I love how Holy Week does wonders to rekindle ones faith. I say this because I know it does exactly that for me. It has a similar effect as Christmas. During Christmas and Easter, I honestly feel a bit more spiritual, a little holier, a tad more, uhhmmmm, Catholic. I think there's something about the atmosphere that makes one "feel the Spirit," pun intended. That early morning chill of misa de gallo and the clear skies of Easter weekend—they all make me feel good and revived. 

You see, I honestly wish I were a more devout Catholic. I know, I know...it's a matter of choice. But, I won't deny that it isn't always as easy as I would hope. I love my relationship with God, but like any relationship, I know there's always room for improvement. Now, let me stop myself before I get all rhetoric and preachy.  

The Blockbuster
For this year's Holy Week, my family went to Subic for some QT. We've done so during many Easter holidays in the past. We spend days sleeping in, cooking, bonding, soaking in the summer, and dropping in at the local chapel for the Easter services. 

Now, this is where it got exciting. I love how the San Roque chapel upped the ante this year. The reenactment of the passion of Christ on Good Friday had a cast of awesome voices. The narration was done by a lector who had the voice of a radio commentator, Pilate was played by a volunteer who seemed to be gunning for a Famas, and the choir played the jeering crowd with enthusiasm. Everyone was in character—feel na feel! When I closed my eyes during the reading, I felt like I was right there in the middle of all the action. The reading closed when the priest invited the congregation to kneel in prayer while watching a clip similar to this:

The Checklist
After the Good Friday services, they announced that people could go for confession. While I don't agree with the manner by which they announced it ("Just check your sins..."), I must commend that they went out of their way to get everyone to participate. They gave out a spiritual mirror list. It acted like a guide to call to mind ones sins. For those who've forgotten the ritual, the checklist made it easy, indeed. While it wasn't supposed to belittle the service or simplify the ritual, it made the introspection a little easier. Okay, tinamaan ako with some points on the checklist—and no, not the last one on the list. Check it out below:

The Altar
The next day, during Easter vigil mass, the San Roque chapel lived up to its cinematic Easter approach. The altar was dressed up like a makeshift cave. During the reading, when Christ was proclaimed risen, the "boulder" dramatically moved to reveal the statue of the risen Lord. The revelation came complete with sound effects and flashes of light. It was surprising, exciting, engaging.

Sure, these methods are unconventional, but who said we live in conventional times? At a time when movies are three-dimensional and popularity is based on likes and hash tags, what harm will it do to shake things up, right? Besides, if Easter is celebrated to renew the faith and recount The Greatest Story Ever Told, then I must say, the San Roque chapel did its part. This story is, after all, our faith's blockbuster. *Standing Ovation*

While waiting for a meeting to start, I sat at the common foyer where a girl was being interviewed for a summer post. I couldn't help but eavesdrop on the conversation. Here's an excerpt (well, at least what I could manage to eavesdrop from several feet away):

I wanted to reach out and coach the young girl from the sidelines. I could hear the nervousness in her voice and could see her anxiously fiddling with her skirt. I can only imagine how scared she must have been, and I have to congratulate her for not buckling. Good job, kid!

Listening in brought me back to my first job interview. The outfit, the butterflies in my stomach, the well-rehearsed answers—I get nostalgic remembering them all. I wondered then why they had to ask about my strengths, my weaknesses, my five-/ten- year plans, and what I thought a good job should be like. I thought, Bakit? Why ask those questions when people can easily bluff their way through them?

It was only when I conducted interviews of my own did I get the point. As employers, we really do need to know what you consider to be your assets and weaknesses. That way, we can identify which attributes and strengths you hold dear...and eventually, hold you to your claims and promises. We also want to know your career goals and plans and to know if this line of work is part of your bigger career goals...which hopefully means you'll take the job seriously enough to want to climb up the industry ladder. And, we also want to know your thoughts about what makes an ideal job...so we'll know what can make you stay or go.

Here are a few secrets I gathered over the years. Keep them in mind when you go for that internship interview (or even an actual job interview). Hopefully, they can help get your foot in the door.

• Your interviewer is examining how presentable you look. Looking professional shows that you exerted effort and that you respect your interviewer enough to look professional. In this case, professional is relative: While suits will always be interview staples, it'll also be smart to know the dressing culture of the office you're eyeing and matching it. If it's a creative post, look professional but inject a bit of flair. If the office observes a strict dress code, make a good impression and wear something appropriate. Also, if the post requires you to go out and represent, looking the part during your job interview puts you in a good position for nailing the post.

• While an internship may mean that you're given a chance to learn on-the-job, it doesn't mean that employers aren't looking for interns who can already contribute actual work. As such, don't just say you want to join the company because "you want to learn." I remember cringing every time I heard this line. It's a given: You'll learn a whole damn lot. But, what can set you apart from all the other intern wannabes is what you can bring to the table. Try your hardest to make your potential and skills evident during that initial one-on-one. Do your research, align the strengths you have with the requisites of the post. 
  

• Practice, practice, practice. We know when an interviewee isn't prepared, and believe me, being ill-prepared won't work in your favor. Study the company/department/post you're eyeing. Review the typical interview questions and rehearse your answers, if you must. Also, be prepared to be asked these questions in a roundabout kind of way. As in, "Was there a time when you ever got frustrated while working?" can be another way to ask,"What irks you in the workplace?" which is, in some respects, really asking, "What kind of worker are you NOT?"  Got it?

• Be truthful. A keen interviewer can easily spot a fib, so be mindful about what you say. Be confident but not arrogant. Be eager but don't suck up. Remember, your interviewer was once seated where you're seated now. She knows the drill. The difference? She got the job. Now, will you?

Photos from recruitment.co.uk, orchard.co.uk. and news.doddleme.com.

Obviously, there's a reason why I didn't name this post "How To De-clutter Your Dresser." You see, admittedly, I don't exactly know how to do that (obvious ba?). I'm not an expert at de-cluttering
(I've been trying though, so cut me some slack!). In reality, I'm quite the beauty pack rat, so my dresser is packed with sooo many beauty faves. 

While I insist that I need EVERYTHING on my dresser top, I've decided to come up with this ultra-edited list of top 5 beauty musts (trust me, kulang 'yan! But, it's a start!). Make this list a checklist of sorts when you're shopping for your own dresser staples.

1. Day cream. Yes, you need one. And, it doesn't matter how flawless or maselan you think you are; having and using a day cream regularly is a definite must. The right day cream gets your skin supple and healthy. It takes care of your skin while giving you day-time protection (from harsh rays, free radicals, etc.).                                                                                                               

2. Night cream. You know how they say your body recuperates while you sleep? Well, the same applies to your skin. A night cream is packed with nutrients your skin needs, only concentrated and harder-working. It repairs damage and allows your skin to make the most out of that special healing time. 

3. Special creams. Okay, I'm cheating here. But if I enumerated all the different creams and serums I love, I'd definitely go way past the promised count. There are just so many special creams for different purposes. In my case, along with the acceptance that I can't have my 20s body back came the realization that my skin is (gasp!) aging! So, I have special serums and creams for my fine lines, crow's feet, and sun damage. And, I have even more specialized creams that I use for certain occasions. Exfoliating masks for dreadfully dull days? Check. Night brightening capsules if i need to look fresh for an early morning affair? Check. Lashline serum to grow my lashes? Check. 
              Now, I'm not saying that you need all of these products. Instead, know which products to invest in to get your desired outcome. The point here is really this: You need to know your beauty needs more intimately. That way, you can take advantage of all the many creams and potions available in the market to address your specific skin concerns. 

4. Cleansing products. Never underestimate how important it is to clean your face properly at the end of the day. Even if you aren't a fan of piling on the makeup, your face still needs a thorough cleansing at the end of each day. I love my ultra potent cleansing and makeup-removing creams. And since I'm quite OC-OC about cleansing, I follow this up with an eye makeup–removing solution and a skin-balancing and cleansing facial oil, all before using my facial wash.  

5. Makeup! I love experimenting with makeup on myself and on other people, so I own quite an impressive stash of makeup, if I may say so myself. On my dresser are my ultimate favorites (yes, I have several trolleys housing all my other makeup stash). In reality, you don't really need a lot (Sorry na! OA lang ako). I reco, though, that you put some makeup on your dresser that'll help you achieve  a "five-minute face." Then, add some products that can help you transition that day face into a flirty night look.

I'm sharing with you this list of must-haves because I think every woman needs to take care of herself—and needs to have the proper loot to do exactly that. Besides, at this day and age, it's no longer excusable to look less than presentable. Happy shopping!

(Photo of my dresser. Okay, I admit, it totally needs a spring cleaning. That's my summer project. I'll post another pic once I've fixed up my little beauty nook.) 

In between completing reports and sending out work mail, I went on a scary-movie craze. I watched scary movie after scary movie, and got totally freaked out! Okay, okay. I always get freaked out, but I watch scary flicks anyway. I have a friend with whom I used to watch scary flicks, and we'd always either 1) get scared beyond our wits or 2) end up with a nervous fit of laughter.

There's something oddly exciting about watching flicks that are intended to freak you out. If they're done we'll, they keep you at the edge of your seat, give you a jolting scare, and get your heart rate high enough to burn some calories, or so I'd like to believe.

Out of these four picks, I think Sinister was the creepiest. It had the same producers as Paranormal Activity and Insidious, so just imagine how much time I spent watching the movie through my fingers. Devil Inside was also quite freaky in a docu kind of way (Think: The Rite).

I think I want to catch some other scary flicks. What are your favorites? Can you reco some I should watch? Dali! Let's get freaked out together!

Omigosh! I'm still so kilig; I can't stop smiling. I hung out with a dear friend to unwind after a super stressful week. On the agenda: dinner then...well, nothing. After hours upon hours of chika, we finally decided to pop open a bottle of wine, microwave some popcorn, and watch a feel-good flick. 

We decided to watch Pitch Perfect. We both had heard so many good raves, so we were excited to finally catch it. And, can I just share?! We got super kilig (see timestamp 0:55-1:45 in this clip)! We made like giddy schoolgirls squealing on the couch. We let out so many sighs, "Haaay. To be young, carefree, and in love again...." And, being the net addicts we are, we immediately surfed on our mobile phones to find out the name of the super endearing lead guy (Skylar Astin...awwwww.). For a moment, we forgot our tandercat concerns and became children—wide-eyed, in love, hopeful. Pitch Perfect was definitely the fix we needed on our Friday night in. (NOTE TO ALL: Catch Pitch Perfect if you haven't, k?)

Post-movie analysis had us reminiscing about college. It also got us thinking about how far we've come, calling to mind yesteryear dreams, wishes, and waistlines. (Now, who would've thought we'd get introspective over a teenybopper, right? I think it was the wine, so bear with me.) With these realizations in mind, I'm hoping to get a move on my 30something plans. I'm revived, wide-eyed, and hopeful. These are my top realizations:

1. That it's okay to just make out in a GP kind of way (no need to go the extreme to get super kilig)
2. That good guys don't have to be drop-dead hot
3. That some bullies may have fat hearts if we just give them a chance
4. That there are happy endings
5. That I really do want my college body back and that I dreadfully miss my teenage metabolism

Thanks to an OA dose of Pitch Perfect residue, my dreams that night were kilig, too. In fact, my college crush made a cameo and swept me off my feet (in a GP kind of way, mind you). Deadma na if he's married, with children, and sooo unavailable in real life. For one night, he was mine, my college dreams did come true, and all was good. 

 

My friend has to move out of her apartment. She doesn't want to, but you know those moments when the universe pretty much conspires to get you to move along? This is that moment for her. It's timely, too, because I really do think that she could use a change of pace. Like some ritual of sorts, I spent the past couple of days with her as she bid her apartment goodbye.

When I hung out with her during this time, I started to wonder: Do these nudges to move out of your comfort zone really come when you need them the most? Or, do they simply yank you from your cushy corner?

You see, my friend's at a point in her life when the apartment is just no longer the perfect fit. It used to be, sure. But, things change, circumstances change, and it just isn't the best place for her to live anymore. The two-storey pad seems to echo a certain unease. The rent is just too steep. Plus, it's simply so hard to clean the extra-roomy place all by her lonesome. She contemplated for a while about keeping the place (sayang nga naman!), but she knew that it was simply time to pack up and go. (If you still don't get it, this move of hers runs cosmically parallel to other parts of her life she needs to tidy up, pack up, and move away from.)

I'm a firm believer that things happen at their own proper time. The reasons, of course, may elude you now and may be so darn hard to get used to. However, when the dust settles and when you've mustered enough courage to lug your stuff away and finally move out and move forward, you'll often find that you're finally at a better vantage point to see the bigger picture. Think: Antipolo looking over Marikina Valley ang peg--kita mo na finally lahat. Choz. But, get my analogies?

I'm sure she'll find a new place to move into soon. It probably won't be as familiar, but I hope it'll be a comfy-cozy place she can finally and truly call home. 'Til then, may her search be exciting, spectacular, and meaningful. Good luck, babe! You can do it!

Are you moving out of your comfort zone and bidding familiarity goodbye? What's your top tip? Tweet me about it #moveon and tag me @zoitseems. Let's compare notes.

Photo from fancyhometrends.com.

Recently, a stranger said something to me that got me thinking. A lot of friends, colleagues, and mentors have actually said the exact same thing and expressed the exact same sentiment, but I was never really convinced. And, it's quite ironic how a strager's confidence finally propelled me into action.

I guess I needed that.

We do that sometimes, don't we? We wait and wait for someone outside of our circle to tell us what we're supposed to do, who we're supposed to be, or what we're bound to become. They hope without the biases of friendship, believe without the pull of expectations, and trust with a naked, convincing confidence. Now, imagine if that certain someone doesn't come to pump up your spirits. What happens then?

I think of this as I revive and repackage this blog. While I know I can't do this without the support and love of friends, family, and colleagues (thank you from the bottom of my heart), I'll also forever be grateful to that stranger who told me to write again. I've missed all of you, too.

This post, my dear, is for you.

Photo from fumcwired.com.

I know some friends who when they tweet TGIF, every tired cell on their nine-to-five bodies reverberates the same exact sentiment. You can almost hear their gut-quenching sighs of relief punctuated by exclamation points of glee.

I can’t help but empathize and be totally relieved alongside my go-getting girl friends. I know that feeling oh-so-well. They deserve the magic Fridays bring! I still get moments when I desperately seek out the calm of the weekend. That’s when my work inbox takes a break and my deadlines give me a momentary breather, and I get to re-energize for the coming week. That’s also the time when I reconnect with friends, see my family, and catch up on chores and get a healthy dose of soul-soothing me-time. 

While on a Fridate last night with two of my best girls, we got into comparing how much our Fridays have changed. No longer were we chasing the Saturday dawn in an inebriated haze. We were neither balancing on gimik heels nor staking out the noisy gig scene. But, we still welcomed Fridays with as much gratitude and reverence as we used to during our 20something years. The weekends became necessary sources of strength. And, staying home no longer wasted a good weekend (like we thought so before), but energized us after a tumultuous week.

This, therefore, begs me to conclude: Fridays are relative. While others need to down a couple of rounds of stress-soothing booze or hit the town on a partying craze to make the most of a Friday night, others can find comfort in cool, quiet conversations, peppered with laugh trips and inside jokes. (Recently, my Fridays have been more of the latter, and I’m loving it!) The requisites of an awesome Fridate? Good company and something that revives you, not wears you out. Your weekly preferences may change, but, whichever way you have it, making the most of a glorious Friday can do you a lot of good.

Whether you choose to paint the town red or opt to cozy up with friends on a stormy Friday night (like we did last night and alcohol-free at that!), there’s really no correct way to unwind after a busy work week. What’s important is that you simply do.It truly is good for the soul. 

I hope you all had a happy Friday. May Saturday and Sunday be just as amazing.

Weekends rock!

To a friend in the meantime phase:

You’re convinced he’s taken up getting sloshed every night, nursing his heart with sips from his fourth double Black. You’re willing to bet that that song on the radio totally reminds him of you, because you used to belt it out so perfectly during your KTV dates. You’re almost sure he stakes out your Facebook wall muttering his monologue of regrets. If he’s out seeing the world and having fun, you’re sure he’s wistfully thinking of how everything would be better with you. And during his free time, if he isn’t wondering about what you’re doing, you just know he’s planning his strategy for winning you back and making himself worthy of your awesomeness.  

Reality: These sound more like you…and well, not him.

What he shouldn’t do but is currently doing?  Canoodle with someone new in a honeymoon high full of promise and kilig. You think: “Shouldn’t I  find someone first? Unfair!” It doesn’t help at all they’re posting all their photos on Facebook and exchanging sweet-nothings over Twitter. Hasel. Unfollow. Untag. Unfriend.

That’s the thing about breakups, when things end, you have to deal with two potentially heart-crushing realities: the regret of seeing what you had go to waste and the sadness of all the couldas and shouldas that paint the future of your would-have-been future together. While mending your broken heart, you also need to recalibrate your future without him in the picture. Both, mind you, aren’t easy tasks at all.

I remember some several years ago having dinner with a friend a month after one particular breakup. I was okay, put-together, and was feeling quite awesome. I had lost some weight and was doing exceptionally well at work. Everything, it seems, was aligned with helping me heal. It had been a while since the last time I cried myself to sleep, and I was no longer pining. I couldn’t wait to get all better and completely healed. I had even dated someone else after the split, although it didn’t work out. It was then that my friend slipped: He had a new girlfriend. My world momentarily came to halt. Cue tears that relentlessly streamed down my face. I felt like I was thrusted back to day one.

Looking back, it wasn’t really about him-him, because I had long accepted that we couldn’t have a future together. But, hearing that he had found someone new made me wonder why I hadn’t. It felt sucky, to say the least.

But in some sort of clicheic foretelling, time did heal all wounds, my broken heart included. I learned the benefits of taking my time through healing and in doing so, got myself the life I was meant to have and more.  Later on, I even found a better relationship (now, that’s another story). Don’t get me wrong; I still had to contend with nights when I wanted to party to ease the loneliness, when I flirted up a storm to make me forget, and when I got thrown back to day one for the Nth time. But, I remain a fervent believer that giving yourself enough time between relationships allows you to fix your heart on your own and make it ready for the coming of an even better love. More than anything, it gives you a clearer picture of what you really want in a guy, so you won’t have to go through a sucky breakup ever again. Well, hopefully, that is.

He has someone new? Well, so what. Your healing starts today.

Did he move on first? What did you do to get over it? Tweet me about it @zoitseems.

Before I begin, let me first establish one basic fact: Cebu is a lot more than just Mactan. Now that that’s out of the way, I’ll use this post to convince you to head on to the Northern tip of Cebu and make your way to Malapascua Island. 

The last time I was in Malapascua was around eight years ago. I made a lot of memories then, and I’m thrilled I got to go back and see Malapascua again. It hasn’t changed much; it possibly has a few more resorts, but it still looks amazing. 

How To Get To Malapascua: Malapascua is located around three hours away from Cebu City. You want to make your way to the Maya Port, by the Northern town of Daan Bantayan. You can choose between four alternative means of travel: First, you can catch a bus from the North Terminal in Cebu. Here, buses that head up to the Northern Cebuano towns come at regular intervals. If you want to to lounge relaxed and cool, catch an air-conditioned bus (P160-180). If you feel like roughing it, though, and don’t mind the heat, the non-aricon buses offer a slightly cheaper alternative (P130-150). I suggest visiting a day before your trip to find out the exact bus schedules, so you can plan your trip right. With all the bus stops and terminals along the way, traveling by bus takes the longest (approximately four to five hours).

You can also choose to hop aboard one of the V-hire (Van hire) vehicles parked at the shuttle depot also on the North Terminal grounds. They squeeze in approximately 14pax per van. These V-hires make fewer stops along the way, so you’ll get to Maya sooner (maybe three and half hours).

If you’d rather have a car to yourselves, hire a vehicle to drop you off at Maya. Or, make arrangements with a taxi driver and ask for his rate (this is what we did on our way to Malapascua). Some resorts on the island offer pick-up services from the city, too. Depending on the rate you find and the arrangements you make, going by private car can get steep and can set you back P2,000-P3,000.

The last alternative is to convince your Cebuano friends and fam to take the drive and go on a Malapascua adventure with you. :)

From the Maya port, you can either take the public boats (P40-P60/head) or rent your own boat through your resort or make arrangements at the port with the local boatmen. This can cost as much as P1,500. Malapascua island from Maya port is a mere 20-30 minutes away.

Here’s mum enjoying the view and our private boat ride.

Where To Stay: There’s a stretch of white beach which offers accommodations that match different budgets. My sis and I treated our parents to beachfront balcony rooms at Ocean Vida. I loooved it there! I would definitely go back.

There are other resorts along the stretch, like Cocobana, Legend, and Sunsplash, all offering different rates and with different features. There are also other garden resorts on the island, which are just a couple of minutes away from the beach. Or, you can also explore the resorts on the opposite cove (back; think: Boracay’s Bulabog) which is further away, but offers a different feel of Malapascua.

What to Do There: Malapascua is touted as a diver’s paradise. If you’re a certified diver or want to try it out, Malapascua is the place to do it. Known for its thresher sharks, divers from all over the world come to Malapascua for the exceptional diving. 

Rest. I think my most favorite pastime on the beach is to stare off and daydream. This was a great spot for doing exactly that.

Papa found this beautiful private cove and is already planning his next visit back. 

Take a dip. I don’t even have to suggest doing so, because the water will look so inviting. The white sand, the rich blue sea—paradise perfect, indeed. 

Unless you visit during busy Holy Week when the island celebrates the holiday festivities with its own pocket events, Malapascua is relatively quiet. There are no noisy bars or clubs (well, none yet, that is), and divers often sleep early to prep for their dawn dives. The quiet makes it perfect for lounging around, thinking, and escaping…all while sipping on your happy-hour cocktail, of course.

Happy hour on the shore? Yes!

Yup, again, it’s more fun in the Philippines!