I was in a hurry this morning so all I had for breakfast and lunch were these:
I wish there’s a Wendy’s near my apartment. This bacon cheese burger of Lotteria is sooo small (only about 4 inches in diameter and 1.5 inches thick) but it costs four times more than the 99-yen BBQ and teriyaki burgers at Wendy’s. And this one’s not even more delicious.
- Oogway, Kung Fu Panda
This is one of my favorite quotes and I hope I could think as positively as this one. I can’t deny it. I’m a pessimist, I worry too much even if I try not to. Somehow, I just can’t let go of the past and I keep on worrying what’s gonna happen in the future. I hope that I could learn to think more positively and regard each day as a gift.
I’m out of toiletries among other things, so I asked my mother to send me some from the Philippines.
Here are the things that I often have my mother send me here:
1. dried fish (Bisaya term is “bulad”)
I could find some “bulad” in the supermarkets here but they’re not salty enough.
2. junk foods
I was into “Chippy” years ago, but the taste somewhat changed, so I shifted to “Clover”, particularly barbeque and cheese flavors.
3. Nescafe 3 in 1 Coffee
Of course, there are instant coffee packs here but they are more expensive don’t taste that good
4. rubbing alcohol
Not a single bottle of rubbing alcohol can be found here.
5. Powdered milk
They do have powdered milk here but they’re for babies! I seldom drink milk (coz I don’t really like the taste of it), so buying fresh milk isn’t really a good move. I often end up throwing them away.
6. tangle-free comb
Those cheap, Hair Doctor-like combs aren’t available here
7. allergy medications
I react to many allergens so I musn’t run out of these.
8. stomach problems medications
My stomach is a little bit sensitive, too. So I always keep over-the-counter medicines such as: Diatabs, Kremil-S, Simeco, and Flagyl. These are more essential to me than Biogesic.
9. body lotion
There’s this lotion that I’ve used since I was in the Philippines. I want to replace it with something that’s available here in Japan but even the Johnson’s Baby Lotion here is expensive, if converted to Philippine Peso. Furthermore, they’re only sold in 200g bottles, nothing bigger.
10. baby cologne
I am used to basically pouring cologne all over me after bath so I need to use a cheaper cologne. Avon always put their cologne up on sale (usually less than $2 each)! So far, I haven’t found an Avon shop here.
11. lip gloss
I’ve tried out some lip gloss brands here but I don’t like it. I still like Avon’s lip gloss, after all!
12. Ovaltine chocolate drink
I prefer Ovaltine over Milo, and I couldn’t find Ovaltine here.
13. Silver Swan Soy Sauce
I love this soy sauce. For me, it’s the best soy sauce for cooking Adobo. Not even Kikkoman could ever replace this one. 
I’d never liked boxing before. I thought it was such a brutal sport. I hated watching two people hitting each other. But this changed when Filipino boxers started to conquer international boxing rings, especially when Manny “Pacman” Pacquaio started to show his boxing prowess to the world. I’ve watched Pacman’s matches because I love to feel this sense of unity with my fellow Filipinos in rare occasions such as this one. Aside from that, I just saw two people hitting with each other.
Just recently, I came across this wonderful anime entitled “Hajime no Ippo“. Yes, you’ve guessed it right. It’s a boxing anime! By watching this anime, I have learned a lot about boxing and boxers. I was so ignorant. I just thought that whoever has more powerful punches and whoever has more stamina, wins. I never thought that boxers have to have strategies. I never thought that weight control could be so tough that boxers have to starve themselves just to reach the required weight. I never thought that boxers need to have a lot of determination and discipline. After watching this anime, I now have more respect for boxers.
A few days more and I’d be watching the Pacquiao-De La Hoya match (through live feed, of course). Well, at least I could now identify which boxing style Paquiao and De La Hoya will be using. I think I could now identify the types of punches they’re gonna throw. I’m now aware that when a boxer leans or embrace the other boxer, that’s called “clinching” and why it isn’t illegal. This time, I’d see boxing in a different light.
Who doesn’t like free stuffs? I love receiving and keeping promotional items. I know that many of such items aren’t made of high-quality materials but I like uncommon prints on pens, mugs and bags. I think pen brand names on pens are just way too boring (I know I sound illogical). But like the mug on this photo, I think the Yahoo BB mark on it make it look cooler than having the usual cartoon or any image print on it. This mug has been with me for more than two years already. The pens which are still in their original plastic wraps have been with me for more almost two years. Obviously, I haven’t used these two yet, along with the other free items I’ve received. They’re just part of my collection. I even collect paper bags!
