Pasalubong
Some of my favorite pasalubongs in my last trip:
Mom's blouse - I got attracted by the brooch-like sewn design the first time I saw it and the cut of the blouse, however the blouse was twice my budget so I left without buying (I previously already bought a few pcs for this uwi but not as nice as this one). Few weeks before my flight, I again went to my usual shopping place and saw it again. Cant resist anymore, I know it'll look good on my mom. I specifically told her to reserve that for special occasions only *winks* demanding.Nephew's shirt - I am not a big fan of any cartoon character but this one really caught my attention. I saw it on sale and dug my hand so fast. Just so cute both graphics and message. I think I better stop buying too kiddie stuff as my nephews are already in grade school
'Lag'
I somehow have a 'lag' in terms of price range and fads nowadays in Manila. I'm still used to what I thought was a 'reasonable/practical' price of commodities and services before. If you're away for 2 years+, then you'd feel the surge in prices, inflation in Philippines. My sister was laughing, 'dapat nga sanay ka sa mahal eh'. I answered 'sa SG oo no choice eh, pero dito parang weird!'
1. I went for dental tooth filling (pasta) and was charged for 1500phhp for 3 teeth. I used to pay only 300-350php for each before. I complained at home and my sister said, ''pasalamat ka, I just had mine for 700php each!"
2. I was asked to treat lunch at Penang Hill. I used to like their food before, but it wasnt on top of my list for the reason that I can taste any of their bestseller dishes in the hawker anyday if I want to. However since my companions seemed to be craving for Makan food: here goes Roti Prata, Beef Rendang, Thai Tom Yum, Char Kway Teow, Fish Curry. Hainanese chicken was out of stock or else 'all present' talaga. And that point in time I was craving for Jerry's Grill hehe, well not really a mega huge fan of Filipino food. Anyway, since I enjoy being in the company of people na nasa mood kumain, so cge pagbigyan. Since there wasnt any expensive seafood at all in the bill, I was a bit surprised that total charge was like more than 1400php. Mahal na rin pla mag-eat out sa Manila.
3. Jollibee - a place I always have to pay 'courtesy call' to.
One-pc chicken spaghetti meal with drinks is now 100php. Gone are the days where 50php was sufficed for a chickenjoy meal. One-pc chickenjoy meal with drinks is 82php. Anyway, I still enjoy eating at Jollibee. As my friend reacted, if a fastfood meal costs 100php, magkano na ba ang allowance ng mga students ngyon sa Manila?
4. I havent received a bday cake in quite some time. Finally got a Mango Bravo from Conti's, which I heard was popular. Lame first-timer. It was good.
5. A friend told me membership at Fitness First's gym is now at 2600php/month. 2 years back, I know it was only 1200-1500php. It doubled.
6. My sister got a free voucher for massage and pedicure from The Spa, which she wont be able to use and gave to me. I havent been there before and I know they charge above average. Anyway it's free so I went there to pamper myself. I checked the worth of the vouchers: pedicure 380php, 1hr swedish massage 820php. Quite high especially the pedicure! After the pampering session, I further walked around the mall and saw a lot of familiar shops that I see in SG: Wade, Aldo, Iora, Topshop/Topman, Dorothy Perkins, Promod, etc - the prices are similar actually at 2K+php. (2k+php seems more exorbitantly high than seeing 70sgd? :p),Seems like spending level has gone up in Manila.
7. Kelan pa nagsulputan ang mga Savory Chicken branches in malls? I havent noticed this before. A briliant step to franchise a classic indeed. I used to order chicken and lomi from their main branch in Escolta. Bigla ako nagcrave, that's what I requested to be ordered in my yummy byebye dinner, with Mom's home-cooked seafood dishes. Party time.
Lag na, d ako updated.
Counting
Because of the recent stories related to sickness shared by people around me, I suddenly became aware and conscious of life's predicaments, i.e. gynaecological-related.
I used to have a classmate before who was the ultimate boy magnet, crush ng bayan, the type whom ordinary girls (like me) would admire. This girl was already engaged 4 years back, and yet mysteriously, her wedding was called off by the guy's side. It was like 'omg, what went wrong, jackpot na pinakawalan pa'. It was only late last year when I heard of the reason... The girl went through some operations with mattress (uterus)-related problems and have implications on birth-giving. The harsh reality.
and I initially thought such disorder was rare, .. seemed not.
I recently heard of few couples who were married for years and wifey not pregnant till now. I guess such situations are tough. Irregular menstrual cycle, polycystic cases, in vitro, etc,
So what sums up the essence of a woman:
At age >24, question: kelan ka ikakasal?
After marriage, question: d ka pa buntis?
*Additional for the old-style FilChi, question: wala ka pang anak na lalaki?
:)
Well I guess the essence of a man doesnt sound so easy too, add to above: earnings? cars? house?. so life is what.
Anyway, as my mom puts it, better 'pay tuition to buy peace of mind', referring to having check-ups for prevention. Note that it was heavily raining in Manila the whole week I was there, and I got to experience typhoon signal#2 again in a very long time. Despite so, I still dragged myself for an ultrasound. (read: ultrasound is not for pregnant woman only, it's for checking whole upper and lower abdomen with all the organs). I hope to see results as 'cleared'.
The nurse/technician who assisted me seems like a baguhan. I dont know if it was SOP as she asked me so many questions. It was my first time so I also had no idea. Suddenly she pointed at the screen and counted aloud '1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6...'. I was like 'what???', i suddenly felt some numbness. I asked her 'may nakita kayong cyst?'. She answered 'ahmm ahmm, wala naman'. I asked again, 'normal ba'. She said 'antayin nyo na lng yun result bukas'. Hmm I'm not feeling lucky nowadays, I really hope there is nothing serious.
The next day I went to get the results. Despite the medical jargon, I didnt see any familiar word that should be a cause of big panic. The only '6' I can see in the results is the measurement of some organs like 1.6*1.9*2.3 etc, so I guess she was counting the centimeters from a ruler bar in her screen? I felt somewhat relieved and went for the doctor's diagnosis. All's well that end's well. (If not, I wont be blogging about it here). Loko lng si nurse :p. Anyway, that's a reminder for all the women and girls (once you have your period), it's always better to be safe than sorry.
The Young Days
I live in Binondo, studied in Binondo both elem and HS, and the whole stretch of Masangkay and Benavidez, memoryado ko with closed eyes. I went there for an errand and ended up buying all the street food that I can see. It was years ago when I passed by there.
- Fishballs, Kikiam and Kwek Kwek outside St. Stephen's
- HK style pan-fried noodles in Eat Fresh
- Fresh boiled corn outside the chapel near Metro Hospital
- New store: pancit malabon from Tunay na Pancit Malabon
- New store: fresh bibingka (i forgot the stall's name)
too bad there was no dirty ice cream that time.
If only my stomach could still fill in some more food - there were Suzhou dimsum and Lan Zhou La Mien across Metropolitan Hospital. I was surprised to see Goldilocks and Red Ribbon in the same vicinity too.
I was amused to see another new condo in progress right across St. Stephen's High School. Metro Hospital now looks superb and 'sosyal', far from the shabby building it used to be. It even has Seattles's Coffee house inside.
I also got to try some of my fave Binondo dimsum houses again while meeting up with a few close friends who bothered to take time to see me:
- Wanchai
- Tasty
- of course Wai Ying
- Xiao Chuen Yuen
It was like time travel.
Ending line:
I heard this line from someone before...'where nothingness is everything, and everything else is nothing'
P.S.
都已經過了兩個月了, 可我心裏有時還是七上八下的.
怎麽有一種被惩罰的感覺 :-< 這次真的考倒我了 真希望...
