'Twas a good year indeed!

SUB group dinner

I should have posted this two weeks ago but I hadn't have time because of the many preparations I did for other parties. This was our group's (Submergence) christmas get together last December 10. It's kind of special because it's also a despedida party, for our boss will be leaving soon. Nah, don't want to be teary eyed. Good thing, all of us were all smiles.


We decided to dress up. Ahem, this only happens to me once in a blue moon. Haha! It felt kind of weird not wearing jeans and shirt but I must admit it felt good wearing a dress.

We had a sumptuous dinner at Cafe d' Asie in Bellevue Hotel. It was a buffet so we just picked whatever food we liked. Since I rarely have vegetables, I chose a lot of veggies. Yes, vegetables are becoming my favorite now! Recently, I realized the importance of living a healthy life. C'mon, more veggies please.



Add to that some red wine! Perfection!=)

Again, I would like to say that I will always be grateful for the opportunity given to me to be able to work with this amazing group of people. I learned a lot from them, from molecular techniques to work ethics. It just feels great waking up, doing the things you love in a place surrounded by brilliant and hardworking people.

Submergence Group, Christmas 2010

I would like to share some other pictures.

This is one of my favorites.

Just an outfit shot.

With my colleagues.

P.S. I'll be going home tomorrow. Hopefully I'll be able to get on a bus and have a comfortable seat. I just hate the hassle of an eight-hour travel without a comfy seat. Blogosphere, see you on 2011!

Cowboys and Well-Wishes

I'll be going home in just a few days! Wow finally! After almost 8 months! But before that, I'll be taking this opportunity to post something while I still have internet connection because for sure I will not be able to do it during christmas vacation. So here it goes. We had our division party last Friday and it was cowboy and barrio themed. Of course, me and my colleagues chose the easier option, which is to dress up like a cowboy, err, cowgirl.

I just wore a simple outfit: brown tank top layered with plaid shirt, jeans, booties (I know this is not a cowboy boots and is better off paired with a dress but I think this will do. Haha, don't want to burden myself in finding some boots), and the most important of all, the signature of a cowboy outfit- the cowboy hat.

Fun, fun, fun!

As what I've said in my previous post about the holidays, I would be attending four christmas parties. Yes four parties! It sounds a lot (well, for me it is) but parties are really everywhere at this time of the year. Last Monday we had our lab christmas party. Everyone was there, from our bosses to our technicians, and they actively participated in the games. It was so much fun! And it's like a break from our usual work days. We just enjoyed the moment.

MBL (Molecular Breeding Lab) Group 2010

Trip down memory lane: College life

As of the moment, I'm having a trip down memory lane. By just merely looking at the pictures, it seemed like old memories came flashing back in my mind. It's amazing how those memories were captured and frozen in time. One of those memories were the days when I was still in college.

College has been a big part of my life. It's where I learned a lot of things. Aside from academics, I learned how to: value independence, understand other people, be critical and objective, and realize my passions.

We Need A Little Christmas

I can't believe it! Twenty three days to go before Christmas! It makes me all giddy and excited! And I would like to share this song which perfectly describes what I'm feeling right now.

In my workplace, we'll be having three parties - our group dinner, laboratory christmas party, and the division party. Can't wait! And me and my dormmates are also planning our own party!

There is a lot of going on this time of the year but let's not forget the reason why we are celebrating this season, it's the birth of Jesus Christ. May each and everyone of us feel the true spirit of christmas.

QLF? Is it? Or something deeper?

It's a Thursday and I'm supposed to be doing my work but then I can't help but be depressed about something. Actually I wasn't thinking and worrying about it until this morning. It all started yesterday when my colleagues told me about it. And this is what I just said, "Nah, I know, right. Change topic please."

Am I experiencing this thing we call Quarter life crisis?

Quarter Life Crisis?!?!?

Omg! I thought I was still too young for that. But then time flies by so quickly. In just a matter of months I'll be turning twenty four already and still... Honestly I really don't like to talk about that. I don't want to look desperate or whatever but it's just kind of depressing. And keeping it all to myself makes it even worse. I haven't talked about it to someone seriously. So maybe writing it in here would lessen the burden. I hope so.

I know I'm an independent, young woman and I'm living my life right now. I don't need a special someone just to make my life complete. I have my family and friends. I have a job that I really like. But then again, at the end of the day I still dream of meeting my prince.

I remember the book I read entitled, Captivating. It explores the core, desires, wounds, and mysteries of a woman's heart. And I would like to share an excerpt from the book:

Every woman was once a little girl. And every little girl holds in her heart her most precious dream.

Sometime between the dreams of your youth and yesterday, something precious has been lost. And that treasure is your heart, your priceless feminine heart. God has set within you a femininity that is powerful and tender, fierce and alluring. No doubt it has been misunderstood. Surely it has been assaulted. But it is there, your true heart, and it is worth recovering. You are captivating.

That book is truly an enlightening and inspirational work. And it reminds me that yeah, eventhough I have the things that I wanted, there's still something deep within my heart that needs to be seen, heard, and understand.

♥ glee

I totally love glee! And look at the little versions of the glee characters. They're so adorable! I just wanna hug them!♥♥♥



And then there was Gwyneth...

What more can you ask for?

I'm soOoo excited already to watch this episode!☺

3101: Bonding with former roommates

Finally, we've seen each other again (after almost two years). Last Saturday, me and my former roommates in college met in Manila. First stop was Mall of Asia. While waiting for the others, Shayne and I strolled around the mall. There were lots of christmas decors already, which reminded me that christmas is fast approaching. We had fun taking pictures of each other. And I really loved the christmas trees and other decors made of native materials and the colors/themes of red and gold.

At last!

Yey! At last! I already sent the documents to my professor in grad school. It took me a long time to complete all of them, but now it's finished and I'm so happy!

And I just wanna share my experience this afternoon when I mailed them:

1. First and foremost, I searched the internet for the price of international delivery and found out that aside from charges based on location, weight also matters, which led me to weigh my documents in the top-balance in the lab. Good thing it's only 189 grams.
2. I went to the mailing express center. The man there said that he would be inspecting the documents. Oh my! I already securely closed the envelope with glue and scotch tape. But I had no choice. I opened it. Then he asked for the contact number of the receiver but unfortunately I didn't have it. So he suggested I find it first and go back to him.
3. I directly went to an internet cafe to check my professor's number, but before that I bought new envelope, scissors, and glue (since I ruined my first envelope while opening it). After making sure that I had his number, I put the documents in the new one. I also printed new copy of sender's and receiver's mailing address and pasted them on the envelope.
4. Finally, I went back to the mail man and sent the documents successfully, which will  arrive there after three to four working days, so that'll be on Wed or Thurs.

Lessons learned: Make sure to have a complete contact info of the receiver. And do not be too excited to  close the envelope, keep in mind there's a word we call 'inspection.'

However amidst all of those mishaps, I really am very happy!...and sleepy already. Haha! I now have a new rule in life, it's called "the ten o'clock rule." Why? Because I realized I need enough sleep. To achieve that, I need to be on bed, sleeping and dreaming by 10pm. This should also be done to lessen my acne breakouts. Yes as of now breakouts are everywhere on my face. And it feels terrible! Oh my, all I ever wanted is to have a smooth, clear, acne-free skin.

I'm kinda busy, k-kinda busy

This is gonna be just a quick post. As I've said in my previous entry, I was hoping to regularly write here but at present it doesn't seem to be the case. I've been doing lots of things lately. And I need to meet two deadlines this week: one in work, the other in my application for grad school. Just the thought of those deadlines makes me stressed out already. However, regarding my application, I'm happy to say that I already have all the needed documents. Tomorrow, I'll just photocopy each of them. And hopefully, be able to submit them on Thursday or Friday. After all these, I hope I'll have my much needed time for blogging. But as for now, I need to focus on doing my research work and completing the necessary steps in the application.

Bye.

--seems like this picture of mine perfectly depicts how i spent the halloween-all by myself in my room

Second Post for the day

Lately I've been spending more time infront of my computer screen. It's nice that I already have an internet connection here in my room, which means that I can now check facebook, twitter, and blogger whenever I want. And today, right after I arrived from work, I directly opened my laptop and did some browsing plus picture taking.☺Well, I'm hoping that I'll be able to update and post entries here regularly because more often than not, I tend to procrastrinate at things (leading me to become a certified crammer...I must say I'm good at it though). And speaking of being a crammer, I need to start doing my Statement of Purpose for my application to graduate school. This is it!

Snapshots everywhere

Yesterday I got my first ever camera-the Canon Ixus 100 IS. And it is such a beauty! It's sleek, slim, and stylish. And I really love it!

Though I'm still eyeing a DSLR (hopefully in the near future), I think this will do for now. It's simple and easy to use, which is good for an absolute beginner like me.

To Sir With Love

this made me teary eyed. i definitely ♥ glee!

THINGS I WANT TO DO (Part 1)

Last year, I started doing a list of 'Things I want to do'. This enabled me to reflect on my life, on the dreams that I dream, on the great things I encountered and would want to encounter in the future, and a lot more. And I think that this special list deserves a place here in my blog. Well, here they are!

Study medicine and become a good doctor --and be like Dr. House. Haha! Yeah I know he's an unconventional, out-of-this-world type of doctor. But he's a genius! Oh well, seriously speaking, I have always dreamt of becoming a doctor but reality bites. Read on here for my ramblings about studying medicine.

Review and understand (by heart) Genetics and Molecular Biology. This has always been my favorite field. It's just so amazing that scientists are discovering the molecular aspect of life. And let's just say that little by little, I'm getting there.

Walk barefoot in the rain. It's a shame that in my twenty three years of existence, I haven't experienced what it's like to feel rain drops falling on me. As a child, I was not allowed to go out, even if my brother and playmates were already enjoying the rain, because I easily get cough and colds. But now that I'm a grown up, I definitely wouldn't miss a chance to feel the rain on my skin.

Learn to swim – And I'm proud to say that I'm learning it now! I started attending swimming lessons last August. The picture above shows our first session and there I was,swimming using a kickboard, which I consider as my lifesaver. As of now, I can swim on my own but I still cannot do the freestyle properly. But hopefully I'll be able to master it, along with the other swimming strokes. 

---the first three pictures come from the google search engine

Still many more to come!☺☺☺

Missing my family

In just a few minutes the electricity will be gone. Outside my window, the rain is pouring and the gushes of wind seems like never ending. And here I am, trying my best to fight the fear building up inside of me. I am all alone. A typhoon is occuring in the north. For sure the people there are already experiencing things worse than I do here in my little room. But I just can't help but fear. All I can think of right now is my family. All I want right now is to be with them. It's been six months since I last went home and I miss them so much.

with my mom, dad, and brother

grandma and me (still a baby)

my family with aunt and cousin

Time to get muddy and dirty

This morning, I stumbled upon some pictures of our department's team building activity last September 24 at the Caliraya Recreation Center, Lumban, Laguna. Well, all I can say is this: It was a great experience! Actually, I'm not really into those kind of activities (outdoor games, etc.) but since we were required to take part, I had no choice. Anyhow, it also made me happy because it means a break from work.☺☺☺

We were divided into teams and I was part of the blue team. The activities include cheering competition (yey! we won here), follow the leader (sort of a warm-up exercise), tiger boat race (we also won here), and tug of war. In the afternoon, we did the theme song competition, slide pinoy, and mud slide.

Mud slide was a blast! At first, I was really nervous and I was thinking that there's no way I would try it out. But seeing other people enjoying it and of course, the encouragement of my friends, I realized that since I was already there, why not just try it and enjoy the experience. And so I tried and I conquered! And it was definitely an amazing experience!




Presenting the Mud Slide! This looks easy on the eyes but it's actually different when you're out there.




I'm bored

It seems like a long time since I last wrote something here. And it's sad to say that I haven't put an entry for the whole month of September. Been very, very busy with my work. And as usual, whenever I wanted to write here in my blog, tiredness comes along the way. And another reason is that, there's nothing really exciting that's been happening lately. Everyday, I wake up early, go to work, work, go back to my dormitory, and sleep, and the cycle goes on and on. Oh well, it's part of life.

I just hope that someday I'll be able to experience something new, something different- and be able to write them here in my little black book.

LSS: My Life Would Suck Without You

Been listening to this song since last night. I'm loving every bit of it. Go Kelly!

Nikon's newest baby

OMG! I found it - my dream dslr!☺

Just minutes ago, while I was browsing the net, I found a trending topic in yahoo and came upon the Nikon D3100. An article describes it as the first dslr with real video autofocus. Well, I'm not really after the video recording, but hey, having that feature in a camera is a super big bonus already! And it has Live View shooting (which is absent in its predecessor, the D3000). And guess what? The D3100 is only $700 (not that I have that kind of money at the moment but comparing it's price and jam-packed features to other dslrs, it's a very good deal already). For further info, read on at the nikon usa website and gizmodo.

all photos come from the nikon website

I can't wait to have this in the palm of my hands! I'll definitely save up for this! And I'll have you soon!

Glee, you had me at hello

Yesterday was the day I started watching glee. Yes, I know I'm one year and three months late. Probably, the whole time it was airing on tv, I was so busy I didn't even bother look at it. I've heard about it before though. People were posting some stuff in facebook, twitter, and other networking sites (read: glee craze). But as usual, I just didn't mind them. But for some reason, I got a copy of season 1. And then suddenly, I found myself lying in bed, staring in front of my laptop, watching the first episode, then the second, then the third, then the fourth...up to the eleventh episode at two in the morning. I wanted to finish it but I needed to wake up early because of work. So there, 11 down and I just couldn't wait to watch the next 11 episodes! I guess, glee, you had me at hello. =)

i ♥ glee

Note: I think I'm really a certified late bloomer. Well, better late than never. hehe!

Dear You

_______________________________________________________________________________


Dear You,

Waiting for someone you haven’t met yet is like receiving a gift wherein you don’t know what’s inside. Waiting for you is full of uncertainty but one thing certain is that you are worth the wait. And I hope that you are also waiting for me.

Sometimes, I see someone in my dreams. He’s holding my hands but I can’t see his face. I’m not sure if it is you but it doesn’t matter. What matters is the moment that we will meet each other. Before I used to imagine what it would be like but I learned that it would be better if I just let it be a mystery, a mystery that will unfold at the right time.

I just hope that you are also living your life to the fullest right now, that you are enjoying it as much as I do. I hope that you are living your dreams. I hope that you are also walking with God. I hope and pray that you will be the man deserving of my love and that I will be the woman deserving of your love. I hope that when we meet and known each other, we will not be afraid to show how much we love each other. Because love should not be kept to one’s self. I hope that someday we’ll get married and have kids. I hope that we would raise them well. I hope that they’ll also live their dreams. And finally, I hope that we’ll grow old together, with as much love as when we first met. Because even though people grow old, they should never grow tired of loving.


-From the one who's been waiting for you all these years

_______________________________________________________________________________

Must-Haves:

• I want to have a dSLR. And since I'm not a professional photographer, I think an entry-level dSLR would do. I specifically like the Nikon D3000.

• Or something in between a point-and-shoot and dSLR. Well, it really belongs to the point-and-shoot family but with added manual settings just like a dSLR. A perfect example is the Canon Powershot S90. Besides its amazing features, another thing I love about this camera is it's pocketable body. I can definitely bring it anywhere I go!

• For the skin care department, I'm craving for FACE hydrating balancing cream (since I have a combination skin), MAC prep & prime, MAC concealer and MAC 195 concealer brush.

• I want to have a locket necklace!

• I already have a red handbag, now I like to have a black one.
  
  
  
  

It felt like my night

I noticed I haven't posted any pictures of myself here yet, well, except for my profile pic which always reminds me of that wonderful event that I've attended. It was my cousin's debut last May 8 at the Edsa Shangri-La Hotel. Actually it was my first time to attend such thing because I myself hadn't experience one. As I remember, I celebrated my 18th birthday with my family in our house. My mom bought me a chocolate cake roll (yum! my favorite!). We had dinner, then we ate the cake. It was very simple - no 18 roses, no ball dance - but it was very special because I'm with the people I loved.

When I attended my cousin's debut, I felt like I'm also a debutante (even though I'm already 23). The theme of her party was Hollywood fashion glam. And I was one of the 18 Fashion galores. It's my first time so I was really clueless - what to wear, what gift to buy, etc. Good thing there's the internet! At first I was opting for a long gown, but I changed my mind. I realized I want something with a youthful vibe. So there, after several days of browsing, I finally got the dress that I like. I found a beautiful ruffled, yellow dress!

A Confused Being

A particular incident yesterday had left me contemplating on my life - on the decisions I have to make and on the path I have to take.

I may be good at analyzing things but when it comes to making conclusions, I always have a hard time. I want to play it safe. I do take risks but as much as possible, I don't want to take that much risk because I'm not sure if it will all be worth my brave act. But as they say, life is about taking risks. And I have my life right now. But where do I start?

A collegue told me that if I want to do something, do it for the right reasons. If everybody is taking graduate school in a different country, it doesn't mean that you must take it too. If most of your batchmates are in medical school, and you feel you're already left out, it doesn't mean that you need to study medicine too. I know she's right. But I also know that deep in my heart, I want to do those two important things because those are my dreams. Those have always been...

Based on the things I learned (I got this from Paulo Coelho, from his work, The Alchemist):

• First, one must realize his dream. What do you want to do? What makes you tick? What is your passion?
• Then, take the necessary actions to make it happen. Little by little, you'll be able to attain it. And the next thing you'll know, you're already there living your dream.
  

The problem is, I think I have so many dreams. So many that I already don't know which one to prioritize first. At the end of the day, I'm one confused being. And it made me realize that I have to act now, or else time would just pass me by.

Ladies in Vogue

I'm following quite a number of blogs already, most of them being fashion/style bloggers. I so love their sites! I've been looking frequently at the pictures they've posted. It makes my day a lot less boring and it also gives me an idea on the styles of different people in different parts of the world. Here they are:

keiko lynn



district of chic



wish wish wish



the clothes horse


Everytime I read their blogs, I get inspired and it makes me want to create my own too. How I wish! But first things first, I need to invest in some basic stuff - and that would be a digicam and of course some outfits. (Need to work hard for my first ever digicam! Haha!)

Whether you like it or not, you are melancholy phlegmatic

Last Friday, I took a personality test and the results showed that I'm Melancholy Phlegmatic. Below is a figure that describes the different types of personality.

As much as I wanted to be Sanguine Phlegmatic, I'm really on the opposite side of the coin - Melancholy Phlegmatic. It is true. And if I'm going to further dissect it, Melancholic dominated my nature.
Quiet, Unsociable: I think, ever since I was born, I'm already an introvert. I'm not a people person. If you put me in a place with strangers, don't expect I'd say hello and introduce myself first. I can stand there and not talk to anybody at all.
Reserved: I also don't easily open up to other people. I only trust people who are worthy of my trust.
Pessimistic: Sometimes, I think the letter P in my name stands for pessimistic. If a particular situation arises, I'm already thinking about the pros and cons...and more of the cons. I want to be sure that if the negative side happens, I'm prepared for it. I should be prepared.
Anxious: And A is for anxious. Which is also explained by the above statements. If I think of negative thoughts, then comes anxiety.
Moody: And M is for moody. Even the slightest of stimuli can change my mood. If I wake up with a smile on my face, I can spend the whole day annoyed and angry to someone or something. One easily sees it. And I cannot pretend I'm in good mood if I'm not. I'm not a hypocrite.
Sober, Rigid: FYI, the word sober used here doesn't necessarily equate to a state of being not drunk and rigid as to being stiff. Sober - meaning marked by seriousness, gravity, or solemnity of conduct or character. Rigid - meaning the act of being strict.
I may be an introvert. My mood is probably unstable. I may be a melancholic being. But I stick to rules. And I have rules on my own. So don't dare mess with me. (Right now, I'm really in a terrible mood.)
--next time I'll dissect my phlegmatic nature

Meet Rafe Batholomew

Today, while browsing some news at yahoo.ph to update myself about the inauguration of President Noynoy Aquino, I happen to read another news regarding an American author promoting his book using the Filipino language. Being a curious individual, I watched the video and surprisingly, I find it quite good (the way he speaks Filipino). He's Rafe Bartholomew and his work is entitled, Pacific Rims, which is about the world of Philippine basketball. To be honest, I'm not into basketball or to any sports (poor me) but what makes me interested to this person is the way he speaks my language. Yes, my very own language. Suddenly, several questions popped in my mind. How did he learn it? Is he half Filipino? Probably his mother, who is a Filipina, is the one that taught him. And like what most people do, I googled his name (hello stalker) and tarah, I came upon his blog, ManilaVanilla. I've read that he's born in New York and went to the Philippines as a Fulbright scholar. My hypotheses were all wrong- he's not half Filipino and therefore his mother is not Filipina and that she didn't taught him the language. I also learned that he stayed here in the Phillippines for three years. And I think, he's really a fast learner because in just a span of three years he's able to speak the local language clearly. Below is his interview in TFC Balitang America.



It always fascinates me whenever I see people speaking a language different from their own. Rafe Bartholomew is no exception.

I'm addicted

Spotted: pam☆ all alone in her room. Looks like lonely girl is into something addictive. Careful P.

You know you love me.

XOXO
Gossip Girl



Yes I'm really into something addictive. I'm into Gossip Girl!

When the show was first launched, I told myself "that's just for high schoolers" and I'm way too old for that. After three years (Hello world!), I'm having Gossip Girl marathon every weekend. Haha! Recently, I bought some DVD copies of it. And I never thought I would really enjoy watching it. Well, the primary factor is the FASHION involved. The characters are so fashionable I want to be like them (read: their complicated lives not included). Among the girls, I really love Blair Waldorf. I've read an article that exactly describes her style.

"Blair’s style is very classic, preppy, and polished. She always looks as if she stepped out of a department store window; her outfit is flawless, and she never has a hair out of place. Blair’s fashion sense is definitely the quintessential upper-east-side stereotype, and she’s not ashamed of it!" Written by Zephyr - CF Editor.
For more information, read on at http://www.collegefashion.net/fashion-tips/how-to-dress-like-blair-waldorf/

Blair's outfits are classic and chic. And she definitely carries them with confidence.

I especially like her look on the pictures above. I adore the Marc Jacobs 'Dita' dress, the gorgeous capelet, and the black patterned stockings. And I wish I could wear something like those. I also observe that some of her blouses and dresses consist of elbow-length puff sleeves, which are also becoming one of my must-haves. I bought a dress which I used only once and two blouses which I haven't gotten a chance to wear yet due to the hot weather here in the Philippines. By the way, this one (picture below) really caught my eyes. I wanna have something like this.

I'm actually becoming more and more interested into fashion. Must admit, I'm a late bloomer though. I'm already 23, and I'm just starting to become aware into what people call "The Fashion World". Oh well, better late than never.

Tomorrow is a Suturday. This spells addiction. (wink wink)

XOXO