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I'm checking if my camera's still good. Grainy pa din :(

Funniest Dialogues From Ugly Betty

Daniel Meade is in trouble. He's falling in love with his bestfriend's fiancee, Molly.

Wilhemina, Daniel's mortal enemy, strikes with a video tape catching Daniel and Molly almost kissing.

Wilhemina and Marc (her gay assistant) watching the video:

Marc: "Uggh! Damn, i was hoping for some skin! You know, from Daniel."
Wilhemina: "No, this is better than i could've ever imagined!"
Marc: "You know they haven't been doing the nasty.."
Wilhemina: "No, stop it. Freeze."

Marc clicks pause the video.

Wilhemina: "You see the way Daniel's looking at her [at Molly]?" The way Betty looks at a cheeseburger."

My Creepiest Dream Ever

I had the creepiest dream in my whole 28 md years. The kind where you'd wake up not wanting to open your eyes. Fully-covered in your blanket, you're thinking some psycho Casper might pull you out of bed himself. My gawd, i'm not kidding. I'm no Stephen King but bear with me, this is how i remember it.

I dreamt someone delivered an army of balikbayan boxes to our house one evening. Along with the boxes came 2 to 3 luggages. They were all sitting in our living room, properly sealed and locked. I did not care. I went straight to my room. But in my room i noticed someone left one of the sealed luggages. With too much excitement, i rummaged through my stuff and found the key to its padlock so i managed to open it. As i carefuly unzipped it, i noticed something really weird. I began to feel something taking form as i was slowly unzipping it. When at last i lifted the luggage's flap, there i found, a dead female body.

The corpse did not give a stench at all. It's as if i had my worst allergies that i wasn't able to smell anything. Neither did i feel anything. No fear, no tremors at all. So i had enough courage to touch the body. I pinched its right arm. To my surprise, the body was soft. It didn't feel cold at all. It didn't feel like it froze below zero. It only felt like i was touching a body of a lass sound asleep.

I was right. When i looked into her purplish-black heavily bruised face, she opened her eyes. She was alive. Someone so desperately wanted her dead and hid her in that properly sealed luggage. Someone so desperately wanted to bury her alive. Bury her in that old, faded black Samsonite luggage.

When i found out she was alive, i hurried out of my room and, gasping for breath, told my parents what i found. I heard myself uttering the words "in Jesus' name, in Jesus' name" over and over. Then i woke up.

Creepy diba?

No-Pro To A New Macbook Pro

My mom was telling my brother that she was planning to get me a new Macbook next year. With all violence I butted in, "Mom, no. Noooo! Please don't buy me a new laptop. I don't need it (my existing Macbook is still perfect except that its battery's nowhere to be found). Send me to Japan instead."

I said the last line matter-of-factly, while my mom indignantly questioned my imperative. Haha, of course i was only dreaming. But i really miss Japan. Japan made me realize a lot of things. Please, God, send me to Japan. It will make me love my country even more. Ashus.

Merry Christmas Mommy!!!! Weeeeeeee!!!!!!!

Train In The Distance by: Paul Simon

This is why marriages scare the hell out of me. If I don't believe in God, i might buy into what this song's trying to convey.


She was beautiful as southern skies
The night he met her
She was married to someone
He was doggedly determined that he would get her
He was old, he was young
From time to time he'd tip his heart
But each time she withdrew

Everybody loves the sound of a train in the distance
Everybody thinks it's true

Well eventually the boy and the girl get married
Sure enough they have a son
And though they both were occupied
With the child she carried
Disagreements had begun
And in a while they fell apart
It wasn't hard to do

Everybody loves the sound of a train in the distance
Everybody thinks it's true

Two disappointed believers
Two people playing the game
Negotiations and love songs
Are often mistaken for one and the same

Now the man and the woman
Remain in contact
Let us say it's for the child
With disagreements about the meaning
Of a marriage contract
Conversations hard and wild
But from time to time
He makes her laugh
She cooks a meal or two

Everybody loves the sound of a train in the distance
Everybody thinks it's true
Everybody loves the sound of a train in the distance
Everybody thinks it's true

What is the point of this story
What information pertains
The thought that life could be better
Is woven indelibly
Into our hearts
And our brains


Haha, i just found out i've been doing something really stupid lately. It's so stewppid, i could not forgive myself. Yikes!

My Secret German Wish

My dad, since i was a kid, would always keep a German Shepherd in our house. I remember every single one that we had. There's Olga, Dixie (the smartest one), Betsie, Kline (who, due to hyperactivity, caused my milky front tooth to fall out), Tina, Tabac (who almost devoured one of our employees' face), Dax, and the last one was Lluch.


That's Dixie right there, i think
I am not a big fan of German Shepherds, really. But one day i spotted a very pogi German Shepherd while we were hanging out at a cafe somewhere in makati. For some unknown reason i wanted to have my own. I forgot about my yellow labrador for about 3 seconds. I forgot about Uni, our pet shih tzu for a millisecond. At that moment, I wanted a German Shepherd so bad.

I told my dad. But he won't let me purchase one. Not with the whole lot of other dogs in our zoo-house. And he knows i could not take care of it. Sad.

After seeing This Is It twice, I was planning on naming my new dog M.J. But nahh, maybe some other time.

Johnny Rockets, Here I Come!

After two days of having nothing for my stomach, seeking God's face, i had a vision. I had a dream that gave me a glimpse of my future.

I dreamt i was googling for "the best veggie burger recipe."

In these life-turning moments that you are at your most earnest before God, He humorously blesses you with a silly dream. What do you do? Of course i did not search for "the best veggie burger recipe" when i woke up from that dream. When i woke up i felt what dream i had was all but symbolic. That now, facing a new chapter in my life, it's about time to search for "the best veggie burger recipe." Something quite specific, the best recipe God has prepared for my life. But "searching", i think, is not the right word for this. I think "seeking" is more appropriate. Seeking God's face in every minute detail of my life is by far the most essential part of my being a child of God. And what a silly way to be reminded of this, by a silly veggie-burger dream.

So this week, for a start, i shall head for the newly-opened Johnny Rockets diner at Eastwood to try their 100% soy burger. They say it's a must-try. Can't wait. This is all i wanted to say, actually. Forgive the drama.

Oh What Music Can Give!

After a quick meeting at Greenbelt 5, I headed to PowerMac Greenbelt 3 to look for the perfect headphone for my ipod. It's partly because I once eyed a Bose headphone back in August when this kid was happily inspecting his newly purchased one from a store. It was so cute and chic! I didn't know what they were called back then. It was like a mini studio-headphone. So now that i've finally decided to get my own, i spent half an hour listening to the Reality Bites soundtrack with the display sample in the store. Then i spotted the JBL headphone displayed beside it. When i asked how much the JBL was, it was half the price of Bose. Gosh, i snatched the Bose right away from my ears and tried on the JBL. The sound was awesome. To compare, Bose gave a very clean bass sound but everything else was blur; while the JBL gave me a very clean music that i was looking for. I could feel every instrument, every note with it. My Gawd, what music can give. I am so alive again. Thank God for music!

Still Standing - a very beautiful song

My gosh, i cry every time i hear this very upbeat song. I become Sisa whenever i sing this. I cry and then smile at the same time. It feels weird but God is just so amazing. His faithfulness makes me cry and smile at the same time.

Still Standing
by: Israel & New Breed

You gave me courage to believe
That all Your goodness I will see
(In the land of the living God)
And if it had not been for You
Standing on my side
Where would I be

[Chorus:]
If not for Your goodness
If not for Your grace
I don't know where I would be today
If not for Your kindness
I never could say
I'm still standing

If not for Your mercy
If not for Your love
I most likely would have given up
If not for your favor
I never could say
I'm still standing
But by the grace of God


To You I lift my offering
And set my heart on higher things
(For if it had not been)
For if it had not been for You
Standing on my side
Where would I be
(Where would I be)

Ang Pansit Ni Lola Mariet

Susubukan ko lamang magsulat sa sarili kong wika, ang Filipino.

Kaninang umaga, katulad ng ibang mga nakaraaang umaga kung saan ako'y gumigising sa matitinis na kahol ng mga aso sa aming bakuran, ay nagising naman ako sa napakalakas na tawanan at mala-broadcaster na boses ng mahal kong ina. Ayun na nga, dumating na ang mahal kong Lolang si Lola Mariet na galing ng Amerika. At hindi ako nagtaka, sa aking pagsalubong sa kanya ay may isang styro-pack ng Pansit Palabok na mula sa Jollibee na nakahain sa lamesa. Paborito kasi iyon ni Lola. Kaya iyun ang pagkaing inihanda sa kanya.

Hindi na rin ako magtataka, na ngayong gabi sa aking pag-uwi ay may masarap na hapunan na hinanda para kay Lola. Pansit Bihon. Oo, ito rin ang paborito ni Lola.

At sa mga susunod na bukas, alam ko rin kung ano ang o-orderin namin sa mga restawran na aming kakainan sa pagdiwang ng pagbalik ni Lola. Pansit Malabon naman. O di kaya Pansit Canton. Basta kahit anong pansit. Iyon ang paborito ni Tita Mariet. Pansit.

Kung kaya bago ako mag-asawa, magpapaturo ako kay Lola Mariet kung paano magluto ng masarap na Adobo. Hindi Pansit. Wala lang.

My Dream Hair Style

I've been dying to get this hair style for the longest time. But the only thing that bothers me is my skin. If i do my bangs like this, man, i'd have a gazillion tiny bumps in my forehead in no time. I hate it.

Sometimes i'd even dream of having this haircut. But if i do this naman, i'd look like the manliest tomboy alive. I hate it.

I want a new haircut. I just don't know what to do.

My 3 Minutes With Kenneth Cobonpue

I once got inside an elevator with Diether Ocampo, alone. I know he's cute and all, but no, not a single butterfly in my stomach.

On another occasion, my trip to Kenneth Cobonpue's office is a walk to remember. Thanks to our friend Patet, one of Kenneth's talented graphic artists, who invited us to Kenneth's showroom.

On our way out of the showroom where i went to see all Kenneth's creations, i asked Patet if kenneth was there inside his office. I said i just wanted to meet him, my idol. So Patet went to check on him. A few seconds later, there came kenneth in a black collared shirt. I knew i blushed the moment i saw him. I remember reaching out to shake his hand even though i was still a few meters away from him. I even remember how icy cold and sweaty my hands were. I was so nervous.

Then we got introduced. In fact, with a nervous smile and a twisted tongue i introduced myself. I said i was Oca's daughter (he knew my dad) and i told him, "Sir, you're my idol. You're an inspiration to us Filipino designers." He said thank you and answered all my flattering words with "You're doing great job too in your company". I think, partly, he knew i was working for Artwork (our family business). Of course i blushed twice as red and then i said thanks. I mentioned right away our new store that we formed. When i mentioned the name, he said he goes there! My gosh!! He wears our 'other' brand!

After a few more seconds, after being so elated at what i have found out (that he knows our new brand), the awkward stage came. The time when conversation suddenly halts like an angel just interrupts. To break it, i tried asking silly questions about his new approach in design. But after three more seconds i felt i was not making sense so i just stopped and politely said i knew he was busy and that i just begged Patet that i be introduced to him finally.

And there we said our thank you's and goodbye's.

The next day we sent him a shirt from our new store. He thanked me through text saying he was actually wearing a shirt he recently bought from our store and that now he got a new one again. I kept his text message. Wanted to print it out and frame it. Gosh. Thank you Patet, for the wonderful time.


with my friend patet

here's kenneth

My Camera Isn't Bad

I once joked my dad that he buy me a Leica camera. He replied with mild violence saying, "Naku, napaka-mahal nun!" I understand that during their time, Leica cameras were the hippest and were like the Rolls Royce of cameras. But as i was once watching Euromaxx, i saw a feature on Leica's latest offerings so that they'd be able to compete in the global market today. The feature admitted that it hopes to bring Leica back to its glory days. It only means that the digital world did not make it easy for them.

Forget Leica. My camera is a Nikon Coolpix P5100. It's like a tiny SLR, sometimes you'd also think it's a version of a lomo cam from afar. But it's nothing like that. It's just a plain, point-and-shoot camera with some "added" features. Plus, the name doesn't even sound as hip. I find "Coolpix" baduy. But that's okay. At least it's promising enough for documenting memories. The quality for this non-professional point-and-shoot isn't bad at all (provided that i tinker with its settings).


Take a look at this. Quality not bad, ei?

This one not bad either.

I'm thinking about switching to a real camera. I've no money, but it's fun just thinking about it :)

A New Fave Watch

Now that I dropped my longing for the Timex 80 watch (a tacky choice, now that i've actually seen it), I got my new darling now. I found it when i was queuing for the cashier to pay for an overpriced headband and a new set of pastel cotton socks at H&M. Oh wait, i was already at the cashier's desk when i found my new darling. It was actually on the cashier's wrist. The cashier's classy, black, graphic watch. While she was ringing my items, i told her i liked her watch and asked her if i could take a picture of it. She showed me, then i clicked. Lo and behold, i reviewed my shot and found out it was an Anna Sui watch. She casually told me where i could get it. When i went to the store to find the watch, i was half-expecting i could afford it. But man, it was something like HK$1200. Forget it. I love Anna Sui, but i must admit I could not afford her watch neither could i ever afford her dress.

What is a Freethinker?

free-think-er n. A person who forms opinions about religion on the basis of reason, independently of tradition, authority, or established belief. Freethinkers include atheists, agnostics and rationalists.

No one can be a freethinker who demands conformity to a bible, creed, or messiah. To the freethinker, revelation and faith are invalid, and orthodoxy is no guarantee of truth.

Eeeeew.. i didn't know the meaning of it was this deep.  How ironic, I used this word to actually describe the type of market the brand Artwork wants to reach.  Eeeeww.  The word describes the exact opposite of what we believe in.  For those who have actually read the about page of our website, forgive us.  I'm having it edited.  Thanks!