Like all Filipinos who have tasted and succumbed to the chocolate delights made by this Japanese confectionery brand, I thought this was the greatest news I'd heard all year. ROYCE' IS OPENING ITS FIRST STORE IN MANILA! This November!

Ever wondered how hard it is for Japanese to learn English? This gives you an idea!

SA WAKAAAAS! Ipapalabas ang El Cantante sa Pinas!!!
Yeeeeaaaahhhh bagong salsa movie!!!!!! Sa September daw! I'm soooo stoked!!!

Starring Marc Anthony my favorite salsa singer and his wife with the hindquarters of epic proportions! (Si J. Lo --- pero kebs siya!)

Am pretty sure I'm going to be dancing in my seat the entire movie!!!
ANSAYAAAAA KOOOOOO!!!!!! Sayawan naaaaa!!!!!!!

Yahooo! I FINALLY get to travel for WORK! :)

My boss just informed me of an IT conference in Davao in September and asked me if I wanted to co-author a paper with her. I know squat about IT (haha!) but because we're using a Japanese online course to prepare our students for the Japanese Language Proficiency Test in December, she thought it would be great if we presented a paper about the "virtual learning environment" for Japanese language (since we're the only school in the Philippines simultaneously teaching IT together with Nihongo).

Siyempre, any chance to travel, I'm up for it! And since it's ALL FREE, then why the hell not?! Especially these days, when my mind's just handling too many things at once and Manila's become so suffocating. I honestly don't know how I'm still walking, talking, going to work, and doing all things I normally do, after such a terrible month.

I can't wait for this. :)
 

I haven't been there in 17 years so I hardly remembered anything about it, except it was very clean and had lots of trees and a crocodile park. This trip was actually suggested by my classmate/sounding board/perpetually stressed but still lovely friend Sharon, who desperately needed a break from the chaos at work. I was only too happy to accompany her since I wanted to go abroad for a little while myself. We stayed at Hotel Supreme, just a 3-minute walk from all the action at Orchard Road. Really cheap accomodation; rather old-looking but had decent rooms and most importantly for me, a spotless bathroom.  Singapore is incredibly clean, organized and tourist-friendly, with plenty of good eats and everything ultra-modern. It's a lot like Tokyo except it's warmer, less expensive and nearly everyone speaks English-LAH!

Highlights:
1. FINALLY found a DVD of Shall We Dance (the original Japanese version, not the half-baked Richard Gere/J.Lo one) and Paul Weller's Days of Speed CD. I bought the latter with Kelvin in mind since he's been searching everywhere for it.

2. Getting a lot of bargains on shoes and clothes. I was surprised to find a lot of stores on sale.

3.  Borders at Wheelock Place was just wonderful.

4. Lots of teh tarik (Malay version of milk tea) which I'm still craving until now. Good thing they have this in Kopi Roti.

5. Visiting the Royce Store in Takashimaya department store and Suntec City Mall, and buying about 12 boxes of nama (fresh) chocolate. Bliss in a box! Sharon and Ron tried this for the first time and they were hooked.

Nakakalibog

6. Seeing these lovely ladies again. They just brought back memories of our 2-month program in Kansai and all the craziness.

One-half of the Tounan Ajia-gumi (Southeast Asian Team) in Japan Foundation Language School :) I really wish we could have a real reunion somewhere, someday. Yvonne works in university and is having her first baby in 2 months while Jessie's in finance at an American company. God bless, dearies!

7. Food, food, glorious food.

Yakitori and fishball noodles at the Parco Bugis food court


Bravissimo gelato at Suntec City Mall


Dimsum at Yum Cha restaurant in Chinatown, where Yvonne and Jessie brought me for lunch. It's quite famous in Singapore.

We had Hainanese chicken rice several times too, but they didn't last long enough for me to take a photo. Haha.

8. The Night Safari, one of Singapore's biggest attractions. Sayang walang photos kasi bawal ang flash photography at madilim na nga. Seeing those wild animals lounging around just a few meters from our tram was kind of spooky, but I  liked it anyway.

9. Bonding with the future Japanologists of the Philippines haha.


Hindi halatang nagpapanic sa thesis hahaha

Now that I've unpacked, I think it's time to actually start working on my proposal :D

Natuwa ako dito. Nadala kasi sa panonood ng The Queen. Helen Mirren is BRILLIANT.

My Peculiar Aristocratic Title is: Her Royal Highness Jenina the Sage of Withering Glance Get your Peculiar Aristocratic Title

(Thanks tunyuh!)

------------------------------
Five weeks break daw ang Heroes! I just watched Episode 17 and ohmygodsomethingmajorhappens and a lot of things that have been bugging viewers are explained. Torture and agony!!!

I found out today that I passed my comprehensive exams. So that means I can enjoy Singapore with a clear conscience. I've got a list already of the places I want to go to and the things I want to try eating (siyempre Hainanese chicken rice at ice cream sandwich). I hope I can find time to go to a salsa club and meet other Asian dancers. Oh this will be good.

Today's Birthday (February 8):

This year you touch your gypsy soul - your attitude is colorful and spirited and ready to hit the road at a moment's notice. The whimsy you exude affects your love life profoundly. Your elusiveness attracts those willing to work for your attention. Say "yes" to next month's generous offer. Cancer and Gemini people invest in you. Your lucky numbers are: 18, 22,40, 51 and 16.

I don't know about having a gypsy soul, but I have been feeling restless lately. I quit my job last week (yes, Nadine, believe it or not, I really did! Salamat sa "tribute post" mo, haha!) and 2 days ago I booked a flight and hotel stay in Singapore for March. I just want to get out of here for a while.

(If anything, it's great to be 27 and have money to spend on the things you want! And have something for savings too.)

My goals this year:
1. Ipa-stud na si Joni (I want little beagle puppies!)
2. Start and get somewhere with my thesis (and finish this time next year --- superhero feat!)
3. Watch more gigs
4. MEET MORE PEOPLE
5. Get a scholarship to a university in Tokyo
6. Reorganize my room (including getting rid of annoying knick-knacks, mismatched socks and college handouts)
7. Get in shape (I'm just too sickly, as my former boss never failed to remind me)
8. Hold alcohol better (this means I really have to get used to drinking. I wonder if this will help my health at all.)
9. Learn more salsa (this definitely will)
10. Get a job that I will enjoy and stick to.

A life without goals isn't worth living

My fever broke 2 days ago, but I'm only going back to the office tomorrow. I still have the cold but I think (HOPE!) I'm well enough.

Apparently my officemates have taken to leaving the door of the office open, after I told them what my doc said about all the dirty air circulating. Hahaha kinabahan din silang magkasakit.

Sixteen working days left and I'm out of Mandarin! Somehow it's hard to believe. I'm looking forward to going to gigs regularly, jogging at Moro Lorenzo, traveling, and having massages after my last day and after compre. Doing all the stuff I missed last year. And spending the P5k worth of Rustan's GCs my mom redeemed from her Amex card. Heeheehee.

Ok balik na nga sa aral!

I hate hate HATE being sick!!! :(

During work last Thursday, I felt my throat getting painful again and that familiar woozy feeling coming over me. The kind that makes you think, "Whoops I better go down to the clinic and have my temperature checked or something." I left our freezing-cold office (where the aircon is centrally controlled) for lunch, and outside it was hot as summer. About an hour and a half later, I went back to the same office where I felt much much worse. Who wants to bet the temperature change had anything to do with it.

That night I was burning up and coughing like hell, so I called my mom and she brought me to the ER of Medical City in Ortigas to go see a doctor. (Note: If any of you are in the QC area and need a good doctor asap, I highly suggest you go to Medical City. Ang ganda ng sistema nila. They have their own laboratory, cashier and pharmacy in the ER so you don't have to run from one area of the hospital to another. There's even a Starbucks about 30 steps away.)

They got some blood and a urine sample, and after about 2 hours of waiting they told me I had a bacterial infection which was causing my fever and colds. They also gave me antibiotics and advised me to stay home for at least 5 days ("Strictly bed rest," was what the doc said). He also asked about what our office environment is like, and I told him it had no windows, the aircon was on the whole day, and it seemed the carpet hadn't been cleaned in a hundred years. He shook his head. "That means all the dirty air just keeps circulating. As long as someone in the office is sick, you're not going to be a hundred percent well." Well I guess everyone knows that, but the bosses aren't having anything done about it. I should bring it up in my exit interview.

So I've been resting for 4 days already and feel much better. I NEED to get better, because I have to go visit my clients in the next 3 weeks and introduce them to the new Japanese sales manager, Kuni-san (who by the way is extremely nice). And I have those comprehensive exams in exactly a month. How I will weather January, I have no idea. I am just praying that my immune system cooperates with me, for once!

Upshot of staying at home: I finished the entire Season 1 of
Grey's Anatomy! Kilig siya.