Take It in Stride

For the past five months, I've been exerting extra effort in attaining equilibrium in my life by shunning stress and constantly incorporating peace into moments of chaos. Let's face it, if you want to succeed in this world then you would have to be an effectual multitasker, and multitasking is more often than not exhausting (and sometimes frustrating due to uncontrollable circumstances) at the end of the day. Finding the appropriate outlet for relaxation could sometimes be as challenging as trying to keep up with the rest of the human race, especially for a career woman who has a family to tend to aside from herself. It's a trial and error process, but lately things are falling into place and, fortunately, I've discovered what's right for me.

How do you exactly loosen up without losing it? Let me count the ways:

1.) The Golden Hour - You gotta have at least an hour just for yourself every day. I'm telling you, this is quintessential. In a span of 60 minutes, pamper yourself, reflect on the promise of a fantastic new day ahead, recite affirmations or...

2.) Meditate - The thought of sitting up straight with my eyes closed while I drift into transitory silence bored to me to tatters in the first few weeks, but I've been reaping the benefits of meditation. The grumpiness and mood swings are now a thing of the past. Ten minutes can do miracles.

3.) Walk - Comparable to meditation, a tranquil stroll at the mall or by the river has its own energizing attributes. I typically do this on Sundays to prep me up for a taxing week ahead.

4.) Coffee Nights - Utterly soothing. Take your time as you sip your Caramel Frappuccino and toss in a little bit of mentally stimulating chitchat.

5.) Yoga - Rigorous types of exercises never worked for me. When I started doing yoga, I found the solution to slacking off on forcing myself to break a sweat. I didn't think stretching and toning your muscles could be so friggin' calming! Even the most basic poses are worth it.



Put your feet up lately? What's your cup of tea? :-)

8 Random Things About Me (I've Been Tagged)

Hot chick Bingkee, whose blog, 'I Love/Hate America,' is among the few in the blogosphere that actually has substance, just tagged me. In response, I'm obliged to list down '8 Things About Me' you've never known before. Though this may seem self-serving, considering I've already posted '100 Things About Me' in the past, it's always fun to spill some beans every now and then.

I suppose I haven't told anyone that:

1.) I'm married to an extremely talented graphic designer. We eloped to the shores of Boracay in 2004 and it was the best thing I've ever done.

2.) In college, my favorite subject was Philosophy. I'd get the highest grades sans studying.

3.) When I was a kid, I sprained either arm as often as it rained here in Manila. Each time, my folks would bring me to a 'faith healer' instead of a real doctor, and it always worked. I loved the smell of the oil they used on their patients -- reminded me of sweet crackers.

4.) My parents never let me take public transportation until I turned 21. Stiff? Yeah, I thought so, too, until I became a mom in 2005.

5.) I'm a daydreamer and a bona fide optimist.

6.) Chill out routine: Coffee on weeknights and booze on weekends!

7.) At age 5, I was totally into telekinesis and strongly believed I could eventually make things move with my mind. I would stare at a glass or a pen on the table for minutes on most days, praying it would miraculously move. These days I look back and realize I have a penchant for believing in things I don't see. I think that may have been part my formula for reaching goals.

8.) Sometimes I wish I had naturally straight hair. Curls could be a real hassle. :-)

Now, I tag 8 people...

Simple rules:

1.) Each player starts with eight random facts/habits about themselves.

2.) People who are tagged need to write their own blog about their eight things and post these rules.

3.) At the end of your blog, you need to choose eight people to get tagged and list their names.

4.) Don't forget to leave them a comment telling them they're tagged, and to read your blog.
1.) Pia
2.) Jhunelle

3.) Isabelle

4.) Claire

5.) Enchie

6.) Sarah

7.) Wendy

8.) Ria

Have the Sys Forgotten?

The sacred edifice that has seen it all

If Our Lady of the Abandoned Church could speak, it would tell a turgidly compelling story of my family genealogy and a town's roaring breakthrough from its meek beginnings in the 16th century.

In 1572, Agustinian priests built an ecclesiastical landmark in Barangka, Marikina, with bamboo and palm leaves. This humble sanctuary among a plunk of huts on a hillock, which was then called 'The Visita at Chorillo,' became the cynosure of the religious. Under the supervision of apostolic ruler Fray Pedro de Arce, the Jesuits took on the spiritual welfare of the Marikeños in 1630 and another chapel was erected in Jesus Dela Peña. After seven years and five decades, the tables turned in 1687 and the Agustinians regained power over Marikina. The church moved to San Roque, assuming a modern, concrete facade.

Earthquakes almost disintegrated OLA twice in 1816 and 1830. And as if that wasn't enough, fire marred the house of God in 1891. Fast forward to the 1970's, after enduring friars' whims and the appalling catastrophes, the church started to bear witness to innumerable weddings in my father's side of the family. You name it, the Sys did it at the same Roman Catholic dwelling -- baptisms, weekly confessions, the regular Sunday masses, and sadly, even the funerals. OLA was angkong's (Chinese for grandpa) and papa's final destination before we took them to their final resting place. My ama (grandma) used to go there every single day of the week in the 80's, until she began to consider born-again Christianity in the late 90's.

The year is 2008. I bet OLA misses the Sy clan more than it ever did. It's been three years and ten months since papa passed away, and like a spell was cast, we haven't done anything spectacular at church, except hearing mass occasionally with my own family. I bet she sheds tears every once in a while, wondering when the Sys would take a break from their revoltingly busy lives and give themselves a chance to reunite.

Pinoy Artistry and Wawi Navarroza

THE WORLD THRIVES ON ART! That's why we just had to catch the last leg of the 4th Background Ventures Arts & Music Festival at Megatrade Hall 3. The three-day quintessential series is held annually by the artists, and for the artists. A gathering of today's top musicians, poets, graphic designers, the inquisitives and the creatives of different sorts, even gawkers were welcome to satiate their curiosity.

The Cancios arrived at 12:45 p.m. and walked in to get an impeccable view of a Pastel Painting Workshop taking place with Art Association of the Philippines (AAP) President Fidel Sarmiento at the helm.

AAP President Fidel Sarmiento in a live exhibit

Glorious works of art by professional artists

This array of paintings on the floor were sent in by MIRIAM College's talented high school department.

After an hour and a half of prolific sight-seeing and mingling with artsy exhibitors, gothic diva Wawi Navarroza came in with her MacBook and vital know-how in fine art photography, ready to ravish the audience via the much-awaited seminar.

Wawi Navarroza on 'Photography as an Art'

I've never seen any of Navarroza's work before the festival, and I must admit I became an instant fan the moment I feasted my eyes on her internationally acclaimed masterpieces. She is, without a doubt, one of the most cerebral Philippine photographers of our time. Her photos depict reality with haunting vividness and a bizarre emotional tweak -- the stuff most people have trouble executing, let alone get together in their heads. The 'Wawi experience' was plainly stupefying. I had no idea photography could have such real life rhythm. Well, she does call herself a visual poet.

(Click any of the links to get a glimpse of Wawi Navarozza's multi-awarded images: http://www.flickr.com/photos/wawinavarroza/, http://wawinavarroza.multiply.com/)

She's Nude, Isn't She?

Woman 1: What is MTRCB?
Woman 2: Who cares? They don't give a hoot about us!

It was a usual weekend night of frittering time away in front of the obsequious television set. One of those short moments inclusive of enlightenment and semi-meditation prior to slumber time. I was glued to this highly interesting documentary featuring South Africa on a major local channel which was fairly illuminative as it revealed how most of the country is at the peak of civilization with spawning commercial sites, booming industries, and a remarkably modern culture. All the while we thought a great percentage of these folks are still donning grass skirts and spears.

30 minutes into the program, African tribal women appeared on screen, giddily dancing in ethnic fashion and half naked. Not that there's anything wrong with them being topless. The scene just got me wondering if our principles in television programming are somewhat biased or confused. Naturally, the demi-nude African women can come out on TV without the network blurring out their breasts because: 1.) There's definitely nothing wrong with the reality that prancing around shirtless is a way of life in South Africa, and 2.) It's indubitably not pornography.

But then why did Janet Jackson receive such negative flack from the FCC after she accidentally exposed her private part on the Super Bowl halftime show in 2004? How come Lil' Kim showed up at MTV Video Music Awards in 1999 wearing a purple outfit with her left breast unconcealed but managed to survive unscathed by the press? Why aren't fictional mermaids allowed to show their bosom on national TV? In my dictionary, the aforementioned appearances and personalities certainly don't fall under erotica (oftentimes, it isn't until the media implies so), though they all seem to be objects of double standards.

Is the state of being suggestive of porn merely the basis of 'blurring out' tits on the boob tube? Are matters of attractiveness really out of the question? If this policy's supposed to apply to all females, then why leave out the South African tribe?

Anyway, it's just a thought.

Zoorific!

I've come across enthusiastic reviews of Ark Avilon Zoo and wanted to see for myself if it wasn't simply overrated. Hence, on a slightly overcast Sunday, we got up extra early, had a quick breakfast, and headed straight to Frontera Verde in Pasig City. Nelson and I wanted Zakeisha's third birthday to be tremendously memorable, and we thought a jaunt to this unique menagerie would definitely do the trick.

Our first stop was the Blue Whale Grill, located right beside the incipient hit safari park. Lunch consisted of a P300 crispy pork dish, four cups of rice, and two tall glasses of ripe mango juice. Post-lunch, the bill skyrocketed to P800, though I could attest the price was fairly reasonable given the scrumptious large quantities the quaint restaurant serves. Boy, were we full.





Plus, we got the free Bumper Boat Ride as a perk for dining with them (For customers with at least P500 food purchase, that is).








Next stop, of course, was the main highlight of the day.
Ark Avilon Zoo, as the name implies, got its inspiration from the legendary Noah of the old testament and the gargantuan vessel God asked him to build in order to save compliant humans and two of each animal species from a malevolent storm.

Except for Ark Avilon's stationary status and slightly smaller structure, the concept remains close to the original idea: A safe haven for exotic creatures where denizens and visitors of manila could appreciate their distinct pulchritude and utilitarian abilities in life. A ticket costs 200 bucks. You get an ink stamp on your hand so you can leave the premises and come back anytime you want.

An eagle perched on a roost amidst the artificial falls

The lion sleeps...

Coy owls

The bird seemed oblivious to the camera.

You can find this captivating huge fish and prey swimming placidly in an aquarium on the 1st level of the ark.

I guess what makes Ark Avilon Zoo eminent is their evincible effort in emphasizing interaction. Patrons can feed and touch most of the animals, or have their pictures taken with them. They also have play nooks for tots, function areas, souvenir shops, and food stations.

Jenny the Orangutan

They don't let them out without the keepers.

We did feel like adopting her.

An absolutely terrifying moment with a ball python

Zakei feeds the rabbits with a carrot. Feeds are sold starting at P10.

With the lovely cockatoos

A playground inside an ark! How convivial!

The lion stares...

On the Ark from sun up to sun down

Now, I know why everyone who's been to this miniature paradise that sprung at the heart of the city infers it's one of top places to take your kids. One word to describe our trip to the Ark is "refreshing." I've seen all sorts of zoos in the past but this one exudes its own sense of advocacy and a different kind of fun that even adults won't fail to cite.

Connie Got Hitched

It's affirmative: One of my best pals has just hopped into the marriage bandwagon. Connie Eugenio met Archie Gonzales on a luxury ship where they both worked. They dated on board for almost two years before the lucky guy decided to try his luck at proposing.

I must admit I didn't expect my yellow-freak girlfriend to succumb to the promise of marital bliss as she was one of the few who found such arrangement intimidating. But here they are now, happily moored to each other by spanking new wedding vows...

Two down, two more to go! (From left to right): My daughter, Zakeisha, My husband, Nelson, yours truly, Anne Canuto, Sherwin Javier, Archie Gonzales, and initially ambivalent bride Connie Eugenio-Gonzales

Surprise, Surprise!

It's Dhabong who gets bowled over this time. :-)

Rolyn Sac, the beauteous lass in a white top and an old friend of mine, is finally tying the knot with Henri 'Dhabong' Fernandez (the smashing sole chap in the main photo) in November. Talk about a flabbergasting proposal -- She came home on an unassuming night and found red rose petals in her bed, followed the trail from her bedroom all the way to the terrace on the third floor, looked up to see the most quixotic fireworks in the velvet sky, then looked down and laid eyes on the words 'Will you marry me?' spelled out with white candles on the austere street. Indeed, a stupefying way to culminate a seven-year relationship.

A few weeks ago, Rolyn decided to give her honey a similar treat by throwing a surprise birthday bash for him at her crib. As usual, no partyphile went home somber.