Little things we shouldn’t forget

Here’s a friendly reminder from my daily planner:

While looking my planner for this month of February to recall those past goings-on I had for this ‘love’ month seems that routine stick to my system! Ughhh >.< I hate it and that was how this 28days month passes by. It was stuck on the marker for February and I couldn’t resist taking a picture of it to remind me because it stood out to me in so many ways.

I don’t find it too difficult to laugh in general, but there’s something to be said about sincere and unrestrained laughter. I think that there’s a certain freedom and relief that comes from it. It doesn’t cure everything, contrary to the old adage, but it certainly makes a lot of things better.

I consider myself to be mostly happy with the daily struggle and tussle with life and know that working really hard for something is dreadful at the time, but incredibly satisfying at the end. I know that the more I struggle and the more I fight for something, then it’s so appreciated at the end. I strive to be happy but I don’t go looking for it and although, it makes me sound rather grim, I really appreciate the challenges of daily life. Of course, it’s all relative. I sometimes think that happiness can be overrated and people start worrying/asking if they are happy or not. I quote in one article I have read, words are, “if you are well, have friends, do something meaningful, then why would you not considered yourself happy?”

Laughing out loud can be too easy, in fact, if your personality is inclined to it. But there are instances that depreciate experience, and we have to do our best to avoid those hollow and contrived laughs. This is not to say there’s no place for hilarity in the small or the trivial. Nor that laughter must have some greater meaning to be convincing. Laughter is best when natural, spontaneous and genuine, without baggage or agenda.

I'm content in the knowledge, that in my struggle, that I'm doing the right thing. I'm content in knowing that the moments of happiness come and go, sometimes like a visitor that can't stay long and like a dear friend, we miss it when it's gone.

Just…laugh. LAUGH OUT LOUD.

Not another teenage post

It's one of those days wherein I feel impatient with my life. Routine has always been one of my pet peeves and I hate being trapped inside one, it feels like sucking the vigor and verve out of me. I hate waking up every morning not being thrilled about how another day will go on. Probably, history is just repeating itself for I remember having the same disposition in college. Maybe it is a bleak stage after. I swear to God I'd kill for a twist right now. Sometimes my interest in this freakin’ so-called life faded away. I hardly find neither the strength to keep moving forward nor the will to continue in spite of the obstacles. I found it can be very boring at times.

Okay! stop complaining, Cai!!! This is the chosen path in the very beginning and I shall complete it. All I need now - McDonalds Chocolate Sundae to bring some sweetness and to relieve the stress. Leave regret, move forward. Tomorrow another better day. ♥ Anyhow, if I've overpassed it before then it won't be a problem to do it all over again. Patience. Patience. Patience. More so because I now have better things in my little pocket in the occasion of rainy days.

Oh so lovey-dovey day

Twenty two years of my existence yet another Valentines Day awaits me. Oh yes it's the love month already.  I bet there are already a few who are ready to the firing squad. While there are still bitter hearts out there who are sad, full of hate and regrets. February can be a good month or bad month. If you are single, you need not to skip the 14th of February. Treat this as a "single" blessing. Everyone experienced being single. Somewhere in our lives there were occasions when love & relationship were nowhere to be found. Being single is not a curse for one to carry. It is even a privilege and an opportunity. In this phase, one can improve one's self in preparation for relationship.

When I hear that "day" then, I'm kinda excited even if there's nothing really much happening in me every time that occasion arrives. I barely remember what's the best valentine I had since I can't even think of something that is nice about it for everything that happens on that day is quite the same as normal days of mine. But for singles like me, Valentine's Day is just any other day, without any bitterness and defensiveness at all. :) I know my time will come, I know he will come, in an amazingly unexpected way. :) But since it's "the season," you just cannot really avoid questions from popping from nowhere! Hahaha

Okay, I admit it. Every time I know that occasion is coming, I'm thinking of chocolates, flowers, restaurants...you name it. Things that I never experienced myself on that day…ever from a special someone. I'm a little dreamy about it which made me realize that oh...I'm still really a person. Haha! Duh! :P

Honestly (and being true to myself), I already know the answers on those, that is: it (still) depends on me. I don't know, was really single all my life, had a couple of sort of love related experiences in the past, and I knew of the feeling- it was indeed cloud nine feeling. It's such a nice feeling waking up realizing that there's someone waiting for you to wake up, asks if you are okay and is willing to end the day with you, and will choose to start another day with you.

Even if I haven't experience having that "special" person on such days I'm still excited just hearing about that day. I love watching those people doing surprises for their lover, or when I saw a guy holding a flower and those people selling those flowers. Seeing those things that makes me happy and ‘kilig’ made me thought of my “kagwapuhan”. “Kagwapuhan” is the name I call to my special guy whom I haven't found yet. Weird me! LOL :))) I kept thinking with those what ifs and then it made me realized something. It made me more excited to wait for him. It made me more excited to wait for that February month that he will finally arrive. I don't care how many valentines I should wait but if ever I had someone special "special" to spend that day, it must be him. I will not just wait of course...I'll do a lot of things while waiting :). To be honest, I'm not yet ready to face him now. I still need to work out on a lot of things.

It may seem to sound to old-y, conservative-ish; I would prefer to have a serious relationship, someone I'll spend my future and infinity with. Someone who will never give up on me, who has the persistence to win my heart. I'm not playing safe, nor being too serious, it's just that relationship for me is something long term(ed). If I would go into a relationship, I want to feel that, that person sees himself spending the rest of his life with me. I'm not being too in hurry or anything, but it's very important that you know where you stand in someone else's life. And now that I'm exploring and still testing the waters, I can't clearly see and/or feel yet what future brings in to me.

Part of me also fears. Fear that the person will hinder me to do things I love doing. Fear that he might not be supportive of me. Fear that what I like doing is something he's not interested with. And lastly, I fear that I might completely head over heels fall inlove with him, that I'm willing to give up my dreams because he said so. I'm afraid that it might happen, because certainly, it's not something far from happening. I've listened and read a lot of stories like these.

I hope the fear part will all be gone soon, and I pray that someone will be brave enough to make me feel safe. I can marry him now if he'll explore the world with me, LOL just kidding!! I believe that life partners are blessings and one of the best gifts that God gives to us, aside from our lives. And I do hope and pray that this person deserves all my love to him in the future.

A simple note, you don't need that special someone to make you smile but it is a magical and amazing feeling that there's someone really cares for you. If you can't make yourself happy then how can you be assured when the right man comes, you can also make him happy?? As an add-on note, LOVE YOURSELF. It's the best thing you can give and do for the meantime. Stay positive and good luck to us in finding the right man of our dreams.

HAPPY LOVE MONTH! I may be single this season but I'm not lonely! Time to enjoy this love season with my cray cray friends and family! Have a love-filled day everyone!☺

Chew on this: YABU: House of Katsu

I have been a food lover even before I got hooked with fashion and blogging. As food lovers, we all have our list of must-try restaurants. Anyone who has a Twitter account knows that Yabu: House of Katsu is a pretty hot restaurant right now. I've seen enough pictures in my Instagram, Twitter and FB to make me drool. So today I got the privilege to dine at Yabu: The House of Katsu! I’ve been hearing some famous bloggers and personalities rave about this Japanese Tonkatsu restaurant, and today I finally got to experience and find out what this commotion is all about! Now I can brag about my excellent dining experience at Yabu just like the other foodies who's raving about the best katsu house in town. I've always enjoyed Katsu, and after hearing so much about Yabu: The House of Katsu, I had to give it a try. And I'm just so glad I did. I finally got to eat at Yabu after 10,000 years!! Hahaha :)) I was really excited about trying this restaurant because of all the rave reviews online. What's more, I don't eat sushi or anything raw so whenever we go to a Japanese restaurant, the only thing I order is Tonkatsu or Katsudon. So imagine eating someplace called The House of Katsu? Heaven!

Yabu: House of Katsu. Is it really worth the hype? :) Does it really deserve all these raves and approvals?

Yabu is supposed to be the first and only authentic Katsu restaurant in the country, or so they claim. I am not sure if that account is true, but that's what it says inside their informative menu. For those who are not familiar what katsu is, to quote from their menu, "The word katsu is an abbreviation of the word "katsuretsu,” which means cutlet. It generally refers to a sliced piece of meat that is breaded and deep fried." So if you are overly health conscious, this place is not for you 'cause almost everything is beautifully deep fried in here. Anyway, if you want to learn more about Yabu and katsu, their menu is very helpful. Yabu prides itself for having renowned Japanese chef Kazuya Takeda as the culinary mastermind behind their katsu menu. Although not based in the Philippines, Chef Kazuya extensively trained the Yabu staff to master the art of perfect katsu cooking.

They have a wide selection of katsu dishes to choose from: pork, chicken, seafood, veggies, name it. Being first timers, we didn't have a hard time choosing what we want. Every detail about a particular dish is described in the menu that they give to guests.

One unique thing about Yabu is you get to make your own Katsu sauce! While waiting for our food we were given this cool wooden mortar and pestle-like stuff and we have to grind the black and white sesame seeds until its fine! Aaaah, I love the smell of this! After the seeds are crushed, it is now time to pour your desired amount of tonkatsu sauce. This is kinda childish, but I really enjoy grinding the sesame seeds. Superb! If you’re lazy, you can request for ground sesame seeds already. I thought this was quite fun though! The sauce goes well with all their katsu dishes including seafoods. It has the right balance of sweet and tangy and can definitely add taste and texture to bland foods such as the cream dory and prawns.

I find it nice that they ask guests if it is their first time dining in their restaurant because they really give extra attention to you if you are. Since it is our first time, our food attendant familiarized us with the sauces and dressings on our table. He informed us what each is used for. The condiments include Japanese spices, sesame dressing and vinaigrette sauce for the cabbage and salads, and Himalayan salt if you need to add flavor to your food.

After about 10-15 minutes our food arrived: For my parents they ordered Seafood Mix Set 1 (Php485) basically consists of different seafood like black tiger prawn, cream dory, oyster, squid and scallops. If you're a seafood lover, then this one's perfect for you! I ordered the Rosu Katsu Curry set (Php375) the crunch of the pork and the hot curry sauce provide some great texture, another winner in Yabu's menu. You can choose your preferred level of heat, from regular, hot to very hot. Though I asked for my Katsu Curry in a "Regular" level of spiciness, the heat was still present, and added a gentle kick to it in the end. But you know their food didn't taste unfamiliar to my Japan-trained palate. You’ll get your money’s worth at Yabu as each meal comes with unlimited Japanese rice, unlimited cabbage, miso soup, Japanese pickles, and a bowl of fruit. Their presentation is pretty nice that it made me not want to touch any of it. But, hunger took over and before I knew it everything was gone! Well, except for the plates :) Don’t let the serving size on the photos fool you. All three of us were so full afterwards that we weren’t able to take advantage of their unlimited Japanese rice. But over-all, the combination of the whole set, with the Do-It-Yourself katsu sauce, makes a one-of-a-kind katsu experience. Every element goes well together, but a variety of condiments is readily available on each table for more preferences. To wash it all down, me and daddy ordered Ripe Mango Shake and for my mom Pineapple shake which was for Php100 and Php90 respectively.

Rosu Katsu Curry set

Seafood Mix Set 1

Aside from the food, I really love Yabu as a restaurant. The place is spacious, clean, and has that nice relaxed ambiance. Most of all, the staffs are very friendly and attentive even if the place was decently packed. We were very well-taken care of. Shout out to store manager and servers for the excellent service! Yabu has that perfect combination of good food, relaxed atmosphere, and well-mannered staff that makes an excellent casual dining experience.

Dining with Mom and Dad :)

I like how their interiors pulled of a minimalistic look that was comfortable and cozy at the same time. Their anime-comic-manga decorated walls made me smile and think that I was going to be enjoying my meal there. Be prepared to shell out a bit more though because they are not that cheap but for food that good, the price is really worth it. We were given menus and our waiter patiently answered all our questions and they all seemed very knowledgeable about their product which is another good point for Yabu. Their menu is another good point for them. It is filled with information on how best to enjoy your katsu. So far so good!

Pretty interior of anime-inspired frames on the wall

We'll probably be coming back here again as I was totally blown away by it. Service was really fast, and everyone was very courteous from ushering us to our seats, to offering us extra orders. The ambiance and overall look of the place was nice, with the quote riddled walls of the restroom standing out the most. With all that being said, expect us back in Yabu again soon.

Sorry for the lack of photos. It’s hard to take photos while you’re in the middle of eating delicious food.

Store Branches:

*SM Megamall - 2/F Mega Atrium

*Robinsons Magnolia - Lower ground floor

*SM Mall of Asia - 2/F South Arcade, Main Mall Atrium

Like their Facebook Page

Check out their website for more info.

Oath Taking: Full Pledged Registered Nurse

There were 16,908 board passers who took the Nursing Board Exams last December 2012. About 34.46% survived the nerve-wrecking NLE. Regularly, those who pass the board will move on to their oath taking ceremony to formalize and receive their licenses then practice their profession.

Nurses have full of responsibilities and most of these are life threatening and life-matters therefore, we as new nurses shall pledge that we must do our best to do these tasks with the best way that we can.

We had our oath taking ceremony at San Beda Church. The Oath taking Ceremony was organized by the PNA (Philippine Nurses Association) and it encompasses Pledge to Profession and Pledge as a member of the said organization, the program also entails us to meet our new superiors; the Board of Nursing as they gave us a warm welcome and an inspirational speech as well.

Yesterday (February 11, 2013) could be considered as one of the most memorable days of a nurse's life. And it was indeed a very special occasion for all of us who have managed to battle the odds and survive the battlefield with our coat of armor still intact. Though the war still rages on, with the unemployment rate of registered nurses skyrocketing to record breaking figures, it's nice to leave all the drama and chaos even for just a while and marvel in the fact that, heeeyyyy, we now have the right and the privilege to put those nice two little letters R.N. after our names. Woot! Woot! :))) It was nice to see us wearing our gala uniforms (thank God mine still fit) again.

We first celebrated the Thanksgiving Mass before the oath taking proper.

Board of Nursing member Hon. Leonila A. Faire preside the ceremony. Before the actual pledge, she first imparted a message saying that after we take our oath, there would be no turning back. She added that most of us have different reasons and motivations in taking up nursing but it was not a coincident why we were where we were. According to her, out of the 49,066 who applied for the test, and out of that number, 16,908 passed. Who knows how many would practice nursing but with or without jobs, a nurse would always be a nurse. She shared her insights and extends her congratulate to all the NEW REGISTERED NURSES. She is such an inspiring woman who has all the -guts to share her knowledge and wisdom to everybody. She also got some striking points she shared that made me listen to her attentively. “Struggling towards nursing excellence” this phrase has given me few thoughts of “Oo nga no..?! Struggle in nursing…” But I learned that from all the struggle – people personalities, faculty staffs, lectures, examinations and duty – it helped to know that I can survive from all those and by the grace of God – I am a survivor of BSN!

Board of Nursing, Honorable Leonila A. Faire

Me and Zackie = Happy kids! :D

with Jewel and Carla

I would also like to share the part where Hon. Faire permitted us (New RN’s) to give round of applause to our parents. I believe that my parents are very proud of me too. I would also like to take this chance to praise and honor my beloved parents who never stopped pursuing me even to the most down moments even my last resort is “to quit” being a nurse. I believe they take their time just to pray for me, most especially the board exam. I am not a quitter that is why I never stopped desiring. Moreover, God has plans too. God is just so great that He made me feel that I have decided what are right and I thank God for the wisdom that He has given me.

With my loving mommy and daddy :)

Bona fide CHSian Nurses unite once again for probably the last time *sniff* as these newly registered nurses take part in a once in a lifetime ceremony with various colleges and universities, their respective Deans and the Board of Nursing (BON) themselves in attendance.

It’s really nice experiencing the every step of becoming a professional, but we must bear in mind that in each step there’s a corresponding realization of the saddled responsibilities. We are not here just to work and earn but to serve and care.

Right now, we already pledged and spoken our vows thus the responsibilities is now put up with, and from then on we should practice professionalism through the things taught to us in school and being open too for the remaining facts in our future field.

Professionalism in a way what the nurse do, Professionalism by the things we give care without asking anything in return, Professionalism in a way of empathizing our patients concern, Professionalism by simply being a RN = Real NURSE = Nourishment, Understanding, Respect, Stewardship, Exciting :)

Yeyyy!! The NEWLY REGISTERED NURSES

Nonetheless, I still feel that this was just only a dream and the hangover of passing the NLE where I jolted in surprise & couldn’t stop my tears running on my cheeks as I saw my name in the list of NLE passers. I couldn’t believe myself I belong to these survivors and now here I am – a full-pledge Philippine Registered Nurse. I believe this is all because of God's grace. God is good. All the time.

Yes, this is it! I made it! This is not yet the end of my journey. But this just the beginning.

Only the formal registration at PRC and I’m good to go. I guess there really is no turning back.

Stuck

I was filtering files in my lappy when I saw this poem I made when I’m in high school if I’m not mistaken. I just caught myself smiling while reading it I realized how “emo” I am way back in my high school years. I don’t even remember the reason or the story why I came up writing this poem. Hahaha :))

STUCK (Original Poem)

Here I am, doing nothing

I hate this feeling

Like I’m here, but I’m not

Minding no one, just myself

Like someone cares, but they don’t

Hearing silence keep ringing in my ear

Like I belong somewhere else, anywhere but here

I’m here hiding...hoping no one will find me

In the depths of my lonesome self

No one's here

Everyone’s minding their own thing

Everyone's outside…having fun

Smiles and big grin in their face

Can’t talk to anyone…

Can't turn to anyone…

'Cause nobody cares…

They all gone…they all left

I'm alone

I’m stuck.

Guess what?! I’m GROWING UP for the future

Making plans ahead, dreaming of pure fun, forgetting the past.

I think I’m growing up. I am someone I do not know. Influenced by outer forces, good inside but evil at times and a melting pot of contradicting values. When people get old they do more important stuff than to tell everyone about what happened to them for the day, week, month or even the entire year. I myself have not opened my blog in a while due to some errands I do lately.

There’s this quote I’ve retweeted on Twitter about looking forward and not looking back because that’s the point why God put our eyes on the front of our body. It makes sense actually. Most of us kept on thinking about the past, of the “what ifs”, of the “what could have been”, of the regrets, and the like. We forget to also remember that our past mistakes have been said and done already and that LIFE will NEVER EVER have an “UNDO” button. Luckily we can “REDO” our actions but hopefully we redo it by learning from the mistakes done and doing it right for the second or nth time around.

Saying that we are human and we make mistakes is a rotten belief already, but it is really true we do make mistakes because we are not perfect. Sometimes our environment, our way of thinking, and our way of defining things lead us to choosing the wrong and stupid options. Being selfish and impulsive lead us to wrong choices sometimes too. (At least for me) All of these choices we have made that made us realize how stupid we are ironically make us wiser, because we now know what to do and what not. It makes us grow. Believe me.

I have a lot of regrets in life that remembering all of them will hyperbolically take me few days. When I’m thinking of the times I’ve wasted, I’m subconsciously wasting my time even more. There were a few times I wanted to go back for that other page & see what may have happened had I chosen it. Would I be better off? Or would that have been the catalyst for something even worse? Who knows? The silly thing is that no amount of worrying or wondering will allow me to know. Not worrying or wondering is easier said than done. I've been thinking a lot in this manner, because perhaps it's time for a change of perspective. Frankly, every night before I go to sleep, I reminisce about my life before and yes, it makes me sad to realize that I have done a lot of wrong moves in the past; however, every after realization is a lesson always learned. Now, I wouldn’t dare put those mistakes in backtrack mode because I am now ready to start my engine, focus on the road leading me to my destination, and ignore U-turns. I've allowed myself to think in a way that isn't entirely healthy or favorable to a really fulfilling, happy life. I'm putting my foot down. Worry less. Smile more. Accept criticism. Take responsibility. Listen, love & don't hate. Embrace change. Feel good anyway. Being happy doesn't mean everything is perfect; it's looking beyond the imperfections.

Past is mostly forgotten, lessons remain though. Now that it is, the future is what I have been preparing for. It makes me extremely happy thinking about future plans, love, career, work, and trips. Believe me, thinking about the future is a drug for me, it gets me high although I don’t know how it really feels like. I just thought of a metaphor here. One of these days I’ll blog about these plans. I kept on thinking about the future, of course I never forgot there’s such a thing called “living the present”. I know it would still be a rocky road ahead but EVERY LITTLE or BIG THING SHALL PASS. This has been an ongoing project of mine, I'm trying to simplify my life...I'm still a work in progress. Baby steps, baby steps, baby steps…

Something to be proud of

I had attacks of involuntary insomnia and restlessness before the results of the December 2012 Nursing Licensure Exam was released. My friends and I woud always talk over the date it would be out. Truthfully, we never really succeeded with our predictions. The results were out last January 30, 2012 (Wednesday); it was at around three o' clock in the afternoon. I didn’t really anticipate that the results will be posted early than the expected released on the mid-week of February.

I was at the mall that time, killing time while drinking my large wintermelon milk tea, having no idea that the result is already posted online. When I check my phone, I have five messages from my friends telling me that the result has been posted. Funny thing I have no load to reply but I’m stuck in my chair with my heart beating too fast and shaking knees. Gaaaahhh!!! I held my phone and waited for some trusted people to inform me coz’ damn it, I wasn't really brave enough to check my name for myself! I was awaken by the incessant ringing of my phone. One of closest friend whom I called “kambal” is calling me…As I’m trying to compose myself, I just answered the call. Guess what?? She gave with the news that I had passed the Licensure Exam for nurses and congratulated me for passing the board exam! I PASSSSED!!! I screamed with pure joy and absolute disbelief. I was like telling her, “Seriously?? Are you sure??” I’m so in denial, I also ask her to send me print screen evidence that my name is on the list. Haha :)) As soon as I hung up, I go home and while I’m in the FX there is an unexplainable happiness running in my nerves. Up to this single second, I still can't absorb that my name will be added by two-letters R.N!!! Immediately, when I got home I checked my Twitter and Facebook accounts which were all loaded with notifications.

When I confirmed that my name is on the list of passers, I quickly told my mom and dad, "Mommy, Daddy RN na ako!!!!” They hug me and congratulate me that at last all my hard work and sacrifices results good. Oh God! TO GOD BE THE GLORY. I looked like crazy girl. I JUMPED. I CRIED. I SHOUTED. I SMILED. People of the Philippines, I'm RN naaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa! HAHAHA that was the only time it sank in.

As luck (or fate) would have it. I passed the Local Nursing Licensure Exam. 16,908 out of 49,066 passed the December 2012 Licensure Examination with a national passing rate of 34%. And behold, that 34% of happy happy passers included ME.

I was passer #13540. Yay! :)

My celebration didn't stop there, thankfully. People around me sort of expected that I would pass, of course, some are not and when I did, well, let's just say the congratulations and applause were a bit lacking in the excitement area. Anyways, although it seemed to me that I was the one up in the clouds about it all I relished my achievement. What's next is this newly registered nurses fight and flight through the jungles of the health care system.

I also want to say my SUPER BIG THANK YOU to all those people – friends and family, [you know who you are] who pray for me, stay by my side, for making me strong and for words of encouragement. :’) VIRTUAL HUG for you guys!! >:D< I appreciate all the congratulation greetings I received from tweets, texts and wall post. FLYING KISS to all of you!! :)) :*

I PASSED THE BOARD EXAM!! Wooooohoooo!! Sooo happy and smiling!! :) Thank you Lord God for all the help, guidance and blessings. :D ALL PRAISES TO GOD THE ALMIGHTY! :''>