KATAKATAKATAKA!

lists to list

kata — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 08:40:34 +0000

I like making lists. I make lists for almost everything. Say, my daily performance target at work, for example. Here’s what I do: every morning, I list all the things that I need to get done by the end of the day. Of course, I don’t get to finish everything that’s in my list all the time. But for someone whose attention span can be no longer than 20 minutes, making an OC- ish list gives me the right amount of focus to get moving and accomplish something.

So last night, while E was busy downloading apps for his toy, I decided to finally make a list of all the things that I want to do or accomplish this year. And no, this is not a New Year’s resolution. I am already 29 days late for that.

So here are the things – not necessarily material things – that I’ll be shooting for 2012:

1. control my nerves and try to be calmer while dealing tight situations

1.1 be a better daughter

1.2 be a better partner

2. save more

3. read more

4. write more (and definitely blog more!)

5. explore more

5.1 I always say that before travelling abroad, I should at least see the beauty of my own country, first. So this year, a part of my savings would definitely be allotted for my travels. I’m proud to say that I already have Guimaras (February) and Coron (September) lined up. Staying up so late for discounted plane fares finally paid off. Heehee.

5.2 Seeing my own country is one reason why I haven’t stepped on a plane bound to SG, HK, or wherever. The second is because I still don’t have a passport (ha!). But I’ll definitely have it processed before the first quarter ends.

6. learn more#

Okay, I’ll stop at six. There’s still more in my list but I won’t write them anymore. I’ll leave it as a surprise to the universe.

What about you? Do you have your own list?

bohol, boxing, and everything nice

kata — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 14:20:27 +0000

2011 has been a good year for me. For the first time ever, I have this job that I totally enjoy doing. And of course, there’s E, who’s been my favorite person for the past eight months.

This year has been a space for discoveries as well. And by that, I mean realizing (and then articulating) the things that I want to, and can actually do. Like getting into contact sports like boxing, catching my breath while trekking the beautiful San Mateo mountain every weekend, or eating vegetables (Yes, surprise surprise!).

I have also developed this strong desire to discover our beautiful country. I went to Bohol last month and I was in awe by how beautiful the whole province is. As cliche as it may sound, it made me feel proud that I was born and raised in the Philippines.

Just take a look at these amazing photos:

The gang chilling out in Virgin Island's sand bar.

I just wanna look at them all day.

Playing with our underwater friends at Marine Sanctuary.

totally incoherent

kata — Wed, 05 Oct 2011 15:24:47 +0000

1. There’s something liberating in making small conversations to total strangers. It’s like acting out in a movie scene. You get to be this whole different person you’re not in real life and the person you’re talking to wouldn’t even care.

2. There was this girl, five or six years ago, who was quite “playful” for her own good. But if you’d ask her what was she doing at that time, she’d just gladly say that she’s tasting life.

3. I’ll be going to Bohol tomorrow. I promise to blog everything about it next week.

fire during afternoon break

kata — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 12:48:07 +0000

It was my second time to watch a house burning. The first was years and years ago, during New Year ’s Eve, when this old house in a subdivision adjacent to ours burned to ashes after a firecracker accidentally landed on its curtain. The house, being made of wood, was eaten by fire in just a matter of minutes.

This afternoon, I watched my “second house” burn, from our office rooftop. I was about to take my afternoon break when our finance officer said that one of the bungalow houses in Scout Fernandez is burning. Not really hungry and just wanted to be away from my desktop, I hurried to the rooftop and saw a mixture of gray and black, with the arms of the red orange fire trying to reach the sky.

The whole scene reminded me of this chapter in Norwegian Wood where Toru and Midori watched a house burning with a guitar and beer in hand. Unfortunately, I didn’t have the heart to romanticize this reality. In fact, I felt genuinely sorry for the house’s owners. I saw people from the adjacent house taking out LPG, refrigerator, clothes, and whatever things they could save, afraid that their house would be consumed by the fire too. I could just imagine the frustration and the helplessness felt by these people.

The firemen came about 20 minutes after the fire started. What precious 20 minutes, I thought. To their credit, they were able to extinguish the huge fire in no time. I felt that in those lost 20 minutes, the fire also grew inside me.

Sensing that I have already used my 15 minutes, I left the rooftop and went back to my desk. I left the office 30 minutes later and was greeted by the heavy down pour outside.

books and books

kata — Sun, 25 Sep 2011 10:42:11 +0000

One of the perks of working in a publishing company is having access to all sorts of literary / publishing events. My most favorite so far is the Manila International Book Fair.

It’s like early Christmas for all book lovers! (*seizures*) Just being surrounded by piles and piles of (relatively cheaper) books exhilarates every single bone in my body. That’s how intense it was for me. Too bad I forgot to blow up my savings account prior to MIBF. Otherwise, I would have had more books to take home.

Needless to say, I’m happy with what I was able to buy. It’s very comforting to know that I already have three months worth of books to read. So here are my MIBF finds for this year:

The New York Trilogy (Paul Auster)

The Hound of the Baskervilles (A. Conan Doyle)

Unaccustomed Earth (Jhumpa Lahiri)

Ang Huling Dalagang Bukid at ang Authobiography na Mali (Jun Cruz Reyes)

Mga Prodigal (Luna Sicat Cleto)

—

And yes, I can’t wait to devour these books!

32nd MIBF

kata — Thu, 15 Sep 2011 03:37:11 +0000

It’s Christmas in September! GAAAAAAAHHHH!

Also, don’t forget to visit Adarna’s booth, for the love of children and reading!

The photo above also serves as your ticket.

See you there!

Of ukay shopping and afternoon rain

kata — Wed, 27 Jul 2011 05:38:29 +0000

E asked me why I didn’t buy anything. It’s not because I’m too high brow to buy hand me down clothes (I cringe by mere sight of “high brow” in this sentence, believe me). I told him that it’s a psychological thing. It’s not a matter of finding the prettiest top or dress amongst mountains of clothing, really. But there’s this unexplainable satisfaction I get from buying “new” things. And by that, I don’t mean branded ones. I’d rather spend my hard-earned money on books than purchase a 300-worth top. That’s how cheap / frugal I am. But still, I get this genuine joy in smelling my new things no matter where they came from, in taking them out from their crisp bags or boxes, or carefully tearing out their tag prices.

E said its a fetish. It’s downright consumerist fetishism, I said. I’ve actually developed a disease brought by this phenomenon patronized by everyone called globalization. Fuck.

***

That afternoon, we braved the heavy rain with a bag full of surfer shirts. At least, E was happy.

feels familiar

kata — Mon, 11 Jul 2011 11:51:02 +0000

I’ve been on this road before. Thanks to the most miserable two years of my life, I already know when that “hole” is starting to form again. So this is to let you know that I’m taking everything back – every bits and pieces of me – before it’s too late.

Hello July

kata — Fri, 01 Jul 2011 15:04:37 +0000

So this is the part where I’ll make up lousy excuses for not updating this blog for months. But you know what, screw it. I’m not gonna apologize for abandoning this virtual space - because I’m bad ass like that. :p

So here are some quick updates:

1. I got a new job! It’s what I call coming in full circle – for loving children’s books and now working for my favorite publisher. I pat myself in the back, thankyouverymuch.

2. I’m still in graduate school and yes, I’m getting closer and closer to thesis writing. I honestly don’t know what to feel about that – to dread or not to dread, that is the question.

3. The E and the K are getting stronger. I couldn’t be any happier, really. He’s a thousand shining stars to me, is what he is.

And here are the things I should accomplish this month:

1. NSO certified birth certificate

2. Passport. I already have an appointment in DFA on July 22.

3. Get a new hair (and hopefully a second tattoo).

So July should be an exciting month. Aside from getting 30 days closer to my 180 -day life plan, Papa is coming home next Saturday! Hopefully when everything gets right, he won’t be leaving anymore.

It all depends on me. Repeat.

i love you and your beautiful heart

kata — Fri, 24 Jun 2011 09:22:03 +0000

Thousands of fireflies

burst from his chest.

They reminded me of

this sweet reverie I feel

whenever it rains.

Oh how beautiful -

his heart is so beautiful.