Inspirational

It’s truly remarkable how a spark of ingenuity can create shockwaves to change destinies that would have otherwise been cemented in ruin.

Such is the story of a prison located in Cebu, Philippines; where the majority of the inmates are awaiting trial or have been convicted of violent crime. Every moment in the prison was etched in tension and turmoil with corruption by the guards fuelling episodes of violence after violence.

Enter Byron Garcia.

Heading the once notorious prison housing the nation’s most violent group of prisoners, he chanced upon footage of a typical afternoon march. He innocently thought it would be fun to inject an element of dance into it and then introduced this idea to the inmates.

That eureka moment transformed lives.

The dance exercises occupied the idle minds of the inmates and soon eroded animosity between the rival gang members within the grey washed walls of the prison.

How can you be my enemy when you are my friend?

Thus the seed was sowed.

In the process, violence within the walls plunged to zero and joy started sprouting from within the inmates. Every month, the inmates will perform a routine for visitors at the monthly show. Each mass collaboration is videoed and posted online on youtube for the world to enjoy.

Nobody hides their face (nor the pride they feel) because they are genuinely proud of the work they’ve done. Each step, paves the way to a lighter soul, even if it does little to change their grim reality.

Watching their dance routines online, you sincerely feel the joy that radiates from a soul finally freed from the troubles of the secular world. And it’s difficult to not be moved by something so innocent as carefree dance.

Inspirational.

It doesn’t take a hell lot of money to make change. It doesn’t matter if it costs a dollar or 10 cents. All that matters is that change does occur. You just need to let it happen.

I'm going to break into song and embrace dance too! So don't be alarmed if I walk with a jiggle and a step lighter the next time you happen to spot me! I'm allowing myself to experience joy.

Support the Cebu Prison project and spread the word.

Hope truly exists.

********************

Watch their story here

愛請問怎麼走


I'm so crazy over this song

cherlosophy's playlist

1. Ban Qing Ge - Yuan Ruo Lan
2. Ru Yan - Olivia Ong
3. Very Heartbreaking Words - Alex Ft Jisun
4. Can You Hear Me Now - Lee Seung Chul
5. What Do I Do - Jisun
6. Remember - Kim Sung Tae
7. Be Nice To Me Please - Kim Hyung Joong
8. Love You - Howl
9. Fight The Bad Feeling - T-Max
10. Sha Gua - Landy
11. Sometime - SS501
12. Do You Know - Someday

Deo Juvente

The haziness between life and death never fails to baffle me. Teetering among the living and the dead at work most days of the year reminds me incessantly about the importance of life that I would have otherwise taken for granted had God not siphoned me into nursing.

Of course there are days (and sometimes even weeks on end), where I feel jaded and sick of the job with the shit I have to shoulder from irritating patients and colleagues with hormonal imbalances and/or psychological dysfunction.

Then God intervenes.

My blunted senses become astute as the neurons kick into action with rapid fire. And without fail, a lesson unfolds.

The ward received a case a new case recently. Enter Rm37, labeled as uncommunicative and DIL (dangerously ill list) on MWM (maximum ward management), he came to us with the smell of death encircling. The palliative team in charge of his care ordered no observations necessary. Yes, not even OM parameters.

“just maintain the IV fent”

It was clear that our role was solely to provide comfort in his final stretch.

He was breathing with the aid of a tracheostomy, had end stage renal failure with dialysis stopped and an active bleeding gastrointestinal tract. Modern medicine had pinballed him from the ICU to a general ward, from hospital to hospital, postponing this man’s imminent death for approximately half a year since his collapse.

I found to my surprise that despite his condition, he was quite lucid. And with that revelation, came a wave of irrepressible empathy as I cupped his cold fingers in my warm hands.

A reflection of the vigor of my own life.

I asked him about his tattoo on his arm, the adventures in his youth and whether he wanted us to reinsert the nasogastric tube that he had pulled out earlier. Through the whole conversation (well, I talked while he mouthed his words slowly and at times repeatedly), he remained engaged and displayed no sense of frustration at my feeble attempts to match lip movements with words.

In fact, his pale face even broke into broad smiles occassionally and slipped into slumber as I patted him.

Whatever hatred I felt for my problems in my world faded into the distance as I acknowledged the opportunity God has granted to comfort another.

Hello, Anybody Home?

Yesterday afternoon, I attended the EXSA course at YWCA. This blardy award had my ward manager jumping mad. Allow me to clarify matters.

She had called and texted me on my handphone. I called back the ward but nobody knew a thing so I called back a little later. After 3 tries of trying to catch a hold of her, she blasted me and asked why I didn’t call her cell instead.

Why didn't you leave a message?! Is this course supposed to be a secret?!

I mean, if you’d called me from the ward, I’d just find you back in the ward. Then I found out that she had called Stick Insect’s DAD because she didn’t answer her phone. Get this – Just to find me. Good grief.

Woman, what is the matter with you?!

Does that mean she will call my (dead) father if I don’t answer my cell the next time looking for Stick Insect? Wahahhaa… my goodness.

Anyway, the course comprised of the usual mandatory humiliating moments with involuntary games and introductions. There was this super soft guy from another department inside who was peculiarly slapstick.

Conflicting with his beefcake bod and GI Joe hair, he whined girlishly about the warm weather over his phone as he feverishly fanned himself. He was indeed the magnet of attention for all present.

In the evening, I met up Crescentia, a good friend I’ve had since my secondary school days. It’s been a while since we last met up but that sweet girl still remembered my birthday and brought me to Vivo where we had a buffet steamboat just behind Daiso.

We could see the entrance of Sentosa from the restaurant. Though we were definitely more interested in the seafood spread on our table! We gorged our faces like old times and starting off awkwardly, we kicked the gears into motion and shared about the times we’ve spent apart.

And today, my ward supervisor texted me to call my ward manager URGENTLY (forever). She informed me that I needed to complete some forms for a HMDP sponsored course.

Or maybe they're using the HMDP fund for my adv dip?

Nevermind, I like free courses. Especially if I get to sleep =)

Surprise Surprise

Today, we went for lunch at Hokkaido Ramen over in Ion Orchard where we met Zoe Tay with her son and maid. She’s really slim and pretty in real life! Then we went for a drink at MOS Burger before accompanying her to Clarke Quay to get something from her sister.

What a conspiracy lor!

She actually masterminded a surprise birthday celebration for me. Hahaha.. That’s twice in a row! In cahoots with F3 + Leni + Von + YC + Farha + Mardi, Stick Insect lured me to Clarke Quay, wanting to give me a ride on the reverse bungee. I really didn’t suspect anything at first because we had planned to go Holland for dinner but I knew something was viciously off when I saw Mokie at Central.

Where got so qiao?! Hmmmmm…*rubs chin*

It dawned on me that history had repeated itself! Hahaha.. Thank you guys!! They brought a cake and celebrated Stick Insect’s birthday simultaneously because hers would fall on National Day.

Since I had eaten, I declined the offer because I would have brought the Singapore emblem to Gmax (read : Merlion).

Instead, I totally enjoyed watching the other guinea pigs suffer as the flipped and turned on the metal contraption. There was such a stark difference between the screaming trio of (Group 1) farha + YC + mardi and (Group 2) Mokie + Von.

The 1st group screamed like banshees as they were catapulted up into the air. They mouthed loads of their hair as the bungee flipped and twisted. Mardi looked as though she was in labor. Wahahha… And even when the bungee neared its end, they were still screaming!!

It was hilarious to watch!

Mokie + Von, on the other hand, remained silent as though someone had muted the volume. So strange! They were like robots! Silent robots. Minimal expression and zero noise!!!

We then headed to find a café for dinner but Minds and whatever was closed on Mondays so we went to Timbre over at Boat Quay where we spent the evening bitching. And Mokie, the ever avid photographer made us camwhore for laughs. My silly pics are probably circulating the web as we speak. Hahaha...

Birthdays are meant to be celebrated by people whom you love and love you =) I spent Sunday with family and Monday with my BFF + pals. It’s the people who care that matters the most.

Thank you again people!

Hong Kong Day 5 - Hong Kong Island (again)

Out of sheer exhaustion, we decided to exhalt the laziness coursing within our bodies and wake near 11am because check-out was due at noon. I chapped the skn the skin over my shoulder lugging heavy bags of goodies around and the ache was really killing me. Stick Insect had to take over my shopping load too.

Thanks babe!

the last view from our room. goodbye voyuers!

Leaving our luggage with the concierge, we headed back to Hong Kong Island for some last minute shopping. There, we went back to Jardine’s Crescent and got a basketful of lovely trinkets and presents for ourselves, family and friends.

Bling it on..!
we bought a Hello Kitty jibbitz from the Crocs store opposite Times Square

Then we popped by Sogo again to see if there were any more bargains to pick up. We ended up buying Paul and Joe stuff which Stick Insect adores. Then we moved onto Times Square in search for Stick Insect’s NARS concealer.

love the jingly music from the ice cream truck!

The Nars guy is so super cute, albeit a little niang(soft). He had such clear complexion, but not those sickly white faces many Hong Kong guys somehow possess. He looked like a hip Korean. So KHJ! His ability to laugh after every sentence simply magnified his charm. They way he giggled made us giggle too. Hahaha..

If I had stayed there any longer, I would have drooled on the floor.

Do patronize him at the NARS counter over at Lane Crawford (Times Square Ground Floor) if you require any makeup from the brand. His name is Yan Dao (handsome). Wahaha.. His service is really good. His looks are better. Hohoho..

We heart Yan Dao..! We have faith we can MAN you.. wahahha..

We ended up having lunch at Freshness Burger in some shopping center. Its very much like Mos Burger. Though pricier, the taste and quality of the food is unbeatable for fast food standards. The thick corn soup reeked of real corn and the burger patties were succulently juicy. We also tried the tangerine(yuza) soda which was tangy and sweet. Yum yum!

the double burger (left) and the tofu & avocado burger (right)

We didn’t enjoy the buffalo wings though. Very disappointing scrawny wings drenched in a watery tomato-based sauce.

Not having enough time to catch a movie, we returned to the hotel to await our shuttle back to the airport.

we had the freshly made crepe with dark chocolate gelato at the basement of our hotel

Broke after 5days of incessant bargain hunting, we had to change every last bit of SGD for HKD and dig every last cent for dinner. And that’s after we spent our food money on Disney merchandise. Hahahaha…*slaps forehead*

We had to whip out the cards again to buy cakes for Stick Insect’s family. I bet her mum would scream murder if we ‘forgot’. Heeheehee.. In the end, we managed to scrape enough to each get a meal. And here’s what we got from the final stretch of this trip. This wonderful trip =)

It has been such a wonderful experience in Hong Kong.

And for this, I thank you.

Hong Kong Day 4 - Hong Kong Island

Tired from the packed days, we slept in a little and started our day near noon. Today, we would conquer Hong Kong Island.

*roar*

Taking the MTR to Sheung Wan, we visited Western Market before taking the tram (HKD2) from the terminus to Causeway Bay MTR.

western market's fire station-like facade

On the ground floor of Western Market, you'll find knick knacks and souvenirs, whereas the 2nd floor sells an array of cloth which reminded me very much of Chinatown. The 3rd floor houses a speciality restuarant, mainly catered for weddings.

The delightfully retro trams infused a certain nostalgia against the very metropolitan atmosphere of modern day Hong Kong island.You board the electric tram from the rear and pay before you alight from the front. Tugging leisurely by the many buildings offered a glimpse of evryday life. This ride is not for those in a rush.

views from the Tram

We sat upstairs for better views. Like most days, the were flash showers and today was no different. We had to shut the windows in the tram! Luckily for us, the rain subsided after a short while and we were able to ventilate the tram once again.

We stopped at Sogo and caught many bargains! Sanrio Gift-gate was throwing a 50% sale. Henry Cat products at a steal. Polo on sale again!

Resistance was futile. Sobs.

Yes, I will probably live in debt for the rest of my life. Everything is cheaper in Hong Kong!! Damn you!!

We tried to find The New Face also by Sogo because I heard there was a Hello Kitty Cafe there. But since we were pointed in circles, we had lunch at Snake King 2, a restaurant adjacent to Sogo. We ate the broiled chicken rice and honey char siew noodles with complementary hot drink. We needed to pay a little extra to upgrade to a cold drink. Nonetheless, the food was fantastic! Almost everyone there used their free tea to wash their utensils. So funny!

our lunch!

and what meal would be complete without Xu Liu Shan?!

Then we headed down to Jardine’s Crescent, this little nook hiding the most amazing and cheap accessories! The bling accessories, satin bows, scarves etc are waaaaaaaaaay cheaper there then in Singapore.

Stick Insect grabbed bangles for approx HKD30 (SGD6). She said it looks EXACTLY the same as the ones they sell here for at least SGD20-30. We both bought 50% pashmina + 50% silk scarves for HKD50. That’s not even SGD10!

What bargains!!

Be warned – Do NOT bargain with the stall owners unless they’re in a mighty good mood. They have menses. Don’t say we didn’t warn you.

We witnessed a china girl asking for a discount and got elbowed by the lady owner n the front shop. Menses lor. And do check your items carefully before walking away. It’s better to be safe then sorry.

For dinner, we headed to Langham Place and ate at Mos Burger. This time round, we walked around the massive complex and took in the sights more in detail. Almost every shop was having a sale. Wanted to buy some shoes from Pedder Red but I restrained myself because the thought of sucking on the shoes when I got back broke and helpless was not appealing.

insanely long and steep escalators

glittering lights in Langham Place

see the digital ceiling with the cloud effect?

mos mos burger burger

After 4 super crazy shopping and stuffing-our-faces days, I ended up with these =)

loves!

Hong Kong Day 3 - Macau!

On the 3rd day, we started off bright and early. We made our way down to the Ocean Terminal at Tsim Sha Tsui to ride the ferry to Macau.

It’s a long walk to the ferry terminal from the MTR station but the road signs were surprisingly clear. The early morning’s fresh air was invigorating as we past the many shops yet to be opened for the brisk shopping crowd.

view from the ferry terminal and within the ferry

The return ferry tickets to Macau cost us HKD306 inclusive of tax. Upon arrival, we took a bus to San Ma Lo. The bus stop is on the left of exiting the Macau Ferry Terminal. An elderly local woman urged us to take an alternative bus no.15 (costing about HKD5/pax) instead of no.10 as she said the route was the same.

After about a 30min ride, we finally recognized the wave-like cobble stoned path of San Ma Lo, where the looming General Post Office sat. Unfortunately, it started to pour and we took shelter from the rain at Sasa, where we bled money again. Hur hur.

The General Post Office in San Ma Lo

In BOF, Ji Hoo played the guitar and sang here!

Toiletries are even cheaper in Macau. We saved about HKD5-10 for each item. How can I ever buy things in Singapore again?! URGH... *pulls hair*

Because the rain persisted, we had little alternative but to have breakfast at Macdonald’s. Their breakfast menu included macaroni soup! These people really love their Macaroni! Though by the time we decided to eat there, it was past 11am and they had started to churn out their lunch and dinner menus.

We had their set meals. Their cups even had the Hello Kitty designs because of an ongoing offer with Hello Kitty’s 35th Year celebrations. Weeeeee..! My kind of people!

I had the grilled chicken burger happy meal

Once the rain subsided, we walked down the cobbled path to the St Dominic’s church. Following a group of tourists, we entered the imposing church and marveled at the baroque architecture. The solemn atmosphere within contradicted the bubbling mix of tourists outside.

We also toured the museum within, learning a little more of the history nestled within the walls. Some of the religious exhibits are quite scary, while others are so beautifully lifelike.

angelic faces




Religious artefacts used in ceremonies.
See the intricate embroidery on the tapestry?

We then took a short walk up to the Ruins of St Paul, the die-die-must-photograph spot in the whole of Macau. Along our way, Stick Insect got harassed by Bak Kuah (beef and pork jerky) sellers touting their wares. We also tried the famous Portuguese egg tarts from Pastelaria Koi Kei (approx HKD6).

the majestic Ruins of St Paul
BOF was filmed here!

doing a Britney?!
if i sat like that, i'd be arrested

We saw the statue of the girl and her dog on the left with her unmistakable ‘chao keng’ pose as the Ruins of St Paul started to loom into view.

Another short walk up brought us to the Macau Museum (entry HKD15) where we cam-whored a little and viewed the interesting exhibits inside.

minature exhibits





(Left) wedding clothes for Star Wars fanatics or Princess Lela wanabes


a wedding procession

The roof top offered a commanding view of the Macau Peninsula, where we walked by the cannons silently pointing out into the new buildings at Mount Fortress.

Boys over flowers was filmed here too!

After which, we roamed the surrounding areas and desperately tried to navigate to a bus stop to get to The Venetian.

real human bones inside!

Na Tcha Temple

lovely San Ma Lo

St Anthony's church


we ate this chunky fries drowning in sauce! it came with a yakult smoothie which was HEAVENLY. Yum Yum..

We got lost along the way and had to retrace our steps back to our original bus stop, where we took the bus to Taipa. We passed the infinitely long and skinny bridge connecting the 2 islands together and got lost again. Finally, we took a cab to The Venetian after missing the stop at Taipa Village.

We explored The Venetian’s extensive structure and were in awe at the amount of effort they put in to decorate the place. The splendor within was amazing. In essence, it’s very much like Genting, only grander.

glitzy Venetian


ceiling art

BOF was filmed here also!

The Gondola shoppes also had a singing doll costing SGD60 which I so wanted to buy. They had a dog and a monkey version, whose mouth would quiver as it belted out opera classics. SOOOOO cute! But since my pockets were dangerously thin, I had to pass.

We ate Fatburger, an American fast food chain and tried their Macanese fare of porridge and rice roll set.

Then we took the free shuttle bus to the City Of Dreams. A new and upmarket casino along The Strip. At the entrance, a digital huge screen featuring a topless (yes, her boobies are in plain view) flitted left and right with some fishes, mesmerizing the crowd of ‘ti ko pehs’ (dirty old men). All of which furiously snapped pictures of the lithe topless mermaid with their handphone cameras.

ti ko peh eye candy

Why no hunky mermen?! Why no naked Edward Cullen?! Why no dancing naked KHJ?!

The place was to expensive to shop and since the only available tickets for the Dragone Show was due at 7pm, we decided to head back early to Hong Kong.

view from the City Of Dreams

final scenes before departing Macau

We decided to return to Mongkok, where we searched and successfully found ‘Mongkok Man’, this weirdo I saw the last time I came.

Mongkok Man 2008
asking passerbys to be his girlfriend

As usual, he was up to rubbish. Haha. He’s something like our Steven Lim. This time, he’ll sing if you put money into his box.

And of course we did!

Mongkok Man 2009
Singing this time round

We snacked at Hui Lao Shan (Xu Liu Shan). The braised chicken wings are damn lip smacking good. Stick Insect salivates just looking at them!

damn good!

Then we had dinner at this great place - Kai Kee Restaurant, where the main courses came with huuuge servings, complete with soup and drinks. The best part is that most sets cost under HKD40 with noting over HKD100. Business is brisk and service is good. We highly recommend this place!

3 fantastic days down in Hong Kong! 2 more exciting days to come! Woohoo..!!