Beach Bums

The people who know me know how stressed I was in the last few weeks of this school year's first semester. So, you would imagine just how excited I was for my sembreak in Davao, especially since I knew a bunch of my Arki friends would be flying to Davao for the sembreak, too. They all slept over at Lea's lola's house and I just met up with them on some days to hang out. The best days of the week? Definitely the times when we hit the beach. I got an "over-tan" due to the excessive sun exposure I put myself through but I did not suffer from sunburn.

I wasn't with them on the 23rd of October when they went to Paradise Island because that was the day of my Manila-Davao flight. We spent Ocotber 25th in Talikud Island, island hopping. It was fun. It was a day of snorkeling, swimming, awesome homecooked food, fresh buko, beer, soju shots, and pure sunkissed fun.

© Jeric Rustia

 One of our bottles of beer fell into the water when it slipped out of Lea's grip. We considered it as an offering, since it's sort of a Filipino superstition to have an alay before a drinking session. So, I guess we managed to give Mother Nature a good-tasting offering and a few fishes their morning dose of alcohol. Yes, we had our first round as early as 8:30 in the morning. Haha!

 © Cessa Gaston

© Cessa Gaston

We had fresh buko at P 20.00 each! How awesome is that? Usually, these sell at P 55.00 at least in some resorts and restaurants. We had twelve of these, which we weren't able to finish. Jazzie and LJ scraped the meat off most of the shells since they liked it that much.

© Jeric Rustia

© Paolo Flores

It was a perfectly lazy day. We alternated through swimming, strolling, and sleeping after our lunch. We headed back to Davao City past 4:00pm. We freshened up at Lea's place, had dinner at Yellow Fin, then went to SPE for a few drinks and shisha.

October 27 was spent at the beach as well. We chilled at Paradise Island for one last time before they started packing for their flight the next day.

© Jeric Rustia

© Cessa Gaston

© Cessa Gaston

SUN. SKY. SEA. SAND. SHOTS.

BEACH. BEER. BUDS.

What more could you ask for?

ADHOC Party Virgin No More

I am writing this while sipping some green tea, as a way of detoxifying my system after a night of heavy alcoholic consumption. Last night, for the first time, I attended an event by the UP Junior Marketing Association (UP JMA), which was ADHOC: We Live For This which was held in the World Trade Center. I did mention that it was my first time, right? Don't get me wrong, I'm not new to the whole college partying scene but I have never attended an ADHOC party in my whole UP life. Plus, I limit my partying because I'm not much of a fan of the whole looking-good-to-get-smashed thing (I apologize for the description) but what the heck. My sister wanted to go, my girl friends (who I miss a lot) wanted to go, so I decided to give it a try and lose my "ADHOC party virginity."

I was having a major wardrobe malfunction while preparing for the event because I was too busy for the past few days to even bother thinking about what to wear. Thank God for my sister who's an expert in quick mix-and-matching. She even did my eye make-up. I am such a noob.

At 8:30pm, we, my sister and I, our parents, plus our friends Jeth, Dax, and Beato, piled into the car and left for ADHOC. My parents were in the car because they wanted to go out, too. They just ended up having coffee at Starbucks. Beato Bongco is Dax's friend, who I just met last Wednesday night at Drews. Jeth and Dax came from the same high school as my sister and I. Anyway, it was a long, awkward ride to the World Trade Center and when we finally got there, we immediately stepped out and made our way into the venue. We headed straight towards one of the booths and got ourselves The ADHOC Drink. Everything had El Hombre tequila in them. This gave me nasty flashbacks but I managed to finish my drink, anyway.

The ADHOC Drink

We felt like we were there way too early but at least we had time to get our buzz on before we end up rubbing shoulders with people just to grab a few plastic cups for ourselves. We met up with various friends at the event. I saw David with his girlfriend, Patty, who, at long last, was finally introduced to me. She really is a beauty and it looks like David has a good thing going on with her. I also saw old schoolmates, some Arki friends, and friends I just recently made in college. I squealed when I saw Farrah, Mithi, and Jane. I missed them immensely and the tight hugs and squeals weren't enough to express my happiness when I saw them. It's sad that I didn't get to take a photo with them last night. I was jumping from one social group to the other that I didn't have time to catch up with my girl friends. I was hanging out with Dax and Beato, looking for a chick that Beato could flirt with(because Hannah and Jeth went off on their own), then I teleported and started hanging out with Wangchuk and his friends from the IC, had slight language barrier problems with a Japanese girl who got introduced to me, said hi to a few other friends, and basically just socialized. I was no longer with the people I came with during the duration of the party. I was with Matt, a guy that came with Wangchuk. I had no idea in hell how we managed to wind up being alone together and not knowing where our crowds were. I did enjoy his company, him being a new friend and all.

With Beato and Dax
Photo taken by Hannah Torralba

Now, I have to utilize my Sunday for detoxification because my body my first time at ADHOC was preceded by days of alcoholic consumption as well. Detox just to retox, honey. My barkada was in Sarah's having a chill drinking session while I was at the World Trade Center. I wished they were there with me but it was good to hang out with people I have not seen lately. I'm planning to catch up with Mithi and hopefully I'll get to see Farrah before she goes home to Davao.

All in all, my first time was a fun experience. Intoxicating and a tad crazy but overall, it was a good night. We let out our inner wild child and there's no point regretting anything. UP JMA definitely delivered and meant it when they said that it was going to be EPIC.

XOXO, My We's Big 2-0

Mithilaya Reyes Miclat just turned twenty (twenteen if you wish). A beautiful girl that I've known for almost half of my life turned 20 yesterday. We celebrated her birthday last Thursday (since she already had other plans lined up for Friday). 

I dressed up girlier that usual that day, with no idea at all that we were going out for dinner. I just wanted to experiment with my thrifted find on a find Thursday. Mithi, Farrah, and I went to an ukay-ukay after coming back to Katipunan from Ongpin for a MAJOR Chinese food trip. Can you believe that my floral dress (it's actually a skirt) is just P50? Seriously, I'm not kidding. Even that shocked me.

We headed to Gino's, a quaint restaurant that serves oven-baked pizzas. We tried four different flavors. The Biance Verde was divine.

We headed to Xocolat after for dessert and extended bonding moments. 

For a bunch of people who have known each other for six to nine years, we've seen each other grow up. We may have grown older but we never grew tired of each other. 

To friendships that last eons and distances

To friendships that know no bounds

To friendships that exist just because

A toast to the years. 

I'm starting to sound cheesy here. Somebody stop me. :))

Happy 20th birthday to one of the nicest and most beautiful ladies I know. You'll grow up to be a great nutrinionist-slash-chef-slash-photographer-slash-doctor 'cause you're awesome like that. ILYSM, We! :)

Photographs courtesy of Mithi Miclat

Overdose

The Alterchitecture Awarding was a major success. We salute to the ones who headed the whole event, namely Daryl Refuerzo, Alterchitecture 2010 Head, and Nino Ricardo, Alterchitecture 2010 Secretariat. Congratulations, UAPSA-UPD!

After the awarding, we all headed to Encore, since our lovely Daryl managed to include all of us UAPSA-UPD members on the guest list because, as he said "This calls for a celebration."

I didn't stay long enough to watch interesting events transpire but I had a busy day and a curfew so the time I spent at the awarding and cocktail party was already good enough. Gearing up for Alterchitecture 2011. Speculate. Break. Innovate.

UAPSALOVE

Kacy and I with the incumbent Execomm and Alterchitecture 2010 team

4th Young Multimedia and Graphic Designers Summit at DLSU

Photo Credit

I attended my first Young Multimedia and Graphic Designers Summit at DLSU last Saturday because my long-time friend, Lian Castillo, one of the organizers of the talk, invited us last February 14. She told me Gerry Alanguilan (Komikero) was gonna be there, as well as Tricia Gosingtian. Since I was free that day, I decided to take a shot. I'm not a graphic designer or someone who's even practicing graphic design. I just appreciate art and look up to those who followed the path of the artsy farsty and are now getting recognized for it. The event wasn't a total waste at all. BEST ART DAY EVER. I learned a lot from the speakers. They had all good insights and advice and they were really nice. I now have new idols in the artistic field. Christian San Jose is just 21. Successful at 21, can you believe that?! *laslas*

CSJ89

Mithi and I were seated at the back row. During Christian's talk, I saw Gerry enter the room and take the seat near mine. SPAZZING. Of course I didn't show it but I was so damn excited to actually see him right there beside me. From afar, Lian was giving me signs, spazzing from her position and telling me that Komikero was right beside me. Of course I knew he was right beside me, I just wanted to play it cool. Of course, I mustered enough strength to talk to him after. :))

The greatest man on the Internet: Komikero

In the middle of Gerry's talk, I had to step out to answer a phone call. I saw Tricia sitting outside. She was the  next speaker. I was awestruck (inward spazzing) and I wanted to tell Mithi that she was there just so that she can grab Gayba (her camera) and take a photo while there wasn't a crowd forming around her. But I left my other phone with Mithi and I was in the middle of a serious phone conversation. I just paced back and forth, leaned on the wall, and tried to speak in hushed tones because I noticed that Tricia was looking at me while I was on the phone. After her talk, when I managed to have my photo taken with her, she said "Siya yung nasa phone kanina sa labas." LOL.

Tricia Gosingtian

Nelz Yumul (WeWillDoodle)

Oh, and we also had our photo taken with Monica Muyot, Lian's friend, because we caught ourselves admiring her prettiness. Fan girl moment there again.

I enjoyed the day tremendously. I can't wait for next year's YMGDS. Good job, Lian! :D

Photo credits: Mithilaya Reyes Miclat

Single But Not Alone, Unattached But Not Lonely

Valentines has got to be one of the cheesiest days that ever existed on the calendar. Yesterday, while I was on my way to Makati, I encountered a lot of people bringing more than just bags and planners. Men bringing bouquets, women carrying either pink teddy bears or stems of red roses, and almost everyone having at least one item of red clothing on them. Yes, Filipinos take Valentines seriously, especially the ones who are in relationships. I have not been receiving flowers since I was in grade school. Heck, I haven't been receiving any Valentine gift since grade school (Correct me if I'm wrong, people). Well, until 9:30pm of Saturday. A friend (who asked A LOT of help from my lovely baby, Kacy) came to the condo bearing gifts. How cute. Based on the gifts given, Kacy was a great wingwoman (as she would put it) and the guy followed her advice.

     It was embarrassing for me to pass by the guard that night with a huge teddy bear, the biggest teddy bear that has been given to, and a box of chocolates. It was more embarrassing for me to enter our unit and to be seen by my sister and mom because they started bombarding me with questions. By the end of the night, mom asked me why I wasn't given flowers. I told her that the guy asked Kacy about what I thought of flowers and I said I don't appreciate flowers because they just die. She kept justifying the romance brought about by a bouquet of flowers and I just kept insisting that they die and it's a waste. I remember getting roses for Prom from my date and, even if I did appreciate them, I already anticipated how it would look as it starts to wither in the next few days. I appreciate what I got for this year, though. The teddy currently sits atop the television. I still have to name it. I didn't name the numerous teddy bears I got back in high school but that's because I never was into them before. Teddy bears were the go-to gift given my boys. That or flowers. My college teddy, though, which I got from The Heat at Shangri-la ended up with a name. I named it Gemini. It's currently with my ex-bestfriend, though and I still want him back because Gemini was really cute. 

     My Valentines started earlier than expected. Still, it's nice to know that I have sweet friends. I have to thank Kacy for being a wingwoman. She knew exactly what I wanted, down to the kind of chocolates I enjoy. :))

     I mentioned earlier that I was on my way to Makati in the morning. It was because I had to meet with Nino so that I could accompany him to Holcim for a meeting with Ms. Cortez. We were supposed to go there with Ian, Michelle, and Francis but none of them showed up, so I started my Valentines Day with a Holcim date with Nino Ricardo. Hahaha. It was a fruitful and interesting morning and we decided to part ways after reaching Trinoma since he had a date with his laptop and design and I had to get home and grab something to eat. I did a little windowshopping first, though. It's Valentines, might as well treat myself since I was already at the mall. 

     For dinner, my high school buds and I decided to have dinner in Rockwell. You don't need a "special someone" to rock your Valentines. You just need awesome friends and you'll get by. We had dinner at Burgoo then went to The Ice Cream Bar for, well, ice cream.

<3

     At Burgoo, one of the waiters changed the channel on the tv, which was mounted on the wall, and it landed on a channel that was showing The Ugly Truth. Now, I have had the biggest crush on Gerard Butler because of this movie. I practically want to pounce on him if given the chance. He is THAT HOT. I texted two Arki friends about it just because I couldn't contain myself. One of them was my clone/girlfriend, Keilah Rodriguez. She agrees that indeed, Butler is one hot man. I decided to stray away from my Butler thoughts later on through the night to tend to other things like random pictorials with my buddies, fireworks, and dessert at The Ice Cream Bar. My Valentines was already complete so far and it was just 11pm. We all decided to get home before midnight due to dorm curfews (and my probationary status since I got grounded). I immediately logged into Facebook and to my surprise, Keilah gave me her Valentine gift, a photo of a butt-naked Gerard Butler.

     Now, don't get me wrong, he is hot butt-naked or semi-naked but I had a crush on him when he was FULLY CLOTHED. But, I appreciated the effort of Keilah, for putting a personal stamp on her last minute gift to moi, her long distance and unattached girlfriend. I got love all the way from Davao! Sweet.

Happy Valentines/Single Awareness/Independence Day to everyone. I hope no one was lonely because loneliness is not an option when there's always the choice to be happy. :)