I eat words for a living.

It was the birthday celebration of Lola Diding yesterday and unfortunately, I hardly participated except during dinner time (I will never miss Tito Allan’s cooking for the world). I was inside my room the whole time resting and dreaming of going to the Sanctuary Spa at Maya-Maya. (I hope the latter pushes through this Saturday. A full body massage is what I really, really, REALLY need right now.)

After gormandizing every morsel of Tito Allan’s infamous dishes on the dining table, Uncle Rolin invited me to sit down and have a one-on-one chat with him, lol. He started talking about me having a dual personality (disclaimer: he was not pertaining to a bipolar disorder or multiple personality disorder). Apparently, my relatives think I’m a completely liberated woman online compared to the modest and absolutely reticent lady they oftentimes see in person. Ha! Ha! Ha! I got you fooled didn’t I? Not. ;_;

I explained that I more boldly express myself through writing and it just so happened I’m good at it (I hope). I don’t share some bits and pieces about me all at once so perhaps, that’s were the liberated part chimes in. Some people get dumbfounded every time they discover I did this, I thought of that, wrote this, posted that (Oh God. Did this come from the entry I posted about loving my vagina?). Lol.

I think the best way to know me is to read my blog and witness how my life evolves from there. I more often that not choose to remain silent, to become the faithful wallflower in the crowd, churning the life within me, so I can spit them out to one tumultuous (or pedestrian) paragraph or two.

I am a writer after all.

A prickle of travail, exhaustion, astonishment, and sense of pride are swirling in my head and I cannot dust it off. If I have to act it out, you would have to see me laugh, cry, shout, and remain silent at the same time. Every time I recall my first and last glimpse of the crater, it feels as though I am letting go of the most valuable thing in my life.

In short, I cannot believe I was there, hiking, dipping in her flesh, and shamelessly taking disrobed pictures of her. I have not digested the fact that she caressed and swallowed me like a lover. The images in my head, the various angles and places I saw seem to me just a photograph, a sureal landscape I have only fantasized somewhere in the middle of the night.

After eight hours of grueling pain, I did it. I conquered Mt. Pinatubo.

… came from April this morning. The train was moving its way to Gateway and we just came from a ribbon-cutting event at LRT2’s depot.

“What is your favorite book?”

God woman. You know how to arouse, provoke, and simplify me at the same time.

Things would have been different if I had not woken up around the time she decided to take a stroll along the beach, or she has not invited me to go with her. I was reluctant to follow her when I saw her that morning because I thought she might have wanted to be alone. But when she called my name and asked me to take a walk with her, I was partly glad but apprehensive at the same time. I was not sure whether she still wanted to listen or if I was ready to spill my heart out and continue where we left the day before.

I followed her to the beach. As we sat down watching the waves teasing us for a swim and feeling the cool summer breeze of the morning, surprisingly, with just one question, I was ready to gush out and scream to the ocean how torn I have been feeling all these years.

You don’t know how grateful I am ’til this day T. Who would have thought I would unbuckle my heart and soul to you? Now here I am, ready to feel the pain and joy of trusting and loving him again.

A man’s weakness is difficult to accept. To use it as an excuse is wrong, painful, and stupid.

But I believe that love is an unshakable and dauntless destiny.

Oh God. Depression, passion, or lack of continuity. All three rolled into one gargantuan woman that is me.

But I’m excited about losing the pounds again.

I’m just waiting for the TOICship status to be official before I finally jump into graduate studies.

I miss reading research materials, reporting, reciting, and taking exams (always have).

1. I had two impulsive purchases online. I have to pay them today.
2. Woot! The Pinatubo fun climb is pushing through!
3. We will go ahead to Batangas before our respective teams so we have a chance to loiter the place (that’s only my idea though) =D Yey! Another four-day work week next week!
4. I hate the packing part though. Three days! Oh. My.
5. Ooh. I have to buy Bailey’s for my team.
6. The new restaurants/cafes I want to try are the following: Sakae Sushi, Secret Recipes, Galileo Enoteca, and Chaikofi!
7. I somehow don’t feel comfortable whenever it’s the date that pays for the bill as we dine in a restaurant/cafe (or maybe it depends on the date, lol). It makes me want to push back the memories and forget about it altogether. I always, always want to have the liberty to choose the food I like without thinking whether he can pay for it or not. I can pay for my own food, thank you very much.
8. I hate dates who think you’re a prize and treat you as something they can show off to their friends.
9. My most definite pet peeve: women combing their hairs in public! Get a freakin’ room! Ugh. This is a major turn off whenever I check out women and see how fine they look, then suddenly, pop up a comb and start doing that nasty thing in public. Eek.
10. I want to go back to Plantation Bay, just even by myself.
11. I haven’t had a decent breakfast at home lately. /le sigh.
12. Incredible Hulk, tomorrow! =)

June 07 - date with the little sis. We ate at Shakey’s, where I discovered their delectable raisin oatmeal cookie and creamy strawberry milkshake! I will go back there someday just for those! Then, we watched Kung Fu Panda where I laughed, cried, and simply enjoyed the show. =)

June 08 - date with the lover. We went to Eastwood where I had my second haircut in Azta. (I like it this time btw.) Then, I spent more than two hours (I think) fitting on different clothes from different boutiques around and inside City Walk. We finally basked ourselves in Preview where I had a steal of two outfits for a price of one! =)

It was almost dinner time when we finished so we headed to Jack’s Loft where we had Gambas as appetizer, pasta, two main dishes, fishbowl iced tea, and Jack’s Cheesecake (unforgettable).

I was also dying to try Cafe Xocolat so I dragged my lover there and tried it’s Churros con Salsa and Vanila Mudslide (heavenly). I mostly enjoyed my stay in the latter because of its accommodating staff, the cozy and carefree ambiance of the place, plus, the very items I ordered (Chocolate_Vanilla_Mudslide)!

June 09 - Tagaytay Road Trip with Dan, Sharie, Mike, and Teh Lover. We had breakfast in McDo, SLEX (but I bought mine in Starbucks, hee, where I tried its soy milk and chicken salad).

First stop at Tagaytay was People’s Park. I never thought I would still enjoy that old, abandoned place, lol. The view from the top was still breathtaking and refreshing, as well as the cool air.

Next was Sonya’s Garden, which I think was a different trip altogether. It’s a photographer’s little paradise. =) I can’t even tell you how much I enjoyed the food. My favorite would be the sesame bread with its various spreads! I love it how Sonya provides its guests with several options to blend, choose, and match one meal with.

After having a full meal and taking funny and serious pictures of the place, we were able to reach as far as Nasugbu, Batangas to visit Caleruega. Again, it is a different experience altogether and a definite must see for every Filipino! I’m glad they decided to go there. I didn’t think there are other exciting fromTagaytay!

Mike also suggested we try Starbuck’s, which we fortunately did. =) The view from the topmost floor was fantasmic as well as the very cool breeze. I ordered one dark mocha frap and vanila frap, and a piece of cinnamon roll. It was perfect. =)

Before finally saying goodbye, they stayed at my place where they had ice cream. Everyone was tired but happy. It was a worthwhile and enjoyable day!

Here’s a toast to another memorable weekend =) /clink.

More photos here.

I honestly don’t know what came in their minds when they decided to include me in the model search (Fine. Maybe they didn’t get enough of that tasteless tequila bodyshot last year). I probably would not mind if it wasn’t a swimwear competition, but it_ is_.

I have to think of a way on how to elude the practices. I wouldn’t have known about it if I didn’t actually see my name listed among the group of bold & bloody participants. Turns out a notification was sent, but I deleted it thinking I was merely included in the mail because I’m one of the leaders. Duh!

But guess who went shopping online for cover ups, beach dresses, and swim wears?

/guilty.

Yesterday, I indulged my sister in Cyma’s divine goodness in Trinoma (pictures found here and here) where I ordered its popular, Roka Salata (the one for two persons I believe, but was almost good for four people!). I wanted my sister to experience the Greek restaurant’s cry of “OPA!” when ordering any flaming dish from their menu. Well, I saw the Loukanika in flames alright, but was a tad disappointed with the faint cry of “OPA!” by the staff. Its branch in Trinoma is lucky the waitress who served our food was patient and accommodating, which I did not expect to experience at first. That was because as my sister and I entered the door, no one even greeted us. Good thing I still I enjoyed my late lunch with the company of my lucky sister.

There was the food of course, which never disappoints. Never. I liked it too that its branch in Trinoma is quite spacious and is located outside the very mall itself, just like the one in Greenbelt. But although its branch in Shangri-la is small, I still prefer it over the rest because of the consistent service.

Oh well. The truth is, despite the different experiences I have encountered from the three different branches of the same restaurant, Cyma is still Cyma, anywhere I go.

Later throughout the day, my sister, B, and I went on with out food tripping—Dairy Queen, Figaro, Sebastian’s Ice Cream, and UCC (again!) at the Podium.

The rest was history.