I just tasted something so exquisite that it made my taste buds tingle and head spin. The velvety flavor of butter just exploded with every bite I took. The tangy zest of honeyed salt followed the initial explosion. Then came the aftershocks of a deeper darker wall-nutty taste (definitely no weight loss products). The cause of all this hoopla?

Popcorn.

And yep, you’ve guessed it. It’s Chef Tony’s!

Yummy popcorn!

I’ve been a fan of Chef Tony’s ever since my former boss at the hospital offered me some last year. Of course, being waaay down south, I don’t get to have much of it. Only when I get to visit her in Manila do I get to munch on Chef Tony’s uber good popcorn. And then only when I actually remember to buy some (I usually have so much fun being with her that I forget to get the food that crave when I’m over here).

So last week, I was fortunate enough to go get me a tub. And boy, is it worth every peso.

PSI officially love the Belgian Butter with Honey Roasted Wallnut Flava.

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After the highs of fun and laughter, comes the lows of waking up to a world filled with piles of work to do. Leftover work from before the holidays, new work for the new year and even future work; the prospect of normalcy gets most people down (speaking of which, I think I really should get a look at that rv insurance).

With the holiday season officially over, it is not uncommon to find people grumping about being back to reality. Two days ago on Facebook, most of my friends had statuses that read: “ *insert name here* is back to work” followed by a sad face icon. Or something like this: ” *insert name here* doesn’t want to go back to *insert place of work here*“. Even I did not escape unscathed from the aftermath of a really, really good vacay. Especially since she’s going back to Manila while I am left here to finish whatever it was that I’ve started. The feeling got to be sooo bad and (thanks to FB) so widespread and mutual that I coined it the Post-Holiday Depression Syndrome or the PHDS.

I am almost (but not totally. I’m still missing her!) over it now. I’m back to teaching and working on my master’s thesis. But for those of you not yet over the holidays and still suffering from PHDS, here’s a really funny music video for you. god knows we can all relate *winks*. hehe.

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The World Pyro Olympics 2009 has been rescheduled to January 2010.

Originally slated for the dates November 21, 28, December 5, 12 and 19, the Pyro Olympics was unexpectedly besieged with rain. Only the first Pyro show pushed through, but began late and ended abruptly due to the weather. China reportedly was not even able to finish their show.

It’s a disappointment, as I really wanted to watch the Pyro Olympics. The first showing, I wasn’t able to make it due to work (I was on the weekend shift).

But perhaps it’s a blessing that this happened. My boyfriend said he might be coming to Manila in January, to submit samples of his research to DOST for testing. (Or something like that.) I really hope he comes and then maybe I’ll have a date for the Pyro Olympics show!

You can contact the Pyro Olympics organizers via phone at 568-6908 or 384-0239. You can also log on to www.worldpyroolympics.com.

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I love fireworks.

Ever since I came to Manila two years ago, I’ve always yearned to watch the World Pyro Olympics that happen every year. It’s a fireworks showdown of countries, a spectacular display of fire on water and a backdrop starry night. Whatever could be more romantic than sitting on a bed of grass, lying in the arms of the one you love, and watching the darkness break into dazzling choreographies of fire and light?

Alas, I’ve never watched a single pyro show ever. This time I won’t miss it, whether I have a partner or not!

This time, the World Pyro Olympics won’t be a fire show on water. Instead, it will be held at Bonifacio Global City, in Taguig (also known locally as The Fort). Hmm. Our company has a tower there. Maybe I can work there instead of in Ayala during the Pyrolympics? Sounds good to me!

Here’s the schedule of the World Pyro Olympics 2009:

November 21 – Germany, China
November 28 – Japan, Australia
December 5 – Canada, Italy
December 12 -South Korea, USA
December 19 – Fellowship of Fire, Philippines

And ticket prices are:

Regular Pass – Php200, Php500, Php1500 (VIP)
Season Pass (All Shows) – Php800, Php2000, Php6000 (VIP)

VIP tickets mean you get food (Via Mare) along with a sure seat. To reserve, call (02) 568-6908 or (02) 384-0239.

So, who wants to be my date???

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On my 27th birthday

Buenas! I am Flisha Fernandez, a Filipino; firstborn to a prominent newspaper editor-in-chief (rest in peace, Papa) and a Philosophy teacher (now Vice President of Academics of my alma mater); and eldest of three sisters.

I consider Chavacano my first language. I speak fluent English, passable Tagalog, unrecognizable Visayan and am learning Japanese.

I entered school at the age of four, at a nursery called Tanglao. I spent two years of kindergarten, six years of elementary, four years of high school and four years of college at the Ateneo de Zamboanga University. I graduated cum laude, top of my class and top 3 in my batch in 2003.

Journalism and I have a love-hate relationship. I grew up writing poetry and short stories (I even attempted a novel at the tender age of twelve, and I hold my cheesy, unpublished and unread work dear to my heart. ;-P). In high school, I joined The Blue Eagle, our school paper. I won many awards and writing competitions in my time, mostly from my news and feature articles. I failed to garner the top position of editor-in-chief in my senior year, which contributed to my disillusionment with journalism.

A girl on the brink

I took up Computer Science in college, in a bid to challenge myself (Math, next to Filipino, was always my weakest subject) and separate myself from the world of literature. I was quite active in organizations — helping to revive the fading debate society, becoming one of the core founders of the computer society and working as the editor-in-chief of the Beacon Yearbook. After graduation, I found work as a programmer for the local government before returning to my alma mater to become a systems developer and part-time instructor.

I completed two years of a masteral degree at the Ateneo de Manila University. I am currently working as a SAP specialist for Hewlett-Packard.

Gracias con vos otros and I hope you enjoy reading my blog!

*Updated October 2009

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I was in Manila last, last week visiting Fli when I heard that Pond’s was currently having a big beauty sale with up to 70% on selected items! I am a firm believer of facial skincare (I even once went out of my way to check out the best wrinkle cream available for my wrinkly, sun-burned skin I sustained snorkeling. Of course, my skin just healed and the wrinkles went away) and have been using the Pond’s clear solutions antibacterial facial scrub for three years now. But what I really wanted to try out are the Flawless white products. However, being a bit pricey and definitely out of my price range, I wasn’t able to do so yet. So imagine my joy when we stumbled upon a Pond’s booth in Landmark. I was sooo happy that without further thought and hesitation, I grabbed Fli’s hand and pulled her towards the booth. What follows is an awkward but funny conversation.

Pond’s Girl: (giving my pretty gf a big wide smile) Yes, ma’am, how can I help you?

Me: (giving an equally big wide smile) How much is the Flawless White Serum?

Pond’s Girl: (still looking at Fli) Well, ma’am, it’s normally at P435, but since we’re having a big beauty sale, I can give it to you for P130. Shall I wrap it up for you ma’am?

Fli: (looks at me) Um…well, Gim. It’s at P130. So, are you gonna get get it?

Me: (a bit miffed that the salesgirl insisted on talking to Fli and not me, but conversational still) So how do you use it? Do you leave it on, or do you wash it out afterwards?

Pond’s Girl: (glances hesitantly at me, starts to talk, then makes up her mind and starts instructing Fli) well, all you have to do is to massage the cream gently on your skin using a circular motion…(hesitates as Fli gestures surreptitiously at me. Understanding escapes her lips with an “oh!”. She then at last turns to me and starts giving directions).

At this point I am too miffed and embarassed to hear the rest of her salestalk, so I just pay for the product and hurriedly leave. We are a few feet away from the booth when, as if as an afterthought, the salesgirl calls out to me: ” Oh, and by the way, sir, you need to moisturize after using the whitening cream!” I race out of the store with Fli’s pealing laughter echoing closely behind.

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Hey, I should start searching for free car insurance quotes! Because I might be able to drive one again! A car, I mean.

See, I lost my driver’s license card (along with my ATM, credit card and a wad of cash) a year ago when I stupidly placed my purse in the shallow pockets of a pair of red shorts and boarded a taxi in Cebu.

Minutes after Gim paid the taxi driver and we were walking to our destination, I suddenly realized my loss. Tried to run after the taxi, but by that time it was meters away and going faster and farther.

So careless of me. Fortunately, it only took a lengthy explanation to get a new ATM card and a phone call to have my credit card voided (it was gonna lead me to financial ruin anyway). But so not that easy to get a new driver’s license!

Gim and I started the process today. Because I’m nearing my renewal date, and if I had renewed it a year earlier, there would’ve been an extra fee of Php50. But the bureaucracy doesn’t stop there.

First we went to get a community tax certificate from the City Treasurer’s Office. Because if we didn’t, we couldn’t get an affidavit of loss. That cost me only Php5 because I said I was a student. (Well, technically I am!)

Then we went to get the affidavit, which, for a piece of paper saying I had lost my card, cost me Php150. And the lawyer wasn’t even there, so maybe his secretary forged his signature or something.

Thirdly, we went to the Land Transportation Office to get the form for a duplicate license. Filled it up and we were told to come back tomorrow. Oh and they don’t have any pens in there, so I had to buy a crappy pen outside. Why???

Checked for the cost of the renewal. Php472.63. What??? Here’s the breakdown.

Replacement Fee – 225 (For a little piece of laminated paper)
Duplicate Fee – 50 (Per year of unexpired portion, wtf?)
Certification Fee – 100 (Another piece of paper)
Clearance Fee – 30 (Another wtf?)
Computer Fee – 67.63 (For like, 5 minutes worth of computer usage.)

I think LTO just likes to make up these phantom fees so they could extract every single peso from our pockets. *Blood pressure shooting up*

Wait, we’re not yet done. Tomorrow, there’s still the matter of acquiring extra documents such as the Certificate of Good Health from a government physician (which apparently requires an xray worth around Php300 by itself) and a Drug Test from an LTO-accredited office. So all of that will probably cost me around Php1000.

Still with me? We’re racking up almost Php2000 worth of fees now. And I haven’t even gotten my card yet. Guess what they’ll say tomorrow when I finally pay ALL the fees and submit all the supporting documents? They’ll say, hush hush, that if I want my request to be processed immediately, I should hand them over around Php1000, under the table, if you know what I mean. Or even more, depending on how rich I look at that particular moment.

I should know, because that happened to me the first time around. And if I don’t pay this transaction fee, it will take me eons to get my license. And I only have a week before I’m returning to Manila.

So. Do other people pay half the monthly minimum wage to get a crummy plastic laminated card, or are the Filipinos just doomed to eternal governmental fail?

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Several weeks ago my sister made me her personal shopper for swim attire. I was in Manila for a few days to enroll, she was too busy with work to go shopping prior to a surfing trip. So I bought her a couple of string bikinis, all the time wishing I could buy some onesies for myself. (I’m getting quite tired of wearing my two swimsuits over and over again!) Alas, I had to buy some dresses at the time, so swimsuits were out of the question.

Oh, but if money were no object…

Right now, though, I need bags.Thankfully I already bought a large luggage bag a few months ago, so that’s taken care of. (I need it because I’ll soon be coming home for good and I’ve got loads of stuff still waiting for me in Manila.) I have a nice green backpack that I love, but I don’t think it blends well with the image of a teacher (oh yuck). So I am needing a teacher-y handbag (oh yuck again). And my two-year old laptop bag is ripping at the seams, poor thing.

Not to mention new teacher-y clothes. Aarrghhhh. It is so hard to transition from student to teacher. Even my writing gets affected. (I was perkier when I had just started blogging.)

I need to get those bags stat. A shopping spree always makes me happy.

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Most of my time in Manila a few weeks ago was spent browsing shops in SM and Trinoma, looking for something nice to wear for Gim’s graduation. I ended up buying two dresses, one an off-shoulder knee-length bright green empire-cut dress, the other a dark gray halter gown.

Either way I needed a strapless bra. And the halter gown being a bit low-cut at the back, I asked what kind of bra I should buy to wear with a backless, strapless dress (just in case… lol). The very helpful sales lady from Landmark told me I should get the Freebra. So, I went to check it out. And it looks like this:

They look like implants!!! (And they feel real to the touch too! They are silicone.) The sales lady told me that they stick to the skin, so you don’t have to use any straps for extra support (though straps are included in the package). Feeling like such a naughty school girl, I bought a pair for Php500 ($11).

I ended up not wearing them for Gim’s graduation. I was too afraid the adhesive would fail. (The sales girl said to follow the Freebra instructions to the letter or they would not last me three months.) It would be deathly embarrassing if my boobs looked like they were melting halfway through the ceremony! Instead I wore my body shaper. And I think it worked better anyway. I needed the shaping help!

I wore the Freebra on a casual date with Gim, where if in case my fake implants started to fall off I could tell him to bring me home stat, Doc!

FYI, they held up real nice.

Just ask Gim.

Yes, that is him!!!

You didn’t think I would model it myself on my blog, did you???

You wouldn’t wanna see that, anyway.

Hahahahahaha!

He is going to kill me now.

* * * * *

P.S. Some Freebra tips:

• Don’t use any chemicals on your body before wearing the Freebra. Make sure skin is clean, fresh, and free of dirt or even towel fuzz.
• After use, wash right away with mild soap and let air-dry, then store back in box.
• To wear, grasp the edges of the Freebra cup, turn it inside out, touch the middle of the Freebra to your nipple and then smoothen it against the breast, outwardly from nipple.
• The farther apart the Freebra cups, the greater the cleavage achieved.
• You can use the Freebra at least 100 times if taken well care of.

P.P.S. I love my Freebra. I will buy more when I get back to Manila. I hate wearing bras. And as much as possible I don’t wear a bra if I feel I can get away with it, hahaha. Now I don’t have to deal with the pesky straps. I am free!!!

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Gim has just left for Dapitan again, and I am all alone in Zamboanga. I hate when Gim leaves, because all my friends are always so busy to go out. Right now I wish I were practicing my swimming, but I would never do that alone. (Read: Can’t deal with wearing a swimsuit without anyone to hide behind.)

Gim left before I could hand him cash so he could get me the Montano sardines I asked him to buy for me in Dipolog. (I in turn will bring it to Manila as pasalubong in April. My uncle likes them.)

There aren’t any credit card machines in Dapitan, not that I know of anyway, so it’s a good thing there’s BPI Expressonline. I have an account there, and since I so often transfer funds to Gim’s account so he can buy me stuff (LOL am I a demanding girlfriend or what!), I’ve actually had my bank add his account in my Transfer Funds list so I can automatically send him money whenever I need to. (My mom is in that list, too, because I constantly have to pay her for stuff I charge on her credit card hahaha.)

He’s coming back in a few days, though, so I really shouldn’t feel this antsy. Still, I miss him. And in two weeks, I’ll be leaving him again.

I want to be permanently attached to his side. Is that possible? Or am I turning into the psycho girlfriend he never wanted?

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