Tales from Behind the Wheel: Si Aida, si Lorna, at si Fe

May 17, 2013 by Leave a Comment
melaka teksi

The driver greeted us with a smile as we hopped into his cab. "To Melaka Sentral, sir!" My friend Ces, as usual, took the passenger seat while Asta and I occupied the back row. The driver beamed, nodded, and responded, "Okay, okay," and started to drive. It was our last afternoon in the historic city of Malacca and we were headed for the terminal to catch a bus back to Singapore. "We're from the Philippines," Ces answered when she was asked where we were from. "Oh! I know many Filipinos here," the cabbie shared excitedly. "I have three Filipina neighbors and they are very nice and kind." … [Read more...]

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People Along the Way: Pete

March 25, 2013 by 5 Comments
partying-pub-street-siem-reap

I do not remember just how many mugs of beer I have emptied into my belly but I am sure I'm not stopping any time soon. I dive into the mob, get lost in the pumping music, and vanish under the phosphorescent lights that move as if trying to put me in a trance. It's almost midnight and Siem Reap's Pub Street is still alive and kicking. "MAY I HAVE A LIGHT?" The voice --- loud and deep --- comes from behind me. In this place, shouting is the only effective means of communication. The loud clubbanger that is playing drowns any other sound. I turn around and hand my already lit cigarette to a … [Read more...]

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Responsible Travel: The Bliss in Ignorance and the Pain in Information

March 7, 2013 by Leave a Comment
beach

"Is that because of us?" was Nix's question after telling her how I ended up not scratching anything off my bucket list when I visited Chiang Mai, Thailand. Nix Nicolas is a co-founder of Save Philippine Seas (SPS). "Yes," I replied with an unblinking stare. The month before, I found myself reluctant to try some of the most popular tours and attractions in Chiang Mai because I just could not bear to ignore the guilt, knowing the background of the animals involved. Like many kids, the young me dreamed of riding an elephant and having a close encounter with a tiger. Chiang Mai presented … [Read more...]

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Fighting Pimples: The Things I Did for My Skin

March 7, 2013 by Leave a Comment
Hiding behind a mask

My skin was my one and only source of insecurities. I remember one time years ago, I was ranting about my pimples yet again and a friend just got tired of it. "Seesh! Don't you have any other problems?" she seethed. "Well, actually, yeah." I answered. Honestly, it was my only problem at the time. It was my only problem in a long time! I was born with a very bad skin. My doctor said genetics was the best candidate why my skin is this way. Good thing my skin is a lot better now. Sure I still get one or two pimples every once in a while but it was a marked improvement from its … [Read more...]

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People Along the Way: The Locals

February 28, 2013 by 3 Comments
Monks at the Preah Prom Rath Temple

There was an overflowing sense of confidence in me when I finally reached the parking lot of the Preah Prom Rath Pagoda in Siem Reap, Cambodia. It was my first time to ride a bicycle in almost 15 years and I was just so proud that I was able to reach the temple without losing a part of my body along the way. A group of young locals were seated on a bench under the shade of a big tree, just beside the parking area. They smiled at me as I got off the bike. One of them would approach me later and would be my two-hour friend. During my backpacking trip, I had met many locals who truly made … [Read more...]

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ProActiv Solution Review

February 26, 2013 by 8 Comments
proactiv-solution-kit

My skin isn't flawless. Well, that's the best sugarcoating that I can come up with. Just a few years ago, it was pumping more oil than any country in the Middle East. It was as persistent as some of the politicians shoving themselves into the Senate. My pimples looked like they were aiming for the Swarm badge on Foursquare --- the venue, my face. They are my one and only source of insecurities. God, I hate it. Especially during summer. In cold weather it's tamed but it goes on a breakout spree when the sun is hotter than my hubby. (Wow, that rhymed.) Seriously, it is just nasty. They … [Read more...]

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Top 5 Facebook Pet Peeves

February 22, 2013 by Leave a Comment
dislike button

Mashable created a list of 20 annoying things people do on Facebook and most of them do not even bother me. I don't mind being bombarded with food porn; if anything, it gives me ideas on what to have for dinner or lunch. I don't mind seeing 10 consecutive vanity shots on my feed. I don't mind frequent check ins on GetGlue or Foursquare. Surprisingly, I have learned to not mind being tagged on marketing images; I just simply untag myself after. I guess I'm just the type who doesn't get annoyed easily or maybe, after years of Facebook-oriented work, I've grown immune to them. Yet, I clearly … [Read more...]

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2013: The Year of the Fix

January 8, 2013 by 4 Comments
Let's em-brace changes this year. Right, Katy?

My housemates were weirded out by how different I sounded after coming back from a 2-week holiday stay at my parents house in Batangas, and shocked by the ugly metal wires that fenced my teeth. So I got myself braces to correct the alignment of my teeth. It's not like my housemates didn't know about it; I had been very vocal about how I wanted to do this. I guess they just didn't realize I was dead serious about it. These braces are giving my teeth an excruciating embrace and making me harbor an emotion that never in my life I thought I would feel towards mealtime --- dread. But if … [Read more...]

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All Fired Up for iPhone 5!

December 8, 2012 by 3 Comments
globe iphone 5

My very first Apple gadget came in the form of an iPhone 3Gs, which I got as the free phone from my Globe Plan 3799. It happened in 2010. Three iPhone models later, my plan has now expired and once again, I am on the hunt for the best iPhone 5 postpaid plan. Of course, a lot has changed since 2010. For starters, Globe is not the only one offering iPhone plans now; Smart made its debut last year. Given how competitive these two telcos are, consumers are now on the winning end as these two giants fight for their affection by reducing the price of their plans or beefing them up with … [Read more...]

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People Along the Way: The Solo Backpackers

November 16, 2012 by 14 Comments
The sleepy town of Luang Prabang, Laos

"No stars tonight?" She put down her glass of pina colada and sat next to me on the bench on the top deck of the boat, floating softly in the middle of Ha Long Bay, Vietnam. "Not even one," I painted a faux pout on my face while picking up my bottle of Tiger Beer. " Was hoping I could go stargazing but the clouds are not my friend tonight." "I know. I was planning on doing the same but what can we do?" Her name is Carrie. Getting close to Carrie was totally unexpected. When I first laid eyes on her, I was positive she was the only one on that tour that I would not be friends with. … [Read more...]

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