I am the master of my fate, I am the captain of my soul. ~ W.E. Henley

Woman in Black 2 Was a Total Scream-fest!


The Woman in Black is back because she never left.  Eel Marsh has always been her home and whenever there are children, she would always want to take over.

Woman in Black 2 is a sequel to the Daniel Radcliffe (Harry Potter) horror movie of the same name.  Although there is no connection between the two movie's story line except for the setting at the Eel Marsh House.  The movie has a bit of a romantic feel the kind that appeals to all ages.


It was a fine day to have been invited to watch the special advanced screening for the movie "The Woman in Black Angel of Death."  It was nice to be in the cinema with a gathering of movie enthusiasts. You could almost assume everyone was screaming in concert.


I'm a sucker for any opportunity to scream out the air from my lungs.  Watching horror films is my way of freaking the stress away.  Special thanks to Cebu Blogging Community!

The Woman in Black 2 Angel of Death is showing starting today in Ayala Center Cebu.  Go catch it!

6 Things I learned From Sinulog 2015


Back in my college undergrad days, Sinulog festivities used to be something I anticipate right after the holiday season, second to my midterm exam preparations of course. Now that I have moved on to being a yuppie, Sinulog has become one of my major excuse curl up in my lair and shun the world out.

This year I rekindled my festive Sinulog spirit just like my teen days and promised myself to really immerse with the current generation of Sinulog party animals.

I am glad that coincidentally, The ViXeN's LaiR was able to take part of GMA 7's Sinulog 2015 Social Media arm by being the voice on the streets joining the hashtag #PitSenyorGMA

This was not really a planned social experiment but the whole Sinulog 2015 experience made me really reflective.  I think it is worth sharing and hopefully be source of good points to ponder on for future crazy festivities - Sinulog or otherwise.

1.  A Sinulog survival kit is a must!


Cebu City is as tropical as any island in the Philippines could get so arm yourself with sunglasses, lipbalm, sunscreen lotion, a hat, light colored garments, a fan, water, water and water.

2.  Go to the Mardi Gras site early, as in 8:00 AM tops!


Year after year the Sinulog crowd grows in epic proportions.  Hello millennials and baby boomers!  So far traffic reroutes are available online making it fairly easy to plan and anticipate your travel time. By 10:00 AM mobs will have formed in the Mardi Gras site's key areas specially Mango Avenue or Gen. Maxilom Avenue.

3.  Do not bring babies!


I always pity the babies who risk suffocation from the crazy Sinulog mob.

4.  Not all paint thrown or swiped at you is water soluble!

Sinulog gunk took 30 minutes and 2 soaps to wash off!

I had to scrub my face and neck raw just to get rid of the stains. Metallic paints are the toughest one to take off.  I feared for my eyes too! Colored rain apparently stings and it's painful.

5. Fireworks shows make me feel like a kid again!



I'm like a firefly, I'm always drawn to fire, and fancy fireworks shooting artistically in the air is no exception.  You can hear my koos and ahhs in the 6 minute video of Sinulog 2015 Fireworks Show in Ayala Cebu.

6.  It's perfectly fine to not get drunk or wasted during Sinulog!



It's not like I haven't had my own episodes of shaming myself in public with my drunken antics.  But really, Sinulog is a tradition of celebrating the moment native Cebuanos transitioned from being pagan islanders to strong Catholic believers that allowed Jesus Christ to change their lives. Let us always remember this as we toast, gyrate and shout to Viva! Pit Senyor! 

In retrospect, Sinulog 2015 was also an event of a few of my "Firsts" and the highlight definitely goes to my having completed the 9 Days Novena to Senyor Sto. Nino.




BSP Issues Commemorative Papal Coins


Banko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) celebrates the state and pastoral visit of Pope Francis in the Philippines by minting commemorative papal coins in P50, P500, P1,000 and P10,000 denominations.  


Note that all of these coins are bought at a premium, where the P50-piso papal coin is priced at P100 and the P500-piso papal coin set at P1000.  Nonetheless this is quite an attractive deal as the P500-piso papal coin is made of nordic gold and also gold plated.

I have already sent my completed reservation form.  You can get the form through this link: 

http://www.bsp.gov.ph/publications/tables/2015_01/news-01142015b1.pdf

Send the completed forms to papalcoins@bsp.gov.ph

Are You Ready For Sinulog 2015


Sinulog 2015 festivities will kick off on January 8, 2015 and culminates with the traditional Sinulog Grand Parade on January 18, 2015.

  • In a nutshell, Sto. Nino 9 Days Novena starts Jan. 8 with an Opening Salvo at 4:00 AM.  
  • Sinulog sa Kabataan sa Lalawigan on Jan. 10 and the parade starts at 1:00 PM.  
  • On Jan. 11 Sinulog sa Kabataan sa Dakbayan and the parade will also be at 1:00 PM.  
  • Sinulog Idol Grand Finals on Jan 15 at 8:00 PM Fuente Osmena.  
  • Walk with Mary starts 4:00 AM on Jan 16 and the Coronation for Sinulog 2015 Festival Queen will happen at 7:30 PM.  
  • Fluvial Procession on Jan 17 6:00 AM and the Solemn Procession of the Miraculous Image of Sto. Nino will start at 2:00 PM.  
  • And to top it all the Sinulog Grand Parade will be commenced by the Mananita Mass at the Basilica on at 4:00 AM of Sunday Jan 18, 2015.  

Pit Senyor!  Hope to see on on the streets!





Visit the Facebook page of the Sinulog Foundation Inc. for more info on ticket sales, photo contest and music video contest.

Forever Flawless Pink Revolution EXTENDED!



Forever Flawless is my savior when my face could no longer take the stress when I was on my first semester of law school.  I had the scariest breakout I have ever had.  I tried a lot of remedies but only Forever Flawless' Advance Anti-Acne Facial turned my hideous blemishes around.  I used to patronize their skin care set too until I no longer had to use it.

I love how Forever Flawless suits one of my #kumbati2015 goals - which is saving - because I just could not cut my maintenance regimens and risk breaking out again.  Thank goodness for the Flawless Pink Revolution. A salute is well deserved indeed!

PS.  Yes I'm back to blogging!