"I have three uncles? I never knew they existed..."

"Just come! You don't have to talk to him."

"Can I have one day... ONE DAY where you people don't stress me out." 

"OMG did you know she did that?!"

"I'm questioning his existence!"

"Do you really need that many..."

"She doesn't even like me, why do I have to be nice?"

"A KITTTTTTYYYYYYY!."

"Are you still with him? or is there someone else again?"

Ah. Christmas. Tis the season of awkward family reunions and self reflection. More like identifying your decision regrets that year and trying to explain yourself to yourself so you could forgive yourself without feeling guilty of making said regrettable decisions. 

Still with me so far?       Fantastic-o

It was quite a ride, but what else did we sign up for? It's Christmas. Not only that, it's a Filipino Christmas! Care to elaborate, Dana? Why yes of course! Filipino Christmas is basically an American family's "cliche" thanksgiving. Where we eat a crap ton of food, drink beer, go caroling, eat lumpia, play games, eat lumpia, gossip. Oh! and did I mention eating lumpia? Seeing relatives whose names you do not know or remember and discover secrets like new family members that you never knew existed and things of the sort. As we watch this event unfold into a flaming pile of awkward. 

I'm just being melodramatic. Our family reunion wasn't bad at all might I say. Very decent and friendly interactions. Minus the part where I blabbered on and on to cope up with that "meeting new person and hoping they don't think I'm a dumb-ass" social anxiety... which ended up with me, well,  looking like a dumb-ass.... 

So in light of my mistakes, here's a technique to:

I. Meeting new family members and relatives that you never knew existed 

II. Encountering relatives with names you're unsure of (because you were probably a lil bean when they last saw you).

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1. Smile (but don't overdo it or else they'll think you're weird and wont talk to you or question your parents' parenting skills)

I started off by smiling and standing up to shake and make beso beso (kiss kiss) they're cheeks before self introduction/ talking about anything else. This keeps things from getting awkward. No one wants to see a sour face. Even if you don't care for this relative, it may not be the same vice versa because who knows? What if they were abroad working hard for their family and just never got the chance to hang out with you so  now was their only chance? It could be precious to them. Don't ruin it with your face. 

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2. Regard Them as Tita or Tito

When they catch you off-guard and you don't know their name, the safest way to avoid the whole "Uh, who are you again?" painfully awkward scenario by referring to them in their Uncle and Aunt status. No need to use names! AND that buys you enough time at one point to go ask someone in your family who knows. But if even your family members don't know who this extended Tita is... Then you're kinda doomed and will refer to her as Tita for the rest of your life.

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3. Ask THEM the questions FIRST

Before they can start asking you about your life, job, salary, future plans,  or reminiscing about the good ol' times (which of course you don't remember because you were. Just. A little. Bean.), be the first one to ask them! Not only will it save YOU the time and energy to explain why you graduated in 5 years instead of 4 or why you're 26 and still not married or why you chose to wear that dress, but it'll make THEM feel important and that you genuinely care. Which of course you should but y'know, some of us tend to have other things on our mind...

4. Be Generic

Ask generic questions that don't have any specific identification of data (WOW BIG WORDS).

Don't go saying: "How're your children?" because it could end in "Oh...I don't have kids remember? I had a vasectomy because of testicular cancer so um, i can't have kids anymore..." BOOM. now the mood is both sad AND weird. And now you gotta figure out how to get outta that situation you ingeniously placed yourself in. Try asking queries like "So what interests you these days?" then they might say: "I enjoy playing golf and riding horses."  Then you could reply with: "That's fascinating! Tell me more about horses!"  Try to stay in the present time and stay away from past history because you, for sure, will not remember anything. Those are dangerous waters you do not wish to awkwardly tread. 

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5. They insult you because they secretly care

"You got fat!" "You're still the same height. Awww. You look like a wittle wabbit!!" "Your brother is better looking than you." 

Yeah, those suck. No way getting out of THAT situation as it is inevitable especially coming from an Asian family. Always remind yourself that they're not doing this to spite you. They just care but don't know any other way to express it due to our non-confrontational type culture. Tough love is a very common method that I've seen when it comes to Asian families. All they want is assurance you'll be okay and to keep tabs on you without strangling you but by being passive about it. It's not the BEST method but what we can do to this situation is to understand it rather than to get all defensive and angry. Don't spoil other people's fun even if they spoiled yours. So the next time your grandma says "Get a real job! Video gaming leads to nowhere." Just remember that she grew up in a different time, a different place with a different version of societal standards.  Don't take it to heart.

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Have a happy day!

Hey there, welcome to Daynadream!

Today I want to update on the fashion section of this blog. So I couldn't wait to share these simple yet stylish pieces that can pretty much be worn for a casual occasion where feeling ordinary just doesn't fly with you and you want a little pzazz. I wore this outfit just on a regular day going to the mall with my family and watching 'Pacific Rim Uprising' No problem at all.

I believe that living in a place that's more conservative than other cities (aka Bacolod City) shouldn't hinder your creative expression through fashion. Now that doesn't mean just go walking around half naked, but to go around walking half naked with class. Joke. 

Just be yourself with a certain parameter of respect towards others, know your limitations but don't hinder. 

What I'm wearing:

Bandeau - Tailor made (custom)

High waist shorts - Forever 21 (Sale: PHP 199)

Jacket - 888 Thrift shop His and Her (PHP 180)

Combat Boots - Dr. Martens (PHP 4500)

Waist Belt - Beijing 15CNY Thrift Store (PHP 120)

Ring - H&M (Sale: PHP 165)

Glasses - Executive Optical (PHP 999 w/t lens grade)

Choker - Forever 21 (Sale: PHP 49)

Hey there, welcome to Daynadream!

Today I just wanted to post a little life update since I haven't posted in about almost a week. It's been a little hectic here lately and with lack of proper WiFi (because Philippines is super hi-tech hah), It's been difficult to post. Despite that, I'm making up for it by doing a life update plus an intro to an upcoming challenge. Stay tuned for more!

It has been quite the ride being a college student for my sister and so far she has both loved and hated being in the academic world. The push and pull relationship of school administration policies and social justice was one fight she had undergone. To our delight though, it is time to move on from said fight with University of St. La Salle as she has graduated with flying colours! 

In lieu of the graduation rites ceremony, my mother had flown in all the way from Beijing, China to show support to my ever so ecstatic older sis. The graduation rites went pretty smoothly to my surprise. A solid 2 hours and 15 minutes, definitely a record to beat by future ceremonies. 

The long ride that my sister, Lara, had to take was a good 5 years in this school and it wasn't all bad, but it wasn't all good either. Elaborating my previous statement, much is to be told of in terms of the constant battle between student rights and student policy, but here, I summarise it in a paragraph (or three). 

Being a student, especially one that is in a very religious school, is a very hard endeavour to pursue (given that we are not really religious people). Because of this religion, of course the school should follow a specific set of policies and school rules from behaviour to academic standings to uniform and to rights. Might I specify "rights”. The ever-so unsurprising unfair ruling of disciplinary action is one which my sister could never tolerate and has been subject to being “victimised” for practising self-expression.

So what type of violation or “act of criminality” did she do towards self-expression?

Bleaching her hair.

One of the simplest form of self-expression out there. Yet it was so frowned upon. 

 There was always this never-ending battle between her and the school policies from unfair soliciting of non-official payments from students to thoughtless and inconsiderate teachers with no regard for student health problems and failing them no matter what the official excuse documents these students present.

It was a rocky ride but one to remember for sure. There is a risk in putting yourself out there and posting and fighting for the whole world to see. The feedback may be supportive or maybe otherwise, but the important factor that dictates what a true person you are is the content and the meaning of what you put out there. So what good you do is what good you'll get.

When you stand up for something you believe in, do it in an educated way, do it beautifully in ways to inspire inspiration rather than vengeance or hatred. And don't be afraid to share passionately what you believe in or what you stand for.  

 Make your mark because why go through the world unnoticed?

She graduated, not just with a piece of paper stating what subject she finished the past 5 years, but a reputation that states whose lives she's influenced the same.

Hey there, welcome to Daynadream!

In light of all the healthy eating and smoothie-making, I've decided to give myself a bit of a treat and went out for a good ol' cheat meal. I thought, with my never-ending appetite at the moment which strangely I've gotten only ever since the surgery, I wanted to eat something comforting, heavy and of course, scrumptious.  

While having in mind, spareribs with unli rice and cucumber iced tea, I saw this one restaurant that I haven't even tried yet. Army Navy. 

I never really thought of eating here before as I seldom visit this place. It's well known for mainly 3 products:

1. Fearless Fried Chicken

 Over all, I found the experience to be quite fun (all those word plays haha). The price range goes from PHP 170-250 ($3.00- $5.00) per person. In the philippines, let alone Bacolod city, it's a little pricey but I find the portions and the quality of food to balance out that pricing just fine. And if you're looking for a place with good comfort food for the soul, I highly recommend 'Army Navy' as the food hits home just right. 

Then again, that's just my  opinion.