Book? Box? Book-a-box!

At first glance, it looks like a vintage book from the 1930s. But once you carry it, it doesn’t weigh much since it’s, tada!, a box! I was attracted to the vintage-y design of the covers plus I love the fact that they’re ‘fun’: pretty boxes posing as books which don’t end up like eye sore!

I put my itouch near the boxes so you get an idea how big they are (1st photo).

Aren’t they just cute? Was able to snatch this at dealdozen.com (which offers a lot of discounted items.) But just a tip. Before clicking the ‘buy’ button on gropoun sites like dealdozen, ensogo etc, make sure you really are getting a “good deal.” I remember I saw a notebook which looked like Lego (the toy) being sold in one of the sites and it was so adorable and nostalgic to look at, I was half tempted to buy it since they say it’s “limited stock.” But I figured I still have a lot of notebooks so I didn’t buy it. The next day, saw the same notebook at a local store for a lower price. So remember, let’s not be too “trigger happy” and just be a tad more careful when it comes to online shopping. I probably should take my own advice. Gah.

Fashion mantra for single ladies (and gents)

Dress up as if you’re meeting the love of your life.* Or anticipating an unintentional, accidental and totally you-wish-you-never-see-your-ex-ever-again-but-then-you-do encounter with the former squeeze.

An extra sweep of lipstick and spray of perfume (even when on the way home) helps too.

* Read that quote somewhere.

What’s your number?

During the workshop that I attended, I got to talk to different people. I love going to workshops like those because it’s an opportunity to just mingle with anyone from all walks of life with different backgrounds. One of the people I met was a Fil-Am guy whom I sat with during the 2-day event. We talked about scriptwriting and just had some friendly chit chat. At the end of the 2nd day, we were saying our goodbyes.

Him: Hey, it was nice meeting you.

Me: You too. And next time, you should be able to speak straight Filipino already. *laughs*

Him: I know. *laughs* I’m just gonna go around one last time to the participants…

Me: Yeah, you should go and build your contacts.

Him: How about you? What’s your contact details?

And that, Pinoys and Pinays, is how you ask for someone’s number. I’m not gonna go as far as say that that’s how you pick up a girl or something like that since ours was just a friendly banter but Filipinos are notorious for beating around the bush and not being “straightforward.”

When Pinoys want to get a girl’s number, they ask the aunt of the cousin of the sister of the brother of their common friend’s uncle who’s friends with the mother of the niece’s father who knows the girl.

I know that doesn’t make sense (you probably read that paragraph twice just to connect everything) but you get the idea. That’s no exaggeration. It’s quite a common scenario with ‘shy’ Filipino guys (& gals). True story.

Pinoys should break out of that ridiculous shell and start manning up and just ask the girl: what’s your number?

Blessed: Red Velvet Cupcakes

Nothing beats baking your own red velvet cupcakes with good friends over great conversations and tons of laughter. #itsagreattimetobealive

Alternative to Starbucks

Why burn your pockets with Starbucks coffee when you can make your own concoction with these cheap new instant coffee packets?

Ok, maybe a cup of Starbucks a week keeps the bad vibes at leak. #whattheheck?!

Oh hey, that rhymed.

Blessed: Today

I’ve realized Ive been such ungrateful for a lot of things for the past few months. I know a lot of us are. But I’m a really ‘sulking,’ moody person most of the time inspite of all the good things in my life right now (a job, a family, even the simple privilege of having wifi). And I feel really bad about it. I mean, how many percent of people actually live comfortable lives? Have loved ones to share a laugh or two? Have dessert on their plates? Have freedom?

Not that much. And I am blessed to be one of those blessed ones. So starting today, I’m adding posts that will be simply entitled “blessed” + whatever thing/ person/ situation/ experience I’m thankful for even in the midst of problems and challenges. It will include everything from big things (like a new car) to simple things (like new shoes) and even abstract things (like finding love in a stranger). It’s somewhat like my personal “thank you” board only online.

And I’m starting today. I’m thankful for today.

What are you thankful for?

Simple joy: chancing upon some B1T1 goods

I’m sure your first reaction upon reading the title was: what the heck is B1T1? It’s Buy 1, Take 1. Get it? B1T1? Ok, that’s lame. Moving forward.

For today’s simple joy, it’s accidentally finding some Buy 1, Take 1 Velveeta cheddar slices and Philadelphia Cream Cheese at the grocery store when all you wanted to buy was a head of lettuce and some cucumber.

So here’s to a month long of cheap and healthy eating of toasted wheat bread with olive based mayo, cheddar cheese slices, jalapeños, cucumbers and tons of lettuce. And maybe a piece of cheesecake for dessert.

Cheers to finding joy in the simplest and maybe sometimes even the silliest things.

TV Writing Workshop by one of CSI’s writers

A few weeks ago, I was invited by the school I teach at if I wanted to attend a free-of-charge TV writing workshop by one of the writers and producers of US television shows Crime Scene Investigation (CSI) New York, Friday Night Lights and Numb3rs Aaron Thomas. As soon as I saw the phrase “CSI writer” and of course the word, “free” I immediately said yes!

I don’t have photos of the 2-day workshop but it was a really small group, maybe around 30 people max and was held at Ateneo de Manila in Rockwell (funny story: I was dead set in going to Ateneo Katipunan. Good thing I checked my email again and found out it was in Makati. Toinks.) Some of the attendees were people I met/ worked with back when I was with ABS-CBN. There were a lot of directors like Lino Cayetano, head writers, executives and theater personalities such as Mae Paner who plays the colorful character of Juana Change (check out her videos and my favorite one, Fixer). One of the participants whom I look up to not only because of his skill but also because of his down-to-earth personality was Ricky Lee. I was half tempted to tell him that I use his book, Trip to Quiapo, as reference for my class. Fan mode on. Hehe.

I’m no CSI fan but anyone who worked in that set or in any set in Hollywood has got to be good. And I was right. I was really impressed with the way Aaron handled the workshop even though some of the attendees clearly weren’t listening to him. He was very concise, clear and straight forward. First, he gave a general overview of the TV writing industry in the US, then we watched a few episodes of CSI which he wrote then went through the script page-by-page. It was so cool reading the script in our hands and seeing them being translated to video with our own eyes. His script was so simple in the sense that not everything was ‘said’ by the characters but at the same time it was complicated because of all the conflicts within the episode. Their style was subtle. Brilliant. Later on, the whole group tried to “break” our own story; that is, we came up with our own Manila version of a CSI episode.

Anyway, I can’t share all of the details of the workshop but I will share a few interesting points I took note of.

1. It costs 1-3M US dollars to produce 1 episode of CSI – That’s like 5++ movies already in the Philippines!

2. Each episode is written for roughly 1 month – which is why I think their shows are always so ‘flawless’ and well-thought of; unlike here, most writers need to come up with a script in less than a week.

3. They have more than 10 people working on an episode, all of whom bring something to the table. Even getting in as an intern in their team is so competitive and not for the faint of heart.

I can’t blame our own industry for, well, for lack of better adjectives, unimpressive, full of nonsense and dumbing-down-the-audience shows but I still hope a new generation of entertainers will rise up soon. I do believe we still have a lot of talented writers and directors. I dont have a fave teleserye but do the films Rizal, One More Chance, Bluemoon and A Love Story ring a bell? More brilliant Pinoy masterpieces please!

DIY: From slippers to accessory

DIY. Do-it-yourself. This is actually my first DIY project. OK, I admit, I didn’t do it myself per se. It was my concept then I just asked our helper to implement it. Haha! Technically it was my idea still

Anyway, I had a few beads left from my now defunct Bangkok slippers thanks to a little playful creature, just like the one below, so I decided to utilize them. Instead of throwing them out, I had our helper sew the beads together then I bought black and red laces, braided them and voila! Instant old-new statement necklace.

On another slightly related note, I think our countrymen should be more DIYers. I may sound like a hypocrite (but J, you didn’t even sew the necklace!) but I think we should start bussing our own tables in fast food chains (my family does exercise cleaning our own mess most of the times), filling up our own car gas tanks, painting our own walls, building our own cabinets and so on and so forth. I understand that labor here is so cheap, you can probably pay someone to scratch your own butt if you wanted to (we’re that spoiled). Plus the fact that they say we need to provide jobs for Pinoys, hence, these types of work. I guess in some ways, Pinoys are DIYers eg. taking justice into their own hands, gluing clothes even if there’s a lot of holes, filling hungry tummies with rugby when government won’t provide food for them etc. OK, those are bad examples. I know Pinoys have a lot of good DIYs like cooking own food, washing own cars etc.

Ever notice we dont have that much DIY stores like Ikea or other specialty assemble-it-yourself shops as much as in countries abroad? Wouldn’t it be nice if we do most things by ourselves if need be? Become more independent? This deserves a lot more debate but I’m too lazy to do that so I’ll end with a period.

And yes, I scheduled this post on Labor Day.

draw something bandwagon…

I was once a “draw something” addict (a game for iPhone/iPad users). I am now rehabilitated. Guess which character my last, todo-effort drawings is…

Yeah, she was once my superhero. Wanted to be like her, actually. Then I grew up.