Independent Woman

I am one independent woman. Am I?

There was a time in college wherein I was assigned in the pediatric ICU alone while all of my groupmates were in the main ward area. I stayed there for 7 solid hours (minus 1 hour break time) and I took care of 6 critical kids - every hour vital signs monitoring, IVs, sponge bath, bedside care, plus a newborn that needs a q 15 heart rate monioring. Not a single minute was spent idly. I looked out through the glass window and I saw my friends sitting down and just chatting with each other. It was a long duty day for me. I was alone with my tasks. I don't have anyone to share my responsibilities with. When it was time for our end duty circle, our clinical instructor asked us to describe each other and one of the things that strucked me most among all the adjectives they've given:  she is independent.

I have traveled alone. I was scared to wits and at the same time excited on my first international travel at the age of 20. I know a 3 or 4 year old kid has done the same (and we were on the same plane) but it is a different thing when you are just all alone finding your way through an unknown busy airport, going from one terminal to another, surrounded by foreign sounding people. I was even the only passenger the whole plane is waiting for because I got lost. lol

And now, I'm all alone in the day shift. No one to talk to. No one to share meals with. No one to keep me company. So emo, I know, but I ain't complaining! hehe

I actually don't know where this post is heading. Maybe I'm just bored with work stuff so I decided to blog instead. Maybe I just want to cheer myself up. Maybe I just need some ice cream. Yeah, I think that's it. I want some ice cream. ICE CREAM!!!

Birthday Note to Self

niftyswank.blogspot.com

I hope that in this year to come, you make mistakes.

Because if you are making mistakes, then you are making new things, trying new things, learning, living, pushing yourself, changing yourself, changing your world. You're doing things you've never done before, and more importantly, you're doing something.

So that's my wish for you, and all of us, and my wish for myself. Make new mistakes. Make glorious, amazing mistakes. Make mistakes nobody's ever made before. Don't freeze, don't worry that it isn't good enough, or it isn't perfect, whatever it is: art, or love, or work or family or life.

Whatever it is you're scared of doing, DO IT.

Make your mistakes, next year and forever.

~Neil Gaiman~

summer in july

I know this post is kinda late for such an awesome weekend stress-buster break from work. Though the activity was a mixture of joy and sadness - sadness because it was Teody's last day of work and Doc Chin isn't with the team anymore - but also joy, knowing that both of them will be in a new environment where they can feel genuine happiness and appreciation. Cheers to the EHR team! =)

Firework

It's the fourth of July in America and I'm stuck here at work doing nothing. As in, nothing. I surfed the net and found a couple of interesting sites that I would probably visit once in a while, created a twitter account for the first time, and even read sites about serial killers and psychopaths.

Is this work?

Well, maybe not.

:P

Forward, weary soldier. You'll soon see the light of day.

Busay, Cebu City [COPAR Days]

Take me to the fountain of youth.

Toledo City, Cebu [June 2009]

Where are we going?

Long Beach, California [July 2010]

Are you worthy to sit with the King?

Osmena Museum, Cebu City [2009]

No matter how hard life gets, always take time to stop and smile.

Busay, Cebu City [COPAR Days]

Look beyond.

Kishanta Homes, Talisay City, Cebu [March 2010]

the mardi gras

I haven’t been to a Sinulog Grand Parade before even if I was born and raised in Cebu. Really. Well not really. I remember having a few glimpse of the dancers’ colorful costumes and towering props when I was a lil kid and even having a few pictures but that is all there is to my Sinulog experience. My parents don’t like the idea of walking the entire day and getting soaked with sweat under the heat of the sun.

I finally had my first real Sinulog experience this year at the age of 22. haha. Crazy. But you are never too old to join a street party, eh?

My boyf and I met at around 9am near his old school and we were running a bit late for the holy mass at Sacred Heart Parish. We literally had to walk like New Yorkers which he would tell me when he wants me to walk fast to keep up with his pace. After the mass, we ate lunch and watched a few street dance presentations. The heat was becoming unbearable though so we decided to take the afternoon off chilling at his home.

At around 4pm we went out again and because he wanted me to really experience Sinulog, he dragged me towards the Fuente rotunda where the bottleneck of people were. Well, his ‘evil’ plan backfired because it started to rain so we made a quick detour to Ayala passing by the Baseline area where we saw lots of tipsy-drunk people dancing and having fun like crazy! I’d be damned if mum sees me drunk like that. haha!

We had dinner at a cozy burger restaurant he loves then watched Ayala and SM’s Grand Sinulog Fireworks Display simultaneously from their rooftop. What a great way to end my Sinulog experience!

p.s. Thank you for making this day possible, dude.

It doesn't matter who gets there first.

What matters most is how you help each other to get to the finish line together.

Busay, Cebu City [COPAR Days]

You are unique.

30 Kitchen+Bar, Banilad, Cebu City [June 2011] 

At the end of the day, we have our own self to face.

Kishanta Homes, Talisay City, Cebu [March 2012]

Go on. Don't be afraid to chart your own road.

Port of Liloan, Santander, Cebu [Summer 2009]

Just like a boat venturing out into the dark sea.

Port of Liloan, Santander, Cebu (Summer 2009)

Happy 10

Having fun all night. 

Nanay's 50th birthday thanksgiving.

and

Hope's surprise 22nd birthday party.

30 Kitchen + Bar

June

It has been ages since I last saw the girls and I was so glad Raphy baby invited us all to dinner for a post-birthday celebration. I am not much of a food place adventurer. I only go to restaurants that my friends suggested and only after I make a thorough research online. haha. I think this restaurant was Agnes' suggestion being a foodie herself so off we go to this foodie haven.

I was surprised that 30 Kitchen+Bar is just a small restaurant, about a stone throw away from the gates of Paradise Village. Albeit small, the place has that cozy and homey feel that I love. Their menu offers a great deal of selection from rice meals, to pastas, soups, salads, sandwiches and sumptuous desserts. You'll never regret it coz their servings are real big and tasty. 

These are just but a few pictures of what we ordered. But what really made this evening great was the chikka bonding moment, smiles, and laughter we shared. I always have a great time with these four lovely girls (plus the MIA Calai) and I can't wait to have another wonderful dinner time with them again soon. 

July

Birthday dinner treat with boyf.

October

I went back again this time with my boarding house dearies. It's amazing how our conversation topics change over the years from "Have you studied for the exam?" to "Come on! Have a date with him." to "How are you with..?" to "Who got married and who's pregnant". Gosh, we are growing up way too fast, aren't we? 

But at least I've got these friends to share the craziness and drama with. 

Cheers to friendship!

Thanks to:

All photos were taken using Lyra's camera.

Where?

30 Kitchen+Bar

Paradise Village Gate

Banilad, Cebu City

open from 3pm to 1am

14th CineEuropa

The 14th Cine Europa was held at Ayala Center Cebu from September 30 to October 2, 2011. Admission was free so I grabbed the chance to watch several foreign films that I otherwise couldn't afford on regular screenings. The first day I went there was with my boyf on a weekday then I went back again to watch with my family on a weekend.

These were the movies I watched with a little plot summary for each. Text were taken from the GMA news website.

Bulgaria’s “Letter to America" takes viewers to busy Manhattan and the isolated Bulgarian mountains as the main protagonist Ivan, denied a US visa, searches for the mythical cure to save the life of his best friend who is lying in coma in a New York hospital.

Czech Republic’s “Grapes" flaunts the fabled Moravian vineyard as the background for the story of friendship between two men. One of them inherited his grandfather’s vineyard but knows very little about wine-making, while the other is a small-time crook with strong womanizing tendencies.

Denmark’s “The Escape" tells the story of Danish journalist Rikke Lyngvig, who was taken hostage in Afghanistan by a terrorist group but was freed after one of her captors, Nazir, took pity on her. Her escape propelled the journalist to stardom.

Greek's “Little Greek Godfather" depicts the angst of an 11-year-old Greek who was raised in California but must return to Crete to act as a godfather to the child of a local politician and to prove to his father that he is a worthy heir. 

United Kingdom’s “Never Let Me Go"  shows three childhood friends who grew up in a boarding school grapple with their affection for one another as they prepare to move on to the next stage of their lives.

See you on the next filmfest!

Teach Me How to Dougie

I've always wanted to learn how to drive. Father promised me driving lessons way back in college but I got too caught up with school stuff that driving was placed on my least priority list. More than a year after finishing nursing school, I finally have the time to learn this craft. Yeehaa!

Broom broom. I enrolled myself in a driving school coz father doesn't want to teach me himself in the streets of Cebu. He must be scared coz you'll never know what will happen if I panic behind the wheel. lol. My instructor picked me up in Mandaue. He taught me the basic rules of the road, the 5 basic parts of the car I will be using bla bla. I wanted to skip this part coz I'm so damn eager to drive this cute little car. After about 30 minutes of lecture we switched places and I was like "Wait. More lectures please." haha. The little kid got scared. Oh boy. Time to summon up all my guts. We drove around a secluded street in the reclamation area near CDU. Occasionally he would instruct me to merge traffic along the main street. Crazy! My heart was thumping like Nicki Minaj's song Super Bass. Since I was trying to learn how to drive a manual car, I need to remember a lot of stuff and store it in my big forehead. Which was a total fail by the way coz every time I see a car coming near me or people crossing the street I lose focus thus leading to car engine death. haha. 

He also placed four traffic cones like this:

in a square formation and instructed me to maneuver the car in figures of 8. Can I just dance the otso-otso instead? Oh man. That was hard. I had to treat him one sola bottle for each hit cone but sorry man, no sola treat for you today. bwahaha.

Thirty minutes before my time was up, he asked me where my drop off point would be. "Ayala", I said. Nice coz free fare. But to my horror, he instructed me to drive all the way to Ayala. Too many cars. Mid day traffic. Lots of people. Loud car honks just for yours truly. Whoever was following the car I was driving, "I'm sorry. Student driver here!"

Looking forward to my second session. Crossing my fingers.

=)