i heard this quote from the movie with the above title i just saw in star movies. never saw the whole movie, just heard this towards the end of the movie, take note that this is not verbatim: love is the least random act in the world, because you choose to give it, you choose to receive it. it transcends blood. it transcends betrayal.
when oh when would i be able to write like that. i have always loved the written word. reading/hearing something good gives me a certain high, and makes me wonder how in the world was the writer able to come up with such an impressive, provoking and just great combination of words.
Sunday, May 23, 2010
review: clarisonic mia
one of hubbo's pasalubong from his trip was a clarisonic mia - in pink! ok, this was one of my requests and i'm really really grateful that he was able to get it. anyways the clarisonic is a skin cleansing system with a lot of good reviews/raves from several beauty bloggers - which got me interested in the first place (ah the powers of advertising). here's some product info:
product description (from box):
Developed by the lead inventor of the Sonicare toothbrush, Clarisonic "Mia" is professional-caliber sonic skin care for cleansing wherever your lifestyle takes you. Mia cleanses so well that products absorb better, pores appear smaller, and fine lines and wrinkles appear reduced. As little as one minute a day, for the best skin of your life.
product claims (from box):
While cleansing is the first step in any skin care ritual, it is often overlooked and undervalued. Clarisonic Mia gently yet effectively loosens dirt and oil to clear your pores.
- Helps reduce oily areas, dry patches and blemishes
- Leaves skin feeling softer and smoother
- Remarkably gentle for cleansing all skin types, even with sensitive conditions such as rosacea and acne
the mia comes with the clarisonic handle, a mesh travel bag, 2 brush heads (sensitive skin and normal skin), a 30ml clarisonic gentle hydro cleanser, and the charger - which i must say, i find really cool! the mia is waterproof and thus safe to use in the shower, so the handle does not have any holes or plugs or anything. so how do you charge it? the plink charger automatically "sticks" to the handle like a magnet (dunno if it really uses a magnet or something).
product details for the clarisonic gentle hydro cleanser:
A pH-balanced non-foaming cleanser enriched with antioxidants Japanese Green Tea and Vitamin E. Scientifically developed by Robb Akridge, PhD to leave skin feeling and looking smoother when used with the Clarisonic Skin Cleansing Brush. Paraben free.
Directions: Apply directly to moistened skin or to a damp Clarisonic Skin Cleansing Brush. Massage in a circular motion. Rinse thoroughly.
likes:
i've been using it for three weeks now, and so far, no breakouts! it really does leave skin smoother and i dunno if its my imagination or placebo, but i think it also lessens discolorations and scars
safe to use in the shower
easy to bring even when traveling. i brought it with me to guimaras and puerto galera! love the mesh bag that comes with it.
buying the pink clarisonic supports breast cancer research - it makes us beautiful and also supports a good cause =D
you can use it with any skin care cleanser (as long as its non-exfoliating, and i think they recommend cream cleansers - kaawaan naman if you use the brush with cleansers with scrubs!)
automatically stops after a minute - which is the recommended use. this is really helpful so you don't overuse it - you don't want to look like fresh tomatoes or rub your skin raw
the charger can be used here (110v - 220v), so you don't need an adaptor
dislikes:
expensive! the clarisonic is available in mia ($149), classic ($195) and plus ($225) models. yes, those prices are in u.s. dollars. the differences in the models from what i can understand are:
mia: recommended for travel, has only 1 speed setting, comes with a plink charger
classic: the original model, has 2 speed settings, comes with a charging cradle (which looks really bulky in the product pictures), and i think this pauses every 20 seconds or so so that you'll know when to transfer to another face location (ie 20 secs for forehead, 20 secs for cheeks, etc.)
plus: almost same specs with classic, but i think this can be used for face and body (some recommend just switching brush heads for face and body)
not readily available in the philippines. so add international shipping to the prices above, and you have a really really expensive product in your hands
for the first 2 weeks i used it 2x a day (morning and evening) and it dried out my skin (i have normal to dry skin), so now i use it every evening. the logic behind this is since i wear some make-up during the day, my face is dirtier at night than in the morning, and if it does help skin absorb products, then my skin will benefit from my night moisturizers
the gentle hydro cleanser it comes with also left my skin feeling a bit tight
you have to replace the brush every three months. before i asked for this, i researched a bit on how to get my hands on the replacement brush heads and there are some in ebay that goes for around PhP 600. i'll update you on this once i purchase, but since hubbo included 2 extra brush heads, + the other 1 included in the package, that will be a long way off. and if you do know any sellers out there, kindly do let me know =D
it takes a long time to charge! initial charging takes 24 hours, while succeeding ones take 18 hours - not really a good thing if you're addicted to it
that's it. i do think that this is a nice product to have and my main irk about it is its unavailability and price.
if you're interested and live in the philippines, i think you can get it through ebay or amazon, i'm just not sure about the shipping prices. but if you have a relative/address in the u.s., suggest have it delivered there and then johnny air it to here.
An open letter to Noynoy - HINDSIGHT By F Sionil Jose | The Philippine Star Lifestyle Features Sunday Life
Dear Noynoy,
You are now swamped with suggestions and advice, but just the same, I hope you’ll have time to read what this octogenarian has to say.
You were not my choice in the last election but since our people have spoken, we must now support you and pray that you prevail. But first, I must remind you of the stern reality that your drumbeaters ignore: you have no noble legacy from your forbears. It is now your arduous job to create one yourself in the six years that you will be the single most powerful Filipino. Six years is too short a time — the experience in our part of the world is that it takes at least one generation — 25 years — for a sick nation to recover and prosper. But you can begin that happy process of healing.
Bear in mind that the past weighs heavily on all of us because of the many contradictions in it that we have not resolved, whose resolutions would strengthen us as a nation. This past is now your burden, too. Let us start with the fact that your grandfather collaborated with the Japanese. Your father was deeply aware of this, its stigma, its possibilities. He did not leave any legacy because he did not become president. He was a brilliant and courageous politician. He was an enterprising journalist; he had friends in journalism who can attest to his effulgent vision, who did not profit from his friendship, among them Nestor Mata, Gregorio Brillantes — you may consult them. I cannot say I did not profit — he bought many books from my shop and when he was in Marcos’s prison, your mother brought books from my shop to him.
Forgive me for giving you this unsolicited advice. First, beware of hubris; you are surrounded by panderers who will tell you what is nice to hear. You need to be humble always and heed your conscience. When Caesar was paraded in ancient Rome before the cheering multitudes, there was always a man chanting behind him: “Remember, you are mortal.”
I say to you, remember, the poor — some of them in your own hacienda — will be your ultimate judge.
From your comfortable and privileged cocoon, you know so little of our country and people. Seek the help of the best — and the best do not normally want to work in government and neither will they approach you. You have to seek them.
Be the revolutionary your father wanted to be and don’t be scared or wary of the word “revolution.” It need not be always bloody. EDSA I was not. Your father wanted to destroy the most formidable obstacle to our progress — the Oligarchy to which you and your family belong. To succeed, you have to betray your class. If you cannot smash the oligarchy, at least strive to have their wealth develop this country, that they bring back the billions they stashed abroad. You cannot do this in six years, but you can begin.
Prosecute the crooks. It is difficult, thankless and even dangerous to do this. Your mother did not do it — she did not jail Imelda who was the partner in that conjugal dictatorship that plundered this nation. Watch her children — they were much too young to have participated in that looting but they are heirs to the billions which their parents stashed abroad. Now the Marcoses are on the high road to power, gloating, snickering at our credulity and despicable amnesia.
You know the biggest crooks in and out of government, those powerful smugglers, thieves, tax cheats — all you really need is guts to clobber them. Your father had lots of it — I hope he passed on to you most of it.
And most of all, now that you have the muscle to do it, go after your father’s killers. Blood and duty compel you to do so. Cory was only his wife — you are the anointed and only son. Your regime will be measured by how you resolve this most blatant crime that robbed us of a true leader.
And, finally, your mother. We loved her — she united us in ousting an abominable dictator. But she, too, did not leave a shining legacy for her presidency was a disaster. She announced a revolutionary government but did nothing revolutionary. She promised land reform but did not do it. And most grievous of all — she transformed the EDSA I revolution into a restoration of the oligarchy.
She became president only because her husband was murdered and you became president elect only because your mother died. Still, you are your father’s son and may you now — for the good of this country and people — scale the heights he and your mother never reached.
I am 85 and how I despair over how three generations of our leaders failed! Before I go, please let me see this unhappy country begin to be a much better place than the garbage dump our leaders and people have made it. You can be this long awaited messiah but only if you are brave enough and wise enough to redeem your father’s aborted promise.
Hopefully yours,
F. Sionil Jose
An open letter to Noynoy - HINDSIGHT By F Sionil Jose The Philippine Star Lifestyle Features Sunday Life
You are now swamped with suggestions and advice, but just the same, I hope you’ll have time to read what this octogenarian has to say.
You were not my choice in the last election but since our people have spoken, we must now support you and pray that you prevail. But first, I must remind you of the stern reality that your drumbeaters ignore: you have no noble legacy from your forbears. It is now your arduous job to create one yourself in the six years that you will be the single most powerful Filipino. Six years is too short a time — the experience in our part of the world is that it takes at least one generation — 25 years — for a sick nation to recover and prosper. But you can begin that happy process of healing.
Bear in mind that the past weighs heavily on all of us because of the many contradictions in it that we have not resolved, whose resolutions would strengthen us as a nation. This past is now your burden, too. Let us start with the fact that your grandfather collaborated with the Japanese. Your father was deeply aware of this, its stigma, its possibilities. He did not leave any legacy because he did not become president. He was a brilliant and courageous politician. He was an enterprising journalist; he had friends in journalism who can attest to his effulgent vision, who did not profit from his friendship, among them Nestor Mata, Gregorio Brillantes — you may consult them. I cannot say I did not profit — he bought many books from my shop and when he was in Marcos’s prison, your mother brought books from my shop to him.
Forgive me for giving you this unsolicited advice. First, beware of hubris; you are surrounded by panderers who will tell you what is nice to hear. You need to be humble always and heed your conscience. When Caesar was paraded in ancient Rome before the cheering multitudes, there was always a man chanting behind him: “Remember, you are mortal.”
I say to you, remember, the poor — some of them in your own hacienda — will be your ultimate judge.
From your comfortable and privileged cocoon, you know so little of our country and people. Seek the help of the best — and the best do not normally want to work in government and neither will they approach you. You have to seek them.
Be the revolutionary your father wanted to be and don’t be scared or wary of the word “revolution.” It need not be always bloody. EDSA I was not. Your father wanted to destroy the most formidable obstacle to our progress — the Oligarchy to which you and your family belong. To succeed, you have to betray your class. If you cannot smash the oligarchy, at least strive to have their wealth develop this country, that they bring back the billions they stashed abroad. You cannot do this in six years, but you can begin.
Prosecute the crooks. It is difficult, thankless and even dangerous to do this. Your mother did not do it — she did not jail Imelda who was the partner in that conjugal dictatorship that plundered this nation. Watch her children — they were much too young to have participated in that looting but they are heirs to the billions which their parents stashed abroad. Now the Marcoses are on the high road to power, gloating, snickering at our credulity and despicable amnesia.
You know the biggest crooks in and out of government, those powerful smugglers, thieves, tax cheats — all you really need is guts to clobber them. Your father had lots of it — I hope he passed on to you most of it.
And most of all, now that you have the muscle to do it, go after your father’s killers. Blood and duty compel you to do so. Cory was only his wife — you are the anointed and only son. Your regime will be measured by how you resolve this most blatant crime that robbed us of a true leader.
And, finally, your mother. We loved her — she united us in ousting an abominable dictator. But she, too, did not leave a shining legacy for her presidency was a disaster. She announced a revolutionary government but did nothing revolutionary. She promised land reform but did not do it. And most grievous of all — she transformed the EDSA I revolution into a restoration of the oligarchy.
She became president only because her husband was murdered and you became president elect only because your mother died. Still, you are your father’s son and may you now — for the good of this country and people — scale the heights he and your mother never reached.
I am 85 and how I despair over how three generations of our leaders failed! Before I go, please let me see this unhappy country begin to be a much better place than the garbage dump our leaders and people have made it. You can be this long awaited messiah but only if you are brave enough and wise enough to redeem your father’s aborted promise.
Hopefully yours,
F. Sionil Jose
An open letter to Noynoy - HINDSIGHT By F Sionil Jose The Philippine Star Lifestyle Features Sunday Life
newbie cook: sarsiadong tilapia
so i decided to try cooking sarsiadong tilapia for lunch this sun.. did you know that there's no proper recipe for sarsiadong tilapia in the internet? anyway, after googling for how many hours, this is what i got:
after buying the ingredients last thursday, i tried it out today.. notice that in the recipe no water was added, i added some because with the egg, i was afraid that it would become a tilapia omelette instead. and this is my end product:
doesn't really look appetizing but i'm hoping it'll taste better. inspite of the water, i still almost made an omelette.
Saturday, May 22, 2010
little ms.procrastinator
so it looks like i fell off the blogging bandwagon this early. i've been procrastinating a lot lately, including in work - which is really really not a good thing. and the fact that i've been nursing a huge writer's block for the past few years (yes, years) now does not help. which is why i need to haul my ass and write something, which is the point of this blog which i can't even update.. gah!!
so dear hubby (dh) went to the u.s. for work for two weeks last april, and right after he got back, we were busy for the next two weekends with trips to guimaras and puerto galera (see, i had good reason for the silent spell).
anyway, i'll try to do better this time. i have a few ideas for this blog. after i take care of some office work..
so dear hubby (dh) went to the u.s. for work for two weeks last april, and right after he got back, we were busy for the next two weekends with trips to guimaras and puerto galera (see, i had good reason for the silent spell).
anyway, i'll try to do better this time. i have a few ideas for this blog. after i take care of some office work..
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