jeldirecto

[jeldirecto]

Celebrating Jesus This Resurrection Sunday

For years, it has always been about service to me. God has been God but my church service too felt like god to me. That if I don’t get to serve, then it means I’m not offering enough.

No one makes me feel guilty, but I would feel guilty missing a service. Eventually, my work changed. My schedule became more unpredictable. It became harder for me to serve the way I used to.

“There are people there with more drastic schedules, and yet they get to serve.”

I’d hear my mind saying that and I’d feel bad even more. So I needed to serve because that’s what I know I was made for, I was made to serve Him and to worship Him.

Eventually, I started reading the bible, more deeply connected than I ever have been. I started discovering lines that I seemed to have missed before.

“Hey, I read this many times. I never knew they tried to push Jesus off the cliff?!?!”

I realized that I’ve heard so many stories of people’s lives and how the Lord has changed their lives. Their up and down seasons. Their fall and their peaks. Jesus is real. Jesus and real.

I know, He is.

I’ve believed and I believe He is.

But maybe I spent a decade yearning to know what He does to people and yearning to do acts of service and being part of the kitchen so much that I started wanting to know another side of Him. Maybe I have an imbalance of serving and reading.

I probably served and talked more than I ever listened.

And then I hear my friends saying they feel different. Obviously, the church now is different. You don’t see people, you see screens and emojis.

“I don’t really feel it anymore.”

I hear them say. And it is true. It is hard to feel the church because it’s different now. :( It is.

But I would lie to say I feel the same thing.

The past 2 and a half years are the years when I felt God the most. Mid of 2019 when I committed a complete surrender, a lot of things shattered. I lost my job, my finances crashed. Sure eventually, I met my life partner. But I re-surrendered to God first before I met him. I will forever thank the Lord that in my seeking of Him, I found my other “him”.

I decided to do things differently, to serve Him differently, and to know Him beyond music, beyond the preached Word.

I’m at that point that I want to take a break to know what they are saying about Him. I want to know what He is directly saying to me.

In this season of my life, I don’t want Him described by someone else. I want to nurture this direct moment, this “me and Him moment” that I was able to develop.

I’m not going to be tone-deaf and thank COVID. Not me. But I will thank the Lord for all the seasons of life that He brings to me.

I will thank the Lord for creating a season for me (by force) to strip off of everything that is around Him so I could focus on Him.

It’s easy to hear from people that I am busy because I’m in a “coupled season” in my life now. Finally in a relationship. But truth be told, I was busy even months before that.

But here I am now, thanking the Lord for my deepest heartaches. The ones that pushed me to disconnect, to unfriend, to be silent, not to turn to a friend or my usual coping mechanisms, but this time turn to Him.

Not Him and shopping.

Not Him and endless rant to friends.

Not Him and seeking people’s company.

Not Him AND.

JUST Him.

So when I was forced to embrace the pandemic, I knew that I was back. That as always, my lowest seasons are the ones that strengthen, nurture and refine my connection.

My most beautiful Psalms (yes I write my own Psalms) I wrote when I was in my deep cries to the Lord.

So this is me sharing where I am now.

Now I feel more the black and white-ness of things. Not of people, but of myself. I’d like to focus on God and myself now. I know much clearer now the directions I’m willing to take and the directions I’m not willing to gamble.

I’m in that season that I hear Him more, much louder and much clearer. And when things crumble, what used to comfort me (then being worship songs) is now the prayer and the Word.

It’s still all foreign to me how God twisted it just like that. What used to be the mic as my sword has now become the book and three steps back to the back seat. No more the stage.

But it’s not what I do that defines me now. But how much I know of Him, and how much I am willing to follow Him.

I thank Jesus for undergoing for us this Living Story that we rediscover again and again.

You died not just for my better version. You died even for my dark past.

But just like when you healed the sick, your message wasn’t “Okay, as you were.” Your reminding message was simple, “Go and sin no more.”

I thank you Jesus for dying for me.

As we celebrate Your resurrection, I pray that we be so so committed in our reborn as well.

All praises and honor to You, our King.

Happy Resurrection Sunday!

Jesus is risen. Jesus IS alive! ❤️

[jeldirecto]

Remind Me Why

I know I said goodbye Back then I said, no more I’d try Then some days you came in Were my goodbyes just a lie

I crumble and I get weak I say no more you I seek But this touch, this love, this high Were my goodbyes just a lie

The feeling of this, the feeling of you Where as the sky spells gloom I feel every drop of rain and you Remind me now why I left you

When the sun shines back I come a list why I do not lack Without you for a day For me please do not stay

Do not deceive that I need This letter please don’t read I broke you, you broke me What now is - just let it be

I look at your hand as time stays still I miss this and hey this is real I come to say this is the last No is, no will, you will stay a past

[jeldirecto]

242

Sometimes you can be so happy You know nothing’s missing And the night creeps in Leaving you nothing within  Too much wrongs, too much wrongs Hey they weren’t here at the dawn What happened to what they said? I thought that’s where they led What’s more real?  Is it the day, is it the night? It was all fine until day lost the light Thought things were just fine and right Oh the things I never said Never wanted to throw first Rather just conceal Than ask again to heal Oh there I am Thought even I lost I Can beautiful things stay? Lord, can beautiful things stay

[jeldirecto]

J

[jeldirecto]

One day these will all make sense :/

[jeldirecto]

Let it go, let it leave, let it happen. Nothing in this world was promised or belonged to you anyway.

Rupi Kaur, All You Own Is Yourself (via larmoyante)

[jeldirecto]

A Roll Call on My "Teal" Things.

All my friends--even those who I am not exactly close to but just see me frequently--know that my favorite color is teal. I try to make most of my things in this color in as much as I can. :) 

I've met haters though who would remark (in front of me) that the color of my stuff is not teal. 

"Uhmm... That's not teal. That's Tiffany Blue." "Uhmm yeah, why have you seen a Long Champ in teal?"

LOL.

--

Teal is a low-saturated color, a bluish-to dark medium, similar to medium blue- and dark cyan.

So I apologize if not all my stuff are in this color, but only close to this. But allow me to make a roll call on my teal 'collection'! :)

--

And the latest add: my new iPad case. <3 <3 

Don't you love it!! :)

You, what's your favorite color?

[jeldirecto]

Lights Out on a Friday Night.

Have you ever been to a restaurant that's without electricity? Yup, as in 'brown out'?

Well, we've had. And the funny part was that it wasn't like lights went out when we were there. We went in the restaurant despite it being out. I guess that's how far a bar's hospitality can get you. <3 You get loving loyal customers. 

--

Friday Night.

"Hey Michael! Are there seats inside?" "Lots." "Oh really? You're affected by the brown out, right?" "Yep. So we have a lot of seats inside, just grab away." "AWESOME." "Hey you know what, you can get the function room, it's all yours. Cos there's a group celebrating some birthday upstairs, you might not find a seat there for your group. Unless you want here in the first floor, which I won't reco until electricity gets back."  "Omg. I looove the function room. Go! :)"

*5 minutes later, the lights return, after 5 hours of being out.*

"Hey Angel! I think you guys are my lucky charm." "Hahaha! No it's cool it's cool." "No really. I'll send you some appetizer on the house." 

I TOLD YOU. Finest hospitality. <3

--

Check out Ritz' amazing photos below.

The Friday Club, as you know, inactive as we seem, is still alive. :) Some random Fridays we manage to gather ourselves for a stress-free Friday night bonding.

TFC is a group of Nuffies who usually don't have appointments or dates every Friday night. We're the ones who usually find ourselves staying late in the office working, or just letting the traffic to get less. They nominated me to become the president of this club, because I'm the one always withouta Friday thing.

Except it's hard to lead this group. I schedule a Friday night dinner, and I'll always have to leave early to go home before midnight. Hahaha! I've been calling for a re-election but they refuse. Please guys, impeach me na!! :)))

The photos below may be blurred, but I love them, so I'm keeping. :p

That night's hot seat: Jona Atienza. :) Sadly, the forever present guy in TFC is the one taking photos, so you can't see him here. :)) Nonetheless, thank you to our photograher, Marc Ritz.

--

Nothing like the Nuffies. <3

xx

[jeldirecto]

Begin Again-Inspired.

I can compare this month to one of those days I would call in my college days as hell. "Hell week" or "hell month" would be our term during finals week, or week when there were so many requirements and papers to pass.

This month is similar to that. Different subjects, different accounts, different requirements but all launching this month. Although I'm trying to keep my composure, it's still difficult to keep it all the time. While the world and its people have become difficult people, I sure know that they regard me as a difficult person as well. 

I might have said something wrong; I might have judged; I might have talked at your back complaining about you; I might have disregarded you; I might have pretended to listen, but didn't really.

So I wish I get to pass this test. Of being able to finish September without wronging anyone or without getting sick (SADLY, I AM ALREADY.).

--

The other day, Ritz and I did a photo shoot when I came to work one day admittedly getting fashionably inspired by Keira Knightly in Begin Again.

I love all what she wore in that movie!!! <3

I also btw covered Lost Stars with Mark Angelo last month. :) Check out our cover by clicking this Sound Cloud photo.

--

This  book was already part of my Books to Read list, ever since Denise got this, but I just never found time to actually read it.

When I posted these photos, people were bugging me about a review of the book, but I couldn't just type--DUDE IT WAS JUST PROPS. Hahaha! But I promise to read it because people were like "Omgg. I love that book too!" I almost replied, "Really? Good for you."

--

  I really love this pair of white skinny jeans from Uniqlo. :)

Thanks Ritz for the photos. :)

xx

P.S. Pray for good health for me this month! :)

[jeldirecto]

Redefining Watami in Manila

The Watami Date is a seven-month delayed date with Geoffrey that was forever postponed because we never actually found time to go out of the office and go to Glorietta. 

Why did we have this again? Allow me to not narrate, but to paste below the story about this restaurant from when we visited Hong Kong. 

--

Excuse our ignorance but ever since The Fort happened, I no longer situate in Glorietta much. So excuse me and Geoff for going inside Watami and feeling like we conquered some good Japanese restaurant in Hong Kong, but we really felt like we did. We had zero idea that there’s already Watami in Manila. :))

Thanks Denise, Toni and Grace for your mockery but Geoff and I actually had a great Day 2 date. :P Hahaha!

The ramen in Watami is actually good tasting. Upon knowing that there is Watami in Manila too, Geoff and I vowed to have another date and try this restaurant here, just to check if Watami here is as awesome in HK. 

--

So the question is... How is the Manila version of Watami? :)

Well, mas maaliwalas yung Watami sa Glorietta. (<--sorry I don't know the English of maaliwalas. :p) And there were more people dining in this branch.  Unless, maybe, when Geoff and I tried it in HK, it was on a Saturday and it was in a corporate building. 

The waiters were warmer here. Well, maybe because we're Filipinos and that's normal. :)) Overall, the restaurant look and feel felt the same.

We ordered almost the same everything except this Pepper Rice. We decided to add that since the price is slightly cheaper here. :>

Beef in skewers are still the most win side! :) 

This Watami Ramen is !!!!!!!!. I never really thought and considered normal Japanese restaurants to have better ramens over restaurants that really serve just ramen. But this one is amazing. Ramen lovers should try this. 

I also loved their pepper rice. It was soooo gooood! :)  Maybe my only concern was the serving. It was in a really small bowl and really, I feel like I could finish two bowls of that.

Here's a photo of me, Geoff and Mar! :)

Glad we finally got to push this through Geoff. And thank you Marianne for joining us. Baka nag mukha na naman kaming nagdedate like how it seemed in Hong Kong. 

Oh and for the record, I would love to say that Watami in HK is better--just to prove a point, but fine. The experience was the same. :) Maybe it speaks well of the people behind Watami in Manila? :) 

Sabi nga ni Geoff, at least we got to experience the authentic Japanese Casual Restaurant in Hong Kong?

HAHAHA Whatever.  This place is worth a visit. When I get to go back to Glorietta, I surely will dine here again. :)

xx

[jeldirecto]

Instagram Unposted (August Edition)

Though it might not be very obvious, I actually do filter my Instagram. Hahaha yeah. Despite my posts being still too often, there is already an effort there to lessen my Instagram shares.

Like if there's a story to tell, it should be summed up to one photo or three photos at maximum. And nothing more than that. 

Because of this "Instagram discipline", there are a couple of nice images in my phone which make it to a new list: WHAT DID NOT MAKE THE INSTAGRAM CUT a.k.a. INSTAGRAM UNPOSTED.

Now allow me to put them all in one blogpost of collages.

1 - My friend Shiela saw this movie poster of some Ian Somerhalder movie in Gateway and we vowed to watch it when it comes out. But I still haven't heard anything about it. Anyone who knows about this movie? (I know it has bad reviews online, but still!! It's Ian!!!) 2 - I was blessed with a really good team of people in Nuffnang and I love them! :) After one stressful event last July, I just had to treat them and to celebrate with them for helping me pull that project off. :) 3 - Mirror selfie with my sister and her boyfriend in our Family Saturdate in ZONG.  4 - Another mirror selfie on a weekday.

5 - Krispy Kreme sent these to the Nuffies one busy afternoon. :) Automatic celebration! Thank you KK! :)

6 - Photo with one of the ninjas. :)) Can't remember their names na.  7 - One of my favorite photos from the photo shoot with Don. I didn't get to post this on IG because I posted a lot of my other favorites already. :)) 8 - BTS of Monika's OOTD shoot with Jamon. :P 9 - And I don't know why & how Jamon and I have become a love team in the office. But since we play along with it, the other version of this photo I captioned: CHEMISTRY NALANG KULANG. :)))

10 - Some heck of a wall in this nice place in Tagaytay. No wonder Robbie asked me to take a photo of him with this as his background. Check the photo here.   11 - ETD was 3:30am, and we got there at 5:30am. I jumped off the van, pulled up my eye mask, and walked around the place. Saw this mirror and... there you go.  12 - In the long-day shoot where we had nothing to do but wait for the blogger's turn, it felt perfect when we learned they ran out of food for us cos we decided to eat at 1:30pm. Because of that, we were allowed to borrow a driver and eat out elsewhere. <3 13 - Please don't tell me you still haven't tried M&S Food?

14 - Marcritz is trying out photography since we've been using him a lot to take our OOTDs. That good boy realized he could actually use our OOTD shots as practice. And that's once of his first edits of one of my photos. <3 15 - Saved it from Instagam because the ootd's so pretty! :) 16 - Some quote worth saving in my phone. 17 - I was supposed to take a photo with this Volkswagen car with the caption "Finally! <3" Hahahaha! Pero nahiya ako, so we didn't. 

18 - Nuffies post-work run. Gosh I miss running. Too bad I feel like I'm still not in perfect condition, so I don't join these guys. 19 - Some funny screenshot shared in the Nuffies' chat group. Hahaha!  20 - Yeah I did the #ALSIceBucketChallenge despite the many criticisms. #lovenothate  21 - A Katsu place in BHS that I have yet to try

22 - Do not be deceived. This is not Hap Chan. Merienda scene in Nuffnang with 40+ pieces of siomai in tupperware. Special thanks to Ate Siomai. :)) 23, 24 - Some very cute and happy Pom we ran into in BHS 25 - Jack the Grrrr from Whole Pet Kitchen. He went to me from under the table and touched my leg with his snout, seeking to be tapped. :) So sweet this lab. <3

(You're not requiring me to write something here to make everything coherent, right? Yeah, you shouldn't. :p)

xx

[jeldirecto]

Iman in Manila

I can say that I have quite a handful of guy friends. Not too many, but within the number of 5 to 10. Really enough to help you survive. Compared to other girls, I’m not “one of the guys”. But I need them guy friends because sometimes you need that gentleman-ness from guys who won’t do it out of romance, those guy friends who just care and those few who you can girl-talk to and cry to when you need their listening ears and literally “shoulders to cry on”. Or those guys who I can guy-talk to about music, or bands like New Found Glory, Story of the Year, or whatever non-girly interests I have. 

  You know, you’d invite them out because you need to talk because you have a problem, and they’d end up even paying for the bill. (Okay, that’s just Benjo on this one. Hahaha!)

  But all kidding aside, I really do appreciate my guy friends.  And since this post is not about all of them, allow me to talk for now about this particular one.

  --

  Iman is one of the really good friends of my ex boyfriend. Back in high school every day these guys would hang out. And I’m close to him among all the guys my ex was friends with. Normal. He was a classmate that I was friends with.

  I guess we became just real friends when a grown up woman started harassing me through text and I got so stressed, I cried to him cutting Organic Chemstry class and just staying in the cafeteria. Exactly the friend I needed that time.

  After then we became really close. When my friends kept a secret from me, and I learned of it by accident, I had someone real who would confirm the question, and it was him. 

  After high school, we didn’t get to hang much anymore because he had to leave the country and stay with his family abroad. But that didn’t stop us from communicating. I was even the “delivery woman” of flowers when he sent a bouquet for his then girlfriend. (Of course, he had to send more money than needed so I could buy myself some Crocs as well. Hahaha! Birthday ko yun eh.)

  He’s also the one paying for my domain. www.jeldirecto.com is paid as if a charity by him as to what he referred to as his “yearly gift” with matching “O ayan ha, wala nakong utang sayo.” Hahaha! :)) (But in my defense, I've been telling him to cut it off na cos I know how to take care of my domain already. Hahaha!)

  We were really close. Except when he got married already and I got busy with work, we hardly got to talk. But when I learned that he was spending three weeks in Manila, I just had to make sure everything would go well with him.

  Enough about the reminiscing! Check out the photo diary below. :)

--

DINNER #1 - Banana Leaf, Rockwell

Yes, Lilia is friends with Iman as well. :) How? When Lilia 8 years ago said that she would be having her Euro-trip, I told her to meet Iman cos he's just there. And they did. For a day they bonded as if they're real good friends. 

8 years after that, Lilia was in New York and she found one of Iman's posts that he was in NYC at that moment too. They decided to meet again and take the same photo they took 8 years past. 

Odiba? Mas friends pa sila sakin.  (I can pretty much hear Lilia screaming here: MAG TRAVEL KA KASI!!) 

Sorry woman! You may read again my previous posts for reference: - #9 - 9 Unattractive Things about Me - I'm not a traveler, but five other things that I am

Hahaha!

Of course, Janelle was there too! :)

It's fun to finally meet his wife. I can't believe she's a YA author!!! :) I can't wait to read her books--or maybe to actually find time to read them. :)

--

DINNER #1.2 - Post-Dinner in Refinery, Rockwell

Half of us coffee, half of us drinks. 

--

DINNER #2 - Seafood Island, Market Market

Seriously, what's it with banana leaves? Hahaha! Oh and excuse the pose. Waiter said that's their trademark pose. Hahaha! #NOTCOOL

Love that he got to go to Fort so I got to tour him around the place to help him make the best comparison of then and now. :)) This night also I treated the couple a pair of 4DX tickets in High Street cos I know that they have nothing like that in their place. :)

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DINNER #3 - Kabisera ng Dencios for Kare Kare and sisig! <3 <3 <3

This night without Iman's wife, we realized we could speak straight Tagalog and reminisce high school days without being insensitive. :)) I won't quote not a single line but that night was fun. Hahahaha!

Always fun to recall strict teachers, or the funny ones or the weird classmates.

--

DINNER #4 - The Last Hurrah in Jollibee 

Whatever to anyone who had something to say when I scheduled the reunion here. Hahahaha! Eh I was craving for chicken joy eh, bakit ba! :))

Plus Iman said, nothing expensive anymore since he already spent a lot as 'balikbayan'. Well, what better restaurant to push than the super-Pinoy fast food that is JOLLIBEEMYLOVELOVEEEEE. :))

Fun night trying to recall mix and matches in the batch. :)) Stay tuned for QUIZ #1 that I will release very very soon. Hahaha!

--

Thanks Iman for the visit! :) I really missed you and nice meeting Jenn! <3 Can't wait for you to be back! :)

xx

[jeldirecto]

Staycation in Azure Urban Resort Residences (Part 1: The Place)

I have a question. Would you prefer a vacation in a three-hour-drive town, with not so fine gray sand, and with random objects on the beach water; or a peaceful vacation within the city, with very fine sand and really beautiful fake beach water?

  I go for the former. (I think.) Nothing beats what’s real.

  But when I visited the Azure Residences last long weekend of August, I was entirely wowed by it. I wouldn’t want to say that it beat the real thing because it will make me sad—how a man-made beach would be better than the real thing that we have. But the beach in the city went at par with the real thing.

  Let’s just say that a replica of Bohol, Romblon, Boracay or our beaches in Visayas is at par in the beaches that we have in Batangas (if not slightly better). The only things that it probably lacked were the sea creatures and the smell of the beach, which I can forego for a long weekend city trip with my family. ;)

  --

  Azure Urban Resort Residences is one of the developments of Century Properties. It was designed by Paris Hilton but is not in any way related to the Hilton Hotels Worldwide. It is expected to have 9 buildings, setting the benchmark for 21st century tropical living.

  It’s the first ever development in the metro to have an artificial beach and be a resort-type condominium. It also has an open park, zen garden, multiple playgrounds, lap pool with cascading waterfalls and see through glass, kiddle water slide, poolside bar, beach volleyball area and a basketball area. To top that, they also developed themed function rooms and zen garden roof deck.

  The whole place is set to make one feel that he is not in the city.

  For more information on this place, check out their site here.

  --

  Before I share with you how our vacation was, allow me to share with you how much of a paradise this place was. Since a lot of people have been urging me to blog about my recent trip already, here below I start the first part of the two-part photo diary of my stay in Azure.

   --

Welcome to Azure! :)

--

In this blog post, when I say beach, I mean the beach area in Azure where the pool area's floor is covered by sand as well. There is nothing 'pool' in this area and everything is completely beach feel. (Well at least, that's how it felt like to me.)

It has a kiddie slide and a 2 feet area and can go as deep (or low) as 3 feet. Maybe they didn't want to need that much sand to be able to make a 5 feet deep man-made beach. 

Not only that, it also has a yacht-designed pool bar as well.

--

Now when I say beach pool, I mean that beach area with pool and tile flooring. It still looks like a beach and it's the "beach" or "pool" with the wave, so yeah, our naming can get confusing, but you know what I mean. :) 

The side part of this is real sand, but nearing to the 'pool area', is just a sand colored cement, and by that blue area is already the blue tiling of the pool.

Waterfalls by the lap pool, which btw has a see through glass at one end.

Like I said, the beach pool has real waves. They open it at a certain time (usually when there's a lot of people in the pool area by nearly noon time and in the afternoon). Waves will last for about 10 minutes and will take a break for about 5-15 minutes. 

This is how the lap pool looks like. (I have more photos of this, except we're in it, so just wait for the second part of this blog post.)

And if you're into volleyball... ;)

By the beach club, the outside lounge areas are covered by resort-style table umbrellas.

Or white blocks as chairs.

--

And THIS. IS. THE. VIEW.

The Paris Beach Club! :)

--

First floor lounges that are too sophisticated. 

--

Second floor hallway with lights that change every second--I should have taken a video of it instead.

--

Game room for kids. They'll never run out of things to do even when the storm comes in this rainy season. This place has playstation, xbox, airhockey and whatever they will ever need. 

The beach club also has a movie room and spa lounge, but I didn't get to take photos of those areas anymore.

--

Third floor has themed function rooms and zen garden for roof deck parties.  But those areas were closed so I didn't get to capture much photos there as well.   

     --

First floor of the condo buildings look like this. I guess they offer these units as well, with solo parking for the residents. :) I wonder how much this particular unit costs. ;)

Reception of one of the buildings. 

And the hallway. 

The one bedroom unit has this, a two-seater dining table, and a kitchen. Not too big, but enough. 

And since we're not a southerner, we of course had to take a shot of the sunset from the 14th floor. ;) So beautiful a view!

--

Needless to say, I enjoyed too much too much. I mean, who won't enjoy such a vacation with that kind of picturesque place? :)

Stay tuned for the second part of this blog post! :) 

xx

[jeldirecto]

Joining the #IceBucketChallenge (when I said I wouldn't)

Few days ago, I was watching the #IceBucketChallenge of Nina Dobrev (as shared by my sister) and was admiring how YOLO she went with it jumping from the boat to the open water, right after she got poured by the bucket. 

I didn’t really actively check on the videos of people—unless it was Nina Dobrev or it was on my newsfeed, like the ones from my friends (i.e. Bokyo, Maimai, Jeanne and a few more others). 

So I said I wouldn’t because, I’m not just not one to join fads and phases. I didn’t have any planking photo nor did I do it at all, and I didn’t have any make up transformation as well. 

“Yeah, I’m just gonna let this pass like usual.”

But then I got dared.

Well, that changed everything. :))

--

As soon as I woke up, I saw the post of Ericka tagging me to do the ALS challenge. 

“YOU DID NOT,” were the only words that escaped me. 

Groggy and feeling lazy, I packed extra clothes and a towel, in case I end up doing it after all.

I talked to my friends if I would ignore the challenge or do it, and I found myself listing reasons why I shouldn’t:

It’s a sure waste of water.

The challenge was criticized to be pure slaktivism.

It’s the last leg of the challenge, why still join? In short, laos na. 

What's the bucket got to do with charity?

You can donate without announcing it to anyone. So quietly do.

But from that list of five, I also got to come up with reasons why I should:

I’m not KJ enough to take pass a dare.

Sure it’s a waste of water, but there are many ways to do this dare without making a big waste—like not filling up a whole truckload of water, or doing it using pool water and adding ice. 

Why look so negatively on this challenge? The campaign has good intentions.

When’s the last time you've ever participated in a charity or researched on a charity and actively donated? Yes you can quietly donate and go back to your regular programming, but how does the word spread from there? This is good marketing and in as much as brands would pay millions to make their campaign go viral, this went on in a few weeks time without the foundation having to spend a million bit. ;)

I reread my fourth reason and I was automatically sold. :))

—

And that did it. 

No thanks to Ericka for nominating me.

But thanks to Ritz, Jamon and Rendy for helping me record the whole thing.

As usual, we started with an OOTD shot.

(Thanks to Folded and Hung for the Marvel cap, Cotton On for the top, Stradivarius for my skinny pants and Adidas for my shoes. Totally swung off the Sporty vibe with you, batch.)

Now, the challenge! 

(Hi Bebe! Nauna pa pag post ng video na to sa photos ng wedding mo. Hahaha!)

(Click image to view the video as my video embed feature is going wonky.)

Nominating @abeolandres @davidguison @googlygooeys and a bonus @iansomerlader (my most favorite actor/model/environmentalist/everything, who will surely ignore this nomination because he'd rather conserve water. :p) to take part in this challenge! :)

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Thanks to this marketing stunt, I am now aware of the Amyotropic lateral sclerosis (ALS) disease, which is characterized by--I quote, "muscle spasticity, rapidly progressive weakness due to muscle atrophy, and difficulty in speaking (dysarthria), swallowing (dysphagia), and breathing (dyspnea)”. It’s hard to imagine how this disease is like, since I’ve never encountered one. But I cannot imagine any of my loved ones experiencing this, so I would love to fund this research, among the others.

  I wish other good causes spread like wildfire as this one. I’m sure a lot of researches need funding too but it just doesn’t get in the scene. It’s nice to stumble upon these things as I honestly wouldn’t normally research on charities that need funding. So for this to cross my way, I congratulate the bright minds that thought of this challenge video going on viral.

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  After I sent my donation to ALSA.org, I sent the ecard to the person who nominated me and shared that though I said thank you to the video, I actually meant, no thanks ang hassle nito. HAHAHA! :)) 

  But there you go. 

My fingers are crossed for a productive year of research with this association. :)

  xx

  P.S. If in any case you decide to ask my why I was wearing cap the whole time, that was because it was my whole outfit for the day, and none of us realized that it would protect a part of my body from the ice water. :)) We realized it moments after, when I was already dry. To be fair, the back of my body and my sides were really wet and I had to cover myself with towel so I wouldn't freeze.

  YES, I DID CONSIDER REDOING IT. 

But for something I did not plan on doing, no way would I do it twice. :P

[jeldirecto]

Queen of Crossings and Dumplings.

Ever since I took that photo in the pedestrian of BGC, my officemates would always joke about me taking another photo in the middle of the road. The more buwis buhay it is, the better. :))

I love these shots, as I am becoming more playful with the idea of all these pedestrian stuff. 

At that moment, I was like, "Fine. Middle of the road. Game on." And we were laughing the whole time. Good job for Ritz for capturing that. I love!

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Not only did we find fun in playing shoots in pedestrians, we also found fascination in playing with the sun. And as you saw in the first three photos, fascination in achieving a VSCOCAM effect in Photoshop. Hahaha! :)

But scared that I might have gotten used to taking emotionless facial expressions, we make sure that in every photo shoot, we get to take a shot of my usual happy self. <3

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I assume that you're not carefully following my Instagram and Twitter, because well, why would you. But for two weeks already maybe, my officemates and I have been raving about nothing else but ate's siomai. 

In BGC, where it is always impossible to find cheap thrills except in the convenience stores, we find delight in discovering these awesome thrills. 

Ate Siomai is a mobile dumpling business, that like food truck, visits the BGC turf every afternoon to bring to us hungry workaholics a quick taste of heaven. (Okay that's a very nice way of describing it. Hahaha! But you know what I mean.)

It's PHP5.00/pc and I'd usually buy 10 pieces every single time. It's too good! I can finish four pieces in less than a minute. 

Doesn't it show? We're so into it! :)

And look at my siomai-partner Arianne who's so picture-perfect in this shot. 

   I'm super excited for my next siomai afternoon! :)

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Top: Forever 21 Top undergarment: Bench Body Shoes: SM Photos: Marc Ritz

xx

[jeldirecto]

Sneakers Day for Wildcard Wednesday

People who get to see me everyday know that my style revolves around printed pants or dresses. For me, anyone can do it with a printed pair of trousers. And you'd survive a day feeling like you've done it all. (Well that's just me.) Of course, you wear shoes that match those pants, like maybe heels or plain flats. 

But apart from that, I'm also not very a sporty person when it comes to fashion. Where usually my friends would pair their shorts with chucks, I'd just go with a pair of Havaianas or animal printed doll shoes. I only wear sports attire when I'm really working out. Otherwise, I'd feel really uncomfortable with my outfit that day.

So every time you see me in sneakers, that's me experimenting. Like last Wednesday ;)

I love how you can make everything look different just by changing your shoes. I mean, I was wearing the exact same thing when I partied with my friends last May. I guess make-up and shoes can really change the whole arrive of your outfit.

Don't you agree? ;)

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I'm lucky Marc Ritz is always game to take photos cos he's practicing photography as well. And he's doing a great job btw! :) 

We love this spot in BGC whenever I'm wearing not so corporate-y. The greens, the rocks and the playground just go so well with everything! :) 

If I wasn't wearing a dress, I would have climbed my way in that rainbow monkey bars. 

And when's the last time you played piko anyway? Don't you just love how we're part of the generation that actually experienced street games? Yes, we had gameboy, v-tech, tamagochi and all the other gaming devices, but we didn't let it consume more than 50% of the time. We grew up knowing how to play tumbang preso, piko, tagutaguan and langit lupa.

When I posted this photo on Instagram and claimed that I'm good at piko, my friends claimed that they're better and then challenged me with a one-on-one. Hahaha! 

Yes, I still have a thing with pedestrians. ;)

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Check the rest of the photos, unfiltered, below. :)

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Dress: H&M Shoes: SM Cap: Dad's collection

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Thanks Ritz for the photos! :)

xx

[jeldirecto]

M&S FOOD: The Newest Bread Shop in High Street, BGC

It was just probably few weeks ago, when we attended the launch of Marks & Spencer Central Square and when they fed us sumptuous goodness with their sweet buffet. Well, lo and behold, the Marks & Spencer already opened an exciting store for us. Showcasing their not just the usual food section in their store, but also bread and pastries that are true delight for us!

Welcoming you in the store are tables and chairs where you can eat your bread take outs, rest with your coffee or have your cookies while waiting for your date before watching in the BHS Cinemas. Perfect spot, right? :)

I love this part!

COOKIES!!!!!!!! <3 <3

Their coffees are well-priced as well and I can't wait to try their blended coffee the next time I visit. -- And like I said, just like in their store, they have the complete cooking essentials. :)

I love that they have a good selection of wines as well. M&S has always been my go-to when looking for nice gifts for clients and work contacts. :)

Tea and ice cream!! Of course of course.

And didn't I just share that I loved their buffet of chocolates during the launch? :) Here goes everything greeting me in the store! Oh I super want to hoard!!! 😍

Also an idea, since I frequent the BHS Cinemas anyway, I guess I can get my movie snacks in M&S Food too since it's just one floor below the cinema, right? ;)

Oh what else do you ask for. Thank you so much for this brilliance, M&S! More options for me in my turf! Check this place out and better be hungry when you do! :)

xx