Day 15 - A picture of something you want to do before you die

I don’t know what it is I have to do exactly… but I definitely need to do something that will make me the next Michelle to grace the cover of Time Magazine. (Ok, and so long as it's something that'll make my Momma proud and not some sex scandal or act of terrorism or some other shameful misdeed against humanity.)

Day 14 - A picture of your favorite store

Grocery shopping is so... zen. I feel so grown up doing it. When I'm walking down the aisles, looking for all of the things in my shopping list, comparing prices, buying different cuts of meat, vegetables, cans of tuna, and toiletries then whipping out my advantage card and the "grocery budget"... I begin to realize that this [husband holding the calculator, daughter pushing her own cart] is what I've worked so hard to achieve --- the ability to buy my own groceries. And eat whatever the Hell I want. =)

It's such a lovely family thing to do.

And that's why I can't wait for one of these:

                                                           Smart Cart

Day 13 - A picture of your favorite band or artist

When there's nothing left to burn, you have to set yourself on fire.

I would honestly pay to see STARS perform (and I don't really pay to see anyone perform except Janet Jackson because... it's Janet Jackson), just so I can sing to their songs and live the history of my miseducation all over again.

I don't think I've emoted more to a band than this one.

"I'm not sorry there's nothing to save." <------------------ They f*cking nailed it.

ON MY HOPES OF BECOMING THE NEXT unDESPERATE HOUSEWIFE OF QC

To you a housewife is someone who sold her soul for a center hall colonial. She has no depth, no intellect, no interests. You're the one who said I could do anything I wanted. This is what I want.

Maybe it's because of "Desperate Housewives" and "The Real Housewives" franchise that's made post-modern, self-righteous feminists all over the world believe that wanting to make a career out of being a housewife is so sad and revolting of a goal. Maybe people think all housewives are these repressed, good-for-nothing women who drink daquiris all day and flirt with the pool boy. I could see why people may find that sad.

Now on the other hand, I have very high hopes of becoming a housewife someday. More than becoming the next tech-savvy Anna Wintour.

Because being a housewife is the most challenging thing I think any woman (or man) can pursue. Many people may be called housewives or househusbands, but very few are actually very good at it.

I want to learn to cook. I want to bake muffins. I want to crochet and make pillows and clean my bathroom and make the bed and prepare food in lunchboxes and casserole dinners and walk around my house and do the chores naked. I want to be the one thing my family looks forward to at the end of their long grueling day.And I want to do all of these things, not out of some obligation or because I'm chasing that next promotion or that paper. I want to do it because it makes me a f*cking saint. (Yeah, I said it). I want to provide that comfort, that solace, that security for my loved ones who need it. Otherwise, they'll want to find it somewhere else... like the local bar or a friend's house. And that just sucks.

I know it's not practical right now to want that. But I hardly think it's sad. And for women who say it's sad, well... that's probably because they're ugly and single and want to sour-grape about how being single and independent and free is awesome and they want to be career-driven because they think it'll substitute and justify the sad state they've so convinced themselves to live that it's more important and fulfilling to compete in a man's world than nourish the world we were given the privilege to attend to - our homes.

I'm saving up to become a housewife. And anyone who thinks and says "it's sad" SUCKS SALTY BALLS. Not as if your goals are better unless you wanna be a missionary or something. Sorry if a life of servitude is so pathetic to people these days. Stupid corporate hipsters, think they've got it all figured out.

I'm gonna let Julia Stiles school your asses the way she did Julia Roberts.

Day 12 - A picture of something you love

If I could, I'd be a potato farmer. So f*ck whoever says potatoes are NOT vegetables. They're THE vegetable. Alas, they are also the bane of my perpetual diet. Then again, you can't have just one. *sigh*

Day 11 - A picture of something you hate

I remember being at a family bbq and I grab this huge hunk of what-I-assumed-was-steak, hungry as Hell and put it on my plate. Then I take this enormous, ravenous bite... only to find out it was liver. I swear, I never spit food up so fast.



Not even the mashed potato and bacon can save this dish.

"Because of its unusual taste and gray appearance, it is an acquired taste and not a favorite or comfort food with everyone at the dinner table. This has given rise to the popular Jewish-American expression 'What am I, chopped liver?,' signifying frustration or anger at being ignored on a social level."

I don't like being treated as such either.

Day 10 - A picture of someone you do the craziest things with

That's why she and I got our own show.

Now... I'm not even gonna say some of the "crazy" sh*t we've done together (because I'm married now and a changed woman =) but definitely, it's with good reason why people get us confused sometimes and call us by the other's name and think we're twins even though we're four years apart.

Crazy doesn't even begin to describe it.

GOOGLE+ and my attempt to rejoin cyber-society

I think the best part about joining a social network is filling out all the profile info-boxes and trying to be clever and funny and intelligent and just plain interesting, if only at the start.

Then it's all downhill from there.

Enter GOOGLE+

And yes, my first friend... Brod Den Castillo, of all people. I hate you. I better not regret this lest I kick you out of my "circle". Hahahahahaha!

On that note, let's violate this ish.

Day 09 - A picture of the person who has gotten you through the most

We were called "the committee" when we were young --- that was because, any decision we made had to have the approval (ideally) of the rest of the siblings. We deliberated, argued, discussed, discoursed, all in the name of sisterly honor (I think we honored each other's opinions more than we did our own parents). And you know to give them that kind of right over your life because you know that they really will be there for you, go to Hell and back for you, even when you're wrong. It's not just lip-service. When shit hits the fan, they throw down. And when I right about did things that almost ruined my life and damn near killed me, they were there --- whether lovingly or annoyed as Hell with me --- they were there.

I think they even hated the fact that my parents let me get away with half the dumbfuck stuff I did. But when the parentals were complacent, they were steadfast in their concern. And if you let them, they'll teach you more about life than any self-help book ever could.

But most of all, they're just funny as Hell. I mean, anybody could get through ANYTHING with these comedic crazies. Things just don't seem so... tragic... when they're around.

Day 08 - A picture of your most treasured item

My engagement ring: the one thing that gives me the least utility is my most treasured "material" item. As far as being "materialistic" is concerned anyway.

I was never a big fan of jewelry (fake OR real) and I never liked how they served no real purpose save to compliment a look or to establish social status. But this, I would never give up. I'd trade and downgrade my life and livelihood if it meant being able to keep it forever. Because now, I have something I can bequeath to my daughter. It'll be like an heirloom of sorts and I hope someday (even when I'm gone) it would serve its purpose by having its love story told, over and over, etched and immortalized in platinum and sapphire, in the generations to come.

Besides, I'd never want to be buried in my jewelry. That's just so tacky.

Why don't you come on over....

I'll let Ms. Winehouse do all the educating on this one.

Day 7 - A picture that makes you laugh

I come home and all she wants to do is plank just to make me laugh. I think that's such an awesome trait to have for a kid. To want to make her mommy laugh.

Day 06 - A person you’d love to trade places with for a day

Vanessa Paradis.

Need. I. Say. More?

Day 05 - A picture of your favorite memory

Vanilla sky. Me and my husband's first roadtrip together to La Union. After a gig over at Mansion in Pampanga, we headed straight for the beach. Nothing fancy. Nothing expensive. Just the luxury of time, the beauty of spontaneity, and the intoxicating joys of being young, in love, wild and free.

Day 04 - A picture of yourself and a family member

More than just members of the family. These are my bestfriends. My angels. My party-rock buddies. My fellow hostages (from the crazy parentals). Mentors, police officers, guidance counselors, psychiatrists, stylists. Life-savers, literally. My Little Women. And personally, the March sisters are the only other sisters that come close to what we have.

Who can say that about their sisters?

Day 03 - A picture of the cast from your favorite show

"In the criminal justice system, sexually-based offenses are considered especially heinous. In New York City, the dedicated detectives who investigate these vicious felonies are members of an elite squad known as the Special Victims Unit. These are their stories."

And that is the start of an hour well-spent.

In the words of the LOVE GURU: "Mariska Hargitay" y'all. Because this show is absolute LOVE.

Day 02 - A picture of you and the person you have been closest with the longest

Naturally. She's been on this earth longer than I have. And she and I may not be as "close" as far as the word "close" is concerned. I just think that it's good that I didn't end up becoming the eldest. That she survived her birth. And that I had that gauge, that standard to exemplify. I had someone to look up to. And fight with. Argue with. Learn from. And be proud of. Proud (and fortunate) that I had a sister who took life's blows the way only the strong first-born could... to protect me... and let me get away with a sh*tload from the parentals. *big smile*

Happy birthday, Ate Paula. I love you.

Day 01 - A picture of yourself with five facts

1.) I posed nude for "art's sake" at the age of 14. (Above photo was showcased in my cousin's show last year... and encased inside a dramatic glass box for all of Manila to see.)
2.) Severely left-brained, happily right-handed.
3.) I would probably cry if Law & Order stopped airing.
4.) I'm a Virgin. (And that's not exactly a lie so stop laughing. =)
5.) The closest thing I have to "body art" is a letter J branded (with the use of a poker-hot paper clip) on the lower-lefthand side of my back... it was for my highschool bestfriend James. I was 14. I did a lot of weird things at that age.

For Mark (comma) on his birthday

DEATH be not proud, though some have called thee
Mighty and dreadfull, for, thou art not so,
For, those, whom thou think’st, thou dost overthrow,
Die not, poore death, nor yet canst thou kill me.
From rest and sleepe, which but thy pictures bee,
Much pleasure, then from thee, much more must flow,
And soonest our best men with thee doe goe,
Rest of their bones, and soules deliverie.
Thou art slave to Fate, Chance, kings, and desperate men,
And dost with poyson, warre, and sicknesse dwell,
And poppie, or charmes can make us sleepe as well,
And better then thy stroake; why swell’st thou then;
One short sleepe past, we wake eternally,
And death shall be no more, death thou shalt die.

~ John Donne, 1572-1631

......

Do you think that the punctuation of the last line of this sonnet is merely an insignificant detail? The sonnet begins with a valiant struggle with Death calling on all the forces of intellect and drama to vanquish the enemy. But it is ultimately about overcoming the seemingly insuperable barriers separating life death and eternal life. In the edition you choose, this profoundly simple meaning is sacrificed to hysterical punctuation. And Death, Capital D, shall be no more, semi-colon. Death, Capital D comma, thou shalt die, exclamation mark! If you go in for this sort of thing I suggest you take up Shakespeare. Gardner's edition of the Holy Sonnets returns to the Westmoreland manuscript of 1610, not for sentimental reasons I assure you, but because Helen Gardner is a scholar. It reads, "And death shall be no more" comma "death, thou shalt die." Nothing but a breath, a comma separates life from life everlasting. Very simple, really. With the original punctuation restored Death is no longer something to act out on a stage with exclamation marks. It is a comma. A pause. In this way, the uncompromising way one learns something from the poem, wouldn't you say? Life, death, soul, God, past present. Not insuperable barriers. Not semi-colons. Just a comma.

~ Wit (film), 2001

......

Happy Birthday, Mark. (And I wonder why I remembered this poem and this movie and these lines today of all days.)

There was never a semi-colon.

THINK WE KISSED BUT I FORGOT

Oh wells, indeed...

And yes, those are hair extensions...

And yes, she thinks T.G.I.F. is "chi chi ah ah"...

And yes, she dedicates all of her videos to a boy named "Anton"...

.......

She is her mother's daughter. =P

KOBE LIVE IN MANILA

Check out times 9:55 to 10:00.



My arm hurt afterwards. But yeah, Kobe aka "the chocolate man" (by Psyche's standards) is awesome.

Psyche Planking

PLANKING: The art of planking is to lay horizontally across any object or the ground with their arms by their sides, aiming to occur in daring situations or a brotherly display of core-strength.

Practicing with her papa

Practicing with her "beebee-love"

Her grand planking debut

.....

Psyche's gonna kill me when she grows up, HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!! Kids are so fun to mess with. =P

THIS GOES OUT TO...

The one and only DJ in my life.
My girls (flying in and driving out).
The month of August.
8/28
My 28th year.



We don't care if the sun comes up.
'Cause you know I'll be dancing with the DJ.


......


I can't take it. July has officially turned my brain to mush. So for now, I'll just have August to look forward to and this song to keep me from losing my mind.

On loop.

Home is where the heart is.

Our first home as a young and happily married couple and my own Warhol-inspired picture - a birthday gift from my husband.

The Kitchen and Dining Room

The Living Room (and Law & Order on TV)

.....

The Bedrooms... are private. =)

.....

And even though it took my car AND my TV to get stolen in my previous, ghetto of an apartment (because I was a self-inflicted pauper who valued independence more than luxury) in order for me (and my loving family) to realize that I needed a serious living space upgrade, I nevertheless, consider those two unfortunate incidents a productive and divine catalyst of sorts.

A quaint and lovely little condo where my daughter can be safe and my husband and I can feel secure (and take the awesome-ass MRT to work) in exchange for a car and a TV... not a bad deal at all.

(Oh but how losing my hatchback hurt! *cringes at the memory*)

I guess in a waaaaaaay *sigh* ... it's cool that God took away that excess so I can better appreciate the more important things in life.

Like the utilization, appreciation, and utter maximization of public transportation.

And can I just say that I love the MRT and the fact that my office is north bound thus opposite the mad rush of those headed to the CBD all located on the dirty dirty south. And God love the siomai places located on the station so I can grab dinner just before I have to go up to our condo. And thank you for the exercise being car-less allows me to have now that I'm happily forced to make that 20-minute walk from the office to the MRT station (with KFC along the merry way).

It's more than I could've ever wished for at 27.

Ok... maybe our condo could use the wonder that is THE FRIKKIN' PAINT ZOOM. (I so want one, it's not even funny.)

One of these days, I'm going to paint our condo and all of our walls RED and there ain't nothin' anyone (not even my husband who I love to pieces) can do about it. =)

BECAUSE TODAY IS A GOOD DAY TO EMOTE.

Man, these rainy days and knowing that I finally found "the one" makes this semi-old emo favorite all the more special (cue 19-year old self smoking a pack of cigs and drinking laced coffee whilst staring off into space asking self, "when will it be me?")



Don't wanna be alone no more
I'm telling you what I need
I want...
Someone who loves me for me...

Rainy Days and Saturdays

On a rainy Saturday afternoon, Psyche goes to her room, sprawls onto her bed, on her tummy, onto the cold sheets, Justin Bieber poster hanging awkwardly on her wall, iPod in hand, and sings Lady Gaga's "Edge of Glory" at the top of her lungs... and I think to myself as I sneak a peek from behind the door, that that's how I used to spend my days... bed, music, walls, and my poster boy.

And she actually just came into my room so I can look for Katy Perry's "Teenage Dream" and ran right back out...

To emote.

.......

And I hope, with and whether whatever technology, be it a radio, an old desktop pc, Windows Media Player, iTunes, walkman, cassette player, CD player, or iPod Touch 4... she still finds the time and the solace to go to her room and daydream to her favorite songs.

Especially on rainy Saturday afternoons.

CHILL SESSIONS: Skarm Feat. Switch, RJay, and Lloyd

The Deck @ Ronac Art Center, Greenhills



***My husband's so talented. *giggles* I totally influence his writing. =P

Michelle.

One night, President Obama and his wife Michelle decided to do something out of routine and go for a casual dinner at a restaurant that wasn’t too luxurious. When they were seated, the owner of the restaurant asked the president’s secret service if he could please speak to the First Lady in private. They obliged and Michelle had a conversation with the owner. Following this conversation President Obama asked Michelle, “Why was he so interested in talking to you?” She mentioned that in her teenage years, he had been madly in love with her. President Obama then said, “So if you had married him, you would now be the owner of this lovely restaurant,” to which Michelle responded, “No. If I had married him, he would now be the President.”

Digital Journalist

......

One of the things that attracted me to Barack was his emotional honesty. Right off the bat he said what he felt. There are no games with him—he is who he appears to be. I feel fortunate as a woman to have a husband who loves me and shows me in every way. - Michelle Obama, Prevention.com

Me, too Michelle. Me, too.

THE TITOS and THE HANGOVER CLUB

The Sari Sari Sounds Launch Party @ B-Side (July 1)

Photobooth photos courtesy of thoseguys.ph

Thanks to those who made it out and who continue support our cause and passion. =P