Smoke and Mirrors

You realize you have no control over how you're perceived. 

- Chuck Palahniuk

I am thirty years old, and if I knew then what I know now, I could have spared myself a lot of unnecessary worrying. In my teens, I worried endlessly about what others thought of me. I'd toss and turn at night thinking about this friend who suddenly stopped talking to me, or this classmate who always said hi to me in the hallways but happened not to that day when I was clearly in her line of sight. I felt bad when close friends shared secrets and I'd be the last to know. I also felt excluded because I was one of those who didn't get that much coveted invitation to someone's slumber party.

How petty.

I've realized, as I've uhm, matured, that you can't please everybody. You cannot even try. 

When I had my daughter, I evolved into someone who thought less and less about what 'everyone else' thinks and placed more importance, instead, on making myself happy and making those who truly mattered to me happy. As a result, I am happy with where I am emotionally, at this point in my life. My thirties are off to an awesome start.

photo taken by The Husband last week during lunch at Siam Thai Cuisine

Indifferent

My friend told me, "Y'know what, with the situation you're in, have you realized that even if it had come to this, you never actually cared, you do not care and, right now, it looks like you never will?"

photo from weheartit.com

I didn't reply. She was right.

I choose my battles now, see. I will STILL say something - in fact, I will say a lot - if you treat me like crap when I have been nothing but civil to you. Other than that, I will continue to be oblivious.

Home Is Where The Heart Is

I was born in Iloilo but I grew up in the Queen City of the South - Cebu. We, Cebuanos are very vocal about our love for our island so allow me this blog entry to tell you why I love living here.

1. the food's good

Seafood is fresh. Get them from sutukil places near Magellan's Shrine. You choose from the day's freshest catch and the staff will cook them for you in whatever way you want. That's what sutukil stands for - sugba (grill), tuwa (stew), kilaw (eat raw - like uhm, a ceviche?). There's squid, a wide variety of fish, crabs, prawns, shellfish like clams, scallops and oysters, and shrimps. The prices are pretty reasonable, too.

Cebu is also home to the best lechon, or roasted suckling pig. A Cebuano doesn't eat lechon with Sarsa ni Mang Tomas. The pig tastes good by itself, you won't need any condiment. You can get lechon from places like CnT or Alejo's. You can also get it from Zubuchon, which renowned chef, Anthony Bourdain hailed as the 'best pig ever.' Right now, spicy boneless lechon is all the rage. It's actually lechon belly with the bones removed, smothered in chili. To say that the Husband and I are obsessed is an understatement.

My island also has puso, ngohiong, Carcar chicharon and Harbour City Dimsum's steamed rice. Yummm.

photo from findcebu.blogspot.com

2. the local music scene is alive and kicking

Saturday nights with the Husband are spent scoping out gigs. The Husband used to be a drummer for a local reggae band. Yes, I started out as a closet groupie. Ha!

Cebu is home to great local musicians. My favorites are Cattski, Powerspoonz, The Line Divides, Who's Next?, Burnin' Culture, and Sheila and the Insects.

Of course, everyone knows that Cebu is where Urbandub and Franco are from.

my own photo of him during a gig in Cebu, aptly called Franco Comes Home

photo taken by the Husband; I'm sure this'll crack him up when he reads this entry

3. the beaches are pretty and you can island hop if one beach isn't enough for you

There's Moalboal, Pandanon, Malapascua, Bantayan, Sumilon, the beaches on Mactan Island, and many more.

photo from dumaguete-hotels.com

4. the mountains and the countryside are scenic drives away

Head on over to Tops in the evening if you want to see Cebu City lit up like the bustling metropolis it is.

photo from markmaranga.com

You can also drive to the south of Cebu to see the countryside. If our Honda wasn't such a gas guzzler, the Husband and I would do this every other weekend. A view like this is priceless. This is Boljoon, a town in Southern Cebu.

photo from flickr.com

5. the people are generally friendly and laid-back

Cebuanos are not frantic. We rarely rush. We like to put our feet up and relax. We believe that, bisan kinsa ka ug bisan asa ka gikan, sa tagay gihapon ta mag-abot. If you can understand that, give me a call. You deserve to come to my city.

photo from definitelyfilipino.com