30 Revelations about... (in no particular order)

I am turning 30 tomorrow...so i thought of making this list. I am not so sure how your perceptions about "Jaselee" aka "Isle" will change after reading this. Anyway, as my friends say, what's the purpose of doing this if I will not share it? (Keeping my fingers crossed) Que sera sera=)

1) Lipstick, loose powder, and a pair of earrings? Basic girlie things I will feel ugly without.

2) Bank teller? Nah! I didn't opt to work nor apply in a bank because I was afraid to wear skirts.

3) I savor every bite of vegetable and fruit in season. I know how hard it is to produce and harvest crops. A few of the crops I remember my father and I used to plant are string beans (sitaw), peanuts (mani), pechay, watermelons, mangoes, bitter melon (ampalaya), tomatoes (kamatis), star fruit (kaymito), sinegwelas, duhat, and singkamas.

4) In kindergarten and during gradeschool days, my classmates call me "kwago" (owl) because of my round eyes. I can’t get it why I still became Miss Malaysia and Miss Korea in the United Nations events in school.

5) Do not be surprised if I ask for anything sweet after I take naps, those were my natural remedy to cure the dizzy feeling.

6) I have experienced cleaning, feeding, and nurturing the pigs and piglets (we used to own a piggery).

7) Dare me to live in a place without toilet. I can survive it. (Experienced it for 6 years or so)

8) Brownouts boredom will never be a problem for me. I only enjoyed the pleasure of having electricity some time in 1995.

9) Do not wonder why my arm muscles are firm. Are they? For more than 15 years, we get water from the deep well.

10) I’m familiar with siato, taching, moon (rubber band), hagrang upo, patintero, kadang kadang, Chinese garter, lutu-lutuan and a hulk hogan toy. These were but few of my childhood games.

11) I enjoy riding the kalaykay (a rake used in ricefields) whenever my father plows the fields.

12) During those days that irrigation systems (bangbang) are still clean, I and my friends joyfully swim there (not anymore kasi ang dumi na ng mga bang bang ngayon)

13) I go to school (elementary) bare footed during rainy seasons (I used to live in the middle of the rice fields).

14) I don’t own nor have worn a single pair of shorts/mini skirt until after I turned 25 because I have plenty of scars in my legs.

15) Funny firsts. My first taste of the so-called "french fries." I said "Akala ko naman masarap, lasang patatas lang naman e" (tagabundok lang di alam kung ano talaga ang french fries). My first ride in an aircon bus made me vomit to death. And I tripped the first time I tried an escalator.

16) I am a frustrated doctor (though I thought of taking up Fine Arts and AB Communication in college).

17) I used to wear bangs on a daily basis because of my prominent forehead.


way back kindergarten days



18) Musical Instruments? Lyre and guitar (not a pro though) were a few my hands had tried.

19) My officemates call me Chenelyn Mechado and I like it. Why? I am a fan of Jennylyn Mercado =)

20) Gary, my husband, is my many firsts. First boyfriend, first kiss, first heartache. You name it. 

our first picture together way back April 2006



21) I have never cursed or uttered profane words before.

22)  I was not able to hug nor talk to my father before he died. I was tasked to stay home to look after my brothers and sisters while he was confined in Jose Reyes Hospital. We only learned about his death through a phone call.

23) My first time in Baclaran was only in 2008. My first LRT and MRT ride was only in 2009 and 2010, respectively.

24) My guy best friend happened to be my ex-suitor.

25) I am not a fan of the sea. I don't like the salty taste of the water.

26) I told people I have no crushes but the truth is there were a countable few. The first, aka Ken White (because he is a PT student). The second, a member of the highschool dance club. The third, a former faculty evaluator. The fourth, a former RCJPIA officer, and the fifth a former co-crew in Jollibee.

27) I was into the idea of celibacy (being a nun) even during those days that my husband was still courting me.

28) I worked in Langhap Sarap, Jollibee as a dining crew, smart assistant and administrative crew. Also, I was once a factory worker in Hye Sung Co. Ltd in EPZA.

29) I mistakenly called my suitor "kuya" and maybe that's the reason he never returned nor showed up again (You know who you are).

30) I was a virgin until I get married.