I went to CamSur over the weekend to cover a wakesport event (board and skate). While it’s about an hour away by plane (Naga-bound) and shuttle, the magazine I worked for on this particular assignment sent us there by bus.
The last time I was on a long trip via bus, I was in high school and it was for our yearly field trip. I have plenty of friends who go to their provincial homes every other month or so on overnight buses. I thought I could just sleep the hours away, since I pride myself on my ability to fall asleep anywhere.
What I didn’t count on was a bus breakdown 4 hours into what should have been an 8-hour trip. From my light almost-sleep I awoke to the sound of the engine losing power and the sensation of the bus coming to a stop. Although the engine was still running and the aircon was at full blast, we weren’t going anywhere. And for 4 hours after that, te driver, the conductor, and a kind bsmate pumped the clutch hoping that the hydraulics would kick in. Finally, we started moving again.
Unfortunately that wasn’t the end of our bus woes, as there was also something wrong with the engine’s fuel injection system. Our bus started and stopped a total of 7 times before our replacement bus from Naga came and picked us up.
Total travel time: 14 hours.
You know what the clincher was on that trip? Three days later, we took the same bus back to Manila.
Albert Einstein says it’s insanity to do the same thing repeatedly and expect different results. I’ve been doing a certain thing going on 5 years, and nothing has changed. I feel like I’ve wasted my youth, effort, and money on what has no future in store for me. It’s just like a bad relationship: I’ve got to get out.
Don’t get me wrong. There are so many things that I love about it — the friends I’ve made, experiences I’ve shared, skills I’ve learned. But I’ve always prided myself on knowing when to leave. Whether or not I actually do it depends on how stubborn I am, or how hopeless I feel.
Right now I feel pretty hopeless, and I just know there’s so much more for me than being mired here.
We all have a tendency to put people on a pedestal — usually people we admire from a distance. And we’ve all been star-struck when we finally meet them in the flesh. Then When we get to know them better, we take them off the pedestal.
Especially when we meet celebrities (of any kind), we tend to think of them as being better than ordinary people somehow; there’s a certain charisma that attaches itself to anyone who’s in the public eye. When you stick around them long enough and get to know them, the glow fades and you realize they’re just people too (albeit a little more attractive than the average Juan).
Before I started writing professionally (June 2009), I had all the time and energy to write for my own enjoyment and for the few readers and commenters that happened across my blog. It was when I was at my most florid and creative; what one of my friends termed my “Blue Period” when I’d write about… I dunno, stuff. Anything and everything.
I didn’t know that you could actually exhaust that well of creativity, but it was a lesson I learned the hard way the past year-and-a-half. I would live an experience or situation and think, “Wow, that’s something I could blog about!” But when I sat down at my laptop, since I was tired from researching and writing articles for work, all I wanted to do was amuse myself on Facebook posting witty comments on people’s walls, statuses, and photos.
Facebook has also become a way of sharing experiences. Upload an album, caption the photos (optional), and everyone sees what you did. No need to compose paragraphs describing the beauty of a place or the excitement you felt; “a picture is worth a thousand words”. And Twitter? My observations of people’s behavior, even if I just passed them on the street, that goes in there instead of in a bblog post about how funny people can be when they think no one’s looking.
But maybe I could just dig my well a little deeper. There’s a lot more to be said, after all the articles have been written…
Wow, looking at the date of my last post, it’s been a while since I posted in this blog. Ever since I started KikayRunner.com, my personal blogging has taken a hit. You might have noticed I’ve blogged mostly about events lately; that’s because I’ve felt obligated to write posts about those events in return for the food and the (quite honestly) interesting experiences. And I have a feeling this year Kikay Runner is going to be a major part of my life, so I’ve got to define what In My Pocket should be. Is it a fashion blog? Lifestyle? Events?
This blog started as a personal journal, and at its core, it still is and should be. Where else am I going to write about how emo I was over the Christmas holidays because I was the only single person left in my family, or gush about some fantastic insight that’s come to mind? I still need a space on the web where I can write my heart out without caring about the niche or hobby the blog is supposed to be for. (And since nobody reads this blog now because I stopped updating it, all my posts are as good as private! Hahaha)
To start the new year right, I’ve moved this blog from its Blogspot subdomain to its own subdomain on NoelleDeGuzman.net. Since this website is my personal profile and portfolio, it’s only fitting that my personal journal share the same space. Now that I’ve broken this blog free of its definition as a lifestyle and events blog, I might have more stuff to write about. Stuff that my heart and soul have been scattering all over cyberspace through Twitter, Plurk, and Facebook. Stuff that maybe I’m the only one who will care about. But if you’re interested in little mundane things like that, you’re welcome to read along. Ü
I’ve been attending Philippine Fashion Week for about two years now. While most people go for the clothes, for me it’s always been more about the spectacle. I love seeing what people wear just to attend the shows; it’s their chance to be a bit more avante garde in their fashion choices. Whether or not they look like a freak show is a different story. Hrhrhr.
I also love seeing how every show’s director can present the clothes and models in a different way. While the most usual change-up is the shape of the runway and the lighting/music arrangement, at the Resort Collection with Ipanema show on PFW Spring/Summer 2011’s Day 3 the director did more than that. Instead of the standard gait and pout, all the models who strutted their stuff looked and acted happy, skipping down the catwalk in their Ipanema flipflops and swimwear, sundresses, and leisure wear.
they’ve got happy feet
Although some of the designs from various designers were predictable and/or inappropriate to be worn with flipflops and open-toed footwear, I loved the flipflop and sandal designs because they were colorful and looked like so much fun to wear (I blame the models!).
I’m not sure if they’re the current styles offered at Ipanema retailers (such as Shoe Salon), but I will be checking them out, particularly the women’s sandals. I need casual footwear that doesn’t look like tsinelas; I don’t often wear heels and I need to wear open footwear to allow my feet to breathe, especially after workouts and runs. Yet I still want to feel a bit more dressed up rather than looking like I just stepped out of my bathroom. “If the shoe fits, wear it,” people say, and I think Ipanema footwear definitely fit with my lifestyle and fashion choices.
By the way, I was photographed at the Ipanema event; my look was featured on Stylebible.ph’s PFW S/S 2011 Day 3 gallery. I guess I wasn’t one of those who looked like freak shows, yay!
I just flew back from a very relaxing All Saints Weekend in Boracay (yes, it’s my third time this year… I’m planning a mega-post next week about all my trips). I’ve always thought I could be a savvy traveler and even passed an application for the Amazing Race Asia Season 3. But meeting TARA4 Philippine teams last Thursday at the viewing party sponsored by Misibis Bay and the City of Legazpi confirmed that there’s something special about these teams. More on that later.
Bloggers and TARA Racers Unite!
Ever since I switched away from SkyCable, I haven’t been able to catch an episode of TARA, so watching back-to-back Episodes 5 and 6 from the current season was a real pleasure. Episode 5 was the Philippines episode featuring activities around Legazpi City and Misibis Bay, which was the pit stop for that leg of the race. It was a great way to stimulate my interest in traveling to Bicol (with a little less stress and more time for sightseeing, of course). Episode 6 had the teams flying out to New Zealand from Misibis Bay.
What really struck me about “the Riches” Richard Hardin and Richard Herrera and “Party Girls” Lani Pillinger and Jess James (who couldn’t be at the viewing party) was their way of finding ways out of predicaments without freaking out. Basically, they were able to take the challenges on and have fun doing them. One incident that really stood out for me was when the Riches needed to get on an earlier flight in New Zealand, so they asked some people nicely if they could switch tickets. That shaved a precious three hours off their time and contributed to their first place finish for the New Zealand leg of the race.
Lani and Jess also worked really well together, being supportive instead of criticizing each other as some other teams would do. One of the bloggers present at the event commented that there was a lot of positive energy surrounding these teams. Rich & Rich and Lani were really nice as well, socializing with the bloggers by going around each table asking if we were okay, and saying the food would be coming out soon. (Hahaha!) Richard “Rampage” Herrera was even offering beer to bloggers. When I said I didn’t drink beer, he offered rum. I thought it wasn’t on the menu, so I said sure. To my surprise, he came back 5 minutes later with a rum coke.
Overall our Philippine teams have great personalities and star power; it’s hard not to watch when they’re the ones on-screen. And, needless to say, they are all so pretty to look at!
The reason I shouldn’t be on the show is that during my flight back from Boracay, our plane was supposed to be diverted to Kalibo. I threw a fit, which may be good TV drama but isn’t really something I would like to see from someone representing the Philippines. Eventually we were able to check into an earlier flight which would leave from Caticlan — and on that same flight was Rich Hardin! I was so ashamed. I guess I need to keep watching more TARA4 to see great examples (like our teams) for how to deal properly with travel pressure.
Now if only Destiny Cable carried AXN so I could keep watching TARA4.
Two weeks ago my friend Liz Lanuzo from ProjectVanity.com invited me and a host of other bloggers to “Vanity, Vanity: A Vanity Fair” at SM North EDSA Sky Dome. It was the third day of the event, which was supported by several major beauty and health brands.
Face Shop and Body Shop offering makeovers
I’m not really a beauty and fashion blogger although I do appreciate good grooming. (It’s why I’m the Kikay Runner.) It was a bit intimidating to be among these stylish bloggers; coming over on the MRT I noticed one girl who was wearing something very LookBook-ish, and true enough she was also at the event!
We had a little game of Blogger Scrabble, where we were separated into two groups, all wearing two letters from the words “BLOGGER” and “I AM VAIN”. After a slow start, my group won and we took home bottles of acai berry juice! I’ve heard good things about the vitamin and nutrient content from this juice, so we shall see if it really works. I’ve been feeling a bit run down lately…
Liz also gave a talk about the Top Ten Tips to Level Up Your Beauty and Fashion Blog. Much of it was common sense, realy, but she presented them in such a way that it would be easy to remember and apply to each blog post made. They’re also actually good tips to apply to any kind of niche blog. Ü
At the end of the afternoon, the winner of the door prize was announced. Each of us bloggers had been asked to write down answers to two questions: “How vain are you?” and “When are you at your most beautiful?” So guess which question I won the prize for. I don’t remember exactly what I wrote, but it went something like this:
“I am so vain that everything I do comes from concern about my appearance. I started working out because I was concerned about gaining weight; now I’m a group exercise instructor. I started running because I wanted to tone my legs; now I’m a host for a television show about running. I started putting on make-up because I didn’t want to look shabby; now I’m invited to events such as this. Yes, I am that vain.”
For that honest answer about my vanity, I won a pot of Mosbeau underarm and inner thigh whitening cream.
My mom was happy to receive this from me.
That was on top of all the other loot bloggers received. I had to bring all these bags onto a crowded MRT, and there was just so much stuff that I could bless my friends with (sometimes I don’t get around to using stuff I’m given). Definitely a well-supported event.
SeriAsia Ganoderma Moisturizer
Clockwise L-R: NaRaYa bag and pouch, SkinFood whitening gift pack, Acai Berry, NuDerm Supreme White Soap, Dermclinic pen
Thanks so much for inviting me, Liz! I feel a yearning for a make-up post coming up soon… (Or maybe, on my friend’s blog Bless My Bag. *wink*)
Over the last four years I’ve written again and again about BODYJAM, a pre-choreographed dance party workout I teach at a local gym. In the years since I’ve become an instructor of the program, I’ve written about it less and less, simply because as an employee of the gym I don’t want to let too much of the mystique out of the bag (and because any occasional whining about work conditions might get me called to “the principal’s office”).
Don’t get me wrong, I love my job, which is teaching BODYJAM. Last week, I had one more reason to love my job more, and that reason’s name is Gandalf Archer.
otherwise known as “G”
No, this is not Gandalf from Lord of the Rings (although I think he’s just as cool =p). G is the program director, choreographer, and worldwide face of BODYJAM. He’s based in Auckland, New Zealand, and travels every quarter to take the experience of BODYJAM to instructors around the world.
This month, on his way home from those travels, he dropped by Manila. He’d been hearing a lot about how passionate we are about the program, and how Filipinos love to dance. So, last Monday night we BODYJAM instructors had a little meet-and-greet with him.
We usually get choreography for BODYJAM through DVD, and many of us had only seen him on our TV screens. So meeting him in the flesh was a completely different experience. My mind is still in denial, actually. It all feels like I was watching it on TV.
OMG. OMG! *hyperventilates*
I had my copy of BODYJAM 43 (my training release) signed by him. It was strange because I was starstruck up until I walked up to him and started talking to him. And then something switched on in my brain and I was just chatty all of a sudden. I was with a fellow instructor, Ryan, who had been having posters autographed for the past few minutes.
The conversation went something like this:
Me: Hi. Sorry to bother you… G: Oh, it’s not a bother. Me: (holding my hand out) I’m Noelle, and I think you know Ryan. He’s back with another poster, I think he’s gone into business selling them… Ryan: (laughs) G: Well, it’s going to be a short-lived business, like, it’ll be over in five minutes. Me: Would you mind signing my training release? G: Sure. (scribbles) Me: It was ten releases ago. G: That’s a lot of releases.
We had a question-and-answer period; my trainer Arnold Warren told us to make it interactive, so we had to think up of some questions to ask G.
I asked him “the hardest question” (4:07)
And then he wanted to dance with us a little. Once the music started playing, we just went wild, and we just lost ourselves in the experience.
dance, dance like it’s the last, last night of your life
That wasn’t the end of it. The next night, we had arranged for a big event, called “G Live: The BODYJAM Main Event”. People could buy tickets to enter what we had billed as a two-and-a-half hour dance workout, led by G. He taught the upcoming release, BODYJAM 54, plus something he billed as “55” but was actually a freestyle routine. Fan-freaking-tastic.
kicking it
dancing up a storm
hit it!
There was a part of me that had gone to sleep and had just been going through the motions. It took an encounter with G, someone who lives a really creative life bringing BODYJAM to life, to wake me up again. The time he spent with us told us that we do matter, we do make a difference, we have something to be proud of. It was something I badly needed, and since then I’ve been supercharged.
Last Wednesday, I found myself at one of Makati’s night spots, lit up with flashing lights, drinking cocktails, and listening to awesome house music.
TOOGS TOOGS TOOGS
There’s nothing too odd about that, except it was 2 in the afternoon, there was no alcohol in the cocktail, and we weren’t there to party, but to learn about Clinique’s latest anti-aging serum.
Clinique Repairwear Laser Focus
I have dermatologist friends who use lasers in procedures to lighten birthmarks and spots on the skin, even out acne pockmarks, and reduce the depth of wrinkles. This happens because the lasers lightly “wound” the skin at the cellular level, jumpstarting the healing process and thus producing more youthful-looking skin. Clinique Repairwear Laser Focus seeks to produce similar effects without the commitment and cost of laser procedures.
The serum’s threefold action of jumpstarting repair with antioxidants, boosting collagen with peptides, and strengthening skin with enzymes enhances the skin’s natural repair ability. Clinique promises visible results in 12 weeks: softening of lines, wrinkles, and sun damage.
Tita Jane, Tita Noemi, and Liz were also present at the event, and even as I joked that I needed the serum soon (being in my late 20’s and frequently engaging in outdoor sports isn’t doing my skin any favors), I was glad that there was such a product already on the market. Who knows, maybe in 5 years I’ll snap this up off the counter. It certainly beats being on the lighted end of a laser wand.
In My Pocket 