Ok I've just come home from my ten-year high school reunion.
Well, for starters, everyone was late, including yours truly.
I had agreed to host it with Nikko, almost chickened out, but it took two gin and tonics to get my ass off my chair and host the crap out of that party.
It was good actually. There were over 50 people, a handful of whom brought their boyfriends.
So Jasmine Mendiola started the whole thing by reading out our yearbook's "prophecy page", which said that I was going to become a senator. Not quite going down that road, but good to know someone even thought of that.
Nikko and I made up award categories so we could give recognition to some of our batchmates.
Not bad. We gave out more than 15 awards, I think.
I am especially proud of the "Fetal Attraction" award that was given to Jovinne dela Fuente.
I totally made that up when I was under the influence, so here's a curtsy.
She was the only pregnant one in our batch so I guess we tailor made the whole category for her.
We gave an award to Laksmi Masbad. We called it the Laksmi Masbad.
How cool was that? She received an award just because she's Laksmi.
And then we had a game, called Pass the Balloon. It was all right.
Caught up with Katrina Montejo and a bunch of other girls, and I am so happy to have had that chance to chat with them and hear about their lives.
I miss high school. I really do.
Pics soon!

Back in Manila 2010

Yes, I am home and I love it!

I've missed the environment at home.
Nothing changed so far.
I still try to put on jeans that will never fit me, and then I bitch about how my hips are too big.
Zoe does the same thing, and we both know where we got them from - both the bitching and the hips.

Speaking of Mama, she has been awesome trying to be patient with all of us.
She's usually super annoyed at every single thing I do, but lately she laughs at stuff she would normally roll eyes at.
That means we're closer than ever as a family.

Zoe has a password for everything - her phone, her computer, her iPod Touch and her cel.
I am guessing her brain has one too, because as at 15 she can completely dodge any awkward question about her boyfriend, her developing body and her being not to keen to go to school with good humor. That is sheer talent waiting to be discovered, my friend.

As for me, I have started eating in a manner that I am not pleased with.
But Mama's carbonara, steak, veggies etcetera are divine and I cannot not have them.

One thing I love about this freaking city?
The drinks cost next to nothing.
If you're rich and unhappy here, you can definitely afford to become an alcoholic.
In posh places too.
Let's see. My drink, gin and tonic, averages at Php 120. That's 10 dirhams. Or A little over $2.

But must try to look for places where I can experience good music and even better company.
Where are the rock bands?
Where are the show bands?
Where is the super hip crowd dancing to the chart topping meaningless dance songs?
Last evening Aimee and I dance to Dying Inside at Katips, and today Mama was listening to Basha in the car.
Must make that my mission - discover the best of Pinoy music before I head back to the desert - second to weight loss.

I just learned that this sexy little man is half-Pinoy. Fallen in love yet?

Hard sell not necessary. You had me at "No oily stools".

When I was 22 I had all the time in the world. I would go home at 3 AM because I didn't want my evening with friends to end.
Today we are all over the world.
My friend Charm lives in Canada, Nomer is based in Australia, Izza flies for Kuwait Airways and so on and so forth.
We are all flying to Manila for the holidays and I promised to hang out with them for as long as time permits.
For as long as time permits?
Whatever happened to not caring about time?
It didn't matter that we had nothing in our pockets except a few bills and some cigarettes, because we could be together for days on end and we could tough it out together.
Today is very very different.
Nomer is asking for five hours of my time on December 22, because he wanted to catch up and have a serious conversation about life outside the Philippines.
Okay where the hell did that come from?
We were just nicking lattes at Starbucks Cubao eight years ago.
I have a month to see everyone and reconnect with them.
I want each and every meeting to be meaningful and long and fun and climactic.
We can't afford to just chill out and not do a thing.
If we're together, we have to do something.
That is weird.

Geez my sister is all grown-up at 15.
Her Facebook status says "Get out of my face hoeee."
She knows a hoe personally, and hates the biatch too.
If she's met a hoe then she's definitely in the real world.
Or in Kanye West's circle.
Either way, I think nowadays that's a sign that you're normal at 15.

Fifi and I are seriously thinking of moving to another area. Where people don't fart in the lifts!
Yesterday as we were walking towards our building from the parking lot, we were talking about how great our weekend had been and how we couldn't wait to just retire to bed watching the American Music Awards.
We entered the building and patiently waited for the lift. Thirty seconds later a poker-faced man casually strutted out. Well he farted so he had no business looking like there was nothing wrong.
We stay in the lift for at least ten seconds all the time. Please don't fart in the lift. Please don't.
You will forever be remembered as a pig.
And we will die of the smell.

A Kickass Day in Kathmandu

I've been working here in the Gulf for nearly five years, and have interviewed a number of prominent figures. Sheikhs, Bollywood super star Shah Rukh Kahn, actress Mandy Moore, English cricket star Freddi Flintoff and so on and so forth. Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine meeting the Arabian Warren Buffett, the 19th richest person in the world, and one of the catalysts of change among women's role in Saudi Arabia. It's Prince Al Waleed bin Talal, chairman of Kingdom Holding.


So Danters and I were taking pictures in Kathmandu. Our first day in Nepal and we were already climbing over a hundred steps to see one of the capital's temples. And then there was a small crowd, and I checked out what was going on. There he was, casually waving at everyone, with minimal security surrounding him. I simply walked up to him and asked if we could take a picture together, and his short reply, "Sure," led to this:


People who are aware of the magnitude of his success and the amount of influence he has in the world that I was super lucky to have met him and taken a picture with him. Am I? Well...
I have mixed emotions. I feel extremely fortunate, but I also feel like it's just how I roll. So I am semi-modest and semi-super confident. Maybe that's why the prince and I get along? I don't know, you be the judge!

Pretty Ladies On My List

I have always liked the following Hollywood stars, but these pictures of them are exceptionally mind-blowing. What they're wearing nailed it. Also they're funny. Funny is always sexy, don't you ever forget that.

Jessica Alba, just one of those occasions

Eva Mendes in "The Other Guys", where she plays the wife of the character of Will Ferrell, a douche cop.

Sarah Silverman, one of my favorite comics in the universe.

Ellen, your speech made me cry.

My 2010 List

Oh well. End of the year.
How do you gauge if your year has been successful?
I always have a list every time I change calendars.
And the list is carefully crafted - not too easy so that I may not falsely overachieve, and not too hard that I just end up frustrated and unhappy.

Last year most of the things on my list were checked.
There were some things I was not able to do because I was holding out.
I didn't know what I was waiting for, and I didn't know what I was so afraid of.

This year I'm going all out, because this is not the year to hold out.
Because this is not the year to regret.
It started out great - Fifi and I moved together, I got a new job, I cut down on smoking, reconnected with friends, and had a relationship with a good man.
I'm not about to end it with a long face.
Or a fat one.

So what are the last few items on the list?

Travel, travel, travel.
Go places I've never seen before.
I've saved enough to pursue my short-term dreams on a whim, and more.
By the end of the year I will have traveled to five places, each with its own charm and an overwhelming sense of distance from everything that burdened me.

Get physical!
Walk, run, swim, fly, fall. That is the way to get fit. And with my itinerary for the last two months of the year, it looks like I will be doing all those things.

Brainstorm investment options.
I will no doubt spend my money in the Philippines.
But I need to look at a few things - is it going to be property, agriculture, food, apparel, a love shack? Kidding about the last one.
But yeah I need a concrete plan and maybe a trustworthy business partner who's smarter than me.

So far that's it. I don't have a lot of goals left, because I have achieved most of them, thanks to the infinite power of the Lord and my own awesomeness.

Can't wait to make my 2011 list.

Life's reflexes

When one part of my life is in shambles, another part starts to magically improve.
Thanks to life's reflexes, the good cancels out the bad.
The two are not similar in nature - a loss is still a loss, and a gain in another area of my life doesn't mean the other void is filled.
Nevertheless, I cannot complain.
I woke up this morning with a heavy heart, but a phone call changed it all.
I skipped to work today (well, from the parking lot to the entrance of the building) and involuntarily smile whenever I think about my good fortune.
Just when I needed the world to prove me wrong, it showed off its powers and left me happily scratching my head. Bow.

ABS CBN's New Station ID for Christmas 2010

My Take on Destressing

Brides Magazine published a list called "16 Surefire Ways to Destress". I thought it was a lameass page filler, because I would never blow bubbles to pacify myself, nor would I organize my sock drawer when I'm upset. Check it out:

1. Organize your sock drawer
2. Blow bubbles
3. Check things off a list
4. Give yourself a pedicure
5. Dance like crazy in your living room
6. Count backward from 100
7. Head out for a hike
8. Inhale a calming scent, like lavender
9. Try out a new, complicated recipe
10. Go for a drive with the windows open
11. Scream into a pillow
12. Pet a cat or dog
13. Chew gum
14. Kickbox
15. Buy a new lipstick
16. Try on your dress!

I kind of have my own version, and it's more realistic, because these are the things that people I know actually do, and they seem to work. Plus, it's a must shorter list.

1. Curse. Sometimes I like cussing under my breath or in the car when I'm alone. Especially when it's loud and there's a particular person I'm cussing. And just now as I was Googling, I found out that my favorite destressing technique is actually backed by a legit study. Chekirawt:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/norfolk/7047536.stm

2. Get away. Whether it's out of the house, out of town or out of the country, a new environment always works. I prefer going back home to the Philippines, or somewhere nice and exotic (last year I had an awesome ten-day holiday in Kenya), or if I'm on a budget I go out of town with my friends. Our latest in-country "ekskarshon" was to Khorfakkan in Fujairah.

3. Pray. Whether it's reciting the Rosary or talking to God silently in the church, praying is a very effective stress-reliever for me. I usually thank God for all the blessings He's been giving me, apologize for not meeting His expectations, and ask for His help with my personal problems and the concerns of those who are dear to me.

4. Watch a funny video. I don't remember how many times a funny movie or YouTube video has saved me from killing myself. Or stress - more accurate. When I've had a long day at work and I don't have the energy to go out and meet up with friends or talk to them on the phone, a slapstick comedy or a short stand up clip always does the trick. Fifi and I were obsessed with Nacho Libre for a time. "Encarnacioooooon..." These days I'm hooked on Sarah Silverman's YouTube gags.

5. Talk. Just talk. If some people are really driving you crazy, talk about them. I do in the car on the way home from work. Alone. I usually do a Q&A with myself. Like I would ask myself "What makes (insert name) a douche?" and then I would answer, "Well, for starters, her breath stinks but she still talks like her words make the world go round."

6. Drive aimlessly. Works in this part of the world, where petrol is cheaper and traffic is bearable. I usually drive around and call people up, and if they're up to something that's interesting enough to make me get out of the car, I join them. Or I go to the mall and window-shop and eat ice cream.

7. Vino. Need I say more? If you'r all grown up and have bills to pay and a future to plan and you just want to take time off and clear your head until you are ready to carry on again, counting backward from 100 doesn't compare to a nice glass of wine. And quite frankly seems utterly useless. Booya.

Latest pics of my cousin Olivia! :)

I have been so anxious and it could be because of a number of things, like not enough sleep, too much excitement as my vacation nears, or too much caffeine.
But I really want to just get rid of this feeling.
I'm always to nervous.
The feeling is very similar to guilt, repression and paranoia.
I really would like to get to the bottom of this but I don't know where to start.
I'm usually chill and dismiss any kind of negative vibes, but this one has been drilling my brain.
Let me see if Google can help me.

A vacation within a vacation

I hit the jackpot today when I found Jobee online and idle.
She is the only good friend of mine who doesn't have a proper day job and can join me on a three-day backpacking trip in the place of our choice in the Philippines.
So we are leaving Manila for a few days and going somewhere beautiful.
She likes Batanes, and I'm torn between Bohol and Coron.
Bohol, because I want - and NEED - to see a live tarsier.
All my life I've been calling big-eyed people tarsiers, and yet I have never seen a live one. I need to hold one in my hands to make my next tarsier comment legit.
Also I've seen dozens of people on FB posing on top of one of the Chocolate Hills. They look so happy, like Maria in the Sound of Music. Maybe being there gives one that feeling. I want to see for myself.And Coron, because it is just amazing in the pictures. I've met countless of people in Dubai telling me how wonderful Coron is, and how it's a crime that I haven't been there, given that I am Filipino. I don't want to be a criminal here, so I'm seriously considering it.
Batanes... Jobee has a point. I was told that it is one of the most beautiful places in the Philippines, so yeah we might give that a try.
Suddenly I am itching to travel within the confines of our archipelago. Five years ago I totally ignored my motherland in an attempt to "see the world". To date I've been to a few countries and I'm happy to have travelled and pushed myself out of my comfort zone, but now I have this insatiable desire to just hop on a plane and fly to any of our 7,000 islands to see what I've been missing.

I'm sure it will not be an easy trip. We're not about luxury. We're about pooping in the mountains and peeling worms off trees and dipping them in vinegar. I'm sure there will be bad roads and power outages and pickpocketing incidents, but all of them will be cancelled out by friendly smiles, invitations to home-cooked dinner and huge discounts.

I'm going to tell you why this trip is so important to us.
Jobee used to be an anti-social who stayed in her room for two years, throwing tantrums and undergoing medication and just shutting herself from the world.
I take pride in telling everyone that I was one of the people who convinced her to sing in front of an audience during a noontime karaoke session when we played hooky at work.
And me? I just miss home so much, and I think it deserves the same level of enthusiasm I had when I was exploring Kenya, the same wide-eyed look I had when I saw the Taj Mahal, and the same energy I possessed when I walked around Bangkok.

Also the pictures. I will make Jobee take my pictures until her hands fall off and she goes blind.

This is the ultimate fear story. It spooks me more than anything because it seems closer to home than ghosts or aliens. They explain it in such a way that it will naturally happen, and there is nothing we can do about it but attempt to run for cover.

And as usual, as implied here, the rich can easily survive to the tune of $50,000. I have goosebumps.

It's going to be a great week

Last week was rough. Not enough sleep, ruffled some feathers and felt undeserving of resentment from some people.

This week however, is going swimmingly. I rediscovered my Twitter account and have been Tweeting endlessly and following random people. Receiving emails and texts from the boyfriend - such a responsible and sweet thing to do. I didn't even have to remind him :)

I was able to spend quality time with friends. Last Friday I was with the girls and we went out and we danced a little bit and a had a row with the waiters over the bill. Also spent time with Maers, who is currently getting over someone. Someone ugly. Dumb too.

We worked out, but we canceled out our fitness efforts with a couple of stupid food choices - jogging, KFC, swimming, ice cream. But yeah I plan to go healthy again today, Sunday, by walking around during my break and serving myself the healthiest meals. That's really key to a happy heart and an even happier digestive system.

So yeah this week is going to be great, work-wise and bowel movement-wise.

My cousin Olivia is the cutest!

Whenever something interesting happens to me, I always think. "I've got to blog this."
But I always forget to. So I don't have a single story to tell right now, but I do have random thoughts that I just want to get out of my chest before I finally hit the sack tonight.
It's been a long day.

1. I am constipated. Not for long I hope.
2. Planning a birthday party is exhausting! Will make sure to hibernate next year. Preferably in a spa.
3. There is no such thing as a prefect manicure. Look at mine.
4. I am a flexible person. I adjust to people's tastes, schedules, wishes. But I am no pushover. I want to impose my ideas on others. Like tonight. Fifi had wine because I wanted her to. Oookay that makes super powerful. Get lost.
5. I am not fat. Sometimes.

I'm sleepy. That's all for now. Good night!

Hahahaha I love Paul Rudd!!!

i have finally saved enough to buy myself a decent birthday gift.
i only turn 28 once, so let it be the best 28th birthday gift i give to myself.
i wouldn't have bought it if i didn't need it.
but i could've bought a cheaper one.
nah.
i deserve a nice gift.
i've been living off bargains for years and it's nice to splurge once in a while.
i won't bargain my happiness on my special day.
i did ask for a discount and i think i'm getting an 8 per cent rebate.
not bad.

I want to retire when I'm 40.
That's what I keep telling myself.
It helps me get up in the morning, shower and go to work.
It also helps me save more than spend.
And most importantly it helps me dream big.
40. No Botox.
Just fresh coconut juice, blue waters, and a sunset I can call mine.
So yeah let me wrap my head around how to do all that.

Remember the time we spent three solid days just being together?
By the beach, in the hut, out in the wilderness, on the streets.
Well, I just want you to know that that was time well spent.
It was an awesome holiday that I wouldn't trade for the world.
For what it's worth, you're still a dear friend to me.
We may never see each other again but we'll always, always have each other.
How? I don't know. You figure it out.
But first, finish your thesis you lazyass.

Thailand Trip (tried not to make it look like work)

Ok Blogger and I are not making progress here.
I've been trying to publish my pictures for two days now and it's not responding.
Good thing I had other things to do. Like work.
Multiply has been friendlier. So here:

http://zeenahhh.multiply.com/photos/album/12/Bangkok_Pattaya_Rayong

If there is one lesson I learned from my trip to Thailand, it's that if a country has interesting and wonderful things to offer, all it has to do is aggressively promote it to the rest of the world.
In the wake of a political unrest that made headlines and alarmed tourists for a couple of months, Thailand's tourism industry has managed to bounce back as quickly as it crumbled in April and May.
It invited the media to see for themselves how alive the streets of Bangkok are, how flamboyant its ladyboys have remained, and how flattering it feels to be the recipient of Thai hospitality.

It is sad that the Philippines' tourism campaign -- once the talk of South East Asia, thanks to Wow Philippines TV commercials that graced international channels such as CNN and the BBC -- has fallen by the wayside in recent years, for a number of reasons. Some of my friends argue that the height of our country's glorious marketing period was also the peak of insurgency that led to the kidnapping of foreigners in some of the country's most beautiful places. Some would say that Richard Gordon was the only man to have ever accomplished anything when it came to telling the world what we had to offer, and the fact that he no longer has control over the Department of Tourism is a shame.

I think that it simply isn't a priority. I don't know how much of the government's budget is allotted to tourism, but it certainly isn't enough. I don't see any TVC airing on CNN, and I don't even know if they are campaigning in Dubai, where half a million Filipinos live and interact with two hundred other nationalities.

We are not making waves. We are not making noise. We are barely surviving.

What do we do? Well I can start by exploring my country.
And then spread the word.

The past week was a blur to me.
But the blur was like a happy kind of trip, the one that gets you high on the details of life.
Whoa that was deep and probably nonsense.

But yeah I rushed past the week with a certain love for express living.
Go places like there was no tomorrow.
Pack my bags, feel the heat, hear the noise and smile back at strangers.

How about a penis keychain for a souvenir?
Or a super hot transexual for entertainment?
Or dinner at the top of one of the most luxurious and beautiful places in the city?
Or flying business class with absolutely nothing in my wallet?

I'm so tired to come to a sound conclusion.
But yeah it's been a fun trip.

Little Sofia

The 15 Hookups We Sort Of Regret | The Frisky

The 15 Hookups We Sort Of Regret | The Frisky

I had to laugh this one out.
Is it possible for all these guys to exist in one city?

I want to say, "no, not by a long shot", but I'm really thinking, "who am I kidding, of course, each city in the world has a complete set of idiots like them".
Except maybe Vatican City.
Well... okay that's another story.

There are definitely days when I miss Mama Becky.
Today in particular is tough to get through, for some reason.
I don't know if it's plainly a surge of homesickness, or the innate need to be near the person who will never let me down no matter what.

Or maybe it's midyear burnout.
It's been six months and I've only had one very short holiday.
And the only face I want to see that will pull the plug on work mode is, ironically, my workaholic mother.

I can't wait to tell her all about my year. It's been pretty amazing.
At the start of the year I came up with a list of goals for 2010.
So far I've crossed half of the items on the list, which isn't bad for a midyear record.
So the other half is going to be a piece of cake, but still very fulfilling.

I capped my night with three things - bath tub, vodka, blogging.
The perfect panacea for a long day, and a long day head.
The bath released all the heat I accumulated out in the sun.
The vodka released a little angst I might have had during the day.
And the blogging is something I've missed, so here I am.

I noticed that I've been playing safe in my blog and on Facebook.
I am careful with the words I choose and the emotions I convey.
Not to mention the pictures I post.
Suddenly I miss Manila, my Manila.
Not for long though. Can't wait!
Kisses!

Who would you love for football?

This is posted all over our building. I guess some resurrected commie can't wait for Germany to crush Spain! A lot of people found this funny. Not funny haha, but maybe funny what-the-hell. Although my race is irrelevant to whatever happened in the past, I would know that loving Hitler is kinda wrong in many ways. Especially for the sake of a football match. Also disturbing. But things like this don't really spook me. This one is provocative, but completely senseless . Plus I'm not Jewish.

I'm rooting for Germany. I believe it's going to be a bloodbath on the pitch if they get to face the Dutch. If Thomas Muller gets to play in the finals, the game wouldn't end without a grand attempt at a goal from him. In your face, Maradona.

I am on a hair thickening mission.
This is my third day, and with the help of Dr. Ibrahim, in less than two months, my old crowning glory will be restored.
For four years I've endured Dubai's cruel bath water and as my scalp showed through the limp strands that managed to hold on to my weakened roots, I vowed to take action.
Off I went to see my most trusted dermatologist and...
BAM!
A prescription from heaven.
See you in 45 days!

This photo was taken by Hadrian Hernandez last year.
The Filipino Press Club gathered at St. Mary's Church to pray for the souls of the victims of the Maguindanao massacre.
I was in shambles then, unable to think straight and extremely weak.
Well, whatever I was praying for then has been granted.
And every single day I say a prayer of gratitude.

I don't really have a team at the World Cup.
I just want Germany to win tonight.
And that's not wishful thinking.
It's currently 2-0 in favor of the Germans.
I just really like the colors of their flag.
Plus I heard England wasn't very nice to international media.

The devil's idea of cruisin'

Henry is one of the best-looking black men in the world.
Will Smith's son could have made it to the roster but he's eleven.
So yeah no crushing on eleven-year-olds.

Becky in China

Zoe's bit for Mother's Day. We love Becky!

Our office security guard gave me a prayer booklet called Miracles of our Lord of Pardon.
He is the sweetest.
I keep it in my wallet and read it with the best of intentions.
I love having Him in my life.

"Independence day is not for me. When I'm bound to You, I feel so free." - Barbie's Cradle

Outkast - Roses

Coffee

I believe I vowed never to drink coffee, but the other day those Sumatra beans seduced me like they were Kobe Bryant scoring three for me.
Caffeine, adrenaline, all senses stimulated.
And I gave in, even though I knew what was going to happen to me in the next couple of days.
True enough, now my heart's jumping like the Venga Boys are coming, and that means I will have to forego a good night sleep.
But can I really give it up altogether? Like forever?
We're talking lots of decades more here.
Probably not.
Coffee brings a familiar warmth inside me.
Because when I was in college, my mom and the moms of my friends didn't give us "wine-and-dine" allowance.
We couldn't buy nice meals.
But we still got to hang out at lots of nice places.
We simply ordered instant coffee.
Nescafe 3-in-1, like it was the most delicious thing in the world.
Of course when we were at McDonalds the sundae beat it, but coffee is universally the safest and cheapest beverage on the menu that requires slow sipping, and must be coupled with a looong conversation.
Of course there's also tea, but Tulka voluntarily serves me three cups a day at work, and Fifi makes some for me after work that it just becomes my second water.
Coffee has become a novelty for me.
How about that.
Years ago it was my only choice.
And I've upgraded to aged Sumatra. And it smells like heaven.
How things quickly turn around.

Check Yo'self Before You Wreck Yo'self!

10 Small Changes with Big Health Payoffs

A weekend in RAK with Fifi