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/*