Passing of a Pet

A video posted by One Day, Kaye (@kaichypoo) on Aug 10, 2013 at 7:57pm PDT

You always stood out: from being the whitest in a litter of browns, to your peculiar personality of oral fixations and expressive faces. 

I will feel your loss the most in the everyday things. I'll crane my neck after parking the car, just to glimpse your form on the driveway; I'll think you're nearby when I hear the soft tapping of your nails on the ground. I'll miss you welcoming me home with a leaf, a bowl, or occasionally a t-shirt grabbed from the sampay. I'll hear you in every high-pitched whine, thinking you want to be let inside; and I'll never forget when you peed and trampled my plants for stealing my attention from you. I regret not ever having captured the affection you showed Bruce, with your vigorous and thorough licking despite his seemingly disdainful face.

I hope you know how much I love you, and how loved you made me feel with every soft nudge of your muzzle or every time you laid your paws on my hand. 

What a character. What a life. What a way to love.

Knowing that my own "one day" will inevitably come, you are my reminder to love without restraint every day. I wish you could #StayKani, but I'll see you on the rainbow bridge. 

Growing Food

Maybe it’s all the time I’ve been spending in nature lately that has catapulted me into this, but I’ve become increasingly interested in the idea of living off the earth, planting my own food, and eventually feeding many mouths from my crops. My parents have a garden, but it’s landscaped for decorative flora. When I was given the weekly task of mowing the lawn, I took it as a sign to start with my new project.

Grateful for #green in the concrete jungle. I bought my first #plants for my #fruit and #vegetable #garden: eggplant, two kinds of chili, and an avocado #tree 🌱🌿🌳 Kuya Joel taught me how to treat them right 🙃 #nature #farming😍

A photo posted by One Day, Kaye (@kaichypoo) on Jun 11, 2016 at 5:54am PDT

It’s been 6 weeks since my first visit to the nursery, where I bought my first seedlings: 2 different kinds of sili (chili,) eggplant, and avocado. Since then, I’d attempted to care for chives, a Malaysian chili plant, and most recently planted passion fruit seeds from my trip to the mountains, where I saw them crawling lazily on other tree trunks. 

I joined a gardening forum I found online, and I’ve learned so much off the internet; but the best teacher has been every single day of sun and rain, observing what my plants like and don’t like. Unfortunately, I also learned the hard way, and that was watching some of my plants die. The biggest lesson so far has been to plant seeds and tiny seedlings in pots first. I think most of them drowned from the heavy rains, and I’m guessing my soil needs to be better prepped. I’ve been reading up on composting, and I love that it also functions as organic waste disposal.

Losing some of my plants was sad, but I don’t give up so easy. My eggplants, one chili, and avocado are thriving and are growing new buds every week. I’ve replanted some of my chili seeds in pots (instead of directly on a garden plot,) and some have grown into seedlings. 

My sili's first flower, strong and white 😍 My other plant almost bore some until it drowned #gardening #Krops pic.twitter.com/8tU7guvqsm

— One Day, Kaye (@Kaichypoo) July 26, 2016

There is much to be learned, and I'm a willing tudent. Barely a month into it and I’ve already been rewarded with some fresh chives that I was able to share with my my two girlfriends. Best feeling.

A baby harvest of #chives for @macysfields and @missusgraham 💚 Food is love, and love is meant to be shared. Happy Sunday! #Krops #gardening #green

A photo posted by One Day, Kaye (@kaichypoo) on Jul 10, 2016 at 12:49am PDT

Day Hikes and Nature Walks

The cover of the handbook features the author atop the Monolith, if I'm not mistaken

I got my copy of "Day Hikes and Nature Walks from Manila: Itineraries and Backpacking Notes" by Gideon Lasco. A friend coordinated the order for 5 books, and we got free nationwide delivery.

Signed to "Kaye of the Mabuhaykers" 

Gideon Lasco is a licensed physician, and was apparently my sister's junior at PGH at one point. He is more popularly known as the Pinoy Mountaineer, and his blog at pinoymountaineer.com has become my #1 reference before hitting up the trails. His blog is not only extensive with details on altitude, difficulty, and trail class, but has beautiful descriptions of the terrain. 

Sample pages and itinerary

The chapters are based on topography, like tropical rainforests or seascapes. Within these segments are lists of mountains or water forms, and each of those include short narratives  that paint a picture of what to expect. Tips, sample itineraries, and sometimes estimated expenses are recorded as well. 

I wish I had gotten this sooner, because the rainy season has really put a damper on my hikes, literally and figuratively. For now, I'll have to read about the remaining summits on the lists, and wait for a perfect, sunny day to get back out there.

The Miracle on Kalepa Ridge

It was a Wednesday, and our first full day in Kauai. We planned a hike around the Waimea Canyon, and then have a peek at the Kalalau cliffs, one of the most beautiful and remote areas on the island. We knew we couldn't attempt to hike the latter trail, because it spans 11 miles and usually requires overnight camping; but we wanted to have a glimpse of it anyway. 

The red, cream, and green layers of the Waimea Canyon

We had gone around the Kōke'e trails of Waimea, having gone as far as the Waipoo Falls, and were back on the road by 2:30 in the afternoon. By the time we got to the Kalalau Lookout though, the day had turned foggy and the entire range was covered by a sheet of white. For a tourist spot, there were hardly any people, possibly discouraged by the obscured view. Luckily, we met David, a quirky man sitting on a mat in the middle of the lookout, selling his own photographs of Hawaii and making bracelets, earrings, and necklaces from local seeds and stones. Aside from making good conversation (and entertaining us by sounding like Crush from Finding Nemo,) he tipped us off on an unofficial trail that may take us below the clouds, where we could hopefully see the Kalalau landscape. He vaguely pointed at a hedge to the side, and told us to try to be back before sundown.

David with his favorite whale photo

Did this mean it was forbidden?

The Kalepa Ridge Trail started beyond a padlocked chain-link fence, torn from its post, leaving a gaping hole just big enough for me to crouch through. It had very narrow paths, some did not appear well-trodden and led to drops. For most of the hike, we were walking along the edges of the cliff, keeping our weight toward the mountain to avoid falling off. Like many of the trails in Hawai'i, the vegetation was lush and varied, from fern, to wheat, and other shrubs I couldn't identify (and David said he knew of other 'happy weeds' that grew there, if you catch my drift.)

I could just about fit, and some of the barren branches kept snagging on my pants

The only trail where I saw wheat (?) growing in the mountains

On some parts of the trail, that excess brown earth was absent, so we were literally walking on the edge

My favorite part was when we suddenly found ourselves in an enclave of trees. The sun was just peeking through the canopy of foliage, bending outward and forming the most glorious halo. Coupled with the thick, white fog, it reminded me of those enchanted forests I used to read about in fairytales. We took a breather, as we had probably been walking for half an hour at that point, and only continued on after trying to capture the scenery many times on our phones' cameras. We went for a couple more kilometers, until we decided to turn back because it didn't appear that the clouds would thin; and since the trail was somewhat perilous, we didn't want to risk running out of sunlight. 

Ethereal

When we were back at the lookout, I realized I had misplaced the sunglasses I borrowed from my friend, and I quickly recalled removing them to take a jump shot somewhere at the far end of the trail. 

Giddily jumping over clouds ☁️ They wouldn't dissipate to reveal Kalalau, but we had fun with the thick, white fog. #TakeMeHawaii2016

A photo posted by One Day, Kaye (@kaichypoo) on Mar 24, 2016 at 12:29am PDT

On principle, I volunteered to go back and get them on my own. I ran. I was doing good time, and had reached the beautiful clearing in less than 10 minutes, when two women emerged from the other end of the path. I don't normally make small talk, and I'm very awkward with strangers; so I surprised myself when I spurted, "This is my second time on this trail today, because I left my friend's sunglasses somewhere up ahead." They both smiled at me, then glanced somewhat incredulously at each other, and one of them said, "That's so funny..." while she reached back and pulled the very sunglasses from her pack. She said they picked it up thinking one of their friends had left it, as they frequent the place. We made our introductions, while gushing at the small twist of fate that saved me from searching pointlessly for the shades that were already in their possession. Considering how fast I was running along the trail, I could've easily zipped past them without making any contact; but I stopped and uncharacteristically initiated a chat and got the best ending I never would have expected. 

After thanking them profusely, I ran back to my friends, excited to tell them what just happened. I found them on the lawn, practicing some acroyoga, and they were surprised that I was back so quickly. I told them about the small miracle that just happened, and it made for a great story. Some time later, the two women stepped out of the fence, allowing me to introduce them to my friends. Turns out, they practiced acroyoga themselves, and we got to play with them before we parted ways.

Snow and Jen

Downward Dog Stack

It may seem like a small thing to some, but it was so significant to me because there was undeniably providence at work in those moments. Maybe we don't need to wait for miracles to happen to us, maybe we can make everyday miracles happen when we follow our instincts, do things out of our comfort zone, are thoughtful of others, and make new connections. Those were the things that turned a seemingly innocent, chance meeting into an extraordinary event. 

May you fill your week with miracles!


One of the angels I met that day was Snow, and she is the founder of this great wellness movement called Wild Women's Way. 

Mabuhay!

I've been back in Manila for a few weeks now, and I've been trying to sit down and write my stories, but it's so hard to start describing a trip that unexpectedly changed my life. Without getting into too much detail at the moment, I'll just share some of the things I've been up to since coming home - the product of an awakened sense of adventure, the longing to always be in nature, and the urge to share love and kindness to as many people as I can reach.

During our time in Hawai'i, my travel twin, Celine, and I were initially so caught off guard that everywhere we went, the majority greeted everyone else with aloha. This word is popularly known to mean both "hello" and "goodbye;" but it became apparent that it was more than just a greeting, it's a culture. In a particularly moving, serendipitous meeting with a tribal leader during our stay in Kauai, we learned that alo means "to share the present/a presence face to face," and ha means the "breath of life." To say aloha to another acknowledges that we share this life and this world with every breath, and it is perhaps this thinking that is the root of their respect and compassion toward one another. 
I was struck by this one particular day, when we chanced upon a public school at the mouth of the woods. The campus is nestled by mountains, with its paths occasionally fenced in by small vegetable gardens that seemed to be tended by the school's attendees. We arrived at a busy time, at dismissal, with teachers and students hugging and saying goodbye to one another. Some were already pulling their cars out of parking, some were busy segregating garbage or gathering their bags (we later learned they had just arrived from a camping trip,) while others were just chatting and enjoying each others' company. Despite their business, most everyone greeted us with aloha as we passed through, and several children (the youngest to approach us looked about five) asked if we were lost, and offered information and help. I was positively floored by this treatment; and then immediately felt sad that those acts of kindness were jarring to me. What had I grown accustomed to? Shouldn't this be the norm?

Patches of vegetables and herbs to the left, and happy people to the right

Lucky we got lost here: teachers and students chatting before saying goodbye

This became food for thought for many days, and got me thinking about home. I pondered on aloha as a greeting, and searched for something similar in our language. Instantly, mabuhay came to mind, the word we tell foreigners to use to say hello (but don't use ourselves.) It was easy to see that both greetings focused on a common theme: life. I realized that our traditional (but neglected) greeting has an equally beautiful message: to say mabuhay could be a command to "Live!" or it could be a toast, "(Long) live!"

Inspired by this, I told Celine that I'd start saying mabuhay to everyone when I get back to Manila (and she jokingly retorted that I might make it to the news for being a crazy balikbayan!) To cut the story short, both of us agreed that we want to ignite the same sense of community of love and kindness in our home islands... and where better to start than in the source of all life: nature. So, the Mabuhaykers was born, a portmanteau of mabuhay and hiking, the spontaneous merging of the things we love: nature and culture. We started planning trips between us, and invited some of our friends to come, and what an adventure we've had so far!

'll tryWithout 

Waters so clear, you can see the bottom of the flowing river; mountains of marble in a rainbow of colors; a blanket of trees so green, it calms your mind. My greatest love will always be the #Philippines ❤️ #Mabuhaykers 📷 @irracenina

A photo posted by Katherine (@kaichypoo) on Apr 7, 2016 at 5:14am PDT

The top of the top 👆#mabuhaykers #HikingHuwebes 📷 @martyarnaldo #hiking #Philippines

A photo posted by Katherine (@kaichypoo) on Apr 14, 2016 at 5:47am PDT

Discovered a different high this morning, rolling up and down hills flanked by trees and carpeted by roots, leaves, and rocks. It was a long, bumpy, but emboldening (and liberating) ride. Thanks for lending me your bike and helmet, @ydalydal! Let's do that again 🚲 📷 @bebefabs #biking #trail #Philippines #cyclingo #fitness #nature

A photo posted by Katherine (@kaichypoo) on Apr 17, 2016 at 1:53am PDT

On all our trips, we've been trying to share our mission with our friends, and encourage them to say, "Mabuhay!" to greet people we come across. The responses have been varied, but all positive. Some assume that we're visitors to the country, and start responding to us in English; most reply with mabuhay as well. Filipinos are not used to "small talk," so some respond shyly, often others respond enthusiastically, but definitely all receive it happily. 

Isabuhay ang Mabuhay! Let's live and spread the spirit of Mabuhay! Love and kindness make little changes that matter.

For more pictures, check out our albums on Facebook. Our rough itineraries and budgets are also posted on every event. Message if you wanna join us!

Hello Summer, Goodbye Manila

The late sunrises and cool evenings have come to pass. I don't know what the weather bureau has to say about it, but I think summer started on Monday. It's not so much the sun -- we have that all year round -- but the humidity feels like a sweater I can't remove. In this heat, all I do is daydream about being by the ocean. There, my body will match the brine, and I will float aimlessly...

On Friday, I'm going to visit a friend in Hawai'i. We've been planning this trip together for months, listing down all we want to do, eat, and accomplish. Once we started making plans, I found it harder and harder to concentrate on my daily routine (thus, this extremely delayed post!) I think the anticipation of a vacation is one of the things that heighten the overall experience.

I love making plans, especially on my cute Kikki.K planner with stickers

The friend I'm staying with in Honolulu is a yogi, and she has prepared a pretty packed itinerary filled with the things I love most: food, nature, and fitness. She and her husband have also graciously included a trip to Kona and Kauai, after having mentioned that I'd never been and have always wanted to go. On top of my excitement to explore another side of the world, I'm looking forward to being in the company of two strong ladies I'm proud to call my friends. That in itself will make this a great vacation. I'm so grateful to have found people with the same thirst for adventure.

By my next post, I should already be on another island, miles away from my beloved, native islands. So, so long, farewell, Manila! See you soon!

Love and Brownies

February, by virtue of Valentine's Day on the 14th, has now become casually referred to as the month of love. I've never placed any specific importance on celebrating Valentine's, but I've never hated it either, even when I was single. I'd taken the opportunity to do little things for my family and friends, like writing them little notes or giving them small tokens. 

My boyfriend and I also celebrate our anniversary on this month, so we've been extra appreciative of one another these past few days. He gave me flowers and new charms for my Pandora bracelet, and I baked some Chocolate-Strawberry Truffle Brownies and prepared a strawberry-white wine sangria for the weekend.

Chocolate Brownies with Choco-Strawberry Cream Cheese Ganache. Recipe from Taste of Home. I love this because it has some of his favorites: coffee, strawberry; and some of mine: chocolate, pistachios.

I modified the recipe slightly by putting some slices of strawberry before the final layer of ganache, and topped it with roasted pistachios.

 

Sangria made from white wine and fresh strawberries; in a champagne flute because why not!

My initial, and his enabling of my cherry blossom obsession

Beautiful bouquet wrapped in pink and green (can anyone tell me what those long, pink flowers are?)

What's so interesting is, we were both subconsciously aware of each others' love language, and these were the best ways we thought we could make each other feel special. If you haven't heard of the 5 Love Languages yet, it's based on a book originally released in 1995 that talks about ways people receive and express love. The author, Gary Chapman, claims these love languages are gifts, acts of service, words of affirmation, quality time, and physical touch.

Brief descriptions of the Love Languages. This screenshot is how mine were ranked when I took the quiz on his website.

While I love the gifts themselves, I appreciate his acts of service of taking time out of his whole days at work (sometimes even 24 hours,) and how he knew what kind of flowers I'd find pretty, and what charm would be significant. My act of service was preparing food I know he loves (strawberries!) Both of us blocked off an entire day to just hang out, watch movies, and play with the dogs. 

I find these love languages to be helpful, not only with him, but with friends. It's nice to know what makes people feel valued, and on the flip side, good to be aware of what could damage a relationship if not nurtured. 

This month, I'm going to choose love every day, and hopefully it becomes a habit that I can keep up for the rest of the year. Happy Sunday!

Win of the Week: Rope Climb

Made it more than halfway! Photo from my friend Aly (who climbed all the way to the top!)

Only on my second day back at CrossFit Greenhills (after a month-long hiatus,) and I conquered the rope! I tried this once late last year, and couldn't understand the footwork; but took a mental note to pursue it as a new goal. Earlier today, with my Morning Crew, and with the help of "unusually-perky" Coach Stephen, I managed a few squat breaks (will double check this term) and almost made it to the top! I probably could've done it, but I belatedly realized that it was a bad day to wear shorts. 🔥 I got rope burn on my thighs! 

As with many skills, this can't be done by anyone at just any point in time; but it can be done after some training. I'm proof of that, and that's why I love CrossFit so much: I always win at something after I put in the work. 

Wanna try the rope climb? Here are some of my tips as a newbie climber.

1) Wear pants!

2) Put the rope between your legs, and twist it around one leg once (refer to picture.)

3) Clamp the lower end of the rope with the other foot.

4) Position your hands slightly higher than your head and engage your arms for a pull. (The boys said they engaged their lats.)

5) Scooch your legs up closer to your butt, like a reverse squat (or a ballet plié!) without losing your feet's clamp on the rope.

6) Stand up from the squatting position to hoist yourself upward.

7) Repeat from #4.

That's it for my Win of the Week (I should launch this as recurring theme.) Off to work! Happy Tuesday!

P.S. It's my first time to post from my iPad, and there aren't many formatting options!

Four Weddings in Four Weeks

Some people don't like attending weddings, but I love them. I see them as opportunities to dress up, take photos, get together with friends, and in some instances, reconnect with old ones. With my choral background and my current profession, I've also been asked to sing for many a ceremony and dinner reception; but whether I'm there as guest or as hired service, I try to enjoy every moment.

Every wedding has a distinct quality, because most of the time it reflects the personalities of the bride and groom. It may be grand or simple, of mixed religious denominations or races, in a church or on the beach -- one thing is always constant: and that's love between two people, witnessed by many more who love them. More than the fun, I always feel inspired and hopeful after every wedding.

I was blessed to start the year with, as the title suggests, four weddings, one for every weekend. Eight very different people, and four loving unions, in various locations. I attended a traditional Catholic one at a church, another on a beach, the third was on a garden by the bay, and the last was atop a hill.

Singing and dancing with the bride and groom at the center

On the first Saturday of January, one of my sisters from the UP Concert Chorus got married. At their dinner party, they asked us to help entertain their guests with a few love songs, but the best part was when both the bride and groom sang and danced with us. That is simply how we celebrate best.

Their dream wedding by the beach. Photo by Veejay Jimenez at Acuaverde Beach Resort

The Friday after that, one of my best girls from the same university choir tied the knot on the beach. "Twice a bridesmaid, never bride," is hopefully not true, because this was my sixth (6th!) time as bridesmaid! As with so many of my friends' weddings, I helped in the preparations from crafting bouquets, to putting make-up on some members of the entourage, and singing for the service and party (see us dance in the cut.)

Arm-in-arm with Chuck, determined to give the fiercest walk down the aisle =)

My handmade, personalized bouquet, labeled our mutual pet name, "Forvy" (short for Forever) 

Sparklers that evening, photo by Veejay Jimenez

My best Girlies, and their little Girlettes, with the new Missus in white the day after the wedding

Beautiful garden wedding that caught the sunset at the bay. Photo by Proud Rad, at Sofitel Philippine Plaza

I felt truly valued to be invited to such a small, intimate wedding, by one of my oldest and dearest friends. Aside from finally seeing her marry her love of almost a decade, I got to spend time with some friends whom I hadn't seen in a while. (See more of their gorgeous photos in Proud Rad's public album.)

Yesterday, I went to my fourth and final wedding of the month. The funny thing was, I saw the groom at the third (garden) wedding last week, and he asked if I could sing at church for his wedding in a week. After some last minute coordination, some of my friends from the Gala Quintet agreed to join me.

A quaint chapel on a hill in Montecito, Nuvali

Sunrise singers, the Gala Quintet *love*

Perfectly packed chapel

At this age, I have a better understanding for practicality, so I never take it personally when I'm not invited to friends' weddings; but consequently I have a deeper appreciation for when I am invited. I'm grateful for all my friends who have wanted me there on their special day. I have loved every single one, and continue to pray for their marriages and families.

Goodbye, January. You flew by wonderfully!

P.S. -- Funny, I saw through Timehop that in January 2015, I attended four weddings and a baby shower. This year, I attended four weddings and a baptism. I'm glad I always start the year with love and life.

The Catch-Up Storybook: Favorites from the Holidays

December came and went, and we're more than halfway through January 2016! WHAT HAPPENED. I don't like saying, "I've been busy" because that's a lousy excuse for anything and everything; but rather, other things needed to be prioritized. But I'm back, and this year is looking up and up. To transition, I want to share some of my favorite things and photos at the moment (acquired and taken sometime during the holidays.)

Obsessed with my tropical printed City Sneaks!

Currently my favourite tank from #GingersnapsPH

A Chef's Classics holiday product shoot with Carl, director of Belle Studio; things are really not fancy behind the scenes (: #LetsCookPH The final videos are embedded in the cut.

Finally have these limited Swiss Miss Knitted Tins that I'd been eyeing for 3 years!
(The chocolate is okay, too!) #TheSweetLife

Bought all the Mario Kart Happy Meals from McDonald's in one go because I can't resist Mario Brothers!

The Elvis Press Me: secret menu at Mr. Graham's Sandwich Shop uses the same pan cubano as the Cebuano, but is a sweet-savory blend of bacon, bananas, peanut butter, and marshmallow cream. I swear, it works!

Not sure I'll ever get to wear this beautiful Filipiniana "terno" again, but I want everyone to know that Reneé Salud remains one of the best designers in our country. I LOVE this gown, I'm so honored to have worn it.

My Kikki.K planner, band, and matching pen from Ate Karen has arrived. It's been tradition that I get my planners from my sister at the end of each year, so she sent one from Australia. The K makes it look customized for me!

The new RCS in 70s garb. Special thanks to our Baihana sisters for these tutus! #PLDTPasasalamat2016

Don't judge my junk! BonChon Philippines' Bacon Kimchi Krazy Ko-Dog is battered and fried for a crunchy exterior and has a pretty good flavor profile (sorry, cheat food.) #BonChonKrazyKoDog

A photo posted by Katherine (@kaichypoo) on Dec 16, 2015 at 7:25pm PST

"On top of many other things like work, mentorship, and countless free meals, I'm so lucky to have a boss who's a great gift-giver that considers both wants and needs! So sorry, but we are living in a material world and I am a material girl!" #HerschelSupply #Klimt 

My mom used to give me #books on Christmases and my birthdays, from fairytales, to children's stories; and later poems and young adult fiction (the latter is still my favorite genre.) The book that transitioned between those and more adult ones was a collection of Edgar Allan Poe's greatest works -- and I loved it. I fell in love with his unusual plots and dark characters and influenced my early writing of shorts. So receiving this today was more meaningful than, I think, the givers thought it would be. It's beautifully hard bound, with a ribbed spine, and gold leafed textblock. Thank you so much, @shmapet and @martyarnaldo!

A photo posted by Katherine (@kaichypoo) on Dec 27, 2015 at 7:54pm PST

I'm thankful my job lets me try on different hats (pun intended) and costumes, like this traditional T'Boli garb from the indigenous tribe in Southern Mindanao. We shot a music video for the Department of Tourism's program in #ASEANTourismForum2016, where we also performed live.

That's it!  What I'm not highlighting is the holiday inches I've put on, but that's why in the next couple of entries, I'll be talking about the diets that I've tried recently (and through the years) and let you know which ones worked for me, and which ones I couldn't stomach  (literally and figuratively.) I'm determined to dedicating 2016 to good choices for health, finances, work, and relationships.