You're my wonderwall

Err, not really... but you have a really big, golden heart.

Get it? *hik* 'golden heart'. get it? Erhm, yeah, the rock above my sister's head-- it's a heart. You know what that means? It means...Guest Heart Thursday! *cue music* :)

This was during our family's annual Holy Week pilgrimage last April. The Church was built during the Spanish Colonial era, from 1830-1883. Yep, it took 53 years to finish it.

 

 

I'm not proud of the fact that we would rather grab the chance to have an interesting photo-op than meditate on our sins on Good Friday, but it was fun. har har.

This post is part of Guest Heart Thursday

Oh YES that's what you think it is. ^_~

Lindsay Lohan's Under B00bs!

Tee hee!!!

Ok OK,... OK!! Sorry if the card offends you and what not, please don't leave my lonely blog.

No? You're still leaving? Pretty please?

Still there? This is part of my collection of adcards. I have TONS of them--basically because they're FREE (oh you should see my face when I hear that word). Back in college, I would go to this bookstore every Friday (that's when the new designs come out) and hoard these adcards. Aaah... to be young and broke .

Err, I'm still broke-- and I am one a year older. SIGH. sigh indeed. dammit.


ANYWAY, enjoy miss Lohan's provocative ad campaign for Mark Ecko.

If you managed to turn away from her bosom and noticed the inset photo at the bottom, you would wonder what other tricks this card can do. The adcard includes a 'glyph' at the back which lets you interact (well, sort of) with Lindsay at the Mark Ecko site. It was really fun (if only I'm into Lindsay Lohan)-- you use your webcam and then you see a moving, talking mini lindsay hologram (yees, no kidding) on the glyph--yes, ON the postcard glyph. You can control how you want to watch her and spin her and stuff. BUT,  the hologram is actually just on the web-cam shot in the computer screen, not in the real world. (oh snap.) It's still genius-- if you record the video and show it to your friends, it appears as if you have a Lindsay hologram on your  palm (or desk or wherever you place the postcard).

It's best for guys with nothing to do. If you know what I mean. wink wink.

Which brings me, GUYS (or gals) with nothing to do and wants to get this LiLo adcard with its added tricks, just drop me a message. :) PM if you're too shy. har har.

(I'm not sure if the Mark Ecko site is still up, though. teee heee.)

This post is part of Postcard Perfect Wednesday

Pimp my ride-- pinoy style

Postcard Friendship Friday

(Postcard: Iloilo City Retro Card 1967-- showing the funky jeepneys of the Philippines which reminds me of a conversation I had more that a year ago)

*Towards the end of a lunch date with (privileged) friends*

Mary: "How are you guys going to get home? You can ride with me."

Me: "Uhm, no we'll be fine. We can take a jeepney ride."

Mary: (blank face) "Are you serious?"

Me: "What? Yes I am."

Mary: "uhh. ok... you're not scared?"

Me: "Why should I? Wait, don't tell me you've never ridden a jeep."

Mary: "So?"

Me: "You poor poor girl. I should totally take you on a field trip around the REAL Manila"

Mary: " Woah! Take it slow, I just had my first ever taxi ride last week." (she was serious)

Me: "Darling, I cannot wait to take you to Quiapo." (Haha)

Until now I still cannot believe I had that conversation with one of my college friends (not her real name ;) ). It drives me to tears (lol!) I do firmly believe that you are not truly Pinoy until you ride a Jeep-- or the MRT, or a 'padyak/tricycle'. But I digress,  right now it's mainly about the "Dyip" (jeep). 

The (in)famous jeep is Manila's main mode of public transportation-- but it is not for the weak. It is unlike a cab-- you cannot tell the driver to take you to just any place you need to go. It only passes through it's designated route, like a bus-- but feistier. Petty crimes like theft and hold-ups are common. Drivers constantly break the road rules, and the smoke...don't get me started on the smoke and pollution.

Still, I've had so many interesting jeepney rides-- with drunken men in the middle of the night, with fighting lovers, angry people, silly people, preachers, crazy fun friends, very attractive guys... 

Right now, let me impart my wisdom and give you some Jeepney riding tips:

1) Read before you Ride. Be sure you take the right jeep. The moment you decide to accept the challenge and you raise your arm to hail one, several different jeepneys with completely different routes might stop in front of you. Jumping on the wrong one will most likely get you completely lost and hopeless.

2.) Pass that Bayad. Always always remember to pay your fare (out of common decency and more importantly, to save yourself from a possible confrontation with the driver). 

Paying for a jeepney fare is an ART. This automobile has the passengers sitting in two rows that face each other-- parallel to the road (err, I hope that's not as confusing). One way or another, the money must reach the driver without you standing up (you simply can't). The uniquely filipino 'pass the bayad' is the answer to your dilemma. This honesty system will have you handing your money to a total stranger and asking him/her to pass it on to the next stranger until it reaches the driver. If the driver needs to give you your change, the whole process happens again until you get it.

After paying, thank your fellow passengers, and be ready to do the same favor to anyone who sits farther away from the driver than you.

3.) The Big Squeeze. Be ready to get squeezed in your seat. Sometimes the passenger capacity will me maxed out and you have to let go of any sense of personal space-- there is simply no place for that anymore. Several times I had to endure a couple of miles with just a quarter of my butt on the seat.

4.) Call Farrah. To tell the driver to stop, say "PARA!!"-- no, shout it. Sometimes there will be a loud (hiphop) music on the stereo so you might need to knock on the jeep ceiling to get your message across. Some jeepneys (the cool ones) have a "buzzer" installed. See if there's a string in the middle of the ceiling coupled with a sign that says "pull d' string 2 stop" or "hila mo, hinto ko" (pull it, i stop it--or something like that)

5.) Beware of the Friendlies. Make sure you don't leave anything before you get off. Slashers and pickpocket thieves are not unusual.

6.) Take a lot of happy pills. Most days you'll need them to keep your head from exploding. Feel the wind (err, the smog) in your hair and just enjoy the ride.

And there you go, Jeepney101

I LOVE BEING PINOY!

Save Palawan

Highlight: Palawan province Philippines.

Postcard from National Bookstore

Help me spread the word to save one of the most beautiful and ecologically diverse nooks of the Philippines.

Stop Mining In Palawan! visit http://no2mininginpalawan.com/ to join the campaign.  

Palawan has always been on the top of my bucket list. I know its beaches --pristine and rugged, are unlike the crowded, more famous Boracay. I know it has one of richest ecosystems in southeast asia.  Also, this advocacy aims to protect the indigenous Palaweno  tribes still living peaceful lives in the mountains of the province.

Get counted. No to mining in Palawan.

Of after-sex glow and stiff necks.

Postcard Perfect

Her name is Virginie and she is in love. I can tell.

She's VERY pretty too-- but that's probably just the after-sex glow. Hmm, yeah that's it. I hate to admit it, but a man can really make a girl beautiful. There's nothing like it. Try looking at yourself at the mirror the next time your man satisfies you, it's better than botox. haha. Err...

ANYWAY.

This young lady was lucky enough to be the subject of painter Albert Edelfelt. This is one of two of Edelfelt postcards I have-- and I hope to add more. His paintings are beautiful and intricate and extremely alive and life-like. Virginie looks relaxed and happy and in love. She most likely stayed at this position for hours and hours until the artist could finish-- A painful stiff neck, that's what she got. Poor girl.

Speaking of stiff necks- I have one! Got it from staying up long nights *cough* studying too hard *cough* ...ok ok, not too hard...sort of....maybe...ok ok! I stayed up late blog hopping... I do not deserve a massage. happy?

Iniibig ko ang Pilipinas (Passionately in love with the Philippines :-))

Happy Independence Day!

Aling pag-ibig pa ang hihigit kaya

Sa pagkadalisay at pagkadakila

Gaya ng pag-ibig sa Tinubuang lupa?

Aling pag-ibig pa? Wala na nga, wala.

Pagpupuring lubos ang palaging hangad

Sa bayan ng taong may dangal na ingat,

Umawit, tumula, kumanta't sumulat,

Kalakhan din niya'y isinisiwalat.

Walang mahalagang hindi inihandog

Ng may pusong mahal sa Bayang nagkupkop,

Dugo, yaman, dunong, katiisa't pagod,

Buhay ma'y abuting magkalagut-lagot.

Bakit? Alin ito na sakdal ng laki,

Na hinahandugan ng buong pagkasi,

Na sa lalong mahal nakapangyayari,

At ginugulan ng buhay na iwi?

Excerpts from Andres Bonifacio's "Pagibig sa Tinubuang Lupa" - a lovely, fiery poem about the deep love a martyr has for his country. I hope we are all worth the lives that were lost fighting for this country's freedom

Mabuhay ang Pilipinas!

Vintage and cute. Just the way I love it.

Postcard Friendship Friday #03

I received this lovely retro card from a fellow postcrosser from Russia. I instantly fell in love the moment I saw it. The two chubby babies are absolutely adorable-- and is that a skunk? Odd. Not only is the photo pretty, the back side also has a beautiful intricate design printed on it. This is easily one of the prettiest, and most unique card in my collection.<

Other things I love about: the highly detailed and shiny flowery border; the unusual cut at two of the corners; and the  fact that the back side is not plain white  but a lovely beige completing the vintage flavor of this beautiful card.

Lean

I freakin built two tables.

Well, sort of. I assembled it.
I deserve props for understanding the one-page instructions manual (with a couple MAJOR mistakes and some important stuff that they just FORGOT to say. >o<)

Carneval de Paris, 1895

Postcard Perfect #1

I'm sure the lady is pretty, but the shimmer of the golden champaigne holder at the table draws my attention more in this Edelfelt portrait. It's really stunning. I also like the crimson red shade of the wall and the subject's ginger hair. This is my second Albert Edelfelt postcard. It's called "Carnevel de Paris" and was done in 1895.

Albert Edelfelt is a Finnish painter with absolutely stunning creations. He lived late 19th century and has lots of portrait paintings of women. I really would love to receive more postcards of his works. :)

For more visit postcardperfect meme

Straight guys in Tutus. Sexy. :D

Postcard Friendship Friday #02

This is one of those 'wtf' cards that will leave you puzzled, and more importantly, intrigued. It's really cute though. :)

Seriously, who does not think this is cute?

Look at them all chill while in their crazy, feathered tutu and tights, not giving a damn. I almost find it sexy. Nothing like a man who can rock a tutu, it's most likely pink too. Add the cigarette...yep, I'm sold. They're hot

No, wait.
Maybe not.

They're most probably ballerinas, seeing the ballet shoes they're wearing. Although I don't think their stance scream "pro dancer". Hmm. They don't appear all-out gay too (I guess). I would love to think they're straight guys living a strange fetish-fantasy at some exclusive New York bar. Haha.

NVM.

The photo was taken by photographer Elliott Erwitt in New York, 1956.