Star-studded

United State of Pop 2009 (Blame It on the Pop): A Mashup of the Top 25 Hits of 2009 According to Billboard

To the person who made this one (I'm not sure if he's DJ Earworm), I'm giving you five thumbs up because I feel that two aren't enough. You deserve a recognition for this one amazing masterpiece. What a way to end the year 2009! :)

P.S. Listen carefully because you might hear something meaningful. Trust me. ;)

Because I'm Spending All My Time Thinking About You

This is Gabe Bondoc's cover of Colbie Caillat's Fallin' for You. I have to agree with the people who commented on his page. His cover is great! And he made the song even better. He makes me happy. HAHA.

I hope he is a Filipino though. :)

Humblebees

I had a blast with my highschool friends a while ago (just got home). We celebrated our batch's Christmas party and Mikee's homecoming at Ayeen's house. Unfortunately, some were not able to come because they're still in their hometowns/provinces.

I've learned something new from this mini-reunion: Wala pala nagbago. Magulo pa rin kami. HAHA. Kidding aside, for the past three years, I realized that college has totally changed us in a lot of ways. I'm glad to know that we have become more determined and passionate towards our chosen careers. That we are giving our best shot in everything we do because we want to be successful in the future.

I'm very happy to see you guys again. Until next time, fellow Humblebees. That in all things, God may be glorified. :)

P.S. Karmin can cook an extremely delicious sisig. It's definitely a must-try. :)

Picture Almost Perfect

The highlight of our Christmas celebration at home: Auntie Sari playing hide and seek with Tyler. :)

Everybody has his or her own version of this photo. We just can't miss this moment. It's really worth remembering. I'm looking forward for another photo like this on New Year's day. :)

It Isn't All About Fairytales and Happy Endings

Sometimes, it's not easy to be loyal. Three years of keeping my fingers crossed, hoping, waiting, praying and believing. When is this going to be real? Or is this the perfect time for me to stop being loyal? *sigh* I guess there's no more you and I.

By the way, this is a cap. Just in case you're wondering.

So long, good night. :)

A Taste of Vanilla Twilight

"I'll sit on the front porch all night

Waist-deep in thought because when I think of you

I don't feel so alone."

- Vanilla Twilight by Owl City

I've been listening to Owl City since yesterday and I realized that... I like the band. The songs, which the band plays, will bring sunshine to anyone's gloomy day when he or she listens to them. Feel good music. Fireflies, West Coast Friendship, The Technicolor Phase, Designer Skyline and of course Vanilla Twilight are nice selections (they belong to different albums, by the way).

Hope you had a great Christmas! :)

Greetings!

Merry Christmas everyone! Enjoy this special day with your family and loved ones. God bless all of you. And oh, Happy Birthday Jesus! :)

A New Adventure Begins

Woody, Buzz, Jessie, Mr. Potato Head and the rest are back! I don't know when they're going to show Toy Story 3 here in the Philippines. Hopefully by next year too. This one seems interesting now that Andy's all grown up. Hmm, I wonder what's going to happen. :)

Good bye Captain Jack Sparrow, Hello Mr. Mad Hatter

I'm looking forward to watching this movie on March 2010. Good thing, defense and thesis are over at that time. Great! And this may serve as a good reminder for me to save up my allowance. HAHA. :)

Nothing is Impossible

Who would have thought that a very famous actress could fall for an ordinary bookshop owner?

The movie Notting Hill, starring Julia Roberts and Hugh Grant, tells me that nothing is impossible. Anything can happen, whether we like it or not. Life is short, so live, love and laugh to the fullest. :)

I'm going to watch this movie again this Christmas break. Sweet. :)

P.S. I passed and survived the most crucial term in DLSU. Thank you God for hearing my prayer. Miracle, indeed. :)

Photobooth Session

(Practicum exhibit: December 14, 2009)

Because we're all too happy and excited, we decided to take pictures of ourselves using Sab's laptop. This is my favorite. It's just so funny! Chynna, look at you! HAHA. Okay, I'm such a bully. :))

Practicum

What I usually do every morning in the preschool--- play with the kids. They are so cute and adorable. I love them. :)

*Welcome home, Mikee! I hope to see you soon. :)*

The Drama

Yesterday, during consultation with our thesis supervisor:

Dana: I need my "old" brain back. :(
Yana: Where did your "old" brain go?
Dana: It went somewhere over the rainbow. Can you help me find it?
Yana: Sometimes, what you're looking for is right where you left it. :)
Dana: *sigh* Okay, then, let's go. :)

Lucas Scott, is that you? :)) We can't help being sabaw because it's finals week. Everybody is busy with all the paperworks, thesis, projects and exams. Since this is our second to the last term, we are really doing our best to get good grades and pass with flying colors. :)

Oh well. This term may be so tiring but hey, we are almost there. :)

On a High

For some reason, I am extremely happy. I hope that this happiness will lead to a great success, most especially by the end of this term. I'm keeping my fingers crossed. Haaay. :)

By the way, here's one of the pictures which I took last night after dinner. Hindi naman halata na nag-enjoy ako sa pagkuha ng pictures kasi may decorations na sa bahay. :))

The Greatest Time of Year

Ah, at last! My favorite season of the year has come. I'm quite excited because my cousins from California are coming home to the Philippines to celebrate the big day with us. Twenty more days to go and it's Christmas. Time flies so fast! :)

*Happy Birthday my dear Action Research partner and friend, Yana Magsanoc!*

Right Dude

This is the sweetest message I have ever received in my entire life as a student. I never imagined that Thesis would love me this way. Thesis makes my world go round and round and round.

To all those who are taking up their thesis this school year, good luck! :)

* I feel so unproductive today. I wonder why. Moreover, even though it's a National Holiday tomorrow, we still have to go to school because of make-up classes. How sad. :'( *

A Desperate Fairytale

Last term, our professor showed this comic strip to the whole class because she wanted to know how we, early childhood education majors, will introduce these fairytale princesses to preschoolers or children who don't have any background about Disney characters, particularly them. It was very challenging in a way since we had to consider a lot of factors such as their environment, economic status and even culture. But in general, it was a fun (not depressing, haha!) activity because it's something new for us. Instead of using the usual "prettified" pictures of the princesses, this comic strip was being used. And the class gave really interesting answers. Some of them were totally beyond the box. Hence, imagination and creativity had been utilized very well. :)

How about you, how will you do it? :)

*I think it would be more delightful if you share your brilliant ideas to me. :)*

Sandwich, I Like

The dashing Mong Alcaraz and the super talented Raymund Marasigan of the famous Filipino band, Sandwich. They rocked our school last August 27, 2009. They made my last first trimester in DLSU more memorable. I hope they would come back. :)

We can be the HOPE

(The event ended with letting the balloons go up in the sky.)

My fellow Early Childhood majors and I attended the I Am Hope Campaign last Saturday (November 14, 2009) at Quezon City Memorial Circle. It was truly fulfilling because we were able to make the children with cancer happy and hope through balloon art and face painting. We all had a great time.

(This cute pink balloon dog was given to particular child.)

It feels good to have had helped and making people happy. We felt very lucky in a way because we were given this wonderful opportunity to become involved in this campaign. :)

I will end this entry by sharing a quote from Pauline R. Kezer:

"When you do nothing, you feel overwhelmed and powerless. But when you get involved, you feel the sense of hope and accomplishment that comes from knowing you are working to make things better."

May YOU be the HOPE of others. :)

A Dose of Caffeine

Lately, I’ve been drinking a lot of coffee to keep me awake and alert, most specially if I’m in the preschool. I craved for a peppermint mocha (frap) today so I went to Starbucks to buy one for myself. And I got my first sticker for the planner! HAHA. Truly a stress-reliever. :)

Yummy

Vanilla Sunshine from Cupcakes by Sonja. When I saw this photo from one of my albums, I felt hungry. HAHA. This was given to me by my cousin when he visited us last January. I ate it for breakfast. :)

I want to enroll in a real photography class come summer, and buy myself a new camera with cool effects. I’m getting really fascinated with photography, seriously. I got inspired by the people who love to take wonderful and amazing pictures. Haay.

On the other hand, I'd like to apologize for not blogging lately. I have been very busy with schoolworks and practicum requirements. I will update as soon as I'm done with everything. But you can also check on my twitter. It's more updated. Thank you for understanding. :)

Trick or Treat

On a definitely less scary note, here's a picture which I took for my one day Photography 101 class last February. This is my favorite among all my shots. I super duper love this. :)

Enjoy your Halloween everyone! :)

Let's Party

What happened to Hannah Montana? Is she the next Britney of this generation? I hope not. There are a lot of young girls who adore her. :( I won't be surprised if I see some of them dancing like this in public.

I am not a fan of Miley Cyrus but, in my opinion, she looks very pretty (and hot?) in this video. I also like its quality and style (the video). I personally think that Party in the USA is her best song so far. :)

***

Mela Update: She already transferred to a private room. She tried to speak but hindi pa kaya. Oh well, at least, she's out of the ICU and she is doing great. Go Mela! See you soon. ;)

I Miss You

(That's me and Mela during the DLSU- university week culminating night activity last February 13, 2009)

I was definitely shocked and sad when I heard that my friend, Mela, was in critical condition when she and other friends got involved in a car accident last weekend. She stayed in ICU for several days and had to depend on a respirator. She was unconscious and her comma status was very alarming (seven out of fifteen... please google about it for more info). She was fighting for her life.

BUT...

As of now, Mela's condition has improved. The doctors already removed her respirator so she can breathe on her own. She is opening her eyes, most especially when there are visitors, and responding to what they say. She might be transferred from ICU to a private room either tonight or tomorrow. :)

I am very happy because she is getting better everyday. Please continue praying for her. Prayer really, really works. :)

P.S. I miss you so much. Get well soon so we can have our endless conversations about literature, You-Know-Who and Happy Birthday again. :)

Freeze

While eating dinner, I shared this thought with my dearest Aunt:

Dana: Auntie, I'm thinking. What if I give loot bags to the preschool children on Tuesday?
Auntie Lucy: Why? What's the occasion?
Dana: (paused) Hmm, nothing.
Auntie Lucy: No occasion naman pala eh. Why are you giving them loot bags?
Dana: (straight face) Auntie, birthday ko kaya sa Tuesday. :l
Auntie Lucy: (surprised) Oh, I'm sorry. Birthday mo pala sa Tuesday.
Dana: Naku, whatever.

I'm still in the state of shock. Of all people. I hope she's only joking. :l

By the way, I'm having my practicum this term (2nd trimester) in a preschool near DLSU. I'll tell you more about my practicum experiences soon. :)

Fabulous

No wonder why a lot of my friends like Blair Waldorf, regardless of her not-so-good-and-bratty attitude in Gossip Girl (they keep on allowing applications in Facebook which are related to Blair, such as the Blair Quotes). She's pretty, smart and confident. She dresses well too. Whether she wears a classy dress or a funky casual outfit, she looks simply fabulous. :)

Sweet dreams everyone! :)

Mabuhay!

Each one of us is a hero. We are heroes in our own little ways. I'm proud to be in a nation where everyone's a hero. Fellow Filipinos, mabuhay tayong lahat! We can handle this. :)

*Credits to: Mark Gosingtian*

Amazingly Awesome

W-o-w! What a super talented guy! Honestly, my jaw actually dropped as I watch this in YouTube. HAHA. This is so amazingly awesome. *clap* clap *clap* I'm sure that Michael Jackson is smiling up there. :)

The King of Pop still lives on! :)

Have a Break

This is so cool, entertaining and funny! The people who created this video are very creative. I'm totally entertained while watching it in my friend's Facebook. I like it very much! I'm looking forward to watching someone order like this in Mc Donald's (any branch) soon. HAHA. :)

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? :)