DAY 03 - LAST DAY IN SINGAPORE

It’s our third and our last day in SINGAPORE, what else to do but cram on the things we can push before the day ends.

First things first, you can’t go to SINGAPORE without taking a picture of their trademark structure, the MERLION.  Located at the MARINA BAY waterfront, this half fish half lion tourist structure was mounted in 1972, since then it was moved from different places until it finds its home at the MERLION PARK MARINA BAY after 30 years in 2002.

Well that’s the only info I could share, check out the pictures I take hopefully it makes you see what I see, a structure that represents the countries power, SINGAPORE the LION CITY.

Click HERE to see the rest of the PICS

DAY 02 - LES MISERABLES / SENTOSA

DAY 02 – After a very tiring THEME PARK day yesterday, we decided to make this day a free and easy one.  On the itinerary I included the movie I’m so eager to watch since I saw its trailer “LES MISERABLES” and some stroll on the park of “SENTOSA”.

DAY 01 - UNIVERSAL STUDIOS SINGAPORE

Well finally I’m here to share my TRIP to SINGAPORE; I spend three fun filled days in SINGAPORE and let me divide this post into three sections covering the first day to the third in individual post.

To prelude, its actually my third visit in the country, the first time was with my boyfriend where we didn't do much for both of us were first time traveler, the second time was just a transit where I only spend four hours in the airport and finally this time where I get to go around the country and discover what SINGAPORE has to offer.  I originally plan to stay a week but with the high cost of living and prices where a bottled water cost 2 S$ (Singaporean Dollar) each, I think 3 days would be expensive enough, LOL.

But you can’t put a price to experience and memories it will leave behind that’s why I probably spend the same amount of a week's travel in that short 3 days stay, and it was money well spent.

To start off my SINGAPORE trip, I enter the famous UNIVERSAL STUDIOS SINGAPORE…

FIESTA 2013

In the PHILIPPINES, we have this tradition of celebrating the feast of a patron saint; WIKI defines the tradition way back when the SPANISH conquistadores arrived in the 1500’s where they arrival mounts a feast honoring the patron saint they bring that influence the country.  Nowadays FIESTA’s were celebrated to give thanks to the last year and celebrate the coming year with a feast; it’s a tradition that gives good luck to the new year.  Kinda like NEW YEAR but not on JANUARY first, more like CHINESE NEW YEAR, but the date differs depending on the patron saint.

Well so much on that, like the title said it was FIESTA 2013 on our old residence where I grew up, here in my current residence it’s on OCTOBER so you probably will read another blog about FIESTA 2013 – PART 02 on that month.  But I guess this FIESTA is better cause I get to mingle with my childhood friends and meet old acquaintances on the way.

Did you see how happy I am in the first pic, I did try my luck on this game “BASAGAN NG PALAYOK” its mainly hitting the pot hanging in the air with a stick as you make your way to it in blindfold, and to make this game more challenging you have to make round like about 3 to 5 times to dizzy your way on to the pot.  BTW I didn't break it, the girl after me does it, talk about woos.

Click HERE for the rest of the  pics

TV: ASIA’s NEXT TOP MODEL ( WEEK 10 )

Previously on ASIA’S NEXT TOP MODEL, HELENA (HONG KONG) got the surprising elimination as STEPHANIE (PHILIPPINES) once again strike luck escaping another bottom two.  Who will be eliminated tonight, will STEPHANIE’s luck runs out or another girl will bite the dust.

WEEK 10, KATE (TAIWAN) and SOFIA (JAPAN) were rejoicing by HELENA’s elimination, on the other hand STEPHANIE and AASTHA (NEPAL) felt differently as they were sad reading her goodbye letter.

At dinner KATE and SOFIA was acting like a mean girl teasing JESSICA (THAILAND) for her three consecutive FIRST CALL/PHOTO OF THE WEEK, and unaffected JESSICA confidently ignore the teasing.

FASHION: AIRPORT FASHION

AIRPORT FASHION is really popular in other countries, celebrities are often captured in their casual look in the airport and even ordinary people who like to bring their fashion on other countries do the same.

Not that I’m the same but I would like to feature my AIPORT FASHION in this post,

my ARRIVAL look is simple yet comfortable, as you can see in my slippers LOL, but I’m so in love with this BLACK & WHITE print shirt, I think loose shirt popularize by KOREAN’s are a good trend this year, its comfortable yet flattering to us a little heavy on the side; the SHORT short add a twist with its HIGHLIGHT of sparkling thread.

CHANGI AIRPORT – SINGAPORE

I think the airport is the face of the country; well it’s the first thing you will see before you sight other places in the country so the airport is like a prelude to your spree.  That’s why I feel bad to countries with worse airport, my country the PHILIPPINES included; in my country every traveler are paying airport tax and travelers tax, so I wonder where is that fund going if our airport is on the list of worse.

TV: ASIA’s NEXT TOP MODEL ( WEEK 09 )

Previously on ASIA’s NEXT TOP MODEL, STEPHANIE (PHILIPPINES) pick up her second lucky save card as also SOFIA (JAPAN) get her first in a non-elimination week.  Who will be eliminated tonight?  Will STEPHANIE’s string of luck go short this week or SOFIA loose her one shot wonder…

WEEK 09, the girls are still in shock and in low spirit after the non-elimination, KATE (TAIWAN) thought to cheer the mood as she jump off the pool with her clothes on, the other follows from JESSICA (THAILAND) to STEPHANIE (PHILIPPINES) and AASTHA (NEPAL) who both have issues in the water.

The next day it was the CHALLENGE, the girls are to direct their own PLAYBOY FRAGRANCES commercial, most girls hit the mark except from SOFIA (JAPAN) who have a very simple story line to JESSICA (THAILAND) who had no story at all, in the end HELENA (HONG KONG) won her second consecutive challenge win and got herself her very own PLAYBOY FRAGRANCE Swarovski bottle and additional 15 minutes of photo shoot time.

HOME from SINGAPORE

Minus the two days flight night arrival and afternoon departure, my 3 days in SINGAPORE was just as perfect as I want to be, I did enjoy the country like every other tourist who plan and achieve their vacation itinerary.

SINGAPORE, by far is the cleanest country I been to, there’s trash bin everywhere and people are keen to throwing their trash anywhere, the country is industrialize with beautiful infrastructures, what’s nice about this country is they designate a city center for malls for shopping ORCHARD ROAD and another city center for theme park SENTOSA – UNIVERSAL STUDIOS and another for SINGAPORE famous infrastructures like the MERLION, SINGAPORE FLYER and MARINA BAY SANDS; and I don’t know if its that way everyday there but there’s actually no traffic in my 3 days stay, their means of transport was very effective as there’s not much waiting time for the train to come and taxi’s are everywhere, even the bus wasn't that crowded.

BEST AIRPORT

Well I been to a few countries (mostly ASIA advantage of NO VISA) and so far the best and favorite airport that I've been is THAILAND’s SUVARNABHUMI AIRPORT tagged as the airport of smiles, its spaciously big, very clean there’s a lot of rounding cleaner day and night, there’s also a lot of chairs to sit and even sleep for long hours of waiting for flights and shops to go around if your feeling bored.  This airport was also held as the most photograph place in INSTAGRAM.

I took some pictures for you guys to see what I’m talking about.  Tomorrow I’ll be flying off to SINGAPORE and I’ll be there for 4 days, I take some picture and some stories to tell of my travel (for future posting), so in the past few days I’ll be posting my last travel destination THAILAND…

See you guys,

Love Your KAPWA

TV: AMERICAN IDOL 12

My ultimate favorite singing show AMERICAN IDOL 12 premiers today and I’m extra excited knowing my favorite singer and all time DIVA (she deserves it) MARIAH CAREY was in the panel, I been waiting for this since they announce she’ll be a judge, i even joke to my friends that if I’m from the US I would audition even if I sound terrible just to be in the same room with Ms. CAREY live and in person.

And so it begins, excited on my couch with my snacks it debut and RYAN SEACREST open with his familiar remark, “THIS IS AMERICAN IDOL”…

The judges came out and greet the crowd and there’s MARIAH CAREY, KEITH URBAN, old timer RANDY JACKSON and NICKI MINAJ, this is going to be fun.  The first contestant came and sing NICKI got the first say and the rest follows, second contestant NICKI is saying a lot while the others give their short opinion, third contestant NICKI keep talking, next contestant NICKI is sounding BRITISH and it follows, I reach for the remote and turn off the T.V.

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Countries FILIPINO’s can TRAVEL w/o VISA

My definite guilty pleasure is TRAVELLING, not that I have the money to do it often LOL, but every time there’s an airline discount fare GUILTY as charge I would book it without having second thoughts.  Well discounts seats usually give you three months or more allowance, so that would give me leeway to plan my travels.

I LOVE travelling, it personally elevates me to total bliss every time I found myself in a different space where I discover and learn about other countries cultures, enriching my life with memories that I can take with me forever, and having a chance to see that countries famous structures/places with historic significance, if I get to do one thing at the end of it, that’s to travel as much countries as I could.

That’s why I envy those first class citizen who can go around everywhere not needing a VISA, cause us FILIPINO’s we need an insurance that will return back to our country.

But don’t fret you guys we aren't so bad, HERE are the list of countries we can go to without that INSURANCE i mean VISA…

70th GOLDEN GLOBE AWARDS

The award seasons are here and starting off here’s the 70^th GOLDEN GLOBE honoring the best in film and television 2012.  Admittedly I never watch the GOLDEN GLOBE I do watch THE OSCARS but this one I just pass on, with awards covering films and TV sure this one will take time.  But having two funny hosts TINA FEY and AMY POEHLER it seems an interesting award show, and it does the ladies deliver and I bet they’ll be coming back next year.

Here are the lists of WINNERS…

I won’t comment on this, I will confess I was only familiar with the movie BRAVE and not that keen for it winning the movies is a so so not like the earlier PIXAR offering, maybe in THE OSCAR i could make a comeback watching these films…

On this one I’m only familiar with the series GIRLS i like that the series is edgy, it deserves the award, I have the DVD of HOMELAND and the others I’m just too lazy to watch, I don’t know I’m a comedy kind of girl…  And most of the series I like wasn't even nominated, GAME OF THRONES, SPARTACUS, SHAMELESS etc.

Well I did say I pass on the award show year by year, but absolutely not the FASHION, every year I make a list of the best dress, and this year here's are my TOP TEN…

TV: ASIA's NEXT TOP MODEL ( WEEK 08 )

Like I told you the last time HERE I will write you update on my newly found TV ADDICTION – ASIA’s NEXT TOP MODEL weekly, its broadcast every SUNDAY night so my recap post would be on MONDAYS.

Let’s start with WEEK 08 then, the episode start with HELENA from HONG KONG having her panic attack, it seems a drama and most of the girls agree with me.  But having watched the show for years now I wouldn't classify HELENA having a bad attitude, its more of that she’s misunderstood.

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MOVIE: LIFE of PI ( 3D )

First I would like for you guys to save some bucks, you don’t need to watch the movie in 3D, when TIME said it’s the next AVATAR I thought it would be like AVATAR in 3D where the movie experience is visually magical, generally it didn't pay off like the later, I think 2D would be good enough to watch and experience the film.

But GENERALLY I love the film, it’s spiritually enriching where QUESTIONS of FAITH answers to HOPE and TRIUMPH strengthens FAITH.

TV: The SIMPSONS ( DVD )

Well last DECEMBER I pledge to finish the series WILL &GRACE which fortunately I did, 8 seasons, 194 episodes and the finale when JACK & KAREN sang “UNFORGETABLE” song in the piano, it made me cry, definitely an UNFORGETABLE funny series.

This JANUARY though I’m putting my unemployed butt to challenge as I pledge try to finish the series I grow up with, the animated American family THE SIMPSONS.  Well the truth is I already started the series mid DECEMBER after I finish WILL & GRACE so I cheated a bit.  But generally I don’t think I can pledge on finishing this series this month, I probably need 3 months to finish a 23 seasons, 494 episodes and still counting as the series is up for its 24^th season this year.  The series holds the title as the longest running television series in history, take that redundant SOAPS (LOL) truly a remarkable feat for a TV SERIES.

FEAST of BLACK NAZARENE

 As I written before regarding my FAITH, I’m a devout of THE BLACK NAZARENE, I visit its CHURCH once a week if I can and send a prayer every time.  Today JANUARY 09 is its ANNIVERSARY and as you can see in the picture underneath devout will frock outside the church and march routing QUIRINO GRANDSTAND to QUIAPO for the traditional procession.  Millions of devotees will follow THE BLACK NAZARENE as a knot connecting to the patron will be thrown to the crowd, all the people who’ll touch the knot will be blessed more so who will touch the religious patron.

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TV: ASIA's NEXT TOP MODEL

I’m crazy about ANTM (America’s Next Top Model) now on its 20^th CYCLE this year and still I cant get enough, that’s why I’m over excited with its close to home version the Asia’s Next Top Model in its very first cycle.

Held and produce in SINGAPORE, 14 aspiring Asian models compete for 100 SINGAPOREAN DOLLARS, a modeling contract with ASIA and UK agency, are some of the TOP prizes.

I’m a little late blogging about this so I’ll make a short rundown…

Let’s start with the JUDGES…

NADYA HUTAGALUNG (model, VJ and humanitarian serves as the HOST)

JOEY MEAD KING (model, VJ and humanitarian serves as the RESIDENT JUDGE and CHALLENGE coordinator)

TOD ANTHONY TYLER (model and RESIDENT PHOTOGRAPHER)

DANIEL BOEY (fashion expert and PHOTO coordinator)

MY DADS A ROCK STAR

Yes me and my dad’s birthday fall on the same month and almost fall on the same day, I was born and he had a gift the day after, His birthday ME, precious right???

Don’t doubt it, even if I didn't turn out to be what my father wants or the society wants, I think my father does love me for who I’ am (put on the cliche CARPENTERS song), he never for once argue about my choices and leave me be happy of who and what I want to be, and for that I’m thankful my childhood didn't happen like in the movies when the father ask what his son is and the son answers girl, drown in the tub full of water pull up another question by the father, girl or boy?  The boy answers MERMAID…

OK to wrap it up cause there’s a party, I would like to great HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAD, I think you’re a ROCK STAR turning 62 and looking like you just turn 40... or 50 (cut him some slack guys it’s his birthday…)

FASHION: MY BIRTHDAY 2013

When I was young I said to myself that I’ll be fulfilled when I turn 25, - FAST FORWARD - I’m 25 and working for a big company as a staff, I don’t think this defines fulfilled for me, I quit and give myself an allowance, 30 and I’ll be fulfilled - FAST FORWARD - I’m 30 unemployed and in the process of transforming myself to who I’am, half spirited I give myself more allowance 35 or maybe 40 they said life begins at 40 right?  And in the news their reporting about young achievers under 25, I’m doomed…

FASHION: CHRISTMAS & NEW YEAR 2013

I remember FASHION and its influences in Movies and TV.  Series, it’s all about the latest design and what SARAH JESSICA PARKER is wearing and by that I’m admittedly and a full blown SEX and the CITY addict.  But seriously I don’t think SEX and the CITY or SJP’s fashion can adapt just to anyone, plus Manila is way too different to NYC and that opening dress would create a scene if you wear it here, LOL.

Well too much on media’s influence in fashion,

For me fashion is a mix of showbiz influences, COMFORT and what I like to wear.  COMFORT - of course I can’t wear those leather booths on a sunny hot country or else you’ll develop fungi, or those pumps while crossing the busy streets of TAFT AVENUE.  On what I like to wear, it sometimes depends on my mood and situational, if its too hot loose clothes, if I feel I’m getting fat black clothes, I rarely wear jeans for the reasons of comfort I like to spread my legs more (please don’t refer this statement sexually, LOL).  So all in all I develop my style on mostly what I feel, moods and sometimes the latest fashion demands…

So here’s my CHRISTMAS and NEW YEAR – FASHION…

I love this gold colored dress, my friends called it a fashion sleepwear cause it looked like a nighties but generally they love it, the HIGLIGHTS of this dress is the bead work on top and the dark flower theme style at the bottom of the dress, of course since I’m into gold theme I matched it with my two inch open toe shoes by CHARLES & KEITH… 

FILMFEST MOVIE 2012

I’m not really a fan of PINOY movies; I remember when I label it as cheap and uninspiring.  I think at some point there you will agree with me, I will not give an example cause I already lambaste the industry on my first statement.  So before you attack me with your hate comments, let me just say that I did enjoy two films I watch this FILMFEST 2012.

Of FAITH and BELIEF

Growing in a predominant CATHOLIC country the question of FAITH shouldn't be at question, but growing up I have so many unanswered question that leave my FAITH up in hanging.

I even remember a college friend whom a devout BORN AGAIN CHRISTIAN whom I presented all my questions and in the end tag me that I’m going to HELL, too much for an inquiry I guess.  I try to mingle at my brother and sister in faith, but I guess being who I am and what I am is a sure ticket to their judgment.  My GUIDANCE COUNSELOR in a CHRISTIAN school where I finish my OJT told me that I’m lucky the head accepted me knowing I was gay and they are a CATHOLIC SCHOOL.  My mom’s friend encourages me to serve our CHURCH, in the end they ask me to be a man as a requirement to serve the HOUSE of GOD.  They also didn't accept my sister who’s separated to her husband.  Well I guess the hell would be a CROWDED place for people like me and those couples who are separated, HELL would be like the OSCARS with so many celebrities there.

2012 – HAPPY NEW YEAR 2013

The year that was 2012, well for me this year was the best year of my life…  I get to enjoy life as it is, do things I dream about doing and be with people I love, also this year I get to be with my loving BF two times (I wish for more but VISA problem)…