The Poets Gamalinda and Neruda

I am not too much into poetry. I prefer my non-fiction, fun books. I do like Pablo Neruda though - I mean who doesn't? Especially his poem that goes, "Tonight I can write the saddest lines. I loved her, and sometimes she loved me too."

However, I think I discovered another poet today whom I think I like just as much - and who happens to be Filipino too - Eric Gamalinda. And all thanks to a friend who posted one his lines on his Facebook status, and it goes, "Just like the perfect seasons they will die, and I will die, and you will die also; no one knows who will go first, and this is the source of all my grief."

These are kinda sad lines I know, but very real, don't you think? 

More about Eric Gamalinda here: http://www.ericgamalinda.com/

This is Pablo Neruda's poem:

Tonight I can write the saddest lines.

Write, for example,'The night is shatteredand the blue stars shiver in the distance.'The night wind revolves in the sky and sings.

Tonight I can write the saddest lines.I loved her, and sometimes she loved me too.Through nights like this one I held her in my arms

I kissed her again and again under the endless sky.

She loved me sometimes, and I loved her too.

How could one not have loved her great still eyes.

Tonight I can write the saddest lines.To think that I do not have her. To feel that I have lost her.To hear the immense night, still more immense without her.

And the verse falls to the soul like dew to the pasture.What does it matter that my love could not keep her.The night is shattered and she is not with me.

This is all. In the distance someone is singing. In the distance.My soul is not satisfied that it has lost her.My sight searches for her as though to go to her.

My heart looks for her, and she is not with me.The same night whitening the same trees.We, of that time, are no longer the same.

I no longer love her, that's certain, but how I loved her.My voice tried to find the wind to touch her hearing.Another's. She will be another's. Like my kisses before.

Her voice. Her bright body. Her infinite eyes.I no longer love her, that's certain, but maybe I love her. Love is so short, forgetting is so long.

Because through nights like this one I held her in my armsmy soul is not satisfied that it has lost her.Though this be the last pain that she makes me sufferand these the last verses that I write for her. 

Jo-Ann Lea <3

Treasure Trove of Posters from the New York City Library

It's been a long time since I got excited over a website....and this one really excited me. Such a wonderful collection of FREE downloadable turn-of-the-century posters. More high-res versions need to be purchased, I think but I am very happy with what I can get :)

Link is here: http://digitalcollections.nypl.org

Happy browsing and downloading!

Jo-Ann Lea <3

Pinto Museum is Love!

After literally months of wanting to visit, I finally got two of my friends to agree to meet up in Pinto Museum in Antipolo last January. I understand the hesitation of most to meet up there as the area has quite the reputation of constantly suffering from heavy traffic so am glad my friends agreed. It was all about timing I suppose as it was still the holiday season so when we commuted, there was no traffic. My kids and I took the jeepney that plies the Shaw Boulevard to Antipolo route and fare was only around Php 30.00 per head. When we got down Ynares Stadium (no idea where this was but we just asked the driver to make sure to drop us there), we took a trike to the museum for Php 60.00 for all three of us.

It was worth it and here are some photos taken by my son to show why...just click on the photos to enlarge :)

My Best Buys Over the 2015 Christmas Holidays!

Before I begin this post, I just want to make a special shout out to the goverent team that helped adjust our 13 month bonuses...otherwise, I would not have been able to afford paying a portion of my son's tuition AND make these purchases!

Here's my list:

1) Duvet cotton covers on sale for only Php 800 at SM Department Store...because nothing beats sleeping on hotel like bedsheets after a stressful day at work and traffic. I also needed to cover my threadbare comforter which was my sister's from way back in the 1990s I think and which I did not want to throw away :)

2) Scented candles for my bathroom...again all for relaxation...even while one does "business" haha!

Got this one for only Php 149.00 at SM. Excuse the water on the candles...apparently my daughter gave our dog a bath and got everything wet in the process :)

3) Two black slacks on sale for Php 500 and Php 700 at H&M and Mango and a cream one for Php 500 at Vera Moda. Overkill, I know. Three you say? But for someone who commutes and has not bought a new pair of slacks in one year, it isn't. It was also too good to pass up especially as I know these pants will last.

That's it! Those were my major splurges over the holidays. What were yours? :)

Jo-Ann Lea <3

Hello, 2016!

Happy 2016 everyone! Our last post was in July last year (gasp!). This year, we have resolved to post - at a minimum twice a month - for 2016.

We know the holidays have been quite busy for everyone. So we hope you guys have had the chance to take stock and breathe and just relax, write down your goals, and plan for the year. Will share with you our plans in our next blog post...we  just honestly wanted to wish you the best and say that we look forward to seeing you here in 2016 and for a better and brighter 2016 for everyone! 

All the best,

Lea & Lea

Peanut Butter Love

Am not a great fan of their pandesal as I prefer the classic sweet kind but I love Pan De Manila's peanut butter. Most especially the crunchy one as they don't skimp on the peanuts!

Totally unrelated to peanut butter but also a Pan De Manila product - if you're in their store try their chocolate con nueces drink as well as their spanish chocolate and mocho drinks. For instant drinks, they're really good and not too far from the original versions.

Jo-Ann Lea <3

Minions Craze

Given that my friends and I dressed up as minions during our office Christmas party...it's definitely a given that I would jump unto the McDonald's Happy Meal Minions craze bandwagon....as proof here we are in costume...and one pf the first minions I got 😊

Did you get to collect yours?

Jo-Ann Lea <3