Christmas Wishing at My Age...

Before I get too busy with the hustle and bustle, let me usher in this season with my favorite Christmas song... Yes, as cliche as it may sound, this is...

My Grown Up Christmas List

Do you remember me
I sat upon your knee
I wrote to you
With childhood fantasies

Well, I'm all grown up now
And still need help somehow
I'm not a child
But my heart still can dream

So here's my lifelong wish
My grown up christmas list
Not for myself
But for a world in need

No more lives torn apart
That wars would never start
and wars would never start
And time would heal all hearts
And everyone would have a friend
And right would always win
And love would never end
This is my grown up christmas list

As children we believed
The grandest sight to see
Was something lovely
Wrapped beneath our tree

Well heaven only knows
That packages and bows
Can never heal
A hurting human soul

No more lives torn apart
That wars would never start
And time would heal all hearts
And everyone would have a friend
And right would always win
And love would never end
This is my grown up christmas list

What is this illusion called the innocence of youth
Maybe only in our blind belief can we ever find the truth
(there'd be)

No more lives torn apart
That wars would never start
And time would heal all hearts
And everyone would have a friend
And right would always win
And love would never end, oh
This is my grown up christmas list

This is my grown up christmas list

How Old Am I Again? (and Other Things I Forgot in Hong Kong Disney...)

It is exactly a year ago when I went to Hong Kong and totally forgot my age (among other things - stress at work, panic attack on getting older, social frustrations, etc...) at the HK Disney. It was my 2nd time in Hong Kong (went there in 2000 with my sisters, Ruby and Rowee) but still, I enjoyed this trip tremendously. Because this time, I brought along my "baby", Neigel... It's always good to travel with kids. Because their sense of awe and wonder infects you, and you tend to get as fascinated with the place and the experience yourself...

Highlight of this 3-days trip:
Walking out of HK Disney after the awesome fireworks display to close the day, Neigel, in his 9-years-old, still-childlike-innocence-and-honesty said to me, "Tita, hinding-hindi ko na makakalimutan 'tong araw na 'to sa buong buhay ko..." (Tita, I'll never ever forget this day for the rest of my life...) Wow! As in, WOW!!! That, of course, made Tita cry... Haha... That moment alone was well-worth the whole trip and the Pesos 80,000 I got myself so deep into debt with...

In celebration of the 1st Anniversary of our HK trip, I'm posting here short accounts and pics of our 3-days, 2-nights... Enjoy!

DAY 1: November 13, 2006

Getting there...

Neigel's first plane ride...

Arrival at the Hong Kong International Airport... At the Disney Hollywood Hotel in Lantau Island...

A day at Hong Kong Disney...

The Disney Castle...

With Neigel's favorite Disney character, Buzz Lightyear...

And his favorite ride...

The Disney Parade on Main Street...

The Disney shops...

Climbing Tarzan's Tree House...

My favorite of all the HK Disney attraction, The Lion King Musical...

The spectacular lights and fireworks show to end the day...

Walking out of Disney after a long, tiring, but happy, happy day...

DAY 2: November 14, 2006

From Lantau to Kowloon

Commuting by train from Disney Resort on Lantau Island to mainland Kowloon...
Ocean Park... for Another Hong Kong experience for Neigel...

Just had to bring my baby to Ocean Park as well...

The dolphin, whale, and sea lion show...The huge underwater aquarium...
Neigel has always been fascinated with dinosaurs...

Enjoying the cable car ride in Ocean Park...

Exploring Kowloon by foot after getting back from Hong Kong island...

The HK Museum of Art...

Hong Kong Space Museum

DAY 3: November 15, 2006

The Half-day City Tour...

Accross Victoria Harbour on a cold, windy morning...

At the Avenue of Stars...

Jackie Chan's Star of Fame...

A city tour of HK will not be complete without you being literally forced into a jewelry factory by your tour guide...

Bargain Shopping at the Mongkok District

Eating authentic beef mami noodles in Mongkok

Going home after 3 Days and 2 Nights...

At the HK International Airport Departure Area

Home, at Last...

The welcoming committe... mama Ruby and shobe Nadine at the NAIA...

Soaring with Music... (Part 2)

This is the instrumental version of Magolpy's "Girl In Flight"... Just close your eyes and listen with your heart and see if you can keep your spirits from flying off and soaring to the heavens... Enjoy!

The Best Commercial I've Seen in a While...

Ok, so I admit... I don't really get to watch regular TV anymore (except for some shows on the Korean channel, Arirang)... But I chanced upon this commercial on the Discovery channel while in a hotel in Cagayan De oro last week... And it made me cry... Brilliant work of McGarryBowen (NY)... Music by Paul Leonard-Morgan...

Soaring with Music...

"Girl In Flight" by Korean artist, Magolpy... I just love this song... I've yet to find the English translation and the meaning of this song... But I just love the melody and the beat so much... It makes me want to soar to the skies... Love the video too... And that cute girl... She actually made me cry...

Fuma Cakes, Anyone?

So, what is so special about these cakes to warrant a space in my blog, you might ask?

Aside from the obvious, you mean? Of me wanting these because Rain is the endorser of this particular brand of cake from China and naturally his face is plastered all over the packaging? (Hey, I'm not an obsessed fan for nothing... keke...)
These cakes are doubly special to me because of how I got them, from where and from who...
These were given to me by two of my favorite bosses in Kao Corp., Hoshikawa-san and Tito Benny... They both know how addicted I am to Rain so it's no surprise to them when my "pasalubong list" from Shanghai had only one item... Fuma Cake. Actually, I only wanted a sample just so I could see and taste the real thing. I never imagined they'd have so much trouble and bring this much back to the Philippines...
After Rain's recent concert in Shanghai, the cakes have practically sold-out. So, Hoshi-san and Tito Benny had to look all over the city for almost half a day for them... They even called to say that they can't find the cakes but that they are doing their best. They added jokingly that they have stopped working and that they have mobilized the entire Kao Shanghai group and the city police to look for my cakes... Hehe... When they finally found a store that sells them, Hoshi-san had to sweet-talk a saleslady to give them a big bag (with Rain's picture on it) for me as an added souvenir... And I can just imagine how Tito Benny had to hand-carry this bag all the way from Shanghai to Hong Kong to Manila...
Aahhh, I was so touched... Now more than the cakes, I appreciate their efforts. Wouldn't you be touched if your bosses would go to all that trouble just to feed your "addiction" and put a smile on your face?

Thanks so much, Tito Benny and Hoshi-san... You're the best! Want some cakes?

Inked for BI

Just want to share this with you... My new tattoo... of BI... hahaha...

Yup, got this one just three weeks ago... And it's real... unlike Rain's tattoos in the CK ads... Haha... Although it's really those CK ads that inspired me to get a new tattoo...

Anyway, it's an ankle tattoo of Bi's name in Korean Hangeul character. Rain has had such a big positive impact in my life and I just want to celebrate him. But, of course, I didn't want to have his face tattooed on my skin. That would have been too extreme. Even his english name, Rain, would be extreme for me. (How would I explain that to my future husband? Keke... Unless I marry Rain himself... Ooh, I just wish... Hahaha) At least the Korean character Bi is more subtle and simpler. Besides I've always find that cool ever since I saw it on the cover of his 1st album.

And if a non-Rain fan would ask, it'll be easier for me to explain. That it means "rain" and it just balances the tattoo I already have on my lower back (2 years ago) of the sun. I love the sun so much because it reminds me of how universal God's love is. The sun shines on EVERYONE - saint or sinner, rich or poor, etc... But now with Rain in my life, I'm all the more reminded that God loves me even if the sun doesn't shine. Rain has been such a blessing to me... Now, rain or shine, I'm happy... (Or I'm actually just trying hard to have a "profound explanation" to this craziness... Hahaha...)

I also had cherry blossoms design around my ankle. I researched it and I learned that cherry blossom symbolizes "spiritual beauty". I'd like to believe that I may not be knock-out-beauty-queen material but deep inside, spiritually, I am beautiful. (Don't I just love myself? Hahaha...)

Want to be Happy? Let the Music Play...

Here's something I read recently on "Woman's Day"... Another secret to living well every day... It works for me... So simple... Try it and see the difference...

Playing 20 minutes of upbeat music every morning may be the best way to jumpstart a good day. Why? Research shows that your favorite tunes have a positive effect on your mind and body -- making you happy and reducing anxiety by triggering endorphins (those feel-good chemicals) in your brain.

Listening to music relaxes you, stimulates feel-good brain waves and makes even the most mundane tasks—say, soaping up the dishes—more fun. So load up your iPod or put your favorite releases into heavy rotation on your CD player.

No wonder I've been feeling happy these past few months. There's a scientific explanation to my "extended good mood" after all... (And I thought I was just getting weird... Okay... "weirder" than usual... Keke) Rain crooning in my ears from morning till night (my iPod is practically glued to my ears) has got a lot to do with it...

Secrets of Successful People

Thank you to my friend, Anna Evasco of Mercer (Philippines), for sharing this... So, this is how you've gotten so successful? Keke... Good luck in your studies, Anna... Let's keep reaching for the stars! Fighting!


Secrets of Successful People
LIVING ALIVE, The Philippine Daily Inquirer
By Dero Pedero
Tuesday, September 11, 2007

Successful people are a cut above average people. They are passionate and driven, and seem to have more energy than ordinary folks. They believe in their talents and capabilities, are brilliant at conceptualizing ideas, and are highly effective in actualizing their dreams and goals.
Successful people are highly motivated. They set high, demanding goals for themselves. Whether at work, at play, or simply taking care of their personal and family affairs, successful people are winners who love to create and achieve. Most importantly, the ones who succeed most are those who persist and hold on to their vision when the going gets rough.

Here are more distinguishing qualities that separate successful people from the mediocre ones:

Successful people love their job. Through their occupation, they are aligned to their passions and purpose in life. They value and enjoy what they do, and find fulfillment and significance in their work and accomplishments. Successful people would rather work than play.
They have a good support system. Successful people are connected to people who nurture, value, love, and support them — their family, relatives, caring friends, and associates. They find strength in others who encourage and believe in them.
They are well-connected and can relate to any strata in society. They are always building their network of social and business connections, increasing their number of friends and supporters. Successful people know one of the greatest secrets of success: It’s not only what you know that matters, it’s who you know.
They have an infectious, positive attitude. Successful people always look at the bright side of life and count their blessings often. They spread happiness and sunshine wherever they go, and maintain a healthy optimistic mindset, feeling assured and confident. They have a driven, “I can do it; it can be done!” attitude.
They are concerned about health and take care of their bodies. They keep physically fit and strong to meet the demands of the fast life. Successful people know the importance of a good diet and consistent exercise regimen. They know how to pace their schedules and effectively manage stress.
They have well-set priorities. Successful people have a clear vision of what they want and give precedence to what are most valuable to them. They prioritize their goals, set them on a time schedule, and work on them according to the importance assigned to them.
They know how to manage their resources. Successful people develop a systematic way of managing their time, talents, money, and energy. These four elements when properly handled can lead to outstanding achievements and accomplishments for they are the primary investments needed for great success.
They believe in the pursuit of excellence. Successful people have high self-worth, and won’t settle for anything but the best. They strive for spectacular results and aim for the extraordinary. They put in a hundred percent effort in everything they do.
They turn every disappointment and failure into something good. Successful people look at failure as a temporary setback in their journey to success. They have great focus and try, over and over again, until they succeed. Winners never give up.
They have good fundamental values and set higher goals. Successful people live meaningful and more significant lives because they have clear-cut fundamental values. They set higher goals than typical people and set their goals above everybody else’s.
Successful people are people-oriented. Success comes to those who sincerely love being of service to other people — educating minds, uplifting lives, inspiring others. Ever wonder why Oprah Winfrey and Bill Gates are mega successful? They are people-oriented and share their talents, ideas, and achievements with the world.

Time Heals... (with a little push from Milenyo)

"Time heals all wounds," they say and I should know...

From what song is that? I can sing it but I can't remember... If you do, leave me a comment, email me or something. Thanks...

It's funny to think now of how, only a year ago, I was such a drama queen. I was so melodramatic then, thinking how miserable my life had become.

I just had one my biggest heartbreak, barely a month after the retirement of my boss and "mommy / angel" in the office, and my best friend in the whole world was not talking to me. I couldn't talk to my other friends in the office because I felt that they were blaming ME for my heartbreak. My other friends all seemed unreachable (well, most of them are actually... they have migrated somewhere "greener"...). I was feeling so alone. And my work situation wasn't helping either. My other boss still hated me and my new department head couldn't care less. And to top it all, I was on extreme"panic-mode", thinking, "I'll be another year older in three months and I'm still single!!!"

I felt that I've come full circle only to end up back at square one. Nothing seemed to be going right in my life. About the only good thing that happened in my whole depression is that my weight went down to 114 lbs., the lightest I've ever weighed in my whole life. But that's another story... especially that I'm now back to my pre-depression weight... which isn't really a good thing... Haha...

It's exactly a year today, September 28, when Milenyo came and "cleared away the cobwebs and the sorrows" of my life back then... (Wow, that's from another song... from "Annie"... What's the title? Haha...)

Milenyo who? Super typhoon, Milenyo, that battered Manila and most parts of Luzon last year with winds of up to 100 kph. That day, schools in all level were cancelled. Before mid-day, offices were sent home too. Good for me that I never even got the chance to leave the house for office that morning because of the heavy rain. I was still feeling down and depressed and I almost welcomed the typhoon for giving me a reprieve from the tensions at work. I was prepared to just stay in bed all day and watch DVD. But by 8:00, the whole of Luzon was already blacked out. With no electricity, and basically nothing to do at home, I was prepared for boredom and a whole day of sulking all the more in my misery... Oh, boy, was I so wrong...

I should have seen it coming... how my day would be. Even before the lights went out, I was already busy sending and receiving SMS from the office, asking and confirming that work had been cancelled. After that, it was about making arrangements for stranded Japanese guests - calling hotels and airports and coordinating with our Mindanao plant. And then trying to find where my brother and brother-in-law also got stranded, as everywhere is flooded. Before I knew it, the eye of storm had already passed Manila and incredibly, I was feeling so much better. I've been talking on the phone the whole day and I've realized that I have related and talked more with people in the last few hours than I have in the last month.

The following day, I had the chance to go around Metro Manila and I got to see firsthand the wrath of Milenyo. But surprisingly, I felt light and good despite of the destruction around me. I was suddenly feeling optimistic and hopeful again.

That was the start of my healing... (I purposely emphasized that, in case you missed it.) I wish I could say, that was it... that, that day healed me instantly. No, it was just the start. It took a few months more before the hurting stopped. (I even had a depression relapse.) And a few months more before I started smiling with twinkling eyes again... and before I started laughing out loud again... and before I started singing and dancing again...

I'm happy now and I can say that I'm healed now... I'm whole again... but it took time... I guess, God meant it that way... So, that I'll treasure more what I have now... because it wasn't easy and it took time...

The song says it right... Time heals all wounds... and in my case, with a little push from Milenyo...

3900 Marbles = 3900 Saturdays

An officemate forwarded this to me just this morning. A very nice reminder about setting our priorities in life straight, about loving in the present, about not waiting to do later what we can do now...

Thanks, Apple, for sharing this. I'm not waiting for tomorrow to thank you for this and for all the other inspiring messages you send me. We may not be the closest in the office, but I promise... one of these days, we'll bond... before I ran out of marbles...

"If you live to be a hundred, I want to live to be a hundred minus one day, so I never have to live without you."

- Winnie the Pooh

The older I get, the more I enjoy Saturday mornings. Perhaps it's the quiet solitude that comes with being the first to rise, or maybe it's the unbounded joy of not having to be at work. Either way, the first few hours of a Saturday morning are most enjoyable.
A few weeks ago, I was shuffling toward the garage with a steaming cup of coffee in one hand and the morning paper in the other. What began as a typical Saturday morning turned into one of those lessons that life seems to hand you from time to time. Let me tell you about it...
I turned the dial up into the phone portion of the band on my ham radio in order to listen to a Saturday morning swap net. Along the way, I came across an older sounding chap, with a tremendous signal and a golden voice. You know the kind... He sounded like he should be in the broadcasting business. He was telling whom-ever he was talking with something about "a thousand marbles." I was intrigued and stopped to listen to what he had to say...
"Well, Tom, it sure sounds like you're busy with your job. I'm sure they pay you well but it's a shame you have to be away from home and your family so much. Hard to believe a young fellow should have to work sixty or seventy hours a week to make ends meet. It's too bad you missed your daughter's dance recital."
He continued... "Let me tell you something that has helped me keep my own priorities." And that's when he began to explain his theory of a "thousand marbles. "You see, I sat down one day and did a little arithmetic. The average person lives about seventy-five years. I know, some live more and some live less, but on average, folks live about seventy-five years. Now then, I multiplied 75 times 52 and I came up with 3900, which is the number of Saturdays that the average person has in his entire lifetime. Now, stick with me, Tom, I'm getting to the important part. It took me until I was fifty-five years old to think about all this in any detail," he went on, "and by that time, I had lived through over twenty-eight hundred Saturdays."
"I got to thinking that if I lived to be seventy-five, I only had about a thousand of them left to enjoy. So I went to a toy store and bought every single marble they had. I ended up having to visit three toy stores to round up 1000 marbles. I took them home and put them inside a large, clear plastic container right here in the shack next to my gear."
"Every Saturday since then, I have taken one marble out and thrown it away. I found that by watching the marbles diminish, I focused more on the really important things in life. There is nothing like watching your time here on this earth run out to help get your priorities straight."
"Now let me tell you one last thing before I sign-off with you and take my lovely wife out for breakfast. This morning, I took the very last marble out of the container. I figure that if I make it until next Saturday then I have been given a little extra time. And the one thing we can all use is a little more time."
"It was nice to meet you Tom, I hope you spend more time with your family, and I hope to meet you again here on the band. This is a 75 Year old Man, K9NZQ, clear and going QRT, good morning!"
You could have heard a pin drop on the band when this fellow signed off. I guess he gave us all a lot to think about. I had planned to work on the antenna that morning, and then I was going to meet up with a few hams to work on the next club newsletter. Instead, I went upstairs and woke my wife up with a kiss. "C'mon honey, I'm taking you and the kids to breakfast." "What brought this on?" she asked with a smile. "Oh, nothing special, it's just been a long time since we spent a Saturday together with the kids. And hey, can we stop at a toy store while we're out? I need to buy some marbles."

Before I Start Each Day...

It’s quiet. It’s early. The day is coming. For the next twelve hours I will be exposed to the day’s demands. It is now that I must make a choice. Because of Calvary , I’m free to choose. And so I choose.

I choose Love…
No occasion justifies hatred; no injustice warrants bitterness.
I choose love. Today, I will love God and what God loves.
I choose Joy…
I will invite my God to be the God of circumstance.
I will refuse the temptation to be cynical… the tool of the lazy thinker.
I will refuse to see people as anything less than human beings, created by God.
I will refuse to see any problem as anything less than an opportunity to see God.
I choose Peace…
I will live forgiven. I will forgive so that I may live.
I choose Patience…
I will overlook the inconveniences of the world.
Instead of cursing the one who takes my place, I’ll invite him to do so.
Rather than complain that the wait is too long, I will thank God for a moment to pray.
Instead of clinching my fist at a new assignment, I will face them with joy and courage.
I choose Kindness…
I will be kind to the poor, for they are alone.
Kind to the rich, for they are afraid.
And kind to the unkind, for such is how God has treated me.
I choose Goodness…
I will go without a cent before I take a dishonest one.
I will be overlooked before I will boast.
I will confess before I will accuse.
I choose goodness.
I choose Faithfulnes…
Today I will keep my promises.
My debtors will not regret their trust.
My associates will not question my word.
My spouse will not question my love.
And my children will never fear that I will not come home.
I choose Gentleness…
Nothing is won by force. I choose to be gentle.
If I raise my voice may it be only in praise.
If I clench my fist, may it be only in prayer.
If I make a demand, may it be only of myself.
I choose Self-Control…
I am a spiritual being…
After this body is dead, my spirit will soar.
I refuse to let what will rot rule the eternal.
I choose self-control.
I will be drunk only by joy.
I will be impassioned only by my faith.
I will be influenced only by God.
I will be taught only by Christ.
I choose self control.

Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control…
To these I commit my day.
If I succeed, I will give thanks.
If I fail, I will seek his grace.
And then, when this day is done,
I will place my head on my pillow and rest.

----------
by MAX LUCADO
When God Whispers Your Name

Inside Society's Canvas

I don’t know if you’ve seen this before but I came across this documentary clip on You Tube and I thought of sharing this with you.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bzYgSJCPEtY

A poignant reminder of a lot of life’s lessons we have learned over the years and may have forgotten along the way… About appreciating and sharing our blessings, about reaching out and helping others, about making a difference in this world no matter how small or simple…
There’s nothing more heartbreaking than to see a child with no hope in his eyes. You’ll know what I mean after watching this…

A part of this video imagines Christ as saying… “I did my part… It’s your turn now…” May we all do our share…

The Greatest Advice

Thanks to one of my best friends, Leo, for sharing this... And thanks, Leo, for being there for me when I just needed someone to cry on to. I'll never forget that time you just listened on the other line (all the way in Jasaan) while I cried for almost an hour (in a badminton court in Ortigas)... We're not "soulmates" for nothing, neh?

"Advice is like kissing: it costs nothing

and it's a pleasant thing to do."

- George Bernard Shaw

THE GREATEST ADVICE
by Rick Warren, author of the Purpose Driven Life

Don't date because you are desperate.
Don't marry because you are miserable.
Don't have kids because you think your genes are superior.
Don't philander because you think you are irresistible.
Don't associate with people you can't trust.
Don't cheat.
Don't lie.
Don't pretend.
Don't dictate because you are smarter.
Don't demand because you are stronger.
Don't sleep around because you think you are old enough & know better.
Don't hurt your kids because loving them is harder.
Don't sell yourself, your family, or your ideals.
Don't stagnate!
Don't regress.
Don't live in the past.
Time can't bring anything or anyone back.
Don't put your life on hold for possibly Mr. Right.
Don't throw your life away on absolutely Mr. Wrong
because your biological clock is ticking.
Learn a new skill.
Find a new friend.
Start a new career.
Sometimes, there is no race to be won,
only a price to be paid for some of life's more hasty decisions.
To terminate your loneliness, reach out to the homeless.
To feed your nurturing instincts, care for the needy.
To fulfill your parenting fantasies, get a puppy.
Don't bring another life into this world for all the wrong reasons.
To make yourself happy, pursue your passions and
be the best of what you can be.
Simplify your life.
Take away the clutter.
Get rid of destructive elements: abusive friends, nasty habits, and dangerous liaisons.
Don't abandon your responsibilities but don't overdose on duty.
Don't live life recklessly without thought and feeling for your family.
Be true to yourself.
Don't commit when you are not ready.
Don't keep others waiting needlessly.
Go on that trip. Don't postpone it.
Say those words. Don't let the moment pass.
Do what you have to, even at society's scorn.
Write poetry.
Love Deeply.
Walk barefoot.
Dance with wild abandon.
Cry at the movies.
Take care of yourself.
Don't wait for someone to take care of you.
You light up your life.
You drive yourself to your destination.
No one completes you - except YOU.
It isn't true that life does not get easier with age.
It only gets more challenging.
Don't be afraid.
Don't lose your capacity to love.
Pursue your passions.
Live your dreams.
Don't lose faith in God.
Don't grow old. Just grow YOU!
When you give someone your time,
you are giving them a portion of your life that you'll never get back.
Your time is your life.
That is why the greatest gift you can give to someone is your time.
Relationships take time and effort,
and the best way to spell love is T-I-M-E
because the essence of love is not what we think or do or provide for others,
but how much we give of ourselves.
God is good all the time!