I told Body Pump and, at times, Yoga pal Riza that I’m losing drive to work out.
Feeling that I needed some change of environment to regain focus on my fitness goals, Riza and I decided to skip Pump and Combat (which I’m not exactly a great fan of) at Eastwood, and attend Gentle Flow Yoga at North EDSA instead.
Although I rarely attend this class, I somehow got used to the sequence of poses with unending downward-facing dog in between. Last Tuesday’s class with James, however, was more intense and challenging. With all poses still focusing on the breath, I felt added concentration on my shoulders and back. Sustaining the stance and stretching these body parts got more challenging since I lack the flexibility to skillfully execute the poses. It was a good workout, nonetheless, which felt like doing Arnold presses sans the plates.
Attending James’ class at North EDSA would probably add variation to my weekly workouts, but traveling from Eastwood to the Block on Tuesday nights is not a very sustainable endeavor. I needed an alternative workout with minimal use of equipment (so I can do it wherever - FF Libis, Fairview, or in the comfort of my own bedroom), but with optimal results. And so, I surfed the internet and found out about the 300 Spartan Work Out Plan.
Fine. Leonidas (Gerard Butler) and his Spartan militia look effortlessly ripped like a Michelangelo sculpture in the epic film, but I was under the impression that lighting directors, graphics and make-up artists were to be commended for creating this 6-pack chimera. I wasn’t as impressed as others until I read about it yesterday that these guys actually went through months of painstaking mental and physical conditioning to appear in this movie. I know genetics also play a role, but I’ve nothing to lose and more to gain anyway, so I’m giving it a go!
My 300 work out would look like this: - Staggered Push-up (50 reps) - Alternating split jump or Jump & Lunge (50 reps) - Explosive Push-up (50 reps) - Prison Squat (50 reps) - Hindu Push-up or downward-facing dog (50 reps) - Kneeling Band Row (50 reps) - Burpees (50 reps) - Pull Ups (50 reps) - Crunches (50 reps)
50 reps for each set sounds really ambitious, so for a starter like me, I’m lowering the reps to 30 so each set is more feasible.
I tried some of the sets, and I find the explosive and Hindu push-ups really intense! My heart beat raises after few repetitions. Anyhoo, I’m about to leave for the gym and try this workout. I hope this works in my favor. I hope I don’t get traumatized like when I first tried Body Attack. Wish me luck, guys!
Simple lang naman hiling ko ngayong araw na to. Gusto ko ng sundae. Kaso di ako mapagbigyan ng Jollibee dahil sobrang haba ng pila at 11am, at ng McDo dahil wala daw silang bentang Sundae ngayon. Naman!
Naisip ko ang Ministop ngunit bukod sa lasang Milo na walang asukal ang sundae nila, mangangamoy Kariman naman ako sa sandaling paglagi ko dito.
Nakapasok na ako ng DQ, pero naisip ko 40 pesos nga lang pala pera ko, so lumabas ako ulit. Haha!
Hay, I need comfort food to endure a sluggish Monday.
What I like the most about any undertaking out-of-town are the side-trips! Here are just some interesting stops in between our church visits on Maundy Thursday.
Calauan Outside the San IsidroLabradorChurch in Calauan, we couldn’t resist getting ourselves some freshly squeezed pineapple juice. I couldn’t remember the last time I sipped a drink in plastic, but it felt like I was 7 again. Hehe!
Bring home some of Calauan’s sweet pineapples.
San Pablo Lunch at Patis Tesoro’s old rest house situated in one of San Pablo’s blossoming woodlands was a great respite. We didn’t get to call for reservation, so we had to be there early. Fortunately, we were the first to arrive among walk-in diners, so we secured a table at the outdoor café. God loves us after all.
The kitchen staff was still busy preparing the buffet when we arrived so we took time to check out the garden, aviary, dining halls, and the local handicraft. Gorgeous place. It was even cozier inside the native dining halls, so we took chance to transfer to this area, but the staff advised us that all tables had been reserved days earlier. Amazing! Actually, had we known that Kusina Salud would be full to capacity on Maundy Thursday, we would have called to reserve days earlier. Although it was searing to have lunch al fresco, we’re just pleased to have secured a table ahead of other walk-ins, some of whom had waited for nearly half an hour till a table was vacated by fellow walk-ins. And more importantly, we were the first to get a taste of Chef Paul Poblador’s bountiful seafood and organic vegetable servings for the day.
Kusina Salud is all about gastronomic delights and great ambiance! Anyway, we couldn’t stay longer because there were other hungry travelers waiting in line. Besides, we had to complete the remaining 6 stations before sundown, which was our primary reason for being in Laguna.
Liliw Before we left, my friends checked out the flip-flop bargains. You may know already that Liliw has a thriving footwear industry for a small town. So if you’re into flip-flops, why not travel down to Liliw and bring home some of these export-quality slippers and sandals?
Nagcarlan If you pass by the town of Nagcarlan, have a quick tour of the NagcarlanUndergroundCemetery, a national historical monument, which also served as a meeting place of the Katipuneros during the Philippine-Spanish Revolution towards the end of the 19th century. Today, Nagcarlan townsfolk hold historical, cultural, and religious presentations here.
Back to San Pablo Last pit stop before heading back to Manila was at Anj’s lola’s house in San Pablo. To me, this is the most memorable segment of this viaje. I’ll let you know offline. Haha!
West Avenue, QC We reached Manila at about 9 in the evening. After dropping off Rose at their house in Pasig, QC peeps Kat, Anj, Thesa, and I had dinner at Mister Kabab’s newly opened resto in West Avenue.
The new resto is a major makeover of the old one at Quezon Av. It is more spacious, has better lighting and cleaner bathrooms – the toilets even have bidet! Well, this was our last chance to feast on red meat before we abstain for Good Friday and Black Saturday. I had my serving of Sizzling Keema, my Holy Week guilty pleasure. Yum!
I promised myself a prayerful and tranquil holy week, so I’m catching up on interesting online happenings just now. Anyway, I don’t regret being offline for days since I spent an eventful, yet reflective, Holy Week. It started on Maundy Thursday when I went out of town with the Triumvirate for our traditional Visita Iglesia. What started as a spontaneous gala with constantly unprompted drag-along buddies Anj and Rose has become a panata. In the past two years, we followed the Way of the Cross through centuries-old churches around Metro Manila, but this year, we agreed to challenge ourselves by going out-of-town and carry on with this spiritual expedition.
We chose Laguna as it is well-known for its alluring historic towns and churches. We also thought going around, whether by own or public transportation, wouldn’t be a problem, as Anj is more or less familiar with most towns surrounding her inviting hometown San Pablo. And since this is the first out-of-town Visita Iglesia, we invited friends to come along, as well. Kat and Anj’s cousin Thesa made it. Kat volunteered to drive, as she misses long drives in the verdant countryside (Wish granted!), while Thesa served as our ever dependable navigator.
We passed through several bottlenecks on the road, apparently due to the exodus of people from Manila to their provinces, but we’re content to have reached Los Baños at around 9AM. We intended to visit 7 churches, stop by two stations per church, read Biblical passages, say a short prayer for reflection, and recite the Rosary. In between, we’d immerse in the local culture and marvel at some fresh scenery and Filipino-Spanish religious architecture.
In the morning, we stopped by the Parish of St. Therese of the Child Jesus inside UP Los Baños for the first two stations. It’s a beautiful church, which, in some aspects, is similar to the Church of Jesu in Ateneo de Manila.
San Agustin Church in the nearby town of Bay was next on this trip. One may think that this church was built more than a hundred years ago because the walls are thick and the material (probably adobe) resemble those used in most old churches. Restoration works probably took place in recent years, and were probably done so hastily. Anyway, I don’t know anything about its construction and restoration, so I just went inside and prayed.
Next stop would be another old church - San IsidroLabradorChurch in Calauan. Religious icons in carrozas filled the aisle of the church. Traditionally, these carrozas are taken around town during Good Friday processions. The Santo Entierro and Virgen Dolorosa are the main spectacle in these religious rites.
The Cathedral Church of St Paul, the First Hermit in San Pablo was our next destination. It was my second time to visit the Church; my first was in 2006 when we attended Easter Sunday mass, after Rose and I joined Anj’s extended family for their yearly reunion two years ago. J It was the largest church we visited this year.
The sun was out and the sky was clear all day. The sunrays were blistering at high noon, but perhaps bearing a little scorch was such a small sacrifice compared to the suffering endured by the Son of Man on his way to Golgotha. So we carried on without (or for some :-), with just little) complaining.
We intended to finish all 14 stations by midday, but due to human constraints (obviously starvation), we had to break for lunch. It had been a long trip since 4:30 in the morning, so we prayed that the good Lord would pardon us for our human weakness. Anyway, after visiting the St. Paul the FirstHermitChurch we headed for lunch at the quaint Kusina Salud in San Pablo. After a gastronomically satisfying lunch, we went past the San Pablo town proper on our way to St. Peter’s College Seminary which houses a little chapel (my favorite church/chapel this year) secluded from the pulsating streets of the poblacion. It was so quiet inside you could hear a pin drop. This is a peaceful haven where anybody can truly be one with the Almighty.
Our last two stops were historic churches built during the Hispanic times – the San Bartolome Church in Nagcarlan and the San Juan Bautista Church in Liliw. The façade of both churches have been preserved, and the interior partly restored. In recent times, these churches have given films and telenovelas a very elaborate backdrop. The Nagcarlan church would be most familiar to followers of Kapamilya soap Kampanerang Kuba, while the Liliw Church would be recognizable (to some extent) to those who closely watch the new Kapuso station ID. I figured the latter just last night.
We capped our Visita Iglesia 2008 in Liliw. 6 towns, 7 churches, 14 stations. Thank you, Lord! Well again, let me say that this year is extra-special because we took the challenge to go on a road trip to Laguna and let Kat and Thesa join our pack! It was tiring, especially for Kat who endured the looooong drive. You made a big sacrifice, Kat, so ewan ko na lang kung di pa i-grant ni Lord yung Visita Iglesia wish mo. Hehe! Nevertheless, not counting the filling road and food trip in this Viaje del Sol, I feel fulfilled that we get to accomplish yet another soulful mission to quench our spiritual thirst. I continue to pray that all of us live on to be better Christians as we celebrate the Christ’s victory over sin and death. And for this, I say Happy Easter and may God bless us all!
Weekend has been great, so far. Since I've totally forgotten the rules, not to mention have lost the necessary motor skills to play the sport, I declined Arlo's invitation to play Tennis with him and Theo at UP. For that, I just invited them and Tian to watch a movie after.
There are quite a number of good films showing this weekend, but we narrowed down our list to two: Pisay and Juno. I read good reviews of Pisay since it was shown at last year's Cinemalaya. They said getting a ticket was a pain after a bunch of alumni from the country's premier high school, as anyone would have thought, hoarded the CCP passes. It was well-attended by students and alumni, who gave illustrious filmmaker and Pisay alumnus Aureus Solito a grand standing ovation! As there are more cinemas showing this, we opted for Juno, which to our surprise is showing only at 3 movie houses in Metro Manila. We couldn't pass up the opportunity to see this critically acclaimed comedy, so I suggested that we catch the 9:15 show at Greenbelt 3.
And with little expectations, we all fell in love with Juno! Sardonic, smart, and sincere - three words to describe this. There's a lot of trash-talking, but you'd find yourself either so amused by her and her cohorts' side-splitting remarks or teary-eyed by tender acts that are characteristically Juno. You should watch out for that scene when Juno gets an ultrasound. I'm lucky to have found bits of the script. Read it. It's hilarious! Allison Janney is the sh*t!
Ultrasound Technician: Well, there it is. Would you like to know the sex of your baby? Leah: Yes! Juno MacGuff: No! Leah: Pllleease! Juno MacGuff: No, there will be no sex! Ultrasound Technician: Plan to be suprised when you deliver? Juno MacGuff: Well, no, but I want Mark and Vanessa to be suprised and if you tell me I'll just ruin it. Ultrasound Technician: Are Mark and Vanessa your friends from school? Juno MacGuff: No, they're the adoptive parents. Ultrasound Technician: Oh, well thank goodness for that! Bren: What's that supposed to mean? Ultrasound Technician: Well I've been doing this for along time and I've seen a lot of teenagers come through here and it's obviously a very poisonous environment. Juno MacGuff: How do you know I'm so poisonous? Bren: They could be utterly incompetent. Theres no guarantee they'll do a better job raising this child than my dumbass step-daughter will... What is your job title? Ultrasound Technician: I'm an ultrasound technician. Bren: Oh yeah? Well I'm a nail technician and I think we both ought to just stick to what we know. Ultrasound Technician: Excuse me? Bren: Oh, you think you're hot shit 'cause you get to sit over there and play Pictionary, well guess what? My five year old daughter could do that and let me tell you, she's not the brightest bulb in the tanning bed. So until you have your own kid, why don't you just go back to nightschool in Manteno and get a real job. Juno MacGuff: ...Whoa Bren! You's a dick! I love it!
I love the acting, the storyline, and the soundtrack. In short, I love this to bits. I've now added this to my list of favorite comedy flicks, which also includes last year's celebrated dark comedy Little Miss Sunshine. So watch it! Watch it! Watch it!
For Juno's screening schedule, check out clickthecity.com
Edit: Diablo Cody won Best Original Screenplay at the 80th Osars! :-)
Girl #1: So, we have a bet -- if I have sex first, then I have to wear a shirt that she's written all over, but if she-- [looks around]. Girl #2: If she what? Girl #1: ... I'll tell you later. I feel like people are listening, and I don't want to end up on some website.
--Starbucks, 51st & Broadway
Hmmm...Eastwood-Quezon Avenue-SM North shuttle riders should conceive a local version. Hehehe!
I told quite a number of friends at work about this travel horror story, but would still like to share this the rest of my Multiply contacts. These all happened before our flight from Macau to Manila. Close friends at work can surely relate. Haha! Now, let me relive those moments.
Before leaving for the airport, my father had to pick up an extra luggage that i was supposed to be carrying. Since we carry more stuff on our flight back to manila, he reminded us to be extra mindful of who carries which especially when we get to the airport. How classic!
On our way to the airport, I realized I left my phone at my brother's place. My brother was teasing me to forget about it and buy a new one (I actually had thoughts of purchasing a PDA phone because last year’s HTC models are sold at incredibly low prices in Macau, but the Ilocano in me discarded these thoughts at the last minute). But of course, I recited a litany of unassailable excuses - my text messages, contact numbers, text jokes, and photos, not to mention my juicy phone scandals (haha!) – to keep my 2-year old Motorola Rokr. Therefore, as soon as my brother dropped us off at the airport, he volunteered to drive back home to get that friggin' mobile phone. I was lucky that it would take only about 10 minutes to drive between the airport and their place, but was utterly guilt-ridden, knowing how inconvenient it was for my brother to do such favor.
At the boarding gate, found out that I didn't have my camera in my bag. Though I nearly suffered a heart attack at the thought of losing tangible reminders of our travel, I still maintained my composure to not cause any commotion as we lined up to present our boarding passes. Then again, I simply couldn't contain it. My thoughts were so scattered that just seconds after the ground steward tore a piece of my boarding pass, I lost sight of the other piece! I turned extremely frantic as I searched my carry-on luggage and my pockets, but I couldn't find it. My parents were so annoyed by my chronic absent-mindedness. Since the flight was already delayed, the ground stewards just assigned a vacant seat for me. I’m so fortunate that I was few seats away from my parents or else, I’d hear from them.
Onboard the plane, my mother handed me my camera that she said I gave her when I decided to do last-minute duty free shopping. Told her my hysteria when I thought I lost it. And as expected, she replied with just a sigh of exasperation. hehe!
I answered my third quiz for the day. It's obvious. I'm stressed! Haha!
You most resemble Marlon Brando
You are very smart, and very talented, although you don’t really enjoy social company. You prefer to live alone, go to movies alone, cry alone in the corner...
Cultural Creatives are probably the newest group to enter this realm. You are a modern thinker who tends to shy away from organized religion but still feels as if there is something greater than ourselves. You are very spiritual, even if you are not religious. Life has a meaning outside of the rational.
This is one of the most exciting tests created online. If you've been a touch typist for years, this one's a good test of mind-body coordination. Hehe!
I wasn't convinced by the initial results, because I strongly believe I could type faster than this...
I was up for some weekend outdoor fun, but sorry to say, I'll have to spend the next couple of days in seclusion. The other day, I was running a fever and feeling all that annoying build-up in my nasal passages, and now, I have the worst case of sinusitis.
Rather than sensing any fast relief, my taking meds only make me feel drowsy, which consequently slows me down at work. I luuuurve it when when I've got critical deadlines to meet, yet sickness deters me from accomplishing my to-do's. Life, oh, life!
Oh well, I guess I just have to accept my fate, rest up, and hope that I get back fully recovered for work on Monday.
So friends, health is wealth! Don't forget to take your multivitamins. Have a restful weekend!
I discovered this while browsing Rhapsody. I downloaded the song few weeks ago, but only viewed the multihued video last week. It's so sensational that MadTV even made an iPOD nano TVC parody out of this.
I don't know if JC and Anj have seen this, but if they loved Regina Spektor's, I'm sure they'd love this just the same. Hehe! :)
A shy postman didn't stand a chance with the island's most beautiful woman until the great poet of love gave him the courage to follow his dreams...and the words to win her heart.
Mi Mancherai (I Will Miss You) Music inspired by Il Postino (The Postman) Vocal Rendition by Josh Groban
Mi mancherai se te ne vai Mi mancherà la tua serenità Le tue parole come canzoni al vento E l'amore che ora porti via
Mi mancherai se te ne vai Ora per sempre non so come vivere E l'allegria, amica mia, va via con te
Mi mancherai, mi mancherai, perchè vai via Perchè l'amore in te si è spento Perchè, perchè... Non cambierà niente lo so E dentro sento te
Mi mancherai, mi mancherai, perchè vai via Perchè l'amore in te si è spento Perchè, perchè... Non cambierà niente lo so E dentro sento te
Mi mancherà l'immensità Dei nostri giorni e notti insieme noi I tuoi sorrisi quando si fa buio La tua ingenuità da bambina, tu...
Mi mancherai amore mio Mi guardo e trovo un vuoto dentro me E l'allegria, amica mia, va via con te
Translation: I'll Miss You
I’ll miss you, if you go away I’ll miss your serenity Your words like songs in the wind And Love, that you take away.
I’ll miss you, if you go away Now and forever I don’know how to live And joy, my friend, goes away with you
I’ll miss you, I’ll miss you, because you go away Because the love in you is dead Because, because... Nothing it’s gonna change, I know And inside of me I feel you
I’ll miss you, I’ll miss you, because you go away Because the love in you is dead Because, because... Nothing it's gonna change, I know And inside of me I feel you
I’ll miss the immensity Of our days and nights, us together Your smiles when it’s getting dark Your being naive like a little girl
I’ll miss you, my love I look at myself and I find emptiness inside of me And joy, my friend, goes away with you
The song is in memory of Massimo Troisi, (posthumous) Oscar nominee and Italian lead actor, who dedicated his last few years to making Il Postino. He died of heart attack the day after shooting the film's last scene.
11. Kumuha ka ba ng Wed or Sat classes? Econ 121 (6 hour-class!) , 141, and 106
12. Nakapag-field trip ka ba? Pasyal sa Fort Bonifacio at old Manila
13. Naging CS ka na ba or US sa UP? Minsan. Haha!
14. Ano ang Org/Frat/Soro mo? ECOSOC
15. Saan ka tumatambay palagi? Sa ECOSOC tambayan, or sa ECON lobby or japanese garden
16. Dorm, Boarding house, o Bahay? Bahay
17. Kung walang UPCAT test at malaya kang nakapili ng kurso mo sa UP, ano yun? (Given ang mentality mo nung HS ka) BS Econ pa rin. Hehe!
18. Sino ang pinaka-una mong nakilala sa UP? Si Giselle Remulla yata sa campus tour bus. hehe! May mas nauna pa from Engg, pero nakalimutan ko na name nya so di na sya counted. hehe!
19. First play na napanood mo sa UP? Divinas Palabras ng Dulaang UP
20. Name the 5 most conyo orgs in UP Arguably JMA, ECOSOC, IE Club, AIESEC (Buhay pa ba to?), and JPIA. Haha!
21. Name 5 of the coolest orgs/frats/soro in UP. UP ECOSOC at YFC!
22. May frat/soro bang nag-recruit sa yo? Wala.
23. Saan ka madalas mag-lunch? Econ Canteen o kaya naman sa tinadahan ni Ate Tess
24. Masaya ba sa UP? Naman.
25. Nakasama ka na ba sa rally? Marcha papuntang Mendiola bago mag-Impeachment at nung EDSA Dos.
26. Ilang beses ka bumoto sa Student Council Dalawa
27. Name at least 5 leftist groups in UP Stand UP lang alam ko. Peace!
28. Pinangarap mo rin bang mag-laude nung freshman ka? Oo. Pero hanggang pangarap lang. :)
29. Kanino ka pinaka-patay sa UP? Hehe. Di ko maalala.
30. Kung di ka UP, anong school ka? UST, baka kumuha ng kursong pang-agham
I found this sign posted on one of the shops inside the Macao Fisherman's Wharf. How we wish our company would do the same (every) once in a while. Hehe!
Christmas in Macau is not as festive as our Christmas back home, but we are enjoying the sights and sounds around Asia's entertainment capital.
Two popular resort-casinos opened since our trip last year - the MGM Grand and the Venetian Macao. We got to spend few hours touring the Venetian Macao (located few blocks away from my brother's apartment) last Sunday.
On Christmas day, we went to see the Da Vinci exhibit at the Macao Tower, dined Macanese style at the Nga Tim Cafe in Coloane, and then post-dinner, went to see the famous Musical Fountain show at the Wynn in downtown Macau. The temperature outside was freezing for us people from the tropics, but we didn't care much and just marveled at such spectacular scenery. So far, I'm loving this holiday vacation. I hope everyone back home is having a wonderful Christmas with loved ones, as well. I'll give more updates soon.
