I COMMIT TO CHANGE: My Wardrobe Malfunction

Have you ever felt the sudden urge to go to a clothing store and purchase some clothes to make you look and feel better? I usually battle with this problem since I don’t have a lot of clothes to wear. Correction: I do have several clothes it’s just that they are mostly shirts and jeans. Since I have big arms, wearing shirts make me look bigger than I really am. And this is why I frequently feel the need to change my whole look whenever I’m in the mall, killing some time before I attend meetings.

Aside from this, I often find myself ransacking through my closet just so I could find the right clothes to wear to the events I go to and the scheduled meetings with my boss. And this sometimes takes me forever! Before, I could just throw on any ‘pambahay’ clothes and work the whole day in the comfort of my own room. While this has been acceptable in the past (when I was still working at home as a freelance writer), it no longer is okay for what I do now.

At the 2010 Hot Air Balloon Festival, Clark

As many of my friends know, I have been given a job as a Web Marketing Manager for SPARK Magazine (thank you Sammii!). I started on the last week of April and I’ve been very happy about the job. Ever since I can remember, I’ve always wanted to work for a magazine. I always thought that if I could just get at least one article posted, even without any remuneration, I would be happy. But I could never get the part. This is because I lacked the education and background for working in the industry.

But hey, I love to write. Ever since I was 11 years old, I’ve been writing poems and short stories. If you do a Google search on Trixie Torralba, you would be directed to several links all containing previous poems I have published on a certain blog (unfortunately, I forgot the password). I knew that if they (magazine editors) would just give me a chance, I would prove myself to them.

Luckily, I was well into my 8th months of being a freelance writer when I happened to overhear Angel’s friend, Sammii, asking if anyone was interested in working for an upcoming magazine. I knew I could not let this opportunity pass. So I told her that I was interested and luckily, I was accepted.

This is my third month in the business and I’m feeling more ecstatic than ever! I get to practice photography, meet new people, and do what I’ve always wanted! But most of all, I get to show people (especially my editor) what I am capable of. I may not be perfect or the best, but I am trying to be.

My tasks in the job include writing articles, doing photo shoots, featuring restaurants, attending events, and talking to several people. And because I have nothing DECENT to wear to such events, I always end up heading to the mall and scouring for an outfit that will fit my budget while still being able to look tiptop.

Knowing this, I decided I COMMIT TO CHANGE my whole wardrobe. I always had a knack for pretty clothes but I always thought that I wouldn’t get to wear them. I always made alibis (palusot) that there was no point in buying such clothes as they will just get stuck inside my closet. Well, now’s my chance.

During a trip to Bangkok with my friends

I COMMIT TO CHANGE not only my wardrobe. I will also change my bags. Before, I used to buy just about any bag large enough to fit all my essentials but below P500. I have to keep in mind that the magazine I am working for is a luxury lifestyle magazine. And although I may never have the chance to own a Balenciaga (except if it’s free), I do have to look for bags that are of good quality and design.

A bag I got in Chatuchak, Bangkok

I COMMIT TO CHANGE my shoe collection as well. If you ask anyone close to me, they will honestly tell you that I have really cool shoes! And I promise I really do since I’m a shoe person not a bag lady. But I will look for more designs and comfortable footwear that will make me able to face people I talk to without any insecurity.

Yes, that's my super white leg in the middle.

Lastly, I COMMIT TO CHANGE my look. When I started with the magazine, I decided to chop off my hair and had it cut short by Basement Salon. A few weeks later, I got Mr. Shin of Beautybrick to fix it for me. Aside from my hair, I also need to learn how to put on makeup. I used to be a big fan of cosmetics back in 2008 but I stopped using them when I started being M.I.A. from the events of VIBE Manila. My sister, Bubot, sponsored my makeup class from Suesh as my 24th birthday present. I will be attending the class tomorrow and already, I’m excited!

A fully made up Me with hot Toni Santos in 2008

Hopefully, with these changes, I will be able to learn how to become a better talker since I always shy away from crowds because of my insecurities on the way I look. *Crosses fingers*

Kate Torralba: The Long Set

June 16, 2010-- Kate Torralba unleashed her vixen as she serenaded the diners of Cafe Alfonso, Makati City. Presented by SonicLogo.TV, Kate sang some of her original compositions as well as some of her own covers of artists past.

Many already know KT for her brand in the world of fashion. However, only a few people know that she also has a knack for other talents such as singing and playing the piano/keyboard. This, she demonstrated during the evening entitled as Kate Torralba: The Long Set.

Singing tracks popularized by Tori Amos, Aimee Mann, Fiona Apple, Astrud Gilberto and many more-- Kate sang non stop for 3 whole hours. Not only that, she also played the keyboard to accompany her beautiful voice.

Strumming the instrument, Kate moved like a little girl as she hit random (well, they looked pretty random to me) notes while entertaining the crowd not only with English songs. She also sang a few songs in French and her native tongue, Bisaya.

Ever so often, Kate would take a break and indulge the crowd with random tidbits about her endeavors such as plans for her upcoming album (finally!). One incident, she even talked to her friend through the microphone as he was about to leave. It proved just how randomly and down to earth Kate is, despite her huge success.

Indeed, Kate has proven she is one talented woman. It would take a while before the public will be able to unwrap this little package with a colorful ribbon named Kate Torralba.

Me, Kate, Angel, Ice

What amazes me most though, is the fact that KT sang nearly 3 hours straight. To some musicians, this may seem ordinary. But knowing that KT was feeling under the weather earlier, this boosted my opinion of her.

KT played at Cafe Alfonso, LPL Center, 130 Leviste St., Salcedo Village, Makati City. For reservations, you may call them at +632 812.9270.

Of Hair Cuts, Breakups, After Parties, and Sex

When it comes to hair, I love to experiment. One minute you’ll find me growing my hair, the next a cropped hairstyle. And although I may have never had the best hair, there’s just something about a haircut that makes me feel empowered after one. With me, you can always tell that there is something bothering me—once I get a major haircut: a breakup, new career, change in life, and many more.

Yesterday, I went to Mr. Shin of Beautybrick to have my hair cut. This is my second time with him and he has not disappointed me. The result of today’s haircut is a 20s hair style that I have always wanted to go for. The reason for my haircut was so I could exude a new me, through my hair, a new personality. A few days ago, someone really angered me so much. I couldn’t believe that anyone could be so mean, so evil. But I met the devil and made a terrible deal with him—one that stomped on my dignity, pride, and my essence of being a woman. Thus, I decided to get a haircut along with my change of personality.

And it (the haircut) was perfect for the Sex and the City After Party I attended last night. Along with my editor, Carla Sibal, we went to Shangrila Makati to attend the exclusive event Moet & Chandon hosted for the success of the movie.

Earlier, I was able to watch the movie with my family. I couldn’t stop laughing at Samantha! She was so horribly funny! And oh, everything is such a marketing strategy. Looking at it in a marketer’s ideals, the movie was a perfect way to promote Abu Dhabi, new designer apparel, and new terms (e.g. Black Diamond instead of Blue). I recommend anyone to watch the movie. It’s really good.

As for that devil: be careful ladies. You might find yourself face to face with him.

Intellipen Pentastic Launch

May 27, 2010-- Intellipen unleashed 2 products to the public by bringing some of the top bloggers in Manila to rendezvous at Café 1771, Ortigas. The team released their wireless and wired Intellipen products to this small group of writers as well as friends from the media. TheGypsyWrites was lucky to be a part of the event (thank you Vince Golangco) and was able to witness this cool pen!

There are two different types of Intellipen: the wired and wireless. Depending on the user, these pens will be able to benefit each individual according to his needs. Take me for example, there are times that I don’t want to bring my laptop along with me when I leave the house. Instead, I carry a small notebook and pen so that I can write some ideas. But there are several times when I have been able to construct a well made article on paper that I don’t have the time or even am too lazy to type those words into a Word format. So instead, I end up having a notebook packed with write-ups that are stuck inside the pages of those notebooks. With the wireless Intellipen though, I can simply clip the receiver onto a piece of paper and write freely like I normally would. When I arrive home, I can then attach the receiver to my computer and it will be converted to a file in my computer.

The good thing about this device too, is that I can doodle and design logos using my own handwriting. Although I don’t have the best handwriting, I can have a unique font that other people cannot use.

I prefer the wireless version. The wired version acts like a Wacom pen tablet that is connected to the computer. But instead of using a tablet, you can draw onto a piece of paper and still be able to get your drawing inked on the material.

SRP for Intellipen Pentastic is P4,500.00 for the wired version and P5,995.00 for the wireless. *Please correct if I am wrong :)

Little Tokyo

Little Tokyo is something lot of people have heard of but only few know where or what it really is. Located in the midst of Makati Central Business District, Little Tokyo is a cluster of authentic Japanese restaurants with a unique setting. And because of its diversity, a lot of people get confused about where to go. Lined with red lanterns called akachōchin, each adorning Japanese characters, you can determine what food a restaurant serves. Unlike the other Japanese restaurants in the city, Little Tokyo has various restaurants each with their own special dishes.

Aside from its authentic taste, the whole premise is patterned after a little village in Tokyo. For this reason, you can get lost, especially if you don’t know where to go. Depending on what you feel like eating, you can be able to try the authentic Japanese food in the area. But if you don’t know what each restaurant does best, you can get lost and end up disappointed. In order to have a pleasant experience in Little Tokyo, here are the restaurants that you must know of:

OISHINBO

The first restaurant in the vicinity is called Oishinbo. As a combination of the two Japanese words: oishii (delicious) and kuishinbo (someone who loves to eat); the term roughly translates to ‘the gourmet.’ Despite its homey appearance and size, this restaurant serves up the finest dishes. Known for its Teppanyaki dishes, the restaurant is perhaps the only one in the area that is serving several items on their menu. When dishes have been cooked using an iron plate, it is called Teppanyaki.

URAMESHI-YA

Next stop is one of the famous restaurants in the area called Urameshi-ya. This little restaurant is patterned after a Japanese funeral ceremony as they have made use of sotoba (grave sticks) for their decoration. The food that you can find in this restaurant is the highly recommended, Yakiniku. Translated into English, it simply means grilled meat. These are thinly sliced pieces of beef, pork, and offal (internal organs and entrails) which are cooked over a grill. When served, they come with a soy sauce based dip.

KAGURA

If you’ve never heard of Japanese pizza, then this is one restaurant you should not miss. Kagura is most famous for its Okonomiyaki. When translated into English, okonomi means ‘what you like’ while yaki translates ‘to cook’ or ‘to grill.’ The reason why this dish is considered as a Japanese pizza adaptation is largely due to the fact that it is circular in shape and is served in slices. Prepared with a pancake batter and noodles, you can ask the cook to combine any other topping along with your order. When it is cooked, it is then topped with okonomiyaki sauce, Japanese mayonnaise, nori, and thinly shaved bonito flakes that seem to be alive when the air conditioning hits them.

Okonomiyaki by Kagura

Bacon and Potato

HANA

If you are a big fan of Takoyaki that is usually seen in the malls, then you have not tried authentic Takoyaki. A visit to Hana will introduce you to how well their version is different from those cheap ones in the malls. Because they are authentic, Hana cooks their Takoyaki according to order. So while waiting for this dish, you can try out the restaurants other specialties such as their donburi plates and salads. But make sure you try their Kakigori, a Japanese dessert composed with ice shavings, flavor, and milk.

CHOTO STOP

When you want to eat something heavy, Choto Stop is the ideal place you should visit. Armed with a big serving for Bento dishes and Ramen noodles, you can fill up your empty stomach with just a couple hundred Pesos before calling it a night. This restaurant not only resembles a small and casual home but also has its own grocery lurking in the side. At only P75 a piece, you can buy just about any authentic Japanese item in the grocery. Don’t forget to try their ice cream imported straight from Japan.

Shake Bento by Choto Stop

NODASHO

Finally, the last restaurant on the list is Nodasho. Unlike the other restaurants in the area, this one caters to the people who have a higher budget. At the same time, the dishes here are good for one person only. But the good thing about this restaurant is that they are the ones that are really serving authentic Japanese foods. Nodasho is most famous for its sushi, sashimi and maki.

~o~

Little Tokyo is located beside Makati Cinema Square along Pasong Tamo, Makati City. Although there are a few restaurants open for lunch, it is best to come here at night when you can really see the intricate Japanese designs of the vicinity.

Busting Yoga Myths

1. Anyone can teach Yoga

When it comes to teaching Yoga, there are a lot of people who think they can already teach Yoga just because they can perform different poses. This is not the right way to do it. In order to become a genuine Yoga teacher, an individual must train and practice for many years. The training he should go through should be centered immensely on his spiritual maturity and growth. When he has observed this, he can then share his knowledge on the practice exactly as it was meant to be taught—a union between one’s body, spirit and mind.

2. Yoga is JUST an Exercise

Several people often think Yoga is an exercise that can only make their bodies fit. What they fail to realize though is that Yoga does not only end with getting physical benefits. Before anything else, Yoga is a spiritual activity that has a primary goal of uniting a person’s body with his emotions and mind. Getting physically fit is only an advantage that you can later on get with continuous practice.

3. Yoga Practitioners Will Achieve Complex Levels of Physical Skills

Even though there are some Yoga practitioners who get to achieve superior flexibility, it is not true for everybody. Yoga should not be thought of as a miracle activity that will automatically grant its practitioners a gift of physical litheness. The ultimate goal of Yoga (to unite the body, mind and spirit) must always be kept in mind. Once this is achieved, the practitioner can achieve a true personal and complete enlightenment.

4. Yoga is an Expensive Activity

When one makes a decision of practicing Yoga, the first thing other people say is that it is an expensive exercise. If you will compare Yoga with the other activities people get involved with, it is actually a much cheaper activity. This is because you will not need to equip yourself with various gears and equipment, shoes and different outfits. As a matter of fact, all you will need is a mat and some staple outfits. There are even several studios that will let you borrow their mats provided.

Iyengar Yoga Center Manila: My First Visit

I have been attending yoga classes in Fitness First on and off for the past 2 years. And during all those times, I have never been given an opportunity to be assisted by the instructor directly. This is why I was pleased to find that the instructors at Iyengar Yoga Center Manila really find time to assist students who are struggling so they can be properly taught the right posture. At the same time, they will answer your questions after class.

I never knew how to “square my hips” when I attended Fitness First. But with IYCM, the instructor was okay with showing me the right way I can do the position. I was able to attend one class a couple of weeks back. The good thing about them is that they accommodate only a number of students per session. They also provide yoga mats, blocks, blankets, and other material that their students will be using. That is probably why I like them so much.

When class started, the instructor introduced herself as Susan to me. She was a really nice girl with a soft spoken voice. The class started with a few minutes of meditation. I was shocked to find this because classes in FF were not as deep as IYCM’s. But at the same time, I was eager to know this. The “ommms” and “mmmmsss” that filled the air was harmonious from both Susan and the students. This made me think I was listening to some comforting music.

After the meditation, the class did a series of standing poses or Asanas. Unlike FF, IYCM focuses on doing one pose right for every session. So for the rest of the hour, we focused on poses such as the Virabhadrasana, Utthika Trikonasana and the Utthika Parsvakonasana. I have been able to do this Asanas back in Fitness First. But the good thing about IYCM is that the instructors really go to each student and guide them where they should place their hands and feet.

I like the class held by Iyengar Yoga Center Manila but as of the moment I am swamped with work. And when I do have free time, I don’t have the budget to attend classes. Although yoga classes in IYCM are cheaper as compared to the lot of yoga institutions in Manila, I still have to fix my schedule. In time, I may be able to attend a series of classes and perfect those Asanas.

Yoga Styles

Joining a yoga class in Manila can often be overwhelming. This is because there are so many different yoga styles that are now being offered throughout the city. In fact, if you don’t know much about these styles, you won’t be able to choose which one is right for you. And with this, you won’t be able to choose the right center that will help teach you to become a good practitioner. For this, here are the 6 different styles:

• Ashtanga Yoga
• Bikram Yoga
• Iyengar Yoga
• Jivamukti Yoga
• Kundalini Yoga
• Power Yoga

Currently, the available styles that can be found throughout Manila include Ashtanga, Bikram, and Iyengar. Aside from these centers, there are some who combine these styles in an effort to make a new one. But when this is the case, it is no longer a real practice but only a combination.

If you don’t know what the difference is among these yoga styles, you won’t be able to identify what the yogi is teaching you. This is why it is important to make sure that you choose the right yoga class in Manila to join. The practice can cost money. If you don’t make the right selection, you are only spending your hard earned money.

Ashtanga Yoga: What Is It?

Ashtanga or Astanga yoga translates to ‘eight limbs’ in Sanskrit. The term refers to the number of limbs of yoga when they are presented from the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali. The two people responsible for interpreting this method of asana practice were Krishnamacharya and Sri K. Pattabhi Jois. They interpreted the practice from the ancient text known as ‘Yoga Korunta.’ This text described Vamana Rishi’s development of a unique system of Hatha Yoga.

This yoga practice incorporates the synchronization of one’s breathing along with a progressive succession of different postures. As a result, the process is able to produce an intense internal heating as well as a generous amount of purifying sweat. Coincidentally, this leads to the detoxification of the bodily organs and muscles. For this, the individual practicing the method gets improved circulation, a calm mind, and a light as well as a strong body.

Often, this practice is being combined with Power yoga since it is known as the “sweaty and aerobic form of yoga.” At the same time, the method is being characterized as yoga combined with boot camp. When Ashtanga is combined with Power yoga, the method becomes Ashtanga Vinyasa or Power Yoga.

When practicing the method, the individual goes through six progressively difficult types of postures which are being linked together. Accomplishing each of these six poses require around 90 minutes to three hours.

Despite the fact that the poses in Ashtanga are getting harder and harder each time, the practitioner is required to keep repeating the pose. Some of these poses are either difficult or uncomfortable. But once they are done in the right order, the mind and body can immediately open up. And when the poses are done regularly, the individual can be able to do the harder poses in time.

Yoga In Manila, Anyone?

A couple weeks back, I was diagnosed with pneumonia. This was a result of stress and my non-stop working habits. As a result, I decided to have a regular exercise regimen after work. Since I only had a few hours available, I decided to do yoga since it has always been one of my interests. But I did not want to get another membership with a gym. This is why I decided to start looking for establishments that offer yoga classes. And now, I’m sharing what I have researched with you, my dear readers.

o Ananda Marga (Yoga in Manila)

o Bikram Yoga Manila

o Bliss Yoga Manila

o DLSU Yoga Sessions

o Fitness International

o Fitness First

o Gold’s Gym

o i-Yoga*

o International Yoga Institute

o Iyengar Yoga Center Manila

o Mandala Spa Yoga Shala o Prana Yoga

o Pulse Yoga

o RA Kendra

o Sai Shanti Yoga Sanctuary

o The Flow Yoga Center

o Vinyasa Yoga

o YogaKids Philippines

o Yoga Manila

o Yoga Moves