It's okay to be different ...

Yesterday, my son and I were bonding over coloring pages and I was teaching him how to do color blending. I told a friend of mine about it and he reacted with this, "He's a boy! Don't teach him color blending!"

I have to honestly say that I was surprised with this reaction. I really did not see anything wrong with teaching my son color blending but apparently some people thought it was not gender appropriate. However, my son looked like he was having a lot of fun and we were bonding over it. I didn't really see anything wrong with what we were doing.

I want my son to grow up knowing that it's okay to be different because it is. I accept what he is and who he is no matter what and I won't let anyone tell him otherwise. Being different simply means that you are true to yourself. You accept who you are and what you are. Being different is a gift. You get to be you and no one else. If someone is uncomfortable with who you are, that is their problem and not yours.

So to you my son, continue coloring and continue doing what you want regardless of what anyone says. As long as you do not step on anyone's toes and you do not put down someone else, you can be who you want to be and I will be there backing you up every step of the way.

pride gets in the way

I know you love me. I know this is a fact. You have proven it to me time and again. However, when we have misunderstandings and you ignore me, I don't feel it, at all. I reach out and instead of you holding out your hand, you ignore me and you make me feel like a piece of trash; one you can simply discard just like that.

I hate it.

I don't know what happened to you in the past that made you like this but I was hoping that since you wanted this to work as much as I did, you wouldn't be as stone cold as you are being now. I have been through hell and back, gotten betrayed, used, abused, misused, and what now but I am nowhere near as hard as you are.

I wish you could see how much you are hurting me when you ignore me. Maybe it will make you think twice next time you prioritize your pride over us.

I wish I was more important than your pride. It looks like its just going to remain a wish though.

The Legend Villas

Last week was spent at The Legend Villas which is located near Robinsons Pioneer. It is a secluded 3 star hotel with a high gate surrounding it, giving it the privacy that people yearn for when they stay in a hotel. You see, my friends and I have been feeling burnt out lately and we figured that we could all take a break fro m our daily life and just hole up in The Legend Villas.

We have all been curious about this place and when we saw the rates which were very affordable, we decided to give it a go and book ourselves a staycation for the weekend. I can tell you right now, it is one of the best decisions we ever made.

This was the room I shared with my friend Chelle. I loved that it was very spacious, comfy, clean, and the air condition temperature was just right. We hanged out the whole afternoon and watched movies on the Samsung screen that was mounted on the wall. It was pure heaven.

Now since I am pretty much a workaholic, I liked that the desk there was wide enough to place my laptop, bags, and other gadgets such as my hard drive, camera, iPOD, USB, phone, and chargers.

Since I am a Mom, I did bring my son with me as well as my younger sister and even they loved The Legend Villas. They loved the fact that in the waiting area, you actually won't feel like you are waiting because strategically placed are games that you can indulge in.

I can say that this was the first real staycation that I have ever had. I literally stayed inside the room, went out only to dine at the hotel restaurant, then went back to the room to chill and relax. Oh boy what joy it was.

I seriously recommend The Legend Villas for future staycations. You feel like you have left the city when in fact, you are at the heart of the city. They have a small pool, a masseuse that gives a relaxing massage at the comfort of your room, and a small fitness center for those who can't let a day pass by without exervcising.

The Legend Villas

brain vs heart

I hope you're happy with her
Says my brain
I hope you break up
Says my foolish heart.

when looking healthy isn't enough ....

Doc Pao was like any typical male in his prime. He was into sports and even competed in soccer. He lifted weights and would eat healthy food, occasionally indulging in chicaron, sisig, and lechon. He felt good and he looked good. If anyone were to take a look at him and describe him, healthy would be one of the words that would have been used.

It was one fine day when Doc Pao was going about his day when the pain started. It radiated from his armpits and went straight to his heart. He was caught by surprise. The pain was prickling then it turned into a crushing kind. His jaw became tight and then it too started tingling and throbbing hard. He tried breathing to alleviate the pain but it was not enough. His normally cheery eyes turned colorless and the pain in his chest was severe. Paolo then knew that whatever was happening to him, it was not something to be taken lightly.

A doctor recommended angiogram and angioplasty. They also ordered an ECG and 2D Echo with Doppler. The results yielded something that Doc Pao was not expecting. He had atherosclerosis and arteriosclerosis of the coronaries. These are diseases that cannot be taken lightly for they can cause severe angina which could lead to an attack.

Atherosclerosis (ath-er-o-skler-O-sis) is a disease in which plaque (plak) builds up inside your arteries. Arteries are blood vessels that carry oxygen-rich blood to your heart and other parts of your body. Plaque is made up of fat, cholesterol, calcium, and other substances found in the blood. Over time, plaque hardens and narrows your arteries. This limits the flow of oxygen-rich blood to your organs and other parts of your body.

This is also known as the hardening of the arteries. What happens is that it can slowly narrow and harden the arteries throughout the body. This is the number one killer of Americans. It is what is more commonly known as heart attacks caused by sudden blood clots in the heart’s arteries. It is a life threatening blockage and what’s worse is that it can happen without you ever feeling a thing, which was exactly what happened to Doc Pao.

Thankfully, there are ways to avoid this from happening again and this is why Doc Pao embraced a well balanced lifestyle of nutrition and fitness. With proper supplementation of natural cardio remedies that was introduced in a human clinical trial for end stage heart patients in the US, exercise, and healthy foods, Doc Pao is now at his healthiest.

Initially there were challenges especially since he could no longer indulge with his favorite salty and fatty food. He also needed to learn to sleep right and maintain his exercise regimen with goals to hit. However, the thought of being sliced and diced in the operating room was more than enough motivation for him to stick to his new lifestyle and because after he survived what happened, he now knows that he has a mission.

Life is precious and we only live once. God gave Doc Pao a gift and he has promised to take care of it and be thankful for a second chance at life. After all, not everyone gets another go and so he hopes to be able to live a legacy. 

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story

We're all part of a story
In mine, you are happy
In yours though, you broke me.
Why?

adjust

Adjust once again I must
For you refuse to bend
So adjust I must
So we won't break.

In Vino Veritas

You just drunk dialed me, several times mind you. It was funny and endearing all at the same time. You kept saying you love me, over and over again. You also kept saying "in vino veritas" which I had to google and it means "in wine there is truth."

I'm guessing you saying that you love me and you miss me while you were drunk as hell means that you really do love me and miss me. It's amusing that you had to have that much alcohol in your body to be able to tell me that.

Anyway, I love you too. You're silly but I love you.

Lola Maria Restaurant of The Legend Villas

There are only a few restaurant that can truly say that they cook mean Filipino dishes. Thankfully, Lola Maria of The Legend Villas is one of them. I was fortunate enough to try out their lunch buffet and I have to say that this shot up right to the top on my list of Filipino buffets to recommend.

I love the interiors of the place. I felt that I was transported back to the olden days and I kept waiting for women and men in Spanish clothing to start appearing and dancing.

I loved their salad choices. They had lato! Yes lato which is from the ocean and it's really, really tasty too.  I'm from Cebu and this is one of the main things that we always eat when we dine out or even at home.

They had the following dishes which were all oh so good! This pork asado was so soft and tasty. I actually had to stop myself from eating more than I should. I was honestly surprised that it was really soft. Most of the time when its a buffet, the pork would be tasty but hard. This one was BOTH tasty and soft.

They also had pochero but it was the dry version. The meat was also good and the banana, I don't know, I just like the taste of cooked banana with meat.

They also have other choices. Pansit, fried rice, laing, and kare-kare among other things.

They also served buko pandan which I liked a lot because it had pinipig on top which made it crunchier.

Overall, the lunch buffet of Lola Maria of The Legend Villas is definitely worth a try. It's delicious and most of all, its affordable. I know that these are the two things that people look for because its also the same thing that I look for. Why would you eat at a fancy hotel for 2k per head when you have Lola Maria at less than Php600 per head and its just as yummy. 

Facebook Page 

of another ...

Your words tell me I'm the one
Your lips call my name
But your heart speaks of another.

break

I am a raindrop.
I fall and I break.
No one catches raindrops.
They just let them fall.

raindrops

I wish I was a raindrop
It is never alone.
But I'm not a raindrop
I'm always alone.

Wacoal Online Shopping

I never thought I would be one of those women who would need to resort to online shopping just to be able to find time to buy lingerie. Yes, you read that right. I had to buy lingerie through an online shop but thankfully, Wacoal made it very easy for me.

Wacoal has always been one of those brands I coveted before but could not afford. I thought initially that their product was too expensive but now that I am older and wiser, I have come to realize that they are the right choice for myself (and you as well) because lingerie is something that we wear next to our skin. It should matter that the quality is very good. Wacoal prides itself in that department.

I logged on to my computer and just went to www.wacoal.ph and voila, it was so easy to navigate. I'm the type of shopper where if I have to figure out something in a minute when all I'm doing is shopping, I'd lose interest in it.

This whole online shopping took less than 5 minutes which made me very happy. I was at work and only had a few minutes to spare but Wacoal was able to take care of it for me. It was accurate, fast, reliable, and most importantly, SAFE.

One thing I liked about it was the BODY AGE. Yes, you read that right. At first this made me do a double take but it was easily explained and I really appreciated this part because it helps you determine what kind of lingerie fits you and your body. It's easy to get the right size and the perfect fit.

For those who are interested, here are the steps to shopping for your own lingerie in just a few steps.

1. Log on to www.wacoal.oh
2. Register to order and purchase.
3. Select the items which are arranged according to category of body age and style then add to cart.
4. Upon selection, a small window will appear. You can either click to proceed to check out or go back to add more.
5. Choose a method of payment and voila! You are done.

I got my purchase after 3 days and may I just say how pretty the packaging was. It's actually good already to give as a gift.

There was no hassle with the sizes, the quality was awesome, and it fit like second skin. Awesome Wacoal. I must say that I am impressed. I will definitely shop on your website again and I highly recommend this to anyone who doesn't have time to go visit the mall like me!

knight in shining armor no more ...

Weird title to put on my blog right? Some of you may even think that I'm being sarcastic but I'm not. I really am happy for FM. Today, I chanced upon his cover photo on Facebook and it showed him and a woman who was making faces while he gazed at her fondly and I just knew that she's his girl.

Did I feel sad? For a moment, there was a tinge of pain that he has fully replaced me but then it was instantly replaced with happiness for him. FM is not perfect. He had his bad moments with me after we broke up where he inadvertently led me on and hurt me over and over again but he is a good person overall and he deserves a happy ending.

For almost 4 years, he was my knight in shining armor. Every single time that I really needed someone, he would come running. He always made sure that I was okay and that I have what I need to move forward with life. If I call, regardless of the time of day, he would answer. He would listen to me rant and rave, cry, weep, and he would always be there to help me pick up the broken pieces that is me.

I've learned to rely on him. I'm gonna admit that. I guess in my head, since he did not turn out to be Prince Charming and he's so good at saving me, he's just gonna be my knight. MY KNIGHT.

It's wrong.

FM and I, we have been over for 2.5 years and yet we talk, we hang out, and we are inexplicably drawn to each other. Like what he said, we click but it's just not gonna happen between us anymore. There will never be an US again but we click. We fit each other like yin and yang or two harlequin dolls that is part of a set.

Today IT STOPS. Today, he stops being my knight in shining armor and he stops saving me. He finally met someone and care enough for this person to make her public. I want him to make this work and I know that if I should still exist in his life, that won't happen.

So to you FM, should you happen to read this, here's what I would like to say to you.

Thank you. Thank you for loving me and loving my family. Thank you for dealing with my craziness and quirks. Thank you for trying your best to forgive me and I hope that someday, you will be able to forgive me. Thank you for saving me over and over and over again. I cannot count the number of times that you have been there for me. Thank you for making me believe in love again, hurting me so much that I had to step back and reassess who I was and what I needed to change within me thus making me a better person, and for being there throughout the entire process.

Thank you but I think its time that you stop saving me. I need to learn how to save myself and be my own knight in shining armor.

our last photo together

Leave by Streamline

Leave me aLone even just for a whiLe..
Leave me to cry maybe Later I can smiLe..
Don't hoLd my hands cause I might not Let go..
Let me forget what it feeLs Like to hoLd you..
I'LL never Let you see how much Im hurtin' but baby Let me go and Let my heaLing begin..

CHORUS:

Cause the hardest part of Loving you is Letting you go..
and the hardest part of that is that I can't Let you know
just how badLy Im breakin' and how much Im bLeedin'
pLease Let me go Let my heaLing begin..
pLease Let me go... [Let me go]

I know that I promised to aLways be here..
But keeping my word often brings me to tears..
It tears me apart to have to be strong..
and say to my heart but it's feeLing is wrong..
So very cLose and yet as far as can be..
but knowing when you taLk of Love it's not about me..

CHORUS:

Cause the hardest part of Loving you is Letting you go..
and the hardest part of that is that I can't Let you know
just how badLy Im breakin' and how much Im bLeedin'
pLease Let me go Let my heaLing begin..
pLease Let me go... [Let me go]


REFRAIN:

And maybe Im crazy to be hoLding too hard..
GirL aLL I ask is you Let go of my heart..

CHORUS:

Cause the hardest part of Loving you is Letting you go..
and the hardest part of that is that I can't Let you know
just how badLy Im breakin' and how much Im bLeedin'
pLease Let me go Let my heaLing begin..
pLease Let me go... [Let me go]

Don't ask if Im fine or ask how I feeL
from you these are words I don't wanna hear..

babae ako ...

Hindi ako si Tinkerbell. Hindi ako nabuhay sa mundong ito o pumasok sa mundo mo para lang magbigay aliw sayo. Hindi ako ipinanganak para lang paligayahin ka o maging dahilan ng mga ngiti mo.

Hindi ako si Tinkerbell. Hindi ako isang diwata na pwede mong hangaan lamang ngunit hindi pahahalagahan. Hindi ako palamuti na pwede mong gawing dekorasyon para ipakita sa lahat. Hindi ako kathang isip lamang.

Tao ako. Nasasaktan. Naghihinagpis. Nanlulumo. Naninibugho. Nadidismaya. Nadudurog. Lumuluha.

Hindi ako si Aeriel. Wala akong mailalabas na luha na singlawak ng dagat. Hindi singlalim nito ang aking pasensya at pag intindi sa bawat pananakit mo sa aking damdamin. Hindi ako inosente at walang alam na pwede mong bolabolahin at paikutin.

Hindi ako si Aeriel. Hindi ako aawit para maibsan ang mga lungkot at sakit na nararamdaman mo dahil sa pananakit nya sayo samantalang unti-unting nauubos ang boses ko kakatawag sa pangalan mo sa tuwing iiwan mo ko at babalik ka sa kanya. Hindi ako makukuha ng isang halik mo lamang. Hindi ko kailangan ang halik mo o yakap. Ang kailangan ko ay ikaw ... buong buo ... walang kahati ... walang labis, walang kulang.

Babae ako.  Nasasaktan. Naghihinagpis. Nanlulumo. Naninibugho. Nadidismaya.Nadudurog. Lumuluha.

Hindi ako si Sleeping Beauty. Hindi ako maghihintay na lamang sa kung kailan ka handang dumating. Hindi ako hihiga at tatanga lamang habang ikaw ay nagliliwaliw at nagpapakasaya. Hindi ako isang bagay na itatabi mo at babalikan kapag iyong naalala o titingnan para masiguradong hindi ako makukuha ng iba.

Hindi ako si Sleeping Beauty. Hindi ako isinulat ng kung sino man at inihubog para sayo. Hindi ako isang prinsesa sa isang fairy tale na maghihintay na lamang sa pagdating ng kanyang knight in shining armor. Hindi ko kailangan na sagipin mo ako.

Babae ako. Ang kailangan ko ay respetuhin mo. Ang kailangan ko ay panindigan mo. Ang kailangan ko ay mahalin mo ng buong puso't kaluluwa mo. Ang kailangan ko ay ang maging akin ka ng buong buo, walang kahati o kaagaw kahit minsan.

Babae ako. Nasasaktan. Naghihinagpis. Nanlulumo. Naninibugho. Nadidismaya. Nadudurog. Lumuluha. Nagagalit. Namumuhi.Napapagod.

Ngayon ... pagod na pagod na ako.

AUDIO VERSION 

Naiintindihan mo

Break na tayo sabi ko
Wag, ayusin natin to.
Ngunit ang sagot mo,
Naiintindihan ko.
Nadurog lalo ako.

miss mo

namiss kita sabi mo
kinilig ako
namiss ko rin sya sabi mo
nadurog ako
panong namiss mo pareho?

on loving someone who is broken

Have you ever fallen in love with someone and know that no matter what, no matter how epic this love may be, no matter how meant for each other you are, it will never be? Have you ever been so in love that you thought that you could pull through everything and beat the odds? Have you fallen in love so hard that you thought you were strong enough to put together all the broken pieces of him?

I have.

I have fallen in love with someone and knew right from the start that should we have a relationship, it would go nowhere. I have fallen in love with someone so hard and knew that I would fall flat on my face on the pavement, equally hard. I have fallen in love so deeply that even when the pieces of him would cut through me, I let it and simply watched myself bleed slowly to death.

I have loved someone broken. I still love someone who is broken.

Loving someone who's life is a mess is painful. You think that your love would be enough to help them sort everything but it's not. It never is. When you love someone who doesn't know what they want in life, who they need in life, and what direction they want to go to, it affects you. You don't notice it at first but it affects you. It breaks you bit by bit, piece by piece, little by little. You don't even feel it but its happening.

Loving someone who is conflicted messes with your head. Is it me? Is it her? If she is this, what am I? What am I really in your world? Am I Tinkerbell to your Peter Pan? Am I a filler? Am I the 20% that's missing from the 80% that you are getting from her? How can you miss me and yet miss her as well?

Loving someone who is broken will eventually break you. You think that you can put them together piece by piece but you can't. You only end up cutting yourself. It may be that you were able to put together the pieces of him that flew apart but in the process, you realize that as you were putting him together, you were slowly falling apart.

When you love someone who is broken, the best thing you can do for you and for him is to let each other go. You cannot love someone broken. They are still broken. There is nothing of them for you to love completely.

All you can do is to give them space to fix themselves and to heal on their own. They need to be able to find the broken pieces of them and put themselves together one piece at a time. They need to do this themselves no matter how much you want to help them. They need to be able to patch themselves up one by one and when they do, when they are fully healed, all you can pray for is that you are going to be a part of their future.

If you are, then that person can go ahead and find you. If you aren't, then hopefully, you have already moved on in life. No matter what happens, you need to let go. It will hurt but if you truly love this broken person, you will give them what they need the most: a chance to put themselves together on their own and most importantly, LOVE THEMSELVES and FORGIVE THEMSELVES.

After all, isn't that what love is about?

Century Tuna Lite and why 70/30 matters

A lot of people have been joining the fitness bandwagon for many years now. Some are successful, most are not. Others feel frustrated for they exercise and yet, achieve nothing. Some have cut down on food and are still nowhere near the perfect abs they desire.

A lot of people think that a perfect physique solely depends on workout, making many hopefuls say, “Ang hirap naman magpa-sexy!” Now, there’s no need to fret as Century Tuna, together with the face of its newest campaign Derek Ramsay, reveals the right figures to live by in achieving 100% abs.

“Century Tuna has always been with you on your road to fitness and we are very happy to share with you the right combination in achieving a healthier and sexier body,” says Greg Banzon, General Manager of Century Pacific Food Corporation.

“We hope we can inspire more people out there, too, to start living a healthy lifestyle as we gladly feature the return of our ever fit endorser Derek,” he added.

Standing at five feet, ten and a half inches and weighing 175 pounds, Derek is ripped. Tagged one of the hottest celebrities in the local entertainment industry, the actor maintains perfectly defined abs, strong, sculpted shoulders, and toned arms and legs. However, one might be surprised to know that Derek does not only engage in extreme workout to achieve this chiselled state.

“I learned that achieving a 100% fit body is 30% exercise and 70% diet,” Derek shared. “That’s why it is important for me to find a source of protein that has less fat, less salt, and made from 100% pure tuna,” he added.

Century Tuna Lite has 50% less fat and 50% less salt versus other regular flakes in oil. Aside from protein, tuna is an excellent source of important nutrients such as the minerals selenium, magnesium, and potassium; not to mention vitamin B complex and omega-3 essential fatty acids. Omega 3 DHA is not only good for the heart; it also helps burn body fat, shrink abdominal fat cells and stop certain genes that trigger inflammation on belly fat.

Above all, Century Tuna Lite is made from 100% pure tuna, no extenders, making it a perfectly delicious and healthy meal. While one can conveniently enjoy it straight from the can, Century Tuna chefs also share a line of deliciously healthy recipes that are low-calorie yet rich in nutrients.

Resisting unhealthy food may be difficult, but Derek reminds everyone that “Every goal requires 100% dedication, so don’t give up! If I can do it, then you can do it too!”

Derek is with other Century Tuna endorsers Anne Curtis, James Reid, Jessy Mendiola, Paulo Avelino and Elmo Magalona, in supporting everyone when it comes to living a healthier, happier lifestyle. Their stories also remind us that transformation is never impossible and anyone can succeed in their journey to a fit and sexy body. For more diet and exercise tips, visit http://www.centurytuna.ph/.  

Beauty Soiree with Ruffa Gutierrez

Ruffa Gutierrez has always been an enigma. She is beautiful, smart, statuesque, and an aspiration to most women. After all, even with the many trials she has encountered, Ruffa remains to be one of society's most gorgeous women. People would often ask then, what's her secret? 

For Nine Years, Cosmo Skin has been the secret to many women hold to a beautiful, younger looking- immaculate complexion. Cosmo Skin’s highly effective formula and Advanced Skin Whitening Technology has cemented Cosmo Skin’s status as an ultimate “Must-Haves” beauty product for everyone.

Recently, Watsons Personal Care Stores gave awards to the two innovations from Cosmo Skin line- Cosmo Skin Glutathione and Cosmo Skin Premium Collagen- as the Best Whitening and Anti-Aging product. And to celebrate the enduring success, Cosmo Skin hosted a Beauty Soiree in a fancy hotel; people from the different media, Industry Leaders, Influencers and Beauty Ambassador- Ruffa Gutierrez were present at the glamorous event.

“Choosing a beauty product with the right ingredients and quality materials is all-important to achieving the results that you desire most” said Nino Bautista, BFPC Founder and Managing Director. “We pride ourselves to observing a strict quality control when it comes to manufacturing” added Red Gatus, also Founder and Managing Director.

During the event, Ruffa reveals that she is obsessed to having a luminous skin and that she is more confident to face anyone if she has a radiant-immaculate complexion.

“Both Cosmo Skin Glutathione and Cosmo Skin Premium Collagen contain key components that will give your skin the glow and moisture it needs, it allows your inner radiance to shine through” said Ruffa.

The Innovative ingredients in Cosmo Skin Glutathione (500mg Glutathione plus ALA and Vitamin C) gives intensive glow and Ten Times Whitening Power than the competing brand. While the concentrated 20,000 mg Marine Collagen in Cosmo Skin Premium is in hydrolyzed form, which makes it easily absorbable by the body. The result is a lighter, soft, smooth, wrinkle-free and touchable skin.

For more information about Cosmo Skin visit www.cosmo-skin.com. Also thanks to Raffles Hotel for the awesome service and sumptuous buffet. I gorged on everything because it was just so good. 

You may also catch Ruffa and her fun family on E! every Monday, 9pm for the 3rd season of It Takes Gutz to be a Gutierrez.