This is me and my blog … joining inkblots’ blog action to offer e-flowers for the victims of the Glorietta tragedy.

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An explosion occurred near the entrance of Glorietta mall 2 at about 1:30 PM October 19, 2007. Reports say that there were 8 people killed and more than 80 injured. Authorities are still investigating the source of the blast. It has not yet been confirmed that the incident was caused by a bomb.

– More news here. 

My colleagues and I went out to lunch later than 12 noon as our meeting ran longer as usual. We were debating whether to eat at the nearby McDonalds or go out and have a true friday lunch out. Because it was already late, we opted for the nearer Dela Rosa-Greenbelt area rather than Glorietta.

Coming back to lunch, we were met with buzzing around the cubicles. People were talking in excited voices. Not happy-excited voices but rather excited-agitated voices. Then I learned. A few minutes ago, some teammates were in Glorietta and were witness to the explosion that rocked the popular mall.

Some were nervously kidding that they still were covered with dust and soot, others were wide-eyed and quiet, still others were near tears. I further confirmed that they were inside Timezone when the explosion happened. They witnessed the noise, the screams, the panic of the crowd.

One officemate stopped me from asking another girl officemate about the experience for fear questions might trigger a breakdown. She was near the edge… scared.

Personally, being in the office.. at my desk and far from it all, I felt detached at first. I really did not absorb all the news that I was reading on inquirer.net and the gmanews.tv… until I saw their eyes.

I watched the news videos online and my heart lurched. I was thinking how lucky I was that I did not pick this day to go shopping alone in Glorietta. One of my favorite stress-relievers is to walk around the mall just window shopping. I always use the roundabout way to reach the other side of Glorietta from Landmark because cutting a line straight through would force me to meet with the crowd. I hate crowds. So I walk the side of the mall. I traverse that line of shops because the halls are quieter and less crowded. Besides it is where all the kids stores are. And I love shopping for my kids. I also love shopping alone. Imagine if I was there… alone… I feel cold.

I feel like crying as I hear the stories of the people who were actually there. One person who was interviewed talked of seeing the person in front of him die. I almost cried at hearing the account.

I was reading the list of dead and injured just now and am very thankful that no one I know is on the list.

Pls. pray for everyone.

These pictures were taken by an officemate using his camera-phone.

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To all online fashionista’s and shoe addicts, Shoes.com is holding a one day sale of discounts up to 60% off! To add to that, shipping is free! But you only have 12 hours to go as of this writing to place your orders.

Here are my choice picks from the thousands of pairs on sale. Click to view the complete selection. I am so obviously a shoe addict!

Aren’t these great? Grab yourself a pair now!

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The National Breast Cancer Awareness Month’s goal is to increase awareness about the importance of the early detection of breast cancer through a worldwide campaign. Through the pink ribbon, people honor survivors and loved ones, and support the progress towards defeating breast cancer.

The ribbon can be worn different ways - mostly by using it as a lapel pin. This website can also wear the pink ribbon and this can be done by listing up for the Pink for October. To support breast cancer awareness, blogs and websites will go pink for the whole month of october to get more people talking about breast cancer and just maybe raise money for cancer research.

Pink for October encourages us to:
1. Turn our web site/blog pink (however we like, it’s up to us).
2. Educate ourselves about the multiple issues related to breast cancer.
3. Take that newfound knowledge and teach someone else what we know.

Aside from signing up for Pink for October, I have also signed up with ThisNext - a shopcasting network where you can recommend, share and discover great products. Think of it as a community of fashionistas and shoppers alike.

Through this community, I am able to select and recommend products that would help raise awareness and money for breast cancer.

See my recommended products from my Pink for October list at ThisNext. Click on each item to view details on the product.

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I cannot remember ever having clear vision. What I do remember is pretending I had clear vision such that it took years before I even bothered to have my eyes checked.

Now I find it funny as I recall waiting for the jeepney to stop in front of me so I will be able to read what route they will be going to. I would flag them down once I was sure I had the right ride which was most often seconds too late and they would be driving off.

I got my eyes checked when I was in my last year of college. My father was good enough to spend for expensive eyeglasses that made me look so…. round. At that time, there weren’t many choices for eyeglasses or I really was just clueless resulting in my buying the standard gold-rimmed ones. The lens and the frame were so heavy my already very small nose turned even smaller.

The day I got my driver’s license was the same day I went to the optical shop to replace my glasses with cool new contact lens. I have been wearing them ever since.

The benefits of wearing contacts include: convenient to wear, frames do not disrupt your line of sight especially when you’re driving and you’re trying to look over your shoulder, your face is not all covered up and the beauty of your eyes can actually be seen.

The downside to it is: you spend more in a year for contact lens replacement, solutions and of course you still need backup eyeglasses for when you let your eyes rest.

Its important though to note that while I have been wearing contacts for years, my vision has steadily worsened. They are supposed to correct my nearsightedness not develop it. I went from a grade of 75 to my now 350 blindness. Without corrective lenses, I can hardly see. My work of being in front of a computer for almost 24 hours does not help and may be the actual reason for my worsening vision.

Lately, my eyes have been super sensitive and after half a day is done, I already long to take of my contacts. I wish I could afford corrective surgery. It must be super to have clear vision. It must be, although I can not remember… it has been so long.

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