chasing red cars

When FM and I just broke up, every red car I saw that even looked slightly similar to his became a beacon of hope. I had this insane thought that maybe, just maybe, he realized that it was worth another chance and he'd surprise me. I don't know why I even thought that but it was something I secretly held on to.

When I'd go walking around the village, I'd see red cars and I'd think for a split second that maybe its him. Then I'd see the plate number or the window and realize, its not. My heart breaks just a tiny little bit.

When I was looking for a job and it was in Ortigas, Tiendesitas, or Eastwood ... heck, even Makati, I'd see red cars and I'd think, "oh, its him!" Then I'd see the plate number or the window and realize, its not. My heart breaks just a tiny little bit again.

When I would be lost somewhere and trying to remain calm, I'd see a red car and think, "he's come to my rescue." Then I'd see the plate number or the window and realize, its not. My heart breaks just a tiny little bit more again.

When I was walking home last Monday night after the interview, a red car went up to me and I thought to myself, "see, he couldn't help it. He'll take me home because its past midnight and he wants me safe." Then I saw the plate number and the window and realized, it wasn't him. My heart broke and it wasn't just a tiny little crack.

Every red car was a beacon of hope. Eventually, every red car became something that broke my heart. Can you imagine how many red cars I would see in a day? Can you imagine how many times my heart would break in a day?

Now ... after 5 weeks, I have managed to train myself to not always look at the red cars or check their plate numbers. I now know that my fantasy of him just sprouting out of nowhere isn't going to happen.

It will remain a fantasy and I can't keep chasing red cars.

PR: Jump into the Amazing World of Gumball with Jollibee Kids Meals’ Wacky Games

Jollibee is rolling out the fun this May with Cartoon Network’s “The Amazing World of Gumball.” Boys and girls can get a free toy from the Wacky Games collection for every purchase of a Jollibee Kids Meal.

Kids can score high with the Swing N’ Dunk. All they have to do is swing the ball at the end of the string and shoot it into the basket to make the toy light up.

Boys and girls can also test their concentration with the Mega Loop Challenge. Thegoal is to successfully thread the handle through the loop without touching the metal, or else Gumball will light up, signaling the end of the game.

Kids who love brain exercises are sure to enjoy the Memory Madness game. Insert the activity card inside the memory game and slide the windows down to find the matching pair of images. The game also comes with other activity cards for hours of fun.

Bring home one Wacky Game toy for free with every purchase of a Jollibee Kids Meal. Take your langhap-sarap pick among the Yumburger Meal (P80), Jollibee Spaghetti Meal (P82), or one-piece Chickenjoy Meal (P99).

Play with Gumball, your favorite Cartoon Network character and complete the Jollibee Kids Meals' Wacky Games. Hurry now to the nearest Jollibee store and collect all three toys, available until May 31, 2013 or until supplies last.

here comes the bride ...

A dear friend of mine is getting married today. I'm happy for her, really. However, as with any weddings, be that of a friend or a perfect stranger that I happen to see in a church, I feel a little envious. Okay, I feel very envious.

You see, when I was young, I loved weddings. I love how the bridal gown looks like, the way everyone just seems so happy, the way the groom gets teary eyed when the bride walks in, and the way the bride simply looks radiant. I grew up imagining my own wedding.

In my head, it will be at a small church with a lot of flowers and candles illuminating everything. I do not want one of those big weddings. I want a small one with family and friends only. I imagined a friend singing "From this Moment" by Shania Twain when I do my walk. I imagined my Mom walking me towards the altar, ready to give me away to my future husband. I imagined that day to be full of love and promise of a future TOGETHER no matter what.

However, it seems that this dream will remain just that ... a dream. Mistakes in the past and mistakes recently made has ensured that there will be no groom for this wannabe bride. It seems that my simple dreams of being married in church, wearing a white simple gown, having a family of my own with a husband by my side, and that little apartment will never come true.

They were all so simple dreams but it seems that is all they would be. Simple dreams.

munimuni # 80

I am on the second to the last stage of my interviews with a company that I am interested in working for. I have passed 3 tests, 1 interview, and 1 panel interview where I had to charm 5 people into thinking that I am actually a thinking and functioning woman in spite of the mess that I have been lately. In fact, the feedback given was that they were very impressed with me and they thought I looked really good.

Please pray for me that I pass these interviews and finally get a job. I really need to work. Seriously.

I've cut ties with my Dad and it seems my brothers soon. Lets leave it at that. They're not really the people I need in my life right now and they may be family but my son will always come first and any person who puts my son's future in jeopardy is dead to me.

I've been spending time with friends lately. I've been seeing them and since they know my financial woes, they've been treating me and for this I am truly grateful. I will give them kick ass gifts on Christmas. That or just be there for them when time comes they need me as well coz that's what friends do.

This past week has been filled with back to back to back to back events. I loved that I was able to cover a lot of different events which ranged from the launching of a burger to seeing Vin Diesel in person to the opening of a bowling alley and finally capping it with a wine tasting. It was simply diverse and amazing. I was also able to visit the Ayala Museum (finally) because it was International Museum Day and admission was free. Among everything they had, it was the Gold of Ancestors and the Diorama that really blew me away. It was simply awesome.

I've also been walking at least 30 minutes every day. Since I've been pretty busy, I've ensured that I walk at least 30 minutes a day. It's not a full work out but its still something. I'm proud that I managed to stay on track with my goal of becoming healthier.

As for him, well, as I said, I'm leaving it to fate  and him now. It's really in his ball if our story continues or not. I'm just happy that he's still there for me when I need someone. I appreciate that a lot. Really, I do.

B and I have been having daily conversations about life and lessons in life. It's been a constant struggle to get him to be more brave or courageous. He's such a sensitive little guy with a soft heart that he easily gets hurt. It's been hard to balance that sensitivity with courage. I want him to be tougher but not lose any of his sensitivity. How does one do that?

If anyone knows, drop me a line will you?

Carlo Rossi Sweet Red

I have never been a wine drinker. True, I have always been fascinated with people who drink  wine and think they look really fancy and classy but the first time I drank wine, I did not like it. The 2nd time, I also did not like it. The 3rd, I still did not like it.

I find it bitter and just not to my liking. When I was invited to the Carlo Rossi event, I thought to myself, "Why not? It's been years since I last had wine. Maybe my taste have matured and I'd end up liking it." A couple of days before the event, someone made me try red wine again. I still didn't like it but I drank about 12 shots. Yeah, I say shots coz I drank straight from the bottle. It wasn't my finest moment but that would be  something that will never be shared on this blog.

When I got to the Carlo Rossi event, I was excited and apprehensive. I've heard good things about it so I was excited but apprehensive because I might not like it.

Luckily, I would be proven wrong.

I had a sip of the Carlo Rossi Sweet Red and truly, it was sweet. I also liked that it was served chilled. I didn't like the warm red wines I had before so possibly, the fact that it was cold made a difference. I liked that it was made especially for women and that it didn't have an instant buzz the moment you take a sip.

I had a lot of fun at the event last night and loved that I saw old blogging friends and finally met a fashion blogger that was truly fashionable.

Next time you bond with your ladies over dinner or a late night chat, grab a bottle of the Carlo Rossi Sweet Red to add more fun to the night.

PR: DOTC Pursues 3-Year Program To Reduce Domestic Shipping Costs For Inclusive Growth

The Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) is beginning a three (3)-year program aimed at generating growth for the country’s agribusiness trade, directly benefitting workers in the agricultural and fisheries sectors across the country, in line with President Benigno S. Aquino III’s push for inclusive growth. 

The DOTC announced on Wednesday (May 8, 2013) that it has signed a Cooperation Agreement with the International Finance Corporation (IFC) to pursue various policy and regulatory reforms in the Philippine shipping sector in order to improve our farmers’ market access and integration by reducing the cost of domestic shipping. 

The project will involve a diagnostic review by the IFC to identify areas where pro-competitive practices will help meet these goals. The DOTC will work together with its frontline agencies, the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) and the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA), in reviewing the results of the study and implementing the recommendations of the IFC from 2013 to 2016. 

“This partnership with the IFC is a very welcome development. It will have a major impact on our economy, especially for farmers and fisherfolk who stand to realize the most gains from our policy reforms,” said the Transport Department. 

The DOTC explained further that, by reducing domestic shipping costs, the prices of commodities will also go down. According to a study prepared by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) in 2005, 24.2% to 43.8% of the wholesale price of food products is on account of transport and logistics costs. 

“By making it cheaper to move agricultural goods from farms to markets, the prices of these commodities will also be reduced, making them more affordable to consumers,” remarked the DOTC. “These benefits are the reason why the DOTC, MARINA, and PPA – all of whom share the President’s vision of inclusive growth – look forward to this project.” 

This effort is partly funded by the Canadian International Cooperation Agency (CIDA), and will require no cost on the part of the Philippine government. It is also part of the IFC’s Philippine Agribusiness Trade Logistics program. 

According to IFC Resident Representative Jesse Ang, this agreement demonstrates the IFC’s confidence in the DOTC, MARINA, and PPA’s efforts to undertake shipping and port reforms.

PR: DOTC Announces 5 Prequalified Bidders for P 1.72-Billion AFCS PPP Project

Five (5) out of the nine (9) consortia which sought to qualify for the P 1.72-Billion Automatic Fare Collection System (AFCS) Project have been shortlisted by the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) and the Light Rail Transit Authority (LRTA), the Transport Department disclosed on Wednesday (May 8, 2013). 

The 5 bidders which prequalified are: (1) AF Consortium, led by the Metro Pacific and Ayala groups; (2) Comworks Consortium, which includes Taiwan’s Kaohsiung Rapid Transit Corp.; (3) E-Trans Solutions Joint Venture, Inc. Consortium, which includes Eastwest Banking Corp.; (4) Megawide-Suyen-Eurolink Consortium, which will tap the experience of Singapore’s EZ-Link Pte. Ltd.; and (5) SM Consortium, led by several companies of the Sy family. 

“We are pleased to announce that 5 interested groups have prequalified to bid for the AFCS Project, one of our first PPP (Public-Private Partnership) offerings. This means that we are getting closer to identifying who our private sector partner will be in bringing a modern commuting experience to the public,” said the DOTC. 

Based on the current timeline, the prequalified consortia will have until August 30, 2013 to prepare their bids for the project. According to the DOTC, “[W]e set this deadline for bid submission to give bidders the maximum amount of time to come up with their best proposals for government without compromising our schedule. As long as we have the full support and cooperation of the bidders, we will remain on track with our targets.” 

Meanwhile, the 4 disqualified groups are: (1) Lamco Consortium; (2) Mega Lucky United Consortium; (3) MTD-PRLM Consortium; and (4) San Miguel Transport Solutions Consortium. 

In the case of Lamco, it nominated consortium member New San Jose Builders, Inc. to meet the project’s financial qualification requirement. However, the documents provided during the submission deadline last April 12 showed that its net worth fell below the P 1-Billion minimum. Additional documents submitted by Lamco after the deadline were not considered by the DOTC-LRTA Bids and Awards Committee (BAC), since this would have amounted to a bid modification. 

For Mega Lucky, there was no proof that its members have no unsatisfactory record. The required basic information and general information sheets of its members were also absent. 

Meanwhile, MTD-PRLM’s submission lacked proof establishing the required experience of its nominated AFCS operator. In addition, its Project Implementation Plan and Project Development Plan failed to show its ability to undertake the project due to missing components. 

Lastly, San Miguel Transport Solutions’ Project Implementation Plan and Project Development Plan did not include certain required components, similar to MTD-PRLM.

SM Southmall now has a Bowling Center

Yesterday, SM Southmall had a new addition to its wings. The SM Bowling Center officially opened and now it offers full entertainment in the South. South people no longer have to troop to the North just to be able to play bowling. They can now stay within the vicinity and enjoy the 14 automated and synthetic bowling lanes, 12 billiard tables, 20 PS3 Gaming Stations, Kinect Consoles, 10 Arcade Machines, and Videoke Rooms.

I was invited to cover this event and was told to bring my family as well. My sister, son, and their friend came along and they were able to test and play everything from 11am to 5pm. Trust me when I say the kids had FUN FUN FUN! Even I tried the shooting station, the videoke rooms, and I bowled.

It was a really exciting time and we had lots of fun. Food from RACKS and GREENWICH tide us over and though my mouth still wanted to eat, my tummy begged to differ.

souvenir item ... 

Conveniently located across the basement carpark, SM Southmall Bowling Center is a one-stop entertainment hub that offers total recreation and fun experiences to family and friends. It's an ideal place for bonding all year round.

So what are you waiting for? Head over to SM Southmall and visit the place that you'll keep visiting throughout the years.

Asian Red Carpet Premiere of Fast and the Furious 6

When I first encountered The Fast and the Furious, I thought it was a ridiculous title. Little did I know that years later, I would have all 5 movies on DVD and that I would be such a fan. May 15, 2013 was a remarkable day because the Asian Red Carpet Premiere of Fast and the Furious 6 happened here in SM Mall of Asia.

I had no ticket, I had no event pass. All I had was charm and guts so I gathered all that I could and asked a blogger if he had extras. He told me he wasn't sure but he'll let me know. I hounded him that day. Eventually, at 30 minutes past 3, he said "come over! I have an extra!"

I dropped everything and went rolling towards SM Mall of Asia. The event invite said it would start at 3pm and I got there at 430pm. I thought I was later. Boy, was I wrong. The event started almost 8ish and by then, almost everyone was restless and tired from standing for hours. However, the cast did make it all worth the while because they went around the audience and held their hands, kissed, took photos, and simply made the Filipinos feel loved.

Here are some select photos from the event.

Thank you again Ross!

This car is being auctioned off for charity! Signed by all 4 cast members. 

found extra passes someone had and so here's my best friend ALL SMILES!

It was tiring but fun. It was truly worth the wait and the hassle. I loved Vin Diesel and Michelle Rodriguez. It really was a sight to see. Hopefully, Fast and Furious 7 will indeed be shot in Manila. I'd definitely audition to be an extra haha.

May 24, 2013 - Catch Fast and Furious 6 in Cinemas Nationwide.

Successful giveaway of Amazing Aloha at the Madrigal Branch

Since I was part of the select bloggers who was able to try the Amazing Aloha a day before it was launched back to the market, I wanted to share the love with my family. Last May 14, we trooped over to Jollibee Madrigal and got there at 235pm. According to the Marketing Manager, they were supposed to giveaway the stubs starting 230pm but when we got there, it was almost gone. It seems that Madrigal gave it away at an earlier time and outside the store.

I was baffled. Luckily, after speaking with the manager, they were able to sort it out and the kids and I got our stubs.

There was a pretty long line of people waiting to have a taste of the Amazing Aloha. It was cool coz I saw some oldies who most likely missed it and kids who have never tried it.

The staff were all smiles (not just because of the camera) but also because the turnout was really great and the feedback given about the Amazing Aloha was really good.

My sister and her friend both loved it. They gave it the thumbs up sign.

Here are the wonderful staff of Jollibee Madrigal. Thanks guys for the warm welcome and free drinks. We loved it! However, we loved the Amazing Aloha more. Haha. Cheers!

PR: Have a Luscious Mango Lovin’ Summer at BonChon

Properly relishing summer’s sun-drenched days and lazy afternoons calls for a cool, creamy treat that highlights the season’s sweetest yellow mangoes – exactly like the new Mango Sans Rival at BonChon!

BonChon Chicken, the global chicken phenomenon, is known for taking classic favorites and making them oh-the-more-delicious by infusing them with a delightful twist.  The well-loved BonChon Ko-Yo, or Korean Yogurt, is delectably creamy natural yogurt that’s subtly sweet with a hint of tangy tartness.

BonChon heralds the onslaught of this golden summer with the seasonal lusciousness of mango.  Savor a wonderfully summery cup of alternating layers of cool, creamy Ko-Yo and homemade graham pie crust, topped with juicy mango preserves and toasted cashews in the limited edition BonChon Mango Sans Rival Ko-Yo.  Inspired by the cake, every spoonful of this layered treat is a delicious play of tastes and textures, making for a delightful summer interlude.

Make it a BonChon Ko-Yo Summer all season long.  Enjoy the classic Banoffee Pie and Blueberry Torte Ko-Yos, or have an icy, bubbly moment with the Ko-Yo Soda Floats in Orange or Rootbeer, also available in Cola and Lemon Lime.

The full Ko-Yo line is available in all BonChon stores nationwide, in all branches in Metro Manila, Bulacan, Cavite, Baguio, Cebu, and Davao.  For more information, log onto www.bonchon.com.ph

PR: Chikka carries Mother’s Day messages to Moms all-over the world

Chikka Philippines, the creator of the popular web-to-mobile texting app—Chikka Text Messenger, delivered millions of heart-warming greetings to moms all over the world this Mother’s Day.

The company that helps bring Filipino families together via free texts since 2000 has once again come to the rescue of kababayans in expressing appreciation to loving mothers who have always been personal heroes.

“Mother’s Day is one of the most exciting celebrations for Chikka because a great number of our users are moms. They will surely feel how much they are appreciated with every free text greeting they receive anywhere they may be in the world,” shared Junie Agcaoili, Corporate Communications Head of Chikka Philippines.

Paying tribute to heroes is among the main thrusts of Chikka, which recently launched its new campaign –Saving the Day— highlighting testimonials from users expressing how Chikka saved them in times of need.

“Our mothers are always saving the day for us, whether it’s cooking our favorite meals when we’re hungry or offering us good advice when we need it most,” he added.

Mother’s Day shout-outs

Chikka users have also jumped in on the fun by sharing their Mother’s Day messages via social media.

Joana says, “Thank you for being the best Mom in the world and for not getting tired of taking care of me and Kuya! Happy Mother’s Day!”

Another Chikka user, Carlo, says, “Nanay, you’ll always be the most special woman in my life. Happy Mother’s Day!”

“Happy Mother’s Day Mommy! I hope we could spend more time together. Please come home soon because we already miss you,” says Cha.

Agcaoili also revealed that Chikka’s Mother’s Day tribute is just one of the many celebrations they have lined up under their new campaign, and that there are even better things to come. “We look forward to honoring more modern-day heroes so expect Chikka to prepare something special for them soon,” he shares.

About Chikka

With billions of messages exchanged between online and mobile communities since 2001, Chikka’s flagship Chikka Text Messenger is probably the world’s first commercially successful integration of web and mobile utilities.

The company has since evolved into an incubator for new technologies and innovation, producing telco-grade platforms and real value-added services for the new digital and mobile generation. Chikka’s mission, first stated in 2000 is: “To bring together communities, heretofore separated by geographical barriers and differences in technology.”

Chikka is a subsidiary of Smart Communications.


Chikka pays tribute to moms all-over the world on Mother’s Day.

love beyond faults ..

I read this tweet earlier from someone I met yesterday and it simply hit me. It's true you know. When people love, they love something about someone and when that something is lost, then the love is lost. I know someone who claimed to have loved someone without any reason. I thought it was ideal. Soon, I realized it wasn't true. Though he never admitted it, he loved the hopes he had with that person. He hoped and when those hopes did not materialize immediately, his love diminished and became weaker. 

One should never love something or an idea. When you love, you simply love that person. Yes, that person may still irritate you and make you want to throw them off a cliff but definitely, that same love will make you come rushing down the cliff to catch them so they won't go splat on the ground. I know this for I have felt it. I have felt it for FM for even the times he was truly hurting me, I couldn't let him go. Even during moments where he would drive me insane or make me see red with anger, I couldn't imagine life without him. I simply love him, flaws and all. 

I love him beyond all his faults and more. I simply love him with a love beyond faults. 

Last Sunday night, I was overcome with a sense of loss. I think it was then that I truly accepted what I have lost. All these time, I was deluding myself thinking that maybe he'll come back to me. Now I know that it could happen, it could also NOT happen. I had to accept that. 

I wept. I cried myself silly for over an hour. Imagine big fat tears rolling down my cheeks, me gasping for breath because I couldn't breathe properly because I was crying too hard complete with shoulders shaking while hugging the gigantic teddy bear he gave me. Pretty pathetic huh? 

Some of you may ask, why blog it? Why tell this story? It doesn't paint a pretty picture. To that I say, so what? It's the truth and I need to let it out. It's my truth, my blog, my story. What if he reads? I doubt it. As far as I know and as far as he told me, he doesn't really read my posts anymore. If he does, so what? It's true. It's not like it will change anything. As he said, there really is nothing I can do to change his mind. I accept that now. It took 29 days but I truly accept it now. 

Let fate decide. Let him decide. 

So I cried. I loved and I lost ... I tried to win it back and I lost ... but you know what? At least I tried. I TRIED. Right now, this is what matters most. I TRIED. I didn't just give up. I TRIED twice, thrice, many times. I kept trying. 

I fight many a battles that no one knows of. I fight a lot of battles on my own. Small ones, big ones. What matters is that I continue fighting and I will continue fighting. 

I may have loved and lost ... lived and lost ... but I never regret the moments that put a smile on my face and more steel to my spine. I am stronger now and with these added strength, I am once again ready to take on life and every opportunity it will give me. 

Bring it on LIFE! Bring it on. 

PR: Most Liked Artist

It’s about time that YOU (fans/supporters) have the power to say your picks!

The very first GMA AC Most Liked Awards aims to recognize the most liked GMA AC talents through online voting (Facebook).

To vote:

Like Official Facebook Page of GMA Artist Center (www.facebook.com/OfficialGMAArtistCenter) and recognize your Most Liked Artist!

Pick your favorite artists by going through the Most Liked Artists Album in the Photos section!

Hit like, share it to your friends and leave comments

1 Like= 1 vote 1 Share = 1 vote

Voting starts on May 15 and ends on June 15.

GMA Artist Center

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OfficialGMAArtistCenter

Twitter: twitter.com/ArtistCenter

Instagram: @ArtistCenter

Website: www.gmanetwork.com/artistcenter/

PR: Complete your summer ender must-have list with Big Sip 290

Now that summer is about to end, we need to make sure that  kids get the most out of the experience thru out-of-town trips and bonding activities with the family. Universal Robina Corporation’s (URC) Refresh Big Sip 290 dishes out tips to help moms prepare for a fun and hassle-free vacation.

Stay fresh and glowing. Tote a portable fan and a handy pack of wet wipes.  Always bring a change of clothes and stick to light-colored clothing in breezy fabrics to keep cool.

Protect yourself against the sun. Pack sun protection tools like umbrellas, sunglasses, and sunscreen to keep safe and guarded under the sun’s rays.

Chill out and stay entertained. To keep boredom away during long road trips or flights, don’t forget to bring books, mp3 players and tablets to keep kids entertained.

                                                  

Beat the heat with a refreshing drink. Drinks like Refresh Big Sip 290 can help energize and invigorate the whole family. Kids can quench their thirst in a flavorful way with Big Sip 290’s three lusciously fruity variants: Apple, Orange and Mango.  And Big Sip 290 is convenient to  carry around because of its easy-to-punch, no-spill juice pack.

Fortified with immunity-boosting zinc and affordable at P7, the drink is a great addition to any summer must-have list. Whether you’re exploring the outdoors or hitting the poolside, cool down this summer with Refresh, available in groceries and supermarkets nationwide.