A lot of people want to be a writer for many reasons. Some feel that writing is relatively easy, something they can do for the rest of their lives. Others think they can earn from writing, given the many thriving bloggers and writers online and the numerous clients posting ads saying, “Writers Wanted”. And if you want to join the growing population of writers in the world, you have probably asked your friends and Googled the phrase how to become a writer.

I miss writing. And I don’t mean writing articles, as I already do that everyday (not that I’m complaining). I miss writing for myself, for the sake of writing, with no intention of having my work read by anyone. Writing has always been one of my loves; it has courted me since childhood and, as years flew by, it stuck around like a persistent suitor. I just had to say yes – and I’ve always been in love with it since.

But writing is a mixture of knowledge, skill, and heart. Without one of these three, your work will always be short of a masterpiece. I have been writing professionally for four years now, earning a modest income from medical articles that I write for different online and print publications. I worked my way up, starting from scratch – and if you’re not ready to do that, stop reading this article on how to become a writer.

But if you are determined to learn, here are a few things you need to do to be on your way to becoming a good (and well-paid) writer:

• Ask yourself if you are willing to commit to writing. Becoming a writer means spending a lot of time in front of the computer, possibly jotting down notes in a pad which you might want to carry with you everyday, and honing your skills by exercising your writing muscle regularly.
• Decide on what kind of writer you want to be. Are you going to be a short story writer,  or a journalist, perhaps? Each writing niche requires a different skill set and a different writing style.
• Make room for writing. Make room in your mind – you are no longer just an office employee or dentist or full-time mother; you want to be a writer and your mind should acknowledge that. Keep a non-apologetic attitude about this decision. When you make room, don’t just do it mentally; do it physically, too. Make space in your home as well: make sure you have a corner conducive for writing. Every professional writer has a proper work place, even if it is just at home.
• Learn the ropes. If you want to know how to become a writer, learn about the technical stuff surrounding the job. What does “wpm” mean? What are electronic rights? What is the difference between diction and pronunciation (and did you even know there was a difference)? There are many questions to be asked before you get the answers you need.
• Finally, write your first piece. Have you ever written anything before, other than the papers you needed to submit in school? Then get to it! Don’t worry, it takes time before you get the hang of it. If your mind seems to have gone blank, there are many things you can do to get things rolling. I shall be writing about how to overcome the dreaded writer’s block, so check back soon!

Of course, these suggestions are just a few of the many that you need to hear if you want to know how to become a writer. It’s the tip of the iceberg, but it should be enough to get you itching for that pen and paper. And kudos to you for finally taking the first step towards becoming a writer!

What do you do someone insults you without meaning to? For instance, if a foreigner criticizes a doctor by saying he’s “just like a Filipino doctor”, or if a friend of yours sees a stupid person as a “probinsyano” when in fact you are from the province yourself, what would you do?

I think that those who assume that people from the province are stupid are a practicing a subspecialty of racism.

Kids say the darnedest things, but adults do, too. Sometimes, grownups say the most insensitive things, which is why they may get labeled as “racists” or “chauvinists” or “bigots”. Sometimes, they are guilty of generalizing what they see. They assume that all Filipino doctors are poorly trained, or that everyone from the province is stupid. In turn, people quickly conclude that these judgmental people are dimwits. Unfairness begets unfairness, yes?

Maybe we should stop wondering why the world is unfair, why we are not getting the breaks we deserve, why people are criticizing us even for our hard-earned accomplishments. Maybe even we have done those very things but we have not been aware of it. Maybe we are simply getting what we deserve.

Going back home is one of my most favorite things to do. Spending time with my family is something I always look forward to… but then there’s also the home-cooked food, even when I’m actually dining out. For instance, Rudy-Jing Eatery became one of the highlights of my trip to Pangasinan.

Rudy Jing Eatery serves one of my favorite foods: crispy deep-fried catfish. The fish is fried until even its fins are crispy enough to eat. I love dipping it in fish paste or soy sauce with calamansi (the local lemon) before I eat it with a mouthful of steamed rice. Yum!

Aside from deep fried catfish, Rudy-Jing Eatery also serves grilled catfish, which we made sure to order. At home, we usually eat grilled catfish with raw sampaloc dip – it’s the best way to enjoy carfish.

We also ordered calamari with the usual thousand islands dressing, frog legs, grilled squid, and giant shrimps.

The crispy fried hito (catfish) costs just PhP150, while grilled hito costs PhP100. Frog legs cost about PhP200.

Rudy-Jing Eatery is actually a simple restaurant; don’t expect an ambient interior. But it is this no-nonsense, unassuming, homey atmosphere that transports you back to your rural roots.

To go to Rudy Jing Eatery and Hitoan, go to Bangsal Restaurant located at Biec East Road, Binmaley, Pangasinan. Then, take the small road right across Bangsal Restaurant. Drive straight ahead and you shall spot Rudy Jing Eatery to your right a few kilometers away.

How many times have you looked at a pack of food, seen a best before date, and wondered to yourself, What does it mean? And how different is the “best before date” from the “expiry date”? It’s about time you found out what the best before and the expiration date mean. Don’t risk food poisoning or wasting food just because you don’t know the difference between the expiry date and the best before date!

All food, whether with preservatives or not, has a shelf life. Shelf life is the amount of time that any certain food item may be consumed. Shelf life labels, such as the expiry date or the best before date, should be indicated in perishable goods as a safety measure.

Take note, however, that these shelf life labels are usually dependent on correct handling of food. If you failed to refrigerate a certain food product and the label says it should be stored inside the fridge, then the expiry date on is no good.

But what is the difference between an expiration date and a best before date? A best before date, also known as a best by date, is a guide that tells you until when a certain food product is likely to taste great. Beyond the best by date, the food may still be edible, but it will no longer be as crisp or tasty or fresh.

Do not confuse the best by date with the expiry date, also known as the expiration date. An expiry date indicates when a certain food item or drug is expected to no longer be good for consumption (for food) or no longer effective/ safe (for drugs).

Of course, all these dates are estimates. None of them are accurate. They are usually estimated with a margin of error in favor of safety, which means that some food products that have gone beyond their best before date or expiry date can still be eaten – and this is better than an estimated date that may save more food from being wasted yet increases the risk for food poisoning or toxic effects.

Bizu Patisserie and Bistro, located at Greenbelt 2, Makati, is one of my go-to places for dessert. The reason I love going to Bizu is their macaroons (Macarons de Paris), which they carry in many flavors: strawberry, mint, butterscotch, rose, pistachio, chocolate, and many more.

On my latest visit to Bizu, I ordered a pistachio macaroon (but of course!). The crumbly biscuit sandwiches a creamy, marshmallow-like center. You might also want to try strawberry macaroons sprinkled with freshly ground pepper. Yes, pepper and strawberries may seem like an odd mix – and I thought this as well. But it’s one of those odd tandems that just go well together. Think: chocolates and peanut butter, dinuguan and puto.

I also ordered a single serving of Yoga, a cake made of lemon custard, yogurt, and passion fruit. It tastes tangy and a little sour, something you might want if you want dessert that does not overpower with sweetness.

I also ordered the Jolie from Bizu’s selection of flourless and sugarless French cakes. Jolie is a layered mousse cake made with Kahlua and chiboust cream. It tastes delectable and sweet but not vulgarly saccharine. It’s the kind of dessert you will cherish, whether or not you have a sweet tooth.

Bizu opens at 7 in the morning, perfect for early risers who want a scrumptious breakfast. Their menu is full of different options, so you are sure not to run out of food to order. Expect to shell out about PHP400 to PhP500 for every meal. If you want dessert, that will cost you an extra PhP300 to PhP400.

Yes, perhaps that’s too pricey for everyday meals, but Bizu also offers free WiFi. When I was still studying for medical boards, I used to be a coffee shop resident, ordering coffee and dessert nonstop, even without free WiFi. Imagine the convenience of paying a little more, just to have access to the Internet all the live-long day.

 

Visit Bizu Patisserie and Bistro at Greenbelt 2, Makati City. They also have another branch at The Promenade in Greenhills.

Contact Information:

Bizu Patisserie and Bistro
Greenbelt 2, Makati
Tel. No. (02) 757-BIZU(2498)

The Promenade, Greenhills Shopping Center
Tel No. (02) 724-BIZU(2498)

Hookay, on to really superficial stuff.

I don’t like headbands that much. They give me headaches, they slide off my hair, and make me look stupid in the middle of a busy day when I don’t have constant access to a mirror. But when my friend bought this nice leatherette headband, it really frustrated me that I looked like some haggard little woman when I wore it.

Thus, the hunt for the perfect headband hairdo for myself.

If you’re thinking that’s way too self-centered, you’re probably right. But come on, us girls gotta do what girls do, yes?

So here’s my semi-lucid attempt at pulling off the wide headband. It’s not as pretty as I wanted it to be. (I bet I’d look better wearing a crown with precious stones.)

I’m on Lookbook now. ^_^ Actually, I’ve been a member for the longest time, but I haven’t updated my pictures yet. I’m looking forward to posting my pictures and clothes there, something I’ve been planning to do since eras ago.

Join me at Lookbook. I always say it’s the Facebook of fashion, and I really think that everyone with a heart for clothes and a knack for putting together outfits should sign up. Here’s my Lookbook account:

http://lookbook.nu/stefdelacruz

It used to be an invite-only website, making it one of the most exclusive fashion websites. Now, membership is open to everyone!

This is the very first look I posted on Lookbook:

What do you think? Oh, and tell me if you’ve signed up to Lookbook. Hope you have fun there. See you on Lookbook!

Have you ever watched Grey’s Anatomy? Notice how everyone wears boring doctors scrubs but they still look good anyway? Well, not everyone is that lucky.

In the real world, people wearing scrubs will look very austere and will definitely carry the air of a medical professional. There are even spas that use scrubs as a uniform for their employees, a fact that makes wearing scrubs an even trickier wardrobe choice for a lot of doctors and nurses. Yes, uniforms are supposed to make employees look professional, but do they always have to be a fashion aficionado’s worst nightmare?

Well, of course not. Some doctors and nurses have enough fashion sense to jazz it up. First off, wearing clothes that fit well will definitely make you look more polished. It then seemed like a great idea to wear scrubs, tailored to look sexy and chic, as a costume in a party!

Here’s a picture of baseball players wearing pink scrub tops. I know, totally unrelated, but don’t they look adorable wearing pink?

Perhaps I could wear long sleeves under the scrubs, just like how the doctors in Grey’s Anatomy do it. There’s something really interesting about wearing doctors’ clothes, even if it’s just for a party. And the long sleeves will make it so official. But aside from that, how do you spruce up scrubsuits for them to look great?

This then brings us to the idea of men wearing pink scrubs. The idea of buff, muscled nurses wearing pink or peach scrubsuits, such as in the nursery, is both adorable and intriguing. At that point, it stops becoming a fashion issue; it just becomes a fact of life that people wear what gets the job done – but yes, everyone can still look good in scrubs.

I went shopping at Shangri-La. No, not in Mactan, but in Manila. I saw a dress I wanted to buy, but decided against it because I wanted to save up for something more important.

I went home empty-handed. But hey, there’s always a next time. (Maybe I can wait till the sale season?)

Wearing:
Tango motorcycle jacket
White top
Zara denim cutoffs
Studded belt
Bejeweled crucifix pendant
Orange clay necklace (and they’re so cute!)
Black patent leather wedges

Oh, how I wish I was wearing a watch… Maybe next time, I will be! (Making a mental note…)

It’s rainy season once again! So, it’s time to… learn how to put on make up!

Er, yeah. Those two thoughts are so not connected. But this is my blog, so I can write whatever I want, yes? Anyhow, I’ve been looking for a good concealer. I’ve grown accustomed to makeup that teens use. Now, it’s time to graduate to MAC and all other brands that take themselves seriously.

I’ve been trying to look for a good lipstick, too. And a good blush color. So far, what I have is… compact powder.

Wow. That’s not much, is it? I do have lipstick and blush, but it’s just for day wear. Anyway, this is me wearing very minimal makeup (which is what I wear even at night, huhu). I’m not wearing my brown contacts, so you can see my normal eye color, too. Tell me what colors would look good on me. Do you have specific recommendations, brands you trust and which you think would be great for my skin color? Hit me with a comment and I’ll try not to hit back.

Hehe. Kidding.

I’m wearing a very light pink lipstick (almost imperceptible in person, completely unnoticeable in pictures), a light pink blush, and powder. I know, I know, I look washed out. Makeup gurus, help!

Yes, Life and Fever has finally joined the ranks of the Dotcom community! From lifeandfever.blogspot.com, my blog has a brand spanking new address: www.lifeandfever.com! I’ve switched from a free blog to my very own dotcom domain. But what should you expect if you switch from a blogger (blogspot) blog to your own domain?

I saw a drop in my PageRank initially, but I know it will start to pick up again once everything is in order. There should be a 301 redirect when you change your domain name to your own dotcom instead of when your blog is being hosted on a free blog site, such as Blogger or Wordpress. Without the 301 redirect, search engines will not be aware that you have permanently shifted to a new address.

I have also redesigned the website. Actually, the site still needs a lot of work, starting with the menu and the paragraphs of my old entries which, unfortunately, interpreted old line breaks literally. Whew! That’s about two hundred posts to be edited!

But still, finally shifting to my own dotcom domain gives me a feeling of, well, relief. I’ve been planning it ever since and finally, my plans have come to fruition. Anyhow, thanks for dropping by! Come back anytime – I have free virtual cookies for nice visitors who leave comments and follow my blog.

I had the brilliant (stupid) idea of sharing the opportunity to earn with my fellow bloggers. Just a few days ago, I started telling bloggers that I can help them monetize their blogs. I soon got a lot of entries, so I immediately screened the blogs and started reassigning the budget to them.

Suddenly, I get the accusation that I’m earning TWICE to THRICE what I’m offering them.

What?! I just about wanted to throw in the towel. I try helping bloggers and all I get is skepticism. Really, I’m sure that many other bloggers would be happy to get paid money for blogging.

So frustrated. That’s what comes of trying to share your blessings. Stef, you and your brilliant ideas. Grrrrr.

Because of that, I’ll post a pic of me smiling. I don’t need the stress, not to mention the wrinkles.

And to the bloggers who DO want to get their blogs monetized, please show some respect and courtesy (especially if you don’t have the PageRank to back you up).

On second thought, see if I care. Maybe I should just hoard the monetization opportunities and keep all the money.

And to the bloggers who were grateful enough for the chance to get their blogs monetized, I have more opportunities for you very soon.

If you want me to monetize your blog, read the details here.

The certificate of singleness, also known as CENOMAR, is a piece of paper assuring that you are indeed single. Yes, it’s actually a legal document in the Philippines, something you can request for. These days, anybody can masquerade as a single person; even married men or women, who have two or three kids and have been married for ten years, can pretend to be single just to get what they want. Of course, the CENOMAR can be one way for you to ascertain that you are not being fooled.

The certificate of singleness, known by others as the certificate of no marriage, is available in the Philippines. You may get it from the National Statistics Office (NSO). When you drop by the NSO to apply for a certificate of singleness, you will need to supply the following information:

• Place of birth
• Birthday
• The number of copies you need
• Why you need the certificate of singleness
• Your father’s name
• Your mother’s maiden name
• Your complete name (of course)
• Name and complete address of the person/s requesting the certification

Go ahead, get your certificate of singleness! And if you have been hearing rumors about your partner having a spouse or children on the side, why not ask him/her to avail of one as well? Either that or you are going to have to take their word for it.

Yes, in the world we live in, being single needs certification. That’s funny in so many levels, yet serious at the same time.

Suplado is the new sexy. This catchphrase is inscribed on the Suplado Watch, Stanley Chi’s exclusive timepiece from UniSilver Time. No, it’s not just some silly slogan. Or maybe it is – and therein lies its appeal.

Suplado Tips, Stanley Chi’s most recent book, has sold thousands of copies in less than three months. As the book continued to exceed expectations, corporate giant UniSilver Time knew better than to shrug it off as a mere fad. UniSilver Time is coming out with a watch that just might become as iconic as the book that inspired it: the Suplado Watch by Stanley Chi.

The Suplado Watch is a digital timepiece available in black and white, with the tagline “Suplado is the new sexy” stamped on the strap.

To match the brazen humor of the timepiece, the ad poster shows local celebrity Iya Villania chasing after Stanley Chi, apparently made irresistible by his Suplado Watch. (See outtakes of the photoshoot here.)

The many retorts in Chi’s book, Suplado Tips, show off an unapologetic candor that is relatable yet funny, making suplado the new “it” thing. Being suplado (roughly translated as “standoffish”) has become an unorthodox trend in Philippine pop culture. It dares to stand on the edge of convention, a way to vent frustrations by walking away from what would have been a compromising situation, with one’s head still held high.

Because of the success of Suplado Tips, the country’s pop culture watch birds soon took notice. Spot.ph, a top online news provider in the Philippines, lauded Chi as an unconventional hottie. To quote, “Stanley's hot factor recently jumped from being simply nerdy college-boy crush to sexy hard-to-get hottie when he started dishing out Suplado Tips that apparently drive Pinays wild.” FHM, one of the country’s leading men’s magazines, also featured and depicted a few of the suplado tips from Chi’s book. Undeniably newsworthy, Chi’s iconic book was then featured in Yahoo! Philippines.

Chi’s suplado campaign is arguably the most sellable concept to grace the Philippine market this year. People who want a copy of Chi’s book often find themselves empty-handed; despite being available at all National Bookstore outlets nationwide, Suplado Tips is usually sold out. And if everybody starts wearing the Suplado watch, it will come as no surprise.

As Chi says with pride, “Daig ng suplado ang gwapo (Suplado beats being handsome).” Owning a Suplado Watch is then a way for a suplado to show off without saying a word. Who knows? It may even have special powers to ward off bullies and other evil spirits.

The Suplado Watch by Stanley Chi is coming out this August at unisilvertime.com and all UniSilver Time stores nationwide.

I’ve had the pleasure of meeting a young and talented painter, Dicky Santos, at his exhibit entitled As If In A Dream held at SM Megamall in Ortigas. His paintings reminded me of Van Gogh with a touch of Claude Monet. Okay, maybe that’s overkill, since Monet is the founder of impressionist art while Van Gogh belongs to the post-impressionist era. But the more I walked away from the painting, the clearer it seemed – a characteristic that reminded me very much of Monet. But then again, what do I know about paintings?

Dicky Santos in his second exhibit

I found the paintings wonderfully disturbing, kind of like how I would feel if someone really knew what I was thinking.

But enough talking (or writing). Art is art, so let’s them speak on their own:

Each painting was a story in a story:

My chaperone for the night was Mr. Suplado Stanley Chi (who still refuses to look at the camera):

Congratulations to Dicky Santos for a job well done! His exhibit, As If In A Dream, was showcased at SM Megamall.