Sta. Cruz with Family

I've been living in Zamboanga for already more than 20 years and I haven't set foot in Sta. Cruz Island. Poor me, I know. My Mom and her brothers used to go there a lot when they were teens. And now is the only time that I can do so. I even went to some beaches in Basilan, but I just got to see a glimpse of Santa Cruz. Even if it is a little late, I am still glad that I had a day to unwind with Mom and my cousins.

My cousin gave me a sea urchin shell and there were tiny hermit crabs inside. I released them back in the ocean before we left the island. 

Here is my collection of seashells that my cousins gave me. 

And these were the books that I brought along to read so I could enjoy an unplugged day. 

Our Flores De May @ Pamucutan

No, it's not me who attended Flores de Mayo in our barangay. To tell you honestly, I don't have a memory of attending Flores de Mayo except for one occasion where I just stood up to recite prayers in front of the kids who were my age. I think that's it. I just went for a single day and that's it. Lol what a memory. It must be because I attended a Protestant elementary school despite being Catholic because it was near our house and even if I had my first communion, I don't remember where it took place. Now talk about bad memory!

Flores de Mayo is an annual activity where Catholic children spend the afternoon learning prayers and listening to praise songs as well as bible stories. I think the bible stories really get their attention. The whole activity lasts from the first day of May, ongoing throughout the weekdays and until the last day of May where everybody else meets at church for the culmination. Now this is my favorite part. Even if I no longer attend Flores de Mayo, my family is always approached by the coordinators for a little help. In return, we share what we could give to the children. And this is what we always prepare for them.

We went to town and shopped for the school supplies that we were going to hand out to the children. We also added some treats like biscuits, small chocolate bars and also cakes. Why school supplies, you ask? School is just around the corner and we thought that the little contribution could help motivate the kids so that they would do well in school.

We showed up at exactly three o’clock in the afternoon to help distribute the goodies at the church. So each kid received a notebook, a one-foot ruler, pencil, sharpener and eraser as well as some treats. Even our aunt contributed for the children.

The only thing was that the letter arrived on the day of the distribution itself, even if we were already shopping for the supplies two days earlier. We prepared supplies only good for sixty children and nobody told us that there were more children. But at least we gave what we could. I felt sad for the children who went home without our goodie bags but we have already thought of ways to remedy that. 

How about you? Did you attend Flores de Mayo? What did you do during summer when you were kids? Share your thoughts with me! =D 

Book Review: The Venetian's Wife by Nick Bantock

What I thought would be a novel about a Victorian era turned out to be a quest to completing a collection of magnificent sculptures from Ancient India.

What really interested me about the book was the title as I was looking for something to break away from the usual reading that I did about my usual authors. This turned out to be a fusion of artworks and Indian myth, and the quest of a computer-ghost to complete the lost collection in order to be reunited with his beloved after a forced separation of five hundred years.

This is my first time to read Nick Bantock and I find his approach to Indian art and myth quite interesting, not to mention short. The story centers on Sara Wolfe who is a curator for a museum and how she is employed by a mysterious Mr. Conti to locate the remaining four sculptures of his vast collection. 

Highlights of the Book: Themes, Issues and Characterization

(Warning: May Contain Spoilers)

There are three things about The Venetian’s Wife that I find rather interesting to note. First, the book features collages of art works and captivating sculptures that introduce the beliefs of Indian myth. Here again are the customs of their gods and the concept of reincarnation, as well as the journey of life itself.

Second, one gets to meet interesting characters who have their own story to tell, their reverence and attachments to each of the sculptures. This is where the acquisition of ancient treasures and works of art of private individuals and collectors resurface, instead of returning them to their country or place of origin under the care of the people to carefully preserve them. 

The recurring themes are all about passion, love, religion and life. These are seen in Sara’s growth as she takes the first step in her freedom and the way she is able to take a firmer grasp of love. Likewise, Niccolo Conti does everything in his power to fulfil his wife’s wishes as well as his desire to be reunited with her again after a very, very long time. Both employer and employee have a deep reverence for life and the way the Indian deities have exercised their powers.

  

Who Could Enjoy This Book?

Seeing that the book is all about growth, Indian myth and art, Nick Bantock’s book may well be interesting for people who want to learn about the Indian deities, sculptures and about art collecting. It is a light read, sprinkled with beautiful collages, photographs and paintings, and it is only 130 pages. It makes for a good weekend read and gives a sense of what an art collector does whether for self-satisfaction or working for an employer, even for a mysterious one.

About The Author

Nick Bantock is the bestselling author of the illustrated trilogy Griffin and Sabine, Sabine’s Notebook and The Golden Mean and also Averse to Beasts all published under Chronicle Books. He has written and illustrated nine other books and he is currently residing on an island off Vancouver, British Columbia with his wife and children. 

What Other People are Saying About This Book

Curious as to what other people are saying about The Venetian's Wife? 

Visit the following sites to read the reviews:

Good Reads

Amazon 

Review: Human Nature Lucky in Love Mineral Hydrating Lipstick

My lip balm also from Human Nature is already exhausted, so I went to the branch and had to pick up a replacement. The one that I got is a deep red shade, Human Nature calls it Lucky in Love, and it is dark almost like wine.

More about the lipstick, it contains passion fruit oil that come from the farms of Davao, so one can be quite proud to patronize the efforts of the Filipino farmers here. I find that the mineral makeup from Human Nature has improved so much from its first launch, and I will be explaining more later in this post.

In the meantime, you might have noticed that Human Nature is one of the leading brands boasting of the cruelty free stamp which means that the mineral makeup being manufactured are free of animal testing. Now that is a company with a heart for nature! 

If you want to patronize other products with similar principles, you can look for the rabbit logo with the cruelty free stamp and the big ears shaped like a heart. This campaign seeks to take animals out of cosmetic testing and it is not only picking up awareness in the Philippines but also all over the world. 

So what did I think about the product? To be honest I am a one lipstick at a time person. During my college days, I didn't put on lipstick, but I used lip gloss until I emptied the little tube of Mary Kay. It was only after college that I discovered a carmine-free alternative. For those who don't know, carmine is a substance that come from crushed insects to produce that red pigment being used in lipstick. I can only imagine what other brands are still using it. 

Pros

Here are some points on why I like the improved formulation of Human Nature's Mineral Hydrating Lipstick:

• It is highly pigmented and gives off a rich, dark color which is appropriate for evening events
• It also smells like bubblegum ( I know the campaign says it is passion fruit scented)
• The lipstick glides on very well and it does moisturize and produces a subtle shine
• I find it quite affordable at only Php 225.00 so that the average Filipina can afford it 
• Both the box and the tube legibly displays the expiration date 

Here you can see the list of ingredients that are used to produce the lipstick. Rest assured it is free of lake dyes and lead. 

Cons

And of course, there are some things that I did not approve of:

• The color wears off after a few hours so I have to discreetly reapply
• I find that it is not food proof and smudge proof
• I need two coats to achieve the color that I like

The Verdict

Even with the pros and cons already enumerated, the question remains: Is it worth spending on?

The answer is yes, the pros still overweight the cons, and not only do I get a makeup product, but I know that I can also help animals by buying Cruelty Free products and also improve the lives of Filipino farmers. 

How about you? Have you tried any Human Nature makeup or products? What are your thoughts? Leave a comment below!

If you are feeling lucky, you can still join my Oasap International Giveaway here. 

P.S. I have just subscribed for my first ever beauty box but it won't be shipped until July because the June subscriptions are already sold out. You will find out which box it is until it finally arrives! In the meantime, I have other products to review and another giveaway is due!=D 

Raisie Speaks X Oasap May Giveaway

May is such a merry month, and it is a transition month for me. It took me some time to adjust but here I am, back on my feet. One thing I am thankful for is that I got to learn more about myself, and that I am truly blessed to have family and friends with me.

In the meantime, Oasap has offered a giveaway to be hosted on my blog. This giveaway will run for ten days only, so you can be sure to participate in it and comply with the requirements. It is exciting because the prizes include Oasap Spring-Summer 2013 items that could be yours!

I know you want to win so all you have to do is follow the mechanics very well. I wish you good luck and take note that this giveaway is open internationally! Also, if you happen to be the lucky winner, you have to provide your correct shipping information that is serviceable. So are you game? 

You could win any of the following prizes:

• Candy Colored Skater Skirt
• Elegant Mini Skirt with Chiffon Overlay
• Shining Galaxy Print Leggings
• Sweet Floppy Hat with Floral Embellishments
• Eiffel Tower Print Short Sleeve T Shirt
• Cute Pink Panther Print Short Sleeve T Shirt
• Sleeveless Round Neck Crochet Lace Vest 
• Fashion Sleeveless Chiffon Dress with Asymmetric Hem 

Here is what you have to do, take note that you have to follow the instructions very carefully so that your entries will be counted.

a Rafflecopter giveaway