I’m really excited to announce that I’m finally moving to my own URL!

This WordPress blog has been my personal space for almost three years now, and I’m very grateful for all the people who stopped by to read what I had to write. I won’t close this one, so I can still preserve all the stuff I wrote. Thank you so much for reading and I hope you continue to hang out with my at my new site.

www.riaredulla.com

To be honest, I think the appropriate punishment for these generals would be to send them to fight in the frontlines against the Abu Sayyaf in Mindanao with flimsy boots, inadequate and faulty equipment. Either that or leave them in the middle of the camp quads in the hands of all the soldiers they robbed.

But this will do.

Edit:

Reyes could’ve redeemed himself in some way. He didn’t have to die. He could’ve pulled a Rabusa and come clean with the whole thing. It would also probably be easier to grieve with his family if his wife didn’t travel 48 times in 11 years, with $10,000 pocket money. I feel sorry for the kids, no question.

For the most part, I feel really sad to see a life taken all for the love of money. After reading his credentials, it was really depressing knowing how this man of great potential and intelligence was swayed by the system. Then again, it all still comes down to our choices. He might have been a great father or leader or boss or whatever, and I’m sure he was nice in person. But I quote, it’s not who we are underneath, but what we do that defines us. Reyes made his choices. And instead of making things right, he chose to escape. What a waste.

Again, I still think that this country needs to be more, for lack of a better term, unforgiving with its criminals.

Now I’m reading that he’s going to be buried with military honors. Honor? What honor? They’re going to drape his coffin with the same flag that he spat on. I’m not happy that he died, but I can’t say that I grieve over his death.

1. Sinulog was legendary. There’s no way to describe it enough to give it justice, but it’s one of those times that make me happy to be part of such an amazing culture. I went home exhausted and covered in paint. Needless to say, it was awesome. Everyone in this country should be able to experience it at least once in their life. I can’t wait for next year.

2. I haven’t had normal health in over two weeks, which is weird because I don’t think I’ve ever been sick for this long in my life. Ever. I’m hoping it’s on its way out now.

3. Since November, I’ve been really getting into web design. The only thing that sucks about it is that I’m not a graphic designer and I have to ask for help from my friends who are. Still, it’s really cool learning something new. Currently, I’m working on my tita’s company’s website. I’m probably going to be getting my own soon and move to another URL.

4. If I haven’t stressed it enough, I am so psyched for the two upcoming concerts in Manila. For now, I’m focusing all my energy on the Deftones concert this Saturday. I’ve been listening to everything from Adrenaline to Diamond Eyes, which is something the other few thousands who are watching are doing as well. I am so excited to finally see them live, it’s ridiculous. I’ll be writing about STP in time.

5. I’m flying to Manila this Thursday. It’s weird because I was just there last December, but it feels like I haven’t been there in forever. If there’s one thing that’s consistent, it’s the excitement to see Odin. And my friends, of course.

6. I had to deal with a really huge disappointment recently, which pretty much devastated me a whole lot. Surprisingly, I’m proud to say I handled it quite well and I guess I’m really learning how to let things go when you have to. Besides, true character really shows when you don’t get what you want or when you get hurt.

7. Sure, I’m still young, but sometimes you can’t help but feel your age when your body doesn’t work the way it used to. Not only am I suddenly allergic to crabsticks (goodbye California Maki), but my hyperacidity attacks are a lot worse than they used to be. The only good side of it that it makes for a valid reason for people to stop forcing you to drink. (Because based on experience, preference is simply not good enough.)

8. Odin and I are hitting Singapore the day after the Deftones concert. This is me hoping that my chicken ass gets over its roller coaster phobia by the time we get to Universal Studios. And I swear by Chino Moreno, I am so hitting that Science Center THIS TIME. (We went there last year, but it was closing by the time we arrived. Yup, losers. Losers trolling the souvenir store as a last ditch effort to make something of the trip. Vengeance is mine this year!) Ultimately, I’m psyched to spend Valentine’s with mi valentino in one of our favorite cities. Heee.

9. To this day, I am also still fighting my baduy syndrome. Baduy syndrome is how I am able to stay up when I’m home (like now), but unable to stay up past ten when I’m out. I am also still fighting the Cebu weight I gained since I got back. Queen city goodness in mah bellehhhh…

10. I’ll be honest when I say that I still don’t know where my life is headed. Still waiting for an answer, but at least I’m getting by. It’s just that I like efficiency, and I’d really like to have a solution by now. But I’ll wait. And will keep waiting until whatever it is hits me. Something tells me it will be something big. I hope it is.

P.S. As I mentioned, I’ll be going to Manila on Thursday. If anybody wants to buy good and cheap wheatgrass, email me! My friends are ordering and I’m bringing for them already, let me know if you want to order too.

It’s pretty simple, really.

I. CAN. DIE. NOW.

Stone Temple Pilots will play in Manila on March 9, 2011 at Araneta Coliseum.
Ovation Productions just sent out the Facebook event today.

I’ve been waiting and hoping for this day to come. Odin and I were going to buy tickets to Singapore just to watch them! Thank God they’re coming here!!! I can’t believe it! That’s 2 out of 5 of my all-time favorite bands coming to the Philippines this year to play!

RATM, 311, Soundgarden – I’m still waiting for you!!!
And I am so going to pee my pants when STP plays this…

Edit: And this.

Author’s Note: I really am nice in person, I swear!

I am not the kind of person who follows food trends. I never got into Zagu, I never got into green tea, I never got into frozen yogurt. Most of all, I am not the kind who takes those herbal “health” drinks. For some reason, I’m just allergic to food trends.

With wheatgrass, I first heard about it when I worked at Mandala. They told me it was some kind of detoxifying drink and apparently, some people there were already taking it. As usual, I just shrugged it off as another food trend. Then my best friend not only started taking it, but also started to tell others (myself included) about it.

This month, I finally succumbed to it. Maybe it was the boredom of unemployment that led me to it. Maybe it was secret curiosity. Whatever it was, I finally tried it out and I didn’t see any effects until a few days of taking it. For one thing, it’s true that it does regularize bowel movement. Overshare alert here, I’ve always wanted to be an everyday pooper, but I never could do it. Ever since I started drinking wheatgrass, it’s been a morning habit for me now.

I’ve also been taking it for breakfast these days. It’s surprisingly filling for a juice and I noticed that I really don’t get hungry until lunch time. And I don’t know if I’m just imagining it, but my skin has been improving too. So anyway, I started reading up on wheatgrass and what it’s all about. Apparently, just 30 mL of its juice is equivalent in nutritional value to 1 kilogram of leafy green vegetables. It also has more Vitamin C than oranges and twice the Vitamin A of carrots (maybe that’s why my skin got better?).

If you’re a little apprehensive about the taste, I recommend adding a little honey and/or kalamansi extract. Put some ice in it and you’ve got yourself a healthy drink that tastes good too. I admit, it does taste a bit grassy when it’s in pure form, but so far, I’ve managed to drink it that way every morning.

For those who are curious/interested to try wheatgrass, email me if you want some. I can send you the prices for different package sizes.

(P.S. The wheatgrass I’m drinking is soooo much cheaper than Easy Pha-max, which is the popular brand in the stores. Our package is 40 grams more and 400+ pesos cheaper!)

Sugarfree, thank you so much for the music. You have no idea how many hearts you’ve touched over these years. O kay tagal din namin kayong mamahalin.