TRAVEL | Molave Milk Station

The Molave Milk Station is a popular fixture in Barili. Situated in a blind curve, the place offers relief to hungry and tired travelers and road trippers. Taking a cue from its name, the station offers fresh milk from cows raised in the farm nearby. The station also has ice cream, probably one of the most delicious I have tasted (next to Pipo’s After 8), ngohiong, cooked food, cold drinks, bottled goodies and pasties for pasalubong.

My three trips down south this summer (and summer has not yet ended) included a stop-over at the Milk Station.

OUTFIT | Pasundayag

One Sunday, my friend invited me to a concert by the UP Serenata. He was a member of the UP Serenata, and because I don’t have much of a social life, I gladly went. The show was titled Pasundayag (Bisaya for “show” or “showcase”). I wore this vintage striped dress that became very appropriate because the show looked back at music and dance from the 1950s.

The dress originally had sleeves but they were too snug for my arms so I cut them off. The whole dress actually was snug, it made me feel like a conservative Joan of Mad Men (I love Joan). By the way, this dress is also up for sale at my online vintage shop.

I was wearing SM Accessories earrings, vintage dress, thrifted belt, thrifted clutch, and thrifted Salvatore Ferragamo shoes.

OUTFIT | Life’s A Beach

Last week,  a close friend died. I realized we are never prepared for death. We know we will all die, but death will always come in an unexpected time and it will always come as a shock and leave us in a moment of disbelief. Even for  people we know who are dying, we always think, at the back of our minds, that they won’t die any minute soon. They will die later. And even if they do die later, we are still not prepared for it. My friend’s death made me recall the deaths of two other close friends in the last one and a half years (one died of drowning from Typhoon Pablo and the other of dengue), and I began to recall my last conversations with them and realized how meaningful they were. Despite their deaths, I am thankful our last conversations were positive so that I’d always remember them with fondness (and still a bit of pain in my heart).

So, life’s a beach. The tide rolls in and out. The water, calm today, maybe rough and unforgiving the next. Sometimes, we are thrown into an abyss of nothingness and, often, we drown. But life’s a beach, and the best way to enjoy it is — however you want to enjoy it — on the sand, sleeping underneath the scorching sun, or with a beer and the loves of your life.

A Psalm of Life

 

TELL me not, in mournful numbers,
Life is but an empty dream ! —
For the soul is dead that slumbers,
And things are not what they seem.

Life is real ! Life is earnest!
And the grave is not its goal ;
Dust thou art, to dust returnest,
Was not spoken of the soul.

Not enjoyment, and not sorrow,
Is our destined end or way ;
But to act, that each to-morrow
Find us farther than to-day.

Art is long, and Time is fleeting,
And our hearts, though stout and brave,
Still, like muffled drums, are beating
Funeral marches to the grave.

In the world’s broad field of battle,
In the bivouac of Life,
Be not like dumb, driven cattle !
Be a hero in the strife !

Trust no Future, howe’er pleasant !
Let the dead Past bury its dead !
Act,— act in the living Present !
Heart within, and God o’erhead !

Lives of great men all remind us
We can make our lives sublime,
And, departing, leave behind us
Footprints on the sands of time ;

Footprints, that perhaps another,
Sailing o’er life’s solemn main,
A forlorn and shipwrecked brother,
Seeing, shall take heart again.

Let us, then, be up and doing,
With a heart for any fate ;
Still achieving, still pursuing,
Learn to labor and to wait.

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

* a post dedicated to my literary friend

OUTFIT | Color Blocking at the Beach

I am kind of an “organized packer.” I like to pack light but pack as much options of clothes as possible. And I also bring almost all of my daily “beauty” regimen (in small bottles). I also bring most of my gadgets and chargers. Moreover, I also always pack a hat and a pair of shades and a belt because a belt will help save me from many outfit disasters.

When I pack, the outfits usually center on one piece: may it be a pair of footwear, shades or hat, or the bag I’m bringing. But my clothes should all be comfortable and wearable.

So, when I joined my boyfriend’s family in their Holy Week road trip, I bought clothes centered on my pair of green striped wedges from LeDonne and around this black Liz Claiborne hat. Good thing I also had several clothes I haven’t worn yet, so I brought them with me.

The hat and the dress are gifts from my great grand-aunt. The dress has a very plunging neckline, but I don’t want people to know how ample my breasts are, so I covered them up with this knitted cropped top. The result: color-blocking in the beach.

Photos: Joel Lopez (@lokalgod)

OUTFIT | The Island Girl

It’s a hot summer afternoon and my eyes are heavy after eating pandesal and kalamansi juice. It is but fitting to post something that will make a summer afternoon perfect: the beach!  Last Holy Week, I joined my boyfriend and his family in a road trip to Badian, a small town southwest of Cebu City. While I am not a beach bum, it would be sad for me to stay inside my little cave while other people are having fun.

gifted Liz Claiborne hat, vintage polka dot top, vintage Anne Klein shorts

I was in the mood for nautical (blue and white).

one-piece vintage swimsuit | gifted 50s-inspired sunnies

I’m loving white and blue for the beach (vintage top and shorts worn above) and one-piece vintage swimsuit (worn below). Very nautical.

The Philippines has 7,100 (give or take) islands. This summer, we also have 7,100 islands to choose as destinations. It’s truly and really more fun in the Philippines. Ohyeah! Happy summer!

Photos: Joel Lopez (@lokalgod)

OUTFIT | Summer Black & White

 

The black pants and white shirt combination is popular, especially for office girls. The look is simple and easy on the eyes. Because of the combination’s simplicity, cool/dramatic accessories are warranted, although I’d say the simpler the better, especially if you’re showing off your impossibly straight and limp hair. (Okay, that’s not coherent, but I don’t know what else to say).

When my boyfriend and I went to Chillage, I wore this. It was already the start of summer and it’s hot but I need to look polished because I was also going to a meeting with my work colleagues. Although we don’t have a dress code, I don’t want to look too beach-y while discussing work matters, unless our work matters includes swimsuit designs. I have to admit also that, before going to the meeting, I fell asleep after eating lunch, and I was hurrying so I picked the most comfortable clothes in my pile of “to wear this summer” clothes. I used the green bag for a punch of color.

white Gap shirt | thrifted pants | gifted Sag Harbor bag | bazaar sandals