Beyond Summer. Beyond Seasons.

Hello boys and girls! How's the summer heat baking you? My summer has been equally tormenting and A-W-E-S-O-M-E. If you noticed the contrasting words in one statement, then here's a quick explanation. Awesome because I have been having dates with beaches, seasonal foods, loved ones and friends. To add, I started attending my summer classes for Filipino II, Rizal and Technical English, and each is getting the better of me. Tormenting because our grades have not come out and this situation is driving the craziness out of me. But the tormenting part is nowhere near my point tonight so let's supply more emphasis on A-W-E-S-O-M-E!

Summer is not just about beaches, tropical foods, outings and air travels. There is always more beneath the surface. Summer is also about opening new doors and ceasing crying in front of closed ones. Summer means friendship and meeting new people. And so far, here are the the gorgeous creatures who have been invading my world: 

The POKEMONS!

He Took The Fall & Thought Of You

Spent this year's Holy Week (April 5, 6, and 7) in Tagaytay with the family. Holy Week is just a great time to allow our minds to take a leave and our tired bodies to relax; to enjoy the fleeting moments with the most important people in our lives; to remember how we spend every second and how we are never going to get them back; and to realize again that life is not a curse but a blessing.

We spent 3 days and 2 nights in Kimberly Hotel. We ate lunch at Pancake House and dinner at Taalena on the first day. We took souvenir pictures at the Cliff house where we bought mochi ice creams and 5 cups of yogurt, each containing selected fruits and syrups. We finally tried the authentic Korean restaurant on a corner of a street (Delizioso!). We toured around the place and bought something for ourselves. We hunted for the goodies of Bag Of Beans which I highly recommend. We enjoyed those 3 days and 2 nights to bits, I can tell you that. And have you noticed how I started each sentence of this paragraph? WE. I like it because 'WE' tells a story and it tells that I am not alone and will never be alone.

Here are some the captured moments:

My siblings Ate Hannah and Elisha. On our way to Tagaytay.

You And Your Valuables

"My friend, Lyndon, and I were pick pocketed just right after or, perhaps, before crossing a street. Fortunately, my stolen wallet was returned. Thanks to a good Samaritan," were the exact words of my Facebook status last March 1, 2012, twenty-six minutes after seven in the evening.

To exercise your imagination, let me delineate the scene. My brown sling bag, where my wallet and pens were, was sandwiched between us. Lyndon had a backpack bag inside of which his books, memory aids, and photocopied cases were kept. My right hand was burdened by my book, my left by my cellular phone. Thirty minutes before I posted my status, we were standing side by side, talking to each other about this school year's QPI (It is the total average we need to maintain in Law school per year). The street was busy, noisy, and crowded. From across the street you would see a crooked line composed of numerous students, to which we belong, and bystanders, both group waiting for the street to clear and cross it.

T-Strap

Sunday, April 1, 2012.

Thanks to Tita Jojie for this lovely vintage pieces. I ℒℴѵℯ these T-straps!

Good bye black hair. I'm saying hello to someone new soon. :}

Love & Friendship

"I could practically smell the salty air, feel the ocean breeze and the sand shifting under my feet. I wondered why beach photos taken of lost loved ones always seemed so much more poignant than other photos."

"As I looked at that picture of us, I thought about everything that had happened between Dex and Rachel and me, deciding again that the cracks in our relationships had been a breeding ground for deceit. Dex and I had cheated on each other because we weren't right together in the first place. Rachel betrayed me because our friendship was a flawed one. I lied to her about Marcus because of the same negative undercurrent -- the unspoken competition that can corrupt even the best of friendship. That ruined ours."

"As much as I wanted to hold them responsible, I knew that I was not blameless. We were all accountable. We had all lied and cheated. But despite everything, I knew we were still good people. I considered the expression "Once a cheater, always a cheater" and I dismissed it as a fallacy. People generally didn't cheat in good relationships and I couldn't imagine Dex and Rachel cheating on each other. I also knew that if I were ever with Ethan, I would never cheat on him, I would be true to him, no matter what, always."

"I knew my hair was messy from the wind and that both of our noses were red and running from cold, but I didn't care. I had learned to let those surface issues go, to value content over form. I knew that every time I'd look at the picture of us on the mountain in Scotland, I would see no imperfections, and would only think of Ethan's words. I want them to make it official. I want to make it forever."

Summer breeze 2012

Welcome to Camaya Coast!

My last visit was in December 2010. And from 2010 all the way to 2012, there have been lots of in-between changes. The sand is whiter and finer. They now have the infinity pool, which I think is heated. The Pavilion/function hall is now constructed (thumbs up for the interiors). And many more. Thanks to Momer and his family for inviting me again. It's such a lovely place I could live there for years sipping coffee or hot choco while reading a good book and listening to great music.

Here are the pictures:

To reach the island, you have to ride a boat.
This us us while waiting for our means of transportation.

Baby Allison and I.

Pretty ocean, huh?

Momer sporting my shades.


Excited kids. Ashley and Allison who became friends in a fraction of a second. Innocence getting the better of children, as always.


To the boat!

Tita Lina and her friends while on the boat heading to Camaya.



We have arrived. Yey! Summer breeze. :}

I have availed this service in 2010. I tell you, you will feel extra good right after. Massage on the beach. How else could it get better?

My perfect spot. I shall read books here.

The hotel. More hotels and condos to be constructed.

Filipina girls, we're unforgettable.

Hello summer 2012! ♥

And to cap this blog off, here's a music video from one of the greatest artists I know. :}

One Rocking Year with 2J

It was the last day of our second year in Law school. Ahh yes! I stand corrected. It should have been the last day if not for a major change in our examination schedule. One of the tests scheduled on a Saturday, the supposed last day, was deferred until Monday. But that is beside the point. Hahaha! This is to thank 2J, my family during my second year in Law school.

How time flies! I know, I know. If ‘How time flies!’ could file charges, it would file a complaint for abuse. But really, where did those days, weeks, and months go? This question bombards my mind as I recall that on the first day of our second year, each was clueless. Should I be the one to speak to her/him first? Who’s going to be the beadle now? Will 1N and 2J get along well? Who knows what? But yeah! Who knew, right? Who knew it was going to be a shockingly wonderful year? Who knew two sections could get along really well? Who knew friends would later on become lovers (The boy from 1N, the girl from 1J)? Who knew that if we got together, things would get really messy but still overwhelmingly fun? Who knew, right?

An incomplete group picture somewhat emblematic of The Last Supper. Hahaha!

It was and is a family despite the multifarious differences. Remember the sleepless nights. The massive pressure. The every day jitters. The unpredictable professors. The Saturday morning class. The make-up class. The ‘caught-off-guard’ recits. The impromptu class party so as to suspend the class. The mid-term exams. The final exams. The V8 experience. The anxiety this summer (whether we will stay in San Beda or not). And this list shall go on until we recite the Lawyer’s Oath. These are all part of becoming lawyers, friends. Heads up. We should be proud of ourselves because we came out alive and in one piece this year! Hahaha.

The love team of the year! James and Deear (JaDee)!

This is to thank everyone for a one rocking year! I hope to see everyone (EVERYONE) in June.

Nicole’s Day 2012

Thank you so much for a generous treat, Nic. We really had a great time. I really hope you had the same experience. Few of the moments I will surely treasure. Here’s to 1N, the first people in law school I made friends with!

Lyndon, Pat and Markin with Erika, from section 2S. We're so proud of you Erika.

The birthday girl with Misis (Elaine), Kevin, James and Jiro.

Three of the best guys I know in Law School.

Markin and Mj getting ready.

Incomplete group picture of 1N! :}

Meeting. Hahaha! :P

Mj trying to steal food from the other tables. Hahahaha!

I love you all. Law school is fun because of them.

Si Markin Lim na aral ng aral pero di naman pumapasok at si Mj Mendoza na diet ng diet pero kain ng kain. Hahahahaha! Mamimiss ko kayo. :'|

Meet the future lawyers. By hook or by crook.

Right now I am trying to pick the right words to thank you all. And as I try, I find it 'really hard' to pick the right ones. I don't even know if I'm making sense here. I think I don't. My thoughts are misplaced. But through it all, what I have been trying to tell you is thank you. I ♡ you all.

Casa Roces

Welcome to Casa Roces, a place where the atmosphere lets you forget you are in Mendiola!

I was not aware that a place like this was existing within Manila area. All I knew was tea shops were popping out like mushrooms! Left and right. Casa Roces deserves a better environment though. But just because it is in front of the Malacanang Palace, it delivers the old times to where you are. The paintings, the music, the ambience, and the palace made me nostalgic and made me have a mental collection of the days spent sitting in history classes back in high school and college. MJ, my classmate, educated me on the matter. He told me it was a domicile of an illustrado. That just about offered a quick explanation of everything. The Malacanang Palace alone has this Spanish feel. Combine the two and we are in Spain minus the air travel.

Thanks to the thoughtfulness of Vanessa and Caela, I met Casa Roces. Thanks to Kevin for supplying the directions. Thanks to MJ for the info and the picture.

Pat: “Look o!” Hahahaha! Vanessa, Caela ouside San Beda. We’re heading to the place to be.

The next day, I dragged Momer to the said place for a breakfast.

I looked really sick, huh? But thanks to the waiter who took this.

Her plate: Longganisang Tuguegarao. (Did I spell it right?) A must try!

His plate: Tapsilog. Yummy Tapsilog.

His drink: Tsokolate eh! I remembered that we studied Tsokolate eh and Tsokolate ah in our Noli Me Tangere (Or was it El Fili? Memory breakdown. Apologies)

It’s a bit pricey in there but the food’s great. It’s a fine-dining restaurant. Your pocket pays not just for the food but for the whole experience. I heard they got great pastries too. I have yet to try them, though. To bring your dad, mom, or girlfriend on a special date? You know where to!

Note: I apologize for not taking pictures of the interiors. You guys would have loved it. Next time! :}

Click the link to check its Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/casarocesphils