What Michelle Does

     Happy Holidays everyone!

I hope your Christmas was as wonderful and bedazzling as the colorful Christmas lights!

I spent mine with my sister, Lawrence's family and of course, my jolly dogs. We had a simple dinner and coffee to cap off the night. It was simple but we had the best time.

Though currently saving for our upcoming trips, we had to fly to Manila, specifically Makati, to process some documents.

It was a first for me so I didn't really know what to expect. What I do know is that it wasn't the kind of Manila I had in mind.

Touchdown!
December 26, 2017. Typhoon Nina slammed into Luzon area the morning we got to NAIA. It was pouring like crazy and many flights were cancelled. We stayed and slept in the airport until the wee hours of the morning. It was also a holiday, which means offices were closed. So we basically had the whole day to ourselves!

Lawrence had stayed in Makati for quite some time so he gave showed me around like a pro tour guide. Lucky me. :)

Check - in time was 2:00 p.m. We casually strolled along Glorietta and boy was the whole place clean. No trash, no vendors, no people jay walking. I felt like I was in a whole different dimension. It did have tons of good spots to take photos so I took the opportunity to practice.

After dinner, we had coffee at Seattle's to prepare ourselves for the day to come.
We both had a loooooong day but the change in routine was just what we needed.


Mission accomplished!

How was your holiday?



xx,
michelle

     Running does make your muscles, especially those on the legs, tight. It's undeniable since you can definitely feel it...in all parts. The more I pushed myself to do better in running, the lesser my flexibility got. I don't know about you guys but I recall not being able to do a monkey split or plow just two months after training. Now it's been more than a year and I'm back to square one in my yoga practice.

     There is this annoying back pain I've been telling you about, right? It got worse from all the sitting I've been doing at work. Hello flat  butt! What better way to relieve that than by doing yoga. It never fails. Without hesitation, I grabbed my beloved mat and headed to YogaHub in Raintree Mall.

     Who doesn't love discounts?

(c) Yoga Hub

     What perfect time it was because they had a 50% discount on all walk in students. Yay! And the best part? I was going to attend a Vinyasa class. It's a personal favorite! I love how smooth sailing the flow is and how there's a lot of variation you can do. Plus, you don't have to force yourself in doing the poses. You know what they often remind you in class, respect what your body can do. :) 

     An hour of stretching and core work proves to be effective in mitigating muscle pain. Well, in my case, shoulder and back pain! It is like giving your body a mini massage with the benefits of detoxing  and relaxation since you are going to sweat the stress and junk off. The teacher was also very nice and lively! Pretty good!

     Yes, you love the endorphin release and thrill when you run. However, give yoga a chance. If you're aiming for weight loss, this'll give your body a surprise. Not only yoga but there are gazillions of workouts you can do. Our body adapts quickly to anything, I'm used to working my legs...but I haven't done enough core work. Yes, variation is the key to preventing boredom. Who says working out has to be routinary and dull? Maybe you just gotta' try new stuff out!

Michelle

I took Mico out for a run yesterday!

But Mico is currently admitted. No, I'm not talking about a person, I'm a talking about a dog...and this shirt, would help Mico heaps.

You guys know how much I respect and love animals...any living creature at that. This includes our four legged friends. People call them "askal" short for "asong kalye." But for animal lovers, we prefer to call them "aspin" --- "asong pinoy."

A couple of months ago, Gretel, a friend of mine conducted a drive that helped change the world of these helpless and neglected strays in Mandaue City Pound. Though based in Thailand, she called in for volunteers to work together in giving these furry babies the basic needs they surely deserve. With the help of other compassionate people of the same goal, strays are finally being given love and attention that was long overdue.

Saving Strays Cebu aims to, from the name itself, SAVE the asong pinoys roaming around the streets. Not limited to that, they also give aid to abused dogs and pet owners call for justice for their beloved pets.







You cannot imagine the ignorance some people have. It breaks my heart every time I see an abused animal. :(

Care to help out?
Adopt. Foster. Donate. Volunteer.
These animals long for a home.
You or someone you know might be willing to give them a forever home! :)



For more information visit:
Saving Strays Cebu




Cheers!
Michelle

     This day was far from quotidian. It was extra special and significant to me personally because..because..because...it's my natal day! I'm officially 27!

     I got up late last Saturday not realizing it was my birthday. Still feeling muzzy from slumber, I didn't really mind the sound of the door opening and foot steps thinking that it was just my sister coming in to get some stuff. Suddenly, a heart-shaped box filled with Ferrero chocolates dropped on the bed. Oh to my surprise it was Lawrence. And while having breakfast, my sister ran back and forth to prepare another 'surprise' for me. (*°∀°)

     Happy candle and cakes day to me! What a way to jump start my day!

    The initial plan was to out with him and my sister but then I thought I wanted to celebrate with my dogs and manang, too. After all, we are less than five residing in the house. Lawrence and I went mall-hopping in the afternoon. We brought food and had dinner at home! It is always a special day every time we would hang out. It doesn't really matter where.

     I am constantly thankful for each day that I am blessed with. It is not something I take for granted because I am subconsciously aware that maybe one day, unexpectedly, I would say bye bye. And poof! That's it.

    It's hard for us to look beyond our day to day lives, especially when we are drenched in the dullness of diurnal routine. But I do encourage you to see through the schedules and push yourself harder. Help a bit more sincerely, be more than happy, run the extra mile, and find joy in what is simple. :)

     Live life to the fullest---literally.

     

27 and counting,

Michelle

     Saturday. The time of the week when I get to wake up late and enjoy every waking moment of this short life a bit more. And by moment I mean typically the simple things that most people just fly by without savoring...including the slow sipping your morning cup of heaven.

     As I was about to put my usual grind, that is Vietnamese coffee, into the machine, I noticed the bag of Sumatra Mandailing on the counter and had a quick change of heart. I tore the top gently and smelt the oh so good aroma it gave out. Bliss. Ah how joyful was I!

     Sumatra is one of the three islands of the Malay Archipelago in Indonesia, including Java and Sulawesi. A number of Indonesian islands were formed by volcanoes (fact of the day!). I think the nutrients from the soil makes it super ideal to grow coffee! The name Mandailing is an ethnic group in Indonesia and are found in the northern part of the island of Sumatra. It is not a place guys. (second fact of the day!) 

     Giling Basah is an age-old Sumatran coffee making process. It means "wet hulled." Here, the farmers pick coffee and hull them...just picture a grater that removes the skin of a fruit, only that they're using a manual machine to do so. This then goes through an overnight fermentation. Then they kind of dry the coffee for a couple of hours until this reaches at 50% moisture content...not like other kinds which have only about 10% to 11% moisture content. Ah, I could go on an on about this but it's quite a long and tedious system...and read. But you see, every time I get to try a new kind of coffee, I read about it...a lot. That adds up to my coffee experience!

      Let's cut to the chase, shall we? Sumatra Mandailing coffee has a bold, strong flavor minus the acidity. It's has a trademark taste and is nothing like the other types of Indonesian coffee I have tried. It is a lighter version of Vietnamese coffee with notes of tobacco and spice! It's smooth and balanced. That being said, it undoubtedly will give you a pleasant coffee experience.

I'm not a coffee expert but I want to get to know my coffee much better.

Get caffeinated!

Michelle

Lawrence at Legaspi St., Downtown Cebu

Taking the ever so handy Sony Xperia XA (phone) for a test shoot. ♕

     Three years after this incident, many still experience trauma as they recall that fateful day when the unexpected storm surge happened. It was extremely catastrophic and I guess people were not really alarmed of a storm surge warning. What was a storm surge anyway? I thought it was better to tell them that a tsunami was coming. That way, they would have evacuated the areas much more quicker. Yes, the frightened residents stayed indoors... but that wasn't enough.

     My family and I were in our house in Cebu when that occurred and we could hear the howling of the mighty strong winds. It was almost a subtle scream. Roofs were pulled out from the houses and were sent flying as people tried to seek shelter. Everybody was scared for their lives. What more in the highly stuck cities and towns?

     Leyte's towns and cities were largely destructed. The cyclone literally swept everything clear of its path. The aftermath was incomprehensible as the massive damage reached an all time high. Cars were stacked one on top of the other, trees were knocked over, airports and supposedly evacuation centers were submerged by the storm surge....roughly 90% of the city was in an unbelievable wreck. Everyone was caught off guard. 2.5 million people were in dire need of food, looting was a common scene as they fought to survive. The city was pitch black and cold at night with no electricity. It was a real ghost town.  Logistical problems hastened the relief operations.

     This has opened our eyes to what defines and restores faith in humanity. The whole world watched as this place tried to recover with aid from all over the world being sent. There was an out pour of generosity, prayers and concern. And in a rare occasion, almost all people actually forgot issues about culture and race and simply gave a helping hand.

     Almost everyone. Here the Filipino people have witnessed footprints of government's sheer decade-long corruption. Monetary aid was not all being distributed and imports were not given to people if tax was not paid. This magnified the effect of the typhoon. People tried to board rescue planes out of desperation. Prisoners who escaped raised safety concerns and the situations was aggravating to the people. Foreign support did not go where they were supposed to. Months later, rebuilding and rehabilitation only became a breeding ground for graft. And that's only a glimpse of what's going on.

     Three years after, we remember Yolanda. What exactly has been done? On what basis can they consider rebuilding to be finished?  Only a 51-percent regeneration was noted last year, 2015. Will it get better this year? As long as people are sleeping in substandard housing and livelihood has not been stabilized, as long as people are not provided what has been long due and corruption is feeding on the needy. It can never thought of as done.

     Kudos to the people who still smile despite everything they have gone through. 

xx,

Michelle

Some photos from the relief op. in Bantayan after the typhoon that was conducted by Lions Club - Cebu.

stats taken from :
www.reliefweb.net
www.wikipedia.com

     In high school I also found that my dislocating hip joint wasn't at all normal...I had to go to a doctor because I sometimes would feel like a nerve was sort of caught between my bones (or something like that) and my range of movement was limited. I can't raise my legs so high, laterally. Then after running further tests and going to the doctor, it was shown that the ball of my right hip was a little bit longer than the one on the left. Nahhh, not much of a big deal either...and I stopped visiting the doctor because surgery was the only way to correct it. I had no money for that and it meant having a total hip replacement. Why would I want to do that when I'm functioning normally, right? People kept telling me sooner or later I might need it. I'll worry about that when it comes, if it does come.

     Oh, and did I mention my fingers are super flexy, I have a prominent nasal septum and I can control my gag reflex? Lik my fingers can't be straight! I feel like I'm one of those X-Men people who are so darn weird. I can literally be like 1/4 snake-ish and let out the food I just swallowed. I know, it sounds disgusting but I used to enjoy making my brother throw up out of sheer disgust because of this. *big laugh*

     I recall applying for a local and international airline before and the interviewers told me to cover up the boney part of my nose because it was considered a flaw...the F. I tried so hard and almost poured all the concealer on this specific area but it just wouldn't go away. And I was like, seriously? I tell you, if they can't accept who you are and what you have, they're not worth giving your time and effort. That is so superficial. Oh the reality of people setting standards for what beauty is and what it should look like... *sigh*

     It's 2016 and I've been obsessed with running and fitness. Despite all that I feel like I'm still at the top of my game. Who says disabilities can stop you from doing what you love? I admire people who never let those hurdles get in the way. It's just another hump on the road! Whatever flaw you have, consider it as a beautiful imperfection because that's what makes you unique. You might have freckles (like me!), or your eye color might not be the same but hey, the moon has craters but people still find it beautiful! 

stay happy,

Michelle

     The number of creatures living in the brink of extinction has led me to realize that sometimes, other people are too selfish not to think of others' crucial situation. I am honestly ashamed of the human race. 

     I have always had this deep sense of caring for the Earth since I was a child. I recall picking up an injured bird and taking care of it until it was ready to fly, I happily planted seedlings in our lot and witnessed it grow to my heart's content. It is and never was like me to throw trash in any place and yes, I am never guilty of dumping garbage anywhere. The cartoons that I have watched were The Wild Thornberry's and Captain Planet. I have brought this love until the present time. I am updated with the latest issues regarding the environment and I signed up for Greenpeace years ago. I try to produce less trash as much as possible and even my used coffee grinds have found a place in my teeny garden.

      But that's only me.

     What about the millions of other people that coexist with nature. It sounds a tad cliche because we often hear people ranting about how others are ruining the environment. But are they really doing something about it? I personally think that if you want to make a change, you have to start with in yourself and at home. This is not a one-man army because it's a sad fact that you need a nation to make a big change. You can't sit behind the screen of your PC or Mobile posting stuff and still do the same things others are doing. It all comes down to your habits, your discipline and how seriously you are taking the situation. People often have this no care attitude thinking that this planet's issues are going to end in hay wire anyway. Ignorance is definitely not bliss. I wouldn't have posted this if it had not been for the image of the frail polar bear...caused by the melting of the arctic ice. It was just too heartbreaking. Moreover, it is seen that by 2020, two thirds of animals are going to be extinct. You enjoy watching elephants and tigers, but by that time you'd be looking at statues than the real thing if you don't make a move. Oil spills, smogs are constantly occurring  being health risks among the many. A type of bee is even placed in the endangered species list (do you want to say goodbye to coffee?) Same goes with the Western Black Rhino, which was declared extinct in 2011 (if I am not mistaken, but this was caused by poaching.) Still, this poses a major imbalance in the ecosystem. One can't only benefit all the time, you have got to give back what is due. Is that really not enough to give people a wake up call?

     So before you complain about how hot, dry and dirty is now, before ranting about how limited resources are, ask yourself. Have you done your part?

     I am not an environmental expert but I have seen enough to tell you that things are spiraling down...and it will come back to the ones who have caused it.