Most Wonderful Time of the Year

I still have plenty of  travel-related posts pending from 2016 namely: February – Hong Kong, March – China and Japan, May – Singapore, October – Hong Kong and Macau plus a few in-betweens that all took place here in the Philippines. But let me set them aside for a “few” more posts to give way to a 3-post about my Holiday 2016. Without a doubt, seeing my Valle cousins has been the highlight of Holiday 2016 if not the entire 2016.

Snow jacket - Puffer: Guess / Pants and gloves: Uniqlo / Snow boots: borrowed from my Tita /

My younger brother Gio, being in the US for his practicum, paved way for the happenstance of the entire family’s Holiday vacation. My cousins from Australia flew in a week earlier than we did. Once everyone was in the US, the riot began. The snow, much to the disappointment of all the adults and the annoyance of my younger cousin Alexandra, only showed up in the morning of 6 January; by then, everyone else had returned to their respective home countries save for Gio and I. Just the same, we all drove to Wisp Resort to ski and just to enjoy in and the snow.

This will be the 1st of numerous USA-related posts.

There Are Storms That We Cannot Weather

My Grandmom and I watched the production of Les Miserables in Solaire Theatre last April 2016. I kid you not when I tell you that during the 15-minute interval between the 2 Parts of the show, a refined-looking woman (her Chanel 2.55 was dangling from her shoulder while her Rolex-clad left wrist was pointing at me. I have quick eyes on strangers talking to me hahahaha just kidding, she just really looked so elegant that I couldn’t help but give her the once-over)  approached me and complimented me on the top that I was wearing. Lala and I were queuing in line at the loo when she just started conversing with me. She said that she would want to get her daughter the exact same top. I was so touched and grateful that not only did I give her the website from where she can order it but I also offered her personal delivery, provided that she lives in Metro Manila. I was very much touched because you see, I was wearing a top from my friend and I’s clothing brand, ARKIPELAGO (Nothing makes me happier these days than hearing positive comments about our clothes hehehehehe)

Top: ARKIPELAGO / Pants and Heels: Zara / Coat: from Malaysia / Bag: Goyard / Watch: Tag Heuer

Regarding the musical, perhaps it’s because there’s already a movie to which I can readily compare the production with (although I know that they are 2 separate mediums so as such, they should be evaluated using different parameters yet still), that I did not like the production at all. I couldn’t feel anything from Fantine nor Eponine’s deaths. Not even Gavroche could make me sympathize with their plight. Then again, it could be because I normally respond better to the villains, to those who do the atrociousness, to those who unmercifully do what they need to do to get what they want. Between Jean Valjean and Javert, I’m more Team Javert. Don’t misunderstand me though. I’ve absolutely loved the movie version so it’s not the story that bored me. It’s the rendition. I hated it more than I hated Daisy of The Great Gatsby and that’s saying a lot.

Now on to more important matters: THE HOLIDAY SEASON!!!!! I’m so excited for all the things my family has planned for this year. I haven’t seen my younger brother Gio for a year now due to his internship in the US but it seems that I’m about to see him in a few days yahoo!! Why is it that whenever it’s Christmas, aside from the pounds that add on to my usual weight and the excitement that envelopes me, it’s also the time of the year when I start questioning if I’ve done things in the past year that have brought me closer to the grand future that I wish for myself. And I guess it’s been a universal Christmas theme in my blog to ask the same questions year after year, only in different methods. Like HERE or HERE or HERE.

Nonetheless, the Holiday Season will always be my favorite season, no matter how good, bad, or worse, nondescript the year turned out to be. And make no mistake, crises brought on by my tendencies to embrace shallowness eclipse all other crises, existential ones included. Hahahaha

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!!

Late Night Shenanigans

It'll be December by tomorrow and I can't help but get giddy just by thinking of what this year's Most Wonderful Time of the Year has in store for me!! 

Blazer and shoes: H&M | Inner top: Topshop | Shorts: Zara | Gloves: from night market in HK | Bag: Michael Kors

My birthday wish for 2016 was all about starting new things and seeing more of the world. How lucky I've been to have both of my wishes come true! I've started ARKIPELAGO with one of my trusted friends Tatiana and I've gone on numerous trips for the past 11 months (and I'm still about to go somewhere this December for the Holiday), at least numerous enough with what my approved absences allowed. Speaking of which, this post is somehow a bit of both. Last February, I went to Hong Kong with my fellow simple girls Tatiana and Abby, and Tats' boyfriend Ron. We coincided this trip with Tats' birthday as well as the pre-launching of ARKIPELAGO.

For our 1st night in HK, we had dinner in Budaoweng Hotpot Cuisine. Then we proceeded to Lan Kwai Fong to get everyone in the mood that dictated the rest of how the trip went: chill and up for anything. I'm a very easy person to travel with, honest! We're all quite chill persons to travel with for that matter so we decided to call ourselves The Simple Girls. Cause you know, we don't require to be fed in fancy restaurants all the time. We get by with food from a decent place and we definitely wouldn't mind buying off from the 10HKD-per-shot lady who's selling it along the street in between the bars in Lan Kwai Fong. Just the same, we wouldn't mind receiving drinks from friends of friends who turn out to be the actual owners of one of said bars. Or we're up for it even if we'd have to buy for ourselves the 120HKD-per-shot tequila just because we can't wait for the friend/owner to arrive. See, we're chill and up for anything right!

I will post about the rest of my HK trip last February in a couple of months. And I promise that I won't leave the blog without any post in December so, later 'gator!

Give the Devil His Due

I think that as the world keeps on progressing, so do the gray areas between 2 opposing straight-laced sides grow. It’s fascinating to see mankind accept that things are changing and that the interpretations of once-thought of as absolute truth are becoming relative. Of course, let’s not discount the power of determined traditionalists who refuse to embrace anything that’s different from what was observed centuries ago. I digress. See, I have always had a questionable sense of who to put my trust in. I’ve always rooted for the villain whose character has been so well-written that I understand his motivations. I especially like characters who’s facing a moral dilemma that’s beyond the concept of whether it’s good or bad. 

Dress: from Korea | Sandals: Gap | G-embellished Bag: Aranaz | Watch: Marc by Marc Jacobs

Last June, we stayed in Samkara Resort in Quezon province. The place was idyllically situated in the middle of rice fields where farmers and their Carabaos plough the lands to prepare them for planting. The nationalistic theme of the resort begins the moment you step into their restaurant and see flags, bolos, and KKK-insignias litter the pathways. Then there’s the ice-cold mountain-water  which filled their pools. Everything about the place just invited relaxation and promised a nurturing stay.

I am in the phase of obsessing about American TV series. If before I only watch when I have the time, now I make time to watch. I’m still in awe with Breaking Bad, Narcos, and Stranger Things but the real deal which paved way for my American TV series marathon has to be Lucifer. I watched the entire 1^st season in just one weekend and  since then, I’m hooked! Let me begin my word vomit with: I love Neil Gaiman. I love his books and highly recommended them to my brother who’s slowly trying to find the joy in reading (he’s failing at it but regardless, he bought certain books upon my recommendation). Gaiman has a knack in transforming ‘childish’ horrors into adult nightmares and creating sensible yet mysterious characters who eventually inhabit the reader’s consciousness, that I was sure anything that he has penned is bound to be great (fine, sometimes it’s only “good”). From his brain sprung the now endearing Lucifer.

(SOURCE)

See, I had to screencap this quote including the date from whence I found it just to say that the 1^st time I came across it, my interest was piqued. Truly, the question that it posits reverberates and somehow demands an intuitive Christian answer. But don’t get me wrong. I’m not an evil worshipper nor would I ever be passionate for anything related to religion (or the destruction thereof). It’s just that, if we take out the Christian aspect of our prejudice and look at the question from a hypothetical non-extraordinary way, we will all become the greatest breathing hypocrites.

Aside from Lucifer’s good looks, endearing charm, and unmatched wit, I think that the best part about the TV series from Fox is that it posits more sensible questions in which the answers are lying on the treacherous gray areas between right and wrong. I get it that there’s such concept as faith but sometimes, it’s no longer logical to just trust in someone else when there’s no any concrete proof that will lead us to trust him. And really, how will we know if we’re doing the right thing? Is this what we’re supposed to do? Is this part of the Grand Plan? And what if it is? Will there be a reward at the end of all? Will there even be a point? Whenever Lucifer faces a problem and his vulnerable side resurfaces, he often blurts out the same questions we all ask at one point. Is it truly so bad to try to know more about what we don’t know? Or to try to do things differently from what is expected?

It's just fitting to leave posts that are unresolved just like that: open and can be picked up from at any time in the future.