Time out mode

Yesterday I missed an episode of a new soap, so I watched it over the net. It was almost 3:00 AM, hence I'm kinda sleepy, but the conversation between the father and his daughter lingered in my head. He said "mabuti ng mapagod ang puso, kesa hindi magamit."

In my mind, easy for you to say, maybe you've not been hurt before. When your heart was broken too many times, you sometimes get tired of trying. There comes a point where you just want to be alone and be happy about yourself, on what you can do with your free time, to travel to places you've never been and to just be fabulous. 

credit to the owner of this photo

A few weeks back, my friend asked me if I want to play cards with her, a sort of fortune telling. She asked me to think of a guy then she will tell me if there would be chance or whatever. It was just for fun of course. But I bluntly told her I have no one in mind. No ex that I want to get back with, no prospect either. Is this a bad sign?

It's not that I've given up on love, I'm just on a time out mode, resting, healing, whatever you may call it. I believe everybody deserves a time to slow down, to have a "me" time. Being alone will give you a chance to clear your mind. It will help you realize your worth and what you deserve. And when you finally stop asking yourself what you did wrong or why your last relationship failed, maybe, just maybe when you've learned to love yourself again, you are now ready to give love another chance.

It may sound odd but I do appreciate my current state. Some people are in a relationship but that doesn't mean they are happy. If anyone would ask me my relationship status I would say... I'm happily single and loving it.

I-saw you... And I got so kilig

It's the first day of the week, yet it feels like Friday. Thanks to Eid'l Fitr we have a free day tomorrow. Contrary to Ramadan (where our Muslim brothers observe fasting), us girls had some feasting. Back in Davao every Friday is cheat day, a good excuse to indulge over crabs, paella, to die for pizza, super delish pasta, tuna, laing, cakes, name it... Davao is a food haven. Since we rarely see each other these days because of our varying project assignments, we made a pact to meet every payday to dine out. 

Crispy Dilis (photo by Malaya)

Today Wanderection (minus Sai and Hagie plus new recruit Honey) dined at Sarsa Kitchen + Bar located at Bonifacio Global City. It was not my first time so I already have some favorites in mind. My personal choices were Tortang talong, Crispy Dilis, Chicken Inasal and Isaw. The crispy Dilis is definitely a must try. If not for my Uric acid issues, I can definitely eat this thing everyday. The saltiness of the crispy anchovies blend perfectly with the sweet and sour pineapple glaze with a mild kick from the chili. This is indeed a superb appetizer.

Before going back to Sarsa Kitchen I always have Isaw in mind. It was the reason I went to this restaurant last December unfortunately it was not available, so I went back to finally try it. The minute we were seated and handed the menu, I have nothing in mind but Isaw. I saw pictures and read how people raved about it in Instagram. When the waiter approached us to take our order I immediately ask if they have Isaw, the moment he said yes I felt an overflowing joy and felt so kilig. Imagine hearing a unexpected good news? Just like that, now I cannot repeat my body movement I felt my shoulder shrug a bit, its like when your crush called your name and you can't believe he knows you. Kinilig ako, not because I saw the cute Chef-Owner but because Isaw and me will finally meet. I had to take the first skewer of the most delectable chicken intestine, dipped in Sarsa's vinegar it taste heavenly. Sarsa had me at appetizer. The rest of our orders were served and I totally got lost in food paradise. I can't name an entree that is not delicious. Everything I tried in Sarsa is simply superb. And the price, with us being super happy with what we ate, is super sulit. 

I have many reasons to go back at Sarsa, I have not tried everything in the menu yet. I will definitely go back for the Crispy Dilis and Isaw. It's nice to feel kilig every once in awhile, isn't it?

Our journey

I guess it is pretty obvious by now that I love shoes. From the beginning I've been talking about shoes. Since I love travelling, having a comfy pair of footwear is important, isn't it? 

Before heading off to Baler, Aurora I asked my bff Joanne about our itinerary. Well, aside from preparing for enough clothing, of course comes the shoes. It is essential to wear the appropriate shoes. I have my so called travelling shoes, because they are often used for travelling. So when we went to Baler I used the hiking sandals, which is just fine because we walked over slippery rocks.

Me and my friends often meet up at the mall and we seldom travel together. But it was such a happy experience to spend 2 days with your best buddies. Now as I recall the grueling hike to Ditumabo Falls, I can't help but smile. That adventure is like our friendship, sometimes we need to stop to rest or to cool down but the journey continues. The test of true friendship comes when you travel. Can you really stand each other's nerves? If someone lose his temper are you quick to dismiss it, or are you going to take it against the person? And like my reliable hiking sandals, I'd like to think that our friendship can withstand long hikes, sleepy rocks and river current. And no matter how tiring it can be, I'm not giving up on this journey of friendship, because just like my reliable sandals the friendship that I offer is durable and functional.

Here's our feet groupie, hoping that these feet will bring us to more destinations together, good or bad mood friends are friends. Girls, are you ready for another journey?

The Safety Shoes

It’s 3 in the morning, the possibility of leaving the warehouse within an hour or 2 is still out of the horizon. So to keep me awake, I decided to write this note. In a warehouse operation, safety is of primary importance. The personnel are required to wear safety gears such as hard hat, reflectorized vest and safety shoes to avoid injuries in case an accident happens at the shop floor. 

credit to the owner of this picture

Safety shoes, the last time I wore one was back in my first job as a Process Engineer. After my OJT, the company immediately hired me to continue the Material and Time optimization study that I started. The data I gathered were used as standards in determining the material requirement and the daily output per section. I truly learned a lot from my first job and those learning paved the way to a better and more fulfilling career that I have now. Every time I have a recollection of my first job, it always puts a smile on my face. If you have read my previous blog "where's my shoes?" it is now time to get to know my Safety Shoes.

We graduated from the same institute, aside from that we have a lot of things in common. We love the same kind of music, like the same kind of food, enjoy watching movies, we can talk  about anything without running out of topics. We are both funny, thus we became friends and gotten real close. Things started to change when I broke up with my college boyfriend. He kept me company while I nursed my broken heart, he made sure that I’m OK. One day, the way we looked at each other suddenly felt different, his voice lingered in my head and his smile simply made my day. It was not my plan but I fell in love with my best friend.  Yes there’s nothing wrong with it, if and only if he was not in a long term relationship. I felt it was not right so I decided to avoid him but I failed to. After a long talk over the phone and a confrontation, he confessed  “the feeling is mutual,” then we kissed.

People in the office knew he was seeing somebody else, so we continued to be best friends you know the term “parang kayo pero hindi.” We exchanged notes written in small pieces of paper given in the most unique way possible, crumpled and thrown to the face. We held hands under the table during meetings. There were days he would give me chocolates with a note inside that says "para sa'yo ang ganda mo kasi ngayon... p.s. wag ka pumunta sa production line ang nipis ng suot mo." He would find all sort of excuses so he could drive me home from the office. Those were ourkilig moments. I love him but I never asked him to choose me over his then girlfriend, I knew that although we have many things in common having different faith made the situation even more complicated. I left the company, a pathetic decision I made because I wanted to move on. On my last day, before we finally said goodbye he asked me to marry him and I said no because I opt not to compromise my belief. At 23, marriage scared me because my family needs me. He told me he was ready to leave her if I said yes.  

Although I never regret turning him down, it took me 7 years to move on. My Safety shoes, it was not easy to forget you. I’m sorry I didn’t take you home. Thank you for the song and the poem you composed for me, I never felt so special in my whole life. Please know that you are always in my heart.

Where's my Shoes?

I wrote this back in January 10, 2012. In the book by Noreen Capili "Buti pa ang Roma may bagong Papa" she wrote about the lessons she learned from shoes, and that inspired me to create this blog, knowing that I'm not alone. Somewhere out there someone is loving her shoes and still looking for a perfect pair.

In my X number of years of existence, I had many shoes. I’m a woman and having dozens and dozens of pairs is just normal. A pair of shoes is meant for a specific look or occasion, thus it is inevitable to acquire a number of pairs over the years. Shoes vary in colour, style and function.

credit to the owner of this photo

Back in college, I had a pair of shoes and I will call it the “Sneaker.”  It is comfy, chic, and suites my laidback life then. I would wear it every day to school and I simply love it. But I outgrew my Sneaker. When I left college I had to start a career, and my Sneaker could not adjust to it. After a few months I said goodbye to my Sneaker.

Then I got myself a “Safety Shoes.” Although I love this one, I can’t take it home. I had to wear it only at work. Day by day I will wear my Safety Shoes, I almost brought it home, and I wish I did but I was half-hearted then. I didn’t want to get myself into trouble. A few changes came upon me and I left my work, I had to leave the Safety Shoes, but I kept our memories in my heart.

One after another I tried different shoes, but I never got one until I found my “Pumps.”  Very sleek this shoes suites my corporate look. I enjoyed wearing it, I felt like a real woman in this shoe, I felt beautiful and desirable. But this Pump didn’t last long.

Unexpectedly while on a business trip, I came across a “Stiletto.” I tried it on, it was beautiful, and my feet looked sexy. So although I had a reservation if I can handle it, I took it home with me. The Stiletto is a real looker, but it hurts my feet. I endured all the pain just to look good in it. I kept my Stiletto for 3 years until I finally gave up. I got tired and can’t take the pain anymore.

I wanted a real nice pair of shoes, one that I can keep for a lifetime. I am not fortunate enough to find it early in life and right now I’m still looking for it. I had found one in the Internet a few months back, a “Platform.” It is as pretty as the Stiletto but as comfortable as the Pump. I desired to have this Platform, I waited for its availability but fate won’t allow me. Every day, I checked it out in the internet, hoping I could grab one soon.

Shoes are like relationships... some are cheap and crappy. In life one must find a shoe that is durable, comfortable, and trendy no matter how much it will cost. Whatever type suites you, I hope you’ll find your match soon, just like Cinderella. Me, I’m still waiting for the Platform. But if it is not meant for me, then I might look for something else, Flats, Wedge, Booty maybe or simply get used to walking in my bare feet.