Hi, I'm Aqueh... and I'm an Addict

(Addicted to Rain, that is... Kekeke)

I was reading through entries in my prayer journal of a year ago and I had a very pleasant realization: WOW, I'VE BEEN HAPPY FOR A YEAR NOW! And as weird as it may seem to most, my euphoric state is basically because of this one Korean fellow named Rain.

Why? How? Let me count the ways...

1. He's an angel sent from above... My Sexy Angel Bi...
Feeling depressed at the start of the year and on my birthday in 2007, I was crying in church with an earnest prayer: "Lord, please send me an angel to turn my life around and get me out of this depression." A week after, an officemate lent me her CD of Rain. And lo and behold, there's my "angel" on the CD cover. My answered prayer...


It was my first time to hear him but I fell inlove with his music instantly. Another week after, the same officemate lent me her "Full House" DVD. I finished the 8-disc, 16 episode series in just 3 days. I just love everthing about the series. It made me happy. That, I would say, started my "Rain Addiction". I was hooked. So, the following week I watched his two other series, "Sang Doo" and "A Love to Kill". And from then, there was no turning back...

2. He keeps me smiling from morning till night...

I eat, drink, and breath this guy... Haha... I am so fascinated with him that just one look at his smile makes me smile...

And his beat and his moves keep my endorphines up... His music is perpetually playing in my ears (literally and figuratively)... My ipod is so full of his music (and any other music that has a connection to him). And now with my new ipod video, even his concerts, performances, series, and videos follow me everywhere. I think I'm the only person who actually enjoys the long commute and the endless traffic in the Philippines. Because two hours stuck in traffic is two more hours for me of Rain-listening and viewing. Hehe... Hey, just this morning, 30 minutes in the FX terminal line, I was the only one singing and dancing...

3. He's my "angel" who has brought me so many "angels" this past year...

Because of Rain, I've met so many new friends this past year, not only from the Philippines but from all over Asia and even the U.S. Rain connected us all. But getting to know them more, I've learned that we share a common passion not only for the artist himself but for life in general. (I don't know... It may be Rain's influence on us because that's how he is, living and doing things with so much passion.)

My "angels" have been keeping me smiling as well. From a simple e-mail to say hi or to share updates, to an invite to meet up and bond, to friends "Rain-hunting" for me from Korea to China to Japan, to receiving packages on the mail from all over of Rain items (DVDs, posters, calendars, magazines, etc.)... Thank you to ALL MY ANGELS... You know who you are...

The other day, I emailed my friend Amy in Malaysia that I am celebrating my First Year Anniversary with Rain... Yes, it is indeed worth celebrating for me to have known this guy... Very few people I know could say that they are truly happy in their lives... Maybe I should advice them to pray for an "angel"... And pray for a sexy one while they're at it...

40 Tips for a Powerful & Abundant New Year

Your beliefs become your thoughts.

Your thoughts become your words.
Your words become your actions.
Your actions become your habits.
Your habits become your values.
Your values become your destiny.

- Mahatma Gandhi

Here are 40 Tips for a Powerful & Abundant New Year!

1. Take a 10-30 minute walk every day. And while you walk, smile. It is the ultimate anti-depressant.
2. Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day. Buy a lock if youhave to.
3. Buy a Tivo (DVR), tape your late night shows and get more sleep.
4. When you wake up in the morning complete the following statement, 'My purpose is to__________ _ today.'
5. Live with the 3 E's -- Energy, Enthusiasm, Empathy.
6. Watch more movies, play more games and read more books than you did in 2007.
7. Make time to practice meditation, yoga, tai chi, qigong and prayer.They provide us with daily fuel for our busy lives.
8. Spend more time with people over the age of 70 and under the age of 6.
9. Dream more while you are awake.
10. Eat more foods that grow on trees and plants and eat less foodsthat are manufactured in plants.
11. Drink green tea and plenty of water. Eat blueberries, wild Alaskan salmon, broccoli, almonds & walnuts.
12. Try to make at least three people smile each day.
13. Clear your clutter from your house, your car, your desk and letnew flowing energy into your life.
14. Don't waste your precious energy on gossip, energy vampires, issues of the past, negative thoughts or things you cannot control. Instead invest your energy in the positive present moment.
15. Realize that life is a school and you are here to learn. Problems are simply part of the curriculum that appear and fade away like algebra class but the lessons you learn will last a lifetime.
16. Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a college kid with a maxed out charge card.
17. Smile and laugh more. It will keep the energy vampires away.
18. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.
19. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.
20. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
21. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.
22. Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present.
23. Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
24. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, and wear the fancy lingerie. Don't save it for a special occasion. Today is special.
25. No one is in charge of your happiness except you.
26. Frame every so-called disaster with these words: 'In five years,will this matter?'
27. Forgive everyone everything.
28. What other people think of you is none of your business.
29. Time heals almost everything. Give time time.
30. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.
31. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends will. Stay in touch.
32. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.
33. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.
34. The best is yet to come.
35. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
36. Do the right thing!
37. Call your mother and father often.
38. Each night before you go to bed complete the following statements: 'I am thankful for_________ _.' Today I accomplished_ ________.
39. Remember that you are too blessed to be stressed.
40. Enjoy the ride. Remember that this is not Disney World and you certainly don't want a fast pass. You only have one ride through life so make the most of it and enjoy the ride.

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...