A Proust Episode

   

  “The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new  landscapes, but in having new eyes.” 

                                                                            ― Marcel Proust

     Life happens when you're not looking and in this case, when I stopped writing. So, while I gather my thoughts and put them back on the corner shelves, I'm gonna start by taking stock and answering a couple of questions in between... a sort of diversion so to speak while i drag run-away moments of clarity and wisdom dancing with dust mites from under the bed .  

Here then is a questionnaire from Mr. Proust:

WHAT IS YOUR GREATEST FEAR?

   

• Death has always scared me: the thought of family, loved ones, friends...myself... simply ceasing to      exist, no matter the how, wherefore, and why.

WHAT IS YOUR CURRENT STATE OF MIND?

•    Typical muddle of wishes, wants, concerns, to-do's, and flights of fancy.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE OCCUPATION?(WAY OF SPENDING TIME)

    Crafting, tinkering, reading, and a dash of daydreaming goodness.

WHAT HISTORICAL FIGURE DO YOU MOST IDENTIFY WITH?

•  Me and history don't belong in the same clique so I can't say I have any one in mind for that question.

WHICH LIVING PERSON DO YOU MOST ADMIRE?

•   My mom. 

WHO IS YOUR FAVORITE FICTIONAL HERO?

•   I would have a mutiny in my head if I picked just one...

WHO ARE YOUR REAL-LIFE HEROES?

•   my parents...and  my knight-in-slightly-rusty-and-clunky armor Bas...

WHAT IS YOUR MOST TREASURED POSSESSION?

   

•    I wish I could mention something really sentimental but I cant...

   

WHEN AND WHERE WERE YOU HAPPIEST?

•  I didn't really bring a happiness-o-meter in the past so can't pinpoint a specific period. There were the best of times, there were the worst of times and each made an impact.

WHAT IS YOUR MOST OBVIOUS CHARACTERISTIC?

•    I'd take that to mean personal not physical characteristic and I'd say it's my patience.

WHAT IS THE TRAIT YOU MOST DEPLORE (HATE) IN YOURSELF?

•    My insecurity about my capabilities

WHAT IS THE TRAIT YOU MOST DEPLORE IN OTHERS?

•    Being full of themselves...

WHAT IS YOUR GREATEST EXTRAVAGANCE?

•    Fashion...I swing girl that way.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE JOURNEY?

•    Finding my independence and personal strength in Manila

WHAT DO YOU MOST DISLIKE ABOUT YOUR APPEARANCE?

•    My arms...

WHAT DO YOU CONSIDER THE MOST OVER-RATED VIRTUE?

•    Self-sacrifice... oh, the melodrama!

ON WHAT OCCASION DO YOU LIE?

•    cases of self-preservation (?)

WHICH WORDS OR PHRASES DO YOU MOST OVER-USE?

•  OMG! and its variations... LOL...I seem to see a trend on abbreviations...

IF YOU COULD CHANGE ONE THING ABOUT YOURSELF, WHAT WOULD IT BE?

•    Be more assertive

WHAT DO YOU CONSIDER YOUR GREATEST ACHIEVEMENT?

•    Having been able to weather intrigues and storms...

WHERE WOULD YOU LIKE TO LIVE?

•    New Zealand or Cebu, Philippines...the jury is still debating

WHAT IS THE QUALITY YOU MOST ADMIRE IN A MAN?

•    Quiet strength of character, you don't have to be screaming macho to be a man

WHAT IS THE QUALITY YOU MOST ADMIRE IN A WOMAN?

•    Confidence in her feminity

WHAT IS IT YOU MOST DISLIKE?

•    Hypocrisy

WHAT DO YOU VALUE MOST IN YOUR FRIENDS?

• Loyalty

   

HOW WOULD YOU LIKE TO DIE?

• quick and painless

IF YOU WERE TO DIE AND COME BACK AS A PERSON OR AN ANIMAL, WHAT DO YOU THINK IT WOULD BE?

• a puppy 

IF YOU COULD CHOOSE AN OBJECT TO COME BACK AS, WHAT WOULD YOU CHOOSE?

• a favorite hoodie

WHAT IS YOUR MOTTO (WORDS YOU LIVE BY OR THAT MEAN A LOT TO YOU)?

• I will not allow any man to belittle my soul by making me hate him

WHO HAS BEEN THE GREATEST INFLUENCE ON YOU?

• Can you tell i have a mom complex?

Having answered all that I'd have to save a note to myself that I'd answer these questions again in 5 years or so. Wonder what answers I'll come up with then... However, you can take an interactive test through Vanity fair here: http://www.vanityfair.com/culture/features/proust-questionnaire... Have fun!


Till next...


XOXOXO,

Corine

Marriage: The Road to the Big Day

So you're all googly eyed and your head is filled with thoughts of wedding themes, motifs, and dresses among others. Then, reality rears it's ugly head and your daydreams come to a startling halt.

Growing up, I couldn't remember entertaining thoughts of how my big day would be like.  I think I even skipped that part in my reveries. I hadn't and couldn't picture myself living behind a white picket fence. Although I can clearly recall envisioning myself running barefoot on grass-covered lawn a la Sound of Music. Figure that.

Anyway, fast forward to the present and I find myself with my hands and head full of wedding plans, details, and the migraine-inducing task of processing the necessary paperworks since I snagged my Prince in not so shining armor from the Kingdom of the Netherlands.

So what does a Filipina need to do to get to the altar (or onto the Judge's court) with her Dutchman? Here's a short list for those intending to marry in the Philippines:

From the NSO (National Statistics Office)

• Birth Certificate
• CENOMAR (Certificate Of No Marriage)

*All documents must be requested no more than one year before the marriage date, as per Embassy ruling. Hence, it would have to be on NSO paper and have the receipt attached. Cost of document is dependent upon the number of copies requested: Birth Certificate is 140 php and CENOMAR is 190 php (this is of course subject to change so best prepare ample amount of money). You can go to the office personally or in my case, I had my father process it for me. To be on the side of caution in case you cant do it yourself, write an authorization letter and provide a valid I.D to go with it.

Now, don't be complacent once you've got your papers on-hand.

• Your Birth Certificate and CENOMAR have to be authenticated by DFA Manila before you can have it legalized by the Dutch Embassy.

 And by authentication, we refer to it as Red Ribbon. This is because you get a red ribbon-like stamp on your documents.This may take about a week to a month depending on backlog, holidays, and forces of nature.

• Now in case you live in the province like moi, DHL comes in handy.

It may mean shelling out around 500 php or so (again depending on the  number of documents you send out) but it saves you from the hassle - and expense - of processing it yourself in Manila.

However, before you run off to the nearest DHL office...

•  Make sure you have the Certified true copy of your Certificate of Live Birth from the municipality where you where born.

This will bear the seal of the City Hall and signature of the City Registrar. My copies cost 50 php each only.

• If you have this handy, you can take your Birth Certificate, CENOMAR, and Certified True Copy of your Certificate of Live Birth to DHL.

 From there, the waiting game begins...

P.S In case you're wondering about what you're man has to prepare on his end, I'll share that as well...

• Birth Certificate (Uittreksel geboorteregister)- get the international, meaning english, version
• Residence Certificate (Uittreksel bevolkingsregister) - again, international version; this will state that your husband-to-be is not married.

Not much right? Blame the Red tape in the PI...

Keep you posted...


Dag!

XOXOXO