eat them to strengthen their stamina. There's a statue of a bear to symbolize the bears' protection in the park.

The 340+ sqm park is awesomely surrounded by majestic mountains that can be viewed wherever you turn. The park itself is protected by UNESCO because Sorak has many rare birds and plant species that are yet to be identified.

I took lots of pictures, mainly scenery. It was just so beautiful and tranquil; I pretended I was a professional photographer for a while.

Women selling medicinal herbs

Bridge to temples

The rest of the sightings

Jewel in the Palace set but really the Emperor's Palace


The Royal Sex House

Last but not least: if you saw Stairway in Heaven, there's an episode where the heroine met Kwon Sang Won in a cafe and pretended she could see when in fact she had turned blined. It's one of the most memorable scenes in the Koreanovela which quickly became a classic. This is the cafe where the scene was shot:

Cafe Pascucci; in the area where I had 32 cm green tea ice cream

Korea journal part 3

Nami Island (my favorite journal entry)

Nami Island - after General Nami, who buried a Prime Minister with him when he died. The King accused Nami of betraying Korea (how and on what basis, I wasn't listening). But a lot of people knew he was innocent. The King called him to court and asked if he was guilty as charged. Nami said he was, but he had a supporter. A lot of people were shocked because they knew Nami was innocent. They couldn't understand it. The King asked who the accomplice was, and Nami pointed at the Prime Minister. The Prime Minister was innocent too, so he was shocked.

The King got very mad and ordered the soldiers to arrest Nami and PM and chop their heads off. Before being killed, the PM asked Gen. Nami, "You know I am innocent. Why did you include me in your mess? Why did you have me die too?"

Nami said, "You know I am innocent, yet you don't do anything. You are the PM, why didn't you talk to the King on my behalf? You cannot complain to me about dragging you with me to death, because you are guilty as well."

Their heads were chopped off and thrown into the field. People took Nami's body and gave him a proper burial, but kept the whole thing a secret because it was illegal. Until today, nobody knows for sure where Nami's grave lies, and many could only speculate that perhaps, it is really in Nami Island, since it is named after him. I thought, DUH.

Korea journal part 2

Random observations

In Korea, recycling is very important, so you have to buy trash bags all the time. When you buy something from the convenience store, it comes without plastic, unlike in the Philippines.

Korean girls like men with nice bodies. 4 Actor Kings: Endless Love Winter Sonata guy, Won Bin (three cheers!), All About Eve guy, and one other guy I didn't catch and probably don't know. Kwon Sang Won (Cholo in Stairway to Heaven), is 5th because he's just new.

Goodbye Incheon! It's really cold outside. My hands are frozen so I had to wear mom's gloves. Have to get my own one day.

Brr... cold!

Scenery's not much. All industrial. The cars are all round on the sides and corners so everything looks soft. The roads are wide and clean. The air so clear and crisp. No clouds in the sky. Mostly bluish, grayish, whitish hue.

Gray everywhere; feeding Oishi to the birds

Trees line the sides of roads. Real pretty. It's autumn here so the leaves have turned different colors. Some are dark green, dark yellow, light yellow, red violet, mauve, brown, even pink. No flowers at all. I like the red and orange trees.

Mom and the colorful trees

It's Sunday today. All offices in the city are closed. No banks, no nothing. Everyone's on trips to islands, going picnicking with families or lovers. Visiting tourist spots such as the place we're going to now. I think we're on the highway now. Everyone in the bus is asleep, which is just as well.

I love Korean trees!!! I love the flowers! Pine trees: favorite tree of Koreans!

Korean men have to go to the military for 3 years at 20 + years old. Wish it was like that in the Philippines, to drum patriotism into our men's heads. Even actors are not exempted.

Korea journal part 1

Lookie what I found! Journal entries about my trip to Korea in 2005. Now I know why I kept a journal diligently before; as time passes, memories become vague, and you forget details like the color of the sky, or the emotional impact of a particular scenery.

I'll post the entries here chronologically with pictures.

On the plane to Incheon

Fish with rice. Some salad. Cobbler. Wicked Korean pepper paste. Awful coffee.

Kept spilling things. Ashamed at own clumsiness.

Korean beside me. I think he's younger than I am. Looks annoying. Bit chubby. I think he's also nice once I get to know him. But why would I do that? Hehe. Meanie. Wonder what time it is. Will be arriving in Korea at 10 to 7 at night.

Radio station quite good. Rock station. Only classic rock. I like that. Stewardesses in this plane are old and ugly. Why?

Then again, haven't seen single nice looking guy. I hope it's different once we land. I'm excited! And I have to pee.

My version of heaven

I took a sick leave from work yesterday, feigning PMS. It's my last week at work, and usually one would want to maximize the time left, right? I know that once I step out that door, I can never come back (except to get my backpay). But I'm only getting impatient for the week to end, and to get a move on. To what? you ask. To the next chapter of my life.

I finished reading The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold yesterday morning. It's the story of a young girl who got raped and killed, and how she watched over her family from heaven. According to the book, heaven is different for each person. The heroine's heaven, for example, is a high school where she only has to attend art class, and where there are swing sets and nice grassy fields. Whatever you desire will be there, as long as you understand why you desire it.

The story almost convinced me that people who pass away really do look upon the living, watching us, moving with us somehow. When we utter prayers for them, honor their memories, they become full of energy. They can visit us and show themselves to us as they please, but often they don't want to scare us. They can read our minds, but they can't put thoughts into our heads, or affect our decisions. They can stop rain and thunderclap when a moment is important, like when you're about to get your first kiss. I haven't had anyone close to me pass away, and I hope I won't anytime soon. I like to think that when someone I love dies, s/he moves on and gets to be infinitely happy, instead of living vicariously through me.

I imagine my heaven to have a theater with all kinds of films, and unlimited popcorn. The popcorn will be dispensed by a high-tech machine that has every flavor possible in the world. There will also be a community library, as beautiful as the ones in the Vatican, or those in British universities. And I'll live in a village exactly similar to where Kiki lives in Kiki's Delivery Service. Maybe she'll even be there. Oh and the mornings are extra long, because I'm a morning person. And I can take three breakfasts without feeling full.

But it's still sad, isn't it? Never being able to touch a person you love again. Seeing your parents get by, grow old, and wait for them in heaven. Thank God for waking up in this hellhole everyday.

Seafood diet, kids' apparel

Starting today, I'll be on a seafood diet. Only fish and vegetables for, let's see... a month. Yes, about a month. Consider it my next experiment.

Last night I spent some time with B's family. His five year old niece is simply adorable, if exhausting. Her hyperactivity is such a mystery that she must be absorbing everyone else's energy in the room. I hope any child that's gonna come from me will be somewhat tamer.

Lauren probably has a very cute and very full closet at home. She likes anything with glitter and is incidentally pink. Last Saturday after B's dad's birthday dinner in Glorietta, we all went to Rustan's to accompany Lauren shopping. For the first time, I got a good look at what's in the kids' apparel section of malls these days. I was surprised at some of the clothes and shoes displayed for little girls. To put it shortly, whatever's available in adult women's fashion has a version for little girls. This is very disturbing. I don't want to see a kid wearing platform heels, or faux leather leopard print swimsuit, or off-shoulder, gut-baring ripped shirt. Maybe it's just that line of clothing, the designer of which I'd very much like to give a piece of my mind to. But the point is... the point is... somewhere, mothers are buying them. WHY?

B's mom had a pile of clothes to give Lauren as a present. One of them is an orange t-shirt from a seafood restaurant that's a bit too big. When Lauren tried it on after some spaghetti strapped blouses, I felt a wave of tenderness for the child. Suddenly, in that baggy shirt, she seemed so small and vulnerable, and memories of my tomboy days came flooding back. Although the kid acts tougher than the average boy, I feel sorry that people around her think she has to dress pretty to look cute. I find that, more often than not in the case of children, the clothes have nothing to do with cuteness at all.

Six months together

Last Friday, B and I celebrated our 6th months together. On paper, it seems like such a short time, and indeed time flew by so fast. But when I think about everything that we have been able to do together, and the stories we can tell out of them, I feel overwhelmed with how rich and colorful our relationship is. We've had a few speed bumps, sure, but they were vital in learning each other's shortcomings, quirks, and stuff that we can't change even if we tried. They tested our patience, made us practice tolerance, forgiveness, graciousness.

I told B that during the beginning of our relationship, I intended to play the role of First Lady and practice patience, understanding, silent endurance and unwavering support. I decided that I would be submissive unless it violated my non-negotiables. I thought he must be looking for that kind of partner-- a real docile lady. But also, I thought changing myself to be that kind of person would be good for the relationship, and it showed how much I looked up to and respected him. I thought it was time that I take the backseat and let the man drive.

Of course that didn't happen. Turns out having someone pamper you, and show you much he loves taking care of you, can go to your head and make you roll over your stomach purring like a happy cat. It makes you spoiled. It makes you lazy. It makes you selfish. I'm learning to meet him halfway in the care department. I'm trying to be a better girlfriend while he becomes a better boyfriend everyday. I sometimes ask the heavens above why I met him at such an early age. I didn't plan on a serious relationship until I'm 27 at least. But anyone who would turn her back on this is a fool. A crazy fool.

I worry that we might run out of things to do because we seem to be doing everything at a fast pace. We like trying out restaurants, looking for new hang outs and trying different experiences. This sense of adventure and youthful streak that we share keep our relationship from getting mundane. But soon we'll have to tone it down and get busy. I'm thinking at least we'll have those memories to inspire us, and help us appreciate one another by making even simpler things special. We have a long way to go with a rough draft of a map to guide us. The past six months barely leave a significant mark on our tabula rasa, but I like how they form dots around the sign "Start" like little glowing stars.

Dr. Hook is the Smooth

I love Dr. Hook. I' ve been listening to "A Little Bit More" for almost a week now during commute, but it's only this morning that I really listened to the lyrics:

When your body's had enough of me
And I'm laying flat out on the floor
When you think I've loved you all I can
I'm gonna love you a little bit more

Seriously, his songs are raunchy and yet... so romaantic! Here's another stanza:

So if you're feelin' alright and you're ready for me
I know that I'm ready for you
We better get it on now
Cause we got our whole life to live through

If there was a perfect bedroom conversation (or rather monologue), this must be it. I only hope whoever I marry would have these thoughts in his mind after sex. Haha.

I first decided that Dr. Hook is the Smooth with the song "Sharing the Night Together". Seriously, where is this guy now?

Sucks to be my feet right now

I just walked from my office in Salcedo Village to Greenbelt 1, then all over Glorietta and then to Greenbelt 1 to Legaspi St. again, then took a cab back to my office. If you think that's nothing, try doing it in heels in the sweltering heat of summer.

I had to visit an office in Legaspi St. and then canvass photo shops in Glorietta for work. The office took a lunch break so I needed to go back at 1pm. I felt lonely the whole time seeing office mates, couples, families and friends having lunch. Everywhere, people were smiling, having a good laugh and eating heartily. I have no more friends in Makati (well friends that I see often anyway) because two of them recently moved offices to Pioneer. I don't mix well with my office mates, so I go solo all the time. I thought of calling someone up--anyone, even my mom, but it's just not the same.

I got my IELTS result today and found that I passed. I actually feared I would fail, when in fact my score is Band 9 (rounded up). At first it made me happy, but after a while I couldn't smile about it anymore. It made me more decided about resigning though, which I will do today. In a couple of minutes...

Maybe an hour...

Maybe before my boss leaves...

Aack!

Thanking God for these genes

There's a new boutique that's going to open on the 4th floor of Trinoma. By the looks of the "Soon to Open" poster, I'm guessing it's a Korean cosmetics shop. I don't want that poster to come down, ever, as seeing it makes me glow inside. Why is that, you ask? I have been told that I resemble the woman in the poster, actress Song Hye Kyo. If you don't know who she is, here's a picture:

I asked my mom and my boyfriend for a second (and third) opinion, and they both agreed (surprisingly because my boyfriend hates Koreans, and my mom is my biggest critic). I'm glad she lives in Korea, because I'd hate to share the same neighborhood with her.

Here's another picture:



Do you think we have a resemblance?

Much ado about nothing

From hereon forward, May 10 will always be the day my parents met B's parents. It was at the Manila Cathedral, at something past 4:30pm. B told me that his parents might attend the wedding ceremony. B came to see me before the wedding began, and when I didn't see his parents anywhere by 3:00pm, I thought they'd changed their minds. After the ceremony, though, from where I was standing near the altar, I caught a glimpse of the top of B's father's head by the exit. I went over to say hello, and eventually introduced my grandmother and parents. They all looked quite jolly to meet each other. B's mom is really bubbly, and my grandmother has a very warm personality. I daresay they hit it off.

Everybody proceeded to Manila Hotel afterwards, where the reception was held. We were waiting in the lobby for my uncle and cousins, when B's parents arrived and invited us all for coffee. To refuse the hospitality would be rude, so everybody went. It was nerve wracking! Being in one table with both parents??! Good thing B told his mother (she called him up and asked him to join us) that he was going to take me to Sofitel, where his friend's wedding reception was. I couldn't be happier to flee and leave them to get to know one another. I had the most wonderful time at Sofitel watching the sunset and having an Erdinger, although once or twice we'd wonder out loud what our parents could be discussing.

Unwillingly, B deposited me back to my reception. The reception was really bad, which added to my misery at having returned. That night, my mom told me that B's family said I'm very nice. She said it felt like they were eager to become family members. I told her I don't want more meetings like that, and she has to put a stop to more publicity about my relationship. While I appreciate their approval of my love life, it just saps the romance out of it. But more importantly, it's doubly hard to break up since our families have met. People would think there must be something wrong with me, and if I meet someone new, it would be hard for them to take us seriously because I'd look like a harlot in the family! Not that I'm thinking of breaking up, of course.

May 10 is going to be an interesting day

My parents will not meet B's parents until we announce our engagement plans. Although technically, they have communicated through various gifts exchanged over holidays and from vacation trips. For Christmas, B's parents gave us a box of canned lychees. In return, we gave two big bags of puto and cotchinta from arguably the best puto maker in Luzon (dare I say Philippines?). Then B's mom gave my grandmother packs of noodles, while my parents sent two watermelons for the summer. Recently, my parents went to Zambales and asked me to give them a basket of mangoes. A week later, I received an entire case of apples and grapes. These gestures are meant to show courtesy and gratitude to one another. It doesn't mean, though, that they have harnessed some fondness for each other.

On May 10, it looks like our parents will finally meet at the reception of my cousin's wedding. It turns out that the groom's father is their lawyer, or a laywer acquaintance. When B announced this the other day, I was thrown. The problem is my parents don't want to meet them yet, but introductions are inevitable. What's more odd about the situation is that B will not even be there.

The wedding is getting to be a bigger and bigger headache...