Eliza Victoria

bohol, day 1

I remember Jme mentioning Bohol the very first time Jaykie introduced me to her and boyfriend Beej, and was I glad this trip pushed through. I had crazy fun, even though I’ve been there before.

Overnight at Jaykie’s

Jaykie lives near NAIA 3, so Jme, Phil, Beej and I stayed over Thursday so we could make the early Friday flight. Played Mario Kart on the Wii. Realized I sucked at Mario Kart. I also had some mango cream pie that I loved so much I wanted to marry it.

8: 30 Flight MLA – TAG

Last year my high school friends and I had an evening flight to Cebu, the first time I’ve seen the NAIA Terminal 3. I prefer the evening flight because 1) it’s insanely hot here in Metro Manila in the morning and 2) there are fewer people.

But we didn’t have to wait too long so it was fine. Met up with the group (minus Mark and Guiz, who took the ZestAir flight).

The Cebu Pacific flight wasn’t delayed! WHOA. I was seriously impressed. Flight was smooth, but I thought our landing in Tagbilaran was a bit rough.

We had our luggage loaded in a separate van, to be taken ahead of us to the Dumaluan Beach Resort.

Then the tour:

Baclayon Church

I seriously love this church. But there’s this rule

so our legs (and arms, if we’re wearing a sleeveless top) had to be covered. (I was wearing shorts.) With guys it’s okay. Ah, the Catholic Church never fails.

Anyway.

This picture made me laugh:

I was raised Catholic. I do believe a sense of humor and some laughter is necessary in this religion.

Church interior (just click to enlarge):

These paintings fascinate me.

Tarsiers!

According to our tour guide Mark, tarsiers take just 3-10 seconds to make love. Poor little things.

Chocolate Hills

Nice weather.

River Cruise

Buffet lunch! I’ve been on the cruise before so all I could think of was foooood.

The light on the water looked gorgeous.

Beach!

We got to the resort at around 5 p.m. Fixed our stuff, took a shower, slathered sunblock on ourselves, and off to the white sands and the sapphire sea!

I got this dress from Jaykie’s sister. Thanks! :)

Fair warning about Dumaluan Beach Resort: the drinks and rice are expensive. There’s no service water, and there are corkage fees, and the nearest Jollibee is possibly a bajillion miles away, so you have no choice but to shell out some moolah. Food is good though, and the viands can feed two people, so if you’re with someone, just split the bill.

This shot was supposed to be candid. Candid, I tell you.

Bakit ka naggo-glow? Cheka.

Crispy pataaaaaaaaaa.

I like Jme’s shirt.

We walked along the beach for a bit. Stargazed. There were no clouds and the moon was very bright.

Excellent first day. Now to some indoor camwhorage

and sleep. Recharge!

(Some of the photos were taken by Jme and Christian.)

crossed genres #18 (eastern issue) – review

Crossed Genres is an online science fiction and fantasy magazine that “supports equal rights and equal treatment regardless of gender, race, sexual orientation or religion”. It releases monthly themed issues, challenging writers to combine that month’s theme genre with science fiction and/or fantasy (hence the name “Crossed Genres”) and has released an anthology called “Year One”, a collection of stories selected from the first twelve issues of the magazine. The theme for May’s Issue 18, the subject of this review, is “Eastern”, broadly defined as any story set in an Eastern culture. Spoiler Warning from here on out, so read the stories for free here (and if you like the issue, donate or buy a downloadable digital copy) then pop on back for the review.

The review.

here comes the bride

– Oh, how wonderful to find a Pinoy comedy film with an actual plot and witty dialogue and punchlines I actually find funny. I could have wept.

– I love Chris Martinez na.

– Angelica Panganiban is a revelation.

– Jaime Fabregas speaks cute Ilonggo, hee.

– Basta! Excellent cast!

– Cyril: “Angelica does babaeng bakla better than Ruffa Mae.” TRUE.

– I didn’t like the maarte fonts of the subs, but I know how to forgive.

– John Lapus looks like The Dawn’s Jett Pangan.

– “Bonggang-bongga. Bougainvillea.”

– Bongga talaga ‘te. Manood ka na.

lost

Photo from here.

The series is nearing it’s end and I’ve only just finished the first season. Late viewer is late, oh my. I’ve always wanted to see it after the first-season hype, but by the time I found the time (daming time) to see it the bad reviews are already trickling in. Apparently, the plane crash survivors got off the island at some point – then they went back? WHAT? But anyway. First season. So Season 1’s final episode was underwhelming (That’s the smoke monster? That’s it?), so I have a lot of questions, so I find the doctor’s life story boring, so I’m wondering what Michelle Rodriguez is doing in this scene, so the cast members execute perfect blocking every time they have to look over there – but my God, it’s riveting. It makes good TV, no doubt. I will forever love those flashback scenes featuring Locke and Sun, and that scene where they figure out that the message has been repeating itself for 16 years, and Jin’s back story left me teary-eyed. I will watch Season 2 of course. I want to know what’s in that hatch they just blew up.

(NO SPOILERS PLEASE FOR THE LOVE OF GOD.)

seventh

Nice quiet Monday dinner and coffee to celebrate our seventh month together. Spaghetti and potato salad and and sausages and peach pancakes and mango crepe and whipped cream (Pancake House) and espresso java chip frappes (Starbucks). Windy day. Nice day.

* * *

Had a pedicure yesterday morning after an effing long time. I’d be spending time in Bohol mostly in flip-flops and my un-pedicured toenails would look er disgusting. So. I like this nail polish because it makes my feet look pale:

The parlor I went to was just across the street from the building where I live, and appeared to cater mostly to old women. Haha. I was the youngest person there. It was like stepping into another planet.

Ate managed to remove the indelible ink from my forefinger! Finally. I would’ve wanted to subject my fingernails to a coat or two of nail polish as well, but how will I get my money from my pocket without ruining my manicure? (LOL.) Anyone here know of a place where they let you dry your nails before pushing you out of the salon?

expanded horizons issue 18: a review

Expanded Horizons, which began publishing stories in 2008, is an online speculative fiction publication that aims to increase diversity in the field, “both in the authors who contribute and in the perspectives presented”. Its specific objectives include increasing the number of women authors in speculative fiction, and increasing authentic ethnic diversity in stories written in this field.

It recently made the longlist of the British Fantasy Awards under the category, “Best Magazine”.

In its latest issue (Issue 18), Expanded Horizons includes stories set in India, Nigeria, the US, and the Philippines, with protagonists ranging from a lonely ghost to a woman who craves human flesh. Here are my impressions of the various stories–obviously, Spoiler Warning applies, so do check out the issue before reading on.

The stories.

weekend zombie

After I got off from work on Thursday (and what a crazy week, jumpstarted by the national elections whew), I just decided to stay in one place and fry my brain with Lost (first season), Mad Men (first season), and some Family Guy and The Simpsons. By “stay in one place” I meant “eat my meals in bed”. It was too hot outside, I was too lazy to write, I was too lazy, period.

Jaykie and I did go out on Friday night to have dinner with my high school friends. Topic? Politics, politics, politics (which to me sounds like work, work, work, but it can’t be helped, what with the current political climate), and Ghia’s stay in Quezon province, where the mall closes at 8:30 p.m. (in Palawan, according to Kuya Wendell, the mall closes at 7:30 p.m. – SURPRISE!) and where you’ll have to suffer a one-hour ride to buy halu-halo.

Some (supposedly candid) pictures. We’re already in Trinoma Conti’s here, after feeding at Pizza Hut: