In the mood for stress eating after failing to score tickets for Coldplay (both in Manila and Singapore), I decided to go try Yo Panda Manila in Megamall after attending the mass near the area. I was just curious, mainly, because I have been seeing loads of Instagram posts of the egg waffles and ice cream combo goodness that this new food chain is to offer. As per usual I chose to order the matcha-flavoured one and well, might as well be in heaven, it is really good (or at least my satisfied palate would say so).

Matcha and ube are special flavours making them quite pricey than the other usual flavours but Yo Panda gives you your money's worth. I just love matcha, alright, hence the preferred flavour but there are just so many other flavours to chose from! It is even better if you have someone to share it with given the enormous size of the actual waffle/ice cream jelly treat. Not only do they serve these Instagram-worthy desserts, they also offer a vast number of options for rice meals and finger foods. 

Since I was starving but in a no-rice diet (only when I feel like it ha), I ordered a spicy fried chicken pao (aka a chicken sandwich but they used siopao bun instead of the regular burger bun and surprisingly it has worked. I loved how it has tasted overall.) with fries on the side along with my sumptuous dessert and I just feel so full for hours afterwards.

Further suggestions:

I think it is better to have a smaller portion option on the menu because like I said, the serving is pretty huge that I didn't get to eat it in its entirety (although maybe one of the factors is that the burger meal is heavy on its own). Also, maybe a faster preparation for the meals. The wait is all worth it, don't get me wrong but since we are talking about improving the experience here, might as well be on a roll, yes?

Definitely a must-try and would recommend 100% with friends.

x

Yo Panda Manila is located in SM Megamall 4th Floor Building A.

David has been performing this song since he came back from his Chilean mission on some of his tours in the US and even then, hearing it for the first time has already made its impact. The lyrics even made more sense when he's talked about it on his long banters. It's like he's baring it all. It has made me more excited for his new project if that is even possible. (The wait is killing us.) 

See a precious "Numb" on piano below (the official song is more pop/upbeat but this is just as beautiful):

While I am sort of hoping he'd release a song that we have not heard yet, I can't say I am disappointed with Numb. The new project is promising. I am overwhelmed as he is still this talented man that I know back in his American Idol days. He'll be giving these overrated pop stars these days (who has been blessed with the right biz connection and opportunities) a good run for their money. I feel like I may be possibly sugarcoating him too much but that's just how he is. I feel for the millennials who has not known his music because they are missing a lot. He is really dang good. 

Amazon: 

https://music.amazon.com/albums/B01M4NRM5N?ref=dm_sh_50fa-459f-dmcp-d0f6-cfe09

The first one is always going to be special, it seems.

I cannot help but feel extra nostalgic when our former lead engineer has shared the news that the Petronas Train 9 LNG Plant in Bintulu, Sarawak, Malaysia has already started production. I have been blessed enough to take part in the design and drawing preparations for the said project in the company where I previously worked.

Silly old me really have no idea where I would want my career path to lead back when I was still applying for that job. That was the time when I have so many doubts with myself and my self-esteem is really low. But with God's mysterious ways, I believe it is meant to happen, that I would get to work in this company and experience all kind of things. Technically, it wasn't my first job off of college (it is the second, actually) but it is the first in this field and it has opened all the doors and opportunities to learn and explore in the design field of civil engineering (because my previous job is in the construction/procurement). I am just grateful.

I still do not know where I want to be now, to be totally honest, which is why I admire those who did find their calling early on. I still cannot seem to know what my heart truly desires. (I just want to live, earn a bit, provide and learn from life, to put it briefly and vaguely.)

But going back, shifting from one field/industry to another made me realise where I really want to put my focus on, profession/career-wise: I want to learn more about steel structural design/ oil and gas industry and how these things work.

But the truth is, I have no idea what I was doing. Well, yes, I could recall a few engineering concepts here and there but I am "rusty" and a walking failure. There were days when you just want to give up because you cannot help but get frustrated when a supposed-to-be simple structure and procedures take you ages to actually finish. I kept making mistakes. I am pretty sure I'd let my team down and I am just a burden. I used to be the best in my glory days (in school when I was younger, but it can never really fully prepare you with what is out there, apparently), always giving my best but I cannot seem to accomplish things. I was internally pressuring myself to deliver. And that's when realised I was doomed.

I was lucky enough that God let me be surrounded with very understanding people and they never gave up on me and supported me in so many ways (whether they are aware or not). My professional family is very patient. My mentors has taught me a lot, guided me and I am pretty sure I will be keeping all the virtues that I learned from them until my last breath. Knowing that He still loves me despite all my shortcomings and struggles to get better has kept me going. 

And soon enough I learned to let go of the insecurities and accepted my faults and learned from my mistakes. I may still not be the best but I never gave up. I never waver. I just did what I can to contribute. I enjoyed every moment with the team and every working day is a learning experience, not only on the technical side but in life as a whole. 

Train 9 holds a special place in my heart and I am ever glad that I became a part of that team. Every overtime work that we have rendered seemed to be worth it, and it truly is, seeing the fruit of all (mostly theirs but semantics, eh?) of our hardwork now. The idea felt surreal (I am such a sap, but can you blaim me?) seeing your assigned area/item evolve (like a Pokémon. RIP English proficiency. I am lost for words.) from a Tekla Structures 3D model to a working STAAD file leading to a fully constructed structure and apparently has commenced with its production these days. It gave off a vibe of a proud mother seeing her baby for the first time, but ironically, the so-called baby is a mother of its kind (mother project) who's given birth to an individual whose vowed there and then to strive harder and never give up in life. Such a thing of beauty and balance. And it's for real.

The first one will always be special. It just is.

x

The article that my LE has shared can be accessed here. Cheers.

Ever had those moments when you have so many things in mind, big experiences / milestones in life that you want to share whether in person or in letters but life gets in the way and before you know it, the fad has come and go and it no longer feel "that" huge anymore so you end up bottling that certain memory forever? (Or at least until an inspiration strikes that you would get to write it down or someone would coax it out of you in a conversation.) Same goes with feeling an extreme emotion, whether it is positive or negative, so huge that it felt unexplainable at some point but when you started voicing it out it turned to be a small dot in the grand scheme of things and it doesn't feel like how it was before?

It certainly happens all the time. And so, given all the things that has happened in a span of a few months, despite having so many blog ideas, I have not really updated this online home in a while.

Maybe I did get to "live" a little. Maybe life gets in the way. But for whatever reasons, writing is still as therapeutic as ever so I won't halt. 

Life has been exciting, messy, fun and unpredictable. It's easy to get loss in the realm sometimes. It won't always be rainbows but it will never be all dark. With the strong spiritual foundation and the anchor that keeps on pulling me back, keeping me on track, I remain just as grateful. Maybe I'd get to elaborate one day and fill these virtual pages one special moment at a time (Ginebra winning the championship after eight long years, the foodie tab, the big shift, the travels, the homecoming, etc). Til then, thank you for being in this journey with me.

PS: For someone who finds it hard to make online account-related decisions, here's me going for another change. Ha. Say hello to aprilskelter! It's the same name that I use as my Instagram handle and I've recently just decided to use it as my blog URL as well.

x

Who would have thought that with just a forty minute ferry ride away from Singapore you can already experience a staycation of sorts (semantics!). Batam is the largest city in the Riau Islands Province of Indonesia, across Singapore and is the third-largest city in Sumatra region (Thank you, Wiki for that fact).

If you want to go for a quick massage (the specialty!), a shopping spree as the items are relatively cheaper than that in the city, and eat some seafood then you came at the right place. Staying over for a weekend, we were not really able to try the massage as we end up lounging on our hotel rooms instead, watching movies from the cable television (a.k.a. the definition of chill). 

We did a bit of a city tour, though, made possible by our lovely, accomodating tour guide. While Batam is not as aesthetically pleasing as its neighboring cities (there is not much to see, to be honest), it did give a sense of relaxation and contentment away from the hassles of the city life. Sometimes we just cannot help but long for the simplicity. It even made us miss staying in the province back home. It did not stop us from having fun, of course.

Here are some of our stops, as told in pictures:

SNACKING!!!

No pictures included in here but we bought J. Co Donuts, too! They are relatively cheaper in Indonesia (Well, this is where the cafe/donut chain has originated so...)

To end this little reminiscent trip, let me also share the Unusuals (and the Punny.)

Until our next escapade.

x

I cannot help but be bummed when the lineup of In The Mix in Manila was announced. I mean getting to see James Bay, Third Eye Blind, Panic! At The Disco and The 1975 all in one night??? That has got to be real awesome. So imagine my joy when I found out that Panic is going to have a solo show in Singapore. I decided I should not miss it even when it meant I will have to go alone. That being said, the very first splurge that I had since the move is probably a VIP ticket for the Singapore leg of Panic! At The Disco's summer tour.

I had it all planned since it was announced back in April. Inasmuch as it is fun to experience the music with my concert buddies back home, I had to go solo (for my very first non-Manila concert experience, that is) but it did not lessen all the hype and the fun. Luckily a friend flew all the way from Manila to catch the show and we did get to hang a bit while lining up at the venue.

The pre-show jitters and shenanigans...well, it is not as organised as I would have thought (knowing Singapore) but the excitement is very apparent with all the spectators in there.

AND THEN THE LIGHTS WENT OFF.
THE CROWD HAS TURNED UP THE CRAZY.
THE BAND TOOK THE HOUSE DOWN.
BRENDON URIE IS A LITERAL FIREBALL AND HE LIT UP THE STAGE.
ALL.
THE.
FREAKING.
WAY.
(Also took his shirt off in the process.)

I am not even surprised that the band is so great! I've seen enough videos on Youtube as proofs. If anything, I am very impressed and even more amazed and grateful to ever be present, watching them in the middle of the pit while rocking their hearts out.

Brendon Urie's vocal prowess is ever so impressive and the energy and the crowd is infectious and loud (though at the back of my biased mind I'd say Manila crowd is still the loudest crowd. ha.) What a wonderful experience, that is!

The old movie poster.