This is the last week of Girls Talk... and for the last prompt, it's all about gadgets. Technology has definitely become part of our everyday lives, and I for one have a very long list of gadgets I want to own, but this would be my top three:


Canon EOS 7D. In 2009, I traveled to Palawan with a few online friends I met a forum, and one of them (Erick) just bought a new camera - the EOS 7D. I wasn't able to "test drive" it, but I did get to use it for a few minutes and I just loved it. Well, a DSLR camera (of any kind - whether it's the cheapest one in the market) is still pretty much very expensive for me, and there is this hesitation of my saving up for it because I know I am not that great of a photographer, and part of me fears I might not give the images any justice should I jump to the DSLR camera owners bandwagon. Also, I know that owning a DSLR Camera would mean wanting to get the lenses and accessories, as well as wanting to attend workshops and photography classes... not to mention people expecting you to produce much better images. All of these are great changes, yes, but for a person who can't afford such a pricey gadget, I guess I will just stick to my trusty point and shoot camera for now, after all, I am not really eyeing to become a big shot photographer, though of course I want to have some sense of growth as well.

I still am not giving up on my hopes of owning a DSLR camera (particularly this one)... and if there will be a fairy willing to grant me three wishes, this might be one of those three wishes, or I can just ask a whole bulk of cash so I can buy the accessories, too. Hahahaha.

Canon Powershot D10. While in the subject of cameras, another one I dream to own is this one, because it's waterproof and shock proof. I love going to the beach and it just sucks not being able to take pictures while in the water. This one is much easier to acquire, so I guess I will start saving up for this one first.

iPhone 4. Main reason of me wanting to own this is because of the apps - particularly the Instagr.am app. Also, I have heard of a person being able to publish a coffee table book using pictures taken by the iPhone, and part of me wants to accomplish something like that, too, or maybe devote a photo blog by publishing images solely taken by the iPhone.

Hmmm... looks like my mind (even in gadgets) is set on photography. :) By the way, all the images here were not mine, I just grabbed them from Flickr, if you want to see the source for the images, just click on each of the picture to see the owner's photostream.

*** Jenn ***

Like the one I posted in my last Nostalgia / Flashback post... this is another Facebook picture I was tagged on.




This was taken early 2003. The class was busy preparing for their Thesis defense, but since our team was the first one to meet the panel, we just helped other groups in setting up their presentation and / or serving the food. Well, after each presentation, the group would serve snacks or light meals to their panel as they deliberate.

Anyway, I don't recall having this picture taken, I was quite surprised when Cherry (the one on my right - well technically my left) tagged me in this picture. I am very pleased to have some of them as my friends in Facebook - I was practically an outsider who just took most of her classes in their section, yet they really treated me as part of the family. I don't get to see them since that year, and it's rare for me to talk to them (we mainly interact through Facebook), yet they have invited me twice to attend their class get-together. Sadly, I wasn't able to attend any of those because I feel a little shy. Maybe next time, I can attend, as they do allow spouses, kids, bf/gf to join the get-together, too.

*** Jenn ***

ps - in case you're wondering where am I in the picture, I am the 4th woman from the left, top row. Yes, the one in black.

I am scared of heights and although the fear wasn't that strong (I wouldn't actually consider it a phobia), the thought of me crossing a hanging bridge would seem quite impossible. Heck, I can't even cross the overpass in Commonwealth Avenue without psyching myself I can reach the other end! Hahahaha.

When I talked to my cousin about going to San Gabriel, she showed me pictures of her with her brother MC and our nephew Gabby (cousin Karen's son). I really wanted to be there and experience the fun as well.


We were supposed to cross the hanging bridge when we checked out Tangadan Falls two days before, but it rained so hard that we decided it would be best to cancel it. My sister and I still had two days left before going home, so after visiting daddy's grave and lighting a candle for his 4th death anniversary, sister and I went to fetch cousin Mhai, who would be our tour guide. :)

The bridge wasn't that scary because it was quite sturdy and there were chicken wires acting as walls on both sides. However, part of the fear I had was falling in the water that could make me lose my cell phone and my camera. Yeah, weird, but I seriously don't want to lose either my cell phone or my camera because they are my lifelines.

Crossing the bridge with my sister, my cousin, and two of our nieces was very, very fun... and I seriously had fun hopping as I cross the bridge causing it to wobble and made the two kids scared. Hahahaha. I easily crossed the bridge without breaking a sweat! Now I am looking forward in crossing more hanging bridges! Currently, I hope to travel back to Bohol and cross the hanging bridge made from bamboo! Now that can be scary!

I got injured that day, but I wasn't the baby type who just cried and whined how painful it was. Majority of the feelings I had that day was about joy - of doing something extraordinary - something I will forever cherish. I did learn my lesson... but I still would cross this bridge when I have the chance.

Crossing a hanging bridge? A check on my Bucket List.

*** Jenn ***

This week's theme for Tuesday Couch Potatoes is "Redemption," and for a while I thought what my take would be - will I go for something religious or something light... until this movie came to mind:





The Four Feathers (2002). A story of a young British officer who resigned his post when he and his friends were being sent off to Sudan. His father, who was a British war hero, disowned him and his friends and fiancee gave him a white feather each, as a symbol of cowardice. He lived alone, yet hearing news about his friend being harmed in the war, he then did all he could - even disguising as an Arab - so he could save his friend and redeem himself from his previous action. In the end, his father acknowledged him and his friends and fiancee took back the white feather they once gave him. This movie was an adaptation of a 1902 novel of the same title by A.E.W. Mason. This film stars the late Heath Ledger together with Kate Hudson, Wes Bentley, and Djimon Hounsou, and was directed by Shekhar Kapur.

- * - * - * -

I had no idea what the story was back in 2004, all I know was that I was inside AstroVision looking for some VCDs. It was the Christmas season that time, and knowing my late father loved war movies, I decided to buy the copy of the movie and wrapped it as my gift to him. He watched it a few days after receiving the gift, and told me that he liked the movie. Curious about the certain things in the movie dad talked about, I watched it as well.

I guess the most beautiful thing about this movie was how a young officer who never wanted to go in the war suddenly plunged in and did everything to save his friend. Even if his friend thought of him as a coward for giving up his post, he managed to do lots of impossible things just to make sure his friend would come home safe. Rare is a friend like him, really.

From the story, to the acting... all the way to the cinematography, this movie is really something worth seeing.

*** Jenn ***

Happy Easter, everybody! Hope is having a nice Easter celebration... us girls had a little egg hunting game - mom hid three eggs in the kitchen and sister and I had to search for it... well we did get to find all three eggs, so for sure our Easter Eggs will become egg spread for sandwich tomorrow morning.

Anyway, this Sunday, it's all about the Freakin' Four Things meme, and here's my take:

Four Places I Go. I work at home, so most of the times I am just inside the house, but the last four places I went to were:
1. Market
2. Church
3. Bathroom
4. My Bedroom

Four Crushes I Have. I am certainly old enough to have crushes, but just so everybody can relate, my four biggest celebrity crushes were:
1. Brad Pitt. Well, who wouldn't?
2. Robert Downey, Jr. I just love him!
3. Shawn Michaels. Yes, that's the WWE wrestler.
4. Jordan Taylor Hanson. He's three years younger than I am, but he's my favorite Hanson.


Four Smells that I Love.
1. Fruity scents like strawberry, watermelon, and apple.
2. Freshly brewed coffee.
3. Newly washed clothes.
4. Morning.

Four Favorite TV Shows.
1. Gilmore Girls. I am currently hunting the complete DVD copies of this show.
2. The Amazing Race. I love seeing different parts of the world.
3. Criminal Minds. Lately, I am very much into psych-related shows.
4. Grey's Anatomy. I never missed an episode of this.

Four Favorite Movies. This will be difficult, but....
1. The Notebook. Such a wonderful love story.
2. Legends of the Fall. Watched it a million times, and I still cry everytime I watch it.
3. Cruel Intentions. I so thought Reese and Ryan would stay together forever.
4. Little Women.

Four Recommendations.
1. Felicity Patisserie. If you want a nice, homely feel to go with your foods.
2. Ilocos Roadtrip. If you want a great road trip.
3. Jenn on the Go. Simply because it's my travel blog. Hahahaha.
4. 8 - 10 glasses of water.

Four People That I'd Love to Read Their Fours.
1. My sister.
2. My cousin Theresa.
3. My friend Ahdz.
4. My neighbor Charo.

Four Things About Me That You Don't Know.
1. My exact weight.
2. My waistline.
3. My fetishes.
4. What goes on in my mind.

Four Bands That I Love.
1. Hanson. I fell in love with them the first time I saw their "MMMBop" video in 1997.
2. the Beatles. I can sing to each of their songs... really.
3. Queen. I just love how their voices and talents merge.
4. Dixie Chicks. I love listening to country music, too.


Cheers to us thieves!

*** Jenn ***

Last day of the recaps...

06 March 2011

I guess it has been a yearly tradition for me to travel to Vigan City a day after dad's death anniversary and would take the bus from there back to Manila. This year, my sister was with me, and although we initially planned of traveling to Abra, the hesitations from our Aunt Julie and cousin Weng, plus my injured toe made us decide to travel to Vigan instead. I guess I will just have to gather more information about traveling to Abra and might do it next time instead.

We left our house in La Union a little past 6am, because I knew there will be a Viron Transit bus arriving around 6:30am. I didn't know what happened - if we missed it or not - but the bus arrived around 8:30am, and we reached Vigan nearly noon time. I hoped to take my sister to the Ruby Pottery shop, but it was already lunch break, so we decided to eat lunch as well, before we start the day trip. Actually, we had no definite plans as to where to go, we just wanted to spend the day in Vigan together.

With around 1000 pesos in my wallet (600 will be for the bus fare back to Manila), budgeting 200+ pesos (I paid 180 for the fare from La Union to Vigan) for the entire day would be difficult. We wanted to eat lunch at any roadside eateries, but the one brother suggested wasn't there anymore and with growling tummies, we went to eat at Jollibee instead. After that, we walked to the Vigan Cathedral where we said our prayers. We didn't stay that long, though, because my sister felt some goosebumps seeing that much religious relics.

From there, we went to the Bantay Church, just outside Vigan City. In 2008, us siblings went here, too, and we figured it would be best to re-visit it this year. We had a very nice tour guide who not only talked to us about some history, he also graciously took our pictures. Getting on top was surely a great feeling, if only we could stay there a bit longer.

A day or two before this trip, an online friend posted pictures he took from Vigan, which included a visit to the Abel Iloko weaving factory. It was one Vigan-related place I wanted to visit, but learning it was very far from the heart of the city and the fare might be a bit too expensive, we decided to walk back to Vigan City (just a little over 500 meters) and stayed at Calle Crisologo. Sister started shopping, while I just took my time taking pictures.


A text message came in from brother asking if we brought his remaining culinary magazine collection with us. It made us remember that we just placed the magazines in a plastic bag, and we really needed a much bigger and much better bag to place the magazines. None of the shops in Calle Crisologo sells the sako-bag (a bag made from sack), so we went to the Vigan Market. Of course, we were there already, so might as well roam around and take pictures.

By the way, if you're wondering... that's a picture of my sister with Bagnet (crunchy deep fried cuts of pork) and Vigan Longganisa (Vigan Sausages), two foods known from this part of the country. We surely want to take home some, but we couldn't, so might as well take pictures.

We then ate Vigan Empanada, before sister commenced with her shopping at Calle Crisologo. Because my foot was injured, we figured we just wait for night time here, since it was very late in the afternoon anyway. Time really passed so quickly that day, but I was happy to be setting foot in my favorite place again.

The Calle Crisologo had quite a lot of changes, and us seeing a new food place made us want to try it, so we will have another story for our Foodie Adventures. We went to eat dinner at Tummy Talk - sister had the sinanglaw, a dish made from cow (sometimes goat or water buffalo)'s internals, while I had a bowl of noodles, because my money was really down its drain. It was actually a good idea to eat here because the food was good, and the bowl of noodles really did wonders to ease up a building hunger.




We quickly went back to the bus terminal so I could dress my injured toe. Our bus will leave at 9:30pm, but we were already there around 7pm, which was just fine, because the terminal had a lounge with television. It made us feel safe being in the company of the bus terminal's staff because they really made an effort to talk to us and befriend us. It was actually one of the things I love about this bus company - they really knew how to treat their customers good, even with just some chit-chats.

The past few days have been very tiring for me, so sleeping during the ride home was an easy thing to do for me. Sister and I traveled the entire night and reached Manila 6am of the next day. Brother fetched us because his magazine collection was really heavy, and boy, am I so happy that brother treated me with a big siopao (steamed pork bun), which became my breakfast that morning.

Eight days of vacationing might have ended already, but even if there are some things we weren't able to do, I was really happy we got to experience everything we experienced. Now... I am faced with a problem about my injured toe, and I really needed to do something about that. :)

*** Jenn ***