Update!!!

Whew! For the past 3 days, I don't have internet connection that is why I was not able to blog. THose days are over and I am going to keep up with those days. :)

Here are a few teasers -

Oh My July! Day 05 - Yummy Ginatan

Oh My July! Day 06 - Have a break! Have a choco

Oh My July! Day 07 -  Coffee!

Oh My July! Day 08 - Cut and Sew

Oh My July! Day 09 - Almost there!

Oh My July! Day 04 - Easy sewing projects

I spent the whole days sewing and writing / typing. I published my random thoughts here. I completed a few projects before I broke a needle (good thing I still have a spare) and locking the sewing machine (which I don't know how to unlock :( )..

Anyways, I did a lot of pinning in place for a few projects which includes a tent, an envelope sleeping bag, a tent foot print and a lace underwear (yep, my first attempt). 

The Lace Underwear

I bought 4 yards of stretchy lace from divisoria for 10 peso per yard. The lace was 3 inches in width. I decided to make a lace underwear with it. 

I followed the steps in this instructables, only making a few changes. I don't have a serger machine, i used a regular zigzag instead. Here is what I did...

 For the waistband

 Cut 29 inches of lace and top stitch the edges together with 1/4 inch overlay using a regular zigzag.

For the crotch

Cut 2 pieces of 14 inches lace. Pin in place with the right sides facing each other. Cut the fabric 1 inch width on one end and 2 inches on the other (refer to the photo for this). Sew on the edges using a regular zigzag.

Combine

Pin the crotch and the waistband. The end where the waistband meets and the wider edge of the crotch is the back. Align the sewn edges together. This is also the part where I sew my cotton lining into the crotch area. Sew the front by matching the lines at the back. To do this you can either measure the waistband or fold the waistband in half.

Done! My first underwear project!

Here are the other projects I completed in a day. :)

Oh My July! Day 03 - The PNR Metro Commuter

Yesterday, I went to divisoria. From my place, I got a few routes to get there.

From FTI Transport Terminal
1. Jeepney to Pasay, LRT to CM Recto Station, jeepney to 168 Mall
2. Jeepney to Pasay, jeepney to Divisoria
3. Jeepney to Pasay (via Harrison), jeepney to Divisoria
4. (from FTI station/tenement) PNR Metro Commuter to Tutuban Station

I chose to the 4th option for the following reasons:

1. I don't have to transfer from one jeepney to the other
2. It is faster, there is no traffic
3. Convenient (If you're riding during the off-peak hours, the train is jampack during peak hours. There's a lot of pushing.)
4. Cheap

As I was waiting in the FTI station, childhood memories of this train started feeding itself. From getting into the station, to the ride to getting off the train...

My first ride was with my Auntie Precy. I was about 8 years old. The station have a platform but it was lower than the train door. I would hop to get in. The seats are not cushioned. The windows have screens, but my Aunt told me not to look through the windows and just sit properly. When you're at the end of the coach, you can hear the loud squeaking sound of big metal clamps connecting one coach to the other. The end doors were not close during the ride. We got off at Tutuban station. Tutuban station was not the end station during that time. I would say, I like that Old station. The walls are brick red, the columns have old lamps, the metal works on the windows are very beautiful to my eyes.. It was like an old Spanish house to me.

It took 2 years before this Metro Train ride was followed, it was also with Auntie Precy. This time, it was not as good as the first one. I remember  the train was already leaving the station. We were running to catch the train. A man at the last coach caught my hand and for all I know, we were already inside. The end doors and the side doors are open during travel time. We passed from one coach to the other, until we find an empty seat. Every station, vendors would get into the trains selling almost everything - candy, cigar, apples, oranges, smoked-fish (tinapa), dried fish (tuyo and daing), handkerchief, towels, hangers, basins, buckets - almost everything! For a minute or 2 the train becomes a palengke. Then the vendors would leave before the train leaves the station.

The second ride was followed by another and another and another. We would get off in Tutuban, Blumentritt or Espanya Station depending on the situation.

There were times -
- when a group of kids were running from a coach to the other, followed by a man in black polo shirt -- the kids are snatchers, the man is a train marshal.

- when a plastic bag would suddenly hit the window - garbage from squatters living at the side of the railways.

- when a liquid of you don't know what, gets through the door - water? urine? I don't know. My aunt would tell me not to sit near the door.

- when you would sit beside a trader of fish, or ratan, or plastic wares, or clothes, or shoes, or slippers, or fruits, and their goods are occupying most of the space in the middle.

- when the train would be delayed due to derails or accidents

- when during the construction of the Skyway and MRT, the train was fully packed up to the roof! Passengers on the roof, usually men, would shout, "Ulo! Ulo!" To warn others to watch their head as the train approaches construction areas.

- When you would be standing in a full pack train with people of all sorts of size and shapes, all kinds of smell, and sweat.

Today, the train also gets full pack specially during rush hour but there is passenger segregation. The first coach is designated for women, senior citizens, pregnant, carrying children. Squatters on the railways are relocated. There are ongoing track rehabilitation. The schedules are on time. There's visibility of train marshals and police in every coach. There are air-conditioned coaches. The seats are old but cushioned.

It's not as good as the railroad systems of our neighboring countries. And Philippines has been left behind, but still an efficient way to go to Divisoria!

For PNR Metro Commuter schedule, here is the link to their website.


P.S.
I had a chance to ride the Bicol Express when I was 8. I'll share my experience in a different post.

Oh My July! Day 02 (PM) - Pizza and Buffet

Pizza and Buffet

While I was taking a break from the various sewing project, my sister brought me 3 slices of pizza! Yum!

(Ooops, I already ate the fist slice before I took this picture)

And of course, because today is my day, I went out to get a free dinner! Yay! Free Birthday buffet! I went to Dad's World Buffet Glorietta 3 to enjoy their buffet with unlimited drinks (soda, fruit shakes and fruit juices) and the 

I wasn't able to take photos of their variety, you can find it here. You'll surely have a lot to choose. They have a carving station, seafood grill, Asian cuisine, US, Greece, Japanese (Saisaki), Filipino (Kamayan) and a lot more!

Enjoying my dessert!

Oh My July! Day 02 (AM) - Google and Me

This is how my google homepage looks! :) :) :)

Greetings from Google! 

I received a lot of greetings! In the morning, After taking a few pictures of my first daisy, room clean-up, I I got back to work on my tent project. I pinned the ribbons into place so I can have a smooth sewing session tomorrow. I'll be posting my sewing projects in this page - Thousand Pins

Oh My July! Day 01 (PM) - Ball Game

PM

Last night , I went to the finals of the UNTV Cup Season 2. It was a battle between AFP and PNP for the 1.5M Pesos donation to their chosen charity.

There was an exhibition game between the Legislators (senators, party-list representatives and congressmen) and the Executives (the mayors, vice-mayors, the cabinet members). The Executives won! I think they spend more time outside of their offices more than the legislators who always sit on sessions! Lol!

OPENING NUMBER

THE EXECUTIVE VS THE LEGISLATIVE

ME AND THEM

We did not finished the game, we left on the last 3 minutes to avoid the long taxi line. And because the kid is already sleepy... But I think the AFP won. (I'll check the results later. Hehehe)

Yay! the AFP won! check the events here.