Road to the Crown

It seems like we don't need much Christmas lights this year to brighten up the holidays as the entire country is giddy about the upcoming Ms Universe pageant. With some of the candidates already gracing local tv and visiting some of our awesome tourist spots we can't help but feel blessed somehow that one of the most prestigious beauty pageants on earth is happening right HERE :)

          As we delight in Pia's reign and remain hopeful that Maxine will shine as well, I can't help but look back and ponder on how other Bb Pilipinas Universe winners have been instrumental in shaping the quality of our winners today.

1. Ma. Venus Raj

They say her name alone declares she is a true queen and goddess. The one who started the Ms Universe streak for us this decade, Venus has an undeniable strong stage presence honed by years of victory in countless beauty pageants. With her warmth and sincerity, she also won Ms Friendship during her time in Bb. (which is quite unusual because she was a threat to many girls in her batch!) She says the late Melody Gershbach (and fellow Bicolana queen) is her angel.

2. Shamcey Supsup

"Wassup Supsup?" A lot of people laughed when Toni Gonzaga joked about her surname lightheartedly on national TV. But what some people regarded as an unqueenly surname turned out to be a blessing. Even the great Lea Salonga was impressed by her performance; she's so stunning you'd forget she's a topnotch architect & restauranteur.

3. Ara Arida

"If there's Venus, I'm Mars." Ara is the witty chemist next door who reigned over Pia during her first try yet managed to mentor and remain friends with her.  That alone is remarkable. She continues to host a variety show on tv.

4. Gionna Cabrera

She won Ms Photogenic when she competed in Thailand and up to the time of Venus, she along with Mafae Yunon- Belasco and Karen Agustin-Ostrea were hands on when it comes to pasarella and wardrobe selection of the winners. She started the campaign to use modern Filipino designs again in Bb; she used to design bags that were featured in various runways abroad.

5. Miriam Quiambao, Teresa Licaros & Lia Andrea Ramos

Who wouldn't know these three? Quite formidable if you would ask me. Miriam has been a household name for decades now; she has inspired everyone when she rose gracefully like a swan after she tripped on her dress. Who cares if it was a tad bit too long for her? It helped her show how regal she really is :)

Tere will always be known as the summa cum laude lawyer and Lia as the Philippine online makeup expert.

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Heaven in Eggs

After our affair with art at Glorietta, Leji declared she was already hungry. We ran to the most colorful restaurant near where we parked-- Heaven N' Eggs!

Famous for its unli steak and eggs, here are other reasons why Baby Leji loved it:

1. Fascinating carvings on chairs

My daughter loves fine woodwork. Our bed's headboard is actually adorned with carvings and anything that reminds her of home is comforting.

2. Mashed potatoes!

She appreciates the sides more than the main entree haha. If only they have unli mashed potatoes :p

3 Discounted coffee

For those on graveyard shift or students reviewing for exams, you could actually take advantage of this! We just enjoyed the scent of it with banana loaf.

4. Grilled Scampi

I ate the prawns, Leji had the bed of mangoes! It was delectable.

5. Pancakes!

For your all-day breakfast fix. We had fun with their Oreo Pancakes with unli syrup. Leji played with the whipped cream after munching on her share--too bad we weren't able to get that on video.

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0-6 months: Top 5 Toys

Leji is growing up so fast. Now she can stand on her own and reach for items up the bed or counter. I can't help but thank the first toys that helped us get to where we are now & facilitated our bonding each day that God has blessed us with. Here are our top 5 favorites:

1. Rocker

I'm not sure if this is still safe to use now

that she's soon turning 9 months old; she constantly threatens to topple it over while strapped on the seat! Leji has a powerful core!haha, thank you Lord!

But we had a lot of fun times with this Bright Starts Pink Love Bumblebee Rocker. It has wonderful toys hanging on a striped arch. Her favorite one to reach and pounce was the mobile roller rattle. It's like a hollow mini rolling pin with lots of colorful pellets in it. 

2. Rabbit

Before she even got to watch Kate and Mim-Mim on Disney Junior, she already adored this soft and lean stuffed toy we named Melby. Leji loves to grab her by the ear & hug her to sleep.

3. Mini Spaceship

Mamas and Papas babyplay recommends this 2-stage floor support seat with play tray for 3 months and up; but premature Leji only became confident enough to use it at 5 months. Now she can't go thru mealtime without it! (She occasionally complains about sitting too long though. She usually signals that she wants to bathe & drink breastmilk after)

4. Stretchable catterpillar

Next to her Fisherprice Fairy Godmother wand rattle, this is her ultimate portable source of amusement. From Lamaze, it has a stretchable coil body that automatically shrinks back to its original form. It has a neon green happy face with a playful tangerine rattle ball tailend.

5. Squeaky Penguin

Some say babies initially get to see everything in black and white. I guess that explains how this little friend from Lamaze got her attention early on. Later on, she also liked the added bonus that it has satin covered wings/arms (she likes chewing on shiny/silky stuff lately) and its easy to grab handle actually squeaks. It never fails to brighten her mood.

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Museum Month: Baby checks out the National Museum

This entire month of May, it's actually free to visit the National Museum. We took Leji to one part of it for the first time last Saturday. We had a blast!

1. murals

My daughter loves warm colors and it was such a delight to show her colorful lifesize figures to introduce her to the world of history.

2. Spolarium

Juan Luna's spectacular obra remains to be the most popular work of art in the former House of Representatives. Leji was delighted by the angel that greeted us near the entrance.

3. sketches

Masters' elaborate pencil sketches and some of their tools are on display. I hope these would inspire my daughter to practice and eventually sketch her own stuff. (We started with crayons and cartolina at Burgoo the other night. She ended up tearing her work haha)

4. angels

Aside from portraits of the Madonna and Child, Leji just marveled at the sheer number of white angels on display. One even looked like her! 

5. special section

Some notable works were loaned from other museums & bank foundations. It's a rare chance to get to see them all under one roof!

I believe that everyone deserves to visit a museum at least once a month to recharge the spirit and inspire the soul.

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Barbie Barkada

When I was an only child for seven years I only had my Barbie dolls to talk to most of the time. Ma seldom allowed me to go out so I spent most of the time singing and talking to them in my room. With Barbie, you really can be anything. Here were some of my favorites:

1. Medical Barbie

I sewed white napkins and pretended to cure/examine them as my patients in a hospital. I had a shoe box as my bed haha

2.  Soiree Barbie 

I had a posh mini kitchen and a lounge bar from my Ninang so we had tons of parties. I saved old boxes and turned them into swimming pools. I also made them kiss my teddy bears because Ma was unwilling to buy a Ken.

3. Salon Barbie

I had a short-haired curly Barbie (that hairstyle was so in in the 80s!) & I made her convince her friends to get a trim. I just applied a few drops of baby oil (hotoil!) & pretended to cut. When I turned them over to my sister when I was nine, she gave them actual haircuts that didn't turn out well.. I cried.

4. Mermaid Barbie

My sister thought our Mermaid Barbie really meant what she said ("I want to swim!") when you pressed her tail. She threw the doll into the kiddie pool & actually made her swim in water. All she could do was gurgle the recording after. It was sad. She used to have a shiny purple tail and thick burgundy hair. It got ruined after the actual pool party. Oh well. Mermaids should only swim in our dreams.

5. Beach Barbie

This was my favorite. She had a nice golden swimsuit, blonde hair with some metallic strands, and a lovely tan. She even came with free piña colada lipgloss that was so fab.  I made her borrow my other Barbie's dresses when we had evening soirees because she really was the loveliest.

Oh well. I had my share of fun with Barbie. I'll always be part of Team Pink!

Last Sunday, my baby and I caught up with Barbie's party at MOA. It was exhilirating as fans cheered for their favorite models and Andi Eigenmann. After their movie's success in Cannes,

Andi said girls should not be afraid to

dream big just like Barbie!

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Soup Monster

My bubbly 8 month old is now comfortable with solid food. I try to mix breastmilk with everything she eats; she enjoys eating broccoli, fish, potatoes, cereals, peas, carrots, squash & ground beef. But when we're out, she loves trying soups in various restaurants. Here are her top picks:

1. Pako soup (from Costa Pacifica Baler)

2. Mushroom Soup (Recovery Room, Tomas Morato)

3. Upland Rice Puree (Antonio's, Tagaytay)

4. Pumpkin soup (Frazzled Cook, QC)

5. Chili Con Carne Soup-- with less spice! (Rumpa, Pampanga)

Basically we just mash everything up. I try it first with my spoon, then she tests it with hers. Eating out is definitely more fun nowadays.

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Sinag Maynila films shine on this April 2016

5 Independent filmmakers present films that promote women empowerment for Sinag Maynila 2016.

CEO and founder Wilson Tieng says the films this year explore various facets of womanhood in line with 2nd Avenue's thrust. Tieng is further challenged by the filmfest's success last year. He's proud to have participated in almost 40 filmfests worldwide.

Festival Director Brillante Mendoza adds the collaboration resulted in stories that reflect the Filipino culture. Mendoza emphasizes that they do not intend to compete with mainstream movies; they just want to provide alternatives.

Here are this year's entries:

1. Expressway by Ato Bautista 

- all about Ben in his retirement mission with newbie Morris in a big criminal syndicate. This unexpectedly turns out to be a journey of self-healing and ultimate redemption.

2. Lila by Gino M. Santos

- a cautionary tale for emo millenials!;p It focuses on a girl at the brink of self-destruction. Instead of being able to renew her spirit in the house she moved into, a diary of an old tenant haunts her further.

3. Mrs by Adolf Alix, Jr.

- Talk about unshakeable uncertainty! 70-year-old Virginia who lives in a house directly on top of an earthquake fault line desperately tries to juggle the sad realities of life and death.

4. TPO (Temporary Protection Order) by Joselito Altarejos 

- Teresa, a battered wife, shows how complicated complaining could get as she attempts to obtain relief from her unbearable circumstances by filing a Temporary Protection Order against her abusive husband.

5. Dyamper by Mes De Guzman

- when sin gets habitual and even more complicated! 3 friends jump at the back of rice delivery trucks along Dalton Pass to steal goods and earn at the wet market. One of them accidentally gets a pack of drugs in one of the trucks. This "blessing in disguise" threatens to hasten their journey into the afterlife.

The 2nd Sinag Maynila Film Festival will run from April 21 to 26.

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