one happy shopper November 7, 2011

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SINGAPORE is considered to be the most sophisticated shopping destination in Asia.

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Well, I am not at all sophisticated.

I didn’t even bother to go inside any boutiques in Orchard road where I stayed.

I love shopping but I prefer bargain hunting.

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What catches my fancy are original designs, funky accessories and unusual objects.

In short, kuning-kunings!

My friend then suggested I head towards Haji lane on Arab Street.

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Haji lane is a shopper’s haven but surprisingly I didn’t get to buy anything here.

I felt that some of the stuff I saw, I can also buy in Manila.

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Ready to go home empty-handed, I started walking my way back to the hotel.

Then I heard a DJ playing loud music, I followed the sound and soon discovered a bargain shopping paradise . . .

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Halukatdat,  A FLEA MARKET / BAZAAR !

I saw some accessories like the ones in Haji Lane but it’s way cheaper here

After much haggling, I got meself some lego-like notebooks, funky rings and mini postcards.

WOOT WOOT!

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BLING BLINGS! the insect, tv, lightning and 2 small deer rings are from SG, the rest are my baon

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But this ain’t the only highlight of my expedition

I found a place where I went totally gaga…

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Mornings like this . . . August 30, 2011

my atelier at 6am

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Mornings like this I remember waking up in my atelier, playing tunes from The Morning Benders just like now, looking out my window, watching the bateau mouche cruise by the river Seine. I then make myself a cup of vanilla tea but right now I’m sipping coffee.

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I do my morning exercise while hearing faint sounds of piano or cello in the background. This always put a smile on my face, waking up in my own space with a killer view surrounded by kindred spirits, I just feel grateful and truly blessed to be in this moment.

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Flash forward to now… I wish I can do my morning exercise but I’m just too weak but doing something with my hands again strengthens me. I go back to my belief that my atelier could be anywhere (it used to be at a friends kitchen, my fathers bedroom in the province and my sisters rented apartment) but now with this holiday and upcoming handmade art fair, I started creating again.

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D E C O U P A G E   This word appeared in my dream one time. As in that word written in my reverie. Wait, I will look for it in my journal… Ok here it is…

1 JANUARY 2008

I don’t remember the scene of my dream but I remember the word. It was a message telling me that I could get by with this, that I could survive just by creating…

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Hahaha, I remember it being more prophetic than this. Anyways, that’s what I’ve been doing the past days. Cutting and pasting while sneezing and coughing. Healing through creating. Surviving…

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images shot in my atelier at Cité des Arts, Paris

healing process August 29, 2011

I’m not feeling well now but I’m at my happiest

These days has been spent creating

Cutting and pasting with my nose running and me coughing

I lose track of time and my space is in a creative mess

and I lavettt!

I’m reading this book now “The Geography of Bliss” and I totally agree with what this Icelander Hilmar said when asked about his feelings when composing music,

“I lose track of time when composing. It is a blissful activity. You are doing something you couldn’t imagine doing. It is bigger than yourself. You are enlarging yourself.”

This has also been a good time to take care of meself… I cooked some stir fried tofu and string beans with soy sauce (43% less salt!) paired with organic brown rice. Then for dinner I grilled some veggies (eggplant, bell pepper, onions & tomatoes) drizzled with pesto then placed on an open sandwich grilled with melted mozarella cheese. Absolutely yummy ! ! !

My body is weak

but my spirit is soaring.

n a k s 

heaven on earth August 1, 2011

with mrs. masferre

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Sagada is a place where I recharge… I’ve been coming here to rest my mind, to celebrate freedom from everything and to just  chill. I remember the wind whispering “welcome” in my ear each time I arrive. I feel myself more here. I hear myself more.  Here, I am more… It is also here in Sagada where I want my last days on earth to be. I want my friends and family to all come here and celebrate my departure before sending my ashes off to my other slices of heaven on earth – Batanes, Venice & Paris… But for now, I share this piece of heaven with my loved-ones and friends, enjoying the time left here on earth, before I too become part of the wind.

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images shot in Sagada, Philippines

HAUSBESETZER LABORATORY July 15, 2011

This was an article I wrote for my class, pardon my french, it still needs a lot of work. We were asked to write a news article about anything, some wrote about politics and one wrote about the weather and me, I wrote about Hausbesetzer

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Arurumerci A for the lay-out

WATTA JOY May 3, 2011

  

 

What a joy to feel the sand under my bare feet

  

 

to sip endless fruit shakes by the beach

 

 

to feel the sun slowly baking my skin

 

 

to take a dip in the sparkling sea  

  

 

and watch the sky turn orange-y 

 

HOME IS WHEREVER YOU ARE

 

 

 

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 images shot in Boracay, Philippines

BAGUIO BOGCHIs April 2, 2011

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CAFE BY THE RUINS

 

freshly baked breads - pain chocolat, cinnamon bread, scones, pandesal etc.

breakfast - crispy espada fish, red rice, scrambled eggs

fresh strawberry fondue

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No trip up is complete without dining at Café by the ruins.  I’ve been eating here eversince I can remember. Whether it be breakfast, lunch or dinner, this place has consistently served delectable and satfisfying meals for over 20 years. Halukatdat! It has never ever failed to make my tummy happy  

Café by the Ruins
25 Shuntug Road

 

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HILL STATION  

 

hill station salad - mixed greens, tomatoes, carabao cheese, blueberries, caramelized walnuts with sesame-mirin dressing

fish fillet with buttered crumbs and fries

death by chocolate cake

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I first stumbled upon images of their food online, everything looked so good I could almost taste it… The longing was finally satisfied, my friend Tet and I headed to Hill Station at the newly renovated Casa Vallejo. We ordered the hill station green garden salad which was nice and fresh, the fish fillet with fries was okay but the death by chocolate was to die for. I really like the ambiance of this place and would love to hang out here again with a good book (from next door Mt. Cloud bookshop) while sipping my benguet brew.

Hill Station at Casa Vallejo
Upper Session Road

 

 

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OH MY GULAY (VOCAS) 

 

eggplant parmigiana and dayap iced tea

 

 

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I just can’t leave Yobags without stopping by VOCAS (Victor Oteyza Community Art Space). An out of this world art space inhabited by a vegetarian café called OMG (Oh my Gulay). Craving and hungry for my favorite dish, I already knew what I wanted even without looking at the menu, “Manong, Talong Parmigiana and dayap iced tea please.”  Talagang mapapa-OMG ka sa sarap!

VOCAS – Oh My Gulay
Azotea Building, Session Road

 

 

such is LIFE March 6, 2011

 

 

Things are changing

Life is changing

I AM changing

 

 

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Images shot in Boracay, Philippines

Alone again, naturally… October 14, 2010

 

 

 

I have always loved my own company. I can travel solo, explore the hood on my own, eat by myself, watch a movie (or even a concert)  alone. I think it is important to have this moments of solitude to hear yourself out or even to not think of anything and just be…

I watched Mange, Prie, Amie (Eat, Pray, Love) on my own (second time in Paris). I do this all the time back in Manille but what made this special is that I feel I’ve gotten more at ease with my life here now, comfortable to just go out on my own or just go to the cinema, watch a film and walk home…  But of course coming home to the one you love is something else I am truly grateful that my A understands this side of me and I am happy that we also respect each others space.

Finding peace doesn’t have to be by your lonesome. You can just shut everything out even in the middle of a crowd. Escape in your world even if you are surrounded by noise… You have to find your center to attain peace. To connect to the core despite the chaos. For some it can be putting on an earphone and listening to their mp3 player, reading a book, writing on a journal, people-watching or for some meditating, to each his own…

Enjoying my own company doesn’t mean I don’t appreciate my time with friends, pas de tout, I’m just saying that it is healthy to take time off and be by yourself. As I always say Me-Time is Good-time!

killing time September 1, 2010

 

 

Hanging out in my atelier…

- shooting my skull postcards & knick knacks

- sewing an art-tee for my A while snacking on some wasabi peas

- making this feather thingie for mon chapeau

- la lang, just killing time