There's a growing interest in organic things these days. Here in Manila, people are more and more into all natural things. Take soap for example. There are entrepreneurs selling home made soaps sans the chemicals. I kind of got interested in these things when my aunt mentioned this to me over the weekend. We also happened to drop by the Legaspi Sunday market the other day. There was a stall by the entrance selling organic soaps, shampoos, conditioners. I did buy a 1000 ml bottle of Gugo shampoo. I got it for only Php 300 and I was just curious how different it was from the commercial shampoos. There was a bark inside the shampoo and I presume there were no chemicals and it was made from natural ingredients sourced from Mt. Banahaw. I did try this product once and it was good.
Having said all of these, I also think that we should support locally made products. That's how we grow the local small scale businesses. I believe that everything starts out small and if we do encourage budding entrepreneurs, that's how we really move the economy forward.
I wouldn't mind incorporating the Filipiniana look and feel in my future product concepts. I was actually in Divisoria this afternoon sourcing for raw materials and I saw locally made products that were of good quality and yet it was reasonably priced. It'll be such a brilliant idea to use what has always been familiar to us but presented in a different way.
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Monday, September 29, 2008
Advance Fondant and Gum Paste Course
For those who want to learn advanced cake decorating, this is your chance. If you want to learn how to make those fancy draping around wedding cakes or for those who want to do whimsical cakes (like those inspired by Dr. Seuss), this is the class for you (and of course for me! Yipee!). This will be my last course in cake decorating after which I'm ready to create my own cakes.
Instructor: Leni Reynoso Araullo
Date: October 9, 2008 Time: 9:00 am - 5:00 pm
Price: Php 12500.00
ADVANCE FONDANT & GUM PASTE FLOWERS COURSE COLETTE PETERS & NICHOLAS LODGE STYLE
8 LESSONS / PHP 12,500.00 October 9, 14, 16, 21, 23, 28, 30 and November 4.
Including ingredients, lunch, snacks. Students are requested to bring their own paintbrushes, scissors, tray or box, fondant cutters, tools, styrofoam. (Also available for sale at the Culinary Studio). Students will learn Colette's style of cake decorating and Nicholas' technique in gum paste flowers and arrangements such as cattleya, calla lily, tulips and many more! Fabulous cakes made easy with exact recipes!
For your inquiries, please contact:
Sylvia Reynoso Gala Culinary Arts Studio
Address: 181 Shaw Blvd. Pasig City
Contact Nos: 671-4472 or 671-4489
Instructor: Leni Reynoso Araullo
Date: October 9, 2008 Time: 9:00 am - 5:00 pm
Price: Php 12500.00
ADVANCE FONDANT & GUM PASTE FLOWERS COURSE COLETTE PETERS & NICHOLAS LODGE STYLE
8 LESSONS / PHP 12,500.00 October 9, 14, 16, 21, 23, 28, 30 and November 4.
Including ingredients, lunch, snacks. Students are requested to bring their own paintbrushes, scissors, tray or box, fondant cutters, tools, styrofoam. (Also available for sale at the Culinary Studio). Students will learn Colette's style of cake decorating and Nicholas' technique in gum paste flowers and arrangements such as cattleya, calla lily, tulips and many more! Fabulous cakes made easy with exact recipes!
For your inquiries, please contact:
Sylvia Reynoso Gala Culinary Arts Studio
Address: 181 Shaw Blvd. Pasig City
Contact Nos: 671-4472 or 671-4489
Sunday, September 28, 2008
Younger Men with Older Women
Ma's cousin, Aunt Jiji is here in Manila visiting my family. She happens to need an authenticated copy of her birth certificate from NSO and she had to fly all the way from Cambodia to appear in person before the DFA. (I didn't know it was that complicated to have something authenticated.)
We were way to Greenbelt 3 today for the 10:30 AM Mass and we were in the car when our conversation turned to the topic of younger men dating older women. The long and short of our discussion ended with Demi Moore and Ashton Kutcher. I don't exactly know what makes their relationship click. Maybe the older woman is more mature. Maybe the older woman wants a younger man to be with so it's fun. Maybe couples with age gaps of more than 15 years enjoy each other more than couples who are of the same age. I don't want to go into specifics and mundane conclusions either as my blog site is for general patronage. I just don't really know. So, this is how we ended our conversation. It's just a plain and simple conclusion.
Auntie Jiji: Nowadays, it's ok for older women to date younger men.
me: Whew! (I heaved a sigh of relief with a silly grin on my face.)
Then Auntie turns to me and started laughing and we repeatedly had high fives. I think that thought is kind of comforting for me to know now that I'm turning 32 and still counting.
We were way to Greenbelt 3 today for the 10:30 AM Mass and we were in the car when our conversation turned to the topic of younger men dating older women. The long and short of our discussion ended with Demi Moore and Ashton Kutcher. I don't exactly know what makes their relationship click. Maybe the older woman is more mature. Maybe the older woman wants a younger man to be with so it's fun. Maybe couples with age gaps of more than 15 years enjoy each other more than couples who are of the same age. I don't want to go into specifics and mundane conclusions either as my blog site is for general patronage. I just don't really know. So, this is how we ended our conversation. It's just a plain and simple conclusion.
Auntie Jiji: Nowadays, it's ok for older women to date younger men.
me: Whew! (I heaved a sigh of relief with a silly grin on my face.)
Then Auntie turns to me and started laughing and we repeatedly had high fives. I think that thought is kind of comforting for me to know now that I'm turning 32 and still counting.
Saturday, September 27, 2008
Launching of My Designer Cookies
I'd like to invite all of you to the launching of the designer cookie collections which my sister and I designed. This new product will still be under our dessert name - Sweet Success. I'm very excited about this and I've been mostly spending the past weeks working on the designs and marketing concepts. It gets better and better everyday. It is always a eureka for me. I've been sleeping late the past few days and it's a happy kind of stress. We will be dressing up our booth and we do have a theme. (I still haven't decided if I'll be dressed in a costume on the day itself.) I will only be posting pictures of the cookies after the event so as not to pre-empt the launching.
Here are the details:
Date: October 26, 2008 (Sunday)
Time: 10 AM to 6 PM
Venue: Isla Ballroom, Edsa Shangri-la
Event Name: The 7th Kiddie Karnival Fair and Halloween Party
You can avail of the tickets from the Events Management at 636-9063 to 9074. Globe subscribers will get a discount on tickets and expect lots of freebies. We're also giving out free designer cookies on the day itself. Please bring your kids, brothers, sisters, nephews, nieces, grandchildren and anybody who has a child in them. See you! :-D
Thursday, September 25, 2008
Crazy Daisies Cake
Fun, fun, fun.
It was the last day of my basic fondant class and I made a cake with a daisy bouquet. I was only given a day to assemble my cake so I spent Wednesday afternoon till evening cutting out daisies and my other decor. I had a blast doing my final project. The picture at the bottom is my mom's cake. She had a different design and she was really happy about it. Everything you see on the cake is made of sugar (obviously except for the aluminum pot, stems and the cake board hehe.)
It was the last day of my basic fondant class and I made a cake with a daisy bouquet. I was only given a day to assemble my cake so I spent Wednesday afternoon till evening cutting out daisies and my other decor. I had a blast doing my final project. The picture at the bottom is my mom's cake. She had a different design and she was really happy about it. Everything you see on the cake is made of sugar (obviously except for the aluminum pot, stems and the cake board hehe.)
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Rainy Day Realizations
It was raining when I met Riza and we were seated near La Salle's ampitheater. There were a lot of greens around and I could hear the pitter patter of the rain on the rooftop. I had wonderful realizations about life and God during my one hour conversation.
1. God is everywhere. He communicates to us in many ways - events, nature, music, family, friends.
2. He is kind and understanding. Nobody is perfect and He accepts us for who we are. I think it was just me being too tough on myself that I had a hard time grasping my spirituality years before.
3. When He said that ask and we shall receive, I initially thought it was about me asking for material things and other blessings. It just hit me that what we really ask for are graces. Grace is such an important thing and I can't exactly describe how it is given but it does wonders in my life. There are different graces that God gifts us with and it is when our hearts are open that He comes into our life.
4. I see the future. There is a future and I look forward to it. In fact, I'm excited.
5. With Him, there is less worrying and fearing about things that don't even come to reality. Had I known the journey would be much fun with Him, I should have gone with the flow earlier in life but no regrets. I have more appreciation now of what I have.
6. I am blessed because He came into my life and changed it dramatically. There are still times that I go through stress and disappointments but what makes the difference is that I'm able to easily steer my thoughts away from negative things.
A rainy day is nonetheless a blessing. It was when it rained that I realized I am blessed. I'm just happy about how my life is going now. :-)
1. God is everywhere. He communicates to us in many ways - events, nature, music, family, friends.
2. He is kind and understanding. Nobody is perfect and He accepts us for who we are. I think it was just me being too tough on myself that I had a hard time grasping my spirituality years before.
3. When He said that ask and we shall receive, I initially thought it was about me asking for material things and other blessings. It just hit me that what we really ask for are graces. Grace is such an important thing and I can't exactly describe how it is given but it does wonders in my life. There are different graces that God gifts us with and it is when our hearts are open that He comes into our life.
4. I see the future. There is a future and I look forward to it. In fact, I'm excited.
5. With Him, there is less worrying and fearing about things that don't even come to reality. Had I known the journey would be much fun with Him, I should have gone with the flow earlier in life but no regrets. I have more appreciation now of what I have.
6. I am blessed because He came into my life and changed it dramatically. There are still times that I go through stress and disappointments but what makes the difference is that I'm able to easily steer my thoughts away from negative things.
A rainy day is nonetheless a blessing. It was when it rained that I realized I am blessed. I'm just happy about how my life is going now. :-)
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
11th to 20th Commandments
I got this email from Pa and it's worth sharing. For someone like me who used to worry and fear so many things, this is a good reminder. It helps when you consciously steer yourself away from things that won't do you good. Life is short. I should enjoy it. So should you.
11th. Thou shalt not worry, for worry is the most unproductive of all human activities.
12th. Thou shalt not be fearful, for most of the things we fear never come to pass.
13th. Thou shalt not cross bridges before you come to them, for no one has yet succeeded in accomplishing this.
14th. Thou shalt handle only one problem at a time, and leave the others to the Lord until their turn comes up.
15th. Thou shalt not take troubles to bed with you, for they make very poor bedfellows.
16th. Thou shalt not try to carry the problems of the world on your shoulders, for nobody (except for One) has a back that is broad enough.
17th. Thou shalt be a good listener, for God often speaks to us through the mouths of others.
18th. Thou shall not try to relive yesterday; for good or ill, it is forever gone. Live in the now and rejoice in it.
19th. Thou shalt firmly dismiss feelings of frustration, for 90% of it is rooted in self-pity and will interfere with positive action.
20th. Thou shalt count thy blessings, never overlooking the smallest, for our biggest blessings are composed of many small ones.
11th. Thou shalt not worry, for worry is the most unproductive of all human activities.
12th. Thou shalt not be fearful, for most of the things we fear never come to pass.
13th. Thou shalt not cross bridges before you come to them, for no one has yet succeeded in accomplishing this.
14th. Thou shalt handle only one problem at a time, and leave the others to the Lord until their turn comes up.
15th. Thou shalt not take troubles to bed with you, for they make very poor bedfellows.
16th. Thou shalt not try to carry the problems of the world on your shoulders, for nobody (except for One) has a back that is broad enough.
17th. Thou shalt be a good listener, for God often speaks to us through the mouths of others.
18th. Thou shall not try to relive yesterday; for good or ill, it is forever gone. Live in the now and rejoice in it.
19th. Thou shalt firmly dismiss feelings of frustration, for 90% of it is rooted in self-pity and will interfere with positive action.
20th. Thou shalt count thy blessings, never overlooking the smallest, for our biggest blessings are composed of many small ones.
Monday, September 22, 2008
The Clutter
I'm reading less and less of the newspaper everyday and I've been zoned out for more than a month now. Learning cake decorating and the basics of baking takes so much time. A lot of work is put into research, practice, conceptualization and sourcing of materials. While I'm doing all of these, I noticed that the clutter around me is increasing. (Remember, I'm a self professed obsessive compulsive person.) While for others, it may not be considered clutter, for me it is. The rule is simple: If it wasn't there before and it's sitting there now gathering dust, I consider it clutter. If something is not bundled and organized in my expandable files or clear book, it needs to be sorted out.
I have to allocate a day or two to sort my things out. These things range from:
1. brochures I've gathered from my trips abroad and domestically - I plan to file it by country so if I do want to return there sometime in the future, I can always look through my files. Who knows, someone maybe able to use it too.
2. books that I have to read - I usually place my books in a basket near the foot of my bed. Just in case I feel like reading a novel or a self help book, I have several books to choose from.
3. references, articles - gym class schedule, recipes, directory of suppliers and so on and so forth
4. pictures - even these need to be placed in a photo album
5. finance files - I keep an Excel file where I input all my daily expenses. This is how I keep track of where my money goes and how much I'm able to save. I'm quite poor in updating it and I resolve to be better in managing my finances. I better be. There has got to be a smarter way for me to monitor it.
I only have less than a month to accomplish the so many things I want to do. Whew, it can be such a daunting task to put up with my being OC. On the other hand, it does pay to be really organized. It saves me time in finding what I'm looking for.
I have to allocate a day or two to sort my things out. These things range from:
1. brochures I've gathered from my trips abroad and domestically - I plan to file it by country so if I do want to return there sometime in the future, I can always look through my files. Who knows, someone maybe able to use it too.
2. books that I have to read - I usually place my books in a basket near the foot of my bed. Just in case I feel like reading a novel or a self help book, I have several books to choose from.
3. references, articles - gym class schedule, recipes, directory of suppliers and so on and so forth
4. pictures - even these need to be placed in a photo album
5. finance files - I keep an Excel file where I input all my daily expenses. This is how I keep track of where my money goes and how much I'm able to save. I'm quite poor in updating it and I resolve to be better in managing my finances. I better be. There has got to be a smarter way for me to monitor it.
I only have less than a month to accomplish the so many things I want to do. Whew, it can be such a daunting task to put up with my being OC. On the other hand, it does pay to be really organized. It saves me time in finding what I'm looking for.
Saturday, September 20, 2008
Bejewelled Cookies
My whole day was spent at the baking room decorating cookies. With the intricate designs I had in mind, it took time to finish a batch of cookies. Since I had a handful of aqua blue royal icing, I used this to decorate. Nevertheless, I was happy with the results. I call them my bejewelled cookies and this is my signature look. I draw inspiration from different patterns and I make my own designs. I think I found a new career as a cookie artist. :-)
Friday, September 19, 2008
My Dream Came True
Something great happened today. I can't go into specifics as I want to relish the experience of an answered prayer. I am happy and I feel victorious. For all the searching and finding for the right path, today was a confirmation of where the future takes me. It is more than what I have prayed for. As I write this blog, I'm still awed by the gift I have received. I have never imagined that He will generously gift me with such.
I'm pasting Abba's song I Have A Dream and I love this song. It's not just because I watched Mamma Mia the movie last Sunday (yes it was that late). I believe in my dreams, I believe in angels and I believe in Him. His gift meant that I have finally crossed the stream. It was all about things happening in His own time. Thank you!
I'm pasting Abba's song I Have A Dream and I love this song. It's not just because I watched Mamma Mia the movie last Sunday (yes it was that late). I believe in my dreams, I believe in angels and I believe in Him. His gift meant that I have finally crossed the stream. It was all about things happening in His own time. Thank you!
I HAVE A DREAM
I have a dream, a song to sing
To help me cope with anything
If you see the wonder of a fairy tale
You can take the future even if you fail
I believe in angels
Something good in everything I see
I believe in angels
When I know the time is right for me
I’ll cross the stream - I have a dream
I have a dream, a fantasy
To help me through reality
And my destination makes it worth the while
Pushing through the darkness still another mile
I believe in angels
Something good in everything I see
I believe in angels
When I know the time is right for me
I’ll cross the stream - I have a dream
Thursday, September 18, 2008
Floral Challenge
I think I had a nosebleed. Today is the first day of my basic fondant and gum paste cake decorating class. For those who are not familiar what these are, fondant is the kind of icing used to cover cakes. It's those really smooth ones you see in local bake shops. Gum paste on the other hand is the material used to make life like flowers. It's similar to clay.
There were twelve students in class and my mom is my classmate. How cool is that? Anyway as I was saying about my nosebleed, doing life like flowers isn't easy. Take for example a carnation. I couldn't figure out how to make it look real while my seatmate did it right the first time. Huhu. :-( There was just too much to do before the paste dries out. I had to score the petals and sort of make the petals look tattered. After which I had to roll out another paste for the second layer of of petals. Sigh.
This whole exercise is challenging me and I was thinking, maybe this is my perfectionist side crying out loud - I have to do this right and it has to be done perfectly! Good thing I was able to steer my thoughts away from my perfectionist tendencies. Well on Monday I'll be practicing at home so when I get to class on Tuesday, I won't have another nosebleed.
P.S. I will post pictures of my gum paste flowers next week. Abangan!
There were twelve students in class and my mom is my classmate. How cool is that? Anyway as I was saying about my nosebleed, doing life like flowers isn't easy. Take for example a carnation. I couldn't figure out how to make it look real while my seatmate did it right the first time. Huhu. :-( There was just too much to do before the paste dries out. I had to score the petals and sort of make the petals look tattered. After which I had to roll out another paste for the second layer of of petals. Sigh.
This whole exercise is challenging me and I was thinking, maybe this is my perfectionist side crying out loud - I have to do this right and it has to be done perfectly! Good thing I was able to steer my thoughts away from my perfectionist tendencies. Well on Monday I'll be practicing at home so when I get to class on Tuesday, I won't have another nosebleed.
P.S. I will post pictures of my gum paste flowers next week. Abangan!
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
A Time for Prayer
I met Riza, my retreat guide in La Salle today. We chose a quiet spot in the campus and it was a quiet one at a corner near a pocket garden. If my memory serves me right, I got to visit my alma mater a couple of years back for an exhibit. Today, I am back and the circumstances are different.
The one hour sharing about my spiritual journey was very touching. The past week's prayer experience was calming and enlightening for me. He was just there the whole time. I just felt His presence and I still do. I cannot stop talking about how my life has changed since I started to pray. The blessings are overwhelming! Miracles do happen. 0:-)
For the coming week, I have to read on several scriptural teachings on prayer. The theme is about learning to pray - being a listener - putting discipline into my efforts. The grace to be asked is for God to teach me the attitudes and practices that will help me become a better listener of His word. The list of scriptures can be read over a period of one week. This is not a race and I can work at my own pace. There are several things that should also be pondered during the coming week.
What would be a good rhythm of periods of prayer throughout the week for me?
What time in the day is the best space for prayer?
What do I have to sacrifice to be able to have space for prayer?
Where is the most conducive place for my daily prayer?
It takes sometime to get used to this new way of praying but it does help and so far, I'm enjoying the peace it brings into my life. I hope your prayers also heal you and bring you closer to Him.
The one hour sharing about my spiritual journey was very touching. The past week's prayer experience was calming and enlightening for me. He was just there the whole time. I just felt His presence and I still do. I cannot stop talking about how my life has changed since I started to pray. The blessings are overwhelming! Miracles do happen. 0:-)
For the coming week, I have to read on several scriptural teachings on prayer. The theme is about learning to pray - being a listener - putting discipline into my efforts. The grace to be asked is for God to teach me the attitudes and practices that will help me become a better listener of His word. The list of scriptures can be read over a period of one week. This is not a race and I can work at my own pace. There are several things that should also be pondered during the coming week.
What would be a good rhythm of periods of prayer throughout the week for me?
What time in the day is the best space for prayer?
What do I have to sacrifice to be able to have space for prayer?
Where is the most conducive place for my daily prayer?
It takes sometime to get used to this new way of praying but it does help and so far, I'm enjoying the peace it brings into my life. I hope your prayers also heal you and bring you closer to Him.
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
My Wedding Cake
Today was the last day of my Master Course in Cake Decorating. I chose a wedding cake with pink flowers cascading on one side as my final project. Besides the fact that I love the color pink, I love details and this is really where I can show my craftsmanship. It took me three days to complete this two-tiered wedding cake. Initially, I spent one day icing the cake as I couldn't quite figure out how to smoothen it. I also wasn't able to figure out the correct consistency of the icing so being the perfectionist that I am, I didn't stop mixing my icing until I got the consistency I wanted. Then last Saturday, I spent one whole day piping roses in different sizes. Finally, on the third day (which is today), I dotted my cake and assembled everything. Dotting the cake alone took me five hours and I'm not complaining. This is what I love to do and this is my labor of love. This is not where my classes end. I'm taking two more courses - basic and advanced fondant.
The feeling is just indescribable for me when I saw my wedding cake. I just know I've found my passion in life. It makes me happy and I'm always inspired to learn and create cakes, cookies or whatever desserts I can decorate.
Sunday, September 14, 2008
Just a Matter of Time
It all happened at Bizu when I was enjoying my desserts this afternoon. Our guest A, Orie and I had a wonderful conversation about life and timing. Another realization dawned on me. Everything has its own time as they say and I do believe it. This mantra is resounding in every aspect of my life now and I believe in it.
It's just a matter of time when:
I will be back in the corporate world.
I will an expert in cake decorating.
I will be managing my own business.
I will grow deeper in my faith.
I will keep the habit of going to Mass every Sunday.
I will excellently (not perfectly) balance my life.
I will go back to Europe again and travel to new places.
I will learn to forgive.
I will be paid double for my trouble.
I have started so many life changing things since I changed directions and I know I'm on my way to something greater. I know what I want this time around. The process of weeding and pruning my rough edges has started and I'm happy with my "transformation" both inside and out. There is a higher quality into my life and everything just makes sense. Finally it does. I remain unfazed through it all. After all that has been said and done, the victory is mine simply because I am protected and guided by Him.
Yesterday is history and tomorrow is a mystery. Today is a gift that's why it's called the Present. I live it because it's all just a matter of time. Have a great week ahead. Stay happy! :-)
It's just a matter of time when:
I will be back in the corporate world.
I will an expert in cake decorating.
I will be managing my own business.
I will grow deeper in my faith.
I will keep the habit of going to Mass every Sunday.
I will excellently (not perfectly) balance my life.
I will go back to Europe again and travel to new places.
I will learn to forgive.
I will be paid double for my trouble.
I have started so many life changing things since I changed directions and I know I'm on my way to something greater. I know what I want this time around. The process of weeding and pruning my rough edges has started and I'm happy with my "transformation" both inside and out. There is a higher quality into my life and everything just makes sense. Finally it does. I remain unfazed through it all. After all that has been said and done, the victory is mine simply because I am protected and guided by Him.
Yesterday is history and tomorrow is a mystery. Today is a gift that's why it's called the Present. I live it because it's all just a matter of time. Have a great week ahead. Stay happy! :-)
Saturday, September 13, 2008
Hundred and One Things To Do
My mind is running a mental list of things to do. I need to get it off my mind so I can peacefully call it a night. Let me see.
1. I have to entertain A this weekend.
2. I have to make sure my icing flowers dry up in time for Tuesday's final cake decorating project.
3. I have to buy plastic drawers on Monday for my icing flowers so they are kept in good condition.
4. I have to keep up with the assigned daily Bible readings and find an alert time for prayer and reflection.
5. I have to finish my daily spiritual journals so I can show my retreat guide how I've progressed this week.
6. I have to practice decorating in time for the kiddie fair end of October. Yes we're one of the exhibitors. Will tell everyone about it when I have all the details.
7. I have to prepare the requirements for our business to join an online group of bakers. This should help me network and reach more clients.
8. I have to also complete the things I need for my advance cake decorating class. That's next week.
9. I have a derma consultation on Monday. I'm trying something vain - it's not lipo, rhinoplasty or anything invasive. Besides, I don't need those anyway! :-p
10. Lastly, I have to see my retreat guide next week.
So whoever said that being in between jobs is boring? It's not. I always have my hands full with something. Night!
1. I have to entertain A this weekend.
2. I have to make sure my icing flowers dry up in time for Tuesday's final cake decorating project.
3. I have to buy plastic drawers on Monday for my icing flowers so they are kept in good condition.
4. I have to keep up with the assigned daily Bible readings and find an alert time for prayer and reflection.
5. I have to finish my daily spiritual journals so I can show my retreat guide how I've progressed this week.
6. I have to practice decorating in time for the kiddie fair end of October. Yes we're one of the exhibitors. Will tell everyone about it when I have all the details.
7. I have to prepare the requirements for our business to join an online group of bakers. This should help me network and reach more clients.
8. I have to also complete the things I need for my advance cake decorating class. That's next week.
9. I have a derma consultation on Monday. I'm trying something vain - it's not lipo, rhinoplasty or anything invasive. Besides, I don't need those anyway! :-p
10. Lastly, I have to see my retreat guide next week.
So whoever said that being in between jobs is boring? It's not. I always have my hands full with something. Night!
Friday, September 12, 2008
Manila Manila
We have a foreigner guest, A, staying with us for less than a week. Since my brother couldn't entertain her due to his busy schedule, the rest of the family was tasked to take care of her. I've lived in Philippines all my life and I couldn't quite decide where to take A considering that an out of town trip wouldn't be possible given her short stay. Here are a few of the things we did and what we will be doing in the next coming days.
1. A visit to Intramuros - The fortress is historical and there are several places to go to inside the walls - churches, casas, ruins and parks. Today, Ma and I brought A to the walled city and we hired a kalesa to take us around. There are kalesas for rent and the kuchero was even trained by the Department of Tourism to explain the sights around Intramuros. For a one hour ride, we paid Php 250 each. Not bad. He even spoke in English.
2. A taste of Filipino food - Always, always, we bring a visitor to have a taste of our local cuisine. But of course, it'll never be in carinderias! This evening, my family brought A to Recipes in Shangri-la Mall. We've taken her to Cafe Juanita before so it was best to bring her some place else.
3. A trip to Ayala Museum - I've seen the permanent exhibit Gold of Ancestors at the top floor and it's amazing. The collection made me really proud of my Filipino heritage and even centuries ago, I would say our ancestors' skills in jewelry making was advanced. Ayala Museum has several floors and I was also able to see their other collections including dioramas detailing Philippine history.
4. Lunch at People's Palace - I'm crazy about Thai food and there's one excellent resto in Greenbelt 3. People's Palace. This posh resto has a high ceiling and elegant interiors. I know this part of my itinerary doesn't fit quite well with my supposedly ala Wow Philippines itinerary but I just want A to see Greenbelt (it also happens to be my favorite place on earth). People's Palace is a bit pricey but it's worth it.
5. Support Reportory Philippines - Ma and I are thinking of bringing A to watch a stage play. Though the story is that of Mulan, it would be wise to showcase Filipino talent and how we can stage world class plays. Had I known earlier, I would have bought tickets for West Side Story. I do want to watch it too.
6. A trip to 168 - There is nothing Filipino about 168. The products are all from China but what is good about this place is that one can buy pasalubong at a very cheap price. There are a lot of good finds mostly novelty items. Maybe A can find something nice for friends and family. On another note, I did also bring A to a handicraft store in Intramuros but she didn't buy anything.
I would love to bring A to cultural shows but for now, these are all I could think of as the Little Ambassador of the Philippines. I shall be doing more entertaining in the days to come.
Happy weekend everyone! :-)
1. A visit to Intramuros - The fortress is historical and there are several places to go to inside the walls - churches, casas, ruins and parks. Today, Ma and I brought A to the walled city and we hired a kalesa to take us around. There are kalesas for rent and the kuchero was even trained by the Department of Tourism to explain the sights around Intramuros. For a one hour ride, we paid Php 250 each. Not bad. He even spoke in English.
2. A taste of Filipino food - Always, always, we bring a visitor to have a taste of our local cuisine. But of course, it'll never be in carinderias! This evening, my family brought A to Recipes in Shangri-la Mall. We've taken her to Cafe Juanita before so it was best to bring her some place else.
3. A trip to Ayala Museum - I've seen the permanent exhibit Gold of Ancestors at the top floor and it's amazing. The collection made me really proud of my Filipino heritage and even centuries ago, I would say our ancestors' skills in jewelry making was advanced. Ayala Museum has several floors and I was also able to see their other collections including dioramas detailing Philippine history.
4. Lunch at People's Palace - I'm crazy about Thai food and there's one excellent resto in Greenbelt 3. People's Palace. This posh resto has a high ceiling and elegant interiors. I know this part of my itinerary doesn't fit quite well with my supposedly ala Wow Philippines itinerary but I just want A to see Greenbelt (it also happens to be my favorite place on earth). People's Palace is a bit pricey but it's worth it.
5. Support Reportory Philippines - Ma and I are thinking of bringing A to watch a stage play. Though the story is that of Mulan, it would be wise to showcase Filipino talent and how we can stage world class plays. Had I known earlier, I would have bought tickets for West Side Story. I do want to watch it too.
6. A trip to 168 - There is nothing Filipino about 168. The products are all from China but what is good about this place is that one can buy pasalubong at a very cheap price. There are a lot of good finds mostly novelty items. Maybe A can find something nice for friends and family. On another note, I did also bring A to a handicraft store in Intramuros but she didn't buy anything.
I would love to bring A to cultural shows but for now, these are all I could think of as the Little Ambassador of the Philippines. I shall be doing more entertaining in the days to come.
Happy weekend everyone! :-)
Thursday, September 11, 2008
In the IC Room
There I was quietly sitting on the sofa waiting for my retreat guide Riza. It was my first meeting with her and this happened on a rainy Wednesday afternoon. She smiled when she saw me and she directed me to the IC Room. IC stands for Individual Consultation. It's a small tidy room overlooking the gardens and there was a chair and sofa and a table. On top of the table was a crucifix and a candle. The room was conducive for a heart to heart conversation and instantly, I felt relaxed and calm. The IC Room is where meetings between retreatants and the guide were held.
The first of the series of 14 consultation meetings started with a prayer which was led by Riza. It has been a while since I've been in a situation like this - in prayer and opening myself up with a "stranger". The next hour brought me back to the past and it was a very good recollection of moments when I was struggling with my faith. Riza listened intently to everything that I said and threw questions at me to guide me through my spiritual journey. As I recalled those crucial moments in my life, I felt very grateful that even during those moments when I was spiritually lost, He was there.
My life is a series of events and they are never fragmented. One thing leads to another and it forms part of the bigger picture. Wherever I am today, the journey started as early as 1994. Fourteen years later, here I am, recalling the past and how I arrived to make it to the IC Room. I was truly amazed at how He has always been there even when I thought He wasn't. I was moved to tears but they were tears of joy upon realizing that I am guided by Him. Nothing can ever describe the peace that I felt during that one hour in the IC Room. I know that as I closed the meeting with a spontaneous prayer, He was there. O:-)
The first of the series of 14 consultation meetings started with a prayer which was led by Riza. It has been a while since I've been in a situation like this - in prayer and opening myself up with a "stranger". The next hour brought me back to the past and it was a very good recollection of moments when I was struggling with my faith. Riza listened intently to everything that I said and threw questions at me to guide me through my spiritual journey. As I recalled those crucial moments in my life, I felt very grateful that even during those moments when I was spiritually lost, He was there.
My life is a series of events and they are never fragmented. One thing leads to another and it forms part of the bigger picture. Wherever I am today, the journey started as early as 1994. Fourteen years later, here I am, recalling the past and how I arrived to make it to the IC Room. I was truly amazed at how He has always been there even when I thought He wasn't. I was moved to tears but they were tears of joy upon realizing that I am guided by Him. Nothing can ever describe the peace that I felt during that one hour in the IC Room. I know that as I closed the meeting with a spontaneous prayer, He was there. O:-)
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
Staying Young and Happy
I got this email from my sister and I loved it. Makes a lot of sense and it deserves a space in my blog. I believe in being happy and as I said before, this life is all I ever have and I'm living it to the fullest.
We all need to read this one over and over until it becomes part of who we are!
1. Try everything twice. On Madams tombstone (of Whelan's and Madam) she said she wanted this epitaph: Tried everything twice...loved it both times!
- I wouldn't mind traveling to the same place twice most especially if it's Europe. Would love to be back there.
2. Keep only cheerful friends. The grouches pull you down. (keep this in mind if you are one of those grouches)
- As I grew older, I've learned to weed out people who don't do me any good. I really value those who are true.
3. Keep learning : Learn more about the computer, crafts, gardening, whatever. Never let the brain get idle. "An idle mind is the devil's workshop." And the devil's name is Alzheimer's!
- Never hurts to learn a new hobby. Might just have the hidden talent for it.
4. Enjoy the simple things.
- I've always believed in the basics. Nothing fancy. Just downright fun and nothing complicated.
5. Laugh often, long and loud. Laugh until you gasp for breath. And if you have a friend who makes you laugh, spend lots and lots of time with him / her.
- I have a bunch of friends who are as crazy as I am or even crazier.
6. The tears happen: endure, grieve, and move on. The only person who is with us our entire life, is ourselves. LIVE while you are alive.
- Forgiveness is a process and it does take time. Those who do us bad would be hit twice as hard and I believe in the law of karma. What goes around comes around and I've seen it happen that I'm paid double for my trouble.
7. Surround yourself with what you love: Whether it's family, pets, keepsakes, music, plants, hobbies, whatever. Your home is your refuge. Dance around the house naked.
- Yup it does pay to be surrounded by people who love us but dancing around the house naked?! It doesn't work in the Philippines. Hahaha.
8. Cherish your health: If it is good, preserve it. If it is unstable, improve it. If it is beyond what you can improve, get help.
- Health is wealth.
9. Don't take guilt trips. Take a trip to the mall, even to the next county, to a foreign country, but NOT to where the guilt is.
- Live life. The only way to live life is to move forward. Guilt is only for those who have did us wrong.
10. Tell the people you love that you love them, at every opportunity.
- I agree.
11. Forgive now those who made you cry. You might not get a second time.
- As I said, forgiving people is not easy but it takes time. What I do is to pray for the grace to forgive the people who have hurt me. I may reach the point of forgiving (I hope I do 0:-) ) but knowing me, I would always keep a distance as I can never open myself up again the same way as before.
Lost time can never be found. Be kinder than necessary, for everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle. Have a wonderful Wednesday! It's a brand new day.
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
Friendships - A Reason, Season or A Lifetime
Today I was online checking my emails and wasn't really planning to chat that much. I just came from cake decorating class and I've been lacking sleep lately since I've been baking and decorating a lot. (I can't wait for my head to hit the pillow as I type.) On those days when I'm not in class, S, a chef consultant comes to the house and we try different recipes. It's really fun! S has been giving several baking tips and she is truly an angel. Though my schedule is packed lately, I've been enjoying my time learning so many things.
Going back to my friendships, as I was saying, I was able to get in touch with friends today and it has made me realize that some things never change. Friendship is a test of time and distance. Some friends come to us only for a reason, some stay only for a season and there are those that last a lifetime. I'm blessed to have met lifetime friends who share the same values as I do. To this day, I have kept friends I've met since I was four years old and they do complete my life as they keep me grounded and they know me inside out. I also have friends I've known for only a number of years yet they are really close to my heart.
There are also those friendships that only last for a season and they're only meant to be with me for a certain time. Friends do come and go. That's just the way it is. People may come to our lives only for a reason. Maybe to fulfill a purpose, teach us something or to allow us to show their true colors. I've had friends whom I've lost contact with and they turn out to be lasting friendships while there are those whom I've been constantly in contact with but end up to be untrue.
I'm grateful to enjoy a good support system from friends from wherever. Thanks for the friendship! I'm overwhelmed by the outpour of support and affection. There's always a bit of this friend and that in me. :-)
Going back to my friendships, as I was saying, I was able to get in touch with friends today and it has made me realize that some things never change. Friendship is a test of time and distance. Some friends come to us only for a reason, some stay only for a season and there are those that last a lifetime. I'm blessed to have met lifetime friends who share the same values as I do. To this day, I have kept friends I've met since I was four years old and they do complete my life as they keep me grounded and they know me inside out. I also have friends I've known for only a number of years yet they are really close to my heart.
There are also those friendships that only last for a season and they're only meant to be with me for a certain time. Friends do come and go. That's just the way it is. People may come to our lives only for a reason. Maybe to fulfill a purpose, teach us something or to allow us to show their true colors. I've had friends whom I've lost contact with and they turn out to be lasting friendships while there are those whom I've been constantly in contact with but end up to be untrue.
I'm grateful to enjoy a good support system from friends from wherever. Thanks for the friendship! I'm overwhelmed by the outpour of support and affection. There's always a bit of this friend and that in me. :-)
Monday, September 8, 2008
The Prayer of the Listening Heart
The Center for Ignatian Spirituality (CIS) launched its Retreat for Daily Life program yesterday. There were around 60 or so retreatants and it was a whole day affair where prayer and reflection were discussed. The program aims to teach the Ignatian Spiritual Exercises where a lot of focus is given on reflection. For me, this is a new way of walking down this spiritual path and my experience yesterday was calming and reassuring.
I did receive a handout from CIS and it details The Prayer of the Listening Heart. The exercise process was simple.
1. Choose a short passage.
2. The passage or text is read three times.
3. Read the passage slowly.
4. After the first reading, repeat a word or phrase that struck you personally.
5. After the second reading, try to make an application of the text, word or phrase in your life. For example, the Lord is calling me to some form of newness.
6. After the third reading, try to make a spontaneous vocal prayer to God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit.
7. End the prayer exercise by a short period of grateful silence on God's Presence.
Usually, after each prayer and reflection, the experience is documented through a journal. Needless to say, I'll be writing about my experience daily and how it has made me realize certain things and how God communicates. According to Fr. Celerino Reyes, SJ, intimacy happens when there is silence and it is only when we are silent that we truly hear what our heart is saying. I agree. I had an enlightening experience during the retreat and I somehow have an idea what God wants me to do.
I'm glad that I took the retreat. It has made me realize that I am blessed and protected. It has also affirmed that I'm on the right path. It does help that prayer and reflection is done daily. It's my personal moment with God and since I took this journey, I've been blessed many times over. God bless everyone! :-)
I did receive a handout from CIS and it details The Prayer of the Listening Heart. The exercise process was simple.
1. Choose a short passage.
2. The passage or text is read three times.
3. Read the passage slowly.
4. After the first reading, repeat a word or phrase that struck you personally.
5. After the second reading, try to make an application of the text, word or phrase in your life. For example, the Lord is calling me to some form of newness.
6. After the third reading, try to make a spontaneous vocal prayer to God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit.
7. End the prayer exercise by a short period of grateful silence on God's Presence.
Usually, after each prayer and reflection, the experience is documented through a journal. Needless to say, I'll be writing about my experience daily and how it has made me realize certain things and how God communicates. According to Fr. Celerino Reyes, SJ, intimacy happens when there is silence and it is only when we are silent that we truly hear what our heart is saying. I agree. I had an enlightening experience during the retreat and I somehow have an idea what God wants me to do.
I'm glad that I took the retreat. It has made me realize that I am blessed and protected. It has also affirmed that I'm on the right path. It does help that prayer and reflection is done daily. It's my personal moment with God and since I took this journey, I've been blessed many times over. God bless everyone! :-)
Saturday, September 6, 2008
Reunited the Simple but Elegant Way
What better way to enjoy good food with the company of good friends. I organized a get together among former co-workers and it was well attended. Dinner was at Sentro in Greenbelt 3 and it was full of reminiscing and laughter. We all agreed that the next reunion will be for Christmas. Almost half of the group has already moved on and are pursuing other careers but somehow, the group has remained bonded. I do recall those years when there were several seminars and out of town events. We'd always have a night cap of beer or wine and we'd all stay together in a room laughing the night away. One of the most fun night caps we had was when we played Truth or Consequence. To this day, whatever truth was revealed that night will always remain in what we call our Circle of Trust.
Now that I'm writing this blog, I can't help but look forward to the next reunion. After all, I do miss them and last night was the start of more get togethers and maybe another game of Truth of Consequence. I miss you guys! (I'm sure namimiss nyo rin ako kasi #1 alaskador ako ng grupo. Aminin nyo na rin na kapag nasa abroad ako noon, nami-miss nyo mga hirit ko sa mga meetings.)
The 40 something men. Fitz, Mael and Haja. Fitz and Mael were enjoying San Mig Light while Haja was high on sago't gulaman. :-) Fitz is the perfect partner for a beer night as he can finish several bottles in one sitting. Mael is the group's barista and he gets everybody tipsy and drunk during night caps. Well for last night, everybody was sober. Haja is a sight to see when Mael gets him tipsy. Sober or not, I can exchange jokes with him the whole time.
Jon, Shar and Dante. Jon is a good dancer and he cracks me up on the dance floor. Shar is a good impersonator while Dante is natural with his comic lines without him knowing it. It was with Dante that the term Orange Party started. Orange Party is how we called our farewell parties. Our parties usually had a theme. Needless to say, Dante's despedida was themed orange. We all looked like popsicles that night. It was fun and we played Game Ka Na Ba for the Dante Trivia.
Dra. Tita Go and Bess. Dra. gives really good training and I learned so many things from her. Bess is still quiet as ever and is still free spirited. Case in point was her purse which she left lying around last night when she went out for a smoke. Si Madam talaga.
Tina (a.k.a Tippie - ewan ko bakit basta love nya yang name na yan), Teza and Chel. I miss Tina's laughter and how we joke around during our KS days. We'd spend more time laughing than discussing the agenda for the day. Teza is famous for her rendition of I Will Survive. She did survive and is happy with her job. Chel is now one of the big bosses in an Italian owned maritime company. She used to be the resident database where we used to work as she knew what was going on with everyone.
Tina, me and Teza. I don't think I need to describe myself as it may take forever to finish. :-p
The ladies. The one in white blazer is Haydee and the one seated in black is Arlene. Haydee has such a sweet voice and is always smiling. Arlene used to be my "classmate" in the pantry and we always finish lunch at the same time. Inaabutan kami ng ilang batches ng kumakain sa pantry dahil ang bagal namin kumain. Ako sa kakadaldal. Sya sa kakakinig. Arlene and I are both members of Pantrycom. It's how we call the group eating at the pantry. We have our own members and discussions about so many things. Not shown in picture is Sonia who wasn't able to attend. (Mother, asan ka ba nagpunta?) Understandably, Sheila also can't join the group because she's now happily married in New Jersey.
The men. It's a riot when you bring them together in one room. Too bad Edward, Ronald, Ryan and Arvin couldn't go. (They better show up for the Christmas party or else! Ron, ngayon pa lang magpaalam ka na ha para makapunta ka. Mga end of November or first week of December. Malapit na kitang sakalin dahil ilang parties na ang ini-indian mo. Hmp!)
Till the next simple but elegant reunion. This was taken in Greenbelt 5 but somehow, it doesn't quite look like it. We looked like tourists in the place happily taking shots. We moved from Greenbelt 3 to 5. Mobilizing the group was not a problem as I stick out my umbrella for them to follow. Follow the flag (or should I say umbrella)!
Cheers my friends! I miss the dynamics of our group.
Friday, September 5, 2008
Cerebral Conversation - Part 2
Remember the tough interview I had a few weeks ago? Fortunately I passed the second round of interviews. I got another one last night. I was only notified by my headhunter yesterday afternoon that I will have another phone interview. This time, the call will be coming from Stockholm. I was pretty anxious as I had to research on a foreign bank which I had little knowledge of. Let's call it XYZ Bank. Thank goodness I could surf the web using my phone. I was in class yesterday and that left me little time to go home and research online. On my way home, I took a cab and surfed until my phone rang. Uh oh. I hope I pretty much had a good understanding of XYZ Bank. I ended up having the phone interview inside the cab. The interview lasted around 40 minutes and just like the second round, it was just as thorough. The questions were somehow similar to the second but it was equally cerebral and situational. Here are the questions:
1. Given that you have not had any work experience with XYZ Bank, how will you start familiarizing yourself with their processes?
2. If you were to bring in a Swedish business delegation to the Philippines and they had to work with XYZ Bank, how will you organize it?
3. Since we will be working closely with XYZ Bank and it is a big organization, have you ever had any experience with bureaucracy and how do you handle it?
4. How do you think can Swedish businessmen win their project bids at XYZ Bank?
5. Have you ever worked with a difficult person? Describe the situation and how did you manage it? - Oh yes! I can count them with more than one hand.
6. What conditions should be in place for you to accept this position?
Thankfully, I think I fared well and I would know of the results early next week. On the other hand, another company is close to showing me the package I'll be receiving should I join their team. I'm glad I have 2 career options. Both are good positions and it all depends which among the two is aligned with my goals. I'll be receiving both job offers in a week or so. O:-)
1. Given that you have not had any work experience with XYZ Bank, how will you start familiarizing yourself with their processes?
2. If you were to bring in a Swedish business delegation to the Philippines and they had to work with XYZ Bank, how will you organize it?
3. Since we will be working closely with XYZ Bank and it is a big organization, have you ever had any experience with bureaucracy and how do you handle it?
4. How do you think can Swedish businessmen win their project bids at XYZ Bank?
5. Have you ever worked with a difficult person? Describe the situation and how did you manage it? - Oh yes! I can count them with more than one hand.
6. What conditions should be in place for you to accept this position?
Thankfully, I think I fared well and I would know of the results early next week. On the other hand, another company is close to showing me the package I'll be receiving should I join their team. I'm glad I have 2 career options. Both are good positions and it all depends which among the two is aligned with my goals. I'll be receiving both job offers in a week or so. O:-)
Thursday, September 4, 2008
A Piece of Cake
There are different ways to decorate a cake. Similar to painting, you can have several mediums to choose from - water color, oil etc. For cakes, there are varieties of icing depending on your design. There are icings that easily melt away and there are also those that harden up as it has more sugar content. I'm beginning to understand which icing goes best with what type of cake. Cakes differ too as some are not as soft. Initially, I thought all cakes are the same but as it turns out, it's not.
Today had me decorating a layer of cake. I choose to keep my design to a minimum. Cluttered designs are what I hate. There's just too much going on. Apart from the sponge cake that I had to decorate, I also worked on sugar mold. What we did were baskets and a baby crib all made of sugar. Have a sweet time looking at the pictures.
Today had me decorating a layer of cake. I choose to keep my design to a minimum. Cluttered designs are what I hate. There's just too much going on. Apart from the sponge cake that I had to decorate, I also worked on sugar mold. What we did were baskets and a baby crib all made of sugar. Have a sweet time looking at the pictures.
My lemon colored cake. On top of the cake is a flower made of gel. They call it the color flow technique. What I did was to first make an outline of the flower then once I'm done, I fill it in with colored gel. For the borders, I chose simple techniques. For the top, it's made of rosettes and stars which I alternated. For the bottom, I made use of shell borders.
A close up of the borders.
A baby crib all made of sugar. I call it funky since the hood had spiky blue tips on it.
A basket / bowl sugar mold. Once the icing dries out, you can place candies inside.
This is how the top of the sugar bowl looks like.
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
Colorful Cupcakes
At last, I was able to decorate on real cupcakes today. For the past 3 classes, I've been mostly working on parchment paper. Cupcakes are easy to decorate. It only becomes cumbersome to transport them from one place to another. I took several photos of the cupcakes I did and should anyone of you be interested to have me supply you with decorated cupcakes or cakes in any of your future events (birthdays, anniversaries, christening, weddings, Christmas, Valentines), I'd be glad to do so. :-) After my basic cake decorating class, I will also be enrolling in another course for fondant and gum paste as I'd like to advance my level of skills. (Di ba? Perfectionist talaga? Hahaha.)
For more information about the schedule of classes at the Sylvia Reynoso Gala Culinary Arts Studio, visit http://www.sylviareynosogala.com/class.php. Aside from cake decorating, they also offer other culinary and baking classes. It's definitely worth it.
A plateful of my own cupcakes.
Clowning around.
My rosettes and apple blossom.
I've perfected the lattice.
A rosebud.
Basket of flowers.
Cornelli lace on top of my cupcake. It's a very simple decoration yet I love how classy it looks.
Grapes on top. These are not made of icing but I used marzipan. It's like clay where I can mold it and just make anything I want to shape. After I've put the grapes together, I had to paint it.
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