Realization

Dateline: june 30th
2:42AM - mid Flight on Cebu Pacipic Air
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On my Monthly flight back to Manila... Same Old, Same Old.. Same hour long bus ride from Taipei City to Taoyuan International Airport.. Same looooong wait to check in and then to board... Same Airline Carrier, Cebu Pacific... Even some of the same smiley flight crew... Same arrival in the wee hours of the morning... But one thing surely is not the same, this time around, there will be no Mom to visit or look after... Oh how it breaks my heart...

The 2nd actually will mark Mom's 40th day since she passed away... A big day for the Catholics as it supposed to signify.....

On that day, my sis and i plan on taking her ashes back to Bicol.. To fulfill her last request.... That she gets back to her hometown, her Province... Her ancestral home... To pay a visit to her parents' - our grandparents' - tombs... And then to scatter her ashes in the ocean...

Possibly the last big thing I will be doing for my Mom... Besides saying prayers for her almost every night.. Besides lighting a candle in her honour at church, each and every Sunday... Besides talking to the little brown butterfly that hangs in the house of late - I still say it IS Mom... And besides thinking of her constantly.. And missing her...

Am sitting on the plane right now writing with tears flowing down... Saddened by the realization once more that Mom is gone... Truly Gone...

The Tears might subsides in time... But will the longing ever really do?

Summer Fun with Open Chang & the Gang!!!

Debuting today, 7-11 brings back the loveable  and personal favotrite od mine character, OPEN CHANG for their Premium Promotional Program.....   The entire gang's  back for this cute promotional program...  this time around as pen/pencil toppers - each character dons the Open chang head mask and their cute little heads are sticking out of them....   each and every single one is a MUST HAVE - and so far there are 7 of them introduced, pictured above...

The way it works is that one must purchase at least NT$70 on a single receipt to get a sticker point...  for every 4 stickers, and an additional NT$49,  you have the option of redeeming one of these cuties.... am pretty positive they will be packaged as Blind Boxes though, so one will not know which one he/she is actually getting.....   An added element of SURPRISE for some... a cause of FRUSTRATIONS for others...  myself included... hahahahahahaha....

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 7-11 even enlisted Taiwan Pop Idol, Show in the promotional TV ADs currently running in all major Taiwan TV stations...

For the UBER CUTE Commercial with Taiwan Pop Idol Show,

 PLS CLICK HERE!

VAMPING his way to PENSHOPPE!!!

Penshoppe All Stars continues to wow Internationally with the release of Vampire Diaries Resident Hunk, Ian Somerhalder, Ad appearances.....  the ones I have seen so far mostly capitalizes on his smoldering hypnotic eyes....  but I do hope that soon, sexier shots will be coming our way...  but then again, this guy is soooooo hot, he need not disrobe and he still oozes sexy..... :) 

For now, am sharing what I have seen so far... :)

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The Penshoppe All Stars Roster So Far!

Hi*Life X RODY

Been a while since I had Hi*Life coffee - but with RODY on board as their newest Promotional Program, I know I will be having many cups of their coffee for a while... at least, until I collect them all!!!

Well, not all as am not really into the BIGGER ones, that are Coin Banks....  maybe I will break down and get one... but that is a BIIG MAYBE....   am also not too sure about the key chain ones...  as I have no use for those....  and they run a bit high....  instead I really would love to collect the ones that are 2 inches in height as they are perfect to blend in with everything else I collect....  

The way the program works is that you purchase 2 large coffees, and you get to buy one for NT$39 each, a little over US$1.00 each...  if bought on their own, they will run you NT$99 each or US$3.00 plus change each....  since we do have coffee everyday anyway, might as well opt for the former way of acquiring one....

So far, I have the Yellow, Green and Blue Versions....  I have seen a White, Pink, and Lilac variations as well....  so I know, I will be having more of Hi*Life's Java to get those, too...

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and it really MUST BE the time for RODY, as the market seems to be getting it's fair share of RODYs....   even the upcoming Taipei Toy Festival will be debuting RODY's in collaboration with another fave of mine, EVANGELION....  

Out and About with Juju!

This week I get to play Babysitter for 3 consecutive days.....   at first I was quite frustrated and scared non-stop rain for Taipei.....  and it was looking just like that with dark skies, thunder and lighting to boot.....  but LUCKILY, so far, it only rained Monday nite....  seemed more like Typhoon really....  all through the nite it was non-stop sounds of heavy rain, thunder and lightning.... 

So the frustrations came from being scared that Juju and I will not be able to go out - as it would be hard to in all that rain....  but run around we did for 3 days....  which is FINE by us.....    I really think she took after me in the sense that she goes NUTS being couped up in the house the whole day....  she is ALWAYS raring to go and quite a HAPPY LITTLE ONE, as soon as she sees us getting ready to go out  - with all HOPES that she too, will be tagging along.....  :

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DAY 1 - Monday, June 11th:  After my post BDay lunch with Juliana and Sue. I came home to meet up with Juju, as her parents get going for work....   Afraid that the rain will fall soon I decided to take Juju to the park to play right away... at least she and I would feel like she got to be out for a bit....This park is across the street from our home...  Playing Safe in case it starts pouring, then we can just run back home - FAST!

Then it was nap time for Juju....  but as soon as she woke up, still no rain in sight, we ventured off to another park - 15 mins away to play some more... play with other kids as she is beginning to really warm up to others and loves to run around after the big ones....

Juju also is quite taken by my new Be@rbrick....  the 400% one that Juliana gave me earlier in the day....  perfect size for her tiny hands, she just loves cradling it... kissing it... and talking to it.Baby"...   Uh Oh, this Be@rbrick will get a lot of play, for sure.....hahahahaha

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DAY 2 - Tuesday, June 12th:  With the non-stop rain all nite and all morning, I thought for sure that Juju and I will be stuck just at home the whole afternoon and nite....  Thank God for hearing my prayers... Suddenly, the rain let up a little and Juju's Dad came to our rescue and drove us to the Living Mall....  where we hung out for at least 5 Hours.....   going floor to floor... shop to shop... and spending lots of time at Tom's World Amusement Arcade... and Toys R Us!!!!

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DAY 3 - Wednesday, June 13th: with only GLOOMY SKIES but no rain, we fared better and after Juju's NAP - I decided we take the bes us wherever....  first bus that came was the #26he SGO/CHUNG HSIAO shopping area... so that is where we got off... checked out ZARA, UNI QLO and all the cute little BOUTIQUES.....   then we started our walk back as it was starting to get dark....

.....Halfway to the house is the Taipei Arena/Gymnasium area....   so we stopped off to people watch....   watching so many runners getting their run before the rain starts again...   Juju even got an idea to join in and wanted to run along...alas, with the stroller in tow, we were told we could not be on the tracks... hahahaha...

Ending the day by sharing an Ice Cream at McDonalds...

Post Birthday!

Monday, the 11th:  Was FINALLY able to get together with Sue and Juliana - after a month of not seeing them..... Nowadays, it is a   TREAT for the 3 of us to be able to have lunch together - with the girls' work schedule really sooooo demanding....   it was even a Double TREAT  as we CELEBRATED my BDay....  

Lunch was at Lulu's....  this was our second time at the place.....  Nice Ambiance....  Good Food....  No One Rushing Us.....  and just the right amount of people - so as one can still people watch but not get annoyed by too much loud noises....

...and the SPECIAL TREAT was getting this Beautiful, COLORFUL, FUN

400% Be@rbrick!!!  Thank You Very Much, Juliana!!!

Nakata X Mr Porter

MR PORTER has a GREAT COVER STORY of Retired Japanese Footballer, Hidetoshi Nakata - both a Fave Sportsman and a Style Icon of many around the world, myself included...   Retired at an early age of 29, this guy is sorely missed in the World of Football... having represent his country in three World Cups and play in the Italian Serie A and English Premier League.

Since retiring, he has said to have traveled and visited as much as, 100 countries... he is said to be education himself with the ways of the world...  he's mentioned that, though he has traveled to many places with the sport, it was always for that, not much in the ways of seeing the sights and experiencing the wonders of each countries visited... so he is making up for it all now...

Though retired, he is still very much considered a part of Football....  many will always associate him with the sports and being soooo stylish....   of late he has done ADVERTS for Calvin Klein Underwear, COKE ZERO, etc....   as well as, many fashion editorials and cover stories for a number of magazines...  with Mr Porter being the latest....  

You can check out this COVER STORY / Fashion Editorial here: 

Hidetoshi Nakata for Mr Porter

My Day!

Well. another BDay has come....   and once more I am in Taiwan....  Fine by me as I really do not even Celebrate anymore....  and even more so with the recent passing of Mom's...  makes it even harder to feel like Celebrating....  Still, I had to be reminded that Mom does not want me to be sad....  to not shed tears, not too much anyway, and live life.....  

Juju & Family plus David wanted, and insisted, on taking me out for a Birthday Lunch....  they have been going on about it since I came back from Manila - so I finally broke down and said yes....  Lunch at WANG STEAK on Nanjing St was quite filling and a very nice place to spend a quiet, relaxed and tasty way to celebrate my BDay....  and just to SATISFY ME even more so, a variety of DESSERT selection was ordered!  LOL!!!

Thanks for the Birthday Treat Guys!!!

Stopped by Hsing Tien Temple to offer prayers right after. 

...and in a little bit, will go running to finish off my day... besides, gotta burn all that calories from all those desserts... LOL....

SEE PHOTOS HERE!!!

he's got moves...

If you are a FAN of Channing Tatum, then you know that even before the movies, he was modeling for likes of D&G... and even before that, he had somewhat of a career as a Male Stripper....   Fast Forward to now and his new INDEPENDENT FILM that he co-produced himself, MAGIC MIKE, comes out with so much FANFARE, of course....  Not only does he get to show off his dancing moves once more - which he showcased to all in the first STEP UP film - he  is surely to get the audience wild doing his sexy stripper moves....

Channing Tatum along with some of Hollywood's Hunkiest Hunks: Matthew McConaughey, Matt Bomer (most recently singing and dancing in GLEE),  Joe Manganiello of True Blood, and Alex Pettyfer of Number 4 and Beastly strips for all in this film.   I for one cannot wait to see it....

It should also be noted that ‘Magic Mike’ is the latest addition to Steven Soderbergh’s movie repertoire. The filmmaker, who  has made a variety of films that has been lauded Internationally: 'Sex, Lies, &Videotape', ‘Traffic,’ ‘Haywire,’ ‘Che’ and the ‘Oceans Eleven’ trilogy to name a few.

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The following shots of four of the film stars are from the Cover Story of Entertainment Weekly.

Channing Tatum Shows Off His Moves

Channing Tatum with Matthew McConaughey

Matt Bomer

Joe Manganiello

...on the 9th Day...

Yesterday was the 9th day of my Mom's Death prayer vigil....   For Catholics, it is a tradition to have a nightly prayers for the dearly departed, with a special meaning to the 9th Day as it supposedly helps the deceased move on to the afterlife....

Though am not in manila anymore to take part in the nightly prayers, i have been good enough to pass by a church each and every nite, almost the same time as they are having the prayer vigils in Manila....   last nite was no different, I stopped by this little Chapel a few blocks from our home...  I was LUCKY ENOUGH that it was still opened, as it was already too late to go over to St Christopher's Church....

Prayers offered....  candles lit....  hoping that Mom has  smooth transition to the After Life....  

While at IKEA yesterday for a coffee/dessert break with Juju,  this family of 4 came to eat, as well....  this Grandmother and Boy caught my attention....  and suddenly I found tears running down my face....   The woman reminded me so much of my Mom....  I guess, it really will take some time....  :(

In Loving Memory: Mom

On the morning of May 24th, about 5:55AM, Mom passed away....   quietly in her own hom....  yes it was expected, as on the 20th - I ahve finally agreed to keep her off the Breast Cancer Medicine she had been taking for a little over a year....  Expected, but nonetheless a total shock as it came just waty too fast....  in my mind I was thinking, was hoping that we will still have, at least another month with her... 

I arrived on the 17th and was shocked to see the condition she was in....  so frail....  could not move at all as each movement meant screams of pain....   she looked so drawn and sooooo lacking of sleep.....   she has lost lots of weight from not being able to eat anymore....  she tosses and turns...  and cries every 5 mins or so..... with each cry a plea to stop the pain....  stop the suffering....  and now and again, a plea, a wish to see her other children.....  and when she calms down, she talks of being ready... that when DEATH comes for her, then she is already more than willing to accept and go....

This wish of her came true in the forms of my older sis, Rowena (along with her Hubby BR)  and my half sister Barbara....  they happened to have both come on the same day....  spending a bit of time with Mom....  which in turn, made her happy.... and I was, too, as I knew these visits are the kind of visits she looks forward to....  and adds life in her....  we gave her pain medications and sleeping pills around 7PM - hoping it will help give her some rest.....   it took a while to take effect - signs that the doctor said meant she is in her last days....   I stayed up with her till about 3AM...  when she seemed to have calmed down a bit....   and actually fell into sleep......  I went upstairs and got some shut eyes...  leaving her with Ate Malou, her caregiver that stays up with her in the middle of the nite....

a little before 6AM, I was awaken by my stepfather calling out my name.... he in turn was awoken by Ate Malou...   Mom, quietly passed away in her sleep....  I help her hands and wept....  stroked her head, all the while saying: "Rest Now My Dear Mom...  Be with your parents, siblings and love ones who have also moved on....  I Love You...."    I wept some more....  stopped for a little bit to call my Sister and inform her...  and notified my other siblings and family....  and stayed with my Mom for a bit more before I gather myself up to arrange all the funeral services....  all the while weeping.....