Good Vibrations

A mascara with a spikey nub applicator? An 'Oscillation' mascara that vibrates?

Tell me what you think!

(My thoughts are in this week's Inquirer piece.)

"WHEN it comes to long, fluttery lashes, there is nothing like a great mascara to literally lift sagging peepers—and spirits, for some..."

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Lancôme Oscillation Powermascara - L'Oréal Philippines
Givenchy Phenomen'Eyes Mascara - MakeupBag.net

Weather I Like

It's hot, humid, and sticky. Definitely my kind of weather.
(And fashion.)

P.S.—That 'Haze' forecast is wrong. It's actually sunny and gorgeous out here :)

Great Expectations

White Hat: Manila's (or Italy's?) answer to Pinkberry.

I can’t even begin to describe how much fun I’ve had only a week into my vacation here in the tropics. For some reason, the minute I decided to start feeling grateful (versus whiney) things have just been absolutely delightful.

The last couple of days have been spent hanging out with my family, Alvs gamely joining every step of the way. I am looking forward to this HUGE reunion—a get-together like no other since we haven’t been this many at a family gathering since the 80s. My family is literally scattered across the globe, and for the first time in YEARS, most will fly to town in time for my grandmother’s 85th birthday. I cannot wait!

In my mom’s words, “I feel like I’m attending an Oprah convention!”—thanks to my cousin’s superbly-organized itinerary, itemized beyond belief down to seating arrangements in the vans that will take us on our Southern road trip from Cagayan de Oro to Davao City.

The other day, we picked up my mom’s sister, Tita Espie, and her son, Manuel at the airport. Now, this is no ordinary arrival so let me tell you a bit of a background story.

Tita Espie has three sons now age 23, 24, and 25. They left Manila when they were about 10. Manuel is very very close to our grandmother, Lola, he practically asphyxiated from crying the night before they left for New Zealand. “Can’t you go with us?” he asked her, in between hicuppy sobs. “It hurts so much.”

And 14 years later, Manuel, all grown up (and super buff!) is here! In the car, I’d asked him, “So, what do you remember most about the Philippines from before?” He said, “I just remember crying so much when we left.” Aww…

When we got to Pampanga, we didn’t tell Lola right away that Manuel was with us. Tita Espie said something to the effect of, “We have a kargador [porter] with us.” Lola stared at Manuel for many many seconds before Tita Espie exclaimed, “That’s Manuel!” And then it was just hearbreaking/heartwarming from thereon. Too precious!

And that was just one weekend. There’s a lot more to talk about (the food! the salon trips!), but for now I have some work beckoning!

Manuel and Lola reunited after 14 years!

United colors of... piqué.

Um, that's not our shotgun wedding. Alvin's nephew's confirmation ceremony.

My dad started blogging last week.
(pogiforlife.blogspot.com)

Whew!

Here's my latest "Beauty in the Big Apple" piece, written when I was seriously considering going circa 1995 again and cutting my hair supershort. And at the last-minute I backed out—out of laziness. I figure, for me to not look like a boy (again), I'll have to be extra-diligent with the makeup routine. Ack!

FRINGE BENEFITS
02/05/09
Illustration by Claude Rodrigo

FOR the first time in years, I seriously don’t know what to do with my hair. Perhaps this is because I’ve tried practically every style, trick and twirl in the book. From a cool Koreanovela digital perm to a flapper-inspired crop, and, later on, a channeling-Anna-Wintour bob, my head has gone through so many changes (including a brief stint with an ‘updated’ mullet) that now I’m stumped as to what my next mane move should be.

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A Curious Case

I’ve successfully embarrassed myself way past my teenage years by ’fessing up to an old crush how “heartbroken I felt” when he took up with my cousin (1o years ago) and wondered if he liked me the same way back when we were “hanging out” as friends (five years ago). I’d explained that over the years, I had just gotten more and more curious, and craved some level of closure that should have been addressed a long, long time ago.

Perhaps it’s the journalistic streak that has gotten me in hot water one time too many. But I also thank this unwavering curiosity and desire to just know—even when the answers are obvious—that I now have this beautiful and amazing and unbelievable thing going on with the man I’m with.

'Journalism' case in point: A year ago, when I felt like giving up on our long distance relationship, I dealt with the doubts and what-ifs by thoroughly researching the subject matter, interviewing people who had left town and broken up with their respective partners. I’m not going to divulge the juicy tidbits of their relationship decisions, but I’ll share with you the results. Making a relationship work, far away or not, is a decision you make. And the distance is just something you deal with, like a trait or personality quirk, and it shouldn’t encompass all the great things that made you get together in the first place.

As much as I can’t stand getting all cheesy and relationship-y while blogging, (after all, this is supposed to be my “professional” writing space… although that is contradictory because a blog is some sort of online diary) I know I have so much to be thankful for, and need to acknowledge all the marvelous things in my life and stop whining, stop comparing.

Go back dreaming. And start believing.

Image source: http://www.first.lib.ms.us

Reset

Image courtesy of www.smarttravelasia.com

I've made a resolution to be more diligent with my blogging. So expect some changes around here soon.

Meanwhile, I'm wrapping up a writing project in time for a much-needed vacation. Hopefully, in the tropics!

But before I swap my turtleneck and coat for breezy, loungy beachwear, I'm wrapping up winter in New York via dinner with a business colleague and a movie night with girlfriends. (Clue/cue: "Hanging Out Is Not Dating.")

Eat your heart out, cold, cold weather!

Image courtesy of www.elnidoresorts.com