This Feedjit Widget is soo COOL!

Last night I added a new widget to my blog. It’s called FEEDJIT and it’s so cool!

I’m not really a master of the web world, especially of the HTML’s and CSS’s. I remain in a gray area where manipulating websites are concerned. But by blog hopping, I find out new things. Most of the time, I learn through trial and error. I guess that’s how I was able to “dress up” my blog.

And then FEEDJIT live traffic feed happened. It tells you where in the world the latest visitor of your blog comes from and it somehow gives you an idea how this visitor found you. It really is so cool! I can’t quit raving!

I’m guessing that most of the visitors from Singapore are just me. Perhaps it’s a flaw in the system—counting the site owner as a visitor. Although I can point out the Singapore visitors which are not me. But aside from me, I’ve had visits from Mississauga, Ontario; the United States; and Nairobi, Nairobi. It’s also nice to see the Philippine flag as visitors from four different parts of the Philippines came: Cagayan De Oro, Cagayan de Oro (the Cagayan in Mindanao); Tuguegarao, Cagayan (the Cagayan in Luzon); Quezon, Nueva Ecija; and Naga, Naga (who happens to be a Mac user with a Firefox browser—See? Even that I know).

But to protect the identity of your visitors, you will never know who exactly these visitors are. Which is fine by me.

I am just amazed how the world can get a load of me in a click or two.

I guess it is true what they about technology. It sure does make the world smaller!

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If you like to get your own free FEEDJIT, just click on “CLICK TO GET FEEDJIT” at the bottom of my Feedjit box. You’ll get the very-easy-to-follow instructions from there.

Musings and Lyrics

Foreshadowing: I just got off bus number 21, this time I sat at the top deck—a nice way to see more of the streets, and headed to the MRT station. A decent-looking bum was serenading the crowd. Hmm…the music’s lyrics sounded familiar.

Well don't you know that it's a fool who plays it cool
By making his world a little colder

The arrangement may have taken an Indian twist but I sure know that song!

Hey, Jude, don't make it bad
Take a sad song and make it better

I guess the Beatles did pierce through multi-cultures!

* * *

It’s the second time that I’ve been out all by myself. I’m due to meet my sister at City Hall station. People are passing by me, all busy with their own lives, not connecting with anyone but a buddy or two. And although I miss the warmth of my fellow Pinoys, the virtue which often translates to gawking (pagiging uzi—uzisero), the virtue that makes them stare or smile at you for no apparent reason, I basked into the new world unfolding before me.

So let it out and let it in, hey, Jude, begin
You're waiting for someone to perform with

I just have to accept that, if I want to survive in this society, I will have to embrace the individualistic nature of its people.

* * *

While waiting, I saw a payphone which seemed to be summoning me. It’s obvious what I had to do. Phone home.

And don't you know that it's just you, hey, Jude,
You'll do, the movement you need is on your shoulder

It was nice to hear my dad’s voice again.

* * *

It had been almost a year since my sister and I had the world to ourselves. It was when we had our haircut after Nichi’s cremation. And that was it.

She went home a few months ago but things were crazy and busy then; we didn’t really have an “us” time. Sometimes I still find it weird that my sister is now a wife and a mom. Our common frame of experience is drifting apart. But whenever I see her happy with her life, I can’t help but be happy for her, too.

I have to admit how I was having second thoughts squeezing myself into her life once again. Being that certain changes are relatively new to me, I don’t really now how I’d fit in.

But my mom assured me, “she is your sister.” And it made sense.




Why was I being so melodramatic about it when we have always been sisters?

Hey, Jude, don't be afraid
You were made to go out and get her

We were at Orchard to attend to some business. But we segued to what we once did together—window shopping, if not shop. We went to Lucky Plaza, “the home of the Pinoys,” Ate said.

You would think you were home when you’re there. The people beside you would just talk in Tagalog and buy Pinoy stuff like Boy Bawang, Datu Puti, Sky Flakes, etc. And some signs are just soo Pinoy!




Then Ate bought me Singapore’s version of dirty ice cream. I wonder if it’s just as dirty as ours. Here, street ice cream comes in a bar. It’s up to you if you want it placed in a cup or if you want to devour it sandwiched between two crunchy waffles. I went for the latter option. I was up for the new experience. Good thing I didn’t make a mess.

After consuming our ice cream at one of the street benches, we entered a Mall called Paragon which was much like Shangri-la Mall. We hunted for a swimsuit, a new pair of walking shoes, or new books for Yzee. But we were not able to get her anything. Instead, we ended up buying hand and nail cream for ourselves. And there goes my first not-a-need-but-clearly-a-want purchase.

Ate and I went back to the MRT station to meet Kuya Wah. While waiting we both pondered if we looked anything alike. I doubted it. But Ate pointed out that we each looked like Nichi. Therefore we were more similar than I thought.



It doesn’t matter really. I am just glad to have spent that time with my Ate.

Remember to let her into your heart
Then you can start to make it better

I should not worry much. Because, eventually, things, no matter how alien they are, will fall into place.

* * *

Oh yeah, when we entered Paragon mall, guess who “welcomed” us? Ate thought it was just some good-looking guy. I knew better.

Hey, Jude! Don't let me down
You have found her, now go and get her

I thought I was over him. But apparently I wasn’t. Much.

So for old time’s sake, I had Ate take this picture.



Now you know what the foreshadowing was all about!

Na na na na na ,na na na, hey jude...

Fraction of a Thought Cloud

The toughest thing about NOT having a job is finding one.

…the job search continues!

My Third weekend at SG in Pictures

Instead of coming up with texts, I've decided to tag you along with me through the pictures I took during my third weekend in Singapore. (Excuses! Excuses.)

I may be using the camera with the slowest shutter speed but just the same, I am glad to have something that captures better pictures than my phone camera. For that, I would like to thank Ate and her PDA!

So we went to Singapore's Chinese Garden. You can get to it by alighting at the Chinese Garden MRT station (Green Line) and taking the long path that leads, where else but the Chinese Garden!

From there, the journey begins.

Which way is it? You choose. It seems that the Chinese sleep later than the Japs!

I will be your tour guide. Pardon the big face that blocks the view. I just wanted to say “hi!”

Come to the calm lake. The Chinese Garden is separated from the outside world by a calm lake which makes the place a haven for relaxation. And the good thing is, there’s no entrance fee at least for the most of the park.

Confucius is no longer in Quiapo! Obviously I didn’t take this picture but I had to include this…perhaps to pay homage to what my brothers refer to as our "ninuno/lolo.”

Lost, aren’t we all? This oriental-looking street sign might help you find your way.

A couple of pagodas. Aww, isn’t that sweet?!?

Another pagoda. No cold. No wave. No lotion. Get it? (Now I wonder, ilog Wawa ba ito? Pa-cornihan kaya tayo?)

Looks Boston-like, doesn’t it? I’ve never been to Boston but Boston seems to have been to me. I’ll be damned if I see myself in Boston one day. (And I mean that in a good way.)

I would have gone for a triptych. But you may want to check out this series of three.

Smelling something fishy


Fishy smelling something

Smelly fishy gone crazy!

Ant’s eye-view of a Chinese (or is it Japanese) lantern.

The Live Turtle and Tortoise Museum. The text says it all.

Watch your step. Turtles crossing. Turtles wander freely around after going crazy in the pond. You have to be careful to avoid crushing them.

Big guy here makes sure their kind doesn’t go extinct. I guess that’s self-explanatory.

They rock! These turtles look more Jurassic than others. Seems like “nababato na sila.” Hehe.

Me want 8 little Buddhas! Aren’t they the cutest?

Narinig mo na ba ang latest? Krillin (read as "Kririn") here has bonded with me. Or is it the other way around?

Yzee joins the gang. Maybe the fact that the gang has no hair developed a bit of animosity from my niece.

Bukal sa loob (ng museum). Now this shot of a running water is for Faith!

Pong does the Poseidon. Turtle is bigger than it appears. And I’m not touching it. (I am superstitious. I don’t touch turtles because I am afraid that it will rob me of whatever intelligence I’ve got.) I wonder how this upside-down turtle will get back to its feet.

A final glance at the Chinese Garden. Ahh, still, good! (The dock at the right side leads to Dawson Leery’s house. Joke!)

I wish you had as much fun as I did!

Wo-man About Town

The day has come for me to hit the Singaporean streets alone. Yes, it is relatively overdue considering that I have been here for two weeks but, hey, knowing me—who didn’t learn how to commute in the Philippines, in Pasig to be exact, until I was turning 18—well, two weeks is a remarkable progress.

There were three primary reasons why I finally decided to leave the comfort of the house and risk getting lost in a foreign land. First, I was bored; I just had to go out. Second, I needed to learn to go out all by myself. Sooner or later, I just had to do it. I don’t want to be a baby all my life. And, third, I’m meeting Benz.

So I got on bus number 17. I could ride bus number 12 and I think 21 but 17 came by the soonest so 17 it was. Inside the bus, I sat beside a lola and a little girl in uniform. Not long enough, the lola asked me, “Are you a Filipino?”

Is it that obvious? I thought. Not that I have any objections about being classified easily as Pinoy. I was just surprised how apparent my being Pinoy was.

“Opo,” I replied to the lola and from there we kicked off a short conversation about the lola’s apo, how they recently moved out of the house they were renting, how they are learning to get to the apo’s school and those kinds of things. They got off in front of the school. Our conversation ended. I continued with my trip.

A few minutes later, I reached the bus terminal which was located at the foot of the train station. I tapped my EZ-link card out of the bus and into the train. I was then off to mingle with an entirely different crowd.

Since the train has bigger space compared to the bus, it accommodated more people. The train alone is a melting pot of diverse cultures, languages, and, let’s not forget to include, body odors.

From where I come from, it is taboo to stink—more taboo than littering, chewing gum, or cheating on one’s wife. (Which, if you think about it, is kind of odd. We do have to sort our priorities as one people.) Ideally everyone takes a bath everyday, put on some deodorant and get into fresh clothes. And so, one sniff that goes off my pleasant chart ticks me off a bit. But then I am now in a world where cultures blend, rather than collide, so I have to learn to get over my personal biases, even those perceived by my nose.

Instead of passing out in front of the guy standing in front of me, I held my breath and tried my darn best to think of happy thoughts. Besides, it is not that bad. After all, I survived, didn’t I?

Thirteen train stations later, I found my stop. I waited for Benz to locate me—wherever I was. We went up and down escalators, in and out of buildings and viola, we were in Plaza Singapura! Now that mall is small yet it rose up until I-don’t-know-how-high. And then we walked, went up and down escalators, in and out of buildings until we were in some underground, laidback pseudo-fastfood center.

As Benz stated, the food in Singapore is good. And true enough, the food here is great. Plus the servings are generous; I am having a hard time finishing my meals. (And for every plate I don’t finish, a picture of a starving baby haunts me.)

So I had a sort of chicken katsu, with a bowl of rice, a kimchi-like side dish, and soup which I didn’t quite dig. (But don't excluded the soup from "good food" because of me. I just have a weird set of taste buds.) The meal went for 5.90 SGD which is worth it when you hear what came with those I have mentioned: Free-flowing drink of your choice and free-flowing ice cream! It’s enough to make you happy and...fat.

Benz filled me in on his own adventures for the past three months, thus explaining why it took two rounds of ice creams and too long a time for us to finish our meal. In between our conversation, Benz received probably the best news of his life here. I really understood how he needed to jump for joy or to cry happy tears just to let the good news sink in to his system. He deserved to scare the white guy sitting one table away from us when he stifled a combination of excitement and victory and tears. Again, congratulations, Benz!

We walked around, making a few stops for some landmarks where we took pictures using my phone’s camera (so bear with the quality).

Me in "LOVE." Get it? IN "love."

Benz at Fort Canning Park where Sarah Geronimo had a concert--See, Benz, I was listening!

the stairs that lead somewhere...
At Istana Park, in front of the SG counterpart of Malacanang

So close at calling it a day...at the walkalator that connects the purple and red mrt lines

Benz kept on telling me bits of infos I ought to know in order to survive Singapore. One of which is the look-to-your-right-before-crossing-the-street bit. Which I tell you is not easy, considering that I am so used to anticipating cars coming from my left. I know I have to drill it in my head to look right, look right! Otherwise I might end up like Natalie Portman’s character in Closer, which I wouldn’t mind if Jude Law will come to my rescue. Hehe.

At around 6 PM, Benz led me to the train station where we parted ways—he towards home, and me off to find my sister wherever her office was.

My sister gave me very comprehensive instructions just so I could reach her office in one piece. I would have been a complete moron if I got lost. But just as well, it felt good getting around all by myself (with detailed directions, of course). And it was even better to see where my sister worked. Somehow I saw where she’s getting her money from—haha!

Seriously, it felt good being able to take a peek at a new aspect in my sister’s life. It made me feel like I’m part of her world again—I mean, seeing what she sees in a daily basis, instead of merely hearing about it.

With regard to the Singaporean streets, I still have a lot to learn. Getting on and off buses and trains is one thing, weaving through the intricate and diverse crowd is one whole lot of another.

I sure am looking forward to my next adventure!

In Hibernation

I just got up from a long nap, after alternately reading a book and a newspaper, after taking my lunch, after e-mailing my resume to various companies, after staring at nothing, after eating breakfast, after waking up relatively late.

And then I had egg sandwich.

When Imeldific Meets OC

Tomorrow is Madam’s birthday. By “madam”, I mean Madam Imelda Marcos. I know this because of another madam, Ms. Ria, our Brand Officer. When I was new in our office, I wondered why everyone called her madam whereas she doesn’t look old enough to be called “madam.” (“Madam” seems to connote “old donya,” thanks in part to Imelda.) As it turns out, her birthday falls on the same day of that of Imelda Marcos’. Advance happy birthday to both of them.

Interestingly, I wasn’t able to “publish” the photos of my shoe collection on my multiply account, not until yesterday, 84 days after I uploaded them. I called the album, “When Imeldific Meets OC.”

Although it seems pretty much self-indulgent, I feel compelled to share the pictures and the anecdotes I have for each of them. Besides, what isn’t self-indulgent in my blog? (Thereby explaining the existence of the category, “battikcentrism,” among others.)

I have no plans of beating Imelda Marcos and her thousands (or was it millions?) of shoes. And, hello? None of my shoes costs more than a thousand pesos. (None of them even cost more than Php800!)

But just as I had stated to start my Multiply album, “Every once in millennium, a girl’s gotta be a girl.”

Thus, the shoes-es. Despite being on a perennial tight budget, I managed to squeeze in some shoe-shopping sprees, thanks to impulse and credit cards!

So now I would like you to meet some of my favorite shoes, at least those which are in good condition and within reach (meaning, I didn’t have to take more than 7 steps to grab them) when I got a little too obsessed and went all shutter-happy. And each comes with a short story to tell.



Black Unlisted Slip-ons

They are 3-4 inches high and pretty much comfortable—granting you wouldn’t have to stand on them for, oh, about 45 minutes!

I bought this pair using my earliest sweldo. Perhaps it is also the reason why they served as my back-up shoes, often times parked under my table at the office. I couldn’t very well play pantintero with the speeding cars coming from C-5 or get on and off a tricycle in them now, can I?

Avon Red Rubber shoes

My mom gave them to me. She knew I liked them. I have a thing for red shoes which I haven’t quite satisfied. You see, I’m a bit fixated on Dorothy’s famous ruby slippers. (Think Wizard of Oz.) Maybe I’d have one custom-made for me someday. Although I doubt if it’ll look nice. Just imagine a size 8 sparkly red pair of shoes! That ain’t cute. That’s slutty.

Going back to the rubber shoes my mom gave me, I used to wear them with my office uniform—that is before I headed to the gym. I’d rather look baduy than carry extra weight when I’m all sweaty and tired. (Jologs or tamad? You choose.)

Too bad, I wasn’t able to bring them with me. Couldn’t squeeze the bulky pair in my luggage!

Stephanie Slip-on

Out of impulse, I bought them in 2005, I think. I remember the sales lady pulling my leg—well, not literally—and telling me, “ma’am maganda po siya.” Needless to say, I believed her. I never wore them until the family went out last year, during Nichi’s 40 days when I accidentally knocked down the bottle of purple vinegar which got splattered on my cream pants (clumsy me)—the vinegar in Superbowl is purplish, isn’t it? And then I wore them during my last two months at work. That’s when they started falling apart. (Bic all-purpose glue came to the rescue!)

Black Confetti dancing shoes

Well if it were not for the massive heels, they’d pass as dancing shoes.

In any case, they are killer shoes! They hurt my feet so much, they should be illegal! You have to grow callus in order to survive them. I opted to leave them in the Philippines. Maybe if my callus grows thicker and my feet becomes numb, then I’ll have them shipped in here.

Brown Maphisto Babydoll Shoes

Do not be deceived, this is just another pair of killer shoes. Apparently comfort did not come free with this pair. I thought wearing them out would “soften” them. But I was wrong.

Primadonna Strappy Silver Sandals

My sister bought them for me to complete my maid-of-honor outfit. Last year, I wore them during Dodie’s wedding, the first berk marriage. I think I’ll just wear them to all the weddings I’d be attending in the future.

Brown Mendrez Wedge

These I otherwise call, my “teacher shoes,” not because I used them all the time I was teaching, but because I bought them when I was a teacher.

They’re very comfortable to wear—that is, if you are used to wearing high-heels. But a part of it got pulled out the last time I wore them. But no worries. I brought them to the nearest shoes and bag hospital, “Mr. Quickie!” I just hope the “experts” did the trick.

White Celine casual Shoes

It took me forever to buy these shoes—therefore this pair I didn’t buy out of impulse. And when I finally decided I was getting them, I had to contend with the last pair—last pair counting the other Celine branches. I talked my way into getting a discount. And with a little help from Joy, the store manager gave me 5% off. Haha! (Divisoria-schooled!)

This pair reminds me of the shoes I wore when I was a baby--that is, based on my old photos. There's just something nostalgic about this pair of shoes.

I had to use my credit card to buy them. The next day, I earned, in my first proofreading gig ever, almost the exact amount of money to pay for them!

Happy Feet Camel Shoes

This pair zaps me back to the 80’s and I love it! Plus the color reminds me of caramel bars with chunks of chocolates. Sarap!

I got them on sale—70% off, I think. They are extremely comfortable. Talagang magiging happy ang feet mo! I’m planning to get another pair when I get back home. Even without the 70% off, I think this pair of shoes will be worth it. Well may be, almost.

* * *

That's about it. Imeldific and obssessed!