Oh My Janey

33rd Manila International Book Fair

The 33rd Manila International Book Fair took place last place at the SMX Convention Center last September 12 to 16. It was something I looked forward to since last year. I attempted to attend a couple of times last year but I always ended up being too late that they would no longer let me it. This year, I made sure to arrive early and have enough time to look around.

I went twice this year! The first time, I just wanted to look around. I was already to planning to attend a book signing on the last day but I was afraid I wouldn’t have enough time to look at all the booths. So I decided to have another night where I could just roam around without being constrained by the time and by the crowd. I even got in for free (because I’m cute, probably)!

The first night, I was shocked because I imagined astonishing discounts that would allow me to go home with dozens and dozens of books! But there were only 20% off and that’s not exactly an astonishing discount. An officemate, Kuya Abel, also said that the place was incredibly big and there would be tons of freebies but it wasn’t exactly that big and I didn’t get any freebies. So yes, I was a bit disappointed. Heh.

But one booth I loved was the University of the Philippines Press! There were so many books I love especially the anthology/mythology books but they were expensive and therefore, didn’t fit my budget. So I walked away with a heavy heart. But in one corner, I saw a “as low as P25” sign! I was so happy. I ended up buying 6 books for only P170! I was a happy banana. Hee.

It’s from Milflores Publishing and most of them are non-fiction and a compilation of works. Also, it’s all by Filipino writers! This year, I try to read as much Fil lit as possible. I’m already reading Floundering at 25, and I’m relating to everything she’s saying in the book. I’m just not sure if I like it. There’s something about the exposition of the lives of twentysomethings that throw me off. I just can’t place my finger on it.

So.

Last sunday, I went back for the Trese book signing! I have already expressed my thoughts on the set of comics by Sir Budjette Tan and Sir Kajo Baldisimo here. I have already expressed my love for Alexandra Trese and how the comics popularize Philippine myths and legends. So when I heard that there’d be a book signing, I couldn’t NOT go. I was supposed to go with Cy but she got sick so I went alone. Huhu. [Read more…]

6 Things Ice Skating Taught Me

I’ve always wanted to try ice skating even though it’s one of the things I’m sure I’d be bad at. I am horrible at any activity that involves balancing, so I was sure ice skating isn’t for me. Yet, I still wanted to try it.

When Renz, my first ever inaanak, stayed in the Philippines for a month-long visit, I decided that it was the best chance to have someone accompany me to MOA and brave the ice skating rink. And that we did. We had a good time trying to keep our balance in the ice. It was a really fun experience and really painful, too.

Ice skating never looked easy and when I first stepped into that ice, I was so sure that I’d end up hurting all over. I left the rink with bruises here and there, but it’s not just bruises that I took with me. I also managed to acquire some really good life lessons to remember for a long while.

  1. Children are the bravest creatures on earth. Oh, I know that they’re fast learners. The way they glide in the ice even though it’s their first time told me that I should have tried ice skating when I was a kid, instead of now, when learning is no longer my strongest suit. But children are really brave and I think that’s why it’s easy for them to learn new tricks. While adults like me could barely take a step and quiver at the slightest movement, children are letting go and gliding despite it all. I learned a lot just by watching them. Really. I had no instructor so I had to copy what they’re doing just so I could skate.
  2. You won’t get anywhere if you won’t take the first step. Once I stepped in the ice, I just wanted to hold on to the railing and never let go. It was slippery and I believed that my skates wouldn’t stop me from falling. But I realized that my P380 would go to waste if I’d just stay in one place. Ha! So despite knowing that the slightest movement could send me from crashing down, I let go of the railing and just tried to skate. If you could call that skating.
  3. It’s good to take risks. I am clumsiest person I know so I knew it would be a disaster when I stepped on the ice. Knowing that, I still took the plunge just for the heck of it. It would be such a waste if I never got the chance to try ice skating just because I’m scared. It’s like wasting a perfectly good opportunity just because I was afraid to fail and to get hurt. And this is something that I should remind myself everyday. At least I tried. In the greater scheme of things, knowing that you tried and did your best is a lot better than just settling on thinking that you can’t. Well, I learned that I really can’t skate but at least I got to prove it! Haha.
  4. With enough practice, you can do impossible things. Figure skaters are forces to reckon with. They are fearless people who can glide on the ice in great speed. Figure skating is an activity that only disciplined people can do. It takes a hefty amount of practice to do what they do. I’m pretty sure that I won’t be a figure skater in the near (or far) future, but I’m pretty sure that given enough time and practice, I’d learn how to skate. It looks impossible at first but I’m pretty sure that the amazing figure skaters on the ice that day started out like me, too. Scared and inexperienced. We all start from scratch, anyway.
  5. Strangers aren’t so bad. You grow up with a constant reminder that you shouldn’t talk to strangers. Then a situation takes place that you slipped in the ice and couples of strangers came up to you just to make sure you’re okay. They’ll offer a helping hand and most of the time, the only sensible thing to do is to trust them and reach out.
  6. Don’t think too much of what other people will say. Maybe it was in my 3rd fall or my 10th, I’m not sure. I soon realized that I should stop thinking that people were laughing at me everytime I fell. Thinking about it makes me too self-conscious and that’s not good when you’re learning something new. It’s not just in trying out new things. In everything you do, stop over-analyzing and just go for it. Don’t think too much of how people react if you do this or do that. Realize that you’re not the only one in the ice, you’re not the only one who slips and falls. You’re not the only one struggling. So it’s okay to fall and it’s perfectly okay if you’re not an A+ figure skater.

I learned so many things except how to properly skate. But it’s okay. I’m pretty sure I’ll be coming back to try it again, not anytime soon though. My left butt cheek could still feel the sting the moment it kisses the ground. And there are still some bruises on my left palm. Ice skating is a dangerous sport but I think a person like me makes it seem so lethal.

Meet Renz. He’s only 15 and already taller than me!

Tumblr Fair ’12

If you missed the Tumblr fair, I feel a bit sorry for you. Well, not really. But you definitely missed out a lot!

I wasn’t really planning to go since I had no idea where San Juan City is but I just really, really wanted to see so many bloggers. Jinky asked me why I know (they don’t know me, but you know what I mean!) so many Tumblr bloggers and I said that I’ve been a user since 2009. Let’s just say that I’ve been stalking quite a lot of Tumblr bloggers for the past 3-4 years. She then asked me why I still look normal (Jinky: Anong nangyari sa’yo?!) because pretty much everyone we saw in the fair are fashion experts or something. Well, I focused on KPOP, okay. Haha.

I digress.

Anyway, it was a rainy Saturday but that didn’t stop me from going. Jinky instructed me on how to get there since she actually lives near San Juan Gymnasium! It’s the farthest I’ve commuted alone excluding my Makati-Laguna friday adventures. Commuting alone still excites me especially when I’m going somewhere for the first time. Thankfully, I didn’t get lost because the lady who sat next to me on my Quiapo bus ride helped me ask the the bus conductor where Pinaglabanan is.

I was too happy not to get lost that I didn’t mind waiting for Jinky at all. Haha! From her condo, we walked to the gymnasium which happens to be a gymnasium of a local public school. If it weren’t for Jinky, I wouldn’t have found the place!

I was surprised to see that there weren’t that many people. I mean, it’s the first Tumblr fair and I’ve seen quite a lot of reblogs for the promotional poster. But then again, it was a Saturday, the place was out of the way, and it was raining! I almost didn’t go myself, but Jinky would probably hate me if I didn’t. Hehe.

I had a fun time people-watching. It’s quite overwhelming to see fashion bloggers in real life! I’d probably be awestruck to see the likes of Kryz Uy or Tricia Gosingtian! Bring the fangirl-ing on! Actually, there were 4 Tumblr bloggers that I wanted to see but I only saw 3 of them. Still, it was enough to make me all giddy! I wanted to approach them but I only ended up visiting their booth and looking around the place. Not even talking because I was too shy hahaha. I’m a sorry excuse for an “adult”. I can’t even talk to girls.

So many people were so well-dressed that I felt quite silly in my jeans and blouse. I didn’t know we were supposed to wear five-inch heels or combat boots when going to the fair. Haha. [Read more…]

Cinemalaya Opening Night

I don’t get to watch Filipino indie films as much as I want. Having lived and studied in Laguna most of my life, my only chance to see indie films were when they show it in Elbi. I remember watching only 2 full-length indie films in college: Kubrador and Manoro. I didn’t understand both. Haha! But when I attended a screening in UPLB of multiple indie films about kids (Andong‘s my favorite!), I decided to watch as many indie films as I can.

When I finally moved to Makati for my first (and current huhu) job, I thought I’d have more time to attend indie film screenings. That didn’t go according to plan. Though I had all the chances in the world, I have failed to go to screenings. But this year, I made plans with friends to attend the opening night of Cinemalaya and I’m glad our plans pushed through! Well, they’re regular attendees, anyway, and I just tagged along.

We braved the harsh weather and trekked our way to CCP. Jinky, Kimpee and Sarah were already there, and Ate Marco, Ayessa and I arrived later. I was just glad to arrive whole at CCP, wet, but whole. It was my second time at CCP and I felt as if my drenched self was a bit out of place. The place was lovely, of course.

We didn’t get to see the opening program but we were just in time for Laurice Guillen’s introductory speech of Mario O’Hara’s Babae sa Breakwater. I enjoyed the film but it gave me mini-heart attacks every other scene. It was just incredibly intense and incredibly depressing, too. I guess that’s what a movie reflecting the lives of millions of Filipinos can do to you. I talked more about it here.

After the movie, we saw tons of celebrities in the lobby. We had a picture taken with Sir Lou Veloso who was in the film. Laurice Guillen was doing an interview so we didn’t have the guts to approach her. I heard Tita Gretchen and Tito Tony Boy were there, too, but I missed them. Huhu. [Read more…]

Fangirling in Hong Kong

It’s like a whirlwind romance (with Koryan boys, of course).

I learned about the KPOP Festival: Music Bank in Hong Kong last May and in less than a week, Haszelle and I ordered our concert tickets online. But we couldn’t immediately buy plane tickets and had to wait about two weeks before we could book our flight. After about two more weeks, we made a reservation for a hostel in Tsim Sha Tsui. So on June 22, I jumped on a plane that will take me to where the love of my life for 8 years would hold a concert.

Before I say more of my weekend affair at Hong Kong, let me explain how this came to be. I just got back from Korea when I heard about the concert. A part of me was happy that I finally went to the land of the oppas, but another part was incredibly sad that I didn’t get to see any oppa. So despite being almost broke, I made an impulsive decision to watch this concert. And I’m glad that Haszelle is as impulsive and as in love with DBSK as I am. It’s also lucky that she’s YunHo biased and I’m ChangMin biased so seeing TVXQ (despite JYJ no longer in the group) felt as if it’s the right thing to do.

A lot of people were against my decision. A lot of people were telling me to think about it long and hard before I do anything rash. But it’s not a rash decision, you see. I had been waiting for that opportunity for the past 8 years and I felt as if I’d have to do it then. I don’t think I’ll ever see the 5 of them at the same stage in this lifetime, but I’d be fine to see ChangMin and YunHo perform live. Though of course, I’d love to see JaeChunSu in concert, too.

But once I explained that it’s something that I’ve wanted for a long, long time and that I promise to not grow old without savings, friends and family had been supportive. I can never thank them enough.

It was an exciting and nerve-wracking experience. It was Haszelle’s first time to leave the country so it made me feel all grown-up and responsible. But it was weird because responsible is a word that people won’t use to describe me. But I had no one older to depend on the way I used to, so I had to act a bit more independent.

It was also the first time I went out of the country without my sister. She’s often the one who holds our pocket money and keeps the passports. Her not being there made me all paranoid. Heh. I really wanted her to be there for tons of reasons, actually. First, she’s my travel buddy! But I did not (and do not) have enough resources to fund for us both. Second, she’s the first person I fangirled with over DBSK! We both wanted to see them live but she said she’d be more bitter if YooChun was there. Ha! And third, well, she’s my sister.

I’m pretty sure there’ll be a next time, though, and by that time, I’m pretty sure my sister will be rich enough to treat me. Hohoho.

[Read more…]

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