Shoppping @ Aeropostale

Venue: Aeropostale L2 Eastwing Shangri-la Plaza Manila
Date: June 21, 2014

Aeropostale has been around in the Philippines for one year but it was my first time to visit a branch in manila. For one, Tricia Gosingtian was gonna be there to give some style tips, and I am a big fan. I really wanted to meet her again after the book-signing event. Secondly, they're having this event on instagram, where you post your photo holding their paperbag.

So my aunt and I went to check it out. We thought we might as well try to participate in the IG event.

Heading off!

It was about an hour an a half drive from home to Shangri-La. We left a later than I had wanted to and arrived at the site all hungry. We had our lunch before finally going around the mall to find the shop. I hadn't been to Shang in years! I think the last time was when my other aunt, who is currently in the US, brought us there to shop and eat. Anywho, I managed to find our way and found the Aeropostale branch easily.

The shop has a really inviting vibe in it. I saw some really cute outfits and also had some unforgettable memories.

"I'm fabulous!"

 I saw this cutie right when I entered the shop. How awesome is this dog ornament? It pulled the look off like crazy!

I tried several pieces on and managed to score a few. I think I'll be shopping here again next time.

This dressing room will never have me ever again.

When I was trying some clothes on in this very dressing room, I forgot to lock the door. Someone peeked in but it's good I was dressed already. And when I did managed to lock it, I had trouble going out. I was on the verge of making a scene when I found out the trick to opening it. Next time, I'll just go and try things on at the girls' room. 

Now, going to the highlight event of that evening, I was sort of late because I was paying my bills. My aunt and I were still able to get to the good parts of the program.

I got some very useful styling tips here and I will defiinite apply it next time I go out. I want to put more effort on how I look since I've been pretty much laid-back all my life. One could easily see me as a little sloppy because of what I was wearing.

The evening was also made even better with macaroons and drinks! The shop even put out some bread sticks for their customers who might get a little hungry after shopping till they drop. The food was really good!

And so, after the talk, we had the usual photo session with Tricia. I also got to talk to her a little before we went home. I would have loved to stay there forever but we still had a long ride home. It was like a dream being able to talk to my idol btw!!! She is so sweet, humble, and funny. She was really interesting and she displayed her ideas on different topics well. I am becoming more and more of a fan than I already am. I hope that I'll be able to talk to her again next time.

I can't believe I didn't introduce myself...OTL

Mom's Independence Day

June 12, 2006, there was no class. I was in 2nd year high school and for the me that time, the school year had just begun. I spent the day enjoying my hobbies, working on my homework, you know the usual stuff. My uncle and grandmother from my mom's side visited us from Canada a month before and was nearing their departure.

My mother had been hospitalized a few days before because her symptoms have been worsening. She had breast cancer and it already metastasized to her lungs and bones, meaning it already spread to other organs. We paid her a visit some while back but as she had told us before she became ill, she did not want us missing out on our studies if ever something happens to her. My brothers and I were attending school just like normal, not letting our classmates, teachers, and even friends know of our family situation. That was until that evening.

 I've never stayed up late for unnecessary things before I entered college so I was in bed at 8pm. I was about to enter dreamland when I was woken up quite aggressively by my eldest brother. I had heard some noises but I was reluctant to wake up. I wanted to be in my dreamland. Again, I was shaken this time with a stern command. When I opened my eyes, I saw my grandmother at the head of the bed and she was holding a handkerchief over her mouth and nose. She was sobbing, her eyes were red, and her cheeks have turned red. I knew that something happened and she told me that my mom was no longer with us.

We rode a cab to the hospital. My grandmother was narrating my mom's final moments as I watch the vehicle pass through the familiar roads which oddly seemed new to me that particular evening. According to her, mom was supposedly sleeping when my dad and my uncle was about to have their dinner. They heard her make some sort of sigh and then it was followed by the machine's alarm going off. It was a cardio-pulmonary arrest. They hurried home to fetch us so that we could see, touch, speak to her one more time.

When we got to the hospital room my mom was in, I saw her lying silently or better yet peacefully. My dad urged us to come nearer and told us that that would be the last we're ever going to be able to touch her. I knew that. I needn't be told. I kissed her forehead, whispered the words "I love you" even though I knew all her senses would be gone by then. I was hoping that they would still be conveyed somehow. That time, I know I should accept things. Everyone will someday perish.

To give some time to grieve, we missed school for a week. Every night tears would stream down my face because I regretted a lot of things. I wished I never did the things I did when we fought. I wish I didn't told her things that made her sad. I wished I told her I love her more. I wished I had kissed her even when she didn't ask for it. I wished she didn't had the disease. I wished she hadn't left us. But it was already there. I had to face reality and accept it.

After a week of being absent, my friends dropped by. They saw me and brothers watching anime. I guess that was how we coped back then. Distracting ourselves, acting tough, trying to smile. I still remember that it was Naruto putting smiles on our faces. Upon witnessing this scene, my friends called me outside to talk a little. They told me that they thought I would be more depressed. Oh how they didn't know how much really. I asked how they knew. It seemed we were like celebrities at school. The whole school knew. I was just grateful for their sympathy but at that time, I knew something in me changed. It must be how I looked at the world. I still have my dad and my brothers but being the only girl in the family without my mom sucked. They didn't understand my needs and I had to deal with my problems myself. I had to adapt.

On the day of the cremation, my relatives were going on and on about how tough we were for we did not shed any tears during the ceremony. Personally, I thought I had wept out all the tears I had the days before. Every night. I just didn't want to let people know. I hated looking weak. I had to be strong to move forward.

June 12, 2014, 8 years had passed and a lot of things happened. I know I am still not over everything. I don't think I will ever be over it. I can only carry it all the way to the end until we're reunited again. As our country rejoice and celebrated this day as our independence day from the foreign oppressors, our family also remembers this day as mom's independence day. Today marks the day she was freed from all the sufferings brought about by her disease. She was released from the shackle of cancer.