PMCP 2015 (Day 2)

Here's my look for the second day of the conference. Hello to blouse + midi skirt combo! I'd like to refer to this as "conservatively stylish". I super love the pattern of the blouse and what's more? It's vintage! And I only got it for only P185 (~$4.30). Definitely a real bargain! I may have told it before but I was never the one who is skilled looking for items in vintage shops and I easily got stressed just by merely looking at all the racks and racks and endless racks of clothes. But there's this one small shop near my place and they only have few items so it's not overwhelming for me. That's where I got my blouse.

blouse - vintage

skirt - bought in Korea

bag - Charles and Keith

watch - Calvin Klein, gift from mom

shoes - Charles and Keith

Below is my only picture with my poster but I'm really glad I had one taken because I never really expected that my poster will win 1st place (Plant Phytopathology category).

When we're not attending sessions, me and my colleagues obviously loved taking pictures. Haha!

PMCP 2015 (Day 1)

The first week of May was spent attending the Pest Management Council of the Philippines conference (PMCP) in Davao City. Since I am working in the Plant Pathology group, PMCP is the main conference that they attend to every year. This is my first time and it's definitely an amazing experience.

Day 1 - May 5, 2015

with our Project Leader and one of my colleagues

Outside the sessions, I tried to get on honing my photography skills. Hehe. Mirror shots, anyone?

And outfit photos were never to be missed. =) Presenting my "business meets chic" look.

dress - For Me

blazer - Forever 21

bag - Charles and Keith

watch - Calvin Klein, gift from mom

shoes - Charles and Keith

'Cause When You're Sick

Yesterday, I felt like dying. It was one of the worst days of my life. My throat was burning, my fever was up to 38.1 degrees Celsius, my head and muscles and joints were all in pain, cough ad colds were consuming me. I didn't have an ounce of energy. I just lay in my bed the whole day and slept and took Biogesic tablets (paracetamol for fever). In the evening though, I had no choice but to go out and buy some food. Geez that's the art of being alone. You had to do what you got to do even if you're sick because no one else will. I don't even want to bother my friends and ask for some help. I don't want to look like a sickly, pity me, kind of person. This morning, I went to the doctor and got some meds - antibiotics, something for colds, and Biogesic. I still feel sick but it's a bit better compared to my situation yesterday. I just hope that this upper respiratory tract infection and allergic rhinitis would be over soon and that I'll be able to get back to normal.

Burst of Random Thoughts

It's a few minutes til midnight but here I am. Here I am again. I seriously miss writing something deep, as if I'm a writer but I'm afraid I am not. This is just me spilling all the thoughts in my mind right now. This is gonna be so random and spontaneous and brutally honest. Uhm, so where do we start?

These days I have to admit that I am not really happy with my life. I feel like I am stuck here, not moving where I need to go, not moving up, not moving anywhere, just stuck. I used to say I need an adventure. But never mind that adventure, I just need something new. I feel bored and simply not moving forward with my life. I suddenly remember a line in a movie, "Aren't we supposed to be great by now?" After twenty eight years of existence, I'm proud to say I have accomplished some things but I'm not there yet. Greatness? What greatness? I think I would achieve that if I have already pursued my lifelong dream... Doing what I love while having an impact in this world. That would be greatness for me. But I am still here. Still far. But I do hope that I'd get there soon.

Now let's talk about love or rather let me talk about love. But I haven't experienced being in a romantic relationship yet. I used to think that someday my prince will come. But what if that day never comes? What if our souls never meet? One thing's for sure, I don't want to settle for less. I've seen people live life being with someone, being married to that someone but never really being in love. And I don't want that. I don't want to have someone just for the sake of a marriage contract. I don't even want to marry someone just because the clock is ticking and I'm getting old and he is getting old. I want to experience that real, genuine love. The love that will do everything to make you happy. The love that you can feel even by just looking at each others eyes. The love that will never get tired and that will last a lifetime, even beyond. Now, I do sound like a hopeless romantic. But I really want a genuine love, deeper than physical affection. A love which can be felt in the deepest part of your heart and soul.

From greatness to love. Then, what's next? Okay, so as random as it gets, here are some of the things I've been wanting to do.

• read a novel
• talk to a stranger (but not in a creepy way, okay?)
• make a new friend
• try a new hobby
• be honest with myself
• cry if I feel like crying
• laugh until tears fall from my eyes
• be so mad I wouldn't even care what other people might think of me
• disconnect myself from others that are not bringing joy to my life
• meet my soulmate
• fall in love
• take that one bold step
• make my dreams come true
• live in a place where not one single soul knows me
• be whoever I want to be
• travel the world
• deactivate my facebook 
• save some money
• invest in something worth investing
• grow my investments
• drive my own car
• drink a beer or wine
• learn to cook (uhm no thanks!)
• be friends with a fellow blogger
• have a pet dog

Wish me luck!

3101: A Decade of Friendship

It's hard to find real friends in this world but when you do, the bond that is formed is something that will, definitely, last for years...or even a lifetime. 

And I'm just so thankful I found them! We were roommates in college. We met in 2005 and I'm glad that even though we live in different places now and pursued different career paths, we still make it a point to meet even if it's just once or twice a year.

Last April 18, we had our catching up in Cafe Juanita located in Capitol Drive, Pasig City. I really felt like a grown up because we're not meeting in the mall or in Los Banos anymore, but we're meeting in a famous restaurant in the metro. Cafe Juanita, based on what I've read, has some good reviews going on. So, my curiosity got the best of me and we just have to try it!

It's a restaurant filled with quirky things. When you get inside, there's just so much stuff you felt you're in different era or something.  I've read that those were the things/souvenirs got by the owner from his travels. One reviewer, Christine Aranilla, perfectly describes it this way, "Each and every spot is exploding with something interesting to admire at, eclectic and eccentric; yet, boldly Bohemian, is able to fuse with one another to create a romantic, vibrant ambience! But it's not merely the awesome design and interior! This place serves "ohhh-ssssoooo-delish" food!" via zomato

And the food is definitely so, so good! We ordered Sinigang (Salmon), Bagnet, and Garlic and Pepper Squid. Those three dishes really taste good but my favorite would be the sinigang! I just love the sour taste of the soup and the vegetables (sorry this girl is not a fan of fish though).

(counter clockwise direction: rice, sinigang, bagnet, garlic and pepper squid)

And I have to add that the waiters are so polite. They even volunteered in taking our picture. And being always the last to finish food (yes my friends know that I'm more of a talker and less of an eater), a waiter thought that we're already done, he asked us if he could get the plates, etc. but I told him I'm not done yet, I requested to just let the plates (of my friends) stand there because of a superstitious belief, and I'm glad that he obliged.

So yeah, good place, good food, good friends, what more can you ask for?

To the other roommate, who is currently on the other side of the globe, we miss you!

homemade ice cream at Mad Mark's

We may be all grown ups now but there's still a "kid at heart" in us. We may be eating in a fancy restaurant but at the end of the day, we still want to have an ice cream! Haha! =)

Cheers to a decade of friendship girls!

For our 2014 bonding, see post here.

*all pics are from my cam except for the second to the last image which is from Shayne

P.S. For further information about Cafe Juanita, you can check their Facebook page.

Disclaimer: I am in no way affiliated to Cafe Juanita.

Baby Steps in Pursuing One's Dreams

The first quarter of 2015 is nearing its end. Time really flies! I'm just so thankful for all the good things that happened. Now, for the second quarter, my goal is take baby steps in making my dreams come true by reviewing for two of the most important (and expensive) exams that I would be taking thus far, GRE and TOEFL. I tried to do this in the past but now is the time to be serious and more focused. Have to exercise my brain cells again!

I'm not sure if I can make it (to be accepted in my dream school and dream program) but I have to take this first step because, as the song goes, but if you never try you'll never know... So yeah! Cheers to following and chasing our dreams!

Science Congress 2015

I never expected that I would be chosen as one of the judges at the Science Congress held last March 24, 2015, organized by my former high school. I am just grateful I was able to share my knowledge and, hopefully, inspire the students to pursue a career in the field of science.

with my former and the best teacher in Biology, Research, and Parasitology (in yellow shirt)

After 11 years, it was nice to be back again in the campus. It was so different when I was still a student and I can say the current students are so lucky they never experienced what we had to go through. We were one of the pioneer batches and the school was just at its beginning stages. When I was in third year, I remember on the first day of classes, we had to wake up at 3 am to fetch some water from the pump outside because there's no running water in the faucet. We also attended classes in makeshift classrooms made of of bamboos, plywood, and canvass sheet because the buildings were still under construction. We sprinkled water in the area where we sit in our classrooms because the flooring was made up of soil and during dry season, dry soil equates to a lot of dust. Those were the days!

former students with the Director and former teacher

Now, whenever I think of them, it really makes me proud because we survived all those things. It definitely made us stronger and more resilient individuals! The environment may not be perfect but everyone did their part to ensure that the mission and vision of the school was met.

Saturday Shopping: Perfume, Eye Cream, & Clothes

After such a long time, I was able to go shopping again at Mall of Asia (MOA) yesterday. My plan was to buy only a perfume (because my favorite, Incanto Charms, which I bought last October was already in its last drop) and an eye cream (which I've planning to have for such a long time due to my crow's feet).  Got them both and I even scored a discount on the perfume!

Incanto Charms by Salvatore Ferragamo

Clinique Repairwear Laser Focus

But then again, I couldn't help but stroll around clothing stores. A girl's gotta do what she gotta do then. Haha! Went to Forever 21 and got these two, a dress and a blouse in the loveliest shade of red and blue. ♥

Forever 21

I never had a red dress so this is going to be my first official little red dress. Though it's really not that little because it's a bit bigger on me. It's already in the size S and the staff told me they don't have an XS. I thought this dress is perfect for ladies with curves but being the petite and "uncurvy" girl that I am, I realized, Oh, scrap that! I love it and I'm gonna buy it! The bandwagon NO TO STEREOTYPING is on!

Forever 21

I also got a long sleeve top from Mango. You know how I was craving to have a dress from Mango (from my previous post)? Well, I think this airy top would do for the moment. The blue and yellow stripes remind me of summer.

Mango

I also got a pair of sunglasses from the Department Store and a laced brassiere for the deep neckline of the red dress. Now, the usual thing I ask to myself, "Where do I wear the dress?" Geez, the first thing that really comes to mind is "On the first date". But when will that happen? Haha! Oh well, hopefully, soon. Or probably on a wedding or on a conference... Whatever! =)