Back in BKK

My Fun Trip to Bangkok with My Just as Fun-ny Friends!



No, not them!
But them down here.




I have been to Bangkok countless of times during my 3-year stint with an international men’s shirt brand. After 4 years of hiatus, I visit this city of Tom Yum again and I can’t help but feel at home. It’s like my second home.

But we’re getting ahead of the story. Let’s start where it all started. At the Suvarnabhumi airport



That’s us wide awake and happy at close to midnight (Manila time,11 pm BKK time) except for Yong who seems uncomfortable about something. Notice the LV? I wish it were mine. It matches my shirt, it’s nearest me, therefore it’s mine? Nah, Yong’s.

There’s Rhei going around saying, I don’t need an LV, I have a Prada. And later, she went shopping happy, buying 2 Balenciagas for the price of one.





This is our hotel. Yong shows us what half-body shot means. Who is Yong? You don’t know Yong? Just look for the guy who is only showing half of his body in the pic, rightmost side.





Day 1: Shopping Day
Exploring the city in a water taxi




Water taxi is cheap-cheap as they say. But we realized it’s not a good idea esp. when murky water splashes on you & you are carrying a Fendi or Coach bag! Which happened to us. Ek!

That’s the beauty of Nine West, you’re not so fussy.

Here we are at the most popular shopping mall, MBK!




Look, who we found in BKK!



A cutie! And MJ!



If he was alive today, I don’t think MJ would wear those shoes. Reminds me of my boy classmates' shoes in high school ;p

Why have your picture taken at Siam Tower? Why not?!




Inside Levi’s Store? Why not?!




I think we should name our group, With Cam, Will Smile. But that doesn’t sound like a name of a group. More like a slogan. And that slogan, actually applies to most Pinoys ;p Cheese!



You see? Even at the food court of Siam Paragon, always camera-ready ;p



At the hat store



And inside the van, the next day.



Day 2: Outside the Malls

First stop, Floating Market. (But if truth be told, some got up early for tiangge shopping. Before breakfast, some were already feeling productive.)

But you know what, I smelled something fishy at the Floating Market.

Yong: Fishy? There’s no fish here. Look at the water, no fish would live here.



Me: There it is!

Jane in blue: Who? What? When? Where?

Yong in black: L is for **toot-toot**

Tripod Girl: I think my cam is low bat. Huh? You talking to me?

Keng in half-body shot: #$&^&%*(I don’t speak Thai so I can’t translate.)

Me: I say, fishy!




Evidence no. 1
Love song in the background: “…I feel so real. It’s like a fantasy. Having you next to me…Suddenly, suddenly it’s magic."

But wait, which one is the third wheel?




Tripod Girl?

This should give us a better picture.



TG is all thumbs up! And Ate Rhei seems to approve.

More evidence.

TG, in her tiniest voice: Yong, can you get me longganisa pleeeeeeeeeeease?

Yong, in a manly Dick Paulate voice: Sure.





These barbecued longganissa are distracting me.
Everybody have some first.




Now let’s focus on our love angle.

There you go! Look at TG caressing Yong!!!
But Yong seems naalibadbaran!




Will TG succeed or go home in vain?

Janee decides to record this event.

Edmund decides to shop for more foodie. Love stories doesn’t seem to interest him.

Ate Rhei is all about love, loving her longganisa in skewers.



Yong: Stapeeet, TG! It’s Keng I like.

TG: Okie.

Janee: I knew it!

Manang: speaking in Thai %*&^&)*_ Translated to English: Hmphfft!

Me: Cheese!

So that ends our TG-Yong loveteam story. Boohoohoo!


Let’s just explore the Floating Market instead.

Look they’re selling anything and everything.




Got ya, Ate! See Ate in check shirt? She dipped her foot and washed her hands in the water! Ate, that’s ew!

But then we later saw some other hawkers do the same. They wash their hands, utensils or plate,even their face! in that water!!!




One last shot in our boats.




Kong, not his real name (because I do not know his real name): I don’t get you people. How many pictures should you take in my boat?


Too bad, I didn’t get to meet my Thai friends Pawinee etal because apparently, I texted the wrong no. We only got to speak on the phone on our last day there.


But we made new friends, Pinoy couple who are based in BKK with their sons. They treated us to shabu-shabu dinner




then lunch at their home next day.




Our trip wouldn’t be complete without a visit to Patpong, the city's red light district. I’d love to share what happened inside but I choose not to. Go check it out yourself ;p

the most beautiful place on earth

after 6 years of annual pilgrimage to paradise land, Boracay, I am reposting what I wrote on my first visit to Boracay in 2004.


I will not forget that Friday afternoon as Joana, my friend designer from VH, and I sat on the edge of our seats in a cab in the middle of a monstrous traffic on the way to the airport. While the driver went on chatting dreamily about his beautiful hometown in Iloilo, we had frantic expression all over our faces. Or he probably just acted dumb so he can tell us his story or was just too happy he has “captive” audience. We were sweating not from the heat but from anxiety. The plane will soon take off and we were near yet so far. I was calling on all the gods in heaven but to no avail. The traffic was not moving!

So I prayed that the flight gets delayed. I was seriously contemplating on getting out of the cab and just walk or run the rest of the way. I didn’t realize I spoke my mind out to which the driver said it was still too far. We were at Nichols.

When we finally got to the Centennial airport, we ran from one end to another but couldn’t find our counter. Because, it is already closed! Severe panic time. I ask myself, how many times have I done this with Joana? How many times have we raced in different airports barely catching our breaths to make it in time for boarding. How many times have we told ourselves next time we’d come earlier? We have this habit of
going to the airport with just some allowance for boarding. Who wants to sit at the lounge area for hours? Ergo this, we run in high heels, as we’re fond of wearing, lugging our suitcases behind. But this time we’re prepared for battle, we’re carrying backpacks.

As these thoughts raced my mind and as we frantically ask for help to show us where we can get our boarding passes, everything around us seemed to move in slo-mo. Then I glance back at Joana behind me and notice that her tube top was falling off. I point it out and she stops a while to adjust it while I continue on. We laugh nervously and quicken our pace.

Finally,we find the counter dedicated for latecomers.The staff at the counter gave us stern looks. They reminded us to come early next time. I kept a smile on my face while I silently prayed, please stop the plane and let us board it. It is the LFO
today, the next flight is tomorrow. Good thing, the flight was delayed so we got in! What a relief! I could have kissed that lady even though she was somber and all. We even had some relaxing minutes at the lounge area before finally boarding. Hallelujah, God is good. Oh what can I say, we’re blessed.

Fast forward to Boracay. It’s one beautiful island surrounded by beautiful waters & colorful marine life, inhabited by friendly & golden brown folks, blaring reggae music, colorful drinks, body massage, bikini, sexy bodies, pretty faces, what more to ask for? Welcome to paradise!



We met Claire, my good friend designer from Kamiseta, there who went a day ahead of us and left a day before us. That night, we had a great time at Bom-Bom bar. Great music, friendly people. I loved their vocalist, great voice, smooth & cool.





One of my fave pics, the one I took of Joana.



Next day, I woke up early to watch the most spectacular show on earth. It’s a habit I have, watching sunrise at the beach. I just sat there, enthralled as I watched the most beautiful presentation on the face of the earth. As the golden sun rises, the spectrum of colors magically transforms to a whole new array of colors unfolding right before my very eyes. Wow! What a real treat! No dull moments, every
second the panoramic colors change. Now pink, then green, then purple, yellow, orange. A symphony of Colors. I was awed by The Master at play. I could not help by say a prayer of thanksgiving. It was dazzling. Awesome. Moving. Calming. It gave me sheer joy. Contentment. Which makes you think,life is truly beautiful.



Unfortunately, my digicam did not capture the beauty of the sunrise skies. But you get it, right?

Sophie, My Almost 4-year old Fashionistang Inaanak

While playing in the sand, with slight tilting of head,
Sophie: I like your earrings, Tita.
Sachi: Thank you.

A little later,
Sophie: I like your baaag, Tita.
Sachi: Thank you.

Then,
Sophie: I like your shooooes, Tita.
Sachi: Thank you.

Same day at the mall, looking at the mirror & holding her earrings
Sophie: Do you like my earrings, Tita?
Sachi: Oh yes, it's nice.

At night, back to their house,
Sophie: I like your earrings, Tita.

Then I finally get it, so I said, I like your earrings too. Sophie smiles so sweetly ;p Hay, ang slow ni Tita ;p

Me NaNoWriMo

I officially joined NaNoWriMo last Oct. 26. For those who don't know, it stands for National November Writing Month. For aspiring writers like me, the challenge is to write a novel with 50,000 words from Nov. 1 to Nov. 30. (That's about 1,667 words per day. But my personal daily target is 2000 words per day.) The idea is to write everyday, more of quantity than quality. If interested, check out their website, www.nanowrimo.org.

Daniel, my friends Ricky & Mitzi's 7-year old kid said, "that's a looooottt of words. It's like a million words," with eyes rolling and a funny face. He can't believe why I would do such thing. He even asked, "can you put pictures?" I said yes but it won't count. So he decided not to join ;p Again he asked, am I putting pictures in my story. I said no. He said, "what's a story without pictures?" ;p

I kept telling myself to write down the plot, outline characters etc. but I didn't find time and I started Nov. 1 with just a title, "Noelle" and a plot in my head. After we got back from the cemetery, I surprised myself by finishing 1 chapter with 1,700++ words by 11pm. To date, I have written close to 5K words. 45K to go ;p

richard's story is my story ;p

My first article that came out at Light of Jesus' The PICC Feast Bulletin

Richard's Story

For 15 years, he didn't hear Mass...Now he serves in the Feast Security Ministry...

Richard Go is a dreamer and his dream is big. His dream is to build Dumaguete Feast chapter with his fiancee Marie. Why not, isn’t that what Bro. Bo Sanchez has been teaching us all along, to dream big dreams not just for ourselves but for our country and for God?

He envisions people worshipping God at Dumaguete Feast with a view of the sea. He also sees Feast Manila Bay Worship Leader Bro. Adrian Panganiban in the team, probably leading or mentoring them. He does not see himself leading worship or preaching. He sees himself at the back-end, logistics, security. Something he knows a lot about since he’s part of Security at the Feast Manila Bay at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) right now. This generous outpouring of love and service to God and the Light of Jesus Family stems from his love and thanksgiving to the Lord for what he calls his third life.

Richard was not this enthusiastic about serving God in a faith community. For 15 years he shunned God and did not lay foot in church. What brought about this great turnaround? Read on...

Richard was born on January 26, 1980, as an only child to a Chinese father and Filipina mother. Looking from the outside, his was a happy and normal childhood. On Sundays, the family heard Mass, ate out, watched a movie at Harrison’s and his parents sometimes bought him G.I. Joe toys. He went to a private Catholic school. Things seemed good except that his parents had a lot of fights, sometimes violent, usually about money, which bothered him. Until one day, the unthinkable happened. The family's business closed down and his parents left him to relatives on his father's side. He was only 13 years old.

He calls this his second life. He lived from one relative to another, they were passing him around. He says he was not taken in for free. He had to work for his food, lodging, and schooling. He felt so miserable. He felt unwanted. Starting then, he stored up ill feelings-- anger, hatred, resentment toward his parents, relatives, people -- and God. Every day, he was so tired, that in the evening, he simply dropped on his bed and dozed off.

Strange as it may seem, he felt an angel was with him all those years. "It was some voice in my mind, in times of my confusion," he recalls, "redirecting my plans, my steps."

When he was 19, he couldn’t take anymore of his sorry plight and so he decided to live on his own. He continued to fend for himself and send himself to school. He got into all sorts of odd jobs, worked in a fancy hotel, even through illegal means at one time. But he stressed he was never into drugs. He was into drag racing or partying with friends, surrounded by girls, into drag racing. There were times when he put his life at risk just for the hang of it. He has scars in his body to prove it. One time, he even saved a prominent family from a burning building. He was his own man, he thought to himself. He didn’t answer to anybody. He didn’t need anybody. But really, his self-worth was so low.

Then in 2003, his mom showed up from out of the blue. No drama, no questions asked, no explanation. He went with her and they started their new life together. He was happy somewhat but not completely. His father died that same year. Richard went to his wake out of respect. The thing that nagged him the most -- how his parents managed to go through life without him on their side -- never got answered.

Despite that, two years ago, a series of events led him to become the happy man he is now.

First, he suffered severe diarrhea for three days. He was brought to the hospital and doctors said he contracted the salmonella virus. In the course of those three days, he suffered dehydration and almost died. He also had hallucinations. "I saw an angel," he says. "The same one who must had been with me during the difficult ten years when I was apart from my parents. It was around that time when I started thinking about God."

Next, while recuperating, Richard saw two movies, Forrest Gump and The Passion of Christ. The first made him realize that it is better to follow God than to lead your empty life alone. The second film so moved him that he made a decision to go back to Jesus.

That was a wish that set the universe in action to bring him to what he now calls his third life. First, it so happened that his fiancée Marie regularly attended the Feast, the Sunday prayer gathering of the Light of Jesus Family, a faith community founded by. Bro. Bo Sanchez.

Richard regularly accompanied Marie to the Feast led by Bro. Bo at the Valle Verde Country Club in Pasig City. "But I just waited for her outside the building," Richard now laughs.

Then in October 2009, he found out Fr. Gerry Orbos was celebrating a healing mass at the Feast. He went in and joined Marie. This was the first time he heard Mass in 15 years. Nothing spectacular happened.

But little did he know that God was already working in him. He bought Fr. Gerry’s books and CDs which eventually opened his heart to God’s unconditional love. This time he decided to surrender his life to God. He attended the Feast regularly, taking in the graces of the Holy Mass and the lively worship, and delighting over Bro. Bo’s talks. He even joined a Caring Group and from then on, saw outpouring of blessings. He felt healing inside him, as he slowly let go of his past hurts. His relationship with his fiancée and his mom went from good to great.

By this time he was already working in an information technology company. Following his joining the Feast, he was promoted to a managerial position. It was a mean feat for him since only those with four-year IT degree were considered for such post. His is a two-year diploma. "I believe it was his reward for my service to God and the Light of Jesus," he beams.

"But my greater reward really is having found a family in LOJ who welcomed me no matter of who I was," he added. "My LOJ Caring Group helped me to be closer to God. I feel so much at home with my LOJ family who are the coolest people in the world. When you speak, they listen. If you are broken, they sympathize. When you prosper, they celebrate with you.”

Finally, he enjoins Feast attendees to not just give tithes but to give time as well by serving in the community. This year, Bro. Bo started a Feast at the PICC by the Manila Bay. Richard volunteered as member of the Feast Manila Bay Security Ministry.

"My service every Sunday is a way to start the week right," he says. "I need to do this to glorify God and that I may be blessed and inspired as I go through the humdrum of the work week."

Or you can say, his own little way of securing his place in Heaven.

Gift-Giving Day 10: Silence, Choice of Words, Songs, Spanish Bread

10/21/10 Thursday

Gift of silence to L instead of hurtful words because of her indecisiveness & ... (dot, dot, dot na lang para wag masyadong magkasala ;p) and choice of words for W for emailing me stupid questions without thinking & not referring to previous emails.

MR of a dept. store showed interest in the apparel items I presented therefore I am likely to receive an order. I will know by next week.

I sent a text to Nikki telling her I offered prayer for her little one, I received a prompt thank you.

Heard mass, that will be a gift to myself. Sang during the mass, gift to God? ;p Spanish bread for the streetkid.

I received text from my sister about her birthday & Christmas gifts to me (I won't tell na lang, bigla akong nahiya ;p)& my mom. She's in Dubai and coming home this Dec. This is the longest she's ever stayed in Dubai, 1 year. Normally she comes home after 6 or 8 months only. I have to start buying her stuff too. I've only bought a few pa lang. I like buying her little gifts, a lot of little gifts. She likes it too ;p

Gift-GIving Day 9: Spaghetti, Ice Cream, Prayer, Money

10/20/10 Wednesday

I ate lunch in front of my laptop as I finished the other half of the movie, The Pianist. I know it’s not a good idea to watch it while eating but just the same, I did. I’m concerned that the lead in his solace and desperation did not call to God. How can you survive a tragic event like that and not call on God? I blame the writer/director for that. The Fedex movie, Castaway, is also one movie I recall which troubled me when I saw it because Tom Hanks’ character in his loneliness and despair, did not call the Lord’s Name. How can a man survive a tragedy like that without calling on the Most Powerful Being in the Universe. It’s preposterous.
Anyway, I am glad The Pianist lived. I had to cover my eyes & peek between my fingers at some scenes, kinda scary. Enough of the movie. This is not a movie review.

I went to hear mass at UP & gave money for the offering, my first gift for the day ;p I also offered prayers & lighted a candle as thanksgiving for baby Gabrielle Therese Estrella. On my way to buy veggies for my nilagang baka for tomorrow’s dinner or Friday lunch, I stopped to buy my favorite Pistachio FIC ice cream in cone. After several licks, a little streetgirl came to ask for coins. But seeing my ice cream, she asked for it. Ah, how dare she! I’m not giving her my Pistachio!

Oh but, I asked begrudgingly to check if she really likes it. She nodded, so I gave it to her. I consoled myself that it’s my 3rd gift for the day. While paying for my veggies, there was a donation can at the counter so I dropped a few coins.

I got home & cooked another experimental spaghetti in real tomato & sautéed beef & onion sauce, with basil (greedy green worm’s left-over. I realized why my basil plant's leaves are looking sorry and with holes. I thought it's soem kind of plant disease, yun pala, there's this caterpillar eating it. It's a cocoon now.)

Since it’s Issa’s day off, she was home & awake when I got back. She had no choice but to eat my spaghetti too hehe. Not as tasty as I wanted. While cooking, I panicked and thought I put too much salt & pepper, so I put water which I relaized later I shouldn’t have. There’s my 5th gift, spaghetti for Issa. She said she liked it by the way, except that kulang sa lasa. Why did I put water??? Lesson, in anything even in cooking, it’s never good to panic.

The gifts I received: My family expressed excitement when I texted them about my buying Mod & reading my first article in it. They said they’ll buy copies also, Mamu said 2 pa daw. Not so proud & excited.

I read Jesson’s FB message saying thanks for supporting him for the show. It wasn’t necessary for him to post it but heartwarming just the same.

Rhei booked me for a flight to BKK via PAL, same as their flight so we’re flying together. And at a rate that’s cheaper than what she booked her other 2 friends & cheaper than when I checked last Sat. What’s more, I’ll have Mabuhay Miles credited.

In the middle of the mass, it poured. Uh-oh & I’m wearing my black ribboned shoes. Not meant for rain. And again just as the other night, I ask myself, what was I thinking wearing those shoes on a wet Wednesday. Good thing, I brought my yellow umbrella. Oh, what I can do now but pray to God. I said I don’t know God, how you will do it with this rain right now but can you pls. make sure my shoes don’t get wet. When it was uwian, there was no more ;p My little miracle for the day ;p