I Am... (The Reflection)

The entity arises in the pedestal where the crowd’s eyes locked upon the angelic petite façade publicized to them. Mesmerized by her wit and charm, amazed by her out-of-this-world flair and the liberalism of her perception, fascinated by her sharp looks and mysterious grimaces and astounded by the hard-shell of a personality that shielded such delicate fascia, neither would doubt nor could ever decipher the reality of her being. The androgyny in her persona frequently calls out to everyone making her aura attractive regardless of their sexual characteristics.

Her wacky jokes and laughter, cheerful and almost nonstop chit-chats brighten people’s drab moments. Her strong, stern yet hippy and liberated leadership style draws the team to her side like tiny shreds of magnetic metals. Her sophisticated, mean and unapproachable, sometimes weird guise may repel prospective acquaintances. However, first impressions always never last.

Soft yet brutally frank and outspoken; it's simply credited to her "I'm lucky" childhood and independent secondary life pushed by her early encounter of life's turbulent waters. No wonder, she could be everybody’s greatest dream and worst nightmare.

Nonetheless, jumping into conclusions instantaneously or even judging what the eyes revealed from the frontage is futile. It may be as delusional as the soft and pleasant face of the girl smiling mysteriously from beyond the reflection of the mirror in front of you. So, behold what lies beneath the silver magical thing that reveals her charming but tough appearance to the naked eyes. It will always remain mystifying to people. Know her. She’s your best friend or your worst enemy. She will always remain an enigmatic reflection in the mirror. She will always be Tyra!

A Robber in a Decent Attire

Mary Anne, a school mate, theater sorority sister and simply a friend of mine was on her way to school on board a multicab (a mini jeepney-type of public transportation in Cebu, Philippines that can accommodate eight to ten passengers).  She was wearing her university uniform – a white female dress shirts-type of blouse with V-shaped neck line and an A-line type of navy blue knee-level skirt. It was just one of those normal weekdays where she heads off for school in the morning.

A few blocks away from where Mary Anne hopped into the multicab, a man clad in dark (almost in black shade) decent dress shirt also got into the multicab and sat beside her. He took the seat at the left side of my friend. The man looked like he was in his early thirties or late twenties but he seemed to look older than his average age because of some darker spots on his neatly trimmed face.

His hair was neatly in place and the dress shirts he is wearing (it looks like he has a white inner shirt) is also tidily pressed and looks really presentable. He looks like any respectable man with an office-type of work. Mary Anne even assumed that he’s a medical representative because of the type of brown leather suit-case-type of hand bag he’s bringing.

When Mary Anne reached school on General Maxilom Avenue, she just realized that her big wallet with all her identification cards, ATMs and school allowances were gone, and to make things worse, she found out that there was a big tear on the left side of her bag. Later did she realized why the presentable-looking man in dark and neat dress shirt covered his hands with his brown hand bag. She also realized that while on the multicab earlier, she felt slight movements at her left side.

She just ignored the idea of being robbed because she didn’t suspect a well-dressed man to do such crime. It was very unlikely of a robber to dress up well, because their usual features are rugged and badly-dressed in ordinary-looking shirts and faded denim pants. 

A simple rule that we should keep in mind, do not judge a person by the way they look. Sometimes, the security we felt in prejudice is like a lion dressed in a lamb skin.

Wrangler’s “My Fit My Edge”

With over a century, they have conquered the fashion industry in terms of providing denim clothes, garments and accessories to all parts of the globe. In fact, Wrangler has been one of the world’s three biggest denim brands.

Wrangler is founded in 1909, and “it was launched as Blue Bell by a work wear company specializing in overalls. It catapulted to fame when it took the name Wrangler (Working Cowboy) in 1947, becoming an iconic American denim brand that has delivered outstanding denim innovation and authentic craftsmanship to this day.”

In the contemporary times where fashion is directed to a concoction of comfort, action, style and personality, “Wrangler advances its expertise in denim, interpreting the meaning of fit” in a way that embraces both the wearer’s body and personality, thus, suiting to every person’s lifestyle and clothing needs.

This year, Wrangler brings in a whole new charisma to its brand, bringing in the “My Fit My Edge” concept to embrace the fashion and style demands of the people all over the world, most particularly in the Philippines.

“The My Fit My Edge campaign features Ace, Stokes, Crank and Molly, each with its own character fit for you to choose from. With these you can define your unique edge and be a sure stand out.”

Furthermore, each masterpiece are added with unique characteristics -- cool and being laid back -- which are some of the adjectives that personify its relaxed edge with clean pieces and basic cuts.

“Stokes is a class act lady who exudes a sophisticated demeanor with classic silhouettes and tailored pieces. Crank is that rugged lad that comes on strong with eye-catching statement shirts and leather jacket. Molly, the outgoing cosmopolite whose energy radiates from 10 feet away, flaunts a stylish edge with a few feminine pieces and a ton of charm and attitude.”

Last May 13, 2011 (Friday) at 6:30 PM at the Atrium of SM Mall of Asia, several fashionistas and fashion brands participated the fashion show event and found their best fit, and flaunted their edges with Wrangler’s Four Fits Collection. This was featured on the Philippine Fashion Week Holiday 2011. For more information about Wrangler, please visit www.wrangler-ap.com and http://www.facebook.com/WranglerPhilippines.

An Arrogant Suitor

For the ladies; when you've got a suitor whose head is way up above the space and who thinks so highly of himself, how would you deal with this guy? Personally, it kept me wondering, who would ever say "yes" to this kind of person with so much arrogance and pride in himself.

This conversation is quoted directly from the text messages sent to each other (the lady and the suitor, of course, who else?). I wonder how the ladies would feel and react to this scenario:

Finally, after three years of pestering the lady with his text messages, hoping to pursue and win her heart, she finally gave in...

Lady: (Annoyed already with the guy's persistence) Okay, let me give you a chance to court me... since it is your right anyway, but let's just see if you can get what you want...

Guy:  Cge go! Ky murag suwerte  ka naku! Ganahan ko nga parehas ug relihiyon akong gf. (Translation: Okay, go... Because I think you are very lucky to have me as your boyfriend. I want a girl friend with the same religion as mine.)

Lady: (Surprised with the guy's arrogance and exaggerated pride in himself) Ako swerte nimu? Wa ka malefong? Entrada palang nimu hangin na. How would you expect to get a good girlfriend?

(Translation: Me? Lucky to have you? Are you kidding me? How you ever expect to get a good girlfriend when your introduction is already very arrogant.

Guy: Sounds like hambog? Naa man pod ko'y ikapang hambog. Number 1, finished the 6 year course doctor of Dental Medicine; 2. I am a gold medalist in Taekwando... etc...  

(Translation: Does it sound like bragging or arrogant to you? Well, I have something to brag anyway. First, I finished the 6 year course, doctor of Dental Medicine. Second, I am a gold medalist in Taekwando... etc.

The lady was so speechless and decided not to say anything anymore, giving a good consideration to the saying that goes: "If you can not say anything nice, don't say anything at all."

Writer's Block

I typed in a few words on my laptop's keyboard. I stopped for a couple of seconds, stared at the screen blankly. Then I hit on the Backspace key as I let my right finger lingered on it for a few seconds. I retyped the same words I deleted earlier, starred at it for a minute or two, then reached for the Backspace key again and pressed it about a hundred times until the sentences became a phrase, the phrase became a word, and the word became few letters, until finally, the letters were all gone and I could only stare at the bright blank whiteness in front of me. Writer's block! How would you explain that?

I held the base of my laptop with both hands. I put it down on top of my pillow, and leaned back on the hard cemented wall. The wall that separated us from the neighboring tenants felt so unfriendly against my back bones. It felt like crushing my bones and muscles altogether. So, I reached for another pillow and propped it in between my back and the wall. I leaned comfortably and wandered into my own universe. Things started whirling in my imagination and ideas appeared and disappeared like smoke coming from a lit match stick. My mind started to get busy as kaleidoscopic thoughts started to pop up one by one.

I reached for my laptop again with full of eagerness to write everything I have had in mind at the moment, but as I started to work my fingers on their way to the keyboard of alphabets, I seemed to lose the right words to say in my article. I couldn't move my fingers to the rhythm of my mind's pace and creativity. I seemed to be lost in translations. I pushed my body back until I was lying on my back against the hard bed. I felt frustrated that I couldn't write anything. I felt disappointed that I could never release the writer in me at such critical moment.

That's when I realized what's embedded in the deepest part of my mind. I felt distracted with a certain thought, so distracted that I found it so hard to utter words and ideas before I set it free. A thought that I wouldn't want to entertain at that moment, but couldn't help not to.

I had already all the ideas gathered in my mind. I had plans on arranging them in my story in a systematic order, but the certain thought kept invading the peacefulness in my brain as I tried to shut it away. I tried... I tried... and lastly, I tried again, but to no avail. Ironic it may seen, but the more I tried to forget about it, the more I even think of it.

I gave it a shot. I closed my eyes for a few minutes, and let my mind traveled to where it hoped to go. Undoubtedly, it revived the thought that I was thinking all along. I just savored the moment instead of avoiding it, as I thought of the person and how the problem evolved into something humongous and unfriendly, and thought even more how I got into such a big mess.

The more I thought and discern about it, the more words slowly came out of my mind in a decipherable pattern. As I released these tensions I was feeling inside, it gave my heart its great freedom. This freedom also set my mind free... free from this writer's block I'm facing.

Check out these books to help you understand more about writer's block and fight against it:

Improv for Writers, 10 Secrets to Help Novelists and Screenwriters Bypass Writer's Block and Generate Infinite Ideas by Jorjeana Marie

Around the Writer's Block by Rosanne Bane

Winning the War Against Writer's Block by Allison Spooner

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JAM FITNESS GYM's New Website

I have received a lot of comments under my posts featuring JAM FITNESS GYM on Maximo V. Patalinghug Street, Pajo, Lapu-Lapu City. There were so many price list-requests sent by people who are interested to enroll at JAM. I was positively overwhelmed by these several and constant requests.

And oh! Before, I continue with this post, I would like to thank everyone for their comments regarding JAM FITNESS GYM, as well as, their comments to the other posts in my blog. Showing your interest has encouraged and inspired me to do my best to improve and develop the website for JAM FITNESS GYM. Moreover, despite my uninspired creativity at this moment due to so many things I need to take care of before I finally leave Cebu again, the readers' several comments have pushed me to do better in my blog, to improve this very uncreative and traditional blog of mine. My apologies for the inconvenience, everyone. I believe I owe you something more.

Anyway, to answer all your comments at once, I have created JAM FITNESS GYM's official website. Just click here: JAM FITNESS GYM

For all those who are asking for the price list of JAM's services. Feel free to check out our website, guys and gals! There are also new services offered. All information are already in the website. Have a great day!

An Indian Export Manager’s Fashion

In this fast paced generation, looking different and trendy is already important, therefore, this will make fashion an essential aspect of our everyday working lives, an Indian manager of an export industry said.

However, despite the fast changes of trends in fashion, Debi Prasad, an Export Manager from KCIC Herbs Ltd. in Bangalore, India, still prefers comfort rather than going with the latest trends. Because for him, he would rather be comfortable in what he’s wearing, as long as he looks neat, than going with the urban jungle’s fashion flow, but felt like a total freak wearing a very uneasy fit of men's formal shirts.

For Debi, he would go for the formal type of clothes, particularly those in white or light shades, and most preferably with an overcoat of a dark colored business suit or coat. With this, Debi hopes to get an impression of “gentleness” from the people around him. “I want others to look at me as someone who is gentle,” he told the writer in an online interview.

His style of dressing is what he’s used to since they usually follow a dress code at work from Mondays to Fridays; but then on Saturdays, he could put on some casual wear, as long as he looks presentable on it. In addition, when going out with a woman on a first date, Debi said he would prefer to go casual and wear a pair of jeans and a shirt with an uncomplicated design.

From the many custom shirts featured in ShirtsMyWay – an online tailoring company that allows people to create their own dress shirt designs and measurement profile – Debi picked his top five most preferred dress shirts. However, in contrary to his usual preference of light colored shirts, he chose to wear the Paradise Lost in Classic Blue Solid, the Super Fly Boss in Lavish Blue Stripes, the Lawyer in Lavish Black Striped and the Tango Fusion in Burgundy Pinstripes, because according to him, these dress shirts are best worn for parties or at meetings. Aside from the dress shirt designs he chose, he also created his own dress shirt from the website and came out with a Classic White long sleeved dress shirt, which he named after himself, the “Debi Shirt.”  

Debi enojys listening to love songs. He also loves watching different genre of shows and movies. He is also into different sports like volleyball and swimming. Thus, the different kinds of dress shirts he likes reveal his versatile and uncomplicated personality.