AWESOME!

MY CURRENT READ

"Polar ice caps are melting, hurricanes swirl in the seas, wars are heating up around the world, and the job market is in a deep freeze.

Whoa. It's getting pretty ugly out there.

That's why one chilly spring night I started a tiny website called 1000 Awesome Things...

I never imagined that writing about finding money in your old coat pocket, the smell of gasoline, or watching The Price Is Right when you're at home sick would amount to anything.

It seems like maybe these tiny little moments make an awesome difference in many of our rushed, jam-packed lives. Maybe we all love snow days, peeling an orange in one shot, and popping bubble wrap.

Maybe we're basically all the same...

With so much sad news and bad news pouring down upon us, it's fun to stop for a minute and share a universal high five with the rest of humanity."

-- N.Pasricha


Among the awesome experiences listed on the book, these made me say "So true!":

1. When cashiers open up new checkout lanes at the grocery store
2. Having a whole row to yourself on the plane
3. Being the first table to get called up for the dinner buffet at a wedding
4. Finding out your birthday is on a Friday or Saturday
5. Using hotel lobby bathrooms when you're out walking around
6. Taking your bra off after wearing it for hours
7. Waiters and waitresses who bring free refills without asking 
8. When the thing you were going to buy is already on sale
9. Finding your keys after looking forever
10. Finally remembering a word that's been on the tip of your tongue for so long
11. The smell of frying onions and garlic
12. Finding money in your pocket

And the list goes on. I'm still reading the book. And you know what? I'm actually not in a rush to finish it. I'm savoring the list. Ninanamnam ko talaga, haha. It's such a happy read!

***

If I were to come up with my personal list, I'll definitely include our recent AWESOME experiences (that I must blog about, in detail, soon):

1. The realization that our 'wealth' is not in the form of SUVs or designer bags, but in being able to afford  our Singapore Adventure and a very comfortable 'career break.'
2. No-alarm-clock work-day Mondays. 
3. What tops working in your SG home, in your pajamas? Earning SGD in Manila! 
4. Enrolling in not just one but three film schools. So happy for my Hubby!
5. A viral campaign for a shampoo brand. A TVC for a pain reliever. So proud of you, Baby!
6. Applying for a Junior Management position, and getting hired for a Senior Management position. In an industry I've been eyeing. So excited!
7. Our new worlds: film, advertising, retail, marketing, events. 
8. Our parents telling us how proud they are of us. *sniff, sniff*
9. Spending time with someone so young and inspiring, as she wins over the Big C.
10. Seeing a family stay so strong throughout their grieving. 
11. The comfort from having strong family ties. 
12. Tita Time. 
13. Road trips that allow you to have long, heart-to-heart talks with best friends. 
14. Welcoming and ending each day with your Life Partner. 
15. Living the truth in "God's Plans are greater than your dreams." 

TRULY AWESOME!

Thank you, God. 

A TIME FOR EVERYTHING

There is a time for everything,
a season for every activity under the heavens:

a time to be born and a time to die,
a time to plant and a time to uproot,
a time to kill and a time to heal,
a time to tear down and a time to build,
a time to weep and a time to laugh,
a time to mourn and a time to dance,
a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,
a time to search and a time to give up,
a time to keep and a time to throw away,
a time to tear and a time to mend,
a time to be silent and a time to speak,
a time to love and a time to hate,
a time for war and a time for peace.

-- Ecclesiastes 3: 1-8



We enjoyed our time in Singapore.
Now, it's time to pursue new dreams.

-- A & J

LIVE FULLY RIGHT WHERE YOU ARE

With an expiration of less than twelve hours,

what does Jesus count as all most important? 

"And he took bread, GAVE THANKS and broke it, 

and gave it to them..." (Luke 22:19 NIV).

Jesus offers thanksgiving for even that which will break Him and crush Him 

and wound Him and yield a bounty of joy.

As long as thanks is possible, then joy is always possible. Joy is always possible. 

Whenever, meaning-now; wherever, meaning-here.

Thanksgiving is the evidence of our acceptance of whatever He gives. 

Thanksgiving is the manifestation of our "Yes!" to His grace.

-- a few of my favorite lines from my current read, 

Ann Voskamp's 

"ONE THOUSAND GIFTS: A Dare to Live Fully Right Where You Are."

PERFECT TIMING.
Thank you to KLG and The Today Show
for the recommendation.

'Thank you' are among my favorite words. My Gratitude Journal is among my most valuable possessions. That's why I easily gravitated to the book One Thousand Gifts.

Living in gratitude is easy through good times, tough through bad. But because I've experienced the truth in this -- The holy grail of joy is not in some exotic location or some emotional mountain peak experience. The joy wonder could be here! Here, in the messy, piercing ache of now...(Ann Voskamp) -- I choose to give thanks, no matter what.

As the book reminds us, Jesus revealed the secret to happiness, through his own example. In his dying hours, He still chose to give thanks. (Mamamatay na, papatayin na, nagpapasalamat pa rin.) The greatest thing is to give thanks for everything. He who has learned this knows what it means to live.


Today, I'm especially grateful for:

1. Our Amazing Adventure. Wow.
2. Thank you, God, for the wonderful opportunity. 
3. Thank you for all the life-enriching experiences.
4. New perspectives. 
5. The next chapter. 
6. The new road.
7. New Dreams
8. Stronger Faith
9. Our marriage. 
10. Our families. 
11. Tita Time!
12. Our friends.
13. Good health.
14. Our lovely home.
15. Our quiet little life. 
16. Freedom!
17. Current work set-up. (Pwedeng ganito?! Bongga.)
18. Because it can get too hot -- Thank you for cold showers, the swimming pool, the air con, and finally some rain!
19. Successfully crossed-over to advertising after doing TV for more than a decade. 
20. The opportunity of crossing-over into another dream industry. *praying*
21. The reminder to be cautious as to who you let into your life. 
22. Ikea
23. Today's errand was finished in less than an hour. We're pleasantly surprised. 
24. Thai massage. Pinoy dinner. American Idol.
25. Jessica Sanchez. We're in awe of the girl's talent. She's been making a lot of people, especially Pinoys, happy and proud. Final results in a few hours!
26. Be grateful that God doesn't grant us everything we want. Instead, He provides us with everything we need. 
27. God's Plans are greater than our dreams. (I never imagined I'd be where I am now. Again, pwede pala 'to?! Bongga.)
28. Thank you, God, for loving us the way you do. 

Try starting your own Gratitude Journal. List everything you're grateful for. Not of gifts you want but of gifts you already have. That's the dare to LIVE FULLY right where you are. 

WATER HANDS at the SEA FILM FESTIVAL

Movie Date: "Water Hands," at the South East Asian Film Festival

SAM at 8Q, 222 Queen Street 

The festival will run until March 31, 2012

The Philippines' "Zombadings" is among the featured films! I'm so curious how the locals would find it.

Anyway, "Water Hands is a road movie about a Chinese sailor who starts doubting his beliefs after experiencing the beauty of the remote Balkan landscapes and the folk stories of the region. The more he explores the landscapes and the stories around him, the more he is determined to change something about himself. However, his attempt at making life-changing decisions become more difficult because of a woman, "She", a mysterious and sultry creature who keeps on calling him back to his country, his life and his reality."

The film-maker, Vladimir Todorovic on his creation, "After hearing numerous folk stories from the region (Serbia / Montenegro) and comparing them to the everyday life of an expatriate in Singapore, I decided to make a movie capturing these polarities. Thus, one half of the movie focuses on the reality of common people living in the economically devastated Balkans, while the other half paints quasi-bourgeois life of a foreigner in Singapore." 

Tickets: SGD10 each

Water Hands' director, writer, producer Vladimir Todorovic

I love how quiet the movie was. And it was fresh not to really see the cast mouthing their lines. You'll never get to see the sailor (Water Hands means sailor daw in Chinese.). While "She" (who represents the sailor's mother, sister, girlfriend, wife, mistress) has several exposures, never siya magsasalita on-cam. Puro thoughts. Puro reading out their exchange of love letters. 


With the journey Hubby and I are currently taking, relate na relate ako sa pelikula. I actually cried at the end of the movie, after "She" asked the final line of the film, "When are you coming home?" 

ON MY OWN

(Very late post.)

Another first: exploring a foreign country on my own, for days. Yey!

I've experienced exploring a new place on my own for a few hours. Kanya-kanya then meet up na uli. So for the first time, feel na feel ko ang pagiging solo traveler. Got to enjoy Singapore on my own during Hubby's short trip to Manila last month. 

The highlights:

1. Taking Bus 83's route via foot. 
2. Exploring the Tiong Bahru area.
3. The Singapore Art Museum exhibits. 

BUS 83

Hubby and I take Bus 83 from Punggol to the next town, Sengkang. It's cheaper and more convenient (no more transfers from the LRT line to the MRT). Out of curiosity -- how many steps from Punggol Field to Sengkang's Compass Point mall? -- I decided to take the bus route via foot. The answer: almost 2,600 steps. I enjoyed the 40-minute pasyal-pace walk (15 minutes lang via bus). The experience confirmed: "One's destination is never a place, but a new way of seeing things." 

Things I never saw from the bus:

My usual view of the Cove@Punggol sails...

Ganito pala ang likod nila, hehe.

It was my first time on this pedestrian bridge, along Punggol Road.

I stopped to watch the busy highway. 

First time through this walkway.

First time at the Sengkang Sculptural Park.

That's the Sengkang LRT.

Sengkang's Compass Point mall: the nearest MOS Burger, Mr. Bean, Yoshinoya branches from our "province" of Punggol. Hehe. We also like Kopitiam's stalls here. Our favorites: the one that serves Taiwanese fare, and the chicken rice stall.

TIONG BAHRU

Explored one of the oldest housing estates of Singapore, Tiong Bahru (green line). According to Wikipedia, "It was the place of choice of the upper class and the place where the rich and powerful kept their mistresses." Pre-World War II era. I got intrigued after seeing an episode of Anthony Bourdain's newest show, The Layover. 

What to see: Tiong Bahru's Art Deco homes. It was like being transported back in time. Aliw!

The Tiong Bahru Market is supposed to be among the most popular hawker centers in Singapore.

But it was empty on a weekend.

For the list of the best food here, see Lady Iron Chef's blog. Anthony Bourdain liked the Chwee Kueh in The Layover episode I saw. But I wasn't hungry. So I just ordered lemon iced tea. It was perfect, especially after so much walking under the SG sun.

SAM: SINGAPORE ART MUSEUM

Loved the exhibits at The SAM. I'm especially ecstatic to have discovered that admission is free (Yey, free!) every Friday, 6-8pm. I vowed to take Hubby to the exhibits. Gusto kong ma-experience rin niya ang na-experience ko. I was in awe with most, if not all, of the artworks! I'll blog about our SAM date separately. 

V by Li Hui. 

Installation with laser lights. 

Pinoy Pride: Rodel Tapaya's mural won Grand Prize at the Asia Pacific Breweries Foundation Signature Art Prize. Mabuhay!

Although I missed my Hubby so much, I was very grateful for the opportunity to explore SG on my own. Traveling alone is something every woman should try at least once in her lifetime. And for those who do it regularly, bow ako sa inyo. At happy ako to be among you now. 

Another item off my Life List. 

Thank you, God. *big smile*

HOW TO HANDLE REJECTION

Ouch!

Of course, rejection hurts. But as the cliche goes - if it doesn't kill you, it can only make you stronger. So how does one handle life's NOs? 

Here are seven tips from pickthebrain:

1. Don't take it personally.
2. Think positively.
3. Listen to the rejection carefully.
4. Be kind to yourself. 
5. Have confidence in who you are.
6. Know that everyone gets rejected.
7. Try and try again.

And five more how-to-deal tips from Dragos Roua:

1. Let go of perfectionism.
2. See it as a learning opportunity.
3. Be aware of your programming.
4. No rejection, no growth.
5. Rejection is essential to success.

Stay inspired by all the successful people who never gave up. Bill Gates (a college drop-out), Oprah (was told she's "unfit for TV"),  Michael Jordan (was cut from the high school basketball team), J.K.Rowling (Harry Potter was rejected by 12 publishing houses), and the list goes on. Be among them. 

ROAD TO MARRIED BLISS

Hubby's currently into videography and post production. His love for learning is truly an inspiration. Among his recent projects is a series he calls "Silly Shorts: Singapore Snapshots."  

He's a one-man production team. Shaping himself into a "predator" (a broadcasting term): producer, director, writer, videographer, editor, musical scorer, post production artist. Lahat siya lang. Amazing! 

I'm part of his fifth shorty. I agreed to go on-cam with my "lazy look" -- no make-up, hair in a messy bun, wearing a shirt and peasant skirt. We had fun filming all around Singapore. 

The project speaks for itself. Among the many must-haves to the road of "Married Bliss": Stay silly. Have fun together. Do not take yourselves too seriously.No matter where the road leads you, ENJOY THE RIDE!

ROLES WE PLAY

Today I'm in awe of the many hats life allows us to wear.  

HATS OFF
to a great balancing act!
Photo credit: bluesunstudio-inc.com

My favorite roles: being my life's Leading Lady (you should be too!) and being Hubby's Life Partner. 

Next on the list: Daughter, Sister, Tita, Cousin, Friend.

Being a Colleague, Teammate, Blogger, Copywriter, Project Manager, Events Host, Stylist, Teacher, Student, Classmate, Neighbor, Churchmate, Relative, Acquaintance, Tourist have / had their moments.

I'm grateful that the past months gave me the opportunity to wear more hats. That of:

1. Early Retiree. (Wow that sounds old. Lol.)
2. Dreamer.
3. New Kid on the Block. (In a foreign land.)
4. Housemate.
5. Traveler. (Level up from Tourist?)
6. Job Hunter.
7. OFW-wannabe. 
8. Bum. 
9. Freelancer. (Earning in my PJs has its perks.)
10. Soul Searcher. 

So what's next? 

Do I see myself wearing the Balikbayan hat soon? 

WRITE JOB

I prayed for the "right" job

and got the "write"-ing job.

Fade up music:

Life has a funny way 

of sneaking up on you...

-Alanis Morissette

Related post: Separation Anxiety

SEPARATION ANXIETY

Dear first paycheck of 2012,

I'm suffering from separation anxiety. From you.

I've been considering spending some of you on an experience -- on something I can always remember you by. I vowed not to spend you on material things. No shopping for dresses, bags, shoes, accessories, not even toys for my pamangkins, or anything Ikea. Yes, I'm a changed woman. As I blogged before, this entire adventure is shaping a better version of me. Haha!

On to the experience. I've been considering: (1) A world-class MBS date with the Hubby? (2) Round-trip plane tickets for two, to Manila and back, to spend time with my newborn nephew? (3) A yoga club membership?

After too much thinking and re-thinking, weighing and re-weighing (Lol), I've decided - you're too special. So I'm just going to keep you. Untouched. 

Thank you for coming into my life. You're God-sent. 

xoxo,

A


PS
Here's to more of you!

UPS AND DOWNS

Birthday message to Hubby: I love that we choose to take the roller coaster over the carousel. *wink* Here's to more life adventures together! Happy birthday to my Life Partner and Daily Date! I love you.

Photo credit: askmissa.com

Life's ups and downs are more bearable, more meaningful, more fun when you go through them with someone you love.


Thank you, God...

1) for allowing us to get off 'that crazy carousel' just in time. Lol.

2) for the 'tickets' to this roller coaster ride

3) for allowing Hubby and me to take this adventure together (Bow ako to those who are on the roller coaster alone!)

4) for allowing this journey to shape us into the best versions of ourselves

5) for the fresh perspectives (seen from the highest of highs and the lowest of lows).


We're so blessed. 

ROLLER COASTER RIDE

There are books
that impact your life
because you get to read them
at the perfect time.

"From Maria's diary, one night when she lacked the courage to go out, to live or to continue waiting for the phone call that never came:

I spent today outside a funfair. Since I can't afford to fritter my money away, I thought it best just to watch other people. I stood for a long time by the roller coaster, and I noticed that most people get on it in search of excitement, but that once it starts, they are terrified and want the cars to stop.

What do they expect? Having chosen adventure, shouldn't they be prepared to go the whole way? Or do they think that the intelligent thing to do would be to avoid the ups and downs and spend all their time on a carousel, going round and round on the spot?

At the moment, I'm far too lonely to think about love, but I have to believe that it will happen, that I will find a job and that I am here because I chose this fate. The roller coaster is my life; life is a fast, dizzying game; life is a parachute jump; it's taking chances, falling over and getting up again; it's mountaineering; it's wanting to get to the very top of yourself and to feel angry and dissatisfied when you don't manage it.

It isn't easy being far from my family and from the language in which I can express all my feelings and emotions, but, from now on, whenever I feel depressed, I will remember that funfair. If I had fallen asleep and suddenly woken up on a roller coaster, what would I feel?

Well, I would feel trapped and sick, terrified of every bend, wanting to get off. However, if I believe that the track is my destiny and that God is in charge of the machine, then the nightmare becomes something thrilling. It becomes exactly what it is, a roller coaster, a safe, reliable toy, which will eventually stop, but, while the journey lasts, I must look at the surrounding landscape and whoop with excitement." -- Eleven Minutes, Paulo Coelho

MARINA BAY 2012 FIREWORKS

Sharing my video of the Marina Bay Countdown 2012 fireworks display.

"Baby, you're a firework

Come on, let your colors burst

Make them go, oh, oh, oh

You're gonna leave them falling down

Boom, boom, boom

Even brighter than the moon, moon, moon..."

HAPPY 2012!

MARINA BAY COUNTDOWN 2012

For our very first New Year's Eve here in Singapore, Hubby and I welcomed 2012 at the Marina Bay. We arrived 9pm. With three hours until the fireworks display, we went around muna to see how people partied this side of the earth.

Observations:

• Here, trains extend operating hours for New Year's Eve, from midnight to until 2am. Where we come from, train services are cut short Christmas and New Year's Eve.
• New Year revelers camp out around the Marina Bay, bringing picnic mats, food, drinks and card games. Yep, they're prepared for the wait.
• Most packed areas: Esplanade stretch and the pedestrian lane from the Youth Olympic Park to The Shoppes. 
• The Helix Bridge is closed before the fireworks display so we had to take the pedestrian lane to The Shoppes.
• There were at least four shows / concerts, happening simultaneously, all around the Bay. 
• There were food and drink stalls (Starbucks, Deli, Salad Bar, etc) near the Marina Bay Financial Center. Grabe ang pila! We got to buy from these stalls only after the fireworks display.
• Portalets everywhere. Didn't use them. Sa Esplanade and The Shoppes pa rin kami nag-restroom.  
• Having dinner in Punggol was a smart idea as all the restaurants in the Marina Bay area were packed! As in long lines everywhere!
• Some restaurants refused walk-ins. May signs: "With Reservations Only"
• Traditional ice cream carts had a field day. We had chocolate ice cream sandwiches. Yey!
• By 11pm, they closed the Marina Bay pedestrian entrances. The latecomers watched the fireworks from the other side of the street na.
• Outfit: come as you are. There were people in very casual clothes (shorts and shirts), pero meron ding mga naka-cocktail dresses and long gowns. 
• The fireworks display was impressive! Better than our Hong Kong experience in 2010. Watch video here.
• Spotted a lot of women carrying their stilettos after the fireworks. Naka-paa na talaga sila! Hehe.
• PDA - check! Nagugulat pa rin kami minsan. But we'll get used to it. 
• We tried to book a hotel in the area, two weeks before NYE. Too late.

We joined the crowd at the Marina Bay.

9pm. We're looking forward to a Happy New Year!
(Mahangin kaya ang gulo ng hair ko, hehe.)

9:30pm. From the Fullerton Bay Hotel park

Around 10:30pm.
The Wishing Spheres floating all over the Bay.
View from the Esplanade

Around 11pm.
We watched from this spot, near the Financial Center.
Dito kasi mas maluwag.
Yes, sa lagay na ito, maluwag na yan.

The late comers were prevented
from entering the Marina Bay complex by 11pm.

After the fireworks, we didn't even try to catch the train. We knew it'd be chaotic in the stations. We walked from Marina Bay to St. Andrew's Cathedral's bus stop, hoping to catch a taxi or the 6N bus to Punggol. As predicted, there were no taxis available (Asa pa!). The unoccupied ones refused to take passengers (Familiar?!). After what seemed like forever, the bus finally arrived at 4am. We got home at 5.

First lesson / reminder of the New Year: We'll get to our destination. We just need to patiently wait. *wink*

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

GREATEST GIFTS OF 2011

As 2011 comes to a close, let's all count our blessings. =)

Photo credit: candyfortoes.com

Among the greatest gifts I received this year:

Material

1. iPad2: Hubby's birthday gift to me (Wish come true!)

Non-Material (and far more precious)

1. Fashion school.
2. My birthday gift to me: Freedom! Read more about it here. I'll forever remember 2011 as the year I took the BIG LEAP into the great unknown.
3. Our gift to us: Living out our dream! Hubby and I have been living in Singapore since the last quarter of 2011. We left our comfort zone to follow our hearts and explore the world. (Praying that we receive the "working in Singapore" gift soon.)
4. Career Break. At the start of the year it seemed impossible, even after reading this article from Lonely Planet. But guess what?! We've been enjoying our longest vacation leave ever!  
5. Spending time with our family, even for just awhile. My parents and sister came home to Manila for a month. We got to be with them only for a week. But that one week was priceless. And for the very first time in my life I flew alone (alone!) from one country to another -- just to be with my loved ones. (Hubby took another flight because of a scheduled job interview.) 
6. Being able to hold my Mama's hand in the O.R., all throughout a medical procedure. The greater blessing: Doc declared her lump clear, on-the-spot! Fatty tissue lang! Yey! And the bonus: the procedure was free. We're blessed with kind-hearted, generous, loving doctors and nurses in the family. 
7. Being able to tell my Papa, "Now that I'm a Pinoy abroad like you, lalo akong bilib sa iyo. For so long, you faced the challenges of being an OFW on your own. Idol talaga kita!"
8. Learning every day about WHAT TRULY MATTERS IN LIFE. We're grateful that we have enough. Sometimes nga, more than enough pa. Even on career breaks. We're overwhelmed by the blessings. 
9. Our SG Adventure has been one hell of a roller coaster ride. And it has shaped Hubby and Me into stronger individuals and more loving partners. If a couple can laugh together through rejection, discrimination, and a stretch of "no paydays muna," then they must really be meant to happily journey through life together. *wink*

2011: Another year filled with
life, laughter and lots of love!

THANK YOU, GOD, for loving me, loving us the way you do. We're forever humbled by Your grace, love, mercy and faithfulness. May you continue to bless us all in 2012 and the coming years. We know Your Plans are always greater than our dreams. 

FAVORITE THINGS

"When the dog bites

When the bees sting

When I'm feeling sad

I simply remember my favorite things

And then I don't feel so bad..."

--  My Favorite Things, Sound of Music

While waiting for the "right" job (Don't want to settle.), these are the things that have kept me sane and smiling...

IKEA. Every visit to Ikea (Tampines and Alexandra branches) inspires me. In my mind, buo na ang aming little Singapore home. Everything's just so pretty. And they all seem to be so affordable. I get really dreamy when I'm here.

GLAMOUR DIGITAL MAGAZINE. As I've written too many times in my other blog, Glamour's my favorite fashion magazine. I'm too down-to-earth for Vogue, hehe. (Don't get me wrong, I love Vogue but I won't name it as my favorite / monthly must-buy.) Anyway, Glamour's e-mag is so much cheaper than the printed version. It's like buying a back issue so I don't feel guilty about spending for it monthly.

LONG WALKS. Especially those that have led Hubby and me to non-touristy destinations like the Punggol Reservoir. Look at the pretty restroom in the middle of the park, photo below. Restroom pa lang yan! The reservoir is filled with joggers, bikers, and skaters during weekends. Perfect for family days.

Hubby calls it "The Modern Cube-beta." Lol.

LAU PA SAT. It's our favorite hawker place because it's the only one with Pinoy stalls -- Baliwag, Tapa King, Mang Kiko and Hapag Kainan. No matter how good SG food is, we do miss our sariling atin.

Us at the Lau Pa Sat Festival Market

iPAD GAMES: Words with Friends, Solitaire and Pop Words. No, I'm not into Angry Birds or Plants versus Zombies.


MOVIE MARATHONS. Oh, we're loving our long vacation all the more because of these! We often stay up until 5am! Bad.


FACEBOOK and SKYPE. The best! I'm very much in touch with my family, relatives and friends from all over the world because of these! In my book, they are among THE BEST inventions ever, ever.


CHURCH SERVICES. Love, love, love. We come home with renewed spirits all the time. So happy that we have services twice a week.


SPICY MOS CHEESEBURGER. We first had a taste of MOS in Taipei. We loved it so much we even thought about hand carrying some burgers home. Lol. Here in Singapore, we're addicted! As in! Lesson learned: the Spicy Mos is best for dine-in. We discourage it for take-out as the chili will drip out of the packaging! Ganun kasi ka-generous ang serving.


KAYA. Our favorite: Toast Box's Traditional Kaya Toast and Kaya Soft Bun. The hawker centers' Kaya variations taste tipid / kulang / bitin versus Toast Box's. Yes, we have Toast Box in Manila. The branches here taste so much better (dapat lang!).


























SALMON. Among my favorite fish (aside from bangus and tuyo and danggit)! I get my fix from Kopitiam at the Punggol Plaza. Only SGD6 for the entire set -- miso soup, a bowl of rice, kimchi and salmon. Sa dami na ng Chicken Rice na nakain ko, it's not my go-to-food anymore. Itong salmon na, hehe.

TEH-C. That's tea with milk. Our favorite SG drink! It's great anywhere. We love it so much I've actually blogged about it earlier, read here.

LUCKY PLAZA's PINOY GROCERY STORES. We haven't been impressed with the food joints there but the grocery stores are heaven -- Chippy, Choco Mallows, Clover Chips, Mang Tomas, Yes!, Green Cross, Spicy Tuyo, Barrio Fiesta bagoong, Datu Puti suka and toyo, etc.

MR. BEAN. Our favorite soya snack place. Cheese pancakes and Soya drink (hot or cold), we like them a lot! I've also blogged about this before, see here.

THE TODAY SHOW. My favorite TV show, even when we were in Manila. To this day, I have a dream of one day working with the Today Team. Galing ng content. Always so informative and entertaining and siksik. I love everyone on the show -- Matt, Ann (love her fashion sense!), Natalie, Al. But Hoda and Kathie Lee are my favorites, they crack me up!

What are on your favorite list?