Quick Fix for the Beach Bum

by Ria on May 2, 2012 in Friends, Travel with No comments

You know you’re absolutely dying in the city when you’re willing to take a day trip to the beach that’s three hours away. A couple of weeks ago, my lady homies and I decided that we’ve had enough suffocation in the urban jungle that is Manila. Let’s go to the beach, we said. And for the Labor Day holiday, off we went.

I arranged a day trip to Virgin Beach Resort in Batangas, the same place I hit up with Odin and friends last January. That resort has really grown on me. It’s not just pwede na anymore. I really love it there and it’s fast becoming my favorite beach in Luzon.

We got lost a couple of times on the way, but we made it. Though a day trip may be a bit too short, when we got there, we just knew it was going to be worth it. We had everything we needed for a quick beach fix: a hut all to ourselves, ice cold rum cokes, and a wide, immaculate, gorgeous beach.

The sun was out, the breeze was blowing, and the water was perfect. I relished and drank every second of it as I leaned back, soaked my hair and floated. Saltwater and seabreeze – those two are the quickest ways to jolt some life back into me. Being there with girlfriends with me made it even more awesome.

Am, Carol and Joyce are all two years ahead of me in Ateneo, but what brought us together was the dorm, common friends, and countless nights of typical college chaos.

We got a beach parasol for the day (Php 1,780 divided by 4 pax), which was very comfortable and had mattresses, a garbage disposal area, and an electrical outlet. There are also several lounging beds on the beach if you want to sunbathe or sit nearer to the shoreline.

I took a glorious nap in our hut right after lunch. For some reason, naps by the sea are always ten times better. Not even sleeping in an airconditioned penthouse suite could top it in my book.

I may have grown up in the city, but my heart feels more at home, at peace and at rest when I’m in the province. It soothes my soul to see an abundance of trees instead of skyscrapers, hear the wind and the waves instead of honking horns, and smell the fresh sea air instead of car exhaust.

Back in my hometown, we are so blessed with the ability to have a quick trip to the beach anytime. In Cebu, you can go island hopping after lunch and be back in the city before dark. Lord knows how much I miss that, but I’m just as grateful to have a go-to place here in Luzon whenever my heart screams for the ocean.

If I could, I’d do this every weekend. These trips may not happen as much as I would want to, but it’s enough for me to get by.

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VIRGIN BEACH RESORT
Telephone: (+63 2) 759 2020 / 759 2828 / 815 2584
Mobile No: (+63 917) 813 1301
Email: reservations@virginbeachresort.com
Website: http://www.virginbeachresort.com

Office hours are from 9AM to 7PM (Mon-Thur) and 9AM to 6PM (Fri).
Day trip rate is Php 950 per pax, inclusive of buffet lunch. (Not bad!) 

Simple Joys Episode # 987423

by Ria on April 26, 2012 in Blurbs with No comments

I just learned how to make ribbon header graphics on Photoshop. Many designers may roll their eyes at this and can probably make a much better ribbon header with their eyes closed, using the trackpad with their feet. Me, I’m still learning how to do basic things on graphic design, so I’m really happy about this. Hurray!

Money 101 at Enderun Colleges

by Ria on April 26, 2012 in Reviews with No comments

Yesterday, I learned more in four hours about managing my money than in two semesters of accounting and finance in college.

And that says a lot, considering I nearly failed accounting even after having a tutor for that entire semester.

Sometime last month, Enderun Colleges, together with Enderun Extension (the school’s resource for continuing education), offered slots for a one-day class entitled Money 101: Learn How To Manage Your Finances. The course description said that the class would provide knowledge with the fundamentals of personal finance management and methods of saving and growing your money through investments.

No joke, I have the IQ of zero when it comes to anything to do with numbers and money. Even my boss has to speak to me like a kindergarten teacher whenever he has to teach me something finance-related. Let’s say I have ten pencils and you have ten pencils.. – yes, like that. Once I understand the fundamental concept, it’s easy for me to go on with the process, but I need to understand things first. If things are not broken down, it’s all Martian to me.

Well, the class certainly served its purpose and I’m proud to say that I can understand some Martian now.

Look at that performance report! When I first glanced at it before class started, I almost got a nosebleed just looking at it. Good thing our two awesome teachers Rocky Laurel and Wilson Gan carefully took all of us to the basics of personal finance before getting to these alien documents.

They made it all so simple! I love that they dissected all the terms and jargon into normal English words in order for all of us to understand things better. I also realized that many of us students were too embarrassed to ask questions at first for fear of sounding stupid. Most of us have no knowledge on these things and so we were overwhelmed by the information, but Rocky and Wilson were quick to explain most things down to the tiniest detail. They discussed trust funds, stocks, insurance, all that stuff we need to prepare for old age and hypothetical future children. At the end of the class, they welcomed all kinds of questions – no matter how dumb you think you sound – and they gave step-by-step tips on how to get started with investing your money.

Gotta hand it to you Chinese people. You are the Shakespeares in the language of money! I only wish I was that articulate.

By this year, I’ll be on the wrong side of 25. It’s beyond high time that I start working on my future and do serious things for it. The class at Enderun sure gave me what I needed to catch up with the times and the other people my age who already got a headstart. I highly recommend it to anyone out there who is like me – just a big kid who is clueless on what to do with her money.

Bonus: Unlimited iced tea, coffee and sandwiches. Can’t go wrong with that! (I must have been the only one in class who ate four of those sandwiches. Haha.)

Thank you, Enderun! If you offer a class purely focused on stocks, I would gladly attend that too!

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ENDERUN COLLEGES
1100 Campus Avenue
McKinley Hill, Fort Bonifacio
Taguig City 1634 Philippines
Telephone: (+63 2) 856 5000
Email: admissions@enderuncolleges.com

There are still Money 101 classes on May 30, June 27 and July 25, but I’m not sure if registration is still open though.

What’s that they say about great artists?

by Ria on April 26, 2012 in Blurbs with 5 Comments

Does anybody know a makeup artist named Diamond Feliciano?

Oh nothing. It’s just that this is a tarp she made for her stall to promote her services.

And on an interesting very related note, this just happens to be my friend Kris Bacani‘s makeup portfolio.

You do the math.

Great artists steal IDEAS. Not other people’s art.
There is a big difference.

Being an artist takes guts. Whether you are a writer, a musician, a painter, a graphic designer or whatever, you know that it takes a gigantic buttload of guts to do what you do. There is no separating yourself from your work. It is not just your project that is on display, it is your heart and soul. It is hours, weeks, YEARS of pouring yourself out for the world to see, judge, and ultimately, appreciate. That is precisely why plagiarism has got to be the most unforgivable sin in the world of artistry.

For the complete story, please read Kris’s blog entry on it.
Warning: have a barf bag within reach. You’ll need it.

My Own Summer

by Ria on April 25, 2012 in Blurbs with No comments

Summertime.

It’s my most favorite time of year. Right up there with Christmas and my birthday. While most people are complaining about the scorching heat, I am enjoying every bit of the weather, sweat beads and all. Maybe it’s just me, but the world sure is a lot prettier with blue skies and sunshine.

A few updates: I’m back living in Makati with two awesome roommates Chessy and Czar in a very lovely apartment, Odin is in the States and will be back in three weeks, and I have been getting back into the rhythm of the daily grind after that long rut.

As of now, I am looking forward to the following things to come in the near future:
- A sleepover with my best friend complete with Disney flicks and microwave popcorn
- Day trip to the beach with girlfriends on Labor Day
- Family trip to Bantayan next month (and Odin’s coming along! Yay!)

I sometimes feel like the climate had something to do with this sudden wave of enthusiasm. Now if only it were summertime all year round. If only.

More updates soon!

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