Category Archives: living in Metro Manila

Provinciana is back in the city again

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I looked harassed and tired, walking from one of the buildings along Ayala Ave to Glorietta where I parked.

We had an important meeting yesterday with an overseas executive who is visiting Manila. My colleague from the commercial team has been trying to woo this company and I think Kr and I nailed it.

Their BD guy is cute but I told Kr he might be young enough to be my son. I should just give him to L 🤣

Anyway, my sis-in-law hitched a ride with me and she went shopping at Glorietta while I went to this meeting and Kr and I worked on a story at the nearest Starbucks after that.

I knew going with my SIL is going to be destructive to my budget because I ended up here:

This is just a quarter of the beauty section of SM Makati. Photo by CallMeCreation.com

SM Makati has renovated the ground floor to dedicate the entire level to beauty products. I was supposed to buy a blouse or two as I need to refresh my business attire because I want people to take me seriously…but no, I ended up buying a perfume with my SIL because I always have trouble choosing scents. What smells good on paper samples or spritz from testers might not turn out to be the same once the perfume mixes with your sweat and skin. Perfumes react differently on people’s skins, which is usually the case with me—the scents react weirdly on my skin, that’s probably why my kids don’t like my perfumes. The annoying thing is that some of my perfumes are at least USD 100 🤦🏻‍♀️

Finally I was able to choose better this time becase I now have my SIL as a second nose.

As for shopping for clothes, that can still wait for another day. It was already late and some shops have already gotten ready for closing.

Perfume, day cream, facial wash (Japanese brand), clothes, jewelry…why do I even bother?!

It’s because I want to exude professionalism and just like in theater, I want to command stage presence, especially since I regularly meet top executives, government officials, and other high-profile people. I know people shouldn’t be judged by how they look and how they present themselves, but in business it does really matter and you have to play the game. So I can’t understand why some women keep on dressing up to show off their boobs to do business. I want my executives to look at my face, specifically into my eyes, when I talk and not at my boobs.

But ok fine, if showing off your boobs makes you feel beautiful and confident, then so be it. But I cannot assure you that the other side would take you seriously, especially men. Or wait, women are more judgmental towards fellow women. That’s why a former reporter friend of ours who keeps dressing provocatively gets written off by others. I know it’s harsh but in my opinion there is a time and place for dressing provocatively. I don’t know, it’s just the Asian in me speaking.

Odd

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I had to make an advisory to other editors that our Philippines reporter and I will take the day off because idiot president hastily declared a holiday late Thursday afternoon. We could have made better plans for the long weekend.

Despite the declaration of a holiday, the event at the central bank pushed through. Of course, you can’t reset a thing like this without making a mess of bank presidents’, CEOs and conglomerate owners’ schedules.

The good thing here though is that the roads are less congested. Wohoo!

On the way to Makati to pick up another journo. Photo by CallMeCreation.com

I worked for a bit at Starbucks in G5 because of companies (or rather pushy PRs) that insist on their own way, forgetting that there is such thing as editorial independence. Diva execs, pushy PRs, and unreasonable company policies–what a way to end the week.

A bit of a pain to work with MS Outlook on Android because it doesn’t have a search function and html formatting editor but it will do because my Samsung tablet is much lighter than my laptop. Photo by CallMeCreation.com

Upon arriving at the central bank, I noticed there were new paintings at the 3rd floor lobby. One staff member told me they have just acquired the collection of UCPB and that is now scattered all over the main building. Unfortunately, I only had time to see three paintings when there must have been hundreds of them. I had to work my butt off last night.

I will never probably understand or appreciate an HR Ocampo piece. Photo by CallMeCreation.com
1898 by Edwin Wilwayco. I like this take on the Philippine flag. Photo by CallMeCreation.com
Jose Joya, an artist that I could not appreciate when I was younger but now I do. It’s not about what you need to see but how an artwork makes you feel. Photo by CallMeCreation.com

One time I will tell my friends at the BSP comms dept I will drop by to see the sculptures and paintings in their collection during one less hectic day. It’s not easy to gain access there and I had been going in and out of their premises regularly for years as a reporter. Might as well take advantage of that.

They gave me this uncut live currency to add to my collection of like items and commemorative coins. I’m still looking for the uncut 20-peso bills where I had former central bank governors sign their names. Two of them sadly passed on. That item is one of the, if not the most precious souvenir I had kept as a banking reporter. The girls’ dad must have it with him, including my analog cameras.

Photo by CallMeCreation.com

And now back to…

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Photo by CallMeCreation.com

Now that these tests are out of the way, I can concentrate on other tasks now such as scheduling my appointments with other doctors 😑 which is the hardest part.

I forgot to get my results 😑 before leaving for QC. But I guess they’re the same from last year. The fact that I suspect it was pancreatitis that pushed me to see doctors this weekend, it’s no doubt the trigger are my triglycerides that are likely much more elevated now. 🫠

I now have to prepare my own food since I have to lower my bad cholesterol and triglycerides…no more processed carbohydrates for me. Complex carbs and fish. Steamed, grilled, and broiled/boiled. Salmon, mackerel, tuna, and chicken. 😭 Sigh. I have to look for ways to make vegetables more appetizing. Sweet potatoes. I’ve already refrained from eating sweet stuff. I have to hoard smoked salmon when I see them.

Ageing is hard. But dying is harder. Choose your hard. 🚩

Back in the city. Waiting for Twin A who was having a haircut. Photo by CallMeCreation.com

I wanted to drop by at Art Fair Manila this afternoon coming from the south but I had an inkling that people may be swarming the area. I just went straight home to do the usual weekend errands.

Good thing I listened to my gut feel. A journo posted on FB that it took him 15 mins to get out of the 3F parking area of Greenbelt 1. The volume of cars was more than the usual. He said it seemed like a lot of people don’t care about the 8.7% inflation rate. Or everyone went to Art Fair Manila, as one commenter said. 🤔 Hmmm, I haven’t realized that the local art scene has become more mainstream and is no longer the exclusive territory of the artsy fartsy crowd. I mean, that’s good. But then, there’s the sad reality that people go to art exhibits just to do their Tik Tok videos there and not to appreciate art, as one local artist lamented in a social media post. He/she caught some kids carelessly putting their stuff on his/her work so they can do their Tik Tok videos. 😢

I wish BDO would open up its art collection to the public because they are beautiful. I am only one of the few who got access to their collection when I attended one party there in 2018. I only was able to take a few photos of the paintings I liked for future reference. There were a lot to take in.

If I’m not mistaken, this is an Anita Magsaysay-Ho. A friend posted on FB an Anita Magsaysay-Ho painting that was sold for PHP 84.5m a few days ago 😶‍🌫️ Photo by CallMeCreation.com
Fernando Amorsolo. Photo by CallMeCreation.com
Again, if I’m not mistaken, this is a Manansala. I had a Manansala mosaic that I lost forever and ever in the old house. I think the girls’ dad took it to his province. 😭 Photo by CallMeCreation.com
Photo by CallMeCreation.com
This could be an Amorsolo, I think. Photo by CallMeCreation.com
Now, this artist escapes me. Photo by CallMeCreation.com
I never knew I would be drawn to Ang Kiukok, but I am. When I was young, I couldn’t “get” him and HR Ocampo. But the older I get, the more I appreciate Ang Kiukok’s art. Comedian Joey de Leon (who is also an fine artist) is a known collector of Ang Kiukok. Photo by CallMeCreation.com
Another Ang Kiukok. I like the warm colors. Photo by CallMeCreation.com
I know I wrote down the name of this artist because this doesn’t show any signature style of any national/well-known local artist. Now I can’t find it so I can’t identify this properly. But I like it just the same because this looks like something I would paint in the future. Photo by CallMeCreation.com
Quite frankly, a lot of the paintings sold in Tiendesitas are imitating Zalameda so it’s hard to pick out this artist from the ones being sold everywhere. But I like the colors in this one. Photo by CallMeCreation.com

I need a little trip

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Kimchi waiting for me to come home from my mommy errand this morning. Photo by CallMeCreation.com

We will be driving tonight to my hometown. I need a change of scenery to ground me and to chase the blues away. To see my BFFs to cheer me up. Perhaps take a little hike to the forested upper campus. I need to let go of things that I cannot control.

I decided to cook hotpot today.

Lots and lots of different mushrooms that I bought from Sarang Mart, meat, tofu and dumplings. Photo by CallMeCreation.com
Just letting the main ingredients boil first. Photo by CallMeCreation.com

I really need to shake this bad vibes off and clear away the cobwebs. I don’t know what else I should be doing to lift the dark clouds over my head.

A few hours later…

Photo by Twin A.

Remind me to leave much, much later on a Friday night. 🫠

Forward march

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One of the fountains I bought from Farmers. Photo by CallMeCreation.com

My kids and I welcomed 2023 with our neighbors and we shared sparklers, fountains and fire crackers.

It’s kinda bittersweet. This is the last new year’s eve with the neighbors. Photo by CallMeCreation.com

My girls enjoyed the evening, which was capped by viewing the fireworks of central QC from our neighbor’s roofdeck.

360-degree view of fireworks in central QC. Video by CallMeCreation.com

So for 2023, we will be embarking on a new adventure… Sort of. We’re going back to the place where my girls were born and where I grew up. Very familiar ground and yet it’s full of uncertainties. I will be in danger of making my world smaller because I will be back to my old stomping grounds. I’m in danger of regressing and throttling the growth that I had painstakingly nurtured. I’m scared of stunting.

But I’m doing this for my kids. They will benefit from growing up in a more protected and unpolluted environment. They’re now the priority, it’s no longer about me.

I say, I need to go forward, march to the tune of the band, and hope for the best. This new year will be a transition period for me, not only because I’m moving houses; I feel there’s a bigger shift that’s going to happen. I don’t know what exactly that is.

I’m out of therapy for 6 months now and 2023 will be a new start for me. I’ve been held back for two years and it was like I was loitering around purgatory longer than I should.

What will I be targeting to do this year?

  • More diving; it will be easier since travel time will be cut because I would already be in the south
  • Learn kiteboarding in Boracay
  • Go to Moalboal or Coron
  • Go surfing in Siargao, La Union, Zambales, or Baler.
  • Go camping again with my kids either in Caliraya again or Tanay, Rizal
  • Prepare for travel to Morocco or Spain in 2024; in the meantime I will bring my kids and mom to Singapore since it’s the easiest place when I have a brood to herd.
  • Travel to the Bangkok, Hi Chi Minh, and Phnom Penh for work.
  • Push for promotion of my two or three reporters
  • Build my small homestead
  • Start court proceedings for my annulment as I’m already out of therapy. I can finally battle it out in court

I’m sleepy.

Maligayang Pasko

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A litle white wine.

It will be 24-23 degrees later so I don’t think I will need the AC on tonight.

And my four-legged children are cozying up.

Kimchi is not letting me finish folding the clean laundry. Photo by CallMeCreation.com

What shall I cook? Should I cook???

UPDATE: I just had beef pastrami, some cheese and red wine. No need to stress myself.

The last Christmas in this living room. Photo by CallMeCreation.com

A bit bittersweet. This has been home since 2018. Despite the difficult circumstances, I tried to make this apartment into a home. You know, the home that you want to rush back to when you’re tired from being out in the harsh world. It’s so old that everything crumbles, but I tried to make it the most comfortable home. I tried my best to keep vermin away but I have no control over my messy neighbors so their vermin crosses over to my unit 🤦‍♀️. At least when they slip, they’re only confined to the laundry area. Then I trap them there with whatever pest control device/chemical I have.

The last Christmas holidays the girls will be sleeping on this bunk bed. Photo by CallMeCreation.com

I’ve been playing Christmas songs in piano via Spotify all day. This is so lovely.