Freelancer (Part One)

Yeah, it's a not-one-of-those-food-posts-again post. 

Bear with me. Being the unemployed freelancer that I am, I have all the time in the world to do the things that I was deprived of while slaving away like what I did in my previous job. Namely: sleep, sleep in, cook, eat, run. And because I'm saving what little I have by staying in and feeding myself with what's available in the fridge, I always try to make myself a decent meal that would last me a day (I have to be very careful with enjoying my food too much, the scales will suffer). For today I came up with this fare:

Buttered Peas and Corn Kernels - Boiled
Potato Strips - Potato cut in thin strips, sauteed in olive oil, garlic and onion
Fresh Orange
Cup of Tea (with milk)

My Proper English Dinner

For dinner tonight, G heated prepared a proper English dinner. But before we go on to the ingredients and how-to's let me first define what his version of a 'proper English dinner' is. 

2 Veg + 1 Meat English Dinner

This is the proper English dinner for a working class living in the northern part of England. According to G, the rationale between this meal is that: it's filling, it's affordable and it helps keep them warm. Also, there is no sharp taste as the English prefer their food bland.

Make Your Own Crisp Sandwich

Ingredients:

1. 2 Slices of White Bread
2. Salt and Vinegar Flavored Crisps
3. Margarine

How to Make:

1. Do NOT toast the bread. Leave it as is. 
2. Spread the margarine on one side of both slices.
3. Place a sufficient amount of crisps on one of the bread slices, buttered side up.
4. Once satisfied with the amount of crisps on your bread, place the other bread slice on top of the mound of crisps, buttered side down.
5. Enjoy.

Americans:Chips::English:Crisps

Kudos 2011!

A little bit late but since I now have the all the time in the world (God-willing not for long!), I can now write blog posts as often as my mind and fingers can.

This post should remind me to count my blessings, name it one by one. I did, and having done this, I can conclude that 2011 wasn't as dark as 2010, definitely. It had more ups than downs. The only thing clouding it was my 'job' which finally, FINALLY, I got 'rid' off (though it left me jobless, but again, hopefully not for long!).

Germany postcards from Andi and Yvonne

Christmas in Legoland

Adding more photos on my Christmas Trees in SG Photo Collection:

Christmas Tree in Six Battery Road's Lobby. It's backdrop is Singapore's "Highest Vertical Garden".

Christmas is in the Air in Singapore

Unlike in the Philippines where Christmas starts on SeptemBER, the beginning of the 'ber' months, celebration of the season here in Singapore isn't felt until after mid-November. However, it doesn't stop SG from being bongga (Filipino slang for extravagant) in their Christmas decorations.

Apart from the Christmas Sale, Christmas Decors stalls being put up, thousands of people flocking to the mall doing their Christmas shopping, it's actually the lavish Christmas Trees in the malls, sparkly Christmas Lights on the streets, and elaborate decors everywhere that make me really feel that Christmas is really near. It gives me a warm and fuzzy-feeling inside (yes, I get kilig over this thing, being a true, blue, Christmas-loving Filipino that I am), every time I come across any one of these beautiful things that reminds me of Christmas. It makes me forget (just for a second) that I'm spending the holidays here (note spending and not celebrating) and just revel in the fact that it's CHRISTMAS!

So give you a hint of why the decors make me weak on the knees, I made it my task to take a photo of every Christmas Tree that I come across, every decoration that I find amazing, and post it here. As for the lights at night, I'm afraid I can't document it as I don't have a decent camera. :) So here's just a few...

Plaza Singapura Christmas Tree @ Dhoby Ghaut MRT Station

Christmas Is Still the Same This 2011 - An Early Christmas Post

Just the thought of spending another Christmas away from home saddens me. What's worse is that I might be working the whole month of December (with my usual one day off a week, of course). Well the worst part of it all is that it might be the second year in a row and I'm not doing anything about it.

More like I can't do anything about it.

A Barrage of Stars

Apart from the view of the city from the Marina Bays Sands Sky Park and the dizzying height of 1 Altitude Bar at One Raffles Place, there is one unexploited (well, unexploited by tourists) place in Singapore with a breathtaking view of the city's skyline: the Marina Barrage. 

It is actually a dam with a park on it's rooftop. On any given day, it is a regular park full of families and youths having picnic and flying their kites. But I would think it's best to go there at night where you can see the city lights from afar. 

Photo from http://news.gov.sg

Sribbles on Tattoo

At last... Another nonsense post from me after all these months!

I just got back from my holiday in Phuket (I surely had a lot of firsts in this holiday) but getting a henna tattoo isn't one of it!

When I looked at my first beach henna tattoo, I realized what a typical, boring person I am as (1) I got a boring looking tattoo and (2) I had it done on the same part of my body-where no one will be able to see it, not unless i wear a tube or tank top all the time, which i rarely do.

So here is what a got then and now...

Got this one in my first Puerto Galera (Mindoro, Philippines) trip with the guys. 1st weekend of May 2007. I think I got this one for less than S$10 (Php 250 - I think)

Happy Valentine's Day 2011

I was about to post a "single" quote on Facebook but decided against it as everyone on earth might see me as bitter and lonely and sad. I am not. I am in love with the idea of love (Yes, I'm a hopeless, really hopeless, romantic), I know I am loved and I am full of love. So I'll post it tomorrow and leave you all with this:

Sentosa Beach. Taken using my old-age Canon Digital Ixus i7.

That Lone Woman In The Movie House

The (lonely) woman in the movie house.

Earlier she was wandering gingerly around the mall, not knowing what to do or where to go. She's done this before. Most of the time actually. Go to the mall, window shopping alone. Dine in a restaurant, enjoying a sumptuous meal (or so she thought) by herself. Watching movies in theaters, alone. Yeah, she has done that gazillion times. She's been doing that even if she has friends that she can call to go with her (or maybe none because she's frequently accompanied by friends Me, Myself and I).

She wonders why most people don't want to eat alone. She wonders why some need someone else to accompany them to go somewhere, do something. Doing things by herself makes her responsible only for herself, rely on herself, decided on things according to her liking and benefit and if something comes bad out of it, then she's the only one to blame, she's the only one who will suffer the consequences.

First Half of My Birthday Wishlist

I was supposed to post this entry last January 22 so as to give ample time to the people who are mentioned here (and those who are generous enough to be my fairy godmothers/godfathers) to buy/make their gifts and send it to me. :)

Anyway, since I am entering my quarter-life, and yeah, along with it comes THE quarter-life crisis (which I have been experiencing since I entered 20's!) I think I have the right to make a birthday wish list and hopefully (I'm begging you, please) will get all 25 things in my list. I won't put all the mush and impossible stuff like getting a boyfriend or going home. Instead, (almost) everything here is quite obtainable by myself or by the universe, if it's lavish enough to indulge me.

1. Birthday Cake.

Who doesn't want one? The last birthday cake I got was when I turned 22 and it was a company gift. My 23rd was spent in HK and Macau with Guy so it's a different kind of cake, I had an Egg Tart. Last year was spent here, a newbie in SG, with KZ, Yayam and Miko, with fast food stuff. So now that I am settled, I expect to get one. A cupcake with a candle will suffice.

I Got A Love Letter Today

I got a sweet surprise today. A love letter from my one and only sister.

Here is how I view my family:

My dad is my adviser.

Mommy keeps me grounded.

My big brother is my great example.

And the most important of it all, my sister makes me feel loved.

Forget Facebook, Twitter, or even email. There is nothing sweeter and more thoughtful than receiving a letter, the old fashion way. Reading my sister's card relieved me of the stress from a long and lousy day at work. It made me cry, and yes, a bit homesick, but it somehow removed me from my state of being perfectly lonely.

Merry Christmas! :)

Christmas Tree Outside Ion Orchard, Orchard Road, Singapore

For Filipinos, it's not yet too late to greet everyone a Merry Christmas, even if it's two days past the 25th. :)

Merry Christmas everyone. And may you all have a grand New Year! :)

My Thoughts as a Server (Part I) - Customers, Please Think Twice

Having worked for more than two months as a server, I feel the need to share some thoughts on what a server feels and thinks (or at least MY thoughts and feelings) in almost every customer interaction.

1. OPENING

Dear customer, if you see that the lights are still dim and the stanchions are still by the entry way, please assume that we're still closed. Check the signs by the door re our opening time. Asking the staff if they're already open annoys the hell out of us (ehem, me). Common sense, context clues, please. If we're already open, all lights should have been turned on and there will be nothing by the entrance to keep you from going in.

PNoy's State of the Nation Address - 26 July 2010

From www.gov.ph.

State of the Nation Address of His Excellency Benigno S. Aquino III President of the Philippines to the Congress of the Philippines Session Hall of the House of Representatives

Date: July 26, 2010
Venue: Batasan Pambansa Complex, Quezon City, Philippines

Speaker Feliciano Belmonte; Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile; Vice President Jejomar Binay; Chief Justice Renato Corona; Former Presidents Fidel Valdez Ramos and Joseph Ejercito Estrada; members of the House of Representatives and the Senate; distinguished members of the diplomatic corps; my fellow workers in government;

Mga minamahal kong kababayan:

Sa bawat sandali po ng pamamahala ay nahaharap tayo sa isang sangandaan.

Sa isang banda po ay ang pagpili para sa ikabubuti ng taumbayan. Ang pagtanaw sa interes ng nakakarami; ang pagkapit sa prinsipyo; at ang pagiging tapat sa sinumpaan nating tungkulin bilang lingkod-bayan. Ito po ang tuwid na daan.

Sa kabilang banda ay ang pag-una sa pansariling interes. Ang pagpapaalipin sa pulitikal na konsiderasyon, at pagsasakripisyo ng kapakanan ng taumbayan. Ito po ang baluktot na daan.

My Photos on Lonely Planet's Mosaic

I am a frustrated photographer. I don't have the right 'gear' for it. I only have my Canon Ixus i7 (in pink) which I bought three years ago. Yes, it was one of the best ones that time but now, it's one of the oldies already. But it did not stop me from taking a few "ok" (but great according to me) shots.


Just a sample. A pathetic attempt on fashion photography and won a Php 5,000 worth of hotel GC's for this. Photo of Anika Punzalan at Sitio Remedios, Ilocos, May 2009. Taken using my Canon Ixus i7.

Sunset in Camiguin

Sometimes you don't need a companion to travel. A view like this is great company and enough to give you one memorable trip.

I was blessed to go to one of the best travel destinations in the Philippines last year (for free thanks to my Dad), the Province of Camiguin, an island born of fire. I went there alone on my first day to be joined by my dad and his officemates the next.

My Top 105 Reading List

I think I've been reading a lot of Chick Lit lately that's why I am kinda sick and tired of all happy endings. Although what I wanted was just a light read, it did not do me any good to continue devouring such too-good-to-be-true plots because I won't take it as it is, too good to be true. I'll just end up day dreaming to become one of the Chick Lit's heroines, and that some modern-day prince will come to sweep me off my feet. Which I know is completely bollocks. So, with the help of Camilla Morton and BBC's Top 100 Big Read, I promised to teach myself to love socially relevant, book-for-the-smart-uns, read. So here's a list of the books that I need to get and I'll update this post every time I have finished one.


This was taken last December 2007 with, just one fourth of my collection... But most of them Chick Lits!

Novena Church - SG Job Seeker's Shrine

They say that if you come to SG looking for a job, attend a mass in Novena Church and for sure you’ll get one soon. It just so happened that Miko and I went to the Novena area yesterday to submit our resume to some PR companies who hold office there and so we’ve decided to drop by the church.


Facade of the Novena Church; Located near Novena MRT, NS (Red) Line