Flickee, the family brat. Beware of the wimpy dog

Hermit mode until November 2011. NOT. Maybe until I feel like bashing and baring my soul at the expense of my readers’ sanity. I’ve grown to be more intolerant of people who seem to push me to my limit. So even if it is the bar exam season, I might still find time to bite your ass off. Just. For. Fun.

Ciao bella

Congratulations! Mike is very lucky to have such an awesome wife as you!

Looking at our photos gets me teary-eyed again. +_+ Congrats again dearie!

So there I was, Hazel at the peak of her stellar career, when I stumbled upon some sort of magical woods in one of my work-related travels. I’m guessing it was North America, since I saw this scene in True Blood. Anyway, it wasn’t that interesting, except that I saw a little black mouse run by that looked kind of like Flicker.

The next mouse sighting was at a hotel, by the woods again, in another country. I was curious as to why I kept seeing a familiar mouse everywhere I went! I tested a theory in my head (forgot what exactly that was) and went to another country (woopeee) waiting for a mouse sighting. Lo and behold! The mouse was right inside my trench coat as I reached for the hotel room key! It stayed obediently on my palm and I was shocked to see that it had Flicker’s head (yeah, she looks like a rat sometimes) only it was mouse-ified. I threw it away and locked up in the room.

I was in another hotel room (hotel again, geez) in another country, and the mouse was there-AGAIN! The cycle went on until I gave up after seeing it perched inside a jacket pocket staring eagerly at me, like Flicker does when she wants food or when she wants me to go walk her outside the house.

I hugged Flickee as soon as I woke up. Ironic, since Flickee loved pouncing on these rodents Hazel’s subconscious blah…

How UNawesome can these medical professionals get? A government hospital’s mandate is to treat indigents, not turn them down during an emergency because of fear of further liability!

Criminal and administrative charges should be filed against these bamboozled, snooty and iniquitous doctors in that hospital in Rizal. SHAME ON YOU.

Lawyers should be careful of handling cases of indigent clients too! That these clients do not have as much money to pay you as your billionaire clients does not mean quality work should be compromised.

The Conversation Headpiece

The “Conversation Headpiece” I got a LOT of stares, questions and requests to feel the huge fluffy flora sitting on top of my head.  Too bad the photo didn’t give justice to its petals. I feel it’s akin to an abstract sculpture placed on a building lobby, the way people looked at it.

I know there are far more outrageous head accessories out there now, but this one (worn on casual Friday in Corporate Land) stuck out like a sore thumb here and I do not know why. But I absolutely love it!

Thanks for the awesome Christmas gift Gary Aure!

On to more “important” things. Color.

I do not have a lucky color. But I do have an obvious favorite (yawn). Oh, was it that obvious? Hurrah for the prettiest thing born out of the accidental union of red and blue (democrat + republican = ROYALTY)!

I wish the bar was that easy.

Anyway… an ode to my color, courtesy of the Pre-Fall 2011 collections:

Monique Lhuillier

All photos courtesy of style.com.

Monique Lhuillier

Monique Lhuillier

Monique’s dresses are oh-so-girly. Really nice shapes. And color, of course.

Proenza Schouler

Vera Wang

Proenza S. and Vera Wang also had hiccups from last season’s purple rein. Sounds good to me!

I’ll snoop around for more purple… after I study Contracts.

It’s Paul and Joe’s magnificent body-conscious dress with cutesy prints and the RED RED RED jacket from their Spring 2011 collection. Red is my Achilles heel, and I bowl over anything that has a hint of this extravagant color.

Another ensemble I’d absolutely love to squeeze in would be:

The perfect Christmas party dress from Elie Saab (also Spring 2011). Drool drool drool drool…

A girl can dream, right?

Partying.

At Encore's Mixology Friday

Before you dismiss me as an immature turd for still wanting to fit and squeeze into dark, humid and sweaty limited spaces to dance at this age — well, DON’T. While some enjoy the smell of new notebooks and stationery on first day of school, the whiff of gasoline as it gets pumped into your car, or the sound of you popping the life out of bubble wrap, some people – like me – get a high stepping into a club.

I don’t care if I don’t get to drink a drop of alcohol. I don’t care if the crowd is dope and juvenile. All I care about is the music, interior and overall vibe, and I’m ready to fly (like a G6??).

Have I not gotten over the College days of wanderlust, when every night IS a party night and when people didn’t seem to bother about busting a nerve or liver? I always say I have, and that “gimik” is passe for someone who’s about to turn 25, but the truth is, I secretly relive the fun times in my head.

I wouldn’t want to go out clubbing every freakin’ night at this point, but the occasional night out does wonders for my oft challenged self-esteem. In a club, with friends and good music, you never have to be anyone else but yourself – and that feels OH SO GOOD.

Lid and I booked flights to Cebu way back in June, and used it for travel a couple of days ago. It. Was. Awesome. Cebu has so much history going on that its museums are filled to the brim! Too bad we couln’t take photos of the artifacts and exhibit pieces.

My good friend and Big Sis Jahjah actually took me for a joyride to the scenic and historic towns dotted south of Cebu two years ago (my first time then as well) – really really breathtaking (see my Flickr account for photos)! But there’s also a charm about seeing the City’s local spots through a tourist’s eye. The trip somehow brought everything in complete circle – dramatic much?

Here are some highlights:

Fort San Pedro's courtyard

An old photo of Mango Avenue - Now Gen Maxilom Ave.

The original building of Smith Bell and Co still stands today, although it's now occupied by a grocery store of sorts

Of course, there are still some old-new things in Cebu you’re used to coming home to:

bigsis Jah!

Umlas Family

Tita/Ate Yen

Atty Eugene Javier

The Vegas, Uwy represent!

Dre!

I miss my other MIA friends too – high schools buddies like Anne and Khate (and everyone else in the Middle East and France). Sniff! Thank you, as usual, and see you guys soon!

Photo from the stair landing at VF-Rizal

I paid a visit to Visayan Forum Foundation’s safe house in Antipolo yesterday, and it was amazing. I’m sure the victims of human trafficking and the abused domestic helpers will be well cared for there. It has great views of Manila,  is clean and in a peaceful area and has very warm and capable staff.

Even the Harry Potter series’ author JK Rowling didn’t seem to escape the very worthy cause of VF. She funded the proceeds to buy the plot of land the center stands on. Good job Ms Rowling! Keep the magic going!

The groups behind the VF Center of Hope

Visayan Forum Foundation is a staunch advocate against human trafficking and acts of violence on migrant and domestic workers. As posted on their website:

“The Philippines is known to be among the leading sources of migrant workers worldwide. The economy is heavily dependent on the eight million Filipinos working abroad, as are the economies of the countries where these migrant workers are employed. Tens (even hundreds) of thousand of these migrants are trafficked, lured by promises of a better life in the urban centers.

Traffickers clandestinely organize their transport operations via different ports and land routes in the Philippines. Internal trafficking is the springboard for international trafficking. Worldwide recruitment relies on intricate processes that start in far-flung communities. Traffickers operate in underground networks with strong connections to corrupt public officials and transport operators. Every year, thousands of Filipino women and children are trapped through the cycle of trafficking into a life of slavery, sexual exploitation and human rights violations.”

Be your own watchdog! Visit their site to know how you can spot signs of trafficking en route your RORO/plane destinations. Interesting and important stuff, I tell you.