PANSIT!

On my way to Laguna, I got lost somewhere in Las Pinas and ended up in Alabang's bus terminal. And there, one bus caught my eye:

I wonder why it was named as such. Do you get free pansit with every purchase of a bus ticket? Will you have long life if you ride it? Or was it for the sole beauty of rhymes? It didn't need a word related to speed, or travel, or their names. As long as it rhymes, it's gonna be fine!

If I would have a bus company, I would name it Pusit Transit or Damit Transit. (Sa sobrang bilis, lahat malapit!)

Reasons why I love my mom

It's mother's day and a lot of people on facebook are changing their profile pictures to that of their mothers. I changed mine too even if my mom doesn't have a facebook account (and I definitely would not want her to have one) so later this afternoon, I would show it to her as if saying "O, ma, tignan mo ah, love kita ah!"

It's a good thing that Hallmark invented this day (a great maketing tool to sell their greeting cards) so at least once a year, we get a chance to remember our mothers.

So here are some reasons why I love my mom.

1. She's prettier than I am so the genes really helped to balance the resulting look.
2. She forgives me over and over again.

3. My mom doesn't cook much but she likes to fix fruit juices.

4. She has sacrificed a lot for me

5. She went through the scary process called giving birth so I can be welcomed into this world.

6. Even with crazy decisions, she still supports me.

7. She loves chocolates so much so it's easy to make her happy.

8. She is a good listener.

9. She rants about her reminders over and over again so I don't forget about things that I must do.

10. Her overflowing love for me makes it easier to love others as well.

There are still more reasons why I love my mom. I guess I need to show her this again later to say O ma, tignan mo, love kita ah!

Are you sure?

After more than a year, the ninja is back and she's here to blurt out her opinions simply because blogging allows her to do so! (It's kinda weird to use the third person, perhaps only E.T. can pull it off)

I bet you don't care what happened to me within that year of absence and babbling about it would just be a waste of space. But at this moment in my life, I am a full-time freelance writer and I now write about anything under the sun or the moon (or nimbus clouds on rainy days).

And today, I am writing about a very exciting topic: INSURANCE! Yes ladies and gentlemen, INSURANCE! To be more specific, non-life INSURANCE!

This picture from emaster.com.ph came out first in google images when I typed in "insurance."

I used to be afraid of the general insurance idea because of those agents in the malls who have been using the same lines for at least 10 years to lure people into getting into an air-conditioned room with free juice. This usually comes with a "fear creation session" to convince you to get insured.

Classic examples of luring lines are:

"Mam may credit card na po?"

"Ay sakto mam! Lucky color namin ngayon Blue!" (sabay hawak sa plastic ng SM Department store na hawak ko)

Though I was worried that my nose would unceasingly bleed as I read and write about insurance, I discovered that the non-life insurance principle is pretty simple. You spend your money on something (like buy yourself a car or put up a business) and since getting something usually comes with fear of losing it, you can get it insured so if it meets an unfortunate circumstance, you can get it back.

In short, with insurance, what you purchase is peace of mind.

And with crazy typhoons and extreme weather, properties are now more at risk. With many bad people around, burglars and thieves are just around the corner so it is good to safeguard your home. With a lot of hotheaded drivers on the roads of the city, car accidents can hit you anytime.

So getting insured is pretty cool after all.

I have always wondered if any insurance company would offer insurance for heartbreak. The premium would be pretty high for sure because if there's anything as sure as death in this life, it is the occurrence of heartbreak. It's a risk but the insurer would surely have a lot of clients!

Since I have no idea how to end this post, let me ask you a question:

If you were J. Lo, would you insure your butt? What possible butt-affecting catastrophes are you expecting that you need to have it insured?

Hannah Montana Milesters of the Month: issue 8

We had the fashion shoot for the hannah Montana magazine featuring the milesters of the month, Chacha and Charm. The girls were really adorable and super pretty.

When I took a photo with them, I noticed that even with my 4-inch boots, I am just as tall as these 12-year-old girls. Must be the milk. :)

They're wearing TopShop, Freeway, and Solo outfits and here, they're holding a super cool and sleek pink Canon camera.

It's always fun to shoot for Hannah Montana magazine. Love yah girls! :)

Monty Python and the Holy Grail: A Fa"Ni"Tastic Film!

Monty Python and the Holy Grail (1975) is a superb classic which never fails to crack me up. I laugh harder and harder at this film as I get older (I don't know the reason behind this pattern, it just happens). This collaboration of Terry Gilliam and Terry Jones is pure genius! The down-right fake props, obvious pitch problems of men who play women roles, it's incredibly witty script, and the sheer stupidity of the characters make it a very very intelligent film.

Who would have thought that saying the word "Ni" over and over again would make us laugh harder and harder? For those who have watched the film, here are some pics from the movie. For those who have'nt, watch it on free streaming sites or better yet, buy a DVD. This one is definitely worth it.

www.cyber-cinema.com

The Knights of the Round Table www.sacred-texts.com

Take a look at the crotch of this three-headed man. www.aloocine.fr

The Knights who say "Ni!" www.id-wall.com

Enigmata Mania

There are a lot of wonderful spots in Camiguin but perhaps one of the most exciting and interesting destination for us (my friend Sarah and I), is our accomodation: Enigmata Tree House.



It is a house made and maintained by artists of Mindanao. Each of its rooms give a feel of local artistry and a vibe of nature. It is build on an age-old acacia tree and is decorated with dreamcatchers, knitted bells, paintings, and other crafts.


We stayed in Enigmata's Eagle's Nest Room during our short trip to Camiguin; and the room was really big for the two of us (It could accommodate 10 persons). It has two hammocks in the living room where we took an afternoon nap. It's sleeping area is also adorable--each mattress has its own kulambo and a big dreamcatcher over it. It also has a loft in the bedroom which has more mattresses for more people.


The Enigmata Tree House is indeed a work of art and staying there goes as low as P200.00/pax. For more information, log on to (http://www.enigmatatreehouse.com/)and make sure you book as soon as possible for there are only a few rooms in this treehouse. And if you get to stay there, don't forget to order a cup of Camiguin's signature hot chocolate. :)

Tan Time!

Below is an excerpt of my column in Travel Plus magazine, summer issue.

After months of glutathione and skin whiteners, it’s time to get a tan.

Yes, ladies and gentlemen, the cloudless skies beckon the arrival of the sun season—where tan lines are cool and Brazilian wax is a necessity.

There is an unspoken pressure during summer—you have to lose weight and you have to plan a getaway with friends. Though plane and resort rates skyrocket during this season, people still go and get a taste of the sun, somewhere else. And if you were not smart enough to take advantage of unbelievable promo rates, then there are other things that you have to cut down on expenses. So here are some tips from your kuripot columnist, which hopefully could help you, get the best out of your travel this season.

Go used or edited for your summer getup
One of my favorite personal ideologies is Why blend in when you can stand out? There will always be clothes and accessories which would catch your attention. Sarah, a friend of mine, could not help but ask a stranger in a yellow floral “vintage” top where she got her cute blouse. The answer was, “Somewhere.” So in my mind, I thought, “Ah Ukay…”

If you could get a Banana Republic top for PhP35.00, without damage or funny smell, I say why not? All that it needs is soap, water, and an anti-bacterial fabric conditioner. So don’t be afraid to shop in these thrift shops for your summer wardrobe. But definitely not your swimsuit and I do not want to start to explain why.

Also, you could start “editing” your clothes. Go wild and creative with your old items and risk to place its future into your hands. One tip is to get an oversized shirt, cut the sleeves shorter, widen the neckline, tie dye it, wear it asymmetric, exposing one of your shoulder blades, and voila! You get a cool oversized summer shirt which could also serve as a swimsuit topper.


The magic of quadruple sharing
No man is an island, especially, when you’re on an island. Quite confusing huh? But it is true, if you’re planning to save on your summer getaway, make sure you get your friends to come with you. The rates go lower when you share your bed with someone else. Though internet rates usually just show twin sharing (two persons in a room) rates, it is still better to call the resort if they offer triple or quadruple sharing.

Also, tour rates go even lower as you find more people to share the boat/van rate with you. For example, a tour boat around Coron Islands usually costs PhP 1,500.00 per boat which could carry around four persons. A multi-cab around Camiguin usually costs PhP1,500 per vehicle which could carry up to 10 persons. Imagine how much you could save if you could share the cost. However, if you’re a lone rider or traveling with a special someone, you could join tour groups or ask strangers in your resort if they’re planning to go on a tour. As the Goldilocks restaurant saying goes, Share a seat, win a friend.

Explore transportation options
Try not to get carried away with bad publicity. Though plane crashes and ship sinking have been shown in a terrible fashion through news reports, remember that these vessels still travel everyday and those few horrible instances have a great chance of NOT happening to you.

On the contrary, it is best to take advantage of bad publicity, because rates go lower. Don’t be afraid to try other flight carriers, which was usually not on your top of mind. Believe me—I’m still alive.

Another unpopular way of transportation for some is the shipping lines. Though travel time usually last for at least 12 hours, you could consider travel time as a part of the trip. If you wish to splurge a little, you could avail of the suites for a more comfy ride. Also, some of these shipping lines, like Negros Navigation, offer free bus rides to and from the pier.

RORO (Roll on roll off), where your own vehicle or a bus line is loaded into a ship, is another way to travel cheap. Bus terminals in Cubao offer trips to Boracay, Cebu, and anywhere else in the Philippines.

Emergency Eats
Sometimes, no matter how much you plan, you tend to be short on budget when it comes to food. This is why it is still best to bring emergency eats with you to make sure you don’t get hungry. My usual set of emergency eats consist of a box of 3 in 1 coffee sachets (I don’t think I could survive without caffeine), a box of cereal (Almond Nut Clusters preferably) and two instant cup noodles.


The joy of summer is phenomenal. It’s as if the sun, when felt somewhere else, has the capability of making things happier and lighter. So go ahead and be creative in planning for your escapade. Enjoy the freedom of these months because when the rainy season comes, tan lines become coined as uneven skin tone.