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...