I could have died laughing with this darling of a girl, who I suspect was my daughter at 16 in my past life. I’m sure it wasn’t the tea at three different milk tea places. In all normalcy, that’s how to spend a night out with Raine Mateo Calucag. At our first meeting for her thesis interview with me (and an accidental respondent who happened to be eavesdropping at the restaurant we were in), three hours was extra-mini. Never a dull moment with this journalism grad.

She graduated cum laude from the University of the Philippines last school year, is currently the baby in UP graduate school and plans to get a doctorate degree. The girl dreams to go to film school, be a photojournalist, specializing in war stories, and own a Casalucag (a heritage restaurant in Ilocos I suppose). Raine’s mom, who lives abroad, and her dad, a head teacher at the Ilocos Norte National High School, back their only child all the way.

For her graduation, I gave her a (late) present. She got a little too scared of the matte wine lippie. Sue me if you think she doesn’t look good in plummy berries!

Wabi Sabi’s JV and his sibs.

Our last stop was Wabi Sabi. Then we see JV Respicio, Raine’s former schoolmate at UP.

Me: What do you like cooking at home?
JV: Native.
Me: Like what?
Raine: Ugsa (deer)?

She was serious. We capped off the tea party with pensive discussion about youth empowerment and making a difference in this world. They both stare at me when I said we live in a patriachal society. Now you know why my blog is named such.

When it rains, it floods.

{Flannel shirt: Cotton On, Aztec top: Just G., denim shorts: F21, mocs: Minnetonka}

I always love her photos of me. (The fauxlaroids are mine). She says this should be for an OOTD) She asks me, are those cheekbones real? Brandon laughs out loud.

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