I stopped doing this when I lost my phone. Now that I have a new one, I'm back to my late Sunday night walks in BGC. No lengthy post today, but I thought I'd share some of the photos I snapped using my iPhone 5C. BGC is really lovely on Sunday nights, don't you think so too? :)

For last weekend's camping trip in Mt. Malasimbo, I brought with me ZERO towels, ZERO sachets of shampoo/conditioner, ZERO bath soap, ZERO toothpaste and ZERO slippers. Guess what I didn't forget to bring in my backpack? Canned goods, three big bags of chips, bags of biscuits, cookies, chocolates, a 50-pc pack of Mentos berry mix and another 50-pc pack of Judge bubblegum. I'm still in that stage of my life where I can forgo hygiene as long as I have something to munch on. At this point, this could either be amusing you or grossing you out. Go ahead, feel free to feel whatever. (Read: I eventually bought a pair of slippers, freeloaded toiletries off my friend, Kriz and borrowed Dada's hotel towel.)

I have no idea how people can work without snacks by their side. How are they keeping themselves awake? How are they not hungry every now and then?

I've learned in my six years as a working professional that it can't be done. I can work for hours without water but if you take away my snacks from me, I will get crankier than Basti without his favorite chew toy.

A Snacker's Desk. This is what's on my work desk at the moment! Not even close to the most food I have snacked on in one sitting. Intellectual Propercty Center, Mckinley Hill, Taguig City. March 19, 2015.

Sure, if there's healthy food I'll choose that over junk food any day! But munchers can't be choosers. I'll eat whatever I can get my hands on!

To kickoff my birthday month, I went on a road trip to Baler with several blogger friends. While stuck in traffic on a C5 flyover, Issa asked "Did you know we're going La Union?" Bewildered, I said no. I was so sure she was joking. You see, I already told my parents and my friends that I was Baler-bound. So when I finally verified that she wasn't kidding the tiniest bit, I said "Game!"

(Because when life surprises you, you say yes. Always.)

On April 11, 2015, where will you be?

(more details to follow)

To those interested in buying tickets, contact 09179215747.

Fun fact: I do not own a comb.

With the exception of when I'm in a salon, my hair hasn't really been combed in years. It has been around three years since I last cared and gave time to my hair during morning preps, but who's counting. I may have already mastered the art of the sexy messy hair, all thanks to my laziness to maintain a proper hairdo!

Right now, my weekday hair routine goes like this:

1. Wash
2. Towel dry
3. Air dry while tousling hair with fingers
4. Tousle some more while in transit to the office

But when I suddenly need to be somewhere with little time to prep, or when I simply cannot get over waking up with a gorgeous bed hair, I just shower without washing my hair. And that is what we eventually call the second day hair.

It's a win-win scenario, tbh. First, you save time by not having to dry your hair before leaving the house. (Win!) Second, the VOLUME is awesome. (Win!) Third, you let your scalp rest from the chemicals brought by the shampoo and conditioner, letting the natural oils keep your hair healthy. (Win!) Fourth, have I already mentioned the amazing VOLUME? Because if there's one reason to pull off second day hair, it is definitely because of the volume it gives your hair. (Win! Win! Win! Okay, I just really wanted to insert that The Office reference. Please tell me you got that?)

Product

"But it is very humid in Metro Manila, wouldn't the second day hair backfire on me?" 
Thank goodness for dry shampoo! I have only been using dry shampoo since 2014, but boy did they give second day hair a chance in the humid Metro Manila.

I have only used two brands: the Dove and Toni & Guy dry shampoos, having much disparity in market price with Dove's costing below 300 pesos and Toni & Guy's costing 990 pesos. That's more than three times in price difference! Let's also take into account that the Dove brand is 5oz while the Toni & Guy one is only 1.53oz.

"Kuya, pangarap ko sa buhay magkaroon ng photo hawak yung surfboard habang naglalakad," I said to the surfing instructor of Surf Star last weekend. I then asked him to take my photo, and he surprisingly went for it. We took a LOT of photos. Then Basti, my puppy, went inside the frame, I started laughing and thus the happy moment captured below.


I'm one of those people who goes on a trip, and while on the road envisions at least one photo to take home. It may be shallow to some, but for me it's a small win. And I would have been terribly restless after the trip had I not asked.
Earlier today in the office, me and my friends were talking about passion ideas that could earn us money. I spewed something about making a team that could consult for the government with regards to anything that could lessen traffic using technology and math. They laughed. They said consulting can easily be done by professionals. That we could easily do the consulting path once we grow older, say 10 years from now.

I don't know. I guess it's because I know people my age who already do this in Palawan for the environment sector. They get huge funding for it, too.

Having a teacher for a mom and a retired soldier for a dad, it has always been a dream for me to work for the government and contribute something to help our country move forward. I'm still idealistic that we can make the Philippines as strong as it once were. And right now, the heavy traffic is really causing huge financial impact on every business operating in our business districts. In this Inquirer article, it says the Philippine economy is losing P2.4 billion daily in human productivity while we all get stuck in traffic. That's really sad, don't you think so, too?

I think we have many talented and wise people who can make a difference. They are usually young, idealistic and passionate to try turn things around for the future generations. I think the government should invest more on these people. I want to be one of those people. Let this post be an open letter to anyone who has the urge to do the same. I work in the IT industry. Let me know if you have something in mind, ya?

Okay, so that escalated quickly from a pa-cute post to something more serious. It's okay. No one reads my sappy posts anyway. Until the next brain fart! :)