Here’s to love and laughter and happily ever after. <3
My cousin, Trixie, and Randolph’s wedding last June 2016 at San Agustin Church, Intramuros, Manila was a day full of love and pure joy. It was a reunion with my family on my Mother’s side so we were all hyped to see each other. San Agustin Church is also the place where my mom and dad got married and it was my first time to see it and I felt instantly nostalgic about it.
Note: The following photos were taken using my phone. Some photos are taken by the official photographer Myio Okamoto (which I will indicate under each of his photos).
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My very beautiful sister/cousin, Patricia Marie aka Trixie :)
Tito Rudy, Trixie, Pau and Patrick
She’ll always be her Daddy’s little girl :)
Love these Trio.
(photo above from Myio Okamoto) #Squad
(photo above from Myio Okamoto)
(photo above from Myio Okamoto) Behind-the-scenes of the Same day edit video :)
(photo above from Myio Okamoto)
(photo above from Myio Okamoto) Sisters, Pau and Trixie. Inn few years too Pau?
(photo above from Myio Okamoto) The groom’s army.
(photo above from Myio Okamoto)
(photo above from Myio Okamoto)
(photo above from Myio Okamoto) LOVE :)
[at Manila Hotel] Our favorite pose, candid daw.
Cuzzies for Layff. Love you Tik.
With my Bae. hehe
My family (Mom’s side) Oh, please forgive my chubby state. (been reviewing for Physician’s Licensure Exam at that time) :\
(photo above from Myio Okamoto) My beautiful Mom. I love you so much.
It’s been 2 years since our college graduation (2009) and yet here we are, the same as ever. For those who didn’t know, my pre-Med course was BS Nursing at the University of Santo Tomas. It was a tough course in College and we all graduated with a shiny smile on our proud faces and we all passed the Nursing Licensure exam last June 2009. Two years after, John (my college barkada) organized a Bon Voyage party. It was a mini-reunion with some of my close friends in college. How I miss those days.
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With Kath. She also pursued Medicine like me.
Actually, the three of us pursued Medicine. We‘re all RN, MDs. (L-R): Me, Kath and Maki.
my RLE-mates. :)
L-R: John, Me, tere, Kath, Maki, Camilla and Gelo.
Dinner time!
Girlasss.
L-R: Faye, Vany, Me and Stephy
Food feast!
And Liquor fest as well. hehe
Kaye and Tere
RLE-mates: Camilla, Me, Kaye and Tere
Missing our College Days. Time really flies too fast when you’re having fun.
Faye, Anna, Steph and Elise.
Janine and Tequila Rose...
...or Rizza and Tequila Rose? Who did it better? :)
Serious life talks.
with Gehrie and Vany.
Almost complete, RLE-mates. Missing Marlo and Jed. Tere not in the photo.
You know, Change is a constant thing right? Well, here’s an exception: Maki and his PSP. Ever since college. haha
my sweet College barkada, Vany!
my Nerdy/witty College Barkada, Johnnie!
Hi! Doctora Kath. She’s currently (2017) a resident in ENT Department in East Avenue Medical Center, Q.C.
Way way back when we were still freshmen in Med School, Anatomy was one of the difficult subjects. You should both carry an atlas (image) and a very wordy book hand in hand to understand the core of anatomy. And you know, hipster as it may seem, on Friday and Saturday Night we usually spend our time (nope, not going to clubs/malls) at our favorite hangout place, at Starbucks, The Fort. To what? Study of course. That’s what Med School freshies always do. (when you turn into sophomores, that’s where learning how to party harder begins. haha)
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Yash and her beautiful smile.
My ipad and my Anatomy atlas.
Maita and I were being forced to show enthusiastic learning.
Proud Thomasian Doctors.
Enrique and Yash.
Lance, Riq and Yash.
Me and Maits’ sleepy faces. I think it was around 2am at that time.
I was wondering how we were able to survive these bloody days spent on Human Anatomy. Look at our table. It reflects what our minds have become. Tangles.
Alvin’s essentials for studying. haha PSP??
Maits with Oyo and Alvin.
We usually have our in-between study breaks and that’s the most exciting part, MERCATO CENTRALE which is a few blocks away from Starbucks.
Nachos love.
We look happier than our previous photo noh?
HAAANGGGRRRYYY faces
So, hindi na kami nagreview. Haha puro picture-an na lang?
And it’s around 4am-ish already. Usually, at this time, my head isreally spinning out in epic proportions.
Uwian time!! So excited to go home and lie in bed.
Being able to endure 2 months of love-hate complicated mixture of feelings with our Post-Grad Internship, I think we deserve a break (even if it's just for a night!) So, here's to no giving up with 10 more months of insanity with sane moments in between (#Visayes)!! With my favorite team, TEAM M!
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Team M love.
Great ambiance and cozy dining.
Our “sabaw” na sa IM (Internal Medicine) rotation faces.
La Union will always be my first love no matter what. Not because I live here but because my heart always belonged to waves. If you want to win my heart, bring me to the beach and let me listen to the lovely wave.
So, when I had my 2-week break from my Doctor Duties at the hospital, I immediately went home to La Union and spent most of my days at the beach with my bestfriends, Anne and Ken and my cousin/brother Kuya Oman.
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Sunset dazed. You know this feeling. Cold Beer. Magical Sunset.Chill Music. Cold Air. Great Company. No rush.
My Med School besties and I decided to have our traditional Valentines Day Celebration annually. And it was our 2nd time celebrating love and friendship, this time, at The Nest, Hotel Vivere in Alabang with our Dates.
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Watcha eating Marc?
Abstact daw.
The dinner set up by the pool at the roof deck was superb! I swear.
One of my favorite lovebirds: Franz and Maita
with my lover/frenemy. hehe Love you Bae.
Lovebirds #2: Cindy and Alvin
Marc,Jp and Jan.
Steak night!
Perfect view.
tahhrruyyyy naman my sisterette, haha Love you Kai!
The #CarrieBradshaw to my #CharlotteGoldeblatt, my constant, my partner-in-crime and my cousin/bestfriend, ate Nikka. Of course, at our fave hangout place in LU, Kahuna Beach Resort. (And no, this is not a part of an advertising scheme). I just love this kind of night where you just talk about LIFE.
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My Jack Coke and her Margarita.
Payat Days. *sigh*
I remember US telling to each other “Sana naman next time may katabi na tayong partners dito!” And yes, 2-3 years later, we both have the loves of our lives.
Endless stories to tell with this girl! :))
Can I please have these arms back??
And our other cuzzos who were a bit late, Camille and Kuya Don. hehe
Summer 2012 (when my life was a little less complicated than it is right now), My cousin Jayjay and his friends went to visit me in La Union. Of course, I had to show them around and visit some of my favorite spots in LU. And I was so glad, they had fun and wanted to come back for more.
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Shoreline in San Fernando, La Union.
Had our lunch at the famous, “Halo-Halo de Iloko” resto.
With Aimee, my cousin’s girlfriend.
The best Halo-halo in town.
Green Mango and Bagoong.
Yummmmmmmm.
After lunch,we went to San Juan, La Union for an afternoon chill by the beach. Of course, at my fave hangout place, KAHUNA Beach Resort.
Jack Coke, my constant.
The Lovers. My cuzzo Jayjay and Aimee.
Three Musketeers.
Just too much love for this photo.
Mowwwdeeeel? haha Carlo.
Silhouettes.
And you just know, Life isn’t always perfect but at least there are few perfect moments like this.
WAT PHO also known as the “Temple of Reclining Buddha” is the largest ( 80,000m² ) and oldest temple in Bangkok. It has the most extensive collection of Buddha Statues. It was builtmore than 200 years ago. According to my research, Wat Pho is also the birthplace of traditional thai medicine and culture.
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Inside the temple complex, there were a lot of food stalls where you could have the chance to savor some Thai delicacies.
And they cook things quite differetly in here too.
Fruits.
And their famous, PAD THAI!Oh yes! Too legit for my taste buds. Just don’t mind the weird smell! Haha
Some graceful Thai dancers perfom on the center part of the complex to show traditional Thai dance.
The way the temples were built was truly amazing! They use different and unique set of stones and gems you wouldn’t wanna believe it was built 200 years ago.
Yes, you could see that I was truly praying for some peace of mind and happiness.
Mini statues.
One of the many reasons I was really amazed was this part where you could ask some monks to pray for you and they will give you white thread-like bracelet which I wore for almost 1 month without taking it off.
Beautiful medieval-feels wall-to-wall portraits.
I somehow wish my wallpaper at home looks like this. :(
The famous “Reclining Buddha” -- a 46-meter long, 15-meter high gold plated statue.
According to my research, this statue signifies ”Buddha's passing into Nirvana. There is mother-of-pearl detail on the eyes and feet. As you approach the statue there is a long walkway lined with 108 bowls (the number 108 has religious significance). It is traditional to drop a coin in each of the bowls as you go along the path and as you drop each coin make a wish. In the southern compound is a Buddhist monastery and school.” (Source: www.visitacity.com)
As far as I can clearly remember, this was during my 2nd year in Medicine (sembreak). I really miss my two bestfriends. Currently they’re both working overseas and I was the only one left here in the PH. While they were both having the time of their lives in New York and Dubai, me? I’m stuck here doing some Doctor duties.
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My bestfriend Anne. Missing her sweet smile!
Me. During my “payat” days. Oh, don’t try to ask me now.
It's funny how the biggest cliches prove to be true.That sometimes to see the bigger picture, you just need to get away from the "present situation"
We love to relive the magic that comes with affairs to remember---the cold, carefree nights, hard booze and the deep dark secretswhispered on nights that happened once but echoed for eternity.
So, Here's to the....
/ultimate summer getaway with the gang
/escape from all the fcuking shits, fcuking lies, fcuking jerks
/summer camp into the wild (no cellphone signal. no electricity. no DISTRACTIONS.)
/BBQ nights and our caveman appetite /morning walks on the shore under the summer sun
/late night strolls along the beach
/crazy "confessions night", bonfire, stargazing moments
/perfect little dramas and our endless laughter
/perfect freedom without any intruders
/Kuya Tony's lovey dovey moments with Kim and "Bagsie" (haha)
/the best people and
/the endless friendship
/and countless more.
Love you! Thank you for the wonderful and memorable getaway :D
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Did some grocery shopping at Subic with the crew before heading off to the island.
Touchdown! We arrived at the coastal Brgy of Pundaquit in Zambales at around 3pm! From here, we enjoyed a 45-minute boatride to reach the shores of Anawangin Cove
The Love Crew (L-R): Anne, Me, Lai, Kuya Tony, Justin and Kim.
Beautiful, untouched waters
Spending this awesome summer with my awesome besties, Anne and Lai
The Boysss. Hi Kuya Tons! haha
Fair winds and calm seas favored our voyage as the boat easily sliced through the clear waters. Traversing the rugged coastline of San Antonio from Pundaquit to Anawangin took us on a relaxed 45-minute journey before the reaching the shores of Anawangin Cove.
With my cousin/travel-buddy, Justin aka “Bagi”
Enjoying the cool, glassy water!
Reason enough to celebrate. How bout some 3-days-and-2-nights worth of forgetting everything else but being young, wild and freeee (and staying sober)
Our treasure chest. haha
Setting up our chikahan mat.
My favorite view on that golden afternoon. Everything was too beautiful, no word could describe.
And my favorite view at night! The only light souce at night time came from bonfires from each group of campers!
No electricity, no mobile signals (you need to climb up the mountain to have a 1-2 bars of signal), no water! It was like a survivor Anawangin edition. This is the perfect place if you need to find yourself and relax from the city’s congestion!
Our first night in Anawangin was definitely a summer night that I will forever remember! We spent the night drinking, bbq-ing, playing truth or consequence, telling deep secrets to each other, confessing our worst and most embarrassing moments.
We ended the night taking a dip on the cold waters. Take note, how bout some skinny dipping with the whole crew? Yes, we also did that haha! Kuya tony even hid the underwears of Kim and Justin hahahahaha para-paraan!
“Maybe we’ll meet again, when we’re slightly older and our minds less hectic, and I’ll be right for you and you’ll be right for me. But right now I am chaos to your thoughts and you are poison to my heart.”
One peaceful evening, while at the poolside (as you can see on the photo below) my college bestfriend, Hunnie had a sleepover at my unit few years back. And, she told me the great news that Tommy (her long-term boyfriend) proposed to her in front of people while at his brother’s wedding ( “Marry You” by Bruno Mars on cue when she finally said YES). I was in tears (of joy) when she told me bout it because I could really feel how much happy she was. After all those they’ve been through, at last they could finally venture the world together.
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I could feel the excitement, the “on a high” feeling she possessed.I was more than excited that we spent weeks looking for unique wedding ideas, themes, gown designs and all those girly girl stuff you do on weddings.
When the most awaited day arrived, It almost felt like Valentine’s Day all over again. It was indeed a celebration of love and fulfilment of dreams. #mayforever
The beautiful bride walking down the aisle towards her dream. I was in tears. Totoo pala yun! If you see your best friend walking down beautifully on the aisle , memories come and hit you back. You realize how much you’ve grown and how much time had passed by. You’ll realize how lucky you are because you are there to celebrate it with her when her dreams finally come true. Her happy ever after. And you have nothing but love and joy for them.
My cousin Justin and our friend Adrian accompanied me. My driver, body guards and official photographers. hehe
As written in 1 Corinthians 13:4-8, the verse says:
“ 4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. “
6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
8 Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away.
#mayforever nga ba?
Magical venue at the reception in Fernwood.
Everything’s magical and it happened the way Hunnie dreams about it.
My close friends, Calvin and Aura.
Feeling goofy.
Glad I was able to catch up with them too.
The princess and her happy ever after.
The swan prince? lol
Like in fairytales right? Those scenes when you meet up with your prince at this kind of place.
Two of the few things that makes me really giddy on Semestral Breaks/Summer breaks were 1) going back to my one and only hometown again, La Union and 2) spending quality time with my family. So, you see, all those little sacrifices I have to do in School became (sisiw) nothing compared with the joy I’m feeling.
I grew up in La Union and most of my unforgettable memories took place in this small, beautiful town. This place gives me the solace I need whenever I feel like coming undone or literally becoming shattered into pieces I’ve lost count. And it will always be the place I’ll be coming home to until my hair turns gray.
So one summer (2014), I was able to spend a day at the beach with these people who makes my life more colorful!
Hanging out with this well known Aussie Surfer and the owner of San Juan Surf Resort, Luke Landrigan. (*that Abs thou*)
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“Ken, siya dapat peg mo. #dadbod to #hotstuff dapat transformation haha! Love you bes!”
Literally having more selfies!
Hello collarbone!
Meet my bestfriend since I was 5 years old, Ken. Enjoying his healthy Matcha ice pops.
Feeling “Yna” of Pangako Sa’Yo! haha
My summertime butterflies, Ate Nikka and Ate Con!
My Beautiful sister and my solid partner-in-all-crimes, Ate Nikka! The one who helped me get through most of the heartbreaks that I’ve had in the past! Couldn’t be thankful enough to have her in my life! I love you ate!
Heavenly, healthy Matcha and Strawberry Ice pops!
What I love when staying in La Union, freshly cooked Pinakbet
Dancing and drinking all the Exam Blues away (post-Final Exams). This happened (After our first year in Med School) the night before our flight to Visayas for our vcay, so all alcohol consumption in moderation pa rin! hehe!
P.S: Photo courtesy of my good friend, Richard Quitasol!
L-R: Me, Cindy, Kai, Tia, Janelle, Yash and Maita.
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All of us looking fresh and young. Haha!
We really didn’t plan on wearing the same pattern, Animal Print. Seriously.
Kaiziel and Maita in the house!
With our other blockmates.
With the intruders, my cousin Justin and Paolo. Hehe
(Insert grin here) hehe
Gondoh Girl. ;)
with pretty, Jade.
Love you my girlfriends for Layff.
With Richard Quitasol, another Fil-Am in the house. hehe Thanks for the pics Yo!
Spent our Negros Occidental vcay at one of the Island’s hidden treasure, THE AYU SPA at Punta Bulata Resort. This was our first summer escapade together so this place is really memorable for us. Hoping to be here again in few years time with the complete crew.
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Their elegant signage!
Me, busy checking out the TV Stations available in this far, far away land!
Pose pa more!
My roomies and sisterettes, Kaiziel and Joan
I love this shot, using my DSLR (long exposure). The tiny bright lights on the sea were fishermen’s boats. I love how simple life could be in that place! Enjoying a cool, breezy night air at Rachelle’s room upstairs, with veranda!
Came breakfast, all of us were starving! After our evening dip last night, we had alcoholic beverages in our system thus, hunger pangs!
We had our brunch at the Resort’s Resto and the food was really great!
Fried Calamares!
Authentic Chicken Inasal.
Squid BBQ!
Chicken BBQ!
So after lunch,my roomie and I hanging out by the pool in front of our room
and she was doing some modelling (as usual) haha
Chilling by the infinity pool, waiting for the sun set!
Everything seemed surreal!
Believe me, this was one of the best sunset views I’ve seen so far!
Crew Love with little MAVEN!
After a long, fantastic day under the sun - slumber partyyy with my Roomies!
One of the most beautiful places I've ever been is located in a hidden town in Cauayan, Negros Occidental, 156 km south of Bacolod. How did we come up with a travel spot like this? Well, thanks to my friend Yash who constantly checks out Travel promos. Originally, we planned to spend our summer break (after our first year in Med School) somewhere else like in Boracay or Palawan, but this resort popped up into our Web Feeds and thank the heaven for this coincidence.
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We traveled by plane to Bacolod City first, where we had the chance to eat an authentic ‘chicken inasal’ and visit The Ruins (check my next post for my Bacolod Trip). Then after a short exploration of the City we rode a bus and traveled approx 4 hours to reach this remote area!
Believe me, it’s a trip to remember! Imagine all of us were all pabebe girls (hahahaha), on a non-airconditioned bus full of natives (of that place) who didn’t know how to speak in tagalog or english! It’s very difficult to communicate! Honestly, that time I was a bit scared because it was late in the afternoon already and I had this weird/psychopath imaginations like what if NPA rebels tried to stop the bus and render us all hostage! There were no establishments, not even a single house near the unpaved road. My gosh! Hahaha All of us who looked like ‘maarte/pabebe girls’ were able to sit on a bus with caged chicken/rooster on our feet (brought by a Manong) or with all the bushes of trees brushing through our faces on the opened window. What a wild experience!
The following photos of landscape in Negros , I googled to give you a view of what we were able to experience.
...and this breezy, green plantation.
BUT IT’S ALL WORTH IT! I swear!
We passed by lots of beautiful scenery,a breathe of Fresh Air! Some place which looks like New Zealand - wide, green landscape with vintage railroads and old-school functioning trains, tall sugarcane/corn/etc like that in Farmville; We also passed by a stretch of a beautiful beach during sunset while we’re on a high cliff , looking at the golden shoreline, pink-hued sky and the warmth of the sun rays on a cool breeze casted all my fears away.
It was already dark when we were dropped off at Cartagena, and from this place, we traveled 4.5 km or 15 minutes on an unpaved road using the resort’s mini trucks.
Just when Maita commented on how we were able to all fit in 1 tiny truck, the engine died. Haha! It was really a funny moment to all of us! Parang movie lang!
And in the middle of a forest (literally no lights, no signal) where you can only hear the sound of nature, we got stuck there for 10-15 minutes! The owner of the Resort decided to pick us up himself using his Big truck, a HILUX or something like STRADA! Glad I was able to ride at the back with the girls enjoying the cool air, a smell of the forest,a view of the full moon (with some of us kidding there might be ‘Aswang’ following us haha) And voila, we reached this hidden Paradise!
The Resort’s isolated Resto (with a beachfront view)
Such a beautiful and sophisticated place in a hidden paradise!
and the food were all five-star!
This is how our rooms look like from the outside (in front of the pool)
For our The Ayu Spa part 2 experience please click this link:
