The New Three R's

Let us use our creative hands to build a better Philippines. Restore. Rebuild. Recreate. Start today by means of helping out the Ondoy victims. :)

P.S. Mission accomplished. Finally, I went to DLSU today (Thank God, my father and aunt allowed me! Haha!) to volunteer and pack goodies. I saw my college friends who I miss so much and met new people too. :D What a tiring yet definitely fulfilling day! Ang sarap pala talaga ng pakiramdam pag nakatulong sa kapwa. :)

*Photo retrieved from Saab Magalona and Bethel's multiply*

Hello Gerald!

What Gerald Anderson did was very heroic. He braved the flood and risked his life to save his neighbors. He is not only handsome but an unselfish and thoughtful person too. I salute him! :)

Besides this wonderful news, I'm happy that more people are volunteering to help the victims of the typhoon, Ondoy. I want to be in school to pack goods and donations but I'm not allowed to go out of the house. I wish there are centers here in Laguna, particularly in Calamba, so I could be of service to our fellow Filipinos. (wow!)

On the brighter side, if you can't go out of the house like me, you can also help through text. Just key in RED (space) the amount you want to give (5, 25, 50, 100 or 300) and send it to 2899 for Globe subscribers and 4483 for Smart subscribers. :)

Ang sarap ng pakiramdam ng tumutulong sa kapwa, hindi ba? ;)



P.S. For those who live abroad, you can also drop off your donations. Please check out the twitter account of Bianca Gonzalez. Thank you! :)

*photo retrieved from: http://chuvachienes.com/2009/09/28/gerald-anderson-photos-helping-neighbors-during-the-flood/*

Spread the Word

I got this from Facebook:

There are 4.5M active Filipino users on Facebook so if everyone donates P100 = P450M for the Red Cross Rescue and Relief Operations. Please text RED amount to 2899 (Globe) and 4483 (SMART). Other amounts are (5, 25, 50, 100 or 300). Every little thing helps. Please donate now. Repost or retweet. Thank you :)

No matter how young we are and helpless we may seem, let us keep in mind that we can do something to help and touch the lives of many people. :)

Help!

(Even our school was filled with flood water yesterday.)

Because of what Ondoy did, classes in all levels in Rizal and NCR are suspended until Tuesday, the 29th day of September 2009. However, this is not the right time to be happy. There is nothing funny about what happened yesterday. Instead of celebrating, we should start helping and praying for the people who got affected. In all honesty, I don't like to see women, men and children crying in national television because they lost something or someone important for them. It really breaks my heart. :(

I still find it odd why some people find joy or happiness in bad situations like this.

*Photo retrieved from http://saabmagalona.tumblr.com*

Ondoy

It was no ordinary day yesterday. I did not see any birds, bees, flowers and trees but a sea of buses, trucks, cars and other vehicles being stranded for hours in the middle of the road filled with water. The whole Metro Manila experienced a very terrible flood because of the typhoon, Ondoy. Unfortunately, Cheska, Sarah, Yana, Chynna, Mardi, Sab, Mye, Diane and I were one of those people who felt hungry, worried, annoyed and somehow bored while waiting for the water to subside inside Diane's van. For instance, when my friends got hungry, they got a pen and paper and wrote: "Pabili ng tinapay dun sa tindahan. Pati chips at dalawa na C2." (the note was posted on the window) Some people who were just walking and wading around saw the note and they willingly helped them, and bought muffins, Chippy and C2. Like what Sarah said, what they did was touching and very kind. There was also a time when most of us had to get out of the van and ride a pedicab to look for a place to pee and eat lunch.

Cheska, Sarah, Yana, Chynna, Mardi and Sab stayed in a house near Zobel Roxas St. until they were able to find a ride home. According to Sarah, the family was very accomodating because they gave them food, shelter and a place to feel comfortable.

Mye and I have a different story.

Instead of following our friends in the house, we went to Aling Nene's Express along the Osmena highway. We stayed there for five or six hours. We never felt hungy at all because we ate most of the time. We left the restaurant at around 9pm. And we rode a pedicab again. It was an adventure I will never ever forget.

A big, big thank you to the family who took care of my friends, the people in the restaurant and the "Kuya Pedicab" who made sure that Mye and I are safe inside his pedicab. God bless all of you!

I'm happy and grateful because we were able to get home safe. :)

Meanwhile, there are people (most especially Tami and Yana, my fellow ECED majors slash friends) who need our help and prayers because they got hit by Ondoy. Donations such as clothing, blankets and food are very much welcome in Petron Stations, De La Salle University and Ateneo de Manila University. :)

P.S. Stay safe everyone! Take care! :)

Tweet Tweet!

Hello world! I just want to inform you that I already have a Twitter. I got fascinated with Bianca Gonzalez and the others that is why I decided to create my own account. If you have time, please drop by my site or follow me. HAHA. Thank you very much. :)

P.S. THE Ely Buendia just accepted my request (if I could follow him) and Regina Belmonte just replied to my "tweet". Oh my! I'm sooooo happy! :)

*Happy Birthday Mina, my fellow Humblebee! I'm sorry I can't go to your party tomorrow. :l Oh well, enjoy!*

The Late Night Show

Surprise! It's already 2:30 in the morning here in the Land of the Pearl of the Orient. I've been reading some of the famous personalities' tweets and I find them very, very interesting. Try visiting the sites of Bianca Gonzalez, Mo Twister, Anne Curtis, KC Concepcion, Rico Blanco and Chiz Escudero. You will totally get hooked to their tweets and learn something from them. :)

And speaking of Chiz Escudero, his fellow Senator Noynoy Aquino finally announced that he is going to run as the President of the Republic of the Philippines in the upcoming May 2010 election. Wow! I'm quite amazed to see thousands of people cheering and some of the presidentiables giving up their life-long dream to show their support for Mr. Aquino.

In my opinion, he has a BIG chance of winning the presidential race because he has the qualities of a good leader and a lot of people are rooting for him. BUT let's wait and see (what will happen next) and not jump to any conclusions yet. Philippine politics has never been this exciting. Parang soap opera lang. ;)

Hmm, how about you, what do you think? Stay tuned. :)

P.S. Here is an update regarding my grades: I made it! I'm still part of the list. Never expected it though. Thank you God. September 9, 2009 is definitely a date to remember. :)

*Happy Birthday Miki, my fellow Humblebee! :)*

Prolonging the Agony

Today, all Lasallians are waiting for the results of their academic performance for the first trimester of this school year. Everybody is logged in on our my.lasalle accounts because the grades will appear there. I honestly feel that it only increases our anxiety levels because we've been waiting since morning. :(

Right now, I'm wondering about my grades. I'm quite nervous, actually. Whatever grade I will get, I think I deserve it. I'm not hoping that I will be a dean's lister because I did not give my very best this term. But still, sana DL pa rin ako para mas masaya. Okay ang labo ng sinabi ko. :))

On the other hand, I checked my message from God (an application in Facebook and it says:

"On this day of your life, Dana, we believe God wants you to know...

... that what you are most afraid of is where your greatest rewards are.
If all you had to do was wish for something and you would have it, life would be pretty boring, wouldn't it? God placed barriers between us and what we want, so we can enjoy interesting and satisfying lives. God hid our biggest rewards behind the highest barriers - our deepest fears. God wants us to face our fears, and hold ground in their presence, and let them go, and that's how we get out biggest rewards. What are you most afraid of? Say it, just start by saying it."

Wow! It fits perfectly, doesn't it? :)

*Happy birthday Mama Mary, Tami Reyes and Ivan, my brother! :)*

Oh, It was a Happy Day Indeed

(Gellato icecream + good friends + good movie= good times, good vibes: Taken last September 1, 2009)

It was a hot and sunny yet windy day when Maggie and I went to the Mall of Asia to watch UP. We were very excited to see Russell in the silver screen because he's so adorable. Parang ang sarap niya kurutin sa pisngi! Nakakagigil. :)

We enjoyed and loved the movie so much. The story is touching, funny and interesting. The characters (yes, including Dug, the dog) have made me realize that to dream big is not bad afterall. If we only have the passion and determination, someday, this big dream of ours will come true. Haay, Disney never fails in making movies that have values where people of all ages can learn and be inspired to celebrate life at its fullest.

It is one of the best movies I've seen this year. Cross my heart. :)

*Happy Birthday Enz, my TREDTRI classmate and groupmate! :)*

Ligaya

(Taken last August 20, 2009 at Thai Silk in Serendra)

For some reason, I agree with the saying, money can't buy happiness. Having fun with friends on a calm Thursday night is totally priceless. My first night out with them is definitely special and memorable. :)

And while we were eating dinner in Thai Silk last August 20, we saw the Ely Buendia of the ever famous Filipino rock band, Eraserheads. It was really unexpected. Well, Lo and I did not miss this wonderful opportunity. As you can clearly see, we had our picture taken with him. ;) We felt super lucky and brave that night. HAHA. Sweet. :)

P.S. Ely Buendia was the vocalist of Eraserheads. The band broke up in 2002 and nobody knows why, except them (the members). He is currently the lead vocals of Pupil. :)

Up, Up and Away!

Isn't he the most adorable kid in the whole planet? He is such a cutie! I would love to have him as a brother. :)

*Photo from Google Images*

Round Two

In a profession which is mostly dominated by men, I feel proud whenever I see women being the vocalists of a band. It just shows how women of today can become competitive in the field of music too. I admire Imago because the band believes in "Girl Power".

I like the way how Sandwich shows love for our country. The band sings patriotic songs and inspires Filipinos, most especially the youth, through his music. I believe that this band can go a long, long way. I congratulate Raymund, Myrene, Diego and Mong for doing a good job.

Happy Sunday everyone! :)

She Wears Short Skirts, I Wear T-Shirts

This is one of the reasons why I still believe in fairytales and happy endings. :)

The Best Things in Life are Free

At the Green Nation event in school yesterday...

(This is my favorite photo of Imago. Aia just looked at my direction.)

Imago performed. Aia de Leon was so active. Everybody loved the song, Sundo, probably because she sang it with feelings. On the other hand, after so many years, I heard Akap again. This song reminded me of my highschool days. For the record, I just realized that I'm taller than Aia... ;)

(One of the many photos of Sandwich that I've taken. I was literally infront of them already. Paparazzi? HAHA.)

Sandwich. The band was very entertaining. The guys were so funny! ;) I like their sense of humor. Raymund Marasigan maximized his stay on the stage by doing some stunts. Mong Alcaraz is awesome. He kept on smiling at everyone. Haay. :)

A new band, Paraluman, was also there. Unfortunately, I was not able to watch the band while they were on stage because I was in the library, "studying" for our HUMAART test. When I arrived at the Amphitheatre, where the concert was held, I heard Madeline say "Thank you!"So no pictures from them. Oh well.

On the brighter side, I love events like this in school because I get to see Filipino bands without spending a single centavo. :)

P.S. Staying at the backstage is cool. My pictures can clearly say why. :)

The Good News

"Bestfriend Dana! :) I'm helping myself right now.. I'm reading Little Black Book on Reaching Your Dreams.. Meron daw 4 ways God gives me direction.. #3 is through people.. God speak through people whom he has strategically placed in your life.. I believe God sent you to me for a reason.. You're helping me reach out to Him and hear His words.. Thank you so much Dana.. :) I'm so grateful to God that I have a friend like you.. :)"

(Photo taken last December 15, 2008)

My bestfriend, Maggie, sent this message to me a while ago. I was very surprised, flattered, and touched after reading it. I didn't know what to say. I was completely speechless. I like the message! Simple yet powerful. Thank you very much! :) But it took me some time to collect the words to say, for me to reply/respond to the message.

Last week, she surprised me. Finally, after eight months of having no communication due to personal reasons, I did not expect her to be in school. After doing our big book for DEVERED, I met up with her in the library and then we spent the rest of the day like there was no tomorrow. As usual, there were laughters, never ending stories and food trip. There was no awkward moment at all.

I super missed you, Maggie! :) I'm happy because I'm able to help you reach out to God in a way and otherwise. I feel and believe that you'll get through that journey (you already know what it is) because God is with you. I'm looking forward to bonding with you again. Let's watch a movie and eat ice cream, okay? See you real sooooon! :)

The Game

Life is like a basketball game. There are so many twists and turns. Sometimes we win or lose and unexpected events happen. Most of all, like basketball, life is truly exciting. :)

Araneta Coliseum is a sea of green of blue whenever there's a game between the arch-rival universities in the Philippines, the De La Salle University and Ateneo de Manila University. When you're actually there, you will feel the intensity of the game, especially when you hear the deafening loud sound of the screams, drums and endless cheers. You will definitely become wild and crazy! Mauubusan ka talaga ng boses. :)

I miss watching the game live. Congratulations Ateneo! Babawi kami next time. ;)

*Photo from Google Images*

Pretty

Emma Roberts is all grown up. I like the way how she carries herself well. I feel that she will be a great actress like her aunt, Julia Roberts. By the way, I love her outfit here. It is so classy and stylish. :)

*I have good news to tell you. I'll post it really soon. And Happy Birthday to Thesa, Nicole Sandoval, Faye and Tita Amy. :)*

The Pillar of Strength

The whole Philippines is mourning over the passing of the country's most beloved leader, former President Corazon C. Aquino. She has contributed so many things to make the Philippines a great place to live in, most especially after the dictatorship of the Marcos regime. Restoring the country after a major turmoil is not an easy task. She really did her best to bring the Philippines back to its true glory. She is definitely a good role model for everyone because of her strong character, courageousness, cheerful humor, total sincerity, pure honesty, and genuine love for family, God and country. And she showed the world that democracy can be achieved in a peaceful way.

I admire her. She inspires me. Because of her, I'm proud to be a Filipino.

She may be physically gone but her memory will live forever.

*photo taken from google images*

X.O.X.O.

While changing the channels some nights ago, I saw this video in MTV and MYX. I didn't know that Blair Waldorf (Leighton Meester) can sing! Oh, Serena, what can you say about this? :)

When Opportunity Knocks on My Door

Well, I felt like a celebrity slash model last week because the Achiever Scholar Program tarpaulin was hanging in one of the most crowded places in DLSU. My friends from other colleges kept on telling me, "Oh! I saw your picture in Miguel Walk the other day! You did not tell us you're an aspiring achiever scholar!" The truth is, a friend nominated me. I was hesitant at first but after thinking about it for so many times, I decided to accept the nomination and join. And probably, I could add this to my resume when I apply for a job in the near future. ;)

Being in this program is definitely challenging. It takes courage and a lot confidence to approach people and ask for donations slash votes(1 vote= 1 Php; they will put their donations slash votes in the can). So whenever I see someone I know, I immediately go to him or her. My friends, Mau and Lo, also joined so it became more challenging for me. They're so hard to beat! HAHA. ;)

On Tuesday, the ASP chair will inform us about our stand and who will be our college's achiever scholar. I feel nervous and excited at the same time. I'm not really hoping that I will be the chosen one though. Oh well, at least I tried my very best. I did not expect that I would go this far. :)

Let me grab this moment to thank the people who donated slash voted and supported for me. What you did really means so much to me. Thank you! :)

The Unexpected Visit

Last July 2, 2009, Luisa and Cente surprised me. I never expected them to arrive this early because I thought we're going to watch Harry Potter and Half-Blood Prince together. We were really looking forward to watching it, though.

After class, I went to Powerplant mall to meet up with them. When they saw me, we decided to go to their hotel-condo unit across the mall. I was really impressed with the place because of its interesting and modern interiors. I saw a lot of paintings as well and Ate Lilian told us that most of them were the works of famous Filipino artists. Unfortunately, I forgot their names. Upon entering the room, we watched some game shows and searched for some restaurants in the internet. And then we went to Glorietta to buy some flowers and candles for Auntie Edy. Glorietta confused us because of its renovated and newly improved structure. It took us some time to find Rustans. HAHA.

(Photo from http://food.clickthecity.com/b/mL199e4)

Since we had no idea where to eat for dinner, we ended up in Serendra. We ate at Thai Silk with Tita Des and Tito Jun who waited for us because they wanted to spend the night with Ate Lilian (they're friends since their college days in UP). Auntie Sari was also with us.

(Photos from Google Images)

It was my first time to eat Thai food. As I eat the mouth-watering foods infront of us, I imagined myself as a tourist in Thailand. HAHA. Well, I loved their Khao Tang na Tang (Jasmine rice crackers with traditional minced pork and prawn dip), Thawt Man Pla Glai (fish cake), Tam Mamuang (green mango salad), Gai Hor Bai Toey (chicken wrapped in pandan leaves) and Thap Thim Krawp (red rubies in sweet iced coconut soup) and their own version of turon with ice cream for dessert. What a very hearty meal! All of us were really full that night. :) Too bad, there were no pictures because we all forgot our cameras. Boo.

(photo taken last July 3, 2009 by Dana Canicosa)

On the second day, we made sure that we brought our cameras with us to capture every moment. We went back to Serendra again to eat lunch in Sentro, this time with the "oldies". This restaurant serves Filipino food. I really loved the food. They're so delicious. I want to go back there again. HAHA! :)

(Having fun in Serendra with my cousins)

Our second day was officially the "picture taking day". We took a lot of pictures after eating our lunch. And I think, this was also our way of burning the food that we ate. ;) We also did some window shopping on the second floor. We visited Peppered Cherry, a clothing shop. Their items are really nice and affordable. Good for students like us who budget and save our weekly allowance to buy something we want. ;)

(capturing every Kodak moment= Perfect!)

I really had a great time with my cousins. This unexpected visit is the best so far. I did not only spend some quality time with them--- I learned about different cultures too. Hence, it was very meaningful and memorable in a way.

See you soon Luisa and Cente! Thank you for making my weekend fun. :)

*Thai Silk menu are retrieved from this site. :)*

Reflection of a Soup-Minded College Junior

Sometimes, we just have to take risks in order to find our strengths, weaknesses, and even happiness. If we only believe in ourselves and in what we can do, everything will be okay. There is no harm in trying, so we should not be afraid. Remember, by taking risks, there would be opportunities for us to learn from our new experiences and "shine". Through them, we become more confident, better and wiser. :)

Good night everyone! Happy weekend! :)

*God, please help me with the Achiever Scholar Program interview tomorrow. Amen. :)*

A Very Unusual Weekend

(My favorite picture as of now, taken last July 3, 2009)

Instead of going back to Laguna where I live, I rushed to Powerplant in Rockwell after school last Thursday to spend some time with my beloved cousins, Luisa and Cente. They just arrived from Hong Kong and they're here in the Philippines to visit us. We also went to Serendra, our favorite place, and had a great time there. Good times. :)

I will post more pictures and stories about my very unusual weekend soon. Good night! :)

To My Dearest Daddy

(Taken last January 1, 2009)

You are the best and the coolest dad I could ever have. I'm lucky to have you as my father. Thank you for everything. I love you! Happy Father's Day! :)

Love, Dana. :)

*Happy Father's Day to all dads! :)*

School is Back and so I Am

Hello! It has been quite a while since I wrote my last entry. I’m not updating my blog recently because I’m so involved with school stuff. On the brighter side, I'm back. ;)

After two years, I finally have an organization. I joined UnITEd, and eventually became a part of the executive board. I spent my last days of summer in school with my fellow officers, helping them prepare our booth for the freshmen orientation or LPEP. We also made plans, proposals and activities for the whole year.

(The Magic School Bus: UnITEd Version was the booth for the LPEP; the activities are for the whole school year)

During our first week as college juniors, we had a mini-pictorial with Ms. Lara, our adviser. We felt like celebrities as we smiled at the camera. I love the photos, most especially the one I posted here. We look very pretty in this photo! HAHA. In addition, we did our bulletin board at the 16th floor of Andrew Building. The place was really overflowing with creativity, imagination, and even laughter as we cut and paste the decorations. We enjoyed doing it. We all had a great time. ;)

(Can you spot Ms. Lara in the picture, upper left?)

On the other hand, maybe, you've heard the news about the swine flu outbreak in our school (De La Salle University). Our classes were suspended for ten-days because it was confirmed that an exchange student had its symptoms. The school administration advised us to stay at home and avoid going to crowded places. BUT, instead of obeying, I went to bookstores and malls to buy children's books and new clothes. HAHA. People wouldn't know that I'm from La Salle anyway.

After ten days, the swine flu issue is not a big deal anymore. Now, our life as college students is back to normal. Thank you very much.

When classes resumed last Monday, the annual recruitment week pushed through as well. I'm happy to tell you that many students from CED joined UnITEd. We are also grateful to our professors because they influenced them to join our organization in a way. And oh, did I mention that I joined ROTARACT too?

(The annual recruitment week 2k9 in DLSU-Manila)

Now, I can finally say that I'm ready to teach minds, touch hearts, and inspire lives. There may be bumps along the way, but it's okay. I'll treat them as a challenge for me to grow and become a better person. Haay. I feel that this school year would be my best and most memorable ever. :)

Yihee

Love makes the world turn upside down. I just realized that some people do crazy and weird things when they are in love. Haay. But I really find them funny, sweet, and kilig for some reason. Okay, I'm watching too much Koreanovelas. HAHA. So what? :)

Ano Kaya?

Just recently, there is a commercial slash advocacy campaign that features the different celebrities and other famous personalities such as Chris Tiu, Charice Pempengco, Maxene Magalona, Luis Manzano, Angel Locsin and Ely Buendia. They talk about their plans and promises to help our beloved country, the Philippines. I personally think that this is a brilliant idea because they are the role models of the Filipino youth of today. They could easily encourage the youth to become active in nation building, so they would be able to contribute something good to make the country a better place.

Change can happen if we only become responsible citizens of this country. Because of this commercial slash campaign, many Filipinos are now becoming more socially aware, active and involved as they make a stand and perhaps "take real actions" in changing the society. On the other hand, like everyone else, I'm hoping that this has nothing to do with the 2010 elections.

Since I'm taking up early childhood education, this is my pledge: Ako mismo ay magsisikap ng mabuti upang maging isang magandang ehemplo sa mga kabataan. :)

Note: I've also heard that you'll get the dogtag if you register in the site or if you write on the wall of commitments. Oh well, I hope so. The dogtags are totally cute. ;)

*Happy Birthday Paolo and Happy Wedding Anniversary Auntie Nene and Uncle Romy. And special thanks to Minka. Thank you so much for the award. :)*

A Mixture of Fantasy and Reality

Upon reading an article in The Philippine Star some time ago, I got inspired to write my own list of Top 5 favorite books and reasons why I love to read them all over again.

1. The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint- Exupéry

This is the very first book that I've read when I entered high school. Our English teacher required us to read this one. I thought that this book is just like the other children's book but I proved myself wrong. It is beautifully written and I actually learned something relevant from it. It all started when an airman accidentally met the little prince, when a part of his engine broke down in the Sahara Desert. The little prince approached the airman because he wanted him to draw a sheep. From then on, they became friends and the rest is history. This story is interesting because the characters are interesting too. They will make every reader appreciate the simple things in life and see "what is essential is invisible to the eye". This book will totally make you think and reflect a lot. Trust me.

2. The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan

When we were in our senior year in highschool, we had to choose a book to read for our mini-thesis. I chose The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan. I did not regret reading this book because it enabled me to understand why mothers act and behave in such ways. I realized that a mother's love for her child is truly "unconditional, selfless, and irreplaceable". It touched me in a way, and I'm thankful because it helped me love my mother more. Plus, I learned something about the Chinese culture. By the way, I craved for moon cake and other Chinese food for a week after reading the book.

3. Penny from Heaven by Jennifer Stockholm

Unlike the other two, this one is not required. I bought it last year because of my resolution to read at least 3 books every summer break. After I finished reading it, I found out that we can really find real happiness through our family and friends, and even in simple things like dreaming about eating a butter-pecan ice cream and spending a Sunday dinner with the whole family. Penny really keeps me "glued" because her life, as an eleven year old, is very intriguing. Why does her favorite uncle live in a car? What is the reason why her mother's and father's family are not talking to each other? Why does her Nonny always cry when the name of her father is mentioned? Hmm. I discovered something about the Italian culture too.

4. Eggs by Jerry Spinelli

My brother was laughing at me when he saw that this one's for 9-12 year old children. He told me that I should not read Eggs because for heaven's sake, it is a children's book! BUT, I've got the last laugh, thank you very much. From this book, I learned that friendship is not always a one-way road. We have to give something to our friends in order to fill what is missing in their lives. Appreciating them for who they are is one big step for them to feel loved, special, and happy. And vice-versa.

5. The Harry Potter Series by J.K. Rowling

The Harry Potter series is my all-time favorite! Well, Harry Potter is not all about magic, spells, wands, flying brooms, witches and wizards. I think that J.K. Rowling wants us to look beyond and think outside the box. Harry Potter and friends teach us how to be brave in every challenges that come our way; how to love unconditionally; how to become responsible in the actions that we do; how to make choices; and how to treasure and trust the people in our lives. I consider the characters as role models (yes, even Fred and George Weasley, just in case you're wondering) because they have the behaviors and values, which can make us become a better person.

I love reading books like these because they bring me to unknown yet fascinating places where I can learn about different cultures and life's important lessons.

So what's yours? :)

P.S. Happy Mother's Day to your wonderful moms and Happy Birthday my dear friend, Kat Reyes! :)

Promises are not meant to be Broken

So as promised. Today, I'm sharing with you the photos that my friends and I took when we had our summer getaway in Calatagan two weeks ago. I did not bring my camera with me as we splashed and swam with the waves because I was afraid it might get wet. ;)

Some of the pictures are grabbed from Tasha and Maryse, thank you very much.

The first few pictures belong to my friends: Mye, Maryse, Lo, Nikki, Cheska, and Raymund. We really enjoyed the beach! We had so much fun! These are the moments while we were having some fun under the sun. However, we missed our other friends: Sab, Mau, Icca, Kat, Trish, Ocha, Danielle, and Sylvia. They had their own reasons and we understood why they were not able to come with us. Oh well, I hope that next time, we will be complete. As the old saying goes, "The more, the merrier!"

This is the "most exciting part of the sea" by the way. All of us loved this place because we were able to swim with the waves. The waves were so strong. They (the waves) can bring you to the shore in a short period of time. ;) We were like surfing without a surf board. :)) On the other hand, we had to walk on the pathway to be able to reach this place. We walked very carefully because it was very slippery. I had my Ms. Universe moment here on my way back to the shore. Ouch. :/

The last set of pictures is my favorite. I like the shots here. It is like bringing out the inner "photographer" in us. Capturing every precious moment. Plus, they show how much we enjoyed the day. And oh, before I forget, the girl wearing a bikini top and boardshorts is Tasha. I missed her too (she shifted course, that is why). Good thing, she was able to be with us on this very special day.

Like what Maryse said, "Sa uulitin!". :D

*P.S. Thank you for waiting patiently for the pictures. And Happy birthday to our dearest Auntie Sari!*

Power Punch

After two rounds, Manny "Pacman" Pacquiao won the boxing match against Ricky "Hitman" Hatton. Knock out. Everything happened so fast. Hindi ko ito inaasahan.

(The moment: The very powerful punch that totally knocked out Hitman.)

Honestly, I am not a big fan of boxing but I tried to watch this much awaited event with my aunties, here at home. I actually prayed for Mr. Pacquiao because I wanted him to win again. Well, my prayer (and everyone else's; I'm pertaining to the Filipinos, by the way.) was worth it because God heard it. But, I felt bad for Mr. Hatton because he seemed unconscious after Mr. Pacquiao hit him on the face. I'm glad to hear that he is okay now though.

Congratulations Mr. Pacquiao. You made us all proud! :)

*Photo retrieved from http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/more-sport/2009/05/04/pacman-had-the-perfect-punch-and-ricky-hatton-didn-t-even-see-it-coming-115875-21330698/*

Lesson of the Week: Don't be Judgmental

Have you ever judged a person simply because of his or her physical appearance?

There is some point in our lives when we become judgmental. We easily tend to judge others by looking at how they walk, talk, sit, stand, eat, and dress. We immediately make conclusions and assumptions towards people even if we really don't know them. Am I right?

Last Sunday, my friend asked me to watch a video of Susan Boyle in You Tube. When I saw her, I thought that she was just like the other ridiculous contestants who joined American Idol, because she looked very different. The audience were laughing at her and making funny faces too while she was introducing herself. By the way, she joined the singing contest, Britain's Got Talent and not American Idol.

(This is Susan Boyle before [left] and after a major makeover [right])

Like Simon Cowell and the others, I was really surprised when I heard her sing a song from Les Miserables. She was so amazing! She even got a standing ovation from the judges. It was an "incredible performance". A star is born!

May this serve as a lesson for everyone. As the old saying goes, never judge a book by its cover.

I'm glad she had a major makeover though. :D

*Photo retrieved from http://new.music.yahoo.com/blogs/thatsreallyweek/45342/april20-27-fests-lies-and-videotape/*

Summer Getaway

Before the end of the school year, most of my classmates' status in YM and blogs in Multiply were about going to the beach. They described how the beach gives them a relaxing feeling whenever they walk on the sand, swim, eat, take pictures, and simply enjoy. They've been to Boracay, Palawan, La Union, Calatagan, and the like. They are so lucky because they get to visit these wonderful places around the Philippines. Everytime I look at their pictures in Multiply and Facebook, I always tell myself, "Haay, sana ako rin.." v(",)v

I just came from Calatagan, Batangas today and now I know why my classmates love the beach so much. Cheska, Lo, Maryse, Mye, Nikki, Raymund, Tasha, and I enjoyed the whole afternoon swimming with the waves and taking wacky pictures. Of course, we also loved eating the food that Tita Sol (Raymund's mom) cooked for us. I had a great time collecting shells and beach rocks as well.

(These are the shells and the rocks that I collected and my slippers. :D )

On our way there, it was raining hard so we thought that we would not enjoy the day. However, when we arrived at our destination, it suddenly stopped raining and the sun welcomed us as soon as we hit the beach. I'm really thankful to God because He gave us a sunny day. Because of the heat of the sun, my skin is a little bit darker. I've got tan lines! ;)

(The beach of Calatagan, Batangas. :D)

My trip to Calatagan with my college friends is a truly memorable one. I'm definitely happy because my parents allowed me to go. My summer this year has never been this goooood. :D

*P.S. I will post more pictures soon!*

Open Happiness

Every Sunday noon, I always watch ASAP 09 because of Enchong Dee. He is my schoolmate in La Salle and I only see him very often. I usually see him at the swimming team's tambayan (he is a member of the swimming varsity), SJ walk, or Yuchengco lobby. And when he passes by, I can't help but notice the girls silently giggle or smile dreamily. Oh yes, he is the man.

Our school is known for having celebrity students. Enchong is one of them. However, even if they are celebrities, they are treated as "normal students". They never get special treatment from the professors which I think is fair enough. And I realized that school is the place where they can be themselves because there are no screaming fans and flashy cameras around. As a matter of fact, I saw Enchong having fun with his team mates some months ago. He was dancing like no one is watching! Don't get me wrong. It just happened that I volunteered to accompany my friend, Lo. We went to Yuchengco lobby on purpose because we wanted to take a look at the t-shirts and other I Am Ninoy accessories. And there he was (their tambayan is near the Yuch lobby). Haay, he really got my attention and I totally forgot about the I Am Ninoy t-shirts, pins, and shades. He was so funny.

I have a lot of encounters with Enchong in school but I never had the guts to approach him. Even if we are like 1 cm away from each other, I just look at him or walk away. I don't know. But, after those encounters, I proudly tell my friends that one day, he will become my friend.

On the 27th day of March 2009, my dream finally became a reality in a way. I was in school because our class was required to attend a plenary session for INTOECO. During the plenary session, Claude and Karlene informed me that they saw Enchong inside the William theatre, hosting an event. After our plenary, I went to William theatre because Karlene asked me to go there. The event was almost finished when I arrived.

To cut the long story short, when the event ended, Karlene introduced me to Enchong (thank you Karlene for making it happen!) and I shook his hand (it's really soft..haha). It was an unforgettable day for me. As soon as Karlene finished taking our picture, Enchong and I had a little conversation for about 2-3 minutes. That precious period of time is one of the happiest moment of my life! We talked about school stuff. He told me that he just finished his practicum, and he's graduating on June. He also mentioned that the event was their final requirement for this subject and he was so happy because it was successful. On the other hand, I asked him if he knows Caroline, the "founder" of Only Enchong Dee (he said, "Oo naman!" with a smile), and I told him that I came from our INTOECO plenary session. Surprisingly, I was able to talk to him with confidence, even if I haven't had combed my hair. After our conversation, I thanked him and shook his hand again. We walked towards Karlene and they had their little conversation as well. They know each other since she took a picture of him for Ang Pahayagang Plaridel before. By the way, APP is the school's newspaper written in Filipino.

Many girls like Enchong because he is good looking and a very talented person. But I believe that he is more than his good looks and talents. Beyond the walls of showbusiness, he is definitely like us, the "ordinary people". Like us, he dreams big, loves his family and friends, and values education. Hence, I admire him because he has these qualities.

We may be acquaintances as of the moment, but I'm still hoping that we will become friends someday. And when that day comes, I'll be the happiest girl in the whole world.

I am writing this entry because I am not yet over with our little conversation, and I saw him on TV a while ago. As soon as I turned on the TV, he was right infront of me, talking about the Open Coke, Open Happiness campaign with Shaina and Kim. I was not really expecting to see him first. Then after a while, the Gigger Boys (his group) danced. Oh well, I think this is a good sign.

Haay, I hope he still remembers me.

New Look and Random Updates

Well, I finally changed the template/layout of my blog. It looks very different now. Thanks to Blogbulk.

On the other hand, our finals week is officially over. I'm free from schoolworks so I can sleep in peace. What I want to do this summer break is to go to San Francisco and Los Angeles to visit my cousins. I miss them so much! And I want to see the Golden Gate Bridge and Hollywood. If only my aunt and dad would fix my Visa... HAHAHA.

(This picture was taken Christmas 2007: Luisa, Dana, and Cente)

I'm currently loving the new song of Hale, Sandali na Lang. It is giving me the last song syndrome. Also, its video reminds me of fun summer days at the beach. Summer mode! v(",)v

Sandali Na Lang - Hale

Photoblog

Instead of cropping the pictures, I decided to make a photoblog! It is like an online scrapbook. I love it because it's much easier to do, more creative, and more colorful.

February 12 was a really good day. After class, I spent my free time with Armine, Anne, Kathy, and Mela, my other friends from CED. We stayed at the Sports Plaza where Mau was manning the booth. While we were sitting on the edge of the plant boxes, Mau got her camera, and she took pictures of us. I like the shots! Fun times, good vibes! HAHA.

I really had a great time with them! Well, the pictures say it all. v(",)v

Of Harana and Roses

On the day of February 12, 2009, I was able to feel the spirit of Valentines. When our ECEDEVA class had just ended, the DLSU Chorale members (2 guys and 1 girl) knocked on the door of our classroom. They walked towards the platform, and one of them began playing his guitar. Taking it as a cue, the girl sang a song while the other guy read a very meaningful note. I felt the goosebumps all over my arm as I listened to the both of them.

My friend Icca did something special this day. She asked the DLSU Chorale members to sing for us. She also gave us red roses. It was really a super sweet gesture.

I am very happy and thankful that I've got friends like Icca, Mye, Mau, Lo, Kat, Maryse, Nikki, Ocha, Cheska, Trish, and Sab. You guys are the reason why I enjoy college life so much! Thank you college loves! And I'm looking forward to more fun moments with you. v(",)v

I know this is a super late post, but it's better late than never. v(",)v

(P.S. Our professor in ECEDEVA, Ms. Claudette Tandoc, is in the picture too. She is the second girl with a bag from the right side.)

Plain Non-Sense or Not

Today, while taking a break from doing the curriculum content for ECEDCUR, I took one quiz in Facebook about Harry Potter. I found out that I belong to Gryffindor and I'm Hermione Granger. Of course, I was very glad because I really wanted to be in the same house, where my favorite Harry Potter characters stay during their school days. On the other hand, I felt a little bit flattered because I've never thought that I would be like Hermione. I don't totally consider myself as studious as her.

Anyway, I don't know if you can relate to this post, but as the title says, this is just plain non-sense. I'm still mending a broken mind because I haven't slept normally for the past few weeks. I feel that my mind isn't working properly recently, and I need some time to gain my full energy back. Honestly, our third term in La Salle is the most stressful so far.

Oh well, two more days to go and the sleepless nights would be over.

This coming school break, I am challenging myself to become a better blogger. I will update as much as I can AND try my best to post more interesting stuff. I promise to make my summer vacation more productive and memorable this year. v(",)v

Almost...

There is a reason to celebrate because our "hell week" is over! However, we will still have our finals after the Holy Week so we are not officially on vacation. And there are some papers that we need to finish. But I think that our workloads this time are way better than before.

Right now, I'm looking forward to our trip in Calatagan on April 23! I'm excited because it is my first time to visit a beach, and hang-out with my friends outside the borders of Manila. I'm so thankful because my parents allowed me to go. And for this reason, I'm inspired to study even harder. v(",)v

Enjoy your summer vacation, people!