After our mini bookish outing at last Saturday's Dia del Libro, we headed to 26th Street Bistro for The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf's Give the Gift of Light project. We weren't supposed to go anymore but the opportunity to help other kids have the chance to a better quality of life was too good to pass up.

It's easy to take things for granted, especially if they've always been there for us. We just notice the inconvenience when we suddenly find ourselves without the thing (or person) that we take for granted. In this case: blackouts. But for the people of the Dumagat tribe, this is not a temporary inconvenience - this is their permanent reality. And so I didn't hesitate to dedicate a few hours of our Saturdate with the other volunteers that flocked in the 26th Street Bistro.

It was a delight to see the place packed with people wanting to pledge and volunteer their time, effort, and money to help give light to the kids of the Dumagat tribe. ♡ We weren't able to start on our lamps right away because we had to wait for other people to finish using their soldering irons!

Dia del Libro in Makati

Thank god for technology and the way it alerts us to events that might be up our alley and lets us decide whether to go or not. That was what I instantly thought of when I found out about Dia del Libro organized by Instituto Cervantes in partnership with the National Book Development Board (NBDB), Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino, WTA Architecture and Design Studio, and the Intellectual Property Office in the Philippines, among others.

Wore my fun. wire ring custom-made by Ana because I was sure it was going to be a fun Saturday!

Dia del Libro is held annually every April 23 it is an important day in the world of literature. My friend (and my boyfriend Miah's former classmate) Boj informed us that they used to hold it in Kalaw, but this year they held the event in Ayala Triangle Gardens.

In Spain where Dia del Libro started, the 23rd of April is St. George’s Day, a day when men and women exchange roses and books. April 23 is also the day two of the world’s greatest authors, Miguel de Cervantes and William Shakespeare, died. Thus, UNESCO declared April 23 as “World Book and Copyright Day.” 

In the Philippines, April is the birth month of the great classic Filipino poet, Francisco “Balagtas” Baltazar, the man behind the epic poem Florante at Laura. To honor him, the National Commission on Culture and the Arts declared April as National Literature Month. 

I was so overwhelmed with all the things happening around me that I didn't get to take a lot of photos!

Earth Day 2016: Give the Gift of Light with The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf®

Do you remember those power outages in the early '90s? I think I was in Kindergarten or Elementary that time, and I remember feeling majorly inconvenienced because it was difficult to read in the dark. But I persisted, with the help of candlelight. The oldies say that's the reason why I had to wear glasses at an early age, but joke's on them because the reason I wear glasses is astigmatism.

Anyway. I'm so glad that power outages are now a rare occurrence, but spare a thought for the people in some communities in the Philippines that still continue to live without electricity in their homes. To them it's not just temporary; it's a permanent reality.

To celebrate Earth Day, The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf®, through its Caring Cup program, is supporting the United Nations’ 7th goal for sustainable development: AFFORDABLE AND CLEAN ENERGY. Recognizing that a great number of communities in the Philippines still continue to live without electricity in their homes, one of the most basic necessities for decent living conditions, The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf® is hoping to do its part to respond to the need by giving the gift of light through its partnership with My Shelter Foundation for its Liter of Light project.

The Liter of Light (or Isang Litrong Liwanag) project is an initiative that brings solar lamps to communities that lack electricity. Recent developments have enabled My Shelter Foundation to convert common kerosene lamps into a medium that gives people access to sustainable light. Kerosene lamps are one of the cheapest light devices in energy poor areas, yet the downside is that they let out toxic smoke harmful to the health of individuals. Through the Liter of Light project, the kerosene lamps are made clean, becoming a source of light that does not give off harmful fumes through a combination of a simple circuit, LED, solar panel, and battery.

Happy April Feels!

I was feeling too lazy to get out of bed this morning. I was still tired from the major event we had last Thursday, the extreme heat and humidity were not helping, and San Juan is too faaar. But I just couldn't let this pass me by. Also, waffles. So instead of spending the day lounging in bed, I spent it feeling the feels and celebrating Filipino romance books with fellow Filipino romance lovers through an event organized by #romanceclass – April Feels Day!

And what a wise decision it was. ♡

International music and local fashion come together with Oxygen x Billboard

Got passion for music and fashion? You will love this new collaboration. ᒄ₍⁽ˆ⁰ˆ⁾₎ᒃ♪♬

Music and fashion enthusiasts, mark the date. Oxygen, the preferred fashion brand of the stylish youth, is holding a pop-up music fest on April 14 at TriNoma’s Activity Center to launch its exclusive partnership with global music giant Billboard.

Chasing bookstores

"I was put on this earth to accomplish a lot of things.

Right now I'm so far behind I will never die."

- source

As much as I wanted to stress myself over preparations for my 30th birthday (I kid, I kid), I couldn't really do it because I was tied up with work. I love planning parties, but couldn't really muster the energy to plan something for what is considered a milestone birthday. When I learned about the Pinoy Bookstore Tour organized by the National Book Development Board though, I decided THIS WAS IT! My birthday plans served to me on a silver platter!

There was only one problem: slots are limited and I didn't make it.

Still, people were encouraged to go so I thought, why not go to Baguio for the weekend and make a trip out of it?

I had another problem: no one could go with me.

All hopes to have a memorable 30th appeared to have been lost. Up until a week prior I didn't have definite plans; all I know is that I didn't want anything grand and that I wanted to make it all about moi. And so on the day itself I had a Combination Swedish and Shiatsu massage and a delizioso Italian dinner with my boyfriend. ♥

And then, when you really need them, people pull through.

30

Hello, world wide web! I turned 30 today. (ღ˘⌣˘ღ)

And because celebrating birthdays always means cake...

... this Valrhona Guanaja 70% Dark Chocolate Soufflé with Vanilla Creme Anglaise that I had in Le Petit Soufflé yesterday is the perfect accompaniment to turning thirty, flirty, and thriving.

{2016} Currently Vols. 13 and 14

Last week was my first time to miss my weekly Currently posting and I feel bad about it, thus this double post.

It was crazy. Today was my eighth consecutive day to go to work as I needed to work last Saturday and Sunday also for two events we handled for our client. I am tired but grateful for having had the chance to meet more people in the industry and connect with old friends who have always been supportive.

I wasn't able to take a lot of photos from the three Sandara Park-filled days we had (we were at the airport when she arrived on March 31, organized a shoot and a presscon for her that happened in EDSA Shangri-La Hotel on April 1, and assisted with her Fan Conference in Skydome on April 2)  as Penshoppe's PR agency, but I was able to take a photo with the peeps who matter.

My #nofilter selfie with Sandara

She's so pretty! And she glows!