♥ 2013: The Year That Was

Towards the end of 2012, I was freaking out.

I’ve always had this irrational issue with the number “13” (read: triskaidekaphobia), and the idea of enduring every single day of the following year, which will all be tainted with 13 (and Friday the thirteenths were like bad bonuses) was simply terrifying.

2013 would be the official year of doom for me. I knew it. I just knew it.

But of course, I could not be right all the time, and 2013 turned out to be so much more than I expected. And as much as I hate to admit it, 2013 is my best year yet.

It’s really crazy how fast time flies by. Wasn’t it just yesterday when mama, papa, and I were on our way to Pangasinan to greet the new year, when we got a call from our home in Laguna that we forgot all the clothes we packed for our overnight stay? (That made mama throw a fit, and it was also one of the premonitions I took that 2013 would be unlucky. Haha!)

I wouldn’t go too sentimental now, because I’ve got more reason to celebrate than to let the sadness of one great year coming to an end take me over, and here’s why…

The fears and challenges I faced

2013 wouldn’t be a great year without facing challenges to reach my goals. No matter how big or small it was, a challenge is a challenge. From facing some of my greatest my fears (eating street food, making new friends, and … well … DOGS) to living alone in a country not a lot of people have heard of a thousand miles away from my family, this year definitely pushed my limits, made me stronger, and made me believe that I can.

The goals I hit

Grades that exceeded my expectations, a writing stint at the country’s #1 teen magazine, earning an editorial position in my faculty’s official paper, and completing an exchange program abroad – whew – among others (not to mention, gaining a bit of weight! Yes!), 2013 was like a movie for me where the protagonist (that would be me, in this case) chases her dreams and reaches them.

The places I saw

All I ever wanted was the chance to travel alone in my teens. Not that I don’t enjoy trips with my family, because I do. I really do. But, somehow, I knew that travelling alone at such a young age would be a great learning experience that I will forever treasure, and, indeed, it is.

The people I met

Perhaps, the best part about my trips, my new job, and being a member of some school organisations are the connections and friendships I’ve made. Nothing’s more heart-warming than knowing that there’s a family on the other side of the world, who left their door open for you, or knowing that people from all walks of life, who come from entirely different cultures from yours, embraced you for who you are.

Growing closer with the people around me and staying in-touch with old friends

Sometimes, it’s not about how many friends you have, but how much they love you and how much you care for them. The shift from high school to college came really difficult to me just like how it did to most students’. Keeping in touch with your high school BFFs and making new friends in a more diverse environment is hard, which is why I’m thankful that 2013 was nice to me in that aspect as well. Despite our differences, I grew closer with my college pals, and I also managed to give time for my high school buddies. Reunion isn’t out of the picture either. Who would’ve thought that I will get to meet a good family friend after nine long years ... in Bratislava?!

Being a part of a great family

Of course, at the end of the day, nothing would matter most but your family. I wouldn’t be where I am today without my super-awesome family, and they are the ones to thank for all the things I achieved throughout the year. Sure, they’re not perfect but I love them to bits!

Looking back, 2013 has been very, very, VERY kind to me, and I have no other words but to say that I’m so beyond blessed. There are so many people to thank, and honestly, I tried including them in this post (every single name!), but then I might forget someone and hurt their feelings, so I’d rather not go on to the personal level. But here’s a BIG THANK YOU to everyone who rocked my 2013.

Indeed, 2013 will be a tough act to follow, but greater things are waiting.

HAPPY NEW YEAR AND CHEERS TO AN AWESOME 2014!!!

♥Andz

Nail Sticker Haul

By now, you probably know how obsessed I am with prettifying my nails (just one of the few things that would make people find me a girly girl), and with some "extra" budget I have in hand (which I usually spend on books), I hauled some nail stickers from some of my favourite shops for a change. 

I've never tried using water nail decal stickers and nail wraps before, so this would be interesting. 

I will be posting the designs I will come up with soon enough. At the moment, I'm just letting my nails grow a bit, so I could have bigger spaces to paint on and be creative with. I'm also letting my cuticles breathe after weeks and weeks of applying and removing nail lacquer. Not healthy, yes.

Here are the items I got from my haul (and with the Christmas money I got, I'll be buying more - that's for sure!) :)

Claire's
Nail Flair Stickers in metallic butterfly print
P395.00

Forever 21
Love & Beauty Perfect Manicure nail stickers in metallic animal print
P105.00
Love & Beauty nail decorations
P225.00

The Face Shop
Make Me Trendy Nail Tools Water Decals in "Diamond Pop" and
"I Am Fashionable"
P125.00 each

***I got myself a sheet of Diamond Pop and got these two (pictured) as presents from The
Flame's Secret Santa :)

♥Andz

Mint-Dusted Crispy Churros with Tsokolate

One of my fondest childhood afternoon merienda memories is seeing my lolo and mommy (grandma) making tsokolate from tableas. 

Armed with a tin kettle and a batirol or molinillo (a traditional wooden beater that resembles a honey dipper), they would dissolve those glorious tableas into something magical. Our tiny cups would then be filled with steaming hot cocoa, with which we'd dunk our pandesals into.

It's been a long while since I last had a hearty cup or two of tsokolate, which is why when I saw packs and packs of tableas lying on the dining table one morning, I knew exactly what I had to do with them. I had to make tsokolate. I just had to.

And, I did.

Tableas and the batirol

It was about time I try making tsokolate on my own, and I had a great time making it. It was as though an old family tradition was being passed on to me. OK, saying that may sound a bit weird, but that's how I exactly felt! I even hunted down a new batirol (our old one's just too ... old ... and unused for so long) to use.

Now, what's tsokolate without something to dip into it? 

Like what I've said, we dipped pandesal into hot cocoa, but as I had been craving for churros (another merienda favourite of mine), I tried making some to dunk into the tsokolate.

Just some of my Christmas addictions :D

I was feeling extra-experimental that day, so I decided to put a twist into the churros I was about to make. Instead of dusting sugar over them, I crushed some Christmas mints into sprinkles. I also used a decorating tip with a thin opening to make the churros crispier.

The outcome was a chocolatey-minty snack that my family loved, and I couldn't be prouder :) There's no better feeling than satisfying the people you love through the food you make.

And because I love you, my dear readers, I'd like to share this somewhat-original recipe with y'all :) Hey, it's a perfect snack to make this season!

Mint-Dusted Crispy Churros with Tsokolate

For the Churros

1 cup water

A stick of butter

2 tablespoons sugar

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 cup flour

3 eggs

2 1/2 cups vegetable oil

Christmas mints (depends on how much you want)

For the Tsokolate

5 tableas

1 1/2 - 2 cups fresh milk

*********************************************************************

Churros 

1. Combine 1 cup of water, a stick of butter, 2 tablespoons of sugar, and a quarter teaspoon of salt in a saucepan and bring into a boil in medium to high heat, stirring the mixture every now and then.

2. Sift a cup of flour into the saucepan and mix the batter for a minute before taking it out of the heat.

3. Transfer the batter in a mixing bowl and use an electric mixer to get rid of the chunks of flour and achieve a sticky-smooth consistency.

4. Add the eggs into the mixture one at a time, while continuously mixing the batter.

5. Fix a flat-ended decorating tip into the pastry bag. But if you wish to make traditionally-shaped churros, use a wide open star tip.

6. Spoon the batter into the pastry bag, but be sure to leave some space at the top to tie the bag sealed.

7. Heat 2 1/2 cups of vegetable oil in a deep fryer over high heat.

8. Squeeze the pastry bag above the deep fryer, and cut the dough depending on your desired length.

9. Fry the dough until golden brown.

10. Line a plate with paper towel, and drain the excess oil off the churros with it.

11. Crush the Christmas mints and sprinkle the bits over the churros.

Tsokolate

1. Pour 1/12 -2 cups of fresh milk into a saucepan.

2. Drop 5 tableas into the saucepan, and bring to a boil.

3. Let the tableas dissolve and once the tsokolate boils, create a frothy consistency with the a batirol by rubbing it vigourously in between your palms.

*If you like your tsokolate sweeter, you could either add teaspoons of sugar or pour in some condensed milk.

-Enjoy!-

♥Andz

A Time To Celebrate :)

It's day one of my Christmas break, and guess what? I've got tons to do and they're not even related to having a happy holiday. I don't know why but these professors seem to find happiness in making our lives miserable. 

I had a great week, anyhow, and that's OK, I guess, because I'll be hitting school work over the Christmas season. I could just imagine myself reading a boring paper about photography whilst having noche buena or media noche. Goooosh, what a holiday!

17 December - Tuesday - The Flame's Christmas Party

My second family in school are my co-writers in The Flame, the official publication of the Faculty of Arts and Letters. Our paper may be less known in UST, but I still believe that we've got the best writers out there, and to celebrate another year together (a year of fun, controversies, and stressing out), we held our Christmas party last Tuesday at the so-called Lover's Lane.

It was a very simple get-together - some food, old friends, games, and prizes - but still, it was a very special night for all of us.

18 December - Wednesday - Foot Massage Lounge Media Launch 

I've always loved massages, so attending Foot Massage Lounge's media launch is simply divine! 

In fact, I consider myself lucky for getting this assignment, because I was in dire need of some relaxation with school work being mixed with the Christmas rush.

My fellow Council of Cool member, Bianca, and I were treated with FML's signature foot massage, and we had the best 75 minutes of the day.

20 December - Friday - 3JRN1 Class Party, Paskuhan, Paskuhan sa Asturias

With the academic calendar being moved in preparation for ASEAN 2015 (we'll be starting school in July next year and our semester and Christmas break will be merged), yesterday was probably the last Paskuhan - the annual big Christmas celebration of UST - or at least, the last for now. 

I've never attended any Paskuhan festivities in my past two years in Santo Tomas, so I finally decided to attend this one. It was going really well until it rained in the afternoon. 

I was so bummed, because I pictured lying on the grass with friends at the grandstand, while local bands played their hits. Looks like fate had other plans, and most of my classmates and I ended up chit-chatting in a classroom after our class party, until the rain stopped in the evening.

UST was a full mayhem when we tried to join in the fun. Students and guests were all crowded at the food stalls, the field was too muddy and only brave souls dared to brave it for the concert, and there was barely a place to buy food and sit down to eat.

The Paskuhan didn't meet my expectations at all, and I feel really guilty for not attending the past ones, which were surely better and not to mention, drier.

My friends and I still tried to make up for the upset, and we had some drinks and sisig at Asturias street, where a street drinking party was held ("Paskuhan sa Asturias"). 

It was my first time drinking out with college friends, and I really loved the energy of the place. Music blared from the speakers, colourful lights played in the dark, the scent of food, alcohol, and smoke filled the air, and the people were just so ... alive. I've never really liked parties, but I sure enjoyed this one :)

As it was too late (and unsafe) to head home to Laguna, I spent the night at Kai's place with Jica. Before hitting the bunk (er, couch), we watched Stoker and talked a bit. 

I woke up the next morning with Kai's shihtzu, Ivan, curled into a fluffy ball beside me. I didn't dare to move a muscle, and I wasn't able to sleep again :D

Here are some photos from the parties that I was tagged in/were sent to me. I'll update the post once I find more :)

<3 3JRN1

<3

 

♥Andz

You Know You're Celebrating a Pinoy Christmas If...

The "ber" months are just about the entire span of the Christmas season
in the Philippines.

...You start greeting and being greeted a "Merry Christmas" or "Maligayang Pasko" right at the start of the "ber" months (read: SEPTEMBER).

...An inexplicable feeling of joy surges you whenever you hear Christmas songs being played on the radio or when you see shops putting up holiday decorations before December.

...Your biggest Christmas wish as a child is a snowy Christmas in the Philippines, and, honestly, you still kinda (secretly) wish for it today .

The spirit of Christmas is very much alive in Hernani, Eastern Samar
even after Typhoon Haiyan devastated the province.
Photo from GMA News

...You pour a lot of effort in putting up a Christmas tree in your home, even though felled evergreens have very little or no chance at all of survival in our country. Sometimes, it's also a great way to let your creative juices flow.

...You wish you're still young enough to get "aginaldo"s and "regalo"s (money and gifts) from your ninongs and ninangs (god parents), because you're the ninong/ninang now, and you just can't keep track of your inaanaks (god children) anymore, never mind stressing about what to give them.

It is tradition among young Filipinos, especially for those in the lower to
middle classes, to go house-to-house around the neighbourhood and sing
Filipino Christmas carols to earn some money.

...Your Filipino Christmas playlist will never be complete without "Kumukutikutitap", "Pasko Na, Sinta Ko", "Christmas in Our Hearts", and "Sana Ngayong Pasko" ♫

...Your leisure time/work time at home is interrupted a couple of times a night just to give some spare change to the li'l carolers outside - either because you were a caroler yourself when you were younger and you hated "barat" neighbours OR you like what they sang and how they sang it. But most of the time, you just want them to shut up, so you can go back to whatever you're doing. Admit it!

Catholic Filipinos gathered outside a church just int time for
simbang gabi

...You wake up hours earlier than usual to attend the simbang gabi - a series of masses held in nine consecutive evenings/early mornings starting on the 16th of December and ends on Christmas Eve (Misa de Gallo). If you get to complete all 9 masses, you get to make a special wish on the last night :)

...Simbang gabi is also synonymous to soul mate-hunting. (OK, this is just an observation, as I'm really against this idea, because I like keeping the sanctity of Eucharistic celebrations. Teenagers today... Sheesh! :D)

The ideal breakfast after attending the simbang gabi: puto bumbong and
bibingka

...You can't wait to get your bibingka (rice cake) and puto bumbong (another rice cake that's purple in colour and cooked in a bamboo tube) fix after the simbang gabi. Brush an extra layer of butter and sprinkle some more sugar there, please. Yum!

...You just can't stop admiring those beautiful parols you pass by, and you make sure you have one (or a few more) for your house.

One of the well-loved Christmas food in the Philippines is hamon.

...You HAVE to HAVE hamon and queso de bola - among others - for your noche buena.

...You've got a handful of Christmas parties you need to attend - just because.

...You're more concerned about who picked your name and what he/she will give you for the annual family/class/office exchange gift/kris kringle/secret Santa more than what you'll be giving your "monito"/"monita".

The feast of the Three Kings marks the end of the four-month-long
Christmas season in the Philippines.

...You know that Christmas isn't over until the Three Kings, a celebration held on the first Sunday after the first of January.


***I DO NOT OWN ANY OF THE PHOTOS USED FOR THIS POST.


♥Andz

Music Thursday: My Disney Playlist

I recently saw Disney's latest animated flick "Frozen" with my gal pals, and I really, REALLY loved it! 

It's got everything everyone loves in a Disney film - awesome characters, amazing graphics, a well-thought-out plot (which was loosely based on the Hans Christian Andersen classic "The Snow Queen"), an unexpected twist towards the end, and an impressive roster of voice actors (Kristen Bell, Idina Menzel, Jonathan Groff - you get my point, right?).

But what's a Disney film without memorable music numbers? Frozen features feet-tapping, funny bone-tingling, and heart-tugging songs that will leave you with a severe case of last song syndrome. And because of that, I have several new additions to my Disney playlist, which has grown over the years.

Here are 12 of my favourite Disney songs in no particular order at all (because it's so hard to pick a favourite Disney song with all the good ones out there!) and some of my favourite lines from each song as well ☺ ♪ ♫ ♥

Reflection

Mulan

Lea Salonga

Mulan is the first movie I watched in the cinema and Reflection is the first song I memorised by heart. As a child, the words of the song didn't speak to me that much. I liked singing it, and that's it. But as I grew older, I realised how difficult it is to find myself in this big world, and there's no other more relatable song out there that could explain how I feel about myself and just about everything else, but Reflection.

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I See the Light

Tangled

Mandy Moore and Zachary Levi

No words could explain how kilig I got after seeing this scene and hearing this song on the big screen! A boat ride, still mirror-like waters, and floating lanterns were just the perfect elements to set the romantic mood for the gorgeous couple Flynn Ryder and Rapunzel to sing I See the Light - the modern-day A Whole New World, in my opinion.

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I Won't Say I'm in Love

Hercules

Susan Egan

Ah, the anthem of every girl who's in denial... 

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I'll Try

Return To Neverland

Jonatha Brooke

I'll Try reminds me of the pain and hardships one goes through in growing up, but with a little faith, trust, and pixie dust, everything will be so much better.

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When She Loved me

Toy Story 2

Sarah McLachlan

When I first heard this song as I watched Toy Story 2, I swore I would never get rid of the toys I had and treasure them forever. Of course, promises are meant to be broken and most of my childhood toys are no longer with me. Sad, yes, but I could just imagine how happy other kids would be if they would enjoy a piece of my childhood. 

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Circle of Life

The Lion King

Carmen Twillie and Lebo M

If this song didn't get you at NAAAAAANTS INGONYAMA BAGITHI BABAAAA, I dunno what else would.

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A Whole New World

Aladdin

Brad Kane and Lea Salonga

Well, this song will never be crossed out from my list. Like, NEVER. Princess Jasmine and Aladdin are just the staple couple everybody wants to be (a princess and a street rat ending up together -what?!). They defied the rules of royalty and society, and with their love, they seemed to have the whole world to themselves. Cheesy much? Admit it, you felt butterflies fluttering in your stomach when you heard A Whole New World.

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Part of Your World

The Little Mermaid

Jodi Benson

I dunno. I can't relate to Ariel in more ways you could ever think of, like I will never rock that purple shell brassiere (cos I hate purple and I don't have the breasts to fill it, anyway), I don't have fins, and I'm not a princess forbidden to do just about everything I want to do. But anyhow, Part of Your World is one of my favourites, and I sing it in the bath... A LOT.

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So Close

Enchanted

Jon McLaughlin

Enchanted is one of the best Disney films I've ever seen. I like how it captured the modern setting of society and yet tell it in a fairy tale-like way. I especially love it for its catchy musical numbers. However, I would call So Close - the simplest, yet the most endearing of all - my favourite in the soundtrack.

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Colors of the Wind

Pocahontas

Judy Kuhn

People should listen to Colors of the Wind more. People's races and earthly desires should never get in the way of living and appreciating life's little gifts.

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Let It Go

Frozen

Idina Menzel

I think everybody's worst enemy are their own fears, and Let It Go just tells us that in order to be free, one must take on their biggest fears and reach their dreams.

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You'll Be in My Heart

Tarzan

Phil Collins

Phil Collins gives his take on multi-faceted love in You'll Be In My Heart, and he did it just... beautifully.

♥Andz