Halloween 2012

Ever since I heard of this different kind of fun run a.k.a. Outbreak, I have always wanted to join. It is like my Resident Evil and Plants vs Zombies dream come true! But like my other gala ideas, my desire to join Outbreak Nuvali and Outbreak BGC had been extinguished by my lack of companion.

Good thing my puberty peaking cousin is so eager to join the third outbreak that she actually pursued me to pay for half of her registration fee. This is actually the most expensive Outbreak to date but wth, I don't mind paying extra as long as I get to experience the fun of being chased by Zombies! Our uncle, who is a running addict, also joined us as well.

So I went to Runnr ATC last Monday 10/1 and registered the three of us for Outbreak EK on Halloween 10/31 for Wave 08 7:40 PM. Yay! I can't wait! I originally wanted to be a Zombie so I could go all out on the costume but the Zombie application is closed to the public for this third Outbreak.. :(

Oh well, its hard to think of a remarkable costume that would still allow me to run fast. My cousin said she is going as she is, but not me! I am going to dress up and put extra effort. After all, what is Halloween without a costume! Now what should I be? I need ideas. Hmmm...

Happily Ever After

True love is when there is nothing to love in a person but you still do.

This movie's main character is a poor girl named Yukie, who is looking for happiness that life deprived of her since she was a kid. The story is about true friendship, enduring love, and forgiving family. No special effects except for the slow motion table tipping scenes by Yukie's darling, Isao. 

This is the best movie I've seen since Homerun by Jack Neo. I was crying all through out the movie because I could very well relate to it. A poor girl who was abandoned by her mother, left to an irresponsible father, in a relationship with an unemployed guy and is searching for happiness. That sounds like the story of my life. 

If you are a Twilight fan and a Hollywood chick flick fanatic, this would not be a good movie for you. The kind of relationship that Yukie and Isao have is the type that not many people understand unless they go through it. This is not the candy coated prince charming damsel in distress type, I could very well attest that this love story happens in real life. An imperfect love between two imperfect people.

I would like my single hopeless romantic friends (which is about 90% of them) to watch this movie and see what I am telling them for so long. That love is not like those Disney princess fairy tales, it would most often than not hurt you and give you something to complain about. But that is what makes love so great, you stay no matter what because you see what other people do not see.

And before I forget, the main plot of this story (as title implies) is really about Happiness. As how I interpret the ending, it shows that we do not have to look far to be happy, we just have to look around and realize that we are loved. That our happiness should not depend on the presence or absence of something. Happiness has always been given to us, we just could not see it because we are grasping it too tightly in our hands.

Lastly, Yukie learned that the meaning of her name is "happiness will be yours forever" and she lived happily ever after.

Nilagang Mani Syndrome

Try it, Believe it.

Bumili ako ng isang plastik ng mani na halagang sampung piso noong Linggo bago ako umuwi dito sa apartment. Habang nginangasab ko ang nasabing nilagang mani at lumalanghap ng sariwang hangin sa cyberspace ay biglang kong napansin na ang bawat piraso ng mani ay iba iba. May malaking basa, tuyot na maliit, malaking balat pero maliit ang laman, may siksik na siksik at namumutok ang laman, may madaling buksan, may marupok na balat, may maalat, may nakakatinga. Ewan ko kung nakapansin ka na ng ganitong espesyal na katangian sa isang chocolate box, pero masasabi kong sa mani, OO. Dahil bawat mani ay natatangi.

Be You

So at first I thought my life was a waste and that there is no hope for me because I wanted to travel but my job is not the traveling kind of job, but then I was introduced to Chyng Reyes. An ECE who also works in the IT industry but still manages to travel to different parts of the country and the world. And because of her, my Dora The Exploradora hopes was redeemed.

Then, I came across this very informative website of Foreclosure Philippines and I have been reading it for these past few days. I learned how attainable it is to be a real estate investor if only one will put an effort in it. Jay Castillo is the one who runs that awesome website and he gives pretty good tips for noobs. Afterwards, I realized that I also want to invest in real estate and that same feeling of dismay showed itself to me again because I felt like I am doing the job that is not made for the things I like and the things that I have knowledge of. Then, I stumbled at one of his comments in his articles saying he was an I.T. graduate. Wow. 

Another person from my industry who is doing what he wants to do even if his specialization in college has nothing to do with it.

Lesson of the Story:

Do not let your past define your future, just do what you want to do, NOW.

Indak

Nitong mga nakakaraang araw ay sinusubukan kong bumuo ng maikling kwento tungkol sa aking buhay pag-ibig pero di ako makasulat ng maigi. Naumpisahan ko na pero hindi ako makahanap ng katapusan, siguro dahil na rin sa kawalan ng inspirasyon. 

Tapos ngayong araw ay ginoogle ko ang mga kanta ng Up Dharma Down dahil papanuorin namin sila sa 19 East bukas at natagpuan ko nga itong kantang ito. Indak ng bandang Up Dharma Down. Isang bagay lang ang naisip ko nung narinig ko ang kabuuan ng kantang ito, SAKTO.

Para sa mga taong magkatunggali ang puso at isipan.

Indak 

Up Dharma Down

Tatakbo at gagalaw
Mag-iisip kung dapat bang bumitaw
Kulang na lang, atakihin
Ang pag-hinga'y nabibitin

Ang dahilang alam mo na
Kahit ano pang sabihin nila
Tayong dalawa lamang ang makakaalam
Ngunit ako ngayo'y naguguluhan

Makikinig ba ako
Sa aking isip na dati pa namang magulo?
O iindak na lamang
Sa tibok ng puso mo

At aasahan ko na lamang na
Hindi mo aapakan ang aking mga paa
Pipikit na lamang at mag-sasayaw
Habang nanonood siya...

Paalis at pabalik
May baong yakap at suklian ng halik
Mag-papaalam at mag-sisisi
Habang papiglas ka ako sayo ay tatabi

Tayong dalawa lamang ang nakaka-alam
Ngunit hindi na matanto kung sino nga ba ang pag-bibigyan ko
Makikinig nga ba sa isipan na alam ang wasto

Ngunit pipigilan ang pag-ibig nya na totoo

Iindak na lamang ba sa tibok ng puso mo
At aasahan ko hindi nya lamang aapakan ang aking mga paa
Pipikit na lamang at mag-sasaya
Habang nalulungkot ka
Pipikit na lamang at mag-sasaya
Habang nalulungkot ka

Ako'y Litong-lito
Tulungan niyo ako
Di ko na alam
Kung sino pang aking pagbibigyan oh

Ayoko na ng ganito
Ako ay litong-lito

Ang Tulog na Ninja

I used to write short stories and poems when I was young and carefree. This is one of my favorite composition because it has the most solid story line and I have written this on the peak of my young love. Writing this was a breeze because it felt like I was possessed by a really strong feeling and words come out naturally. Unfortunately, I haven't felt that strong feeling, or any strong emotion for that matter, in a long time. Imo, people are most creative in their late teens and early 20s. Anyways, below is the story of a sleeping ninja that I decided to post here so it wont be lost forever just in case Ridz of rakista.com decides to finally delete the old rakista.com site, like what happened to the rakista blogs site. The deletion of rakista blogs is like having the late teens and early 20s part of my life erased. There is even a part 2 to this ninja story but it already got deleted along with my rakista blog. Lesson: pick a stable blog hosting site.

Ang Tulog na Ninja

First posted at rakista.com version 1

Ang sikat ng araw ay nagapi na ng kadiliman, ang buong kalangitan ay nababalot na ng mga bituin at ang hangin ay nagdudulot na ng nakakapasong lamig. Mula sa bintana ng maliit na kwartong aking kinaroroonan ay wala nang maaaninag na liwanag sa parang. Marahil ay namamahinga na din ang mga diwatang naninirahan sa puno ng alatires. Ang bawat ninja ay kapiling na ang kanikanilang mga prinsesa.. At ako, kasama kita.

Pumilatak si kaibigang butiki na namamahay sa ilalim ng mesang kainan. Napansin ko tuloy na nakatengga pa ang kalderong pinaglutuan ng ginataang duhat kanina. Kay rami mong nakain kaya siguro ikaw ay agad na nahimbing.

Lumigid ang aking paningin na wariý kinakabisado ang bawat bagay, bawat marka, bawat agiw at bawat alaala na napapaloob sa kwartong ito. Hanggang sa kahit anong pigil ay nabaling ang aking tingin sa iyo. Tulog na tulog ka at parang walang pakialam sa mundo at sa taong kasama mo. Lumapit ako sa gilid ng iyong kama at sumalampak sa sahig upang makapwesto sa posisyong aking matatanaw ang iyong mukha ng pinakamalapit. Tinitigan kita at matapos ang ilang sandali ay dagliang nagbalik sa aking diwa ang nakaraan.

Sa pagkakatitig ay hindi na lang ang nakapikit mong mga mata ang nakikita. Itoy wariý naging isang telebisyong ang palabas ay ang ating nakaraang kay saya. Napapanuod ko ang tagpo kung saan, isang hapon, tayo ay nangongolekta ng sabila upang ilako sa kapitolyo.. At ang aking
pinagtataka ay tuwing kasama kita, kay halimuyak ng sabila. Waring nagbibigay ito ng kakaibang sigla, kaya siguro marami tayo noong mga suki galing India. Nalipat ang channel at ang tagpo na pumalit ay ang pangyayari kung san hinambalos ako ni Aling Tinay. Pinagtawanan ko daw kasi siya nang nadapa siya at natapon ang pinamili niyang pagkain ni Lesdi[alaga niyang isda]. Hindi ko naman talaga siya pinagtatawanan e, hindi niya alam na ang mga ngiting iyon ay dahil sabay na tayong nanunuod ng Dora. Nalipat muli ang istasyon, mukhang komersyal ata ng Tide pero wala si Tolits, malamang Ariel o baka Pride.. Hindi ko masigurado, puro mantsa kasi ang mga damit ng mga tauhan.. at.. at.. hayun pala tayo. Kakatapos lang magpagulong gulong sa burol n wariý
mga bata. Wala tayong pakialam sa mantsa bastat tayoy masaya at humahalakhak. At sa taas ng burol ay may piknik basket na puno ng KFC at mga pagkaing mula sa martir na manok. Hayan.. hayan nalilipat na naman.

Nagbalik ang tanawin sa iyong mga matang nakapinid at hilik na kay himbing.

Akoy biglang nakaramdam ng kakaibang hinaing mula sa pusong nais maglambing.. Ngunit hindi nararapat.. hindi tama.. hindi ngayon.. Upang mapawi ang nararamdaman ay muli kong niligid ang aking tanaw sa maliit na kwartong saksi sa atin. Kinakabisado ang bawat bagay, bawat marka, bawat agiw, at bawat alaala na napapaloob sa apat na sulok ng kwartong ito. Nagsisikip na ang aking dibdib ngunit tahimik pa din akong nakaupo sa tabi mo.

Gusto kong sabihing aalis na ako at marahil ay hindi na tayo muling magkikita pa pagkat hindi tama ito. Hindi pinahihintulutan ng hokage ang mayroon tayo. Ang bawat sandaling kasama ka ay takas na mga oras at alam kong iyon ay tumitigib sa iyong damdamin. Dahil hindi kita kayang ipaglaban, dahil ganito ang sitwasyon ko, at alam kong nahihirapan ka na at pagod na rin ako. Hindi ko kayang nasasaktan ka tuwing wala ako kapag kailangan mo at naririyan lamang ako sa iyong tabi kung kailan ako pupwedeng makatakas sa nagluwal. Pero hindi na lang siguro, lilisan na lamang ako at pagdilat mo ay wala na ako. Mas masakit kasi kung magpapaalam pa. Ayokong makita mong tumulo ang aking mga luha. Para kahit sa huling pagkakataon ay isipin mong matatag din naman ako kahit paano. Alam kong makakahanap ka din ng higit sa tulad ko. Yung
kaya kang pangalagaan at pasiyahin sa lahat ng oras na naisin mo.

Nangingilid ang luha sa aking mga mata, at nang maisipan kong tumayo na ay parang naging bakal ang aking buong katawan. Kahit anong pumilit kong gumalaw ay hindi ko magawa. Bawat pumiglas ay umuubos sa aking lakas. Sa gitna ng pagpupumilit na makaalpas sa pagkakatuod ay napansin kong ikay naalipungatan. Sa iyong pagdilat at sa pagtama ng ating mga paningin ay biglang nagbalik sa katinuan ang aking balintataw. Ano ba itong aking naiisip.. Bakit nga ba ako lalayo sa tangi kong ligaya, sa tanging dahilan ng pagharap ko sa bagong umaga, sa aking buhay na
kayamanan. Aalagaan kita, poprotektahan, at mapapasaya. Ipaglalaban kita hanggat may hininga. Maiintindihan din nila ang mayron tayo.

Lalo pa akong natauhan ng iyong ipamalas ang pinakamatamis na ngiti, na kahit bagong gising ay puno pa rin ng sigla. "Malayo pa ang umaga, sige matulog ka pa". "e bakit ikaw gising ka pa? Tara dito sa tabi ko at matulog na tayo". Hawak mo ang aking kamay habang dahan dahang tinutungo ng aking sentido ang unan mo at dinama ng aking paa ang nisnis ng iyong kumot.
"Tulog ka na muli, tulog na din ako".. Sa unti unti kong paghugot ng himbing ay baon ko ang alingawngaw ng iyong hilik, ang alaala ng iyong pagkakapikit at ang pangarap na
habambuhay ay bantayan kang umidlip..

Uninvincible

I thought I was invincible, but it turned out that a mosquito bite could knock me down. Well, the doctors didn't really confirm it was Dengue and the Rapid Dengue test results are negative but all of the symptoms I experienced pointed to that pesky mosquito. 

I got sick for 7 days, 2 of which was spent within the four walls of a hospital. On the first day, my fever was so bad that I couldn't even get up without being too dizzy and fall down again. I even asked my father to fetch me in my apartment so I could eat and come home to our province so someone could take care of me. I went to the nearby Medicard Center on the second day and the doctor doesn't even believe that I was sick because my temperature became normal after the sponge bath. The CBC showed that my segmenters are above the normal count so the doctor advised me to take some Co-amoxiclav. The on and off flu went on for the next days. I went to a second doctor (now in Bulacan) on the third day, this doctor had me take the Rapid Dengue test and another set of CBC, platelet count. The Rapid Dengue test showed that I am negative of Dengue but the CBC showed my decreased platelet count from 204 to 187. That and other bad things about my hematocrit and blah. On the 4th day, I thought I was fully recovered but I still revisited my doctor as per everyone's advice. He saw the results of the previous test and advised me to be confined to the hospital. I refused because I feel ok (thinking I am invincible). This is probably one of the worst decisions in my life because right after I got home, the persistent high fever started. At this point I am starting to channel Morrie (from Tuesdays with Morrie) and I am already praying and telling Him that let his will be done on me. The second doctor had me take the Thypidot test and another CBC for the fifth day. I am negative of Typhoid but my platelet count became 133 which is below normal. Even if I refused (me still thinking I am invincible), my parents decided to get me admitted to a hospital. I checked in Meycauayan Doctors Hospital Suite Room B last July 21. The first time I was ever admitted to a medical facility. I stayed there for 2 days. After couple of more lab tests, my platelets are back to normal and my third doctor with an LV bag advised me that I could go home already. And that was my week long battle with this viral blood infection that hit me.

If the sickness doesn't kill me, the helplessness that the dextrose gives and the over thinking that boredom allows will. I never want to be hospitalized ever ever again. 

And as I always do, I learned a couple of things with this experience (from my over thinking in the hospital).

Life is short. We should always do what makes us happy. Enjoy life NOW.  

Stop saving too much for the future, I couldn't enjoy all those money when I am dead.

No matter how much you eat right and exercise, if it is your time, it is your time. 

We should learn to appreciate everything in our life.

Your family will always be there for you during the bad times, so you should celebrate with them during the good times.

Bikini Body Part 1: The Beginning

I used to have defined abs back in high school because I do at least 50 sit ups everyday. During PE, I would beat my male classmates in having the most amount of sit up repetitions in 2 minutes. Then came college when I lost a lot of weight (Engineering, nuff said) that my tummy looked flat even if I do not exercise. Then I graduated, got a job, had money to buy foods that I like, got old which slowed down my metabolism, which caused me to lose that oblique abdominal muscle definition that I have before.


Since I am aiming to be in an out of town destination more which would mean I get to soak in the beach more than I used to, and since I am 25, at the right age to be not so conservative, I thought I need those ab muscles back so I could wear a bikini and show it to the world *wink wink*. 


I have a planned out of town trip in November to South Cotabato (General Santos, Saranggani, Lake Sebu). I am the one who is doing the itinerary and even if I prefer the mountains than the beaches, I can not resist the waters that Glan, Saranggani has to offer.

Gumasa Beach

So, me in a two-piece low-cut bikini it is. I have 4 months to work my body off.


I have downloaded this video probably about a month ago and have been doing it at least twice a week. It features variations of planking that targets your upper abs, lower abs and obliques (love handles). I like this video because it is perfect for beginners, she is easy to follow and she mentions all the wrong things that a beginner might do.

  

Ok, below are the picture of the "before" body that I am working with.

 

FYI, I am currently eating this salty soup and drinking coffee that is why I look really bloated. Hehe! Excuses! Well, maybe I should eat healthier too.

In the span of four months, I will be posting pictures of my progress and even after that goal in November, I hope to continue planking until I can. Bikini body, here I come!

Health Inspirations

Lunch: Wendy's Big Macaroni Salad

Dinner: Left over lunch, Ripe Mangoes and Watermelon

Alam mo yung matagal kang hindi nag exercise ng todo todo tapos bigla kang tumakbo ng more than 30 minutes kaya nabatak ang mga muscles mo tapos natulog ka at paggising mo ay hindi ka na makatayo dahil ansakit ng katawan mo. Yan ang naramdaman ko kanina pagkagising ko pero dahil sa impluwensya ng mga finafollow kong fitness blogs sa Tumblr ay bumangon nga ako at tumakbo ulit. Sa pagkakataong ito, nakamahigit na limang ikot ako sa paligid ng SM Southmall. Hindi ko nga lang nabilang kung ilan kasi nagcoconcentrate ako na hindi himatayin dahil sa sobrang pagtakbo. Hehe. Ramdam ko ang mga ugat kong nanginginig habang tumatakbo. Hanep! I feel like a real runner that is pushing myself to the limits.. Echos!

Pero grabe ansarap tumakbo at pagpawisan at masikatan ng araw. Ito yata yung tinatawag nilang natural endorphin. Kahit pa hindi mamahalin ang sapatos ko, hindi katulad ng mga nakakasabay kong tumakbo na halos mga nakaNike Free lahat, kahit pa lumang Nike na nabili ko noon 2009 lang ang suot ko, ok lang kasi wala naman sa sapatos yan, nasa pagnanais mong maging healthy. =) 

Hindi na ako nakapagpicture ng sarili ko na kasing dramatic ang pose katulad nung previous post ko kasi nagmamadali na akong nagbihis para makakain na ako dahil nagugutom na ako (hehe) kaya ayan, pinost ko na lang yung kinain ko kahapon. 

Sabi nga nila, it's not a phase, it is a lifestyle. =)

At bilang pasasalamat at pagkilala sa kanila, ito nga pala yung mga encouraging na mga Tumblr health blogs na finafollow ko:

http://reasonstobefit.tumblr.com/

http://yoga-body.tumblr.com/

http://roadtotherealme.tumblr.com 

http://fit-healthy-gorgeous.tumblr.com/ 

http://happystrongandfit.tumblr.com/ 

http://featherweighed.tumblr.com/

http://lets-get-in-shape.tumblr.com/

http://runningforbeauty.tumblr.com/ 

I am sure after browsing through those blogs, seeing the different ways that you could do to be healthy and seeing all those abs and rocking bodies, maiinspire ka talaga na magpakahealthy. 

Early Morning Run

 Start the day right.

I think the DIY yoga from downloaded videos in youtube improved my strength. All those variations of planking, mountain pose, triangle pose, extended side angle pose, and down dog pose paid off. I was able to run longer distance without getting tired easily. I love it! I was able to do five laps around SM Southmall. Ok fine, it was alternate running and walking. The fourth and fifth rounds were mostly walking (hehe). Even if I wanted to run some more, I prefer to enjoy the sun. I was just walking slowly and feeling the warmth that the early morning sun has to offer. I hope it will not rain tomorrow so I can start the day right again. =)